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]

“My thanks you have, kind strangers,” the small alien said, running a dripping wet rag down one long slender arm. Although he was still weak, he had quite recovered from his brish with death. “Un repaid your assistance will not go.”

“Please don’t misunderstand what I am about to say,” Azriel began “but isn’t your race suppose to be dead?”

“Indeed, killing us the Cylon’s intention it was. Placed into hibernation vessels some of us were. To lead them I was. Youngest member of royalty, my job for my people to find home it is. Here I come to seek one skilled in healing. With illness my people are. New to our planet Kaarin we are. No thought to the illness in the air and water we gave. Damaged was our scanning devices. Newly dyeing my people are.”

The Debrani sounded quite educated in Colonial Standard and as the language was difficult for them, conversations normally took place with the aid if a language translator. It was impossible for humans to learn to speak the Debrani language, though there were scholars who still tried.

“I’m sure Commander Phoenix will agree to help your people,” Azriel told the amphibian. “She’s a good woman.”

“Knowledge of this PhoenixCommander I have not. Of what ship of war is she?”

“The Battlestar Star Kobol.”

“Of this ship I know. Nobel it is. Not much favored by your Council Why?’

Azriel had to laugh. “Because eit is the flagship of Sagittara. The narrow minded views of rhe Council don’t give much credit to a ship run and populated mainly by women. They think we can’t do as well as the men because we are female.”

“What reason so many females for to make war?”

Allas jumped in at this point. “What can you do when one out ever four children is born male?”
“Ahh. Understand I do. With my people long ago was same. Changed us ee vo lushion it did. Now sire as many one as the other.”

Most words were easy for the alien, but some he had to sound out. They sat in silence while the creature continued to bathe it’s skin. Then Azriel asked “How do you pronounce your name?”

“In your tongue no speech it has, But try I will.”

The burps and brapps, chirps and squeeks made no sense what so ever to the humans which caused Azriel to frown and shake her head in the darkness.

“I can see what you mean about not being able to pronounce it. Do you mind if we just call you Harkin?”

It probably was as close to a word as she could make out in the first place.

“Easy for you it is I mind not, AzrielMajor.”

“Ah, Major,” Allas asked. “How are we going to get out of here? There’s only one door with a very small window at that. And no other opening. Our guard outside may be a bit… unlearned shall we say, but I doubt he’d gullible enough to fall for any tricks.”

“I’ve been giving that some thought about that,” the woman said.

“And?”

“I haven’t the faintest idea,” was her only reply.




CHAPTER


Addis and Gyrona were surprised at the arrival of not only the two security officers known as Randor and Mandor, but of Commander Phoenix herself. The dark civilian clothing she wore only enhanced the dark mood surrounding her. She was not happy in the least that there was a glitch in her plan and she knew without a doubt the cause fo that glitch. Something was going to have to be done soon. The commander put it on her mental TO DO list while Addis explained the situation.

He and gyrona had gone back into totwn where they learned that two strangers, a m,an and woman, had been thrown into jail following an altercation at the local tavern. The two warriors had scouted the jail for any possible entrances, but the only one they found was the front door. There were many windows around the building, but these were secured with metal bars. There was always a=one guard outside the front door and one at the desk just inside the door.

The equine ride back to town was a quiet one. Neither of the carried on a conversation between themselves or with the security officers much less with their commanding officer. So both of them lost themselves in deep, dark thoughts. The main one being that the Cylon ship would return any time now and they needed to be anywhere but planetside.

Leaving their equines just on the edge of town, the five stalked the jail. It was exactly as Addis and Gyrona had described. Both Captains expressed concern about the most efficient method for gaining entrance through the front door to which their the redhead told them to just stay put and wait for her signal. Both men knew what she was gong to do as she slunk quietly off into the shadows.

Or so they thought.

After a centon the men saw the guard turn for the door as if he had heard something off to his left. Then he left and moved to search the darkened area. He was searching the bushes, poking and prodding with his rifle to no avail. He was taken quite by surprise when a shadow dropped down on top of him from the tree above and dragged him out of sight.

The men waited in silence.

The brief struggle didn’t seem to have attracted the attention of the guard inside the doorway who was sitting with his feet up on the desk, reading a genuine paper book.

Maybe he’s just looking at the pictures, Addis mused to himself.

In the blink of an eye the shadow burst from the underbrush and darted for the open door and around the desk. The guard inside didn’t have a chance to raise the alarm. Then Phoenix was at the door waving them inside.

The men caught only a glimpse of the guard slumped forward over the desk as the Commander ushered them through another door.

The common room, furnished like a dining hall, was empty. The twins went to work to build a barrier across the far doorway with the heavy wooden tables while Phoenix went to another door in the far corner of the room. This was made of iron bars and apparently locked, for Phoenix searched the ring in her hand for the correct key.

When asked how she figured the cells were one level below Phoenix replied “The size of the bilding is too small for cells as well as barracks so it makes sense that they would make dungeons where it was more difficult for the prisoners to get out.”

The twins remained top side while the others went through the now opened barred doorway and down the steps to the level below.

A door less entrance much like the one in the common room opened into a corridor at the bottom of the stairs. Torches illuminated the corridors and most of the cells were empty making the search for their comrades easier.

The sound of snoring led them to a cell outside of which a guard sat sound asleep in his chair which was propped back to lean against the wall. With vicious smile on his lips. Addis kicked the chair right out from under the relaxed guard. Startled and coming fully awake, the man struggled to his feet only to meet the palm of Gyrona’s hand rushing at his face before blackness overtook him on in blow. Gyrona checked the man’s pulse and was satisfied that he was still alive.

He’ll have one grandiose headache when he wakes up that’s for sure, Gyrona thought to himself.

The black Scorpion was already unlocking the cell door and Phoenix was right behind him.

“Thank the Lords,” Azriel’s voice exclaimed softly from the shadows. “Have we got a surprise for… “

“No time for that. Let’s get out of here before someone sounds the alert. We don’t need what’s left of the Cylon garrison coming down on top of us when we’re so close to getting off this planet,” Phoenix interrupted.

Their escape wasn’t all that easy. Some guard suffering from insomnia had apparently decided to prowl the building and had found the door to their barracks blocked. Being no fool, the man went back to gather his comrades and were, even as the Warriors emerged from the level below, making a charge on the barricaded door with a fierce madness.

Addis and Gyrona drew their weapons preparing to lay down cover fire, giving the others a chance to escape once the guards broke through the door.

Azriela paused to retrieve their weapons from the peg on the wall behind the guard desk while Allas helped their alien cellmate out the door following security. The two pilots brought up the rear.