Operation Exodus

2:6 Death of the Spider

Galactica Wardroom

Day 192 Since the Fall

Admiral Adama, Commanders Belzen, Hastings, and Lee Adama sat in Galactica's conference room, together with Colonel Fisk and Major Shaw. President Roslin was also participating in this meeting.

"Since we cannot risk losing any of our battlestars, we will go with plan B: we will send a strike team in a stealth raptor to plant a nuke inside the Cylon colony, which is currently in the process of modification in Galactica's hangar," Admiral Adama said.

"Who will lead the team?" Commander Belzen asked.

"Major Shaw," Admiral Adama replied, pointing to Major Kendra Shaw, "Commander Adama recommended that we try to capture another heavy raider from the Cylons, but unfortunately there is no guarrantee that we will succeed. Commander Belzen, you will take the Vanguard and try to locate the Cylon colony. The strike team and raptor will be on your ship. The rest of the fleet will continue towards Avalon."

"It will be done sir," Commander Belzen said sharply.

"You will give every detail to Major Shaw; where and how to place the nuclear warheads to destroy the Cylon colony," Admiral Adama said firmly.

A half hour later the meeting was over. When Commander Belzen stood up and started to leave the room, he was called over by Admiral Adama.

"Do not try and attack the colony with the Vanguard, if the strike team fails you are to re-join the fleet. Is that clear?" Admiral Adama asked staring piercingly at Commander Belzen.

"I hope it wont come to that Admiral," Commander Belzen said stiffly.

"There is no guarantee that this plan will even work, but don't throw away yourself or your ship in a pointless attack. If the team fails, it's over. We will need you commander, don't do anything stupid," Admiral Adama said.

"Rest assured I will follow your orders Admiral," Commander Belzen replied unflinchingly.

...

Unknown system

Three baseships slowly glided foward in standard V formation. It was one of the patrol fleets sent by Gary Doral.

The Cylons were getting very close to the Copernicus colony, without having any other option Rear Admiral Turner was forced to engage the Cylons. But attacking only Cylon ships that were close to Copernicus would make the Cylons suspicious of the colony's location, so every ship in the sector was to be attacked.

Suddenly in a bright of flash of light a massive battlestar appeared. It was the Nova, with all her guns pointed at the baseships. Since the ship jumped directly in front of the baseships, it immediatly started firing, launching all vipers as well. Firing her main cannons on the left baseship, the Nova tore it apart with ease before the baseship was able to respond. The remaining two baseships started returning fire, launching every missile they had, including nukes. But the Nova was too close and managed to destroy most of the Cylons missiles with its defensive batteries, some missiles hit the Nova but she continued her attack destroying the second baseship and crippling the third. In less than ten minutes, all three Cylon ships were destroyed and the few surviving raiders jumped away.

It was a victory, a single battlestar versus three baseships, with minimal losses of life on the colonial side. This was the second victory in the last fifteen hours in which five baseships were lost with no colonial ship casualties.

Copernicus system – Copernicus Colony – Rear Admiral Turner's Quarters

News reached Rear Admiral Turner fast. He looked down over the Copernicus colony as he thought about the victory against the Cylon fleets, considering how apparent it was that the Cylons were getting closer and closer to finding Copernicus. Prometheus and Nova delivered two new victorys for Copernicus, but they needed more ships right now. The defense force had four battlestars, not counting the old Ares from the first cylon war, and several gunstars. They needed more ships if they wanted to be sure they could stop any direct attack on the colony.