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Post by LucianG on Apr 23, 2005 13:53:42 GMT -6
Brie As they exited the hallway, surrounded by their Cylon protectors, Curemode pressed the button and the real reactor core was destroyed. The base was suddenly in chaos, sirens were wailing, power was failing everywhere. The Cylons around Brie’s group didn’t even seem to notice that anything different had happened. They continued down the corridors, making several turns as they went.
Brie hoped that she had guessed right. Baltar had said that his base ship was outside of the Beta Bay. The tanker they had arrived in was in the Delta Bay. She didn’t know where they would be meeting up with Amy, or if Amy was still alive. The Lords of Kobol seemed to have been watching over them the whole mission, hopefully Amy would know where to go. Starting at Alpha just made sense.
It was soon apparent that Brie’s group wasn’t alone in that decision. Guarding the entrance to the Alpha Bay were at least 100 Centurions, Centurions who knew who their enemy was. They opened fire, not caring how many of their under-programmed counterparts were destroyed. Fortunately the falling Cylons provided cover, and soon the 100+ Cylons had been destroyed. After stopping for a few microns so some people could pick up fresh weapons, Brie and her team entered the Alpha Bay, unaware that the biggest surprise of all was yet to come. * * * Amy Though it seemed like a secton or more, only a micron had passed since Captain Amy had asked for input from the group she commanded.
“Okay” she said, “I’m a little new at this commando style operation, but this is what I have worked out. There’s a human being held captive here, and we need to spring him.”
“Or her” Deke pointed out.
“Or her” Amy agreed.
“You can hope anyway” one of the infantry chimed in, looking at Deke.
“Focus” Amy said. “Thunderhawk, I want you to suit up and go out into space. We’re going to need a way off this base, cause I for one don’t plan on being stuck here if I can at all help it. Get out there, and find us a way off. This place is like a maze. It will be easier to find a bay from outside.”
“Now, Kiwi, I think I have a use for all those lenses you brought. I want you to go around and put them on all these dormant Cylons you see around you. Infantry, I want you armed and ready.”
“For what?” one of them asked.
“In a micron, I’m going to run down this corridor screaming like a wounded daggit in heat. I’m banking on the blue lenses to blend with the red of the Cylon eye and give these guys a fatal case of purple haze. If that doesn’t happen, you’ll have to be ready to bail my sorry butt out.”
The plan was greeted with silence.
“Okay then” Amy said, “unless someone has a better plan, we break on three.”
More silence.
“One… two….” * * * JustinB It had been a long and hard fought battle. The last raider had been destroyed. Now that things were less chaotic, confusion started to set in.
"Hey, does anyone know where the Callisto is?" Lieutenant Brotherjoe asked.
Not quite knowing myself, I looked down at my scanner. A couple of small blips at extreme range appeared. Completing a quick scan revealed they were some refuelling pods.
"All vipers follow me and I will be able to answer any questions." I ordered. My apex pulsar cut out once more. 'FRACK' I thought to myself. Once again though, after about a centon it realigned itself. 'Well at least I didn't crack my canopy' I thought remembering what happened on my first mission.
As we closed in on the fuel pods, I noticed something else. It was a small message probe of some design. I tapped into the probe, gave my security clearance code and received the message. It was our new orders.
Once everyone was refuelled, I got on the Comm. to all vipers present. "All Viper this is Black Lead. We will not be rejoining the Callisto at this time. We.."
"What in Hades are you g...." Rose interrupted.
"We are going to help out the insertion team. We will be meeting up with forces from the Galactica and help Gold as they extract from a Cylon moon. That’s why they needed the tanker from the refinery platform. So before we go any further is there anyone with serious battle damage?
With no replies I sent the co-ordinates to each viper then kicked in the turbos. I hoped we could be of some help to Gold Squadron. If Major Brie and her team pulled the mission off, I would buy her a bottle of the best Ambrosia I could. * * * It didn't take me long too realised that we were one viper short. To no surprise it was Lieutenant Stargazor who was missing. I could only hold onto hope that he was back on the Callisto sipping a tankard of ale. The flight was going to be a long one. I placed all the vipers on fifty percent "STAND TO". Half the pilots would be on automatic pilot and have a sleep, while the other half would be on guard. We needed rest as we had none from our previous mission. Captain Kris took first watch as I needed the sleep badly. I had slept for ninety centons when an alarm went off in the cockpit. When it first registered, I thought we were under attack or something. Funny enough, it was just a wake up call. I had a brief talk with Kris to see if anything had happened over the sleep period. With nothing to report, I told Kris to take a nap. Very soon though, we would be entering the sector with the cylon moon. Hopefully with some luck, Major Brie's insertion team would be escaping about the time we arrive. * * * Once we entered the sector with the cylon moon, I made sure everyone was awake. By the time the last pilot was awake, I had come up with a plan. There was no activity that I could see on my scanner. I brought every viper close enough to one another, that they were almost five metrons apart. We then all at once cut main power and drifted. There was no cover for us to hide so this was the only course of action to take. I fired up my passive scanner to detect any cylon sweeps. The battle would soon be upon us. Gold's insertion team shouldn't be too long. The cylon moon started to get bigger and closer. I hope the fight didn't take too long to start. * * * Stargazor He feel’s safe yet puzzled , he knows he’s inside a Cylon base yet he isn’t scared and doesn’t feel any pain anymore. The he hears that’s female voice again, it is so soft like silk and penetrates his mind deeply: Voice “Stargazor, it is time”, “you have to wake up, you’re friends need you”!
Stargazor in his mind speaks to the voice: Stargazor “Who are you, what’s happening to me”!
Voice “I am you’re guardian, and you have received a gift”! “The changes in you’re body have given you great abilities”! “We’ve given you these so you can help out you’re friends”!
Stargazor “Why me”?
Voice “You’re heart is pure”, “you wanted to risk you’re life for a person you didn’t know”! “The balance between good and evil must be restored”! “Now wake up end help you’re friends, they need you”!
Stargazor “How can I help them”?
Voice “You’ll know when and what to do”!
A bright light blinds Stargazor for a moment and when he can see again, he’s standing in the torture room. Next to him lies the Cylon centurion still smoking.
Then a group of Cylon Centurions comes running in the room. But their eyes are glowing not red but purple. As they aim for Stargazor he quickly raises his hand. A ball of energy forms in the pall of his hand, like when it happened in the med lab when the crawlon attacked the doc.
Stargazor stretches his fingers and releases the ball. It shoots out towards the group of Cylon’s witch in a wave explode and fall to the ground.
The Stargazor looks up to the ceiling and concentrates. He tries to contact JustinB true telepathy: “Sir attack, Gold team needs you”!
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Post by LucianG on Apr 23, 2005 13:54:46 GMT -6
JustinB I was bored just sitting out in the stars doing nothing. I switched on main power and swept the moon with my scanner. Sitting close by where Gold Squadron should pop out sat a bigger than normal basestar. Without a second thought, I made my decision and informed the Squadron.
“Black Flights start your engines and lets have some old fashioned shooting practice. We are going to draw as much enemy fire as possible and give Gold a chance.” “Woo Hoo,” yelled everyone.
In an attack formation we headed towards the basestar. At first it seemed as we invisible, that was until the basestar started to fire on us. Best thing about taking on a basestar, is that their weapons are for larger ships. Our luck changed for the worst just as quickly. Just as raiders were launching from the basestar, I detected a very large contingent of raiders coming from the moon itself. They didn’t look familiar, so I ran my Warbook to check them out. Microns later it came back they were old style raiders. Also amongst the midst were the raiders we come to expect.
On the edge of scanning range another basestar was vectoring away. That meant only one thing, the Galactica was nearby. * * * "This is too easy," Lieutenant Brotherjoe yelled.
"Don't get too cocky Lieutenant; they were the obsolete raiders from the moons surface. The real raiders are coming into weapons range. Black Flight, get a wingman and don't get killed," I replied. I looked down to the moon and hoped the insertion team was on track.
The basestar was still where it was from when we first saw it. Taking Brotherjoe with me I headed towards the Basestar. I wanted to cause as much damage as I could to it so the insertion team had a chance. The problem was getting through the raiders.
I decided to just blast our way through. I raised Captain Kris on the Comm. and told her of my idea. "Major, it is too risky for you. Why not delegate it too someone else?"
"I have too do it. I am not going to ask a warrior of mine to do something I wouldn't. Just get you and your wingman and help us cut a hole through the raiders. Once I am through, take command until I have done what I can disable the basestar."
The four vipers flew close and then let out a laser barrage that cut a hole in the cylon defences. At that moment Brotherjoe and me slid right through and made our way to the basestar. More raiders exited the basestar launchbay. That would be our first target. We were head to head with the incoming raiders. Playing chicken with cylons was pointless, so we pulled away then flew back on our original course. Lining up the launch bay, I let loosed a laser volley on the hinge of the launch bay door. It took numerous sweeps by Brotherjoe and me but we finally got it.
From there we flew around the basestar knocking out the flank missile launches as well as the laser turrets. We had knocked out half of the laser turrets when a phalanx of raiders approached us. For good measure we targeted and destroyed one of the basestars mega pulsar cannons. Just when I thought our luck had run out, Kris and seven other vipers came blasting the phalanx of raiders to hot metal. I received some more black scorch marks from a laser turret but destroyed it in kind. Once again, I looked down to the moon. * * * The deadline was just about upon us. Shortly the insertion team should be blasting their way out of the moon base. With a majority of the raiders destroyed I turned my attention to the base.
"Black Flights, Black Lead. Lets head down to the moons surface and see what damage we can do to the base." I ordered
After receiving acknowledgements, we headed down to the moon surface. We were followed by the remaining raiders, so I ordered Captain Kris's flight to take care of them. We looked for the biggest structure on the surface and blew it too pieces. I saw a launch bay and wondered why it wasn't launching any raiders.
"Brotherjoe, let's make sure that launch bay never opens again."
"Copy that Major," Lieutenant Brotherjoe replied. Both our vipers spat deadly laser fire across the launch bay. After a second pass, the explosion that occurred made sure it would not be able to be opened.
Seeing Kris's flight was having some trouble, I had all vipers in my flight re-engage the raiders. I slotted in behind two raiders that were pursuing Rose. She had taken a few hits, but her viper was flyable. After destroying the raider on the right, I quickly destroyed the one on the left.
"Rose, we are even now. So you don't get any advantage when we back aboard the Callisto," I said with a laugh. Both flight made their way back to the moons surface. I started to get worried that maybe the team didn't make it. * * * The fight was getting easier. We had destroyed countless raiders and the cylon structers were easy picking. I flew past the launch bay we had fired at earlier and wondered what lay inside. No sooner had I thought that, when the launch bay door erupted in a huge explosion.
"What the Frack was that," I heard Rose say.
Not wanting to take any chances, I got on the Comm. "Black Flights on me. Just in case something comes out of that launch bay."
Once the debris and smoke cleared I got my first good look into the cylon base. * * * Amy With the infantry's help, the visors had all been attached to the dormant Cylon centurions. It seemed weird to be creeping around them, touching them, seeing our reflections in their polished chrome surfaces, yet not seeming to be in any danger at all.
"Think this is wise, Captain?" Deke asked as he attached one of the last visors. "Trying to short them out? If we creep around, they might just stay dormant."
"We don't know why they are dormant, or what wiil activate them" I replied. "Let's just hope operation purple haze works!"
Deke laughed, then pretended he had a guitar. "S'cuse me, got Cylons to fry" he sang in an off key voice.
"Oh knock it off, Deke!" one of the infantry called out. "Although that was painful enough to make for a good plan B. You could sing them into shorting out."
"Funny" Deke said. "Funny!"
"Okay" I said. "They are all attached. Let's see what happens!" I suddenly made a sprint down the corridor, followed by the infantry, all making whatever noise we could.
Behind us, the Cylons began to stir. Looking over our shoulders, we slowly came to a stop to watch in awe. The familiar red visor glow on the centurions was now a weird deep purple, adding a nightmarish touch to what was already an evil sight. The cylons at once seemed to become disoriented, and they began to totter almost in unison.
"I'll be fracked" Deke muttered, a smile slowly forming. "It's going to..." His smile slowly faded as the cylons began to steady. Suddenly the air was filled with laser fire, and two of the infantrymen died on the spot. The rest of us scrambled for cover. "Where in hades did these guys learn to shoot so straight?" Deke cried out a micron before a blast tore through his shoulder.
"Deke!" I shouted as I pulled him to safety and he crashed heavily to the floor. He was bleeding badly. "Frack!" I shouted, drawing my weapon and rising up to return fire. No sooner had I gotten up than a laser blast tore through the bunched up material of my collar. I dropped back down without getting off a shot.
"Any more bright ideas?" one of the surviving infantry asked.
"I did ask for input" I reminded him.
"Well, you're the captain, captain" he replied as more laser fire tore over our heads. "So do some captaining!"
In response I rose again, firing as many shots as I could before having to drop again. I nailed a Cylon dead-on, with what should have dropped him, but he merely staggered back a step or two before advancing again. I ducked back down, my uniform jacked smoldering in the sleeve where another near miss had torn a hole. "Frack!" I said again.
The infantryman looked at me. "Well, if this ever was a one way mission, you've made certain of it now."
I looked a him, then at Deke, who was trying to sit up. As input goes it wasn't very useful, but it was true. We were in deep daggit-do!!! "Be useful!" I snapped at all the infantry, "return fire, will ya?"
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Post by LucianG on Apr 23, 2005 13:55:50 GMT -6
Brie Captain Lazant didn't care that the men with him could hear him as he complained out loud. "I can't believe that it's her once again. That girl just can't do anything right. Well, at least she's near where the holding cells were on the map that Briseis showed me from the Pylos' computer. She must have rescued the prisoner by now."
The lights were flickering on and off. Lazant hoped that the whole base would lose power soon. That could be to their advantage. * * * Amy Lights were flickering, and there were sounds of explosions coming from distant locations in the base, but Captain Amy and her small group had bigger concerns at the moment. As the area was plunged into darkness, the purple light emitting from the advancing cylons cut through it with probing beams, seeking out their human targets. The aim of these cylons was more than deadly: two infantry had already died, and Lt. Deke was in rough shape after taking a hit in his shoulder.
As the infantry tried to return fire, Amy tried to keep Deke still as he struggled to remain seated upright.
“N-not your fault” he hissed through the pain, and the darkness.
“Easy Deke” Amy replied. “Try to stay still.”
Deke ignored her, still trying to remain useful. “There was no way to know this would happen, how the Cylons would react.”
“It seems to have enhanced them somehow. I’ve had two direct hits that barely slowed them down at all.” They both ducked suddenly as fire rained in over their heads. The darkness was lit by the explosions, then the lights flickered and returned.
Deke nodded. “They are a lot better shots than I’ve ever seen”, he said, not adding that he hadn’t really ever seen much active duty. Still, they were more accurate and more durable than Amy could remember seeing, either.
“We have to regroup” Amy said. “They’ll be on us soon. And we still haven’t located the prisoner.”
“Looks like we’ll have to give up on that for now” Deke said, wincing suddenly at a new wave of pain. “Just staying alive seems to be the big trick at the moment.”
Amy jumped up suddenly and lay down a barrage of fire, ducking down moments later as it was returned double. Deke looked over at the fresh hole in her jacket.
“You’ve got to stop doing that”, he said. “You’re beginning to look like sagitaran cheese.”
Amy patted out the smoldering hole. “At least your sense of humor isn’t damaged. Can you stand? We’ve got to find a better spot to defend ourselves.” But just as quickly as the fire had rained in, it suddenly ceased completely.
“Captain” one of the infantry called out, “look at this!”
Amy and Deke peeked out at what the infantry man was pointing to. In the flickering light they could see the purple-enhanced cylons distracted by a number of standard red-lensed centurions who had stumbled in on the battle. They just stood there silently, facing each other.
"Now's our chance" Deke said. "I'm not sure what's going on. Maybe they are incompatable..."
"Or maybe they are communicating on some new level" Amy offered.
"You're great fun at parties" Deke replied, shaking his head.
"Well, this is one party I've had enough of." Amy grunted as she helped the bulky warrior to his feet. He swayed and almost brought them both down.
"Not good" he said. "I'm bleeding pretty bad."
"Come on" Amy said. "While they are distracted, let's get clear of them."
Crouching low, they began to file out of the area. But as they did so one of the purple-lensed cylons twisted around as he detected motion. Targeting Amy dead-center in her back, he raised his weapon and squeezed the trigger. * * * Brie Captain Lazant, followed by the three infantry men, took a wrong turn down one of the corridors. “Captain,” one of the men spoke up, “the computer showed the shootout was that way!” He pointed.
“Yes, but the holding cells are THIS way,” Lazant said. “If I know Amy, that poor prisoner is still in his cell. In fact, I’d bet a secton’s pay on it!”
“You’re on!” the infantry man said. It gave Lazant something else to push him on, the chance to show that he was right.
The lights in the hallway suddenly went out and didn’t return. Lazant and his men each pulled out a small flashlight while holding a laser in the other hand. The lack of power helped as they neared the holding cells. “Be careful, this could be a trap,” Lazant reminded them. They looked for the red glow of the Cylons but didn’t see any. “They must have moved over to Amy’s position.” The holding cells’ doors had sprung open when power was lost. Someone was lying on the floor. It was too dark to make out a face, but the person had been treated so poorly that he was barely recognizable as human. “You two, get him to the Pylos. Tell Major Brie that we’re still looking for Amy, and to still follow the schedule. Got it?” Even in the darkness he knew they were nodding.
“And you,” Lazant said, pointing his flashlight at the third man with him. “You come with me. I hope you realize that we were betting the amount that I get paid in a secton, not you...” * * * Amy Crouching low, Captain Amy supported Deke as best she could, and they began to file out of the area. But as they did so one of the purple-lensed cylons twisted around as he detected motion. Targeting Amy dead-center in her back, he raised his weapon and squeezed the trigger. As the shot came in, Amy stumbled slightly and bent lower. A few microns lower, and it might have missed...
Amy screamed as she was driven to the floor by the blast. Deke, barely able to keep standing anyway, spun around and dropped down next to her. The infantry spun as well, laying down a wall of fire at the purple cylon, who seemed disoriented and confused, torn between the humans and the red-lensed cylons. He staggered as the blasts hit him, but he did not fall. Their blasters nearly overheating, the infantry dropped into hiding near Amy and Deke, and were surprised but relieved to find no more fire raining in. The purple-lensed cylons were again more interested in the red-lensed ones.
"Thank the lords for small favors" one of the infantry said. Then to Deke he asked, "How is she?"
Deke wiped sweat from his brow. He knew he needed medical attention soon himself, but he was focused on his captain. He patted out the back of Amy's jacket, which was smoldering from the laser hit. A dark streak ran almost all the way up to her collar. Could she have been that lucky to only have taken a glancing shot? She was breathing hard, and he rolled her over and supported her gently.
Amy tried to say something, but her face contorted in pain instead. Deke said "Easy, Captain. Easy."
"What in fracking hades..." she finally hissed between breaths.
"Laser blast" Deke replied. When Amy began to move, he again said "Easy now..."
"Frack that" Amy replied, testing herself slowly as she started sitting up. Wincing again, she asked, "Where are the Cylons?"
"Still out there. You don't know how badly you are hurt. You shouldn't be moving."
"Neither should you" she replied. With great effort she got back into a crouching position, and picked up her blaster. She became disoriented for a moment, and nearly pitched forward. One of the infantry put out a hand to steady her. After a moment, she said, "Whew. Thanks. I'm... We've got to keep moving. Status?"
"Cylons are still there, staring at each other" the infantry man replied.
"Then let's go" she said, beginning to lead the way. "Stay real low. We have to shake them and find that fracking prisoner." Moving as quick as they dared, they finally put some distance between them and the cylons, but she knew it wouldn't last. And when they stopped, feeling somewhat safe for the micron, Amy collapsed gratefully, and hung her head, breathing heavily.
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Post by LucianG on Apr 23, 2005 13:57:02 GMT -6
Brie “So, what’s your name?” Lazant asked. “I need to know who I’ll be collecting the debt from.”
The infantryman smiled, although it couldn’t be seen in the dark. “Corporal Straves. And I’m contesting the bet.”
“Why, you didn’t know how incompetent Amy can be?” Lazant sneered. “That girl causes more trouble than...what the frack?” Rounding a dark corner with Straves Lazant walked right into something on the floor.
“Watch where you’re going,” a female voice snapped.
Lazant, recognizing Amy’s voice, pointed his flashlight down. “Why the frack are you sitting on the floor?” Noticing the blood on her clothes he changed his tone of voice. “Are you okay? Can you walk?”
“I’m fine,” she lied. “It’s Deke that I’m worried about.”
Using the flashlight to look around Lazant counted six people besides Amy. Two were missing. “What happened to the other members of your party?”
“Dead,” Amy said plainly.
“Come on,” Lazant said, “we need to get out of here. We found better transportation than the tanker, and Brie’s going to leave in ten centons, with or without us.”
“Wait,” Amy said, trying to find the strength to stand. “We still need to rescue the prisoner.”
“Already been done,” Lazant told her. “We just need to get back to Brie. Straves, you help Deke. Everybody else, keep your eyes open for the glow of a Cylon.” He held out his hand to Amy, who stood up without touching him. Unsteady, she almost fell. “Here, let me help you.” Lazant put his arm around Amy’s waist and tried to pull hers around his shoulder.
“Not in a million yarhens,” Amy mumbled.
“Hey, you held my hand the whole way here,” Lazant commented. “This couldn’t be any worse.” Amy gave in and let Lazant help her. “If we keep this up,” he said quietly in her ear so no one else could hear, “people are really going to talk!” * * * Amy Captain Amy was happy to see reinforcements, but Lazant? Of all people why did it have to be him? The lords seemed content to keep throwing these twists at her, and if that’s the way they wanted it, fine. We’d all be getting together soon anyway, the way this all was going.
“Before you figure out the 10 different ways you’re going to gloat about rescuing me” Amy said through the pain she felt in her back, “there’s something going on you need to know about.” She wondered about her back, and how the pain seemed to flow between numbness and sharp stabs. Right now it seemed on fire.
Lazant put up a hand. “I know all about it. The explosions, the flickering lights… some of us have actually been successful on this mission. We’ve even got a way out of here, if we can get your dead backside moving.” Amy winced, and Lazant faltered for a moment. “How bad?”
“I can move. But Deke…” her voice trailed off.
“I’m not dead yet, Captain” Deke said in a rough voice. “but the distance we put between us and the purple people eaters isn’t gonna last.”
“Purple what now?” Lazant snapped, looking from Deke back to Amy.
“New form of cylon. Deadlier” she said, “way deadlier. Can’t be stopped…”
Lazant looked at the them. Got to be the injuries. Messing with their minds.
“It’s true sir” one of the infantry said. “We lost two men before we knew what happened.”
Lazant hesitated. A new cylon? This he found hard to believe. But he did believe something was up, and his instincts demanded they move quickly before whatever it was showed itself.
With Amy unsteadily on her feet, and Deke doing the best he could to stay upright, they began to head back for the Pylos. Looking ahead, Lazant was surprised to see he was suddenly casting a shadow against a kind of violet light coming from behind them. In the micron it took him to make the connection to what Deke had said, the air was suddenly filled with explosions. With Amy at his side he drove them both down for cover, and as he hit the floor one of the infantry landed next to him, dead.
“By the lords!” he exclaimed, and scrambled around, weapon drawn, to look at what was attacking. Amy got up to a seated position, and looked as well.
Cylons. There were more of them now, all purple lensed. “They must have converted the red-lensed cylons somehow” Amy whispered to Deke. He seemed not to hear, but nodded. He was hurting. They needed to get back.
“Can’t be stopped?” Lazant sneered. “I’ve got nearly 50 kills so far today!” With that, he jumped up to fire. He got off one blast before a dozen well aimed ones rained in on him. He dropped back down, his hair smoldering.
Amy wanted to laugh at the sight, and Lazant for once was speechless. Instead she put her head down and tried to ride the new wave of pain coming up through her back. * * * Brie Lazant crouched down, amazed at the accuracy of the Cylons’ shots. The strange purple glow was growing. A few centars earlier he had thought that they would soon be leaving this forsaken moon, now he was beginning to doubt that he would make it out alive. And all because of Amy. He lined up a perfect shot but the Cylon remained unharmed. “I don’t supposed this would be a good time,” he said, “to mention that Brie is leaving in seven centons, with or without us.” * * * Amy “I don’t supposed this would be a good time,” Lazant said, “to mention that Brie is leaving in seven centons, with or without us.”
Amy said nothing, bracing against the pain in her back, watching as Lazant hit a Cylon perfectly to no effect. Sucking in a deep breath, she finally spoke. "She's got a ship, huh?"
Lazant looked at her like she had suddenly turned into an Ovion or something. "Yes! The Pylos. Beautiful ship. And we'll be looking at it's beautiful thruster trail if we don't get on board soon!" He got off several shots, but the look on his face revealed that he was beginning to see the futility in trying to battle these improved cylons.
"Which direction do we need to go?" Amy asked.
Lazant pointed out the way. The enhanced cylons were spraying the path to that corridor with heavy fire. As best they could, the infantry was returning the fire.
"Not all of us are going to be able to make it" Deke said suddenly. Both Amy and Lazant looked at him with surprise, for he had been mostly silent for a while now. "We could lay down cover, so some of us could get through" he added.
Lazant thought it over as the lights flickered and more fire rained in on them. Time was running out. To get to the Pylos, as well as keeping these cylons away. Amy was looking at him, waiting for him to surrender to the obvious: they all couldn't make it back.
"Okay" he said heavily. He motioned the infantry over. "In a micron, I'll lay down as much cover as I can. Make for the corridor, and get to the Pylos. I'll hold them off as long as I can. Take Lt. Deke and Captain Amy with you."
"Uh-uh" Amy said. "No way you can hold them off yourself. You need more firepower. I'm staying. Besides, I don't think I can run that fast. I'd get picked off easy."
"Same here, sir" Deke said. "I'd slow them down too much as well."
Lazant looked at them both, and knew they both were right. He nodded at the infantry. "Get ready to make a break for it." The infantry protested, but they were over-ruled. Finally the infantry got into position, and Lazant, Amy, and Deke got ready. "Now!"
The three of them popped up and began firing, laying down fire at the Cylons, the ceiling, the crates of storage, anything they could hit that would distract and confuse the cylons at all. Fire rained in on them, but less accurate than before. "It's working!" Deke yelled. "Too bad we're going to blow all our ammo in a micron though!"
When they dropped back down, they looked around to see that they were alone. They smiled briefly at the success before remembering that they were still in deep trouble.
"One way means one way" Lazant said, looking at Deke, then to Amy, shrugging his shoulders.
"If I knew it meant one way with you" Amy replied, "I'd have taken Brie's advice and stayed home."
"That's it!" Deke laughed. "The human spirit lives to the bitter end!" Then he grew serious. "So we can't reach the ship, but we'd better try going somewhere. We'll be overrun in a millicenton."
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Post by LucianG on Apr 23, 2005 13:58:02 GMT -6
Brie "We'll go to the right," Lazant said with mock authority.
"Excuse me," Amy quickly said, "but who put YOU in charge?"
"I've seen the map of the base," Lazant replied almost as quickly. "There are three docking bays. Brie's leaving in Alpha, Baltar's baseship is parked outside of Beta, and the Delta Bay, which is how we came in, is to the right. Now unless you've seen a map as well, or would like to deal with Baltar..."
Amy held up a hand to shut him up. "We'll go to the right." * * * Brie There she sat in front of them, like a picture out of a history book. The Pylos. A ship unlike any other, a luxury cruiser designed for deep space voyages. She had disappeared over 500 yarhens earlier when a group from the colonies had set out to start a better life, away from the Cylons. Obviously they had never made it. Stories about the Pylos were so common and so exaggerated that Brie had always doubted that she had actually existed. But here she was, hidden inside a Cylon moon, her name spelled out in bright red letters.
A laser shot too near her head brought Brie out of it. “You think she still runs?” she called to Curemode.
“I don’t see why not,” he yelled back. “Looks like they’ve been using her. I’ll need to get a closer look.”
“We’ll cover you,” Sergeant Brinfort said, taking position.
A few feet at a time Brie, Curemode and Lazant approached the Pylos. Getting to her wasn’t going to be easy, there were Cylons everywhere. Once at the door Curemode tried a couple of Cylon codes before it opened. Immediately a Cylon fired at them from inside the ship, Curemode was hit in the leg but was still able to walk. He limped to the small bridge of the Pylos as Brie and Lazant prepared to fire at any Cylons that came into view. Curemode, glad to be sitting, started giving information. “She’s fully fueled. Looks like the Cylons have done quite a bit of modifying. There are six gunnery stations, which could help us even the odds a little bit.”
“Let’s get our people aboard,” Brie said. She took one station, Lazant took another. The Pylos’ weapons were powerful, soon most of the Cylons were lying on the ground, and the path was clear for Sergeant Brinfort and the rest of the infantry members to board. Several of them were severely wounded, but they were all still alive. Sergeant Brinfort, assuring Brie that the wound to his head was superficial, took over her gunnery station, another infantry member did the same for Lazant, and soon the four empty stations were filled as well. Corporal Briseis logged onto the computer to see what she could find out.
“I wonder where Amy is,” Brie thought aloud.
“Major,” Briseis called, “according to the computer there’s a shootout going on right here.” She pointed at the screen. “That’s probably where they are.”
“I’ll go find them,” Brie said.
Lazant stepped in front of her. “No. You’re needed here, to make sure the survivors make it back to the fleet. Besides, you’re injured. I noticed how you’re favoring your right arm. I’ll go look for Amy. Give me three men to take with me, I don’t think we need any more big groups running around this place.”
“Okay.” Brie didn’t want to admit it, but Lazant was right. She had been hurt, she was pretty sure that her elbow was broken from the first explosion. “But if you don’t find her in 30 centons, come back.”
“We’ll be back in 20,” Lazant said. He had no problem at all finding three people to go with him.
“Lazant,” Brie called as he neared the door, “be careful. With the main reactor destroyed, you don’t know what to expect. Power could be gone for good any centon. And we HAVE to leave in 30, with or without you.”
“Aw, Major,” Lazant said with a smile, “I didn’t know you cared!” As he disappeared out the door Brie wondered if the human prisoner had been rescued. * * * Almost everyone had been wounded to some degree. Three of the injuries were serious, but thank the Lords of Kobol no one had yet been left behind. Brie was glad for the medical training that she had been forced to take yarhens earlier. It occurred to her for the first time that the simple fact that they hadn’t been assigned a med tech for this job proved that they weren’t expected to survive. She and a couple of others did their best to patch up everything that they could with the medical kits that they had brought with them. The three most seriously injured were moved into a side room near the entrance to the bridge. It was strange, obviously the Cylons had no immediate use for this room so it remained almost untouched. There was furniture, clothing, water, 500 yarhen old food, even a working turboflush in a room off the back. Brie guessed that the room had been used as crews’ quarters since it was so near the bridge.
After making sure that the wounded were being taken care of, Brie returned to the bridge. Corporal Briseis was obviously fascinated by the computer on the Pylos. “They’ve modified all of the main areas, Major, but it looks like a lot of the ship remains untouched.”
“Anything on there to help us get out of here?” Brie asked.
“Information on the shields, there should be two raiders in the bay, automatic decontamination inside and out, there’s no cloaking devise, but she’s fast. She has jump capabilities.”
“That’s good,” one of the women from the infantry said.
“Not as good as it sounds,” Brie added quickly. “If the fleet has left without us we’d be able to leave this system, but not rejoin them. I don’t have the coordinates to where they’re headed. Do you?” Brie looked at Curemode and he shook his head.
“I didn’t want to know,” he explained, “it was too risky, considering where we were headed on this trip. But I guess leaving the system alive is better than the alternative.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Brie suggested. “I don’t think we have to worry about starting a new human colony elsewhere just yet. Let’s not find problems where there aren’t any.”
Explosions had been constant everywhere throughout the base since the reactor core had been blown. Suddenly the power in Alpha Bay was lost completely. The series of doors that were needed to open the airlock wouldn’t budge. “That,” Curemode said, "could be a problem." * * * After going over every scenario that she could think of in her head Brie came to the only logical conclusion. “We’ll have to blast our way out.”
“That will use a lot of firepower,” Curemode observed.
“Can you think of anything else?” Brie asked. He shook his head.
“Okay. We didn’t make it this far to just give up. Corporal, find out everything you can about the airlocks.”
Briseis nodded and set to work. “Major Brie, they had been transferring information from Baltar’s baseship to this computer until the power was lost. This information will be invaluable to the fleet.”
“If we can get it to them,” Brie said. “The airlocks, Corporal.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Briseis started typing again. Suddenly she gasped. “Major, come quickly. You’ve got to see this.” A face had appeared in the computer monitor. A face that Brie had hoped never to see again. Baltar.
“Oh, frack, not again,” Brie said louder than she had intended.
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Post by LucianG on Apr 23, 2005 13:59:09 GMT -6
Brie “Major Brie,” Baltar started. There was a lot of static in the communication and the picture kept flickering. “How nice it is to see you again.”
“I can’t say the same thing,” Brie replied.
“I need to apologize to you, Major Brie,” Baltar said innocently. “I didn’t give you enough credit before. That idea of yours to have the Cylons follow your orders...brilliant. It’s a nice feeling, isn’t it?”
“What?” Brie couldn’t help but asking.
“Having command over the Cylons. I’ve been working with them alone all these yarhens, but if you’d be interested in joining me I could...”
“No thank you,” Brie said quickly.
“Too bad,” Baltar remarked. “Well, at least we can keep each other company for now. The Pylos has been outfitted with the ability for communication between base ships.”
Out of the corner of her eye Brie could see both Curemode and Briseis working frantically. She had a feeling she knew what they were up to, but she didn’t want Baltar to know. “Is that supposed to be a good thing?”
“For me, yes. It means I can keep my eyes on you. You don’t look quite the same as you did before. Is that dried blood on your face?”
“No,” Brie said sarcastically, “it’s ketchup. We found some 500 yarhen old food in one of the compartments and we’re having a party. Want to join us? I know a few people back in the fleet who would just LOVE to see you again.” Baltar just laughed. Briseis slipped a piece of paper near Brie. As a diversion Brie said, “Excuse me for a micron,” and turned to cough.
She moved the note so she could read it while she continued coughing. “Major, he’s got the ability to hear everything in this room. I can get rid of him by cutting one cable. Tell me when, Curemode.”
Brie turned back to the monitor. “Sorry about that. I’ve been breathing in too much smoke.”
“I’m not surprised,” Baltar remarked. “You really should considering surrendering to me. Just so you know, this is a battle that WE’RE winning. That battlestar, not the Galactica, the other one, is all but destroyed.”
Brie decided that Baltar was lying. It was easier than thinking that all of her friends were dead. “And this base is all but destroyed as well, so I guess we’re even.”
Baltar smiled. “Ah, but we’ve got more bases than you have battlestars. Let me ask you something, Major Brie. Since I was manipulating you before, why are you so sure that I’m not doing the same thing now?”
“Easy,” Brie explained. “You’re arrogant. You thought your plan would work, so you didn’t come up with a backup plan.” Brie looked at Curemode. “Now!” Curemode cut the cable and Baltar’s flickering image disappeared. “Thank you,” she said.
Corporal Briseis hit a few buttons on the computer. “Bad news, Major. We not only cut off Baltar, but all communications. That was the main comm line. If we get out of here, we won’t be able to contact the Callisto.”
“WHEN we get out of here,” Brie corrected. She thought for a micron. “We’ve lost ALL communications?”
“All but Gamma,” Briseis said.
“There are still a few people in the fleet with knowledge of the Gamma frequencies,” Brie said. “I guess it’s better than nothing.”
“Ma’am?” Briseis started nervously. “How DO we know that Baltar isn’t manipulating us again?”
“Did you see the look on his face?” Brie tried to assure her. “He was bluffing. Baltar is notorious for thinking things will work out the way he planned them. He doesn’t come up with a Plan B, because he always thinks that Plan A will work.”
“And the Callisto?” Briseis asked.
“Sitting there, waiting for us, with the ambrosia on ice. Baltar is a liar. Remember that. Now Corporal, the airlocks... ” Briseis seemed to have bought Brie’s explanation. Brie just hoped that she was right. * * * “Major, come quickly!” A woman from the infantry was calling her frantically.
Brie rushed down the hall. “What is it?” The problem was instantly noticeable. A young man had been shot and was lying on the floor. He was dying. Pushing away the pain in her right elbow and shoulder, Brie sat down on the floor and took the young man in her arms. He couldn’t have been more than 22 yarhens old. “What happened?”
“There are still some Cylons on this boat,” the woman answered.
“What’s your name?” Brie asked her.
“Private Ophis.”
“Are you injured?” Brie asked.
“No, Ma’am. Just a couple of bruises.”
“And you?” Brie asked the man standing behind Ophis.
“I’m fine, Ma’am. Private Talls.”
“He’s my husband,” Ophis added.
“Good,” Brie remarked. “I want the two of you to check every corridor, every room, every corner to make sure there are no more Cylons. Grab some help if you can find any.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” they said in unison and left.
Brie turned her attention to the dying man in her arms. “What’s your name, son?” she asked.
“Corporal Peterson,” he replied weakly. “Major, please...”
“Shhhhhh,” Brie said, not sure what else to say.
“Major, please. I need one last favor.”
“Anything,” Brie promised.
“Tell Captain Amy that I think she’s really pretty. I’m sure you were pretty too, Major, way back when you were young.” With that, Corporal Peterson closed his eyes for the last time. At the beginning of the mission Brie had decided that she didn’t want to know the names of most of the infantry members because their chances of survival were even less than the warrior members of the team. As she gently laid Corporal Peterson’s head on the floor she was regretting that decision.
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Post by LucianG on Apr 23, 2005 14:00:34 GMT -6
Brie There wasn’t much time for sorrows. Corporal Peterson’s body was moved into a side room that Brie realized was to become their makeshift morgue. She was pretty sure that the next person moved in there would be Sergeant Castor. It was ironic, in a sad way, that Castor would be next, he was the closest thing they had to a med tech on this mission. He was bleeding badly and even if they launched at that micron, he probably wouldn’t survive the journey back to the Callisto.
“Major, come quickly!” Brie was beginning to hate those words. This time she had been called by Sergeant Brinfort, manning one of the gunnery stations. Brie hurried to him. “There,” he said, pointing across the dark bay. Brie could see a faint glow in the distance, but it wasn’t red so it probably wasn’t Cylon. “Looks like Nel and Lannis. They’re dragging someone between them.”
Brinfort handed Brie a pair of night-vision goggles. In the greenish glow she could make out three human figures. The one in the middle had his arms around the shoulders of the other two and he was barely walking. “Thanks, Sergeant,” Brie said, handing him back the goggles. “Anything else new here?”
“Nope,” he replied. “My guess is that they’re regrouping, they know we’re in here. We’re ready for them, though.”
“Let me know if there are any changes,” Brie instructed. She left Brinfort and went to the main door. * * * Laser drawn, Brie opened the door to let Corporal Lannis and Private Nel back onto the Pylos. The newly freed former prisoner was with them. He was in bad shape; long, unkempt hair, a beard that had been growing for what looked like yarhens, and he was so thin that his tattered clothes were hanging off of him. Brie had no idea who he was. He was wearing a barely recognizable colonial warrior’s uniform. “Let’s get him into the Captain’s Quarters,” Brie suggested. The man seemed too weak to care.
“He’s delirious,” one of the men said as he helped the man onto the captain’s bed. “Just keeps mumbling.”
“Your name, Private?” Brie asked.
“Nel, Ma’am.”
“And yours?”
“Corporal Lannis, Ma’am. Captain Lazant wanted us to give you a message.”
Brie waited impatiently for several microns. “Yes? The message?”
Lannis looked at Nel. “Oh,” Nel said, embarrassed, “he said he’s still looking for Amy, and for you to still follow the schedule.”
“Thank you, Private. Could you get our friend here some water? I think he could use it. And some emergency rations as well. Both of you go. Give me a few microns.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” they both replied and closed the door behind them.
The former prisoner kept mumbling something. Brie leaned close to try to figure out what he was saying. She noticed something on his torn sleeve, part of a Callisto patch. “It’s okay now,” she said softly. “You’re amongst friends. No one is going to hurt you anymore, I promise.”
The man continued to mumble. Concentrating, Brie was finally able to understand him. “Name: Martinzi. Rank: lieutenant. Home base: Battlestar Callisto. You Cylon scum won’t get anything else out of me.”
“Holy frack,” Brie said quietly. Then she spoke up slightly. “Martinzi? It’s Brie, from Gold Squadron. We thought you were dead!”
“Captain Brie?” Martinzi seemed to vaguely recognize the name. “Brie...Lazant said she’s too close to Lieutenant Colonel Charybdis to bother with.”
Brie smiled. “That’s sounds like Lazant, but a lot has changed since you’ve been gone. It’s now major, and Lazant and I have become friends. In fact, he should be joining us again soon.” There was a knock on the door. “Enter.”
“Ma’am, here’s the water,” Private Nel said. “We ran it through the analyzer just in case, it’s fine. We’ll have the food soon.”
Brie took it from him and nodded. She turned back to Martinzi, but he had curled up in a ball. “Name: Martinzi. Rank: lieutenant. Home base: Battlestar Callisto... Name: Martinzi. Rank: lieutenant. Home base: Battlestar Callisto...” he repeated over and over again.
“I want you to stay with him,” Brie said to Nel. She turned again to Martinzi. “Martinzi, this is Private Nel. He’ll be sitting with you until Lazant gets back.” Brie wasn’t sure that Martinzi had heard, but was sure that he hadn’t understood.
As she turned to go Martinzi grabbed Brie’s injured arm. The pain was almost unbearable. “Will Prisca be with him?” Martinzi asked.
She had to think for a moment before remembering that Prisca had been Lazant’s girlfriend, she had died on Carillon decades earlier. “No,” Brie said sadly, “not this time.” After gently pulling her arm away she left the room. * * * “Hey Brie, when you have a micron,” Curemode called.
Brie glanced at her chrono. They would be leaving in eight centons, with or without Amy and Lazant. “What’s up?”
Curemode sighed. “Briseis and I have been going over some calculations. In order for us to blast out of here as planned, 95% of the energy for the gunnery stations will be used up...if we’re lucky.”
“It depends on how much more we need to use right now,” Briseis added. “The guns have a separate power source from the rest of the ship.”
“So we’ll be leaving here unarmed, followed by Lords know how many Raiders,” Brie said.
Curemode nodded. “There’s another choice, Brie.”
Brie stared at him. “That was for a last resort.”
“This IS our last resort,” Curemode said. “We could take one of the smaller ships out there, set the timer, put the ship on autopilot...”
“What about radiation?” Brie asked.
“We’ll be fine,” Curemode informed her. Then he added with a smile, “as long as we keep the windows and doors shut. This ship is built REALLY well.”
“Okay,” Brie said. “Let me think.” She needed someone who wasn’t injured, so she and Curemode were both out. She also needed someone who would know something about spacecrafts and would be able to easily set the autopilot. Although they were both on loan to the infantry for the duration of the mission, Brie knew she only had two available people who were qualified..."Agelastus and Killjoy. I’ll find them, you fill them in," she said to Curemode and Briseis and took off at a run yet again.
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Post by LucianG on Apr 23, 2005 14:01:37 GMT -6
After looking for half a centon, Brie decided to stop wasting time. Fortunately the internal comm was still working. “Agelastus, Killjoy, drop what you’re doing and get your butts up to the bridge. Now!” In just a few microns they met her there. “You’re about to go on the most important assignment of your careers. Curemode will fill you in.”
After giving them the details of the plan, Curemode pointed out the perfect vessel to use for the operation. “That small shuttle will do nicely. Just plant the bomb, set the timer for...” he looked at Brie.
“Ten centons,” she said.
“Set the autopilot to head right for the door,” Curemode continued. “Then get back here as fast as possible. Keep your eyes open for Cylons, because they know we’re in here and I’m sure that they’re not going to let us leave without a fight. Sergeant Brinfort and his men will cover you from the gunnery stations.”
“I’m going too,” Corporal Briseis said quite unexpectedly.
Agelastus, who had been silent until that micron, spoke up. “No you’re not, it’s too dangerous.”
Ignoring Agelastus, Briseis addressed Brie directly. “Major, neither of them know the Cylon codes that might be needed to open the doors to the shuttle, and they’ll need my help inside, interpreting symbols and the like. This is why I was brought along on this mission.”
“You’re right,” Brie agreed. “Just stay low. And if you shoot, try a little up and to the right. I read your report from the firing range.” * * * Although it was almost pitch black out there, Brie watched out a window in the Pylos as the three lights approached the shuttle. It was a crazy plan, but for the first time she allowed herself the thought that maybe, just maybe, she would survive this mission. She was starting to get a little bit worried about Amy. The two men who had returned with Lieutenant Martinzi had they told her that they hadn’t seen Amy, and that Lazant and Corporal Straves were still looking for her. Brie knew that there had been a firefight of some sort going on, but any more information on it was lost when they had cut the cable to get rid of Baltar.
“Major Brie, Ma’am?” a female voice said from behind, pulling Brie out of her thoughts. She turned to see Private Ophis, along with her husband, Private Talls. “We’ve finished searching the ship,” Ophis continued. “There were a few Cylons still in the landing bay, down on the bottom level. Private Isis was hit, she’s receiving medical attention now. But we got all the Cylons.”
“We think,” Talls whispered in a voice that he probably didn’t realize that Brie could hear.
“I hope so,” Brie said, looking directly at Talls. “I’d hate to get out of here, only to have more surprises along the way.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Talls said, obviously embarrassed.
“Ma’am, one more thing,” Ophis said. “They wanted me to inform you that Sergeant Castor has died. He’s been moved in with Peterson.”
Brie sighed. “Thank you,” she said, then turned to look out the window again. The three lights were no longer visible, meaning that they must be inside the shuttle. “Hurry up, Amy,” she whispered. * * * Time was passing dreadfully fast and dreadfully slow simultaneously. Brie continued to watch out the window as the three lights returned. As they neared the Pylos a group of Cylons came out of hiding and fired several shots before they were shot down by Sergeant Brinfort at one of the gunnery stations. One of the lights moved at a quick, strange angle. It was obvious that someone had been hit.
Brie ran to the door. Killjoy and Agelastus were helping Briseis. She had been shot in the shoulder. She was obviously in a lot of pain, but her injury wasn’t life threatening. They helped her back up to the bridge, where Curemode was able to fashion her a sling to keep her arm still. “You could use one too,” he said to Brie.
“When we’re back on the Callisto,” Brie replied. She didn’t want to admit how much her arm was actually bothering her. “Go ahead and fire her up,” she said, changing the subject to the Pylos. “We need to go as soon as the airlock is opened.”
Several people watched out the window as the autopilot on the shuttle took over and it lifted into the air. Four centons until the explosion. Three until the doors on the Pylos would be sealed, and Amy and her team left behind. * * * With less than two centons left, a group appeared on the far edge on the bay. It was impossible to tell who they were or how many. Brie breathed a sigh of relief. It was short-lived, when she noticed that several people were missing. Three infantry members were there, along with Lieutenants Thunderhawk and Kiwi. “What happened?” Brie asked.
“Purple,” was all that one of the breathless infantry members said.
“They laid down cover for us,” Thunderhawk explained. “Captain Amy and Captain Lazant. They made us go. Deke is with them, he’s in bad shape. The other three members of our original team are dead.”
“Brie, we’re out of time,” Curemode said. He had limped from the bridge. “If we don’t seal the doors now we’re all going to die.”
“Do it,” Brie said with faked strength. She couldn’t believe that they were going to leave Amy, Deke and Lazant behind. * * * With the Pylos sealed up tight, everyone was preparing for takeoff. Lieutenant Kiwi was assigned the co-pilot position with Curemode piloting, Brie stayed on the bridge as well. Somehow she had never pictured herself being commanding a ship like the Pylos. She also kept Captains Agelastus and Killjoy, as well as Lieutenant Thunderhawk on the bridge. She wanted to keep all pilots together, no one knew what to expect from this flying piece of history.
At the same door where the remnants of Amy’s team had entered a grotesque glow started to emerge. Somehow Brie knew it was Cylon, but instead of the familiar red it was purple. “What the frack?” was muttered by several people.
“That’s what we were trying to tell you about, “Thunderhawk said. “They’re some sort of Super-Cylon. They’re actually good shots, and they’re almost indestructible.”
It was obvious what he was talking about. The incredible amount of firepower from the gunnery stations had some effect, but not as much as desired. “Well, they won’t be around once the airlock blows,” Curemode remarked, “which will be in ten...nine...”
Everyone on the bridge joined in, and someone turned on the internal comm, so it was heard all over the ship. “eight...seven...six...five...four...three...two...”
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Post by LucianG on Apr 23, 2005 14:03:18 GMT -6
Lucian "Positive shields!" said the Commander. The forward viewport immediately began to close.
Even as it closed, there was a near-blinding flash as another violent shake rocked the Callisto, as more incoming blasts hit the ship. More damage reports were coming in from forward areas of the ship.
"Main pulsar batteries are down, Commander! Secondary system is down as well," called Swensson. "We're not in range for secondary weaponry."
Sheba looked around, directly into Lucian's eyes. He was surprised, as the look made him feel as if she could see into his soul. "Lucian, go, fix it!"
"Yes, Ma'am!" And he was off at a near run, his hurt knee near forgotten except for the throb.
* * *
As soon as the forward viewport shield latched, the electronic shielding circuits closed, and the Callisto was able to absorb most of the next round of incoming blasts. Fire suppression teams were reporting they were getting most everything under control, but the bad news was only starting.
"Commander, we found the missing BaseShip!" Lieutenant Vishia.
"Yes, it was behind the asteroid," said Sheba. "The shimmer."
"You knew and you didn't let on?" asked Vishia.
"Lieutenant, if we'd let on, we'd have given away our position. We had to hope they wouldn't detect us until it was too late. Unfortunately, their sensors appear to have seen through our cloak."
"It's coming up fast, Commander."
Sheba turned to Major BatGal and asked, "What do we have available to slow it down?"
"Twelve older Vipers, in Alpha Bay," she replied. "They became surplus when we received the replacements from the fleet."
"Who's qualified to fly them?" asked Sheba. BatGal handed her the list. Other than a few Bridge officers, all of whom were needed on the Bridge, Lieutenant Resonat and a few trainees were all that were flight qualified and able bodied.
The Callisto shook again. "Major BatGal, you lead the group. Lieutenant Resonat is ungrounded and is your second. He's now Captain, but tell him that if he doesn't follow orders, he'll never see the outside of the Brig again in my lifetime." She braced herself as another explosion could be heard. As BatGal moved toward the exit, Commander Sheba, reading through the medical restrictions list, called out, "Also, tell Captain Urdea that medical restrictions have just been dropped. He's now considered able bodied if he wants to fly."
"Commander," said Hoxha, "Captain Urdea reports that he's on the way to Alpha Bay."
Sheba looked at the system map. Whereas, just a few centons earlier, the Cylons were in the trap between the bombers and the cloaked Callisto, now the Callisto was in danger of being crushed between two BaseShips. She hoped that the twelve older Vipers and the Warriors flying them would buy the Callisto a little time.
* * * When he arrived at the pulsar battery equipment room, the acrid smoke cut his lungs like a knife. Lucian grabbed a mask from the fire suppression closet, and moved up to the group of fire-suited figures pouring boraton on the smoldering mess. It was obvious to him that the room was a complete loss, despite the fire suppression team’s best efforts. Moving down the corridor, he found a terminal, and accessed ship schematics. He called Swensson and told him to reroute controls to the auxiliary system.
“Done, Lucian, but it’s fried—too,” replied Swensson, grabbing his console to steady himself from a blast.
“I’m going to check on it now,” said Lucian, coughing. “Get Fallel and a team of Engineers down there. I’m hoping that the primary system took the worst of it and that there might be something salvageable down there. Lucian, out.” He let loose another round of savage coughing before moving down the corridor.
He took several steps, then stopped and popped two painkillers in his mouth. His knee was now hurting badly, and the smoke in his lungs was making a bad situation worse. The fan system appeared to be sucking much of the smoke into the ducts where it would be cleaned and recycled. Taking a big dry gulp to swallow the tabs, he continued on his way.
* * *
Major Jorlan’s group had tightened up and put down a wall of fire at the incoming group of Raiders. Operating in a wedge shape, they’d punched a hole through the middle of the line before swinging back to reengage the Raiders, allowing the Scorpion bombers to slip through toward the BaseShip. A few centons later, with the Scorpions well on their way, he noticed on his scanner that the BaseShip appeared to be…moving…back. Even as he noticed that it was firing into the distance, realization that the plan was blown struck him. Expanding the sensor sweep, he picked up the real Callisto and the second BaseShip, along with several Vipers heading toward it, obviously in an attempt to slow it down.
“All Bronze Vipers! Disengage from those Raiders and go for the BaseShip. Repeat, go for the BaseShip. Ten micron turbo burst. Groups two, four, six, and seven, you’ll double back to slow the Raiders at that point while the rest of us go provide cover for those bombers. Force Gamma has trouble, and those bombers are going to need our help if they’re going to get the job done.”
* * *
Twelve Vipers were indeed heading toward what Colonial Intelligence had tagged as BaseShip Three. It had gone missing the cycle before, but reports had it withdrawing rather than repositioning as it had done.
Captain Urdea sat in the seat of a real Viper for the first time in many yahrens. He’d spent centars in the SIM each yahren, keeping his flight status as “Active Reserve but Medically Incapacitated” just in case such an event ever occurred. He had thought long ago that he would never be needed.
He glanced over the controls and said in a low voice, “Joster, ole buddy, your spirit has guided me against the Cylons in the past. If you’re still around, I’d appreciate any help you can give us, because in this fight, I suspect I’m going to need it. Lords be with us!”
* * *
In two other Vipers in the small flight, Major BatGal and Captain Resonat were planning strategy. Since he had studied BaseShips extensively and had spent a great many centars programming the SIMs, BatGal was listening carefully to Nat’s advice. Both Warriors had their warbooks open looking at the diagrams of the BaseShip.
“We’re pretty lucky that they were at a dead stop hiding behind that asteroid,” said Nat. “It will take them a pretty good while to build up to full speed. Since there are only twelve of us, they won’t take us seriously unless we can hit them fast and hard. They’ll know that the chance of us doing serious damage is minimal, so they’ll try to brush by us without even launching any Raiders.” They spent several centons going over critical points that might cause damage, and then Nat continued, “If we can do some damage, they may reevaluate and launch a flight of Raiders to deal with us. Hopefully, that will slow them down; however, in doing that, the Cylon Commander may view them as sacrificial, since his goal is to catch and hit the Callisto.”
“So you’re saying that if they launch and don’t slow down, we have to ignore them and keep chasing the BaseShip while the Raiders chase us?” asked BatGal. “They’ll be able to pick us off from behind, one or two at a time.”
“Unfortunately, that’s about it. If we split our flight into two wings of six, one can stay behind to slow the Raiders while the other chases the BaseShip.”
BatGal protested, “The group that stays behind doesn’t stand a chance—”
But Nat interrupted, “But if neither stays, none of us stand a chance and neither does the Callisto. It’s a true no win situation, Major. I’m feeding the critical attack points to all the Vipers. My flight will be the one to drop back, since, with the exception of yourself, I’ve got the most qualified pilots in my group. Your group should be able to jink enough to avoid their laser fire and deal them some damage to slow them down.”
BatGal thought about overruling Captain Resonat, but his argument was quite logical. “Captain, before we left the Callisto, Commander Sheba had me read your file, your COMPLETE file, so I’d know how to deal with you out here and know how to understand your thought processes. I wish I’d had time to study it more, but I think I know your motivation. Don’t think about what happened in the past, Nat. Think about here and now. Do your best, Captain, and you’ll bring those Warriors home.”
She switched to another channel where she could be heard by all ships in the group. “Wing Omega One, reset your laser generators to maximum firepower. You’ll loose firing speed, but your hits will do more damage. Therefore, don’t miss! Targets are locked in your system. Do the dance to avoid their fire, and take out the vulnerable points as they flash on your heads-up screen.”
Nat took over for Wing Omega Two. “Keep your gens on standard. You won’t get the punch that Omega One is getting, but when it comes to knocking out Raiders, you won’t need any extra.”
“Contact in two centons,” said BatGal, carefully studying the approaching BaseShip.
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Post by LucianG on Apr 23, 2005 14:04:43 GMT -6
Lucian The first flight of Scorpion bombers loosed their assault missiles, and then laid on the laser fire. Multiple crisscrossing blasts from the BaseShip cut through the group of ten missiles spiraling toward the ship, killing all but two which continued on their way. Jorlan, called out, “Scorpion Flights Two and Three, hold your fire. Get closer before letting fly!”
“Got that, Bronze Leader,” said one of the Flight Leaders as the last two missiles exploded well short of the BaseShip. “Flight Two, let’s take it in closer and send it right down their throat,” she said.
* * *
Lucian had pulled a panel and was checking current across the smoldering components. “Replace all of these,” he ordered, “Quickly!”
His fingers flew across the terminal, as he reviewed the schematics. Control systems weren’t anywhere close to his favorite thing, but he’d been forced to learn more about them over the yahrens on the O-9 than he’d ever desired. As he turned, a blast from the rear of the ship knocked him sideways as his knee buckled.
“Major, the other BaseShip has closed to within firing range and they’re targeting our engines.”
“Get the assessment and fire suppression teams in that area to see what’s happened. They should be able to give us a damage report by the time we get there. Let’s catch the people mover and get back there to see what needs to be done.” Despite himself, he grinned as he said, “And, oh, it’s Captain.”
* * *
“Main pulsar auxiliary control is responsive, Commander!” said Captain Swensson. “Initiating firing sequence.”
“Fire at will, Captain. And make those shots count.”
* * *
The first pulsar blasts from the rear BaseShip had vaporized one of BatGal’s wingmates on its way to striking the rear of the Callisto. All the rest of the Warriors from both wings immediately began dodging and firing at the approaching BaseShip. As they did, a number of small explosions could be seen at various critical points, but the ship came on, as if a stampeding beast ignoring insects swarming around it. BatGal aimed a shot at one of the upper pulsar batteries, knocking it out as Captain Urdea, beginning to get in the swing of things, took out one of their lateral control units. Nat and several members of his wing were placing random shots causing many small explosions but no significant damage to the ship. Still, the number of hits within such a short period must have spooked the Cylon Commander who ordered launch bays open and 30 Raiders out. The ship slowed slightly as they emerged, swinging toward the Vipers. * * * Flight Two was nearing the BaseShip known by the Colonials as Four. One ship had been lost only microns prior to the missile launch order, so eight heavy missiles flew forward and slammed into the ship moments later. All four ships concentrated laser fire on the ship, and Flight Three loosed its complement only microns after the first group struck. The heavy bombardment forced the Cylon commander to redirect its attack at the closer target, leaving the Callisto, for at least a few moments, free of attack from the front.
* * *
“Firing One! Firing Two!” said Swensson. The blasts struck BaseShip Four, and left large portions of the upper saucer damaged, knocking the upper pulsars out of commission. “Hit it again,” ordered Sheba calmly, “same area. Let’s cut through their ship.”
“Firing in 10 microns, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 micron. Fire One! Fire Two!” said Swensson with a smile. “Now, let’s give them some more!”
Yet the Colonials weren’t the only ones giving damage. Another explosion rocked the Callisto as yet another blast struck the ship from behind.
* * *
“Time to go, Omega One. We’ll take it from here,” said Captain Resonat. As he said this, he spun his Viper in curve that, according to the Viper’s specifications, was technically impossible. His lasers lanced out and three Raiders exploded. As he steadied his ship, he sent another into a brief fireball, and then was saddened to see his own wingman’s Viper explode as the Warrior had closed on his position. Flipping BatGal’s command frequency, he said in a steady voice, “Stay with them Omega One. We’re doing fine. Pound them. Pound them!”
* * *
Fires were raging in a number of engine compartments. Bulkheads were sealed, yet oxygen was still seeping into the area from damaged pipes, feeding the flames. Emergency Med Techs were ministering to several wounded crewmembers in the corridor as Lucian arrived. The smell of burned flesh was sickening, but he soon realized that it wasn't all the wounded. Foil sheets covered three bodies along the side of the corridor.
“It’s spreading, Major Lucian! We’ve already lost two bulkheads, and we’re in danger of loosing multiple piping systems,” reported one of the assessment officers. “Fire suppression teams can’t do this. It’s too hot and there’s not adequate chemicals. We've already lost several people in there. These out here are just the ones were were able to get out.”
“Are these bulkheads okay?” asked Lucian, pointing to several areas surrounding the growing area of damage.
“For now, but we may only have centons, Sir.”
“Get teams to shut off flow to all these pipes. We’re going to blow these outer hatches and snuff those flames,” said Lucian, as he pointed to several locations on the diagram spread in front of them.
“But Sir, if those bulkheads fail, we’ll loose, at least, our ability to jump, if not our ability to move at all. Everyone else in this corridor will be killed, too.”
“Then you’d better pray they don’t fail,” said Lucian coldly.
* * *
A second Viper in the little Omega Two wing exploded, but as it did, two Raiders collided leading to an even larger explosion. "Nice move, Ensign Dar," said Nat to himself as he triggered another shot, taking out another one himself. "Every move counts, and yours did."
A moment later, there was a shout for help, but Nat was too far away. Ensign Eusai, who was much closer, said, "Coming Dar!" and fired off a shot taking out the first Raider in the pursuing group, but the second one blasted her ship into bits without her making another sound that could be heard by the others. Nat heard Dar sob, "She saved me, but bought it herself!"
"Steady, Dar, remember your training. You can do this. Don't let Eusai's sacrifice be in vain, Dar," replied Nat. "Some heroes die, that others may live." Switching to an open channel that could be heard by even the Cylons, he began to recite a Colonial battle hymn, sometimes used as a dirge at the funeral of fallen Warriors. He interrupted it frequently to give orders to his remaining two companions as they continued the fight:
"Some heroes choose to bravely give their all, To fight the good fight but in battle fall, For our friends, family, people, and fleet, They give up their lives for Cylon defeat.
Some heroes die...."
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