Wow here it is at last the long awaited Part 2 to EARTH: The 13th Colony. Sorry about taking so long but joining the US Amry got in the way. Enjoy the second part. I hope that its as good or close to the level of writing in Part One. PV2 Luke Fraser Scouts Out! 101st AB EARTH: New Beginnings Seawolf156 luke.fraser@us.army.mil Seawolf156@hotmail.com June 2005 The mighty Battlestar Galactica hung motionless in the wide expanse of space. The hanger bays lit with activity as men and women tirelessly labored to get Vipers ready for launch. The bridge hummed with activity as many of the bridge personnel went about their usually daily tasks. There was a low buzz of talk mostly centred on one young individual dressed in a fashion never before seen by any Colonial. Through out the ship side bets were being taken on where the pilot came from. Luke sat motionless; the Colonials around him were all staring at him with their mouths open. "Did you say Earth?" Commander Adama interrupted the silence. "Yes." "By the Lords. Father we have found it." Apollo burst out loud, a huge grin spread across his face. Luke looked at them in surprise; all of them were staring at him stunned, Col. Tigh was the first to break the stunned silence. His low cough brought everyone back to their senses. "How can we be sure that your world is actually the Earth that we are looking for, Commander, the last time we thought we found Earth it was actually a world ready to destroy itself in a nuclear holocaust that we narrowly prevented from happening." "This is true Colonel but the ancient texts support it as does all of the other vital clues that we have picked up in our travels through this universe." Colonel Tigh was about to go on but was interrupted by a tan clad crewman holding up long skinny sheet of paper. The Colonel took it and read it over. "This scanner reading supports the fact that there is indeed a habitable planet in this system, there is in fact a heavily populated planet in this system, it is the third planet from the sun, scanners also picked up a heavy concentration of orbiting ships around the planet." "A fleet, perhaps." Adama suggested. "We are too far out for the scanners to actually pick out what they are." Adama turned towards Luke. "Captain?" "Sir those are satellites. Sir, you see Earth is not quite at the level of technology that you Colonials are at. The development of my space fighter was sort of an accident, we are several years away from building even a working prototype of a larger ship." A pretty young woman came in to the room, her blue uniform from what Luke could figure denoted her as a higher ranking officer then some of the tan clad men and women that he had seen. "What is it Athena?" Commander Adama asked. "Father there has been some more ships similar to the one we brought aboard assembling at the far end of the rear patrol." Commander Adama stood up and quickly strode out of the room, Colonel Tigh followed quickly behind him, surprised Luke jumped up and followed them out into the bridge and up onto a raised dais in the centre of the bridge. Athena was sitting a comfortable looking chair speaking into a small communications headset. She flipped a switch and hit the button on a small TV screen. The dark depths of space flashed onto the screen, more or less in the centre were 5 pinpricks of light, brighter then the surrounding stars. The bright pinpricks swelled in size until Luke could make them out. "The Voyager!" Luke blurted out. "I did not think that they were..." He trailed off as everyone shifted their gaze to him. "What?" "You are familiar with these craft?" Colonel Tigh asked cautiously. "I had bloody well better be. Those are American ships. Probably a rescue party or a small diplomatic party to negotiate the release of me." "Release?" Commander Adama asked. "But surly you must realize that you are no prisoner." "Yes Sir, but they don't know that." "Colonel, I want those ships on the Galactica as soon as possible. I think we need to find out more of what Earth has to offer. Col Tigh held up a hand to his ear and cupped it around a little com headset hat he was wearing. "Athena patch me through to the patrol." Commander Adama looked Luke over with a critical eye. "You don't have a fleet?" "Uh, no." *** Jeremy surveyed the cockpit of his ship. All of his gauges and monitors were reading normal. He looked out of the cockpit over at the X-55 on his left. Jeremy raised his arm and formed his hand into the thumbs up sign. Below the windscreen on the other ship Jeremy's gaze flicked across the lettering that embolized the fact that that particular ship belonged to 2nd Lt. Allen White. Lt. White returned the thumbs up and scanned his own instrument panel. His young eyes flicked over the instrument panel taking in all of the gauges. Everything was telling him that his experimental ship was a go. His thumb depressed the switch for the radio. "This is two, redcon one." He sat back in his seat as the other three ships reported in. "This is three, redcon one" "This is four, redcon one "This is Voyager, redcon one" Jeremy smiled as all the ships checked in and reported their readiness condition. As soon as all of the ships were finished Jeremy depressed his radio switch and asked the Hanger Control for clearance for take off. "Negative Freedom Flight, the sky is not clear. 10 mikes for eye in the sky clearance." "Roger." Jeremy sat back and found his mind drifting back to the briefing. Colonel Brickman stood up behind a podium. To his right was a large projection screen. Displayed on it were several slides of navigation data and mission specs. Colonel Brickman finished with the mission brief and then pushed a switch recessed into the podium. The mission data was whisked away and replaced with the gun camera film of the space fight that Jeremy and Luke had run into. "Gentlemen. This is what we are up against." Several alien vessels flashed past the screen. One exploded into incandescent light while the other one pursued Capt. Fraser's fleeing vessel. "We are jumping into the middle of a galactic civil war. About to make contact with by all means looks like an extremely powerful alien race. We don't know which side of the fight these people are on. All we need is out pilot back. So no horseplay, this is a mission of diplomacy. Capt. Price, all ships weapons will remain powered down, unless specifically ordered by me." "Roger sir." "Once we have reached the target ship." The screen changed to a 3D rendering of the Alien vessel. "All ships will touch down, all pilots will stay with their ships. No straying from the ships." He paused and surveyed the room. "Let's go get out there and get Captain Fraser back." The assembled pilots jumped up headed out of the room all of them pumped up on nervous energy. Each one alone with his thoughts wondering what it would be like when they got up there. "Freedom Flight this is Hanger Control. You are cleared for take off. Winds are strong at 20 from the Southeast. Good luck." "Roger this is Freedom flight, out." Jeremy advanced his throttle forward savoring the screaming roar of the engine. He released the brakes and shot down the runway. Followed closely by three other X-55s and the shuttle. The hanger doors slammed open with a resounding boom and Jeremy shot out into the open. He angled his ship up and smashed up through the atmosphere and into space. Jeremy signaled to his wingman, a newer pilot by the name of Devin Gates, to close it up a bit. "Prepare for jump." "Roger, that." "Go." "Shuttle is ready." Jeremy waited until all the ships had checked in "Ok, engaging Light Drives." Jeremy squeezed the Jump button and felt the fighter explode past the speed of light. *** Bojay banked his Viper around onto a new tack. He brought up the forward scanners and let them search the heavens; he punched up the long-range scanners and was surprised to get a small blip. The single blip then turned into four blips, "Sheba, are you getting anything on the forward long range scanners?" "Yes, I am getting something, that's funny there should not be anything out there. Let's try to get a little closer." "Roger. Think it might be some Raiders still floating around after the battle?" Sheba hit the turbo button on her Viper and then answered. "I don't know, power up your weapons just in case." Bojay leaned over and hit the switches that powered up the weapons systems on his fighter. *** Jeremy came out of Light speed and adjusted himself in the seat; beside him Gates's fighter came out of Light speed, followed by the other fighters and the Shuttle. "Assume position." The fighters formed up in a wedge formation around the shuttle. "Hey Sir, where is that ship?" Gates asked. "I don't know." Jeremy dialed his radar up to full power; in a vain hope the ship was just out of sight. There was nothing out there but two fast approaching blips. " Pay attention we got some fast movers coming in on the port side, stay calm." "Hold position, and wait for them to get to visual range." Colonel Brickman ordered, his own screen in the shuttle displaying exactly what Jeremy saw. The wedge continued flying on as the two Colonial Vipers raced down on them. "I got them in visual range, they look like small white wedges, cant tell how many engines but there is a whitish blue exhaust pouring out of them, boy they are coming in hot." "Those are the type of ships that intercepted us last time." Jeremy squinted at the two approaching white ships. "Hold position, let's see what they have to say." *** "I am getting some radio traffic on a frequency that we don't use anymore." Sheba flipped some switches and switched over to the older frequency in time to hear the tail end of Jeremy's statement about the Vipers. Bojay looked hard at the fighters in formation. "Hey those ships look similar to the one that landed in the hanger bay. You know, the one that Boomer brought in." Bojay sat back and tried to remember anything else he could of the ship and the pilot. "I am calling this one into the Galactica." Sheba said as she flicked over to the main Galactica frequency. "Luck, that was his name, at least I think it was Luck, he said he was from America." Bojay flipped over to the old frequency. "Fighters from America, we have your pilot, Luck. He is onboard our ship, as soon as we receive clearance we will take you there." Jeremy grinned at the thought of Luke's new name. "Roger that, we are assuming a holding pattern." Sheba looked over at Bojay, furious that he would break communications rules and hand out information about their ship. "Bojay what are you doing, you don't know that they are from the same place as that other pilot is." Sheba was about to go on but was interrupted by the voice Colonel Tigh. "Sheba, get those ships to the Galactica as fast as they can fly." "Sir?" "I want you and those fighters on the deck in 20 centons, no arguments." Sheba acknowledged Col. Tigh and switched over to the old frequency. She fumbled for the word the Bojay had used, "America Fighters please follow us at top speed." "Roger." Jeremy watched a bright blue white flame shoot from the engines of the fighters as they arched away on a new course. He slammed the throttle forward at accelerated after the fighters. 20 minutes/centons the small gaggle of ships flew past the Galactica, Jeremy gave a low whistle as the fighters flew up and over the Galactica. "My god that thing is huge." Gates gasped. Sheba led them on an approach into the same bay that Luke and his damaged fighter had landed in earlier. After the decontamination process, the Earth ships were allowed to taxi over to where the deck guide wanted them parked. Once parked Jeremy popped the canopy and struggled out of his harness. *** "Well." Adama wearily stood up the disappointment at finding the 13th Colony less advanced was etched on his face, "Let's go see these new comers." They all filed out of the room and led Luke down a bewildering array of passageways and corridors. They soon arrived at an elevator; Apollo explained that it was called a turbo-lift in Colonial terms. The rode it down through several decks and then got off and jumped onto another one. This one brought them to a halt in the Alpha Landing Bay. They jumped of the turbo lift and walked deeper into the hanger. Luke gaped at the size of it. He looked curiously at the long rows of Colonial Vipers lined up along the sides of the bay. He noted the boxy shuttles and wondered if they could haul more cargo then one of the ageing space shuttles. At the very far end of the bay there was the entrance to the bay, Luke stared out in wonder at the cosmos, the stars looked so much brighter out here, his fighter cockpit was the same way, he could lose himself just staring in wonder at the cold hard beauty of space. "Ah there are your ships." Adama started towards them. His eyes followed the long line of Vipers back down the row and to his fighter and four others that were just like it, the pilots inside were just shutting down and beginning to pop the canopies. Beside the four fighters the shuttle nicknamed Voyager was shutting down. It was much smaller then the Colonial Shuttles but was still large enough to hold a good sized load of cargo. The American pilots popped the canopies pulled off their helmets and set them up over the HUD. They then clambered down out of the cockpit and grouped together near the nose of Jeremy's fighter. They all were looking around in amazement at the sheer magnitude of the hanger that they were standing in. Colonel Brickman and the shuttle pilot struggled out of the small entrance hatch of the shuttle, once on the deck he gave to hanger no more then a cursory glance, what caught his attention was the group of individuals approaching the parked ships. In the middle of the group he recognized the uniform of his wayward pilot. Col. Brickman stepped forward and waited for the group to get closer. Luke stepped out of the group, "Sir." He brought his hand up and formed a salute. "Mr. Fraser." The Colonel returned the salute and cast an eye over the young pilot, as far as he could see there were no outward signs injuries. "It's good to know that you are alive and well." "Thank you sir, but I owe it all to these gentlemen here," Luke gestured with his hands at Apollo and Adama, "for not leaving me out here in space, but letting me land on this ship." Colonel Brickman stepped to the side and moved closer to Adama. "I wish, sir, to extend the thanks and gratitude of the American people for allowing Capt. Fraser to land his fighter on your ship." "Yes, it was not a problem, may I presume you are his commanding officer?" Adama asked. "That is correct." "Then I believe that we have a great deal to talk about. Come and welcome aboard the Battlestar Galactica." Adama gently prodded Col. Brickman towards the banks of Turbo-lifts. Apollo watched them walk off and then turned towards the five Earth pilots. All of them had the same gear hanging off them as Luke had when he first arrived on board, yet the writing on the leading edges of their helmets was different and they all had smaller side arms. "Well then, if you follow me I can take you all to where you will be bunking." "Can it wait Captain, I would like to first check out first hand the damage done to my ship." Without waiting for an answer Luke walked towards the row of Earth fighters, the others in close formation followed behind. Jeremy watched as his friend ran a hand over the scared blackened metal that once formed short stubby wing. "Jeezus Captain, you actually flew this wreck?" Lt. Allen White asked. "Yah, Ginty is gonna be pissed that I broke his ship." Apollo looked at the damage, "Cylon laser crease, your lucky the Cylons are such bad shots, else you would be not be here." "Aye." Luke sadly pried at blacked lump of metal that was masquerading as an access panel. The panel came open and then fell off the fighter and clanged to the deck. "I don't think this will be flying anytime soon." "Well, good buddy." Jeremy slapped his friend on the back. "It's a good thing some one packed all of the diagnostic gear into the shuttle. We can get it out and get a report back to Chief Macintyre. Along with that I have my camera, so we can also send some photos." "All right, Let's do it." Luke turned and looked for Apollo, he was peering into the exhaust port at the stern of the ship. "Captain.." "Apollo, please, just Apollo." "All right then, Apollo you would not mind giving us a hand." "Sure." One of the pilots got into the shuttle and started passing out the diagnostic equipment out the hatch, while the others brought it over to Luke's ship and set it down on the deck. "Apollo, can we get some kind of work bench or some thing to set some of this equipment up on?" "Yah, just hang on." Apollo walked off into the hanger, looking for a technician. A little while later he came back with a technician's table. "Will this do?" Luke cast a critical eye over the table and pronounced it fit for duty. Soon after several minutes of set up all of the equipment was set up and ready. "Ok start the computer up. Apollo can I ask that you step into the cockpit for me and push some buttons for us." Apollo wordlessly clambered up into the cockpit and settled himself into the hard seat. "What do I push?" He asked surveying the forward control panels immense number of switched and buttons. "When I ask you are going to press these three buttons here." Luke pointed to the battery switch, life support, and computer switches. Luke got off the fighter and walked over to the computer, he typed in some stuff and then gave Apollo a thumbs up. "Ok hit the switches." Apollo pushed the switch and watched as the panel lit up and then the computer screen came on line. He then pushed the rest of the buttons and watched as the computer began to spit out a long line of gibberish. The gibberish changed to pictures and Apollo watched as the computer showed a diagram of the ship, with panels flashing, he assumed this meant the damaged sections. "Ok, Apollo you can hop out now, the ground side computer will handle all of it now. Apollo clambered out of the cockpit and looked around the fighter then over to where the Earth pilots were standing. He did not see any computer; all he could see was the little black box that had its lid open. He walked up to it and saw with amazement that the lid of the box was displaying exactly what he saw in the fighter. "What is that?" "It's the Diagnostic Computer." "Where is the rest of it? For a computer like that you must need banks of circuits and wiring." "Ah, no all of the computer is right here." Apollo stared at the computer in stunned silence. All of the computers in the Galactica were many times larger than this little black box, yet for its size it seemed to be doing more things then most of the bridge computers could do. "All right, I think that we can leave this running." Luke looked up at Apollo. "Do you think we can head over to the pilots lounge and maybe try a few more hands of Pyramid?" "Maybe later right now I think that my father should have a look at that computer of yours." Before Apollo could say anymore to Colonial shuttles roared into the hanger and slammed into the either side of it. Two massive explosions rocked the hanger. Luke and the rest of the pilots were thrown off of their feet. *** "By your Command." The silver Centurion bowed slightly toward the raised dais in the centre of the room. The chair mounted on the top of the dais swung around. Perched in the chair was a tall red-cloaked robot, its clear glass head flickered with a dazzling array of multicolored lights. "What is it Centurion." "Scanners have picked up the Battlestar Galactica, she is currently in solar system UX-394" "I wonder what they are up to. Adama would have left this system as fast as he could after destroying that Basestar" Lucifer pondered the thought for a moment. "They didn't know we are here do they?" "Negative, we are currently hiding in the scanner shadow of one of the outermost planets" "Are the shuttles prepped for launch?" "The captured Colonial Shuttles are ready and the assault crews are standing by." "You may launch the Shuttles, our main mission is the destruction of as many Vipers and mechanics as possible, it is only secondary that we capture some of the Colonials." "By your command." The Centurion turned and left the room. Outside the massive Basestar a small flight of six Colonial Shuttles left the large hanger. They turned away from the Basestar and flew over the planet towards the Galactica. *** The Blackshirts led Baltar into the hanger and towards one of the prepped shuttles. Baltar slowed down and looked over at the strange fighters. He had heard the guards talking about the fighters; they were speculating that the fighters were actually from Earth. He cast a critical eye over the small fighters and concluded that they would have had to be launched from a planet in the very solar system they were in. He turned away and stared glumly at the shuttle that was going to take him to his new home. Baltar shuddered at the thought of being left behind on an alien planet, but it was better then being stuck on the Galactica, waiting for the Cylons to destroy it and him. As they approached the shuttle one of the guards stopped him and started to un-fasten the handcuffs. But before he could get the key out, the hanger was rocked with two huge explosions; the guard's body covered the full force of the explosion, which saved Baltar's life. Baltar felt the heat of the explosion and then blackness, slowly the sound of roaring of flames pushed the darkness away, and he struggled out from under the dead man and crouched by the side of the shuttle. The entrance to the hanger was on fire; small explosions were ripping chunks of the walls apart and showering those around the flames with metal fragments. Already the Colonials were attacking the flames but before they could get any sort headway against the flames they were all rundown by four shuttles, the shuttles hit the ground and started to unload Cylon Centurions. *** "Sir, we have several shuttles that say they need emergency clearance to land." The young Hanger Control Officer looked up at Col. Tigh. "They have the correct ID codes, they say they are from the fleet." "The Fleet." Tigh looked down at the tech. "Your sure." "Yes sir." "Something is not right here. Shuttles do not have the range to reach us. Tell them to stand off, do not land." The Hanger Officer turned and started talking into her headset. Athena turned and looked up concerned, "Colonel, those shuttles are reading wrong, there is something different with them. The engine signatures do not coincide with any shuttle in the fleet." "So what are you saying?" "They are not ours. They are from the.." She paused as the computer dug deep into its files looking for the engine signatures. "They are from the Olympia!" Athena looked at the signatures in surprise. "Keep them away from the Galactica, give them any excuse in the book, I don't want them on my deck. At least until we can verify some things." Col. Tigh turned and looked to the entrance to the bridge in time to see Adama walk on followed by one of the Earthlings. "Commander, we have a bit of a problem with shuttles here." Adama climbed the stairs up onto the raised dais; the Earthling followed him. Omega's voice cut through the bridge chatter like a heated knife, "Two shuttles have increased speed, they are ramming the landing bay." "Destroy them." Tigh ordered, but it was to late the first two shuttles rammed into the hanger blowing themselves into oblivion. The screens around Omega lit up with camera pictures of the inferno in the bay. The next four shuttles flew through the flames and slammed down on the deck, they then began to unload Cylon Centurions. "Security to the hangers." Adama ordered as he watched the pitiful return fire the Cylons were getting. "Battle stations!" The bridge lighting went from the soft white light to an angry red glow. *** Luke got up and stared dumfounded at the flames and the silver machines carrying wicked looking rifles that were spewing out large amounts of laser fire. Apollo struggled up beside him and gasped. "Cylons!" Apollo's blaster came out of his holster, he started firing at the silver machines, two hit the deck with sparks flying from them, several turned towards Apollo and Luke, both pilots kissed the deck as laser fire sliced through the air they had just vacated. Luke drew his pistol, scurried over to where Jeremy was hiding. "Are you Ok?" Luke shouted over the roar of the flames and the whine of the laser fire. "Fine." He shouted back. "What the hell are they." He pointed in the general direction of the Centurions. "Cylons. Shoot them!" With that Luke rose up on one knee and began shooting the mammoth Colt .45 at the Cylons. Jeremy drew out the 9mm Berretta the Air Force issued him fired a shot at one the of the machines, the bullet slammed into the chest plate slamming the robot on the ground but not killing it. The Colonial fire was slowly diminishing as the Centurions moved forward, the retreating Colonials slowly gave ground but were about to be overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of Cylons. Luke watched a young Fighter Tech stumble and fall as she desperately tried to find some cover. "Cover me!" Luke screamed as he took of running toward the young Fighter Tech. She was just rising up when Luke leaped and slammed into her, sending both of them flying into a narrow niche in the wall. "Are you all right?" She nodded dazedly and then screamed, Luke turned and stared into the glowing red eye of a Cylon Centurion. They both raised their weapons at the same time. The Centurion missed, Luke's shot slammed through the eye visor and into the central CPU unit of the machine. The Centurion crumpled and released its hold on the rifle. The rifle then clattered to the ground in front of Luke. He picked it up and inched his way out of the niche, looking both ways he found two targets, throwing the rifle up to his shoulder he fired and was rewarded with the sight of two smoking dead Cylons on the ground. "Follow me." The Fighter Tech yelled as she leaped up and ran up the hanger, she dove behind the landing gear of a Viper and fired into the backs of the Centurions that had passed them. Luke started to follow but was distracted by movement around one of the shuttles; a gold Centurion was pushing a man into the shuttle, the door slammed shut and the shuttle powered out of the hanger. Just as it cleared the hanger the last two shuttles exploded in blinding flashes of light. The three closest Vipers added to the explosion when their fuel tanks went off. Colonials and Cylons alike were cut down in a hail of metal fragments that showered the hanger bay. *** Jeremy turned as Luke screamed at him, he then saw Luke take off across the deck. He scooped up a fallen Colonial; he then pushed her into a small niche in the hanger wall. A Cylon Centurion followed them into the niche and fired into it. Jeremy held his breath and then sighed as he saw the Centurion fall out away from the wall, its face was a mask of twisted metal and sparking wires. "Fall back!" Apollo yelled. Jeremy looked over into the fear filled face of Lt. Allen White. "I will cover you go, fall back." White nodded and then took off running; Jeremy watched him go for a second and then fired into the advancing robots. He squeezed the trigger and felt the pistol jump in his hands four times, the slide slammed back, Jeremy dropped the magazine and took of running. He jumped over some wreckage pulled out his last magazine and slammed it into place. Thumbing the slide release he started to rise up. Next to him 1st Lt. David Lander leaned out and began to fire, Jeremy watched his head and arm disappear in a pinkish white cloud of smoke. The body fell to the ground and lay there smoking. All sound drained from Jeremy's ears as he stared at the body of Lander. The hanger around him drained away into a white haze. "Lander? Are you all right?" Jeremy foggily asked as he reached out for the body. Before he could touch it the sound and the hanger returned, his head hit the deck and he heard another voice. "Come on, we have to fall back." Apollo grabbed Jeremy by the collar of his flight suit and pulled him to some cover. Halfway there Jeremy shook him off and crawled the rest of the way under his own power. Apollo and Jeremy both slumped against a low wall, Apollo looked over at Jeremy and asked. "Are you ok?" "Yes, yes I am fine." Jeremy turned and fired over the wall, Apollo did the same, and turned back to Jeremy. "The Cylons are not going to win this one. When the Security Teams get here we will be able to mop up and fight those fires." Jeremy nodded in response; he then fired the rest of his ammo at the advancing Cylons. From behind Jeremy and Apollo came renewed laser fire, Apollo looked back and smiled. "The Security Teams are arriving." The Security Team barged into the hanger and wreaked vengeance on the Cylons, the Cylons began to fall faster then the Colonials, within a few minutes it was all over. From various places dirty and bedraggled Colonials emerged from the wreckage. They soon assembled around Apollo and Jeremy. "Let's get these fires out." The men and women broke up and ran towards the flames, hoses were broken out and silver suited fire fighters ran towards the flames. Boraton began to flow into the fire, wherever it hit the flames were smothered under a thick foamy blanket of fire retardant. *** "Commander! A Basestar has just come over that planet it is closing fast. Picking up multiple incoming fighters!" "Positive Shields now!" Adama ordered. "Tigh, can we launch the fighters?" "The hanger fight is still raging and the fire is out of control, we can launch only out of Beta Bay" Tigh responded. "A shuttle has just taken off, it is heading towards the Basestar!" Athena reported. "I want this ship as far away from that Basestar as possible. If we cant fight we will run. Perhaps we can stay ahead of the Basestar long enough to get the hanger problem under control." "Uh Commander Adama?" Adama turned to look at Colonel Brickman. "Yes Colonel." "Sir, I would ask that you allow our fighters to launch, this is not out fight, diplomatically Earth cant yet take sides in this one. It would be better if we just left until you sorted this one out." "I am sorry Colonel but your already involved, your fighters are stuck in our hanger, which is currently on fire. You're here for the duration." In Galactica's hanger men and women desperately fought the fast growing flames. *** Luke hurried towards Apollo and Jeremy, holding onto him was he Hanger Tech he had rescued. "What can we do for you Captain Apollo?" He yelled over the roar of the flames. "You and those men over there." He pointed at some of the security men. "Are going to start moving the Vipers forward, away from the fire." Luke nodded; he set the Hanger Tech to the deck. "My ask what your name might be?" The Hanger Tech looked up into the smiling Earthlings face. "Nova." She said it so quietly that Luke did not hear, he cocked his head towards her. "Nova." She said a little louder. "Well Nova, how bout some dinner after this ruckus is over?" "I uh...sure." Nova answered surprised. "Good. Keep safe." Luke stood up and ran towards a cluster of men watching the flames. "All right gentlemen let get some of those ships out of the way of the flames." He waved his arm and pointed towards the Vipers parked in neat rows along the wall of the hanger. The Security men did not recognize the uniform but he carried himself with an air of authority. They immediately leapt to the challenge and followed the two Earth pilots towards the inferno. Jeremy headed for the closest fighter to the flames, Luke followed, his uniform began to smolder as the flames crept closer. The ship slowly began to move and the gained speed as the Security men started pushing on the ship. When it was clear of the flames and pushed as far forward as they could get it they returned for another ship. The Earth pilots and the security men worked hard for what seemed like an eternity, moving equipment and Vipers way from the flames, they picked up any Colonial bodies they discovered in the rubble and gently laid them at the very front of the hanger. After getting enough of the Vipers out of the way they joined the ranks of the fire fighters and slowly beat back the flames. Another explosion ripped through the hanger bay, several of the firefighters dropped to the ground. Luke dropped his hose and ran over to the fallen firemen, he grabbed one by the straps the held his backpack on and pulled him away from the flames. "Over here." A hoarse voice yelled out. Luke looked for the voice; he located it at a makeshift triage center set up against one of the shuttles. He pulled the wounded man in and then ran back for the other two, one was pulling the other. Luke grabbed the one on the ground and started to run back towards the triage station. The last wounded fireman limped in just as Luke was turning around to head back to get him. "Thank you stranger." The firefighter turned and sat down next to his wounded buddies. Luke turned and headed back towards the flames, which by now had begun to get smaller, and smaller as the firemen and security men beat them back towards the opening of the hanger. Just as Luke grabbed his hose Apollo came out from a side compartment covered in oil and grease. He hit a button on the wall next to the door. Along the roof of the hanger small jets began to shoot out Boraton, the flames began to hiss louder as the Boraton smothered them. A small cheer arose from the ranks of firefighters, hanger techs, and security men. Before the flames had completely died out a team of men and women quickly got the turbo lifts back into operation. Soon there was a flood of men and women coming into he hanger carrying everything from blankets to food and water. The Earth Pilots and Apollo were quickly escorted to the Life Centre. *** Adama smiled in satisfaction as the reports from the hanger came in. "Colonel Tigh, when can we launch some Vipers." "Not for some time yet, it seems a lot of the Vipers were moved from the parking ramps and placed at the front of the hanger, it's a big traffic jam down there, we can still launch from Beta Bay but it will take some time to get Alpha Bay sorted out." "That Basestar, where is it?" Athena replied quickly back. "It seems to have left the system, what ever it was after it got." Athena paused and looked up to her father. "What was it after?" "Simple destruction, they just about put Alpha Bay out of commission with that attack." "But why go out of their way like that." "That is the question of the day." Adama turned to Colonel Brickman, "Come Let's go see how your men are doing, and last I heard they were still in the Alpha Bay with Apollo." *** Lucifer watched serenely as Baltar was escorted into the chamber. Baltar stared up at Lucifer and scowled. "Making yourself comfortable are you?" "You are no longer in charge of this vessel. The Imperious Leader himself put me in Command." Baltar looked around at the two Centurions that were watching him. He gulped and correctly recognized the change that had happened in the ship during his absence. A feeling of D‚j… vu come over him as he stared at the swords affixed to the side of the Centurions. "Take him away." Lucifer commanded. "By your command." They gave half bows and turned away from the dais, grabbed on to Baltar and proceeded to drag him from the chamber. "Wait!" Baltar shouted the two Centurions hesitated. "I have some interesting information for you." "Nothing you have could possibly interest me." Lucifer began to turn away. "What about your lost Basestar." "How could you know anything about that?" "Adama begged me for information on the best way to destroy one." "All the more reason to let you die." "And I know the possible location of the mythical 13th Colony. Earth." Baltar pleaded. "Fairy tails from a religious text is hardly a shining example of concrete evidence." Lucifer answered back. "Then why is Adama meeting with some of the citizens of Earth?" Lucifer's head lights flickered at a faster pace for a brief moment, they slowed down as he turned away. "Take him away." Once Baltar left the room, Lucifer ordered the ship to stay in the system and monitor the Galactica. *** Colonel Brickman entered the Life Centre and immediately picked out his pilots. He rushed through a throng of walking wounded and threaded a path through the more serious patients that were laid out in beds. As he came closer they all jumped off of the bed they were sitting on and assumed the position of attention. Colonel Brickman motioned them to sit back down and then asked. "Where is Lander?" "Dead, sir." Jeremy answered. "Shot, sir, the Cylons got him." "There was nothing to be done for him, sir. His body is on the shuttle." "We . . . lost a man" Disbelief washed across Col. Brickman's face. "Let's get out of here and find some place more private." "I am sure that can be arranged Colonel. If you follow me this way." Adama pointed out toward the entrance to the Life Centre. "This way please." They went down a short passage way and then entered a smaller room. "Fill me in on everything that you guys did while I was with Commander Adama." Colonel Brickman ordered. Jeremy took a deep breath and started the story. When he got to the part of Lt. Lander's death he stumbled and Luke took over and finished the story. The other pilot's stories varied little. They all were exhausted from the fight and the fire. The strain of losing someone they had worked with for several months was etched in their faces. "Commander is there anyplace I can get to a radio and report back to Earth and, perhaps my pilots can get some rest." "Of course, yes that's no problem, Apollo see to sleeping berths for them. Colonel Brickman please follow me." Adama got up and led Col. Brickman out of the room. Apollo beckoned to the pilots and led them on to find some sleeping quarters. "Uh Sir. Hang on a second." Colonel Brickman stopped. "What is it Captain?" "Before the battle for the hanger we were laying out the gear to get a list of parts back home to see if maybe we can get my ship back up and running again. We used the Diagnostic Computer to run a system check of the ship. Captain Apollo pointed out that the laptop could not be a computer cause it was so small. Sir, I think that we might have a bit of an advantage of some sorts sir." Luke concluded. "That is a bit of a rash assumption Mr. Fraser considering that we are on an interstellar aircraft carrier. I am sure that the Colonials have some computers that can do way more then we have ever dreamed of." Adama turned towards Luke. "Do you still have the Diagnostic Computer?" "No Sir, it was lost in the hanger fight. But I do have something better." Luke reached down onto his leg and un-strapped the backup flight computer strapped to it. "This is our back up Flight Computer, it updates itself to all things relevant on the ships flight system, in the event of a total FC failure this will take over." As soon as the small palm pilot sized computer booted up Luke handed it to Adama. Adama looked it over in amazement; the screen was in color and crystal clear, there were no long waits for the computer screen to 'print' information onto it. "Is this your smallest computer?" "No, we have computers that are smaller then that." "Could it be possible to perhaps adapt this technology for our own use?" Adama asked as he handed the computer back to Luke who shut it off and slid it back into the holster on his leg. "Um, yes I suppose so, but I also don't have any diplomatic power at the moment, my mission was to rescue the pilots and then negotiate for some diplomatic talks. If I could get a message back to Earth then I could give you an answer." "Follow me up to the bridge, we shall see if we can get you message through." With that Adama led Colonel Brickman and Captain Fraser back up to the bridge of the mighty ship. In one corner of the bridge in a small alcove was the main communications section. It was here that all communications was routed through. One of the Communications Officers rigged up a small but powerful FTL radio that would allow almost instant communication with Earth. Colonel Brickman sat down played with the frequency and keyed the mike. "Hotel Oscar Alpha, this is Freedom Flight lead are you receiving me?" "Loud and clear Freedom Flight Lead, what is your status?" "Don't worry about that at the moment, just get me in touch with the General." "Uh, Roger Freedom Flight, Hang on a sec." A few seconds later a very tense sounding General Arnold came onto the circuit. "Colonel." "Sir, we have recovered our pilot and, he is fine, and as of right now we are being treated as guests aboard their space carrier." "Good. Now what is the status of the aliens, what do they want?" "Well, Sir, your not going to believe this but these 'aliens' are actually humans who are from 12 colonies, their homes were wiped out by the same group that our pilots were blowing out of the sky. Apparently they, uh, they are searching for us, sir." Colonel Brickman waited for the Gen. Arnold to respond. "Searching for who Colonel? The United States?" "Earth sir." "Wait one Colonel, let me relay this to the President." Back on Earth deep down in the communications centre General Arnold grabbed the red phone that was his direct link to the President. He waited impatiently for the President to pick up. The President of the United States angrily reached for the red phone on his desk. He gave a small apologetic smile to the ambassador to Romania. The ambassador smiled back and settled into silence. "What" It came out in slightly tired half angry sort of way. "Mr. President, General Arnold here. I have an update on the status of the Jupiter Incident." "Yes, hang on one second General." The President cupped his hand over the phone and politely asked if the Romanian Ambassador would like to return at a different time. He then turned his full attention back to the phone. "Go ahead General." "Sir, Mercy Flight has made contact with our lost pilots with the crew of the space carrier. The crew from the space carrier seems to be humanoid; they are friendly and have not treated our pilots badly. In fact they were more honored guests then prisoners. Colonel Brickman and his officers have found out some interesting news though. It seems the Colonials, for that is what they call themselves, have been looking for Earth." "Earth." The President repeated. "Why are they looking for Earth." "I, um, not sure, hang on Mr. President." General Arnold held his hand over the phone and looked over at the young radioman. "Can you patch Colonel Brickman's feed into this phone line?" The Radioman looked up in surprise, "Uh, yes sir. But it ain't going to be pretty." "Well, what are you waiting for? Get it done." "Yes, Sir." The radioman launched out of his seat and ran over to a supply cabinet. He rummaged around and ran back with his tools. Sliding under the radio console he ripped open access panels and grabbed handfuls of wiring out. He quickly found the wires he needed and then began to splice them together. General Arnold waited, through the phone came a bust of static and the voice of Colonel Brickman. "Base, This is Freedom Flight, do you copy, over." Col. Brickman was halfway through the repeat of the call when Gen. Arnold broke in on him. "Colonel, this is Gen. Arnold, you are on the line with both myself and the President. "Uh, Yes Sir, Good day to you Mr. President." A surprised voice came back through the static. "Colonel, why are these Colonials looking for Earth?" The President asked before General Arnold could say anything further. "Sir, It seems that they used to live on twelve worlds very far away from here. An enemy called the Cylon Empire destroyed their worlds. They are the last remains fleeing for their lives. Um, Sir, they seem to think that Earth is their so-called 13th Colony. They have been looking for us sir." The President sat quietly pondering the immense nature of the information that was dumped on him. "Recommendations, General?" "Uh, Mr. President. If I may suggest something." "Go ahead, Colonel." General Arnold prompted him. "Sir, I think it would be beneficial for both the United States of America and the Colonials if we arranged a meeting with you Mr. President." "Mr. President?" General Arnold asked. "That's fine with me General, set it up." "Yes sir. Colonel you heard him." Colonel Brickman turned away from the radio console and looked to Adama. "Well, Sir, how bout it, we can get you down to Earth in our shuttle, it would probably require about four days, depending on how far from we have come from Earth." "Not to worry, Colonel we have not left your solar system yet. I agree it would be best for us to meet with your president. As well, given the fact that your ships can attain a higher velocity faster then anything on the Galactica I graciously accept your offer of a ride to Earth. Colonel Tigh, I want you to take the Galactica back to the fleet. Get the fleet in gear and get them on the way to this solar system. I will go to Earth and meet the leaders of this planet. Once you get the fleet on the way, get back here to this very spot to retrieve me." "Are you sure this is wise Commander?" "We have found Earth Colonel. I have never been more sure of something in my life." "Outstanding, sir." Colonel Brickman turned to Luke. "Get the shuttle ready, your flying home with us." He half turned and remembered some thing else. "What is the status of your fighter?" "It's gone, sir." "What do you mean gone?" "After we got the fire out, I had the Colonials push it out the hanger with charges laid on the hull. There was nothing left keeping, the fight in the hanger destroyed it past recovery, sir." "I wish you had consulted me before doing that but I will buy it for now. Get down there to the shuttle and help get it warmed up for the trip home." "Yes, Sir." Luke rushed off the bridge and slowly navigated his way back to where the rest of the pilots were. He motioned the shuttle pilot over and apprised him of the situation. The rest of the pilots got up and followed Luke back towards the hanger. "Uh, do you know the way back to the hanger, sir?" "I am sure its not that hard to get to." *** The large menacing shape of a Cylon Basestar crept closer into the system, the long range scanners probing the depths of the system, scanning the planets with a cold mechanical precision. The scanners passed over the sight of the Apollo 11 lunar landing, they noted the presence of a foreign object and moved on. The beaming rays of energy bathed the International Space Station and the millions of other objects that float in orbit around Earth. Unbeknownst to the inhabitants of Earth the Cylon scanners recorded most of the entire planet. The long range ones alerting the Cylons of the presence of human life, the short range ones probing the planets defenses and searching for ways to get past them, the Cylon in charge of the scanner systems downloaded and stored all of the information his computers were spitting out at him. He backed away from his control panels and headed towards the control centre. Lucifer turned as a gold plated Cylon Centurion mechanically walked into the room. "Report." "By your command." The Centurion rasped. "Scanners indicate a large humanoid settlement on the 3rd planet from the sun. Population is in the billions. Large quantities of debris in orbit, unknown whether or not this debris is mines or ships, scans do not mach anything in the databases." "Defenses?" Lucifer probed. "Unknown." The Centurion buzzed. "This could be my chance to get back into favour with the Imperious Leader, move us in behind that 2nd planet from the sun, the red one. This could prove to be useful. Bring Baltar to me at once." "By your command." The Centurion acknowledged and left the room, Lucifer turned away from the entrance of the chamber, his brain lights glowing menacingly. *** Adama seated himself in the small confines of the American Shuttle. He adjusted the restraining straps and grimaced at the uncomfortable nature of the seat and straps. Both Starbuck and Apollo were just as unhappy at the prospect of sitting in the seats for any length of time. Luke noticed and smiled sympathetically from the cockpit seats. He was likewise restrained in the same uncomfortable fashion. Luke turned his attention back from the uncomfortable occupants to the large instrument panel in front of him. He ran through the last of the checks with his co-pilot and then initiated the engine start procedures. The large engines belched to life with a throaty roar as the highly combustible fuel was ignited. The cabin of the shuttle was soon filled with the loud rumble of the massive engines. All talking ceased as the occupants suddenly found the noise to be too loud. Luke turned in his seat and pointed to the walls of the shuttle, where there were several headsets hanging. The three Colonials pulled them off of their stowage brackets and slipped them on. Colonel Brickman showed them where to plug the headsets in. Then he sat down and fastened his restraining straps. "Can every one hear me all right?" Everyone in the back gave a thumb up and Luke turned his attention back to what was going on outside the ship. A young Ground Guide motioned where the shuttle was supposed to go. Luke advanced the throttles forward and released the brakes and slowly taxied the shuttle out of its parking spot and towards the entrance of the hanger. The Ground Guide motioned where the shuttle was to stop and then stepped out of the way. "Ok kids, welcome aboard US Space Ways flight zero zero two. Non-stop flight from Galactica to Earth. If at any time during the flight you feel the need to empty you stomach there are barf bags infro.." "Dispense with the funnies Captain." Colonel Brickman cut him off. "Er.. Yes Sir. Here we go." Luke slammed the throttles forward, the shuttle leapt down the hanger. The engines screamed at full power. The Colonials in the bay all hunched down with their hands over their ears as the loud Earth shuttle screamed out of the bay and into space. Jeremy led the fighters around and they picked up a loose formation around the shuttle. "Ready for the jump?" All the ships checked in and reported a go status. "All right here we go." Jeremy squeezed the jump button, his ship exploded past the speed of light; the other fighters were only milliseconds behind him. The shuttle was slowest on the jump but followed suite half a second later. *** "By your Command." Lucifer bowed slightly to the Imperious Leader. His dark menacing shape was projected onto the wall. "Speak." His rumbling voice came through the speakers mounted on either side of the monitor. "We have encountered a planet full of Colonials. I believe that this might be the mythical 13th Colony. We have also acquired a prisoner after my last attack on the Galactica. He has said that the Galactica has picked up some fighters from this planet and that Adama might even be considering visiting this planet and securing an alliance. This would prove to be troublesome for the Cylon Empire." "Destroy the planet and then move on the Galactica." "The planetary Defenses are on a heightened state of alert. I need a factory ship and several Baseships for further support." "They will be dispatched. I will come out there myself to witness the final destruction of the Colonies." "I will be standing by, I also have Baltar in my custody." "He is to be re-instated back into command. You will be there to supervise him. As soon as he becomes useless you know what to do." "By your Command." The screen darkened. Lucifer turned and strode out of the room. Baltar sat on the hard bunk that passed as a bed on the Basestar. He quietly pondered his fate at the hands of the Cylon Empire. He looked up as the doors to the cell block opened. In strode Lucifer, Baltar jumped to his feet and ran to the cell bars. "Lucifer, please I beg of you, I can help." "Yes, the Imperious Leader thinks that as well." "He..he..does....yes...yes I can help." "You have been put back in command, your orders are to wait for the Imperious Leader to arrive with an invasion fleet." "Invasion fleet?" "Yes, the Imperious Leader is coming to see the destruction of the 13th Colony and the Galactica." "Then its true there is a 13th Colony. Adama was right, all this time he was right. Release me from here." Baltar commanded, he felt new power go coursing through his veins. To be continued.... *** TITLE: EARTH: New Beginnings SERIES: 2nd part in the EARTH series. BEGAN: Sometime in 2004 AUTHOR: Seawolf156 (AKA Luke Fraser) E-MAIL: luke.fraser@us.army.mil CATEGORY: Battlestar Galactica alternate future BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SEASON/SEQUEL INFO: Any time from 6 months to a year after the destructions of the colonies. I say a year, others say different. RATING: G STATUS: Work in progress. Part One and Two are available. SUMMARY: Luke and Jeremy are re united on bored the Battlestar Galactica. The Galactica heads back to the fleet to bring them in to Earth. The Cylons launch a sabotage attack on the Galactica and move in on Earth. Baltar soon is soon re-instated back in command of his Basestar and put in charge of the attack on Earth until the Imperious Leader arrives. PREVIEW: EARTH: Invasion Earth finds itself under attack from a mysterious robot invader. The Cylons pour down onto the planets surface. A stubborn defence of the planet, lead by the United States of America and its NATO allies make it harder for the Cylons then all of the 12 Colonies combined. The Galactica is powerless to stop the invasion and must watch and hope that the Earthlings can stop the invasion. *****This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money exchanged hands, nor will it ever be sold for any profit. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the respective authors. All unrecognized characters and plot lines are mine. Any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental. This story may not be posted elsewhere without the consent of the author. Battlestar Galactica is a trademark of Studio USA; formerly Universal Studios, created by Glen A. Larson, and does not belong to me. ***** Author's Notes..... Wow, I am really sorry for all of you out there that have been waiting for the second installment of my series. But life was just getting in the way. As of August 2004 I was inducted into the United States Army. I completed all of my training February 3rd of 2005. I became a United States Cavalry Scout. (19D). I have been assigned to the 101st Airborne, which is based at Ft. Campbell KY. The third part of this little series wont be out for a while yet either, due to the fact the 101st is getting ready to head to Iraq this summer. I will be writing when I am in Iraq so by the time I get back the third installment should be ready to be posted. And on a side not yes I am sure all of you figured out that the main character is named after me. But hey if you are going to be writing stories then why not make your self the main character. I have a new e-mail address so send any comments to this one now. luke.fraser@us.army.mil Seawolf156@hotmail.com