{"id":597,"date":"2015-08-10T12:23:40","date_gmt":"2015-08-10T12:23:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=597"},"modified":"2015-08-11T12:23:15","modified_gmt":"2015-08-11T12:23:15","slug":"storm-clouds-part-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=597","title":{"rendered":"Storm Clouds – Part 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

Storm Clouds<\/span><\/h2>\n

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

Part 4: Decisions<\/span><\/p>\n

Phantom looked down as two centurions entered the room once more. Probably with information concerning the Colonial fleet.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpeak,\u201d he said to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy your command,\u201d the centurion said. \u201cA basestar commander has spotted a colonial viper in the system.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich basestar?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNumber eight,\u201d the centurion said, as Phantom looked over at the starmap, noticing where eight was.<\/p>\n

\u201cAccording to the plan,\u201d Phantom said. \u201cInform basestars six and nine to close in. The commander of the Colonial fleet will not risk combat and move on as planned. The two basestars will overwhelm the Colonial fleet destroying it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy your command,\u201d the centurion said, turning around and heading away to carry out the orders.<\/p>\n

Phantom felt pleased with himself. He had managed the destruction of this Colonial fleet with ease so far. Studying human patterns gave him the advantage over them. They were predictable and wondered how his predecessors ever failed. Glory was his.<\/p>\n

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

Tagget watched Ben and Issac sit down, from their body language he knew something happened, but what he had no idea. So he waited, wanting to hear it all.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, the system has a lot of planet, and I even found one that has life,\u201d Ben said, causing Tagget to straighten with some hope. \u201cHowever,\u201d ben said, indicating there was more, \u201cI saw a basestar in orbit around it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tagget sat back in shock at the news. The news was both great, and tremendously terrible. He could imagine no worse news, unless it was there was no planet that supported life. He now face an impossible decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnything else?\u201d Tagget asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo sir, we left, not sure if they saw us or not,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n

Tagget nodded, finally coming up with a decision. \u201cThat will be all,\u201d he told them watching as they left the room. He could almost weep at the cruel fate of the universe. Staring at the table he pondered their situation. Try for another system, but no guarantee that neither a planet supporting life was there, or that another Cylon basestar could be waiting for them.<\/p>\n

He glanced up at the door closing and Zaga sat down, waiting in silence.<\/p>\n

\u201cCylons, and a planet which supports life,\u201d Tagget finally said, watching Zaga as he absorbed that news.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo good choices,\u201d Zaga finally said, drumming his fingers on the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Tagget said finally coming up with a decision. \u201cHave all captains fly over to the Sunflare.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, they need to be informed, and they will have a vote in the decision,\u201d Tagget said. This decision effected every man, woman and child in the fleet, for better or worse.<\/p>\n

BSGBSG<\/p>\n

Sheba continued further on, seeing the system start to appear on her scanners. The flight out had been uneventful. Coral flying along beside her, and practicing the hand signals everyone learned for patrols. One could never be sure when you might have to do this. Each patrol practiced it in case something happened.<\/p>\n

She looked over the scanner, as the system came up, several planets involved to look at. They would concentrate first on any planets in the \u2018green zone\u2019 of the system. The scanners were already gaining information about the sun in the center, and would give them where to go first.<\/p>\n

The gas giants in the system would be next, many of the moons could hold precious metals or other elements easily mined on the surface. Glancing down she spotted something strange. Expanding the scanners, and focusing it on one spot she briefly extended the range waiting for the computer to process the results.<\/p>\n

Frowning at the sight of two fast-moving objects, she waited to see if the warbook could identify it. A micron later her answer appeared on the screen causing her to quickly check again to make sure there was no errors.<\/p>\n

She felt herself go cold at the sight, two Cylon raiders. What were they doing out here. She closed in on Coral indicating with hand signals to be quiet, and follow her. She kept an eye on the raiders turning around a bit before seeing something even worse around one of the planets, a basestar.<\/p>\n

With that information she turned her viper around leaving the system quickly. The commander had to be informed of this new information. Cylon basestars were close by, and could become a threat to the fleet. Despite three battlestars, she had a feeling Adama would want to avoid a battle if possible.<\/p>\n

If the Cylons were now ahead of them, what else might they expect to discover? It also caused problems with their goal to find Earth. They were now ahead of the path they needed to take. For once, she felt glad she was not the one in charge of making these decisions.<\/p>\n

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

Ares sat down in the communications room, waiting as Captain Johnson, Troy and Bri appeared on the screen.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdmiral,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cWe have some new information. The patrols picked up a Cylon basestar inside system Alpha-Six.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ares looked at the starmap, seeing the system in question in relation to the other outposts and ships of the fleet. It was close to the outpost six, which they were manning now. The 501st viper squad had been deployed there.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also encountered a Cylons basestar around the planet supporting life,\u201d Troy said.<\/p>\n

Ares nodded, not really surprised by that. He expected to see Cylons around somewhere.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also picked up a patrol of vipers,\u201d Troy said, continuing. \u201cThey split up and checked out the system, then when one noticed the basestar, quickly headed out of the system. We tracked the direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to assume the Cylons know about them as well,\u201d Ares said, looking over things as everything seemed to become even more complex. \u201cHow did the basestar react?\u201d<\/p>\n

He watched Troy think the question over for a few seconds before replying. \u201cIt did nothing, even after the viper left it remained in orbit. I\u2019m sure it spotted the vipers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA trap,\u201d Ares said, now trying to figure out where it might be. He sorely wished to use the scout ships, and decided he had to. \u201cI\u2019m sending two scout ships out with the lightning drive. We need information on what this trap might be, and where this Colonial fleet is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you think it\u2019s wise,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cShould we continue on to the area?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, you have permission to fire on any Cylon ship as you feel you should engage,\u201d Ares said. \u201cKeep me informed.\u201d<\/p>\n

With that the conversation ended and he quickly sent a letter to the 1st patrol squadron to send out two scout ships. After that he hailed Gunther, waiting only a few minutes before he answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdmiral.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have some news, head to sector seventy-two, alpha,\u201d Ares said. \u201cThat\u2019s where we think the Colonial fleet is, and heading into a trap.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow many basestars?\u201d Gunther asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnknown, sending a couple of ships from the 1st patrol squad, and,\u201d he paused in thought, deciding it was a good idea, \u201cI\u2019m going to add the Argo, Warspite to the Hornet, the 4th battle group, to support you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think this is serious,\u201d Gunther said.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery, we don\u2019t know what all it out there, and I don\u2019t want to be caught off guard,\u201d Ares said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll move my ships now, and who is the commander of the 4th battle group?\u201d Gunther asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sending Pratt to oversee it,\u201d Ares said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll inform him of my movements,\u201d Gunther said, signing off as Ares stood and headed towards a familiar office. A few seconds later he knocked on the door, opening it and walking into.<\/p>\n

\u201cCommander, what can I do for you,\u201d Pratt said, never gotten used to calling Ares by his new title.<\/p>\n

\u201cPack up, I\u2019m sending you out,\u201d Ares said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnything to do with this Colonial battlecuriser?\u201d Pratt asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd a Cylon basestar and probably a trap,\u201d Ares said. \u201cI\u2019m gathering the Argo, Warspite and Hornet to form the 4th battle group, and you\u2019re in charge.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re serious. I\u2019ll get packed and head over to the Argo now,\u201d Pratt said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood, we\u2019ll need you to move out head to the same spot, sector seventy-two alpha,\u201d Ares said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Pratt said, shutting down his computer, moving to pack a few things in his office before he would stop at his quarters for clothes and head out.<\/p>\n

Ares continued back to the command room, things had changed and he wanted to get another look at what was going on.<\/p>\n

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

Commander Tigh listened as Sheba gave her report. Cylon basestars in the system. The news was bad, but yet, they probably did not know they were here, at least not yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure?\u201d he asked her.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, saw it in orbit around the planet that was after I spotted a couple of raiders, probably on patrol around the system\u201d Sheba replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll have to inform all patrols of the fact they might encounter raiders,\u201d Tigh said. He also understood they would have to inform Adama of this latest situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can tell the both squadrons here,\u201d Sheba said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo ahead, I\u2019ll call Adama and let him know,\u201d Tigh said, watching as Sheba walked out of the room followed by Coral. He then turned to the screen to call the Galactica.<\/p>\n

He waited a few microns before Commander Adama\u2019s face appeared on the screen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI take it you have some news?\u201d Adama said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSheba returned from her patrol of one of the systems nearby, and, Adama, we discovered a basestar,\u201d he said, watching as Adama\u2019s face showed a mix of emotions, shock was not one of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, they have finally caught up to us,\u201d Adama said, pausing to think about the situation. \u201cWhich system, can we go around it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not right in front of us, but we would need to turn the fleet to avoid the basestars scanners,\u201d Tigh said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlot the course, we\u2019ll maneuver around, can\u2019t risk being detected,\u201d Adama said making a decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir, I\u2019ll have it transmitted shortly,\u201d Tigh said, only slightly disappointed they were not fighting. But if this was a detection line then avoiding it might allow them to slip the Cylons again, and perhaps for a long time in the future. He knew to attack might only cause the Cylons to figure out where they were. The last Cylon basestar they attacked, but both knew it would give a direction of the fleet. They had been victorious, but the damage to the Galactica had taken time to repair.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we have it I\u2019ll inform the fleet and the council of the situation,\u201d Adama said. \u201cThough they\u2019ll probably ask why we don\u2019t attack.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThree battlestars against one, I can see their point,\u201d Tigh said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, it would be the urge, but we must conserve our resources to battles we can\u2019t avoid,\u201d Adama said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

The conversation ended and Tigh went to work on the course with his bridge crew.<\/p>\n

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

Tagget watched as the last captain of his small fleet entered the room. They were all looking over at him now, knowing he had something to say, but no idea what that might be.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you all for coming over on such short notice,\u201d Tagget said, unsure how they would take his news and decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cI take it that because we\u2019re here, the news isn\u2019t good,\u201d Orion said, a former battlestar commander, retired before the destruction of the Colonies.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe system has nothing to offer?\u201d Percy, the captain of the other civilian ship said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, but this news is about as bad,\u201d Tagget stated. \u201cWe discovered a planet capable of supporting life. How much we don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen we should be heading there, not talking, our supplies are almost gone,\u201d Percy said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a problem, the patrol discovered a Cylon basestar in orbit around the planet,\u201d Tagget said, watching as everyone went silent. They all appeared stunned at the news but Tagget continued on. \u201cNow, the Sunflare can easily take on a basestar, however, our fighters are outnumber ten to one. Those are odds we cannot overcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you suggesting, we head somewhere else, we\u2019ll be starving before we are halfway there,\u201d Percy said. Tagget saw the others agreed with him. Several groups emerged in talking and debating until Tagget stood gaining everyone attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all know that. This is a vote to attack.\u201d<\/p>\n

End part 4<\/p>\n

Continued in Part 5: No retreat<\/a><\/p>\n

Comment below or sent to AJMarks01@aol.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Storm Clouds by AJ Marks Part 4: Decisions Phantom looked down as two centurions entered the room once more. Probably with information concerning the Colonial fleet. \u201cSpeak,\u201d he said to them. \u201cBy your command,\u201d the centurion said. \u201cA basestar commander has spotted a colonial viper in the system.\u201d \u201cWhich basestar?\u201d \u201cNumber eight,\u201d the centurion said, […]
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