Disclaimers: Battlestar
Galactica is not owned by me and infringement is intended. This story is only for the enjoyment of the
readers.
The Return
By
AJ Marks
A lone Cylon basestar slowly made its way though a star
system. It had not encountered anything
that it could detect as life in a while.
The primary mission had been to try and locate the Colonial fleet but
that had been located.
The arrival of Baltar back into the Cylon Empire had quickly led
to the finding of the Colonial Fleet.
The finding had come at a price though.
They had lost three basestars and one of the last Tartaurs basestars.
Suddenly the scanners came to life as an unknown ship
appeared. Quickly trying to find out if
the ship was human or not the Cylons launched a patrol of raiders to find
out. The raiders got within range and
were attacked by the mysterious ship.
Its own fighters were launched and a battle soon occurred.
"Report centurion," Spectre said as the centurion walked
into the control room.
"The Imperious Leader is wishing to speak with you," the
centurion reported.
Spectre quickly went over to where the communicator was and
activated it.
"By your command," Spectre said to the Imperious Leader.
"Spectre, I have a mission for you of the most
important," the Cylon leader said.
"We lost contact with one of our basestars in sector eighteen. I need you to go and find out what
happened."
"It will be an honor Imperious Leader," Spectre said.
"Good, then I expect to hear something from you soon,"
the Imperious Leader said as the transmission cut off.
Spectre turned to the centurion and relayed the order to head to
sector eighteen.
"Another patrol," Starbuck said as he climbed into his
viper.
"Well, now that the Cylons know where we are it will be
important that we maintain these patrols," Apollo said as he climbed into
his.
"I know, but I kind of wish they had not found us,"
Starbuck said. Many had hoped that it
would be longer before the Cylons found the fleet. Now that they had a depression had enveloped
the fleet. They had just received good
news when that had happened.
"Core command transferring coordinates to Alpha patrol,"
they heard Athena's voice say.
"Alpha patrol, transfer complete," Apollo replied.
"Transferring launch control to
Alpha patrol, launch when ready," Athena told them.
Apollo pressed his turbos and was pushed
back into the viper as he was launched out of the Galactica followed a moment
later by Starbuck.
"Let's go," Apollo said knowing that their patrol would
encounter the remaining basestar from the previous encounter.
"Yeah," Starbuck said not sounding that enthusiastic
about the patrol.
"Report Lucifer," Baltar said as Lucifer came into the
room.
"We are still monitoring patrols from the Colonial
fleet," Lucifer said.
"They want to keep an eye on us," Baltar said.
"It seems so," Lucifer said.
"Good, if they are looking here then they will not see
something come from another direction then," Baltar said.
"There is something else Baltar that might interest
you," Lucifer said.
"What would that be Lucifer," Baltar asked.
"It appears that we lost contact with one of our basestars in
sector eighteen," Lucifer said.
"Eighteen, that's not far away from here," Baltar
said. "It wasn't by one of the
Colonial battlestars?"
"No, we have observed no battlestar movement away from the
Colonial fleet since the battle," Lucifer said. "Our Imperious Leader has sent Spectre
to find out what happened."
"Jealous Lucifer," Baltar said to the IL Series Cylon.
"Certainly not Baltar," Lucifer said quickly.
"Doesn't matter, but if something attacked a basestar then we
should keep a look out as well. If
anything suspicious happens let me know at once," Baltar said.
"By your command Baltar," Lucifer said.
"Commander," Renee said to Commander Omega.
"What is it Renee," Omega said looking over to where the
blonde woman was sitting.
"I haven't heard from our patrol in the last few minutes,"
Renee said. "They were going to
check something out on their scanners and I haven't heard anything from them
since," she said.
"Are there any other patrols near by," Omega asked.
"Only the one that was just launched by the Galactica,"
Renee replied.
"All right," Omega said turning to the communicator and
waited for Commander Adama to answer.
"Omega, what can I do for you," Adama asked.
"We've lost contact with our patrol," Omega said. "The nearest one is Alpha patrol that
just launched."
"I see," Adama said thinking about that. Alpha patrol was his son and Starbuck who had
just launched. Taking them off their
current patrol could cost them intelligence on the basestar behind them. But if something happened in front of them
they would need to know. "Send the
information and we'll have them check it out.
Ready another patrol to cover Alpha's regular route."
"Yes sir commander," Omega said as the communications
ended.
Apollo was just about to head to their patrol position when he
received orders to head to a new area.
"Wonder what's going on," Starbuck asked as they heard
the new orders.
"I don't know but if they've altered our patrol over it then
it must be important," Apollo replied.
"Let's go see what they've found.
"Right behind you," Starbuck said to Apollo as the two
vipers turned and headed to a new direction that they had been given.
"Report centurion," Spectre said as he stood in the
command chair of the basestar.
"We have arrived at the sector that the basestar was
lost," the centurion replied.
"Send out patrols at once," Spectre ordered. He wanted to find out what had happened
quickly before the Imperious Leader send more
basestars to the sector. This was his
one shot at showing the leaders that he was a capable leader.
"By your command," the centurion said then turned around
and left the room.
Aaron looked over to where Jason and Cronus were sitting as he
walked over to join them.
"What's up guys," Aaron asked as he sat down.
"Nothing too much. Many are just wondering when the Cylons are
going to fund us again," Jason said.
"Well we gave them a bloody nose in the last fight,"
Aaron said. "I think they will
think twice before attacking us again."
"Yeah, but they will," Cronus said. "I don't think we've seen the last of
them just yet."
"Ah, you're probably right Cronus," Aaron said. "But we should enjoy this moment while
we can."
"How's your sister," Jason asked knowing that Brie was
on board the Hyperion as the flight officer.
"She's handling the situation well," Aaron said. "I talked to her not that long ago. Did you know that she took over command of
the Hyperion when the bridge was hit?"
"No, I hadn't heard that," Cronus said leaning forward
to hear more.
"They took a hit to the bridge that caused some injuries. Bri said that the
person who had the highest rank froze.
They were in the middle of a battle so she just took over," Aaron
said.
"Wow, that should get her recognized all right," Jason
said as he thought about that. He had
been too busy doing his duty to even wonder about what
had gone on board the battlestars.
"I know that we lost a few on the Agamemnon during the
battle."
"Yeah, my quarters was all damaged when I came back,"
Cronus said. "Fire
damage from an electrical system.
It was nothing much but burned some of my clothes."
"Well, it could have been worse, it could have been you're
bed," Jason said.
"That's true," Cronus said not having thought about
that. "Any idea as to what happens
next?"
"Just normal procedures right now," Jason replied. "We're going to maintain combat alert
patrols around the fleet. Now they also
know that we have three battlestars they will probably bring up reinforcements
as well."
"So much for our advantage then," Cronus said.
"But I think we all knew that it was a one time shot,"
Aaron said. "I was hoping that it
would be a while longer before they found us."
"I know what you mean," Cronus said.
They sat there for a bit longer until it was time for Cronus to go
on patrol. He got up and left them heading
to the launch bays.
A group of Cylon raiders began their scout patrol. The Cylon pilots were not sure what they were
looking for only that something had happened to this area. The raiders were not that far away from the
basestar when their scanners picked up an unknown ship.
The raiders quickly reported back to the basestar that they had
encountered some sort of new ship and were in the process of investigating the
ship. What they were not ready for was
the mysterious ship suddenly opened fire on the raiders catching them by
surprise.
On board the basestar Spectre was updated with what was going on
by the centurions. His patrol was under
attack by some unknown force. He
realized that whoever was attacking them was probably
the same ones who had destroyed the basestar earlier.
"Fall back to the sector seventeen at once," Spectre
ordered.
"By your command," the centurion replied.
"Our patrol has been destroyed," a gold centurion
reported.
"Have we been spotted," Spectre asked.
"Unknown," the reply came making Spectre uneasy about
everything.
"Put me though to our Imperious Leader at once," Spectre
said it did not take long until the Imperious Leader was being given the report
from Spectre.
"Report," Baltar ordered from his chair.
"It appears that support is being withdrawn from our
sector," Lucifer said.
"What," Baltar asked not sure he like that at all.
"It was by the order of our Imperious Leader himself that the
forces are being places elsewhere," Lucifer said.
"Why are they being transferred," Baltar asked.
"It appears that there is a problem in sector eighteen,"
Lucifer said having read the reports himself.
"What about the Colonial fleet," Baltar asked.
"Whatever it in sector eighteen has already destroyed one
basestar without any warning. It might
be the Pegasus and the legendary Commander Cain," Lucifer said.
"A decoy, well it won't work on me," Baltar said.
"If course, you are the great wise Baltar," Lucifer
said.
"Yes, I am," Baltar said as he smiled. "I have an idea."
If Lucifer could have rolled his eyes he would have at Balter's
statement.
Cronus flew on patrol behind the patrol leader. He was hoping that they would not find
anything that would require a fight today.
He was really wishing for a boring patrol this time.
"Cronus, are you picking up anything," Jolly said to
him.
"Nope," Cronus replied as he glanced at his scanner.
"Neither was I, just checking," Jolly said. It made him nervous knowing that there was a
Cylon basestar not far away but not where it was.
"Give me a heart attack then," Cronus said. "I thought you had spotted
something."
"Nope, just checking to make sure that my scanners were
working," Jolly said.
The two vipers continued on their patrol.
"Nothing coming in from the patrol," Tigh asked.
"No," Rigel replied everything was almost too quiet for
her.
"That just doesn't make sense," Tigh replied as he
thought out loud. "They know where
we are, they surely know what our military forces are by now. We should pick up some sort of scout ship
either on one of the battlestars scanners or by the viper patrols."
"Report coming in from the Galactica sir," Rigel said.
"Put it up here," Tigh said watching as Commander
Adama's face appeared on the screen.
"Tigh, anything," Adama asked.
"No sir, and that has me
worried," Tigh replied.
"Me too," Adama said.
"They could be calling up reinforcements to overwhelm us."
"Its possible commander," Tigh said as he thought about
that.
"I want you to turn the Agamemnon around and head to the rear
to check out what's behind us," Adama said.
"How far back," Tigh asked.
"As far back as you can go," Adama said. "I want to know if there are any
basestars nearby."
"I understand sir," Tigh said.
"I'll notify the Hyperion as to what's going on move accordingly,"
Adama said.
"Very well, do you want to go now," Tigh asked.
"Yes," Adama said.
"I'll keep you posted," Tigh said as the screen went
blank. He then turned to the crew and
told them the new course.
"That's interesting," Apollo said as he and Starbuck
were returning to the fleet after their patrol.
"What is," Starbuck asked.
"The Agamemnon is turning around," Apollo said.
"Well, that is interesting," Starbuck said remembering a
time when he saw a battlestar leaving a battle.
It was during the destruction of the fleet when the Galactica turned to
head to the Colonies. "At least
this time we are not in the middle of a battle."
"Yeah, but if it’s turning around its
for a good reason," Apollo said.
"That's what scares me," Starbuck replied.
"Let's get back aboard and see if we can find out what's
going on," Apollo said as the two vipers approached the landing bays of
the Galactica.
Jason and the rest of the pilots were called to the briefing room
by the commander. They wondered what was
going on. One thing that always seemed
to be going on was rumors. This time
there was a rumor that the Agamemnon was heading away from the fleet to engage
any basestars behind them.
Jason glanced around at the rest of the pilots. There was a sense of seasoned warriors that everyone
had. Even though most had only battled
the Cylons once those who had survived were now considered veterans by the
others.
Commander Tigh walked into the room which quickly went
silent. They waited to see what the
commander had to say.
"I know that many of you have heard the rumors already,"
Tigh said. "I want to clarify the
rumors to you. Yes, we are headed to the
rear of the fleet. Our mission is to see
if we can determine how many basestars are behind us. We might have to engage Cylons during this
mission."
Jason thought about that for a second. The rumors were partially true. They were headed to the rear but it was not
to destroy the Cylons only find out what they were up against.
"Why not just use a patrol," one pilot said.
"Vipers are good but the battlestar had a much greater
scanner range then the vipers. We're
headed to the edge of the Hyperion's scanner range," Tigh said.
"Effectively doubling the range of the battlestar,"
Aaron said thinking about what had been said.
It was a basic tactic that the patrols used to increase their range
while remaining in contact with the fleet.
"Yes, and if the Cylons see us coming they might pull back a
bit allowing us to break contact with them for a while," Tigh said. "All right everyone knows their
assignment I expect the best from all of you."
"Report Lucifer," Baltar said.
"Our scanners indicate that one Colonial Battlestar is
heading towards us," Lucifer said wondering how this news would be
received.
"Pull back away from the fleet then," Baltar said. I want them to continue to guess about how
many basestars we currently have," Baltar said.
"As you wish," Lucifer said carrying out the orders.
With the added reinforcements that came from nearby Specter was once
again ready to head into sector 18.
Whatever was in there was attacking them. He walked over to the command Cylon to see
what the latest report was.
"All patrols are out to see if they can find the unknown
warship," the Cylon said.
"Good, do the other basestar commanders know what they are to
do," Spectre said.
"They have been given their orders and are ready to
obey," the Cylon said.
"Good," Spectre said.
"Begin at once then."
Jason found himself launching out of the launch tube with his wing
mate Aaron. They were going on anther
patrol to see what was going on behind them.
They were still trying to figure out what was going on with the Cylons
behind them.
"Well are you ready," Jason asked as they formed up to
head to the patrol area.
"Would it matter if I said no," Aaron said.
"Nope, you're just missing
"She's spending a lot of time over on the Galactica,"
Aaron said.
"I know, it seems that Commander Adama is training her,"
Jason said.
Aaron knew that was the truth but it did not help. There were people over on board the Galactica
that would be close to her and he was not.
It made him feel a bit jealous about the situation. He also knew that Adama was helping
"Hold up, do you see that," Jason said a moment later as
they approached their patrol area.
"Yeah, but the scanner cannot identify it," Aaron said.
"I'm going to report it in," Jason said.
"Good idea," Aaron said.
"Whatever it is its headed towards the
fleet."
"A report," Lucifer said as he walked into the command
room where Baltar was. The human was
walking around, or pacing was more like it.
"Good news then," Baltar said.
"I'm not sure," Lucifer said. "We have reports of an unidentified ship
on our scanners, it appears to be headed to the
Colonial fleet."
"We cannot allow that," Baltar said. "Set course to intercept.
"I do no understand," Lucifer said.
"IF its more reinforcements they
cannot be allowed to join up, if its an enemy I want to destroy the Galactica,
not someone else," Baltar said. The idea of someone else gaining the glory
that he was dreaming of was unacceptable to him.
"By your command," Lucifer said.
Omega read listened to the report of the incoming ship. He ordered the patrol to see if they could
investigate even further and see what the intentions of the unknown ship were. At the same time he contacted Commander Adama
to let him know what was going on.
"An unknown ship," Adama said. "I want everyone to be careful in their approach. We don't need another enemy in this
area."
"Understood sir," Omega said wondering what type of aliens
they were going to be encountering.
"Sir, the ship is reporting to have turned around and is
fleeing away from us," Rigel said.
Omega was not sure what that meant. There was something going on out there that
much was for sure.
"Double the patrol in that area," Omega said. The last thing the fleet needed was any more
surprises.
"Report centurion," Specter said from his command chair. He was waiting to see what the report was on
the latest patrol.
"Our patrol has spotted one of the unknown warships
nearby," the centurion replied.
"And," Specter asked wondering what was going on.
"It changed course suddenly.
It is no longer heading towards us but away from us," the centurion
said.
"Interesting," Specter said wondering about this. "It might be a trap, send one basestar
to investigate."
"By your command," the centurion said.
"Most interesting," Specter said. This was becoming stranger every second.
The lamp suddenly moved slowly across the table and a huge grin
split her face as she realized she had done it.
"Very good," Adama said from where he was sitting. He was reading reports on the fleet while she
was exercising her abilities. It was
taking her less time to do each objective.
He was also gong on what he had learned so long ago.
"Thanks," she said then looked at the lamp again. "I think," she said pausing to
concentrate a bit more. Suddenly the
lamp lifted off the table and moved a small distance before landing again.
"You're getting very good at this," Adama said almost like
a proud father. Her abilities were extraordinary
that was for sure. "You are picking
this up faster than I have seen anyone else."
"You mean others can do such things,"
"We used to however the holocaust of the Cylons killed off
many who had the ability," Adama said.
"Commander Adama to the bridge," the bridge officer
said. Adama excused himself and walked
off to the bridge. He wondered if this
was going to be a report from the Hyperion on what was going on.
Walking onto the bridge he went over to his command chair.
"Report from the Hyperion sir," he was told.
"Put it though up here," Adama said sitting down as
Omega's face appeared.
"Commander, whatever was headed towards the fleet has turned
around. I'm not sure what it was or their
intentions are," Omega said.
"Its all right," Adama said.
"Any signs of the Cylons," he asked.
"No," Omega said.
"But I cannot rule out that the unknown ship isn't a Cylon warship
of a new design either."
"I know, that's what bothers me," Adama said. "Stay in your position and keep me
informed."
Adama sat there wondering what was going to happen next. So far there had been so many things that he
was almost afraid as to what would appear next.
He half expected all of this to be a dream some days.
"Another communications coming in sir," Athena said.
"Put it up here," Adama said still looking out the
window.
"Greeting Adama, you old war daggit!"
End of The Return
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