Disclaimers: Battlestar Galactica and all of its characters are owned by Universal City Studios, USA.
Earth at Last
by
A. J. Marks
Part 1
Two vipers effortlessly cut through the vacuum of space toward an uninteresting solar system.
"Hey Starbuck, do you read any signs of life from any of the planets?" Apollo asked.
"If there is any life they are jamming us really good." Starbuck replied.
Both vipers swept past the first planet in the system.
"This planet looks like an asteroid." Starbuck stated.
"Well there's quite a few planets left so let's split up. I'll take the four outer planets and you take the four inner ones." Apollo said. "We'll also save our fuel."
"Ok, I'm off," Starbuck said as he hit his thrusters and sped off. Neither pilot was aware that they were being watched.
Commander Adama paced slowly around the command center. He glanced at colonel Tigh.
"There's been no word yet from Captain Apollo and Lieutenant Starbuck, Commander." Colonel Tigh replied to Adama's silent question.
"I just pray to the gods that they find some fuel, or else." Adama left the rest unsaid, but everyone else understood what he meant. The fleet was very short on fuel. If a source of new fuel could not be found quickly then all would be lost.
"Bring the fleet to a stop, we'll wait until we hear something."
The Galactica and the other one hundred and fifty ships slowed to a halt. Everybody on board the ships were tense, because the Cylons were not far behind them.
Starbuck maneuvered past the asteroid belt and started his exploration of the inner four planets. The first planet was completely devoid of all life. As he approached the next planet his scanners indicated that there might be some life on the planet.
"Hey Apollo!" He said.
''I think I found something worth checking out!" Starbuck replied.
"Ok, but try to maintain radio contact." Apollo replied. "I've had nothing but gas planets."
Starbuck's viper descended down into the thick atmosphere of the planet. He flew over thick lush forests and vegetation.
"Apollo, you're not going to believe this but this planet is..."
"Starbuck, are you ok?" Starbuck!"
"Holy frak!" Starbuck said.
"What's wrong?"
"You've got to see this Apollo! The entire planet looks like it was in a was in a war."
"I'll be there in just a second."
A couple of minutes later Apollo touched down near Starbuck, he to was in shock. All around them there was destroyed buildings and evidence of a large battle.
"What do you think Apollo?" Starbuck asked.
"I'm not sure Starbuck." Apollo said looking around. "Let's look around and see if we can find out what happened, and hope its not the Cylons."
A soldier made his way down the corridor and into the bridge of the command ship. In the center of the bridge sat their commander.
"Report!' He said
"My lord, there are indications that the pilots that have landed are human." The soldier reported.
"Are you sure about this?" The commander replied.
"Yes, we are quite sure. Do you want us to capture one of them."
"Make it so!"
The soldier saluted, turned and walked back out.
Starbuck and Apollo slowly walked through what appeared to be a street. The destruction appeared to be from laser blasts.
"Hey Apollo take a look at this." Starbuck said holding a ragged book.
"What is it?"
"I think both good news and bad news. Take a look at this passage."
Starbuck handed Apollo the book he had in his hand.
Apollo glanced at the book, "this is a history book."
"Yeah but take a look at whose history." Starbuck replied.
Apollo read the text more carefully this time, and then he saw what Starbuck was talking about.
"Frak! Father won't like this at all." Apollo said in a sad voice. "We finally find earth and there's nothing here."
"It looks like there was quite a war, you don't think it was the Cylons."
"By the gods I hope not. The fleet would be a sitting duck." Apollo said looking around. "Let's get back to the Galactica and report this."
"That's a great idea, I feel that something or someone is watching us."
Both pilots cautiously looking around for any signs of trouble. Unfortunately they never saw the ambush that awaited them near their ships.
They split up to go to their ships, and that's when they struck. Two came after Starbuck as a distraction. As he fought them off he did not notice that Apollo had been overwhelmed by several unknown figures. A few minutes later Starbuck noticed that he was by himself and Apollo was not there.
"Frak, this isn't good." He muttered to himself. "Apollo, where are you Apollo?"
Starbuck grabbed the book that was lying on the ground and jumped into the cockpit of the viper. Seconds later he hit his thrusters and left the planet.
Down on the planet the mysterious attackers watched with an unconscious Apollo as Starbuck left the planet.
Just outside the solar system the Battlestar Galactica and the fleet hung in space awaiting word from the scouts that had been sent out earlier. On board the bridge Omega noticed only one viper returning.
"Commander Adama, only one viper returning."
"It could be they found something Adama." Colonel Tigh said.
"Perhaps, but I don't think so Tigh. Something happened, do we know who's viper?" Adama said.
"It's Lieutenant Starbuck's sir." Omega replied.
"Let's hope that they found something important and Apollo stayed behind to protect it" Adama said to the bridge crew.
Starbuck touched down on the Galactica's alpha landing bay and quickly went up to the bridge to tell Commander Adama what had happened to Apollo, even though he was not sure himself. Starbuck did not look forward to telling Boxey what happened.
Starbuck reached the bridge where everyone was waiting to find out what was going on.
"What happened to Apollo, Starbuck?" Adama asked him.
"I think that we had better sit down, this might take awhile." Starbuck replied.
Apollo groaned as he regained consciousness. He did not remember what had happened. The last thing he remembered was Starbuck and himself fighting off some attackers. He could only assume that he had been captured, but by whom he could only guess.
Apollo looked around his cell to see if there was any way out and figure out where he was. The cell did not appear to be a Cylon cell but he could hear the rumblings of an engine, that probably meant he was on board some sort of alien ship that they had yet to encounter.
Apollo could only hope that Starbuck had made it back to the Galactica safely and report what happened. He wondered at what could have happened to the inhabitants of Earth. He thought that perhaps he had been kidnapped by them.
The door to his cell opened and a robed figure motioned for Apollo to follow him.
Adama and Tlgh sat stunned as they listened to Starbuck tell them about the planet.
"I found this book." He stated handing Adama the book he had found. "It appeared to be a history book from Earth. But if it was earth, it had been through a war. I don't think that anyone friendly survive.
"Let's hope it wasn't the Cylons!" Tigh said.
"That's all we would need." Starbuck agreed.
"Tigh, go back to the bridge and tell the fleet to move toward Earth. Perhaps we can find some fuel and supplies for the fleet." Adama said.
"Yes sir!" Tigh said and left the room.
"Commander, I don't think that this is wise." Starbuck said.
"I know that you have your doubts Starbuck, but the truth is without some more supplies the fleet will be floating dead in space." Adama said seriously to Starbuck. "I'd rather be near a planet if that were to happen."
"I just don't like it commander, but you are right."
"You and Boomer have my permission to look for Apollo."
"Thanks Commander."
The Battlestar Galactica and the rest of the fleet moved out towards a new planet and an unknown future.
Beyond the Galactica's scanning range a patrol noticed the tail end of the fleet. After calculating where the fleet was headed the patrol turned around and went back where they came from.
End of Part 1
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