The Uneasy Alliance
by AJ Marks
Part 14
Boomer walked along the ruined path now being led by his new guide Melissa to some underground city named Zion. Neither one had sad much on the trip as he figured both were thinking about what was going on. Boomer was still trying to figure out if these people were part of the group who shot him down or not. The group he met seemed jittery and not much of a group of soldiers and he felt sure they had not met anyone from the Colonies and he had no idea who they might be.
Melissa meanwhile as trying to figure out who this man called Boomer was from. She had never seen anyone dressed like him that much was for sure. She recalled all of her lessons and knew that any human not from the Matrix lived in Zion and no other cities were known and anyone who came from the Matrix had markings from implants from being connected all over their body. From what she could tell Boomer did not have any such markings.
The two of them approached the massive gates to Zion leaving Boomer in awe of the size and scale of the gate, which was meant to keep something. He watched as Melissa took a breath and walked through a side door and into a massive underground cavern, the city of Zion.
Even as they entered he found himself surrounded by guards and his blaster was drawn in reflex causing all of the guards to hesitate at the weapon yet remained where they were.
“What’s going on here?” Melissa asked.
“Anyone who doesn’t have the proper authorization to leave Zion is to be arrested on sight, by order of the council,” the guard said answering Melissa’s questions. “Take them away,” he said to the others.
Boomer wasn’t sure what to make of it all, but knew there were too many for him to fight and reluctantly surrendered his blaster allowing himself to be taken away along with Melissa. He hoped he was being taken to their jail and maybe he could speak to someone.
The guards searched him and he was dismayed at the fact his communicator was taken. That meant he wouldn’t be able to communicate with the rescue team when they arrived and with a sigh realized things were becoming increasingly complex. These things were what usually happened to Apollo and Starbuck, not him. He gave small laugh as he realized he had his own story to tell them later on.
Boomer looked around as he was placed inside a cell, Melissa was placed in one not far away and he noticed another man in the cell next to him. He was muscular, bald and seemed to have the look of someone who had seen quite a bit in his lifetime. He wondered what his story was, and if he might have an ally in him by the way he was looking at Boomer.
*****
Morpheus watched as Melissa and a man he had never seen before in Zion were escorted into the jail and into a cell. The man wore some sort of uniform which he had never seen before, and looked more like something he would see in the Matrix rather than in Zion. He wondered where the man was from and realized he would have to ask his questions carefully. Observing him he realized the man was a warrior from how he stood.
The man’s belongings were placed on a table as they looked them over. One looked like a strange futuristic communicator but he was really interested in the weapon that was placed on the table. It reminded Morpheus of the same weapon the robot had he and Link had engaged on the surface.
He took a closer look at the man and confirmed what he had been thinking, the man was not from the Matrix. He saw no scars or implants visible where they should be. It raised another question, who was he and where did he come from.
“You’re not from around here, are you?” Morpheus asked after the guards left the room.
“No, but these quacks don’t believe me,” the man replied to the question.
“Don’t take it personally, there has been a lot going on lately,” Morpheus replied. “My name’s Morpheus.”
“Boomer, of the Battlestar Galactica,” the man replied giving some information about himself. The Battlestar Galactica wasn’t something Morpheus had ever heard before.
“Not familiar with that,” he replied a bit curious as to what that might be.
“Complex story,” Boomer replied. “Where am I?”
“Zion, the last outpost of humanity, or so we thought,” Morpheus replied knowing that if the person in front of him was human there were other pockets out there.
“Well not sure about that, but I think if my friends come to try and rescue me I hope they’re not shot down like I was,” Boomer said giving Morpheus some indication that the man came from beyond the clouds.
“You’re part of the attackers then?” Morpheus asked wondering if he had some real information here.
“No, you attacked me,” Boomer said. “I was patrolling for supplies resources for my people when these machines attacked my ship before I could even do anything.”
“You encountered the machines?” Morpheus asked a bit surprised. “We’ve been at peace with them for a year now, but recently something attacked them from beyond our atmosphere and they asked for our help. Our council doesn’t think there is such a thing as life in outer space.”
“They are fools, I’m not from this planet.” Boomer replied back to him. “I have other things to do than be stuck here and in the middle of a war.”
“The council are fools, and I’ve tried everything I know of to get them to listen,” Morpheus said in a remorseful voice. “I feel that there is a greater danger and no one listens anymore.”
He sat back in his cell hoping that perhaps Boomer might be able to talk to the council and convince them of their foolishness but didn’t hold out hope.
*****
Apollo looked up from his conversation with Starbuck and Jolly to see Cassiopeia walking towards them. She would join their mission as a med tech and rounding out the team was Sheba, Bojay and Brie who were going along as escorts to the shuttle. They thought about taking more people but were unsure what they were up against and Apollo didn’t want to risk more people.
“Hey Cass,” Starbuck said as she approached.
“Starbuck, did you get everything I asked you to?” she asked him.
“Right here,” he said hefting up a backpack which she took from him and walked into the shuttle.
“Here you go,” Apollo said holding out an extra weapon for Starbuck, Jolly already had one on. “Ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Starbuck replied putting the weapon on.
“Sometimes I think Cassie is more prepared than you are,” Jolly stated with a smile.
“Very funny,” Starbuck replied.
Apollo turned and looked at the other three who would be going along with them.
“You have the coordinates to the planet?” Apollo asked looking over at Sheba for the answer.
“Being transferred to our vipers as we speak,” Sheba said, pausing for a second. “Take care of yourselves down there.”
“I will,” he replied back to her then headed into the shuttle as the other three pilots headed to the vipers. Brie turned to Sheba pausing before finally speaking.
“So, how are things going between you two?” Brie asked Sheba as they approached their vipers.
“Good, I just hope that he returned,” Sheba replied glancing over at the other two.
“I’m sure he will, come on, let’s not keep them waiting,” Bojay replied placing a hand on Sheba’s shoulders.
“You’re right,” Sheba said as they each went to their vipers to complete the launch check list.
*****
“Report,” Hades said to the centurion who walked into the command room.
“By your command,” the black centurion replied in typical Cylon fashion. “Our scanners have confirmed that two vipers entered the system but only one left.”
“Only one, interesting,” Hades replied a bit puzzled over what that might mean. One possible explanation might be they were going to return back to the planet. That meant the Galactica and the Colonial fleet would be headed his direction and he had an opportunity to destroy the threat once and for all.
“The fleet is awaiting your orders,” the centurion stated. Bringing Hades back to the present and what needed to be done.
“Tell all units to hold their positions,” Hades ordered. He figured that there were two groups of humans, and they might even attack each other, if that was the case the Cylons could sweep in and crush both in one swoop. “Any information from basestar eleven?”
“We’ve had no contact with the basestar since it entered the atmosphere of the planet,” the centurion replied back to him.
“Very well, let me know the moment we have contact with the basestar,” Hades said wanting that information. His last orders would remain and he would not risk sending out anything else. “Report when there is any movement in or out of the system.”
“By your command,” the centurion said turning around and heading out of the room.
*****
It looked around with satisfaction at what it had managed to create in such a short amount of time. Before it stood an army of soldiers standing at attention, ten rows deep and twenty across and still more coming out of the building which was constructing them, along with a large ship. The ship upon which it would use to destroy the humans on the planet below.
This show was more powerful than anything ever before constructed, a pure warship designed to conqueror anything before it. The humans had nothing to counter it and probably most would never see anything like it again, the messenger of death and destruction.
Before it stood the might army which would be the crew of the ship. Their armor gleamed in the light from the nearby star and each one had the distinctive glowing red eye which bounced back and forth.
The Cylons were coming.
*****
The centurion walked into the command room and waited for the basestar commander to acknowledge him.
“Report centurion,” the basestar commander ordered from where he sat in his chair.
“We have achieved position within the planet’s atmosphere. What are your orders?” the centurion asked.
“Scan the surrounding area for any sign of human life, then proceed with Hades plan,” the commander replied.
“We cannot raise Hades’ basestar,” the centurion replied back.
“Then we continue his orders until we hear otherwise,” the commander replied.
“By your command,” the centurion said turning to carry out the order.
*****
Niobe and a few others waited around feeling a bit out of place in a city full of robots. Though they had done much to make them feel welcome, including waiting rooms and separate rooms for them to sleep in with some comfortable beds. They were currently waiting for the modifications to the Falcon’s weapons and hoped next time they would fare better than the last time.
“The fighters have been upgraded,” DE said to them. “The machine gun now has double the hitting power than pervious ammo types.”
“I hope that’s enough,” Niobe answered, more to herself than anyone else before turning back to DE. “What about firing in space?”
“The powder has been modified and oxygen enriched, all theories indicate it should work this time,” DE said to her. “I apologize that we didn’t foresee such shortcomings before.”
“I guess there is only one way to find out, a test flight,” Niobe said looking at the others who all seemed to agree with her.
“I’ll go with you,” another man said eager to suit up. Niobe realized that they all would need experience.
“Haw about half of us go up,” Niobe said. “We can use the experience flying in space, and the sooner the better.”
Before she could even ask for volunteers several others stepped forward to go with her. In all five of them suited up and headed over to the Flacons. The engines warmed up and within a few minutes they were all airborne and lining up with Niobe before they headed upwards.
The group broke through the clouds with a minimal amount of turbulence and were greeted with the sight of the vastness of space before them. Several were in awe at the sight but it was another sight which really brought things to perspective. There before them was the sun out on the horizon with a hint of blue sky which faded to black as they continued to climb.
“Anyone see anything yet?” Niobe asked, hoping to not encounter the enemy just yet.
“Nothing I can see,” one replied.
Niobe took this moment to test her guns, hearing the satisfying thump of the bullets firing and seeing some go streaking away. One test was now confirmed. She put them into a sweep of the area but found nothing but they were not even aware of what they might be looking for. Niobe decided to cut the flight short and minimize their exposure to whoever might be out there.
End part 14