Her opinions aside, however, this mission was a direct order by Commander Adama. Galactica’s long-range sensors had picked up what appeared to be an inhabitable planet. Wary of possible Cylon activity, Adama had ordered Boomer and Crashdown to jump ahead and investigate. This brought her to the current situation, in mere moments they’d be jumping to the approximate location of the planet. No knowledge of what to expect.
Her thoughts were interrupted as Crashdown finished his countdown and fired the FTL drive. A few moments later they found themselves in orbit of the planet.
And then they were entering the atmosphere. Thinking quickly, Boomer pulled away and just barely avoided being pulled down into the atmosphere. Jumping so close to the planet like that would have left her no time to adjust for re-entry and sent them down in a ball of flaming death.
“Have you lost your frakking mind?!” Boomer yelled to her copilot... Wait, was he LAUGHING?
“Come on, Boomer, we’re still alive, right? Live a little!” Crashdown replied.
“You can’t send a jump that close to a planet’s atmosphere and expect everything to come out fine!”
“Look-“Crashdown was cut off as the console to his right beeped, “We’ve got Dradis contacts! I’m showing six!”
“Cylons?!”
“I don’t think so. They’re too big.”
Big was an understatement. One of the ships detected was soon in view. It was easily more than twice the size of a Battlestar. Its hull bristled with cannons that promised fast death to anybody who dared to challenge her.
And as the Dradis had shown, there were six of the behemoths.
“Crashdown, fire up the FTL, we’re getting out of here!”
“Way ahead of ya!” Came the response.
Mere moments later, the small recon ship was gone.
----------------------------------------------------
“What was that?” The captain asked.
“I’m not sure.” The sensor operator responded. “It didn’t appear to be anything the Zardons have. I think it was some kind of reconnaissance craft.”
“I see… Communications, send a notice to the fleet to keep an eye for it wherever it appears. Prepare a report for King Jerka.”
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Upon returning to Galactica, Boomer and Crashdown reported to the bridge and quickly filled in Commander Adama and Colonel Tigh of what had transpired.
“You didn’t try to make contact before jumping out?” Colonel Tigh inquired.
“No sir. I felt it better to depart before they had a chance to surround us.” Boomer replied. It was true, but to be honest she wouldn’t have been compelled to attempt contact against even one of those things. Not when all she had on her side was an unarmed Raptor.
“Thank you, Lieutenant, you’re dismissed.” After returning Boomer’s salute and observing her leave the CIC, Adam turned to his old friend and comrade, “What do you think of this?”
“Its may be a chance to get some help against the Cylons. But if we don’t handle it right we’ll have another problem to deal with.”
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“Captain, we’re receiving a message from the Northwind Highlander.” The comm. Officer reported to his CO. “They said they picked up an energy reaction. On closer inspection, they found the ship we saw. It rendezvoused with a fleet.”
“A fleet? How big?”
“They estimate about 50 ships. They look like mostly civilians with at least one warship.”
“Advise the Highlander that King Jerka has ordered peaceful that if the fleet is not a Zardonian unit, they are to open negotiations.”
“Negotiations for what, sir?”
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“Dradis contacts!” Lieutenant Gaeta called across the CIC, “Three targets. They match the signatures Boomer and Crashdown detected!”
Adama’s orders were swift, “Action stations! Set condition One throughout the ship. Put all Vipers on standby!”
As Tigh relayed the orders through the ship, D received a signal from the approaching ships. “Commander! The approaching ships are asking to open communications. They say they’re here for peaceful contact.”
Adama stopped for a moment to consider this. “Patch them through. Stand down from Condition One, Set Condition Two.” Adama picked up the comm receiver. “This is Commander William Adama of the Battlestar Galactica. With whom am I speaking?”
“This is Captain Phelan Kell of the Northwind Highlander, battlecruiser of the Salusian Conglomerate. You are currently positioned in Salusian-controlled space. What is your business here?”
“We’re a refugee fleet. Our homeworlds were destroyed and we are fleeing a hostile force. We were unaware that we were violating your territory. If you want us depart, we will do so at the earliest possible time.”
“On the contrary Commander, I’ve been ordered to open negotiations with your fleet.”
“Negotiations? For what?”
“Your faster-than-light technology.”
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(Posted Thu, 28 Apr 2005 07:36)
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