Disclaimers: 'Battlestar Galactica' and all of its characters are owned by Universal City Studios, USA.
Earth at Last
by
A.J.Marks
Part 2
Starbuck walked back to his quarters where his wife Cassiopeia and their four-month-old daughter, Alieva, were waiting. In one way he felt relieved that he did not have to tell Boxey that Apollo was missing. Commander Adama said he would tell his grandson.
"How are you feeling Starbuck?" Cassiopeia asked him.
"Like there should've been something that I should have been able to do." He said shaking his head in a defeated mood. "I allowed myself to be distracted and they were able to grab Apollo."
"Starbuck?"
"Hmm?"
"Is our situation really that bad with fuel and supplies? I've been hearing some rumors going around the Galactica." Cassiopeia asked him.
"Unfortunately it is Cassie. Commander Adama said to Apollo and me that if we don't find any fuel soon the fleet will be without fuel." Starbuck told her. "I do have some good news and bad news. We think that we found earth."
"That's great news, why are they not announcing it?" Cassiopeia asked him.
"Because, it looked like the colonies after the Cylons had attacked. No one wants to bring moral down any further than it is." Starbuck replied. "Commander Adama has decided to move the fleet into the system and search for supplies."
"Isn't that dangerous to the fleet?" Cassiopeia asked. "After all we don't know who or what attacked you and Apollo."
"Yes Commander Adama has taken all of that into account." Starbuck said putting his hands on her shoulders. "But if the fleet does run out of fuel he would rather be next to a habitable planet than deep space."
Way beyond the scanning range of the Galactica sat a large ship. It had a distinctive Cylon appearance, but it looked different. Instead of two circular shapes this new basestar had three, with the center one larger than the ones on the top and bottom.
In the large circular room a robed figure sat waiting in his chair on a raised platform. His superior intelligence and experience made him the commander of one of the newly developed advanced Cylon basestar. The door to the room slid open and two of the new model centurions walked in. The new centurions were completely black, having lost any of the shiny metal surfaces of the earlier models. The new models were also sleeker but the single red eye was kept.
"By your command." One of centurions said.
"Speak centurions!" The Cylon leader's voice said echoing in the circular room.
"The Battlestar Galactica has been found imperial leader." One of the centurions said. "The human fleet is approaching a small solar system."
"When can we be in range to intercept the Galactica and her fleet." The leader asked.
"In about one day."
"Excellent, move us into striking range at once, and notify the central core."
"By your command." The centurions said and left the room.
Commander Adama and colonel Tigh watched as the fleet approached the planet 'Earth'. Both men had mixed feelings about the planet. Adama knew that if no supplies were found on the planet the fleet would be stranded, and it would only be a matter of time before the Cylons appeared.
"What do you think Adama?" Tigh asked him.
"I pray to the gods Tigh, I pray to the gods that I haven't lead us to our deaths." Adama stated to Tigh.
"If it is Earth then I don't think that we will be able to stay, because someone, or something, destroyed that civilization."
"That gives us two priorities. Finding supplies and a clue as to the attacker, and hoping that they are not the Cylons or as powerful as they are."
"Commander Adama, we are within range to start sending down patrol teams." Omega said to him.
"Make sure that all patrols are armed and stay in constant communications with each other." Adama advised.
Apollo followed behind the two robed guards in front of him down the corridor. He was still trying to figure out who they were, however they were not Cylons. A minute later he the guards led him into a small room that had one person waiting.
He wore what looked like a commander's uniform. After about a minute he turned toward Apollo. Apollo could only stare in shock at what he saw. Standing in front of him was someone who appeared to look human.
"Who are you?" The figure asked him.
"I am Captain Apollo of the battlestar Galactica." Apollo answered him.
"Where did you come from?"
"The twelve colonies. Who are you?" Apollo asked the stranger.
"That is not important, you look human, are you?"
"Uh, yes." Apollo answered uncertainly. "Yes I am."
"Impossible!" The man said turning around to face Apollo. "Where are you from?"
"The Colonies." Apollo told him again.
"That cannot be." He said still keeping his back to Apollo. "There were no colonies."
"Who are you?" He practically yelled at Apollo.
"I told you, I'm Captain Apollo from the Battlestar Galactica."
"Take him away!" He said to the guards.
Omega walked up to where Adama and Tigh stood. "Commander, they are ready to begin landings."
"Have the patrols found anything unusual at all?" Adama asked Omega.
"No sir!" Omega said shaking his head.
"What do you think Tigh?" Adama said turning toward Tigh.
"Well sir, there's something there that I don't like. Someone or something took Apollo, and they are still there." Tigh said, "however we do need the supplies, so I would suggest that armed patrols remain on guard."
"Ok, start rotating the patrols." Adama told Omega. "Keep the Galactica on yellow alert, and put blue squadron on full alert. I don't want any surprises."
"Yes sir! We'll start sending down the scouts." Omega said. "We should know if there's any supplies by the end of the day."
They all knew that if no supplies were found the fleet would be stuck, and it would only be a matter of time before the Cylons found them.
The decent of the shuttles and vipers did not go unnoticed by the observers on the planet. Within the hour there was several scout teams roaming the planet's surface.
"Bring me some more of these invaders." The leader said to the waiting soldiers.
"Yes sir!"
Jolly and his patrol partner, Ehilla, drove along what appeared to once be a road. They had not encountered anything worthy of reporting in. The scanners so far had not found any fuel, but other scout groups had found small supplies of fuel and larger supplies of food.
"Whoa, hold up Jolly. Take a look at that!" An excited Ehilla said pointing at the screen. There on the screen was a reading for a large supply of fuel.
"Galactica this is patrol five." Jolly said reporting in.
"Galactica here."
"Our scanners indicate that there might be some fuel nearby, we're going to check it out."
"Roger patrol five, maintain radio contact with the Galactica."
Jolly and Ehilla got out of the land rover and walked towards what appeared to once be a warehouse.
"Stay alert Ehilla," Jolly said drawing his weapon and slowly approached the door. Jolly need the door as Ehilla kept a watchful eye on their surroundings. Jolly did not see anything out of the ordinary inside. Ehilla watched as his partner disappeared inside the building, then with one last glance at his surroundings he went inside.
"Put your weapon away, or you'll blow us back to the Galactica the hard way." Jolly said having holstered his own weapon.
Ehilla followed Jolly's instructions and holstered his own weapon. All around the warehouse were barrels. Jolly walked over to one of the barrels and gave it a slight nudge.
"These barrels are full!" Jolly exclaimed. "Unfortunately I don't think that there is enough for the fleet."
"Let's go radio the fleet so refueling operations can get underway." Ehilla said walking out to the land rover.
A minute later they were making their report to the Galactica.
"Patrol five, remain at the site until a tanker lands."
"Roger Galactica, Patrol five out."
The two remain on high alert aware that there were still no answers for Apollo's disappearance.
"Patrol five this is patrol three, have you hear from patrol four? They were headed your way last time they reported in."
"Patrol three this is patrol five, no sightings of patrol four yet." Jolly replied.
"Frack, they should have been there by now."
Adama stood on the bridge not liking the reports coming in from the patrols on the planet's surface. So far contact with two patrol teams had been lost. The only good report was some fuel had been located, it was not much but it would enable the Galactica and her fighters the fuel needed to maintain ready status.
"Commander!" Tigh said watching Adama.
"Yes, Tigh?"
"Why don't you take a rest Adama. There's nothing you can do, go talk to Boxey."
"You're right," Adama said as he started to walk toward his quarters. "Let me know if anything new happens."
"You'll be the first to know."
Adama entered his quarters to see Sheba and Boxey deep in conversation.
"Any news?" Sheba asked him.
"No," Adama replied rubbing his eyes. "In fact we have lost four more pilots."
"Whoever's doing this is real good." Boxey said, and Adama had to agree with him. "When is my dad going to come home?"
"I don't know Boxey, but we're looking for all of those who are missing." He said noticing Sheba's reaction to his words.
"They'll find him Boxey." She told him with unshaken confidence. "Why don't we try to get some rest?"
"That sounds like a great idea!" Adama said knowing that he could use the rest.
Two of the black centurions entered the leader's room. The leader's chair swiveled to face them.
"Speak centurions!" He said, his voice echoing off the walls.
"We have entered striking range of the Galactica and the human fleet, we are waiting for your command."
"Then let the attack begin."
Scanners detected the impending attack and watched as more ships came closing in. No alert sounded yet, as they watched and waited to see what would happen.
End Part 2
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