CHAPTER 12--UNEASY ALLIANCE

[LucianG]

<Note: Many thanks to Astraea for her help in collecting this chapter from its original home on the SciFi board.>

LucianG

As the Black Squadron Vipers and shuttle and the Silver Spar bombers made their way toward the planet after their assault on the Cylon colony, they were contacted by Gastonovia Control. Special guest controller Lieutenant Cain welcomed the group and relayed information on landing in the human colony on Frodar Epsilon.

Even as the group was returning, Colonel Brie and Commander Tolar had been formulating their defense of the planet. Tolar dispatched his 25 usable pod ships under the command of Captain Jorlon to position themselves in orbit around Khalorra, the moon that those from the Callisto called Alpha.

When the forces from the Callisto landed, they were quickly refueled, and several Mechs began pouring over the peripheral attachments on the wings of the bombers. Within a few moments, one reported to Buellah, Brie, and Tolar, saying, “Colonel, right you are. These should fit if the nibs we grind flush. The control wiring we change, too, yes?”

Tolar looked at Buellah, who nodded, then replied, “Do it, Sergeant. We will need every ship we can get to head off the Cylon forces.”

Within microns, the connections were being modified by a swarm of Mechs. In short order, carts containing long tubes were being pulled out and fitted to the underside of the bombers wings.

“Captain Buellah, these missiles probably aren’t as high tech as what you have now, but with eight per bomber coming at them, you may be able to scare the waste-oil out of our tin friends. At least it will act as a distraction to let our pod ships get as close as possible before the Cylons engage them. Based on the data Colonel Brie has shared with me, our ships aren’t nearly as maneuverable or as fast as the current version of the Raiders, but if we can surprise them, we can cut into their numbers to make the battle a little more even.”

Lieutenant Merak stepped up to Brie and asked, “Colonel, what about the shuttles. They don’t have much armament, but—”

“No, Lieutenant. We’re not going to risk Warriors in shuttles against Raiders. The chance of you hitting anything is pretty small, and the chance of them hitting you is almost one hundred percent. It’s just not worth it. Prepare the shuttles to accept evacuees immediately on the return of the Callisto.”

A short distance away, Lieutenants Kris, Lusitan, and Wendy sat on a crate. Their sight was now only blurry, but they were still in no condition to fly or fight. Ensign Arianna, who had been preparing to launch her Viper, came over to say hello and check on them. When she heard about their vision problems, she asked, “Why not go check with Jarrynn? She can fix you up in no time.”

Kris looked up at the blurry figure in front of her, and said excitedly, “My sister is here? Where? Can someone take us to her?”

“The nurse?” asked one of the Mechs nearby. “Take you there, I will. Come.”

Within twenty centons, ten Vipers and six bombers left Frodar Epsilon, heading to their encounter with sixty incoming Cylon Raiders. All of the Warriors had been warned that they would be on their own. The Callisto was far too far away to be of any assistance in this battle. Unknown to anyone in the attack group, the Callisto was having enough problems of its own anyway.

Holodoc2000

Things in MedLab were quiet at the moment for Holodoc. She had spent about half of her duty shift getting things set up there in MedLab for the upcoming battle to make sure that things were ready for any injuries that would come into MedLab. She didn't have anyone to talk to at the moment. Jarrynn went out on a mission as the Med Tech & Holodoc prayed that things went well for her during the time she was off on the mission. Holodoc had no clue as to where Doc Bkj was at the moment, for she was rarely in MedLab it seemed like these days. Holodoc then started thinking about Anubis & if he was doing alright on the current mission he was on right then. She knew that he hadn't had time to fully heal before he ended up having to go back on active duty & was assigned to the mission.

Holodoc picked up Isis from the bed that she had settled on there in MedLab to snooze & walked over to her sleeping area there in MedLab. Holodoc kept Jadzia, BrieCORA, & Abby Tabby with her there in MedLab when she was on duty & they were over in her sleeping area at the moment.

Holodoc goes into her sleeping area & sits down on her bed & when she does, Jadzia, BrieCORA, & Abby Tabby jump up onto the bed wanting a little attention from Holodoc. Holodoc smiles & plays with them & Isis.

Holodoc was still playing with Jadzia, Isis, Abby Tabby, & BrieCORA there in her sleeping area in MedLab when she starts thinking that maybe she better go ahead & get some rest since once any injuried warriors started coming in for treatment it would be awhile before she would get any rest.

Holodoc curles up on her bed with Jadzia, Isis, Abby Tabby, & BrieCORA still on the bed with her. As she starts drifting off to sleep Holodoc starts thinking about Anubis & prays for his safe return to her. She didn't want to lose him, for she had already lost so much in her life.

Randrius3473

Randrius and his group join up with Black squadron after a quick refuel and not a moment too late either. Moments after his group forms up, the Vipers in front get into firing range on the Raiders.
He triggered his laser on a Raider coming in for a head-to-head run.
By now, Black squadron had broken up to pursue individual targets. Randrius broke after a group of three Raiders. Those Raiders suddenly doubled back on him.
"Oh frack," he sent his ship into a dive, Cylon fire flew over just above him. He whipped around to get onto the rear of one, while another got on his rear. As he performed evasive manuevers, he triggered a burst of fire that caught the Raider in front of him right in the engine, he exploded brilliantly. He activated one of his fighter many modifications, a small, rear-pointing laser. The bolts from this weapons blasted straight into the cockpit, frying the Cylon themselves. The ship careened off into space. The third craft dived in at him from above. Randrius rolled and dived to starboard. The Raider followed firing as it came. Randrius decelerated suddenly and the Cylons, unprepared for such a change, overshot him. That turned into the last thing they ever did.
Randrius cruised on the outskirts of the fray, searching for more targets.

Merak

Lieutenant Merak stepped up to Brie and asked, “Colonel, what about the shuttles. They don’t have much armament, but—”

“No, Lieutenant. We’re not going to risk Warriors in shuttles against Raiders. The chance of you hitting anything is pretty small, and the chance of them hitting you is almost one hundred percent. It’s just not worth it. Prepare the shuttles to accept evacuees immediately on the return of the Callisto.”

Yes, of course your right Colonel, I'm on it.

Lt. Merak rushes off, grabing help to prepare the shuttles to evacuate the base, Hoping there will be someplace to evacuate to...

MedievalSong

I walked with Wendy and Lusitan and the guide to see Jarrynn.
"Nurse you have patients. Problems with their eyes. One says she is your sister." Jarrynn spun around fast and looked our way.
"Kris? Wendy? Lusitan? What happened guys?"
"Well see Jarrynn, they got mad at us and blew up something. The glare got to us while we were on top of the ram."
"How are you eyes now?" She was shining her light in to see the reaction of the pupils. She looked at all of us as we still sat there.
"Its still real bright and fuzzy. Can't see much." Lusitan said.
"That goes double here." Wendy added.
"Kris you too?" Jarrynn asked.
"Yeah, me three. And quit looking at me like that!"
"I thought you said you couldn't see well."
"Yeah well I am your twin and that is different. I know you too well." The others started to snicker.
"Well you three, its gonna take time to wear off but you should be fine. I don't see any permanent damage. Just stick together. Stay in here so I can keep an eye on you."
She moved us to a corner. To the others I asked,
"So now what do we do?"

EnsignWendy

As the 3 sat there in the med area, Trying to focus on one another, Kris said "this is going to be so hard sitting here, them tin cans are out there and here we are sitting here like sedated Lupus's".

Lusitan looked up looking forlorn and stated "yeah i know what you mean but what can we do?"

Wendy said "we want some action, i for one can't sit here doing nothing while are friends and family are having thier butts kicked by those darn cylons."

Jarryn hearing this conversation, looked over at her sister Kris and interrupted by saying. "don't even thick about trying to do something i'm not going to some tribunal where my sister and her friends are brought up on charges,"

This comment quieted the trio and they went back to looking despondent again.

5 centons later Wendy broke the silence by saying my sight is beginning to get clearer, what about you two.?"

[LucianG]

Amy81

I literally had to shake my head to free it from the aftereffects of my nightmare. I could still hear the whine of the explosive in my ears, could still feel my viper going to pieces around me, the flames burning me, my lungs bursting as I was flung out into the elements at high speed, the empty, cold blackness of space ready to suffocate me if I didn’t burn to death or get squashed like a bug first…

Damn! I didn’t shake the aftereffects, did I? I sat there on my bunk, actually happy to be alive. It had been too real. I breathed in deeply, letting the air escape my lungs slowly in a hiss between my teeth. I smoothed back my hair, undecided about what to do.

Actually, there was nothing TO do. I had made a pretty good mess of things, again. I had ducked out on friends that needed me by resigning. It had been so easy to do. How selfish could I have been? With nothing going on at the time, it had been easy. I didn’t think of the consequences, of how I’d feel when the time came that my friends were out there, fighting, dying, to save the butt of a little old quitter like me. I didn’t deserve saving. I felt pretty useless.

There wasn’t much to do but bury it in self-pity. I could go up to the observation deck, and press my nose against the glass, staring cross-eyed at the solid metal shielding that covered the view. That would be real constructive. I could pine away, waiting for Charybdis to return, so I could swoon in his arms and marvel at his bravery, the chicken-nuts that I was. They were all out there. Captain Brie, Najinn, Randrius, Jarrynn, and countless others that were much braver than I was.

Frack!

I left the barracks, a civilian disguised as a warrior, a disgrace to the uniform. I had nerve even trying the thing back on again. How many wouldn’t come back? Who might have lived if I had been out there? Tons of consequences that never had even entered my fool selfish head when I had resigned came to me in a torrent now. Washing over me, burying me.

I made for the officer’s club. I knew how to make the time go by. I wouldn’t even be aware of it by the time it was over. It’d be hell then to see how it turned out, but I’d face that when the time came. Walking into the club, I found it pretty much deserted, how I’d expected it to be. The bartender waved at me, and I forced myself to grin and waved back as I made my way to the bar.

“Hey dollface” the bartender greeted me. Not many Lieutenants get greeted that way, nor many bartenders would survive the attempt, but I went back a bit with Ross.

“Hey Ross” I smiled back. “I need a bottle to go.”

“Something on your mind besides hair?” he asked. He was always willing to talk to anyone, especially if he saw the signs of depression. He saw them a lot. I didn’t realize mine was showing.

“Naw. Just looking for some solitude. I got engaged today, know that?”

“Congrats, ladyfriend! Who’s the lucky man? Najinn?” He realized he guessed wrong as soon as he said it. “Charybdis?” He watched me nod affirmative. “Hey listen, Amy, I’m sorry. But word got around, I thought you and Charybdis were done.”

“Far from it, it turns out.”

“So why the gloom and doom?”

I sighed. “Great way to spend the night. Worrying about my fiancée and dozens more while I sit around waiting for them to save my ass.” He grunted a half laugh at that, and passed over the bottle.

“Take care, Ross” I said as I turned to leave. He gave me a ‘you too’ as I looked around the club once more. I spotted a lone warrior in a corner, looking scared out of his wits. I walked over to him. As I got closer I recognized him to be a cadet. Frequently the club was open to trainees and other non-active personnel during battle conditions. The club was well insulated and one of the safer places on board.

“Hey” I said.

He looked up, then stiffened at the sight of my uniform. I smiled. “Relax, cadet. Got a name?”

“Dolet” he said. “Cadet Dolet.” He was literally shaking in his boots. “I hate this. Really hate this. Toss me in the brig if you want. I’m just not cut out for this.”

“Relax” I repeated. “I’m not exactly on duty here. Forget the uni, I’m Amy.” He smiled a little, then went back to shaking. I smiled my best friendly smile at him, but it was wasted. This guy was a wreck.

I slid into the booth opposite him. “I got a great idea. I’ve got this huge bottle, and we both have enough misery between us to choke a horse. I have a great place where we can hole up and wait this thing out. You game?”

He looked at me like it was a joke, or a trap, or something. I smiled at him. “Well, I’M going”, I said. I got up and made for the exit. After a moment, I heard him get up and follow. If he thought things were weird now, wait until he saw my destination- Captain Brie’s quarters! All I wanted was to get out of sight and bury my overactive brain in grog, and the idea of company oddly sounded great. Actually, it wasn’t so odd. You know what they say about misery…it loves company.

Charybdis

The two vipers streaked by themselves in the blackness of space. Far away could be seen some of the planets in the system, but nothing else. I wondered how many would have to die today?

At full turbo, Lt. Skyler and myself had gotten the frack out of there fast. We would need to keep up this pace if we were to get back to the Callisto in just under 2 centars.
We still didn't really know if Skyler's viper had enough fuel to make it. And running turbos for 2 centars was not standard operating procedure for the vipers. Who knew what condition they would be in once we got back? The engines would need to be serviced quickly in order to get them back in operational status.

I heard Skyler suggest that I go back and rejoin the fight, but if any Cylon force changed course, they could be right on top of him and he would be dead for sure without the capacity to manouver. Anything more than a gentle curve would probably kill Najinn. I'm surprised he even survived the launch and turbo boost. But Najinn was hanging in there.

"sorry, Skyler, I'm not going anywhere. Besides, once we get to the Callisto, I don't think we need any of them to leave that battle to shepherd us in. They need all the help they can get without having to worry about us. Switch over to scrambled code channel, that way we can communicate without the Cylons able to track us. Switch now."

After the comm switch, Skyer went on, "I feel so helpless. I can't believe that Najinn is stuffed in here behind my seat! I can hear his heart monitor and it sounds OK. Started getting a little fast on takeoff."

"You're doing just fine. Just hold her steady. Don't manouver at all. The course should take us to where the Callisto is supposed to be, but in a battle there's going to be some manouvering, so once we get there you'd better be careful. We'll try to track her once we get near enough. Then we can set a straight course vector. I'll keep your six cleared."

"Sounds good to me... It's incredible how beautiful it is out here, but so deadly," Skyler said.

"I know what you mean. We need to take in the beauty while we have it, I guess, every centon of it" I responded. "We need to get all the happiness we can. Which reminds me, how about you and Lt. Mara? When are you two getting sealed?"

Skyer replied that they had not yet set the date but once she recovered fully they would talk about it. He added, "how about you, Colonel? You holding up alright?"

"Yeah, I'm doing just fine now..." It was at that moment that I realized that I had not had the time to tell anyone that Amy had accepted my proposal. Skyler and I had gone back a long way. "Well, actually there is some news, Skyler. You're the first to hear about this, but Lt. Amy accepted my sealing proposal and we are to be sealed once we reach the fleet."

Skyler's jaw dropped open. I could clearly see it from my cockpit. "Wow! I didn't even know that you two were together. Not that I'm...I..that's great!"

"Well, I started thinking that once you find that happiness, you don't let it go. I couldn't let her go."

"I know what you mean, Colonel." replied Skyler. The questions began to creep into his mind now, this mission, the rescue of Lt. Najinn. Here they were risking everything to get Najinn back to the Callisto to save his life all the while Charybdis knew full well that Najinn was in competition for Amy's affections. However, he believed all that must have been settled by the fact that Amy had accepted the proposal. He decided he'd let the matter rest.

"How much longer?" he asked.

"About 1.2 centars. Keep scanners on and keep your eyes open just in case."

The trip seemed to take forever, and Najinn's breathing began to get a bit labored, the trip was taking its toll on him. I just hoped he wouldn't have to pay the full price.

I wasn't too keen on the young Lieutenant, given our past history with a certain beautiful young Warrior, but he didn't deserve to die, no matter what I thought of him personally.

The two vipers slid through space to their mother ship on the continuing journey...

Lt_Skyler

Skyler doubled check Najinn's vitals on the make shift monitors the med techs had installed. He was still doing ok, but how much longer could he hold out crammed in the storage area of a viper. The added weight would be a drag on the Viper's fuel, but if they could hold a straight course, and not have to evade cylons, they should make it....if the Callisto was where she was suposed to be according to the plans Charybdis had when he left.

He hated risking Najinn on so many uncertain factors, but it was his only chance. He was just glad that the life support equipment didn't have a comm unit, or the news of Charybdis and Amy's sealing might have finished him off.

"Col, the fuel consumption is better than the computer predicted. Barring unforseen problems, we should be ok in that area, but we won't have a lot to play around with when we get there."

"I am releived to hear that Skyler. I was really worring you would run out short of the Callisto and have to be towed in. I am not sure Najinn could handly that rough a landing."

"I know what you mean Col. A normal landing is going to be bad enough on him in his condition, which the monitors shows as stable."

"As stable as being crammed behind a Viper seat can get." Charybdis added.

[LucianG]

Hawke14

I reach the launch bay and a tech comes up to me. "Hawke,what in hades are you doing here?" "I hear they need viper pilots in this battle." "Yes, CERTIFIED... You had yours..." "Revoked at the inquisition...I know. Tell it to the Commander. I'm going regardless. They need all the viper pilots up there. And regardless of my title,I'm still a viper pilot. NOBODY can tell me otherwise. How many base stars are we dealing with?" I asked. "I don't know. Nobody ever tells us anything down here." He said. "Great." I head to my viper and do the pre-flight check. Nothing has been touched. I was vaguely surprised that my viper was already fueled and loaded with ammo. "Good luck Hawke. May the lords of Kobol be with you."It was the tech. "May they be with us all." I told him. I bring flip the switches necessary to bring the viper to life. I put on my helmet and close the cockpit. I hit the thrust stud. "YEEEEEEEEHAAAAA!!!!" I yell... DAMN! It felt good to be in my viper again!

As I come out of the launch tube I see a Cylon raider heading directly for the launch tubes. "Oh no you don't!!" I hit the fire button and he explodes in a ball of molten fire. "Unidentified viper identify yourself!!" It was the commander! "Uhh it's Hawke ma'am..." "Switch to secure channel Alpha." I switch to the channel. "I'm here ma'am." "Hawke what the hell are you doing?" "I'm trying to save my home battlestar ma'am." "You are not certified to fly a viper. You are a SECURITY officer." "I'm securing our battlestar from Cylon forces ma'am. Look, I'm a viper pilot. You need viper pilots. PLEASE don't stop me." "Against my better judgement I'll allow it,seeing we need EVERY viper out there." "Thanks Ma'am.. Hawke out."
I switch back to combat channel and I hear Krissy yelling "He's on me tight! I can't shake him!!" "Hold on Krissy, I'm on him." I say. "Hawke? What are you doing out here?"She asks. I bring my viper around and spot Krissy's viper. "Right here you slimy son of a..." I fire at the cylon ship. It blows up real pretty. "Thanks Hawke." "No Problem."

Amy81

I opened my eyes slowly. Ooh, man my head! I always seem to forget what lies at the other end of a few drinks. The good thing was, I couldn’t remember why I had started drinking, though I’m sure it would come back to me soon enough. Bad thing was, the fracking room wouldn’t stop spinning!

What time was it? Damn if I knew. I raised my head up slowly, trying not to move against the spin, but liked it better with my head back. I lowered it gently. I pulled my covers up higher, thinking about just pulling them right over my head and—covers?? I felt a very sober wave flush through me. Again I raised my head up. Jeez! This wasn’t a sheet; it was Captain Brie’s Colonial flag, which usually hung formally from a pole behind her desk. Oh frack, I was ON her desk.

I rolled off of it like it was a red-hot burner. I held the flag around my shoulders, trying to keep it off the ground. The floor tilted with my sudden motion, and I found myself also trying to keep the flag from the contents of my stomach as I hit my knees. It took a lot of effort to keep from throwing up, but I managed to keep from making a big mess. Looking around, I could see enough of a mess already!

I slowly got to my feet, noting on the way up that I was no longer wearing my uniform. Somewhere along the way I had changed back into civilian clothes. But when? Damn, this grog wasn’t that strong. Must have been a reaction to some medicine my body hadn’t gotten rid of yet. And where exactly did cadet Dolet go? I tried to think, but the room began to spin again.

Well, until I found him, I wasn’t going to tell anyone about this one. I didn’t even know what to tell, anyway. If someone saw the mess I’d think of something. I knew Dolet was pretty skittish about being here. He probably hightailed it as soon as I got too bombed to notice. That must be it. And without a handy sheet, he must have covered me with the flag. It made sense. There probably was a very funny story behind this. Only Brie wouldn’t be laughing if she saw her place like this. I’d straighten up, but only after the room showed a little cooperation by not spinning so much.

Brie! Frack, now I remembered. How was the battle going? Well, my biggest battle right now was trying to stand without looking like I was fighting a strong breeze. Ugh. I’d rather be in a viper. Which was the whole problem to start with, come to think of it.

Charybdis

The centar dragged on and on it seemed. Skyler and I would be getting in range of the battle within a few more centons. With full turbos pounding out from the engines, the noise and vibration that seem so comfortable usually, began to really take its toll.

THe doctors say that the excessive noise and vibration from prolonged use of the thrusters causes a condition known as Turbine or Turbo Trance. It lulls the pilot into an hypnotic state whereby he loses any kind of reference and winds up spinning out of control. It can end in death if you're not careful. At the very least, it can cause severe headaches.

My mind started swimming with thoughts of reaching the Callisto. Reaching Amy. I was doing OK, I hadn't seen any Cylons yet, but I began to think of what was happening ahead onboard the ship. After all, the Callisto was locked in a heated life or death fight with two Cylon ships!

I tried not to think of the danger they were all in...the danger that Amy was in. I remembered how happy she was when she answered my proposal. How happy she made me.

I hoped that even through all the chaos, she had time to think about some of the happier things like where she wanted to have the ceremony, who she wanted to invite, the dress she would wear. Even who she wanted to perform the ceremony for us.

A smile crossed my lips. I was at peace for a just a few microns.

I looked over to my right and saw Skyler's viper alongside. He seemed to be doing OK, we had fallen silent over the last few centons and were just flying along.

Suddenly, those fears came back into my mind. Not fears really. More a nervousness that comes to the body when something isn't right. When you're just about to fly right into the middle of one of the biggest firefights there is.

BEEP!!! My scanner sounded and flashed the coordinates to the Callisto as we came into range.

Here we go...

SiressEden

Lt. Siress Eden checked her scanner, she didn't like what she saw. A large group of Cylon raiders appeared to be headed to Frodar Epsilon and a yet another, smaller group of about 10 were headed toward the squadron. "Well," she said to herself, "we knew this wasn't go to be easy". Lt. Eden turned to where the Callisto was supposed to be and was shocked to find that she was visible. "Lt. Talon,do you..." she shouted into her comm link. "Yes, I see her too. And whats more is that she has been in firing range of the basestar and hasn't used her pulse weapon, I think they are in trouble!"

"Frack!" was the best response Lt. Eden could think of at the moment. Three problems to deal with. Well at the moment all she could hope was that Black Squadron was going to take care of the raiders heading to Frodar Epsilon, she would have to check in with the Callisto, but first, deal with these approaching raiders. Just as she spoke, a zap of bright light from the raiders laser shot came dangerously close to her viper.

"Evasive actions" she shouted to the squadron. "Lt. Talon and Ensign CloudyWizzard, drop to the right go around and approach them from the side. I and Ensign Kellyn will drop left, maybe we can outflank them and catch them by surprise. We are outnimbered by more than 2:1. Watch out for each other. Good luck warriors, get to work and dispose of these raiders!"

CloudyWizzard

Oh DARN !
As you might know I have little Fight experience (this is my first real battle and I havn't had much practice in the sim.) So if there are some Black Squadron vipers that can come to our assistance it would be greatly apreciated. But if not wel lets pray we all get out of this alive.

Oh no I've got a raider on my 6 and can't shake him (Why don't all vipers have a rear-faced weapon).

Well if we make it alive I'll by you guys a drink in the bar.

and for now "BANZAAI !!"

ThunderHawk

"Sorry, I got hung up back there. That Cylon and I had to see eye to eye. I'll get the viper behind you !"

Sweeping down and to the left, blast fired from ThunderHawk's viper blased the raider in half that was trailing Cloudy Wizzard. Two more blasts from a cylon raider just to the right reminded me were just beginning.

CloudyWizzard

Phew ...
That was close ! Thanks Thunderhawk, Now let's kick some Cylon Butt !

Kellyn

Kellyn didn't like the odds.She was terrified but she knew if she gave into that feeling now it would be the end for her and leave her wingmate vulnerable.

She took a deep breath and focused her thoughts on the task at hand.She easily took out two raiders and it appeard they had about cleaned up that vicinity."Where to now?" she asked SiressEden over the comm.

Brie

Sleep had been short and not-at-all-sweet for Brie. Thoughts of Najin and the dead guard plagued her thoughts and her dreams. She found that she was actually relieved when she was sent for.

Brie had been tempted to take the shuttle into the battle before Lt. Merak had said anything to her, but she knew it would be suicide. She didn't mind risking her life, but not for something stupid. She also considered trying to talk Tolar into letting her take one of the pods, but she knew that wouldn't work either. Although she was a better pilot than anyone from Gastonovia, she wasn't familiar with their ships or the other pilots. She knew she had to wait on the ground and help plan strategy. The longer she helped, the more she hated it. In her head she started to think about what she would tell Charybdis the next time he tried to talk her into moving up to the bridge of the Callisto.

The thought of Charybdis brought her mind back to Najin. Was he still alive? Were Skyler and Charybdis? What if they had run into Cylons? She refused to continue with those thoughts. Charybdis said they would send word IF they were able. Not having heard didn't mean a thing.

It bothered Brie that she was stuck on some stupid planet while her squadron was out fighting. She knew that Lt. Eden would do an admirable job leading the squadron, but it just didn't seem right. Another strange thought entered her head. With the shortage of vipers, someone would be flying hers. That didn't seem right either. There was also a shortage of pilots. They would be calling up cadets, cadets who weren't experienced enough to be risking their lives. What about Amy? She was a darn good pilot, but she had resigned. Would she step up and fight again? Would Amy and Brie ever have a chance to be room-mates? The thought of that made Brie almost smile, they had become close in so short a time. She hoped that Amy was taking good care of things, Brie hated a messy room.

"Colonel Brie," Commander Tolar said. Suddenly she was back in the present, back on Gastonovia, back where she needed to be at that moment.

[LucianG]

LucianG

Sixty Cylon Raiders were closing in for their planned attack on Frodar Epsilon. The four Gold Squadron Vipers, six Black Squadron Vipers, and six quickly modified Silver Spar Squadron bombers prepared to launch. The plan was to meet the Raiders in the vicinity of the moon Alpha. Twenty-five Colonial pod ships were currently hiding in stationary orbit on the back side of the moon, just over the horizon, ready to spring their trap on the incoming Raiders.

* * *

Cylon Base-Star “One” continued to move away from the crippled Base-Star “Two,” with a group of Raiders chasing after it. Even as it moved, Raiders were beginning to pour out of the launch bays. As they closed to within firing range of the Base-Star, Major Lucian began urging the Black Squadron Wings to pick off as many of the Raiders as they emerged as possible, since even shots that missed would still most likely hit the Base-Star.

Lucian didn’t really have time to reflect on all the things that had happened in the final few centons before launch. The squadron had gotten two new ensigns assigned even as most of the Warriors were already strapped in their Vipers. Rather than try to adjust the wing assignments, he did the simplest thing possible. He’d assigned one new Ensign to fly with him, and another with Lieutenant BatGal, increasing the size of Black Ice Wing to eight members for this battle. Now, as they streaked toward “One,” Ensign Rose, who had had to launch from Alpha Bay in a borrowed Viper (strangely enough having a pair of fuzzy dice hanging from the canopy!) was tucked in just to the left and rear of Major Lucian. Ensign Va’seal, the other new Black Squadron Warrior who was also flying a borrowed Viper, was positioned similarly with Lieutenant BatGal.

Diving in on the Base-Star, targeting computers began to lock on the emerging ships, and the Warriors began to fire. At the same time, the Base-Star’s laser batteries kicked into play, firing at the numerous incoming Vipers.

“Hold on, Rose! Fire when you get a lock on a Raider, but just fire on the launch bay. You don’t have to lock on it—WOW—that was close!”

Jinking slightly to make it more difficult for the Cylons to target them, the Vipers continued on toward their targets. Lucian didn’t have time to explain to the new Warriors about secondary explosions. He knew that Captain Lazant and Lieutenant Nat would never have sent them into battle without having some understanding of the importance of SE’s, but, as he’d explained and stressed in the Black Squadron briefing, the SE’s could mean the difference in winning and losing this battle.

“Fire fire fire!” he said to Rose as they streaked to and past the optimal firing point for the launch bay. BatGal and Va’seal swung by a couple of microns later, punching in more laser fire. The other Black Ice Vipers followed, doing the same, in quick succession. Still, there were no secondary explosions, and numerous Raiders continued to emerge from their nests. The members of Black Ice swung around to make another pass.

* * *

Lieutenant MaraJade had sent the solonite missiles streaking into the side of “Two,” but she’d been disappointed to see minimal effects. One of the bridge officers acting as an observer said, “No major effects, no secondary explosions. Suggest targeting with laser cannons, with follow-up by additional bank of missiles.”

“Do it,” said Sheba. “Target forward laser cannons and fire. MaraJade, send them another ten from Bank Two plus ten more from Bank Five. Fire!”

“Any word on the status of that Pulsar Cannon? Any chance?”

“No, Ma’am. Preliminary report has been confirmed. We took our one and only shot with it. Generator is completely fused. They’re still putting out the fire, but it’s under control.

On the scanners, the Cylons had already pumped close to two hundred Raiders out of their ships, so the Vipers were already outnumbered about two to one. Some were now closing on the Callisto, so laser batteries were active, taking shots where possible. With Base-Star “One” pulling away, Sheba made a painful decision. The plan had been to dispatch “Two” on the initial attack, then be able to pound on “One” with all weapons. Now, “Two” was crippled but still fighting, and “One” was trying to turn the tide by putting out all of its Raiders. The Callisto, Gold Squadron, and the Dashers from the Training Academy would have to finish off “Two,” while Black Squadron and the bridge officer volunteers would continue to attack “One” and drive it away. Sheba issued the orders. Maybe the Callisto could slug it out with “One” after “Two” was space dust. Maybe….

BSGRose

While in the heat of battle, Ensign Rose starts thinking to herself, there ain't nothing like being thrown right into the thick of things to take out the tin-heads. She followed Major Lucian's lead in going by and firing on the launch bay of the Base-Star. While making her run on the landing bay, Rose couldn't tell if she was hitting anything to do any good or not, but she kept on firing each time she went by.

"Uh-Oh," Ensign Rose thinks to herself, "I done lost sight of Major Lucian and I am supposed to be protecting his six. I better find him and fast!"

"Uh, Major Lucian, where did you run off to? I am supposed to be your wingmate," Ensign Rose asks over the comm. "I'm over here Ensign Rose. I was just taking out one of the Cylons while you did your pass on the landing bay," Lucian replies.

"Uh Oh Major," Ensign Rose says, "you got one on your tail. Hang On Major! Rose quickly banks right & lines up the cylon in her sights and fires."

The Cylon fighter goes up in flames.

"Hot Darn!," Rose yells out, "Ok Major, tin-head is gone! Let's go kick more tin-head tail !"

BSGNylah

Nylah felt a bit nervous as she took off in the viper. She was fresh from the academy and what they called >green<. She was shocked that the Lieutenant Resonat took her as his wingman. It was rumored who he was with but even then from what she heard that may be over from that scene that was caused before the black moon patrol left.
"Ok Ensign you can do this just like back in class..." he was interupted as Nylah took off shooting at the cylons. She hit a few and nearly took out some of their own.
"Ensign Nylah, calm down! You are making our guys nervous!"
"Sorry Lieutenant. There is just so many of them!"
"Just keep them away from the Callisto! And don't take out me or any other viper while you are at it. Think of the sims we did in class." Nylah took her controls and followed the Lieutenant. She would pick them off as they tried to shoot at him. Then she noticed it, she had one on her tail. She hit reverse thrusters and passed it. Coming up from behind it she took a shot and nailed it.
"Hoo ah!!" she yelled!
"Ensign you ok back there?"
"Yeah just someone wanted to say hi and I didn't like their approach. Had to let him down somehow!"

BSGRose

Ensign Rose was still going after the landing bay of the Base-Star to try & help take it out along with the Major & others that were currently firing on it. They were starting to make some progress but they still had a ways to go in order to take out the landing bay fully.

Every so often one of the Cylons would come up on Rose & line her up in their sites & the next thing she knew someone else had taken the Cylon out for. Whenever that would happen she would thank the person for getting the tin-head off of her tial.

When she wasn't firing on the landing bay of the Base-Star, Rose would follow Major Luican in taking out a few of the Cylons. On a few instances she didn't take them out with the first shot, but was able to take them out with the sencond shot.

Ensign Rose stayed close to Major Lucian to make sure that she didn't lose him this time like she had done earlier. She followed his lead in going after the landing bay on the Base-Star.

While heading over to the Base-Star to make another run on the landing bay, Rose ends up with three Clyons on her tail. "Uh-oh Major," Ensign Rose calls over the commlink, "I got a little problem back here." Whats the problem Ensign?, Lucian replies. "I got three Cylons on my tail. What do you suggest I do to get them off of my tail?," Rose replies in return.

LucianG

Lucian knew that with three Raiders behind her, Ensign Rose had at most about three microns to live without help. Despite the fact that he was lined up for a near perfect shot on the launch bay, he did the only thing he could do to save his wingmate.

“Rose, reverse one, cut right, now!” he quickly said, as he hit full reverse turbos and cut his Viper three degrees right and up slightly, pulling him a little further from the Base-Star. The reverse turbos cut the forward progress significantly, but did not halt it, so he continued forward as Rose and the Raiders swept past him. He fired his turbos just as his ship, to the surprise of the Cylons inside, passed in front of the two Raiders closest to the Base-Star. Being too close to fire without hitting their own ship, they each attempted to spin clear, but their close proximity at the beginning of the maneuver doomed their effort. The wing-tip of the first Raider clipped that of the second, spinning it violently, leading it to crash into the side of the launch bay. The explosion occurred just as three more Raiders were starting to emerge, catching them in the blast. A least one appeared to explode, but Lucian had no time to watch. The first Raider had now corrected its flight, showing no signs of damage, and the third was beginning to take shots at Rose.

“Major! I could use some help here!” she called, bucking her ship around as best she could, avoiding the first few blasts.

“Bye, guy,” Lucian said calmly, as he blasted the third Raider in the original trio, even as the first caught up with Rose and took another shot. “Rose, corkscrew spiral left, straight ahead, 420 degrees, out at 30. Mark!”

As she performed the move, the Raider followed perfectly, but was unable to bring her into his sights. Rose straightened her ship as she came out of the spin, but the Raider was matching Rose’s progress perfectly. The Cylon Commander issued the command to fire, but by then, Lucian was aligned on the pesky Raider. He fired two short blasts, lighting up space briefly as the Cylon craft exploded.

“Good shooting, Major,” said Lieutenant BatGal. “Are you okay, Ensign Rose? If so, we’ve got another appointment with that launch bay.”

“Agreed, Ice Two. Ensign, tuck in behind, and let’s try it again,” said Major Lucian, checking his gauges. So far, the new wiring was holding up well. “Black Ice, follow my lead. We’ve got to plug that hole once and for all if we’re going to stand a chance in this battle.” His Viper veered toward the Cylon launch bay once more.

[LucianG]

Amy81

I stood there, surveying the mess I had somehow made while finishing off a great bottle of ambrosia. Oh, Captain Brie will kill me if she sees this mess! She's so particular about these quarters, probably because she earned them and takes a lot of pride in that. The floor slowly stopped tipping, so maybe I could make some progress picking up.

I carefully folded the colonial flag that I had been holding, and laid it on the desk. I hoped I'd be able to arrange the stuff on her desk back the way it was before I used it to crash on. Could I remember the way it was? I couldn't remember much of anything right now! Oh when I get my hands on that spineless Cadet Dolet! Running out and leaving me with the place in shambles!

I needed a cold bucket of water to stick my head in, that was for sure. A sink full of cold water would do just as well. I made for the bathroom. I got around the corner and--

"Cadet Dolet!" I shouted out loud with surprise. He was lying on the floor in the bathroom, not moving. He was out cold that I could tell. Oh, gawd!

I got down next to him, checking to see if he was still breathing. I almost jumped when he suddenly turned his head toward me.

"Lords, Dolet", I said, "You had me going there for a micron". He just looked at me, then brought up a hand and brushed it against the side of my head, smoothing back my hair. An odd look crossed his face, and he began to smile.

"What?" I asked, my eyes growing wide enough to burst. He began to chuckle a little. "What?" I asked again. "What's so funny? What happened?"

He was really rolling now. Laughing uncontrolably! I wanted to hit him. Whatever went on here, it was obvious that HE remembered. "Cadet Dolet," I shouted, grabbing his head with both my hands to get his full attention. "What happened? What did we do?"

I held Cadet Dolet’s head with both my hands, staring at him insistently. “Tell me what we did!” I said evenly, spacing each word out a little. Slowly his laughter subsided, and he looked at me blankly.

“You mean you really don’t remember?” he asked. He shook his head a little. “Boy, that does wonders for my ego.”

My hands slipped from his head to around his collar and I lifted him up by it to bring him nose to nose with me. “And what in hades does THAT mean?” I screamed point blank.

“Okay, okay” he said with a sheepish shrug, or the best one he could do while nearly being strangled. “Nothing like that happened. I was just pulling your leg.”

“A$$” I said disgustedly as I shoved him back up against the wall. I stood up.

“You are a good looking girl, Lieutenant, but your singing voice needs some work.” He started to laugh again. I looked back, and couldn’t help but smile. I could just imagine what I must have been doing.

“But no..” I made a shaky motion with my hand, “You know…”

“The wild thing? Of course not” he replied. “I might be a crummy cadet, but I’m not stupid. Najinn would have my butt in a sling if I laid hands on his girl. The guy’s got a screw loose.”

I sighed. Why was everyone assuming Najinn and I were together? Because we WERE not so long ago. I sighed louder, wearily. How will I ever tell Najinn that I will be sealed with Charybdis? “It’s not Najinn you’d have to worry about”, I told Dolet.

“Like hell,” he chuckled. “The guy shot up Fleet Security barracks over you. He’s like a walking firecracker if you ask me.”

“Nobody’s asking,” I said without realizing the words were coming.

“Huh?” he asked.

“So, when did I change back into civilian clothes? I had my uniform on when we started the bottle.”

He smiled a big one. “You just started taking it off. Something about not being worthy of it or something. You stood right there”; he pointed near the desk, “and just started peeling.”

“I did?” My face was turning bright red, I could feel it.

“I couldn’t find anything handy, so I unhooked the big flag and held it up in front of you until you got other clothes on.” He watched as I shook my head. Man, that grog really kicked in hard. Dolet got serious now. “Can I ask you something, Lieutenant?”

“Sure. I guess.”

“What’s a young kid like you got inside that has you so down? You’ve got a dark spot in you.” He looked at me, expecting me to snap on him by the way he was standing.

I shrugged. Got a few sectons, I thought bitterly. I kept my answer to the dark spot that was on top of the pile right now. “I should be out there, defending the ship, with my friends.”

“Then why not go?”

Damn, that was a good question. Why hadn’t I just gone? Or tried? Had I overlooked the most obvious thing I could have done? Getting denied would have been the worst that could happen. It would have at least put a bandaid on my conscience. Better than the headache I got instead.

I smiled at Dolet. “Sometimes, I can be so DENSE!” I started picking stuff up. “Come on, Dolet, help! I’m going to do exactly that. Thanks for pointing out the dreadfully obvious.”

“Thanks to you too” he said as he grabbed the flag and began rehanging it.

“For what?”

“Helping me with my problem, too. You do what you want, damn the consequences. I have to start doing that too.” He paused. “I hate this service. Tomorrow, I resign.”

My shoulders sagged, like someone picked up a big weight and set it on them. Hard. I inspired THAT in him? Oh great. “Couldn’t you see it through?” I said almost pleadingly. “You might surprise yourself.”

“I’ve been trying, really trying to see it through. Only it’s like a hall of mirrors for me. There is no through, except as in finished. For me anyway.” He continued to straighten up, his back to me. I leaned against the desk, unsure what to say. None of my business anyway. I tried getting the desk arranged back the way it was, but my concentration suddenly wasn’t there anymore.

Randrius3473

Randrius watched the ancient missile streak towards the incoming Raiders. He was stunned, those flying museum exhibits had actually hit three Raiders. Others scattered, causing somewhat of the disunity they had hoped it would.
"OK Blacks, right down the middle."
Lasers blazing, they shot into the center of the Cylon formation. He was satisfied with the first run, now the Gold's and the bombers entered the fray, firing as they came. The Raiders were looping around to engage them. The Blacks reaped heavy casualties on the turning Raiders. Randrius curved around to score a kill on a Cylon going for one of the bombers. Five more descended on the slower ships.
"Silver Spar's, heads up."
"I see them," that was Lazant.
He opened up on that group scoring two kills and spooking the rest. He picked a target and gave chase.

* * *

Jarrynn

Jarrynn was in shock to see her twin there but it really didn't surprise her. She was beginning to see a pattern here. Everytime her sister goes out she gets hurt somehow. Jarrynn shook her head. The doctor came over and asked Jarrynn if she needed help and Jarrynn smiles and told her this was up her ally - the eyes.
Looking them over, they were shook up and felt real vulnerable, that Jarrynn could tell. She felt bad for them.
"Ok you three just take it easy it will wear off in time."
"I just hope we have time." Kris muttered.
"What do you mean?"
"There are more coming. I just hope we have time." Kris mummbled.
Jarrynn knew what she meant.
"Well you three just hang tight and sit over here out of the way. If things change tell me immediately! And don't rub your eyes and don't squeeze them shut either."
"Hey Jarr? Where's the others? I heard something about Najinn?"
"He was shot."
"How bad?"
"Pretty bad. They took him in the cargo hold of Skyler's viper and took him to the Callisto. I hope they can keep him alive."
"Jarrynn..."
"Yeah?"
"I know you did your best from what I can hear. I am sure he will be ok."
"I hope you are right Kris, I hope you are right. Lords know I did not want them to take him with out me, but I was ordered to stay behind, much to my protests. But the Lt Col wouldn't let me go."
"Jarrynn, you did your best that was all you could do. Its in their hands now. Plus the Lt Col was looking out for you too. So don't be too sour about it." Deep down Jarrynn knew she was right. But she was not about to let the Lt Col know that. And she still felt she was the wrong one to have gone on this trip but she did one thing she never thought she could have...operated. Jarrynn just looked at the three blinded warriors. She prayed that their sight would return soon so they could all just get off this rock they call a planet. She hoped Kiwi was ok too.
"Has anyone heard if Kiwi is ok?"

[LucianG]

Charybdis

The scanners started blurting out warning klaxons. To any half-trained Warrior, those alarms meant Cylon forces in the immediate vicinity.

Small explosions and brilliant flashes of light appeared ahead of our two vipers, and then they came into clear view: the Callisto and two Cylon baseships!

The small fighter craft were dodging and chasing each other for all they were worth. It was interesting seeing the battle from outside of it, as observers. But Skyler and I knew that we wouldn't be observers for very long. We had made it back and we had to land ASAP to get Lt. Najinn into the med bay.

"Skyler, power down turbos!" We had to scrub off speed if we were to begin our landing vector. The engines finally eased and the lessening of the noise was a much grateful result. My head was throbbing and my whole body was shaking a bit from the acceleration and the thrust of the turbos for the past two centars.

Skyler asked the plan. "Get a fix on the Callisto and begin slow manouvers to get behind her. I'll drop back and cover you. No sudden moves or Najinn bites it." I told him.

"Roger." came the reply. The navicomputer locked on and fed the landing coordinates. Skyler radioed in and contacted landing operations. They would have a emergency med unit on hand once he landed.

I was watching carefully and suddenly Cylon attack craft along with a couple of vipers appeared to our left. As we veered behind the Callisto I could tell that we had been targeted.

"Skyler, you make for that launch bay and don't stop until you're there!" I told him as I peeled off to his right. Laser streaks glanced past my cockpit as I lined one of the tin-heads up. I fired and blew him to bits. Quickly trying to get back to cover Skyler, I pulled up and around and came back behind him. Skyler still had a bit to go and the fact that he had to slow down was not that comforting. The raiders seemed to be everywhere now. Crossfire was intense. I tried to zigzag behind Skyler's ship to draw their fire and they were coming pretty close.

As I made one zig, a Cylon made a zag and fired. The two converging entities collided. All I could hear was a massive explosion of metal as I knew I had been hit! Sparks flew everywhere and for a micron I was blinded by the smoke and light. I shielded my face from the debris inside the cockpit and I quickly grabbed the navihilt and tried to regain control.

I could hear the engines begin to fail and whine. Not the sound anyone ever wanted to hear in a battle. At least I was not dead and my viper was still flying. I looked back and saw that the shot had hit my apex pulsar and fried some of the circuitry. The problem was that my ship was not responding very well to the navihilt. A deadly condition.

"Colonel" I could hear Skyler yelling. " What happened? Are you OK?"

"I'm alright, Skyer. Just got a little toasted. A lot my circuitry is gone. The ship is not responding too well."

"Colonel, come in front of me and land. You're a sitting avion out here with all those Cylons around." Skyler pleaded.

"I can't, Skyler. If I wipe out you'll never be able to land. And if you have to go around again, they'll nail you easily. Take her in. I'll keep them off your back until I can get in. Now go in!"

I made slow easy arcs behind Skyler's viper. Two Raiders came at us again. As they got closer, a viper from Gold squadron veered behind and blew one of them, but the other was still coming. I banked as hard as I could, but it was not enough. The blue lasers slammed into my starboard wing and nearly tore it off. All my communications went dead and I was flying blind. I had no instruments and I was pretty much dead if I stayed out any longer.

My old viper slowly rolled over and I lost sight of the Callisto. My last view was of Skyler getting close to the landing bay and lowering his landing gear. He was going to make it!!!

I, on the other hand, was not too sure about making it...

Lt_Skyler

Skyler was glad they had made it. Fuel comsumption had been better than they had expected, but two centars at full turbo had taken its toll on the engines. The gauges were starting to show it. He didn't know how much longer they could have keep that speed up. It didn't take alot or maneuvering to line up with the Callisto's Landing Bays. Col. Charybdis was keeping the raiders off his tail, and it looked like they would all make it home, then the unspeakable happened. Charybdis got hit, and hit hard. Skyler was on final approach, and with a wounded Najinn riding in the trunk, couldn't risk going back to help. All tries to raise Charybdis failed. Ensign Thunderhawk radioed Skyler that he was going to check on Charybdis. Skyler switched over to the flight crew channel, and requested his Viper be made ready to launch. Easing the throttle back Skyler sat the Viper down like a feather landing on a cloud. A quick glance at the monitors showed Najinn was still alive, and stable. Skyler poped the canopy climbed out and hit the flight deck before a gangway could be pushed into place.

"Med teams, quick, we have a wounded man in the storage area, and don't bump him around to much, he is not in the best shape."

As the med teams worked to free Najinn from the tiny compartment, Skyler ran across to the Flight Line, climbed up into his Viper and flipped switches bringing the turbos to life. It felt good to be back in his Viper. The speakers in the helm crackled "Flight Control, Lt Skyler welcome back, and launch when ready"

Skyler thumbed the turbo's on the navi-hilt and was rocketed down the tube, and into space. Once launched a Raider flew right into his flight path. Skyler's turbo lasers lashed out at it and destroyed it.

"Skyler to Charybdis, do you copy?"

There was a few microns of static...

"Skyler to Thunderhawk, did Col. Charybdis make it onboard?"

A yahren seemed to pass waiting for the answer.

LucianG

As Skyler moved into launch position, a familiar but unexpected voice came over his comm, just as he was becoming aware that the Viper he was in was not his own.

"Skyler, I love you," said MaraJade, as she fired off another blast of Solonite missiles at Base-Star Two. "You take care of my Viper, and both of you come home safely. Gotta go! Yes, Ma'am, firing n--"

MaraJade's voice cut off abruptly, leaving Skyler wondering where she was and what she was doing. For now though, he had to concentrate hard on the battle at hand, on saving Charybdis, and on getting through this himself.

Skyler blasted out of the launch tube in the last usable Viper aboard the Callisto.

LucianG

Lieutenant Bishop's Viper was being swarmed by the Techs. Skyler hadn't reported problems, but they knew that the turbos had been overused, so replacement was underway. Despite the fact that Commander Sheba wanted it flight ready within five centons, there was little hope of that. The best estimate was a minimum of eight centons, and ten was more likely.

In hopes that at least one more pilot could be found, Sheba put out the call to the senior officers, but with the severe shortage of bridge personnel, none of them could leave their stations.

Captain Urdea, head of Fleet Security on the Callisto, on hearing the call, strapped on his laser blaster, and began the walk to Alpha Bay. He hadn't flown in twenty-six yahrens, but he was a body who could fly and possibly confuse the Cylons for a moment, giving some of the real Warriors a chance to do more damage.

Hawke14

As I made another Cylon into slag I hear in my helmet "Hawke,watch it! You have a pair on your tail!" I yell into my helmet as I look behind me "I can't see him!" "Hold on Hawke, I'll get one of 'em." "And I'll get the other one!" I see 2 vipers do a double peel off. One to the left & one to the right. I jinked left and almost ran right into a laser blast. I jink right and my viper lurches. "WOAH!I'm hit! I dunno how bad it is!" All of a sudden everything goes dark. No engines no weapons no nothing. FRACK! He must have hit the main power cel. I immediately start re-wiring my control panel to bring up a diagnostics display. I succeed in doing so. It says I have about 2 centars of air and my top most engine is completely gone and the main power is totally drained. I sigh and let out a groan.. Great! I proceed to bypass the damaged engine and switch over to auxillary power. A few sparks later I hear communications up & running again. "Hawke to Callisto control please respond." "Callisto control here,Hawke are you ok?" "My top engine is gone and I'm on auxilliary power. What do I have to do to get a ride home? write an invitation?" My ship started rocketing back and forth from Cylon fire. Great! Even when I'm standing still thet can't hit me. "Oh, by the way, I have somebody shooting at me! HELP!!!" "We're sending vipers out to your co-ordinates now. But you'll have to wait for a ride until the smoke clears. There's very heavy fire in your area." "Thanks for the insite Callisto.. I KNOW THERE'S HEAVY FIRE IN MY AREA!! THEY'RE SHOOTING AT ME!!!!" As I say that a Cylon fighter rockets by me. Oooh! Target practice! He turns around and starts firing at me. The term sitting duck comes into my mind. I hit the firing stud and my control panel explodes. As the power in my viper goes out again,I feel the flames leap into my face. I scream out in pain.

[LucianG]

Charybdis

My viper was in bad shape. She had gotten me through thick and thin. I had made one crash landing in her several yahrens before while stationed on the Galactica and she brought me home, I was hoping that she had one more in her this time around.

My apex engine was blown, my remaining two were still operating, I don't know how, but they were not at full power. I could feel the sluggishness when I moved the navihilt. With my right wing heavily damaged and the corresponding thrusters not working, I could only turn to the right in a slow arc by working the thrusters on the left side of the ship and compensating for the thrust. It was kind of like rowing a boat with only one paddle. I would only have one chance to make the landing bay. If I didn't make it, the Cylons would eat me for lunch (if they could!).

I pulled on the navihilt and the ship slowly responded. I was thinking to myself that at least she was still doing what I needed her to do. If only the Cylons wouldn't blast me to space dust before I got to the bay. Ships were zooming all around. Several vipers were trying to keep Cylon raiders from attacking the landing bays. I hoped they could keep it up a few centons more.

As my viper made the turn and faced the Callisto's alpha landing bay, I powered down the thrusters so I could glide in. I had no electrical power, so my landing gear would not come down. It was going to have be a belly flop. I lined up the landing bay and began the slow flight in. Only a few more centons.

Streaks of light zoomed past my cockpit as a Cylon raider blew up just overhead. My ship lurched, but I kept her under control. Just a few more microns.

As the bay loomed in front, I applied rear thrusters to slow my speed, but nothing happened. The hits I took had knocked them out. It was just forward thrust and that's it.
Just a few more microns...

I radioed in quickly, "Get the emergency teams ready, I'm coming in hot!!!"

My mind quickly jumped to a few cycles earlier. I was in Brie's quarters rolling around on the floor with Amy. She had accepted my proposal to be sealed. I had told her that I had something to live for now that she was to be my wife, suddenly, that thought came rushing forth into my mind again. What if I don't live? What will happen to Amy? I don't want to put her through this! She can't go through this again! But, this time, there was nothing I could do.

As I was just about to enter the bay, into the safety of my home ship, into the safety of Amy's arms, I glanced to my left. Two Cylon fighters were bearing down on me and the opening to the landing bay. They began to fire. Suddenly, one blew up in a spectacular display, but the other one got through. He fired right at me...I had never felt so helpless before in my entire life.

At the last possible moment before I entered the landing bay, I looked squarely into the Cylon fighter, I could see the three evil beings, determined to exterminate us all. Determined to exterminate ME!

Brilliant bolts of light emanated from his laser energizers, then, a brilliant explosion, my ship rocked hard as there was a blinding light. I felt as if I had passed through a blazing sun. I didn't feel anything at all.

Everything went completely dark. Darker than the endless void that we had passed through many yahrens ago. Everything went completely dark...

ThunderHawk

When Lt Skyler called in, I broke off immediately and headed over in their direction. I could see LTC Charybdis' Viper, damaged and flying erratically. I maneuvered just above Charybdis and tried to radio him. " Lieutenant Colonel, this is Ensign ThunderHawk, do you copy ? I'll follow you in !" Nothing but silence....it was obvious his Viper was so heavily damaged, I really didn't expect a response.

Raiders zoomed back and forth as I watched, overwhelmed by the shear numbers. Two raiders made it past all the cross fire and began heading right for the LTC. I targted the one on the right quickly and fired, trying to line up to blast the second raider. As soon as the one on the right exploded I saw the other raider open fire, just as Charybdis entered the bay. I could see a deadly looking explosion just inside the bay as the raider banked hard right to continue the fight. My viper was almsot right up on him, as I fired straight at the Cylon and flew through the resulting explosion.

Lt Skler called back, asking about Charybdis. "Lieutenant, he made it into the landing bay, but barely," I responded. I had hardly had a chance to meet LTC Charybdis, but I could only hope for the best. No time to worry too much now, as I circled around to begin the next attack.

Holodoc2000

The Emergency Medical Team had finally gotten Nijinn out of the cargo hold of the Viper that Lt Skyler flew in back to the Callisto. He was barely holding his own as everyone started working on him to get him better stablized so that they could move him on to Life Station for better treatment.

While the Emergency Medical Team was working on Lt Najinn down in the landing bay one of them would periodically call up to Life Station with his vital signs & find out what else they could do before moving him on up to Life Station. Head Nurse Holodoc would guide them as to what to do & finally told them that since they had him stablized enough to go ahead & start moving him on up to Life Station so that she & the rest of the medical staff could start doing the other needed treatments to ensure that he pulled through the injuries that he had sustained.

As the Medical Team was rushing along the corridors of the Callisto to get Lt Najinn to Life Station as quickly as possible his vital signs started to drop rapidly. The Medical Team stopped where they were in the corridor to get Najinn restablized, but they were having a hard time getting him stablized again so that they could continue on to Life Station.

"Come On Najinn!," the Med Tech yelled out, "you gotta hang on & pull through. Lt Amy needs you in her life. Now come on! You have got to make it!"

After about 20 centons of working, the Medical Team finally started to see that Najinn was hanging on, even though just barely he will still fighting. His vital signs were very weak, but the Medical Team couldn't wait until they got stronger before continuing to move him on to Life Station.

Meanwhile in Life Station, Head Nurse Holodoc & Dr Bkj were ready & waiting for the Med Team to bring in Najinn so that they could start working on treating his injuries & to make sure that he lived for many more yarhens to come.

Finally the Med Team arrives into Life Station with Najinn who is barely hanging on & fighting as hard as he could for dear life. Nurse Holodoc & Dr Bkj rush over to the Med Cart that Najinn was laying on & they could see how badly he had been injuried during the mission that he went on with other Warriors from his Squadron.

Dr Bkj & Nurse Holodoc rush into action in getting Najinn into surgery to do what they needed to save his life. As they were rushing over to one of the surgery area's with Najinn, both Doc Bkj & Nurse Holodoc were calling out orders to other medical staff to get them the items that they would need to do surgery.

Four centares later, Dr Bkj & Nurse Holodoc were just finishing up the needed surgery on Najinn to repair all the damage that had been done to his body. During the surgery they could tell what Nurse Jarrynn had done for Najinn to keep him stablized during the time that she was able to treat him before he was placed into the cargo hold of the viper that Lt Skyler flew back to the Callisto.

Nurse Holodoc & Dr Bkj push the med cart that Najinn was laying on out of surgery & over to one of the critical care beds there in Life Station. The two of them with a little help get Najinn moved over on the the critical care bed & get him settled & hooked up to the monitors.

Once Najinn was settled & hooked up to the monitors there in Life Station, Doc Bkj went to her office to make a few notes on Najinn's medical chart & Holodoc stayed by Najinn's bed for awhile longer monitoring his vital signs.

While Holodoc was sitting there by Najinn's bed monitoring his vital signs, she would silently pray for his complete recovery.

Amy81

I had one a piece of advice for Cadet Dolet, and I was determined to give it to him before we left Captain Brie's quarters and split up. I didn't know if and when I'd bump into Dolet again, so I took the opportunity I had in front of me. Dolet had just hit me with the bombshell that he planned to resign from the service. Having gone through this same decision and it's consequences, I was a pretty good authority on the subject.

"Dolet", I said as he stopped straightening things and turned to look at me, "Have you made any friends during your training? Good friends, I mean. You know, tight?"

"Sure" he said.

"Well, before you go through with resigning, think about this. The day will come when those friends will be out there, fighting to save the fleet, and trust me, you will feel like hell when it happens. You think I just do things and to hades with the consequences? You are wrong." My voice grew quieter, and heavier. "Consequences bury me. I pay a big price for not thinking things through. You know that dark spot you said I had?" I just nodded after that.

Dolet just looked at me. "I think I understand. But that still doesn't say that the service is right for me. I'll give it more thought though. Thanks for caring. Nobody has like that up till now." He put a hand on my arm, a small gesture of gratitude. We looked each other in the eyes for a long moment. I could feel my heart begin to beat faster.
Jeez! I don't need this! I looked away.

"Right!" I said, then added "Good. Ummmm, I think things are fine here. I have to get down to launch bay. You can go now. And thanks for the help."

"Sure" he shrugged, and he lamely wandered toward the door. If he looked back, I didn't realize, for my back was turned, and I was busy getting myself back in uniform again.

[LucianG]

Amy81

I bounded into the launch bay unnoticed. Everywhere was a bustle of activity. I spotted my old flight assistant and made my way over to him, being careful not to be trampled by crews running to and fro.

"Hey Johnny" I called out as he turned and spotted me. His face grew a big ear to ear smile.

"Lieutenant Amy!" he shouted out, I can't believe you're down here. It's been quite a while! Talk was you.."

I cut him off. "Yeah, yeah. Talk was right, but that was then. Johnny, what can I fly?"

"Whoa whoa whoa", he said, giving me a calm down wave of his hand. "We've been busy down here, if you've noticed. Everything is gone. Even your viper is gone." He checked his board. "Ensign Rose has it."

I gave him a pout. I hated to use it, but it just popped out onto my face. It worked, but he still had bad news. "Sorry Amy. All the birds have flown."

We both were distracted by activity at the landing end of the bay. A viper came in, with med crews swarming it as it came to a stop. I watched Lt. Skyler hop out, and head to a viper. In seconds he was back in space.

"Uh, well..." Johnny began as I glared at him. I wasn't upset with him, I just wanted him to come clean with me. He hesitated. "Uh, even if there were a viper, I'd have to clear you through core command."

"Go ahead" I shrugged.

It was his turn to give me a look, then he stepped away to talk into his headset. I watched another viper pull in, sweeping past the one with the medical emergency. The canopy popped, and a pilot slowly climbed out.

Johnny tugged on my arm. "I don't believe it, but you are green to go." Then he shrugged. "Still no bird to fly though."

I looked back at the viper that had just landed. The pilot was holding his arm. It didn't look good. I looked past him to the swarming medical team at the viper Skyler had landed. Whoever was hurt there was in a real bad way. Beyond that, out in space, I could see another viper, badly shot up, struggling to bring itself in. It didn't look good. I wondered for a moment who the pilot was.

Regaining my concentration, I pointed to the second viper.
"What about that one?" Johnny looked, saw what I saw, and
was back talking into his headset again. He nodded several times, then gave out several commands. As I watched, a crew brought the viper over towards the launch tubes. A refueling team was right on it.

Johnny shook his head. "That's what I like about you, Lieutenant, you have luck that rival's Starbuck's!" I smiled, and he pointed toward the viper. "Her pilot's done. It's yours to take." As we headed toward it he asked, "Mind if I rub your head now and then? Maybe your luck will rub off?"

I laughed. Another crewman held out a helmet. I took it and ran the stairs two at a time to reach the cockpit. I swung a foot over and stepped in.

The fueling team was done, and the crewman rapped the side of the viper to indicate all was ready. "Godspeed Lieutenant!" he called out.

I whirled around to stare at him, but he had already moved off. Johnny caught my change in mood. "What's up?" he asked.

I distractedly answered him. "No. Nothing." but it was strange. Alot of this was so like my dream. I sat down in the viper gently, listening for the sound of something falling, but heard nothing. Shaking it off, I lowered the canopy and punched the three turbo buttons.

Johnny tapped on the glass of my canopy. I looked up immediately, but only saw his approving look. He gave me the thumbs up and cleared out of the way. In the earpiece I could hear a voice saying. "Core systems transferring control..."

That was all I needed to hear. In moments I was down the tube and out into space.

Exiting the tube, I flew right through a fireball. I banked right and went into an evasive roll. It was thick out here! I spied a Cylon ship heading for a strafing run on the side of the Callisto, at the front end of the launch bay.

I arced around and flew down low, buzzing close to the top of the launch bay section of the ship. Above me was the stillness of space, while beneath me was nothing but a blur as a skimmed the surface of our great battlestar. I could not prevent the Cylon from firing, but I would have him as he pulled up, if I timed it right.

I could see him, but couldn't yet fire on him. With a sinking heart I watched his lasers flash out, doing damage to the side of the ship. As he completed his run, he swerved to angle his ship over the exact area I was fast traversing. He never saw me as he flew right into my sights and I turned him fast into space dust. My heart was pumping madly as I pulled up and away from the ship. As I pulled up, I could see the massive lettering that spelled out "Callisto" go by in a blur.

"Yo!" I called out, "What's the status of the crews at Frodar Epsilon?" I had pulled up along side another viper, but couldn't see who the pilot was.

A voice answered back. "As bad there as here. Talk is some might not make it back."

"Stow that!" I shouted to the unseen voice. Charybdis, Najinn, Captain Brie... my closest and dearest friends were there! They had to make it back. The decision came to me in half a micron. I peeled off and away from the engaging fighters.

"Where are you off to?" a voice blared out in my earpiece.

"Checking out the right flank" I answered vaguely.

"How far to the right?" came the predictable reply.

I was tempted to say 'don't ask', but didn't know who I was talking to. "Right flank" was all I said as I kicked in the turbos. It was a long way, and who knew how much use I'd be when I got there. Damn the consequences, that was about how Cadet Dolet had put it. And here I went, doing it again. But I couldn't leave my 3 closest friends in such circumstances. To loose them all was something I wouldn't be able to take.

I didn't know it, but two of them had already made it back. But there was just no way I could know.

Brie

Brie was feeling totally useless. She was supposed to be "aiding" in the evacuation, but fir the time being there wasn't much for her to do. It had been centars since Charybdis and Skyler had left with Najin, there was still no word. That in and of itself didn't surprise her, but she was beginning to worry that she hadn't heard anything from anybody. Even if the Callisto was far away, they should be able to contact her on long-range narrow beam. They were supposed to be evactuating the planet, but at the moment she had no idea where they were evacuating to. Not having heard made her start to fear. What if there was no longer a Callisto?

Amy81

I was near zoning out more than once on the trip across space to Frodar Epsilon. I alternated my turbos on and off to try and avoid 'turbo trance', but used them as much as I dared to cut my travel time down. Just not being in a viper for so long didn't help. My stamina hadn't built itself up to former levels yet.

I kept my mind busy thinking of my friends. My fiancee Charybdis was there! I would see him soon. I thought about what our lives would be like together, amongst the reality of fleet life. I fantisized about what our life could be like if we could find a beautiful planet to be on. If it only could be so. More likely, our days would be like this one, my husband in battle and his wife coming to fight by his side. What a life, I thought resentfuly. My thoughts turned to our rolling around on the floor, laughing and kissing. Life could be hell, but there also was room for moments of the greatest joy!

Najinn was also there somewhere on Frodar Epsilon. I did not look forward to running into him, especially if he was near Charybdis at the time. Just thinking about it made a tear well in my eye. I still had no idea how I could break the news to him about my engagement. I wanted to see him yet feared it too. It hurt to feel that way about him.

I glanced at my readouts, learning that I was steady on course and should see the planet soon. Fuel was down by half, which wasn't too bad. I expected worse. Having the tanks topped off before launching must have helped. I stretched a little, wiggling in my seat in search of elusive comfort.

Another thought hit me--I'd be seeing Brie soon! It would be good to see my dear friend and Captain. I hoped that I would make a difference in helping get everyone back home, and that I didn't just doom myself to the same fate of exile that my friends might be facing. But, if I was to be exiled, I couldn't think of better people to face it with. A beep from my panel brought me to attention.

Dead ahead lay Frodar Epsilon. I could see it now, with it's moon also fully in few. I could see flashes of light nearer to the moon than the planet. Looks like a fight to me. I reset my attack systems, checking everything to see that I was ready.

I got nearer, and decided it was time. I kicked in my turbos and lurched forward, arching left and toward the fight. I began to pick up chatter from the pilots.

"Roll left! Roll left! I have him!" I heard in my earpeice, but couldn't place the voice. Another one responded,"Thanks Arianna!" A third voice cut in, sounding alot like Lt. Cain. "Wingman, stay tight!" Another voice followed, "Roger!"

I was at the outer fringes now. I got off several shots that missed it's mark. Cain's voice was now directed at me. "Hey, is that the calvery?"

"Calvery of one" I replied. This time I nailed the elusive Cylon. The ship crumbled like in slow motion before bursting apart halfway through. "Every little bit helps" I heard Cain say.

I arched right, heading down closer to the atmosphere of the planet, chasing a pair of Cylon fighters. I didn't see the shuttles anywhere. They must be on the planet. I didn't see Charybdis's viper yet, or hear his voice. That got me concerned. He would have broken in when he heard my voice. Things suddenly didn't feel too good to me. I debated if I should be finding the shuttles, to give them an update on the Callisto and assist anyway I could.

But were there any shuttles to assist? I nagging knot of fear wound itself up in the back of my brain, and wouldn't go away. I bore down on the two Cylons, scoring several hits on one but not destroying it. They peeled off in different directions, and I banked left to pursue the one I had missed.

[LucianG]

Brie

"Calvery of one." The words echoed through Brie's ears. She thought that the lack of sleep was finally catching up with her. It had sounded like Amy! It couldn't be. Why would Amy be there? She had to have imagined it. But then again, Amy was impetuous. It wouldn't surprise Brie if Amy had grabbed a viper and come looking for her. She might do that if Charybdis and Najin had...

"Commander Tolar, allow that latest viper to land," Brie told him. "Send her the coordinates to the landing pad immediately." Without saying another word, Brie ran as fast as she could to where the viper would soon land, dreading the news she thought she was about to hear.

Najinn

Najin lay on the medbed, his monitors bleeping away to the tune of his heart. Strained and interminent.

Nurse Holodoc was sat beside him, the stress on her face belied the truth that Najin didn't have a very good chance of pulling through. His injuries were extensive. The journey from Frodar while the only way to save his life had infact made the internal bleeding worse.

The only reason he was still alive was because Jarrynn had intervened with a transfusion. She had saved his life, Nurse Holodoc only hoped he knew that before....

She wouldn't entertain the idea.

The sound of the battle sometimes came through the corridors as the crew rushed about their jobs trying to keep the Callisto alive. Nurse Holodoc smiled, in a strange way Najin's condition was similiar to that of the Callisto. Fighting to save their lives, battling against the odds.

Najin coughed, he wrenched every so often. Pumped full of pain killers didn't stop the pain entirely, his injuries were so bad they couldn't stop the pain entirely. Nurse Holodoc only wished she could.

Najin was in a coma, he wasn't conscious at all, infact his only moment of consciousness while on the Callisto was in the Launch Bay, he had open his eyes to gaze at the busy med techs around him, only turn his head towards a Viper, a Viper that Amy was getting into......

Nurse Holodoc continued to wipe the blood from Najin's mouth as he fought for his life. She was worried that his wrenching, the pain, may split the internal stitches. They had fought to save his kidney and spline, it wasn't easy. They saved his spline but had to remove his kidney. He of course could quite happliy live on one kidney, but he would be very weak for a long while.

To complicate matters he did have a blood infection, and while treating him for blood poisioning their was a chance that would kill him. That was why the pain was so bad, why he coughed, why he kept choking on his own blood. His body was running on autopilot while in the coma.

The truth was he didn't look good, he didn't look like he was going to make it. Nurse Holodoc thought for one moment if the rumours were true, and cadet rumours always have an element of truth. Then if Amy was indeed planning on getting sealed to Charybdis, then that hurt could just do for Najin, it could just kill him. After all what would he think he had to live for?

Nurse Holodoc wasn't about to lie to him if the rumours were true, but she wasn't going to let him die.

As Najin lay their the heart monitor bleeped, slowly, and then as if without any warning, the alarm sounded!

"CRASH CALL!" Nurse Holodoc shouted....

Najin again lay in the arms of death, his heart had given out.........................

Holodoc2000

Nurse Holodoc started calling out orders on the equipment & other items she needed to make sure that she was able to get Najin back & stablized again. Dr Bkj came rushing out of her office & helped Holodoc work on Najin to get him stablized again.

45 centons later......

Nurse Holodoc & Dr Bkj finally got Najin stablized again. His vital signs were still very low & weak, but he was still with them. Several of the things that they had tried didn't work, but eventually was able to get him stablized.

Holodoc claspsed back into the chair she had been sitting in earlier & let out a long breath that she hadn't realized she had been holding. She continued to monitor Najin's condition & Dr Bkj made a few more notes on his chart before going back to her office to do more paperwork.

Charybdis

It was completely dark...

I had no consciousness. I had nothing. It was as if I did not exist. Not that I felt it, for if I did not exist anymore, I wouldn't be conscious of it. Strange concept...

But, all of a sudden I opened my eyes! Had I been asleep? It felt as if I was awaking from a deep slumber and I felt truly at peace and totally rested for a micron. In my mind's eye I suddenly recalled the last instance of my memory. A Cylon Raider bearing down on me and firing. The landing bay loomed just ahead. A brilliant flash of light, fire, debris, metal, the landing bay... What had happened? Was I dreaming all of it?

My mind still seemed a bit fuzzy, but I noticed as I blinked my eyes open and shut that something was very bright. Not so much a pinpoint of light, but the entire place I was in. I was lying on a flat pedestal of sorts and I lifted myself up to a sitting position. The room, if you could call it that, was all white. There were no walls to speak of, just as if shimmering light formed the boundaries. It was hauntingly beautiful, but very confusing. I had never seen anything like it before in my life. My life...did I have one anymore? Was I...dead?

As I sat up to take note of my surreal surroundings, it hit me. I looked at myself and my entire Warrior uniform, the jacket, my blaster, even my boots, were all white!!

I touched the fabric of my battlejacket to make sure it was real, that I wasn't just imagining all of this, but, there it was as real as it had always been.

Then, as if just appearing out of thin air, my eyes caught sight of something just in front of me. A person, or was it? It appeared as a veiled figure, dressed in white flowing robes, or what appeared to look like that. It had no face that I could tell of. I would swear that I could see through the entity. Was it an apparition? Why all the white stuff? Was I truly dead?

That fear began to sweep through my body. For once in my life, I was really scared. I had no idea of where I was, of who I was anymore. When your entire existence is questioned, it tends to scare the pogees out of you.

I mustered up the courage to speak, "Where am I, who are you?"

A voice came from everywhere and from the "person" in front of me at the same time. I also noticed that I could now see several other figures around the area, just standing by as if observing me. "You are safe now, Charybdis" it said. "Do not be afraid."

"Where am I?" I asked.

"You are in another place, another dimension, so to speak," the figure responded.

"Who are you?" I wanted know. "We are custodians of the universe. We keep balance between the forces of good and evil. We might be what you would call, 'angels.'"

Angels? Did he really say that? Then that was it. I was dead. But I went on..."Am I dead?" I'm not really sure that I wanted to know the answer to that one. But I had to ask.

"Only by primitive means," it answered. I caught my breath. The landing aboard the Callisto. The Cylon must have hit my viper and killed me right before I made it back. Frack!!! My mind reeled from the thought. Amy...what about her? Had I lost her for all eternity? Was everything that I cherished, gone? What about my friends? What about Brie and Sheba and all the rest? All the fleet? What was to happen to them?

As if the being could read my mind, it continued. "Your mind is confused. The people you love will be safe."

"How do you know that?" I asked. "We were in a life or death battle with the Cylons and who knows if we were going to make it through?"

"We can only reveal what you can understand. Just believe me when I tell you that your people will be safe."

I had the distinct feeling that this creature knew a lot more than he was telling me. I had to find out more...

I continued on, trying to make sense out of all this. "So, I'm dead and you're angels?"

The entity responded, "Oddly enough, there is some truth to your speculation."

"But, why are you doing all this? Why me? Why now?"

It went on, "Because we fight a common foe, the forces of darkness and evil throughout the stars, such as your enemy, the cylons."

I had to comprehend why they would even care about us: "But why are you bothering with us? We come from a simple handful of human survivors."

Then, the being said something rather strange, "Because, as you are now, we once were. As we are now, you may become."

"When?"

"After you've seeded and nurtured new civilizations, after you've evolved."

"On Earth?" I asked, not forgetting our original mission.

"Perhaps," the being said.

It touched on my mind then that Earth may be real. We had always had faith in its reality, but what this creature just said, who was I to doubt it?

I kept on going with my questions. "And what about me? What happens to me now?"

"Charybdis, you were on a mercy mission to see if your friends were safe. You risked your life in order to save one of your own. And now, the evil that has followed your people has taken your physical life. You were not meant to die. Your mission is to continue to lead your people to safety. To support the survival of human life in the universe. That is why we have intervened. You will be returned to your people in short time."

Tears welled up in my eyes. I was feeling such varying degrees of emotions. At least I had them. At one moment, I was wildly confused, then the next, at peace, then some other emotion right after that.

"Thank you," I responded. I didn't know exactly what to say. After all, one does not go through a resurrection every day...

[LucianG]

LucianG

Lieutenant Amy had just joined the fray. So far, the Colonials were holding their own against the much larger Cylon force, but the Cylons superior numbers were beginning to take their toll. Two of the bombers had suffered serious hits, and had only survived due to their heavy construction. One Warrior in each was believed to be dead or at least badly injured. Unfortunately, the bombers were now out of their antique missiles, so their sting was now limited to their pair of forward turbo lasers and their rear computer target-assisted lasers. Considering that their maneuverability was very poor in comparison to the Vipers, they didn’t stack up very well against the Raiders, especially when the odds were two or three to one.

Captain Buellah, in one of the bombers, was steamed that the promised assistance from the Frodar Epsilon forces had never materialized. He’d ordered his forces to withdraw slowly toward the moon, hoping that they’d be able to use it as cover to escape if necessary. Lieutenant Cain and Lieutenant Randrius had relayed the message to their wings, so the battle was slowly migrating toward the moon.

As the Colonial forces moved toward the moon, Ensign Aliana became separated from the others by a little more than she liked. She reported to the others that she had a Raider tailing her, but after a quick scan, there appeared to be no one in the immediate vicinity to help, but her scanning system was acting crazy, and her comm was even acting up. She jerked her ship sharply, avoiding a pair of Cylon laser blasts, but she could tell that it plus a second one were closing in on her. She called for help again, and attempted to move toward the others, but quickly shifted direction upon seeing that the Cylon would blast her in a micron if she went the way she’d planned. Two more bolts shot uncomfortably close, just past her canopy. The slight buck of her Viper told her that her tail fin had probably been scorched by one of the blasts. She twisted once more, taking a hard turn directly toward the moon, but was terrified when her scanner suddenly lit up with another group directly in front of her! A series of strange greenish flashes reached out around her, enveloping her ship in their brief glow. This didn’t last long, though, due to the pair of explosions just behind her. In the distance, she saw several similar flashes in the following microns. Her scanner cleared abruptly, and the hastily programmed IFF chimed showing the incoming ships were friendly.

At the same time, the voice over her comm crackled due to the interference but Aliana could tell he was friendly, “Hello, Callistan. Sorry that late we are, but surprise the tin-cans we must. Our jamming worked, yes?”

Aliana laughed, as she replied, “Yes, yes, it did, thank you! Now let’s go get some more of them!”

The reinforcements in the form of old pod ships from Frodar Epsilon had finally arrived.

Stadia

Lt. Stadia stepped out into the night of Frodor Epsilon. She Looked up to the heavens as she struggled to see the battle.

LucianG

Under Lieutenant Swennson’s direction, the Callisto’s twelve forward laser cannons continued pounding the Cylon Base-Star code-named simply “Two.” The crews of all 160 laser turrets targeted and fired on incoming Raiders just as fast as a target could be acquired and processed. Several crews had taken about half a micron each to celebrate a kill, but each had been immediately back to work to start the search for the next one.

Lieutenant MaraJade had fired several volleys of solonite missiles on Commander Sheba’s orders. Each had had some effect on Two, but so far, the “upper” saucer and much of the central core was still intact, although its launch bays were putting off gases, allowing fire to briefly burn in the cold vacuum of space. Still, the crippled ship’s robot crew had continued the effort to bring the remainder of the hulk under navigational and tactical control, and its functioning lasers continued to fire intermittently. Several shots had already hit the Callisto, and it was taking some serious effort on the part of Swennson, MaraJade, and the Vipers to silence those weapons that had remained or came back online. Shots that hit were causing significant secondary explosions, so Sheba knew they were within a hair of destroying it, but the ship just seemed to refuse to die.

Throughout much of the early portion of the battle, Helmswoman Karia had succeeded in keeping the Callisto aligned with Two, while keeping Two between the Callisto and the other Cylon Base-Star code-named “One.” There had been moments when the Callisto could not attack Two, and sometimes, the Battlestar had come under fire from One, but in general, the Cylons on One were trying to defend themselves from four wings of Black Squadron and Gold Squadron Warriors. Two of the four Cylon launch bays appeared to be basically useless after the repeated attacks.

“Have the four wings attacking One to break off, and redirect attack on Two,” ordered Commander Sheba when it was determined that it was unlikely that any more Raiders would be emerging from One. All other wings are to target Raiders, clearing space to the maximum degree possible. As soon as we destroy Two, the Callisto is redirecting toward—”

There was another series of explosions aboard the Callisto, as One shifted and once more brought its weaponry to bear against the Battlestar. This felt as if it was the worst yet, having come from the direction of Beta Bay.

“Damage reports, quickly! Karia, reposition us,” Sheba said above the shouts of the bridge personnel who were scurrying around to keep the ship completely operational.

Doctor Cure-Mode read several incoming reports, and condensed them into one report for Sheba. “The Cylon pulse cannon has done extensive damage to the upper decks of the forward part of Beta Bay, with fire raging but being fought by our people. Only the bottom two launch tube levels are currently usable. There are reports of as many as twenty dead and probably as many wounded. We’ve got a flood of casualties heading to the MedLab.”

“Four of our six forward laser cannons are out in Beta Pod, as well, Ma’am,” reported Swennson. We’re going to be hurting for firepower.”

“I’ve got one solonite missile bank that’s not responding, too,” said MaraJade. A second major explosion, followed by a series of secondary tremors, shook the ship as another pulse hit the same area.

“We’ve got smoke in Beta Bay. We’re evacuating it, but all incoming traffic must be routed to Alpha until it’s clear,” said CureMode.

“There’s a problem in Alpha, too,” said Major Joey, who had been helping compile incoming reports. We’ve got a Viper that pancaked on the deck, and the canopy’s jammed. The Techs said the Warrior’s still inside, and probably needs medical attention, but they can’t get him or her out. The Viper’s so scorched, they don’t even know who’s Viper it is or who’s inside.”

“We don’t have time to pry the Warrior out with Beta temporarily out of action. Move that Viper to the side, and then worry about getting the Warrior out of there,” said Sheba, knowing that such movement might be enough to kill a badly wounded Warrior, but knowing that with both bays out of commission, many more Warriors might die.

* * *

On One, the vidscreen crackled to life and the battered form of an IL robot filled the screen. The remains of the upper part of its left arm sparked periodically. It started to report the condition of its ship, but Smedelac had no time for this.

The IL-4 ordered his wounded compatriot, "You have brought your vessel under navigational control. Now, direct your Base-Star at the Galactica and ram it at the maximum speed possible. Your sacrifice and that of your crew will be noted to the Imperious Leader, since this will allow us to defeat the Galactica once and for all."

The older IL series robot, barely visible through the smoke that filled the corridor where it was currently positioned, replied hautily, "We would be glad to ram the Galactica if you could supply us with its coordinates; however, that would require you to take care of the adjacent Battlestar, identified by our few Raiders to escape our ship, as the 'Callisto.' We will move our ship away from the Callisto immediately to allow you to move in to destroy it." A picture taken by one of Two's Raiders filled the screen, and the human script for 'Callisto' was clearly legible in the pale light of the star Frodar Epsilon.

The Callisto? What, asked Smedelac in the countless microprocessors in its brain, is the Callisto? Where did it come from? The Imperious Leader must be informed that there appeared to be another Battlestar. Smedelac immediately ordered all Raiders to take as many recon photos of the Battlestar as possible and immediately relay them to his Base-Star for analysis.

* * *

On the Callisto, another explosion rocked the left side of the ship as another pulse from One struck. Several people on the bridge fell or were thrown to the floor. Sheba's knuckles whitened as she gripped the rail more tightly. She was silently beginning to wonder if she had done the right thing. There was no time to ponder that question, however, and once more, as the Battlestar realigned, she gave the order to Swennson and MaraJade, "Fire when ready!"

Amy81

Two Cylon fighters split off in different directions as I chased them, lasers blasting away at them. I scored several hits on one, but did not destroy it. I blanked to follow the intact one. Plenty of time to get the disabled one later if noone else got it first.

Suddenly my com link lit up. I was being hailed from the planet below! How did they… I let the thought fade as I listened to the voice. It was gruff, and rather straight to the point, giving me landing co-ordinates and instructions to land. I wondered for a micron as to if I should follow the instructions as I continued to chase the Cylon. I was entering this situation pretty well blindly, and was afraid to make a wrong move.

I laid it on heavy, catching the Cylon with a number of hits, the last one being too much for it. It erupted, sending debris out in all directions as it flared briefly into a ball of fire before being snuffed out in the vacuum of space. Banking left, I entered the co-ordinates as given to me, deciding to follow the instructions. I must be needed down on the planet. I’d have to trust the directions.

I slid down into the cloudy atmosphere, emerging into an unfamiliar sky. It was dark, and I trusted the computer to guide me to the landing site. There it was, up ahead, lit up pretty well. As I got closer I thought I could see someone I knew. I knew the uniform alright. I began to feel better about going in.

I set the viper down lightly, impatiently waiting for the canopy to open up. I wriggled out of the cockpit, a huge smile on my face. There was Brie, running toward me! I hopped down and we hugged a hug of true friendship.

“Brie! I was so worried about you guys!” I squeaked.

“Amy!” Brie replied happily. Then she grew more stern. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m back in the service, I guess!”

Brie was puzzled, I could see. “What’s going on back home? Did Charybdis and Skyler make it back?”

Now I was puzzled. “Make… it…back” I said slowly, not understanding. I could see that there were things I did not know. I waited for Brie to fill me in.