On 3 July, 1947, a UFO crash-landed near Roswell, New Mexico. The UFO, a Colonial Viper with the Pilot still alive, was whisked away to a secret base. The Pilot was able to tell the Government agents about the Cylon threat before he died. This first group of Government agents kept the secret well, even going so far as to plant a fake 'flying saucer' in the Area 51 site using metal from the crashed Viper. All knowledge of the Viper crash was hidden from the rest of the world. Over the decades, this first group of people planned a defense against the Cylons, secretly building more Vipers in hidden areas and carefully and secretly adding more people to thier as-yet-unnamed organization. The Earth Confederation was born. Many members worked within the United States Government itself, secretly siphoning off funds for the Earth Confederation. (Of course the U.S. Government didn't spend $500 on a hammer) Eventually people from other nations were included in the Earth Confederation. The Confederation grew rapidly with funds coming in from other governments. Various underground and black-market trade organizations were also formed to get more funds. By the mid-70's, there were secret hidden colonies on the Moon and Mars. The Confederation grew even more rapidly with families starting to occupy the new Colonies. In 1987, a Viper patrol stumbled upon a massive ruined derelict floating outside the Solar System. The derelict was the Battlestar Pegasus. The Confederation was able to learn even more about the Cylons and the intrepid group of humans battling them. The Earth Confederation now knew just how serious the danger was should they be discovered by the Cylons. They began a massive program to restore the Pegasus, as well as build more Vipers, Defense Satellites, and other weapons of war. By late 1996, the Earth Confederation Ship Pegasus was fully operational, and the Confederation Fleet was born. Using the proven design of the American Space Shuttle mixed with the new Colonial technology, the Earth Confederation was in the process of constructing a fleet of Destroyers to bolster thier strength. All the while, this was all being kept secret from the people of Earth, to avoid panic. Under the command of Captain Martin Phelps, the ECS Pegasus stood ready to lead the defense of Earth and humanity should the Cylons come.... Deception Jeff King August, 1998 A middle aged worker walked through the crowded shuttle bay on Earth's moon. His destination, the spaceshipping factory yards on Mars colony to build the new fleet to "defend Earth". Haphaestus scoffed to himself about rumors of these "Cylons." Palon, his son, about 20 yarrens, was all fired up about this and the recruiters who came along enlisting young men and women despite Haphaestus' objections. His service as a builder could qualify them for better living class alone. But the rebelious kid went anyway. "Frac!" he thought. Since his wife died, they're son became more difficult. But, maybe this Viper pilot training would straighten him out, teach a little discipline. Haphaestus strode through the x-ray checkpoint onto a conveyer to the Mars shuttle. It was crammed with all sorts of people from the morning run. All hired for the secret project. When it was loaded, the shuttle engaged thrusters and shot out toward the red world. Somewhere else in space, a giant cylon base star hovered and slowly rotated as a scout fighter slid into one of its many landing bays. The pilot a seven foot giant centurian made its way to the command chamber. "By-your-command." "Speak centurian." said the insectlike Imperious Leader clone in red robes perched atop a high throne pedestal. "Scouting-party-reports-signs-of-ships." "What ships? Where?" "A- shuttlecraft- reading- signs- of- humans. Destination,- the- large-red-planet-in-this-solar-system." "Let the attack begin!" the Cylon robot nodded mechanically. "By-your-command" and marched out. Swarms of Cylon Raiders flew from the launch bays of the base ship attacking the innocent planet Mars. In Eath's orbit, cloaked electronically, the newly repaired ECS Pegasus and its captain Martin Phelps scanned a different threat - a large asteroid on course to collide with Earth. "Red alert! Launch intercept Vipers!" commanded Phelps. "Viper fighters, launch when ready!" the tech called. Two new Vipers streaked out to meet the target and much more. "Just routine debris desposal. Intergalactic garbage men call us," the pilot quipped. "Uh oh, look at your scanner!" answered the wingman humourlessly as it filled with Cylon blips hiding behind the asteroid. "May Day! Patrol to Pegasus WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!" His message was cut off as the two were overrun by Cylon laser cannons. But, Pegasus did recieve and exited orbit to defend. Cylon bombers attacked Mars and began battering it with laserfire and metron bombs. The Pegasus came in to engage the attacking fighters with guns firing. "Mars taking heavy damage and casaulties Captain," Colonel Apollo said. "Launch fighters to protect evacuation teams and engage the Cylon force," Captain Phelps ordered. Viper fighters shot out of Pegasus' launch bays followed by medical shuttles which under protection of Vipers dropped to the planet surface. Inside a Cylon cockpit, "A-large-counter-attack-force-from-outside-planetary-range. "Recall-attack-squadron." the Cylon commander's metalic, monotone echoed before being picked off by an opponent. On board the Pegasus, "The Cylons seem to be caught by surprise sir," Colonel Apollo reported. "Good, what about the surface?" "Well, shuttles are starting to arrive, heavy wounded and damage and a number of casaulties. But, our forces are driving them away." "Good Lord, when you arrived with this information Colonel I doubt many took it seriously but they do now!" In a hidden desert compound in New Mexico, Earth, cadets went through rigors of boot camp training for Earth Confederation forces. A Viper instructor lead a simulation. Palon and Apollo's adult son, "Boxey" were among the trainees. "Now remember a Viper is a very sophisticated piece of machinery. Just thinking what you want to do is enough to make it do it." Palon thought about what he wanted to do. It was to go up there and take on the universe by himself. He was awakened by the instructor when Palon accidentally shot him down, ending the simulation. "Cadet! You got the Cylon...and me!" "Huh?" Palon was stunned and embarrassed. "You shot it down but continued firing the turbo lasers, I'm dead." The other cadets gathered snickered at the mistake. "O'kay people, let's do the exercise again and Palon?" "Yes sir?" "Don't shoot me this time." "Yes sir." The students broke off into their space flight simulators again including a female who had been eyeing Palon. Suddenly the intercom crackled, "Flight Instructor Boomer to the bridge!" With that he left the cadets in care of the assistant instructor and rushed to the turbolift. Upon reaching the bridge, he saluted Captain Martin Phelps. "So, how are your people doing down there?" Phelps asked. "Fine sir, a little rust but nothing that can't be worked out." "Excellent, excellent." Sensing the direction the Captain was going Boomer said, "But sir, they're by no means combat ready! You can't be serious!" "Yes I am." he answered. "Look at this report. They'll be back again and again until we find and knock out their base. We're overstocked with refuggees from the attack as is." Boomer looked to Apollo for support. Apollo had been inthis same situation years ago and couldn't help his old friend. "Yes sir," and he walked out frustrated. The klaxxon alarm blared and pilots were mustered into their fighters. A new war had begun. After a feroious attack met with surprise Cylon resistance to little avail the new pilots decimated the Cylon outpost despite their lack of major combat experience. But, even though they had won this battle there would be many more to come. END