Disclaimers: ‘Battlestar Galactica’ and all of its characters are owned by Universal Studios City, USA.
Earth at Last
by
AJ Marks
Part 4
"No! I am not leaving!" The loud voice said, it could be heard several quarters away. "And I don't care what you say."
Two officers walking down the corridor looked first at the door then at each other. They could only chuckle at each other, for they knew what the argument was about. It was the same all over the Galactica ever since Commander Adama had made his announcement about the fleet split up.
Inside Cassiopeia was giving Starbuck a piece of her mind.
"I cannot believe that you want us to leave, doesn't my opinion mean anything to you?" She asked.
"Now Cass, come on you know..."
"Don't you patronize me Starbuck." She said cutting Starbuck off. She was about to continue when Alieva let out a cry. "Now look what you've done!" She said picking up their daughter.
"But..." He clamped his mouth shut at his wife's glare. He knew better then to try to argue with her when she was in this mood, so he chose instead to walk up to them and gently gave them a hug. "I just want to know that you're both safe, that's all Cass."
"I know Starbuck," She said as she looked up into his face. He noticed that she had started crying. "But I don't want to live without you Starbuck."
He continued to hold them both, knowing that he would never see either of them again. Cassiopeia buried her face in his shoulder. If anyone else had been looking they would have seen tears falling down Starbuck's cheeks as well.
"Who, or what, are the Cylons." The mysterious stranger asked them.
"A race of robots." Apollo answered him.
"Silicon based life form?"
"I guess you could say that now." Apollo said. "What do the Cylons have to do with this?"
The mysterious commander did not reply, instead he appeared to be deep in thought. "Tell me, what you know about this 'Cylon' race Captain Apollo?"
Apollo exchanged glances with the other two pilots, all three thought that this was an unexpected question.
"Let's see, where to begin?” Apollo said thinking about the question asked. "When we had met the Cylons they were already a race of robots, but at one time the Cylons were a reptile type civilization. They were excellent scientists and created robots to help them. The robots slowly took over until war broke out."
"Apparently the robots won."
"Yes, they created a social structure that does not allow the freedom that mankind enjoys. The Cylons have a very strict structure, because of that they started to conquer any race that was different. They wiped out any race that was different."
"How did the human race get involved in the war against the Cylons then?"
"You might say we fell into a role as protectors." Apollo said staring at the Cylon raider missing the look that passed over the stranger's face. "Our neighbors were under attack from the Cylons. They asked for our help and we intervened. We built up our military and for several hundred yaharns were able to fight them."
"I take it a 'yaharn' is a long time."
"It's the average time that it takes, took, the planets of the twelve colonies to make one complete orbit around their stars." Apollo answered.
"Probably equivalent to our year." The stranger said rubbing his chin with his left hand. "Please continue."
"We fought the Cylons for yaharns to a standstill. We were able to keep the Cylons from invading our home planets until just about seven yaharns ago." Apollo noticed a brief look of sadness in the commander's eyes, but continued on. "Ironically we were betrayed by one of our own people."
"Betrayed you how?" The commander asked, genuinely interested.
"The Cylons concocted, what I must admit, was a brilliant scheme. They were able to contact an aspiring and respectable man named Baltar. Through him the Cylons expressed a hope for a peace, however they both fooled all of us."
"I don't understand."
"Baltar claimed the Cylons wanted peace, even though he knew their real intentions."
"He knew that he was consciously betraying his people?" The commander said shaking his head in disbelief.
"Yes, and we fell for the peace talk hook, line and sinker."
"I take it from your voice that you were there when it happened?"
"I was on patrol that day with my brother." Apollo said with a far off look in his eyes.
The other two looked at Apollo with interest, they had both joined the military after the colonies had been attacked. Not many civilians knew what had happened to the fleet other than only the Battlestar Galactica had survived. They both listened with interest.
"We were out on patrol while the fleet made its way to the rendezvous point. My brother saw something on his scanner near a moon and I went to investigate." Apollo paused a second. "I found two empty Cylon tankers just sitting there jamming us. Wondering what they were doing there I went further and saw them."
The commander sent a knowing glance at Apollo, as if he understood what Apollo was saying.
"There must have been over a thousand fighters hiding there just waiting. Four Cylons raiders jumped us, and we had to fight our way out. Zac's fighter was damaged in the fight, he told me to go on ahead to warn the fleet." Apollo's voice cracked a bit when he mentioned his brother's name but continued on. "When I got back to the Galactica I was informed that he didn't make it back."
"What happened to the fleet Captain?" One of the two pilots asked him. "Wasn't the fleet on alert?"
"No, Baltar made sure of that!" Apollo answered with some venom in his voice. "He confused the President long enough that by the time we realized it was an attack, it was to late. Of the five battlestars only the Galactica was on alert, the others were taken by surprise. We never stood a chance." His last statement was a mere whisper, but it sounded the loudest.
The room fell silent for several minutes before anyone could speak. Apollo was reliving that terrible day, the two pilots finally fully understood why the fleet never came to the colonies rescue. The commander seemed to look out the window for a second.
"What happened to the colonies?" He finally asked.
"They raided all colonies, sparing nothing." One of the pilots responded. "The sky seemed to be full of them, and there was nothing we could do to stop them."
"My father, Commander Adama, gathered what ships that could fly and what people he could for a search for a sister world, called Earth."
"Is that the reason you are here?"
"We have nowhere else to go, and even if we did we have no fuel to get there. And now, if the Cylons have found us, were doomed." Apollo said with a slump in his shoulders.
The mysterious commander took in Apollo's dejected look and knew that he was a defeated person. He told the guards to return the three men back to their cell.
"You heard?" He called out.
"Yes." A smaller man walked out from behind a secret door. "If what they say is true, we have much to do."
"Yes sir!"
"Commander Adama," Tigh said as he entered Adama's room. "You wanted to see me sir."
"Yes Tigh, come in." Adama said still sitting behind his desk. "I've been doing some thinking."
"About what sir."
"I would like for you to go with the fleet." Adama stated into stunned silence.
"I'm afraid that I don't understand sir."
"The leaving ships will need a commander to help lead them, and since I am staying on board the Galactica, you should go Tigh." Adama said to him. "I can't think of anyone more qualified."
"But what about you, your a member of the council of twelve." Tigh said.
"I've already spoken to the council Tigh." Adama said interrupting Tigh. "They have agreed with me. I have enjoyed a full life, my place is here on the Galactica."
"Have you talked to your daughter and grandson yet?"
"Yes, and I had the same argument with him also. Tigh, you still have a long time yet to live, me I've live a good life, its time to move on. Even the council agrees with you being my replacement. Adama said finally standing up and walking around the desk to where Tigh stood now speechless. "I believe that you're ready my friend."
"It will be an honor Adama." Tigh said regaining his voice. "I'll try to do you proud."
"I know you will Tigh, I have every confidence in you." Adama reaching out his hand to shake his friend's hand.
"I'll get ready at once." Tigh said walking toward the door. He stopped just short of the door and looked back at Adama. Neither of them said a word, they didn't have to. Both men understood what the unspoken thought was. Tigh then walked out the door toward his quarters to pack.
Adama walked back to his desk and heavily sat back down. That task had been one of the hardest decisions he had ever made in his life. He knew that Tigh wanted to be on board the Galactica during its last battle, but the human race still needed a military leader in the upper command. Not a person who would dominant control, but a person who would be cautious and look at the protection of the people. The human race would need men like Colonel Tigh.
"Bring in the other two captured humans." The mysterious commander told his guards. Minutes later the guards returned with the two humans.
"You are human, yes?" He asked them.
They looked at each other a bit confused. Finally one decided to answer. "Yeah, we're human. What about you?"
"Where do you come from, and why are you here?" The mysterious commander asked ignoring the question.
"Well, we're from the colonies and we're looking for Earth."
"Why are you looking for Earth?"
"Well, according to our legends Earth is a sister planet to the twelve tribes. We call it the thirteenth tribe. If that planet we were just on is Earth then the human race is doomed."
"So, according to your legends Earth is your thirteenth tribe, correct?"
"Ah, yes." One replied still confused.
"Take them back to the room that the others are in." The commander said motioning for the guards to take the two prisoners.
Once they were out of the room the shorter man came back out.
"Are the test results back yet commander?" The man asked.
"We are expecting them back from the lab any minute now my Lord."
"And then we'll know."
"Last call for all personal that are leaving the Galactica, the last shuttles will be leaving in fifteen minutes." The announcer said.
The flight deck was crowded with loved ones and friends saying goodbye. Spouses were hugging each other and their kids. All knew that there would be no happy reunion. Those staying on the Galactica would die.
Colonel Tigh slowly made his way through the crowd to his shuttle, when a hand on his shoulder stopped him. Tigh turned around and was quite surprised to see Adama standing there with his daughter, Athena, and Boxey. Behind them were Starbuck and his family.
"Tigh, I'm glad I didn't miss you." Adama told his friend.
"I was hoping I'd see you here sir." Tigh replied shaking Adama's hand.
"I'll miss you Tigh."
"I know I'll miss you and this ship." Tigh said looking around the landing bay.
"We had some great times Tigh, I know you would rather be on the bridge with me, but I can't let you remain."
"I've thought about it, and I know you're right. Goodbye my friend." Tigh said, his eyes starting to tear up.
"Goodbye Tigh." Adama told him, releasing Tigh's hand.
Tigh walked up to Starbuck who was still saying goodbye. Tigh waited until Starbuck noticed him before saying anything.
"I would normally tell you to be careful, but that's a mute point." Tigh told him. Starbuck chuckled at the statement, even though Cassiopeia did not find it funny.
"Can I ask for a personal favor?" Starbuck said suddenly very serious.
"Of course." Tigh said catching the serious tone in Starbuck's voice.
"Would you, um, would you make sure that Alieva hears about her father." Starbuck said with tears in his eyes.
"I'd be honored to Starbuck." Tigh promised.
"You better get going." Adama said from behind them.
Tigh nodded his head and went on board. Outside the shuttle Starbuck was saying goodbye to his wife and daughter.
"Now you be good to your mom, you hear." He said kissing Alieva's forehead, tears falling down his own cheeks. "And you take care also Cass. I love you."
"I love you to." Cassiopeia whispered. She then walked up to the shuttle door and turned around for one last look.
"I'll wait for you." Starbuck said.
"I know."
Cassiopeia and Alieva entered the shuttle and the doors closed. Everyone there watched as the last shuttle left, all who remained were warriors and they would try their hardest to give their loved ones the time they needed to get away.
The Imperious leader sat on his chair. Soon the Galactica and the remnants of the human race would be gone from the universe forever. Two centurions entered the room.
"Speak centurions." He told them.
"We have a total of eleven basestars converging on the Galactica."
"Excellent, destroy the Galactica, then the human fleet. Tell the commanders to attack when ready, and let no ship survive"
"By your command!"
End Part 4
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