Chapter 1
2 days before the fall
Troy joint Leonis/Virgon mining colony
The flagship of the Leonis Republic Navy task group 2.1 consisting of the modified Berserk-class heavy missile cruiser Khryselakatos in ancient Leonese translated more modernly as Golden Bow. Commanded Senior Colonel Sam Denote. Escorted by the other four ships in the group; A pair of Defender-class frigates the Aspis under Junior Lieutenant John Philips and Clipeus under Junior Lieutenant Greg Stevens all surrounding the modified Berserk Class Light Carrier Claymore commanded by Senior Major Steven Collins.
They were ordered there to increase security for the Troy orbital smelting yards and storerooms after a series of pirate raids where almost a dozen loaded freighters had been stolen and millions of cubits lost were enough for President Jacob Aequitas to order the deployment of 2.1...
Everything was going about its routine, empty freighters docked with one of the three primary orbital warehouses. There they loaded up with processed minerals and consumables. Anything and everything from gold and diamond to iron and Aluminum as well as water before leaving.
Colonel Denote ordered the communication officer to put him on to all ships a moment later Denote got a nod showing he was on "Men and women of the Leonis Republic fleet." he said. "Our duty is clear. For the next six months, we will patrol this system and ensure that the disruptions and pirate activity that have threatened continued operations of troy come to a halt. The colonial fleet claims that their shiny Battlestars are needed elsewhere. You and I know better... The fleet is worried about getting their shiny ships scratched so they do nothing leaving the real work to us while they look pretty" the crew around him chuckled as did others around the task force the commander paused "I won't kid you I doubt this will be a boring assignment most likely but non the less keep your guard up, that is all" The task forces fighter wing was busy as well with Gold squadron on CAP Emerald on ready five and Diamond was on maintenance.
Troy joint Leonis/Virgon mining colony
Leonis Navy Task force 2.1
5hrs till attack
"Multiple incoming dradis contacts! Bearing 187, carom 221" Colonel Denote jerked his head to look at the dradis Specialist screen. Walking over to the station he looked. The dradis monitor lights up. An incoming mover had just jettisoned its cargo pods to show dozens of older MkII vipers and MkI raptors launching. As well as a variety of older ship-to-ship 180mm cannons and modern 150mm guns. AAA also started to come online mostly 100mm duel guns or the more numerous 70mm quads. Finally the small box launchers powered up. Guess they couldn't get their hands on modern military grade silos or missiles.
Colonel Denote picked up the comm phone "Attention colonial mover and newly launched viper and raptor force this is Colonel Denote Leonis Republic fleet identify yourself and stand down, or you will be fired upon." The mover replied a few seconds later by firing a trio of 150mm guns and launching a missile salvo. "Red alert 2.1 hostiles in system Gold engage Emerald launch and engage the fighters. Raptors prepare to escort the shuttle I want that mover captured we need to find out where these pirates are from and put an end to this." After a string of acknowledgments, the number of more modern Mk2 and III's fighters doubled as emerald was launched out of the tubes.
Five minutes earlier
Claymore Viper catapult 1A
"Well, here we are." Dalgren thought to himself. He couldn't get it out of his head as to why he was permanently assigned to a Viper that was long past its prime. The scouring of the inside of the cockpit interior and especially the control panel was an indicator that this craft had been re-wired, upgraded, overhauled, and possibly repaired due to severe damage several times during its lifetime. Dalgren looked down at his DRADIS display and noticed that the bottom two Hex Screws holding down the screen protector were shaking to the vibrations of the engine. Definitely a sign of well-worn fittings Dalgren sighed nothing but the best for the Republic of Leonis Navy. Dalgren thought chuckling.
"Viper 7464, Claymore LSO, Acknowledge Pre-Flight Checks Over"
"Claymore LSO, Viper 7464, Roger that Over." Dalgren then painstakingly started through the detailed checks that are required of a Viper Pilot. He had memorized them and had studied so much to do it that he occasionally dreamed about doing it. He was caught in the steam showers of the Leonis Military Academy many times talking out loud going through the sequence. "Ok." He said to himself. Got to get this done in 30 seconds"
Pre Flight External Inspection... Okay Flight Controls... Okay Tanks Filled and Sealed... Okay Canopy Locks/ Explosive Bolts to Safe... Okay Seat Motors to Safe... Okay Weapons to Safe... Okay
"Claymore LSO, Viper 7464 Pre-Flight Check Green Over." He then goes into the Start Check sequence
Area... Clear Comms... UP
Tacan/TacNav... UP Canopy Locked... Armed
Escape Pod... Armed Engine Spool Up (Three Greens)... Check 3 Greens
Weapons to Arm... Master Safety to Active
"Claymore LSO, Viper 7464. Start Check Complete Over" Now finally the Launch Tube Check sequence.
Area... Clear Blast Doors... Open
Heads up Display... On Tag/Nav... To Active
Flaps... 15 Degree down Angle
Engines... 85% Assume Launch Position... Okay
LSO Launch Signal... Okay Master Condition Cold Shot Warning... Set
"Claymore LSO, Viper 7464, Pre-Flight, and Start Checks acknowledged over."
"Viper 7464, this is Claymore LSO. You are cleared for departure. "
"Good Hunting Sir Over" came over Aviso's Headset. Like a push from nowhere, Dalgren felt the acceleration of the Viper being propelled through and out of the landing bay of the Claymore.
His eyes were assaulted with bright white, then red, then white, and then red interior lights as the Viper continued its journey through the Bay. Then just as quickly as it started down the bay his Viper exited the Claymore into a smooth and dark space. He could see the bottom of Claymore's "Alligator Head" directly above him. With a moving forward of the stick, he pitched his Viper down 35 degrees. He then saw the rest of the fleet which had to be 10s of kilometers away appearing as big grey abnormally-shaped dots. He turned his Viper Starboard. He noticed the RCS jets activating looking like little plumes of smoke randomly ejecting from the nose of his Viper. In his view was the planet of Troy. He then refocused and saw the lights of the thrusters of his squadron a few clicks in front of him. One, in particular, was lagging. Dalgren knew in an instant that it was his wingman, LT Steven Hazen, Call sign "Zigzag" catching up to the four other Vipers in the Squadron. Dalgren activated his afterburners for the same reason. He had to get in formation quickly. He immediately was pressed back into his seat as he accelerated toward his squadron. He could see Hazen now successfully taking his place in the formation.
"Let's go nuggets" a voice boomed over squadron coms. It was Lt Gaines, the Emerald Squadron leader. "We can't wait for you guys forever." He heard Hazen's voice over squadron coms.
"Trooper this is Viper 765. I'm on station to your 3 o'clock." Dalgren was now just half a click behind the squadron leader. A quick vector thrust and Dalgren joined the formation.
"765 Roger" replied Lt Gaines.
"Trooper this is Viper 764. I'm on station to your 5 o'clock."
"764, Roger," Trooper said. "All Vipers maintain attack pattern. Call out anything unusual on the approach. 2 Minutes to Initial Point. Check your flak suppression units."
1 Day before the fall.
Location: Vicinity Troy.
Cruiser Claymore: C.I.C
"Sir, Emerald Squadron is in position" the flight ops officer relayed to Major Steven Collins. "Dradis is still clear although there is lots of ECM interference coming from the hash on the other side of the planetoid." Major Collins thought to himself that there were enough electronic countermeasures and jamming signals out there to give cancer to any dog living on the planet. He turned toward the CAG.
"CPT Mahone, tell your Vipers they are cleared weapons-free. Remember though. I want a recon of the area completed before we commit to any attack.
"Yes Sir." Captain Mahone replied. He then grabbed his headset and transmitted it. "Emerald this is the CAG. You are cleared weapons free over."
1 Day before the fall.
Location: Vicinity Troy.
Viper Squadron VFA-369
Emerald Squadron "STRIKE ONE"
"I say again, you are cleared weapons free. Claymore Actual reminds you that you will complete a photo recon of the objective before you engage any hostiles. Acknowledge." The radio squawks as the transmission ends. Dalgren then hears Trooper's voice over coms.
"Claymore CAG, this is Trooper. Emerald Acknowledges Over."
"Emerald this is the CAG. Tear em up! Over"
Dalgren could hear the frequencies switch as the squadron leader begins to talk to the squadron.
"Initial Point is in 30 Seconds people. The flak suppression unit cleared hot. All Vipers Weapons Free, by the numbers people. "764 and 765 you fly in and get the pictures. 765 you have the lead on the recon run. The rest of us will cover you two. Call out when you are complete. Let's go get 'em."
Troy was straight in front of the Vipers. At first glance at the approach, it appeared that the objective area was lifeless. All of the pilots knew there was a bustling community of hard-working men and women at work below the surface.
"Ok go get me some pictures" Said LT Gaines. Hazen looked over at Dalgren and gave him a Thumbs up. Dalgren looked at Hazen but his view was distracted by the camera apparatus lowering out of Hazen's Viper missile bay.
"Oh yeah…we're the cameramen. Lovely" Dalgren reached over to the right side of his control panel and pushed the yellow button that opened his fuselage missile bay. Hazen was then heard.
"Trooper this is 765 Roger." Hazen then rolled out of formation with Dalgren following suit. The squadron was 10 miles over the patrol area. The rest of the Viper Squadron spread out in a defensive formation to ensure no surprises showed up from above.
"Dalgren follow my lead." Hazen pointed the nose of his viper down toward the planet. Dalgren then matched Hazen's fighter's pitch and speed.
The radio sparked to life "zzzzzzzttttttt….scrssssssshhhhhhh….Hellobrrrrttttttttttttt….you hear me….spasssstttttttt." Before Dalgren could key the mic Hazen came over the headset.
"What was that? It came over an open channel. Did that sound like a voice to you?"
"Yeah, that was weird" Said Dalgren. The radio then came to life again. This time it was much clearer.
"Attention all Leonis forces this is the Leonis Destroyer Argos. I am broadcasting on open channels to ensure timely delivery to all forces. You are to prepare for immediately jump to Leonis" the command crews and vipers of both Leonis listened to the unencrypted message. "The colonies have come under massive nuclear and conventional attack from the Cylons we have confirmation of tactical nuclear strikes all over Caprica Gemenon and Picon. Colonial forces are being infiltrated and disabled moments before combat both capital and escort classes. Entire squadrons are caught powered down and slaughtered or bypassed. We have confirmation on over sixty Battlestars destroyed repeat 6-0 Battlestars destroyed another eighty repeat 8-0 have gone silent." The Captain of the Argos paused as had everyone in the system. Pilots who minutes before were banking and diving as hard as they could trying their hardest to get a lock on . The bad news continued. "Therefore all Leonis military forces are hereby ordered to return to assist in evacuation duties. And to the authorities of Troy by order of President Aequitas you are to prepare to take on refugees on a temporary base. Also system-wide all engineers are hereby drafted under emergency powers. Report to orbital warehouses Able-1 through Beta-6 and proceed to convert them into makeshift shipyard facilities. Stations Dogma-1-Gamma-6 are to be converted into housing. We will need all the firepower we can get as fast as possible. And we will need places for our people to live If we are to survive this. So stand with your brothers and sisters of humanity don't work like your lives are on the line, work because you and your families your entire species is on the line. May the gods of Kobol be with us all." A few moments later the Argos jumped.
The radio crackled for a moment. "This is Captain Caleb Blyth of the mover…err I guess you could call us pirate carrier The Gemini Falcon with what's going on we stand with you. From the sounds of it the Cylons are trying to wipe humankind out they don't care whether we are colonial or pirate. I'm ordering my fighters to stand down and raptors to search for any of the pilots we lost from my count we lost eight vipers five of mine and three of yours." Seeing no other option open to them to deal with the current situation. Seeing as how the mission they were deployed here for was insignificant now…
Colonel Denote agreed. "Confirmed Falcon, I'm standing down as well however we will be launching our last squadron of fighters as well as our raptors to clear our hanger deck to make room for evacuees and supplies. I am also sending all of my non-essential personnel to assist in the conversion of the warehouses and stations. Also, recommend you prepare all remaining fighters and weaponry should the Cylons return before we do." After a few tense heartbeats, Captain Blyth acknowledged. "Of cours..." he pauses "I mean Aye sir seeing as I believe pres. Aequitas just drafted me and my men I'll send one of my raptors back to our base to see if we can scrounge up some more people" the mention of the pirate base brought to light just how much things had changed in the last hour alone.
After thinking for a moment as raptors full of personnel began leaving the Claymore and Khryselakatos. "I suggest you stay here along with the Aspis and Clipeus to guard troy and assist anyway you can to get as many of the orbital warehouse modified into usable facilities." Denote paused as he looked where the Argos disappeared before continuing. "While Khryselakatos and Claymore return to Leonis to assist with the evacuation. We are going to need this done fast there is no telling how many people we can get out before the cylons bring the hammer down." As the last of the Emeralds and the raptors carrying the last of the nonessential personnel launched. Denote called out "may the gods watch and have mercy over..." getting cut off as the two ships jumped as Caleb looked at the now empty areas they were. "May the gods watch over you as well Colonel."