Chapter Eighteen
ON THE CRYSTALLINE SHIP – SOMEWHERE IN DEEP SPACE
Two beings – their bodies covered with pure white robes and their faces obscured with white cowls – looked down on a table where the unconscious form of Vice-commandant Cynthia Spears was laying. Spears' head had a glowing band placed around it.
"So it looks like the part of the original plan to make humanity's survivors conform to the single God did not really work out the way that was intended", the first figure commented, "but given how we had fragmented into factions, perhaps not so surprising".
"With the benefit of twenty-twenty hindsight, as the Humans say", the second figure added wryly.
Thanks to that band around Spears' head, the two beings had found out about the Templars, and thus how the Templars came to be on Earth-that-Was. Spears – like all the Order of the Knights Templar – had thorough knowledge of theocratic history, and all that knowledge had been absorbed by those two cowled beings. Not only that, but the plan of the Templars to destroy Kobol…
"The other factions are aware of what is happening on Kobol", the second figure said next, "which leads us to the next question: What are we going to do about it?"
"The Incorporeal Cylons can't directly intervene on the physical level, the first figure replied, "but given what the 'Wait-And-See' Cylons could do – and will do should Kobol be destroyed - it will be up to us to take the initiative".
"But that could twig the humans to the fact that they are being – to an extent – manipulated", a new voice said.
Both cowled figures turned to see two approaching persons: one man and one woman. Both of the cowled figures knew who they were.
"Caprica Six and Gaius Baltar", the first being said in greeting, "I am glad that you had responded positively to our invitation. It has been a while since we have last been in contact with each other".
"Getting immediately transported from where we were to here without any notice wasn't exactly an agreement to your invitation on our part. And If you could call one hundred and fifty millennia 'quite a while', then you would be perfectly correct", Caprica Six replied sarcastically as she looked down at Spears' unconscious form.
"It was tedious living through all that time watching Humanity redevelop back on Earth, then going out once again to the stars", Baltar added, "particularly with Six and I being totally incorporeal".
"You served as the Incorporeal faction's 'eyes'", Gaius", the second being reminded him, "and thus made for you two being the perfect emissaries between them and us".
"They tolerate you", Six shot back, "only because of the 'Wait-and-See' faction's unpredictability and the fact that you're the only other Cylon faction that can physically do anything about it".
"We agree that we can actively intervene if required", the first being said to Six, "but doing so in order to ensure that the overall strategy of the plan isn't compromised to the humans isn't going to be easy. As you know, the overall plan is the only thing that we all agree upon. The 'how' of it all is where we differ".
"Well, our 'bosses' have decided to let you know what we have already done, and also how we can make use of another person at Kobol", Six replied.
With that, Six described how her 'bosses' had made mental contact with Garris Cain and his daughter Tricia whilst they were unconscious on board the Galactica. The two cowled beings nodded.
"Before you say anything else, it was bending the rules some, it is true", Baltar added, "but we have determined that Kobol is the nexus and that necessitated Garris Cain being informed".
"Who is the other person of which you refer?" the second being asked.
"A young human female named River Tam", Six replied, "She is currently on board a ship named Serenity".
"What is so interesting about this person?" the first being asked.
Six told the two beings about River's brain being altered by Alliance neurosurgeons to be both telepathic, and empathic. Six told them also about what the Alliance had been trying to do by tampering in such ways with child prodigies like River in order to become unique weapons.
"So how do you intend to make use of her?", the second figure asked. Six told them. It was along the same lines as what had been done with Cain and Tricia. Given her abilities, it wouldn't be immediately obvious to others that her telepathy could be 'influenced'…
"We will inform our 'bosses' as to what your 'bosses' are intending to do", the second being said, "but the time of reckoning is approaching fast".
"We are aware of that", Six replied, "but I do like the fact that this human laying here will also come in useful when the time comes. Gaius though will also need to be accommodated".
"If successful, then he will be", the first being assured her. Gaius Baltar nodded.
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA – POINT THETA (Sector 300 – half-way between Cyrannus and Kobol)
"The other battlestars are starting to arrive, Admiral", Tom Sanders informed him.
"Did you send the message probe to Ice?" Cain asked as he studied the dradis screen, He had noticed that the Solaria, Triton, Pacifica, and Manchuria had FTL-jumped here to the rendezvous point to join up with the Galactica and Shi Lang.
"I had Commandant Brinkman do that from the Shi Lang", Tom replied, "just in case Spears did mess up our probes. Ice not acknowledging our last probe kind of made me suspicious".
Tom had just finished speaking to Cain when Major Vansen spoke up from the Core Command console.
"Admiral, Commandant", Vansen said, "The Pegasus just made the rendezvous. New Home Plate Actual needs to speak to you, Admiral".
Nodding, Cain picked up his comm-link. Nodding at Vansen to make the connection, he said into the comm-link mike: "Force Alternate to New Home Plate Actual. Are you receiving me, Gene?"
"Yes, Admiral", Syke's voice came back, "Force Actual tells me to inform you that first, he will not be resuming command any time soon due to his condition. Second, all actuals have informed Home plate that they are making a quick sweep of their ships to see if there are any Templar 'surprise packages' on board".
"Don't forget the crew rosters, Gene", Cain reminded him.
"Understood, Admiral", Syke acknowledged, "Incidentally, I see that most of the task force is here, but I don't see Academy". 'Academy' was the call-sign for the Battlestar Annapolis.
"We have no contact with the Annapolis", Cain confirmed, "the last message received from Academy Actual said that he had acknowledged the recall, but that's it. We sent out a raptor to check and see if the Annapolis was disabled and needed help".
Syke heard a certain tone in Cain's voice…
"You don't think that Academy Actual might be…?" Syke started to say. Cain nodded as his gut feeling was telling him that the Annapolis' non-appearance was no accident.
"If the raptor reports there's no sign of her back at The Colonies, then we'll have to assume the worst", Cain said, "so tell the other actuals to expedite their security sweeps. I've got a bad feeling that Ice and Hondo are going to be needing all of us VERY soon!"
Syke nodded. The Annapolis was slated to be the command ship surveying both Geminon and Tauron. Why would the Annapolis not make the rendezvous after acknowledging the recall?
BATTLESTAR ANNAPOLIS – JUST OUTSIDE THE KOBOL SYSTEM – COMBAT INFORMATION CENTER.
The Annapolis had indeed FTL-jumped out from Geminon – after getting back on board the survey teams from Geminon and Tauron – but instead of making the rendezvous at Point Theta, Commandant Ford had his helm officer FTL-jump the Annapolis to a point just outside the Kobol System. Ford brought the battlestar to Condition One alert, then he called over Vice-Commandant Duren.
"That's the message received from Force Actual, XO", Ford said to Duren, "We're here because he reported probable saboteurs in the Kobol survey group and we have been ordered to jump here and be ready to immediately assist Sunray, though not to alert anyone on board Gemstone or Yankee to our presence for the time being".
Oswald Duren looked at the forged message form that Richter had given him. After reading it, he handed it back to Richter.
"Thanks, Comms", Duren said, but there were a couple of questions nagging on his mind.
"Commandant", Duren asked carefully, "if there are potential saboteurs within Sunray's group – either on board Gemstone or Yankee, we should be directly helping him out, so why are we here just outside the system?"
"I've been told by Force Actual that Sunray is aware of our presence and will order us to directly intervene if needed. We're a 'secret back-stop', so to speak", Ford glibly explained, "So we need to be alert – but not yet announcing our presence, so inform CAG that she is to bring her squadrons to ready-to-launch condition, but not to launch any CAP. Also, no active scans. Passives only".
Duren looked at his commanding officer. He nodded, but he certainly was not satisfied as to the stated reason for this sudden jump to Kobol. Still, those were his orders…
As Duren went to Core Command to confer with Major Annette Liu – the Annapolis' CAG – Richter went up to Ford.
"I don't think he's buying it, Commandant", Richter whispered.
"No, I don't think so either, but it shut him up for a while at least, Kimberly", Ford agreed, "but keep a watch on him. If necessary, we'll eliminate him as a 'Templar spy', but if things do go to plan, by the time he twigs to our part in it, it'll be too late".
SERENITY – KOBOL SYSTEM - EN-ROUTE TO BATTLESTAR AMETHYST FROM BATTLESTAR PENSACOLA.
The converted freighter was heading back to the Amethyst after receiving a message from Hunter to relay to Truly. As Mal Reynolds was conferring with both Zoe and Simon, River Tam – piloting Serenity – got a glazed look on her face. For several seconds, she looked blank – yet at the same time intently staring at the planet Kobol.
"Sir", Zoe said to Mal as she noticed River's visage. Mal nodded. He went over to River.
"What'cha sensing, Girl?" Mal asked quietly.
"I'm sensing urgency down-planet from two locations", River replied, "I'm also sensing urgency at four other locations on the planet".
She paused, then said with an intensity that was keenly felt by all in earshot, "The people down on Kobol are trying to blow up the planet, but they are delayed some due to technical issues. They also have hostages!"
Simon's eyes widened at what his younger sister was saying. He knew of River's abilities - thanks to his finding out what those butcher doctors had done to her back at the Core Worlds - but this was VERY precise information that she was providing...
"Can you pin-point – or at least localize – those locations, Girl?" Mal asked. River nodded.
"Get those location points written down and get them sent out to Truly", Mal ordered.
"You want to break wireless silence, Sir?" Zoe inquired.
"If what River is sensing is true, we may not have the luxury of time", Mal replied, "Truly needs to know this!"
Zoe nodded. River had finished writing down the co-ordinates – silently marveling at River's ability to be able to clearly discern what was happening – and went to open up communications with the Amethyst…
BATTLESTAR AMETHYST – COMBAT INFORMATION CENTER
"Damn it, Mal", Truly snarled into his comm-link, "I thought I made it clear that you only use close-in laser communications! We could be overheard!"
"We may not have the luxury of time, Sunray", Mal shot back, "River sensed something you need to know about!"
"Like what?" Truly replied. Mal told him.
Truly paled as he absorbed the information. He knew that for TAD's to be effective in destroying a planet the size of Kobol, that they needed to be placed at certain planetary 'weak-points' and simultaneously detonated. He quickly gave the planetary co-ordinates provided by Mal to one of the officers at the dradis console and had him check out the planetary geological layout at those points. After a few seconds, the officer turned to him.
"Admiral, those co-ordinates all lie on major geological fault lines. My data on TAD's indicate that simultaneous detonation at those points would rupture the planet's crust and it's rotation would shatter it completely".
"Do you see any activity at those points?" Truly asked next.
"No, Admiral", was the reply, "but if there are camouflage tarps deployed, we'd be hard-pressed to see them at this altitude".
Truly considered this. So far, PEST had infiltrated agents, caused grief on the Galactica and Pegasus, and smuggled TAD's. Military-grade camouflage tarps would therefore not be a problem for them to bring with them. He turned to Commandant Lee.
"Have CAG deploy raptors with additional marines to those co-ordinates", Truly ordered, "Inform Puller on the General Ike that they'll need to stop detonation at all costs!"
PEREGRINE 'GENERAL IKE' - EN-ROUTE TO LOCATION OF PEST SURVEY SHIP ICARUS
Captain Puller listened on his headset to Lee's briefing and orders from Truly. He had been preparing his weapons along with the other marines when the General Ike's RSO had come down with a headset. After Lee had finished speaking, Puler replied:
"Understood, Gemstone Actual", Puller acknowledged, "Tell whoever provided those co-ordinates that we may have a chance".
Handing the comm-link headset back to the peregrine pilot, Puller turned to Sergeant-Major Carter and said, "Sunray's deploying marines to where the TAD's are believed to be located. Seems that those Templar fanatics are having some sort of delay in getting the TAD's set up and rigged for detonation".
"What kind of delay, Captain", Carter asked.
"Not known", Puller replied, "but as TAD's can't be individually detonated, we won't have to worry about them directly. We have to knock out their primary detonator station, and if this person Forrest is the one in charge, it's a good bet that it's on the Icarus".
"Well, Captain", Carter said, "If Forrest is as smart as Truly thinks, he may have that detonator elsewhere".
"True. Sunray has also reported that Forrest may have hostages on both ships", Puller said next.
"Any idea of how many or who they are?" Carter asked. Puller shook his head.
"In any case, given the situation we're facing, rescuing the hostages is not the priority here. We are here to stop those fanatics, so in the final analysis, they are expendable. Inform Holcomb on the Tondalayo".
BATTLESTAR AMETHYST – COMBAT INFORMATION CENTER
"Admiral", Commandant Lee reported, "CAG reports that the raptors have departed. I have ordered them to follow the two peregrine's flight paths until they are below the horizon of both survey ships, then they will peel off and head to the TAD co-ordinates".
Truly nodded, making a mental note to commend Lee for his ingenuity. This way, neither the Icarus nor the Jerusalem would be immediately alerted that they would be heading directly to the TAD's. They would assume that the raptors would be bringing reinforcements to the peregrines instead. Still, it would take additional time for the raptors to get to the TAD's and it may be time that they won't have.
Walking over to the weapons console, Truly said to the officer on duty, "Have four missiles readied and targeted on those co-ordinates. If the raptors fail, then we take those TAD's out".
"Given the geological faults of those co-ordinates, Admiral", the officer pointed out, "TAD's are heavily shielded so there's no guarantee that our missiles would be successful. And if we used nuclear warheads instead of conventional ones, they would certainly cause sizeable seismic upheavals planet-side. In any case, I need to know what warheads to go with".
Truly sighed. He knew that Cylons – if they were there somewhere on Kobol – could regard even such a missile strike as a causus belli, but he also knew that a TAD detonation certainly would…
"Set all four missiles with nuclear warheads. It would be last-resort only", Truly said.
JERUSALEM SHUTTLE 1 – TAD POINT GAMMA.
The diagnostic readout confirmed what he already knew: his jury-rigged repair of the TAD's primary detonator on TAD-3 would not work. Sighing, he picked up his comm-link.
"Brother Manna", Coleville communicated over his comm-link with the Jerusalem, "There's no way that I can get the instantaneous detonation circuits operational. It will have to be the delayed detonation circuits instead".
Manna thought to cajole Coleville further, but realized that Coleville would not have said what he said if there was any other way to get the instantaneous detonator working. He thought for a couple of seconds, then made a decision.
"Prime it for delayed detonation, Brother", Manna ordered, "verify camouflage integrity, then return here".
"Will do, Brother", Coleville acknowledged, God be with you".
"And with you", Manna acknowledged.
PEST SURVEY SHIP JERUSALEM – GALATEA – PLANET KOBOL.
Manna silently cursed. Patching his comm-link communicator to the technician at Point Delta readying TAD-4, he started to speak:
"Are you placed and primed, Brother?" Manna demanded.
"Yes, Brother", the technician replied, "I'm all set here".
"Change detonation cycle from instantaneous to delayed, verify the camouflage is in place, then get back to the Icarus. Understood, Brother?"
"Understood", was the reply. Manna then clicked off the comm-link.
"How long before that Peregrine gets here?" he asked his LIDAR operator.
"Ten minutes, Brother", was the reply, "By the way, two raptors have departed the Amethyst and are heading this way as well. Probably reinforcements".
Manna nodded. So it didn't look like the Amethyst knew where the TAD's were located. He picked back up his comm-link and contacted the Icarus…
PEST SURVEY SHIP ICARUS -CAANANIA – PLANET KOBOL
"Understood, Brother Manna", Forrest communicated to him.
Manna had briefed Forrest about his TAD's status and the incoming Peregrine. Forrest was annoyed at the difficulties with TAD-3, but since it wasn't evident that Truly knew where the TAD's were, the delayed detonation option would not change the outcome.
"As soon as I get confirmation on my end, I'll have TAD's One and Two readied for delayed detonation, then activate the detonator, Forrest said, "Thirty Minutes won't be enough for them to find camouflaged TAD's".
"And our hostages?" Manna asked.
"If somehow we get off this planet, we throw them out the airlock. If we can't get off this planet, then they die with us", Forrest simply replied, "and this planet's destruction will take out Truly. Win-Win for us".
With that, Manna clicked off his comm-link.
"How far away is that peregrine from our position?" Manna asked his LIDAR operator.
"Seven minutes", was the reply, "Two reinforcing raptors have also departed the Amethyst and are heading this way as well. Two others are training the peregrine heading towards the Jerusalem".
Forrest frowned. If a peregrine could carry up to thirty heavily armed troops, then why these extra raptors? Just then, his comm-link beeped.
"Forrest", he said.
"TAD-1 is set and primed", he heard.
"Set it for delayed detonation", Forrest ordered, "make sure that the camouflage is in place, then get back here".
Terminating the link, Forrest then raised the technician readying TAD-2. However, his reply was that TAD-2 was still about five minutes from priming.
"Once primed, set the circuits for delayed detonation and get back to the Icarus", Forrest ordered, "we've got troops coming in from the Amethyst to stop us, and without the primary detonator operational on TAD-3, delayed detonation is the only option. We have to hold them off".
"Understood", was the reply.
Clicking off his commlink, Forrest walked on over to where the TAD detonation console was sitting. Looking at it, he knew that events were now reaching their climax. Once the detonation cycle commenced, it could not be aborted. And if by some stroke of luck Truly found out where the TAD's were located, then by the time they got there, it would be too late…