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“A Shining Planet by Matt Butts |
[Part 1] Baltar’s Log: It has been almost a yahren since the Imperious Leader put me in command of this base star. We have encountered a satellite which our computer says came from the planet Earth, which Adama so desperately seeks. If the people of Alpha can tell me how to get there, then maybe — when we have arrived — I can attempt my daring scheme. That is, if they do not catch on to me before then.... * * * “Combat Eagle Three ready for liftoff,” Paul Morrow said. After many months, Alan Carter and technician John Hawkins had succeeded in modifying an eagle especially for combat. On Koenig’s word, it launched into the sky and Carter hit the throttle. The ship raced off at unheard of speed. “Velocity point four two c,” Kano reported. “That tops all known speed records.” “You haven’t seen half of what this baby can do!” Hawkins reported from the co-pilot seat. “Just watch!” The laser — mounted on top of the ship — fired a searing beam at the rim of Plato, causing an explosion which shook the base to its very foundation. “Hey!” Carter said. “What the hell is going on here? We’ve veering off course... control systems out!” “Paul,” Koenig said. “Bring her in on remote control.” “No use, commander... they’re under someone else’s control.” “Good lord!” Hawkins gasped. “Look at that!” “Sandra,” Koenig ordered. “Switch to visual.” The base star approaching the moon appeared on the big screen. Adama, who had been standing behind Kano with Apollo and Starbuck, gasped. “Commander,” Adama muttered, “your two pilots... are as good as dead.” * * * The eagle was drawn into the hangar as a huge gantry door slid closed, shutting them off from Alpha. The eagle door opened and Lucifer stepped inside, followed by two centurions. “Welcome aboard,” he said. “We’re your welcoming committee. We will show you to your quarters.” Carter reached for his laser before he noticed that a centurion had already taken it. “Do not take us for utter fools. We are much smarter than you think.” * * * “I don’t think I like our hosts,” Alan said as he paced the floor of the small cell the Cylons had put him and Hawkins in. “Those doors would be no match for a barrel four laser,” Hawkins said, rolling up his pants leg. “Step aside, flyboy, while I make short work of this door.” He removed a laser from a holster strapped to his calf and, setting the barrel selector to four, pulled the trigger. The wide-angle beam reduced the door to molten metal on the deck, which did not stop the two from making their escape. * * * “This circuitry is a piece of cake!” Hawkins said into his commlock. “The doors can now be opened on our command.” “Hurry back. I’m setting this timer for five minutes.” As Hawkins turned to flee to the eagle, he was stopped by two centurions. He glanced at the eagle and saw Alan come bounding toward them. He fired his laser, set to KILL, at one of them, with no effect. The distraction gave Hawkins a chance to break through them as Alan set the barrel selector of his laser to four and fired, reducing the two silver centurions to lumps of molten metal on the hangar deck. They bolted to the eagle as Alan pointed his commlock at the door control. The doors began to open, and Alan knew there would be very little time to escape. Using his commlock again, he instructed the onboard computer to take off on a prescribed flight plan. As he cleared the doors, he fired the lasers at the interior of the hangar bay, causing enough damage to avoid pursuit. “Let’s get the hell out of here,” Carter said, gunning the engines as the eagle soared away at top speed. * * * “There’s an explosion on board the alien ship!” Sandra reported. “Carter and Hawkins are safe. Eagle Three is landing at Pad Five.” “As soon as they land, clear the pad and prepare Adama’s ship. * * * “I’m sorry it didn’t work out for our people, Commander.” Adama said as they stood in the travel tube terminal. “Our destiny lies along a different path, I guess. Good luck, Adama.” The delegation from the Galactica, with Boxey bringing up the rear, climbed aboard the travel tube car and took off toward Pad Five. “I still feel guilty about killing all those Cylons... after all, they were only following orders.” Hawkins said. “They weren’t killed... they were machines with no feelings... they’re of little consequence.” “Hey!” Carter chuckled. “Don’t let Kano hear you say that!” * * * Fleeing from the Cylon tyranny, A shining planet known as... Earth. The End |
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“A Shining
Planet Known As Earth” ©1978 by Matt Butts |
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