Battlestar Galactica 8 - Greetings From Earth Read online

  "You mean you're asking me to mutiny along with you?"

  Apollo put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, this isn't mutiny," he said. "We've already got a way figured to flimflam the Council into thinking this is an essential move. If it works, that is."

  "Even so," she said.

  "Cassie," said the doctor, "I think what they're going to do is the right thing. And just about the only chance we have to save these people."

  She lowered her head and shut her eyes for nearly a full minute. Opening them again, she said, "Okay, count me in. But I still think it's mutiny."

  The two portable decompression chambers were shrouded with white plyocloths. Starbuck and Apollo were hefting the first one, and Jolly and Boomer lugged the second. Cassie, looking none too happy, brought up the rear of the procession.

  When they halted at the entryway to the captive ship, the young woman moved to the front of the line. "It's okay," she told the pair of security guards. "These empty decomp tubes are to be taken aboard this ship at once."

  "Nobody's notified us about any—"

  "If you'd like to check with Doctor Salik," she said, showing impatience, "please do."

  The other guard eyed her and the four men. "What's the idea? I mean, why do you need—"

  "The four remaining passengers are to be removed at once," she said firmly. "Surely you're aware that the Council has voted to remove them and attempt to revive them?"

  "Sure, we know that," said the other guard, "but—"

  "Time's awasting," remarked Starbuck.

  The guard frowned in his direction. "How come you guys are so eager to help out now? Awhile ago, I hear, you were ready to clobber anybody who touched a hair of these brats' heads."

  "We had a long talk with Doctor Salik," explained Apollo. "He, being a wise fellow, pointed out the error of our thinking to us."

  "Indeed he did," seconded Starbuck. "And so you see us before you chomping at the bit . . . or is that champing? Anyhow, we're eager to help out. Because we now believe that what's good for the Council is good for us all."

  Both guards laughed. One of them said, "Looks like you lost out in what you were trying to do, Apollo," he said.

  "As long as these folks remain alive, I didn't lose," he replied. "Right now, though, we have to start transferring these kids out of their support systems and into these portable chambers as soon as possible."

  The guard looked at him for a few seconds. "You sure changed sides fast."

  "He's like that," said Starbuck, shifting his cigar to the other side of his mouth. "What say you move aside, chum? You're standing in the way of progress."

  "Okay, go on aboard," said the guard.

  "We really appreciate your cooperation," Starbuck told him sincerely.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  It was while they were transferring Michael to his own suspension chamber that the young man began to come awake again.

  Sarah had already been safely returned to hers and Cassie was able to announce, "I've got their suspension units functioning just fine."

  "Good enough," said the relieved Apollo. "Now we can lug these decomp chambers off the ship and con the guards into thinking we're hauling away the first of the kids."

  "Then all that needs to be done," added Starbuck, "is get this ship launched out into space again and back on its original course."

  "That's all automatic, once we start her up," said Apollo.

  "Sure, but . . .hey!" Starbuck noticed Michael first. "Our guest is awake."

  Michael sat up in his glass coffin. "What . . . what the hell . . . are you doing . . . to us?"

  "Trying to help you, chum," Starbuck assured him.

  "I can't . . . can't see how you can say that," said the dark young man. "Don't you . . . don't you realize what you've done . . . by bringing us here . . . and fouling everything up?"

  "Look, we're trying to undo the mess we made," said Apollo, crouching to face him. "We want to put you back on your original course. If we launch this craft, is it certain to resume—"

  "Sarah," he said. "What have you done with her and the children?"

  "The kids never left this room," said Cassie. "And Sarah has just been returned to the unit next to yours."

  He leaned, saw the girl asleep next to him. He smiled faintly as he pressed his fingertips to the lid. "You haven't . . . yet . . . haven't yet explained to me . . . who you are," he said. "Are you . . . from the Eastern Alliance?"

  Apollo shrugged. "Nevef heard of it," he admitted. "Suppose you—"

  "But . . . how can you not know about the Eastern Alliance? Who are you and . . . what is all this?"

  Apollo said, "It may take more time to explain than we have right now, Michael. But let me ask you something, are you from a planet known as Terra?"

  Michael answered, "My people are . . . but I . . . Sarah and I . . . the children . . . we were all born on Lunar Seven. That's where we're escaping from . . . But you must know that, since you waylaid us and—"

  "Whoa," said Starbuck. "You mean you're going to Lunar Seven, don't you? That's what the manual we found here in this crate indicates."

  Giving an impatient shake of his head, the young man said, "What you pried into was the standard manual that's in all these ships. But the preset course was away from Lunar Seven."

  Apollo said, "We didn't stop you because we wanted to stop you from getting where you want to go, Michael. We just didn't know any better. See, we have some problems of our own and we were hoping you could help us solve 'em."

  "I've really no reason to trust you," he said.

  Cassie said, "We're not playing games with you and the others. We do want to help you. My name is Cassiopeia and this is Captain Apollo and Lieutenant Starbuck. We all—"

  "What's that foul thing that's smoldering in your mouth?" he asked Starbuck.

  Puzzled, Starbuck took out his cigar and scrutinized it. "This? It's a cigar. A stogie. A cheroot," he said. "I smoke 'em."

  "Why?"

  "Well, it's . . . um . . . a habit I guess."

  Apollo said, "Where were you bound for when we intercepted you?"

  "I won't tell you that unless—"

  "We want to help you get back on course," repeated Apollo. "Damn it, that's the truth."

  "My ship knows its course," he said. "If you, as you claim, return us to space, then it will take us where we must go. It's been programmed to do that."

  Apollo nodded slowly. "We'll help you," he said. "And we'd like some help from you, too."

  "Who are you? You still haven't answered me."

  "We're from another world," said Starbuck, returning his cigar to his mouth. "Refugees in a way."

  "We come from a broken world," added Apollo. "We're searching for a way to protect our people."

  "What does that have to do with me?"

  "We believe we could settle on Earth," said Apollo. "Or possibly on this Lunar Seven you—"

  "No, you couldn't." He gave several negative shakes of his head. "You must never go to Lunar Seven. Anyway, the Destroyers would completely destroy you before you got anywhere near there. We barely were able to—"

  "Folks, I'm as interested in all this chitchat as the next fellow, but we got to move," said Starbuck. "Otherwise, all our backsides will end up in slings."

  "You're right," acknowledged Apollo. "Michael, we have to get your ship free of the Galactica right away." He glanced at Cassie and then back at the young man. "Are you well enough to fly your ship clear of the docking bay?"

  "Yes, I can do that."

  Cassie said, "It's risky, Apollo. He might, before we can get the pressure in this ship back to what it was, have some kind of—"

  "I know it's risky," said Apollo, moving toward the exit. "But it's the only way we can get this ship out of here. You're going to be here with him, Cassie. So that—"

  "Okay," she said. "We'll do it. You get out of here and do what you have to do."

  "If," said Michael, perplexed, "you're not with the Alliance, then
who—"

  "We're fellow humans," said Starbuck. "And humans have got to stick together against all the other critters one encounters whilst roving—"

  "I don't quite get you," said Michael. "What do you mean about humans? Are there other kinds of life out there?"

  "To put it succinctly," said Starbuck, "yep."

  Apollo caught his arm. "We don't have time for your usual discourse on the flora and fauna of space, Starbuck. Let's move."

  "Righto. Cassie can explain some of the finer points to you," he said. "Now let's get Jolly and Boomer in here to help with the heavy lifting."

  In the corridor leading to the landing bay Starbuck said, "Whoa, gang." He lowered his end of the decomp tank to the floor.

  Apollo let down his end and stepped clear. "Okay, fellows, here's where the second part of your job comes in."

  Jolly and Boomer set the unit they'd been hauling down on the pebbled metal floor.

  "You guys are heading for one hell of a lot of trouble," observed Lieutenant Jolly, rubbing his big hands together. "So why not let us tag along to—

  "Nope," said Starbuck with a shake of his head. "Thanks for the offer, but two vipers are plenty for this job."

  Boomer said, "Going to be a lot of fun here on the Galactica once everybody realizes what's going on."

  "By that time," said Starbuck, relighting his cigar, "we'll be long gone."

  "And now," suggested Apollo, "you two go in and do your bit toward distracting the security guards. So Cassie and our reluctant guest, Michael, can get that ship launched."

  "Hell's going to break loose when that thing goes roaring out of here," said Jolly, chuckling.

  "Which is why you've got to lure those guards out here," said Apollo. "They think we've got two of the kids in these gadgets, so when you rush in there and tell 'em there's been an accident out here to one of the units and you need their help, they'll come running."

  "Everybody worries about a kid in trouble," added Starbuck. "Even a hardhearted sec guard."

  "Once we get 'em out here and away from that ship, we do our damdest to keep 'em here," said Boomer, nodding at the doorway. "Have trouble with the door and such."

  "That'll be a snap," said Jolly. "I worked a similar dodge once with a paranurse and kept her in a hallway for near to—"

  "The lives and loves of Lieutenant Jolly will be continued next time," cut in Starbuck, tapping the big lieutenant on the upper arm. "While you're diverting those goons, Apollo and I'll sneak our viper ships out. If we're going to escort that ship to . . . to wherever it's going, we've got to be ready."

  "Good luck to you," said Boomer.

  "Good luck to you guys, too," said Starbuck. "Because when the flapdoodle hits the fan, we're going to be way out yonder. But you lads'll still be right here."

  "True," said Boomer, laughing.

  Starbuck leaned forward in the seat of his small viper ship and gazed down at the massive battlestar Galactica. He had his craft set in a hover pattern. "So far so good," he said into the voice pickup on his control panel.

  Apollo's viper was hovering up above his in space. "This is only the overture," reminded his voice as it came out of a speaker grid.

  "Aw, don't be so negative, sport," advised Starbuck, eyes on the yawning docking bay of the battlestar. "We haven't heard any whistles blowing, no alarms going off. Nobody's ordered us back. Therefore, I conclude this whole venture is off to a nifty start."

  "I'm not negative, just practical."

  "Go on," snorted Starbuck. "Gloom and doom is your middle name. Whereas me, I am always looking on the bright side. Take, as an example, the time we met that tattooed lady on—"

  "Here comes the ship!"

  Before Apollo finished the sentence the ship came rushing out of the dock, trailing flame and smoke. It shot free of the Galactica and went climbing swiftly away from the big space craft.

  "I've always enjoyed fireworks," said Starbuck. "Shall we tag along?"

  "After you," said Apollo.

  "Okay, see you on . . . on wherever it is we're heading." Starbuck kicked his viper into action and went roaring off in the wake of the ship.

  Councilman Geller had to take two deep breaths and clasp his right hand with his left before he could speak. "This is absolutely . . ." Words failed him.

  "Outrageous?" suggested Adama. He was at a monitoring screen in his quarters.

  "Outrageous and unheard of," said the angry fat man. "What exactly is going on?"

  "The visiting ship has left us." The grey-haired commander turned away from the pictures coming in from the empty docking area.

  "I know that, I know that." Geller's entire collection of chins jiggled. "How did it happen? I mean to say, there was a wealth of important information aboard that ship. The people, the equipment could have—"

  "Somehow," said Adama, "the young man—Michael is his name, I believe—was able to return to his ship and take it out of here. I assume he's got it back on its original course."

  "Am I correct in my understanding that he's also kidnapped a member of our medical staff, a young woman named Cassiopeia?"

  "I'm looking into the whole situation," Adama told him. "In a little while I'm sure I'll be able to answer all your questions."

  "Well, this is all . . . outrageous. I mean to say, the Council has already voted that those people were to be revived and questioned," said the fat councilman. "But then you allow them to escape."

  "Don't despair. We've been able to send two scout ships after them," explained Adama. "I'm certain we'll either bring that runaway ship back or follow it to its destination. Either way, we shall be able to learn a good deal about—"

  "Those two scout ships," asked Geller, "who's piloting them, may I ask?"

  "My son and Lieutenant Starbuck."

  Geller pursed his lips. "Apollo and Starbuck, eh? That might not, meaning no offense to your parental feelings, be the best choice. Apollo is certainly capable, but that Starbuck does seem able to lead him astray and on previous—"

  "I'm sure they'll do an admirable job," said Adama. "Besides, as I understand it, their ships were being readied for a routine patrol. Expediency dictated that they be enlisted in the pursuit mission. You can understand that, certainly."

  Geller gave a reluctant nod. "I hope you won't mind if I conduct my own investigation into the entire deplorable situation?"

  "Not at all," said Adama.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  On the monitor screen Colonel Tigh's face showed slightly green. Even after fiddling with the controls, the commander couldn't get the faint green tinge to go away.

  Giving up, he said, "Yes, go on."

  Tigh said, "The concern is increasing."

  "Understandably so," said Adama.

  "And still no word?"

  Adama shook his head. "The ships have been gone for nearly a secton and there's no news," he said, "no communication from Apollo or Starbuck."

  "The Council is talking of conducting an inquiry."

  "Oh, it's gone beyond talking, Colonel. I've been asked to appear before them."

  "That might get rough."

  "I'm sure it shall," agreed Adama. "At any rate, Colonel, I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything from out there." He broke the connection.

  A speaker announced, "A young man seeking admission, sir."

  "Who?"

  "Boxey."

  Smiling, Adama said, "Let him in, by all means." The boy delivered a very careful salute when he was standing before his grandfather. "Boxey reporting for a briefing, sir."

  Adama gave him a surprised look. "A briefing?"

  "Well, all the kids have been wondering why we sent those children away," he said, rubbing at the floor with the toe of his boot. "Even Athena doesn't seem to be able to explain that. So I figured I'd come ask you, and she said that was okay so long as I didn't make an enormous pest of myself. But I told her that I never do that and that you like to see me and—"

  "I surely do," said the command
er.

  "I kind of know why my dad and Starbuck left," the boy said. "It has to do, at least that's what Jolly told me, with keeping an eye on that ship that got away. I mean, that's duty. Except how'd we let them get away in the first place and especially the kids. It'd have been fun with a whole bunch of new kids to play with and all. There were four, right?"

  "Four, yes," answered Commander Adama.

  "So why did they?"

  Adama looked away from the boy and out at the dark of space. "It isn't that easy to explain, Boxey," he said finally. "I know you are aware of a good deal of what goes on aboard the Galactica and—"

  "That's because I'm naturally nosey," he explained. "Like Starbuck. Always poking my nose where it doesn't belong, that's what Athena says. Except, everything that goes on around here is interesting and I ought to know about it. So it isn't really eavesdropping or spying or—"

  "No, it's what you call healthy curiosity." He held out his arms to the boy, inviting, "Come hop on my lap and I'll see if I can't . . . um . . . brief you, Boxey."

  The boy hesitated. "If it's all the same to you, sir," he said in a muffled voice, "I'd like to sit in a separate chair. See, I'm not exactly a baby anymore and . . . well, officers and gentlemen don't sit on the commander's lap. Even if he is their grandfather. I bet my dad doesn't or Starbuck."

  Adama chuckled. "True, Boxey. It has been quite a time since Apollo occupied my knee," he told the boy. "And the lieutenant never has. Very well, seat yourself in that chair there and we'll proceed."

  "Aye, sir." Boxey got himself into an armchair facing the commander. "Ready when you are."

  Steepling his fingers under his chin, Adama said, "Let me see if I can help you understand what's been happening. The people on that ship originally came from a planet known as Terra. They were—"

  "That's just another name for Earth, isn't it?"

  "Exactly, my boy," said the commander. "Originally people from Terra were sent out to colonize other planets that would help provide food and resources when those of Earth began to run out."

  "But Athena told us these six people came from a place called Lunar Seven."