{"id":1706,"date":"2016-10-29T07:39:36","date_gmt":"2016-10-29T12:39:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1706"},"modified":"2016-11-02T07:33:58","modified_gmt":"2016-11-02T12:33:58","slug":"the-uneasy-alliance-part-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1706","title":{"rendered":"The Uneasy Alliance – Part 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Uneasy Alliance<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

by AJ Marks<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 4<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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. \u00a0The only problem no one really knew where, or even if, Earth existed or if they reached the planet those there would help.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cCommander,\u201d Adama heard Tigh\u2019s voice say, then walked over to where the internal intercom was to reply.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s up Tigh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoctor Wilker wants to speak with you,\u201d Tigh replied giving Adama something new to think about.<\/p>\n

\u201cSend him to my office,\u201d Adama replied, sitting back down and waiting until the man walked into his office.<\/p>\n

\u201cCommander, I\u2019ve found a way to upgrade the existing vipers,\u201d he said with his usual excitement when he had uncovered something.<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds interesting, but what do you mean by upgrading?\u201d Adama asked wondering what resources they would need to do it.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust about everything, from the thrusters to the weapon systems,\u201d Wilker replied causing Adama\u2019s eyebrows to go up into his hairline.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow is that possible?\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts something I\u2019ve been thinking about ever since you approached me about upgrading them. I know we don\u2019t\u2019 have resources to build a lot of new vipers, but I figured something else out,\u201d Wilker replied.\u00a0 Adama hadn\u2019t seen the man so excited since the encounter with Terra\u2019s shuttle and he could examine it.<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds like very good news,\u201d Adama said waiting for Wilker to continue.<\/p>\n

\u201cCommunications 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\u2019t making much progress until a tech made a mistake and we discovered we got greater thrust and burned less fuel in the process,\u201d Wilker said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCould this same principle be applied to the rest of the fleet?\u201d Adama asked quickly, already thinking about the fleet burning less fuel which would greatly increase their stores.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s my next project commander, but I\u2019ll need a ship to do it with,\u201d Wilker said. \u201cThe principle is the same but I do not have a large enough testing area for such an experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat mistake did your tech make?\u201d Adama asked giving him time to consider the answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen 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,\u201d Wilker replied as Adama thought about what the C-7 did.<\/p>\n

\u201cIsn\u2019t that placed there with the purpose to help fuel consumption, not increase it,\u201d Adama said recalling back to the reports, it was a tremendous boost when it was designed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know about the reports, but the tests show the thrusters burn twenty percent more efficiently,\u201d Wilker replied back to him.<\/p>\n

Adama shook his head at the thought that someone was making money off such an invention when it didn\u2019t help, or did they know that? He doubted the person, or company who made it was still alive anymore.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do have a theory about why, which is why I need a larger ship, preferably two, one older one newer,\u201d Wilker said. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds good, I\u2019ll let Tigh know and we\u2019ll look for two ships, now what about the weapons?\u201d Adama said changing the subject.<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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,\u201d Wilker said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWeapon reflectors are not something we have lying around in abundance doctor,\u201d Adama said, knowing those were hard to produce.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, and we\u2019re working on that as well. I have a theory of how to build a similar device with the materials we currently have,\u201d Wilker said.\u00a0 \u201cI only wish we had the materials to build some new test vipers, I\u2019ve been tinkering with new designs, both vipers and battlestars.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adama thought about that for a few seconds, the doctor was working on new designs, something which might be important in the future. \u201cContinue with your designs, I\u2019d be interesting in seeing them as well, but for now we\u2019ll start with your conversion of the engines and after your test which ships will take the conversion as well.\u00a0 Fuel is one of our most precious resources right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you commander, we\u2019ll get right on it,\u201d Wilker said, leaving the room with a spring in his step. Adama found himself actually intrigued by the new designs Wilker said he had.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Opening the door he walked out with any hesitation and wasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI should have known,\u201d Turner said walking towards Morpheus who made no moves and waited for them. \u201cMy friend, you\u2019ve put me in a bad spot here\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI need to speak with the council,\u201d Morpheus said as he turned back to the doorway where Link and Niobe struggled with the robot they had engaged on the surface.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s dead,\u201d Morpheus said seeing the reactions from everyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd damn heavy, one of you get up here and help us,\u201d Link said struggling with it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is that?\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, but whatever they are, they are attacking the machines, well actually they are attacking the humans who are in the Matrix,\u201d Morpheus said seeing Turner look back at him confused.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you talking about now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about I tell you and the Council at the same time, that way I don\u2019t have to repeat myself, and I\u2019m not sure I completely understand it either,\u201d Morpheus said giving a bit of a sigh. It was extremely complex and only seemed to get worse with each passing minute.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a son of a bitch to destroy,\u201d Link said as he leaned against the hull of the Hammer watching Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d Ben asked, looking over at Link before looking back at the Machine.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean we hit it with two M-220s on full auto for what seemed like forever before we finally killed it,\u201d Link replied before looking at the hull of the Hammer and Ben saw burn marks and small penetration holes on it. \u201cIts weapons was unlike anything I\u2019ve ever seen either, it punctured the armor of the Hammer,\u201d Link said fingering one of the holes.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight here,\u201d Link said producing a weapon which looked very much like a handgun.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s it?\u201d Ben asked, unsure about what he was seeing.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrust me, its that powerful,\u201d Link said. \u201cAnd whoever they are, they are attacking the people who are hooked up to the Matrix, saw it reset twice already due to losses.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cInteresting,\u201d Ben said finding this latest development both fascinating and disturbing at the same time. \u201cWhat else happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMorpheus talked to the Oracle, said something about the machines being under attack and needing our help, as for that, guess we\u2019ll have to wait to see what the Council does,\u201d Link finally replied, leaning against the Hammer\u2019s hull once more.<\/p>\n

Ben felt a bit relieved he wasn\u2019t on the council and not the one who had to make that decision.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThought I\u2019d find you here,\u201d Starbuck said, glancing at Apollo then over at the monitor.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust thinking,\u201d Apollo replied, turning to look back into space once more.<\/p>\n

\u201cThought so, want to talk about it?\u201d Starbuck asked hoping it was the right question to ask.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeen going over our encounter with that basestar, the way it acted seemed a bit strange to me,\u201d Apollo replied back to him. \u201cNothing of what it did makes any sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike what?\u201d Starbuck asked, unsure he wanted to hear Apollo\u2019s theories about what happened.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure, but I have a gut feeling that we\u2019re missing something, so I came here to check the star charts and saw nothing where they could ambush us,\u201d Apollo replied back to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they are planning one we might be able to avoid it,\u201d Starbuck said rationally.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s 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,\u201d Apollo replied looking down at Starbuck.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen perhaps we\u2019re not meant for the trap, or we\u2019re not in range yet,\u201d Starbuck said thinking logically.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s it,\u201d 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.\u00a0 \u201cComing?\u201d Apollo yelled over the noise before disappearing down the ladder.\u00a0 Starbuck, not knowing where this would go, put back on his ear protection and scrambled down the ladder as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot sure what happened here, but I\u2019ll guess I\u2019ll find out,\u201d he mumbled closing the hatch and running to catch up with his friend.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

\u201cBy your command,\u201d the centurion said waiting for the word from the Imperious Leader.<\/p>\n

\u201cReport Centurion,\u201d the imperious Leader said acknowledging the centurion before him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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,\u201d the centurion reported.<\/p>\n

\u201cDamage to the humans?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnknown,\u201d the reply came back.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean unknown?\u201d he asked confused, they had to know something about the damage inflicted upon the enemy.<\/p>\n

\u201cContact through the clouds to the planet\u2019s surface is difficult at best,\u201d the centurion replied back to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cExplain,\u201d the Imperious Leader said wanting to know more.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe clouds surrounding the planet make up an intense electrical storm which interfere with scanning and communications, it doesn\u2019t appear to be a natural phenomenon that we\u2019ve encountered anywhere else,\u201d the centurion reported back to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe humans have found a way to block our scans, interesting but futile,\u201d the Imperious Leader stated. \u201cTell 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy your command,\u201d the centurion said before leaving the room to carry out his orders.<\/p>\n

End part 4<\/p>\n

Continued in part 5<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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. \u00a0The only problem no one really knew where, or even if, Earth existed or […]
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