ROUND ROBIN OF 1996                               Premise

Commander Adama was in his office dictating another section of his
personal log.
     "A few centars ago, we entered a system.  There have been no
signs of cylons for quite some time.  It appears we have eluded them,
at least temporarily.  The fleet is low on fuel.  It's only a matter
of sectons before we'll be at a dead stop in space.  The food status
is not critical yet, but the agro ships do need new seed before the
current supply is depleted.  We are scanning and using recon patrols
on the planets in this system in the hopes of finding food and fuel,
allowing us to continue our voyage to Earth.
     "Preliminary scans show no sign of spacefaring craft.  We can
only hope to either find an uninhabited planet or an intelligent race
of beings open for trade without jeopardizing a war.  Should this not
prove to be the case, we shall take all the precautions necessary in
obtaining just enough to travel to the next star system.
     "If we do find the resources we need, I intend on using teams
mostly of civilian specialists in the areas needed to aid in the
collection.  Doing so, I hope to accelerate the resource collecting
and allow them to spend some time on a planet once again before
continuing our voyage.  My only concern would be for those who want
to make a home on the planet regardless of whatever dangers there
may be."

     On the bridge of the Battlestar Galactica, Colonel Tigh picked
up the comm unit, pressed a few buttons, and began to speak into it.
"Commander. You should come to the bridge.  Reports from the recon
patrols are beginning to come in."  He hung the comm unit back on
its wall holder.
     It only took Adama a centon to leave his office and be up on the
rotating command center on the bridge.  "News, Colonel?"
     Tigh handed Adama a printout of a report from the scanners.
"Recon Patrol 2 reports planet 2 in their section has an acceptable
atmosphere and traces of Tylium."  Tigh pointed out readings
displayed on two monitors.
     "Who's in Patrol 2?" Adama asked.
     "Sergeants Jolly and Greenbean, sir."
     "Once all the patrols are back on board, select a suitable
landing party of ten to do preliminary surface surveillance.  Have
two vipers provide escort to the shuttle and remain with it at all
times.  I want to see Jolly and Greenbean in my office as soon as
they land.  If this planet proves to be beneficial for us, we'll
set up various teams to begin the collection."
     Tigh acknowledged, "Yes, sir."
     Adama began a journey around to the various bridge stations
examining the data on the system and collecting reports to take to
his office.

     Boomer and Deitra were selected as the shuttle pilots for the
first surface recon.  Starbuck and Bree would provide the viper
escort while Jolly and Greenbean reported to Commander Adama's
office for debriefing.  Colonel Tigh remained on the bridge to
coordinate the various activities.  He wouldn't allow anything to
go wrong.
     Once on the planet, the scientists who were on board the
shuttle, disembarked to collect various samples and readings, trying
to determine which areas would best suit their needs.  Boomer and
Deitra protected the scientists from any surface dangers.  Animal
life was everywhere albeit very hesitant to approach the newcomers
at first.  Starbuck and Bree patrolled the skies doing more scanner
sweeps in the process.  Only twenty percent of the planet's surface
contained water; hardly enough to support all the animal and plant
life on the planet.  Later scans showed a large supply of water
under the surface - underground lakes and rivers.  After much
shuttle hopping around the planet, three areas were selected, each
one was far from the other two.  One had a very rich supply of Tylium
ore.  The other two were selected for the large variety of trees and
plants that would provide food and medicine for the fleet.
     All of the members of the Council of Twelve were very impatient
with Adama.  They believed he was not only wasting time with all this
preliminary work, but also withholding information.  They wanted the
teams to be down on the planet NOW, not later.  Adama tried to
explain to them the dangers on the planet, but the Council didn't
want to hear of it.  They insisted at least one Council member, if
not two, would be with each  team. 
If it's safe for civilians, it's safe for Council members.  Adama
finally agreed, but under heavy protest.  He didn't have to abide by
the Council wishes, but did so out of courtesy.  Besides, he would
have at least a half dozen warriors with each landing party for
obvious safety reasons.  Apollo would be in charge of the Tylium
party.  Starbuck and Boomer would be in charge of one of the food
and mineral collecting teams.  Sheba and Bojay were in charge of the
third.

     What dangers will the landing teams encounter?  (Some huge,
flying creature dives like an eagle, picks up someone and take to
its home for dinner unless the person can be rescued or escapes on
her/his own?  :)
     What will be found above and below the ground?  Anything is
possible.
     What kind of animal/plant/tree life will there be?  Any packs
of animals threatening any of the landing parties?  Poisonous plants
or tree leaves unknowingly consumed since scanners said they weren't
poisonous?
     What about the council members who are down on the surface?

***********

Part 1 by Robert Hanczyk
     It took an entire centar for the three Tylium mining stations to
be setup.  They were stationed between a hundred to a hundred-fifty
metrons away from the base of a very long and very high mountain
range.  Twenty workers were assigned to each station.  Because of the
dangers of mining Tylium, regardless of all the safety measures
taken, a team of two doctors and eight med techs were on stand by.
Ten Colonial Warriors were on station to protect the perimeter of the
campsite and mining stations.  Captain Apollo, Strike Commander of
the Battlestar Galactica, certainly had his hands full trying to
keep everything under control with eighty people working under him.
     After each site was erected, Apollo executed a comprehensive
safety check on the structure.  He climbed all the beams.  Tested
all the bolts.  Ran various stress tests on the support.  It didn't
matter how light or dark it was.  He would not rest until everything
was deemed safe and operable by him.  The lives of all the people he
would be working with the next two or three octons (weeks) were his
primary concern.  That's the way it always was when it came to
protecting the lives of all the people in the fleet of 220 ships.
     Apollo had five shuttles at his disposal.  Four of them were for
transporting the ore once it was collected.  The fifth shuttle was
assigned for medical transport in the event an injured person had to
be taken to the Galactica.  Along with the shuttles, Apollo also had
two vipers parked outside of camp for use in blasting when it would
be more practical than using solonite.
     The next morning, the work crews began their mining for the
Tylium ore.  The warriors started to fan out from camp to patrol
the area and be on the look out for any possible dangers.  Hiren
and Joels journeyed out to the base of the mountains.
     "Holy Frack.  Can you imagine trying to scale these?" Hiren
asked his partner.
     "They certainly didn't look this bad from the air.  Which way
should we go?"
     Hiren looked as far as he could going down both sides of the
mountain base.  There was no telling where they may end.  The one side
was pretty plain.  There were some boulders thinly spread among the
sparse wooded areas.  The other way had many outcroppings, piles of
fallen rock, fractures along the face, and a few alcoves another
twenty or so metrons down.  "Let's go that way.  See if there's
anything hiding amongst all the jumble."
     Both men started jogging.  Once they arrived, they began
cautiously walking around the fallen rock.  Much of it was a deep
red in color.  Some pieces had a black, worn down side.  Joels
picked up one small rock.  Not only was it red and black, but
squeezed in the middle was a yellow line.  He was so amazed by it,
he slipped it into his pants pocket as a souvenir.
     "Hey, Joels," Hiren shouted at him.  "Come over here quickly."
     Joels saw Hiren standing atop a mammoth boulder.  It easily
dwarfed a shuttle in comparison.  Something certainly had his
attention.  Joels couldn't see what it may have been from where
he was, so he ran over to the big boulder. On the one side, he was
able to climb up high enough to grab onto the top surface of the
boulder and pull himself up.
     "Look over there."  
     Joels looked down to where Hiren was pointing.  On this side
of the boulder, the ground dropped down pretty far.  In an area,
surrounded on three sides by the mountain was an opening in the
mountain face.
     Joels curiosity had the best of him.  "Let's go explore it,"
he said eagerly.  "No telling what might be in there.  I think
we better secure the area."  He made up any excuse he could to
go there.  He always explored caves on Sagitara when he was a kid.
They were always places where the neatest creatures lived.
    Hiren motioned for him start climbing down.  "I'll be there
in a centon after I call it into Apollo."
     "I'll be waiting," Joels exclaimed as he began his descent.
     Hiren pulled the communicator out of his pocket.  "Jr. Lt.
Hiren to Captain Apollo."  He waited for the response on Apollo's
open end of the line.
     "Hiren, what's your status?" Apollo asked.
     "We found an entrance in to the mountain, sir.  Normally, I
would dismiss it, but this one seems very peculiar.  Cadet Joels
and I would like permission to investigate it."
     "Permission granted.  However, you are not to enter it until
Giles and Kape join you.  Understood?"
     "Yes, sir," Hiren acknowledged.
     "Good.  I'll inform them of your situation.  They should be
joining you in ten centons.  Activate your communicator beacon."
     "Thank you, sir.  We'll be waiting for them."  Hiren closed
down his end, activated the beacon, and put the communicator in
his pocket.  He began climbing down to the opening.  Joels was
already there shining his light inside.  By the time Hiren
joined Joels, Giles and Kape arrived coming down the other side.
     "Find anything here yet?" Kape asked.
     Joels kept straining his eyes trying to see into the darkness.
"Nope.  I'm ready to go in."
     Hiren spoke up.  "I'll go in first.  Joels you follow me.
Kape, would you follow next?  And Giles, you watch our backs?"
     "Sounds good to me," Giles told Hiren, "especially since you
found it."  Giles extended his arm, opening his hand, showing Hiren
the way.  He was not exactly thrilled to be entering a mountain.
     Hiren activated his portable light and entered the cave.  Joels
eagerly entered followed by Kape and Giles.  They had to duck in the
entrance.  It sure was dark in there.  With all four lights on, they
were not able to see how far the low ceiling extended down the
tunnel.  The walls were smooth and dry, possibly the result of water
flowing through here into the ground depression outside forming a
small lake thousands of yahrens ago.
     All four men walked very slowly through the tunnel even though
there wasn't much to see.  Joels wanted to get around Hiren and
speed up the pace, but the tunnel was too narrow for passing.
Besides, he was the lowest ranking officer here.  He didn't have
much of a choice.
     Five centons after entering the opening, which seemed very far
away, it was only as big as Giles' hand.  No subtunnels in sight in
front of them as far as he could tell.  He turned his attention
back to the others.  Rumble.  Rumble.  Rumble.  Crack.  Thud.  He
quickly turned around.  The entrance was closed.  "Hiren..."
     "I heard."
     "Oh no," Kape said as he placed his open hand on his forehead.
     "No problem guys.  Let's go back and blast our way out," Joels
suggested. "I'll go clear the way and be back with you."
     "No Joels," Giles said sternly.  "You forget survival training
classes?  Survival Rule 32: Never fire a blaster in any underground
area.  Doing so may cause a cave-in killing all people in the area."
     "Oh yea."  Suggestion number two from Joels.  "Well, let's go
push it."
     "No.  That was a pretty loud rumble," Kape interjected.  "I'd
say all four of us wouldn't make it budge."
     Hiren had his communicator out.  Nothing but static.
"Communicator is out of the question.  Must be something in this
mountain interfering.  Giles, why don't you activate your beacon
and place it at the entrance.  Put it in emergency mode.  Maybe
somebody outside will pick it up.  Apollo knows where we are.  I'm
sure he'll come searching for us.  In the meantime, let's continue
our search.  We'll keep only one light on at a time to conserve
battery power."
     They all nodded in agreement.  Giles walked back to the
entrance rather briskly, placed his communicator on the ground
with the beacon activated and returned to the group.  Joels and
Kape turned off their lights as did Giles when he was with them.
Hiren led the way deeper into the tunnel.
     
     It was very dense forest.  Trees with leaves of many different
colors, sizes and textures.  Trees so close together, their
branches were wrapped around each other.  Tress with so many leaves
and branches, the floor of the forest could not be seen from the
air.  Starbuck was piloting one shuttle over this forest while
Boomer flew the other in front.
    "Boomer, do you see any possible place to land?" Starbuck asked
over the microphone.
    "Not yet.  Scanners show nothing but trees."
    "If we don't find someplace soon, I may just be tempted to do
the first ever tree-top shuttle landing."
     Boomer let out a laugh.  No reason to hold it back.  "I'm sure
you would.  Look Starbuck, you should be happy.  This could be
Arcta."
     "Funny, Boomer." Starbuck was not laughing at the joke.
     "Sir?  I think we have something," Cadet Aphrodite in Boomer's
shuttle spoke out.  "Five hundred metrons ahead, off to the left is
large clearing.  It may be our best place to land."
     "Hear that, Starbuck?" Boomer asked.
     "Sure did.  Rolan, adjust scanner three degrees positive."
     "Aye, sir," Rolan acknowledged as he carried out his order.
He was another cadet learning all the ins and outs of shuttle
flying.  "Found it, sir."
     There was a cheer from the scientists on board Starbuck's
shuttle.  Boomer had only one other person on board the shuttle
with him.  The rest was all the shelters and equipment necessary
for analyzing the wildlife here in their search for seed, food,
and medicine.  Ten centons later, the shuttles were on the ground,
engines shut down and hatches opening.  The seven scientist were
the first ones out.  They wasted no time walking into the forest
and doing a preliminary survey of the area.  The three med techs
exited the shuttle next and breathed in the country air.  Four
warriors followed.  They knew where they had to go - Boomer's
shuttle for unloading of the shelters and all the heavy equipment.
Starbuck and Rolan were the last to exit.  They also joined Boomer
and Aphrodite.  She was a very beautiful cadet.  Starbuck envied
Boomer.  When the training assignments were distributed, Boomer was
the lucky one to have the prettiest woman in the class under his
tutelage.  Starbuck's hands were kept too full with the two cadets
he was training to allow him time to mingle with her.  Busy.  Busy.
Busy.  Cassiopea was almost more than he could handle.
     There were too many times when being a Colonial Warrior had no
mercy.  Starbuck really had no complaints though.  Flying through
space in his viper.  Passing on his experiences to other people.
All the adventures he had.  It was worth it.
     They began unloading the shelters and setting them up.  The
shelters were simple poles supporting a cover.  If need be, it was
a simple and quick job to add on walls.  Equipment was next.  The
one piece was so heavy, it required four people to unload it and
place it on the movable cart.  Once everything was unloaded, the
eight warriors and three med techs had to wait for the scientists
to return from their preliminary survey and tell them where to set
up the equipment.  They didn't have to wait long.
     Some bizarre sound startled them all.  It was nothing any of
them had ever heard before.  Starbuck and Boomer looked at each
other and shrugged.
     "What was that?" Boomer asked.
     "You got me.  I don't like it," Starbuck replied.
     A voice came from the trees. "Starbuck!  Boomer!  Help!"  It
was low at first,  growing in volume quickly.  "Starbuck!  Boomer! 
We need help!  Come quickly."
     Starbuck and Boomer broke into a run once they saw the
scientist emerge from the trees.  The others followed.  They met
the scientist at the mid way point and followed him into the forest.
Everyone had to slow their pace to weave through the trees.  They
arrived where the other scientists, all looking up, were huddled
together in such a small space, everyone was shoulder to shoulder.
Starbuck and Boomer looked up and saw what was making the sound
they kept hearing.  They also saw what the problem was.
     Up in the sky, a large, green flying creature was circling
around over them.  It had three heads, three feet with sharp claws
on the ends, and two wings.  One wing alone was longer than any of
the people were higher.  The tail wing was a very acute triangle.
Whenever the creature did a sharp turn or climb, the tail fanned
out into a semicircle and did its own flapping, independent of the
side wings.  The creature's body seemed to be a rough, scaling
substance.
     "Boomer..." Starbuck said in an awe struck manner.
     "I don't believe it."
     "Believe it.  Trelle's trapped up there.  He had to see what
was on top of this tree and that...that thing suddenly appeared,"
one of the scientist said.
     Boomer looked around them.  "At least we know something is
living here."
     Starbuck pulled his blaster out of its holster and checked
it setting.  It was on stun.  "I'm going to try and scare it away."
     "You may anger it, buddy," Boomer told him.
     "If it comes to that, we may have no choice but to shoot it
down. I'd hate to do it, but..."  Starbuck did not need to finish
his thought.  If he shot it down, the falling creature may collide
with Trelle and knock him out of the tree.  The creature was
flying in such a tight circle, there was not much room for error.
He shot a blast to the side of it.  The creature screamed in
response.  Starbuck shot another blast to the other side of it.
It screamed even louder and longer this time.  In the distance,
another creature's screaming was heard.
     "Oh, no," Starbuck awed.
     "Now we're in trouble.  Shoot it down and at least one other
will be coming," Boomer said.  "No telling how many there may be."
     "We have to get Trelle out of the tree," another scientists
yelled. 
     The second creature appeared, slightly higher than the first
one.  They began screaming in unison, circling even faster.  Trelle
had his arms wrapped around the tree, holding on for dear life,
praying he was not going to be dinner.  He was too scared to even
think of trying to climb down.

     Sheba and Bojay landed their shuttles down in a field next to
one of the few pockets of water found on the planet.  It was the
largest of the pockets, 346 metrons across at its widest point.
Only three scientists were found in the fleet who dealt with aquatic
sciences.  One was a student at the time of the Peace Conference.
Not one of them had been of any scientific use since the
destruction.  Eight other people were found in the fleet who were
experienced with working underwater.
    The field was made up of a yellow colored grass.  Various
colored flowers were sprinkled throughout the field.  Some trees
were growing next to the water pocket.  One's roots were clearly
seen extending from the base of the tree into and down along the
side of the water pocket.
     The science station was inside the shuttle Bojay flew.  In
the back storage area of the shuttle were three large containers
to collect water from different depths of the pocket.  Other water
containment areas were for storing any living material found in
the pocket.  Flexible pipes were connected to portable pumps set
up directly outside the shuttle to fill the storage areas with
water.
     Bojay led the first team of divers into the pocket.  The
oxygen tanks were the ones used out in space.  They were suitable
for underwater diving.
     "Holy Frack!!!!!" Bojay yelled as his body went underwater.
     "Problem?" Sheba asked with a mischievous smile.
     "Yes, there's a problem.  This water is almost as cold as
space.  We may need our space suits if it becomes any colder."
Bojay was losing some skin color as his body was trying to adjust
to the water temperature.  Mops and Centri jumped in with no
complaints.  They did a few dives to feel the water before they
positioned the oxygen tanks on their backs.  Bojay already was
suited up with his tank.  He checked his light, the type also
used out in space.  It was sealed tight and worked perfectly
underwater.  When everyone was ready, he signaled them and dove
under.
    The natural light penetrated only the top two metrons of water.
After that, it was up to portable lights.  The divers scanned the
sides and picked up samples of rock and plants.  Around the three
men's waists were belts containing small shovels, empty collection
pouches, emergency air tank good for five centons should something
happen to the main tank.  Each person had a basket to put the
samples in.  When the basket was full, the people on the surface
would pull the basket up and take it into the shuttle for
examination, cataloging and storage of its contents.  An empty
basket would be connected to the ropes and lowered back into the
murky depths.
     The three divers had to use hand signals when close to each
other.  They did not have any type of radios with them for
underwater use.  They also stayed within the limited sight range
of each other for protection and to help one another.
     Mops swam over to Bojay to request help in digging out a very
large plant.  He had pried some large rock out from beside it which
happened to expose the root.  The plant above the dirt was deceiving
small.  Not much larger than a forearm.  The root however was the
opposite.  It was in a cylindrical shape, a half metron thick.  From
there, many offshoots were anchored deeper under the ground surface,
each being thicker than a human hand.  Bojay followed Mops over to
the plant.  They had to carefully use their knives to cut through
the offshoots before they could bring it to the surface.
     "Sheba!" Bojay yelled after surfacing.  Sheba, who was closest
to them, was just emerging from the shuttle as he and Mops surfaced
with the large plant.  The other workers were further down the
pocket collecting samples of the soil and small plant growth around
the pocket, with the exception of Poller.  She was helping Sheba in
the retrieval of water baskets.  "Tell Dr. Mirand to come out here.
She'll be very interested in this one."
     When Sheba and Dr. Mirand came over to see what Mops and Bojay
had brought up from the depths, Mops explained just what he saw and
how the root structure spread out from the cutoff points of the
offshoots.
     "Wonderful.  This is quite a specimen.  Don't go back under
yet."  She ran back into the shuttle and came back with a scanner.
"Take this to the area where you cut the plant," Dr. Mirand
instructed Mops.  "You want to scan as far as you can following
the root structure and if there are any other growths off the
roots."
     "Yes, ma'am."  Mops took the scanner from her hands and dove
back under.  Bojay opted to stay on the surface a few more centons.
He and Sheba carried the plant into the shuttle.  They placed it on
the only examination table for Dr. Mirand.  They no sooner let go
of the plant when the scientist was there to start scraping off
samples from it.  Sheba and Bojay quietly exited the shuttle and
returned to the side of the pocket.
     "Think you can handle more cold water, Mr. Hot Viper Pilot?"
     "Of course I can.  But what about..." He picked her up very
quickly and threw her in the water before finishing his question,
"you?"  
     Sheba screamed after she surfaced.  Her eyes were burning
with fire.  "You're going to regret that."
     "Really?" Bojay asked.  He jumped in beside her.  "What are
you going to do about it?"
     "You'll know after it happens."  Sheba punched his arm before
they both started laughing.
     "With your permission," Bojay requested, "I'm going to dive
again."
     "Permission granted."
     Before Bojay went under and Sheba could climb out, Mops
surfaced, breathing heavily.  He tried to say something, but
couldn't quite get it out.  Bojay swam over to his side followed
by Sheba.
     "Breath slowly and deeply," Sheba ordered Mops as she took
his arm to support him.  Bojay took the scanner from Mops' hand.
     "I was...following...the root...the scanner...it went crazy." 
He stopped talking to take in a few more deep breaths.  "I adjusted
the scanner...and traced again.  Same place...it went crazy..." A
few more breaths.  "I changed the settings for deeper level scanning
and went backwards along the path."  More breathing.  "There is
something down at the bottom of this water pocket.  It's not a
natural substance.  It's too deep for us to dive.  It's also too
big to move by hand.  We need something to bring it up."
     Bojay repeated what Mops reported just to confirm it.  "A
large, unnatural object at the bottom of the pocket?"
     "Yes, sir."
     Sheba did climbed out of the water.  She adjusted the scanner
and did some of her own scans.  She did detect something under the
water, deep down.  It was extremely large and would require some
special equipment.  Sheba would have to use the other shuttle to
return to the Galactica and bring down the needed equipment.
     "Dr. Mirand?" she said as she entered the shuttle.
     "Yes, Sheba."
     "We just discovered something large at the bottom of this
water pocket."  She handed over the scanner to the scientist.
     "Lords of Kobol," Dr. Mirand exclaimed as she saw the scanner
data.  "We must make this a priority and bring it up."  She told
Sheba what and who to bring back from the Galactica.  Sheba dried
off and changed clothes.
     "Bojay?"  He was sitting on the side of the pocket with Mops
and Centri, who had surfaced to take a break.  "Continue collecting
samples.  As soon as I come back, we're bringing that thing up.
Don't tell anyone until I return."
      "As you wish," he told Sheba to her back as she ran to the
other shuttle.  The engines fired up and it was off into the sky.
The others watched and returned to the work not thinking much of
it.  It was expected several trips would be made back to the
Galactica.  Mops and Bojay finished their talk with Centri, telling
what they found and returned to the water for more collecting.
They were all anxious to see just what was down there.


Date: Sat, 10 Aug 1996 19:40:01 +1300
From: Jocelyn Edith Parker <jeep@xtra.co.nz>
Subject: Round Robin part 2

I hope you all get it this time
Please send me feedback (good or bad)
ROUND ROBIN 96

THE STORY SO FAR:

The Fleet has found a planet and has send survey parties down to
explore for Tylium on  the surface of the planet.  As the parties
are divided in to three groups each with 20 workers, a team of two
doctors and eight med techs as well as ten warriors to grand them
all.  In charge of them all was Captain Apollo, Strike Leader of
the Battlestar Galactica.  However it did not take long for them
to get into trouble.  Team 1 at base Camp run into trouble when
Hiren and Joels  checked out a  cave near the base and ended up
lost in a cave-in with Giles and Kape, with no communication
with the outside world.  Second problem came when a patrol lead
by Starbuck  and Boomer in a shuttle landed  on the surface and
ran into some strange green flying creatures with three heads 
and three feet.  Third problem came when Sheba and Bojay landed
their shuttle in the water and went diving and found something
in the bottom of the lake So that's where we left everyone so
to speak:

NOW
ROUND ROBIN 96 part 2 by Jocelyn Parker 

	It had been several centars(hours) since Apollo had last
heard from Giles and his group so he had decided check around the
area where they had  reported in from.  As he climbed closer to the
spot of their last transmission, he to noticed the strange coloured
stones and boulders ,when he  picked up one of the stone it quickly
changed it colours from red and black  to scarlet and blue.  He
then noticed that some of the boulder where also changing colours,
but others were still red and black.
	As Apollo moved closer to the Mountain, he called to  the
missing warriors, he even tried his communicator.
	"Hiren, Joels are you receiving me?  Giles , Kape  respond
please."  All Apollo got was static, as he moved close he noticed
that there had been  what appeared to be a landslide. "Sure hope
they weren't under that," Apollo thought as he continued on his
journey pass the landslide. The more time that pass the more
worried Apollo got, he decided to return to the camp and organize
a search party.

     On the other side of the landslide Giles and the other warriors
were exploring the cave looking for a way out, when they came across 
what appeared to be a group of large round eggs about the size of a
daggit.
	"Well, at least we will not  go starve" Giles stated jokely
	"Oh yea! How are we going to cook them Giles?" asked Joels
	"Hey you guys!. Just think about the size of their mother,
and hope she's not around" replied  Kape, slow putting his hand on
his weapon, this made the others do the same. While looking around
the cave Giles stopped what appeared to be a opening just large
enough for a man to go though.
	"Looks like we found our way out of the cave at least. Let's
go you guys, last one out reports to  Captain Apollo" with that he
made for the opening, slowly they all climbed out of the mountain.
As they looked around they realized that they were in an area which
had not been explored so far.
	"Great anyone got an idea where we are?" Kape asked.  The 
landscape had changed and they were beside a lake with a waterfall 
running into it.  However the water was a bright red (the colour of 
blood).

	"I tell you  Starbuck,  we had  better think of a plan to get
Trelle down from that tree before that things decides to pick him
off it" Boomer stated as he watched the two large creatures circled
the space above the trees.
	"Yea, well I'm out of  good ideas right now, but your right 
Boomer.  If only we could get to a Viper, we could blast those things
to Hades." Starbuck replied, looking around for something to use
against the creatures.
	"Boomer, if you and the other scientists could get their 
attention I'll try and get back to the shuttle". Starbuck replied
with a rather sheep's look in his eyes.
	"Then what buddy! What is going on in that mind of yours?" 
Boomer asked not really wanting to know the answer to the question,
but knowing he had to ask.
	"Trust me Boom-Boom, Once those things start to chase the 
shuttle, you get Trelle down and head for cover.  OK!"
	"OK but who's fool enough  to be piloting the shuttle?" Even
as Boomer said it he knew the answer  "I know you will be piloting
it, just be careful OK".
	"No problem, Boom-Boom. You know I'm a careful kind of guy" 
Starbuck yelled as he run to the clearing where the shuttle landed,
in a few centon(minutes) he was airborne and heading towards the
first of the creatures.  
	As Starbuck began his attack on the first of the creatures,
one of the creatures moved towards the shuttle, then with a flutter
of its wings it jumped onto the shuttles roof, and started to peck
at the roof, then the other creature decide to join it.  So you had
one shuttle against two birds (so to speak) you can guess who would
win.

	While  Bojay waited for  Sheba returned from the Galactica
with the necessary equipment to bring up whatever was down there, he
decided to dive down and  take a good look at the thing in the bottom
of the pocket.  As he dove closer he got the feeling that something
was watching him in the deep  shadow, slowly but surely he glazed
around him and there was a large creature like a eel look at him.
As he watched, the creature opened his large month and showed off his
sharp teeth. The only thing Bojay could do was head for the nearest
underwater cave and sit it out until the thing left.
	"I think this guy wants a meal , and he thinks I'm it,"
Bojay said to no one in particular , trying to decide what to do
about this latest danger to the mission.  If he moved to quickly
the eel might attack but Bojay knew he had to return to the surface
soon for air or he would die.  
	Great, if the creature doesn't get me, I'll die of lack of 
oxygen or if I'm really luck the freeze, Hades of a choose. Bojay 
thought.  Just then the eel seemed to turn around and start to move
off away from Bojay.
	"Bless the Lords of Kobol for small miracles" Bojay said As 
slowly he moved up towards the surface "I wonder what caused it to
give up and leave". As he got closer to the surface he saw a second
driver coming towards him. He realized it was Sheba. 
On the surface Bojay told Sheba and the others what had happened and
how suddenly the eel had just left him alone.
	"Maybe it had a better place to be" Sheba stated. Drying her
hair with a towel.  
	"Sheba, you made good time back"
	"It's just as well I did. When I got back Mops told me that
you had gone down to checkout that object and that no one had heard
from you for a while, so I decided to see if you were ok. as  I
swam down I saw that thing  moving around near a cave and guess you
were in the cave, so we started a division to take is mind off you
for a meal"
      "Thanks  Sheba I own you one!"
      "Any time Bojay. Now lets get  the equipment we need to
explore that thing at the bottom of the gap."

Ok Joe it's up to you now.
Well I'm going to leave it there and let someone else take over
now.  I hope you all enjoy reading this part and please excuse
any spelling mistake there may be.

Date: Tue, 20 Aug 1996 20:34:16 -0400 (EDT)
From: No One Important <jchin01@kepler.poly.edu>

Starbuck was inside the shuttle, piloting it. He tried to shake the
two thingies that were on the roof of his shuttle, but they hung on
tightly with their three claws (talons?). If only this shuttle was
as fast & maneuverable as a viper... thought Starbuck. Or anything
like CORA.
  The pecking from the total of four heads was making a racket that
made Starbuck wish that he had an extra two hands to put over his
ears, as well as a fifth hand to draw & fire his pistol if they
broke their way in. That was very improbable, being that the shuttles
have been realigned with armor made from a ferrous (iron; I'm not
sure if I have its Latin version spelled right.) alloy, able to
withstand a few detonations of laser torpedoes.
  As noisy as it was, Starbuck realized that they were pecking at
the shuttle to make the nagging noise, not to break their way into
it. When the creature in front was pecking with two of its heads,
the one on the back was not, & then vice versa. Furthermore, they
were pecking at the shuttle with irregular patterns, very similar
to Earth's Morse code.
  From outside, the two creatures were on the shuttle, followed by
the rest of the flock. One creature was drumming away a sequence
while the other's nine eyes were looking at it, & then vice versa.
The two creatures took one look at each other. One drummed on the
shuttle with two of its head again, & they both let out howls.
  Boomer climbed the tree to get to Trelle. He got onto another tree
branch where he could just reach him. However, Trelle's coordination
was off. Instead of letting go as he took Boomer's hand, he
tightened his hold on the branch that he was stuck on, & pulled
Boomer off balance. From the weight of both men, there was a loud
CRACK & a creaking sound that everyone on the surface heard.
  Tensions were high as everyone moaned & muttered & murmured.
Boomer looked down. It was a long way down; no one could leap from
that distance & land without breaking a bone or so. However, the
other branches below could probably break the free-fall to the
ground, but at minimum, it would leave the person with bumps and
bruises as well as a few cuts: open wounds for whatever unknown
diseases were on that planet.
  Dietra climbed the tree, but did not go out onto the branch. She
had one arm wrapped around the tree's trunk, & held the other hand
out to Boomer. Boomer took it, & let off of Trelle's hand. He swung
towards Dietra, as she held onto him, his belly landing right into
the branch. From there, Boomer climbed onto  the tree branch. Then
they both attempted to get Trelle off the tree branch.
  "Take my hand, Trelle," said Boomer. The branch creaked again.
"Just do what I did."
  "Please, Lieutenant... Find another way to get me of this," begged
Trelle.
  "Hurry! Before the branch breaks," yelled Dietra.
  "I have another way," said Boomer. He went into his holster &
pulled out his laser pistol.
  "NO!!" cried Trelle.
  "Boomer?!" exclaimed Dietra. "Don't you DARE!"
  Boomer looked back at Dietra & winked.
  Boomer yelled to Trelle, "It's the only other way. YOU decide,
Trelle."
  Trelle held a hand out to Boomer. As soon as they had a grip on
each other, the branch broke. Boomer lost his footage as a result
to Trelle. Dietra held onto Boomer's hand, & hugged the tree trunk
for dear life.
  Trelle grabbed Boomer's waist with his free hand, & climbed over
him onto the tree branch. Then he grabbed Dietra, & from there, the
tree trunk, & began climbing down. Boomer climbed back onto the tree
branch, & followed Trelle's actions. Then Dietra herself followed
them down.

  Starbuck saw glimpses of the three making their way back to the
ground. He landed the shuttle, but then, the creatures surrounded
it, & began pecking at it. It got very loud in there. Since he no
longer needed his hands to pilot the shuttle, he was able to cover
his ears & block out the loud thumping noises of the pecking
creatures. However, there was no way out of the shuttle with the
creatures there. Also, there was no way into it.

*****

Hiren tried modifying his comm unit, & tried again. "Apollo, do you
read me?  Apollo, please come in." After a few microns of static,
he said to Giles, Joel, & Kape, "It's no use, guys."
  In the cavern that they wandered into, there were four routes that
they could  take, & Giles, Joel, Hiren, & Kape were arguing, trying
to decode which route they should take.
  The blood-red waterfall was that color for only a centon. After
that, it cleared up. A centon later, they heard what sounded like
hooves galloping towards them.
  "What is that?" asked Giles.
  "Well, I don't want to find out. We've better go where I said to
avoid whatever that is."
  Kape took the lead as they headed towards the direction that Kape 
recommended. The creatures that were galloping caught up. There were
two of them; with a human body from head down to its abdomen,
connected to the body of an Earth horse. One was apparently a male,
& the other, female. The male was behind the female, carrying a
green creature with three heads, three legs & wings. It had a stick
sticking out of its belly, as if it was impaled into it. They
muttered some happily sounding gibberish to each other. The male was
carrying a three-legged, three headed green creature on its back, &
the female was carrying a bundle of foliage. The female muttered out
some gibberish, expressed as a question.
  Everyone on the tylium party looked at each other, wondering what
she asked.
  The female put a hand to her chest, & said, "Ashta." She repeated
herself.  Then she gestured towards the male behind her, & said,
"Veele."
  The male let one hand go from holding the prey on his back, put it
on his chest & said, "Veele."
  That everyone understood. Apparently, they were identifying
themselves.
  Giles stepped up, put a hand on his chest, & said, "Giles."
  Kape followed suit. He then gestured to the female alien & asked
"Ashta?"
  She nodded to him, smiling. She then gestured that they follow
them, the way they came, back to where they were locked in by the
cave-in. Hiren was the first to follow them.
  They alien couple took one look at him, & both cried out in
harmony, "Hiren!"  They both bowed to him.
  How could they have both known my name? wondered Hiren.
  They all followed the couple back the way they came. Then they
noticed the drawings & strange writings on the cavern walls. Among
those drawings, there was one of Captain Apollo's face! There was
also one of Athena, & later, there was also one of Hiren  as well.
Rather than stop & examine them further, they continued to follow
the couple.
  They got back to the place with the large eggs. The male of this
alien species, named Veele, moved one of the rocks, & pulled out two
clay cups, a large clay bowl, & a clay ladle. He took one of the
eggs, & placed it in the bowl. Then he used the rock, & smashed it
into the egg, leaving a long crack.  He & his mate separated the
egg shell, leaving a green yolk floating in a clear oily fluid. 
  After the female named Ashta shook each egg shell of what remained
stuck inside of them, she then took the two pieces of the egg shell
away as Veele used the ladle to break the yolk & stir the contents
in the bowl around.
  After it was well mixed, he used the ladle & spooned some of the
egg contents into a cup, until it was full. He then took a drink.
He sighed with pleasure.
  Ashta came back, & took a drink out of her mate's cup. She filled
up another cup. That cup, she passed to Hiren, who took a drink. He
passed the cup to Giles. "It tastes sweet," said Hiren. "It's
delicious." Giles took a drink.
  Then Veele & his wife each broke pieces of its legs off, as well
as the wings. She removed the feathers, broke the wings further by
separating the joints & ripping the meat apart, & passed the pieces
around to the Colonial party. They all ate happily, although the
meat was uncooked.


OK, Neeeeext! Go for it!
I could not decide what to do with Sheba's & Bojay's team.
  Will Starbuck get out of the shuttle? Will the team ever be able
to get into the shuttle? Or will Starbuck be trapped in the shuttle
forever, with the rest of the team all be stranded on that planet
with the creatures? Keep in mind that the way those two were pecking
at the shuttle, I intended that to be their language, & the howls
that they let out was their form of laughter. (They're intelligent
life.)
  Were the two cave inhabitants really as hospitable & kind as they
seemed? Or will the tylium team be intended victims for some secret
agenda between the couple? Let's see what other creative minds
dream up.


*********************************************************
Date: Sun, 27 Oct 1996 21:58:20 -0500
From: Cathy  (CMS21000@aol.com)
Subject: Round Robin


     Sheba turned for what seemed to be the hundredth time and tried
To relax.  No matter what she did, it seemed that sleep was
determined to remain a stranger.  She was nervous about leaving the
site, but she knew that Bojay, Poller, and Dr. Mirand were able to
handle any problem that came their way.  Sighing heavily, she propped
herself up on her elbow and looked out at the workers.  One of the
decisions they had made was that there would be no water diving while
it was dark, since if a diver got into trouble their chances of
rescue were slim.  Those who were still up and about were
investigating the surrounding flora and fauna of the planet.
     "Sheba?" Bojay's voice interrupted her thoughts and startled
her, causing her to turn suddenly to face him.  Sheba squinted to
see her friend in the dark.
     "Yes, Bojay. Is something wrong?" Although she couldn't put her
finger on it, there was something about his appearance that Sheba
didn't like.  Bojay's normally friendly face and mischievous eyes
now looked pale and drawn.  His voice came out monotone.
     "Nothing, just thinking about that eel incident from today..."
his voice trailed off as he made an uncertain gesture with his
hands.
     "Look, you shouldn't have taken the risk you did, but no one
can fault you for the way you got out of it." Sheba smiled, trying
to make a joke out of the whole incident.  Ever since she had known
Bojay, he had always been very proud.  Being embarrassed like that
was bound to bother him a great deal.  Sheba almost chuckled when
she remembered that Poller was there.  She was convinced that Bojay
had designs on the young Lieutenant, and that probably added to his
chagrin.
     "Look, all I'm saying it that I think we're in over our heads.
There's something..."  He paused, trying to find the right word.
"There's something 'wrong' about this place."
     Sheba looked at him oddly. "Well, wrong or not it has the
supplies we need," she said quickly, rising from her sleep mat.
Standing, she began to notice the uncertain way in which Bojay was
standing.  
     "Bojay!" she cried out as her friend fell, and she tried to
support him.  "Dr. Mirand!  Poller!"  Sheba's cry brought the two
women running.  Quickly, they lowered Bojay onto the sleep mat and
Dr. Mirand began to take his vitals.  "He's been poisoned!" she
gasped, checking the scan results again to make sure they were true.
     Sheba and Poller exchanged looks.  "How?" Poller asked, shaking
her head in disbelief. "We've all eaten the same food, drank the same
water.  I don't see..." she was silenced by an impatient wave of Dr.
Mirand's hand.
     "We'll find out soon enough. Now, help me get him to the life
station."
**********************************************
      Giles and Hiren smiled contentedly, watching Ashta and Veele
clean up after their dinner.  Although the two had human torsos,
Hiren felt that they seemed to be more animal-like in mannerisms.
Their language was, with the apparent exception of their
nomenclature, a series of squeals and whinnies that sounded more
like a scanner in need of repair than an actual language.  Still,
they were friendly, and it was nice to be treated hospitably on this
crazy planet.
     "Neeyha.." Ashta said loudly, motioning to the assembled crew to
gather around her and Veele.  In her hand she held a tablet, and in
it were engraved several different symbols that were unrecognizable
from a distance.  Veele stepped in front of her, and in their own
method of sign language indicated to the crew that they wanted them
to take a closer look at the tablets.  Hiren was about to go over
when he remembered. 
     "Starbuck!" he said loudly, slapping his forehead with his hand.
Ashta and Veele looked at him quizzically.  Hiren smiled briefly to
himself.  "I guess to them I sound like a broken scanner."  
     "Listen," he said loudly , trying to mime his words in order to
make them understand, "My friend is trapped.  I must go get him."
Ashta furrowed her brows, and then gave a wide smile showing that
she understood.  Watching her turn to Veele, Hiren assumed that she
was translating.  Veele nodded to his mate and then ran into another
room of the cavern.  When he emerged, he had with him a rod and a
shovel.  "Yeehnya halla," he said, gesturing to the two tools.
Hiren nodded, both too tired to fight and knowing that he couldn't
explain to the two creatures even if he did.  
     When they arrived at the site, Hiren was glad that Veele had
come along.  Even though he had no idea what the creature was going
to do with the rod and scepter, he had provided a useful means of
transportation.  Quickly, Hiren walked over and indicated the spot.
Veele trotted over and regarded the flying creatures cautiously,
whinnying to himself and nodding thoughtfully. Reaching into his
satchel, he took out a book and began flipping through the pages.
Finally, he put the book down and starting moving the rod and
scepter in a rhythmic pattern.
     What followed Hiren could never accurately explain.  Veele's
words changed from the unrecognizable whinnying to a rhythmic chant,
almost like the older Gemonese some of the people aboard the
civilian ships would speak.  It was as if every word had a purpose
that fell in line with the hand motions that Veele performed with
them.  In some corner of his mind, Hiren understood that Veele was
summoning the nature around him to do what he wanted, and
miraculously it obeyed.  The creatures angrily squawked their
objections, but then took flight away from the shuttle.  When the
coast was clear, Hiren walked over to the shuttle and knocked on the
portal.  "Time to come out and do some real work," Hiren said, sing-
songing his words.  The look of shock on the normally suave
lieutenants face told Hiren that Starbuck was just as shocked.  He
looked around and saw no trace of the flying birds.  Then he turned
and noticed Veele.  Finally, Veele put his arms down and dropped the
rod and scepter.
     "By the Lords of Kobol, what is going on here?" Starbuck
demanded, taking in the sight of this half-human/ half-horse
creature.  Hiren smiled to himself, noticing how Starbuck stuttered
out the last couple of words.
     "Whatever it was, it saved your hotshot asteroid," Hiren
retorted, chuckling.  "You should see his mate.  Probably the only
female we don't have to worry about you trying to pick up," he added,
patting Starbuck on the shoulder.
     Starbuck made an uncertain step towards Veele. "Thank you," he
said loudly, trying to make himself understood.  "Starbuck," he said
in the same loud  voice, pointing to himself.
     "Veele," the creature responded, smiling broadly.  
***************************************************

     Apollo looked at his transmitter again, muttering to himself.
There had been no word from either party for quite awhile, and he
couldn't get rid of the feeling that something had gone massively
wrong.  Suddenly, he heard a crackling over the comlink.
     "Captain Apollo, please respond.  Lt. Sheba reporting in."
     Sighing with relief, Apollo responded.  "What's the situation
Lieutenant?"  
     "We've got a problem Apollo." Sheba's voice went from the formal
military command tone to the more personal tone she used when she was
nervous.  "It seems the water here poisoned Bojay.  He's being sent
back to the Galactica now."
     Apollo paused a moment, letting the full impact of what she said
hit him. "Poisoned?  How can that be?  Dr, Wilker..."
     "I don't care what Dr. Wilker told you," Sheba snapped, "It
seems that the poison is not transmitted primarily by ingestion.
It's from bodily contact."
     Apollo's widened, "Who else had contact with that water?"
     "We all did, but only Bojay went in without his diving suit."
     "Okay.  For the time being, stop all dives into that water until
I get there.  I am going to try to get a full report on Bojay's
condition from the Galactica."  He shut off the comlink and walked
over to the shuttle.  If this water is poison, he thought rapidly,
then one of the main purposes of this mission is in danger.  He
thought momentarily of Boxey, his young son by adoption.  How many
times had his son asked for water only to be told that they had to
conserve their resources.  Now how would he feel having to tell
him that they had none left?  A sinking feeling came over Apollo as
he turned towards the shuttle. 
**************************************************************

Date: Thu, 26 Dec 1996 17:55:59 -0600 (CST)
From: Seanchaidh

Round Robin Part 5
by Seanchaidh with Nicole De Roo

     Lieutenant Starbuck and the other warriors brought Veele
back to the camp.  The half-human creature interrupted the
half-hearted attempt at communication with Lieutenant Giles to
look at the Tylium equipment with a mixture of curiosity and awe.
The warriors laughed as they came into the area designated as the
landing area.  They approached the shuttle, but their laughter
died down as Captain Apollo came out of one of the three shuttles,
a serious expression on his face that each warrior recognized.
     "Uh-oh," Starbuck muttered as he went to his friend's side.
"What's wrong?"
     "There's been an emergency," Apollo replied, crossing his
arms across his chest in what appeared to Starbuck as worry.
"There's something in the water, and it's poisoned Bojay."
     "How?" Giles asked, then nodded as Apollo explained
everything he knew.  "I see."
     "He's on his way to the Galactica as we speak," the captain
continued, "but I don't think the prognosis is good."
     Veele, apparently picking up Apollo's agitation, moved up
to face him.  Starbuck watched as Apollo's face transformed from
worry to shock to amazement.
     "You!" Apollo exclaimed, his green eyes widening.  
     Seeing the shocked expressions on the other warriors'
faces, Hiren recalled the paintings on the wall of Veele's home.
     "You recognize him, don't you, Captain?" he asked.  "But
how?  I'd  never seen them before in my life, but they had
paintings of me, you and your sister."
     Apollo shook his head.  "That doesn't matter right now.
We have to get him up to the Galactica.  I know that he can help
Bojay."

     Dr. Salik had placed Bojay in a maximum life support pod.
A monitor placed in the side of the pod displayed his vital signs,
and even to Sheba's untrained eye, she could tell that they were
dropping a few points every centon.
     She placed her fingertips on the transparent covering of
the pod, looking down at the pale face of her friend.  He was the
only thing that connected her to her past on the Pegasus and to
her father.  She dreaded the thought of losing him.
     Cassiopia came up to the lifepod, checking the low of
oxygen, nutrition and other vital systems that were being pumped
into Bojay's dying body.  The medtech's blue eyes were shadowed
with fatigue as she sighed loudly, then looked up sharply as she
realized that Sheba was standing there.
     "Has Salik figured out what the poison is?" she asked.
     "I'm sorry," Cass replied, "but the decon department has
been working non-stop for the past two centaurs.  All they've
reported is that they know that it can't ingested because
stomach acid kills it, and that it seems to bond itself to the
oxygen that feeds the body's cells."
     "Oh."  Disappointed, Sheba looked back down at Bojay.
She thought that Cass had left when she felt a hand touch her
shoulder lightly.
     "Sheba, they'll figure out what it is."  Cassiopia's
voice was firm.  "Just pray and have confidence, all right?"
     Touched by her former enemy's kind words, Sheba nodded,
trying not to let the tears of worry and frustration show, even
though she desperately wanted to shed them.
     A commotion outside the Life Center, loud enough to come
through the thick ferrous walls, drew Sheba's attention away from
Bojay.  Curiously, she went to the door and opened.  She was
greeted by the sight of Apollo, Starbuck, Adama, Hiren and a
creature that she had never seen before in her life.  Apollo and
his father were shouting at each other, while Starbuck and the
creature looked at them with irritation.
     "...and what do you hope to accomplish?" Adama was saying,
his voice much louder than his usual command tone.  "I'll be
getting complaints from the decon personnel in the landing bay
for sectons after this!"
     "Veele can help Bojay!" Apollo replied, his tone matching
Adama's exactly.
     "How do you know that?"
     "Because I do!"
     "How?"  Adama gave his son a pointed expression.
     "I don't know!" came the almost shouted reply.  "Look,
Father, you'll see when it's done!"
     Adama sighed.  "I repeat myself, Apollo.  How can this
creature help Bojay?  What are its intentions?"
     "His," Starbuck interjected.  "His intentions."
     "Thank you, Lieutenant," Adama told him sharply, then
focused his attention back on Apollo.  "How do you know that
he isn't working with Baltar and the Cylons?  Or the Eastern
Alliance?  Can he really do anything at all?"
     Attracted by the noise, Cassiopia came behind Sheba.
     "Commander," she snapped, her voice cutting across the
men's argument.  "Captain.  We have patients in here, so if
you don't mind, keep quiet."
     "Trust me," Apollo pleaded, lowering his voice.
"Father, please."
     "Trust you for what?" Cassiopia demanded, crossing her
arms.  "Look, if I'm not told what's going on in the next ten
microns, I'll have all of you removed from the area."
     "Apollo feels that Veele here can help Bojay," Starbuck
explained.  "Adama disagrees."
     "I'd tend to agree with the Commander," Cassiopia
replied, "but Salik and I are ready to try anything.  Bojay
only has a few centaurs, at the most, before the poison completely
overwhelms his body."
     Reluctantly, Adama nodded.  Triumphantly, Apollo pushed
past the two women into the Life Center followed by the
creature, then the other three men.  Sheba and Cassiopia
exchanged shocked expressions, then followed them in.
     The first thing that Veele, whose actions were
translated by Hiren, wanted was that Bojay be moved to a
separate room.  Cassiopia ordered that the lifepod be
transferred to one of the private rooms at the back of the Life
Center.  Then the cover of the pod was removed, as were the
life support instruments.  With solemn expressions on their
faces, Salik, Cassiopia and Veele encircled the lifepod and
the dying warrior.
     Keeping a fair distance away from the activity, Sheba
let Apollo put his arm around her shoulders.  She wished that
his gesture of concern was given under different circumstances,
but she appreciated the display of affection nonetheless.
     The strange creature studied Bojay's body as he
reached into the bag that he was carrying.  Taking out a
few brightly colored stones and what appeared to be bones,
he placed them at various locations on the lifepod and on
Bojay himself.  Sheba noticed that the pattern the objects
created reminded her of a star.
     Placing his hands on Bojay's head, Veele lowered his
own as he closed his eyes and began to hum softly.  It was
slightly flat, but not unpleasantly so.  Cassiopia joined in,
adding a fifth to the note that turned it into a pleasant
harmony.  Sheba wondered if Cass knew what she was doing.
     Abruptly finishing his chanting after thirty microns,
Veele motioned for Cass to do the same as he removed a small
sack from his bag.  Pulling out a few leafy plants, he placed
one on Bojay's forehead, one on his throat, and a third on his
chest.  Clapping his hands three times, he stood back and
waited.  Silence filled the room, then Sheba heard a voice that
was behind her mutter, "Mumbo jumbo."
     She knew that it was Adama, but she ignored it.  Apollo
held onto her, his grip slightly more tight that before.
Across the room, Starbuck's gaze never left the body. Hiren
looked on patiently, and Cass stood slightly behind Veele,
her blue eyes intense.  Salik, looking -- and undoubtedly
feeling -- useless, kept his eye on the scanner he held.  He
was muttering something under his breath, but Sheba saw his
lips forming the words, "Waste of time."
     Breaking the silence, Veele seemed to shout something
in his language.  As soon as the words left his lips, Bojay's
body jerked.  Salik was immediately at the warrior's side,
checking his vital signs.
     "Sweet Kobol," he said, running the scanner down the
length of Bojay's body.  "The toxin's gone."
     "What?" Adama asked, his face incredulous.  "How?"
     The doctor shook his head, his eyes wide with amazement.
"Somehow, Veele was able to collect all the poison and transfer
it into the leaves."
     "The nehay plant, when activated by the proper energy,
can pull anything out of the body," a new voice said.  The
assembled humans looked down to see that Bojay was conscious
and speaking of knowledge he could not have possibly obtained.
"Nehay is Veele's equivalent word to leechon."
     Sheba shivered at the mention of the blood-thirsty
invertebrate that had been used for medicinal purposes
during various eras both in the Colonies and on Kobol.  Pushing
the image from her mind, she detached herself from Apollo's
grasp as she went to her friend.
     "How'd you know that?" she asked, smiling at him.
"Welcome back.  You had us really scared there."
     Instead of his grin being weak, Bojay appeared to be
full of strength.  "I guess that this is the last I'm going to
procrastinate with any kind of tests before I use whatever it is."
     Laughing, Sheba gave him a mock punch on the arm, while
the other warriors -- especially Adama and his son -- shook
their heads in disapproval.
     "Well, I had no problems in deciding what to put on
your deathstone," she retorted.  "How's, 'Joker to the end.'?"
     "Very funny.  No, the reason I know about the plant is
because Veele is speaking to me telepathically."
     "Huh?" Starbuck asked, uncrossing his arms and coming
to stand next to Bojay.  "What did you say?"
     "Telepathically," Bojay repeated.  "I understand his
thoughts, and he understands mine."
     Adama and Apollo exchanged concerned glances, then
Adama spoke to Bojay, but looked at Veele.
     "Thank you," he began, "for saving the life of this
warrior.  We are deeply in your debt, and if you are ready,
Starbuck and Apollo will return you to your home on the planet."
     Veele smiled slightly, then Bojay spoke.
     "Actually, Commander," the captain began, looking
first at Veele in shock, then at Adama with surprise.  "Veele
has a way for you to repay him."
     "Yes?"  Adama was getting nervous at Bojay's expression.
"Bojay, what does he want?"
     "He wants Hiren, Athena and Apollo."

     Boomer tried to shut out the excited murmurs of the
scientific team as he spoke into the comunit.  He wished that
the scientists would just shut up, and that the Galactica
would finally answer.
     "Come on," he muttered.  "I don't have all cycle.
Answer, for Sagan's sake!"
     "Colonel Tigh, here," came a response a few centons
later.  At the sound of the colonel's voice, the scientists
lowered their volume.  Boomer raised his eyes in thanks to
the mystical Sagan, who was more of mythological figure than
a deity, as he spoke.
     "Colonel, you're going to want to hear this," he
reported, his voice grave as he spoke.  "I just received from
the scientists who are exploring the body of water that Sheba's
team was exploring.  Apparently, the toxin that poisoned Bojay
is no longer present in the water."
     "What?" Tigh asked, incredulous.  "Completely gone?"
     "Well, it's still in the samples that they took earlier,
but every sample they're currently taking is nil."
     "Holy frack," Tigh whispered.  "Do they know why?"
     "No."  Boomer paused.  "But that's not all, sir."
     "Not all?  Then go on, Lieutenant."
     "Earlier, they detected an inorganic substance at the
bottom of the body of water.  They were unable to do further
tests because of Bojay's illness, but apparently, the readings
are growing."
     "Growing?  Lieutenant, what are you getting at?"
     "Sir, the substance appears to be rising to the surface
of the water.  The scientists are estimating that it will be
at the surface in two centaurs, and in the meantime, they're
making readings on what it is."
     There was a pause as Tigh thought about the information.
     "Thank you for the report, Lieutenant.  I'll give it
to Commander Adama immediately."
     "Understood.  Boomer, out."  Pocketing the comunit,
Boomer turned to go to the banks of the water.  He peered down
into the murky depths, wishing that it were daylight so that
he could see deeper into the water.  The scanner screens were
all unable to come up with an accurate picture, and even the
dimensions of the objects were sketchy.
     He heard footsteps running through the gravel towards
him.  Boomer turned and spotted the aide of a senior scientist
slowing to halt in front of him.
     "Lieutenant!" she gasped, her round face pale.  "We have
an update."
     "And it is...?"
     "It's speed has changed.  It'll break the surface in less
than two centons."
     Boomer felt himself staring at the aide.  "What?  How?"
     She shook her head.  "We don't know, but you might want
to step back."
     He did as she suggested as he heard the scientists
shouting again..
     "One centon!"
     "Any ideas of what it is yet?" Boomer asked, not taking
his eyes off the water.
     "Fifty microns!"
     "No, Lieutenant.  It's emitting something that is messing
up the scanners, and it's getting worse as it comes closer."
     "Forty!"
     "Is it dangerous?"
     "I don't know, but we'll be finding out in --"
     "Thirty!"
     "-- Microns," she finished.
     The surface began to bubble slightly, creating small
waves that lapped over the area where Boomer had been standing
earlier.
     "Twenty!"
     The disturbance increased, as did the size of the
waves.  A strange odor began to waft around, and Boomer found
his nose wrinkling at the stench.  He nervously put his hand
on his laser holster, wishing that he weren't the only warrior
present at this location.
     "Ten!"
     "Kobol be with us," the aide whispered, as she stepped
back as a wave almost hit her boot.  Boomer did the same as
she.  He noticed that the scientists were gathered behind them,
silent as they counted the last few microns.
     "Zero!"
     Three somethings shot out of the water, landing in the
shallow end as a fourth object surfaced, floating like a large
cetaceanon basking in Caprican sunlight.  The waves and
splashes created by the emergence hit the scientists and the
single warrior as all but Boomer screamed and avoided the water.
     "Oh, my God," Boomer whispered, as the aide shone a
light on the objects as they stopped their violent bobbing.
     The fourth object was a Cylon Raider, floating upside
down so that its hatch faced the sky.  The three smaller ones
were centurions, each one face-first in the water, obviously
deactivated.  The most unusual aspect about each of the Cylon
creations was that instead of their usually grey/silver colour,
they were all a strange green colour, reminding Boomer of
rotting vegetation.
     "What in..." the aide began, but was unable to continue
as her free hand covered her mouth and nostrils.  "That stench!"
     It was overpowering now, and Boomer had to fight the
urge to bend over and retch.  He gritted his teeth as he began
giving orders to recover the bodies.

     Upon the announcement of Veele's price, Adama had ordered
that they move the conversation into his quarters.  Bojay quickly
changed back into his flight uniform, then met the others in
Adama's chambers a few centons later.
     "Absolutely not!" Adama fumed as he glared at the creature.
"I will not give them to you!"
     Bojay heard Veele's calm voice in his head, then repeated
them out loud.
     "If his price is not met, he has the power to reverse what
he has done."  Bojay swallowed heavily.  "Please, Commander, I
don't want to die."
     "I understand how you feel, Bojay, but I cannot sacrifice
three people for this."  Adama's sorrowful expression also added
the unspoken fact that he definitely would not give up his two
surviving children.  "Veele, surely there is something else that
we can give you.  Information?  Supplies? Anything?"
     Veele firmly shook his head and pointed at Hiren and Apollo.
The two men cringed at the motion, their eyes shifting back from
the creature to Adama.
     "Commander..." Hiren pleaded.
     "Father, don't let him take us."  Apollo's voice was
frightened, even though he was struggling not to show it.  "I
have a pretty good idea of what he wants us for."
     Starbuck frowned.  "How do you know that?"
     "I've had dreams about him.  Mostly nightmares, though."
     "Since when?"
     "For the past sectar, at least."
     Hiren's grey eyes widened.  "I think that I have, too!
I'm remembering them now."
     Apollo nodded.  "We've been chosen, but the purpose was
never clear to me, even in the dreams.  All I know is that he
needs us for something."
     Adama cleared his throat.  "Veele, I am sorry, but I
cannot fulfill your request.  However, you are welcome to our
computers and to the data we've collected both from our travels
as well as your planet."
     "Return me to my home," Bojay said, looking at Veele.
"I come here to help, but I am being shunned as I ask for my due."
     "Veele --"
     The creature, instead of speaking through Bojay, shouted
something in a pitch that hurt the humans' ears.  He stalked out
of the chamber, his tail raised in indignation.
     "What did he say?" Sheba asked Bojay, her hands up to
her ears.
     "The polite translation was, 'Beware.'"

     The stench had died down a few centons later, but
Boomer could still smell it.  He continually grimaced as he and
the scientists fished the Cylons out of the water.
     "The metal of their outer shell has become organic," a
scientist observed, grimacing at the soft and slimy feeling of
the Cylon.  "Amazing."
     "Yeah, tell me another one.  The Raider is the same story?"
     "Pretty much."
     "I suggest we pull it out in the morning," Boomer
decided, looking back the ship's hull.  It was gently tilting
from side to side with the breeze.
     "Any idea what the stench is?" the aide asked, her hand
still up to her face which was almost the same colour as the
Cylons.
     "Haven't you ever smelt rotting vegetables?" asked
another scientist as she and a third scientist turned a Cylon
onto its back.  "Though this smells decidedly worse."
     Letting the scientists continue with their observations
and bantering, Boomer turned and headed back to the camp.  He
was to use the same tent that Sheba had been using before she
went up to the Galactica with Bojay.  A warm sleeping bag
awaited him, and after the events of the cycle, he desperately
needed sleep.
     No sooner did he pull the top of the bag over his head,
he heard a muffled thud, following by more rhythmic poundings.
Shaking the thought of sleep from his mind, Boomer realized
that he recognized the sounds.  It was the same creatures who
had attacked his previous team.
     This time, however, he heard screams as the poundings
suddenly stopped.  They were followed by the sound of air being
cut with large wings, then he, too, screamed as the tent was
suddenly pulled off the ground as he went flying through the air.

     Agitated, Sheba entered the female warriors barracks on
Iota deck, wondering if she would be able to get any sleep -- if
she would be able to fall asleep.  Kobol knew she hadn't had much
sleep in the past few cycles, and she would need all the rest she
could possibly get to face the possibilities of the next few
cycles.
     "I almost lost one of my closest friends," she muttered,
changing into her pajamas quietly so she wouldn't disturb the
others.  "Now I might lose my love."
     Her lips set into an angry, thin line, Sheba sat on her
bunk.  Looking up, she saw that the bunk-light was on where
Athena normally slept.  Suddenly wanting to talk to her friend,
she got up and walked over to her.
     "Hey, 'Thena," she greeted.
     There was no response.  Surprised, Sheba saw that the
light illuminated an unmade bed.  The wrinkled sheets almost
covered a set of pajamas, which had been worn.  She stared at
the bed, slowly becoming aware of red writing on the mattress.
     "What in Hades'?" she wondered, looking at the words.
In shaky handwriting, was written "VO."  The ink was smeared
slightly, and as Sheba touched it, she realized that it was
blood.
     Horrified, she stepped back and bumped into her bunk.
Dietra, who slept above her, was jarred awake.
     "Sheba?" she asked, her voice blurred with sleep.
"What are you doing?"
     "Athena's gone!"
     On Sheba's right, Brie bolted upwards.
     "What?"
     "She's not here!"
     Dietra shook her head.  "But she went to bed the same
time we did."
     The image of Bojay's healing and Veele's demands came
into Sheba's mind.  She gasped as she realized something.
     "Apollo!" she cried.  "I'm going to check Apollo's
quarters!  You two go to Beta deck and check on Hiren!"
     "Do you think that Veele's collected his demands?"
Brie questioned as she pulled on a robe.
     "I hope not!" Sheba shouted as she ran from the room.

     Adama paced in front of the window in his quarters
as he looked at the assembled warriors.  Most of them were
in their pajamas and robes, and some appeared to have been
dragged out of bed.  Starbuck rubbed his eyes in fatigue
while Sheba continually shifted her weight from foot to foot.
     "They're all missing?" he asked, his entire body
feeling heavy as he looked at the stars and at the planet
that slowly orbited beneath them.
     "All three of them," reported Sheba, her voice angry.
     Clenching his fist, Adama recalled the scene with
Apollo outside of the Life Center.  He had just known that
the creature should not have been allowed inside to "help"
Bojay, but Apollo, as usual, had managed to convince Adama
otherwise.  Why did he have to inherit that from Ila?
     "Why did Apollo allow him to come aboard the
Galactica if he knew what Veele was all about?" Starbuck
wondered, echoing Adama's thoughts.
     "I don't know.  I wish I did, though," Adama sighed,
turning to face the warriors.  "Where's Bojay?"
     "Taking Veele back down to the planet," Tigh
informed them, his arms crossed.  "They launched around the
time the three went missing.  By this time, Bojay should be
heading over to Boomer's camp to help investigate that
thing in the water."
     "All right, then.  Starbuck and Sheba, I want you
two to organize search parties.  One should cover the
Galactica, just in case someone saw something, while the
other will go to the same co-ordinates that Hiren's team
earlier reported was Veele's home."  Adama went to his
desk, and he caught his breath as he saw the pictures of
his missing children.  He looked up to met the two warriors'
eyes.  "Find them.  Please."

     Bojay stood in the doorway of the shuttle, watching
at Veele headed towards his home.  He waved to the creature,
hearing Veele's farewell in his mind as he turned back to
the cockpit.
     As he prepped the shuttle for launch, he remembered
what he had seen earlier.  Out of the corner of his eye, Bojay
saw Veele fingering three crystals in his hands.  The
crystals caught the artificial illumination from the overhead
lighting, making them sparkle dully.  Their individual shades
of blue, green and grey cast reflections on the bare skin of
Veele's chest.
     Bojay winced as he put his attention back to piloting.
Ever since he had left the Galactica with his passenger, he had
been developing a headache that promised to be a migraine
before the cycle was over.  He found it to be very unusual,
since he rarely developed headaches.
     He closed his eyes momentarily, and found that the
memory of the three crystals was imprinted on his memory.  In
the darkness behind his eyelids, the crystals turned into the
silhouettes of the warriors named by Veele.  Surprised, Bojay
watched them, listening intently to their thoughts and
emotions.
     All of them were disorientated and frightened,
isolated from the rest of the Galactica and each other.
Athena was crying slightly, as was Hiren.  Apollo, however,
was trying to break free of what was holding him.
     Confused, Bojay shook his head and reopened his eyes.
The minds of the three were connected to him, and he wasn't
sure why.  As though he knew why he was connected to Veele in
the first place.
     Double-checking the control panel, Bojay saw that
everything was green, so he pressed the launch button on the
joystick, feeling the thrust pushing him back into the seat.
As the shuttle left the area, he felt the pressure and voices
in his head lessen to the point where he felt lightheaded.
     Astounded by this, Bojay circled the shuttle over the
site of Veele's home, and found that the mental noise and
pain had returned, this time almost overwhelming.  He quickly
banked the shuttle and headed away, towards the site of the
water mission as he wondered what the crystals were, and why he
was receiving the thoughts and emotions of the three warriors.
---------------------------------
Okay, that's my bit.  It's taken about 2 weeks, but thanks for
being patient.  We brain-stormed towards the end, and hopefully
this will take the story into the surrealistic or bizarre areas
it seemed destined to take.
Good luck to the next writer(s)!
Sanna w. Nicole

***********************************************
Battlestar Galactica: Round Robin 96
Part 6 - by Paul W. Schultz

     Sometime during the night, it awakened.  Like a slumbering 
giant it was gradual as it became more aware of its surroundings.
This was an entirely new sensation, being aware.  It sensed four
other objects close by like itself, but their beings had been
violated in some way and because of that were struggling to achieve
their cognizant state.  
     Its essence rippled at that thought, and it was not a pleasant
sensation. In its emerging consciousness it knew it had the ability
to quicken this process for its brethren, and it began doing just
that with a single-minded purpose.


     "Our original mission to procure fuel is still vital, as is
the need to replenish our food seed," Adama directed at Jolly and
Dietra.  The two officers stood at rapt attention in the commander's
quarters.  Adama looked both of them in the eyes at length from
behind his desk before continuing.  "That is why I've chosen each of
you to lead the missions to mine tylium and for food and mineral
collection.  As you know, Starbuck is putting together a team as we
speak to initiate a planet-wide search for our missing warriors and
Sheba is continuing the investigation aboard the Galactica.  You are
both exceptional warriors and I am confident in your abilities to
complete these missions successfully."


     Jolly entered the barracks to retrieve items that would be 
needed on the mission.  Sergeant Greenbean seemed to be loitering 
around his locker as Jolly approached.  Jolly was just about to
utter a greeting when Greenbean ended all further thought of small
talk.
     "Why were you chosen to lead this mission?" Greenbean asked 
as he blocked Jolly's path to his locker.
     "C'mon, buddy.  Commander's orders." Jolly replied as he 
came to a halt directly in front of Greenbean.
     "I'm just as capable as you are to lead a mission," Greenbean 
continued.  "Doesn't the commander see that?"
     "I agree.  You are just as capable as me.  But the commander 
makes the decisions and I trust his judgment.  As the highest
ranking Flight Sergeant onboard, he'll need you here to make sure
Starbuck's  search party launches successfully and that everything
is in order on the landing bays.  There's no glory in the mission
I'm leading.  I'm just going to collect fuel for the fleet.
Besides, you know I have more experience in tylium mines than you
have.  The commander's just playing to our strengths."  Jolly
reached out and grabbed Greenbean's arm for emphasis.  "You're not
any less a warrior in the commander's eyes just because you're
remaining onboard, doing what you do best."
     "But how I am going to get experience when the commander 
won't give me the chance?" Greenbean countered, after absorbing what
Jolly had said for a micron.
     "You know as well as I do that the warrior ranks are spread 
pretty thin.  The commander doesn't have the luxury of cross-training
when there are still so many inexperienced new warriors."
     Greenbean knew he was right, but still didn't like it.  Jolly 
sensed his resignation to the facts and slapped him on the shoulder.
"C'mon, the first ale's on me when I get back."
     "You drive a hard bargain, Jolly," Greenbean broke into a smile
and slid aside to let Jolly access his locker.


     "Hurry up, Giles, or you'll miss the shuttle down to the
planet," Joels called over his shoulder as he grabbed his gear and
headed into the hallway.
     "I'll be right there," Giles replied unenthusiastically as he
slowly placed items into his gear bag.  He had been prolonging his
preparation for this mission for many centons, but this escaped the
youthful eagerness of the cadet Joels.
     Kape came out of the turboflush and quickly snatched his gear 
off his bunk.  He made his way to the door but stopped in his tracks
when he saw Giles with his head down silently pondering his gear bag.
     "What's the hold-up?  Jolly is waiting," Kape inquired.
     "I--" Giles began, then lowered his head again.  Finally, he
lifted his head and set back his shoulders in a manner that told
Kape that Giles was about to get right to the point.  "I just have
a bad feeling about this mission, Kape."
     "It's nothing we haven't been through before," Kape tried to 
make light of the situation.
     "But that's just it.  We don't know what we're getting
ourselves into.  It's not every centar that three people simply
vanish.  Remember the last time someone disappeared?  When those
white lights appeared and that Count Iblis showed up.  Remember
the chaos he caused?  What if his hand is in these events?"
     "Don't be ridiculous, Giles.  Iblis is long gone, remember?
I'm concerned about those that are missing, too, but let's not jump
to conclusions.  That's why we have to go down there to find out
what's going on."
     "You're right, of course.  I don't know what's the matter with
me.  I've never been so reluctant about a mission before." Giles
paused, as if to shake off an errant thought.  "Let's go," he said
as he stood up and purposefully lead Kape out of the barracks.


     "This time we know we're in a hostile environment," Dietra 
instructed her group, "so everybody moves together in a group--no 
matter how curious you might be about some part of the habitat," 
Dietra's eyes came to rest on Trelle in a meaningful way.
     "Yes, Lieutenant," Trelle replied, as a reprimanded schoolboy
would.
     "What if those winged creatures return?" asked Cadet 
Aphrodite.
     "We will confront them as a group.  That is why we all need to 
stay together as we're foraging for food and minerals.  But I have a
feeling we won't be seeing any more trouble from those creatures..."


     Bojay passed the water camp fifty metrons above the surface of
the planet.  His distracted mind immediately came into focus at the
amazing sight before him.  Forty winged creatures filled the sky
with the entire water mission team clenched in mighty claws beneath
them.  Deft maneuvering prevented disaster as the winged creatures
made little way for the shuttle bearing down on them.  Once he had
cleared the crowd, Bojay turned around to follow at a discreet
distance, not knowing what to do.
     "Shuttle One to Galactica," Bojay opened a channel as it
finally occurred to him to get help.  "Something's happening down
here."  As Bojay explained the situation, he was quickly patched
through to Commander Adama.
     "Where do those creatures appear to be headed?" Adama asked.
     "They seem to be heading right toward where I just came from," 
Bojay extrapolated. "Veele's home."
     Adama quickly filled in Bojay on the disappearance of Apollo, 
Athena and Hiren.
     "Commander," Bojay swallowed hard before continuing, "I 
think I know where they are."  He explained to the commander what he
had seen in his mind's eye while preparing to leave after returning
Veele to the surface.
     "Starbuck has just left with a search party.  I will redirect
them to give you assistance.  In the meantime, keep a prudent
distance between yourself and those creatures, but do not lose sight
of them."


     Mops yelled as loud as he dared to get Centri's attention.  
Centri was struggling frantically nearby beneath a huge pair of
wings.  When it finally looked as if Centri's had acknowledged
his presence Mops lowered his voice to a more placid level.  "Don't
fight it, Centri."  Centri was still trying to free himself from the
unmoving claws surrounding him, but he fixed his eyes on Mops.  
     "Look below you, " Mops calmly explained.  "We're probably a 
good fifty metrons up in the air.  Even if you did manage to get
free, where do you think you'd go?  If you think I'm collecting
your remains after you've splattered yourself over half that forest
down there, you've got another thing coming!"  Centri seemed to get
the message and the wild panic in his eyes dissipated.  He visibly
relaxed as Mops broke out in a nervous smile.  "Enjoy the view."

*******
Round Robin 96  -  PART 7 
Robert

     The darkness sent chills down her spine.  Or was it the water
was too cold for her body?  Had to be the latter even though she
wore her water suit.  She had been down in the water pocket grotto
for too long, much too long.  At least it seemed like the wait
lasted an eternity especially with the lack of light.  Vicelt did
not even know how much air was left in her tanks.  How safe was it
for her to turn on her portable light to check the tank gauges?
Were the flying creatures gone?  That was the most important
question in Vicelt's mind.
     When she found out the computer picked her to be a member of the
water team, no one in the fleet could have been any happier.  Vicelt
jumped up and down, ran all around the old food processing/
dehydration ship, yelling and cheering.  Most of the other passengers
wanted nothing to do with her.  Council Security simply dismissed her
as another person gone mad.  They did not want to be bothered for
anything.  If any excuse was plausible for not doing work, the guards
used it.
     Even after Vicelt exhausted every muscle in her body, her
adrenaline was still on a rush.  The excitement of being able to
dive again kept her on a high.  She eagerly volunteered to shuttle
over to the Galactica and prepare everything needed for the water
excursion.  Her muscles had a secton of rest before she was on the
mighty battlestar though.  Once there, she burst into action and
tried to do everything herself.  Everyone was in awe at the volume
of energy Vicelt exhibited.
     Then the secton finally came to shuttle down to the planet.  On
the trip down, Vicelt briefed everyone on the diving equipment.  She
helped Bojay and Mops prepare for their initial dive.  Vicelt was a
bit disappointed when Sheba told her she would be in the second round
of dives, but that was when the real collecting of specimens would
begin.  Vicelt was permitted to dive as much as she wanted and
expected to find more strange and unusual specimens than anyone
else.  A challenge she gladly accepted.
     Mops yelled out, "Vicelt, don't go back in the water!!!!"
     "What?  Why?"
     "Bojay's been poisoned in there."
     "By what?"
     "We don't know.  We're getting ready to take him up to the
Galactica to find that out."
     Vicelt watched as Mops jogged away.  She went around asking
about Bojay and soon found out he dived in without his suit.  Bojay
was poisoned.  Why in the world he dived without his protective suit
was beyond Vicelt.  She shook her head in disbelief.  Another long
wait ensued.  She paced around the water pocket, took scanner
readings, double and triple checked the diving gear, reviewed all
safety checks for diving on this planet with unknown dangers...
Finally, the word came.  It was safe to dive.  Faster than a laser
blast, Vicelt was suited up and in the water.  It could not have
happened a centon sooner.
     Vicelt was underwater for a good centar.  Her body's motions
were as graceful as a ballerina's on stage.  With practiced ease,
Vicelt held herself in place while digging and collecting.  She
found the most peculiar water specimens in her search.  Nothing
like them existed on her home colony, Pisces.  The colors, the
curves, the feel in the strange and wild environment was simply
fascinating.
     Was there going to be adequate room in the shuttle for all the
specimens gathered during their stay?  Vicelt filled another
collection basket.  She tugged on the line so it would be taken to
the surface and an empty basket lowered back in to the water pocket.
Vicelt went about to collect more samples.  When she returned to
the baskets, the filled one had not moved.  She tugged on the line
again.  This time Vicelt waited for a response.  Nothing.  Where was
Poller?  She was a very dependable worker, especially now with Sheba
gone.  Vicelt decided she had better take the filled basket to the
surface and see what happened to Poller.  When Vicelt's head broke
the water surface, she gasped in horror.
     Three headed, flying creatures attacked the camp site.  Tents
were ripped out of the ground.  Equipment destroyed by incessant
pecking of beaks.  Some creatures made a deadly dive to the ground
to attack the people.  A few of the warriors fired shots at the
creatures to no avail.  One by one, the three-headed flying creatures
each picked up a person in their talons, carried them high into the
sky and headed away from camp.  Vicelt dove back underwater praying
the beasts could not reach her.  She found the small opening she had
been working at and hid in there.
     Vicelt could not stay in the grotto forever.  Even with
controlled breathing, her oxygen would run out eventually.  She had
no choice but to activate the portable light, if only for a micron,
to check the gauges.  What if one creature was still out there?
Would it see the light?  No matter.  If a creature did not snatch
her, deprivation of oxygen would.  Vicelt pulled the portable light
of its belt loop and held it in one hand.  With her free hand, she
grabbed the floating gauges attached to her air tanks.  She paused
for another micron.  Her finger trembled as it activated the on-off
switch.  As soon as she saw the gauge reading, she quickly turned
the light off.  There were less the five centons of air left in her
tanks.  Vicelt had no option but to surface.
     "For the Lords of Kobol..."
     The camp was in ruins except for the shuttle with all the
science equipment still in it.  It did have some minor dents but
was fully  operational.  Vicelt climbed out of the pocket, shed her
air tanks and other diving equipment, and walked around what was
left of the camp.  There were plenty of human blood stains on the
ground and fallen tents.  One piece of machinery had small patches
of green scales.  Dried, green blood was splattered on the machine.
Did one of the creatures not pull up in time after a steep dive or
did someone valiantly fight the creature?  That was a question that
may never be answered.  What it did do was provide a sample from the
creatures.  Vicelt noted to herself to collect it for later
analysis.  If there was any chance they may have to fight the flying
creatures, the sample may prove helpful if there was anyone left who
did such analysis.
     Vicelt walked over to the shuttle to see how much of the inside
was still in tact.  She stood outside the doorway.  Not much was
visible from that angle.  Vicelt hoped she would gain some idea of
the interior conditions before entering.  Like it or not, she had to
enter.
     Each step she took was carefully placed.  "Hello?  Anybody in
here?"  There was no response.  She took another step.  "Hello?"
     The inside of the shuttle did not appear to be in too much
disarray.  There were some broken beakers on the floor.
Miscellaneous tools littered the area.  But for the most part,
everything seemed to survive whatever the big birds, if they can be
called that, did outside.  At least the three large water containers
at the rear of the shuttle had not cracked.
     Vicelt weaved her way around the small inside of the shuttle up
to the cockpit area.  Dr. Mirand was slouched over the pilot's
controls.  She was not a pilot.  Vicelt would have to ask the doctor
some questions, but first she had to revive the scientist.
     Vicelt grabbed med kit from under the co-pilot seat.  There was
no blood around Dr. Mirand, a good sign.  Her breathing was shallow
though.  Vicelt knew she better do something real quick.  She turned
back to the med kit, fumbled with the clasps to open the box and
went straight for the smelling scents.  One whiff from the open
bottle and Vicelt thought she would faint.  That was some strong
stuff.  She did not have to even put the bottle under Dr. Mirand's
nose.  The female scientist popped to alertness in a snap.  It took
her a centon to orientate herself and shake the fuzziness from her
mind.
     "Dr. Mirand?  Dr. Mirand.  Are you okay?  Can you hear me?"
     "Huh?  Oh, yeah."  Dr. Mirand suddenly grabbed her head with
her hands.  "Ow, my head hurts."
     Vicelt closed up the med kit and returned it to its original
location under the co-pilot's seat.  She waited until it seemed Dr.
Mirand was stable enough.  "What happened?  And why are you sitting
up here?"
     "It's a long story," Dr. Mirand said.
     "We seem to have plenty of time."
     Vicelt sat down in the co-pilot's seat to listen to Dr. Mirand's
story.  However, Vicelt totally forgot about the mystery at the
bottom of the water pocket.  Now that the old Cylon Raider had risen
from the depths, and the flying creatures had taken almost all of
the people from the water pocket camp, the real danger still lurking
in the depths of the water pocket was about to emerge.


     Boomer asked no one in particular, especially since he was the
only one in the tent, who did not know how high up off the ground
he was, was under the mercy of the three-headed, three-talon flying
creature, where only the creature knew the destination, "Why is it
every mission I'm ever on, there are always problems?  ALWAYS!
Just once, I'd like everything to be plain and simple."  Boomer
could not exactly do much in his predicament.  Since the tent had
no hard flooring, his body weight pulled the tent bottom as far away
from the talons as possible.  He was basically stuck there until the
pressure was relieved.  How long would the tent hold his weight?
     The strain on the tent began to show in the seams.  They were
designed to hold the tent together on the ground, not in the air.
They were strong enough to stand the tent up against the weather of
a warm climate, not hold a man's weight in the air for a prolonged
period of time.  The creature was oblivious to the strain on the
tent.  It followed the flight of the rest of the pack towards its
master's home.
     One advantage Boomer had when he fell asleep was doing so in his
uniform.  He had been too exhausted to change into any lighter attire
for sleeping.  The blaster, in its holster, pressed against his right
upper arm.  When he was free of this, wherever that might be, at
least he had his weapon for protection.
     <THUMP>  "E-OW!!!!!!"  Boomer let out a yell of pain.  Something
outside smashed into his left side.  The creature stopped its flight
when it noticed its cargo had been caught.  It released the tent and
landed on a nearby tree.  Boomer's weight pulled himself and the tent
down through tree branches until the tent became too entangled in the
tree branches to drop any further.  The creature bent over on the
tree tops and used its three heads to try and pull the tent free.
Tree tops fiercely swayed back and forth under the mighty pull of the
creature.  Boomer was jostled up and down in the process, slamming
against the tree.  Ignoring all the pain, all the bruises and any
fractured bones he may have, Boomer worked frantically to free
himself of the tent and save himself from being the flying beast's
dinner.  Trying to escape from the tent and tree branches was
similar to an insect stuck in a crawl-on's web.  For the insect,
only a miracle prevented impending doom by the crawl-on.  In
Boomer's case, he may have needed more than a miracle.
     To Boomer's surprise, it only took a centon for him to unzipper
the tent "door" with all the chaos caused by the creature's incessant
pulling at the tent and tree tops.  The top of the tent began rip
from the rest of the tent as one of the creature's heads yanked back.
Boomer saw his target outside the tent.  He had to time it just right
if he were to escape.  Waiting for the right micron, Boomer grabbed
the big branch beside the tent and heaved himself out of it.  He held
on to the branch for dear life as the swaying of the trees could have
easily knocked him off balance where he would fall to the ground
many, many metrons below.  The creature failed to notice Boomer's
escape.  It continued to pull the tent and tree tops apart.
     Boomer noticed some branches below him were close enough for him
to place more distance between the three-headed flying creature and
himself.  With the precision he used to free himself from the tent,
Boomer carefully climbed down.  The swaying of the tree forced Boomer
to stop a few times until he placed himself in a stable position for
further progress.  Six centons passed.  Boomer was unable to lower
himself any further due to distance between branches.  The trees
closest to him offered a possible way down, but not until the
creature left.  Boomer waited and waited and waited.
     There was not much left of the tent within the flying creature's
reach.  Shreds of the tent laid amongst the tree leaves at various
heights.  Boomer did have his laser blaster, but it did him no good.
When Starbuck had fired a shot near the creature, it brought another
to the area where Trelle was trapped.  Boomer did not want to risk
any more trouble flying his way.  This creature was certainly
resolute at reclaiming its cargo.  It continued to rip away tree
branches until it could reach no further down.
     Finally, the creature flew away.  It had not been soon enough
for Boomer.  With the creature gone, at least for the time being,
and the swaying stopped, Boomer had to not only find a way out of
the tree to place himself on the ground far below, but also had to
figure out how he was going to return from camp.  He knew not where
he was or which direction any of the camps laid.  Boomer had only his
blaster and what was left of the tent to use as tools for saving
himself.  The odds were not in his favor.  The only thing going for
him besides the creature flying away was his ability to devise the
most bizarre schemes to get him out of sticky situations.  Hot-wiring
all those hover mobiles when Boomer was young back on Caprica
certainly had its long term affects.


     "I don't envy you one bit," Boreas said to Jolly as they walked
towards the HQ Tent.
     "How bad is it?" Jolly asked.
     "For me, it is pretty bad.  I can lead a small group of miners,
not an entire camp of multiple groups.  Drives me insane!!"
     "That's why I'm here.  Until Captain Apollo is located,
Commander Adama trusts me to run this place."
     "Like I said, I don't envy you one bit.  Now see, I did keep in
touch with all the groups, including my own, and talked mining with
them.  Everything's been going fine.  And we're keeping right on
schedule.  But..."  They were at the front of the HQ Tent.  When
Boreas pulled back the opening flap for Jolly, it was apparent what
needed to be finished first.  On the main table, were stacks of
progress and incident reports, topography maps, worker schedules,
instructions from the Galactica, and other miscellaneous forms to be
completed.  Jolly rolled his eyes.
     "It's all yours now," Boreas said as he patted Jolly on the
back.  "I must get back to my team."
     Boreas hurried away like the North Wind before the effect wore
off of Jolly.  Had Apollo really been gone that long?  No, it was not
more than two sectons.  Eighty people, over half of whom did not have
to report in to Apollo, could not have possibly produced this much
work in such little time.  Jolly shrugged to himself.  The sooner he
started, the sooner he would finish.  But first, he had to find some
good food to keep his tummy happy through all the centars of work.

     Cadet Joels stood high atop the large boulder where Hiren and
himself first observed the opening into the mountain near the
Tylium Camp.  Now it was blocked by the boulder and other small
rocks as a result of a landslide that had originally trapped Hiren,
Kape, Giles and himself inside the massive mountain.  It seemed to
have happened such a long time ago.
     Kape and Giles were back at the Tylium Camp guarding against any
more unwanted visitors.  Joels was supposed to be working with them.
However, he felt responsible for Hiren's disappearance.  Joel's
eagerness and impulsivity triggered the exploration trek into the
mountain.  One thing lead to another.  And not only Hiren was
missing, but so were Apollo and Athena.  Joels had to find them.  He
felt it was the only way to redeem himself from his earlier mistakes.
     Reaching into his pocket, Joels withdrew the red and black rock
he collected the first time around.  The yellow line down center was
as bright as ever.  Joels rolled it over and over in his palm hoping
to spawn ideas for a favorable search.
     Veele saved the four of them from being trapped inside the
mountain.  Veele also saved Bojay of dying from poison.  Although
Joels and Hiren should have stayed on the planet, they went to the
Galactica as did Veele.  What happened?  Hiren was gone.  Frack!!
Joels had to clear his mind of the past and think about the future.
     The laser blaster sat in its holster securely attached to Joels
thigh.  It had the power to blast away the landslide and allow Joels
to enter the mountain again.  He was certain he would find Veele's
abode.  It was near the cavern with the waterfall of red water.
That was where the answer would be found.  At least that was what
Joels believed.  He yanked the blaster free.  Its power setting was
on full.  Quickly Joels raised it and fired.  A split micron later,
the large rocks blocking the mountain entrance blew apart, spraying
debris in all directions. Joels shielded his face from the backlash.
As soon as the dust settled, he saw there was a hole big enough from
him to crawl through.  He double-timed his way to the dark hole on
his mission to rescue Hiren and the others.  He never thought of what
other dangers laid in wait for not only him, but every other human on
the planet.


     He attempted to move, but did not feel motion.  He wanted to
open his eyes, but could not see.  He breathed, yet there was no air.
All Apollo was capable of doing was thinking.  He knew not where he
was, only that he was almost totally helpless.  The last thing he
remembered was falling asleep in his bunk on the Galactica.  Was
this all a dream?  Far from it.  Apollo's awareness was too acute.
It really bothered him to have no control.  There was a camp of now
over eighty people for whom he was responsible.  He had to protect
them and the fleet.  The Tylium was vital to the fleet's journey.
Apollo had to find to escape from where he was trapped.  He had to
discover why Veele needed him, Athena and Hiren.  What was going to
happen?  When would he be free?

     "Enter."
     Sheba pressed the door release to enter Commander Adama's
office.  As she walked around his desk, she noticed how calm he was
in the midst of this crisis, especially with his only two surviving
children being held prisoners.  How did he do it?  Sheba's nerves
were almost frayed from all that had transpired.  She sat down on
the edge of the padded chair.  Her body stiffened as she waited for
Adama to address her.  It took only a few microns, but it seemed
longer than that.
     "What are the results from your search?"  Nothing like the
Commander getting straight to the point.
     Sheba bit her lip before replying.  "We have found some other
clues aside from the VO on the pillows.  The final reports from each
of my teams are being compiled now and will be on your desk in a
centon."
     "Sheba, what DID you learn?"
     "I'm not really sure.  The one substance we found on the bunks
is being tested and analyzed as we speak.  Those results will be in
the reports," Sheba replied almost impatiently.  "Sir, I request
permission to return to the surface to search for the missing
warriors beginning at the water pocket camp where I was originally
stationed."
     "Do you not wish to see the reports before I read them?" Adama
asked out of curiosity.  After all, it was Sheba's duty to review
the reports for completeness and accuracy before the were placed in
the Commander's hands.
     "Commander, the sooner I am in my viper to doing low flight
scans, for which I have ample experience on Gamorray, the sooner we
can find Athena, Hiren, and .............. Apollo."  Sheba almost
broke apart when she said Apollo's name.
     "Are you sure you are in condition to fly?" Adama asked.  She
sure did not look like she was.
     "I will be the centon I am in my viper,.... Sir."
     "Hmmmm."  Adama sat back.  After a centon of silence, he smiled,
but only briefly.  "Permission granted on the condition that you land
your viper at the first sign when you do not have 100% control over
yourself.  Greenbean will back you up."
     "But sir...."
     Adama held up his hand to silence her.  "Greenbean's scanners
will be set differently from your own and he will fly at a higher
altitude, clear of your maneuvers.  He is your wingman for the
duration of the viper scans."
     Adama did not say Greenbean was also there to keep an eye on
Sheba.  One of the burdens of leadership was determining the lesser
of two evils.  If he kept Sheba on board the Galactica, she might
very well suffer from a nervous breakdown.  If he let her fly, it was
possible she might crash.  It was also apparent her valuable skills
were needed.  With Greenbean as backup, Adama hoped Sheba's mental
health would be okay until the warriors were found.
     "Yes, Sir," Sheba said.
     "Good."
     Adama stood up and walked around his desk to her.  Sheba stood
to meet him.  He placed his hands on her shoulders for comfort.
     "I have my full faith in you.  We shall find them."
     They embraced in a long hug.  Sheba let out her feelings so when
the hug was over, she would be a little more relaxed, her mind clear,
and her nerves possibly a little steady.  Adama let go of her.
     "Greenbean's waiting for you in the launch bay.  Now go."
     Sheba nodded and hurried out the door.  After the door closed
behind her, Adama whispered, "May the Lords of Kobol watch over you
and guide you."

     His stomach rumbled again.  Jolly laid down a report signed by
Apollo and took a bite of his sandwich.  Apparently, Apollo had seen
many of the reports, but did not file them before he left for the
Galactica.  As a result, all the new reports were thrown on top of
the old ones causing one heck of a mess for Jolly to sort through.
From the looks of it, he would be up to date with the reports in a
centar or two.
     RUMBLE!!  RUMBLE!!  RUMBLE!!  RUMBLE!!
     That was not his stomach.
     RUMBLE!!  RUMBLE!!  RUMBLE!!  RUMBLE!!
     Jolly ran out of the HQ tent to see what was happening.  From
his vantage point, he saw nothing except for a man running
hysterically towards him.
     "Sir.  Sir.  Cave-In.  Collapse.  Workers sucked in.  Deep.
Sink."
     "Hold it.  I can't understand a word you are saying.  Try
again."  Jolly's hunger was forgotten as he tried to figure out what
this lunatic said.
     "Ground Collapse.  Come."
     The man ran back in the direction he came from.  Jolly followed
as best he could.  When they reached Pit 2, Jolly's mouth almost
dropped to the ground.  The ground underneath the mining area gave
way sinking a good twenty metrons deep.  Three people were tapped.
One of the two men was almost dead.  Only his back was visible and
there was no sign of breathing.  The right arm of the second man was
pulled out of his shoulder joint.  He winced in pain any time he
touched it with his left hand.  The third person was a woman.  Her
leg appeared to be broken.  No one on top could see it, but a piece
of leg bone was pushing through her uniform.
     "What happened?" Jolly asked to anyone who was listening.
     Another worker stepped over to him to answer.  "We were settin'
them solonite charges when the ground sinked. We not blast to
charges.  I clawed me-self away as did Beckto.  But those three not
so good."
     The doctors rushed up to Jolly side.  Jolly ordered, "Can you
get to them."
     The one doctor shook his head.  "They have to be brought up
here."
     "Well then, do it."  Jolly's voice was stern.  "Get the safety
harnesses and strong men to pull them up."
     The doctor stood there.  Jolly pushed him to reinforce his
orders.
     "Don't stand there.  Get them."
     The doctors started running into each other while figuring out
who was going to do what.  Jolly simply shook his head and barked out
orders to others to begin the rescue operation for which they were
trained to handle.  As everyone scurried around and did not really
notice the slight rumbles continuing to go through the ground.
Perhaps an aftershock or two.  Perhaps not.

     Bojay guided his shuttle in on final approach to the water
pocket camp.  It was deserted as far as he could tell.  The creatures
captured everyone.  The crystals.  The three missing warriors.  The
voices inside his head.  The chaos caused by all the mental anguish.
Bojay's body started shaking slightly.  The shuttle made contact with
the ground a little harder than normal.  The jolt sent waves of shock
through Bojay's body.  He had to concentrate very hard on the shuttle
boards in order to shut down the engines.  With difficulty, Bojay
stood up and began walking towards the back of the shuttle.  He
stumbled over equipment on the floor.  The clang of it being
scattered increased the magnitude of chaos in his mind.  He could
not take it much longer.  As he approached the rear wall, Bojay
turned and slammed his back against it, pressing the turbo wash door
release button with his rear-end.  The door opened and Bojay fell
back onto the Turbo wash.  As the door slid shut, he grabbed his head
with both his hands and screamed bloody murder.  It was never heard
by Dr. Mirand and Vicelt in the other shuttle half a camp away.
Violently, he bashed up against the walls in a last endeavor to
escape the turmoil.  It was to no avail.  In a few centons, his body
collapsed over the turbo flush, trapping him there.

*****************
D.J. McMurry  Battlestar Galactica, Round Robin '96 Part 8


"Anything?" Commander Adama was concerned as he paced the
length of the raised command dias that overlooked the bridge
of the battlestar Galactica.  The Commander stopped behind
Flight Officer Omega, resting his hand on the back of the
communications officer's seat.

"No, sir.  Negative response on all known bandwidths.
Flight telemetry from all Vipers and shuttles are inactive.
It's as if the entire landing group has simply disappeared."
Omega tapped several more commands into the console before
him, hoping beyond all hope that something would be
displayed, some sign.

"Colonel,"  Adama ordered, "until further notice, no one is
to go down to the planet's surface."

"But Adama,"  Tigh replied, "what of the teams already on
the surface?"

"They are on their own.  I will not risk anymore lives by
sending more personnel into a blind situation."

"But Apollo and the others.." Tigh protested.

"I trust my son, Tigh.  If anyone can get them out of their
present predicament, it's Apollo."  Adama smiled, then left
the bridge.

"I hope your right," Tigh whispered.

Adama rested in his quarters, the day's strain was taking
its toll.  When the party first landed the reports looked
promising.  Food, water, fuel, everything they could have
hoped for, but now two sectons had passed, and no word. But
what really bothered Adama, was the last several
communications received from the surface; strange stories
about cave-ins, attacks by giant flying animals, half-human
half-horse creatures, it all sounded like something out of
Kobolian Mythology.  Then the final report, Bojay had been
poisoned and they were shuttling him to the life station
here on the Galactica, but the shuttle had never arrived,
and no word had been received since then.

The Commander tossed on his bunk.  He had told Tigh that his
trust in Apollo was high, and it was.  Apollo, and Starbuck
for that matter, had managed to get themselves in and out of
trouble the full length of the galaxy, from encounters with
the Borellian Nomen to the Eastern Alliance, they had
managed to seemingly single-handily not only rescue
themselves, but the Fleet as well on several occasions.  But
what if that luck had run out?  True it had seemed that both
Starbuck and Apollo had more lives than a Caprican Flat Cat,
but Adama knew that Apollo must replace him as Commander of
the Galactica one secton, or the search for the lost
thirteenth tribe, and earth, would end in vain.

Adama, unable to clear his mind of clutter, began to use one
of the ancient relaxation techniques he had learned through
the old writings, teachings recorded by the Lords Of Kobol.
As his mind drifted, he sensed a great presence.  And for a
moment Adama found himself at the bottom of a pool a murky,
cold, water, then the image cleared.  It was as if he was
looking through someone else's eyes.

"Well that wasn't entirely true," Adama thought.  Whatever
he was sensing, and whatever creature he was sensing it
through, Adama knew it bore no resemblance to any kind of
creature Adama or humankind for that matter had ever
encountered.

Adama floated (for lack of a better word) over the
Galactica's three campsites.  He could make out the features
of most of the personnel scattered in various positions
around the camps.  Each face held a vastly different
expression.  Some appeared in great pain, others with great
contentment, but all appeared to be healthily, though
unconscious.

"Who are you?"  Adama demanded.  "By what right do you hold
my people?"

"By what right do you invade my home?"  The answer thundered
through Adama's mind.

"We meant no harm,"  Adama answered.  "We are on a
pilgrimage, and are only looking for substances to maintain
our lives among the stars."

"Your people will continue to be tested."  The mind linked
with Adama's responded.  "After that, I shall determine what
is to be done...."

"But what of their health?  Will they die?"  Adama asked,
and hoped.

"They will live for now..." Came the ominous response.
"After the test is complete...we shall see."

Adama woke with a start.  A glance at the chronometer on his
desk showed him  that his sleep period was nearly over.  A
cold sweat trickled down the commander's back as he rose
from the bed and made his way to the wall mounted
communicator.

"Tigh,"  Adama whispered.

"Commander what is it?"  Tigh could hear the strain in
Adama's voice.

"Have the Fleet go immediately to red alert.  There's more
to this situation than meets the eye."  And with that Adama
cut the link to the bridge, turned to get dressed, and
thought.

"May the Lords of Kobol be with you, my son."

*********
Part 9
Written by Robert Hanczyk

     Boomer slowly lowered himself down from the last branch of the
mighty tall tree to a hanging position.  He let go and dropped the
last metron and a half to the ground.  It was a long and very
cautious descent down the tree for him.  He was glad to finally be
on the ground.  A few minor scratches and a splinter were added on
to Boomer's injury list.  His Colonial Warrior uniform was a bit
tattered and ripped.  It had certainly seen better sectons.  On top
of that, Boomer was not exactly equipped for a nature hike through
the woods, but that was not to stop him from his quest - to find out
where he was and make it back to camp or be rescued.
     Boomer looked all around him and saw nothing but trees.  He was
somewhere in a dense forest.  "Where in the forest" was the
question.  No maps had been made of the various sections of the
planet.  Everything looked the same more or less from where he stood.
It was hard to see more than a couple metrons in any direction due
to the density of the forest.  Even the top of the tree with the tent
remains was not visible from ground level.  He had his weapon, but
that would do nothing other than start a fire and was his defense.
His, or rather Sheba's tent, what was left of it, was high in the
tree tops.  There was no way Boomer was going to climb the tree just
for the tent scraps.  He had to rely on his best judgement to
determine which way he came from.  One problem made two.  Even if
Boomer was able to determine which direction the three headed flying
creature was headed when Boomer slammed into the tree top, there was
no way of telling how many turns the creature may have made while
flying.  Boomer had to figure out another way to solve the direction
problem.
     It was time to remember survival training from his yahrens at
the academy.  In the absence of a compass, one had to rely on the
planet's primary star movement.  If it was night, it was the position
of the stars in the sky.  Boomer was lucky the planet only had one
primary star.  He had to walk around some to be able to see the star
through the dense foliage.  When he found it, Boomer estimated the
star was thirty degrees from ground level, give or take a degree.
Considering he fell asleep when it was dark, it had to be early
morning.  At least Boomer knew he had a full secton of light ahead
of him.  But which way did the star rise and which way did it set?
Amazing how such an occurrence went unnoticed.
     What he did finally notice was the call of the animals.  Up in
the tree, Boomer's concentration was 100 percent dedicated to
reaching the ground.  Now that he was on the ground, Boomer heard a
chorus of animals.  Above him, in the tree, a blue bird with shades
of green at its wingtips chirped as loud as it could to break through
the dense foliage to other birds.  Another bird in a nearby tree
joined the call of this one.  A third one was added.  Soon, it
reached deep into the forest beyond Boomer's hearing.  Clearly, this
was an effective form of communication.
     Not all the creatures of the forest were noisy.  One animal,
brown shiny skin, no larger than a fumerello, clutched the tree with
the claws on its six legs.  It waited for its morning meal.  A three
metron long, slithery, green and dark brown slider unwrapped two-
thirds of itself from one branch.  It swung back and forth, each time
increasing the length of the swing until it was able to reach the
branch in the nearby tree.  As it anchored itself on the new branch,
it unwrapped its body from where it originally was and reeled up
around the new branch.  Its body blended well in to its environment.
     Boomer was awestruck.  Maybe, one yahren, when they finally
find Earth, when his viper sectons were over, he would build himself
a house in the country to really learn how to appreciate the natural
wonders.  Even when everything returned back to normal on this
planet, there would be enough time for Boomer to relax and absorb
nature.  This was not the time.  He had to knock himself back into
reality and deal with the situation at hand.
     Boomer knew where the star was at in the sky.  Which way was it
back towards camp?  Was there anyone back at camp?  Were others
pulled off the ground like he was?  Was it better to find out where
the three-headed flying creature was taking him?  Boomer listened
again in the morning air for any sounds of vipers or shuttles.
Nothing.
     <click click click click click>
     The clicking noise was close to Boomer.  He looked around, but
seemed unable to locate it.
     <click click click click click>
     "Hello?  Is anybody there?"  Boomer looked up in the trees.  If
something was there, it was well hidden.  If someone was there,
Boomer hoped that someone was friendly.  Just in case, Boomer
unsnapped the strap holding his laser pistol in its holster.
     <click click click click click>
     "Hello?!?"
     A small, fury animal scurried out from behind one of the trees.
Its fur was medium gray.  No neck was visible as the body lead
straight to the head.  The forehead, if it could be called that, was
out further than the rest of the face.  The solid black eyes were set
back without any evident eyelids.  Its nose was a round, flat area on
the face with the mouth directly connected to it.  Below the mouth,
the area was set in the deepest.  It smoothly led into the fur of the
main body.
     The animal stopped at Boomer's feet and looked up at him with
the most innocent look Boomer had ever seen in an animal.  It wrapped
itself into a ball, rolled around Boomer and opened up as if it was
trying to either show off or not sure what to do around the stranger.
     "Hi, little fellow.  What are you be doing here?"
     <click click click click click>
     The animal may look innocent, but Boomer knew better.  He made a
fist and slowly lowered it down to the ground away from the animal.
It cautiously approached Boomer's hand and hopped back at any sound.
Boomer held himself in place waiting for anything that might happen.
The animal made another guarded approach sniffing the ground as it
went along.
     Very calm, very gentle, in a whisper, Boomer said, "Don't worry.
I won't hurt you."
     The animal looked up at Boomer's face, down at his hand, and
back up to Boomer.  It did not move another step.
     "Let's be friends.  You can trust me."
     The animal's fur changed from gray to green.  It walked towards
Boomer's hand again.  With every step it took, it looked all around
paying close attention to Boomer.  He was tempted to pet the animal,
but patiently waited until it knew it could trust him.  Only a few
steps away from Boomer's hand, the animal exhaustively sniffed the
ground.  It sensed the calm in Boomer and became acquainted with his
scent.  Suddenly, the animal wrapped itself into a ball and quickly
rolled in circles around Boomer.  It popped open and rubbed up
against Boomer's arm click its heart away.
     "See?  I told you you can trust me."  Boomer allowed himself to
pet the animal now.  The clicking grew louder and the animal abounded
with energy.  Boomer gained a new friend.
     "I don't suppose you can tell me where we are."
     The animal simply rolled and clicked itself away around Boomer.
He had to find out where he was.  Slowly he stood up.  The animal
stopped rolling but kept on clicking.  It looked up to Boomer to see
what he was going to do.  Boomer was not really sure.

*******

     It had been a very long journey for those caught in the three
headed flying creatures' talons.  Many of the people from the water
pocket camp were tired.  They had long since given up on trying to
force their way to freedom.  Even if any of them were strong enough
to pry themselves from the mighty talon, there was nowhere to go.
The creatures flew high in the air where any drop to the ground meant
death to a person.  Others from the camp had grown numb from the
pressure exerted on their body from the talon.  Some had even given
up hope.  Words were few and far between.
     Finally, on the other side of the planet, the flock of three
headed flying creatures took turns releasing their capture into a
deep, dark, wide pit.  The pit was wide enough for the creatures to
swoop in, drop the person and fly back out.  Most of the people
landed on their feet and rolled.  A few had some bruises or
scratches, but no one suffered from fractures or broken bones.  All
in all, forty people were trapped with room to move around but
nowhere to go.
     "I told you.  I told you," Trelle said very quickly.  He was in
a state of panic.  "If you left me in the tree and didn't scare them,
we'd be okay.  But NOOOOOOOO.  You had to fire shots, make them mad
and now we're their dinner.  I don't like it.  I want to go back to
my science lab.  Never should have left it in the first place."
Trelle's blood pressure was already too high and continued to rise.
He would no doubt suffer a nervous breakdown if he continued his
current frenzy.  It was bad enough they shuttled him from camp to
camp to find a place where he felt safe to work.  It was too bad
Trelle was in the wrong place at the wrong time.  "Put me on a ship.
Any ship is better than this.  How can we possibly fight these
things?  They'll eat us up like crumbs.  They're five, ten, no twenty
times our size.  Why didn't they squish us in their claws?"
     "Anyone got a sedative?" Menelaus asked impatiently.
     "Sorry, I left it back at camp.  The creature did not give me
time to grab my kit."  Dr. Neera remained calm.  She had no choice
if she were to help those in medical need.  Not to mention, the last
thing they needed in the confined area was a group wide panic.
     "Well, this will have to do."  Menelaus chopped the back of
Trelle's neck and knocked him unconscious, not that it was good. Dr.
Neera rushed over to make sure blood continued to flow to Trelle's
brain.
     "Now why did you do that?" Dr. Neera asked in a most disturbed
way.  She knelt down to check out Trelle.
     "He was going crazy!  If I didn't knock him out, he'd go
berserk."
     "There's a difference?" Coronis asked with his smart mouth.
     "Yes, there is," Dr. Neera replied.  She did not look up from
Trelle.  His heart beat and breathing were okay, but he was still
out cold.  Dr. Neera had to snap him out of it.
     Coronis snorted.  "You could've fooled me."
     Dr. Neera wanted to tell the Council Security guard that he was
a fool, but that was beneath her.  Instead she asked, "Does anyone
know if Dr. Salmo or Dr. Mirand are here?"
     Murmurs started going through the crowd as one asked another
and others looked around.  That at least kept them busy while Dr.
Neera tended to Trelle.  She patted him lightly on the cheeks and
called out his name in a very soothing, calm voice.  Trelle's eyes
flickered open.  It took a few more microns for his mind to clear
enough to speak.
     "Holy Frack.  What hit me?"  He held his head in pain.
     Dr. Neera hesitated at first.  She did not want to have any more
problems than need be.  However, the truth would come out one way or
the other.  It was best she not delay the inevitable.  "Menelaus
did."
     "Why you....."  Trelle tried to stand up, but Dr. Neera held him
down.  It did not take much to do it.  Trelle stood too fast, swayed
on his feet and fell back on to ground.
     "You must sit and be calm."  The way Dr. Neera said it made it
quite clear it was an order not to be questioned.
     "I think you're right.  It sure is cold."
     "You have a mild concussion.  You may experience a little
dizziness or a slight headache.  The shivering is just a reaction to
the blow.  I can't do anything about that."
     Trelle asked, "How long will I shiver?"
     "A couple centars.  It won't go away until your body calms
down."
     Before Trelle could say another word, someone else yelled out,
"How are we going to get out of here?!?"
     "Yeah.  We have to free ourselves," someone else said.
     Yet a third person replied, "I don't see any way out of here."
     Coronis had to throw in his two cubits worth.  "Flap your arms
and fly.  That'll get you out."
     "Go stuff it.  Anyone got a communicator?"  That was Tralure.
She had enough of Council Security attitude in the past to last her
the rest of her life.....and then some.
     "I have mine, but it's squished," Deark yelled from half way
back in the pit.
     Tralure looked back.  "Can you fix it?"
     "Not without tools."  Deark shook his head in frustration.
     "We could make a ladder?"  Belon was normally a quiet one, but
this time he had to speak out.
     "Out of what?  Rocks?" Coronis shot back.
     "No, you worthless piece of squiddish.  We can form a human
ladder."
     Menelaus' face lit up.  "That's a good idea."
     "Not if you're on the bottom."  Coronis had a point for once.
     Small conve