Trail of Artemis

Babylon 5, Interstellar Alliance

Lee Adama awoke in the bed on Babylon 5 he had to admit it was more comfortable than the cots on the Galactica. He rolled over and looked at the woman lying in bed beside him he could feel her naked skin against his 'it had just happened' he said to himself 'and it had just happened the three night before' he continued to think as Louanne Katraine rolled over to face him. "Morning Apollo" she whispered with a smile she was ten years his junior and beautiful and the only person who understood anything about him they had come all this way together.

"Good morning" Lee Adama replied "how you feeling?"

"So good, this bed, this station quite an upgrade in accommodations." She replied "even if I still don't understand a word their saying."

"We're learning" he said they'd been given translation pads that allowed them to communicate with most others on the station but they'd also picked up some of the words.

More than an hour later they were the two of them were at the security office on Babylon five meeting with Security Chief Zach Allen a man in his forties who wore a black, grey and blue uniform of the command staff of Babylon 5. "Good morning, you two I heard you had fun last night" Zach said with a smile having heard about the party at O'Reilly's Officers Bar. Despite the two of them not understanding

"Good… morning" Lee said in English Zach smiled even more.

"You're getting there" he said "unfortunately there's still no news on your fleet." He explained to them they looked at the pad for the translation, looked at each other and then back at Zach. "Space is a big place, I'm sure the Rangers will track them down given time, you just need to wait and see."

"Thank you" Lee replied again in English before switching back to Caprican "is there anything we can do?"

"I spoke to Lt Commander Corwin he said they've been looking over your fighters and could do with some pointers with some of its systems. In the mean time he's said you can continue to use the credit accounts we've set up for you." Zach explained in exchange for the freighter's fees in taking them to Babylon 5, their quarters and day-to-day expenses Babylon 5 had taken their two Viper Mk II's as collateral for the expenses. Lee wondered if he'd ever fly the fighter again.

"We'll be happy to help you with the fighters" Lee said to Zach in Caprican Zach looked at his own pad and saw the translation and smirked.

"And we'd love to see the insides of yours" Kat added

"Something that we may be able to arrange" Zach admitted "in time. The Interstellar Alliance Intelligence Chief Tessa Halloran would also like to meet with you both this afternoon to discuss the current standing of your people compared to other governments to get a lay of the land for the Alliance."

"Our fleet's official standing is they don't know any of this exists. We're refugees Chief on the run for our lives." Lee stated Zach had heard them say this before and from the pain on his face he knew it was true.

Later after they'd shown them the internal workings of the Vipers Kat and Lee were back in O'Reilly's enjoying a drink and meal together. "For all the strange things on this station you have to admit Apollo the food is pretty great."

"The company isn't bad either" Lee Adama admitted out aloud how he'd begun to feel. Kat ignored him for a moment eating some food a Drazi dish she couldn't even begin to translate the name.

"Oh, watch out Apollo you're fraternising with one of your pilots, can't be good." She said teasing him as he ate. "How do you think Starbuck with react when she figures out we've been so far away together enjoying sights and food like this?"

"Kara will be fine" Lee said chuckling "until you beat her in flight scores" he continued.

"If I ever fly again" Kat replied

"We'll fly again, as soon as we find the fleet."

"Until then the company isn't bad at all Lee."

Battlestar Pegasus, Uncharted system

In a flash of light, the Mercury-class Battlestar Pegasus jumped into a new area of space. "Jump completed Colonel" Lieutenant Kendra Shaw said looking at her screens "DRADIS contact!" She called out near the centre of the Battlestar's CIC Admiral Helena Cain and Colonel Jack Fisk looked at the screens. "Two ships" she said.

"Set Condition Two, Cylons?" Cain demanded but got no immediate answer "Shaw!" She snapped

"Negative, sir, the silhouette doesn't match any known design." She said as the Pegasus continued forwards beyond the Pegasus the two brown coloured hulls held their distance. The cross shaped vessels manoeuvred slowly.

"First contact" Cain whispered "after all these years" she said in wonder looking at the screen after everything the crew had been through this was something new. "Mr Hoshi, send all greetings in the book see what comes back." Cain ordered

"No response"

"Sir, perhaps a Viper flight could get a better response?" Jack Fisk suggested

"Agreed, launch alert Vipers" she commanded from the port side of the Pegasus eight Vipers launched from the flight pod and headed for the two unknown contacts.

"Pegasus, Stinger, the two ships are sticking close together there is no visible indication of viewports they have several weapon turrets on the extended prow section." The Pegasus CAG reported as the Vipers approached the target.

"Stinger, Actual, any communications?" Cain asked talking through the CIC wireless speaker.

"Negative, we're going to do a flyby show we've no hostile intent weapon systems not targeting." He said bringing his Viper up intent on flying in front of the ships showing their weapons were not pointed or tracking the ships. As they approached the forwards section of the two craft suddenly the turrets spun tracking their targets and fired yellow coloured plasma shots. Instantly four of the Vipers including Stinger's fighter were destroyed. The ships then turned towards Pegasus and unleashed twin steams of plasma at the larger ship cutting into its nose section the Pegasus defence fire to no effect against the weapons. Behind the plasma came missiles fired from the two ships unlike the plasma weapons these were targetable by Pegasus' point defence which made quick work of destroying most of them.

"Launch Vipers bring main weapons to bear on targets" Cain ordered from either flight pod of Pegasus Vipers launched by the dozen filling the space around the larger ships. The two unknown craft flew past Pegasus picking off several Vipers as they passed and leaving further plasma burns along the hull.

In the CIC the crew felt the ship rock heavily as the two unknown ships opened fire on them. The Pegasus broadside weapons were beginning to find their mark with the unknown vessels cutting into their underside. The Pegasus turned with the ships as Vipers struck at the rear of the ships where there appeared to be little to no weapons or armour suddenly one of the ships spun to a stop and opened fire with its missile weapons striking the Pegasus port side causing minor damage. Moments later however the Pegasus continued to turn bringing its bow armament to bare moments later the forward armament spat out shredding the front of the warships snapping the forward sections off of the vessels.

"Targets destroyed" Fisk said smiling triumphantly

"Have our fighters observe the wrecks and scan them for any sign of life. If there is any sign of air pockets then I want them searched by marines and any survivors take onboard." Cain ordered looking at Fisk who nodded and turned to pass orders out.

Resurrection Chamber, Command Basestar, Unknown Space

The liquid was all around One and he couldn't breath as he pushed his way to the surface. John emerged from the pool to see the faces of Six and Three hovering over him he knew he'd been killed but the event was hazy. "What happened and what do you two want?" He demanded

"We awoke several hours ago, John" Three said looking at him using his human name "we've been discussing our approach. We need a new one in dealing with this unknown vessel that is defending the Colonial Fleet." One closed his eyes and remembered what had happened, the strange vessel that had used its laser weapons to destroy their fleet.

"We need more ships" he said trying to push himself up out of the pool.

"No, we need a new approach" Six said pushing down on his shoulder One looked at it and then at the blonde woman. "Force is the only thing we have that can counter their force."

"We have no force that could counter that ship." Three said "we'll let you think about that during your next resurrection." She said forcing his head into the liquid as Six held him down One tried to push his way clear but against the two of them, he had no chance and soon drowned in the liquid. "We need to open a line of communication with these people."

Deep Range Research Vessel Excalibur, Normal space, Colonial Fleet

Following the battle with the Cylons near the Tylium asteroid and the performance of the Excalibur against the Cylon forces there was no need for them to continue to run at the pace that the Colonial Forces had been running. Instead Excalibur had been distributing fresh food supplies to the ships of the fleet, Commander Adama and President Roslin had been invited onboard the Excalibur for a tour along with Captain Lockley who had been able to acquire a new uniform from the ship's quartermaster it was the same as the Excalibur's crew, primarily grey with red around the collar and on the shoulders, instead of her own Earthforce uniform but it was more comfortable than the civilian clothes the colonials had provided. Along with the uniform they had been able to provide the Earth Alliance insignia and rank insignia which were perhaps even more significant.

Reaching the bridge Lt John Matheson was explaining the various stations and the ships general capabilities. While he spoke Captain Lockley used one of the Excalibur's monitors to contact Babylon 5. "Lt Commander Corwin, nice to see you again" she said smiling at seeing the shock on his face.

"Captain, I'm glad to see your safe and sound, how did the Excalibur find you?"

"They tracked down the people who picked up my fighter we're in the same region of them now. I'm helping the Excalibur coordinate with Earthforce and the Rangers to help these people." She said turning around to look at Adama and Roslin. From the monitor Corwin looked at Adama and manipulated controls off screen.

"Twelve Colonies personnel?" Corwin said immediately Lockley spun back towards Corwin "Captain, could you inform them we have a Captain Lee Adama and a Lt Louanne Katraine onboard along with their Viper craft? They helped save a transport from raiders on their way here." Lockley burst into a smile and nodded before cutting off the link. Crossing the Excalibur's bridge, she approached the group near the centre and caught John Matheson's eye who stopped speaking "sorry to interrupt Lieutenant, if I may have a word with Commander Adama?"

"Of course," he said bowing his head slightly.

"Commander Adama, I just spoke with my executive officer onboard Babylon 5 he asked me to relay to you that Captain Lee Adama and Lieutenant Louanne Katraine have been picked up and are safely onboard Babylon 5." She said both of them looked at their translation pads and then smiled she had only known Commander William Adama for a short period of time but she hadn't taken him as a man who smiled often today was one of those days that he smiled broadly with a tear in his eyes. Roslin couldn't help herself but she took the Commander by the shoulders and embraced him in a hug. The Commander had found out that the last of his family was still alive after coming to terms with his loss today their fleet had been saved from an overwhelming force and they had found a safe harbour for their future, today was a good day.