Operation Exodus

1:2 Path to the Unknown Part II

"Yes sir, but can I ask why we are leaving 2 days ahead of schedule?" Colonel Haller asked.

"We finished our preparations and everything is ready, so there is no need to wait two more days. Send a message informing Admiral Nagala of my intention to leave early," Commander Stryker replied.

Battlestar Atlantis C.I.C.

5 minutes later

"All ships ready and all systems green. We are ready to go sir!" Colonel Haller reported.

"Thank you Colonel," Commander Stryker replied, "start the 10 seconds jump countdown."

"10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1... jump," Colonel Haller said.

In space all the ships began to disappear in flashes of light.

Picon, Picon HQ Station

Fleet Admiral Torres Office

"So they have departed?" Fleet Admiral Torres asked.

"Yes sir, and from what Colonel Haller reported to me Commander Stryker was not happy about the number of ships in the fleet," Admiral Nagala replied and continued, "but he is an excellent choice for this mission. He is not a person that follows every rule by the book as he loves to make his own rules. Did you know that he beat Admiral Cain in the war games a few months ago?"

"Not really, but the Battlestar Triton versus Battlestar Pegasus is hardly a big deal given that they're both mercury class Battlestars," Admiral Torres said unconcerned.

"Not with the Triton, but the Poseidon," Admiral Nagala said grinning, "He beat a Mercury class Battlestar with a Valkyrie class Battlestar."

"Yes, if anyone can do this mission right it's him, whether he likes it or not. Besides that is not our biggest problem now," Admiral Torres said.

"What kind of problem?" Admiral Nagala asked.

"Do you remember the Sanctuary project?" Admiral Torres asked.

"Of course, the biggest ship ever constructed by the colonial navy, and our biggest loss," Admiral Nagala said somberly remembering the disastrous incident and the blowup of the civilians politically attacking the military for the mistake.

"Adar was against it, saying that it was too damn expensive to create such a massive ship, the super Warstar class. But I convinced Adar that this ship would have the power of half a dozen Mercury or Nova class Battlestars, and he finally agreed to build one. For three years the ship was under construction and a year ago when it was finally finished and put in service on Sanctuary's first voyage she jumped and she disappeared. There were 10,000 people on board when she jumped. Nobody knows anything about what happened to her; where she went or how she jumped so unexpectedly, and Adar didn't forgive me for that. He believes that I am responsible; for the loss of lives, and resources," Admiral Torres said.

"Sir, you are not guilty for whatever happened to that ship! For all we know she simply disappeared, we just don't know what happen to her. It was an accident," Admiral Nagala said.

"Yes a very costly accident, and if our dear President finds out about our mission and all the ships we used we will be arrested for treason against the government," Admiral Torres said.

Battlestar Atlantis Flag Suite

Commander Stryker sat looking over the list of ships under his command.

Warstar Argona

Battlestar Atlantis

Battlestar Pleiades