DISCLAIMER: The following is fan fiction using some events and characters from BSG: The Re-Imagined Series. It is fan fiction only… there is no intent here to collect income or infringe on the trademarks, copyrights, or patented work of others. Please DO NOT use this material for anything other than pure reading enjoyment. If you absolutely can't get enough of Battlestar Galactica, this is the place to come.

Battlestar Galactica: The Pathfinder Project

Fleeing the Cylon tyranny, a group of humans take command of a new, experimental prototype vessel and begin a journey that may lead them to the edge of our known universe, or leave them stranded millions of light years from home.

Chapter XX: Missive

---

The Observatory was almost unrecognizable. Everything except for essential equipment had been shut down and all telescopes but one were folded up and compressed into recessed ceiling storage compartments. The lights were dimmed and all the desks, computers and office equipment had been moved back against the wall near the exit hatchways. All of the windows were spread wide open and the entire room was brilliantly lit along three of the wing's edges by the colorful patterns from Poseidon's river. One window held a golden-orange swirling nebula, a second showed off the twisting scarlet ribbons of a red giant spread so thin that only an astronomer would know that it had once been a star. The view was magnificent as the Pathfinder once again had left behind a solid planetary surface in order to explore deep space.

Kaufield hadn't been by the Lab wing, but he understood that it had been prepared for their final mission much like the Observatory. Almost half the crew had packed into it in order to admire the stellar show of force by the gravity river. The rest of them were standing here with him – in the astronomical laboratory from which Dr. Markham's team had discovered so many wonders never before encountered. A little nervously he stepped up to the colorfully decorated podium that had been set up in the center of the room and tapped the microphone for attention. Joseph was at his side, looking wonderfully adolescent in a small suit and tie that fit him perfectly. Dennis himself wore a tuxedo complete with a black bow tie and he could not help but smile in anticipation of the night's events.

"Since the days of the first wooden sailing ships," he began, watching the happy faces surrounding him, "All Captains have enjoyed the happy privilege of joining together two people in the bonds of holy matrimony." He hesitated for a few brief seconds before turning to the man standing next to him. "Unfortunately, this Captain brought a Chaplain along with him who is quite capable of handling the occasion… and I wouldn't dream of intruding on his turf." The room filled with laughter and polite applause before a wedding march sounded in the background. Clapping politely, Captain Kaufield and his son moved down from the podium's platform to stand next to Glen Fredericks. Glen himself wore a tuxedo and looked as nervous as Kaufield had ever seen him.

"Welcome friends," said Dixon warmly, extending his hands in friendship. He waited patiently as Adam appeared from the back of the Observatory with Lieutenant Hastings at his side. Mary's expression lit up the room… the cheerful face of a bride on her wedding day. Wearing a beautiful simple but elegant white wedding gown she took the arm Glen offered her and walked slowly toward Glen. As the pair reached the front of the crowd Adam politely stepped into position behind Kaufield and let Mary take her place at Glen's side.

"Who offers this woman for marriage this day?" Father Dixon asked carefully.

"I do," responded Adam. Behind him the crowd parted again and Julie, Karen and Melanie all stepped forward, also wearing white gowns. Each was holding a beautiful bouquet of flowers from the Garden wing and they stood quietly waiting for the proceeding to continue. Glancing at his girlfriend, Adam noticed that Melanie carefully held her bouquet slightly lower in order to discreetly hide her rounded belly and he made a silent mental note to make sure and tease her about the situation later.

"We also welcome new friends to our side this day," Dixon grinned, waving his left hand toward the elderly man standing at the front of the crowd. Nodding with respect, the white-haired Noah stepped forward and took up a position behind Adam. It had taken some doing, but they had finally located a passenger with a tuxedo that fit him as well. He looked very old and wise, although he had privately indicated to Kaufield that he was still a spry 71 years young.

Standing beside his beloved, Glen leaned over and whispered in her ear. "How many people have the opportunity to get married on the very edge of creation?"

"Not many from our world," she whispered back to him. "Who knows? Perhaps we'll start a new tradition…"

Glen smiled excitedly at her before giving the Captain and Noah a quick nod. "Jump!" he said with delight, watching Noah activate an electrical device that was attached to an armband on his sleeve. All around them, the windows lit up with an FTL flash and suddenly all of the brilliant color was gone. Surrounding them was the complete, empty blackness of space without even a single star to add to the dimly lit room. There were some minor "oohs" and "ahhs" from the crowd but not the reaction that everyone had intended.

"I guess we were expecting a little more than simple darkness," Father Dixon said with a smile. Noah walked up onto the platform and took his place beside the Chaplain.

"Currently the systems on my shuttle have placed the Pathfinder precisely 100 meters behind the inner edge of the blast wave from the Big-Bang explosion that created our universe," he said informatively. "We are moving at what you would call 1.0c, or the speed of light."

"100… meters?" someone in the crowd gasped in surprise.

"Yes, and now we jump yet again…" Noah said, touching his armband computer once more and causing another familiar FTL flash to briefly light up the room. This time, however, the windows were suddenly filled with a brilliant swirling vortex of deep blue mist that rapidly shifted in hue as it collided with the ship's hull. Tiny electrically-charged particles of bright white light glowed and danced within the fog-like atmosphere causing everyone in the crowd to react much more enthusiastically this time. There was a deep feeling of awe that circulated around the room, followed by applause and loud cheers of approval.

"It looks like fireworks except they're everywhere," Kaufield heard Joseph whisper with his usual youthful zeal.

"We're now inside the blast wave itself," continued Noah. "This is all that is left of all that densely packed matter that exploded so long ago. Back on your worlds you won't see the outer galaxies and star clusters – like Proteus – when your telescopes pick up the light waves from this distance. Because, my friends, by the time that light reaches your Colonies the matter you can currently see reacting with my shuttle's energy field is almost as old as time itself. What little light those telescopes can detect shows these dwindling clouds of matter… constantly spreading themselves thinner and thinner until gravity can begin its long process of sculpting them into the more familiar galactic objects that you're used to seeing in the neighborhood of your Milky Way home." As the crowd applauded with approval, Noah stepped politely aside and returned control of the floor to Father Dixon.

"Many thanks go to our new friend Noah and also to his people," the Chaplain said proudly. "We sincerely appreciate their invitation that will allow us to stay safely with them during our time of crisis. It is also most kind of him to give us this opportunity to hold our first shipboard wedding on the very edge of the creation from which we have all sprung forth." He turned his attention back to Mary and Glen. "Now then," he said with a Chaplain's confidence as the sparkling blue fog continued to swirl merrily around the ship. "Do you, Glen Fredericks, take this woman…"

---

Later that evening the dance part of the ceremony was in full swing. Mary Fredericks smiled with pure joy as she danced slowly with her new husband Glen. The background swing music filled the makeshift ballroom, while the surrounding view outside of the ship continued to captivate most of the guests. Mary no longer saw it… she simply looked into Glen's deep brown eyes and continued to dance with delight, feeling safe and secure for the first time in almost six months. Gently he spun her as they moved, and she gracefully allowed herself to twirl away from him until she held only his fingertips. Drinking in the emotional overload, she reversed direction and spun herself back into his arms. Grinning, he dipped her backward before they continued their dance deeper into the crowd of happy couples.

"Watch it people, I've got a full load of cargo coming through here," said Adam with a chuckle as he and Melanie bumped into Glen. Mary watched her pregnant friend quickly swat the elder Roh and she smiled with approval. Her attention focused back on the crowd and she noticed Julie and her husband also dancing energetically past them.

"Aren't you supposed to be studying this?" she shouted over the music at her friend. Julie glanced back at Mary and grinned in response.

"Every system I have including that last active telescope in the corner is set to record!" Dr. Markham laughed with glee. "I'll get around to reviewing it… eventually. Right now it's time to have some fun celebrating your big night!"

The happy new couple continued their romantic twist through the crowd and smiled cheerfully as they passed Thomas and Kari. "It won't be long before you're in my shoes buddy," Glen hollered to his friend, watching him turn red. He continued to watch all the happy faces in the crowd pass by and suddenly noticed something odd. "Where did the Captain go?" he asked carefully while continuing to scan the room.

---

They found their commander seated with Noah, Dr. Simmons and Patrick Warren in the Infirmary. Dennis was a little bit shocked as he watched Glen, Mary, Adam, Thomas, Julie, Melanie, Father Dixon and Colonel Neeland file slowly into the room – still dressed in their formal attire. Jeff arrived a few seconds later from the Lab wing, where he had been emceeing the ship's other party until Thomas managed to have him paged.

"I didn't mean to spoil a perfectly good party," Kaufield said sincerely, watching his close-knit group of friends and officers carefully. "But once we return to Serenity and park the Pathfinder for good we'll be unable to use its CAS Drive for awhile. I've thought the matter over and decided that there's one more task as Captain of this ship that I have to perform." He shook his head in wonder, watching them with the respect that only people who have served together for years have for each other. "That's my responsibility, however. You folks should return to the party and continue having a good time. After all," he grinned, looking at Glen and Mary proudly. "It is your night, after all!"

"The survivors from our Colonies are our people too Captain," said Glen firmly. "The responsibility and yearning you have to help them – at least in some way – is equally strong among the rest of your crew, I can assure you."

"What are you planning, sir?" asked Thomas curiously. Kaufield's response was to hand him a sheet of printed paper containing a very short message that Karen and Patrick had helped him write. The young scientist read the text message printed on it before handing it down the line so the rest of his friends could also review the content.

"It reads well," Adam commented, handing the note back to his Captain. "But they'll never believe us unless we offer them proof that we're not kidding. If you don't mind, I'd like to make a small suggestion…"

---

Later that evening found the Captain and most of his Council of Twelve standing side by side in the Command Dome, carefully studying the overhead monitors. Thomas and Glen had taken complete control of the central computer ring and were busy working from the stations normally occupied by Adam and Mary. The view that the rest of them were watching was an image of the bottom of the Pathfinder's hangar bay. A large Canary Probe dropped from its secure position on the bottom of the hull and floated free for a moment. Then the small craft's aft thrusters fired and it began moving slowly forward into its pre-programmed position.

"CAS Drive is on-line and ready," Thomas said confidently.

"Shrinking FTL window for transport," Glen replied. He watched the readouts on the work station in front of him carefully and nodded as its lights flashed green. "The Probe is away Captain," he said with enthusiasm.

"That's it then," Kaufield said softly, smiling at the people standing with him. "It's time to pick a party and go back to having some fun."

"It's going to be bad for awhile back in your Milky Way, Dennis," said Noah cautiously. "But your people will survive in the long run… I know they will."

"Don't think we're finished with our philosophical discussions," Kaufield replied intensely. "I still have high hopes of convincing you and your people that intervention during our time of crisis would be a good thing." Noah quietly smiled and glanced down at his feet. "However," the Captain continued, "We are your guests and will respect your decision to remain neutral… at least until I manage to convince you otherwise."

"No one could make a decent case that your people lack persistence," grinned Noah. He put a hand on Patrick Warren's shoulder. "And if your people are ever to truly connect with the Cylons it will begin with courageous people like this man."

"There are a lot of truly evil things going on back there," Patrick said with a slight hint of resentment. "And one way or the other, I am finally free of it. You'll forgive me, Noah, if I don't share your optimism… and I have no intention of ever going back."

"We don't need to make any permanent decisions tonight," Dennis decided. "Let's work on rebuilding our cities and our population first. After all, we can send more probes any time we want to and listen for friendly or enemy signals. Our business with the Cylons is not – by any means – concluded. As for our own destiny, I have nothing but thanks to our Gods for guiding us in the right direction."

---

The Canary Probe emerged out of its CAS-assisted jump having traveled almost instantly all the way back to the edge of the Colonial star system in the Milky Way. The incredibly long distance FTL hop wasn't perfect by any means, so its programmed computer systems immediately activated its Dradis and observation equipment. The probe began a search for nearby objects and very quickly began to populate an empty computer file with a detailed map of the solar system. Mere moments later its Dradis was detected and the probe noted ships moving toward it – none of which signaled it with a friendly transponder.

The four Cylon Raiders moved quickly into the area and began to rapidly close the distance between their patrol and the unfamiliar probe. They were preparing to attempt access to its systems when the Canary probe suddenly activated its own small FTL unit and jumped away again. One of the Raiders immediately reported its findings back to home base. They patiently waited until a return signal was received indicating to them that the matter was under control. Accepting the transmission, they resumed their patrol along the outer edge of the solar system.

There were even more Cylon ships patrolling Caprica but the Canary Probe proved to be very precise in its measurements. It emerged from its second, short-range hop already in Caprica's atmosphere and its hull instantly began to heat as its thrusters moved it even more sharply downward toward the distant surface below. The vulnerable equipment inside of it began to fail from the extreme heat and it tried one last time to adjust its course toward a rural region located just outside of Caprica City. The course correction failed along with the rest of its electronics and – a blazing ball of fire – the Canary Probe dropped out of the sky trailing a huge column of smoke behind it and crashed heavily into the ground northwest of Delphi.

---

The wreckage was still smoking when a heavy Raider dropped out of the sky and landed near the new crater in the ground. Four of the mechanical Centurions emerged from the ship and walked over to the remains of the probe and then paused, their red eyes whirring back and forth as they waited for additional instructions. A beautiful blonde woman dressed in black also stepped out of the Cylon ship and walked over to examine the wreckage.

"Load this into the ship," she said to the Centurions. "We'll take it back with us to our facility at Delphi." Without saying a word, the mechanical Cylons immediately obeyed and the four of them easily lifted the hot, blackened wreckage of the probe out of the large crater and began moving it back to their ship. Small fires still flickered in the grass around the crater and the blonde Cylon could still see the remnants of the probe's descending smoke trail in the cloudless sky overhead.

"What is it?" Doral asked as she stepped back aboard the heavy Raider. He sat next to another Centurion, watching the other Cylons loading the probe into the cargo area at the back of the ship. "Was it supposed to be some kind of weapon?"

"Maybe," the female Cylon said, taking a seat beside him. "Who knows what the humans will try… they've become so desperate lately it's really rather pathetic." The heavy Raider's engines fired and it slowly took off and began moving off on a course roughly toward Delphi, before altering that heading just slightly enough to move North of the actual city. She and Doral remained silent for the rest of the journey until the Heavy Raider finally arrived at its destination. It landed next to a large building that was basically intact, but whose entrance had been severely damaged during a huge gun battle – most likely very recently.

As the Centurions began unloading the probe's wreckage the blonde woman appeared beside them. "Take it to Simon," she ordered before looking directly back to Doral with some authority. "Make sure that he knows I want a complete analysis ready by tomorrow morning."

"I'll do that," Doral said simply before following the Centurions.

---

The next day found Doral and the blonde Cylon in Simon's office, waiting for him a bit impatiently. He showed up as scheduled but could tell immediately that they were anxiously awaiting the results of his study.

"Good morning," he said politely, taking a seat behind his desk. He opened his briefcase and set several pieces of paper on the desk. He also took out a vial that contained what appeared to be blood and set it next to the paper.

"What were you able to determine?" Doral asked. "Was it supposed to be a weapon?"

"Not likely," Simon replied. "The Colonials have all kinds of differing versions of these 'Canary' probes as they like to call them. Most are very sophisticated pieces of electrical equipment designed to monitor stellar phenomenon, but there are smaller versions of them also in use by the military as missile decoys or simply as a means to disrupt enemy communications."

"And this one?" asked the blonde impatiently.

"This one had markings on it that indicates it is from the Pathfinder." He shrugged. "That's the new ship that the Colonials built with their state of the art CAS system… the one that escaped from us about six months ago with almost 900 people aboard."

Doral reached forward and picked up the papers that Simon had set on the desk. He glanced over the images of the galaxy clusters on them and shook his head with delight. "They're letting us know that they got safely out of the galaxy," he said with a grin. "They're convinced that they are protected from us."

"They're more than convinced," Simon said, turning over one of the pictures. On the back of it was a text message that he slowly read out loud to the two people seated across from him:

"These pictures were taken from a position that we call Bravo-Point as proof that we have escaped from your military threat. You cannot track us and you will never find us. But we know where YOU are, and how you treat the surviving members of our people will directly determine how we treat you when we return to our home some day. By taking on human form you have also accepted the consequences of being human and the responsibilities that go with it. So treat our people well or we promise that it will go badly for you as well."

"Do they really think that we're going to take a message delivered using a long distance probe seriously?" Doral said, laughing with enthusiasm. "They can't penetrate our defenses so they hide somewhere distant in the Universe and expect us to respond to idle threats? I've seen them make some poor decisions in their day, but this one is almost ridiculous. Wait until our central command gets a look at this."

The blonde woman had been sitting deep in thought. She smirked slightly as she pointed at the vial lying on Simon's desk. "Have you been able to determine whose blood that is?" she asked curiously, watching him nod affirmatively in response.

"It's mine," he said. "The DNA matches precisely. My guess is that we had an undercover agent stationed on their ship and this is their way of proving to us that they have discovered and captured him."

"We did have an operative on board the Pathfinder," she continued. "He was going by the pseudo-name of Patrick Warren. The fact that they have captured him also means nothing, since he was sent there to gather information. He doesn't know anything that can possibly hurt us."

"I sure hope he doesn't," Simon said cautiously, pointing at the back of the photo containing the text message. "Because there are fourteen signatures at the bottom of this note: their Captain's, each member of their Council of Twelve, and a Patrick Warren. So not only have they discovered him, but he is obviously cooperating with them as well."

"Big deal," Doral said casually as he and the blonde woman stood up.

"Have all of the probe's remains along with these items transferred to the Base Star orbiting above Caprica City," instructed Doral. "They can finish up with it and then file it away somewhere – I really don't care where." Simon nodded and watched them leave the room before checking his schedule and returning to his daily routine.

---

Finishing another day with his usual precision, Simon returned to the small room in the mental hospital that served as his quarters. He poured himself a glass of water and took a drink while reviewing the events of the day in his mind. He was very familiar with humans and interacted with many of the survivors each and every day – so the fact that the Pathfinder's crew had taken the time to program and send the probe left him extremely curious. Thus he nearly jumped out of his seat when he saw the woman standing in front of him.

"How're you doin' Doc… is your neck feeling any better?" Kara Thrace asked with pure delight. "Have you committed any acts of brutality against women lately?"

"Starbuck, how the hell…?" Simon said, studying her curiously as he set his glass of water down. "You can't be here – I was told that you and some of your companions managed to get safely away from Caprica in a stolen heavy Raider."

"Don't you remember the message from the Pathfinder's crew?" Starbuck asked, grinning with delight at him as she sauntered arrogantly around the room. "The part, specifically, about the Cylons becoming human and the consequences and responsibilities that go with it?" She pointed at his hands, and – glancing down – Simon was astonished to see a series of purplish blotches covering the skin in at least three areas. "One of the first things that you need to learn about being human is that when you go around making enemies it's quite possible that they may get really angry at you and come up with ways to exploit your vulnerabilities, such as attacking you with a biological agent of some sort." Starbuck put her hands on her hips and flashed him an enthusiastic wink. "If I were you, I'd start reviewing the Cylon quarantine procedures because your newfound humanity makes you an extremely vulnerable target…"

"Oh no…" Simon said, taking a closer look at the rapidly spreading spots that covered both of his hands.

"Oh yes!" Starbuck countered. "You think we're going to just sit back and let you win? We've been fighting wars for thousands of years… your society is a virtual baby by comparison. Does your command think that they have the lock on playing dirty? They'd better watch out, because probes like the one that landed on Caprica yesterday could be dropping out of the sky a lot more often… who knows – maybe they'll contain nukes next time!"

Simon moved quickly to call for assistance, but was blocked by the presence of another man as he turned toward the door. The newcomer, like Starbuck, was smiling confidently at him. He was tall with very dark hair and Simon couldn't recall ever seeing him before.

"Who are you?" he asked, looking the man in the eyes.

"Don't you recognize him?" Starbuck grinned from her position across the room. "This is the Cylon God… the person whom your people serve."

"She is correct. My name is Iblis," the man said with a chuckle, placing a hand on Simon's head and forcing him to his knees. "I am the 13th Lord of Kobol, the God your people serve. And may I say that I am extremely pleased with the murderous agenda you Cylons have chosen. It has made you extremely strong and powerful."

From his position kneeling on the floor, Simon opened his mouth to scream…

---

D

A big THANK YOU to everyone who has read this story and provided positive feedback, constructive comments, and yay – even an occasional bit of criticism. It was a very fun project and I sincerely appreciate your taking the time to read my work. If the "Battlestar Galactica 2003" series doesn't end the way I think it should (happily, of course), I have a sequel planned!