The Uneasy Alliance
by AJ Marks
Part 4
The Battlestar Galactica was in the middle of the rag-tag fleet of over two hundred ships of all types heading towards an unknown destination, only that they called it Earth, the Thirteenth tribe. The only problem no one really knew where, or even if, Earth existed or if they reached the planet those there would help.
Commander Adama sat and gave everything a lot of thought, including everything that had happened trying to predict what might happen in the future. However, today he had a more pressing concern, a Cylon basestar had been spotted and they had no way of knowing where it went since it was spotted.
“Commander,” Adama heard Tigh’s voice say, then walked over to where the internal intercom was to reply.
“What’s up Tigh?”
“Doctor Wilker wants to speak with you,” Tigh replied giving Adama something new to think about.
“Send him to my office,” Adama replied, sitting back down and waiting until the man walked into his office.
“Commander, I’ve found a way to upgrade the existing vipers,” he said with his usual excitement when he had uncovered something.
“Sounds interesting, but what do you mean by upgrading?” Adama asked wondering what resources they would need to do it.
“Just about everything, from the thrusters to the weapon systems,” Wilker replied causing Adama’s eyebrows to go up into his hairline.
“How is that possible?” Adama asked, recalling the last time they talked about upgrading the vipers, the man as at a loss at how to do it, it seemed like Wilker had found a way after all.
“Its something I’ve been thinking about ever since you approached me about upgrading them. I know we don’t’ have resources to build a lot of new vipers, but I figured something else out,” Wilker replied. Adama hadn’t seen the man so excited since the encounter with Terra’s shuttle and he could examine it.
“Sounds like very good news,” Adama said waiting for Wilker to continue.
“Communications is adding new software that was easy, the thrusters and weapons were a bit harder to figure out and we started out trying different configurations of the engines. We weren’t making much progress until a tech made a mistake and we discovered we got greater thrust and burned less fuel in the process,” Wilker said.
“Could this same principle be applied to the rest of the fleet?” Adama asked quickly, already thinking about the fleet burning less fuel which would greatly increase their stores.
“That’s my next project commander, but I’ll need a ship to do it with,” Wilker said. “The principle is the same but I do not have a large enough testing area for such an experiment.”
“What mistake did your tech make?” Adama asked giving him time to consider the answer.
“When we put the engine back together for another test my tech forgot the C-7 converter, as a result it was passed when the engine started up,” Wilker replied as Adama thought about what the C-7 did.
“Isn’t that placed there with the purpose to help fuel consumption, not increase it,” Adama said recalling back to the reports, it was a tremendous boost when it was designed.
“I don’t know about the reports, but the tests show the thrusters burn twenty percent more efficiently,” Wilker replied back to him.
Adama shook his head at the thought that someone was making money off such an invention when it didn’t help, or did they know that? He doubted the person, or company who made it was still alive anymore.
“I do have a theory about why, which is why I need a larger ship, preferably two, one older one newer,” Wilker said. “I think the older engines will continue to operate better with the C-7 in place, but newer engines, like on the vipers, it should be removed.”
“Sounds good, I’ll let Tigh know and we’ll look for two ships, now what about the weapons?” Adama said changing the subject.
“I looked over the specs of the weapons, then asked the flight crew about this, but we could squeeze another reflector in the weapon space which could give a theoretical increase of fifteen percent for the same energy,” Wilker said.
“Weapon reflectors are not something we have lying around in abundance doctor,” Adama said, knowing those were hard to produce.
“I know, and we’re working on that as well. I have a theory of how to build a similar device with the materials we currently have,” Wilker said. “I only wish we had the materials to build some new test vipers, I’ve been tinkering with new designs, both vipers and battlestars.”
Adama thought about that for a few seconds, the doctor was working on new designs, something which might be important in the future. “Continue with your designs, I’d be interesting in seeing them as well, but for now we’ll start with your conversion of the engines and after your test which ships will take the conversion as well. Fuel is one of our most precious resources right now.”
“Thank you commander, we’ll get right on it,” Wilker said, leaving the room with a spring in his step. Adama found himself actually intrigued by the new designs Wilker said he had.
*****
Morpheus piloted the Hammer back into the landing bay at Zion knowing he was in trouble but had formulated a plan while on his way back. He only hoped he would be able to keep Niobe and Link out of a cell, and the Council would even listen to what heh ad to say.
Opening the door he walked out with any hesitation and wasn’t surprised to see guards waiting for them. He turned towards General Turner who stood nearby and looking only slightly shocked but also seemed to already know who had taken the ship.
“I should have known,” Turner said walking towards Morpheus who made no moves and waited for them. “My friend, you’ve put me in a bad spot here”
“I need to speak with the council,” Morpheus said as he turned back to the doorway where Link and Niobe struggled with the robot they had engaged on the surface.
Everyone gasped looking on as the black robot emerged. It was human in shape and unlike anything anyone had ever seen before, several backed up raising their weapons in reflex at being so close to a machine like this.
“It’s dead,” Morpheus said seeing the reactions from everyone.
“And damn heavy, one of you get up here and help us,” Link said struggling with it.
“What is that?” Turner asked, as a few men stepped forward to help carry the robot out of the Hammer. A few guards kept their weapons trained on it even as it landed with a thud.
“I don’t know, but whatever they are, they are attacking the machines, well actually they are attacking the humans who are in the Matrix,” Morpheus said seeing Turner look back at him confused.
“What are you talking about now?”
“How about I tell you and the Council at the same time, that way I don’t have to repeat myself, and I’m not sure I completely understand it either,” Morpheus said giving a bit of a sigh. It was extremely complex and only seemed to get worse with each passing minute.
Turner finally agreed allowing Morpheus to head out towards the Council leaving Link and Niobe with the Hammer. Turner turned giving Ben orders that no one touched the robot until a decision by the Council was made.
Ben looked on as Turner and Morpheus left the hanger, now they were left with this strange looking robot which completely freaked Ben out. He took a closer look noticing the armor appeared to have dents all over it, including a few penetration points.
“It was a son of a bitch to destroy,” Link said as he leaned against the hull of the Hammer watching Ben.
“What do you mean?” Ben asked, looking over at Link before looking back at the Machine.
“I mean we hit it with two M-220s on full auto for what seemed like forever before we finally killed it,” Link replied before looking at the hull of the Hammer and Ben saw burn marks and small penetration holes on it. “Its weapons was unlike anything I’ve ever seen either, it punctured the armor of the Hammer,” Link said fingering one of the holes.
Ben inspected it closer and noticed it seemed to have almost burned its way through and wondered how long it had concentrated it weapon on that spot, or how many shots it took. Turning he inspected the robot again not seeing any weapons on it.
“Right here,” Link said producing a weapon which looked very much like a handgun.
“That’s it?” Ben asked, unsure about what he was seeing.
“Trust me, its that powerful,” Link said. “And whoever they are, they are attacking the people who are hooked up to the Matrix, saw it reset twice already due to losses.”
“Interesting,” Ben said finding this latest development both fascinating and disturbing at the same time. “What else happened?”
“Morpheus talked to the Oracle, said something about the machines being under attack and needing our help, as for that, guess we’ll have to wait to see what the Council does,” Link finally replied, leaning against the Hammer’s hull once more.
Ben felt a bit relieved he wasn’t on the council and not the one who had to make that decision.
*****
Starbuck made his way through the hallway above the main thrusters of the Galactica blocking out the noise. He had not seen Apollo in a while and talking with Sheba she had not either. Starbuck decided he was probably in the old navigation bubble when he was thinking or wanted to get away, and like always here Starbuck was looking for his friend.
Climbing the stairs of the bubble he opened the hatch unsurprised to see Apollo sitting in the chair watching a monitor which showed nothing. Starbuck closed the hatch and took off the ear protection as Apollo looked on waiting.
“Thought I’d find you here,” Starbuck said, glancing at Apollo then over at the monitor.
“Just thinking,” Apollo replied, turning to look back into space once more.
“Thought so, want to talk about it?” Starbuck asked hoping it was the right question to ask.
“Been going over our encounter with that basestar, the way it acted seemed a bit strange to me,” Apollo replied back to him. “Nothing of what it did makes any sense.”
“Like what?” Starbuck asked, unsure he wanted to hear Apollo’s theories about what happened.
“I’m not sure, but I have a gut feeling that we’re missing something, so I came here to check the star charts and saw nothing where they could ambush us,” Apollo replied back to him.
“If they are planning one we might be able to avoid it,” Starbuck said rationally.
“That’s just it Starbuck, if they really were setting a trap then there should be something around here for them to hide behind or in, and there is nothing at all that I can see,” Apollo replied looking down at Starbuck.
“Then perhaps we’re not meant for the trap, or we’re not in range yet,” Starbuck said thinking logically.
“That’s it,” Apollo yelled, jumping down startling Starbuck with his sudden movements. He watched Apollo grab his ear protection, put it on and threw open the hatch. “Coming?” Apollo yelled over the noise before disappearing down the ladder. Starbuck, not knowing where this would go, put back on his ear protection and scrambled down the ladder as well.
“Not sure what happened here, but I’ll guess I’ll find out,” he mumbled closing the hatch and running to catch up with his friend.
*****
“By your command,” the centurion said waiting for the word from the Imperious Leader.
“Report Centurion,” the imperious Leader said acknowledging the centurion before him.
“We now have three basestars in range of the human planet, reports from basestar seventeen orbiting the planet is they have only twenty-two percent of their operational raiders left,” the centurion reported.
“Damage to the humans?” he asked.
“Unknown,” the reply came back.
“What do you mean unknown?” he asked confused, they had to know something about the damage inflicted upon the enemy.
“Contact through the clouds to the planet’s surface is difficult at best,” the centurion replied back to him.
“Explain,” the Imperious Leader said wanting to know more.
“The clouds surrounding the planet make up an intense electrical storm which interfere with scanning and communications, it doesn’t appear to be a natural phenomenon that we’ve encountered anywhere else,” the centurion reported back to him.
“The humans have found a way to block our scans, interesting but futile,” the Imperious Leader stated. “Tell the basestar commander to return home to rearm and notify basestars ten and sixteen to return to Cylon space and form up with seventeen to return to the human planet, one way or another humanity will be destroyed.
“By your command,” the centurion said before leaving the room to carry out his orders.
End part 4