Fanfic

 

Battlestar Galactica: The Dreadnaught Odysseus - Athena Reintroduced

 By Matthew Kennedy

©2004

Part I

Chapter I – The Beginning

  The grass shimmered with a green, yet glowing tint. The Oval Office's groundkeeper recently cut the grass, and its splendor showed. It was a beautiful day: crystal blue skies, not a cloud in sight, even the moons of Gemon and Sagittarius were visible, both of which were a rarity. President Adar took a second to gaze out the windows of the Twelve Colonies' Executive Building, and relished the moment. The room was white colored, with the symbol of the Twelve Colonies' President lying on the floor, surrounded in a sea of dark navy blue. There were two white couches on both sides of the rug, followed by an oak chair at each end. The President's desk sat on the side closest the window. It was a dark walnut wood, handed down by his predecessors to the ensuing President.

President Adar turned around, and glanced at the latest Colony Intelligence Estimate. This particular one focused on the findings of an intelligence asset named HYDRA.

It was a Tuesday afternoon, and the President's chief of staff had cleared his schedule so he could meet with three people: Colonel James Travis, the Fleet officer in charge of the Dreadnaught project, and the Directors of the Colonies Security Command, and the Colony Intelligence Agency, John Calahan, and Dr. Richard Gates. All three entered the room, with Commander Travis in the lead. Travis took the chair facing the President's desk, and the others on the adjacent sofas.

President Adar moved from behind his desk, and joined the group.

"Colonel Travis, how's the space-lag?" The President asked with hint of laugher in his voice. Space-lag was the symptom experienced when someone made a Faster-Than-Light (FTL) jump. The effects were primarily limited to dizziness and disorientation, and usually lasted only a few seconds after the FTL jump was completed; the effects for some people remained several minutes, and were prolonged if someone was moving and was unable to acquire the physical bearings via eyesight of the horizon. Travis wasn't immune from the prolonged effects – and it usually showed, no matter how hard he tried to cover it up, which was a long-standing joke between the President, and the CSC and CIA directors, all four of whom had worked on the Dreadnaught project since its inception at the start of Adar's inauguration five-years prior.

Travis glanced down, smiled, and looked up with a large grin. "Better Mr. President. Thank you."

"What's the status of the Dreadnaught Project?"

"Mr. President, we're in the last test phase. The Dreadnaught Project should be ready for final trials within several weeks. Our engineers, pilots, and crew believe her maiden voyage will occur within two months minimum, three-maximum. "

"Well-Done, Colonel Travis. What are the major problems preventing the Dreadnaught's deployment? What do you foresee as their solutions?"

"First, the engines. Our engineers are trying to adopt the new nuclear reactors to our propulsion systems. It's an issue of adjusting the withdrawal of the rods from the cooling pool, and coordinating the acceleration ratio and speed. Second, the Dreadnaught and its Marine contingent are still having difficulty coordinating their strike operations. It's a matter of mission compatibility, and coming to an arrangement where the Dreadnaught's and Marine's assets can be utilized concurrently and efficiently in creating tactics against an enemy we know little about. And the final issue is the navigation system. Mr. President, with all due respect, Dr. Baltar's CNP routines are crap. Our technicians can not figure out why The Dreadnaught's systems are rejecting it." Travis could be outspoken occasionally, yet his integrity was respected by his subordinates, colleagues, and superiors alike – regardless of how salty it was.

"Can the Dreadnaught function without the new navigation system?"

"I believe so."

"Would it affect any of the other navigation systems if the new routines were withdrawn, and how would it?"

"No Mr. President. Dr. Baltar's system can be dropped without consequences."

"Very well. Pull the CNP routines, and proceed into the final testing phases. Excellent work, Colonel. Give my regards and congratulations to your staff and crew."

"Thank you, Mr. President."

"You're dismissed."

With that, Colonel Travis stood up, and walked out of the Oval Office towards his awaiting escort back to the Caprica Space Port.


"Dr. Gates, the CIE is disturbing. Are we any closer to confirming HYDRA's identity?"

"No, Mr. President – and it gets worse."

"Oh?"

HYDRA was the codename for an asset, who supposedly was privy to what many intelligence analysts were beginning to believe was the Cylon's military platforms and plans. A key problem many of the CIS' top analysts had was they were unable to confirm the authenticity of not only HYDRA's information, but also his, her, or "its" identity, and motivations. And these were analysts who were cleared to receive Sensitive Compartmentalized Information (SCI), the Colonies' highest security clearance, and well-above a Top Secret designation. It required a background check which examined an individual's personal and professional activities for at least 10 years, instead of the seven-required for a top-secret clearance. The selection process was very tough, even the slightest hint of a discrepancy was investigated, and potentially disqualifying. In short, it was next to impossible to acquire a SCI clearance, and thus only the top-qualified personnel were selected.

The CIA had dubbed the asset "HYDRA" since it "revealed" intelligence pertaining to the Cylon's assets, and weapons systems, including a new Basestar and fighter design. The problem the CIA had was verifying HYDRA's information. The CIA preferred to confirm its assets' authenticity via two tests: one verified the integrity of the asset's information, and the second, re-substantiated the data by assessing the facts' accuracy or fallacy. HYDRA frustrated CIA analysts since it usually passed the first test; the second test' results were always debatable – and that's where the concern existed, especially for a subject that vital to the Colonies' security. The fact that HYDRA was the only source on the Cylon's military was equally bothersome for many CIA analysts. The CIA, and many within the military and intelligence communities, tried for years unsuccessfully to pinpoint information relating to the Cylons. HYDRA's existence was a blessing only the Lords of Kobol could have provided, but the lack of verification or authenticity concerned many.

"HYDRA's last report was that the Cylon's were amassing a large fleet on the far side of the Quotara System. The problem is we can't confirm it - like the other intelligence HYDRA has provided," Gates noted with sourness in his voice.

"What is the problem?"

"We've sent deep space probes to the areas ‘allegedly' where HYDRA is located. The probes have disappeared every time, or failed to discover the platforms HYDRA claims exists."

"Great. Just Great." Calahan noted sarcastically. Gates gave him a nasty stare. The rivalry between the CIA and CSC was intense and ugly periodically – and it bubbled to the surface whenever the two agencies directors were in the same room, though a high degree of professionalism was usually maintained.


Travis walked out to his escort back to the Caprica Space Port.

His driver, a Petty Officer with the Colony Fleet, opened the door, saluted, and walked to the driver-side door, and started the fifteen-minute trip.

The Colonel glanced at his notes from the meeting, and reflected on the conversation with Adar. What a mess. How was he ever going to improve the
inter-operatability between the Marines and the Dreadnaught crew? Each had a completely different mission, different mindset, different culture, and yet both complimented each others' strengths and missions, but each was so stubborn and proud that many of their members couldn't see past their own noses. The inter-service rivalry sickened him, yet resolving their differences was vital if the Dreadnaught's mission was to succeed.

The loneliness of command.

And guess who had volunteered for the opportunity? Guess who had seen a chance to break away from the monotony of commanding a desk – as his previous assignment had literally become – and had taken it? Was it worth it? Travis' thought. Only the Lords of Kobol knew, yet he had a strong feeling it would.

"Sir, we're almost at the Space Port." His driver said.

Travis nodded an acknowledgement.

The car stopped, the NCO stepped out, opened the door, both saluted, and the Commander walked over to the Raptor that would return him to the Dreadnaught site.

Travis stepped into the cockpit, and saw the Raptor's co-pilot; an NCO, whom Travis' had flown with on several occasions.

"Good morning Commander Travis."

"Hey, Sgt. Cannon. How is everything? What's the situation?" Sgt. Steve Cannon was the Raptor Systems Operator or RSO.

"Great Sir. I'm almost finished with the final flight checklist."

"Good. Let's get the bird off the ground, and head home."

"Yes sir."

"Tower, this is Raptor two-two-one, requesting permission for take off." Cannon said.

"Raptor two-two-one permission granted. Winds North-North-West at ten-miles an hour, with gusts at twenty five. Visibility, 50 miles." The Air Traffic Controller responded.

"Thank you, Tower. This is Raptor two-two-one. I am full throttle. We are history." Cannon said.

With that, Travis leaned back in the seat, closed his eyes, and dozed off for what he thought would be an uneventful trip back to the Dreadnaught site.


Gates glanced at the President and the CSC Director. Both men had dealt with each other off/on for twenty years, and had a love/hate relationship. They appreciated and respected each other personally, but professionally each thought the other came from the Promar Sector. Gates had an especial distaste for Calahan, since he was a political appointee – not a career officer like Gates. Calahan, for his part, distrusted Gates' professional background as an intelligence analyst and career bureaucrat. The two men had worked with each as a result of overlapping necessities. The Picon Syndicate had forced the two men to put aside their professional differences. The terror inflicted by the PS sent shock waves through the Colonies for years, and compelled the two-rivals to resolve a number of dissemination, collection, analysis, and coordination issues – issues, which could have lead to a revival of the PS, had those matters not been resolved. Still, the fact that one was from the intelligence bureaucracy, the other specialized in the legal arena, and both headed rival agencies with a history of antagonism added to the witches' brew of animosity.

It was nasty considering the CIA believed the CSC was its illegitimate child.

Many CIA analysts contended the CSC didn't need to exist. The CIS had the assets and capabilities required for domestic intelligence and surveillance, whose primary mission was fulfilled by the CSC. Many CSC personnel argued the CIA was designed for interplanetary intelligence missions – not inter-colony information gathering. Many also contended, the CSC was the best source for domestic intelligence, since neither the CIA or the Colonies Bureau of Investigation had shared vital information pertaining to the PS threat with each other – information, which many inside/outside of the Colonies' government believed could have prevented the PS attacks that killed several thousand Capricans, the President, and a quarter of the Quorom's Members. And now the CIA had a "potential source" of Cylon information……

"Dr. Gates, what exactly do we know about the Cylon fleet?"

"Very little. HYDRA is telling us the Cylons are deploying a new type of basestar with double the asset compliment. What's more…." Gates paused to let the first statement sink in. "HYDRA believes the new basestar has an upgraded weapons system capable of causing severe, if not cataclysmic damage, to our battlestars."

"Mr. Gates, isn't that old information?" Calahan asked. The CSC director had read the CIE. He was also privy to HYDRA's information. It was intelligence he was skeptical of, especially since it was unconfirmable.

"No, Mr. Calahan. The information you are referring to related to an older class of basestars, HYDRA provided imaginary of. This new intelligence is 48 hours old."

"Does HYDRA have any idea exactly where the fleet is amassing?" Adar asked.

"No. He claims his sources are not privy to the Cylon's top military planners."

"But he is ‘privy' to plans indicating the Cylons maybe planning a first-strike; they lack the specifics, however?" Calahan asked, bitingly.

Gates ignored the antagonism. "Mr. President, as you know, HYDRA is the only source on Cylon military capabilities. It's not very much. He has provided the CIA and its consumers with the best intelligence we've had in several decades."

"Does HYDRA have any idea of how many basestars exist, or are in development?" Adar asked

"No, Mr. President".

"Great. That will be all."

Gates picked his briefcase up, and put his briefing papers inside. He then stood up, and left the Oval Office.

Calahan relaxed in his chair. Dealing with the CIA director could be a pain sometimes – and this was one.

"I'm glad that's over." Calahan remarked.

"James……." Adar gave him a stare that could melt ice.

"My apologizes, Mr. President."

"What is this bit about a botched investigation in the defense navigation sector? CNN is running wild with it, and the story is driving me nuts."

The Colonies News Network had reported several weeks earlier about a CSC agent who had recommended to the Command's Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) that the CSC investigate, and possibly request that the Colonies Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrest several Gemons on "suspicious" activity. The SSA is the official responsible for coordinating activities between the various inter-planetary field offices; he oversees granting special surveillance activities, whom the planetary offices believe may damage the Colonies' Security; he is the official who serves as the liaison between the CSC and the CBI, and requests the CBI to determine if an individual is worthy of being arrested. The agent believed the Gemons were participating in different activities, which might lead to a breakdown of inter-planetary communications throughout the Colonies civilian and military facilities. He argued this was especially true, since several Gemons were caught leaving a key Colonial Communications Training Center on Libra, and had in their possession several top-secret documents pertaining to the Colonies' Battlestar weapons and communications arrays. What was more disturbing, he believed, all of the men had recently completed Officer Candidate's School, and were receiving communications training. The SSA discounted the Agent's report, and the CBI never received the request. Some of the CSC's agents colleagues were outraged; one of his colleagues "leaked" the situation to CNN, and caused a firestorm within the CSC's ranks.

"Mr. President, it's nothing really." Calahan knew he was trouble, and tried to defuse the situation.

Adar looked at his old friend skeptically. Calahan was a man of honor, yet he was also a skilled and savvy politician. The President knew this, and could tell when he was hiding something.

"It isn't?" Adar asked not revealing his cards.

"No, Mr. President, it isn't. CNN doesn't have anything. All they've got is innuendo and rumors."

"That's interesting. They how do you account for the CSC agent that wrote a memo suggesting that the Command increase surveillance on several individuals, he believed were attempting to learn more about the Colonies battlestar systems and defensive/offensive capabilities without authorization – individuals, the CSC agent believed, could threaten the colonies' security if those files were acquired, yet whose superiors dismissed the claims?"

Calahan didn't like where the conversation was going. The one aspect of his relationship with Adar which he had cemented over the years was a reputation for trust – and he had just violated it.

"Mr. President, there's ---" the CSC director attempted to regain his credibility.

"There's what? An explanation? Right." Adar fumed, and it showed.
Adar fought to control his temper. "James, what if those individuals are linked to the CIA' Cylon operative?"

"HYDRA? That's preposterous. Are you implying the Cylons may be behind this? Come on!"

"Exactly."

"That's a little far fetched isn't it?"

"You tell me."

Callahan gave the President a silence Adar had never witnessed before – and it bothered him. The two men had known each other for several decades, and not once had Callahan displayed this type of deviousness.

"Mr. President, there is something I'm not telling you."

"That much I figured." Adar scowled.

"Do you remember the Aaron Doral case?" Calahan asked

"Yes. What does that have to do HYDRA?" the President responded with bafflement.

"The two maybe linked."

"That's odd. You mean the communication's officer? The one who was held on larceny chargesat the Colonies Communication Command on Aquarius, but who was released after a minor investigation? Who was demoted from Major to Captain, who resigned his commission, was offered the head of public relations for the Galactica museum, and now leads tours aboard Commander Adama's vessel?"

"That's the one."

"How is he connected to HYDRA?" Adar's intuition was starting to increase. He sensed something, but didn't know what.

"Doral and HYDRA were sending highly encrypted messages to the same area of the Quotara sector."

"Is the CSC certain of this?"

"There is a 90% probability of it."

"What's worse, we intercepted similar messages by Natasha Andropova, Dr. Baltar's confidant, to the same area." Calahan said.

"Is that the same Natasha Andropova, who a CSC agent suspected of downloading classified information, yet whose CISA request to further investigate her lab-top was denied?" The President asked inquisitively.

Andropova was a six-foot bleach-blond headed woman, who had befriended Dr. Baltar over several years. She was supposedly an employee of Sparta Defense Corp., a defense contractor that specialized in intelligence, communication, and navigation systems for the Colonial Defense Ministry. Andropova came to the attention of the CSC when an agent suggested she was collecting information pertinent to the Colonies' navigation, and Command-Control-Communication-Intelligence systems – information below her security clearance grade. The agent wanted to conduct a CISA investigation, or a Colonies Intelligence Surveillance Act search. He also wanted to notify the CSC's HQ office responsible for coordinating and assisting the various planets' bureau with the request. A CISA search is initiated when an investigating agent believes a suspect may be transmitting damaging information to the Colonies' physical security, or that may lead to the government's or economies' inability to function. The agent's efforts were stonewalled by a supervisor within the office for unexplained reasons.

Calahan met the President's question with a glance and silence that echoed throughout the office.

"Director Calahan," Adar was not someone who lost his temper easily, but he was on the verge of it now. "Is the office which Agent Paulis contacted about the CISA request, the same one which handles operations between the different inter-Colony offices?"

"Yes, Mr. President."

"Is it the same office, which rejected an agent's request to conduct further surveillance on a group of Gemon, and encouraged the issuing of arrest warrants for those same guys, whom the agent believed might cause damage to the Colonies' Communication System?"

"Mr. President, the SSA is a very competent professional. He has my full-confidence."

"Yet he's the official who knew about the Andropova and Gemon's cases, and didn't listen to his field agents – and you still don't see a pattern?"

"Mr. President, there isn't a pattern. Those are separate cases." Calahan was fighting an uphill battle, and he knew it.

"Are they?" The President looked into Calahan's eyes, and didn't like what he saw. "You still refuse to believe it's not a coincidence that the Gemons and Andropova were transmitting encrypted messages to Quotara Sector? Was the Caprica office responsible for the Andropova case, even aware of the Gemons' activities prior to the CNN report?"

"No Mr. President, the Caprica office was unaware of the Libra office's report until CNN broke the story yesterday. Mr. President, both of those are separate incidents; neither are connected; and there is not a linkage to the Cylons." When President Adar learned of a potential revival in Cylon activities at the beginning of his first term, he started asking questions, and became highly interested in the matter – concerned was more like it, and Calahan knew it. The CSC Director also knew he had better starting making more demands of his subordinates, instigating a series of investigations within the CSC, and get some answers, or else his time in the administration might be coming to an end.

"Director Calahan, I don't buy it. If it smells like a Cylon linkage, if it tastes like a Cylon linkage, there's a Cylon linkage someplace. Something is in the making; I don't know what it is, but I don't like it. Find out what it is, if anything. I want you to pool your resources, enhance the CSC HQ's coordination with the field offices, and discover what the true situation is. I want you personally to re-examine the Andropova, Doral, and Gemon cases. If there's a Cylon Connection, it's probably with one or all of those cases."

President Adar had just initiated an investigation, which would have revealed a vast Cylon conspiracy to undermine and eliminate the Colonies Command, Control, Communication, and Intelligence infrastructure – if the investigation had been instigated months prior. By the time Adar acted, and theoretically "connected the dots", it was the too late. The Cylon juggernaut was activated, and it was only a matter of time before a nuclear cataclysm struck the Colonies. If the SSA agent had not poohpawed the Caprica and Libra offices requests, the CSC, the intelligence, law enforcement, and military communities would have learned that the Cylons had biologically advanced beyond the robotic stage, and had developed a technology that allowed them to look, think, and act like humans. What's more, the four-communities would have uncovered and thwarted the Cylons espionage efforts at locating a weak spot within the Colonial's military structure – efforts which would later allow for the near complete annihilation of the human race, but which could have permitted the Colonies to launch a deep-space pre-emptive strike against the Cylons on their base of operations within the Quatra system, a strike which would have neutralized the Cylon threat before its nefarious plans blossomed; and plans which would ultimately lead to the deaths of all but several thousand of the Colonials.


Cannon was running a series of diagnostics checks on the Raptor's flight instruments, when a red light starting blinking.

Surprised, he put down his checklist, and glanced over at the panel.

"Sir-?" Cannon pointed his head in Travis' direction. The commander winced, and shook his head to clear his mind.

"What time is it?" Travis' asked.

"I think you'd better look at this."

Travis stood up from bunk, and walked over to the console. Both men looked at the blinking red light with stunned silence. The light was coming from the telemetry panel.

"Sir, telemetry is showing several inbound missiles to Picon, Sagittarius, Taura, and Virgon."

"What's the origin?"

"I don't-------this can't be right."

"What is it?"

"The missiles are……Cylon!"

"Can you confirm that?"

"Commander Travis, that's---------Frak!"

At that moment, a bright light filled the cockpit, and blinded both men temporarily. The Raptor was on a flight path several miles from Virgon's outer most atmosphere – just inside what scientists considered "space".

"What in Kobol's name was that?" It was the Commander's turn to show surprise.

The Raptor's radiological alarm began screeching. It was a sound neither man hoped to hear.

"Sir, radiological alarms show several nuclear detonations on the planet's surface – airbursts, sir." Nuclear weapons are detonated using two techniques: airbursts or ground bursts. A nuclear weapon exploded via a ground burst causes plenty of dirt and soot to be thrown into the air; it also doesn't cause as extensive damage. An airburst occurs when a nuclear device is exploded several hundred feet above a target. It causes a downward thrust of energy onto a target, creates a larger blast area, and results in the formation of a larger crater. The overall blast radius and damage is much more extensive. An airburst is the preferred means of detonating a nuclear weapon, considering the effectiveness is nearly quadrupled. What the Raptor's radiological alarm indicated was no exception.

Travis looked out the window, and saw several yellow, orange, black, and red mushroom clouds rising from the planet's surface – at least eleven, and that was from Virgon alone! Both men glanced out the portal, and then at each other. The expression on their faces was nothing short of surprise, fear, and utter horror. What neither man realized was they had just witnessed the Cylon's open salvo of a vast, and nearly successful, annihilation of the twelve Colonies.



Chapter II –
The Colonies' Destruction


Calahan and Adar finished discussing the CSC's handling of the Cylon issues. Both were frustrated with the conversation's outcome, yet both agreed the matter needed further investigation and resolution - immediately.

"James, how are the kids?"

"The kids? Todd is almost finished with----"

At that second, the President's Chief of Staff walked into the room. The President and Calahan looked at each other in surprise. It was rare whenever a senior staff person interrupted a conversation, and President Adar hoped that it was urgent.

"Mr. President," the Chief of Staff whispered into Adar's ear, "CORAD just initiated a Space Threat Conference Call. Your presence is required in the Situation Room."

"Any idea why?" Adar asked puzzled.

"No Mr. President."

The President stood up, and started to leave when he turned to Calahan. "James, come with me."

"What is it?"

"I don't know."

The Colonial Aerospace Defense Command, or CORAD, was the Colonies Eyes and Ears in Space. It was based at Taura Springs, on Taura which was home not only to CORAD, or Seoul Mountain, but to the Colonial Fleet's Academy, several Space-based Command and Control facilities, and to a Mechanized Marine Division, albeit within a fifty-to-one hundred mile radius. A Space Threat Conference Call was issued to the Situation Room, and ultimately the President, whenever the Cylons attempted to penetrate the Colonies aerospace defensive parameters. It happened periodically during the First Cylon War four-decades ago, but not since. To have a Space Threat Conference Call nowadays was unusual, and unnerving.

The three-men walked out of the Oval Office, down a flight of stairs, and into the Situation Room. The Situation Room is the President's "watch center": it monitors and receives information regarding trouble spots and potential crisis; it alerts the President whenever a crisis is developing. The "Room" is actually a series of chambers: one is manned 24 hours a-day, and consists of analysts who monitor the Colonies and the Colonies' outer-parameters for any activities, demanding the President's immediate attention; a second chamber consists of a long walnut table, around which the President meets with his advisors, and the heads of the various Colony Departments. Each department was linked directly to the room, and could directly communicate with the President at a moment's notice; and a final chamber is similar to the second room, except it contains several video screens opposite the President's chair on the far wall, and the Presidential seal rests above the chairman's seat. The Situation Room had been used extensively during the first Cylon War, and when the Colonies were fighting the Picon Syndicate. It was periodically visited, but not nearly so since the above altercations. That was about to change.

"What's happening?"

The Commander of the Situation Room, a Marine Colonel answered. "Mr. President, CORAD is reporting nuclear detonations on Picon, Aries, Sagittarius, and Leonis."

"What are the origins?"

"Cylon, CORAD believes, Seoul Mountain is still confirming it."

"How long before confirmation?" Adar asked.

"Sir, it should be……" just then the Situation Room's Deputy Commander walked in, and gave the Colonel a note

"It's definite sir: the nuclear detonations were Cylon."

President Adar stood for a minute. The room became deathly silent. The hum of the computers dominated the space, and for a moment the only object that occupied the President's vision was a map of the Twelve Colonies. Lords of Kobol….how could this happen?

"Mr. President? Mr. President? Are you alright?" The Colonel asked.

"I want an immediate video conference with the Principles." The Principles consisted of the Secretaries of Defense and State, the Directors of the CIA, CSC, and CBI, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They were the main officers responsible the Colonies defense, intelligence, and law enforcement functions.

Within several minutes, the heads of each of the above departments appeared on the monitor.

"All right – let's have it. Defense, report"

"Mr. President, the Cylons are launching a full-scale attack. They achieved total strategic and tactical surprise. We're taking heavy losses and causalities."

"How bad?"

"Initial reports are the Sagittarius shipyard is destroyed, as are the early warning stations on Libra and Aquarius." The DCI answered.

"General Abrams, what is the military's status?" Abrams was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He had spent much of his career involved in war plans for this type of action, yet he was unprepared for the viciousness of the Cylons attack.

"Admiral Nagala was dispatched to the ATLANTIA several minutes ago. The Battlestars PEGASUS, COLUMBIA, RYCON, SOLARIA, and PACIFICA are enroute to Caprica. The GALACTICA's crew is at full-battle stations and is preparing to join the ATLANTIA task force."

"What is the status of the remaining Battlestars?"

"The PROMETHEUS, HERCULUM, VESUVIAUS, and POSIDEN are forming task forces to intercept the Cylons near Geminon, Taura, Aires, and Libra. The OLYMPIA task force was deployed to Virgon shortly after Admiral Nagala departed. The remaining Battlestars will join those ships, and launch a counterattack." The JCS chair said.

At that moment, the screen projecting the JCS chairman's images flickered and died.

"What happened with the connection?"

"Mr. President, a five-megaton nuclear device exploded over Picon Fleet Headquarters, but not before the Colonial Military Command Center sent a Priority One message in the clear, advising of the Cylon attack."

"Dr. Gates, where did the Cylons come from?"

"Your guess is as good as mine. There was no indication of an attack."

"Did HYDRA give any warning?"

"The last report we received from HYDRA was several days ago. He was suppose to supply us with an update yesterday, and didn't."

The Situation Room Commander walked in. "Seoul Mountain is destroyed, Mr. President".

"Come again?"

"A ten-megaton nuclear explosion just enveloped the facility."

"Were there other facilities affected in Taura Springs?"

"The remaining fleet facilities were also destroyed, including the Marine Headquarters south of the area. The Cylons targeted it with a one-megaton device."

"Are there any survivors?"

"We're investigating it now."

"We're blind and deaf," Calahan remarked.

"Colonel, what is the fleet's situation?"

"Admiral Nagala is at the ATLANTIA now. The ATLANTIA group is almost in position. The PROMETHEUS task forces will arrive in 15 minutes, and the remaining task forces will reach their destinations within the hour. Admiral Nagala has taken command of the fleet, and has initiated OpPlan Five." OpPlan Five called for the fleet to deploy battlestars around the various Colonies to form a defensive parameter.

The President stood up, and walked into the Operations Center where he could see the developments first hand.

As the President stepped into the chamber housing the Operations Center, something odd started happening.

"Mr. President," it was the Situation Room's Deputy Commander, "The SOLARIA and COLUMBIA's fighter wings just lost power."

"Excuse me?"

"Their electrical systems died just as they were about to engage the Cylons. Wait…..the Vipers are destroyed."

"By the Lords of Kobol," President Adar noted somberly.

"Patch me through to Admiral Nagala," he ordered the Situation Rooms Communications officer.

The Admiral's image appeared on the video console. Nagala looked as if he had aged several years in the last couple of minutes.

"Can any of your communication and electronic officers explain what happened to the SOLARIA and COLUMBIA's fighters?"

"Mr. President, we're investigating it now. We're as baffled as you are." Nagala said glumly.

The Situation Room deputy gave President Adar a note: "The SOLARIA and COLUMBIA are loosing power."

"This is insane." Adar muttered. How could this be happening – on his clock? President Adar had spent years plotting and preparing himself for the Presidency. It had been a dream of his since childhood, and now the very colonies – the very people – who had granted him the privilege of serving them were being slaughtered, and without anything that resembled a fight.

"Mr. President, the Cylons are launching nuclear tipped missiles at the SOLARIA and COLUMBIA…..neither is responding with suppression fire........the Battlestars are destroyed."

President Adar looked at the screen in surprise, dread, and horror.

"The PACIFICA is moving between the PEGASUS and the Cylons," Nagala said.

One of the PEGASUS' energizer units had just broken down, which caused the ship to loose its rear thrusters, and had reduced a third of its FTL capability. The PACIFICA was placing itself in a position that Nagala hoped would delay the Cylons from attacking the PEGASUS', and give Admiral Cain's crew enough to fix the electrical problems to allow the PEGASUS to re-enter the fight.

At that moment, the bulk of the Cylon task force that had destroyed the SOLARIA and COLUMBIA, sought new blood, and its target wasn't the PACIFICA or the PEGASUS'. The attacking Cylons smiled, and moved to finish the rout: the ATLANTIA.

President Adar hunched over the analysts' terminal, and saw Nagala conferring with Communications Officer. "Launch the fighters, and order the RYCON to deploy their fighters."

At that moment, the lights started flickering on the ATLANTIA. Admiral Nagala looked up from the video screen, in confusion.

"What's happening, Admiral Nagala?" President Adar asked frantically.

"We're loosing power. The ATLANTIA ------"

Several missiles struck the RYCON and ATLANTIA simultaneously. The terminal President Adar was using exploded in a fuzz of black and white static.

The SitRoom's Commander announced, "The ATLANTIA and RYCON are destroyed."

"Did either launch their fighters?" Adar asked.

"No, Mr. President, the power outage prevented them from catapulting any of their fighters before the Cylons attacked."

"Which Battlestars are left in the ATLANTIA task force?"

"The PEGASUS' and the PACIFICA."

"What is the GALACTICA's status?"

"The GALACTICA will arrive in Caprica in 10 minutes."

"We may not have 10 minutes."

"The PACIFICA is destroyed, Mr. President."

"What?! That's six-battlestars – and without a fight!" Adar said in frustration.
"What is the PEGASUS situation?"

"We're unable to confirm or deny if the PEGASUS' was destroyed along with the PACIFICA."

"Come again?"

"There's no sign of Admiral Cain's ship, yet there's no indication that it was destroyed either."

President Adar walked out of the Operations Center, and into the conference room. He looked at his friend of 30 plus years, James Calahan. The stare both gave each other spoke volumes, it asked countless questions, yet gave no answers, for both knew neither could provide any responses. Why were the Colonials unable to detect the Cylon's fleet? Is there anything that the intelligence, law enforcement, and military authorities could have done to prevent the onslaught? How could this have happened? How were the Cylons able to complete a near perfect annihilation of the Twelve Colonies without a single defensive shot being fired? It was pointless to seek answers: survival was the key now – and survival was based on time, which wasn't a luxury for Adar, the Colonal government, or for the human race.

"James, who of the Principles are left?"

"All of the Principles, except the JCS chairman, are in secure bunkers."

"I want a video conference in five-minutes."

"Yes, Mr. President."

The President and the CSC director walked out of the conference room, and into the secure video conference chamber, where the images of the remaining Principles were seen.

"Secretary Baker, what assets do we have remaining?"

Defense Secretary Baker was a man in his late 70s, and had risen through Colonies' corporate and political ranks over a 30 year span, first as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, and ultimately to a variety of positions ranging from chief negotiator with the Cylons to head of a major defense contractor. Today was the worst moment of his career.

"Mr. President, none as far are my sources can tell."

"What happened with the PROMETHEUS, HERCULUM, VESUVIAUS, POSIDEN, and OLYMPIA task forces?"

"They suffered the same fate as the PACIFICA, ATLANTIA, and RYCON."

"Massive power outages?"

"Yes, Mr. President."

"How?"

"Mr. President, we can't explain it. Our engineers, communication specialists, and cyber analysts are looking into the problem as we speak, but so far they have not arrived at any conclusions." The SecDef responded.

"What about the GALACTICA? Are there any other ships which have not been affected by the power outages that might be able to launch a counterstrike?" Adar asked

"Mr. President, the GALACTICA is the only verifiable ship we know is still in operation, yet its whereabouts are unknown. It was suppose to rendezvous at Caprica with the PACIFICA task force, but FTLed to an unknown location after the ATLANTIA was destroyed. There was an old-mothballed battlecruiser, the GOLIATH, at the Taurus shipyard that was scheduled to be scrapped, but the operation hasn't started."

"Can we launch a nuclear counter-strike?" Adar was slowly becoming agitated, yet refused to show it.

The Defense Secretary put his head down, raised it, and said, "The Cylons Second Wave targeted our planetary, air, and sea based nuclear forces after attacking Picon Fleet Headquarters and CORAD. None of our nuclear munitions survived except those on the Ragnar and Molecay Anchorages."

"Are those the only options we have?" Adar probed.

The CBI director turned his head, as an aide whispered something in his ear.
"Mr. President, we could wage a guerrilla war."

"Do we have the ground assets?"

"No, Mr. President, we don't," the Defense Secretary said. "The Cylons neutralized our Marine forces in the third wave."

"Do we have definite confirmation? Did any units escape?"

"None that we are aware of," The SecDef said depressingly.

The CSC director spoke next. "Our Battlestar fleet is 95% eliminated. The Colonies Marine Corps elements are neutralized. The major population centers are nuclear wastelands. Mr. President, I don't think we have options."

"Gentlemen, there has to be something we can do that will buy us more time; something that will allow us to regroup, and launch a counterattack; something that will allow us to salvage and sustain what's left of the Colonies. I find it hard to believe there isn't anything." President Adar was determined, yet inside he was beginning to admit the chances were slim, very slim.

All of the men glanced at each other, all knew there was only one possibility and the outcome was uncertain.

"An unconditional surrender is the only choice we have. Gentlemen, prepare your families and staff. This is the only option the Colonies have. It is a decision I hate admitting, regrettably, yet it's the only alternative – and I do it grudgingly."

With that, the conference ended.

Adar walked over to the Operations Center, and spoke to the Communications Officer. "Connect me to Commander Travis' shuttle on a secure line."

"You're on, sir."

Commander Travis was stunned. He was listening in on open messages between the various elements of the Colonial fleet, and couldn't believe what he was hearing. The PROMETHUS, PACIFICA, and countless other Battlestars and their fighter squadrons were loosing power for no reason. It was as if someone had thrown a switch, and turned off the Battlestars' energy supplies. They were sitting ducks! And they had no way of defending themselves! What in the Lords of Kobol was going on? And to make matters worse, all of the Colonies Space Based defenses were equally neutralized. He and Cannon watched helplessly as countless mushroom clouds rose from the different colonies – and there was nothing that could be done.

"Sir, incoming message." Cannon reported, his voice then giving way to more disbelief. "It's President Adar."

Travis stepped over to Cannon's comms console, and said. "Yes, Mr. President."

"FTL back to the Dreadnaught site immediately. Do not allow the Dreadnaught, its schematics, or its existence to fall into the Cylon's hands; the Dreadnaught maybe humanities' last chance for survival. The only ships that may have survived are the PEGASUS, GALACTICA, and GOLITH. The Dreadnaught, her Marine Contingent, and the Caprica System contractors are the single known elements remaining of humanity. Ensure their survival, regroup, and counter-attack at a time and place of your choosing."

"Yes, Mr. President."

Cannon and Travis closed their eyes, and then looked at each other for what seemed like eternity.

"Commander, picking up two Cylon Raiders, closing at Marks three two two and one eight two!"
"Evasive action!" Travis ordered.
"They're tracking us, missiles away!" Cannon said
"Pop chaff!" Travis ordered
The Raptor seemed to veer to starboard just in time as the first Cylon missile shot past, took the chaff bait, and exploded harmlessly several hundred yards off the Raptor's Port side. Travis was thrown to the bulkhead, and banged his head against a control box. "Agghhh!" he roared, "Son of a bitch!"

"Another Missile inbound!"

"Drop a Sparrow," Travis growled.

Cannon threw a toggle, and the raptor deployed an anti-missile countermeasure, while Cannon threw the ship wildly again to starboard. This time, Travis was ready, as he'd strapped himself into the rarely used co-pilot's seat. The second Cylon missile had caught up with, and impacted the scattering field of chaff left by the raptor's sparrow package. Another shockwave rocked the small ship.

"Sgt, prepare a FTL jump, get us back to the Dreadnaught now!"

"Aye, sir." Cannon replied, his heart beating rapidly. He threw a few switches, entered in a course, and started the jump clock. "Sir," Cannon interjected, "we are twenty seconds to jump."

"That's twenty seconds too long to be a sitting duck for their missiles." Travis admonished him.

"Yes, sir. Taking evasive now!.....What?" Cannon groaned quickly.

"What?!" Travis asked, trepidated, "whaddaya mean 'what'? I do NOT like the sound of that 'what'!, lieutenant."

"The shrapnel from that last blast nailed us pretty good, sir. We're venting drive fluid!" he reported. "Damn it!" Cannon swore. "We're losing the fluid necessary to keep the FTL drive stable, Commander. We can't jump now!"

It did not take Travis long to decide his next course of action. He stepped back into the cabin, wrote a quick note, and handed it to Cannon. "Make this note a Priority One Message to Dreadnaught. XO's Eyes Only. Utilize TAC-channels five thru seven for communication," Travis had no idea how much the Cylons had compromised the Colonials communication system, and wasn't about to chance what might be the civilizations last chance for survival. "Start for planet fall, now."

"Sir, I can fix the problem, give me a few seconds to ----" Cannon pleaded, and was interrupted.

"There's no time. Send a distress signal, now!" Travis ordered.

"Aye, sir." he acknowledged, then activating the emergency broadband. "Cryptor, cryptor, cryptor, this is Raptor two two one in distress, making planet fall for Virgon. Any Colonial ground units still active, we request assistance."

Cannon did not wish to argue the point this time. He immediately brought the ship around for planet fall altitude with Virgon. He decided to crack one of his impromptu jokes: "I'll try to set us down in as little radiation as possible, but, just to let you know, Commander, I do NOT make for a very 'glowing' personality."

Travis let out a chuckle and smiled.

The Raptor just entered the ionosphere. Cannon seemed to have a little more trouble with the ship than he'd anticipated. "Sir, controls are really sluggish. This is gonna be a rough landing."

"Oh, hell." Cannon grumbled.

"What is it?" Travis asked.

"Inbound missile." Cannon reported, then adding calmly. "We're dead, sir."

Travis glanced at the screen, and accepted his fate.

"Commander, it was an honor serving with you." Cannon said, acknowledging his time was over.

"The honor is mine, Steve."

Cannon closed his eyes, and released the unwieldy controls, resigned to his crew's fate.

Travis knew as well that their number was up. All he could do was light up a cigar, and take a slow, casual puff. It was a habit he had picked up from his colleague and friend Kara Thrace, call sign Starbuck. Damn! He was going to miss those games of Dominion!

And then, their world erupted into a mixture of hellfire and shrapnel as the final Cylon missile found its target.




Shortly after Commander Travis' Raptor disintegrated, the Situation Room's Communication Officer sent an Unconditional Surrender message in the clear.

The Cylons responded by blasting Caprica City with a 50 megaton nuclear warhead. The Cylons were on a mission of annihilation, not surrender.

In an instance, a bright, yellow, and red mushroom cloud enveloped Caprica City, and with it the remnants of the Colonial government.


Part II –
Chapter III
Athena Adama and the ODYSSEUS


Scorpios was a blue and red moon with a large "eye" in its Southern Hemisphere – a millennia old dust storm, which served as an ideal cover for anyone not suspecting of military activities. The moon orbited Orion, a planet with a dense nitrogen atmosphere, and with a trajectory around a K-class star. Orion was 12 light hours from the Colonies, within the heart of the M10 Globular Cluster. The planet orbited a Sun about halfway through its life cycle. The Colonial Defense Department and CIA had chosen the site because of its isolation from the Colonies, and particularly the Colonies obnoxious news services. CNN had a habit of exposing many of the Agency's most cherished secrets. Orion was a perfect site for the Colonies newest project –and the Colony's next generation of warships: the Dreadnaught Class.

The founders of the Dreadnaught Project envisioned a ship in the same category as the old Tiger-Class Destroyers, yet on a larger more efficient scale. The Tiger Class was the Colonies' prime attack ship during the First Cylon War. Towards the latter half of the conflict, many Battlestars were destroyed when the Cylons lured the Battlestars' fighter squadrons away from their mother ships, and forced the Battlestars to fight the Cylon's basestars directly. As a result, many Battlestars were lost. The Colonial Fleet came up with a solution: the Tiger-Class Destroyer. The Tiger was equipped with a crew of 18 officers, 62 warriors, and 184 support crew. It had a weapon's compliment of 4 Heavy Cannons, 4 Light Cannons, 18 Heavy Blaster batteries, 12 Tactical Nuclear Weapons, and 6 Strategic Nuclear Munitions. In addition, the Tiger Class destroyers had 8 Starhound class Vipers, 4 Landram surface transports, and 4 Mk. VI space shuttles. It was a very impressive machine, yet it had weaknesses, especially when matched against vast numbers of Cylon raiders. All of the Tiger Destroyers were destroyed at the Battle of Molecay Anchorage when the Cylons deceived the Colonies' Defense Intelligence Agency, and ambushed the Colonial forces dispatched to defend the facility. The ambush, plus the Tigers lack of adequate anti-aircraft weaponry were the main reasons the Cylons were successful in eliminating the remaining Tiger Destroyers

Despite the Molecay episode, President Adar, Admiral Nagala, and the DCI were awed by the overall design and performance of the Tiger Class Destroyer during the First Cylon War. Thus when HYDRA surfaced, the President, Fleet Headquarters, and the Intelligence community wanted a platform that could compete and destroy the Cylons basestars, with quick maneuverability, that could perform deep-strike operations, and serve, simultaneously, as a launching pad for Marine Corps operations. The Marine Corps idea was an added element, since President Adar wanted a platform that could deliver covert operations deep inside Cylon territory. Covert operations was one of the reasons the Cylons had been so successful during the First war against the Colonials; Adar and Nagala wanted this threat neutralized.

The result? The Dreadnaught Project.

The Project's first ship was called the ODYSSEUS. The ODYSSEUS' creators called it that after an Ancient Caprican myth hero by the same name, who successfully defeated the Gemons by infiltrating their home city from within after the Capricans offered the Gemons a "gift" to illustrate their surrender. The Capricans supposedly wanted peace, after the two sides had fought a long-drawn out war, which drained Caprica's resources. The "gift" was a massive metal horse, that contained Odysseus and a small team of Special Forces. After the Gemons accepted the token, they placed it on display in the capitol's prime courtyard. The night after the Gemons accepted Caprica's gift, Odysseus and his men exited the horse and neutralized the Gemons' primary defensive systems. The Capricans shortly thereafter attacked and conquered the Gemons. It was this concept that inspired the Dreadnaught's founders to name the first ship ODYSSEUS: a ship that would lead, penetrate, and defeat a relentless adversary.

The Dreadnaught Project's intent was to provide the Colonies with an offensive platform. President Adar, Admiral Nagala, and the DCI planned on building 60 Dreadnaught ships, and relegating the Battlestars to defensive operations. The ODYSSEUS is truly an offensive platform. It contains six-16 inch guns, two forward mounted, and the remaining guns on the port and starboard sides. It houses eight-Tomahawk, Harpoon, and Sparrow missile launchers for ship-to-surface, ship-to-ship, and antiaircraft operations. It possesses a three-layered anti-aircraft system. The First layer consists of 42 rail guns, forward, port, starboard, bottom, and top mounted. The second layer involves a series of Phalanx AA batteries as a backup measure in case a Cylon Raider or Missile evades the rail gun system. And the third layer, is a set of Sparrow missile batteries whose main purpose is provide AA fire support to the ODYSSEUS' Marine Brigade during landing operations. All three systems can be operated simultaneously to defend the ship against multiple Cylon Missile attacks.

The ODYSSEUS is 4000 feet long. It is similar to the Colonial Battlestars in that it has two FTL drives, four sublight engines, and eight maneuvering burners. The difference between the two platforms is that the ODYSSEUS' engines are nuclear powered, which is designed to increase the ship's acceleration. The final noteworthy difference is the crew size. The ODYSSEUS' is equipped to carry and deploy a Marine brigade. It has a crew of 18 officers and 184 enlisted personnel – the exact number as the original Tiger Class Destroyers.

The Dreadnaught Project was the Colonies' response to increasing indications the Cylons were slowly rearming their forces, but with a much deadlier capability then what the Colonies had confronted during the First Cylon War. The intelligence the Colonies had was inconclusive, yet there was enough circumstantial evidence to convince President Adar to approve a top-secret plan. The information HYDRA produced scared the President and many within the Colonial Intelligence Community so much that he ordered the initiation of the Dreadnaught Project. It was a plan whose details, mission, and composition were so secret only Admiral Nagala, President Adar, the CIA Director, Marine Colonel James Travis, and Commander Athena Adama knew of its exact nature. The remaining military, intelligence, and civilian personnel selected for the project were given a vague description of the project, and had to pass a SCI clearance

Several years after the first Cylon War, an internal debate started occurring within the Colonies' intelligence community about future Cylon capabilities. The viciousness of the Cylons tactics had surprised many military, civilian, and intelligence personnel. The Colonies themselves had barely survived the First Cylon War, and only after an 11th hour accidental discovery of the Cylon's base of operations, and counter-attack, had forced the Cylons to accept an armistice, and had compelled the Cylons to accept a peace-agreement that allowed them to relocate to a home world, in exchange for the establishment of "armistice station" – a joke among many Colonial officers. Still, the Armistice had allowed the Colonels to regroup, evaluate the war, and ask questions about how the Cylons were nearly able to overwhelm the Colonies. It was a scenario many wanted to avoid in the future – and when HYDRA emerged, it gave many an excuse, including President Adar, to pursue a weapon that would prevent the errors of the First Cylon War

The Dreadnaught project's founders had two objectives. First, they wanted to avoid the near catastrophe of the first Cylon war; and second, the organizers aspired to correct the military, intelligence, and law enforcement faux paus the Colonies experienced during the Picon Syndicate (PS) conflict. Athena had a first-hand familiarity with the inter-agency problems that had plagued the government in its fight with the PS insurgency. President Adar, Admiral Nagala, and the CIA director believed the Project would compel the CSC, CIA, and CBI to work together since they believed the Cylons presented an internal and external threat to the Colonies' security. Pooling the different agencies resources to evaluate, locate, and respond to the threat could prevent the near disastrous results of the first Cylon War. The Dreadnaught Project would serve as a focal point for the three entities to address the Cylon threat, since it would have the resources to strike deep within the Cylon's base of operations.

As part of the Colonials effort to address what many analysts and policymakers believed was a rising Cylon threat, the Colonials built 120 Battlestars, and established a central base of operations away from Caprica on the Picon Colony. The idea was the Cylons could not destroy the Colonial's Civilian and Military Command Centers in one-strike, which had nearly happened in the First Cylon War. Still, even with the construction of over 120 Battlestars, there were many within the Intelligence and Military communities were concerned the Cylons would initiate an overwhelming strike the likes of which the Colonials had never seen. Over time, the Cylon threat faded from the civilian leadership's concerns – and a deadly complacency set in among the Colonies inhabitants. This attitude especially started to permeate the Colonies after there had been no contact with the Cylons for 30 years. The lack of contact led many to believe the Cylons had abdicated any desires to conquer their Colonial masters. Many Colonials relegated the Cylons to history's trash bend – a horrific notion especially since the First Cylon War had killed thousands. The notion of an deceased Cylon threat was pooohpahed by many officials in the upper-hierarchy of the Colonial's intelligence and military communities. Many were skeptical, and refused to believe the Cylons would simply vanish – regardless of their 30 year absence.

Athena glanced out her office window. The night was young, but her paperwork was lengthy. She caressed her thick, shoulder length black hair, and let out a sigh – a sigh of frustration, irritation, and fatigue. Paperwork was the last task she enjoyed, yet part of command involved administrative duties, too much she thought often. She looked over at a photograph of her father – Commander William "Husker" Adama – and her brother Lee "Apollo" Adama. She was definitely "Daddy's Girl": a straight-talker, someone who knew when to draw the line and had no problem holding her colleagues and subordinates accountable when necessary, yet someone who had no qualms about providing empathy when warranted, and could easily forgive subordinates, colleagues, and superiors for their shortcomings, but would not forget professional errors, especially when lives were at stakes. And yet Athena Adama was an officer whose only prerogative above her of duty to the Colonies was the well-being of her crew, the Dreadnaught's Marine Brigade, and the Caprica Systems construction workers.

Her brother was another issue.

Both joined the Colonial Services as Viper Pilots, yet for some reason or another – personal, professional, it could be anything – the two did not see eye to eye on many issues, especially when it came to the death of their brother Zak. His death in a flight training accident had caused a lot of animosity between her father and Apollo; it was an issue she had grieved over, read the investigation report, and accepted the conclusions. Apollo on the other hand blamed their father, and held a deep grudge. The issue had caused several fights between the three of them. It was something that she was determined not to let impede the relationship with her father, yet Apollo? It still haunted him, and he could not accept, even after a special commission exonerated his father. She shook her head. Just thinking about the problem gave her a headache. Why couldn't he let it go? What happened, happened. Zack's death was an accident, and yet Lee continued to blame their father. "Lee! Lee! Lee! Let it go!" she told him on countless occasions. It was an event he would not release, no matter how much time passed. Someday he would, but all she could do was shake her head, listen and stand her ground, until that day arrived. Time would heal the father-son feud, that she was certain.

Still, no matter how much she grappled with her older brother's qualms with their father, both were driven by a strong-sense of duty – and the opportunity Admiral Nagala had given her to serve as the Dreadnaught Project's XO which was a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity. Recalling the roots of the Dreadnaught Project was something she thought about frequently. It was much a part of her life as was her duty to the Colonies, her subordinates, and her family.

But the First Cylon War was not the only issue which had influenced Athena. The internal squabbling between the CIA and CSC was a matter, which had come to the forefront of the Colonies Political Scene shortly after the Picon Syndicate (PS) initiated the infamous President Day's Massacre. The feud between the two government agencies was notorious, and the military relied on both. Several years after the PS had launched the shocking October 12th attacks, a task-forced called the Colony Commission on Terrorism Upon the Twelve Colonies – what became known as 10/12 Commission - had recommended the reallocation of the Colonies Bureau of Investigation's functions, which had been responsible for prosecuting criminal activities throughout the Colonies, in exchange for the establishment of an entity which would collect intelligence on potential threats within the Colonies known as the Colonial Security Command.

The CBI passionately fought the recommendations. The director insisted the agency was changing its professional culture and methodologies. The resistance within the CBI's ranks was equally adamant. The bureau's stubbornness amazed Athena, especially since many of the problems facing the CBI had occurred several years, even a few weeks before the Director took office. For instance, two of the Cancer Spaceliners hijackers were within the CBI's sights. Field agents on Sagittarius and Virgon had noticed unusual activity among several Picon men at different regional flight schools, especially when one of them was only interested in learning how to fly and not land. Still, when the CBI's Sagittarius and Virgon field offices asked the headquarters for permission to investigate the men further, their requests were denied. The CBI also refused to share any additional information it had on the PS with the other Colony law enforcement and intelligence agencies – information, which arguably, could have resulted in the arrest of some of the October 12th hijackers, and saved hundreds, perhaps thousands, of lives if the data had been disseminated via the appropriate channels. Instead? The data collected dust in a bureaucrat's desk, to soothe someone's ego and protect the CBI's turf.

The CBI's conduct sickened Athena - and then the President Day's Massacre occurred, and that was the final element leading to disbursement of the CBI's functions. Athena was disgusted by the jealousy of which the CBI guarded its information, and the internal resistance to changing its bureaucratic nature. Many of the CBI's agents and personnel had egos larger than the Sagittarian oceans; an infection which seemed to permeate the Colonies' bureaucracy. Even after the President Day's massacre, isolated elements of the CBI resisted, yet when its director – a man named Ian Jarvis, who had become the CBI's head a week before the October 12th attacks, and who went on to serve three administrations, including Adar's – discovered personnel with those attributes, he either fire, or placed them in divisions with little or no influence on the CBI's prerogatives, which had been downgraded to law enforcement only (it's intelligence component was placed in the newly established CSC branch). Still, whenever Athena noticed any officers or her subordinates placing their egos above their duty, she followed Jarvis' example swiftly and abruptly.

Athena was assigned to serve as the liaison between the Colonial military and the Colony's Intelligence and Law Enforcement Services. She was given the additional task of serving as the Dreadnaught's XO. In essence second in command of the Dreadnaught project, after the project's leader, Commander Travis.

Her phone rang. "Yes?"

"The briefer is almost ready." Lt. Yates, the Dreadnaught's TAC Officer said. The Dreadnaught's staff had an intelligence officer, who prepared daily briefings on planetary, solar, military, and political developments from the Colonies. In this case, the officer was a civilian from the CIS.

"On the way," Athena hung the phone up, straightened her tunic, stood up, filed some papers away in a cabinet, and left the room.

As she walked down the hallway, she encountered an Ensign Junior Grade officer named Gabriel Roman. Roman is the Dreadnaught's weapon officer, and is responsible for working with the Caprica Systems engineers in designing the Dreadnaught's advanced missile and gun systems.

"Commander Adama," Roman saluted, and which Adama promptly returned the gesture.

"What's up?"

"Nothing in particular. I'm just curious when we can anticipate receiving the next missile shipment from the Taurus shipyard?"

"I'm not sure. Did you have Lt. Buckley look into it?" Lt. Buckley was the Dreadnaught's ordnance officer. He was tasked with ordering and acquiring the Dreadnaught's vast weapons compliment.

"Yes, and he's just as baffled as I am."

"I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you Commander."

"Carry on." With that Roman and Adama parted ways.

Athena entered the room, and everyone stood up.

"At ease. What's the latest Mr. Powell?"

James Powell was the CIS specialist on intergalactic-matters, and was the CIS' liaison with the Dreadnaught. At the time, he was only civilian participant in the Dreadnaught's ongoing scouting mission of the local sectors.

"Commander Adama," he nodded in acknowledgement. Powell touched his lab top, hit a button, and his PowerPoint Presentation began.

His first slide showed an overall picture of the M10 Globular Cluster, and Orion's approximate location within it.

"This briefing will examine several planetary issues: first, planets exhibiting life sustaining properties; second, planets with potential mineral resources; and finally, suspect planets, with the potential for Cylon activity."

"Commander Adama, what we have to date is a number of potential planets with atmospheres exhibiting an environment compatible for life. Those planets are approximately here, here, here, and here."

His next slide zoomed in on a section of the area surrounding Orion, and showed the location of each in relation to the Dreadnaught's site.

"Commander Adama, all the planets we surveyed contained ample traces of nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen. The nearest one is 10 light minutes; the farthest is several light hours. We estimate there are seven with these classifications."

Powell touched his lab-top again, and a third slide came up. It showed a graph with a number of metallic elements, including uranium, iron, sulfur, and bauxite, and with planets and asteroids containing those properties.

"We estimate there are at least three-dozen asteroids in these quadrants," he used a laser pointer to id each area. "All are within 2 light hours of the Dreadnaught site. There are at least eight planets in this quadrant we believe. And the final quadrant may possess the elements Caprica Systems requires for weapons manufacturing." Adama gestured to continue.

"And finally, Commander Adama, we were unable to locate any areas of what could be described as having likely Cylon activity."

"Mr. Powell, any idea why not?"

"The latest reports from HYDRA do not provide enough information to give us an idea of what we should be looking for. The intelligence is sketchy. It's inadequate. We're practically blind."

"Nothing. Not even a hint?"

"Correct."

Both sides let the question/response session hang in the air for a second.

"Good work, Mr. Powell. C