Adventures of the Star Kobol: Betrayal

[phoenixfire12]

Commander Eyjan hurried down the corridor intent on learning why the battle klaxons had sounded when they were so close to their rendezvous with the rest of the fleet for the signing of the armistice with the Cylons.

 

There were many aboard the Sagittaran Battlestar STAR KOBOL who could never believe that the Cylons would accept that which was so strange and alien to them. Peace was a concept that they could not understand because they had never known what it was, and they were not programmed to contemplate such matters. They existed only to serve the Empire.

 

Eyjan’s aid, who was bent over the command console, caught sight of him out of the corner of her eye as he ascended the steps of the command dais.

 

“Colonel, what’s going on?” There was a hint of annoyance to his usual deeply toned bark.

 

The young woman pointed to the scanner.

 

“Cylons and a tanker, sir. It looks like they’re refueling.”

 

She stood fully upright and spoke in a softer voice so as not to be heard by the most of the personnel on the bridge.

 

“Adama was right. There’s not going to be any peace. Those tankers are refueling for an attack. I’m sure if it.”

 

“I agree, Commander.”

 

The corroborating voice came from Flight Officer Cerberus, the lead launch officer seated at the command console. Eyjan turned as the man continued.

 

“The Cylons wouldn’t be here unless they planned to double-cross us from the beginning.”

 

Eyjan frowned. All these sectons he had hoped and prayed that the Cylons were as fed up with war as his people were. Apparently ythat was not so.

 

“Launch all vipers to intercept and destroy,” he ordered. “If there’s not gong to be peace I don’t want to waste time here when the Fleet could be in trouble.”

 

“Commander!” the communications officer called. “Message coming in on Fleet Com-Line Alpha from the ASTROZON.” The youth cocked his head as he listened to the rest of the transmission. He worked to get a visual but none was available. “Commander Aristotle reports that the fleet is under attack by waves of Cylon Raiders. It seems that only two battlestars were able to launch their vipers. The ASTROZON and… one other.”

 

“What about the others?”

 

“Unknown. President Adar ordered the two ships nopt tp launch their fighters. Apparentl;y the commanders thought it best to violate orders and try to protect the flee.”

 

Phoenix looked to Eyjan as of hoping he had the answers to set everything right again. He saw the lost look on her face and shook his head. There was nothing they could do to help the fleet now. Even if they went to maximum speed at that centon they wouldn’t arrive in time to save the fleet.

 

“Prepair to make the jumpo to light speed,” Eyjan ordered. “The least we can do it try to save them. Phoenix, recall all vipers. I think they’ve done enough damage fro now.

 

As preparations were being made, the commander walked to the gigantic observation port just in time to see the tanker disappear in a brilliant flash of light. He hoped they weren;t too late to save at least some of the fleet.

 

Phoenix, from where she strood behind the flight officer, scrutinized her commander. His 6’1” ebony stature made him just 12.7 centimeters taller than herself. Thought he was 58 he didn’t look his age, rather, he was content to allow people to think he was much  younger. His late wife, may the Lords of Kobol rest her soul, accused him many times of having lied to her about his age. Most men of his yahrens would have let their physical appearance lag considerably, but not Eyjan. Once in a while he would forget, but he woujld snap to and return to his schedule of dailt callestendics when he had noticed a slight tightnes sin his uniform, which Phoenix would occassionially chide him about. She would come to regret those words later because he woujl come knocking on her door at 0530 in the morning to get her out of bed to go jogging with him. His excuse was that he didn’t want to exercise alone. Phoenix hated jogging.

 

“Adar,” the black man muttered. “What have you and your council of fools done to us?”

 

☆★☆★☆

 

Over the old Moon Cimtar, the ATLANTIA erupted in a ball of flames. Starbuck cursed out Adama as the GALACTICA pulled out of formation and retreated at the same time the STAR KOBOL’s commander gave the order to ‘jump’. Its course: Linus Sector. Within a centar at maximum speed Cimtar was within scanning range, but the 6^th Fleet was nowhere to be found. An aura of despair hung over the bridge crew as scanners picked up traces of debris.

 

 

“Scan for survivors,” Eyjan ordered.

 

He didn’t believe there were any until alight on Cerberus’ control panel lit up – a red, blinking light that indicated an organic life form that was still alive. If that life form were dead a blue light would blink.

 

“Human?” Phoenix asked, leaning over the officer’s shoulder. The man put the warbook readout on the screen.

 

“One man fighter… one occupant… Human, Colonel.”

 

“Dispatch a shuttle and have a medic standing by when they bring out guest on board,” the Colonel said.

 

“Yes, maam.”

 

 

☆★☆★☆

 

 

“I hear the lieutenant’s condition has stabilized,” Eyjan said to the female pilot standing before his desk.

 

“Yes sir,” Azriel replied.

 

Captain Azriel, commanding officer of Blue Squadron, was a tall, slender Tauran woman with sun bleached blonde hair and pale blue eyes. She had joined the academy on Sagittara when her oldest brother, Cornell, was killed in the battle of Debran. Her younger brother was c

currently assigned to the Battlestar GALACTICA’s Red Squadron.

 

The door buzzer sounded and Colonel Phoenix entered.

 

“Just the report, Captain, and I’ll read it later,” Eyjan said.

 

Azriel saluted and left.

 

“Eyjan, what is it?” Phoenix asked.

 

He commander held up the wounded pilot’s battlejacket for her inspection. She immediately recognized the insignia.

 

“He’s from the GALACTICA?” she asked.

 

Eyjan nodded.

 

“Order helm to set course for the colonies, sublight speed. There may be other pilots out there. If there are we’ll pick them up.”

 

“Shall we set course form home or the outermost planets, sir?”

 

“We’ll head home, Colonel,” the man replied, deep in thought.

 

Now if only the STAR KOBOL could get there in time to stop the Cylons from destroying the last traces of humanity. Sagittara could hold it’s own for a while. Hopefully until help arrived.

 

The vid-screen came to life when the young woman touched a button and she relayed the orders to the helm officer. The commander motioned her to a chair when she had finished.

 

“Would you care for a drink?” he offered.

 

“Please.”

 

He poured the sweet, yellow colored Sagittaran wine called Laharrhani into two glasses and handed one to the Colonel. The man tasted his own as would an oenophile.

 

“Ahh. My favororite.”

 

“What’s the real reason you called me down here?” the young woman asked.

 

“Phoenix, I think it’s time you knew something very important about this so-called armistice,” the black man started, resuming his seat. “We weren’t intending on making peace with the Cylons.”

 

“Someone should have told the Council.”

 

“Five yahrens ago the head of the Galactic War Committee, Supreme Admiral Thorbin, ordered a special Battlestar to be built – a battledreadnaught called the LORDS OF KOBOL. It was to be the most powerful weapon in history. It was completed six months ago. Under he command of Commander Sigma it set out two months ago away from the Colonies on an important mission. One that would ensure our victory in this war. The LORDS OF KOBOL was to come in from behind Cylon while the armistice was going on and launch an attack against the capitol city while their foces were elsewhere which should have been accomplished long before now. Supreme Armiral Thorbin ordered the Complete annhaiation of the planet.”

 

“What happened to the dreadnaught? Where is it?” Phoenix asked.

 

“From what my cousin, Reed, Thorbin’s secretary, told me the dreadnaught is ten times larger than out largest Battlestar, and I don’t know what happened to it. I do know that it can be picked up visually before it is ever picked up on sensors.”

 

“Ten times larger than the GALACTICA? That’s unbelievable.”

 

“What’s even more unbelievable is that it has three landing bays and slightly larher fighter ships, but I guess if you’re going up against Cylon itself you’d need something massive enough to do it.”

 

“Isn’t there anything that can destroy it?” the woman asked, raising the glass to her lips.

 

There’s only one thing – the Cylon’s Supertop Warship. It is said to be even larger than the LORDS. Actually there is no proof this this Supertop even exists.” Eyjan picked up a recording crystal from his desktop. “Everything I know about the LORDS OF KOBOL is on this tape. It’s not much, but it’s all I have at this time. If you wish to view it, it’s here.”

 

Phoenix nodded.

 

☆★☆★☆

 

On the long trip back to the Colonies the STAR KOBOL picked up a handful of pilots who had not been able to make it to the nearest refueling station. In each case the rescued pilots recounted the same story for Commander Eyjan – that the fleet had been attacked by Cylon forces and, when faced with defeat, the Battlestar GALACTICA pulled out leaving her ships to defend the fleet.

 

☆★☆★☆

 

Images floated before him then faded away, only to reappear and dissolve, each time forming different patterns. Yet one image seemed to reappear time and again. He was in his ship watching the lasers streak towards him. Then, from a distance, he saw his ship disintegrate. Images of a battle, a voice – Apollo’s voice – the sounds of explosions, the rocking of his ship and bright lights flashing around him.

 

 

“Do it. I’m short an engine. Short an engine… short an eng…” Echoing and echoing. “I need help! … need help…” Lord of Kobol, why can’t I wake up? Am I dead? I can’t be!

Comments

[phoenixfire12]

“You need to promote someone to executive officer to help out with all this.”

“What I need is a squadron. Seriously, I have to fill the squadrons and finish promotions before I can assign a second in command.” She stopped and rubbed her eyes.

“Phoenix, I have no intention of telling you your job, but couldn’t anyone finish all this for you while you get some sleep? I’m sure Major Traighton is more than qualified to step in for a while After all he filled in for you two yahrens ago when you were on medical…. Er, I mean bereavement leave. He can do it again, I’m sure.”

“Traighton is Virgon, Majel.” She scowled at the doctor. “I think you get my point, and the answer is no.”

“I don’t see the problem. Getting laid might do you some good.”

The door sounded and Azriel entered the room just in time to see fire flash in the commander’s eyes as anger spread across her face.

“That is your cue to leave, doctor! Now!”

The Major’s jaw dropped.

Majal paused before the newcomer. “This is another one I have yet to sink my fangs into.”

“Doctor, any time you can catch me sitting still for five centons you can have all the blood your little heart desires.”

“I’ll remember that during your sleep period, Major. Good day.”

Azriel felt the tension in the room drop significantly as the door slid closed behind the doctor. Phoenix seemed to deflate like a feline whose arched back lowered and the bushy tail contracted to normal when the threat was gone.

“What was all that about?”

“She threatened me with Traighton,” came the sharp reply.

“Oh. So what’s the problem there?”

“I will NOT have him as my EX O.”

“Yea,” Azriel agreed. “That would be a very bad idea. I mean., I like the guy and all, but you just can’t have a Virgon on the bridge with a bunch of Sagittarans. Nothing would get done.”

“Nothing except him anyway.”

Azriel snickered at her commander’s unintentional joke.

Major Traighton was a perfect specimen of Virgonan manhood with his fair hair, blue eyes and handsome features, but the one racial traight Virgons were most known for was the pheromones they gave off that the other tribes of Kobol found distractingly enticing. Typically, while everyone else was attracted immediately to the children of Virgo, the hormonal attraction held no sway over their own. Sagittarans being the uninhibited, free spirits that they were would eventually have difficulties being in close proximity to them for an extended period of time. For the short few months that the Major had filled in for Phoeinx when she was Eyjan;s second even her was aware of the effect his presence was having on the bridge crew. While it was egotistically flattering, it was also a distraction that the war ship could ill afford in the heat of battle.

“Still,” Azriel mused “a little one on one would do you some good.”

“Azriel!”

Phoenix shouldn’t have been so surprised that her best friend would even suggest such a thing. It’s not like they hadn’t been out hunting for a good time in the past or even shared a willing male or two between them. Still, it was all in the past and the fin had ended when Phoenix met the one man who could turn her life around.

“If you’re going to take her side you can leave, too,” Phoenix growled.

“Hey, you were the one who called me here, Phoenix. Why? Did you want me to save you from her?”

Yes, she had called the Major to her office and the reason for the visit came back to her. Ironically enough, it was about that very subject Phoenix had no wish to discuss.

“Sit down.”

A coldness started to creep up Azriel’s spine and she did as she was told without question this time.

“Why do I get the feeling I’m in trouble?”

“It’s been brought to my attention that you and Lieutenant Allas have been more than a little more obvious in your relationship than is socially acceptable for Colonial Officers to be in public. Knowing the Lieutenant’s reputation I feel it safe to presume that this is a rather recent development. In light of that I would very much appreciate it if you two would watch where you put your hands while outside of your private quarters. We have an Admiral in our community now and I’m sure your little escapades will not go over well in his eyes. Being officers you two have to hold yourselves to a little higher standard than most of the crew now. At this time I can’t condone your relationship but because of the deaths of so many of our people and the loss of our worlds I can’t condem it either. I want you two to tone it down until after I have a formal talk with the Admiral. After I get to know him better I’ll know what kind of things he will be expecting out of this ship and the crew. ”

“Just how long do you want us to ‘contain’ ourselves?”

“Just long enough for me to get rid of my headaches and assess our new superior officer. He’s Aquarian, so you know that they can sometimes be rules junkies. I’m hoping this man can be reasonable and flexible. I’m also not interested in making even more work for myself by reassigning either one of you. I know how hard it is breaking in a new wingman. Just stay out of trouble.”

Azriel have her commander an understanding nod. “Agreed. Is that all?”

Phoenix nodded. “You know, in all this I never asked about your injury. How is it?”

The Tauran held up the arm in question and flexed it all around.

“Good as new thanks to Majel and her mystic arts. It’s like the bone was never broken.”

“Isn’t science grand?”

“Yes. Yes it is.”

A centon of silence passed between the two as if they had run out of things to say. It was then that Phoenix saw the Major staring at her with a look that said she should be able to read her best friend’s mind.

“What?”

Phoenix was starting to feel uncomfortable. There was something her friend was not saying. And it must be something serious because Azriel was not known for keeping things to herself for long.

“You know what.”

“No. I don’t.”

“Yes you do. Sometime soon we’re going to have to have… that talk. You know. The real serious one.”

“No. We don’t.”

Silence. The blonde was assessing just how far she should push the issue.

“I wish you’d just cry and get it over with. Mourn.”

“I can’t. Not now.”

Azriel reached across the desk and caught her friend by the hand.

“Tolen… Eyjan… Your parents... You’re going to have to talk about it some time.”

“Not now. I can’t. There’s too much at stake right now. Later. Maybe. Much later.”

“I’m your best friend. Talk to me. Let me help.”

“Az. There’s too much going on right now. I can’t afford to let my guard down at this time.”

“It hurts me to see you like this. All rigid and proper on the outside all the while you’re dying on the inside. You’re growing old before my eyes, Phoenix. Older than what’s normal. You’ve literally aged in the last two yahrens and these past few sectons it’s only gotten worse. You’re slowly killing yourself and I don’t know how to stop it.”

Sisters by gender, sisters by cerimonial blood bond, Azriel and Phoenix knew each other better than they knew themselves at times. When one hurt the other hurt. Some called it mystic. Some called it empathic. The only thing the women knew was that the ceremony only confirmed for them that which many had professed seeking: a soul mate. Not in any sexual terms, but a person who completed something that was missing in one’s own soul. A friend. A life long companion. Another spirit that meshed so completely with your own that you knew without a doubt that you had found your other half.