Adventures of the Star Kobol: Betrayal
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thestarkoboljournalsCommander 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 6th 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!
no subject
Date: 2014-11-03 04:19 am (UTC)Dr. majel noted the fluctuatiuon in the readings coming from the cryo-chamber and went to investigate. She caught him struggling to sit up.
“Easy there,” she said softly, easing him back onto the pillow. “Lay back and rest. You’ve had a rough day.”
“Where is my brother? Is he alright? Where am I? Are we still under attack?”
“We’re not under attack,” Majel assured him. “I don’t know anything about your brother, but I’m sure he’s fine. As to where you are, you’re aboard the Battlestar STAR KOBOL.”
The young Caprican began to thrash about and the doctor reached for a hyop on a nearby trat table. She put the blunt nose to the lieutenant’s arm and, with a soft hiss, th4e sedative started to course its way through his system. He lapsed into a peaceful slumber. Dr. Majel returned to her desk and put a recording crystal into the computer situated in front fo her.
“Patient, Lieutenant Zac, regained consciousness ta 1740 centars. Patient became delirious and a sedative was administered at 1742 centars. Patient is now resting quietly.”
She rose from her hcair and went back to the boy’s side. Half of his face and portions of his arms and torso were covered with a couple cemtimeters of burn retardant ointment which would eliminate most of the pain and keep the injuries from becoming infected. The ointment contained no greasy substance which would have to be scraped off upon arrival to an equipped Life Center where the burns would be treated. In time skin grafts and other procedures would be invoked to return the lieutenant to his former, active self. The loose bandages were only a precautionalry measure against foreign matter getting into the wounds and irritating the sensitive tissues.
Majel wondered if he would return to duty after his wounds has healed and hoped that he wouldn’t be scarred mentally by hjis injuries. She removed a small holo from her coat pocket. It was probably taken recently because the edges weren;t too badly worn. In the picture Zac was standing behind a lovely young woman who was seated on a stool. He was bent over with his arms wrapped around her shoulders, their cheeks touching. There was something familiar about the woman. Majel had seen her somewhere before but she couldn’t remember exactly where.
☆★☆★☆
Azriel stood in the pit under her Viper working on the ship’s guidance systems as First Lieutenant Allas sat nearby with a toolbox beside him. Allas was assigned to Azriel’s squadron, though Azriel sometimes wished he weren’t.
“There it is,” the blonde woman said to herself. “I knew that short was in here somewhere.”
She moved a couple of steps in a circle to get in a better position to work on the circuit. As she moved the hilt of her sword jabbed her in the ribs.
A sword. Along with the regulation blaster was worn as standard equipment aboard the STAR KOBOL. The sword was never to be out of the person’s possession – just like the blaster. The trend first started when Eyjan took command of the warship. He’d had a discussion about the weapon with one of his superior officers and had convinced the c.o. that he would not part with the blade under any circumstances. Some time later some of the crew members had picked up on the idea until the Commander had issued a ship-wide regulation that everyone under his command would wear a sword and learn to use it well. There was no telling when even the most non-essential personnel would find his or her self in a position where knowledge of blades was essential.
“Allas,” Azriel called. “Would you take this sword off of me? It’s getting in my way.”
“My pleasure, Captain,” the red haired man replied as he stretched out on his stomach.
“I’m sure it is,” she said sarcastically.
“Ah, now I’ve got you where I’ve always wanted you, Cherie’.” The Lieutenant said in a sultry Aquarian accent.
“Just unbuckle the sword, Allas, and no groping.”
“Aw, cher, you never let me have any fun,” the first lieutenant crooned, jokingly.
“That’s right. The sword…”
“Well step over here where I can get at it.”
From where he was, Azriel stood with her back to him. He reached around her waist and started to undo the buckle.
“Wrong buckle, LIEUTENANT.”
“Oops.”
Refastening that buckle he found the right one. The belt came free and he crawled out from under the ship.
“I wonder what we’ll find when we get home,” Allas said soberly.
“I don’t care to think about it,” Azriel said. If the armistice was any indication of the Cylon’s true intentions, then her beau, Jameson and her family were dead. She pushed the thought out of her mind. “There’s a leaver I’ve got to get out of the way before I can…”
She let out a grunt as the lever turned suddenly and Allas saw the captain lose her balance. She caught herself and cried out.
“Azriel, what happened?”
“Give me some clean rags, quick,” the woman ordered.
The Sagittaran haistily complied. A centon later the captain walked up the ramp holding the rags firmly against her left wrist. The rags and her tan duty tunic were drenched in blood.
“You didn’t,” he said hoping it wasn;t what he thought had happened.
Azriel looked down at the pool of blood collecting at her feet. The color was draining from her face rapidly. “I did and I’m going into shock.”
Her eyes closed and she started to fall. With lightning swiftness Allas was at her side and had her in his arms running from the bay.
☆★☆★☆
Azriel was sitting up when Phoenix entered the life Center. She was puzzled by the smile on the doctor’s lips.
“It appears that the Captain can’t stand the sight of her own blood, majel said smiling.
“In other words, I fainted,” Azriel quipped.
“I thought you were dead!”
“Disappointed?” the Tauran asked.
“I ought to wring your neck. When the call cme through to the bridge it was so garbled that Eyjan and I got the impression that someone was trying to say that there was an accident and you had died.”
“Ah… that was my fault, Colonel. I kinda got a little hysterical when I called in. “ Allas scuffed at the floor with the toe of one of his boots. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause any undue alarm.”
“Alright. I’ll note that n the daily report, Lieutenant. Go back to your duties.”
“Yes maam.” Allas saluted and beat a hasty retreat from the ward. Majel finished cleaning up Azriel’s wrist and cleaned up the tray table.
“I’m still gong on that landing party to Sagittara tomorrow.”
“Oh no you’re not,” Phoenix said.
“Oh yes I am,” Azriel vaguely knew the limits to which she could push an argument without Phoenix pulling rank. The two women had shared a sort opf psychic bons since the Tauran woman had been assigned to Sentinal Squadron as Phoenix’s wingmate back when Phoenix was a Captain. “Eyjan’s going to be in that party and I’m not going to let him go down there alone.”
“He won’t be alone. I’m sending Sentinal Squadron down as his escort.”
Azriel laid a hand on the Colonel;s shoulder. “I’m going Phoenix.”
Phoenix turned to Majel. “Doctor?”
“I do want to keep the Captain here for the rest of the day to make sure that the drug I gave her is doing its job and replenishing what blood she lost. Other than that she’ll be ready to go tomorrow.”
“Very well. We’ll see you in the morning. Captain.”
☆★☆★☆
Caprica.
In one corner of the Life Center bomb shelter two women clung to each other in fear. Outside destruction continued to fall upon the city like sheets of rain. People were still coming into the shelter carrying the wounded with them. Babies and small children cried more out of confusion than fear as parents and strangers tried to pacify them. As the women watched the activity their fears disapated. They were safe now.
“Why, Ila?’ the dark skinned woman whispered. “This was to be a day of joy,. Now it’s turned into a nightmare. Oh I wish Tigh were here.”
The woman, Cleopatra, or cCleo as her friends and husband called her, was still a striking beauty for a woman of her yahrens. At the age of eighteen she had won the title of Miss Caprica and later became the first runner up in the Miss Universe pagent.
In celebration of of the end of the war, Ila and Cleo had decided to start out early in the morning for a day of shopping and planning the big feast that would take place when their families were together again. They had stopped for lunch at an outdoor café where they planned the menue then went to see a holo-film at the Presidium Theatre. During the movie the attack on Caprica began and they, along with the other patrons, were ushered to shelter at a nearby Life Center.
“Cleo, the bombing has stopped,”
Both women listened.
“:You’re right,” her companion replied. Ila pulled away. “Ila, no. Don’t go out there!”
“I’ve gotta go home,” the blonde woman called back over her shoulder, “Adama’ll be looking for me.”
Cleo started after her friend but an orderly caught her and held her back. He apparently hadn’t seen Ila leave.
“Stay here, maam. It’s too dangerous for you out there,” he said.