Battlestar Galactica

Chains of Tartarus

Chapter V

Alarms kept bellowing to such a degree I had difficult hearing along with flashes of light nearly blinding me. Sharply demanding to Specialist Salazar who grimaced due to trying to brace himself, "Report! What in the name of Zeus was that?" It'd been a normal day until exactly twenty minutes ago when an explosion rocked the Tartarus's entire structure! Systematic crashes were literally making things go from absolutely terrifying to fraking hades literally minutes ago. Last thing I needed was more fraking problems to delay investigating the civilian mass bomber which struck ever so deadlier recently!

"Sir! Engineering is sending us an emergency line!" Salazar who immediately got my own communications unit on the same frequency, "What's happening down there?" I demanded intent on figuring out possibility as a hoarse voice shouted over sporadic alarms, "Massive explosion just went off! On starboard engine compartment six delta...gods, I think about fraking half of us are either dead, or spaced out sir!"

Snapping my gaze to the bridge who quickly started shutting down auxiliary oxygen, electric and began systematically sealing all corridors. Barking out rapidly to get the goal set, "Isolate that compartment and get med-bay prepared, get me all available search and rescue teams fraking moving! Set fleet condition to alpha one for potential cylon attack!" I gave out commands which were rapidly being distributed to all commercial channels that civilian vessels picked up on. They'd need at least two, or three minutes before jumping to our established coordinates where all would follow in such emergency circumstances.

I managed to keep whoever was on engineering word out to any survivors, "Get your ass out of there now! Grab anyone you can whoever, or you're going to learn how to breathe in open space without oxygen." Alarms kept screeching on both of our ends yet I heard him reply through growing static, "Yes, sir!" The line went dead just as he screamed to someone in those decks, "You heard the boss let's...go!"

Instinct started to kick in when the location of said incident hit me coldly. Engine's disabled, or experiencing any sort of trouble means...we can't jump! Sharply sucking down an anxious possibility I called out towards our sensory technician, "Any changes appearing on your scope, ensign?" The woman manning said station this time around retorted loudly, "Negative, sir! We're still clear of cylon incursion, so far!" Minutes started ticking away as I stood in silence hearing reports of our raptor flights giving no signs of enemy raiders.

Usually they'll try to pincer our entire fleet, if they haven't jumped away in sixty seconds. So it's not an attack. Waiting tensely I kept my eyes focused on monitors to my immediate right displaying plenty of yellow blips recognizing friendly vessels. Constant pings of senors sweeping our general star system reported negative enemy signatures, I bit my tongue keeping up with waiting to at least begin humoring a stand down.

"Fraking gods damn! What in the name of Zeus is going on?" Adrian growled out coming to stand on the bridge as I agreed by replying, "Engineering reported an explosion in a compartment that I've isolated. So far commander we've got a negative on raider, or cylon ship contacts yet. It's been two, or so minutes." He nodded thankful for me filling him in as I checked our active battle clock where it marked our original time of incident. A useful tool I'd come to utilize until this point.

Three minutes passed without cylon contact forcing me to settle down finally. Alright, it was an attack but from within. That fraking saboteur is got to be our culprit, frak me! I knew it'd eventually get onto Tartarus but I didn't expect it so...quickly. Not even a week, or so in change since coordinating with captain Angelos on potential spots to start our investigation and I had to deal with a major security reorganization effort presently.

Looking to Adrian who tensely recommended to me, "Still could be waiting for us to let our guard down, sir." Eyeing those monitors I witnessed no change on their screens, nor did any ensign or specialist state they had enemy contact as well. I took one deep inhale of oxygen to solidly give out stand down orders, "Set fleet status to priority two! All Orion vessels maintain perimeter around Tartarus and safe guard our civilian fleet, I want everyone's eyes and ears open for potential cylon incursion. Civilian travel is suspended until further notice and make sure they keep their spacing to jump in case of emergency."

All across my command bridge I heard orders, updates and generalized control spread outwards to every living human. I wasn't finished as I motioned for my senior executive officer who zeroed in on where I'd been shifting holographic reports. Swiping to zoom in on a particular level of Tartarus I told him, "Adrian take a look! I need you to oversee to give me a no bullshit task to organize several security teams of marines and get them hitched to some of our engineering boys. Seems like we may have inside job on our hands, if my gut's right." His gaze instantly became very alert to what I was implying ever so factually.

"That cylon bastard hitting our civilians is here?" That question forced me to grudgingly reveal bitterly, "Probably, if not I'm doubtful." Gesturing for him to lean closer I whispered quickly to get my concerns across, "I expected an attack! I've had a bad feeling once death tolls began to rise that it'd eventually reach our ship in months, Adrian but not in a single fraking week!" He leaned away swearing wordlessly to give me a crisp nod. Too quickly did such an attack occur, if it could happen so quickly then we were exposed.

Moving rapidly by passing several ensigns who jumped due to a scathing rasping roar, "Get my gods damned marine security team ready yesterday!" I wiped away sweat looking over towards a lift doorway where Irene appeared looking disheveled. I rolled my eyes due to her hastily buttoning a partially pressed uniform, "About time, girl!" I read the harshly bitten out words from this distance as she ignored it surprisingly. Her expression clear as day as I waved her over pointing to an enhanced section of Tartarus's hull.

"Sir, what..." I interrupted mainly out prioritizing information Irene more then likely could pull up, "Engineering compartment six delta, please." Handing over schematic tools which were on a portable device I watched expectantly seeing green eyes narrow thoughtfully. She pulled out a pair of reddish glasses much to my internal surprise since I'd never seen them at all. If my younger commander excelled at talents I couldn't match it'd to have been a walking mind of an encyclopedia for a memory, I organized things once and hoped they remained in the same place but she always kept up on everything else.

The holographic table zoomed in through multiple schematics as an entire section came up specifically marked in bright red. Noticing plenty of details I asked very simply, "What's inside that area to cause an explosion capable of killing people in close proximity?" The answer I got in return wasn't very comforting at all, "Engineering's last updates pertaining to six delta is...oh, frak!" My head went down utterly defeated once I heard several magical words pertaining to light speed travel, it literally sent all hopeful speculation into hades itself, "It's one of several tylium transfusion sub stations. Connected to main-hub lines that convert stable components of solid refined ore into delicate liquid compounds to burn in our main engine jump drives."

My mind only had a single metaphor to really drive how close we'd come to an implosion. We're a drifting giant nuclear warhead. Exhaling loudly I kept myself barely contained going over basic statistics to tylium conversions, a bare bones electric safeguard grid and unmanned automated processing. Oh that's just wonderful! If I order our engines dead we've effectively have became a fraking drifting giant nuclear warhead. One that's got an open window for cylons to ram torpedoes down our throats, Zeus help me!

Muffled by my own arms I still managed to tiredly speak up, "How long and what's it going to possibly take, Irene?" Our supplies ranging from anything miscellaneous task meant of spare metal, parts or spare-machinery meant to broken down to forgo traditionally smaller components for said parts screamed insanity. Chief better give me gods damned good predictions, or frak I'll take Irene's optimism to consider things might have been worse off! Can't believe that bomber got on board Tartarus despite working through our civilians, I'd like to think someone would have seen someone doing something...creative.

I heard an answer causing each eye to cringe naturally, "Worst case scenario we're completely dead in space for a week, sir." I inwardly prayed for not that answer from our engineering officer below decks, "And best case scenario we're limping maybe, or maybe more then just a few days and maybe get back on track." I still moaned agitated because this wasn't an ideal time to play with cylon raiding groups, or fleets who'd been pursuing our own very aggressively. It'd be only a matter of time before they showed up in larger numbers, or found us by default in time alone because I bet cylons were leagues ahead in processing logical numerical chances.

"At least Tartarus didn't try to emulate a star going super nova!" I exclaimed sarcastically standing upright trying to think over logistical nightmares. Without active movement our civilian freighters which were filled, or used as portable storage units for ore, water and food sources would be restricted due to lack of security. I had two, if not three mining ships designed for extraction of said resources yet they weren't large enough for brief trips to fill our needs. Constantly they were always bringing in what was needed, if we found pockets inside said systems and yet suffering delays, I'd be tightening my belt for a month at this rate.

Irene cautiously placed a hand on my shoulder which I briefly accepted, "Julius! We all could be dead right now, so just try to think of things as...fortunate." She hesitated for a minute trying to get across that things could have been worse as I wasn't apposed to admit exhausted, "I know! But this will set us back if anyone presses for a switch from defense to offense." Repeatedly tapping all five fingers in a simple manner against the holographic schematic floating at eye level, so in a bid to ignore it I tried to look for any sort of alternative. If I was to be delayed, I'd at least get something accomplished so it'd never again.

"Make sure our tylium levels aren't dropping." I stated flatly as a means to prevent any bleed out of excess fuel since losing that reservoirmeant less for an entire fleet. Irene nodded understandably before leaning over a pair of ensigns who adjusted their stations to get real time level sensors activated. I got an answer within thirty seconds. And turned out all wasn't lost given my commander's comforting smile to reassure rising anxiety.

"No leaks detected, or deemed probable so far." Irene looked over to the two specialists overseeing said area gave me nods in conjunctive affirmation, "Only confirmed tylium lost is what was in our engines conversion hubs. But there could be damage to our internal lines to siphon them from tanks, I'll bet chief down in engineering will spot it." I raised a hand pleading to the gods for that small wish. If they were merciful I'd consider in quitting drinking to appease them and my soon to be fractured soul for getting blind sided again.

Still this presents an opportunity, if I'm gods damned mad enough to call it that! This all but sealed my prioritizing of dangers to settle here and now! If I couldn't get a handle on this fraking saboteur cylon inside fleet itself, I'd risk even deadlier times to ignore it. Imagining a situation of danger during naval engagements, or having potential enemy fleets on our ass? I'd be kissing every single crew, piece of tech and gods fearing lives to the void of space.

Stepping back from the holographic table I motioned for Irene to come closer by lowly stating, "Will you be alright if I left you in command, to coordinate with Adrian, Chief and the bridge of repairs?" My younger commander nodded with a straight face yet asked, "Why?" Without even cracking an already stern expression I simply replied, "To catch the perpetrator! I've been working on something to catch this fraking monster and we're going nowhere, so I can't ignore it if it's going to hit us this quickly Irene."

Oddly enough I'd expected her to smile yet a rare serious expression appeared. I almost blinked out of sheer shock to see Irene's normally warm and seemingly inexhaustible kindness turn into something akin to skeptic. Meeting a pair of green eyes which were narrowing critically, "Julius? You didn't actually...cooperate with who I think you did!" Of course she'd have guessed given those dossiers were complied by her very hands, speculation and standardized admissions of those who gave out entire spectrum of expertise.

"Common goals tend to bring out those have mutual habits, apparently." I left it at that mainly as a means to avoid too much details on prioritized dangers to fleet, "Focus with Adrian on our engine troubles. I know like anyone else it's a maddening situation but I'm stopping before it ever happens again, I'm doing this without hesitating and I'm ordering you to have full access to give chief, or his teams whatever they need to repair Tartarus. I trust you both, so trust me to deal with our little bomber." She tightly kept her mouth closed yet eventually exhaled acquiescing to a hidden confidence that prevailed.

"Just be...careful." I chortled lowly giving her arm a friendly pat, "No promises!" As I started to walk away I felt a hand tightly grasp my closest wrist, "Julius!" Irene pleaded softly despite forcing shock running through my veins due to how tight I squirmed in response due to her physical strength! She had enough of a grip to rival any built man, if I guessed and it'd be incredibly difficult to pull away so I reluctantly promised, "I won't take any unnecessary risks. Now please let my hand go, commander Matthias."

If I hadn't pulled a rank card she'd have pressed for more yet it did the trick entirely. She needs to stop going to recreational hall, if she even thinks about weight lifting! I shuddered involuntarily while moving towards a person who'd been immediate contact for priority one messages. Specialist Salazar perked up keeping an indifferent expression on display as I stopped by his station quietly ordering, "Get me Angelos off Olympus right now and in my quarters as per priority one. It's time we clamp down on this situation and end it, or risk...even more of our family dead."

He understood by nodding sternly, "Aye, sir!" And quickly went about to sending an encrypted transmission, or what I assumed to be prioritized channels to the Olympus which circled Tartarus's perimeter. Athena and I needed to get our plans in place immediately, plus I knew she wasn't not going to notice a correlation in asking for her presence. She'd connect the dots linking these events long before setting foot on-board my vessel, so I expected without doubt we'd be ready.

"Your explanation from our initial meeting has only proven those fears, Julius." Athena Angelos commented rather factually going over reports as I stood next to her looking attentively. I almost didn't speak up in favor of noticing an interesting pattern of events leading up to Tatarus's engine sabotage hours ago. Replying offhandedly I kept myself calm, "Don't remind me! You and I both though it'd take longer but it seems security has too many holes! I swear to the gods themselves I'll have to reorganize every single aspect of it until I'm satisfied I'll keep track of someone who takes a few extra rations out of chow."

That honest to Zeus rare scoffing laugh of amusement greeted that vow ever so genuinely. It seemed she found oddly amusing, "A worthy goal, admiral." I hummed mainly to keep my mind focused which I grinned grimly, "Jokes aside...look at this report! Submitted by a woman whose daughter disappeared minutes before several explosions tore through the crowd!" Statements were taken by volunteer security teams who had taken an attack of a colony's independence celebration personally, I sympathized and I found their dedication to be noteworthy. Personally I wasn't against establishing a military sponsored police force for these kinds of situations.

Athena leaned over as I read from behind her shoulder noting a particular detail, "Her eye caught some kind of reddish reflective light, it came from to immediate right and when turning away to look where she'd thought to have seen her daughter played... only to find her missing." Her own eyes narrowed while applying theoretical knowledge when it came to explosive devices meant to cause excessive injury, "Laser guided improved explosive devices." Absolutely I nodded in agreement finding it extremely plausible for something like that to exist yet I had no specific ideas as to how one created said device hence our predicament.

"How does anyone make one with what on this fleet?" I inquired looking upwards trying to narrow down a subject I had next to nothing to humor, "Can lasers actually fry a circuit board unit? Is there anything even possible to make something out of that kind of science fiction?" Laser weaponry wasn't exactly common knowledge considering I knew someone who'd have known, if it were true or not pertaining to secretive testing. Colonial command certainly would've gone to hades when applying weaponry capable of destroying kinetic, or projectile rounds we utilized to punch through cylon ship plating.

Unintentionally standing upright to lean against my front Athena speculated doubtfully, "Not likely. Laser weaponry in testing yielded ineffective results, if I recall my early days in research and development." One of many areas she really shinned at which had bugged me internally to wonder why said person willingly wanted to command ships, "Standardized red laser spectrums were simply too inefficient even when certain... power distribution methods discovered different wave lengths to empower them, but again still weren't capable for singular hyper thermal acceleration to destroy atoms, or erode them." I desperately tried to not foster this latest headache because weapon theories weren't even remotely making a dent on how lost I'd gotten.

Trying yet again to not get mentally raped by someone who knew these kinds of things! I simply asked tiredly, "Is it possible for a red laser to trigger something remotely?" Athena merely looked over her own shoulder making me witness an amethyst colored eye narrow, "Yes." Going on a thoughtful dive bomb I prompted her as an expert, "So how and what do you need to make one happen? Using a home made laser to detonate something from a distance in order to fry electric panels? Can't you build one to replicate how this frak is doing it?"

She started to laugh lowly finding my overestimation in her experiences far too much, "It's not so easy for someone to create a laser with spare parts, Julius." Turning around to lean against a desk I stood back with arms crossed thoughtfully, "Even if someone managed too with what I know! It'd be far too weak to remotely trigger any sort of corresponding electronic components! Believe me when I say this isn't a game, but I do know it has to be an already efficientlybuilt in laser powered by an energy source for it accomplish what this cylon agent is doing...presently." So we needed items pertaining to lasers for us to get a solid base for how all these attacks went off.

I began pacing finding a sort of rhythm to brain storm what we'd been feverishly dissecting. Alright, if I were a laser built to something! What would I be? I moved towards where my bunk had been cleaned earlier due to impatience of myself. I had to keep myself busy, or else suffering an urge to start throwing loose objects after going over reports before Angelos had set foot inside. So far we'd made progress and I was stuck at square one again.

"Any ideas, Julius?" I heard her ask rather curiously despite biting down on a tongue. I came awfully close to lashing out sarcastically but I controlled myself to tensely state, "No." I got extremely frustrated enough to at least sardonically humor, "Trying to remember what we use on-aboard our fleet with red lasers to set off explosives isn't exactly like remembering what rifles I have to kill...oh, frak me!" My eyes went wide in stupefied shock as Athena raised both eyes expectantly finding that ending word rather surprising given our situation.

Firearms! By the gods I only realized now because I thought of less direct options. In fact I started to ask myself how likely was it that someone could have used red laser sights to detonate a circuit board in engineering where would suspect it? Engineering was full of red, or orange lighting due to proximity of them being noticeable to a crewman's vision for emergencies! Don't my marines use red laser sights on rifles, or any kind of small arms?

Turning around I rushed over towards my desk to pull out one particular draw and within an overly gray box greeted my smirk. Flipping it open to reveal the concealed pistol to which I held it up to Athena who sucked in one sharp breath, "I think you're getting what I'm thinking." Lightly tossing said harmless object of metal and air which she inspected intently I grinned eagerly, "Why bother making a laser from scratch when you can just use something already meant to have a powerful source focused on marking targets? It makes sense!"

The woman's smile made my spine curl as a humoring hum agreed, "Indeed so, Julius!" I stopped moving when she simply pushed herself off to stand almost face to face. Her smile matched a gaze undecipherable to my assumptions as a prompt of continuation came next, "Go on! What is your next step since clearly your theory and dissection of potential items capable soundly appealing! So tell me what you'd do next going further?" Apart of my gut churned uneasily due to those amethyst like pupils refusing to look at anything else but a pair rooted. Gods she reminded me too much of someone who knew how to convey eagerness without saying much.

Still I didn't waste time in explaining what needed to be done to see if my hunch was correct. It all came down to our armories, "I can get send up an order to Salazar on my bridge to send out priority one messages to all master of arms manning our small arms." Frowning a bit next since things would get tricky to frame everything, "But we're betting at least someone knows something wasn't meant to be taken by someone who wasn't supposed too! Technically speaking we're considering an insider on the crew to be assisting this other bomber, if everything comes to the worst!" I clarified immediately seeing Athena's smile growing ever so intrigued by such imagination that I had another cylon agent assisting something beyond dangerous.

"Then again the cylon already raided an armory and we're stuck at square one, if that also happens to be our likely case." I mused trying to keep plausible theories in place yet they weren't solid even for me to swallow lightly. Either scenario represented security issues, an entire ship's worth of security needed to be reworked and patched up, or else I'd have possibly explosives going missing whenever someone looked away. My traitorous imagination alone kept humoring that lingering fear of someone who'd been masquerading to be human assisting another cylon on the fleet's populace! I feared it so much I actually looked to Athena who raised an eyebrow signaling an interest.

I hardened my expression to stare pointedly asking without doubt, "How likely do you think there's another cylon aiding the one setting off these attacks?" Keeping a fist wrapped around the communications microphone whose very wire tangled around my forearm. I hardly notice in favor of asking, or outright demanding an answer to a numerical chance I'd dare not believe. This all lead in correlation if any armorer noticed someone, if they noticed and I inquired about similar habits it'd get even more dangerous and potentially speaking I couldn't afford multiple cylons running a muck on my battlestar.

Athena hardly spared any pity to coldly smirk a bit impressed, "You're understanding one obvious problem to follow its potential as a threat to only to realize there's an even greater danger, admiral." She walked right up to simply point at the microphone dangling loosely in my tightened fist, "Paranoia will cause to doubt, everyone. You're raw, if not an absolute rustic at subtly and yet you're very amenable to those playing your steps in being several ahead." Her words were far too sensible for me to not give a skeptical look that didn't agree too well.

I flatly retorted back at her, "And you're not playing with those steps?" Athena's grin grew into a pleased smile by agreeing ever so bemused, "Not exactly at this moment, Julius." I managed to hold ground to avoid feeling unnerved by how piercing her stare leveled me, "But what can you do that turns your most blatant of weaknesses in your greatest strength? There's possibly an enemy, or enemies watching your every move and my own most likely given every vessel's captain considering how close our fleet could fracture into outright war."

Turning the tables on a bomber no one has seen, heard and ever imagined? Talk about getting fraked either way, if I don't do anything people die and if I try something to have it fail, people will die yet again! It didn't mean I had ideas which required others to be involved, to get enough resources and make it worth every...moment? I perked up once an answer hit me so clearly, so fraking suddenly that I broke out in a leering grin! Athena's expression turned exuberant once that advice sunk in to jump start what needed to be done.

Rushing over to my desk I began pulling out reports while simultaneously getting spare pieces of paper to write down details. Everything that wasn't out of place needed to be in place. I thought mindful of trying to avoid not being seen yet having to make an appearance to reassure people and people gathered for events to be addressed! I had enough of everything on hand to really play the bomber at their own game, if everything on Tartarus's audit came through on every armorer's stock which I knew to be a fool's gamble. Something was missing, no doubt. Once I'd find out it'd be sent up through the wire and if I found out someone who took said thing then someone who would find out to have something to lose would try to stop, or at least in theory.

Grasping my communications line linking to the bridge I paused momentarily to take a breath. Glancing to Athena who casually found herself sitting overtly intrigued on my desk's edge waiting patiently with legs crossed. She gave an impeccable nod of encouragement, a test if I were going mad enough to believe we both had something to gain and learn firsthand. If I wanted to lead I'd have to gamble with what mattered, if she wanted someone adequate as admiral of fleet I'd have to put myself to standards not yet set. Whether I understood command wasn't simple to learn, I'd fully believe if I didn't try anything else my people who I viewed as family would continue to die and that was gods damned pathetic.

The docking procedure went off without a problem as I stood on the bridge overlooking everyone's stations. Tartarus's shakedown run on some of its latest retrofits performed adequately to what was stated to be suitable levels. I'd been left in charge with an overseer in the form of the vessel's actual commander who'd left to go on shore leave. I was trusted to look over this ship underneath the duration of crew coming and going for leave itself. I'd have protested because I had been scheduled to meet someone who I'd been looking for too yet it was a necessary evil.

Walking over towards several ensigns who were diligently conversing with the docking yard's communications hub did I remain observant. Everything was going on all according to what would happen, so I found myself wishing to kill time as I exhaled deeply. It'd been another shakedown run of Tartarus's capability to maneuver against enemy patrols, or potentially jump in the quickest interval known to colonial fleet standards. Fortunately it'd been a smooth endeavor that I'd been praised given how it'd been simulated emergency jumps.

"Board is green, sir!" I nodded towards an ensign who gave me a solid look of relief, "Good work, ensign! You can head out for shore leave, I'll man the bridge until next shift change." I ordered kindly as the elder man saluted astutely finding an order all too readily upheld. He had a wry smirk knowing it was rare I broke protocol rarely and he sounded respectfully, "Understood Rear-Admiral, thank you."

That left barely a skeleton crew with myself holding command over Tartarus until my senior officer took over. Barely had six months into a role as an admiralty officer of fleet, I'd been more or less delegated to observing until the Board of Colonial Fleet approved my full commission to command a battle group. Six months after graduation practically top of my class, I'd been subjected to expectations and I took all tasks to the letter to be done effortlessly. Yet it felt as though I were hitting red tape whenever anything went wrong though.

"Pressure getting to you, sir?" One of the more senior non-commissioned ensigns stated knowingly from over my shoulder as this particular soldier was more familiar to Tartarus's commanding officer. They'd been together serving for two decades so I wasn't keen to press protocol with so few on the bridge. Honestly I admitted without looking back in favor to stare at sensors systematically pinging for any non-colonial vessels within the orbital dockyard, "Just another day. Sometimes I wonder whether they like to frak around and have deal with all this bitch work, I know you understand what I mean right?"

I got an overt gruff laugh in return for that observation, "I've been living it every day, sir. Give it time kid and you'll get your wings to guide us to Hades!" Now I needed to laugh as well finding the senior ensign far too crusty to not share that agreement. I absently moved towards one vacant station to idly sit down to adjust arrays meant for longer range, "No complaints here!" I shook my head as several chortling of various veterans, or again senior soldiers finding my stiff routine far too common among those groomed to lead fleets.

"Sir?" I had a teasing question ask all too expectantly, "So when you going to visit your girl?" Again I shook my head pretending to think I was doing something important, "Ask me again and you owe fifty to kiss the floor! Alright?" Low laughter circulated our bridge since I'd been lenient about my budding love life that many seemed to find out. I guessed being seen with those well known and walking together with smiles of warmth, or affection had gossip news reels dying to find out for someone to be paid off.

Minutes passed without incident to allow all of us some peace of mind. I reached down to unclasp a locket to stare at two smiling pictures of people who I'd vowed to remain forever. It was a warm feeling inside my gut to think one day, I'd probably ask for this person's hand in holy marriage underneath the god's blessings. But it was far too soon to do it, or think it, far too soon unless I proved I was worth something and I'd work my fraking ass off to be someone. Someone who would be far more valuable to those building the future which I wanted to make!

"Julius?" I practically jumped out of my seat when someone stood behind me, "Commander Matthias!" Trying to avoid stuttering when a rather youthful amused face greeted me as various ensigns started to high five each other. Fraking bastards were definitely pooling bets behind my back as I stood straighter forcing myself to kindly say, "Irene! Didn't you hear you being announced to the bridge, I should probably find more attentive and respectful staff who'd love to be disciplined over proper procedure."

The woman laughed all too good naturally finding entertainment in an obvious plot to embarrass myself in open view. Among most on-board Tartarus's command staff I'd been closer in relating too as she'd been apart of them for an entire year. Plus her young age nearly matched me in clear spades but few dared to speak ill of her ability to mend, or even keep morale up as she'd been subjected to those wondering about a personal questioning. Many gossiped about her looks, build and attitude which sent many an ensign flustering messes save for the veterans who only shook their heads whenever their younger compatriots acted around Irene Matthias.

"I'm sure this shift is fairly competent, Rear-Admiral." She sweetly covered their grins of gruff amusement as I turned to look back at the screen. Several strange pings started to appear off beyond known coordinates making me peer oddly suspicious, "Yeah...I'm sure." Answering partially distracted I sat back down immediately trying to clear out inference from one star that our dockyard was located near too. Something wasn't exactly natural given how said star would occasionally let off bursts of radiation pertaining to 'fake' blips of white noise, a necessary evil considering most of our resources for this fleet were in reasonable distance.

Irene didn't seem bothered despite myself turning away at least to how she sounded bemused, "You'll learn they mean you good, Julius. It's all good fun!" I nodded absently focusing on my task to sternly peer at the screen ignoring chortling aside. Thinking back this particular star had been marked weekly as per systematic bursts, I checked the date and realized it was just a day early. Yet according to my knowledge it'd never been an incident of such noteworthy anomalies, I studied relentlessly on what this post pertained to anything in class.

The blips came back again on screen within seconds coming closer according to sensors! It was gradual yet I pinpointed their origin, "The frak?" I utterly said loudly drawing all attention as silence reigned due to my profanity. No one ever heard me cuss, or even remotely said anything negative so it signified something was wrong. I rushed to whip out a note pad to furiously start doing mathematical numbers whenever those blips came back, I watched intently on screen as they were inching closer just right out of range on this damned star. In fact I looked over barking out an order so stern it stunned several ensign, "Verify signatures at vector two six nine, five three three!"

Irene stared over my shoulder due to her breathing tickling an earlobe of mine, "Do what Real-Admiral Serverus says! Now!" She ordered hotly as the staff quickly dropped their lax attitudes to start sending out pings of their own. My eyes never left that screen to see those 'blips' inching closer towards a well known nebula of asteroids, radiation trails and other such objects acting akin to a natural screen of universal phenomena. It was also notorious for those trying to clean up signatures, if it'd been overlooked for being close to Caprica itself.

It took exactly thirty seconds until I felt a chill running up my spinal cord. I'd done the mental math to realize these intervals weren't white noise interference. These were subtle guidance adjustments as though a vessel were setting itself up for an overt strike! It was angled just perfect to potentially hit our entire fleet, dockyard and have enough distance to jump out. A text book surprise attack of mechanical calculation that it meant one word to make me freeze in cold sweat. I wanted to be so gods damned wrong it almost killed my ability to function.

"The frak?!" I heard an ensign swear out viciously startled, "Sir! We're getting painted!" The entire bridge lit up in warning as all power dedicated to scouting signatures got ever so clearer. Another ensign verified his comrade's warning, "Confirmed unknown sensor lock on Caprica! What the frak is targeting us?"

Panic started to surge within my gut as signs of it began to show all too clearly. I rasped out shrilly yelling, "Cross reference verified signature and get me answers!" The blips were starting frequently come in clearer and longer intervals much too quickly to be natural. Furiously writing numbers while working in correlation to the computer software, I started to seize up when several more 'blips' of contact started to inch out past the star's radius. My eyes were wide with shivers running up each arm as hair stood on it's end due to instinctual terror.

"Additional contacts!" I bit out rasping for air as Irene leaned forward suddenly adjusting instruments to loudly order out, "Verify new marks, ensigns! Sensors picking up contacts on vectors eight six nine, three five five." I felt petrified when my mind went rapidly ahead to sort out all possible outcomes, plausibility and surreal disbelief. It all matched up from the history books on Caprica that lead to an almost gods damned nightmare.

Forty years of silence from an enemy I'd been trained to prepare against! An enemy which ruthlessly calculated all decisions, gave no remorse to any enemy and were supposedly at peace with the creators who made them. I had several tears of shock when it was clear, I didn't want to believe it yet here it was not even an arm's length away. The gradual humane formation of blips cruising so easily, so simply and far too meticulously to line up kill shots on a station which was ignorant of it's surroundings due to their lax complacency. It all drew to one conclusion that I had to say it, or I'd risk more lives without realizing it.

"Cylon." I croaked out allowing my back to slam against a seats uncomfortable cushion as an entire bridge went deathly quiet. I couldn't think due to the disbelief alone, I'd been certain beforehand and now I wanted to be so gods damned wrong! I couldn't believe it was happening, a forty year peace and we'd been sticking to our terms almost zealously to foster good relations. A bid I'd been made aware yet someone had to know as well.

Suddenly invigorated I bolted out of the chair to rush towards an honest to gods communications hub. Reports were streaming in as one man announced shocked, "I don't fraking believe it! Cylon energy signature detected at three thousand kilometers and closing!" I didn't hesitate to get a direct line to the command deck of the anchorage. Breathing heavily I waited with panic induced eyes in seeing all the details of anxiety, disbelief and a sense of foredooming war. Every second the crackle of static persisted in my ear, I felt it akin to eternity.

"Sir, orders?" One ensign demanded of me as I looked at him stunned to hear such a thing. I wasn't in command of Tartarus, I wasn't even technically allowed to use the fraking communications hub unless instructed by my own senior officer. Irene shook myself roughly until I saw her concerned expression telling me quite frankly, "Julius! You're the present commanding officer of Tartarus right now, do you understand without you we're going to deteriorate into a full scale panic and Zeus alone we need your orders now!"

The static line ended when I heard a bored voice speak up into an ear, "Scorpion observatory tower." Forcing myself to inhale heavily I started to bite out, "Scorpion tower this is Tartarus actual, I have marked and painted signatures locking onto the station. Forwarding coordinates to you now!" I sharply shouted that last part to several ensigns who gladly started obeying a clear chain, I looked at Irene who nodded once before instigating a plan of action. I looked down to see that locket against a rapidly rising chest underneath a uniform's interior.

"Tartarus actuall what the...oh, frak!" I heard the operator state bewildered when it was clear what we'd been picking up started to filter upwards into their system. We didn't have much time considering machines only used it so effectively it'd make us look like slobbering idiots. By Zeus I closed my eyes unable to believe this to be real yet I had to save lives. Lives which were looking up to me unfairly, I barely had enough composure until I screamed out everything.

Not one person misunderstood the urgency and anxiety which had grown into panic. We were sitting with our asses hanging out, "Sound priority one alarm! All hands, any crew on leave and every single human body within our vicinity are to return to Tartarus for immediate departure! Get everyone on board, now!" Alarms started blaring when an entire bridge went into combat status as instruments were suddenly lighting up with alerts of enemy contact. Men and women alike rushed onto the bridge in various states of dress as it wasn't a drill like weeks prior.

"Scorpion tower!" I hadn't heard the operator for several moments until I had someone look at me just as terrified. By Zeus alone my heart thundered inan ear once we cleared our sensory up a bit more, "Confirm cylon signature? How copy!" I only replied tightly when an ensign shouted warning us with a report that froze blood. If one thing was a nightmare then Hades itself was on it's way to claim us for eternal damnation.

The ensign's voice cracked with equal parts rage and horror to make me freeze in place, "Nuclear launch detected! Ranging at five thousand kilometers...wait, no! Verified enemy missile launch at four thousand and closing fast!" There was no time to obey and await further orders, I had to get us out of Scorpion's docks or risk being vaporized. Looking to Irene who looked back to me looking ashen, I looked to the entire staff coming to one crystal gods forsaken decision. I'd be damning thousands to die if only several had to live for another day.

"Prep emergency detach and get Tartarus into open space! Disengage all locks and get our fraking asses out of dry dock!" I roared out as an entire staff shifted from reconnaissance into emergency departure. We had several minutes at best to get enough people onboard, detach ourselves from the shipping yards lines and make a straight shot out into open void for a blind jump. There was no winning, or debating it, if I wanted us to survive we had to abandon the colony below to see another day for retribution.

Overlooking all on the bridge I felt akin to someone slamming a sledge hammer into my chest over and over again. It hurt to stand, it hurt to breathe and it gods damned hurt to think properly when everything was going to literal shit! I never realized how overwhelming every really was, or never felt pressure whenever I stood next to my commanding officer's side. I was a cadet, an inexperienced officer and by all means no way cleared to lead an entire battlestar in a war against Cylons of all things. But no matter how hard I tried I'd been unable to wake up from a living nightmare, a reality of terror at this point.

"Umbilical disengaging in exactly thirty seconds, sir!" An ensign called out waiting as camera feeds of various people sprinted aboard. I closed my eyes counting down mentally hoping we did something right as I knew after that any left behind were ash and dust. I clasped the locket tightly to bring it upward and kissing it, "So say we all." I looked up to see a minute just eclipse as that same ensign cried out furiously, "Umbilical disengaged! We're drifting outwards into open space sir, we'll be clear momentarily!"

Tartarus's bulk shifted abruptly as I lurched forward briefly yet it was due to artificial gravity being activated. I barked out loudly, "Status on forward aft and bow weaponry!" If a cylon fleet was present then we'd need anti-fighter capability soon, or risk getting blasted into space itself. One woman immediately reported confirming with the gun battery decks, "All flak batteries green and locked, sir! Main guns preparing for discharge and load in one minute, viper and raptor decks loading out for immediate departure!"

Looking to a screen showcasing blips of incoming missile barrages did I scream aloud, "Have all flak batteries engage enemy projectiles! Cut them down if you can, buy us and everyone behind time to get out alive! Main guns target enemy vessel positions, I want rapid continuous fire to get them out of that nebula if possible, make them turn and get us out to open space for emergency jump! If we can't save enough, I sure as hell will try to save as many as we're able too until getting out alive." I was heaving in air so strongly I almost wanted to pass out, I never screamed so much and the pressure of getting anything done was beyond surreal.

Batteries began opening up on our screens to show projected impact of missile denotations which would buy the shipyard precious time. I looked to an ensign who was monitoring communications channels, "Status of other battlestars!" The man shouted back undeterred by my own loudness to clearly indicate everything in perfected detail, "Battlestar Pegasus has been alerted and proceeding to break her tethers! They're all...struggling. Battlestar Ramses and Bellerophon in similar conditions, sir!"

My heart dropped once those numbers began decreasing so rapidly to make everything too clear to ignore it. If I didn't do something now, or by Zeus think of anything we'd been losing almost ten thousand souls, or more on three ships alone. That wasn't counting those who'd be able to get off the station, or even make it on other vessels taking in everyone else. Clutching the small locket which meant literally everything to my very being, "So say we all." I intoned firmly coming to a conclusion to do what was necessary to safeguard those to be saved, if I didn't do this course we'd lose more than necessary.

My voice wasn't entirely on the level of screaming yet I shouted firmly,"Calculate intercept course and place forward aft batteries in place for immediate screen of Scorpion dockyard." Irene and various other ensigns all looked to me in disbelief, or shock. I brought the communications receiver closer before I sternly bellowed, "Get Tartarus in front of enemy trajectories to buy time! Save as many as possible and get us out alive...so say we all!" I bellowed out those last four words making an entire staff surge with vigor once it was clear we'd shield our comrades and those unable to fight back, or we'd die dying.

"Sir, I've got multiple contacts jumping in!" I glared over harshly in a fit of anger before spitting out, "Details ensign, details!" Shuddering sensations ran up my legs once I walked over to see his station lit with enemy contacts pinging in rapidly. He immediately started to give me numbers which sent my blood racing through veins with extreme adrenaline, "Cylon ships confirmed! Two dozen...no, wait three dozen and counting coming out of jump at vector six four zero, I'm getting signals of raiders being launched, sir!"

There wasn't any feasible way to achieve victory, or even come out even to make up for losses which were imminent. Yet there wasn't any other alternative except to die immediately, I tossed that suggestion in favor of suicidal last stand for the defense of Scorpion Dockyard above the colony it'd been built for decades ago. Nothing would remain of it once those nuclear missiles struck it head on, I had only this option to negate some of this madness. But I also understood in this scenario it'd be impossible to be victorious whether I survived, or not.

A sudden shock wave sent an entire bridge scrambling for footing! I smashed face first into a wall before violently being flung back, "Report!" I bit out spitting blood as various other ensigns retaining their wits, "Premature denotation of nuclear intercept, sir! One of our flak batteries scored a hit...oh frak, it's frying our electronics at this rate if they get closer!" Gnashing both teeth I had to make our stand here, or we'd risk more than just an over fried circuit board. Still if these things got any closer we'd be radiated alive inside a metallic hulk.

"Continuous fire and keep us on an intercept course, if we get nicked so be it!" I called out as Irene got a call from below decks at another terminal, "Adrian but how...you were, what? Wait, you're what in hangar bay...okay, frak I'll let the Admiral know now!" I wasn't an admiral at all, so why did she have to call me that of all times? Scowling angrily I ignored it in favor to overlook multiple waves of blips entering Tartarus's range inducing subtle tremors of massive gun batteries were opening up to down as many nuclear missiles as possible.

"Commander Quintus has alerted our viper and raptor corps of pilots to man their stations. We've also picked up spares and strays that will man them as well, sir." Irene reported quickly to which I nodded knowing we'd saved some others, "Understood! Get them into space to form up and deter as many raiders as we're able too. Every minute we buy the ones stuck behind is another minute for them to get out of here and regroup!"

I'd done all I'd been able too to barter time for lives at this very moment. I'd done all in my power and I earnestly prayed vividly for Zeus to bless us in this time of need. There was nothing less to be said other than surviving another day, I looked around helplessly seeing ensigns and other commanding staff return to relay orders to Tartarus's main body. I almost wanted to vomit due to a huge rush making myself feeling feint yet I managed to grip a communications receiver to hear someone in Scorpion observatory respond finally.

"Tartarus actual, how copy?" I responded immediately trying to avert an urge to puke my guts all over a holographic table aligning to adjust for a major engagement. I wanted to sit down so badly but it took all my effort to reply dryly, "Clear on my end, Scorpion tower! Status on fleet?" I questioned harshly impatient knowing there was more than someone I'd risk my own blood over stranded on that station, I had to be sure! But that answer never came when an order came from an elder voice which struck me cold.

It was our current admiral of fleet within this colony's sector who answered gravely resigned. I felt a tear running down my eye, "Julius do not waste your life, or that vessel with everyone aboard over this grave of mine." I silently exhaled feeling moisture leak down my face as I heard my orders given without hesitation, "Your orders...Admiral Servivus are as thus until a strike lands on Scorpion dockyard! You will hold the line at all costs, buy time and jump out to link up with whoever survives this dark day of our people's time, Julius."

My mind went blank when that rank hit me because I wasn't ready to accept it. I didn't want to be promoted underneath these hellish circumstances, "Sir...I'm not..." He laughed once finding that stuttering all too natural, "We both know you're not! But it seems the gods have given you a free pass over us both, kid." I gnashed both teeth together knowing where he'd go with this kind of talk as we both understood why I knew I wasn't ready. I had no confidence in myself to do anything useful yet he was telling me to lead anyway because it'd come down to that.

"Take care of Tartarus for me, Julius." The man of fifty years of service said over the communications line as static started to crackle meaning nuclear radiation was imminently drifting. I had probably minutes before multiple denotations corroded all communications within our area of engagement, "Sir...I don't know what I'm going to do." I felt helpless despite organizing a suicidal defense which I blundered into without even thinking really, all my instincts were demanding I either flee or die because there was no chance of winning.

Dozens to nearly a hundred blips started showing up as they were aimed directly at our path. The flak batteries were laying down all levels of accurate, or inaccurate firepower trying to stem the inevitable aftershock. Dimly aware when I stared upwards blankly seeing faces of men, women and myself unable to accept the crushing genocide of Scorpia. The colony wasn't my home as opposed to Caprica yet it'd meet this fate as well. Nuclear genocide from creations of mankind, an enemy we'd created to mirror our tenacity and ruthless tactic of total destruction. I couldn't possibly stand against so much and not break down in the future.

"None of us do, son." The man replied grimly over a line as it started to crackle with interference and my knuckles clenched tightly. Alarms started bellowing red hot as I heard an ensign cry out, "Nuclear bombardment detected from every cylon vessel in proximity! Sir, we can't maintain our position or else we'll be fried alive! Orders, please!" Those rapid details came to crush what little hope of desperation I'd been clinging too in these minutes.

Right before this influx of nuclear inferno I heard the man's last words, "You have your standing orders to survive, Admiral Servius." I watched on screen when dozens more of cylon vessels appeared from literally every direction to encircle the colony's orbit, "Follow your heart, use your mind and beg the gods to deliver our justice of this slaughter. Your fate will be your own...so say we all." And with that a line went dead due to half a dozen missiles intercepted to block out all communication, all hope and it lead me to scream in fury.

"Blind jump, belay all viper and raptor squadrons!" I threw the receiver away to stare ahead tears pouring down and I screamed it again, "Blind jump! Zeus help us, we're evaluating Scorpia's orbit and bring down as many as we can!" I slammed both fists down unable to resist feeling that hot rage inside, I felt so alive and so damned dead it nearly consumed me. I wanted to end it all yet my damned obedience to see another day took over.

The entire staff switched immediately in compliance when I slumped down onto both knees shaking uncontrollably. One day I'd avenge my family's death, one day I'd arise above this weakness and by the gods I prayed I'd deliver hell to these fraking machines. Nothing would be settled for less, nothing would be damned acceptable and I'd do what needed to be done. Whispering hatefully I said my final words to those damned to die here and now, "So say we all."

End Chapter V

Author's Note: I watched season 1 to 3 tonight, so forgive me if I lingered on the emotional parts. Yet I cannot help it, if I have that spark, it'll get done. Have a safe weekend folks and be well, I intend too as well.