The Cylons were created by Man.

They were created to make life easier on the Twelve Colonies.

And then the day came when the Cylons decided to kill their masters.

After a long and bloody struggle, an armistice was declared.

The Cylons left for another world to call their own.

A remote space station was built...

Where Cylons and humans could meet and maintain diplomatic relations.

Every year, the Colonials send an officer...

The Cylons send no one.

No one has seen or heard from the Cylons in over forty years...

-Opening text of the Battlestar Galactica Miniseries

Prologue

There are those who believe that the Cylon threat is not over. The Cylon war ended almost 40 years ago, but some are convinced that they will return. Once they come, they would mostly certainly want to finish the job they started and exterminate humanity once and for all.

So a secret group was formed under the name Last Hope Plan or LHP.

It was founded by current Fleet Admiral Richard Torres, Admiral Nagala, Admiral Westwood, and several others. All of them believe that the Cylons will return one day and when they do there's no telling what could happen. Given the reductions in the colonial fleet over time there was a fear that the colonial fleet might just lose the fight against the Cylons should they return.

Operation Exodus was a plan created by several large Colonial corporations and the military. The Colonial government was never allowed to know about it because of the politicians who just don't understand the dangers the Cylons represent.

The original plan was to send several well-armed ships accompanied by dozens of civilian ships to establish a secret colony to ensure the survival of the human race.

It took almost 8 years to build the fleet and make it ready. Nobody in the colonies except those who planned it and the 14085 souls that manned the mission know about it; with only a few higher up officers knowing all the mission details.

The goal of the mission is to create a colony far away from the twelve colonies, so if the Cylons or any other enemy should threaten the twelve worlds there would be an emergency fallback position to ensure humanity's survival. Although president Adar later approved the Copernicus project, he never knew anything about there being another colony.

Path To The Unknown Part I

Fleet Admirals Office
Picon Fleet Station, Picon
0500

18 months before the Fall, 2 weeks before mission launch.

"Are you sure Nagala, that this is the right man for the mission?" Fleet Admiral Torres asked, "Because once he's chosen there is no going back, and the mission starts in two weeks."

"I know him quite well Richard, there's nothing to worry about with him," Admiral Nagala replied confidently.

Admiral Torres looked through the window to watch Picon and its beautiful colors beneath him.

"You know we can't withhold this forever, and actually I think Adar may have some information about the mission," Admiral Torres said worriedly.

"Even if they found something out, it would not be enough to compromise this mission," Admiral Nagala said, taking a glass of ambrosia that Torres put in front of him and then added, "you know as well as I do that Adar is a fool. He doesn't want to see the truth of what's happening past the armistice line: he refuses to believe the Cylons are up to something. He is ignoring the intelligence that we presented to him about the Cylons weapon testing," Admiral Nagala said.

"Nukes don't fall by themselves. The fact is, he is a stubborn man and he refuses to believe it's possible the Cylons are planning a return in the worst sort of way. He will find out about the mission eventually, and until then we need to prepare in the best interest of the colonies regardless," Admiral Torres said determinedly. "Do all the personnel know where they going and what they will do?" Admiral Torres asked.

"The civilian pioneers and a majority of the military personnel for the mission know everything they need to and are ready to get going. Only Commander Mark Stryker doesn't know anything about it right now," Admiral Nagala replied.

"Alright then, go and give command of the Atlantis to Commander Stryker. I've seen his record and I think he will be fine, and I trust your judgment. Also, don't forget to give him all he will need to complete this mission," Admiral Torres said.

"Yes sir!" Admiral Nagala said, saluted, and left Admiral Torres to himself as he went to the flight deck.

Picon Shipyards
Starboard Hangar Deck
Battlestar Atlantis

0700

2 Weeks before launch

"Ah, I see you made it in one piece Commander Stryker, good," Admiral Nagala said to Stryker as he exited the raptor. "I assume you know why you are being moved to the Atlantis from the Triton," Nagala stated.

"The only thing that I've been told sir is that this is a very important mission for the colonies," Commander Stryker replied, "and I was surprised when Admiral Richardson gave me a promotion sir!"

"Let's go to C.I.C, I will tell you all you will need to know," Admiral Nagala said and they started walking toward the nearest door that would lead them to C.I.C.

"You see Commander," Nagala started, "for some time now, we've believed that the Cylons will be returning, but not with open arms."

"Cylons returning?" Commander Stryker said, stopping to look at Nagala with disbelief, "you say the Cylons will return but how, when?"

"Nobody knows, but I have a hunch that it will be soon, very soon. That's why this mission is so important," Admiral Nagala said.

"Battlestar Pleiades picked up some unusual readings from Cylon space, and other ships' sensors detected several nuclear explosions in Cylon space," Admiral Nagala said to the now shocked Commander Styker.

"And we're sure they're not testing those weapons only for fun; not where they could be caught red handed. Either they're being negligent in testing their weapons close to the colonies, or they want us to know they're coming. You see, when the Cylons departed colonial space almost 39 years ago, they took a lot of tech with them to include; nuclear weapons, genetic laboratory gear, and much more," Admiral Nagala said.

"But why would they need genetic labs?" Commander Stryker asked.

Admiral Nagala prepared to answer but was interrupted by one marine that said, "Admiral on deck."

"Carry on," Admiral Nagala said and added, "can I have everyone's attention please." The entire CIC crew stopped doing their jobs and looked up. "This is Commander Stryker, he is assigned as the commanding officer of this ship, I expect that you will follow all his orders properly," Admiral Nagala said.

"Commander, this is your XO Richard Haller, and Master Chief petty officer Ronald Walker," Admiral Nagala said pointing to two men that had just arrived in CIC.

"It's a pleasure sir," both the XO and Chief said.

"I will be taking the Commander to the Commanders flag suite," Admiral Nagala said and added, "Mister Haller, CIC is yours."

Haller nodded his head, "I have CIC aye sir."

Flag Suite

Battlestar Atlantis

"Your orders are to take your command and with several other ships go to these coordinates," Admiral Nagala said as they entered the room and held up a file with the target locations FTL coordinates to be reached at the end of their mission. "Your orders are to setup a colony there."

"Colony?" Commander Stryker asked.

"Yes Commander, Atlantis will be accompanied by Battlestars Sword and Pleiades, the Gunstars Iliad, Novalis, and Fortune, and the Warstar Argona a..." Admiral Nagala said before being interrupted.

"Warstar Argona sir?" Stryker interrupted, "I've never heard of her, or of the Sword."

"Of course you haven't," Admiral Nagala said smiling, "you see those two ships and the Atlantis were built in secrecy, and only a few high ranking military personal know about the Argona, Sword, and Atlantis, and that is for the best."

Nagala stopped for a second and then added, "yes I can also see by your face that you have a question about why the hell I brought a Warstar with me. She is not your usual Warstar; she is the second ship in the Andraste class, but she was remodeled to serve as a mobile repair and construction platform, and as such her left hangar pods have several dock extensions for ships to dock. In fact, she serves as a mobile dock for this expedition, an armed mobile dock."

"I must say that I'm in shock sir. I know only one Andraste was constructed and that was the Andraste herself," Commander Stryker replied in shock. "What I know is that the Quorum paid for only one ship, and with good reason. It's too damn expensive; I have to seriously doubt that they gave money for a second one to be constructed."

"You are correct Commander, they did not," Admiral Nagala said.

"Now here's the important part," Admiral Nagala continued, "this battle group is under LHP direction."

"LHP?" Commander Stryker asked.

"LHP or Last Hope Plan, is a group that is consisted from military and civilian companies not under the authority of the president or quorum. All ships carry colonial insignias, but they are not from the colonial fleet with the exceptions of the Pleiades and Gunstars, which are all officially retired," Admiral Nagala explained.

"All the ships were financed by the military and a few corporations. You know about Copernicus right?" Admiral Nagala asked. The Commander nodded his head.

"As you can guess, every Cylon will probably know about it, and about the ongoing mission that Prometheus is on in searching for Kobol and Earth," Admiral Nagala said.

"Yes sir, I heard about that, but I thought Earth was only a myth? Or is it?" Commander Stryker asked.

"As we know it, it is a myth," Admiral Nagala nodded, "but for the purpose of this mission: nobody knows. Once your ships are launched and far away from colonies then we will announce this to the president."

"I think the President's not going to be happy about this," Commander Stryker said.

"No, he and the quorum will be pissed, but that is not important at this time," Admiral Nagala said, and then gave the folder with all the information needed for the mission, such as the sheet on top that was a listing of fleet ships in Operation Exodus, to Commander Stryker.

"This is a list of ships, and officers of your fleet. Your fleet is currently stationed near Lobo Negro in the veil of Athena. This will give you a clear picture of the mission. I chose you, because you are one of the best officers we have - so don't screw this up," Admiral Nagala said.

Starboard Hangar Deck
Battlestar Atlantis

As the Admiral prepared to leave he asked in a formal manner, "Permission to depart Commander?"

"Permission granted, and thank you sir!" Commander Stryker replied.

The Admiral nodded his head and then entered the raptor.

2 minutes later the Raptor left the ship.

Still in shock from what he heard and the job he was given, Commander Stryker started slowly walking to CIC.

Battlestar Atlantis CIC

0750

"Welcome back sir, I thought you were going to escape when you heard about our mission," Colonel Haller said, smiling.

"You and I have a lot to talk about Colonel Haller," Stryker said, "but that can wait, are we ready to depart?"

"Yes Sir! All section's report 100%, we are ready to go," Colonel Haller reported.

"Alright then, do we have permission to depart from the station?" Commander Stryker asked.

"The station gave us the green light sir," the communications officer replied.

"Good, helm one third back slowly," Commander Stryker said.

"Yes sir, one third back slowly," the helm officer said.

And then a massive Mercury block II class ship started to slowly move back from between two docks. The ship used its boosters to get clear, and exited the dock.

"We are out sir," the helm officer said.

"Good turn us to heading mark 6 carom 125, and prepare to jump to Lobo Negro station," Commander Stryker said.

"FTL engines online, we are ready for jump sir," the helm officer said.

"Good, on my mark,5,4,3,2,1 jump!" Commander Stryker said.

And the ship jumped.

Atlantis materialized near a massive ringed station. Lobo Negro station is one of two mobile stations built to serve as a mobile command post, as well as a mobile shipyard and repair station for ships in a state of need. Her sister station the Olympia was deployed in the Red Horse Nebula. The Nebula was filled with dangerous gasses and asteroids.

But Lobo Negro was put much closer to the colonies than her sister. The station was capable of housing 8 Battlestars on 8 docking piers for many purposes; construction, repairs, and even possible upgrades.
Currently the station housed only two Battlestars; the Nova, and Pleiades.
The Station had a crew of 7000 people onboard. Of those, 1000 are marines.
Although the Olympia class stations are old, more than 20 years since their creation, they are still in service. Some six were built and all but two remain in service, though officially all six were retired. Olympia and Lobo Negro were moved to secret locations, mostly inside of nebulas where they are very hard to find except when the location is known.
After she was retired, Lobo Negro station was moved outside the colonies and into a large massive nebula called the Veil of Athena. Its mission was primarily to serve as a test bed for new technologies, weapons, FTL Drives, and other new innovative stuff that colonial engineers developed.

Atlantis CIC
Near Lobo Negro Station
Veil Of Athena

"Jump completed sir!" the Helm Officer said, "We are 10km from the Lobo Negro station sir."

"Good, move us into range," Commander Stryker replied.

"Sir Battlestar Pleiades is docked with the station; Commander Neros says they will need a couple more days in dock, they had a small accident," Colonel Haller said.

"Hmmm, ask Commander Neros for the details of the accident, and what is with the other ships?" Commander Stryker asked.

"Battlestar Sword and Gunstars Iliad and Fortune will arrive in 3 days; they are at the Scorpion shipyards. Warstar Argona is docked with Olympia station to resupply the station. They will then go to the Scorpion shipyards for the colony materials. And Novalis is here already," Colonel Haller reported.

"And the civilians?" Commander Stryker asked.

"A couple of days, maybe more, as you know sir, a majority of the civilians will be onboard Argona, and as Argona still has some unfinished jobs it will take some time," Colonel Haller said.

"Alright. What about our viper squadrons? Are they ready?" Commander Stryker asked looking at some information on the CICs plot table.

"Major Kathy Morales will report to you soon as she arrives; currently her duties are being completed by Captain Jonas Furgon until then, and he is working with some fresh rookies that are onboard," Colonel Haller said.

"And where is the Major if that is not classified?" Commander Stryker asked with a smile

"She has taken a few days off sir, her mother died from cancer so she…" Colonel Haller said sadly, trailing off.

"I understand colonel, when she returns to the ship I want her to report to me," Commander Stryker said.

"Yes sir, and we also need 5 days for the new Titan class FTL engines to be installed," Colonel Haller said.

"New engines? I've never heard of that class," Commander Stryker said raising an eyebrow.

"Of course sir, you haven't! Very few know about them. Only the Argona and Atlantis will have those for now," Colonel Haller replied slyly.

"What about Pleiades, Sword, and the Gunstar?" Commander Stryker asked.

"Battlestars Pleiades and Sword are outfitted with Olympus Mk I FTL engines; as you know the new Nova class is currently the only ship that uses those, and a better version called the Mk II for the upgrades to the original," Colonel Haller explained.

"I see, well, I will also need a few days to get to know the ships myself, but for now I think I will go get some sleep. I haven't slept for 20 hours now. CIC is yours colonel," Commander Stryker said.

"Yes sir," Colonel Haller said.

It Will Contine...