BATTLESTAR POSEIDON                     
                                  BY
                          Shawn L. Scialo
                      IamLuckyLouie@aol.com

Posted: October 17, 2001

Note:  This story takes place 1,000 yahrens before the events of Saga of
a Star World, at the onset of the war against the cylons.

From Commander Are's Personal Log:
Colonial Yahren 5549

     Admiral Bellisario has assigned me to the just commissioned
battlestar, Poseidon.  I could not be more pleased with this incredible
warship.  The Poseidon seems as big as the city I call home on Aquaria. 
It would probably take over a secton to walk down every corridor on every
deck.  This new battlestar design has ten times the firepower of our
current fleet of star carriers.  Poseidon also houses four squadrons of
Cobras', that's 100 fighters, and that truly amazes me.  The Olympia,
Argo and Atlantis are the only other completed battlestars in the
colonial fleet.  Eventually, there will be 12 battlestars, one to be
constructed by each colony.  Since it takes almost 2 yahrens to construct
a battlestar, it will be several yahrens before our fleet is complete. 
This worries me because I believe a confrontation with  the incredibly
powerful Cylon empire is inevitable.  The cylons are the number one
reason for this new battlestar design and the Council of the Twelve''s
approval for tripling our military budget this yahren.  The cylons seem
to be spreading throughout the galaxies like a plague.  We have sent
dozens of diplomatic android probes towards their homeworld with messages
of peace but we have yet to here a response.   Well, that's fine with me. 
If they want to tangle with the colonial fleet, it will be their funeral.
     Anyway, where was I?  Ah, yes.  This monolithic battlestar is
actually capable of traveling at the speed of light.  This ability, along
with the ships many others, will undoubtedly have my entire crew in awe. 
In a couple of days we will be leaving spacedock to begin our first
training voyage with a crew consisting  mostly of cadets.  My first
officer, Colonel Dykstra, assures me the cadets were the top 1 percent of
the academy's graduating class.  Even so, I feel much more at ease
knowing that my squadron commander, captain Nova, is a combat veteran and
the best  warrior in our fleet.  I have great respect for Nova and I know
he will not let me down.  However, his appointment will not be a
favorable one for at least one member of my crew.   (Bzzzzzzzzz)  Oh,
looks like it's time for me to go.  Computer off.

                CHAPTER 1

     The planet Caprica may be the most beautiful of all the twelve
colonies but what it is most noted for is being the political capital of
mankind.  On this day, President  Cyrus has called a meeting of not only
the council of the twelve but also key military leaders.  This is
extremely unusual because they have always been completely separate
entities.  The council consists of twelve humans, each representing their
home planet, as the governing body for the twelve colonized planets of
man.  Historically, they have had very little to do with the military. 
After all, there had been no official wars in over a millenium. 
Therefore, the arrival of Admiral Bellisario, Commander's Ares, Nybe and
Lewett sets off a sudden murmuring among delegates in the meeting
chamber.  Councilor Barton begins to fidget in his chair as though
something unpleasant were about to occur.  He turns to his right,
nonchalantly tugging on representative Aked's robe.  
     "What do you think, Barton?" asks Aked.
     Barton clears his throat and quickly scans the room before
answering.
     "It must be worse than we originally thought.  My people have been
picking up a lot of movement just a few light yahrens from Libra.  It
almost seems like the military is ignoring it," whispers the elder
statesman.
     "Yes, something is definitely out of the ordinary.  There has been
an alarming increase of activity around military bases here on Caprica,"
exclaims Aked.
     Councilor Shon, having eavesdropped on the conversation, decides to
add his observations.
     "I have noticed similar activity on Aquaria," he says.
     Barton and Aked exchange an annoyed look at their fellow
representative and eavesdropper.
     Shon, oblivious to his peers agitation, continues.
     "In fact, yesterday I was denied clearance to enter the Caprican
military command center!  Can you believe that nonsense?" Shon asked with
more than a little bitterness in his voice.
     "It was probably the ambrosia on your breath," sneered Barton.
Aked turns away quickly to hide his laughter from Shon.  The well known
drinker and loudmouth  is about to give Barton a piece of his mind when
President Cyrus enters the room.  The council chambers fall silent as
Admiral Bellisario rushes to greet the leader of mankind.  
     "Mr. President...how are you, sir?" Bellisario asks as he shakes the
hand of Cyrus.
     The president exhales heavily, "Fine.  Considering."  The president
is a very tall man but to all who have known him, he would probably seem
a little shorter today.  A little more slouched, aged or just plain worn
out.  He quickly nods at the rest of the military entourage before
approaching the podium.  Commander Ares, who is sitting the furthest away
from Cyrus, makes eye contact with him and receives a weak smile from his
president.
     "Distinguished members of the Quorum of the twelve, thank you for
coming on such short notice.  Events of the past few days have left me
with no other choice but to call this special council," stated Cyrus.
     An almost tangible air of nervous anticipation fills the political
meeting room.  Ares would bet a secton's pay that nobody at this meeting
could possibly be breathing normally right now.  He notices Barton and
Aked on the other side of the room, leaning toward each other.
     "Here it comes," whispers Barton.
Cyrus continued, "Obviously, you have noticed the military personnel in
attendance.  I am also sure that many of you have seen an increased
amount of activity in and around our military areas.  I am sorry that I
could not inform you earlier, but I feared for our nation's security. 
You are all well aware of the Hasari situation.  The Cylon empire has
been penetrating deeper and deeper into the Hasari solar system."
     Several members begin to squirm in their chairs and Barton puts his
right hand up to his brow.
     "Lord, no...," he whispers to himself.
     The president pushes a button on his podium's console and a three
dimensional hologram of the Hasari system appears over the Council's
meeting table.  The planet Hasari can be seen in the distance as a large
group of slow moving freighters is suddenly attacked by a large number of
quick, alien fightercraft.  
     The president had paused to let his colleagues assess the
information that was being displayed in front of them.  Along with the
visuals, there was statistical information at the base of the hologram. 
Ship speeds, firepower estimates, and  Hasari casualties were listed.
     Cyrus continues, "Two days ago, an armada of Cylon warships
destroyed a convoy of  Hasari merchant vessels. Thus far, they have not
attacked the planet directly.  At the moment, we cannot pinpoint the
armada's location.  They may have retreated into the Hasaran nebula."
     Councilmember Shon slowly rises.  The other members now concentrate
their undivided attention on the Caprican politician.  "I must advise
total neutrality.  We have always been a peaceful people.  The Hasari are
not even human, so it should be of no concern of ours," says Shon
bluntly.
     The president is a bit taken aback by Shon's racist remark and by
the rest of the council seeming to nod in agreement.
     "Shon, human or not, our neighbors have always been peaceful and
friendly towards us.  They do not have a strong military to defend
themselves against a cylon onslaught.  How can we turn our backs on them
now?" asks the president.
Councilwoman Telia exclaims, "We cannot!  We must join forces with the
Hasari now and turn back  these alien lizards called cylons.  My fellow
councilors, it is time for us to stop ignoring the fact that the cylons
have been conquering star system after star system for the past ten
yahrens!  What makes you think that they wouldn't eventually invade our
system?"
     "Yes.  Telia is absolutely right!  The cylon empire is the reason we
have recently tripled our military spending, are they not?" asks Aked.
     After each councilors point is made, an angry sounding murmur grows
louder from the rest of the delegates.
Barton stands to say, "If I may...I do agree in aiding our neighbors. 
However, I suggest that for the moment, it only be with food and other
supplies."
     "What good will that do?" quips Telia.
     "Telia, we owe it to our own people to make every effort to avoid a
full scale war with a race we know very little about.  I say yes to
aiding the Hasari, yes to increasing our military readiness, but no to
military involvement now," answers Barton.
     "The Hasari will have great need for supplies right now.  According
to our intelligence, those ships the cylons destroyed were carrying
enough food to last a yahren.  Apparently, much of Hasari is suffering
from blight right now," interjected the president.
 A vote follows to support the president and Barton's thinking.  However,
not before the president promises no military involvement.  This includes
the vessels that will eventually carry food stores to the Hasari.
     "May the blessings of the Lords of Kobol be with us all," says the
president as the meeting comes to an end and the representatives slowly
disperse in small, murmuring groups.

     Lorne suddenly awoke to the sound of the shuttle pilot's voice
making an announcement.  Apparently, the ship was on final approach to
land aboard the Poseidon.  He wondered how long he had been asleep. 
Surveying the compartment, he realizes that he hadn't been the only one
sleeping.
     "How long were we asleep?" he asks Dirk.
Dirk rubs the sleep out of his eyes before checking his time indicator. 
"Almost a centar," he says.
     The shuttle comes to an abrupt stop deep within the new warship and
the contingent of young warriors exit quickly.  As Lorne steps down onto
the landing deck, he immediately recognizes the man who is already
organizing the recruits in front of him.  
     "Welcome aboard the Poseidon.  I am captain Nova, commander Are's
squadron leader."
     Just then, Nova and Lorne make eye contact.  Lorne wishes he were
the size of a microbe on his boot at this moment.   Nova pauses for a
micron, then continues with the debriefing.
     "You will be given a complete tour of the ship before our training
voyage which is to begin in 48 centars.  Right now, please follow officer
Marem to your recruit quarters," Nova orders and then quickly exits. 
Officer Marem was a beautiful blonde woman  who seemed to be smiling in
Lorne's direction.  Lorne cracked a smile of his own before falling into
formation to follow her.  
     "I saw that," whispered Dirk.
     "Saw what?"
     Dirk rolled his eyes at his friend's attempt to brush off the
obvious flirting.  Dirk could always read Lorne like an open book.  He
often wondered why Lorne ever bothered trying to deny the obvious to him,
of all people.
     "You know what, you old daggit!  Ha Ha Ha!" Dirk laughed.
     "Please don't start that, Dirk."

     Arriving at their assigned pilot's quarters, all of the cadets
unload their gear and settle in to their bunks.  As Lorne lay on his
bunk, he thought of how Marem had looked at him and how it had made him
feel.   He realized how long it had been since he had cared for a woman
and how good it could feel.  Then, all thoughts of happiness and pleasure
left him.  He wouldn't let Nova off that easy.  With little effort, he
drifts back in time to a place of pain and mourning.  To the colonial
warriors academy, where he just found out that the love of his life was
in love with another man.  To the place where he lost Andronica. 
Sighing, Lorne  anticipates the moment when he will see Nova and
Andronica together on this ship.  Beneath Lorne's bunk, Dirk has realized
that his academy buddy is tossing and turning.
     "Hey, Lorne...let it rest tonight, will you?" he says.
Lorne does not reply.  He wishes Dirk would just go to sleep or
disappear.
     "Don't worry, buddy.  Nova isn't going anywhere.  You can go on
hating him tomorrow...after you get some sleep," says Dirk sarcastically.

     Somewhere in deep space, an immense cylon warship called Basestar,
has just come out of hyperspace to orbit  the planet, Jae.  The architect
of the new basestar design sits high atop a pedestal in the ship's
command chamber.  If he were human, he would undoubtedly have the
demeanor of a very satisfied man.  However, he is not human.  He is
cylon.  A very awkward and reptilian looking  alien, this cylon is the
supreme leader of his species.  Looking down from his command chair, the
leader awaits final confirmation  on the first stage of  his plan to
conquer the universe.  As a silver plated cyborg centurion enters the
command center, the cylon waits with an almost 'human' eagerness and
anticipation.
     "Speak, centurion,"  commands the cylon leader.
The centurion's long, thick tail moves slowly from side to side as he
answers his commander, "It is done.  The last opposing remnants of the
race called cylon have been exterminated!"
     The cylon soldier's speech was in human basic but sounded strange
and slurred coming from a mouth that would not have been designed
appropriately for the human language.
     "Excellent!  The short sighted can no longer interfere with my
destiny to rule a new cylon empire which will be the most powerful force
in the universe.  I declare myself the Imperious Leader of all cylons! 
Centurion, you and the rest of my mechanical society will inform every
cylon outpost of my decree... to conquer the universe."  
     "By your command, Imperious Leader," said the centurion before
turning to exit.
     From out of the shadows, a shape appears behind the leader's
pedestal.  It is a human form at first and then it is shapeless and
practically invisible.
     "Well done, my friend," the shape says in a very sinister sounding
voice.
     "You are pleased, my master?" asks the Leader.
     "Oh, yes."

     Deep within the battlestar, Poseidon, Lorne pauses and takes a deep
breath before entering the commander's compartment.  For a micron, he
thinks that maybe his father did not hear him enter.  Then, Ares abruptly
turns off the desk scanner he was studying to greet his only son.  
     "Lorne!  It's so good to see you," the commander says emphatically
as he embraces Lorne.
     Lorne nods, "Father..."
     Ares takes a step back and examines his son's grim face.
     "What is it, son?  Nova?"
     "Father, how could you do this to me?!" Lorne whines.
Ares sighs and contemplates a patient and rational way to explain his
appointing of Captain Nova as squadron commander to his obviously furious
and irrational son.
     "Lieutenant cadet Lorne, I am not just your father.  I am also the
commanding officer on this ship and as such it is my duty to acquire the
best personnel available.  Do you understand, cadet Lorne?"
     Lorne remains silent for a centon as he assimilates that which he
already knew but never wanted to admit.  Nova was the best pilot and most
experienced warrior in all the twelve colonies.  He had the most kills
and been in the most daggitfights with pirates, outlaws, and other alien
forces.  Nova was a already a legend among the colonial warriors and
especially the incoming cadets.  
     "I don't know how I'm supposed to work with the man, let alone take
orders from him," says Lorne meekly.
     "Son, you will work very well with Captain Nova because that is your
job and it is so ordered by me.  I'm sure that in time you will forget
all that has transpired between the two of you in your adolescence," the
commander says with a smirk that does not go unnoticed by Lorne.
     Lorne finally gives in to a smile and says, "Very funny, commander."
Slowly, Are's smile turns grim. 
     "Lorne, it is imperative that you concentrate on your duties.  I
just got back from an emergency council meeting on Caprica.  It seems
that a military conflict with the cylons may be inevitable."
     A dumbfounded Lorne replies, "I had no idea how serious the
situation had become."
     The commline on Are's desk buzzes and Colonel Dykstra's face appears
on his desk monitor.
     "Yes, colonel?"
     "Commander, it is the star carrier Alyattes.  She just entered the
system."
Ares exchanges a puzzled glance with his son before asking, "The
Alyattes?  What is she doing in this sector?"
     Dykstra answers, "There is some sort of special envoy on board
headed by Admiral Bellisario.  He wishes to meet with you immediately."
     "Colonel, direct the admiral's shuttle to alpha bay," orders Ares.
     "Very good, sir.  By your leave," replies Dykstra.

     High above Aquaria, the small entourage of military aids stare out
their portals in awe of the monolithic Poseidon.  Although Bellisario
commands the Poseidon''s sister ship, Atlantis, he is also caught in a
frozen gaze of wonder at the immense size and power of the warship.  He
is incredibly proud of this ship because, after all, he designed it.  
     The sound of the shuttle's main hatch opening brings the admiral out
of his daydream and to the realization that they have landed.
     Commander Ares greeted Bellisario as he and his aides stepped off
the turbo lift from shuttle bay alpha.  The admiral had requested his
arrival on board to be kept as low key as possible.  
     "Welcome aboard, admiral.  This is an unexpected pleasure," said
Ares.
The admiral waved him off and strode past the curious commander towards
the central turbo lift at the other end of the corridor.
     "You may dispense with the pleasantries, commander Ares.  I have
urgent matters to discuss with you in private!"
     Commander Ares tried to keep in step with the admiral who led him
inside the turbo lift.  The admiral's aides stopped outside the lift and
stood at attention.  Moments later, the turbo lift doors opened and now
Ares led the admiral into his quarters.
     "Admiral...has something happened?"
Before answering, Bellisario walks over to the viewport where he can see
the Alyattes hovering nearby.  
     "A convoy of Caprican supply ships has disappeared in the Carillon
system.  They could have been attacked by pirates or smugglers or even
the Ovions, although they've never been known to take on a convoy of
colonial ships.  The Ovions trade with the Capricans so that really
doesn't seem to fit," said Bellisario.
     "You think it was the cylons, don't you?" asked Ares.
The admiral turns to face Ares and walks over to the desk  to help
himself to a glass of ambrosia.
     "I think it most likely, commander.  The cylons have not even
finished with the Hasari yet but already they are moving towards a
conflict with the colonies.  I believe the cylons wanted us to think the
Ovions or some other group destroyed the convoy," said Bellisario before
taking a long sip of his drink.
     Commander Ares was puzzled.  What could the cylons hope to gain from
such a maneuver?  Carilon was a mining planet, rich with Tylium which is
used for fuel by both human and cylon technology but neither side has
ever been seriously interested in the planet because of it's distant
location.  The Capricans were the only colony who still visited the
planet several times a yahren to stock up on the energy resources.  
     "Admiral, do you think this incident is some sort of decoy?" asked
Ares as he began to reach Bellisario's level of enlightenment.
     "Yes.  These cylons are treacherous, Ares.  I believe they expect us
to rush to Carillon to investigate the convoy's disappearance while they
finish off Hasari.  Unfortunately, the council does not share my opinion. 
President Cyrus ordered me to send the 2nd star carrier group to the
Carilon system along with the battlestars Olympia and Argo.  The first
and third star carrier groups will stay with the Atlantis in orbiting the
colonies," Bellisario said as he sat down to pour another drink.  
     So that was it!  The rest of the colonial fleet had been given
specific orders from the council of twelve with the exception of the
Poseidon which was on it's maiden training maneuvers.
     "I see.  So, what exactly do you have in mind for the Poseidon?"
Ares asked.
     Bellisario stood and answered, "Commander, I am sending you and your
crew to Hasari immediately.  Your orders are to make contact with the
Hasari high chancellor, Bausch, obtain any and all intelligence on the
cylon forces and assess the situation there."
     "Admiral, half of my crew is made up of just cadets...rookies!  This
is an incredibly crucial time for the colonies.  There must be some
oth--".
     "Ares, with the possible exception of me, you're the best we have. 
You have two top notch squadron leaders and the most powerful ship in our
fleet," interrupted Bellisario as he returned to the window to view the
Alyattes.  
     Ares had a lump in his throat that he could not swallow.  He
couldn't believe what was happening and his entire body seemed to be
numbing.  The commander's mind was cluttered with images of his
homeworld, Aquaria, and all of the innocent and unsuspecting people whose
lives may soon be changed forever.  He thought of Tamia, the love of his
life who had been taken away from him by a rare and incurable disease
shortly after Lorne was born.  He wished he could talk to her now.  She
always made him believe that things had a way of working themselves out. 

     "Lords of Kobol help us, commander.  I fear a very dark time ahead 
for mankind.  I believe the long peace is about to come to an end and the
human race will be severely tested as the Book of the Word has foretold,"
said the admiral in a very somber voice.
     Ares shook his head and said, "Forgive me, admiral, but I've always
been a bit of a skeptic regarding the mythology in that book and the
existence of a lost motherworld."
     "Kobol is as real as you or I, commander.  If so many of the
colonies had not downgraded these beliefs from religion to mythology, we
would not be as vulnerable and short sighted as we are now."
Ares managed a weak smile.
     "I must admit that the relics and other supposed evidence I've seen
of Kobol in museums can be very convincing.  I remember as a boy my
mother used to read fables to me.  My favorite was called "Garden of
Earth" and--"
     The admiral took one final drink of his ambrosia and set it down
with some force.
     "You have your orders, commander!  I'm counting on you.  I have
equipment, armaments and rations aboard the Alyattes for you to take to
Hasari.  As soon as that transfer is complete, I want Poseidon under way. 
It should take no longer than a centar.  Don't frack this up, Ares!"
     "Yes, sir.  You can count on me."
     "Good luck, my friend," Bellisario said and left the commander's
quarters.
     Ares was very disturbed by everything the admiral had told him.  He
sat down at his desk and tried to fully absorb everything that had
happened all the way back to the emergency council meeting.  It had all
been a blur.  He wondered if it was all a bad dream?  It definitely had
the makings of a terrifying nightmare.  The admiral did not seem to be
talking about an unknown alien power.  He seemed to be talking about pure
evil.

                          CHAPTER 2

     The  Imperious Leader received a continuous stream of intelligence
reports being compiled from every corner of the cylon territories at his
computer console.  All three of his brains were assimilating the
information.  When he had received his third brain on Cylon, the first
thoughts that came to him were of taking independent initiative in his
new role in the empire's high command.  After studying humans for many
yahrens, the leader came to the conclusion that the human form was more
practical than that of his own race.   He even learned their language
from studying interplanetary transmissions and ordered his subordinates
to learn it as well.  
     He decided to use Cylon's advanced technology to develop his own
race of superior cylon beings.  They would be cyborgs, part machine and
part cylon.  A perfect species.  On the alliance industrial planet his
ship now orbited, he had already begun this process in earnest.  The
leader had allowed only a select few of the real cylons to live.  The
cylon population had been severely depleted by the short, albeit bloody
civil war that had been instigated by Imperious Leader.  Therefore, cylon
fighter pilots would be completely robotic, so as not to waste living
cylons in ship to ship combat.  The cyborg cylons being produced on Jae
would repopulate Cylon once the Leader had enslaved the Hasari.
     The Hasari system was the most important part of the Leader's plan
now.  It was situated in a perfect strategical place to carry out his
master plan of conquering the universe.  Today he would be finalizing a
deal that would ensure this.
     "Are you there master?" asked the cylon leader.
The shapeless being appears once again before the Imperious Leader.  It
is a shifting black void that seemingly floats in front of the leader as
if it is on a breeze.
     "Yes, my friend.  You have done well.  Are you now ready to
subjugate yourself under me? ," asked the shape.
     "If it means the cylon empire becoming the most powerful force in
the universe?"
     A barely visible face appears in the middle of the shape and smiles. 
The Leader does not flinch.  He has seen this face before.
     "No one has dominion over me my cylon friend.  If you follow me, I
will protect you and help you to achieve your goal.  Just think of
it...thousands of worlds will bow before us!!!" exclaimed the face.
     "I will reign supreme over a universe organized as the cylon empire
sees fit?" asked the cylon.
     "Oh, yes.  I have foreseen this.  And I will have revenge against my
brothers who banished me," answered the shape.
     "You may proceed.  What I do now, I do for the greater glory of the
Cylon race," said the Leader.
     The shape becomes larger and larger and briefly forms the shape of a
human man before transforming back into a shapeless void.  It then shoots
itself across the room and back and envelopes the leaders body.   Slowly,
the shape dissipates into the leaders body.  After a moment, the leader
pushes a control on his command chair.     
     A cyborg centurion with a reptilian tail immediately enters the
chamber.
     "Imperious Leader...how may I serve you?" asks the centurion.
The Leader answers with a voice that is not his own, rather it is the
voice of the shape.  The cylon centurion does not seem to notice.
     "Centurion, order the armada at Hasari to attack at once.  I want
the vermin''s meager military destroyed.  Their population is  to be
enslaved to serve the empire.  Their planet will become our home base of
operations for our campaign against the humans.  If they resist...kill
them all!"

     Nova, Andronica and Lexy have just finished supervising the
unloading of the supplies from the Alyattes.  The last transport has just
taken off as dozens of Poseidon flight crews begin to organize and store
the cargo.  
     "Ok.  Now, does someone want to tell me what all this is about?"
asked Captain Lexy.  
     "Nobody knows, Lex.  Except the commander of course and he's not
talking," answered Nova.
Lexy, a beautiful black woman, is the strike captain of Crimson Star
squadron and one of the best pilots in the colonial fleet.  The only
warrior who has beat her in combat drills is Nova and they have a special
bond and respect for one another.  At one time or another, her fellow
male pilots and crewmen have tried to court her to no avail.  She has
always had eyes for one man and one man only.  Unfortunately, he was
unaware of this.  Now, she has worked up a sweat and notices Nova and
Andronica are holding hands.
     "Well, I need a drink.  Yep.  There's a nice tall glass of Ambrosia
in the officers lounge with my name written all over it," said Lexy with
a smirk.
     "We'll be along presently.  Save us a table," said Nova.
     "You got it, hotshot."
As Lexy walked away, Andronica pulled Nova to her and gave him a tender
kiss on the lips.  They stared into each others eyes for a moment and
then kissed again.
     "Wow.  What did I do to deserve that?" whispered Nova.
     "Nothing.  We just haven't had any time to ourselves lately and I've
missed you."
     "I know.  I'm sorry.  It's been crazy around here since the squadron
of cadets arrived and--"
     "Honey, I know it's not your fault.  I've been busy too with all the
new bridge staff and dealing with the colonel's felgercarb 10 centars a
day," said Andronica with a laugh.  
     Nova's smile quickly turned serious and Andronica knew what he was
thinking about now.  
     "Lorne was in the last batch of cadets, you know?" said Nova.
     "I know.  The commander's been talking about it for sectons.  The
whole bridge crew knew when he would be aboard to the exact centon," said
Andronica with a weak smile.
     "Well, I guess daddy got his wish."
     "Nova, Lorne isn't here just because he's Are's son.  He graduated
with honors from the academy.  He had one of the highest ratings ever."
     "I see.  I guess that's been all over the bridge for sectons too,"
said Nova sarcastically.
     He pulled away from their embrace and started to lead Andronica away
toward the officers lounge.
Andronica pulls him to a stop so that he faces her once again.
     "Hey, you're the man I love remember?  And I would expect a little
more from the Poseidon's strike leader."
     "I'm sorry, Andronica.  I know you're right.  I knew this could
happen when I accepted the commander's offer for this post.  I'm actually
more worried about how the kid will handle this.  He's the rookie and he
can't afford to be distracted out there where another pilot is counting
on him," said Nova.  Andronica kisses him on the cheek and now leads him
towards the lounge.  
     "Nova, do you know something more about this training mission?"
     "No."
     "I'm just getting scared I guess.  What do these cylons want?  What
are they?  Why can't we just live in peace and mind our own business?"
she asked emotionally.
     "We may not have any choice in the matter.  If they enter colonial
space or make a hostile move, we'll have no choice but to defend
ourselves."
     The thought of war was sickening to Andronica.  She had joined the
colonial service for the opportunity of exploring deep space.  Her major
at the academy was science but she also excelled in her warrior training,
especially as a helmsman.  Her ability to pilot large warships got her
into the colonial fleet.  Her scientific knowledge is what caught
commander Are's eye.  He figured he was getting a first rate helmsman and
science officer in one.
     The laughter and chatter of the officer's club was now within
earshot as an announcement came over the ships loudspeakers.
     "Attention!  Officer Andronica report to the bridge.  Officer
Andronica to the bridge.  Priority Red," the voice blared throughout the
corridor.
     "Ohhhhhh, frack!  I'm sorry, Nova.  I guess you'll have to have a
drink for me," Andronica said in a whiny voice.
     "It's probably a good thing.  We wouldn't want you at the helm after
an evening in the O lounge, would we?" Nova said with a laugh as he
kissed Andronica goodbye.
     "I'll see you in the morning, Captain!"

     Inside the officers club, Dirk has taken notice of Lexy's shapely
form and is letting everyone around him know it.
     "Dirk!  Will you quiet down?  The whole lounge can probably here
you," said Lorne.
     Dirk and Lorne were sitting around a large table with 8 other cadets
in a far corner of the club.
     Cadet Mason was sitting next to Lorne and had been telling him to
leave Dirk alone.  He was enjoying Dirk's vivid descriptions of Lexy's
impressive form.  Cadets Syhia and Jen were also amused but for a
different reason.
     "Dirk, that woman over their is way out of your league, "laughed
Syhia.
     A group of veteran pilots at the next table had now picked up on the
subject of the cadets conversation and walked over to the young warriors
table.
     "I think you rookies need to learn a little respect!  Do you know
who that is you're talking about, youngster?" asked flight sergeant
Cevin.
     About two dozen officers had now gathered around the cadets table
with unpleasant looks on their faces.   These cadets are allowed in the
officers club one time and they act like they own the place.
     "Uh...n-no.  I don't know who she is," stammered Dirk.
     "Look.  We don't want any trouble sir," Lorne interjected.
     "Cevin, you better not touch that one.  That's the commander's boy,"
said lieutenant Ramen.
     "Oh, yeah.  Well, commander's son...tell your friend there to shut
his face.  He is disrespecting one of the best damn warriors in all the
colonies and my superior officer!" shouted Cevin.
     "Y-your superior o-officer?" whined Dirk.
     "That's Captain Lexy, Cadet.  She's strike leader of Crimson Star
squadron," said Ramen.
     "I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to--"
     "You rookies are pathetic!  Lords of Kobol help us if we have to
count on you in a scrape," sneered Cevin.
     Lorne could not stand by and watch anymore.  Who did this officer
think he was?  Besides, Lorne did not like the fact that being the
commander's son wasn't a good enough reason to back off.
     "Really, flight sergeant...Cevin is it?  How many combat missions
have you flown?" asked Lorne sarcastically.  Lorne knew that only 5% of
the colonies fighting men and women had ever been in an actual battle
before.  Flight sergeant Cevin seemed to know that Lorne had knowledge of
this and he shut up immediately.  None of the other officers seemed to
have anything else to say and had begun to back up as Nova approached
with Lexy close behind.
     "Well, looks like we have some sort of festivity over here. 
Anything I can help with or join in on?" asked Nova sarcastically.
     "N-no sir.  Everything's fine.  The men and I just wanted to welcome
the new pilots aboard," said Cevin meekly as he and his buddies went back
to their own table.
     "I would like to congratulate you all on your recent graduation from
the academy," Nova says as he turns his attention back to the cadets.
They all respond with a quiet but proud, "Thank you, sir!"
     "Cadet Lorne...I guess we'll get to see if you're as good as those
academy instructors say you are real soon," said Nova as Lexy tried to
keep from laughing.
     All of the cadets eyes were on Lorne now as they could sense the
sarcasm in the Captain's voice.
     "Yes, sir," Lorne said with contempt in his voice.

     The bridge of a battlestar is enormous.  The Poseidon had over 20
crewmen stationed throughout the ships command center, busily attending
to their duties.  As Andronica entered, she could see the commander and
colonel waiting by her post.  
     "Commander, Officer Andronica reporting as ordered."
     "At ease, lieutenant.  Here are your new coordinates for helm and
plotting," Ares said as he handed Andronica a piece of paper.
     "Aye, aye sir.  I'll get right on it."
     Ares and Dykstra begin to walk back to their posts as Andronica is
punching in the new coordinates on her console.  She is alarmed at what
her readouts are telling her.
     "Commander?  Their must be some mistake.  These coordinates will
take us directly to the Hasari system.  Is this correct?"
     Marem is sitting nearby at her post and clenches her teeth at that
last remark.  You don't question the commander's orders in front of the
entire bridge crew.  Andronica should know better than that.
     "Officer Andronica, do you think the commander does not know the
final destination of the plot heading he just handed you?!" said the
colonel sternly.
     "Well, no.  I mean y-yes, of course.  I just--"
     "Then do your job and carry out your orders, officer!" Dykstra said
just loud enough so the entire bridge crew could hear.
     "Yes sir!"
     Andronica looked over at Marem who was sort of shaking her head in
amusement.  This was becoming a day Andronica would not soon forget.  Her
mind was a flutter of worries now.  Something serious must be happening
if colonial command has ordered a ship on it's maiden voyage full of
cadets to a possible war zone.  She wondered if war had been declared
already.  Maybe the Hasari are being wiped out at this very moment. 
Whatever the reason, she had a job to do and she was going to do it.  She
entered in the coordinates and then contacted the plotters in the
celestial chamber.
     "Celestial chamber one this is helm.  I'm sending you new plot
heading and coordinates.  Please verify," Andronica said.
     The Poseidon had half a dozen celestial chambers on it's topside. 
They were tall structures with large, clear viewing decks on top made out
of transparent tylium.  Practically indestructible.  The chambers were
used to take star readings and double check the bridges navigation
computer.  The small crews who manned these posts were all friends of
Andronica's because they all had a love of science and exploration in
common. 
     "No problem Andronica.  Just take a centon," said Dally.  
     "Thanks, Dally."
     About a centon later, "Whoaaaa.  Uh, this can't be right.  This will
take us right into hell's kitchen."
     Dally had aroused the interest of the other two crewmen in the
chamber now.
     "What's up?" asked Lily.
     "Is this right?" asked Dally as he looked at Andronica on his
monitor.
     "If it says Hasari it's right," she answered.
     "Frack," Dally said under his breath.
     "Hasari?!  What the frackin' felgercarb is going on?!" exclaimed
Lily.
     "Plot the course, Dally," ordered Andronica.
     "Yes, ma'am."

     All fifty cadets filed into the assembly hall for their sims
evaluations and test scores.  It was a quiet group of humbled warriors as
very few of them had done nearly as well as they had hoped.  Dirk and
Lorne had ruled the morning sessions against their classmates before they
too had been put in their place by Captain's Nova and Lexy.  The sims
were flight training simulators for cobra fighters.  They were designed
to simulate actual space flight and combat maneuvers for new and old
pilots alike without the danger or cost of training in space.  Sims put
each cadet through a series of flight tests with each test much more
difficult than the previous one.  At the end of the session, the cadets
squared off against each other.  Lorne and Dirk were the final survivors
of this training game.  At the academy, these battle simulations were
more popular with the cadets than most colonial sports, even triad.  
     As Lorne and Dirk were patting themselves on the back for their
superior flying skills, Nova and Lexy slipped into the adjacent sims to
the delight of the forty eight remaining cadets.  Then, Lorne and Dirk
heard the reason for their classmates cheers over their headsets.  It was
Nova, challenging the young cadets to another round of daggitfight
simulations.  Of course, the foolishly arrogant young cadets accepted and
were quickly defeated before the battle had barely been joined.  As Lorne
and Dirk climbed out of their test machines, they were greeted by mocking
cheers from their classmates.  They both had a dumbfounded looks on their
faces and truly had no idea what had just happened.  Of course, seeing
Nova and Lexy exiting their sims and feigning a yawning motion didn't
help either.  
     Now in the assembly hall, Nova and Lexy were grading the cadets and
correcting their mistakes.  Lorne was not listening.  He could only think
of how much he really did not like Nova.  He's not that better than me is
what he kept thinking.  Dirk, meanwhile, could not take his eyes off of
Lexy.  "What a woman.  She killed me," he thought.  Nova's mind was
drifting too.  As Lexy continued to make a point to the rookie pilots, he
thought of how these cadets made up 50% of the Poseidon's strike force. 
The battlestar held 100 cobra fighters that were split up into four
squadrons.  He and Lexy commanded the Black Knight and Crimson Star
squadrons, respectively.  Lorne, based on his performance at colonial
academy, had been assigned to command the cadets Golden Sun squadron. 
The cadets other squadron, Bronze, would be lead by Jen.  Jen was a
large, yet attractive woman, who had just edged out Dirk for the honor of
squad leader.  Dirk was then relegated to wingman for his best friend,
Lorne. 
     Nova saw a lot of potential in this group but they were so raw and
untested.  He wasn't crazy about the idea of having to rely on them in
combat against an alien force they knew next to nothing about.  Of
course, there were veteran pilots of Black Knight and Crimson Star who
had never experienced an actual battle before either.  Nova's thoughts
are interrupted by the surprise arrival of commander Ares.  Immediately,
the assembly of cadets stand at attention and salute their commander as
Ares approaches the teachers podium.  Nova and Lexy salute their skipper.
     "Commander!  Did you come to check on the progress of the academy's
finest," Lexy asked with a smile.
     "I'm afraid not, captain."
Lexy glanced at Nova and he looked as concerned as she felt.  The
commander turned to face the warrior cadets.  They were still standing at
attention and seemed to be realizing as a group that this was not a
routine visit from their Commanding Officer.  Ares searched the crowd and
found his son.  He cracked a very weak and quick smile before taking a
deep breath to compose himself.
     "At ease," Ares said.  The cadets quickly found their seats.
Ares  looked at Nova and said, "Put me on unicom please."
     The captain complied by flipping a switch on a panel next to him.
     "Unicom activated, Commander."
     The commander's image was now on every monitor aboard the ship and
his voice could be heard in every corridor.
     "Attention!  Attention all hands!  This is Commander Ares.  Our
training voyage has been cancelled by colonial command.  The Poseidon has
been given new orders and coordinates from Admiral Bellisario."
     Throughout the battlestar, every man and woman has stopped what they
are doing and either have their eyes glued to a monitor or are listening
intently to the commander's message.  Some of the cadets who are in the
same room with Ares are beginning to squirm in their seats a bit.
     "In approximately one centar, we will arrive at the planet
Hasari..."
     Everywhere in the ship, the reaction is the same.  Crewmen and women
exchanging very worried looks with one another.  In the assembly hall,
Dirk looks at his best friend who continues to stare at his father
intently.
     "Our orders are to make contact with the Hasari high command,
deliver food and armaments to them, obtain any and all intelligence on
the cylon forces and assess the situation."
     On the bridge, Andronica has walked over to Marem's station.  Marem
is sitting in her chair, watching the commander on the monitor in front
of her, as Andronica puts a hand on her shoulder.  
     "This is crazy.  I can't believe we're doing this," she whispers to
Marem.
Marem simply nods in agreement as Dykstra approaches.  Andronica stands
at attention but continues to watch the monitor as does Dykstra.
     "The Poseidon will approach Hasari from the far side, away from the
cylon's last known coordinates.  Crimson Star squadron will fly ahead of
us to determine the exact position and strength of the cylon forces. 
Hopefully, they will also draw the cylons full attention so that Black
Knight squadron can escort our supply tankers down to Hasari without
incident.  However, if we witness a hostile act, we will return fire! 
This is what we have trained for warriors.  Good luck. Unicom off."
     "I don't feel so good," Dirk said to Lorne.

Commander Are's personal log:

     I have just finished addressing the crew as to the new orders we
received from Admiral Bellisario.  We have just entered the Hasari system
and should reach the planet within 30 centons.  None of them could hide
the fear on their faces.  I could not hide the fact that I was also
afraid.  Afraid that I would make the wrong decisions which could cost
the lives of my crew and my only son.  Tamia's son.  Afraid of the
unknown.  The unknown enemy we are now approaching.  What do they want? 
How many of them are there?  Is there technology superior to ours?  Could
we even communicate with them?  I am reminded of my last conversation
with Bellisario.  He had spoken of the long peace ending and the human
race being tested by an evil never before seen.  Colonial command had
been watching the cylons victory march  over dozens of worlds who looked
like primitive children next to the cylon war machine.  Cyrus and
Bellisario had quietly built the colonial fleet in preparation of when
the cylons would turn their attention towards us.  They had sent dozens
of peace probes towards the cylon homeworld and never received any
response.  Eventually, we began sending spy satellites to ascertain the
strengths and locations of cylon fleets and technologies.  We didn't
learn much.  The only conclusion we came to was to make ourselves more
powerful than we had ever been  at any time in our history.  The general
population of the colonies had no idea of the impending danger.  This was
Cyrus's decision.  Trillions of people went about their daily lives
without a clue as to the possible armageddon to come.  Even as more and
more men and women enlisted in the colonial military academy, few thought
they were actually training for a war to end all wars.  That's what the
admiral had called  the coming conflict  when he assigned me to Poseidon. 
The war to end all wars.    

                   CHAPTER 3

     The cylon armada approaching Hasari was formidable.  Five Warhawks,
the cylon equivalent to  colonial star carriers, led several smaller
ships past Hasari's outer moons.  The smaller ships were troop transports
which held hundreds of cylon cyborgs for their planned ground assault.  
Robotic cylons did not make good ground troops because they were slow
footed and made easy targets.  Cyborgs were fierce in hand to hand combat
and much more nimble.
Once the cylons had captured the Hasari capital and their leader, Baucsh,
they would enslave them and use their city as Cylon's outer capital.  
     Aboard the lead Warhawk, the armada's commander had just answered a
transmission from the Imperious Leader.
     "By your command?"
     The leaders face appeared on the enormous viewscreen on the bridge
of the Warhawk.  The other cylons on the bridge simply went about their
business, as if they did not see their supreme leader.
     "Have you reached Hasari's outer moons?" asked the Leader.
     "Yes."
     "Good.  Let the attack begin!"
     "By your command, Imperious Leader!"
     Within microns, 250 cylon fighters blasted off and led a half dozen
troop transports towards the planet Hasari.

     Marem pushed the commlink to the right of her main console and
quickly cleared her throat.  She was about to send off friends and
strangers alike on the most dangerous mission she had ever been a part
of.  Needless to say, she wished she were somewhere else right now, but
she had a job to do.
     "Transferring coordinates to Crimson Star squadron.  Launch when
ready."
     Marem heard the voice of Lexy answer her through her headset.
     "Affirmative control.  Ok Crimson Star...let's go!"
     Lexy's helmet was slammed against the back of her seat as her cobra
was catapulted out of the battlestar.  Cevin, Ramen and the rest of her
squad followed in her wake.  
     "Transferring control to Black Knight squadron.  You may launch when
ready."
     "Affirmative, Marem.  Alright Knights...this is it!  Black Knight
leader launching!" exclaimed Nova.
     Several microns later, Marem swivels her chair to face the
commander.  She knows he is already going to be aware of the report she
is about to make but she must follow procedure.
     "Black Knight and Crimson Star squadrons launched, sir!"
     "Thank you, Marem.  Order the supply shuttles to launch now,"
ordered the commander.
     "Yes, sir," said Marem as she turned her attention back to her
console.
     "Shuttle pilots...you are cleared for takeoff.  Rendezvous
coordinates coded and transferred," Marem said.
     Dykstra was behind Marem now as they both watched 12 supply shuttles
take off.  
     "They're away, Colonel," she said quietly.
Dykstra gave her a pat on the shoulder before turning to report to Ares.
     "Shuttles launched commander."
     Ares nodded to Dykstra as he saw his son had just arrived on the
bridge. 
     "The mission just got under way," Ares offered.
Lorne looked around the bridge and saw Marem at her post, Dykstra making
his usual rounds to each station, and then he saw Andronica.  She was at
the front of the bridge near the viewscreen and she was as beautiful as
ever.  Lorne was caught off guard when she suddenly turned around and
made eye contact with him.  She smiled and Lorne quickly looked away. 
Andronica's smile disappeared and she turned her attention back to her
helm controls.  
     "Uh, father...what about the Hasari?  Do they even know we're
coming?"
     "Unfortunately, no.  But I'm sure they will be glad to see us and
the supplies."
     "Why wouldn't we contact them before just showing up on their
doorstep?" Lorne asked.
     "Colonial command is unaware of our mission, Lorne," Dykstra said
having finished his rounds on the bridge.  
     "What?!" exclaimed Lorne.
     "Son, keep your voice down.  We are on a covert mission for Admiral
Bellisario.  The admiral believes, as I do, that the president has not
been himself lately.  He doesn't seem to be think clearly.  He's been
turning his back on the admiral and taking advice from his political
aides.  We fear the cylons are setting us up for an attack," said Ares.
     "The president has half our fleet chasing shadows," added Dykstra.
     Ares  puts a hand on his son's shoulder and leads him towards the
bridges exit.
     "Lorne, you must not tell anyone of what you've just learned.  Not
even Dirk."
     "Father, what if you and the admiral are wrong?  Cyrus will have you
both court-martialed."
     "We're not wrong.  I wish we were.  Now, you better get back to your
duties."
     "Yes, sir," Lorne softly answered.
     As Lorne left the bridge, he caught Marem's eye and they exchanged a
friendly smile.  Lorne wanted to go to her but was uncomfortable with
Andronica being on the bridge as well.  He decided against it and quickly
left the command center.  Marem wondered if Lorne was simply not
interested in her.  She thought she was making her interest in him
crystal clear.  Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by a voice
shouting over her headset.  It was Lexy and she was in trouble.  Marem
immediately put the transmission on the bridges loudspeakers.
     "Poseidon!  This is Crimson Star leader!  W-we are under attack!!! 
Cylons...I-I think.  We are heavily outnumbered!  They're ferocious! 
I-I'm losing ships fast!  Do you copy, Poseidon?!  We are totally
defensive!!!" Lexy yelled through the com-link.  
     "Battle stations!" shouted Ares.
     The entire bridge sprang to life as crewmen rushed to their posts. 
The alert claxon rang throughout the battlestar.  Lorne, Dirk and the
rest of the cadets rushed to their cobras.  Within microns, Golden Sun
and Bronze squadrons were revved and ready for takeoff.  
     "The cadet reserves are standing by, commander," said Dykstra.
Ares  nodded and said, "Colonel, contact Captain Nova.  Order him to
abort the mission!  I want them to rush to assist Crimson Star."
     "Send it, Marem," Dykstra ordered.
     "And get those shuttles back here!" Ares yelled.
     "Commander!  Neither Captain Nova, nor any of the shuttle captains
has responded to my hails.  I don't think they copied, sir," Marem
reported as calmly as she could.
     Dykstra rushed to Andronica's station, "Lt.?"
     "I can't be sure, sir.  My readings are inconclusive but I would say
all of our transmissions are being jammed," said Andronica.
     "Yet we are still able to receive transmissions from Crimson star?"
asked the commander.
     Marem nodded yes.
     "Someone down on the planet is deliberately jamming us?" asked
Dykstra.
     "Yes, sir.  I am now tracing a very narrow beam from the planet's
largest continent," reports Andronica.
     "Marem, launch all remaining cobras.  They are to rush to Crimson
Star's defense!  Colonel, you have the bridge," ordered Ares as he began
to walk towards the bridges main turbo lift.
     "Commander, where are you going?" a shocked colonel Dykstra asked.
     "I'm going down to the surface of Hasari.  Who knows what Nova and
the others are walking into down there?  I want to speak to the Hasari
Supreme chancellor myself".

     In the Carillon system, the Olympia and Argo have had no luck
finding any trace of the missing Caprican convoy.  Commander Nybe of the
Olympia opens a direct link to Admiral Bellisario by pressing a small
button on the arm of her command chair.  A few microns later,
Bellisario's face appears on the monitor in front of her.
     "Nybe, what do you have to report?" asked Bellisario.
     "Sir, we've thoroughly scanned this entire sector and can't find a
trace of the missing convoy."
     "Have you contacted the Ovion queen?  She may know something about
this."
     "No, sir.  Our transmissions have gone unanswered.  Nothing but
static."
     "Well, commander, Send a squadron down to contact the Ovions
directly," said an annoyed admiral.
     "I tried that but my cobras had to abort the mission.  My strike
leader felt it was too dangerous--"
     "What are you talking about Nybe?"
     "Sir, someone has deployed a very sophisticated minefield in the
system of Madigon," answered Nybe.
     "What?!" exclaimed a shocked Bellisario.
     "I don't understand it either, admiral.  I didn't think the Ovions
had that kind of technological prowess.  But, whether it's of Ovion
design or not, it is clearly a defense shield for Carillon."
     "Why do you say that, commander?"
     "Well, it would force an approaching vessel or fleet to take an
indirect path to the planet which would allow the Ovions a greater chance
of discovering them while still at a great distance or..."
     "Or what?" Bellisario asked.
     "My techs believe that some of the mines contain incredibly powerful
transmitters that would alert whoever left them here that there was an
intruder in the system.  Anyway, it would be suicide to try and blast
through the field.  It was too bright for our scanners and nearly blinded
the pilots--"
     A bridge officer had rushed to Nybe's side and handed her a piece of
paper.
     "Sorry to interrupt," said the officer.  "By your leave?"  Nybe
nodded.
     "Admiral, my science officers final report on the minefield...sir,
their are traces of..."
     "The Caprican convoy.  They must have tried to mogue through it,"
said Bellisario.
     "Yes, sir."
     "One moment, Commander."  Bellisario was now being interrupted with
an urgent report from one of his own officers.  He studied it for a full
centon.
     "Strange telemetry from the Hasari system...this doesn't make any
sense.  Commander, I have a very bad feeling about all of this.  I want
you and Commander Lewett to take your strike force to Hasari.  I'm afraid
the Poseidon may need your immediate assistance.  It's time for me to
contact the president," said the admiral with a deep sigh.
     "Sir?"
     "You have your orders, commander!"
     "Yes, s-sir," stammered Nybe.

     
     Lexy pressed the fire button on her joystick as hard as she could
and cried out in glee when the laser fire found it's mark.  The enemy
ship was instantly a giant fireball.
     "Yeah!!! Take that you alien snitrad," she snarled.
     "C-captain...I'm in trouble!"
     It was Ramen.  She picked up her visual scanning and could see two
bogies hot on his tail.
     "Hang on, Ramen!  I'm coming!" Lexy said.
     Lexy made quick work of the first cylon fighter when it banked right
into her sights.
     "Gotcha!"
     The second was able to get off a volley at Ramen before becoming
another victim of the fierce fighting captain.
     The cylon's laser fire struck Ramens cobra just to the starboard of
his cockpit.  Ramen winced in pain and horror as he looked down to see a
large metal portion of his ships interior had severed his leg.
     "Ramen!  Ramen!  Do you copy?" Lexy exclaimed.
     There was no reply.  Needless to say, Captain Lexy had seen enough. 
They didn't stand a chance against these beings and they were heavily
outnumbered.  Ironically, the cylons Crimson Star had encountered were
merely an advanced combat probe flying point for the advancing armada. 
Of course, this information would have done little to make Lexy feel any
better.
     "Crimson Star, begin retreat!  Fall back!  Fall Back!  Let's get the
frack out of here!" she yelled over her commlink.
     The surviving cobras banked swiftly and hit their turbo thrust
buttons.  Lexy, however, first attached tow cables to Ramens fighter
before fleeing.  She had made a quick banking maneuver, shot her cables,
and let them find their mark all in one move as she turboed away.
     "They're not pursuing, captain," reported  lieutenant Cevin.

     It was just a few centons later that Lexy and her wingmates came
across Lorne, Dirk and the rest of the reserves approaching them.
     "Nice of you frackin' rookies to make it!  Where in Hades have you
been?!" said an infuriated Cevin.
     "Stow it, Cevin.  Cadet Lorne, did you have trouble locating us with
the coordinates I transmitted over the emergency band?" asked Lexy as
calmly as she could.
     Lorne swallowed hard, "Negative...Captain.  The commander had
originally ordered the Black Knights to respond to your h-hail but they
could not be reached.  H-he didn't--"
     "He didn't want to risk his baby boy!" interrupted Cevin.
     "That's enough lieutenant, Cevin.  Well, cadet Lorne, you can turn
your squadrons around.  The battle is over.  We're headed back to
Poseidon," said Lexy.
     "Where's the rest of Crimson Star?" asked Dirk meekly.
     "They're dead," answered the captain.
     Dirk shook his head in total disbelief and disgust.  His scanner
counted 18 Crimson Star cobras which meant that seven warriors did not
make it.  Through his cockpit window, he could see that several others
were severely damaged.  Then, he caught sight of Lexy towing another
fighter that seemingly was missing half the ship.
     "My lord," he whispered.


     Chaos reigned on the deck of the Poseidon.  Emergency crews were
busily putting out small fires on several cobra's while med techs were
attending to the wounded.  Some of the injured, like lieutenant Ramen,
had to be cut out of their fightercraft.  Lorne and Dirk stood and
watched in horror.  They could see Lexy rushing out of the bay alongside
the hover bed that carried Ramen.  
     "Can you b-believe this, Lorne.  I-I mean...this can't really be
happening," cried Dirk.
     Lorne turned and headed for the nearest turbo lift.  Dirk ran to
catch up to his buddy.
     "Where are you going?" he asked.
     "To see the commander."
     "The commander?"
     Dirk knew Lorne was upset when he called his father, commander.
     "Well, I'm coming with you," said Dirk as he jumped on the already
ascending lift.


     "Still no response from the colonies?" asked Dykstra
     "No, Colonel.  According to my scans and computer estimates, I would
say our communication satellites are down," answered Marem.
     Lorne entered the bridge in such haste, he almost knocked over an
exiting crewman.  
     "S-sorry," Dirk offered the crewman for his preoccupied friend.
     The angry cadet charged over to Colonel Dykstra as Dirk tried to
catch up.
     "Lorne?" said the first officer.
     "Colonel...where is my father?" Lorne asked in an obviously angry
voice.
     "He led a squad down to the surface.  He's going to try to organize
some sort of defense with the aid of the Hasari," the colonel coolly
answered.
     Marem took a step towards Lorne.  Her smiling face seemed to calm
the young cadet.
     "Lorne, my name is Marem.  We haven't officially been introduced
yet."
     "I know who you are," said Lorne softly.
     Dirk was now beginning to show a little grin as he took a step
closer to the conversation.
     Marem continued, "If we can hold out, we will be missed and admiral
Bellisario will send help."
     "Let' s hope so," added the colonel dryly.

               CHAPTER 4

     Lorne was upset that his father had left his post on the bridge for
the unknown dangers of Hasari.  Lorne left the bridge in a rage.  He
almost pulled Dirk's arm out of it's socket as he led his closest friend
off the bridge and toward the main turbo lift.
     "Lorne, I'm not your pet daggit!" said Dirk as he shook himself free
of Lorne's grip.
     "I...I'm sorry, buddy.  The world has just turned upside down and I
guess I'm just worried about my father," sighed Lorne.
     "Your father can take care of himself.  I, for one, feel a lot
better knowing he's going down to handle this business personally."
     Andronica comes around the corner looking at a report she has in her
hand and nearly bumps into the two cadets.
     "Ah!  Oh, my lord!  You guys startled me," Andronica said.
The two cadets did not reply.
     "Well, I guess I'm a little jumpy.  Go figure.  It's been just a
ho-hum kind of day, huh?" she said with a forced laugh.
     Dirk feels the uneasiness in the air between the former couple and
it is making him very uncomfortable.  He decides now would be a good time
for a turbo wash.
     "Uh, I think I'm gonna go catch a turbo wash and maybe read a few
scriptures from the book of the word," he says meekly.
     "You actually believe that felgercarb, Dirk?" asked Andronica.
     "Have you forgotten how gullible he is?" Lorne offered.
     "You two need to open your hearts.  I think we're gonna need all the
divine intervention we can get," said Dirk as the turbo lift door began
to close behind him.
     This was the awkward moment Lorne had been dreading for over a
yahren.  He could see that she must have felt the same.  God, she was
beautiful.   That dark hair and those amber eyes were powerfully seducing
to Lorne.   He had a quick vision of him kissing her.  Then, he had a
vision of her kissing Nova.  He knew the expression on his face must have
just changed dramatically in her eyes.   He sighed.
     "It's good to see you, Lorne," she says.
     "You too."
     "I was so excited when I was assigned to Poseidon.  I finally got to
meet your father," she added.
     Lorne smiled.
     "You were right all along.  When push came to shove and their was a
real threat,  C. C. had to promote him," she said.
     "My father only has use for one person at colonial command and
that's the admiral," Lorne said dryly.
Andronica added, "I've learned a lot from him.  He's a great warrior."
Lorne did not seem interested in conversation and Andronica was running
out of things to talk about.  However, she knew she did not want the
conversation to end.  Her heart belonged to Nova now, but she felt so
happy to see her former academy love.
     "I heard you graduated with honors, top of the class," she said.
     "Yeah, well...I got lucky."
     "Isn't this crazy?  I mean, there must be some way to avoid a war. 
We don't even know what these cylons are.  We should be explorers.  There
are so many uncharted worlds and civilizations to be discovered," she
exclaimed.
     "You don't have to convince me, but these cylons may have other
ideas.  You should have seen the way they tore through Crimson star,"
said Lorne.
     Simultaneously, they look down at the report in Andronica's hands. 
     "On the bridge , Marem said we would be missed and the admiral would
send help.  How can she be so sure?" asked Lorne.
     "We couldn't reach the colonies by conventional means because it
appears our satellites are down and we are being cloaked by an incredibly
powerful jamming device from the surface of Hasari.  So, to make a long
and complicated story short, Marem was able to somehow amplify their beam
and direct it towards the admirals coordinates."
     "I see.  This Marem sounds pretty resourceful," he stated bluntly.
     "Yes."
     They both fumble about for words to end their conversation.  Lorne
tells her he needs to get back to his bunk.  He's pretty tired and who
knows when the next alert claxon will ring out through the corridors. 
She says she has to go to.  Without warning, she gives Lorne a quick hug
and rushes to the turbo lift.  He stares after her and smiles.  As the
turbo lift doors close, the red alert claxon screams to life.


     Lupo pressed the commlink button and waited for a response from his
leader.  He was in an isolated research lab on Jae.  The cyborg factory
planet's foreman did not want anyone to overhear the conversation he was
about to have.  He had supported Imperious Leader during the civil war
but had serious questions about the leaders current plan of a manifest
destiny.  Lupo also felt betrayed.  The leader had promised him that the
civil war was merely a cleansing of the cylon alliance.   A weeding out
of the weak, so that a new and stronger cylon race could emerge.  In
actuality, the civil war was genocide.  The cyborg and robotic cylons
that the leader had Lupo produce all but destroyed the cylon world he
once knew.   He wondered how long it would be before he became expendable
and all that would eventually be left would be a completely mechanized
cylon race.
     "Yes, Lupo?  What is it?" asked the Imperious Leader.
     "Slrrth ooten gloz--"
     "Lupo!  I've told you not to use our native tongue anymore.  You are
to speak human basic.  We must practice to understand their language so
that we can understand them."
     "By your command.  Forgive me Imperious Leader."
     "You have something to report?"
     "Yes.  All factories are exceeding our expectations.  I request that
we pull back on production so--"
     "No.  We will need every centurian and every ship you are producing
for our invasion of the human colonies.  Although they are weak, they are
many.  Twelve planets with fairly large populations.  The operation will
require large armadas and many ground troops," said the leader.
     "Imperious Leader, this war with the humans could be long and
costly.  We are still recovering from the civil war.  Many more of our
true cylons would be lost.  What would become of the alliance?" asked
Lupo courageously.
     "The war will be short.  A yahren at most.  They are weak and
unsuspecting.  I warn you, Lupo, you are expendable!  Follow my decree or
I will have you beheaded!" the leader exclaimed as the scanner went
blank.
     Lupo stared at the screen  for a long moment, then turned and exited
the research lab.  He crossed several factories before arriving at his
final destination.  It was a small cave just outside the makeshift cylon
city of Sylian.  Inside the cave, a dozen true bio-cylons awaited him.
     "We have lost this civil war.  This Imperious Leader has erased the
alliance we once knew," Lupo explains.
The others start to slam their thick tails into the ground in anger and
protest.  Lupo stands tall and raises his head to make a high pitched
squealing sound that would surely make the ears of a human bleed. 
Instantly, his comrades quiet.
     "We will not serve this inferior cyborg empire!  I have a plan. 
Gather your clans and report back to me."

               CHAPTER 5

     President Cyrus slammed his right hand down on his desk in anger. 
He had just received Admiral Bellisario's transmission regarding his
unauthorized deployment of the Poseidon to Hasari space.  The president's
top aid had warned him that the admiral would be a problem.  Now there
stood a very strong chance of a military engagement with the cylons.  The
Poseidon was commanded by Ares and as far as the president was concerned,
Ares was a warmonger.  The man was always itching for a fight.  Cyrus
believed there were other options to fighting.  His newest advisor seemed
to think war could be avoided entirely by simply taking a position of
isolationism.  The cylons were the Hasari's problem, not theirs.  The
advisor had even suggested destroying their arms to show the cylons they
were willing to live in peace.  He pointed out to the president that the
cylons only bothered with technologically advanced civilizations.  
As Bellisario's transmission was ending, the presidents advisor entered
the room.  The advisor could see that Cyrus was furious.  Anger was good
thought the advisor.  
     "What's happened?" he asked.
     "Bellisario is what's happened," answered the president.
     "I told you he would be a problem.  Maybe I can help."
     "You asked for this meeting, sir.  Exactly, what can I do for you?"
asked Cyrus.
     "Oh, I think it's more likely what I can do for you," smiled Count
Diablis.

     The Colonials did not know their neighbors all that well.  They did
have peaceful summits every other yahren to keep the peace and free trade
going, but that was about it.  After a little trouble with the protocol
of this unexpected visit, Are's command shuttle was allowed to land in
the center of their only city.
     Anger swelled within him at the thought of possible harm that may
have come to Black Knight squadron or the supply shuttles.  He thought of
how little he knew of the Hasari.  For all he knew, they could be a cylon
ally setting them up.  All he knew was that the Hasari were a walking
contradiction.  They had the ability of spaceflight, but did not actively
pursue it.  They populated this entire planet, but had one city to show
for it.  Most of the Hasari lived in small hives that were scattered
across the planet.  Ares also knew that the Hasari were some sort of
distant cousin to the Ovions of Carillon.  They stood upright like a man,
but had four arms.  Unlike the Ovions, however, hasaran's looked much
more humanoid than insectoid.  
     Ares led the four colonial warriors that had escorted him here down
the shuttle ramp.  He scanned the area with a locator he had pulled from
his belt.  The four warriors drew their weapons and took up positions
ahead of their commander.  However, before he could get any reading, a
large door slid open to reveal Ambassador Bausch.  Directly behind the
ambassador were several of his aids and Captain Nova.
     "Captain!  Are you ok?" asked a stunned Ares.
     "Yes, I'm fine.  We're all fine.  All the shuttles and the entire
squadron landed without incident," answered Nova.
     "We tried to reach you but--"
     "Your signals were jammed.  We know.  Commander, allow me to
introduce Ambassador Bausch," said Nova as he spoke into a translator
device.  
     The commander, following Nova's lead ,put his scanner back on his
belt and pulled his own translator out.
The device had turned Nova's words into the squeals of the Hasaran
language and would in turn allow the colonials to understand their hosts.
     "Commander Ares, I am honored to finally meet you.  Your reputation
precedes you," said the ambassador.
Ares wasn't sure what the Hasaran was talking about.  It was true that he
had been in a lot of "controversial" situations and conflicts but he did
not see how the Hasari could know this.
     "I am pleased to meet you, as well.  However, I do have some
questions.  Why are your people jamming all of our transmissions?  We
only want to help," pleaded Ares in a fairly hostile tone.
     "It was a spy, commander," said Nova as he stepped forward.
     "What?!" asked a completely dumbfounded Ares.
     "I believe the correct term in your language would be treason.  We
had a traitor among us, Commander," explained the ambassador.
     "From what I know of your species, I wouldn't think that would be
possible," the commander said sarcastically.
     "Perhaps we are evolving, commander.  Regardless, this rogue was in
league with the cylon alliance.  We were able to stop him before he did
any more damage," answered Bausch.
     "Apparently, this traitor had also planted several bombs.  They've
been disengaged," whispered Nova.
     "You would never see a human selling out his own flesh and blood,"
Ares said to Nova.
     Bausch interrupted, "Commander, I thank you for your attempt at help
but I fear this is a futile battle.  We have read the cylons collective
conscience.  They number too many.  They will enslave us and then destroy
you."
     So, the Hasari are telepaths thought Ares.  He wondered what other
surprises these colonial neighbors had up their sleeves.  He also could
not understand how the supreme leader of an entire planet could seemingly
give up all hope without even a fight.

     "I am not Supreme Chancellor or really a leader of any kind,
commander," Bausch said.
     "I-I don't understand."
     "Hasarans are all equal, commander.  We merely take turns as
chancellor or ambassador when we are forced to deal with other nations. 
Secondly, we will fight.  I just do not see how we can survive."
     "Why do the cylons want to destroy the colonies?" asked Nova.
     "This is not clear.  We sensed a pure, but blind hatred for
humanity.  They wish to exterminate you."
     "But, why even bother with Hasari?  Why not just attack the colonies
directly?" demanded Nova.
     "Of course!!!" exclaimed Ares.
     "Commander?" Nova said.
     "Nova!  Don't you see?  The cylons wish to enslave the Hasari
because they need the Hasari.  They need a base of operations up and
running as quickly as possible," explained Ares.
     "And what better base of operations to conduct a war against us then
our neighboring star system," stated the captain.
     "Exactly!  Captain, contact Poseidon.  I want to speak to colonel
Dykstra, now!" ordered the commander.
     "It begins," said Bausch bluntly.
     "What are you talking about?" asked Ares.
     "Commander!  I cannot get through to Poseidon!  Some sort of
jamming," Nova exclaimed.
     The commander looked at Bausch menacingly.
     "It is not of Hasari doing, commander.  The cylons are here."
     Just then, a loud noise that Ares surmised must have been an Hasari
warning system, rang out.
     Another Hasaran appears from out of nowhere, running on all six
legs, stops at Bausch and stands at attention.  He looks at his
ambassador but says nothing.  Moments later, he leaves.
     "Commander, the cylons are landing their troops just outside the
city.  They also have an incredible number of fighters coming in at a
high speed.  We are doomed," states Bausch.
     "Maybe you're right, Hasaran.  But, I'm not going down without one
Hades of a fight," yelled the commander. 

                         CHAPTER 6

     Colonel Dykstra could not reach his commander or colonial command.  
  They were in hostile space on an illegal mission with an armada of
alien craft approaching.  On top of all that, he had 2 squadrons of 
inexperienced cadets and another squadron of veteran pilots that had been
shot to hell.  Some days you just wish you hadn't gotten out of bed.
     "Colonel!  Large cylon task force approaching!" reported Marem.
     "Marem, are you sure?  Maybe it's the admirals fleet?" asked
Dykstra.
     "Form scan is positive, sir.  They are a warbook match to the
fighters encountered by Crimson Star squadron," explained Marem.
     "Launch all fighters!  Man the batteries and bring electronic
defense shields to maximum!"
     Moments later, Lexy led Crimson Star, Golden Sun and Bronze
squadrons away from the battlestar and towards the cylon war machine.  
     "Uh, captain Lexy.  My scanner counts 245 enemy craft heading
towards us," said Dirk.
     "Your point, cadet?!"
     "Well, I was just wondering why we wouldn't wait for reinforcements
from the colonies.  I mean this is a bunch of felgercarb!" exclaimed
Dirk.
     "We can't wait for reinforcements," said Lexy.
     "Well, why the frack not?!"
     "Because nobody knows were here, Dirk!" answered Lorne.
     Angry and shocked murmurs could be heard over each pilots headgear. 

     "Captain...is what that cadet said true?  Are we on our own out
here?" asked an agitated Cevin.
     "Yes.  We are alone."
     "Maybe we can contact these cylons.  Make them understand we...we
mean them no harm," suggested one cadet.
     "Or maybe we should just return to base and get a confirmation on
our orders," said another.
     "We're all gonna die out here!!!"
     With that, a young cadet named Smyth banked his cobra sharply and
headed back to Poseidon at full turbo.
     "Smyth!  Smyth!  Get your tail back here!" yelled his squadron
commander, Jen.
     "That guys got the right idea," sneered Dirk.
     "Knock it off, Dirk," shouted Lorne.
     Dirk took another look down at his scanner and the awesome number of
enemy fighters bearing down on them.  At that moment, he couldn't
remember why he had joined the colonial fleet.  He could be back home on
Aquaria now playing Triad or kissing some pretty girl.  Maybe he should
turn his ship around too.  The Book of the Word didn't say anything about
dying in the middle of nowhere on a suicide mission.  He could go back to
base and work on that card game he was inventing.  What would one more
cadet mean to the coming battle more or less.
     "I don't know, Lorne.  This is crazy," he said.
     "Buddy, you need to get it together!  We're 30 microns to target,"
said Lorne in a calming voice.
     "You know...I could be working on my new card game right now."
     "Ha ha!  Dirk, nobody is going to play that stupid game you made up. 
What's it called again?" asked an amused Lorne.
     "Pyramid.  And I will have you know--"
     "Shut up!  Both of you!  Pick up your visual scanning...here they
come!" yelled Lexy.


     The 2nd colonial star carrier group was now about halfway to Hasari. 
Commander Nybe had signaled colonial command for verification of the
admiral's orders to proceed to the Hasari system.  They came back as
authentic, of course, and she still had trouble believing the validity of
the orders.  This escalation of military involvement in the Hasari sector
would be nothing but trouble and went against the Council of Twelve
wishes.  Nybe had been present at the emergency council session on
Caprica just a few days earlier.  The council and especially the
president had promised no war.  She wondered what had changed their
minds.  
     "Commander.  We're receiving an incredibly powerful signal from the
system of Hasari," reported an officer.
     Nybe studied the readouts and scanner in front of her communications
officer.  It didn't make any sense.
     "It's just a bunch of garbled nonsense," she whispered to herself.
     The hair on the back of Nybe's neck was beginning to stand up.  She
knew something was very wrong.  Something told her that they needed to
move quickly.
     "Send to command of Argo.  Engage the light speed drive," ordered
Nybe.
     "Commander, the star carriers won't be able to keep up!"
     "They'll be fine, colonel.  I want you to instruct the carriers to
return to colonial space," said the commander.
     On the Argo, Commander Lewett received Nybe's order and smiled.
     "Light speed!"


     The cylon ground troops made their way through the swamps towards
the Hasari city of Quell.  Their first wave skimmed over the swamp waters
on hydrostars.  Each hydrostar had 3 cylons operating it.  Their were two
robotic gunners at the base and one cyborg pilot seated at the top. 
About fifty of these speedy vehicles led the cylon ground army as  two
squadrons of their fighters made strafing runs on the city.  The ground
troops, far behind the hydrostars, sludged through the shallow water
which came up to their waistline.  So far, the city's shield generator
was holding their fighters at bay.
     Ares had serious doubts about this plan but it seemed like a good
idea at the time.  Now he found himself  face down in five feet of water
on the back of a Saboo.   The Saboo was about fifteen feet in length with
a long tail and four legs which allowed it to walk on land.  Ares had to
steady the beast with a calming petting as the hydrostars flew over and
past them by just a few feet.  Bausch had helped the commander concoct
this plan to give them some element of surprise in this badly one sided
battle.  Bausch was watching the advancing army from the highest
structure in Quell.  He would notify Ares of cylon positions and tell him
when to spring their counter attack.   Bausch would then de-activate the
shield protecting the city just long enough for Nova to lead the Black
Knights into battle. 
     The acting ambassador could see that the wall of cylon ground troops
were now just 30 yards away from Are's combat force.  The hydrostars were
now about 300 yards past Are's position and nearing the city.  It was
time.  Good thing too because the oxygen in the human warriors small
mouth tanks were about to expire.
     "Now, commander!" shouted Bausch.
     With that announcement, Ares pulled back hard on the reigns of the
Saboo, and the powerful animal quickly stood up.   The rest of Are's
counterforce did the same and they were now all sitting on the back of
their Saboo's just a couple of feet above the waterline.  The human and
Hasaran defenders quickly raised their laser rifles and began firing at
the stunned cylons.  Dozens of cylons fell from the initial volley before
they could raise their own weapons and return fire.  Several hasarans and
one colonial warrior were struck by the cylon fire.  Are's felt a wave of
rage come over him like never before.  
     "Charge!!!" he ordered his troops.
     Are's forces were outnumbered two to 1 but they did not hesitate to
follow his order.  They all gave their rides a kick and fired at will as
they raced towards the enemy.
     When Nova heard Bausch's signal to the commander, he began the
launch cycle inside his cobra.  
     "All right, warriors!  Let's give these cylons a real hot
reception," he said.
     "Prepare to launch, Captain.  The shield will be down in 3, 2, 1..,"
said Bausch over the squadrons helmet receptors.
     "Launch!" ordered Nova as he pulled the joystick towards him and
rocketed away.
     The colonial captain had actually ordered the launch a micron before
he should have and the squadron was almost incinerated by the shield.  It
had de-activated a milli-micron before the cobras screamed out of the
city.  As soon as they were away, the shield was re-activated.  Bausch
wiped his brow with both of his right hands.
     "Whew.  Crazy humans."
     Hasaran soldiers had manned the rooftops of their city and were
filling the sky with laserfire.  Now that Black Knight squadron had taken
to the air, they had to be a little more careful with their shots.  The
skies above Quell were filled with fightercraft.  They looked like a
swarm of insects high above the city.  One Hasaran gunner's shot found
it's mark, but the cylon fighter crashed through the shield and into a
large hive.  Hasari buildings were actually large domes that looked like
the hives of some gigantic insect.  This hive that had been struck by the
fallen enemy ship, burst into flames.  The cylons quickly realized that
the energy bolts of their lasers could not penetrate this shield, but a
solid object could.  The cylon strike commander ordered several of his
pilots to make suicide runs at the city's central hive.  Without thought,
half a dozen cylon pilots crashed their ships into the city as Hasaran
gunners desperately tried to repel them.  Nova and his warriors tried to
defend the city as best they could but for every cylon they destroyed,
another found it's target.  Before long, half the city was on fire.  
     To make matters worse, the cylon hydrostars were now entering the
city limits.  The streets of Quell were actually under several feet of
water as most Hasarans used boats for transportation in their capital
city.  Now, cylon gunners were speeding through their river streets,
strafing everything in their path.  Destruction and death was mounting. 
Several rooftop gunners now turned their guns downward towards the
advancing hydrostars.  Several hydrostars were quickly destroyed as
citizens of Quell cheered.

              CHAPTER 7

     High above the planet, Hasari, another battle was raging.  The bulk
of the cylon fighter task force had reached Poseidon''s position and the
warhawks were not far behind.  Lorne and Dirk have already lost many of
their classmates.  They have little time to think about this, though.  It
is taking every bit of their training and abilities to keep themselves
alive.
     "She's on fire," Dirk gasps.
Lorne turns his head back to see that the Poseidon has several fires
throughout it's length.  The pinkish, red light is a sure sign of hull
breeches and fires as they meet the cold vacuum of space.  Lorne turns
his attention back to the starfield ahead just in time to avoid one of
his own cobra's.  He banks sharply, finds another enemy target, and
blasts a cylon to smithereens.
     "Dirk, look out!  You've got one on your tail!" Lexy warns.
     "God!  I can't shake him!" screams the young pilot.
     "Dirk, just hang on!  On the count of 3, bank hard to port. 
1...2...3!  Now!" Lexy yelled as she pressed her fire control.
     The cylon fighter burst into flames.
     "Oh, my lord!  Th-thank you, captain."

     Inside the battlestar, fire crews are putting out fires and repair
crews are desperately attending to damaged parts of the ship.  Medical is
flooded with injured crewmen and doctors and nurses do the best they can
to attend to them.  On the bridge, Dykstra and his officers, are trying
to organize and defend their fighters as best they can.
     "Helm!  Hard to starboard and lay down a suppressing fire!"
     "Aye aye, colonel," Andronica says.
     A small phalanx of cylon bombers is destroyed.  Meanwhile, the first
warhawk has arrived and opened fire on the preoccupied battlestar.  The
Poseidon takes several direct hits before righting itself to face this
new attacker.
     "Return fire!  Forward defense shields to maximum," roars Dykstra.
     "Too late!" shouts Marem.
     
     Even if the battlestars deflectors had been at full power, they
would not have helped.  Colonial shielding was merely a buffer to soften
a blow.  It could not stop laserfire entirely.  The warhawks missiles
struck the battlestar on the ships underbelly.  Marem's control console
burst into flames as several other computers exploded throughout the
bridge.  Her left arm was cut and burned.  She screamed in pain as the
bridge medic rushed to her.  He quickly gave her something to make the
pain humanly bearable so that she could be transferred to Medical.
     "Get her to medical, fast!" ordered the colonel.
     "No!  N-no.  I'm not leaving," she sobbed.
     The medic looked at the colonel for instruction and he nodded for
the medic to leave her at her post.
     "Colonel!  We've lost helm control!  We're heading straight for the
atmosphere!" a crewman shouted.
     "I'm on it!" said Andronica as she feverishly entered in new
instructions to the damaged computer.
     "Hurry, Andronica!  We're about to hit the outer atmosphere," warned
the colonel.
     Hasari was becoming larger and larger on the bridges main viewscreen
as the Poseidon plummeted towards the surface.
     "I'm re-routing the computon systems!  Switching to manual!" she
yells.
     A small port opens on her console and a joystick pops up, through
the opening.  Andronica grabs it and skillfully pulls the huge starship
out of it's free fall.
     "Great job, lieutenant!" Dykstra exclaims.
     There is an audible sigh of relief throughout the bridge.  Andronica
takes a very deep breath and exhales hard.
     "Sure.  No problem," she whispers.
     "S-sir," Marem says with great pain still in her voice.
     "Yes, Marem?" asks the colonel as he approaches her makeshift
station.
     "A message coming in over fleet comm-line alpha.  I can't get you a
visual but I think I can transfer audio to your console," Marem explains.
     The colonel runs back to the command deck and activates alpha
channel.  He puts the earpiece on and turns the volume up.
     "This is commander Nybe to command of Poseidon.  Do you copy?"
     "We cannot respond, Colonel.  Battle damage.  We're working on it as
fast as we can," says Marem.
     "Poseidon,  we are not receiving you, but if you can hear us...stay
put!  You are in very low Hasari orbit and the cylons are now in pursuit. 
Draw their forces to you.  We have yet to be detected by their scanners. 
The Olympia and Argo will come up their rear flank and we can then
squeeze them in between us!" explains Nybe.
     "Marem!  Prepare all forward batteries and open missile ports."
     "Yes, colonel."
     "Poseidon''s missile ports are opening.  Let's get the frack out of
here!" shouts Lexy.
The cobras turbo away and only a few cylon fighters follow.
     "Fire!" ordered commander Nybe.
     Simultaneously, all three battlestars launched a dozen missiles
while firing their forward lasers at full power.  Instantly, dozens of
cylon fighters and the attacking warhawk were disintegrated.  They had
never seen it coming. Their is boisterous cheering on the command deck of
all three battlestars.  The victory is short-lived, however, as the four
remaining warhawks from the cylon armada finally arrive.
     "Launch all fighters!" ordered commander Nybe.
     "Launch all cobras!" said commander Lewett on the Argo.
     "Looks like it's not over yet.  All squadrons, form on me," said
Lexy.     
     "We're with you, Lex.  We'll have to show the Argo and Olympia how
it's done," said Dirk proudly.
     "Well, cadet Dirk!  You suddenly are a cocky one now that the odds
are more even."
     "Y-yes...well, I-"
     "And don't you ever call me Lex again!!!  Understood?"
     "Y-yesss, sir.  I-I mean ma'am," stammered Dirk.


     The ground battle now raged throughout the swamps surrounding the
city of Quell.  Ares fired at the advancing cylon army at will from atop
his Saboo.  Cylon after cylon felt his wrath as they disappeared beneath
the murky water.  The commander took note of the ones which bled and the
ones that exploded into a pile of scrap metal.  From that point on, he
took much greater enjoyment in seeing the living enemy soldiers meet
whatever maker they believed in.  He targeted the cyborg cylons only,
figuring they were probably the ranking officers.  Also, he noted that
the cylons were all armed with what appeared to be an ancient and crude
weapon called a sword if his memory was correct.  Ares could see the
cylon reasoning for this ancient weapon as the sharp metal blade cut
through human and Hasari flesh quite easily.  
     
     The hand to hand combat was fierce.  The commander had to admit to
himself that the Hasari were representing themselves well on the
battlefield.  They were not the strongest of creatures, but they were
very quick and showed great courage.  On more than one occasion, he saw
Hasari soldiers who were missing one or more limbs, continue to fight
until their final breath.  Suddenly, the Saboo Ares was riding went limp
beneath him.  The animal had been struck by a laser blast and killed
immediately.  Ares tumbled over the fallen beast, striking his head on
the swamp floors rocky bottom.   He scrambled to his feet and frantically
searched the area for his laser.  It was nowhere to be found.  Blood now
dripped over his right eye from the gash created by his violent fall. 
The stunned colonial commander could see a fallen cylon not more than
three feet in front of him.  It appeared to be a robotic cylon and it
still clutched a sword in it's right hand.  The cylon was barely visible
but it's metallic helmet shone through the dirty water.  Just as Ares
started to take a step towards this fallen enemy, he noticed a shadow on
the cylons helmet.  He froze as he realized he was seeing the reflection
of yet another cylon warrior approaching him from behind.


     "Captain Nova, do you copy?" asked Bausch.
     "I read you.  Go ahead," Nova replied.
     "Captain, shield integrity is down to 11 percent!!!  We cannot hold
out much longer!"
     "Tell me something I don't know, Bausch!  Now, if you don't mind, I
just watched six of my friends burn up!  I'm a little busy!" exclaimed
Nova as he blasted the perfectly saucer shaped enemy fighter to oblivion.
     This was not Nova's ideal combat situation.  They were engaged
against an enemy they knew next to nothing about and who were apparently
willing to sacrifice themselves via suicide runs on the Hasaran capital
to achieve their goal.  Then, there was the little problem of aerial
combat in a planetary atmosphere.  Cobra's were large, bulky fighters
built for space combat.  They were well armed and fast but not quick. 
This  was playing into the enemies hands, as their fighters were much
quicker in this atmosphere.  
     "Captain Nova!  On your tail!" shouted lieutenant Mason.
     Laser fire exploded all around Nova's ship as he desperately tried
to evade his two pursuers.
     "Frack!  I'm in trouble!" shouted Nova.
     Bausch watched from afar as a couple of enemy fighters streaked over
the city after a fleeing cobra.  Of course, he did not know that the
fleeing colonial warrior was Nova.  He turned his attention to his
burning city below.  He watched in horror as his comrades fell to wave
after wave of hydrostars blasting their way through the city river
streets.  Then, a huge explosion almost knocked him off his feet.  The
shield had been completely destroyed and cylon fightercraft were already
beginning bombing runs on the city.  Bausch was able steady himself just
in time to see the bomber that would take his life.  
     "Yahooooo!" shouted Lorne.
     "Great shot, cadet!" said Lexy with a smile.
     Lorne had just blasted yet another enemy saucer into a million
pieces.  The tide of this battle was definitely turning.  With the
arrival of Olympia and Argo, the odds were now even.  Perhaps they had
even swung to the colonials favor.  Something else was becoming clear as
well.  When not taken by surprise or completely outnumbered, the human
pilots were every bit as good as these cylons.  Maybe even better.  
     "Crimson star leader," said the voice of Dykstra over Lexy's
headset.
     "Glad to have you back on line, colonel," answered Lexy.
     "Lexy, have your squadron concentrate on those cylon carriers.  I
don't want their fighters to be able to re-fuel, re-load or land!"
ordered the colonel.
     "Yes, sir!  Crimson Star, form on me!"
     Even though Lorne was strike leader of Golden Sun, he veered his
cobra towards the direction of  Lexy's group.
     "I'm with you, buddy," said Dirk as he followed his best friends
lead.
     Lexy noticed she suddenly had two extra members of Crimson Star but
said nothing.  She smiled and set her attack pattern into her computer to
be transmitted to the rest of the squadron.  Dirk and Lorne received the
transmission as well.
     "You guys think you can keep up?" Lexy asked sarcastically.
     "We're with you, captain," answered Lorne.
     "Let's go!" exclaimed Lexy as she pushed her turbo button.

              CHAPTER 8

     Ares had been close to death many times in his life but maybe never
this close.  A cyborg, but a few feet behind him, was drawing his sword
to behead the human commander.  Propelled by pure adrenaline and perhaps
warrior instinct, Ares dove into the water, grabbed the fallen cylon's
sword and came up swinging all in one motion.  He was able to block the
cyborg's death blow.  This seemed to stun the alien warrior as it
stumbled backwards.  Ares took the initiative now, attempting to go for
the kill with each swing of his sword.  Laser fire exploded all around
the two combatants but they did not notice.  Ares was screaming at the
top of his lungs like a madman.  He felt like he was getting stronger and
stronger as the fight progressed.
     Then, the cyborg showed it's great strength.  It blocked an overhead
swing by the commander, and kicked him in his midsection.  The blow sent
Ares reeling and knocked the wind out of him.  The cylon walked through
the swampy muck, raised it's sword for one final deathblow...and
exploded!  Ares had fallen on his lost laser pistol and was able to find
the trigger just in the nick of time.  As he slowly caught his breath, he
looked around to see the cylon forces were falling back.  Whomever had
given that recall order obviously had no idea how close the cylons were
to victory.  The commander looked back at his cylon victim.  The cyborgs
helmet had been blasted off, revealing a single eye and scaly skin.  The
alien's tail was still twitching.  This annoyed the commander so he
retrieved his sword and chopped off the dead cylons tail.
     His warriors, who were now standing nearby, began to cheer and
laugh.  But the commander just kept dealing blow after blow to this dead
cylon soldier.  The warriors stopped cheering and stared in disbelief at
their crazed commander.  Cylon blood had been splattered all over the
commander's face.  He wiped it away in disgust and signaled to his
warriors to clear out.


     "Commander?!  Are you ok, sir?" asked Nova who was shocked by Are's
appearance.
     "I'm fine, Nova.  Report," ordered an exhausted Ares.
     "The cylon forces have withdrawn , sir.  It looks like they were
recalled to support their carriers which are at this moment engaged
against our battlestars."
     "Battlestars?"
     "The Argo and Olympia, sir.  Seems like the admiral thought we could
use a hand," said Nova with a smile.
     "Where's Bausch?" asked Ares as he looked around the Hasari hangar
bay.
     "His lifeforce has ceased," said a rather large Hasaran who had been
listening to their conversation.
     Nova sighed and shook his head but the commander seemed unaffected.
     "I assume you are the new chancellor?" he asked.
     "Yes.  I am Ger'Bach."
     "I want to see the one who betrayed you.  Is that possible?"
     "Yes.  But why?"
     "I'll explain later.  Just show me the way."
     "Commander, with all due respect...we must assist--"
     "You do that, Captain.  Go ahead.  I won't be long," Ares said.
     "Yes, sir," said Nova as he waved to his Black Knights to follow
him.


     "Sorry, fella.  I couldn't hear you," sneered Ares as he punched the
Hasaran traitor once again.
     Beke was bloodied and his face was swollen.  His six limbs were all
chained and pulled tight against the walls so as to keep him suspended. 
Ares held the universal translator close to his ear as the battered alien
attempted to speak again.
     "I...I--I said they wish to exterminate your entire race. 
Y--you...are a threat to their order.  Their Imperious Leader wishes to
conquer the known universe!"
     "How exactly do they expect to do that?" demanded the commander.
     "T--Their l-leader...he dragged his own r-race into a civil war. 
They are now being overcome by their own t-technology.  The leader
is...producing a race of super machines!  Their army is invincible!  Your
p-pitiful civilization won't stand a chance!" Beke said with a weak
smile.
     "So, you cut a deal?  Trying to save your own skin?!" exclaimed Ares
as he punched Beke again.
     "Is this really necessary?" pleaded a horrified Ger'Bach.
     Ares ignored Ger'Bach.
     "How can we beat them?  Their must be a way!  I don't believe in a
no win situation."
     Beke said nothing so Ares motioned to the Hasaran guards to pull the
chains tighter.
     "Ok! Ok!!  Me talk!  Me talk!"
     "Well, Beke?" smiled the commander.
     "I-I think if you could somehow take out their base on Jae, you
might have a chance."
     "Jae?  That's a volcanic piece of rock, isn't it?" asked Ares.
     "It is their main industry planet.  Twenty five percent of all their
military munitions and robotic centurians are produced their.  If it
could somehow be destroyed..."
     "It would at least buy the colonies some time to catch up in the
arms race, complete our fleet of battlestars, and prepare our people to
defend themselves," Ares sighed.
     Beke managed a weak smile.
     "Thanks, Beke!" said Ares as he punched the Hasaran once more before
leaving.
     Ger'Bach followed the commander to his shuttle.  They could see
fires still burning throughout the cities hives.  Ares turned to face the
chancellor and shook one of his arms.
     "Thank you for your help, commander,"  Ger'Bach said.
     "I'm sorry for all of your losses.  Sincerely.  Your warriors fought
very bravely.  I'm glad you're on our side," said Ares before turning to
enter the shuttle.


     On Caprica, Count Diablis and president Cyrus have just consummated
a deal that both sides are extremely happy with.  
     "You are doing the right thing Mr. president.  I will be your most
trusted advisor and your people...our people will be the benefactors,"
said Diablis with a smile.
     The president simply nodded and wiped the sweat from his brow.  He
felt nausias and faint.  
     "Now that Admiral Bellisario and his fellow warmonger, Ares, have
spilled cylon and human blood, war is a certainty.  You must support it
fully.  This conflict with the cylons cannot last forever.  You must
prepare for the future and reserve your rightful place in the history
books," the count said.
     "Y-Yes.  I'm doing the right thing for my p-people," stammered
Cyrus.
     "Every man, woman and child will think of you as their savior,"
added Diablis.
     Cyrus stares at his desktop and tries to shake off the sickness and
feeling of dread that has swept over him.  When he looks back up,
councilors Barton, Shon and Aked have entered the room.  Count Diablis is
nowhere to be seen.
     "Where...where's the count?" gasps Cyrus.
     "Count?  I beg your pardon, Mr. President... what are you talking
about?" asks a befuddled Shon.
     "I-I...," the president stutters as he grabs the glass of water from
his desk.
     The president drinks the entire glass and wipes his brow once again.
     "My god.  Your burning up, sir!" exclaims Barton.
     "And it's freezing in here," adds Aked.
     Barton shudders with an intuitive uneasiness as he gently rubs his
seal of the lords neckless .
     "Mr. president, you must do something.  Our people are losing faith
in our government and in you," said Shon bluntly.
     "What are you talking about, Shon?!" demanded Cyrus.
     "Sir, there has been a leak.  News has spread like wildfire
throughout the colonies of a military engagement with the cylons in the
Hasari system," explained Aked.
     "What?!"
     "Riots have occurred in every colonial capital!" said Shon.
     "Riots?  Our people know only peace.  They couldn't possibly..."
     "Sir, look out your window," said Barton as he led Cyrus to the
large portal.
     The president looked down to the base of the 200 story pyramid and
could see thousands of Capricans had taken to the streets.  He pressed a
button beside the window to zoom in on the crowd below.  A picture of the
crowd appeared in the center of the window.  Cyrus could see fires
burning, anti-war signs and people shoving not only each other but the
capital security officers around.
     "That's our problem, sir.  Our people know only peace and
contentment.  They have just been told of colonial warriors being killed
in large numbers and they don't know what to do.  They don't know how to
react," explained Shon.
     "They want, and frankly, deserve an explanation.  They want to know
why we are fighting the Hasari's battle," said Aked.
     "Sir, we must withdraw our forces from Hasari before this escalates
any further," pleaded Barton.
     "I- I have to f-fight," whispered Cyrus.
     "Pardon?" asked Barton.
     "Y-yes.  We will fall back for now... but we will fight, Barton, and
we will win."

              CHAPTER 9

     Black Knight squadron had now joined the battle over Hasari and Nova
quickly let his presence be felt.  He had several kills already and had
skillfully assembled the squadrons of the three battlestars into one
cohesive fighting machine.  Lorne had to admit that he was impressed. 
Nova was every bit as good as advertised and he hated that.  The man
didn't seem to have any flaws.  No wonder Andronica fell for him.  
     "Nova!  The Argo is taking heavy fire!" said Lexy.
Lorne could see a large portion of Argo's landing bay was on fire.  He
pointed his cobra in that direction before Nova even gave the order.
     "Lexy, Lorne and Dirk...form on me.  Execute attack pattern delta,"
ordered Nova.
     The four cobras accelerated towards a half dozen cylon fighters that
were making strafing runs on the Argo's port landing bay.  
     Working as if they had flown together all their lives, the four
colonial pilots disposed of the attacking cylons in less than a centon.
     "Looks like they've already figured out to go for our launching
bays," Dirk deadpanned.


     Ares stormed onto the bridge of the Poseidon.  The entire bridge
crew paused a moment due to the disturbing appearance of their commander. 
He was a complete mess.  His uniform was torn in several places and still
had the water and muck of Hasari all over it.  The commander was also
covered in blood.  His own as well as cylon.  
     "Colonel, we're withdrawing!" Ares exclaimed.
     "Sir?"
     "Recall our squadrons!  Get them aboard as fast as you can. 
Andronica, set course for the planet Jae.  Full speed," said Ares as he
wiped his face with a towel.
     Dykstra stood close to the commander and watched him wipe the grime
and blood off of his face and uniform.
     "Commander, what--"
     "Marem?"
     "Yes, sir?"
     "Send to command of Argo and Olympia.  Poseidon is withdrawing and
proceeding to cylon industrial planet," commanded Ares.
     Marem repeated the commander's message into her commlink.  Even as
she spoke she could not believe Ares was going to leave their sister
ships to fight this battle alone.  Especially when considering that their
arrival in the system most certainly saved Poseidon from destruction.
     "May the blessings of the lords of Kobol be with you," said Marem as
she met the commander's gaze.
     "Commander...permission to speak freely?" asked Dykstra.
     "Always."
     "Sir, we cannot leave our sister ships to fight this battle alone."
     "We can and we will."
     "Commander, with all due respect, it's this sort of action that
delayed your promotion to the rank of commander for so long," said the
colonel.
     "Marem, give it to me here."
Marem transferred all statistics and updates regarding the ongoing battle
to the commander's console.
Ares studied the information for a long moment and then sighed heavily.
     "Colonel Dykstra, I believe we have it under control here."
     "Under control, sir?!"
     "Colonel.  You are not aware of what I learned down on the surface. 
If we don't shut down this weapons plant, this war  may be over before it
has begun!" Ares explained.
     A hush falls over the bridge and a long moment passes before the
colonel replies.
     "Very well, sir.  I'm sorry if I--"
     "Forget it, Dykstra.  You're just doing your job.  Keep doing it!"
     "Yes, sir!"


     As the Poseidon pulls away from the battle, her squadrons have just
received the recall signal.  Inside Dirk's cockpit, the cadet is tapping
his earpiece to make sure it is functioning correctly.  He feigns
ignorance to the order that just came over his headset.
     "Captain Nova, what's going on?" he asks.
     "We just received a direct order to return to base, cadet Dirk!  So,
that's what we are going to do!  Attention all Poseidon fighters...break
off and form on me."
     "Nova, can I speak to you on the command frequency?" asked Lexy.
     Nova flips a switch to the right of his com system.
     "What's on your mind, Lex?"
     "Do you know what's going on?  What's the commander up to?"
     "Trust me, Lexy, the commander wouldn't be pulling out if he didn't
have to."
     "What could be more important than defending the Hasari and our
fleet?" asked Lexy as she shook her head in disgust.
     "Saving the human race from annihilation," sighed Nova.


     A centar after leaving their fleet behind them, Lorne enters his
fathers quarters.  His father is fastening his uniform and his hair is
still wet.  He obviously took a turbo wash.  Lorne also notices the
bandage over his father's right eye.
     "Are you ok, dad?"
     "I'm fine, son.  And you?  How are you holding up after your first
combat experience?"
     "Ok, I guess.  It was kind of surreal...like a dream.  At times I
was terrified while others..."
     "You enjoyed it!" exclaimed Ares.
     Lorne nods a shameful acknowledgement.
     "It's ok, Lorne.  It's human nature.  Your heart is pounding and
your instincts and emotions take over.  It happens to all of us," Ares
says with a grin.
     Ares pats his only son on the shoulder and then gives him a quick
hug.
     "Get some sleep son.  We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow."


     Another reunion is taking place inside bridge officer Andronica's
quarters.  She and Nova are engaged in a passionate kiss under the covers
of her bed.  The couple have just made love and now Andronica's thoughts
are changing to the unknown future ahead.
     "I'm so scared, Nova," she says softly as a single tear slips from
her eye.
     "Hey...hey, it's gonna be ok," Nova whispers as he gently runs his
fingers through her hair.
     "I don't know if I can do this, Nova.  We may actually go to war
against a completely foreign culture we know next to nothing about.  So
may people will die.  So many people have died already," she cries.
     "You and I are gonna make it, Andy.  I promise you!  What you did
today on the bridge was very brave.  You saved the ship!" exclaimed Nova.
     Nova wipes her tears away and kisses her gently on the lips.
     Andronica manages a weak smile.
     "You heard about my little stunt on the bridge?" she says with a
laugh.
     "Flying a battlestar on manual with a control stick?  What a
showoff!" teases Nova.
     They both laugh and Andy gives Nova a playful punch in the chest.



     On the way to his bunk, Lorne passes the life center.  He just
happens to peak in as a crewman is exiting and notices Marem being
attended to.  She is sitting on a bed while a nurse is bandaging her arm. 
As Lorne walks towards her through the crowd of injured warriors, he
notices Lexy sitting beside Ramen on the bed next to Marems'.  
     "Well look who's here!" says Ramen in a very sarcastic voice.
     "Ramen!" scolds Lexy.
     "I'm sorry about your leg, lieutenant," offers Lorne softly.
     "Well, don't worry about me rookie!  This new one will do just
fine," Ramen said slyly.
     Lorne looks down at the exposed leg.  An artificial one has already
been attached to the injured warrior.  Some of the synthetic skin is
still pulled back revealing it's mechanical workings.  
     "What are you frackin' looking at?!" snaps Ramen as he lunges
towards Lorne.
     Lexy pushes him back down and tries to hold him to his bed.
     "N-nothing.  I'm sorry," said Lorne sincerely.
     "Lorne, please just leave!" pleads Lexy.
     "Yeah!  Get the frack out of here commander's boy," Ramen adds.
     "What?" said Lorne angrily.
     "Lorne, just leave!!!" Lexy exclaims.
     Lorne takes a step towards the injured and aggravated lieutenant. 
He smiles as he looks down at the leg.
     "W-what...w-what are you laughing about?!  I'm not a freak!!!"
     "Oh, no.  You're not a freak.  But, you remind me an awful lot of a
cylon," sneered Lorne.
     With that, Lorne turned to leave as Ramen screamed obscenities to
him.  Then, he noticed that Marem was nowhere to be scene.  He ran out of
the life station and down the corridor.  As he turned a corner, he almost
ran her over.
     "Whoa!  Where's the fire, flyboy?" asked a startled Marem.
     "F-fire?  Oh...no, I was just...I mean... I wanted to see that you
were all right."
     "Really?" smiled Marem.
     "Yes.  I heard about your accident.  Are you ok?" asked Lorne as he
tried desperately not to look in her beautiful eyes.
     "I'll live.  Hey, would you like to join me for a drink before
turning in?" she asked very seductively in Lorne's opinion.
     "Uh...yeah.  Sounds good.  I could use a little ambrosia right about
now."


     Marem and Lorne are the only two people left in the officers lounge. 
It's late and the bar man has just notified them that he will be closing
down in a couple of centons.  Lorne has enjoyed Marem's company  for the
past centar.  He had practically forgotten about all of the horrible
things he had witnessed and been a part of today.  He sensed that she
felt the same way.  She laughed at all of his jokes and he was completely
taken with her beauty and intellectual conversation.  
     After the bar man walked away, there was a long moment of silence. 
They were both disappointed that the unexpected date was coming to an
end.
     "You reminded me a lot of your father back in the life center,"
Marem said in a suddenly solemn tone.
     "Really?  How's that?"
     "I had the impression that you were a very compassionate and feeling
young man.  After talking to you for the last centar, I believe I was
right.  But, the way you snapped at Ramen back their...the incredibly
nasty thing you said to him;  it reminded me of your father.  He can be a
cold and vicious man on the one hand and a caring, gentle one on the
other."
     "And I've said since the first time I laid eyes on you that you
seemed very perceptive and resourceful.  I see I was right as well," said
Lorne with a grin.
     "Your politely telling me to mind my own business.  Ok, cadet Lorne. 
We'll play it your way for now," she said with a smile.

                      CHAPTER 10

     It sounded like a thousand daggits howling in agony.  Lorne, Dirk
and the rest of the men and women billeted on their deck were shocked out
of a sound sleep.   Everyone scrambled for their uniforms and combat
boots.  The alert claxon was ringing angrily throughout the ship.  As
Dirk fastened his boots, he   glanced up to make eye contact with Lorne.
     "This can't be good," he said in a nervous and sleepy drawl.
     Dirk had a way with words thought Lorne.


     "Colonel?"
     "Sir, their is a ship directly in our path.  50 microns and closing. 
I've slowed to just probe speed."
     Marem and a half dozen other bridge crew were just arriving at their
stations.  During sleep period, the ship was run with a skeleton crew. 
However, Ares was not happy with the amount of time it took his off duty
officers to report to an alert.
     "You are all going on report!!!" shouted Ares over the claxon.
     Andronica shook her head in bemusement.  She had been the first one
to arrive on the bridge.  Her boots were not fastened and her shirt was
untucked but she knew better than to incur the wrath of the commander.
     "We're being hailed sir, under a universal sign of truce," reported
Marem.
     "Shut that damn noise off!" ordered Ares in reference to the blaring
claxon.
     Immediately, the annoying alert fell silent although the red
emergency lights stayed on.  Then, suddenly, Marem turned as pale as a
ghost.
     "Commander, they are requesting permission to board," she said
quietly.
     "Who, Marem?!  Who's requesting  permission to board?" asked an
agitated Ares.
     "The cylons, sir."
     "What?!" exclaimed Dykstra.
     "They say they are Cylon," repeated Marem.
     Ares sunk down into his command chair and took a long moment to
gather his thoughts.
     "Andronica?" he asked, knowing that she would have the information
he required.
     "Sir, warbook cannot identify the craft.  However, com-scan can
detect no sign of weapons or other explosive devices," she coolly
reports.
     Ares looks over to his first officer who is also manning a computon
station.  
     "The ship appears to be an unarmed freighter, sir," Dykstra reports.
     "Comm, transmit to cylons...permission to land granted."



     Ares and Dykstra stood in front of a brigade of warriors awaiting
their cylon visitors.  The warriors, led by Nova, were in full battle
gear with their weapons drawn.  The alien freighter came to a stop inside
the battlestars large shuttle bay.  Decontamination droids quickly
scoured the ship.  After a few centons, what appeared to be the main
hatch opened and the long shadows of the alien species could be seen. 
Slowly, the freighters occupants made there way down the exit ramp of
their ship.  As their appearance became visible to the brigade of
warriors, nervous gasps could be heard throughout.  The cylons were tall
beings, probably seven feet in height.  They had scaly, reptilian skin
that looked as thick as colonial armor.  However, the most disturbing
part of their appearance to the humans was probably their single eye on
their foreheads.
     Dirk began to turn to leave but Lorne grabbed him by his battle suit
and pulled him back into formation.
     "I don't feel so good.  Maybe I should report to sick bay," Dirk
whispered to Lorne.
     "Dirk, will you cut the felgercarb!" Lorne whispered back.
     Nova noticed the cadets amateur act and gave them a very dirty look. 
Before he could discipline his young pilots, one of the cylons stepped
forward.  He stood toe to toe with commander Ares as his large eye seemed
to measure up his human counterpart.  Ares began to raise his universal
translator to his mouth but the cylon grabbed it from him.  The warriors
immediately raised their weapons into firing positions.  The cylon
studied the device for a moment, then gave it back to Ares.
     "A translator you do not need, commander," said the cylon in perfect
human basic.
     Ares, Dykstra and the rest of the human contingent were stunned. 
These cylons new their language.  Once more, they also knew their ranks
and insignias.
     "I am commander Ares.  And you are?"
     "Lupo.  I am the leader of the Luponeiss clan of the planet cylon. 
Currently, I command the cylon legion on Jae, our weapons production
planet."
     "Jae?  You are from the planet Jae?" asked a surprised Ares.
     "Ares, you say?  Does that not mean the god of war in your
language?"
     Lupo took another step towards the colonial commander.  He once
again looked Ares over from head to toe.
     "God of war,  you are an inferior species to be sure but we are an
endangered one."
     "How do you know so much about us?" asked colonel Dykstra.
     Lupo ignored the human first officer and continued his conversation
with the commander.
     "We are being exterminated by our self proclaimed Imperious Leader. 
He has destroyed our entire culture to fulfill his own vision of the
cylon empire.  My clans have watched him drag our entire world and all of
our satellites into a civil war.  Now, he wishes to produce his own race
of super machines.  He has copied the human form but made it bigger and
stronger.  Soon, he will do away with every last living biological
cylon."
     "Why are you here, Lupo," asked Ares sternly.
     "I want the Imperious Leader's head in a basket!!!" grunted Lupo.
His cylon entourage squealed in approval and stomped their tails on the
deck of the Poseidon.
     Dirk exchanged a befuddled and nervous look with Lorne.  
     "And you need our help?" suggested Ares.
     "You are inferior!  But, you are many.  I have monitored your
engagements over Hasari.  This ship may even be a match for a cylon
basestar."
     "Well, we may number many but at the moment this is the only
colonial battlestar in range of Jae," sneered Dykstra.
     "Fools!  You thought you could attack our outer capital all by
yourselves?!"
     "What's your plan?" asked an agitated Nova.
     "We want revenge.  We will take your warriors on our ship.  We will
lead you through our planetary defenses.  You must destroy the base. 
Then, we simply need your battlestar to block our escape."
     "Sure, then we're left there to fight off your entire fleet!" said
Nova angrily.
     "No.  You will have support from the clans who are loyal to me."
     "Why do you need us?  Can't you just blow the outpost yourself?"
asked Dykstra.
     "No.  We have no weapons.  We are scientists and engineers.  The
base is heavily guarded with centurians loyal to the Imperious Leader."
     "So, we provide the firepower and you will lead us through there
defenses.  Anything else?" asked Nova.
     "We will require a ship.  This freighter is insufficient for a
prolonged voyage.  We will leave it with you after the mission is
completed.  Destroy it, study it...it is yours.  We just need a ship more
suited for deep space travel," explained Lupo.
     "Deal," said Ares as he extended his right hand.
Lupo stared down at the commanders hand.  After a moment, he extended
his.  The two leaders shook  hands in agreement of this most unusual
alliance.  Lorne, however, was not so sure about this plan.
     "Father, you can't trust them.  They are the enemy.  They could be
leading us right into a trap!"
     "Lorne, we have no choice.  That base must be destroyed.  We must
buy the colonies more time to build our military.  Besides, why would
they go to all of this trouble?  We were already going to attack Jae
without them."
     "I hope you're right."


     Several centars later, seven colonial warriors found themselves
sitting side by side with the strange aliens from the planet Cylon.  Nova
and Lexy were in the command cabin with Lupo.  Lorne and Dirk were at the
rear of the cylon freighter, securing their weapon and supply packs. 
Syhia and Jen sat in the middle of the ship, meekly looking around at the
cylons staring back at them.
     The plan sounded simple enough.  Lupo would lead the warriors to the
planet's main processing plant.  They would set explosive charges, blow
the plant and escape via the cylon freighter.  Hopefully, in the
confusion, the freighter would go unnoticed.  Then, they would rendezvous
with Poseidon who would be in range just long enough to pick up the
demolition team.  Jab and run.  That was the plan.
     "This is never going to work," whispered Dirk.
     "You of all people have lost your faith," said Lorne with a smile.
Dirk stared at his friend for a long moment.
     "You're beginning to enjoy all of this aren't you?"
Lorne did not have time to answer as Nova and Lexy approached and
signaled for them.
     "We just passed Jae's outer sentry patrol.  So far so good," Nova
said.
Lupo entered the main cabin.  He spoke to his own crew in their native
language then looked to the colonials.
     "We are on final approach and have been cleared to land.  I will
clear the bay of all personnel.  Then, I will signal for you to exit the
ship," said Lupo.
     "Whatever you say.  It's your show," Nova said.
     One by one the cylon's filed out of the ship.  Eventually, only the
human passengers remained.  Several centons passed as the warriors knelt
with their weapons drawn waiting for the signal to make their move.
     "This feels wrong.  We shouldn't be here," whispered Dirk.
     "Will you shut up!  Can't you ever think positive?" asked Lexy
angrily.
     "Sorry, Lexy."
     Lexy glared at cadet Dirk for his informal reference to her.
     "I-I mean, captain".


     Lupo led the human strikeforce through a maze of corridors to the
outermost part of the cylon city.  He had explained to the colonials that
they had landed in the most remote and barely used landing pad on the
planet to avoid being detected.  Now, it was up to the colonial warriors
to hike a few centars up a large volcano to the base of the cylon
processing facility.  Lupo's guards stayed behind to guard the ship. 
Nova had given them each a laser rifle and several solenite grenades. 
Hopefully, they would not need to use them.  If they were discovered and
came under fire, the human contingent would surely be captured without an
escape vehicle.
     Nova instructed his troops to put their breathers on.  While the
atmosphere was breathable and computer scans showed it to be safe, he
didn't want to take any chances.  It was going to be a long hike.  The
air had a horrible stench to it and he could smell sulfur and ash
everywhere.  The ground on which they walked felt like sand.  It was a
dark gray with occasionally large patches of some kind of black, tar like
substance.  Some of the mountains and rock structures they passed looked
like crystallized rock with shimmering specs of what appeared to be gold. 
The sandy surface would not make for an easy hike.
     "My legs are killing me," moaned Mason.
     "I... thought I... was in shape," added Syhia.
     "You?  I...I feel like my legs are about to detach," said Jen who
was gasping for air.
     "What a shame that would be," said Dirk with a mischievous smile.
     The two black females looked at each other in disgust and then
simultaneously shoved Dirk out of their way.  He stumbled sideways and
fell into a patch of the tar like substance.  He rose slowly and tried in
vain to get the goo off of him.
     "That's not a bad look for you," joked Lorne as he passed his slime
covered pal.
     Lexy and Nova looked back to see what was keeping their team.  They
had reached their goal, a plateau just below the plants main reactor.  
     "Cadets," said Lexy and Nova in unison as they shook their heads.
     Lupo pointed to a large, jutting structure above them.  There was
obviously no human way to climb it, so they each dug into their supply
packs and retrieved their ascenders.  The colonial warriors and Lupo
pointed their ascenders straight up and fired.  The pitons penetrated the
rocky surface and held firm.
Each member of the demolition team then pushed their lift button and
quickly shot up through the air before coming to an abrupt halt just a
foot or two from the summit.  With little difficulty, they each pulled
themselves over the ledge and stuffed their ascenders back in their back
packs.  
     "This way!" said Lupo.

              CHAPTER 11

     "All is going according to my plan.  Fear not, my friend," said the
shape.
     "How can you be so sure.  Hasari was to be no obstacle at all and
look what happened!  We suffered far too many losses to that race of
peasants!" exclaimed Imperious Leader.  
     "The humans defended them with three of their so called battlestars. 
They are the cylon equivalent to a basestar."
     "Impossible.  My basestar design is the most powerful warship in the
cosmos," said the leader with some pride.
     "Nevertheless, at this moment a single battlestar is on route to
your main war plant on Jae," the shape said.
     "How do you know this?"
     The shape smiled and turned into a large blob and then slowly into
the form of a man.  He stood at the base of the Imperious Leaders command
pedestal.  He looked up towards the cylon leader and with no effort at
all, raised himself to the same level as the leaders command chair.  The
leader simply stared at the human who now floated before him.
     "I have been to the human's seat of power.  It is in chaos," said
Count Diablis.
     "And they actually believe one of these battlestars can destroy my
base on Jae?"
     "The commander of this battlestar is acting on his own.  His name is
Ares and his ship is the Poseidon," explained the count.
     "He is named after a human god?"
     "Oh, he's no god.  Not yet, anyway.  However, you must destroy him. 
This Ares and his battlestar could be the biggest obstacle you will face
from the humans.  As it stands now, I have filled their beloved council
of twelve with fear, anger, resentment and most importantly...greed. 
Ironically, the easiest will I have converted was that of their supreme
leader...Cyrus."
     "A most fitting name for a human leader in this war."
     "Yes.  Now, go my friend.  Take your basestar to Jae and destroy the
battlestar Poseidon!" said Diablis in a commanding tone.
     "Yes, my master."


     "Lorne?"
     "All set, captain Nova."
     The solenite explosives were now in place.  They now had a centar
and a half to get back down the volcano and send for their escape ship. 
When the explosives go off, they will probably rip the entire mountain
apart.  According to Lupo, the delicate compounds inside the facility
could also ignite the underground magma flows causing several of the
adjacent volcanoes to erupt.  They knew they had better  be long gone
before that happened.
     As the group raced towards the edge of the mountain, they heard a
loud humming noise approaching from behind them.  They turned to see
dozens of spherical droids speeding towards them.
     "Sentroids!" shouted Lupo.
     "Let's get the frack out of here!" shouted Dirk as he fired his
weapon.
The sentroids returned his fire as laser bolts exploded all around the
demolition team.  Sentroids were sentry's which patrolled the perimeter
of the cylon city.  They were the size of a triad ball and extremely fast
with one small laser turret at their base.  
     "Go!  Go!  We'll cover you!" said Nova as he and Lexy took up
positions behind a large boulder.
     The rest of the colonial contingent jumped down on their ascension
cables that had been left behind and began their descent.  Lorne was
right above Jen and saw that she was having some trouble.  Just as he was
about to offer his hand to help, she slipped and began to fall.  Lorne
grabbed her with all of his might, but could not keep her up with just
his one hand.  She fell again and this time was saved by Lupo's powerful
arm.  Lorne was shocked!  Even though the biological cylon had led this
expedition, he had believed it was for purely his own benefit.  Now, he
watched as the cylon lifted his fellow warrior to safety and helped her
re-attach her safety belt.  Lorne could see the surprise on the rest of
the groups faces as well.
     Nova and Lexy's shots were finding their marks more often than not
but there were just too many of them.  They were losing ground fast as
the flying Sentroids continually tried to fly over and around the human
captains.
     "Let's go!" exclaimed Nova as he led Lexy to their escape cables.
     The sentroids accelerated as they saw their human invaders retreat. 
They were gaining ground fast.  Laser fire struck the ground right beside
Lexy and she was knocked off her feet.  
     "Ahhh!" she screamed.
     Nova ran back to her, picked her up and put her over his shoulder. 
After running to the edge, he let her down as gently as he could and
turned to give her cover fire for her escape.
     "Thanks, Nova!!!" shouted Lexy over the loud explosions.  
She had hurt her ankle and probably would not have made it back without
Nova's help.
     Nova was now alone and did not want to turn his back on the
approaching enemy.  He quickly unhooked a grenade from his utility belt
and flung it into a swarm of sentroids.  Without waiting to see the
result of his throw, he turned and jumped down and took a hold of his
cable.  If he would have stayed, Nova would have seen twenty five
sentroids explode all at once. 
     Lupo had already reached the plateau below and was calling his
comrades on his communicator.   He sees Jen is now just 30 feet from the
surface when she suddenly falls and lands violently.  Her cable had been
blasted by a sentroid.  Syhia reaches Jen first and begins to attend to
her leg.  Syhia was not only a colonial warrior, she was also a medic.  
     "Her leg is broken," she said to anyone who was listening.
     "Owww, it hurts!" Jen cried as she buried her face in Syhia's chest.
     The rest of the group was now on the ground and blasting at the half
dozen sentroids who were still buzzing around them.  
     "The ship is on it's way!  They will meet us on the other side of
mount Sylian," said Lupo to Nova as he pointed to the next volcano.
     "We'll never make it with our injured!" shouted Lorne as he blasted
another cylon droid.
     "We must go now!  Soon,  they will have fighters in the air,
searching for us!" shouted Lupo.
     "I'll stay with Lexy and Jen.  The rest of you go!" ordered Nova.
     "I'm not leaving anyone behind, captain!" said Lorne as he grabbed
his ascendor and fired it 100 yards to mount Sylian.  
     His piton took hold and he pulled it back tight, attaching the other
end to a large rock formation.  Without saying another word, he grabbed
his laser rifle and raised it over the cable.  He held on tight with both
hands as he slid across the cable to the other side and safety.  He then
shouted over his communicator for the others to follow suit.  He also
advised them not to look down.  It was a scary sight.  Lorne had made the
mistake of looking down to see a river of molten lava flowing between the
two mountains.  It was about 300 yards down but he could still feel the
heat as he slid to safety.
     "Let's go!  I think that's all of them," said Nova as he blasted the
last sentroid.
     Lexy hobbled into place and went across next.  She made it over
without a problem.  Jen was next but didn't want to go.
     "I can't, Syhia!  I won't make it!  I'm not strong enough!" she
cried.
     "Yes you will, Jen!  You are a colonial warrior and the strike
leader of Bronze squadron!" said Syhia in a challenging tone.
     Slowly, Jen got to her feet with Syhia's help.  She slid down the
cable and was three quarters of the way there when her grip began to
slip.  The group looked on in horror as she held on for dear life. 
Thankfully, she made it into Lorne's arms to the cheers of her
companions.  
     Syhia went next followed by Dirk who was praying aloud the entire
way over.  
     "Ok, Mason.  Let's move it, son," said Nova as he helped the young
warrior get started.
     "Yes, sir," said Mason with a confident smile.
     Mason was about halfway over when he began to laugh.
     "Hey, this isn't so bad!!! It's kind of fun!!!" he screamed to his
cohorts on the other side.
     Suddenly, a single sentroid appeared as if out of nowhere and began
to open fire on Mason.  The terrified Mason screamed as lasers streaked
by him on all sides.  Lupo and Nova began to fire at the droid as did
Lorne, Dirk and the others from the opposite side of the gorge.
     Then, almost simultaneously, the sentroid exploded from a shot by
Nova as it fired one last shot at Mason.  The shot just grazed by the
young warriors hands but it was enough to burn his fingers and force him
to let go.  Mason fell 300 yards, screaming all the way, into the river
of lava below.
     "Nooooooooo!!!" screamed Syhia.
     Lexy turned away and into the unsuspecting arms of Dirk.
At any other time, Dirk would have made some smart remark or made a
flirtatious comment to Lexy, but now he just held her close.  Her tears
covered his battle jacket.  He would have never thought that the great
warrior, Lexy, could show such emotion and vulnerability.
     "Oh, my god!" cried Lexy into Dirks chest.
The others looked on in horror for a long moment before Nova and Lupo
crossed their makeshift bridge themselves and ordered them to move on.


     "Commander, we are approaching the Jae system.  Do you wish to
reduce speed?" asked Colonel Dykstra.
     "No.  Continue at light speed, colonel," Ares replied.
     "Aye aye, sir."
"Go to battle stations and bring all fighters to launch ready!" the
commandeer ordered.
     "Battle stations!  All gunners man the batteries!  Electronic
defense shields to maximum!  Negative bridge shield now," ordered
Dykstra.
     Red alert claxons blared throughout the battlestar as the metal
shield slowly lowered over the bridges main viewer.  Gunners manned their
anti-fighter artillery and pilots ran to their cobras.
     Moments later, Dykstra approached Ares command chair.
     "Sir, all squadrons standing by as we are entering the Jae system. 
We are scanning one very large warship along with four of those carrier
class ships we encountered at Hasari," Dykstra said.
     "Ok.  Andronica, reduce to sublight speed.  Launch all fighters and
all batteries prepare to fire at will," said the commander.
     Almost immediately, the entire fighter contingent from Poseidon was
catapulted into the vacuum of space and towards their enemy.


     Inside the Serpent, Lupo's freighter, Syhia is attending to Jen's
leg as Lupo's pilot struggles to achieve orbit.  The pilot informs Lupo
that four squadrons of fighters are rising to pursue them.  Nova looks
out a viewport to see the fighters just clearing the clouds of Jae.  A
moment later, Nova's sight is momentarily blinded by an incredible light.
     "There goes the solenite," Lorne says as he checks his timepiece.
     On the surface, great explosions rock the entire city and the cylon
main weapons facility goes up in flames.   Nova can see several volcano's
erupting at once.  Lava pours from the volcano's and over the one time
cylon city.  Cylon cyborgs as well as robotic cylons are swept under the
lava current and destroyed.  The metal ones melt slowly as the cyborgs
squeal in pain.  Their metal parts disintegrate, leaving a small, slimy
alien brain that looks like a slug to die a horrible death.
     The human passengers of the Serpent cheer as the cylon occupants
squeal in delight.
     "We're not out of this yet!" warns Nova.
     The Jae squadrons are now in firing range as explosions rock the
serpent from side to side.
     "We're gonna die!!!" screams a hysterical Dirk.
     Lupo, who is sitting beside the young cadet, clobbers him with a
strong right cross.  The blow knocks Dirk out cold.  The warriors stare
in disbelief before Lexy finally breaks the silence.
     "Thank you," she says.
     Lupo simply stares ahead and blinks his eye.  He notices an alert
light next to his pilot has activated.  Lupo unstraps himself and makes
his way to the cockpit as explosions continue to rock the ship.  Once
inside the command cabin, his subordinate informs him of a new squadron
of fighters closing in on their position.
     "They've cut off our escape route," said Lupo.
     "No," corrects Nova as he enters the cockpit.
     "Those are cobra signatures!  It's our fighters from the Poseidon!"
     The Poseidon squadrons scream by the fleeing Serpent and immediately
engage the pursuing cylon fighters.
     "Thank the lords of Kobol," sighs Jen as she rubs her leg.
     "You're daddy's here," Lexy said to Lorne with a laugh.
     Lorne frowned at first but then began to laugh himself as he
realized that Lexy was kidding and did not mean anything disrespectful.

     The Serpent lands on the Poseidon and quickly refuels.  Her human
occupants rush out of the freighter and to their fighters with the
exception of the injured Jen.  That is, after Lorne wakes Dirk up from
his unplanned slumber.
     "W-what?  What happened?" asks a thoroughly confused Dirk.
     "Come on Dirk!" shouted Lorne as he ran out of the Serpent.
     Dirk slowly rose to his feet and began to rub his aching face.
     "Mmmm, why does my jaw hurt so bad?" he whispered to himself as he
left the freighter.
     Lorne, Dirk and even the hobbled Lexy prepped their fighters for
takeoff.  Meanwhile, Nova was saying a goodbye and thank you to the
humans unexpected cylon ally.
     "Where will you go now?" he asked Lupo.
     "That is not important.  Our bargain is complete.  We have avenged
our clans who were slaughtered by Imperious Leader.  This will surely set
the new cylon empire back several yahrens.  Be wary, human.  Take
advantage of this time," Lupo said.
     "Wait!  The bargain is not complete.  You said you would help us in
this battle!"
     "My clans will repel the cylon forces at the appropriate time.  Good
luck, human.  You will need it!"
     Nova watched as Lupo boarded the deep space probe provided by Ares 
and revved it's engines.  He didn't know whether he should detain him
until he upheld his end of their deal, or just let him go.  Before he
could decide, the Serpent roared out of the Poseidon's hangar bay.  
     "Nova!  Come on!" shouted Lexy from her cobra.
     Nova snapped out of his daze and rushed to his fighter.  Within
microns, he was clear of the Poseidon and heading for the battle above
Jae.

              CHAPTER 12

     The Imperious Leader had just ordered his basestars squadrons to
launch the counter attack against the fool humans from Poseidon.  With
the squadrons from Jae joining his command basestar's fighters and the
fighters from the orbiting Warhawks, this battle should be a massacre. 
These humans had know idea what or who they were dealing with.  However,
the Leader failed to notice that the four Warhawks orbiting Jae never
responded to his launch order.  Their fighters sat motionless in their
launch bays. 
     The Leaders scanners now showed the human fighters retreating to the
far side of Jae.  The cowards!
     "Centurians, pursue!" he ordered over his unicom.
     Swiftly, his entire fighter squadron streaked over the atmosphere of
Jae in pursuit of the retreating human forces.

     "Are they away?" asked Ares.
     "Yes, sir," answered Dykstra.
     "Now, Andronica."
     Andronica entered in the coordinates that would bring the Poseidon
out from the far side of the small moon they were hiding behind and into
the sights of the cylon Basestar.
     "There she is, sir," said Andronica as she stared at the bridges
main viewer.
     "It looks as big as the Poseidon," added Marem.
     "Flank speed ahead and prepare to engage," snarled Ares.

     The Leader pushes his unicom to the next setting .  His image now
appears on the Poseidon''s main viewer.
     "What's this?  So, you led my fighters away and now you think you
can challenge me?', said a bemused Imperious Leader.  
Gasps spread like wildfire over the bridge crew of Poseidon at the site
of the sinister looking alien before them.
     "I am commander Ares of the 12 colonies of mankind.  To whom am I
speaking?"
     "I am Imperious Leader of the Cylon Empire, your rightful ruler. 
Surrender your vessel and you  and your colonies may be spared."
     "Never!  We are a free society.  We will never live under cylon
rule!" exclaimed Ares.
     "You are outnumbered and outgunned, commander.  You cannot possibly
defeat my basestar and four warhawks."
     "Sounds like my kind of odds," sneered Ares.
     "Prepare to fire," the leader said to his cyborg commander.
     "Prepare to repel!" shouted Ares.
     "Now, die as you deserve to human pest!" said the leader as his
viewscreen image disappeared and laser cannon fire shot from the
basestars guns.
     "Helm, hard to starboard," ordered Ares.
     The commanders move helped but the Poseidon still suffered several
hits.
     "All batteries commence fire!" the commander ordered.
     The battlestars artillery erupted towards the oncoming cylon
mothership.


     Meanwhile, on the far side of Jae, the daggitfight raged.  The stars
were filled with flashes of laserfire and explosions.  Ships that were
partially hit, would plummet to the atmosphere and burn up.  The lucky
ones were the ones who took the direct hit and died instantly in a ball
of fire.
     "Cadet Martin!  There's three rising on your tail!" warned Lexy.
     "I can't shake them!!!" screamed the terrified cadet.
     "I gotcha, Marty!" said Lorne as he turboed towards his classmate.
     "Hurry, Lorne!!!"
     "One...two...and three! Yeeeeehawwww!!!" shouted Lorne as he
destroyed the enemy craft.
     "Wow!  Great moves, buddy!" said an ecstatic Dirk.
     "Not bad, rookie," added Lexy.
     Nova simply shook his head and allowed himself a small, satisfied
grin.  They had a chance and that's all they needed.  These cadets had
come a long way in a very short time.  If this was the resolve with which
the colonies were going to fight, then the cylons should beware.


     The battlestar and basestar stood toe to toe like two great titans
exchanging blows.  Neither one was going to back down.  This was a battle
to the death.  Both ships had small fires and hull breaches scattered
throughout their surfaces,  but they fought on.
     "Commander, shields at 15%!  We're going to lose them at any
moment!" warned Andronica.
     "Shields at 20% integrity," reported the cyborg.
     "5 percent!" cried Andronica.
     "Sir, we must retreat!" shouted Dykstra.
     "Fire all forward missiles!" ordered Ares, ignoring his first
officer.
     "Shields at 5 percent!" the cyborg reported.
     "Fire!" ordered Imperious Leader.
     "Our shields are gone!!!" Andronica shouted.
     Suddenly, an explosion rocks the rear flank of the cylon basestar.
     "Centurian!  Report!" orders the leader.
     "Master, our Warhawks are firing at us."
     "What?!"
     "Our shields are at 2 percent strength."
     "Lupo!!!  Lupo, if I ever get my hands on you!!!" the leader
exclaimed as he pushed the emergency escape pod lever on his pedestal.
     The leader disappeared as his command chair sunk into his pedestal
and the pedestal shot down through the bowels of the basestar and out
into space.  The cyborg commander simply stared at the open hatch where
the Leaders pedestal used to be.
     "Fire," said the lead Warhawk commander.
     "Fire!" ordered the colonial commander.
     The cylon basestar took direct hit after direct hit from the rear
flank attack by the warhawks and the frontal assault by Poseidon.  It's
superstructure began to buckle and huge chunks of the ship began to break
away.  A moment later, the cylon basestar exploded like a supernova over
the planet Jae.
Boisterous cheering erupted on the bridge of Poseidon.  Marem and
Andronica ran to each other and hugged emphatically.
     "We did it!" they say simultaneously.
     "Colonel?"
     "All fires are controllable, commander.  And, the landing bays are
intact!" said a relieved Dykstra.
     "Thank the lord," sighed Ares as he winked at Marem.
     "Recall all fighters, colonel," the commander ordered.
     As Dykstra followed through on the commanders last order, Ares could
see Lupo's ship through the viewport.  It banked in front of them and
then took up a lead position in front of the Warhawks.  A micron later,
all five ships accelerated away at light speed.  Ares stared at there
last position for a long moment and then sat down in his chair.  Slowly,
he smiled.


     "We're getting a recall signal from Poseidon.  All squadrons break
off!  Break off!  We're going home!" said Nova with great excitement.
     Hoots and hollers could be heard from each warriors cockpit.
     "You here that, Dirk?" asked Lorne slyly.
     "Thank god," whispered Dirk as he shook his head and wiped the sweat
from his forehead.
     "The cylons are not pursuing," said Lexy.
     "I think they've had enough of the Poseidon for one day," said Nova
with a smile.
     As the Poseidon squadrons make their final approach to board the
Poseidon, they witness the appearance of the battlestars Olympia and
Argo.  Again, cheers erupt throughout the pilots and bridge crew of
Poseidon who had feared the worst for their sister ships that they had
left behind.
     "Admiral Bellisario thought you could use a hand, Ares.  I guess he
was wrong," smiled Nybe over the Poseidon's viewer.
     "I told you they would be fine," snickered Ares to Dykstra.
     The colonel simply shook his head.
     "We were doing our best to hold those devils at bay when they
suddenly retreated," explained Nybe.


     Several light yahrens away, the Imperious Leader has landed aboard a
cylon tanker.  It was the closest ship that had received his emergency
beacon.  He paced angrily around the tanker's small command bridge. 
Then, Diablis appeared behind him.
     "Lupo and his clans betrayed me, master."
     "All is not lost, my friend," said Diablis.
     "He actually aided the human abodes!!!  He despised them!  I now see
that I must destroy all cylon biologics!  Even my scientists and command
tacticians.  They cannot be trusted.  I will rule only a mechanical cylon
alliance.  I promise you, master, I will rule the humans!" promised
Imperious Leader.
     "Have patience, my cylon friend, for this is not the end...it's just
the beginning," smiled count Diablis.


     On the landing deck of the mighty battlestar, Poseidon, Marem
awaited alongside Andronica and Ares.  They awaited for the squadrons to
land and for the pilots to disembark their ships.  As soon as Nova's
hatch had opened, Androncia began to scream in delight and rushed to his
ships side.  He jumped down and into the arms of his lover.  They kissed
passionately and embraced for a full centon.
     As Lorne approaches his father to celebrate their victory, he is
surprised to be cut off by the beautiful bridge officer, Marem.  She
throws her arms around him and kisses him several times on the cheek as
his father watches nearby.  Lorne returns the hug and looks towards his
father in bewilderment.  Ares laughs out loud.  Marem, a little
embarrassed, releases Lorne and steps away.  Andronica and Nova have
finished their own reunion and notice the commanders source of amusement. 
Andronica smiles weakly and looks back towards Nova.  She kisses him
again.
     "Son, I'm so proud of you," Ares said as he embraced Lorne.
     "Thank you, father.  I'm proud of you too!"
     Everyone is laughing as Dirk looks at Lexy standing next to him with
a sly grin.  Dirk embraces the object of his desire and without thinking
tries to kiss her on the lips.
     "Watch it, loverboy!" Lexy warns as she pushes the overeager cadet
back.
     Dirk turns an embarrassed shade of red and steps back.
     "Hey, you did ok out there...rookie," Lexy said softly as she leans
over and kisses Dirk on the cheek.
     "I want everyone to get cleaned up and we'll meet in my quarters in
30 centons for a feast of thanksgiving!" said the commander to the
delight of the others.
     Marem was as shocked as anyone at the commanders choice of words. 
The self proclaimed atheist wanted to have a thanksgiving?   This man was
very complicated or very crazy she thought.
     As the group leaves the bay murmuring, Nova calls to Lorne to stop. 
They are alone as Nova leads Lorne to a separate turbo lift.
     "I just wanted to tell you that I think you did a great job out
there," Nova said.
     "Thank you," said a surprised Lorne.
     "Not only out there in space, but down on the planet.  You're gonna
make...no you are a fine warrior, Lorne.  I'm proud to have you under my
command," said the captain.
     "Look, I don't know if I can ever be your friend but I appreciate
what you are saying.  I'm proud too.  I'm proud to be flying for the best
pilot in the colonial fleet!" said Lorne earnestly.
     Nova extended his hand and Lorne took it.  They shook hands and then
Nova patted Lorne on the back and led him to the turbo lift.


     Ares sat at one end of the table with Dykstra at the other.  To the
commander's right were Nova, Andronica, and Lexy.  On his left were
Lorne, Dirk and Marem.  They had just finished a wonderful meal when Dirk
cleared his throat indicating he had something to say.
     "Well, commander, how would you grade the crew on our maiden
"training" maneuvers?"
Everyone burst out laughing including commander Ares and Colonel Dykstra. 
Then, Ares demeanor turned serious.
     "Just before dinner, I received word from our Aquarian
representative to the council of the twelve, Shon.  He informed me that
by a unanimous vote, the council of twelve agreed on an official
declaration of war against the empire of Cylon," said Ares somberly.
     Suddenly, everyone's expression turned to a stunned and disturbed
one.  
     "L-lords of Kobol help us," said Marem softly.
     Ares gave his dinner guests a moment to digest the news he had just
delivered to them before speaking again.
     "I am depending on each and every one of you to serve and fight with
every fiber of your being until this war is won.  Every man, woman, and
child in the twelve worlds will be counting on the colonial warriors to
defend their homes and their way of life.  We must not fail!" exclaimed
an excited Ares.
     After a moment, Nova raised his glass and offered a toast.
     "To victory!" he said.
     "To victory!!!"

     Later that night, as Ares laid in his bed, he thought about all that
had transpired in just the last several days.  The crew and the ship had
come so far, so fast.  So many things were now uncertain in their lives
and the lives of the colonial people.  He did, however, know one thing
for certain.  The great war had begun!

The End

Coming Soon:  Battlestar Poseidon II:  Conquest of Kobol