Revised. The Lost Odyssey: By Taranis

[Taranis]

This is the Chapters I was and should have posted..
As before please Replie in the other thread

[Taranis]

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA:
The Lost Odyssey:
An Amateur historian’s account.
Based on the series Battlestar Galactica
Created by: Glen A. Larson.
This Fanfic is by Taranis

The New Assignment:  

My name is Aulius I am a Lieutenant 1st Class onboard the Battlestar Galactica, I am one of the many Bridge officers stationed at the master CIC weapons control panel and during a head on battle with a Cylon baseship I was seriously injured which almost caused the loss of my left leg. The baseship in question was blocking our way and our Commander Adama decided quickly that it would take far too long to retrace our steps and try and go around. He also surmised that the Cylons were stretching there fleet thinly through out the star systems looking for us.

He decided to attack, hopping to surprise them and getting first advantage in what would be a battle of survival. If we lost the people of the fleet would not last a few microns, this was massive calculated risk. By destroying this basestar we may well be free of pursuit for sometime.    

Captain Apollo and Lt Starbuck, two of our greatest warriors where chosen to infiltrate the baseship and rendering their scanning equipment useless, while Lt’s Boomer and Sheba  lead our viper squadrons, they succeeded and the rest was left to us. The Galactica attacked and we had the first strike, but the cylon were quick to respond.

The battle was a killing ground, blue and red laser fire criss-crossing space between both vipers and raiders and the basestar and us. We lost a number of good people that day, the bridge was hit a number of times, at one point the shock wave of the explosion reached my area. A large support beam was dislodged and fell hard on to my right leg crushing it. If I was a younger man, I may have held on.

However, the pain was to great, I passed out and what happened next was lost to me. I woke up much later and after the battle, enclosed in a medbed in the Galactica’s main Lifestation.

My leg was still attached to my body, which I was eternally grateful to Salik’s staff Lifestation was crowded with the injured. Mainly crewmen and women that dealt with damage control also a small number of viper pilots who received burns from equipment shorting-out or some other damage done to the viper while in battle.

Page one.

                                                ******

[Taranis]

The New Assignment:  

There was a lost of cries of pain and discomfort, Dr Salik and his staff of surgeons and nurses moved quickly between casualties, it was Cassiopeia that noticed I was awake. She ran over and called to Salik informing him that I had return to conscious.

Salik wordlessly approached did a quick once over on the medbed instruments, seeing that the scanners probing me where saying I was all right. He double checked with good old-fashioned doctoring and certified I was out of danger. Cassi smiled that wonderful smile at me and with the help of some orderlies; they moved me to the recovery area, to free up space in the examining rooms.

While I was there commander Adama decide to pay the Lifestation a visit, He entered with his son Captain Apollo following behind, Adama is a tall grey haired man, deep blue eyes with a piercing calculating stare, he was a 20 yahren older than me, and I have served with him since I joined the Galactica that was almost 25 yahrens ago.

While my hair is not as grey as Adama’s it is well on its way, I was the oldest serving officer on the command bridge after Colonial Tigh (he is five yahrens older me) we had formed a strong friendship over the last 25 yahrens, because of our similar interest in colonial history.

Adama look around the bay, his blue eyes searching for ‘Where is Doctor Salik?’  

I’m here Commander’ answered the voice of Dr Salik from the other door leading to his office. Then Adama made his way across the room so they may talk privately.

As both Adama and Salik talk together, I looked at Apollo inspecting the recovery room. I was always interested in Apollo; he had the markings of a supreme commander. While his father was our present commander according to our culture when Adama passes over to the other side, Apollo will take command as Adama did all those yahrens ago.  
 
Captain Apollo while is not as tall as his father, or have the same imposing presence, but there was no doubt of the command and loyalty from the warriors he commands. His hair is as dark as space, and has a familiar ready smile to the crewmembers that serve him. He moves to one of his pilots that had a rough time, Lt Jolly I think, who was severely burned when his Viper was hit by a cylon laser.

Page Two.

                                                 ******

[Taranis]

The New Assignment:  

I was setting in my bed writing in my journal that I have kept all my life, when Adama noticed me. He smiled and made his way over to me. We both have the same interest in history, focused mainly on colonial history. This has lead to a good relationship with each other. We would talk for many a centar’s concerning the history of our worlds.

However, that was before the fall.

“Ah Aulius, You look better, How do you feel?” He inquired, his thick eyebrows knitting together with concern.

“I am fine now…  Sir, Thank you for asking”. I replied, placing my journal that I was working on, down on the nearby worktable.

 “It will be some time before you return to your duties!” he said almost gently, I knew that I would never walk properly again. If ever?

“Yes sir, I hope you will fine something for me in the mean time?” I had little hope he would fined anything for a lame officer, regardless of experience. The bridge is not a place for and office that cannot move well. A good fitness level is always required.

He smiled, I could see him searching for something to say to me, anything to say too me.

Adama looked at me, his sharp mind searching, looking for something, those piercing blue eye began looking around. His eyes found my journal, I could see his mind working, a realisation struck him, it was fascinating to watch, and he moved around and sat in a chair beside my recovery bed, pausing for a moment before speaking again.

“I see you still keep your journal!” he inquired, “any more insight into the colonies history?”  
“Yes sir?” I replied, my curiosity augment by his tone. We often talk for some hours about how the twelve tribes travelled from Kobol. And a lot more since we had to flee the colonies, he was a deep student of our history.  


Page Three.
                                                 ******

[Taranis]

The New Assignment:  

“Good, Good I still try to keep one myself, can’t say I have a lot of time”. his voice trailed off, his mind working, ticking over. Then he smiled. Adama raised himself slowly from the chair he placed his large hand on my shoulder and gave me a friendly pat, his eyes looking into my own. “When you are well enough, come see me!.. I have something I wish to discuss with you. quickly he turned away and after a brief conversation with Apollo departed the Life station.

After some time I did learned to walk again but with a slight limp, with the aid of Cassiopeia who worked for Dr Salik as one of his many capable nurses, It was she that gave me my walking orders. “Your well enough now Aulius! .. You cannot take up space anymore, and we need the med beds so of you go” .

“Ok, ok no need to get rough, Cassi!” I cried in a pained playful way. She laughed, a wonderful sound should you ever meet with her, needless to say she said she would call security if I did not move quickly. I laughed with her sharing the joke. Fleet security was a joke, no where near as good as colonial security by our own warriors.

I left the Lifestation that is deep in the centre of the Galactica’s massive bulk, entering one of the main corridors and set of to my small cabin as a Bridge officer requires.  I could have used on of the many travel tubs that a Battlestar like the Galactica has, but I decided to walk. And by the lords of Kobol was that a mistake, I quickly tired after spending so long in the Lifestation.

My cabin was exactly as I left it all those sectons ago, a mess, over the yahrens I have a massed a large number of hard copy books, with actual paper. Commander Adama would borrow a number of these and reread them many time, looking for any clue to Earths location, a large number of my book were still in storage as I never had the chance to retrieve them.

Catching up on my private messages and duties that have been neglected over the 2 secton period, there was a lot of catching up to do. When that was complete to my satisfaction, I contacted Commander Adama for an interview as ordered.

The command complex that holds the bridge and Adama’s main offices, were always a hive of activity, with crewmen and women moving quickly about their duties. As I made my way through a number of crewmen, I know well would call out a greeting, they would not stop, you don’t while on duty.

Page Four.

                                                ******

[Taranis]

The New Assignment:  
 
Col Tigh would disapprove.. silently!!…If your stopped for no good reason, which is far worse than his noisy disapproval. with his noisy disapproval he was finished when he stopped shouting at you, silent disapproval meant death, a life of double duty and it would be the dullest duty he can fined so Lords help the officer then.  
       
To say I admired Adama was an understatement, he was a iconic leader, having the devotion and steadfast support of all in the fleet and the Galactica, we all truly loved the man. I have been in Adama private quarters before, when we would discusses colonial history. But now I was full of nerves.

       
I turned down the corridor to Adama quarters, as always when coming from the populated areas of the ship you must pass through the Galactica’s security area, while coming from the bridge there is no such problems as I would normally come from to see Adama . Lt Garcon was on duty today sitting at a small desk, He looked up from his readout panel. I have known Garcon since signing onboard , he signed with me after coming aboard on the same shuttle he was again a little older than me and should have retired to be an instructor at the academy  

“ID please!”…  He told me gruffly.
       
On the left hand side of his desk there is a metal plate were visitors must place their hand and state their rank and name for the computer to admit you. It is the highest form of Artificial Intelligence on the Galactica, the only kind tolerated in the Caprican society    

 “Lt  Aulius from the house of Lensman”  I replied. The computer quickly wired and clicked and I received a pass.
       
Garcon humph ’ed jerked his thumb over his shoulder , “He is waiting for you , Aulius …  go a head”.
     
 “Thanks”. I passed the desk and as I limped on down the long corridor, I noted through a open hatch two other guards placing their lasers back into holsters. “for Sagan’s sake, there a bit jumpy”. I thought to myself.
     

Page Five.

                                            ******

[Taranis]

The New Assignment:
 
I continued on my way, meeting another of my bridge mates, “hello Athena”.I called out. She jumped a little at the sound of my voice, she must have been deep in thought as I called out  to her.  
     
 “you scared the pogees out of me”.. Aulius? . Gods she is a beautiful  women, heir like her brother Apollo, tall and regal like her father, a strong willed person. We were good friends from the day she signed aboard three yahrens earlier , straight from the academy. Our age differences never stopped a strong friendship growing, she bore a very strong resemblance to her late mother. Your may wonder why so many family members serve on the same warship, this is the custom of the society we live in. for families to serve together especially families like Adama’s, placed highly in our worlds.

At this point I should explain how our military and society works, you see the twelve planet of the colonies when first settled were not united, as they were in the years following our first encounter with the Cylons.
     
In fact they were not fully united until 50 yahrens ago,  well, anyway the military forces were built up with the monies from the wealthiest families, from each planet from the 12 colonies. Caprica built the Galactica and a number of other Battlestars, 12 in all. The other colonies built there own.
     
The Galactica was built 500 yahrens ago by Adama’s family, by his great, great grand father from the family line of Kobol,  he commanded the Galactica as did his son and so on, a bit of nepotism. But that how our society worked, the wealthy families or “Buritician’s” as we know them.  Adama family is highly placed in that society and member’s are duty bound to protected the worlds and people that support them,  over the yahrens built the warship’s that protect the colonies over time the battlestar was born.

Athena was of that venerated family line and in our society she out ranks me, but military I out rank her, so a good officer that she is, she modified her last sentence. “Sorry sir, how is your leg?”, she politely inquired a small smile briefly appeared on her lips.

“Fine thank you.. Is Commander Adama free?
       
Page Six

                                                 ******

[Taranis]

The New Assignment:  

 “No.. he is with someone!”, I detected a small trace of distaste in her voice something I have never heard before coming from Athena?.

“Is there something wrong?”, my interest was understandable when you know Athena as well as I do.

For a moment I thought she would say nothing. “Baltar is with my father.. And has been for a number of centars?”.

Just then the door the Adama’s quarters opened and Baltar stepped out , his oily face grinning. If only I had my laser was the one thought the passed through my mind, it was then that I realised the two guards standing out side Adama’s door and the two jumpy guards along the corridor, they were waiting for Baltar!?. My curiosity of the situation was raised, before we attacked we knew that Adama and Baltar had a meeting in this very room, and some agreement was reached?.

Baltar passed Athena and myself with that perishing grin plastered on his face, nodding at us both while passing, or perhaps to Athena whom he has meet before, I have never been face to face with the man until today.


Athena turned and stalked away her head bent forward and her arms pressed stiffly to her sides,  I know that she blamed Baltar personally for the death of her younger brother Zac, who fell in combat just short of the fleet. Baltar you should know betrayed the human race to the mechanised Cylons. Who are out to completely destroy all of mankind.

As Baltar disappeared around the security corridor, turned my attention back to Adama who was still standing by his door. He was not look at me but to the retreating Baltar, he was looking tired and old it was then I wondered how old he is? He always seemed larger than life, so immoveable. When Adama noticed me the tired old look vanished behind a warm smile,

“Come in Aulius ..

I entered his quarters for the first time in sectors, while my quarters looked as if I have had a wild bachelor party  his was organised and tidy, around the room were a large number of books, some of which are mine,  stacked in neat alphabetises rows.

Page Seven.

                                                 ******

[Taranis]

The New Assignment:  
 
After some microns looking around Adama invited me to sit down and offered a drink?, Caprican brandy, “wonderful!” I exclaimed, “it has been a long time since enjoying such sweet nectar!.. Where did you locate this?”. I cried in delight as Caprican brandy was highly regarded.  

“Ha ha”, very smooth, is it not!? I had that and large number of bottles like it, stored for my retirement”!. his laughter was deep and warm, when in private Adama always in private talked with me as a equal, as a historian, and almost as a close friend. We set in silence for some time just savouring the drink, but it was me that broke the silence.

“Sir, you said back in the Lifestation, you wished to see me, I guess it had something do with the tribes ?” my interest was making me a little impatient.

“No and yes!” he responded a smile crossing his lips. What I want you to do is this, keep a journal of our journey, a historical record if you will, we have travelled so far and so fast, much of the time evading the Cylons and now I think we have given them the slip?”. he paused for a moment taking a small sip from the glass.

“But sir, there are better men than me, who have already completed and I assume continuing to work on this? … their stories are now fleet legand!? “.  I think they would be highly displease with me, and besides I only read history not make it?”


“No! I think you are wrong Aulius, you have all the necessary skills needed, the men you refer to have themselves been reassigned and move into different projects” he paused for a moment before going continuing.  “No I think you are the man for the job, in this I am positive!”.

“With this assignment you will have unrestricted access to all area in the ship, the  fleet and archives, you may also interview key personal, they have been informed and have readily agreed. Also I will at times call on you and your knowledge of colonial history, you must also preserve that also. In the yahrens ahead until we reach earth and after we must remember where we came from, who we are and were. what the 12 colonies were like, This is not to be forgotten“,

Page Eight

******

[Taranis]

The New Assignment:  

I watch Adama while he spoke, His face was turned to me but his eyes were lost in another place, as if he was talking to someone other than me. I wondered not for the first time as to the force that drive men like Adama?, I knew then it was useless to refuse him, I could have and he would have consented without malice.

He again was right , the history of our world have to be conserved for the future generations. As we sat facing each other my mind wondered as if looking far into the future its-self, I began to see what great task has been appointed for me, I would be writing the history of our civilisation not only for our selves but for those brother and sister of the 13 tribe, who would need to know of us. And all,  that we were.

My throat felt dry as a shiver of cold sweet trickled down my back, I have been in battle many times, and I never felt like this, of course I have been terrified. But this was different.

Adama was watching me like a bird of prey, looking into my very soul, almost weighing it with his eyes. I felt as if all the lords of Kobol were watching me through Adama, as he is of that same breeding,  all of his life he was trained for combating the cylons as was his sons and his daughter.

His family built this very ship the last of her kind. History was indeed looking at me, and it was holding its breath.

All of my life I admired the families like Adama’s willing to spending their lives protecting and fighting for our very survival.

My very heart was beating, almost trying to burst through my chest, I was excited and frightened all at once, It was like the first time in a viper, but I said yes.  “yes Commander,  I gladly except”.

“Good, Good I knew you would, once you have settled, let me know what you need and I we see you get it. You will have a office close to mine, a little used conference room, so that we may confer when you need me, and have your books transported up also?. I nodded.

“And If you don’t mind I would like to access them?”. Adama add while writing instruction’s into his computer interface.  
 

“No sir, please do when ever you wish the books are at your disposal”, He stood up clasping my hand in his. He dismissed me, I walked from his cabin as if in a dream. My mind running through the enormous task before me?.  Was I able to write, the history of my people?.

My mind was on fire, I walk the ships corridors noticing nothing, seeing no one. To record our history, and a history that’s in the making!!  


Page Ten.

******

[Taranis]

End of Chapter One
I hope you enjoyed it.