0315 hours August 30 2552 (Military Calendar)/ UNSC Midway
Jericho system orbit Jericho VII
Captain Brian Jackson sat on the bridge of his older Able class heavy destroyer, overlooking salvage operations of the small orbital station that had once served the planet as a small orbital shipyard and defense station and the destroyed UNSC ships that guarded the planet.
Since the outbreak of the war and the seemingly unstoppable advance of the Covenant colonies had been screaming for more ships and other resources to defend their worlds and their people.
The major shipyards of Mars, Tribute, and Reach couldn't build ships fast enough to replace losses. So with little choice mothballed ships from Saturn's and Jupiters massive decommissioned fleets being reactivated and dispatched to guard worlds.
Which brought Brian back to his small task force he had started with ten ships but after the recent probe of three Covenant CAR-class frigates he was down to six. The station and four of his ships had been destroyed. The bodies were all sent planetside for burriel while useable munitions were redistributed and parts were used to repair damaged ships.
The six surviving ships was heavy destroyer Able the Hillsborough destroyer Midway three Scholte class missile corvettes Crossbow, Catapult, Trebuchet. and at their center a Phoenix class support carrier Artemis.
The only two ships in Jackson's task force built in the last century had been destroyed and was in the process of being scavenged for anything that could be used and body recovery.
The next two hours saw the last of the battle damage to the Midway repaired as crewmen in space suits welded plates of scavenged battleplate over the melted holes in the destroyers armor. Survivors from the wreaks had brought the ship to full crew numbers and added a few more to the other ships.
The massive chunk of leftovers had been pushed into a stable orbit and was being cut into manageable chunks to be melted down and reforged in the Artemis foundries a dozen smaller spacecraft had been recovered as well as undamaged Ground vehicles. Captain Jackson knowing they would unlikely need the Ground vehicles ordered the Pelicans to land most of the forces Scorpion and older Ryno MBTs as well as the Warthogs and their older Wolfs LRVs on the planet to make room for a larger air wing.
As the new aircraft were being loaded a emergency alarm rang as a high priority message was received. As Brian read the message he could feel his heart plummet.
United Nations Space Command Alpha Priority
TRANSMISSION 04592Z-83
Encryption Code:Red
Public Key: file/bravo-tango-beta-five/
From Admiral Roland Fremont, Commanding fleet Officer, FLEETCOM Sector One Commander/ (UNSCService Number 00745-16778-HS)
To: ALL UNSC warships in REACH, JERICHO, and TANTALUS systems
SUBJECT: IMMEDIATE RECALL
CLASSIFICATION: Classified (BGX Directive)
/Start file/
Covenant presence Detected on REACH system's edge coordinates 030 relative.
ALL UNSC warships are hereby ordered to cease all activities and regroup at rally point ZULU at best speed
ALL SHIPS are to enact the Cole Protocol immediately
/end file/
"Get the salvage teams back aboard now and prepare a slipspace jump to Reach Rally Point ZULU." Captain Jackson ordered. The young woman at the navigational station Lieutenant Amanda Wilks jumped too with a "Aye Sir." as her fingers danced across the keyboard making the calculations and entering the data into the drives computer.
By 0615all EVA personnel and equipment had been recovered with a brief wish of luck to Jericho's governor the small fleet jumped for Reach.
(Same time)
The Cylons were created by man.
They were created to make life easier on the the Twelve Colonies.
And when the day came When the Cylons decided to kill their Masters.
After a long and Bloody struggle an armistice was Declared.
The Cylons left for another world to call their own.
A remote space station was built…
Where Cylon and Human could meet and maintain diplomatic relations.
Every year the Colonials send a Officer….
The Cylons send no one.
No one has seen or heard from the Cylons in over Forty Years…
"Are you alive?" the question rings throughout space.
The alert goes out across the worlds occupied by humanity
ATTENTION ALL COLONIAL UNITS CYLON ATTACK UNDER WAY
THIS IS NO DRILL
"This is the Commander" Adamas voice over the ship wide intercom rings out "Moments ago this ship received word of a Cylon attack against our home world is under way. We do not know the size or disposition or strength of the enemy forces. But all indications point to a massive assault against Colonial defenses."
Adama paused for a moment allowing the crew to digest what they were hearing. Thoughts of the crews family and loved ones spread like wildfire as they hung on to
every word as Adama continued.
"Admiral Nagala has taken personal command of the fleet Aboard the Battlestar Atlantia. Following the complete destruction of Picon fleet headquarters in the first wave of attacks. How? Why? Doesn't really matter, What does matter is as of this moment we are at war. You have trained for this. You are ready for this" the entire crew terrified and latched on to Adamas words and the convention he had in his voice. His trust in the men and women under his command.
"Stand to your duties. Trust your fellow shipmates, and we'll get through this." Adama looked into the eyes of the men and the women of the bridge crew showing his determination and trust in them. "Further updates as we get them. Thank you"
Aboard the Cylons flagship the crowd of human Cylons and their mechanical Centurions listen to the hybrid as it list off the status of the assault
The Farms of Aerilon are burning.
The Beaches of Canceron are burning.
The plains of Leonis are burning.
The jungles of Scorpia are burning.
The pastures of Tauon are burning.
The harbors of picon are burning.
The cities of Caprica are burning.
The Oceans of Aquaria are burning.
The courthouses of Libran are burning.
The forest of Virgon are burning.
The colonies of man lay trem… the hybrid stops its report and looks into the distance at only something she can see.
Galactica's landing bays retract into the superstructure in preparation for the jump to the Ragnar munitions depot to join the fight against the Cylons. Both Commander William Adama and Colonel Tigh mentally cursing themselves for allowing the ship's armory
to be off loaded at the dockyards above Picon two days earlier.
"The board is green, Ship reports ready to jump Sir." Colonel Tigh says looking across the tactical board at Commander Adama.
"Take us to Ragnar Colonel." Adama orders bracing himself on the board for the jump.
"Lieutenant Gaera." Tigh called out to the the Galactica's officer of the watch
"Yes Sir" the young man acknowledged,
"Execute the jump" Tigh passed the order on.
Picking up the ships intercom Gaera keyed the switch and a single high pitched tone d rew the attention of every man and woman aboard.
"ALL decks prepare for immediate FTL jump." Gaera's voice echos across the ship.
He withdraws the Key to activate the ships old but capable FTL Blink drive inserting it into his terminal with a mechanical click as it slides into place. With his other hand he activates the ships Jump clock "Clock is running." He says slowly turning the key as the ships archaic computer verifies the command code in the key and begins charging the drive.
10
9
8 newer crew begin to look around at the old hands and copy what they do
7
6
5 across the ship crew sits down bracing themselves for the stomach flipping sensation.
4
3
2 the Colonial sailors and marines take a collective breath…
1
JUMPING across the ship everyone can feel the huge energy being run into the drive as the ship seemingly crackles with static electricity. And with a flash of light disappears from space.
And reappears 16 light years away in the gas giant Ragnar's upper atmosphere.
"Report" Commander Adama inquires.
Lieutenant Gaera runs from his watch station to the navigational station "Taking a bearing now sir." he taps the keys looking at the map as it updated. He turns around taking the position of rest "we appear to be in geosynchronous orbit… directly above the Ragnar Anchorage."
Everyone on the CIC took a moment to let it sink in that they had made it and applause and cheering erupted everyone giving high fives and handshakes at making it in one piece this was the first time in over a decade the Galactica had jumped.
It didn't take long before the weight of why they were here brought the celebrations to a end and everyone got back to their stations and got back to work.
"Colonel Tigh" Adama said
"SIr?"Tigh looked back at the Commander
"Lets update your chart." he said drawing the Colonel closer to the map "plot a course right down into the eye of the storm."
Picking up the navigational chart showing the only lear path through the thick clouds of the gas giants atmosphere "Yes sir."
As thousands if not millions of powerful nuclear weapons are detonated across the Twelve colonies of Kobol the massive surge of radiation mixed with energy causes a tear in reality and dimensions little did the Cylons Colonials or the UNSC personnel aboard Task force Midway