Chapter 167

Galileo

As the first of the Copernicus class to venture outside of the Milky Way galaxy, the crew of the Galileo counted themselves lucky. This mission it was hoped would be the first of many voyages of discovery into the universe. What had brought the Galileo so far out into a semi hostile galaxy? Nothing less than the opportunity to study a binary star system. While binary systems could easily be found within the Milky Way, this system was rare. Orbiting one another in not an elliptical path but a circular one, were two red dwarf stars.

For several days, the jubilant astrophysicists aboard the Galileo had scanned the twin stars intently. Orbital characteristics, radiation field fluctuation, and magnetic variance were all studied. Long range sensors were also utilized to study the effects these twin stars had on the development of the system as a whole. This opportunity was what dreams were made of for an aspiring astrophysicist.

Sitting on the bridge in his captains chair, rested Colonel Victor Gayle. A career Air Force officer, Gayle had long ago been seconded to NASA as a member of the shuttle program. During his two weeks as a shuttle mission commander, Gayle had thought he had seen the zenith of his career. Little did he suspect that a few short years later he would find himself in command of the Galileo. His childhood dream now come to life, Gayle counted himself as the luckiest of men.

As the Galileo was not a warship, her crew was composed of scientists and military officers long posted to NASA. The normal manning levels found on warsh.i.p.s of the Tauri fleet was not present here. Instead of a team of sensor operators maintaining a vigilant watch over the space around them, this duty along with control of defensive systems fell to the shipboard AI. Following in the footsteps of the ship Galileo was pattered after, this AI like that found on Destiny, interacted with the crew via a visual avatar.

Unlike the avatar found aboard the Copernicus class vessel Carl Sagan, the Galileo's avatar did not resemble its namesake. Instead, this avatar was a tall and thin man of dark hair and eyes, with pale skin always ready to display a vibrant smile. Clothed in an image identical to the flight suit worn by the sh.i.p.s crew, Galileo constantly stood guard over those in his care. Appearing on the bridge, Galileo's presence was quickly noted by Colonel Gayle.

"What can I do for you Galileo?" Gayle asked.

"Colonel, my sensors have detected a fleet of three vessels entering the solar system. One Hive and two cruisers are present. They are currently six hundred thousand kilometers from our position." Galileo informed his captain.

"Power the weapons!" Gayle ordered nervously.

"Colonel, you are aware that control of all defensive systems falls under my purview. I did not notify you of the fleet's arrival to seek instructions. I simply thought it polite to do so." Galileo responded briskly.

Bringing up a holographic display screen, Galileo made clear the developing tactical picture. Two minutes later, the sudden departure of the Hive was noted. Seeing the two cruisers remain behind, no question as to what would happen next existed. On the screen, the two red triangles representing the cruisers gained speed and began to close in on the Galileo's current position. Analyzing the developing tactical situation and weighing against the enemy being faced, Galileo quickly formulated multiple defensive scenario's.

"We need to move." Gayle ordered.

"Colonel Gayle, I say this with the utmost respect to my commanding officer; your input is not required." Galileo stated darkly.

As the sublight engines were brought online, the Galileo banked ninety degrees. Instead of bringing the sublight engines to full power, Galileo instead slowly accelerated. This was done to bait the pursuing cruisers. Setting course of a point equidistant between the two near orbiting binary stars, the AI sought to lure the Wraith into the intense belt of stellar radiation that existed. This belt would damage the cruisers much as weapons fire could ever hope to do.

Seeing their prey attempt to run, the two cruisers continued to accelerate. Based on their current rate of closure, the cruisers would be on top of Galileo in scant minutes. In preparation, the main weapon was charged and lowered. Seeing this, the two cruisers opened fire from a distance. Their hope was to degrade their prey's shields, and lessen their time within the radiation belt. Charging headlong after the Galileo, nothing would deter the Wraith from their target.

Upon reaching the exact equidistant point between the binary stars, Galileo executed a sharp three hundred and sixty degree banking turn. Running at full sublight, the two cruisers were now within less than ninety ship lengths. Blue bolts of Wraith weapons fire impacted the science vessels shields. Flaring brightly with each hit, the golden hued shields withstood the onslaught. Continuing the turn, Galileo opened fire as it reached the one hundred and eightieth degree of its three hundred and sixty degree turn.

Not expecting the sudden turn and attack, the Wraith found themselves in a poor position to avoid the three powerful golden energy bolts hurtling towards them. Like a pistol duel of old, this fight unraveled at extremely close range. Thunderous impacts from the two Wraith cruisers energy weapons jarred Galileo's crew. In return, the three rapid fire shots from the Copernicus class vessel impacted the nearer of the two cruisers. Unlike the surgical precision found with plasma weapons, the main weapon's energy bolts punched large and jagged holes in the nose of the oncoming Wraith vessel. Though crippled, the wounded cruiser was not fully disabled and accelerated to the safety of space not filled with solar radiation.

Refusing to break stride, Galileo continued its turn. The lone pursuing cruiser continued to unleash a punishing amount of weapons fire at its target. All along the illuminated track of Galileo's sublight drive section, the golden tinted shields flared and blossomed. Seeking to further bait its prey, Galileo began to vent a steady but minuet trail of drive plasma from within engineering section. Detecting this, the Wraith believed that their target was damaged and near defeat.

Setting course directly for the surface of the ever so close red dwarf, Galileo with cruiser close behind, opened fire with the main weapon. Instead of targeting the enemy vessel being faced, the main weapon rapidly cycled energy bolt after energy bolt at the surface of the sun that was quickly approaching. In their overconfidence, the Wraith believed they had fatally damaged the vessel they continued to fire upon. A fatal dive into the inferno that comprised the corona of a star would only be contemplated to escape death at the hands of the Wraith, they thought.

Without warning, the surface of the soil erupted in a hellish display. A steaming geyser of matter and electromagnetic radiation spewed towards the two oncoming vessels. Superheated plasma made up of electrons and protons, but also containing quantities of several heavy elements such as oxygen and iron, collided first into the Galileo at thirty two hundred kilometers per second. Designed to survive solar entry, Galileo continued on into the inner depths of the star. The Wraith vessel's outer hull lost integrity before this geyser impacted. Upon striking the hull, it was similar to the act of blowing on ash and watching it scatter in the air.

Short, quick, and vicious; the Galileo's baptism by fire ended as quickly as it began.