Hello everyone if you haven't read any of my other stories, I hope you take the time and read them, thank you. As for this story I hope you enjoy it and leave comments in the review section, As for all my stories I don't own Battlestar Galactica: 2003 or Mass Effect they both belong to there respective franchises.
Space
Colonial Fleet
Galactica
It had been nine months since the fall of the colonies and the remnant colonial fleet trying to find a new home called Earth. As the search for Earth continued the Galactica was preparing a fleet of 20 raptors to head back to the colonies to rescue survivors that were left behind. Leading this rag tag fleet was the one who pushed for it, a stubborn woman and an ace pilot Captain Kara Thrace aka Starbuck.
As the raptors was preparing to leave Admiral Adama got on the phone to give Starbuck inspiration for the mission "Starbuck!"
"Admiral!"
"I don't know what you're going to expect, but no matter what you see or happens, remember that the Galactica will be here waiting." said Adama "Now go get our people and bring them home." Said Adama as he places the phone down and heads back to maintain the fleet.
Space
Out in space the fleet of 20 Raptors began activating their FTL drives, each one flashing out to a point in space using a Cylon navigational computer and a Cylon model number eight to help them.
Alliance Space
Shanxi
Orbit
2157
Shanxi was a colony of Earth, one of many under the control and protection of the Systems Alliance. In 2148, a mining team on Mars made perhaps humanity's greatest discovery. After investigating the "Bermuda Triangle-like" reputation of the southern pole, the team unearthed the subterranean ruins of an ancient alien research station, revealing incontrovertible proof of the existence of alien life. Humanity was no longer alone in the universe.
The news of the discovery dominated the media and raised questions not only about the existence and purpose of humanity, but questions about the aliens themselves. Foremost, were they still out there? While these questions had served to fracture most religions they had a unifying effect in politics. Rather than nations fighting each other over their differences, it was now "us vs. them" and the foundations of a united human front were laid.
Within a year of the discovery, Earth's eighteen largest nations had drafted and ratified the Systems Alliance charter, establishing a representative political body to expand and defend human territory. Shortly thereafter, the various nations of Earth pooled their military resources to create the Systems Alliance Military. That same year, 2149, the Alliance discovered the Sol system's mass relay orbiting Pluto, previously thought to be a moon, Charon. The Charon Relay propelled them into space and the reach of humanity grew quickly.
The Alliance began a rapid campaign of expansion, establishing numerous colonies and constructing a large fleet, even though it had yet to encounter another species. Maintaining this expansion policy, the Alliance activated all the Mass Relays it could find to seek out new resources and possible colonies. But despite this success, the Systems Alliance was not considered a serious political body, as it was considered to lack the authority of individual nations. While humanity has yet to encounter any Alien life they were about to make first contact for the first time, but not with any Alien.
In orbit of Shanxi was an expedition fleet prepared to go on their next adventure through the Relay to another part of the galaxy to establish new colonies. While this growing expanse was beneficial to humanity, it left much of the Alliance fleet spread thin.
SSV
Hong Kong
Bridge
On board the Hong Kong named after the battle of Hong Kong on Earth along with two other Frigates and two cargo ships were about to head off.
"Get me a secure line to the Garrison." said the Captain, as he stands on the bridge of his ship, arms crossed behind his back, at the age of 31, he was a strong resilient man who has worked up the chain of command to reach this part in his career.
The officer nodded his head to the Captain notifying him the line was secure "General Williams!" said the Captain
"This is Williams, how is everything up there?" asked Williams
"Were set to make our journey through the Relay, just saying goodbye and wish us luck." said the Captain
"Have a safe journey and god speed." said Williams
As the Hong Kong and the small flotilla was preparing to jump into FTL a sensor operator spoke "Sir, we just detected a burst of radiation off our port side about 2 kilometers away." said the operator
The Captain walked over to the operator "Radiation isn't something new." said the Captain "Were in space there is a lot of radiation out there."
The operator looked at her Captain "Not if a ship appears right after the radiation." replied the operator
The Captain walked over to his chair and sat down in it "What is it?"
"It's small, no IFF, and silhouette does not match any known Alliance ships." said the operator
The Captain turns to his helmsman "Plot an intercept course." said the Captain "Tell the flotilla and General Williams of the situation." said the Captain as he contemplates if this is a first contact situation.
Racetrack's Raptor
"This doesn't look right." said Racetrack
Skulls began checking the dradis saw multiple signatures "We got multiple contacts, and one is on intercept course."
"Cylons?" asked Racetrack
"No, silhouettes don't match Cylon configuration or any known in our registry." said Skulls as he began reading the layout of the ships, a beep went off on the screen "Were receiving some sort of message, and a large quantity of data."
"Are they trying to upload a virus?" asked Racetrack
"Even if they are, were not networked, so were safe." replied Skulls
"Safe my ass, spinning up FTL, were leaving." said Racetrack as she said that the Raptor disappeared in a bright light.
SSV
Hong Kong
Bridge
"Unidentified ship has disappeared, sir." said the sensors operator "Left the same kind of radiation signature as before."
"Did the first contact package get through?" asked the Captain concerned that this might have been a once in a life time chance to make contact with aliens.
The operator nodded his head "We sent it, but we can't be sure they received it."
The Captain nodded his head and looked at the helmsman "Plot a course back to Shanxi, I'm going to need to talk to General Williams."
The Hong Kong began heading back to Shanxi, the crew curious about the unknown ship that appeared before them. While the Alliance officers didn't know whether it was aliens or not, they were soon going to find themselves drag into a war that will determine the fate of humanity.
Galactica
Briefing Room
When Racetrack and Skulls returned back to Galactica, they immediately went straight to the Admiral and reported what happen.
"And your sure it wasn't the Cylons?" asked Adama
Skulls and Racetrack looked at each other "Sir dradis scans showed it wasn't any Cylon Basestar or any other Cylon ship we came across." said Skulls "Also the ships were small, smaller than a Valkyrie class ship."
"How many ships?" asked Adama
"Less than a dozen ships of different designs and also a planet in the habitable zone, they were around it." said Skulls
Adama began thinking and was wondering what they were dealing with "Lieutenant Gaeta." said Adama, Gaeta stood to attention. "Have you managed to decipher what the message is?" asked Adama
"Were still extracting the information from the Raptor, sir" said Gaeta "It's taking a long time due to checking the information, making sure there are no viruses or any cyber attacks."
"Put a rush on it, we need to know what's out there." said Adama, he then turned to Racetrack and Skulls "Good work you two."
All three saluted the Admiral and left.
Shanxi
Garrison
Williams Office
The Captain of the Hong Kong along with General Williams were seated in Williams office and went over what had happened. "Do you think it was first contact?" asked Williams
The Captain shrugged unsure of what it could have been "Don't know, but if it was, I guess I screwed up." said the Captain displeased with himself for missing out on the chance of being the first human to make contact with aliens.
"You followed the first contact scenario and transmitted the first contact package." said Williams "That's all you could do." Williams attempt to cheer the Captain was a pitiful attempt on his part.
"Did you report to Alliance HQ?" asked the Captain
Williams nodded his head "I did, the moment you came back." said Williams looking over what he reported "They're going to report this to world leaders keep them apprise of the situation."
"What are our orders?" asked the Captain
"Our orders are to wait for the aliens until they decide to make contact, we are to proceed at our discretion." said Williams not liking the idea of being solely responsible of what could be humanities defining movement in history.
"And if the Aliens turn out to be Hostile?" asked the Captain concern about that scenario
"We send a warning to the Alliance and hold the Garrison, until the Alliance can gather what ships they can and come in force." said Williams determined to make sure the Garrison does not fall into alien hands.
Galactica
Conference Room
The conference room of the Galactica was currently being used by Admiral Adama, Captain Lee Adama, President Roslin, and Vice President Baltar along with their respected Aids Tory Foster and Tom Zarek and Lieutenant Gaeta to discuss their findings. Originally the room was going to be used for the debate between Roslin and Baltar for Presidency of the Twelve Colonies, but the situation changed.
"About 12 hours ago Starbuck was leading a squadron of 20 Raptors back to Caprica to rescue survivors, but one Raptors navcom sent them into a different system." said Gaeta as he began explaining the events that led up to their return "In that system they encountered unidentified ships and a planet that can support life."
The room was silent until Baltar spoke "U-un-unidentified ships?" asked Baltar
Gaeta nodded his head "Yes, their configuration doesn't match anything in our registry or anything Cylons have."
"Couldn't the Cylons have built new ships?" asked Zarek annoyed at Adama for postponing the debates.
"Possibly, but I doubt the Cylons would send us a message." said Adama, wanting to shut Zarek up.
"What message?" asked Roslin now more focus on the conversation.
Gaeta continued "One of the ships sent a data package to the Raptor."
"You didn't think it was suspicious?" asked Zarek accusing them of incompetency
"We checked the information thoroughly, before disseminating it in a non network computer." replied Gaeta
Before Gaeta could tell what the message said, Baltar spoke up. "Why was I not called in on this?" asked Baltar furious by not getting a chance to unlock whatever information was in that data packet.
"We thought you were too busy dealing with the Campaign to help us with this problem." said Adama eyeing Baltar
"Well, be that as it may, I am still our Cylon expert, and if anything remotely could be Cylon, I should have a look at it." said Baltar with a scowl looked at Adama, not about to back away.
Roslin soon stepped in before both men attack each other "As much as I dislike my running mate, I too am curious as to why I wasn't informed about this." said Roslin, but before Adama spoke, Roslin continued "Campaign or no Campaign, I am still President and if anything of importance is discovered, I am to hear about it."
"That's why we called you here, madam President." said Adama, he walks over to a screen and nodded to Gaeta, who activated it, revealing lines of information. "This is what the unknown ship sent to the Raptor."
Everyone gather around the screen and looked at it and discovered it was in another language "Are you telling me, the unknown ship sent this exact message?" asked Baltar
Adama nodded his head "We believe it might be from Earth." said Adama
Everyone in the room became silent and Zerak just laughed "You expect us to believe, that the unidentified ships are the 13th tribe."
"The information in the data, reveal information about the people along with basic information about math and science and their form of an alphabet to help in the translation." said Gaeta
"All this could have been perpetrated by the Cylons in getting us to jump to that system, where they could take us out." said Zerak, trying to be the logical one in the conversation.
"How do we know it is from the 13th tribe?" asked Tory Foster
"In the data, it had a message." said Gaeta, he brought up the message and read it "'Greeting's unidentified life forms, we are humans from the planet Earth, we are peaceful explorers who seek friendship and trust, we hope to engage in further dialogue', that's the end of the message." said Gaeta
Everyone had confused looks about the message "That message didn't seem like it was meant for us." said Lee
"It almost sounded like it was for..." said Tory only to be interrupted by Baltar
"Aliens." said Baltar "They thought we were aliens."
"That seems farfetched." sated Zarek
"Not really." said Adama "While in the colonial Navy, we did run scenarios about encountering alien life forms, and created a first contact package in the event we did come across them."
"So what do we do now?" asked Foster
"We need to postpone all elections until the situation can be resolved." said Roslin
Zarek wasn't going to have none of that "Just because we found Earth doesn't mean, you have the right to postpone these elections."
"Excuse me, but we need a stable government right now to make contact with Earth." replied Roslin
"All the more reason to finish these elections." said Zarek "Don't think, I know what you're doing madam President, you could use this discovery to help boost your polls in the race."
Before Roslin could say anything Lee spoke up "How do we know if it really is the 13th tribe." All eyes were now on Lee "I mean, the message could have been from the Cylons."
"The message seems very elaborate." said Gaeta "I mean the Cylons went through a lot of trouble in creating this message, even creating a different language to trick us."
Adama then stepped into the conversation "Then we need to confirm it." said Adama all eyes now on him "We should send a Raptor to make contact."
"What if it is the Cylons?" said Zarek "They could trick your people to come aboard their ships and be over whelmed and the Cylons could find our position."
"And what if it is the 13th tribe?" replied Gaeta joining in the conversation "We could lose our best chance at making contact and saving our people."
Roslin put her hand to her head, getting a headache from all the 'what if' scenarios "Any attempts could put the fleet in danger." said Roslin "The best possible outcome, would be to move the fleet somewhere else, leave one raptor at these coordinates and have another make contact."
Adama thought it over and while he wished to have thought it himself, he agreed with Roslin "Sounds like a good plan, hopefully Starbuck makes back soon, if things go south."
"If we're doing this, then I'm must urge we send a diplomat along to begin an official dialogue." said Zarek
"No" said Adama "I can't risk a civilian, what could possibly be a Cylon trick."
"Bill, as much as I dislike Zarek, he's right, we need someone who can bring our needs to the 13th tribe." said Roslin
"Then I'll go." said Lee, all eyes on him "I know what the fleet needs and I can bring it to their leadership."
Zarek and Baltar wanted to protest, but both men were shot down, by Adama and Roslin, it was then decided to go ahead with the plan.
Space
Two Raptors were launched from Galactica, one was going to stay in place while the other Raptor was going to make contact. The rest of the fleet was going to jump at a different location and only the Raptor that was left behind new where the fleet was going to be.
Shanxi
Space
SSV
Hong Kong
Bridge
The Captain began pacing back and forth wondering if the Aliens would return, if they were, they were ready in both scenarios. He gather all the military ships in a formation to prepare for any attack, while all civilian traffic was shut down, until the situation was over.
After a while the same Radiation appeared, the operator reported it "Get me General Williams on the online." ordered the Captain
The communications officer began working and nodded his head to the Captain "General Williams, we have a contact, same ship as before."
"Have they made any threatening moves or hostile actions?" asked Williams
"None, but we can't be sure." replied the Captain "Were monitoring all transmissions."
"Remember Captain, we were left in charge to make all decisions, this could be a momentous achievement in humanities history, since the discovery on Mars." Said Williams
"Yeah no pressure." replied the Captain as he prepares for the first move, but just then the communications officer spoke.
"Sir we got a message." said the officer "Captain you're not going to believe this."
The Captain walks over to the officer "Let's hear it."
The officer begins pressing buttons and the radio came on "Attention unidentified ships, this is Captain Lee Adama of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol, we request assistance."
"Who the hell did we just contacted." said the Captain as the message repeated again the Systems Alliance of Earth were about to make contact from a long lost tribes of humans.
So to clear things up the flotilla of Alliance ships that was suppose to go explore through the Relay would have encountered the Turians, which would have sparked the first contact war, but instead the Alliance encounters the Colonials. As for whether or not the Alliance will encounter the Citadel Council, that won't happen for a while in my story. I thank all who have read this story and hope you leave a comment at the end.