Battlestar Galactica: Operation Deliverance
Virtual Season 4, Episode 4
By Matt Wiser, January, 2014


From the Adama Journals: 

     As the mission to liberate our fellow-Humans from alien slavery gets
underway, I find myself in a state of great agitation. One the one hand,
the prospect of finding yet more people from Earth is a joyous one.
Further vindication of our entire journey. Yet, I also feel considerable
trepidation, at the same time. It has been a very long time, aside from
the occasional raid on pirates, or our encounters with the Ziklagi, that
Colonial Warriors have gone into action against a biological opposing
force. While entirely legal and sanctioned under Colonial Law, I
nonetheless dislike the idea of killing living beings, of any species,
for whatever the reason. Perhaps it is a lifetime at war that does it. In
any event, we shall soon be the richer, for the addition of brothers and
sisters from Earth, from whom we can gain an ever-clearer picture of the
state of our fellow Colony. Before long, I feel, there shall most likely
be a new seat on the Council. 
      But who will fill that seat? For all his manifest qualities and
strengths, I sincerely hope that it is not Captain Byrne. For one thing,
he has proven himself too valuable, as skipper of the Constellation,
integrating her into our fleet. Also, there is the post-Holocaust
stipulation that only one active duty military officer serves on the
Council at any one time. While there is no actual prohibition, in the
Colonial Charter of Governance, or even the earlier Articles of
Unification, on there being more, and was, indeed standard prior to the
Holocaust, to have two members of the military on the Council, I feel it
unwise to establish any more new precedents, especially with all the
other changes sure to come.
     I also do not wish to have Captain Byrne in any closer proximity to
Siress Lydia than is necessary, in view of certain recent events in their
relationship. Given the Captain's somewhat volatile temperament, his
recent discovery of her duplicity, regarding information leaked to the
IFB about Petty Officer Clemens and her rescue from the Risik, could lead
to open hostilities, in Council, should they both be on it. The Council
is enough of an arena of open combat, as it is. The integration of more
Humans, and Humans who know nothing of us or advanced technology, from an
array of cultural subsets, into our midst is going to be problem enough.
I do not need any more, certainly nothing that Lydia might make use of in
some plot against me in the future. 
      On a personal level, my grandchildren by Athena continue to grow
and flourish. It brings back memories of when my children were that
small, and is a tonic, indeed. I wish Ila could be here, to see them.
Boxey has taken to them wonderfully, and together, they help to ease my
few centars of relaxation. Lords of Kobol, I treasure them.
      I have a feeling I shall treasure them, even more. Soon
     

     After putting down his microphone, Commander Adama got up from his
desk and went to his washroom. After a quick shave, and his usual light
breakfast, he decided to go on up to the Galactica's bridge. When he got
there, he found Mercedes standing as Officer of the Watch. "Lieutenant," 
     "Commander," Mercedes said. "I didn't expect you this early. We're
still three centars from the target system's heliopause. And Colonel Tigh
won't be here for another centar."
     "I decided that I should get up early, Lieutenant," Adama said.
"What's the situation?" 
     "So far, Commander," Mercedes said, consulting her pad. "No unusual
scanner contacts detected by either the Galactica, Base Ship, or the
Constellation. No Risik communications detected." 
     "And our rear scan?" Adama asked, concerned about the Fleet.
     "Scans show all clear, Commander." 
     "Very good. Status of the Special Forces Team?" 
     Mercedes consulted her pad, which had a timeline of the operation.
"They should be waking up now, Commander." 
     "Thank you," Adama said, just as Colonel Tigh came onto the Bridge.
"Tigh, what brings you here early?" 
     "I woke up early, Commander, and couldn't get back to sleep," the XO
replied. "So I had something to eat, and decided to come up to the
Bridge." 
     "Nerves?" 
     "No, Commander. But, I'll admit, I haven't felt like this since our
last offensive operation, before the Holocaust." 
     "You want to get it over and done with," Adama nodded. He, too, was
just as anxious to get this mission out of the way, the prisoners
rescued, and the Fleet back on course for Earth. 
     "Yes, sir," Tigh nodded. "That's probably how everyone is feeling
right now." 
     "No doubt, Tigh. Mercedes?"
     "Sir?" The bridge officer asked. She wouldn't go to her own Battle
Station until that alarm sounded, and Omega came to take over. 
     "Steady as she goes. Maintain course and speed."
     "Sir." 
    

      In the SF area, it was time to get the Men up. Major Croft woke up
first, then, as he had told her, found Staff Sergeant Lauren Wagner fast
asleep on his office couch, just like it had been prior to the Delta raid
on the Il Fadim. "Sergeant." 
     "Huh, what?" She asked, then she remembered. "Sorry, Major. Time to
get up and get to work?" 
     "Yeah. You ready for the mission?" 
     "More than ready. We have a saying on Earth: Time to kick ass and
take names."
     The Galactica's commando leader smiled. She may not be SF, but she's
sure got the attitude. "So do we. Just remember, don't take things too
personally. If Scarface gets away. Look at it like this." 
     "Sir?" The alien who tortured her, known as Scarface, was now known
to be the commandant of the camp they were going to raid, and free the
fifty-plus prisoners from Earth-fellow abductees from Earth like
herself-in the process. And he was at the top of the list of those Risik
she wanted dead. 
     "They might execute him after it's all over," he said, handing her a
cup of java.
     "Major?" 
     "He let a hostile force get in and out with all of his charges.
Knowing what we do of these people..."
     "He gets a bullet in the back of the head," Wagner finished. "Oh,
well. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Time to get the guys up?" She
asked, finishing her cup of java.
     "Shall we?" Croft gestured to his open office door.
     "Let's go." And the two went to the SF bunkroom, and shouted the
team awake.  




     Aboard the Baseship, Ayesha woke up. She turned, and found Baltar
still fast asleep in bed. She woke him gently. "Baltar."
     He woke up with a start. "Huh? Ah...I....Ayesha? What.."
     She smiled. "Time to get up." 
     Then the communicator chimed. "Commander," Moray's voice came over
the com link. "Two centars to target." 
    "Ah, yes." Baltar said. He had slept on top of the bunk, fully
clothed. He quickly got up, shaved,  and had a quick bite to eat, then as
he entered the corridor, found Starbuck there. "Ah, Lieutenant." 
     "Baltar," Starbuck nodded politely. "Ready to get on with it?"
     "Quite ready." 
     "Baltar?" Ayesha came to the two. "And Starbuck. Don't you think you
should have something more substantial for breakfast?" She looked at the
two men. "It'll be a long day, and it may be a while before you have
something to eat again." 
     The two looked at each other. "She's right, you know. Women's
intuition and all that," Starbuck said. 
     "Yes," Baltar nodded. "It will be a long day." 
     "Good. I'll have something ready for you in a half-centar or so." 
     "Thank you, Ayesha," Baltar said. He turned to Starbuck.  "Let's get
to the command center." 
     When the two arrived, they found Moray on duty. "By your command,"
Moray said as Baltar and Starbuck entered. 
    "Moray," Baltar nodded. "Status report, please."
    "All systems nominal." He handed Baltar a pad with the ship's report
for the past twelve centars. Baltar read it, then signed with a stylus,
then handed it back to Moray, who continued. "Scans show clear in all
directions, and no Risik communications have been detected." 
    "Very good, Moray. Maintain course and speed with the Galactica." 
     "By your command." 


     Aboard Constellation, Captain Kevin Byrne, USN, was asleep. Unlike
most nights, he was on top of his bunk, and fully clothed. Then his
telecom buzzed. "Bridge to Captain Byrne." 
     Byrne got up instantly and went to the telecom. "Byrne here." 
     "Captain," a familiar voice said. It was the Exec, Lieutenant Dante.
"I believe you left a wake-up call for this time." 
     Byrne nodded to himself. "Distance to target?" 
     One and a half centars, Captain. I know, you left orders to be
awakened at two centars, but I figured that you needed more rack time
than anyone else on this ship." 
     And he was right, Byrne knew. One thing that a good Exec was above
all else was a mother hen to the captain. "Very well, Mr. Dante, I'll be
on the Bridge shortly." 
    "Yes, sir."
    Byrne then went to the captain's galley and fixed himself a quick
breakfast. Nothing fancy, just a couple of pieces of toast and some
juice. He had a quick shave, then he went to the Bridge. "Mr. Dante," he
said to his Exec. "Sitrep, if you please." 
    "All systems nominal, and we remain at Condition Two. Scans are clear
in all directions, and we're maintaining course and speed with the
Galactica." 
    "Very well, Mr. Dante. And Mr. Malik's drills?" One of the Zohrloch
refugees, Malik, was Constellation's gunnery officer. And in all of his
time in the U.S. Navy, and now here, Byrne had never seen someone more
devoted to shipboard gunnery of any sort. Until now. 
     "He's just about finished," Dante reported. "They're ready, he
says."
    "Good." Byrne nodded. "And it won't be long until they're doing it
for real." 


     In Galactica's SF Area, the Team had awakened, and after a quick
breakfast of java and pastries, they were gearing up for the mission.
While the team members did so. Croft and Sergeant Wagner were having a
final run-through with the Team leaders. Nothing much had changed, and
after Croft asked for questions, Wagner had one. "Major, the guys going
for the Guards' Barracks and the HQ. How are they going to take out the
barracks?" 
     Lieutenant Stark, the Team Two leader whose men would hit that part
of the camp, grinned. "We've got some grenades that were on the
derelict-the ship we found you on, Sergeant. And we've got some of their
own rocket launchers. Single-shot, disposable rockets. They had quite a
few of those in their armory, and were easy to figure out how to use." 
    Wagner was amazed. She'd heard that the contents of the derelict's
armory had been cleaned out by Croft's men, but actually using the stuff?
Well, now. "Only fair enough that they get their ordnance returned."
     "And when they find those empty rocket tubes, that'll make them
wonder just who in Hades hit them," Croft said. "I like it, Stark." 
     "Thanks, Major." 
     Then Castor spoke up. "Major, I've got something that just occurred
to me." 
     "Go ahead," Croft nodded.
     "Major, the interrogation shed. Is there any kind of office there?" 
     "What do you mean?" Wagner asked. "An office?" 
     "Well, if these people are so meticulous in their records as they
appear to be, wouldn't they have copies somewhere else besides the HQ and
Commandant's office?" 
     "Lords...nobody even thought to ask Petty Officer Clemens that."
Croft said. "She in Life Center?" 
     "Yeah, with Jen," Wagner said. "Maybe you should call her." 
     "I will," Croft said. He went to his office Telecom and called Life
Center. 
     "Life Center, Dr. Cassiopeia," came the reply. 
     "Cassie, this is Croft. Is the Petty Officer awake yet?"
     Cassie was surprised to get this kind of call, especially this close
to the SF Team's departure. "I'll check, Major. You need to talk to her?"

     "Got one final question." 
     "Wait a centon." 

     Cassie put the Telecom down and went into the private room where
Petty Officer Jessica Clemens and Jena Byrne-Captain Byrne's daughter,
were sleeping. She found the two of them still asleep, laying on top of
the beds. Cassie went to Clemens and gently woke her up. "Jessica," 
     "Huh..., What..." She replied. Then she opened her eyes. "Oh,
Cassie. Time to get up?" 
     "Just about. Major Croft is on the Telecom. He has one final
question to ask."
     "Oh, okay," Jessica nodded. It was still a new feeling for her,
being gently awakened instead of having someone-a guard or that scum
Lemeshik-shouting her awake, or being prodded with a  rifle butt. "What
about Jen?"
     "I'm awake," Jen said, getting off the bed. "It's time?" 
      "Almost," Cassie said.  She took Jessica back to the medtechs'
station and gave her the Telecom. 
     "Major?" 
     "Petty Officer, sorry to wake you. Do you remember if there's an
office of some kind in the interrogation shed?" Croft asked. 
     "I don't think so, sir," Clemens replied. "Why do you ask?" 
     "We're thinking that they may have more than one copy of all
their....interrogation records, for want of a better term, and an office
there would be the place to keep them." 
      "They didn't have one when I was there, and then again, when I was
in that shed, I wasn't thinking of that kind of detail. More like, where
it didn't hurt." 
      "I understand, Petty Officer," Croft said. "Is it possible,
though?" 
     "Since I left there? It's possible. But I just don't know." 
     Croft nodded. Then he looked at Wagner and his Team leaders. "All
right, thank you, Petty Officer. Next time you see us, we'll have your
friends." 
     "I'll be there," Clemens said. "And Major?"
      "Petty Officer?" 
      "I don't think I've said this to you before. Good luck. And kick
some and take some," Clemens said, a serious tone of voice in her words. 
      "Thanks, Petty Officer, and will do." 
      
     After signing off, Croft went back to his team leaders. "She's not
sure. It's possible, but there wasn't one when she was there."
     "And if there is, it was added after that bastard Lemeshik took her
from the camp," Wagner added.
     "Right you are, Sergeant." Croft turned to Castor. "Get a couple of
sacks, the same ones Stark's men are bringing to get the contents of the
HQ office, and if there is an office in that building...."
     "We'll take everything not bolted down," Castor finished.
     

     "What'd Croft want?" Cassie asked. 
     "He wanted to know if there was an office in the interrogation
shed," Jessica replied. "I don't remember one, and then again, that's a
detail I never thought of." 
     "Probably because you were, uh, otherwise engaged when you were in
that house of horrors," Cassie said. 
     "You've got that right," Jessica said. "Trying to forget the pain,
and concentrate on where it didn't hurt." 
    "Come on. Let's get you two some juice and pastries, because it won't
be long now." 
    "And I can't wait," Jessica said. "Like I said, I'm going to hug
Denise and never let go." Denise was Jessica's friend from Michigan, and
had been in her car with Jessica when they had been abducted. They had
been together in the camp, and had suffered a lot together. Now, it was
time to get Denise and the others out.
     "She'll probably want to do the same," Cassie said. "Come on, let's
go to the commissary, and get something to eat. Won't be long until we're
all busy." 


     In Blue Squadron's ready room, Apollo and Sheba were going over
their part in the mission with the rest of the squadron. Apollo had
already held a final briefing with the other squadron commanders, and
now, they were giving final instructions to their pilots. Just as he was
now. "Remember, it's a low altitude, high speed approach, over the
eastern hemisphere, and that ocean, before we reach the target. Then we
pop up, and go after the gun and missile sites with those scanner-homing
missiles. And we also take out two other scanners: early-warning and
traffic control." 
     "Why those, Apollo?" Brie asked. She was his wingmate on this one. 
     "Anything to blind them to the heavy ships, until it's way too
late," Apollo replied. "We can't take the chance on a blip showing up on
their screens until we're on top of them. So, when we go in, we're using
full ECM. Now, once the missiles have struck home, we go in and strafe
the gun and missile batteries. We can't take a chance on them using any
manual backups. Essentially, we're what Captain Byrne calls SEAD:
Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses." 
     "And after the guns and missiles are knocked out?" Jolly asked. 
     "We orbit, and watch for any kind of mobile anti-air defense guns,
and anyone with a shoulder-fired missile. If we see them, we take them
out." Sheba answered. 
      "Once the extraction call's made, we cover the shuttles, along with
Orion's Raider squadron, until they get to the Galactica. Then we land,
refuel and rearm, and if we have to, go back out," Apollo finished. "Any
other questions?" 
     "Yeah, Skipper," Barton raised his hand. "What if we're hit and
can't make it back to the Galactica?" 
     "Good question," Apollo replied. "If you can, force-land at the
camp. Croft's people will get you, and they'll set a charge and blow your
ship. If not, try and land away from any populated area, and the CSAR
Teams will come for you. And if that's not possible, the trackers you've
all been issued will let us beam you out with that transporter device."
He looked around at the assembled pilots. "No one, as our Earth friends
like to say, gets left behind." Apollo saw another raised hand. "Yeah?" 
     "Sir," Hunley asked. "What about after the extraction? What's our
mission then?" 
     "Also a good question," Apollo said. "We refuel and rearm, and we
might go back out to relieve Red or Silver Spar. It all depends on what's
happening at the time." 
     Hunley nodded. 
     "Any other questions?" Apollo asked. There were none. "All right,
gear up, and wait for the alert. Let's get it done." 

     In the SF Area, Croft and his Team had gone over the mission one
final time. He, too, was giving his final instructions. "Okay, once we're
on the ground, it's a centar's hike to the target. We'll be there by 0100
local, and that gives us forty-five centons to get into position. At
0145, Keller-who'll be with Team One, and Varro, who's with Team Two, use
their suppressed rifles to take out the guards in the watch towers,
guards at the gates, and any guards that they can see who are roving.
Then we cut the wires, for Teams One, Two, and Three to get to their
targets. Team Four has overwatch, reserve, and also keeps anyone from
getting away along the access road. 
     "Now, inside the main compound and the punishment area? Suppressed
weapons only until the prisoners are secured. Once that call's made, we
hit the rest of the camp with the finesse of a tornadic storm." He looked
at Team One's troopers. "Tellus? You and Dorado stay with Sergeant
Wagner." The two Troopers nodded. "Alic?" He nodded at Team One's
medtech. "You go with her as well." Croft saw Alic nod. 
     "We've gone over it before, but I'll repeat: do not go out of your
way to take any Risik alive. If you can without any unnecessary risks, do
it. If not, take them out." He gestured to Sergeant Wagner. "Sergeant?'
     "A reminder: if you can't take him alive? Take Scarface all the way
out. Please, no head shots. Aim center mass, so I can ID the body." There
were some chuckles at that. "And if one of you does take him out? Petty
Officer Clemens will buy the shooter a couple of drinks," Wagner told the
troopers. "There's also this." 
     "Sergeant?" Lieutenant Stark asked. 
     "This raid will bring our two societies closer together. Those
people have every right to live their lives in freedom, especially the
kids. They've suffered in that camp for seven yahrens, a yahren on the
home planet, and a long time frozen in stasis, like I was. They've earned
the right to go home. Let's give it to them. And when we get to Earth?
Some of them might just wind up your neighbors." There were some more
chuckles. "And one more thing. If one of the women is pregnant and she
gives birth in the coming days? One of you might just have a namesake,"
Lauren grinned, then said. "There's a military unit on Earth, the U.S.
Army's Special Forces, the Green Berets, as we call them. My boyfriend
was in that unit, and he told me they have a prayer. I've forgotten most
of it, but one line goes like this: 'God be with us as we defend the
defenseless and free the enslaved.' That is exactly what we're going to
do." She then turned to Croft. "Major." 
     "And we're going to do just that. Gear up! Our shuttles are being
preflighted right now." 
      As the troopers geared up, Lauren noted that some teams were
outfitted quite differently. Teams One and Three, and half of Two, had a
mix of both Colonial and Earth weapons. Team One had either the MP-5 or
the HK-416, as well as either the SiG-Sauer or Mark-23 pistols, but they
all had a second holster for a Colonial laser pistol. Team Three was
similarly outfitted, but half of Two, and nearly all of Four, had their
Colonial laser carbines and pistols, but had either an MP-5 or a
SiG-Sauer as a backup. The sharpshooters, Keller and Varro, had their
Mark-17 rifles with sound suppressors, but took laser pistols as backup.
As for her, she was content to stick with what she knew best, the HK-416
and Mark-23, with a sound suppressor for the latter. 
     When the Team was ready, Croft notified the Bridge. Then it was time
to go. 

     On the Bridge, Mercedes took the call, then turned to Commander
Adama, who was studying the Plot Board with Colonel Tigh. "Commander?
Major Croft's Team is headed for Alpha Bay." 
     "Thank you, Mercedes," Adama nodded. 
     "Sir." 
     Adama checked the chrono, then turned to Tigh. "Thirty centons to
the heliopause, and they launch." 
    "And we go to Battle Stations," Tigh said. 
    "And may the Lords be with us all." 

    As the SF Team entered Alpha Bay, they found their two Mark X
shuttles waiting for them, and the crews going through their preflight,
and both air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles being installed. They may
not have to fight their way in, but even with fighter protection, and the
Cylons taking out the Risik atmospheric fighters, nothing was being taken
for granted for the extraction this day. While the armorers were going
over the ordnance, and the pilots and electronic-warfare officers went
over their flight plans, Croft and the Team waited. And Lauren noticed
something that some of Team Two's men were carrying. To her, they looked
like shotguns with a large drum magazine, but it couldn't be. "Major?"
She asked Croft. 
     "Sergeant?" 
      "What are those guys packing?" She indicated the shotgun-like
weapons. 
     "Stark came to me after the final brief. Hitting the guards'
barracks, his guys may need some extra firepower. We found those grenade
launchers on the derelict, and on the other ship. Shoot some of those
grenades into the guards' barracks, and gun down the survivors," Croft
said. "Like on the Delta, fast and hard." 
     "Major, I like the way you talk," Lauren grinned. "What are they
loaded with?" 
     "A mix. Some are antipersonnel, some anti-vehicle, some are packed
full of darts for really close-in work, and some are the usual:
illumination, smoke, and so on," Croft nodded. 
     "Nice to have," Lauren said. 
     "It is that," Croft agreed. 
     Phelps, the pilot of shuttle one, came over and saluted. "Ready,
Major." 
     Nodding, Croft got up. "All right, people! This express is ready to
go. Teams One and Three on Shuttle One, Two and Four on Shuttle Two." 
    The troopers got up, and headed into their respective shuttles. Just
as the last troopers were getting in to Shuttle One, Croft noticed Wagner
looking around, one last time. He'd seen it before. "Sergeant? "
     "Just thinking, Major. Captain Byrne's told you about other missions
like this on Earth: the Raid on Los Banos, the Son Tay Raid, the Raid on
Entebbe, Eagle Claw, the Lynch Rescue, and the Bin Laden Raid. I imagine
it was like this in a way, the raiders getting ready to go, and hoping
and praying everything goes right. Because at Son Tay and on Eagle Claw,
it didn't." 
     "Same here. We've had operations like this, and more than a few have
gone bad," Croft admitted. "We're so used to fighting Cylons, but even
anti-piracy ops have gone bad. Nothing we can do about that. So let's get
this show going, to use one of your 'Earthisms'." 
     Wagner looked him in the eye, nodded, then she boarded the shuttle. 
     Croft, too, had one last look around, then he, too, boarded Assault
One, with the hatch hissing shut behind him. 


     "Commander," Mercedes said., pointing to her monitor screen. It
showed a steady line, and the three capital ships closing on it.
"Approaching the target system's heliopause. And both Assault Shuttles
are ready to launch." 
     "ETA to heliopause?" Adama asked. 
     "Two centons...mark, sir." 
      "I'd say it's time, Commander," Tigh nodded. 
      "And so it is, Colonel," Adama said. He watched the task force
approach the line, then, they were there. And as if in a
well-choreographed dance, there was a flash, and the Galactica came out
of light-speed. Then there were two more flashes as the Base Ship and
Constellation did the same. Both ships fell into formation close to the
Battlestar. 
      "The Base Ship and the Constellation are out of light-speed,
Commander. We are picking up transmissions from the planet. Task Force is
on course," reported Mercedes. 
      "Excellent. Clear the shuttles to launch when ready, and let's go
to Battle Stations." 
     "Commander," Tigh said. He nodded to Mercedes, and she hit the
general alarm. The Bridge lights turned red, the klaxon sounded, and
Mercedes' voice came over the PA. 
      "Battle Stations! All hands, man your Battle Stations! Seal all
compartments! Repeat, all hands, man your Battle Stations!" 

     In Assault One, Castor, who was flying the shuttle as usual, turned
to Croft."Major, we're cleared for launch." 
    "Let's go." 
    Both shuttles fired up their engines, taxied into position, then they 
flew out of Alpha Bay, and set their course for Ne'Chak. 

     "Commander,' Moray said to Baltar on the Base Ship. "The assault
shuttles have launched."
     "On time," Starbuck nodded, consulting his pad. 
     "All right, Moray," Baltar said. "Battle Alert. Bring the ship to
Condition One." 
    "By your command." 

     "Captain," the Constellation's sensor officer said to Byrne. "The
assault shuttles have launched." 
     "That's the signal," Byrne nodded. "Mr. Dante," he said, turning to
his Exec. "Sound General Quarters, and set Condition One. Then get your
astrum to CIC." 
      Dante grinned. "Yes, sir!" He sounded the alarm himself, while Ruis
made the PA announcement. 
      "Good luck, Mr. Dante, and let's see how good CIC performs," Byrne
said. 
      "Thank you, sir." Dante said, then he headed down to CIC. 
      Both Mr. Agron, the ship's Second Officer, and Mr. Malik, the
Gunnery Officer, came to the Bridge. 
     "Ready, Mr. Agron?" Byrne asked. 
     "More than ready, Captain," Agron grinned. 
     "And your gunners, Mr. Malik?" 
      "We are ready, Captain. And these....dishonorable slugs will
receive a lesson they will not soon forget." 
     "Those who live through it, that is," Alyssia, the GQ Communications
Officer, said. She was trying to suppress a smile. 
     "Exactly, Miss Alyssia," Byrne said. "And now, there's no going
back. Mr. Agron? Maintain course and speed with the Galactica. Steady as
she goes." 
     "Steady as she goes, Aye." 


     At that moment on Ne'Chak, the prisoners in Special Camp One were
going through a final evening ritual: Roll Call. The prisoners assembled
in the compound, in front of the barracks, and the guards made their
count. The only prisoners not there included one who was in the clinic,
and three who were in the punishment area. The guards took their time,
and as they did so, Denise Hayden turned to a friend, Amy Sanderson, who,
among the prisoners, was one of her closest friends. She was the only
U.S. Marine among the captives, and was one of those who could-and
did-stand up to the prison staff and get away with it. Usually. The
Marine First Lieutenant had been taken near Camp Pendleton in California,
and ever since, she had always conducted herself as a Marine should.
"What's taking so long?" Denise whispered. 
     "They always double-count whenever there's someone in the punishment
area, remember?" 
     "It's been a while," Denise whispered back. 
     'Silence, infidel!" A guard shouted. 
     Once the count was complete, the Commandant came to address them.
"You should know by now, that there is no possibility of escape. The
three who are being punished, were obviously willfully ignorant. They
will have a few days to think about the folly of even considering making
such a foolish attempt. And they shall know pain." All the prisoners knew
what that meant, for they all knew the pain that the Commandant and
several of his guards inflicted. 
     With relish. 
     "And remember this well: we shall return to your world. And your
people, as you do know, will learn to bow before their masters. And your
world will belong to us, as it was before, and as it shall be again." His
eyes looked over the prisoners. Nothing to say, any of you?" He smiled,
then fixed his gaze of one of the men in the front row. "You...you seem
to have a thought.""
    "Uh, I..."
     "Please, come up and give us of your insights."
     "I...but..."
      The Commandant, never losing his smile, motioned to two of the
guards. With quick movements, they laid hold of the prisoner, and drug
him forward, protesting, dumping him roughly on the ground, in front of
the Commandant. The Commandant leaned down. "When you are told to speak,
you will obey. Is that understood?" Still smiling, he pressed one end of
his swagger stick to the prisoner's shoulder. The man screamed, as pain
ripped through his body. "Obedience!" he said, loud enough to be heard
over the screams, transferring the torture device to the man's crotch.
"Obedience is the key!" He let the screams continue for a moment longer,
then pulled the device away. The prisoner sagged, then after a few
moments, weakly tried to move. At a nod from the Commandant, the two
beefy guards picked him up, and plowed their fists into his face. The
Commandant jerked his head, towards the punishment cells. As the man was
dragged off, sobbing, he looked at the rest of the assembled prisoners.
     "Obedience," he said, as calmly as if he were ordering a drink in a
cafe. "Dismissed!"
    The prisoners' formation broke up, and as the prisoners headed back
to their respective barracks, several of them got together. Denise,
Sanderson, and two men. British Army Capt. Ian Ashby and Capt. Viktor
Zhukov, a Soviet Army airborne officer. All were members of the
prisoners' clandestine escape committee. "Captain," Sanderson said.,
barely able to contain her fury and disgust over the display just past.
"What now? That's three of our escape people now in those punishment
sheds. And if Scarface has his fun...."  She broke off, as a scream
drifted their way, from the punishment area.
     "I know, Leftenant," Ashby said. He was the senior military officer
among the prisoners, and all, including the civilians, looked up to him,
for he represented the prisoners to the prison staff. "Of all the times
for Christine and Rick to sneak back and forth..." Ashby was referring to
two other members of the Escape Committee: Christine Young and Rick West.
Both were civilians, and both had snuck to the barracks of their
respective friends for some.....private time. They had been caught trying
to get back before morning Roll Call. "If they just come clean, maybe
Scarface will just let them sit in the isolation sheds for a few days." 
     "Maybe, Comrade Captain," Zhukov growled. "The swine rarely does
that. He has to have his....fun first." 
     "I agree with Captain Zhukov, sir," Sanderson nodded. Scarface is
more likely to volunteer for latrine duty than show any kind of mercy." 
     "Right, then. Denise?" Ashby asked. 
     "Yes?" 
     "When are you working again in the Commandant's Office?"
     "I don't know yet," said Denise. "Why are you asking?" 
     "See if you can't find a map. Showing where exactly we are, and if
there's any rugged or remote areas we can get to. Because any escape now
has to involve getting everyone out." 
     "Someplace the Risik won't follow?" Sanderson asked. 
    "Exactly." Ashby said. 
     "They keep all that stuff locked up," Denise reminded them. "But..
I'll try anyway." 
     "Wait. Remember the power outage, a few months ago?" The rest
nodded. "The computer in his office went down, I heard. They must have
paper backups of important documents, just in case."      "        
   "Right, if we could find a way to cut the power," said Sanderson. 
   "Okay, then," Ashby said. Just then, the barracks lights flashed on
and off. The signal for the prisoners to get to their barracks. "We'll
talk about this in a few days, when they're out of isolation." 
      The others nodded. 
     Ashby gave a nod, then they split up. On the way back to the women's
barracks, Denise and Amy ran into Anna Popova. "Anna," 
    "Good evening," she repiled. 
    "How's Ron?" Denise asked. 
     "He's better. He should be off the sick list in a couple of days.
And before you ask, Marta and the baby are well, also." 
     "Okay." Amy said. 
    "And Denise? Did you have that dream again?" 
    "What dream?" Amy turned to Denise.
    "Last night: I had a dream, twice. Jessica was there. Telling me that
they were coming for us." 
     "They?" asked Anna.
     "I don't know. But I saw her, and she was surrounded by shadowy
figures, armed figures, wearing uniforms I didn't recognize."
     Amy put her hand on Denise's shoulder. "Girl, she's more than likely
dead." 
     "I don't know," Denise said. "I can't explain it. But I've got a
feeling we'll see her again."
    "Maybe," Anna said, seeing the planet's moon rise. "That's another
day in hell over." 
    "And another one tomorrow," Amy nodded. The lights flashed again.
"Good night, Anna." 
    "Good night to you, too," Anna said. She went off to the clinic,
where she would watch over Ron, Marta, and Marta's baby.
     "Let's go," Denise said. And both she and Amy went into the
barracks, the last ones in, and the guard locked the door behind them. 


     On  Galactica's Bridge, Commander Adama studied a monitor on his
console. Omega had taken over once Battle Stations had sounded, and he
was giving the Commander regular updates. "Omega, ETA of the shuttles to
target?" 
    "Still on schedule, Commander. ETA still 2200 local," Omega replied. 
     "And any signs of Risik activity of any sort?" 
     "None so far, Commander," Omega said. "We'll have to shut down
active sensors as we get closer in, though." 
    Adama knew that the Risik, though behind both the Colonials and the
Cylons by three hundred yahrens, still might pick up their active sensor
emissions  via their ground-based sentinels. With ships and stations in
orbit, it was a virtual certainty. But the Task Force's passive gear was
almost as good as the active equipment, even if it didn't have the range,
and their ECM was beyond anything the Risik could handle.  "Very good,
Omega," Adama nodded. 
     "Commander," Athena said. "We're picking up a ship. Departing
Ne'Chak on an outbound vector." 
     Adama and Tigh came over to look at her monitor. "Can you plot its
vector?" Adama asked. 
     "Stand by," she replied, typing in the command. In a moment, the
information came onto her monitor. "Wait....it's headed for the
Greenhouse world." 
     Tigh asked, "Can you identify the ship?" 
     "Scanning," Athena said. "It's what they call an Exploratory
Cruiser. Same class as the Derelict." 
     "Keep tracking him," Adama ordered. "Call out any changes in
course." 
     "Yes, Commander."
     Adama and Tigh went back to the Plot Board. "If he's headed to the
Greenhouse World, Tigh, that means one thing." 
     "The Risik finally decided to send out a search mission for the two
missing ships," the XO said. "What took them so long?' 
     "Probably when the captured ship failed to return," Adama said. "But
sending them out right now? I imagine they were told 'Send a ship
immediately,' and knowing what we now know of them...."
     "That meant right now, no matter what," Tigh finished. "It does help
us in a way, however." 
     "Exactly, Tigh," Adama said. "One less ship to worry about over
Ne'Chak." 


     On the Base Ship, Baltar, Moray, and Starbuck were also watching.
"Where's he headed?" Starbuck wanted to know, his eyes glued to the
tactical display.
     "He is not on a vector for the Fleet," Moray reported. "His vector
takes him to the system where we captured the first ship." 
      "Monitor his course, Moray," said Baltar. "Watch for any changes in
course or speed." 
      "By your command." 

     "Captain-" the Constellation's sensor officer said. 
     "I see it," Byrne replied. "He's headed out. Not towards us." 
     "He's on a vector for the Greenhouse World's system," Sensors
reported. 
      "Keep tracking him," ordered Byrne. 
       "Aye, sir." came the reply. 
      "So what's with him?" Mr. Agron asked. 
      "A search mission for the captured ship, in all probability," Mr.
Malik commented. 
     Byrne looked at his screen, then nodded.  "One less ship to worry
about." He looked at his Second Officer, then Mr. Malik. "Now it's only
nine to three in the Risik's favor." 
    "Still, the remaining ships will pose an....interesting challenge." 
     "That they will, Mr. Malik. Just as long as the fighters do their
job, and we only have one or two to face." 

     
     "Passing through the gap in the early-warning system," Phelps
reported in Assault One. "ETA to target, one centar." 
     "Any sign of the bad guys?" Croft asked. 
    "Not a one, Major. Maybe they're all asleep." 
    Croft nodded. "They're too complacent. Nobody's ever attacked them,
and they've gotten lazy. Well, that's going to cost them. Take us in." 
    Castor and Phelps nodded. "Adjusting course, and we're headed for the
Eastern Hemisphere." 
That was where the shuttles would make atmospheric entry, and go in at
low level to the target area.       
     Croft came up to have a look, and he saw Ne'Chak beginning to grow
larger in the window. He studied the display on the panel a moment
longer. The settlement had been selected by the computer as the planetary
meridian, "Greenwich", of sorts, the line dividing eastern and western
hemispheres. Broken down into latitudinal and longitudinal divisions,
they had plotted distance to target to within a hand's breadth.
Satisfied, he went back to his seat, and found Sergeant Wagner sitting
there, eyes shut. "Asleep?" 
     "She opened her eyes. "No, Major. Just focused. And trying to stay
calm." 
    "I know the feeling. My first mission, I was a nervous wreck. Hoped
to Hades Hole my CO wouldn't notice. You get used to it." 
    She looked at him. "And not only will the prisoners remember tonight,
but the Risik will. And they'll  realize they picked with the wrong
people." 
    Croft grinned. "That they will." 


     As the assault force closed with their target, Ne'Chak grew closer.
The undeveloped continent on the Eastern Hemisphere grew larger as they
approached their entry point. "Five centons to entry," Castor called. 
    "Okay, people!" Croft yelled. "Five centons to entry. As they say on
Earth, lock and load!" 
    Troopers began slapping clips into their weapons, and Wagner looked
at Croft. He had a grin on his face from ear to ear. From what she'd been
told about the SF leader, he'd been disappointed about missing the ground
operation during the Battle of Gamoray, and now, he was making up for it.
It was missions like this that he'd been trained for and had led. Now, he
was doing it once again. 
    "Entry interface.....now." Castor said, and both shuttles flew into
Ne'Chak's atmosphere. 

    In the military command bunker, the overnight duty shift had been
duty for about a centar, Colonial time. Most of the staff were bored out
of their skulls, wondering what they'd done to deserve this exalted duty,
when hardly anything happened on the duty shift in this outpost. 
    One of the operators, a junior lieutenant, was watching his screen.
Unlike his colleagues, not to mention his immediate superiors, he took
his job seriously. Any day now, he'd been told, the Ke'zar might appear,
and finish the job they had started so long ago, and so, even though
nothing hardly happened on this shift, he kept his eyes focused on the
screen. Then he spotted something. A momentary blip, approaching the
surface, then it disappeared. Then came another one, and it,too,
disappeared. He called for a superior. 
     "Yes?" The shift supervisor asked. 
     "A pair of blips, here," the lieutenant said. He pointed to the
location on the planetary map. "Over the East Sea."
     "They are not there," the supervisor pointed out. 
     "They were here, a tenari ago." replied the young officer. 
     "A meteor, then," growled the supervisor. This young one was still
new to the job. He'd learn his place in time, the man thought. 
     "But sir, the trajectory...."
     "I said it was a meteor. One breaking up. I will enter it in the
operations log, but other than that..."
     The officer knew that he was being told to shut up. "Yes, sir. Sorry
to disturb you, sir." 
    Nodding, the supervisor shot a nasty glare at the officer, then went
back to his desk. Whose brilliant idea was it to integrate the Space
Traffic System into the planet's defense grid? These civilian-grade
sensors gave so many false reports. Couple that with an inexperienced
operator fresh from training who thought he knew everything. The man
entered the report in the log, and listed the contact as "Meteor on
atmospheric entry." 

     "Commander," Omega called to Adama on the Galactica's Bridge.
"Shuttles have made the atmosphere. And it's time to shut down active
sensors." 
      "Thank you, Omega. Task Force ETA to target?" Adama replied. 
      "Still on time, Commander. On track for 0200 local time." 
     "Very well," Adama nodded. "Shut down active sensors until one
centon to target." 
     "Commander,"

     "Commander," Moray turned to Baltar. "Galactica has shut down active
sensors." 
    "The Risik could pick those up," Starbuck reminded Baltar. 
     Baltar nodded. "Any final contacts before we do the same?" 
     Moray looked at the screen. "There are none." 
     Baltar turned to Starbuck, who nodded. Then he said, "Right, Moray.
Close down active sensors, but have them in standby mode."
     "By your command." 

    "Sensors," Byrne called on the Constellation's bridge. "Go to passive
systems only." 
    "Aye, sir," the sensor officer called. 
    "ETA?"
    "Still on track, Captain," Mr. Agron replied. "No change, it's still
0200 local." 
    Byrne nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Agron."
    A call for him came over his headset. It was Dante in CIC. "Captain,
do we get our pilots to their ships?" 
    "Not yet, Mr. Dante. When the chrono reaches 0130 local." 
    "Understood, Captain."


     In ready rooms on both Galactica and Constellation, pilots were
anxious, but ready to go and fly their missions. In Blue Squadron's Ready
Room, Apollo was reminding his pilots. "Remember, we don't launch until
half a centar to target." He looked at the chrono. "Still more than an
centar and a half to go. So relax, read something,start a game of
Pyramid, or take a nap." As pilots did so, Apollo went over to his wife.
"What's with you, Sheba?" 
     "Just remembering the first time we went to Gamoray, after we got
there from Molecay. We didn't know what we would find, and hoped the
Delphians were still there. Instead..."
    "The Cylons had moved in," Apollo nodded. A sad but familiar story,
the native population had been exterminated by the Cylons. And so far as
anyone knew, the Delphians were an extinct race. 
     "And we had a fight," Sheba recalled. "We had no idea what we were
walking into." 
     Apollo remembered reading the after-action report. It had been a
near thing for the Pegasus and her crew."This time, though, we know we're
not walking into this blind," he pointed out. 
     Sheba grinned. "Remember what Captain Byrne said, the last time we
were in the Officer's Club?" 
     "'We'll rip these people up, with the finesse of a chain-saw
murderer.'" Apollo said. "Then he had to explain what that meant." 
     "It's still appropriate," Sheba said. "And these...people, they'll
get a lesson they'll always remember." 


    Assault One and Two were now over the Eastern Sea, having made entry
over the Eastern Continent that the Risik had so far not planted any
settlements on. They were coming in low, only fifty metrons over the
water, and the Risik air-defense and traffic-control scans were now below
the horizon. In Assault One, Castor was flying, while Phelps watched the
altitude, and the EWO was checking for any sign of hostile scans.  "Sky's
clear," the EWO reported. 
     "Roger that," Castor replied. Then the coastline started to appear
on the forward FLIR display. "Coastline ahead. Fifteen centons to LZ." 
     "Fifteen centons," Croft acknowledged. 
     It wasn't long before the mountains north of the camp appeared, and
the shuttles headed in. They slowed down, and made landfall. "LZ in five
centons, Mark," Phelps called. 
     "Still clear, the EWO reported. 
     "Five centons!" Croft yelled. "Get ready!" 
     Then the call came. "LZ in sight." 
     The two shuttles then flared, and slowly descended to the landing
zone. "Three, two, one.. and touchdown!" Castor called. 
     The hatches on both sides immediately hissed open. "Let's go!" Croft
yelled. And troopers piled out, and formed a defensive perimeter. They
scanned the area, both visually and with their portable scanners, and the
LZ was pronounced clear. 
     The team leaders reported ready, and Croft told Phelps, "You guys
know the drill; anyone who comes around, you stun them. And be ready for
the extraction signal." 
     "We'll be here, Major," Phelps replied. "Good luck." 
      "You too," Croft said. Then he looked around, and found Sergeant
Wagner with her three troopers close by. She was scanning the treeline
with her rifle. "Ready?" 
      She grinned, then said, "More than ready, Major." And Croft could
tell she had a very determined look in her eye. It was the look of
someone who had unfinished business with an old enemy. And he'd seen it
before. One of his counterparts, a decade before the Holocaust, spent a
lot of time on anti-piracy duty. One particular band of pirates had been
such a thorn in his friend's side that he made it a personal crusade to
eliminate that particular group. And the man did just that. "Let's go." 
     "All right, let's move out," Croft ordered. 

     On Galactica's Bridge, Omega called to Adama."Commander, it's now
local midnight. 2200 local." 
     "Status of the assault party?" Adama asked. 
     "They should be on their LZ by now.....and touchdown signal
received, sir." 
     "Thank you, Omega." Adama said. He turned to Tigh. "Two centars to
target." 
     "And their work just began," Tigh nodded. 


     Though he didn't take point, Croft was leading his Team from the
front. It was part of his leadership philosophy. You could only be a real
leader if you led.  Moving silently, the Colonial SF moved through what
Petty Officer Clemens had reported as a nature park and preserve, and the
Team encountered no one, save some small animals they didn't recognize.
It took just over centar to reach their target, using a well-defined and
marked trail, then crossing a stream using a footbridge, they came to the
edge of the treeline, the Team became the first free Humans to lay eyes
on the camp. It was exactly as Petty Officer Clemens had described, and
their reconnaissance imagery had confirmed. 
    Searchlights played the interior of the compound from the watch
towers, illuminating almost every metron of the compound. Guards went to
and fro on their rounds, and on the outside, the camp did look
escape-proof. But, knowing what they did thanks to Petty Officer Clemens'
information and the detailed imagery from the Adelaide's recon, the
raiding party knew exactly where to go, and how to get in. "Major, either
these people don't think anyone would dare raid this place, or it just
plain never occurred to them," Castor whispered. 
    "Looks that way," Croft said. "To them, this is the edge of the
universe to them. The back of beyond, and some of our own outposts were
like that. The same kind of complacency." He looked at Castor. "Okay,
then. Team leaders to me." 
    In a couple of centons, the other two Team Leaders, Stark of Team
Two, and Chaves of Team Four, came over to him. "Major," Stark said, and
Chaves nodded. 
    "Get your people into position," Croft ordered. "Chaves, get Four
into position along that road." 
    "On our way, Major," Chaves said. Then he was gone. 
    "Stark, Castor, you know where to go." 
    "Right, Major," Stark replied, heading off, and Castor nodded. 
    Sergeant Wagner had been scanning the compound with Croft's
multispectral binoculars. These were the cat's ass, and she knew guys
like SEALS or AF Combat Control Teams would kill to have these. "Major,
Castor. You're going to want to see this," she whispered. 
    "What is it?" Croft asked, sliding next to her. 
     "The punishment compound," she muttered. "There's two guards on the
gate." That meant there were prisoners in the isolation sheds, as Petty
Officer Clemens had indicated. 
      "A shift change?" 
      "Wrong time." 
    "No problem," Castor replied. He pulled out a sound suppressor and
attached it to his MP-5. 
    "There's one other thing: look at the interrogation shed." 
    "What?" Croft asked.
    Wagner handed Croft the binoculars. "Look at the shed. There's a
window, and there's a light coming from inside. Looks like that place is
open for business," She said with contempt dripping from her lips. 
    "Scarface must be having fun tonight," Croft observed with equal
contempt. Almost as if on cue, a scream came from the shed. "Make that a
definite." 
    'This'll be the last fun night he's ever having," Wagner replied. If
I have my way, his last night, period, she thought. 
    "Castor, get your people in position and set." 
    "On our way, Major." And the burly Lieutenant and his men went and
slipped silently into position. 

    Captain Byrne stalked the Constellation's bridge. The GQ bridge watch
noticed that their captain was clearly anxious to get on with it. They
knew the mission now, and realized that not just people from Earth were
in that camp, but likely, some of his own countrymen. If the position was
reversed, and there were Colonials held there, they knew they'd feel the
same way. But the Captain still appeared calm on the outside. "Sensors:
anything?" 
    "Just a single contact, Captain," the sensor officer replied. "A
small ship, about the size of one of our shuttles. It's headed from the
planet's surface to one of the two ships Commander Allen reported."
     "A shore leave party returning," Mr. Agron commented. 
     "Looks that way," Byrne nodded. "Any signs they're aware of us?" 
     "No, sir," Sensors replied. 
     "Very well," Byrne said. "Helm, steady as she goes." 
    "Helm steady, aye," replied the Helmsman. 

   
    On the BaseShip, Baltar, Moray, and Starbuck watched the tactical
display. The Task Force was closing on Ne'Chak with each passing centon,
and still, there was no hint of the Risik even knowing what was coming
their way. 
    "A solitary shuttle-sized target," Moray reported. The display
expanded to show the target and its course, with data scrolling down. "It
is heading to one of the ships berthed in high orbit." 
    "Nothing else?" Baltar asked. 
    "No other ships detected," Moray replied. 
    Nodding, Baltar and Starbuck checked the local time. It read 0120.
"Twenty-five centons to launch." Starbuck said. 
     "Helm, steady on," Baltar said. 
     "By your command," the Centurion at Helm responded. 


     "Twenty centons to fighter launch," Omega said to Commander Adama. 
     "Very well," Adama replied. "Anything besides that single shuttle?" 
     "No, Commander," Athena said. "No other traffic detected, and no
signs the ships in orbit have powered up." 
     "Keep monitoring them," Adama ordered. 
     Athena nodded. "Yes, Commander. We're now picking up Risik sensor
beams." 
    "Strength?" Colonel Tigh asked. 
     "Still too far away for them to get any kind of meaningful return,"
Athena replied. "We're likely indistinguishable from background noise." 
     "Omega, power up our own ECM," Adama said. "The centon we show up on
their screens, we make them blind and deaf." 
     "Commander," Omega replied. "Do we use our cloak?" 
     "Only as a last resort. It uses too much power otherwise." 
     The chrono clicked. It was now 0130 local time. "Commander," Tigh
said. "It's time to get our pilots to their ships." 
     "Do it, Colonel." 
     Nodding, Tigh turned to Omega. "Pilots to launch bay." 
    Omega hit the klaxon and said into his headset. "Pilots, man your
Vipers!" 

    "Let's go!" Apollo shouted in Blue Squadron's ready room as the call
came over the PA system.  And pilots grabbed their flight gear and raced
for their Vipers. Within three centons, all of the Battlestar's fighters
were ready to launch. 

    "It's time, Baltar," Starbuck said on the Base Ship. 
    "Quite so, Lieutenant," Baltar nodded. "Moray, pilots to their
ships." 
    "By your command," Moray said, then he relayed the order. 

     "Captain," Dante said from Constellation CIC. "It's time."
     "Very well, Mr. Dante," Byrne replied. He went to the PA and made
the call himself. "This is the Captain. All pilots, man your planes!
Repeat: All pilots, man your Vipers!" 


    Croft was checking his chrono. Switching from Galactica time to
local, it showed now 0143. "Two centons," he said. "Stark?" 
    "Two's in position and ready." 
    "Castor?" 
    "Three's ready," came the reply. 
    "Chaves?" 
    "Four, ready." 
     The commando major nodded. Then he called his two sharpshooters.
"Varro?" 
     "Ready here, Major." 
      "Good," Croft replied. "Keller?" 
      "Ready to engage," said Keller. 
      "Keller, Varro? Engage targets at your discretion," Croft said. "On
my mark." 
      Both sharpshooters acknowledged, took the safeties off their
rifles, and lined up their first targets. 
     "Stand by..." Croft said. "Stand by....and...MARK!" 

    Omega turned to Commander Adama. "Commander, it's now 0145 local.
Time for fighter launch."
    "And time for the assault team to go to work," Tigh finished. 
    "The Lords be with us all," Adama said. Now, there was truly, no
going back. They were committed. He turned to Tigh. "Launch Blue
Squadron. That's the signal for Baltar to launch Squadron One." 
     "Commander," Tigh nodded. He relayed the order, and Vipers shot down
their launch tubes, and Raiders flew out of the Base Ship's launch bay.
The two squadrons formed up, and followed the same course the assault
shuttles had flown, only they were now fifteen centons from their
targets.  "It's still strange, though." 
    "Tigh?
    "Seeing Vipers and Raiders launch, and not engage each other."
    "It is that," Adama agreed. 

    "On target, northeast tower," Keller said. He zeroed in on the tower
guard's chest. Then he squeezed the trigger twice. Two silent shots, and
the guard dropped to the floor of the tower, dead before he hit the
floor. "Northeast tower down." 
    "North central tower," Varro called. Again, two silent shots later,
and that guard's shift was over, permanently. "Target down. Going to
Northwest." Varro lined up the guard in the Northwest tower, and shot him
twice, once in the chest, then one in the head. "Northwest tower clear." 
     "Let's go," Croft said into his headset, and Teams One, Two, and
Three, slipped towards the wire. Keller went with One, and Varro with
Two. The Teams got to their entry points, and began using hand-held laser
cutters to cut the fence. They got the first fence cut, then slipped into
the guards' walkway between the fences. 
     Sergeant Wagner had slipped her assault rifle over her right
shoulder, drawn her Mark-23 pistol, and attached a sound suppressor. She
was covering Team One's entry when a roving guard came towards them. "Oh,
frak!" she whispered, and before he could sound the alarm, or even draw a
weapon, she shot the guard twice in the chest. He dropped to his knees,
and a third shot to the head finished him off. "That was close." 
    "Too close," Croft said. He scanned the area with his MP-5 at the
ready. "Clear." 
     "Southeast tower," Keller called. He lined up the shot, and the
guard in that tower dropped to the floor of the tower, dead. "Tower
clear." 
     "Copy that," Croft said. "Sergeant, get to Barracks Four. I'll head
for the Kitchen." 
     "On the way," Wagner said, motioning for her three men to follow.


    The Vipers and Raiders, with Blue Squadron out front to perform their
SEAD mission, headed for Ne'Chak. So far, so good. "Apollo,' Sheba
called. "Atmosphere in five centons." Then it was a low-level, high-speed
run in to the target. 
    "Copy," Apollo replied. "Any sign of defense activity?" 
     "Not a one, Skipper," Jolly said. 
    "Same here," Hunley called. "Scanner bands clear." 
    "Let's go in," Apollo said. And both Vipers and Raiders followed the
shuttles' course into the planet's atmosphere.

    Wagner and her men slipped through the darkness of the compound,
knowing that there were still roving guards, and the searchlight from the
South Center tower that might catch them. They slipped to a small shed,
and got into position next to the barracks. "What's this shed for?" Alic
asked. 
    "Guess," Wagner hissed. "The wires going from the shed to the
barracks should tell you." 
     "Laundry, Ma'am?" Tellus whispered, clearly surprised. Hanging out
the washing seemed so...primitive. 
     "That's it," Wagner replied. Then they slipped around the shed, and
got in position. Right on the north side, there was a doorway, with a
guard sitting in a chair underneath an outdoor light. And the guard
appeared to be asleep. 
      "Asleep on duty?" Dorado whispered. "Disgraceful." 
     "He won't be on report tomorrow," Wagner said. "Tellus, take him." 
     Tellus nodded, but as he raised his MP-5, the guard got up, opened
the door, and went inside. 
     "Damn it. All right: let's go," Wagner ordered, and the four slipped
to the still-open door, and went inside. 

     Warrant Officer Anna Popova got up to check on Marta, Marta's baby,
and Ron. She'd been doing this every night since Ron had gone on the sick
list, and doubly so since Marta had had the baby. The only human medic in
the camp, she did her best to treat her comrades (an old term used out of
habit, since she still considered herself a member of the Soviet
military-she being a nurse in the Soviet Air Force), and bargain with the
prison doctor for such supplies that could be had. She went into the
small ward, and found Ron sound asleep, and resting comfortably, while
Marta was up, feeding her six-day old baby. Then the door to the clinic
opened, and the guard came in. He had a look around, gave a disinterested
sneer, and went out. Just as she saw him leave, she heard two nearly
silent puff sounds, one right after the other, and the guard dropped to
his knees, and then came a third puff, and the guard's head exploded. 
    Anna got up, then she saw a woman, a Human one, wearing some kind of
camouflage uniform, and holding a pistol with a silencer in both hands.
They made eye contact, and the woman lowered her weapon. On the front of
the uniform, to her shock, was the name WAGNER on the right, and on the
left, it said, "U.S. Air Force."  Then three men came in, wearing the
same uniform, and she motioned to them with hand signals. They nodded,
and headed into the theater and the nursery. Then, to Anna's surprise,
the woman motioned to her right shoulder. There, on the shoulder, was an
American flag. 
    "Slava bogu!" Anna said, clearly surprised. "How'd you get here? The
guards..."
     Wagner knew who this was. Jessica's friend Anna. "The guards are
waiting to see Saint Peter. If he'll receive them. What's your name?" 
    "Anna. Anna Popova," the woman replied, still surprised at what she
was seeing. "Warrant Officer, Soviet Air Force." 
    "Staff Sergeant Lauren Wagner, United States Air Force-" 
    "Amerikansky? Bozhe Moi! How?" 
    "It's a long story, but everything's going to be explained. "
    Tellus and Dorado came back. "Building clear, Ma'am." 
    "Alic, you help Anna here," Wagner said as Alic came in. "This all of
you?" 
    "Da, I mean, yes," Anna said. "Just me, Ron, as well as Marta and her
baby." 
    "Okay," Wagner replied. "Get everyone down on the floor, away from
the windows: there's going to be some shooting in a few minutes," she
told Anna. 
    Alic went in to help Ron, while Anna asked, "What's going on?" 
    "You're going home." 
     Anna was shocked at first, then she said, "Home?" 
    "Everyone here. Except the guards: they're going to hell," Wagner
said. She spoke into her headset. "Wagner for Croft." 
    "Go ahead, Sergeant," Croft replied. 
    "Barracks Four secured. Moving to Three. Alic has a casualty point in
the clinic if necessary." 
    "Roger that," Croft replied. "Hitting the kitchen now, there's a
guard there." 
    "Copy. We're moving now." Wagner nodded to Tellus and Dorado. "You
two: with me, now." 
   They nodded and went to the front door. As Wagner turned to leave,
Anna asked. "We're really going home?" 
    "You, me, and everyone here," Wagner said. "Keep your heads down."
And she went to join her men, and they slipped to Barracks Three. 

    Croft and two troopers crept around the Kitchen. Sure enough, as both
Captain Byrne and Wagner had predicted, there was a guard there, and bars
on the windows. Croft made a slight whistle, not a loud one, but one that
would attract attention. The guard left his post, and curious, walked
alongside the building. As he came around the rear, the last thing he saw
was a shadowy figure waving something. 
    "That's that," Croft said, picking up his shovel from the guard's
skull. 

     At the same time, Castor and his men snuck up on the punishment
area. The plasma cutters went to work, and they quickly sliced through
the fencing, and Team Three was soon in the punishment compound. There
were eight sheds, exactly as Clemens had reported, and Castor turned to a
trooper who had a portable scanner with him. "Which of these are
occupied?"
    "The one closest to the fence, and the one closest to the gate," the
trooper replied. 
    Nodding, Castor motioned for his men to take cover behind the sheds,
while he picked up a small stone and threw it at a shed that was
unoccupied. 
    The two guards heard that, and they opened the gate and came in,
wondering what that was all about. Sometimes, prisoners tried sneaking
into the compound to bring food to those being disciplined. The two
guards checked on the nearest cell, then, as they moved further into the
compound, they never expected to see the sight that came up from behind
three of the cells; shadowy figures, clearly not Ke'zar, but pointing
weapons at them. They never had a chance to use their rifles, for Castor
and three of his men shot them with silenced MP-5s, and both of them were
dead before they hit the ground. 
     Castor then had his troopers open the two occupied cells, and the
occupants crawled or staggered out. Castor helped them get down, and for
the first time, he was glad that Lauren had given him and several other
Team Three troopers English lessons. Though they weren't fluent, it was
enough for now. "Who are you?" one of the captives asked. 
    "Safe, with friends," Castor replied. "We're getting you out of
here." 
    "My God..." the other said. "How..." 
     "We explain later," Castor whispered. "Marcus." 
    Team Three's Medtech slipped over. "Here, Lieutenant." 
    "Marcus a medtech. He'll check you over," Castor said. "You okay?"
The man looked like his entire body was a wound. 
    "We've been here a few days....the beatings, torture..." the second
man said. "I hurt all over." 
    Marcus nodded as he used a small medical scanner. "They've both got
broken ribs, Lieutenant." 
    Castor nodded as the rest of the Team came into the compound. He
pointed to two troopers. "You two, stay here with Marcus. The rest of
you, with me." Castor then made sure his MP-5 was set to burst mode, and
asked one of the prisoners, "How many in the interrogation shed?" 
    "Two, a man and a woman," the prisoner replied, wincing in pain as
Marcus checked him over. "Please...who are you?" 
    "Friends. We'll get them," Castor promised. 
    "I don't know who you are, but if you find an alien there, with a
scar on his face? Kill him." The prisoner said.
    "We'll try," Castor said. Then he called Croft. "Punishment compound
secured." 
    "Copy, Three," Croft said. "Continue mission." 

     At the same time as Castor's men hit the punishment area, Stark and
Team Two were slipping into the admin area, to hit the HQ and
Commandant's Quarters, the Officer's Quarters, VIP Cottage, and the
Guards' Barracks. While that may have seemed a tall order at first, the
amount of extra firepower with the alien rockets and grenade launchers
gave Stark enough confidence in his mission that he turned down an offer
of extra troopers from Team Four. Varro came with Team Two, and he lined
up the Southwest Tower. That guard started to play his searchlight
around, but never got the chance to get anyone in his light beam, for
Varro put two shots into his chest, relieving him of duty permanently.   
  
     "Southwest Tower clear," Varro called. 
    "Roger that," Stark said. He then sent his men off to their assigned
targets. He, along with three troopers, would take the HQ building and
the Commandant's Quarters. Stark managed to peer inside a window, and saw
an Risik Officer, though not the Commandant, and another one, probably
the duty NCO, working at their desks. Stark shook his head slightly; some
things were universal, so it seemed.  He nodded, and turned to the
trooper behind him. "Give them a flash-bang on my call." 
    The trooper grinned, and pulled one out. "Ready when you are,
Lieutenant." 
    Stark nodded, and the other assault leaders checked in. All were
ready. "Stark for Croft."
    "Go ahead," came the reply. 
    'Team Two in position." 
    "Copy. Six centons to showtime." 
    
    Wagner and her men slipped to Barracks Three. Careful to stay away
from the still-active South Center tower, they got into position near the
door. This guard was clearly asleep, siting in a chair and unresponsive
to the world around him. "Tellus," Wagner nodded. "Take him." 
    Tellus nodded, raised his MP-5, and sent three silenced rounds into
the man's chest. He fell out of the chair, and when the trio got to the
door, he was still alive, blood coming out of his nose and mouth. 
    Wagner gestured to Tellus, who finished him off with a shot to the
head. "He won't bother anyone again," Tellus whispered. 
    "What about the door?" Dorado asked. 
    "We don't have time," Wagner said. She shot the lock off with a shot
from her pistol, and she pulled the door open. 
     They slipped inside, and found that the barracks had been divided
into several rooms. Since the Risik were clearly anxious to see how Human
families developed, they had allowed the couples to have their own rooms.
There was light coming from the first one on the right, and that was the
one Wagner went to. 
     Inside, Michael Forrest, an Australian from Darwin, and Catherine
Seymour, a New Zealander from Blenheim, were busy with the ritual known
as the Two O'clock feeding. Their baby was just over a year old, Earth
time, and Catherine was pregnant again, with the baby due any day now.
They were also teaching Fredrik Marrten, whose partner Marta had had
their first child six days earlier, the joys of  having a baby, no matter
the circumstances. "So, do you want another boy, or a girl this time?"
Fredrik asked. 
    "If we were back home, a girl. But here....a boy would be better."
Catherine said. "They can't make him have a kid." 
     "What'd you name the boy?" Michael asked. 
     "Jordan," Fredrik said, after Marta's father. 
    Then they heard footsteps, several of them. One of them cursed softly
at the intrusion, then the curtain opened, and there was a woman, in a
fatigue cap and a camouflage uniform, and Fredrik clearly saw an American
flag on her right shoulder. She put her forefinger to her mouth, and
nodded to two men with her, in a similar uniform. They slipped down the
hall. "How many here?" the woman asked. Everyone was dumbstruck, for the
woman repeated her question. 
    "Who the bloody 'ell are you?" Michael replied. 
    "Staff Sergeant Lauren Wagner, United States Air Force." 
    Catherine stood up. "What....uh, I...but, how?" And the others were
equally incredulous. 
   "It's a long story, and complicated. I'll explain it all, best I can,"
Wagner said. "Long story short: you're all going home." 
    "Home!??" All three said nearly simultaneously.
    "Home," Wagner said. Then the Tellus and Dorado came back. "All
clear, Ma'am." 
    "Okay, you can help by waking the others up. Quietly. Get them to the
front of the building, and stay away from the windows. And keep down on
the floor, because there's going to be a lot of shooting in a few
minutes," Wagner said. "Any of you handle a weapon?' 
     "I can, Sergeant," Michael said. "Ex-Australian Army. Four years."  
 
     Wagner nodded, then turned to Dorado. "Get the guard's weapon. He
doesn't need it anymore." 
    Dorado went out the door, careful to avoid being seen, and came back
with the alien rifle. 
    She took it, and handed it to Michael. "You know how to use this?" 
     He grinned. "Easy enough to figure out, Sergeant." He indicated the
safety, and semi- and full automatic on the selector switch. 
    "Fair enough," Wagner nodded. "Wagner for Croft," she said into her
headset. 
    "Go, Sergeant," Croft replied. 
    "Barracks Three secured. Need two troopers to help with the kids." 
    "On the way, Sergeant," Croft said. "Get to Two, and I'll see you at
One." 
     "Roger that, Major," replied Wagner. Just then, the two troopers
came into the building. "Okay, you two?" She said to the troopers. "Keep
these people safe. Understood?" 
     "Yes, ma'am." one of them replied. 
     Just then, Fredrik came back with the other families. "What's going
on?" One woman asked. 
     Wagner looked at her. Sounded like a Southern accent-Georgia,
perhaps. "You're going home."
     "What..." then she saw Wagner's uniform insignia and the flag patch.
"How?" 
     "How's a space ship sound?" 
     "What?" 
      "I'll explain later. Just stay down, away from the windows, and
watch your kids. Because all hell's about to break loose in a few
minutes." Wagner said. "Dorado, Tellus? With me." And the trio left Three
and headed over to Two. 
  
     On the Galactica's Bridge, Adama and Tigh watched the chrono count
down. "Five centons to target," Tigh said. 
     "And we launch the second wave of fighters," Adama nodded. "Omega,"
he said. "Weapons status?" 
     "All weapons primed and ready," Commander," the Bridge Officer
replied. 
    "Athena, any contacts?" 
     His daughter checked the passive scanners again. "No contacts,
Commander. Lords, I can't believe they're still asleep. Incredible." 
    "They'll get a wake-up call, as Captain Byrne likes to say, in four
centons," Adama said. "Any sign of Risik scanner activity?" 
    "None, Commander," Omega said, after checking his board. 
    "Commander, that means-" Tigh began. 
    "Surprise will be total," Adama finished. 


    Wagner, Tellus, and Dorado slipped over to Barracks Two, and found
that guard fully awake. She and Dorado raised their weapons, and just as
they were about to fire, the guard's head exploded. 
    "Barracks Two guard down," they heard Keller's voice in their
headsets. 
    "Thanks, Keller," Wagner said. She led her two men to the door. 
    "Key, ma'am?" Tellus asked. 
     "No time," she replied. Again, she shot the lock, and after opening
the door, she pulled out her crime-scene flashlight. Putting it in her
left hand, she had her pistol in her right, and still braced it with her
left, just like she'd been taught so long ago in AF Combat Security
Police training. Then she led her men inside. 
    Inside, the lights were out. She panned her light around, and saw the
two rows of bunks. For a moment, it reminded her of boot camp, without
the stench, but those had been double bunks, and there sure weren't bars
on the windows, like there were here. As she panned the flashlight, she
caught two women moving in bunks to her right, and one seemed to be
awake. Wagner went over, and found another one awake as well. 
    "Who are you?" One of the women asked with a mixture of wariness and
fear. 
     "Staff Sergeant Lauren Wagner, United States Air Force," she
replied, illuminating her flag patch with her flashlight, and her nametag
and insignia. 
    "How... what, I mean, but..." the other said. "I'm dreaming." 
    "No dream, ladies. It's a long story, but bottom line? We're taking
you home," Lauren said. "What's your name?" 
    "Denise. Denise Hayden," the woman said. 
    Jessica's friend, Lauren remembered. "And you are?" she indicated to
the other woman. 
   "Amy Sanderson. First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps." 
    Whoa... Lauren thought. "Ma'am, hope you don't mind my not saluting."

    "Right now, Sergeant, you're the one giving orders," Sanderson
replied. "What do you want us to do?" 
    "Get under cover, best you can. Stay away from the windows, and stay
down." Wagner said. 
    "Denise, wake everybody up," Sanderson said. "Do it fast, but quiet."

     Wagner nodded, then looked at the Marine Lieutenant. "Ma'am, you up
to handling a weapon?" 
     Sanderson grinned, then nodded. "Got one handy?"
     Wagner nodded, then turned to Tellus. "Get the guard's rifle. He
doesn't need it." Then she got on her headset. "Wagner for Croft." 
    "Go, Sergeant," Croft said. "Sitrep." 
    "Barracks Two secured." 
    "Roger that," Croft replied. "I'll send two troopers there. That
leaves me with eight." 
    "We're on our way, Major," Wagner replied. "See you at One." 
    "Copy."    
    Then, nearly two dozen women slipped up to where Lauren was with
Lieutenant Sanderson. "What's going on?" Several people asked. 
    "I don't have much time," Lauren said. "But you're all going home.
Earth; the USA, Canada, Australia, England, Germany, Russia, wherever
you're from, you're starting that trip home tonight." 
    "But...How? Uh..." Several voices said at once. 
    "Long story, and it's complicated. But everyone here is going home,"
Wagner told them. "Lieutenant?" She asked Sanderson. "Get everyone down.
Stay low, and stay away from the windows." 
    Sanderson knew what Wagner meant. "Girls, get the mattresses off the
bunks, no lights, and stay down."   
     Just then, Tellus came in with the late guard's weapon, and the two
other troopers were right behind him. "Who are these guys?" Denise asked.

    "Friends," Lauren said. "Ma'am," she told Sanderson, "I still got
some work to do, but I'll be back. And one other thing." 
    Sanderson looked at her as Tellus handed her the alien rifle. "What?"

    Lauren had a grim expression on her face as she reloaded her pistol..
"Scarface dies tonight if I have anything to say about it." Then she
turned to her two men. "Tellus, Dorado, let's go." 
    "How'd she know about Scarface?" Denise asked. 

    "Two Centons to target," Omega called on Galactica's Bridge. 
    Adama nodded. "Get me Baltar, and Captain Byrne." 
    "Right away, Commander." He worked his keyboard, then the two men's
faces appeared on monitors. "I have both of them on the line, sir." 
    "It's time, Gentlemen," Adama said. "We may be a centon early, but
it's time to get this going." 
     "That it is, Adama," Baltar replied. "Squadrons Two and Three are
ready to launch." 
     "Constellation's ready, Commander." 
     Adama nodded again. "Colonel, it's time. Launch Red and Silver Spar
Squadrons." 
    "Right away, Commander." 
     "And may the Lords be with us all," said Adama. "Good luck,
Gentlemen." 

    Two squadrons of Vipers flew down their launch tubes, while two
squadrons of Raiders flew out of the Base Ship's upper launch bays. The
respective squadrons formed up, and headed for their targets in space. 

    "Omega, positive shield, now." Adama ordered. 
    "Commander," Omega said, and the blast shield came down over the
Bridge viewport. 

    At the camp, Castor and his men slipped up to the Interrogation Shed.
He peered through a window, and what he saw appalled him. He laid eyes on
a man shackled to a chair, his whole body covered with bruises, and a
woman, who was quite nude, hanging by her arms from a rope in a pulley.
She, too, was covered in bruises and welts, and an alien, who matched the
description of Scarface, had an electrical prod, and was shouting at the
man. "What were the two of you doing outside the barracks? 
    "I...I. I told you...we were visiting friends," the man replied,
spitting up some blood. 
    The alien gave him a shock with the prod. "I did not hear your
answer." 
     'We...we were visiting friends, sir," came the response, again, some
blood trickling from his lips. 
   "That's better." He looked up as the woman whimpered in pain. "I would
remind you that her suffering would end, and so would yours," the alien
went on, "if you would tell the truth." 
     "It is," the woman screamed, and she got a jolt with the prod for
her trouble, and she let out a scream.
     "Perhaps I shall speak with those you may know," the alien said, his
voice smooth as ice, "and if they verify what the two of you have been
saying, you will be lucky to get ten days in the cells,." He glared at
the man, while smashing his fist into the man's belly.
     Castor scowled, then turned to a trooper. "Put two flash-bangs in
that room when I give the word." 
    The trooper pulled out the two grenades. "Ready, Lieutenant." 
    Castor and five troopers went to the door. "Ready?" The troopers
nodded. "Castor for Croft. "Three's ready."

    "One centon to target," Apollo called from his Viper. The coastline
was dead ahead.  "Stand by to break." 
    "Ready," Sheba replied. 

    "All crews, stand by to attack," Orion told his squadron. 

    Wagner and her two men met up with Croft. "Major," she nodded. 
    "Stand by, Castor," Croft said. "Ready, Sergeant?" 
    She nodded again, and gripped her pistol. "Let's do it, Major."
    From his perch, Keller noticed the guard at the gate turning. "Oh
frak!" He called into his headset, then shot the guard twice in the
chest. "Guard at the gate is down." 
    As they approached the door of Barracks One, Croft saw the guard
there beginning to stir. "No time for subtlety. Take him." He said,
raising his MP-5
    Wagner didn't reply, but shot the guard twice in the chest with her
pistol, while Croft put three rounds into his head. They approached the
body, only to find something similar to a PDA, and it was beeping.
"Major, I think that's some kind of alarm." 
    "Let's do it quick," he said, shooting the lock off the door with his
submachine gun, then he kicked it down. 
    Inside, several of the prisoners had awakened when Croft kicked the
door down. They saw a man and a woman lead several other men, all in
camouflage uniforms, and with weapons at the ready. Then the woman spoke.
"Fellows, get down. Get under whatever cover you can, because things are
about to get hot." 
   "What's going on? Who are you?" A man with a British accent, Lauren
thought, asked. 
    "Staff Sergeant Lauren Wagner, United States Air Force," she replied.
"We're here to get you out. What's your name?" 
    "Huh...what....I...Ian Ashby, Captain, British Army." 
    "Well, sir, hope you don't mind my not saluting, but the fireworks
are just about to start. Get under cover. Stay down, away from the
windows," Wagner replied, holstering her pistol and unslinging her rifle.

     "You heard the lady," Ashby said. "Take cover."  
    As the prisoners got under what cover they could, Croft checked the
chrono as it hit 0200 local. "It's time. Stark? Castor? Take them down." 
 
     In the command bunker, most of the sensor operators were still
bored, waiting for yet another uneventful shift to end. The eager young
officer, though, was still at his screen, watching. Nothing had happened
since that contact his supervisor wrote off as a meteor breaking up, but
he was still....curious. What was it? Then he saw them. He adjusted the
wavelength, and his heart stopped. The three largest ships he'd ever seen
in his life were coming around from the day side of the planet, and then
his scope registered a large number of small contacts, either fighters or
strike craft, probably both, coming their way, and at incredible speed.
His heart froze, then he shouted for his supervisor. 
    "If this is another meteor-" the man said, then he, too froze as he
looked at the screen. "By all the gods..." 
     "Sir, they're not Ke'zar," the officer said. "If they're not..."
    "Te'reans. It has to be." The supervisor replied, turning pale. He
reached for the alarm, before he could hit the switch, the mystery ships
opened fire. 

     "Break!" Apollo shouted into the com, and Blue Squadron's Vipers
pulled up and raced for their targets. "And....firing!" Two anti-scanner
homing missiles came off his Viper's ordnance racks, and headed for their
targets. Other Vipers launched their missiles, and they found their
targets, the gun and missile batteries defending the city and the
spaceport, taking out their fire-control scanner systems. Then the Vipers
came in for their strafing runs, and they made as many passes as
necessary to destroy the gun mounts and missile launchers themselves.
Then the way was clear for Orion's squadron to come in. 
     "All ships, attack pattern epsilon," Orion ordered, and his Raiders
split into two forces. He led the first one, coming in onto the
spaceport, and strafing the Risik's atmospheric fighters, two dozen of
them. Cylon laser blasts tore into the fighters, blowing them apart
before their pilots could even start engines. The Raiders pulled out of
their runs, and went in on their second passes, hitting the fuel and
munitions storage, both of which exploded with huge fireballs, and
strafing the maintenance hangars, shearing the control tower in half, 
and tearing apart the runways themselves. Along with a couple of small
ships that appeared to be either patrol craft or scout ships that had
just landed. 
     At the same time, the other half of the squadron came in against the
shipyard. While Blue Squadron provided cover, and occasionally went in to
strafe when Risik gunners appeared to be getting gun mounts into action,
the Raiders went after the shipyard. The alien ships under construction
never had a chance, for with no defenses, the attack went in with
clinical precision, as only Cylons could do. The construction bays,
workshops, warehouses, and the ships under construction were all hit, and
systematically taken apart. If it took two or three passes to destroy a
target, that was what it took, but when Orion's squadron pulled away from
their targets to assume their cover mission, they left only burning
rubble and the wreckage of ships and fighters in their wake. 
 
    "Moray, take us into the gravity well," Baltar ordered on the Base
Ship. Ventral gun batteries target the military garrison and the
Electronic-warfare facility." 
     "By your command," Moray replied. The orders were relayed, and the
huge Cylon warship dropped into the upper levels of Ne'chak's atmosphere.
"Targets acquired. Request permission to engage surface targets." 
     "Permission granted, Moray," said Baltar. "Batteries released. Just
don't hit any Vipers or Raiders." 
      Moray relayed the order, and immediately afterward, blue streaks of
heavy turbolaser fire began falling on the military garrison and the
electronic-warfare facility, striking barracks, motor pools, vehicle
parks, and the antennae farm at the EW facility, turning them all into
smoking ruins. 

    Stark acknowledged the order, and yelled into his headset. "Team Two?
NOW!" 
    One trooper tossed a flash-bang into the HQ office, and as it went
off, the two Risik were screaming as they were blinded by the grenade
going off, and there was a loud ringing in their ears. 
    Stark and another trooper literally kicked the door down, and as they
went in, they found the two Risik still screaming, and their hands over
their eyes. The officer staggered towards Stark, who shot him in the
chest and head, while the NCO was shot dead by the trooper. Two more
troopers then came in. 
    "You two cover," Stark ordered, and the two troopers covered Stark
and his trooper as they cleared the rest of the building, clearing the
Commandant's office and his quarters. Much to their surprise, they found
no one in the suite. 
     "Clear," one of the troopers said. 
     "Right, then," Stark replied. "Grab anything and everything not
bolted down. Anything of intelligence value; even the contents of the
wastebasket." 
    The troopers nodded, pulled out their large plastic sacks, then they
got to work. 
  
    At the same time, the rest of Team Two went into action. Several
troopers fired their "acquired" Risik rockets into the two guard
barracks, blasting holes in the walls, while those with the similarly
found grenade launchers shot grenades into both buildings after the
rockets had done their work. Once the last grenades went off, troopers
closed in on the shattered buildings. In both barracks buildings, they
found several guards staggering out, clutching weapons and  wondering
what had happened, only to be gunned down by Stark's men in a hail of
small-arms and laser fire. . 
   The same time the barracks were hit, four troopers went for the VIP
Cottage. The door was kicked down, a flash-bang went in, and the troopers
followed suit. They found a bodyguard type standing in front of a chair,
and still blinded by the grenade effects. He groped for a weapon, and one
of the troopers shot him down. The troopers then went into the bedroom,
and they had a surprise. In bed was a Risik woman, and she gathered the
blankets around her body. The corporal leading the party pulled out a
Languatron, and he asked her if there was anyone else. She got up, and
pointed under the bed. Two troopers looked down, and they pulled a Risik
male, wearing only his shorts, out from under the bed. The corporal asked
him, "Who are you?" 
    "I am the Governor of this colony, and I protest this, this...act of
piracy!" The man shouted. "Who are you?" 
     The corporal nodded to a trooper, who wrenched the man's hands
behind his back, and cuffed him. "Where we're going, you'll be the one
answering questions, not asking them." 
    "What about her?" One of the troopers asked. 
    "How about you?" the Corporal asked. "What's your story?" 
     The woman was clearly frightened, but she said, "I may have to
explain things..."
    "Okay, you're coming with us," said the Corporal. "Get dressed." 
     
    Castor yelled to the trooper at the window. "NOW!" 
   The trooper threw two flash-bangs into the interrogation shed, then
dropped down beneath the window. 
   As the grenades landed, the Risik who was interrogating the two
prisoners wondered what these were. He'd never seen flash-bangs before.
He looked at the man in the chair, who laughed. Then he closed his eyes
and opened his mouth....
    BANG! The two grenades went off with a loud bang, and a blinding
flash. Castor and another trooper kicked down the door, and they charged
in. 
    Castor saw the alien, who he recognized as Scarface, and shot the man
in the leg and upper abdomen, and as he fell, in the shoulder as well.
Castor then turned, and shot a guard through the head. 
   The trooper coming behind him saw another guard stagger away, still
blinded by the grenades, and that trooper shot the guard in the head
also, killing him instantly. 
   Another trooper came in behind Castor, and that trooper killed the
third guard, shooting him first in the chest, and then in the head for
good measure to finish him off. 
    "WE CLEAR?" Castor yelled. 
    "CLEAR!" two troopers shouted almost simultaneously. 
    Castor nodded, then said to a trooper, "Check those bodies. See if
any of them have the keys to the cuffs." He pointed to the woman still
hanging by her arms. "And get her down. See if you can't find their
clothes." He and a trooper gave the two prisoners their canteens, and the
two drank greedily.  Only then did he get on the line for Croft. "Castor
for Croft." 
    "Go ahead," Croft replied. 
    "Interrogation shed secured. We have Scarface wounded but alive. Two
prisoners in the shed, two others in the punishment area." 
    "Copy that," Croft said. "Get them to the clinic, right away." 
    "On our way, Major." 

    The Galactica passed into the night side of the planet, and found the
orbital station that was the Risik Fleet Sector HQ. "Commander, HQ
Station in range," Omega reported. 
    "Status?" 
    "Fully operational. They're scanning us, Commander," Athena reported.
"And they're hailing us." 

     "By all the gods!" Shouted the Station Commander. The largest ship
he'd ever seen in his life was closing in. First on the sensors, then it
came into visual range. "Who are they?" 
     "No known configuration. Not Ke'zar, definitely," one officer
replied.
     "Hail them, and full defensive posture." 
  
     Adama decided to play it by the book. "This is Commander Adama
of..."
    "Commander," Omega reported, "They're firing on us. Scanners read
some type of nuclear-armed missiles being launched. 
     So much for diplomacy, Adama thought. "Weapons-free," Adama said.
"Fire at will." 
    Almost immediately, the battlestar's forward weapons emplacements
opened fire, and her anti-fighter batteries destroyed the incoming
missiles with ease, then red streaks of heavy turbolaser fire tore into
the station. The duty watch on the station barely had time to react as
they saw the battlestar approach, then the station came apart around them 
and blew in half. One part drifted away, then exploded, while the other,
trailing debris and bodies, plunged towards the planetary atmosphere and
a fiery end. 
   "Station destroyed, Commander," reported Omega. 
   "Status of the ships in their Fleet anchorage?" 
   "Both Red Squadron and Squadron Two are engaging." 

    Boomer called his squadron over the com. "Red Squadron, let's go!"
And he led his Vipers, with the Raiders of Squadron Two right behind
them, into the Risik Fleet Anchorage. The Vipers and Raiders tore into
the ships in the main anchorage, with the Vipers taking those closer to
the planet, while the Raiders struck those in a higher orbit. The five
Exploratory Cruisers and two Patrol Cruisers were taken by surprise, as
their duty watches' first hint that they were under attack was the sight
of the orbital station blowing up, then the swarms of Vipers and Raiders
coming in, weapons blazing. None of them had a real chance, for the
attacking fighters swarmed them, concentrating first on their maneuver
drives to disable them, before the fighters came around to finish the
crippled ships off. Hardly a weapon fired back, and the only Viper
damaged was one that was too close to an exploding ship, and that pilot
managed to limp back to the Galactica, with one engine and life support
out. The Cylons suffered no losses, but one Raider did take a hit from
one of the few shipboard guns that managed to fire back. That Raider was
able to return to the Base Ship on one engine. But two Risik ships
managed to power up and get underway...

    "Admiral, we're under attack!" The speaker in Admiral Beshik's Flag
Cabin blared. 
    The Admiral leapt out of bed. "If this is some kind of..." he growled
into his com set, then the ship shuddered as it took hits. "Sound Action
Stations! Power up the maneuver drive, and emergency power to weapons!
I'll be on the Bridge immediately." Before the watch officer could
acknowledge, Admiral Beshik hurriedly threw on his uniform, then he raced
for the Bridge as the General Alarm sounded. 
   "Status!" Beshik shouted as his ship, whose name, if translated, would
be Broadsword, shuddered with additional hits. 
    "Maneuver drive at fifty percent. Weapons power at twenty-five
percent and growing." The Watch Officer replied as the Flag Captain came
onto the Bridge. "We're taking damage from enemy fighters."
     "Whose?" 
     "Unknown, Admiral. They do not match any known configuration." 
    "Signal Battleaxe to follow us. Best speed!" Beshik shouted. 
    The bridge crew acknowledged, as the ship slowly got under way, with
her sister ship following. 

   "Galactica, this is Red Leader," Boomer called. 
   "Go ahead, Red Leader," Omega replied. 
   "Two of the big ships have gotten underway. They're headed for you,"
Boomer reported. 
    "Understood," Omega said. "Commander? Boomer's reporting in. Two of
the Risik cruisers are underway."
     "Confirmed," Athena called out. "Two Patrol Cruisers, and they're
gaining speed." 
     "Are we on their scopes yet?" Adama asked.
    "Not yet, Commander." 
    "Omega, full ECM, now," Adama ordered. "Then target those ships. As
soon as there's a firing solution,  take them out." 
    "Commander," Omega said. 

    "We're being jammed," Beshik's sensor officer reported. "Active
sensors are completely out, and passive sensors can barely function." 
    "Close with the planet," Beshik ordered. "And get the emergency buoy
ready." 
    "Admiral?" His Flag Captain replied. 
    "Load the sensor logs, and add this: Ne'Chak under attack by forces
unknown." 
    "Admiral! We have a visual on an enemy ship," The sensor officer
said. 
    "On screen." 
    The bridge viewscreen came to life, and the Bridge crew saw the
largest ship they had ever seen, a monster of a warship, with two
outrigger pylons, purpose unknown, closing in on them. "Who are they?"
Asked the Flag Captain.
    "Not Ke'zar," the sensor officer replied. "No known configuration." 
    "Te'reans," Beshik growled. "It has to be." He turned to the Flag
Captain. "Identify the attackers as Te'rean. NOW!" 
     "Yes, Admiral." The Flag Captain loaded the ship's sensor logs, and
the identity of the attackers. "Buoy ready." 
     "Launch," Beshik ordered. After the buoy was away, he said. "Take us
in." 
     The crew knew what that meant: a death-or glory ride at the
attackers. Chances were, it would be a death and glory ride. But they
obeyed the order. "Battleaxe is following us," the tactical officer
reported. 
    "Arm missiles." Beshik said. "Nuclear release is authorized." 

    "Commander, the cruisers are closing," Athena reported. "Picking up
fire-control scans from the targets. And we're picking up signs of more
nuclear devices." 
     "Commander-" said Tigh.
    "I know, Colonel," Adama said. "Target those ships and fire. Leading
ship first." 
     Omega nodded. "Commander," And the forward gunners targeted the
first alien ship, as heavy turbolaser and pulsar fire tore into the
target.
   
     "We're taking fire!" The tactical officer cried 
    "Are we in range? Beshik shouted. 
    "Still out of range, Admiral!" The TO replied. 
    "But how?..." Beshik asked as the ship shuddered from a  new series
of hits. 
     "We're hit near the Magazine!" Shouted the Weapons Officer.
     "Damage?" Beshik yelled as sparks flew across several bridge control
panels. 
     "Fires, several nearby compartments evacuated to space... Magazine
temperature approaching critical!" 
     "By the gods..." Beshik said. "Long live the Supreme Lead-" Then the
bridge was engulfed in fire. Beshik's last sight was the bridge crew
engulfed in flame as the bridge itself came apart. His last sensation was
the heat....
     
     Galactica's fire had torn apart the forward half of the Risik ship.
On the Bridge, Adama said, "Negative shield," and the blast shield opened
to show the Risik ship, afire, as more laser fire tore into her. Watching
the scene, Adama ordered his gunners to cease fire. The Risik ship was
stopped, burning, with all forward momentum halted, and small explosions
going off. Then there was a large explosion forward  as the alien's
magazine apparently exploded, and sympathetic explosions went aft, until
the ship's anti-matter reactor exploded as well, and the whole ship went
up in a fireball. The battlestar's sensors were briefly affected by the
explosion, as radion crackled across the electronic spectrum, before
cooling away. 
    "Risik ship destroyed, Commander," Omega reported. 
    "Shift fire, Omega," Adama said. For a moment, he had been reminded
of the Atlantia blowing apart during the ambush at Cimtar.  "Second
target." 
    "Shifting fire, Commander." 

     The second Risik ship took fire as it banked towards Ne'Chak, trying
to avoid the fireball of the flagship's demise. "Take us lower!" Cried
her captain as his ship took hits from the battlestar's forward
batteries. 
     "There's a second ship ahead," the tactical officer reported.
"Firing on the planet." 
    "Give me an attack course," the Captain ordered. "Arm all weapons.
Stand by on missiles." 

    "Commander, he's skirting our weapons lock," Tigh said. "He's on an
attack vector for the Base Ship." 
     "Get me Baltar, Omega," Adama nodded. 
    "Commander," Omega replied. The connection was made in microns, and
Baltar's face appeared on a  monitor. "I have Baltar on the line,
Commander." 
    "Adama?" Baltar asked. 
     "Baltar, we've gotten one of the Risik cruisers, but one is skirting
us. He's headed your way." 
    "Stand by, Adama," Baltar replied. He turned, as if talking to either
Moray or Starbuck, then came back. "We have him on scanners, Adama. He
won't get far." 
    "Good," Adama said. "Take him." 
      
     "Moray," Baltar said. "Do we have the approaching target?" 
     "Confirmed," Moray reported. "Alien ship in mega-pulsar range. He is
trying to acquire us with fire-control scans." 
     "Engage,"  replied Baltar. 
    "By your command," Moray replied. "Dorsal mega-pulsar has the
target." 
    "Fire at will." 

     On the Risik ship, the Captain asked, "Buoy ready?" All the while
several long-range shots from the Galactica struck home.
    "Ready," the First Officer replied. "Images of the aliens, along with
their suspected identity as Te'rean." 
    "Launch the buoy." 
    "Buoy away," the First Officer said. "All weapons primed and ready." 
    "Arm all nuclear warheads," ordered the Captain. "We'll go down
fighting if necessary." 
     Then the Base Ship's Mega-pulsar mount fired. The first shot struck
home forward, exploding the ship's hangar bay and armory, and ripping
apart numerous compartments. "We're hit!" the First officer shouted.
"Extensive damage to lower decks." 
     "Best speed. Close in and engage!" Yelled the Captain. "Open fire!"
Then the second shot from the Base Ship struck home in the main drive
section. The Captain's last sight was a blue beam ripping into his ship,
and the bridge was engulfed in flame and debris as it came apart. He
heard the screams of the crew blending with his own.
     Then nothing.....

    "Target destroyed," Moray reported. The tactical screen showed the
second Risik cruiser blowing apart in an orange-white fireball. 
     "Well done, Moray.  And excellent shooting," Baltar said. He turned
to Auspex, the Communications Centurion. "Get me Commander Adama." 
     "By your command," Auspex replied. 

    "Commander, Baltar on the line," Omega said. 
    "Yes, Baltar?" Adama asked. 
    "Second Risik ship destroyed, Adama," Baltar reported. "No damage,
and so far, no fire-support requests as yet." 
    "Very good, Baltar. And the military garrison?" 
    "Rubble," Baltar reported. "And the same goes for the Antennae Farm
and EW facility." 
     "Good shooting, Baltar," Adama replied. "Pass that on to your
gunners." 
     "Of course," Baltar said. "We're standing by." 

     
     
     In the camp, Croft and Wagner came out of Barracks One. She turned
to the prisoners still inside. "Stay there until we give the all-clear." 
    "Will do, Sergeant," Captain Ashby replied. And he saluted her, and
she returned it. 
    Just then, Castor's men came into the compound, helping the four
prisoners they'd rescued from the interrogation shed and the punishment
area. "Major," Castor said. He was carrying the woman in his huge arms.
"They look like they've been to Hades and back." 
    "They have," Croft said. "Casualties?" 
    "None of my guys, Major," Castor said.
   "Okay, get them to the clinic, and have your Medtech help Alic." 
    Castor nodded, and led the prisoners to the clinic. Then four of his
troopers came in, with a field litter, and Scarface on it. The troopers
put the litter on the ground, and waved Croft and Wagner over. "Major,"
Corporal Matakis nodded. "This the guy Sergeant Wagner's looking for?" 
    Wagner looked at him in the light from Ne'Chak's moon as well as the
fires from the blazing Guards' barracks. "Well, well...look who we have
here." 
    "It's him," Castor said as he came back from the Clinic.
"Major...what I saw him doing to those two people in that shed...."
     "He's an animal, period," Croft finished. Having heard firsthand
from two of his victims, namely Wagner and Clemens, he had no sympathy
for him, even though he was wounded. "No, I take that back. Animals don't
behave like this." 
    "South Central Tower!" Keller called. "Engaging." Neither he or Varro
had been able to get a clean shot at that guard, and now he showed
himself. A shot rang out, then two shots from Keller dropped him, and
Varro shot him in the head for good measure. "Tower neutralized." 
    Everyone picked themselves up, and Wagner, Croft, and Castor went
over to the litter. Wagner leaned over the man who had tortured her, so
long ago, and took off her fatigue cap. "Hi. Remember me?" 
   Scarface looked at her. At first he didn't seem to remember, maybe it
was the pain, but then he recognized her. "You? How?" 
   "Long story short, after they put me in a tube, that ship wound up in
a fight with the Ke'zar. Battle damage and a runaway FTL put them in
orbit around an inhospitable planet. The crew committed mass suicide, and
I spent forty years in a stasis tube. Then these people found the
ship-and me. And now, I'm going home. And the people in the camp are
coming with us, you sorry bastard," Lauren said, making sure that her
rifle was pointed in his face. 
     "Infidel....you have no right-" 
    Hearing that, Lauren kicked him in his injured left shoulder, and
Scarface let out a scream. That brought several of the prisoners over,
and they had their first sight of their chief tormentor learning what it
was like to be a prisoner. "How's that, you hypocritical son of a bitch!
You had no right to take any of us! And I don't give a damn about what
your gods or your lying leaders tell you!" She then kicked him again, in
someplace more sensitive. "You understand me?" 
     "Bitch...." 
    Ashby, Sanderson, Denise, and a man Lauren hadn't seen yet came over.
"What are you going to do with him?" Denise asked. 
   "He gives me the slightest excuse, I'll kill him," Wagner said. She
leaned over him again. "You're going to be treated for your wounds. Which
is more than I think you deserve, and then you'll stand trial for your
crimes." 
    Then Stark and Team Two came in, and several troopers had large sacks
over their backs, filled with material. "Major, HQ Building and
Commandant's Office got picked clean. Computers,data discs, files,
storage devices, even some printed books on a shelf; everything we could
get our hands on," Stark reported. And two of his troopers hustled a
Risik prisoner in front of the Major. "And we got a prize: the Governor."

     "The Governor?" Ashby asked. 
     "He is," a woman's voice answered. The Risik woman, hastily dressed,
came out from behind a trooper. "I am his....companion. And not of my
free will." 
     "Could you explain?" Croft asked. 
     The woman was still frightened, with all these heavily armed
Te'reans around her. Were they going to kill her if she gave the wrong
answer?' "I was....imprisoned for Crimes Against the Order." 
    "And somehow, you became his servant?" Wagner asked. It was all too
familiar,  knowing Petty Officer Clemens' story.
    "Yes. And I also had to provide other.....services," the woman said.
She shot a glare over at Scarface to prove her point. 
     Wagner looked at the Governor with contempt. Were all of their
senior officers like this? She went over to him. "Okay, buster. This sure
isn't your night, is it?" 
    The Governor glared at her. "You are..."
    "Staff Sergeant Lauren Wagner, United States Air Force." She got into
his face. "Planet Earth." 
    "I protest this act of piracy, and you have no right-"
     She punched him in the belly, and he doubled over,  then the two
troopers guarding him pulled him back up. "You may call it piracy, or
whatever the hell you want, but we call it a rescue mission. And we have
every right! And if you so much as touched any of the women here?"   
     The man staggered to his feet. "What?" 
    "If you so much as touched any of the women held here, you're in a
heap of trouble. And you'd better learn how to make a homemade spear,"
Wagner said. She looked at Croft, who nodded. "Get this sorry piece of
crap over to the clinic," She told the troopers. "He goes on the first
shuttle." 
    "Yes, ma'am!" The corporal said, and they dragged the Governor off,
who was still loudly protesting everything. 
    "Stark, where's your Medtech?" Croft asked. 
    "Right here, Major," a trooper said. 
    "Sedate this animal. Then get him over to the clinic for extraction,"
Croft ordered. 
    The trooper nodded, "Yes, sir," then he knelt over the litter, and
pulled out an auto-injector. As he did, Wagner came over to him, keeping
her rifle in his face. 
     "Too bad you'll be asleep to enjoy the ride, but say goodnight,
hotshot," She told Scarface, who was glaring at her with open hostility. 
      "You-" he started to say, then the trooper injected him, and the
sorry excuse for a man quickly fell asleep. 
      "Get him over to the clinic," Croft ordered. 
    As the troopers lifted the litter, Castor came over to Wagner.
"Lauren, I thought you wanted him dead." 
    "If I shot him, he gets off too easy," she replied. "This way, after
he's marooned, some animals get fed. And he gets torn apart while still
alive." 
    "After what I saw in that shed?" Castor asked. "He suffers some. Good
riddance." 
    


    Meanwhile, both Silver Spar Squadron and Squadron Three went after
the orbital shipyards. For Captain Bojay, it reminded him of strikes
against Gamoray flown from the Pegasus, where the Cylons did have orbital
stations and depots, which had been taken out regularly on those strikes.
Now, it was like old times, as he led Silver Spar against the Risik.
"Okay, Silver Spar, go to work! Clear to engage." 
    The Vipers, with Squadron Three following behind, tore into the
stardocks and the orbital station, with Vipers and Raiders engaging the
same targets. They took the stardocks apart, and seven of those docks,
just as their information from the Adelaide's recon, had ships under
construction. They were methodically and quickly taken apart, along with
the station that controlled the shipyards. That was hit by a flock of
Raiders from Squadron Three, and after several passes, the station
finally blew apart. 
     The final dock had a Risik Exploratory Cruiser in dock for a major
overhaul, and this ship's gunners, to their credit, managed to power up
several of their weapons mounts and return fire. They managed to hit a
pair of Vipers and a Raider with grazing shots, forcing all three
fighters to return to their home ships with battle damage. Their triumph
was fleeting, for that brought down a wave of Vipers and Raiders onto
their ship. Laser and turbolaser fire from the fighters took the ship
apart, along with the dock, and as the fighters broke off, both the dock
and ship were engulfed in a fireball. 

    
   While the main combat was going on in Ne'Chak's immediate vicinity,
Constellation closed in on the single moon. Captain Byrne watched the
moon grow larger on the Bridge viewscreen. "Any contacts, Sensors?" he
asked his sensor officer.
    "No contacts, Captain," the officer replied. 
    "Very well," Byrne said. He then spoke into his headset. "Mr. Dante,
launch Katana Squadron. Have them take out the base on the moon, and then
fly a sweep around the far side. Flush out anyone hiding." 
    "Right away, Captain," his Exec replied from CIC. 
    Katana's fighters launched right away, and they quickly formed up and
headed for their target. Their trip to the target was a short one, and as
they approached the base, the pilots saw that the base was still under
construction, as their reconnaissance information had shown, and there
were no defenses. Only two passes were needed to destroy the base and the
construction facilities, both of which were turned into scorched and
twisted junk. Then the fighters pulled up to perform the second part of
their mission. 
   Katana's leader led his squadron behind the moon, and sure enough,
there was a ship there. "Looks like a in-system patrol ship," he called. 
   "Copy that," his exec replied. "Just like one of the old Customs
Patrol Cutters." 
    Just then, the Risik ship fired up its engines and headed around the
moon, towards the near side.
 
    "Captain," the sensor officer called to Byrne. "We have a ship coming
around from the far side." 
    "ID?" Byrne wanted to know.
    "Scanning....it reads as a patrol craft, according to Adelaide's
information." the sensor officer replied. "Feeding to your station."  
    "Let's get him," Byrne said. "Helm, intercept course." 
     "Yes, sir!" the helmsman replied. 
     "Mr. Malik?" Byrne turned to his gunnery officer. "The moment he's
in range, take him." 
      The Zohrloch had an evil-looking grin on his face. "It will be a
pleasure, Captain." 
      Constellation closed in on the patrol craft, and to the bridge
crew's amazement, the patrol craft was coming at them, head on. "Is he
crazy?" Mr. Agron, the Second Officer, wondered aloud. 
    "He must have a big set of pogees," Alyssia said. 
    "Well, he won't for long," Byrne said. He nodded at his gunnery
officer. "Weapons-free, Mr. Malik." 
     "Yes, sir!" Malik said. He then called into his headset. "Commence
firing." 

    The patrol ship's five-man crew were incredulous at the size of the
ship confronting them, but they also had their duty. Ne'Chak was under
attack by unknown forces, from the frantic communications they had
received,  and now they had encountered this huge ship.  This was
obviously an enemy, and the ship's captain knew that his ship had little
chance against this...behemoth of a ship, but they had to try anyway.
"Arm weapons. If necessary, we will ram him." 
    The pilot nodded, and the gunner acknowledged. "Weapons ready."
  
    Constellation's gunners didn't give them the chance. Malik calmly and
coolly directed the ship's fire, and it didn't take long for the big
ship's lasers to tear the patrol cutter apart. Though they managed to get
two salvos off, the Risik crew's last sight before being engulfed in
flame was laser fire coming into their faces, before their little ship
was in the center of a fireball. 

    "That's a kill," Malik said as the Risik ship exploded. "Cease fire,"
he called into his headset.
     "Good shooting, Mr. Malik," Byrne said. "Though that may not be the
last of them." He turned to the sensor officer. "Keep a sharp lookout for
any additional ships." 
     "Yes, sir," the sensor officer replied. 
     "Damage report, Mr. Dilley." 
     His DCO came on the line. "Minor damage to Deflection Circuit Four,
Captain. We also have a red light on Airlock Six. Damage-Control team en
route."
     "Very good. Mr. Dante?" Byrne called his Exec. "Keep Katana Squadron
airborne as long as fuel permits. Just in case." 
     "Yes, Captain." Dante replied. 

    At the camp, Croft and Wagner were talking with the Risik woman,
whose name was Melnea. "Why were you arrested?" Croft asked. 
    "My father was arrested for distributing pamphlets critical of the
religious authorities," Melena said. "When he was arrested, they arrested
my mother, my older brother and me as well. My youngest brother, who was
an infant, was taken away and put up for adoption."
     "By a 'worthy' family," Wagner noted. It was a familiar story from
either Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia: young children whose parents had
been arrested for political crimes were sent to orphanages and put up for
adoption by parents who were more....politically reliable.
    "Yes," Melnea replied. "My parents were put to death. In public, I
should add.  My older brother? I have no idea what happened to him, but
he is most likely dead. They sent him to work in a camp of special
regime." 
    "Like the one north of here?" Croft asked. "That one?" 
    "No," Melnea said. "I was there, before the Governor.....discovered
me. No, that is a 'normal' camp. The special regime camps are for
'special' prisoners. Those who are arrested for the most serious
political or religious crimes. Their sins are so heinous that they can
only be redeemed by work. To the death. The other camp is for criminals
and those whose involvement in political or religious offenses is deemed
to be minor. As I was," she finished. By Risik standards, she was clearly
a looker, and that probably explained the "minor involvement" in her
case. 
    "Okay," Croft said. "We've got a lot more questions to ask you, and
not a lot of time here. How'd you like to leave this place behind for
good?" 
     "And go where?" 
     "My world," Wagner said. "You'll find that Earth is not the place
your government and priests have told you it is. My country welcomes 
immigrants, and you'd be a free woman, living whatever kind of life you
want." 
     "You are...Te'rean?" Melnea asked, glancing at both Wagner and
Croft.
     "I am," Wagner said. "But the Major and his men? They're not.
They've never been there. But they and their people want to go there." 
     "Oh...but you are the same race?" 
    "We are, but it's a long story," Croft said. "Want to come along?" 
     "If I stay here....my life is forfeit," Melnea nodded. She looked
around, as if considering the offer. "I will come." 
    Croft waved a trooper over. "Trooper, take Miss.....Melnea over to
the clinic. She's coming with us." 
    "Major," the trooper nodded. "This way, please." 
    After the trooper led Melnea over to the clinic, Croft turned to
Wagner. "Almost time for extraction, Sergeant. You'd better tell the
prisoners what's about to happen." 
    "Will do, Major." 
    Then a call came for Croft. "Leader, this is Four." It was Lieutenant
Chaves in Team Four.
   "Go, Four," Croft replied. 
    "We've got company coming. Six vehicles, at least two armored, coming
from the town. They're two thousand metrons and closing." 
    "Stand by, Four." Croft said. "Hold on that, Sergeant. We've got
company." 
     "Where from?" 
      "The town," one of the prisoners said. "Captain Viktor Andreyich
Zhukov, Soviet Airborne Forces, at your service." 
     "How big a garrison?" Croft asked. 
     "Not large, but it includes what one would call their Marines or
such," Zhukov said. "Maybe two hundred or so." 
     "Not a problem, Captain," Croft said. He spoke into his headset.
"Croft for Starbuck." 
     "Go ahead, Major," came the reply.
     "We've got a fire mission for you. Vehicles on the road, between one
and two thousand metrons from the camp, closing." 
      "Stand by," Starbuck said. 

     On the Base Ship, Starbuck turned to Baltar. "Baltar, we've got a
fire mission. Vehicles on the road, approaching the camp. Between one and
two thousand metrons from the camp, closing." 
     "Moray?" Baltar asked. 
     "Scanning," Moray replied. The tactical display showed infrared
images of the convoy, overlaid on the reconnaissance imagery . 
"Confirmed hostile vehicles. We have target acquisition. Request
permission to fire."
    "Permission granted, Moray," Baltar said. "Engage." 
    'Firing." 


    The gunners on the Base Ship opened fire, and bluish-white streaks of
laser fire came down from the Cylon warship, and ripped into the vehicle
convoy. Chaves and his men watched as the lead, then the trailing
vehicles were destroyed, then the laser fire systematically took out the
remaining vehicles. Only scattered individuals escaped the carnage,
fleeing back to the town. "Major, this is Four. Hold fire." 
 
    "Starbuck, Croft. Hold fire. Repeat, Hold fire," the SF leader
called. 
  
    "Baltar, we've got a hold fire call," Starbuck reported. 
    "Moray, cease fire," Baltar ordered. 
    "By your command," Moray said. "Scanning the area." 
    "Any additional vehicles?" Baltar asked. 
    "Negative. All vehicle targets destroyed." 

    "Leader, this is Four. Nothing left of those guys," Chaves reported. 
    "Right, Four," Croft said. "Fall back to the camp and get ready for
extraction." 
    "On our way," Chaves replied. 

    "Sergeant," Croft said. "I'm calling the shuttles in. There's a storm
coming in, with high winds and rain, the scans say. Time for extraction.
Get the prisoners ready to move." 
    "You got it, Major," Wagner said. She felt the breeze as it picked
up. Then she asked both Ashby and Sanderson to gather the prisoners by
Barracks Three. A couple centons later, they were all gathered around
her. 
     "What's up, Sergeant?" Sanderson asked. 
     "We are," Wagner said. "There's going to be two small craft landing
momentarily. They're shuttles. We get on the first one, along with the
Governor's.....lady friend, the Governor, and that piece of shit known as
Scarface. Some troopers will go with us, and I'll be the last to board.
Do you all have a count?'
     "Yes, we do, Sergeant," Ashby said. "Fifty-seven in all. Counting
the ones in the clinic." 
     "All right: Does anyone have anything you want to take with you?" 
    Catherine spoke up. "Just toys for the kids. Other than that...."
    "Okay, gather what personal effects you want to take, if anything,"
Wagner said. "The barracks are being wired with explosives right now.
When we leave, they go sky-high." 
    "And where are we going?" Denise asked. 
    "A ship," Wagner grinned. "Not that one," she added, pointing to the
Base Ship still spinning above them. "Another one, in orbit. And then
we'll sort things out there. But you'll all get some good food, whatever
medical care you need, and some time to yourselves. Believe me, I was the
same as you are, once." 
    
     "Croft for Phelps." 
     "Right here, Major," the shuttle pilot called. "Nothing happened
here. Just a couple who were looking for some...well..private space. We
stunned 'em, and they're still out." 
     'Good work, Phelps. Get the shuttles in for extraction. Time for us
to get the Hades out of here." 
    "On the way, Major." 
    Phelps called the other shuttle, and both fired up their engines and
headed for the camp, with Vipers and Raiders still overhead, providing
cover. 

   Unknown to any of the assault party, two of the guards had survived
the carnage. One had taken cover in the Laundry shed, and he was
wondering what to do. There were no superior officers left to give him
orders. Clearly, one man with a rifle wasn't going to do much against
these....were they Te'reans? It certainly looked like them. He hunkered
down in the shed, trying to decide what to do. 
    The other guard was the Chief Guard. He'd been out, checking on the
overnight shift, when the attack came in, and he had been evading the
attackers. He clearly identified them as Te'rean, and knew his duty. He
slipped to the Central South Tower, and climbed it. There, he found the
duty guard with half of his head blown off, and a pool of blood around
his head and chest. He looked around, and found the guard's weapon still
in the tower. He checked the weapon, and waited. 

    Castor's troopers had wired not only the interrogation shed, but
they'd also taken care of the barracks. One of the troopers had just
wired Barracks Four when he noticed something in the Laundry Shed. He
called his squadmates over, and they went into the Laundry. Sure enough,
they found someone there, clutching a Risik rifle. Maybe it had been a
reflection of the firelight from the guards' barracks, or what, but there
was somebody there. All of the prisoners were known accounted for, so
this had to be a guard. Or maybe not. Only one way to find out.
"Stunner," the trooper called, and one of his squad threw a flash-bang at
the figure. It went off, and the figure stood up, screaming in the Risik
language. 
    "That's not a prisoner," the lead trooper said. "Gun him." 
    The others nodded, but as they did, the figure sprayed them with
rifle fire. One trooper went down, clutching his shoulder, while two
others shot down the man with their MP-5s. They kicked the rifle away
from the corpse, and checked him out. The Risik stared at them, his chest
riddled, then he expired. 

    "Major," Castor reported. "My guys just found a guard in the Laundry
shed. He's taken care of. One wounded, non-life threatening."
    "Copy that, Castor. Shuttles inbound," Croft nodded. "Croft to
Galactica." 
     "Galactica here," Omega said. "Glad to hear your voice, Major." At a
word from Adama, he put it on speakers. 
    '"How many prisoners, Major?" Adama asked. 
    "Fifty-seven in all, Commander. They're all in need of some decent
food and medical care. Just as the Petty Officer said." 
    "We'll have the reception team in Beta Bay," Adama said. "And we have
both air and space supremacy in this system. Your mission is
accomplished." 
    "Not until we've landed on Galactica, Commander," Croft reminded him.
"Be there in a few centons." 
    "We'll be waiting for you, Major." 


    The two assault shuttles made a pass over the camp, then they flared
and landed. Assault One's side hatch opened, and the crew chief came out,
laser carbine in hand. "Let's go!" 
     "All right," Wagner told the prisoners. "The mothers and their kids
go first, then Ron, the wounded trooper, then the rest of you," She
looked at Croft, who nodded approval. "Let's go." 
      Marta and her baby went first, then the other mothers and their
children. The infants were asleep either in the arms of their mothers, or
a trooper's protective arms. They made it to the shuttle. Then it was
Ron's turn, and both Alic and Anna were helping him. 
    
The Chief Guard saw that the prisoners were being taken away, and he
realized that if he did nothing, he would either be executed for
dereliction of duty, or worse, sent to a camp of special regime. He saw a
prisoner being helped by a Te'rean, and the prisoner nurse. He lined up
his aim....

     A burst of three shots rang out, and Ron fell, nearly taking Alic
and Anna down with him. "Ron!" Anna cried. 
    "Sniper in the tower!" Wagner called and she sprayed the tower with a
full clip from her rifle. She quickly changed magazines and sent another
dozen rounds into the tower. The steel sides of the tower, though,
provided some protection.
    "Stark!" Croft said into his headset. "Take out that tower!" 
    Two of Team Two's troopers grabbed their Risik rockets and lined up
the tower. They fired, and two rockets slammed into the tower. One hit a
corner leg, while the other rocket slammed into the tower itself,
throwing the tower's only living occupant into the compound. 
    Wagner, Castor, and several prisoners came over. They saw the guard,
whoever he was, though his uniform was smoking, try and raise a weapon. 
    "Not so fast, chump," Wagner said. She emptied the rest of the
magazine into him, and the shredded rags that had been a guard slumped to
the ground. They went over to the body, and Castor turned it over with
his boot. 
    "Recognize him?" Wagner asked. 
    "He's the Chief Guard. Scarface's right hand man," Amy Sanderson
said. "He's just as brutal and vicious as his boss." 
    "Not anymore." Castor said. "Meat for the worms now." 
    "Sergeant!" Croft called. "Get your astrum on that shuttle," 
   "On the way, Major," Wagner said. "Come on, Lieutenant. It's over.
Time to get out of here." 
    Nodding, Sanderson and the other prisoners headed for the shuttle.
Lauren took one last look around, picked up the late Guard Chief's rifle,
and she,too, ran for the shuttle. Wagner was the last one in, and she saw
that all the prisoners, plus the captured Risik and the troopers with
their intelligence materials were all aboard. But also that two medtechs
were working on someone. "Phelps! Let's get airborne." 
    "You got it, Sergeant." Phelps said, and the shuttle lifted off and
set course for the Galactica, with its Viper and Raider escort all around
it, like a protective shield. 

     "Galactica, this is Croft. First shuttle airborne. I'm just about to
leave myself." 
     "Good work, Major," Adama said. "Casualties?" 
     "One of our men, Commander, non life-threatening, and a prisoner was
shot by a sniper just as he was about to get onto the first shuttle.
Don't know his condition." 
     "Very well, Major. Get back to Galactica." 
     "On our way, Commander. Croft out." The SF leader took one final
look around, seeing the burning guards' barracks, and the other prison
buildings that would never see another human occupant again. He turned,
and went into Assault Two, but before he did, a trooper from Team One
handed him the remote detonator. As Assault Two lifted off and pulled
away, he hit the switch, and the buildings that had been wired to blow
went up simultaneously in orange-red fireballs. Croft turned to Assault
Two's pilot. "ETA to Galactica?" 
     "Five centons, Major." 
     Croft nodded, then found a seat. He and the other troopers were
still on a mission high, and he knew that it would take a day or so to
climb down from it. They were still running on adrenalin, and from
experience, he knew that it didn't come with an "off" switch. 

    On Galactica's Bridge, Adama nodded to Omega. "Get me Doctor Salik,
please." 
    "Commander," Omega replied. He made the connection, and Salik's image
appeared on a monitor. "On the line, sir." 
    "Doctor, it's time for your reception team to go to work. One
casualty among the troopers, and one among the prisoners. Have the team
in Beta Landing Bay as soon as possible." 
    The CMO nodded. "We're on the way, Commander."  

   In Life Center, Salik gathered his team. "All right, let's get going,
people! We're headed for Beta Bay." 
    "Where's that?" Petty Officer Clemens asked Cassie. 
    "Starboard Landing Bay," she smiled. 
    "Oh." 
    "Come on," Cassie said. "Time to get to work." 
    
   In the lead shuttle,  Lauren went up to the front, with freed
prisoners either shaking her hand, or saying "thank you," and in many
cases, both. And in several languages.  She went up to Phelps. "ETA to
Galactica?" 
   "Four centons, Sergeant. We're in visual range, so if anyone wants to
come and have a look...." He replied. 
    She grinned, then turned to Denise. "Denise, get up here, and bring
Captain Ashby, Captain Zhukov, and Lieutenant Sanderson with you. You're
all going to want to see this." 
     Denise nodded, and brought the three others up. "What is it?" 
    "That," Lauren said, pointing out the main port. They were coming
around the limb of the planet fast, and there it was. The battlestar had
her nose to the shuttle, and was growing larger by the micron.. "That's
where we're headed." 
    "My God!" Ashby said, staring wide-eyed.  "Bloody hell....the damned
thing looks like something out of a movie!" 
    Zhukov, the Soviet paratrooper, stared with his mouth hanging. "Bozhe
moi.... after what has happened to us...nothing surprises me anymore." 
     "Good Lord!" Sanderson, the Marine, said. "What do they call it?" 
    "She's called a 'battlestar', and her name is Galactica," Lauren
said. "And she's still an impressive sight, every time I see her." 
    "Where's the rest of them?" Denise asked. "There's only one." 
     "She might be the only one left," Lauren replied. "The folks who
operate the other big ship-they call it a Base Ship, mind-had something
to do with it." She looked at the four. "It's a long story, and we'll try
to explain everything the best way we can." 
     "You were taken from Earth, right?" Sanderson asked Lauren. 
     "I was."
    Zhukov looked at Lauren. "And can Earth build ships like this? Slava
Bogu! How long have we been gone?" 
    "It's been a while. They're not from Earth, but they're Human like
you and me. These people found the ship I was on, and rescued me. Like I
said, I'll explain everything, best I can." 
    The shuttle flew down the starboard side of the battlestar, then
formed up in the landing pattern, and as it did, the freed prisoners were
wide-eyed, amazed at a sight that, to them, they'd only seen in movies or
on TV, and they were jabbering amongst themselves. 
     Phelps looked back, then he was talking into his headset. "Better
get back to your seats. We've been cleared to land." 
     "Come on," Lauren said. "Get strapped in." 
     As they went to their seats, Lauren was waved over by Alic and
Marcus. "Ma'am, he's touch and go. He might make it if he gets to Life
Center. Even then..." 
     Lauren had heard that Alic wanted to be a SF medical officer, and
was the best the SF Team had. "Okay," she nodded. Even with the
Colonials' medical technology, they couldn't win them all. 
    "How is he?" Denise asked. 
    "Touch and go," Lauren said. This was the first time she'd ever had
anyone wounded, whether it was  in the Sheriff's Department back in Great
Falls, in the Air Force or Guard, or here. 
    "I have had comrades killed in Afghanistan, Sergeant," Zhukov said
putting his hand on her shoulder. It is never easy when the enemy gets
one of your own." 
     "Same here, Sergeant," Captain Ashby said. "Northern Ireland and the
Gulf.....though it is part of the job." 
     Then a cry came from one of the women. It was Catherine. "Oh, God!" 
    "What?" Anna said as she tried to get over to her. 
    'My water just broke!" 
    "What does that mean?" Castor asked.
    "Men!" Lauren said to Denise. "It means she's going to have a baby. 
    Castor looked around, confused. "Hey, I'm no doctor. Never been near
a baby being born." 
    Laruren smiled at him. "There's a first time for everything. She's
having it right now. Phelps?" 
    "I heard, the pilot replied. "We're on final." There were quite a bit
of oohs and ahs as the shuttle glided into Beta Bay, while its fighter
escort peeled off, the Vipers forming up in the Galactica's landing
pattern for Alpha Bay, and the Raiders returning to the Base Ship. 
    
    Assault One came in, and as the shuttle came to a stop, the reception
team was ready and waiting. As the hatch opened, Jessica was waiting with
anticipation. "God...I thought for a long time I'd never see these people
again." 
    "And the same went for them," Cassie said. 
    "Nervous?" Jen asked. "I would be." 
    Jessica nodded. "Oh, yeah.'
    The hatch opened and Wagner came out. She waved to the medtechs, and
yelled, "We've got three wounded, one a prisoner, one a trooper, and one
a Risik. And a woman whose water just broke!" 
    "Let's move, people," Salik ordered, and medtechs brought gurneys to
the hatch. The wounded were gently lowered to the gurneys, and sent off
first to Decon, then Life Center. Catherine, helped by Alic, came out
next, with Michael, her common-law husband following, with their one-year
old son in his arms. "Don't worry," Salik smiled at Catherine. "You and
your baby are going to be fine." 
    "I want this kid out of me now!" Catherine screamed. "And I mean
right now!" 
    "She and the baby going to be okay?" Michael asked. Now that the
moment had come, he was quite the nervous wreck. 
   "You're her....husband?" Salik asked. When Michael nodded yes, the
gruff CMO smiled. "They'll be fine." He waved Jen and a couple of
medtechs-in-training over. "They'll take care of the one you've got." 
    Jen came up and took the baby boy. "We'll take care of him," she
said, and Michael was surprised. 
    "What..."
    "He'll be fine," Salik said. "Let's help with your wife's delivery.
Come with me." And Salik personally took the mother-to-be and her nervous
husband to Life Center. "Cassie? You can run triage. I'm leaving you Tone
and Garcia." 
    That was a first for her. Oh, well, there had to be a first time for
everything.. "Thanks a lot, Doc." She said. "Sergeant," 
    "Cassie, there's a Risik woman here. She was a prisoner just as much
as the rest of them," Wagner said. "Want me to bring them out?" 
     "Whenever you're ready." 
    Lauren nodded, then went back into the shuttle. "Okay, there's medics
here to help you. Just follow their instructions and you'll be fine.
Denise? You go after the four who were in the torture room. Then the
other mothers and kids,  then the rest." 
    "Why her?" Captain Zhukov asked. 
    "You'll see." 

    Cassie and the other medtechs were shocked at the condition of the
first four prisoners. The woman went first, wearing only a blanket, and
as she got onto a gurney, Cassie asked Lauren, "What happened to her?" 
    "Scarface," Lauren said with disgust. "The same with those three
guys. Need I say more?" 
    'No," Cassie said. She turned to the woman, now on the gurney and
covered with a blanket. "You'll be fine." 
    "Where am I?" the woman asked, her voice still shaky.
    "Safe, and with friends," Cassie smiled at her. "Get her and the
other three to Decon, then Life Center," she said to Talia. 
     "Yes, Doctor," Talia said. This was what she signed up for, not that
Il Fadim lunacy. The woman and the three men were quickly sent on their
way. 
     Lauren then ducked back into the shuttle. Just then, Assault Two was
coming in, she noticed. "Okay, Denise, you first, then the women, then
everyone else." 
    
    Denise came out of the shuttle, and at first, she was awestruck at
the sights and sounds of the landing bay. A blonde woman in a strange
uniform smiled at her, then pointed to someone in blue coveralls. The
woman turned, and Denise saw someone that she had thought dead, and had
only seen in her dreams. "Jessica?" 
     "Denise!" Jessica came forward at a run and grabbed her long-lost
friend, embracing her in a huge hug. That alone brought smiles to Cassie,
the medtechs, and the other personnel in the bay who were watching.
"Where've you been, girl?" 
      "In hell. Where else do you think?" her friend replied. Tears were
running down both their cheeks. "How about you?" 
      "I had my own private hell, then these people found me. And we're
going home...." Jessica said, trying (and failing) to hold back tears. 
     "Home..." Denise said, crying. "We're really going home?" 
     "We are, but it's a long story, and kinda complicated," Jessica
said. 
     Denise nodded, then stood by her friend as other prisoners came off
the shuttle. "Hey, Amy? Anna? Look who's here!" She pointed at Jessica. 
     Amy and Anna came over at a trot. "Oh, my God!" Sanderson said.,
while Popava was saying something in Russian that nobody could
understand, but the emotions were obvious. They embraced their friend,
thought lost, but now found. "Where have you been, Petty Officer?"
Sanderson asked, the Marine in her coming back. 
     "It's a long story, Ma'am," Jessica said. "And forgive me for not
saluting, but you're out of uniform." 
     "I'll overlook it for now," Sanderson smiled. "You look great!" 
     "And Ma'am? You look like hell," Jessica said. "And so do you,
Anna." She hugged her Russian friend. 
     "Like we've just come out of hell," Anna said, laughing. "You look
well." 
     "Been that for a few days," Jessica grinned. 
     "Hey, everybody!" Denise waved at the other prisoners. "Look who's
here! It's Jessica!" 
    The ex-prisoners crowded around, nearly crushing Cassie and the other
medtechs. There was lot of back-slapping and hugging, and it took Wagner
to break things up. "People, I know you guys want to hug and talk, but
you all need to get checked out, get some food inside you, showers, and
clean clothes. There'll be plenty of time to get caught up. And believe
me, we've got a lot of that." 
     "Okay, Sergeant," Captain Ashby said. "Looks like you're still the
one giving orders for a while." 
     That's the last thing I want, Lauren thought. Oh, well. "Okay, just
follow the medics' instructions, and they'll take you from here." 
    As the freed prisoners got processed and sent on their way to Life
Center, Castor came off the shuttle, bringing Melnea, the Governor, and
the troopers with their haul of intelligence materials. He noticed some
Security guys, and waved them over, and he recognized Sergeant Fabius.
"Fabius," 
    "Lieutenant," Fabius said. 
    Wagner came over to the Governor, who was still protesting loudly.
She was rolling her eyes as he kept talking. 
    "I demand to speak with the commanding officer of this vessel. You
have committed an act of piracy and aggression-" 
     Wagner got in his face. "You're in no position to demand
anything.....Governor." She let the title fall from her lips. "Like I
said: if you so much as touched any of those people-" she motioned to the
prisoners still being processed, "I'd start learning how to survive in a
jungle or hostile desert  if I were you. Because if you did? The penalty
for that is life in prison or marooning, at the court's discretion. And
if it was up to me, there'd be a third option. Namely, you being shoved
out an airlock." 
     "What?" 
     She got into his face again. "You've got that right, chump. If you
had anything to do with what happened at that camp, you're going into
court. And I don't think they'll listen to your 'Earth people are
inferior' garbage." She looked at Castor, who nodded. "Fabius, get
this.....pile of bilge out of my sight." 
     "With pleasure, Ma'am." Fabius motioned to his men, who escorted the
Governor off to Decon, then the Brig. He stayed behind, as there was
obviously someone else. "And who's this?" He nodded at Melnea. 
     "She's the Governor's.....mistress, for want of a better term. And
not by choice," Wagner said. "I imagine Commander Adama's going to want
to talk to her. You could say she's a defector now. For her, there's no
going back." 
     "Fabius," Castor said. "Take Miss Melenea to Decon, then to Life
Center. Once she's been checked out, I'll arrange for her to go to VIP
Quarters. Like the Sergeant said, the Commander's going to want to talk
to her." 
     "Right away, Lieutenant," Fabius said. 
     "Don't worry," Wagner said to Melnea. "Go with these men, and
they'll take you to a decontamination chamber, then to the ship's medical
center. Then they'll see about getting you some quarters." 
    Melnea gave a polite bow. "Thank you." 
    "This way, Miss," Fabius said, and he escorted Melena to Decon. 
     Then Croft and several troopers came over. They had watched things
since they had disembarked from Assault Two, and they had smiles on their
faces. "Castor, Sergeant," Croft said. 
    "Major," Castor replied, and he and Wagner saluted. 
   "This is what it was all about," Croft said. "Getting those people
out." 
    "It was," Wagner said. "Now I'm going to be busy for a day or three."

     "Helping with those people," Croft finished. "That you will,
Sergeant. The AAR can wait." 
    "Thanks, Major," Wagner nodded. "And Major?" She pointed where Jen
and a couple of medtechs were helping with the kids. "Those kids are what
made it worth it." 
    "Yeah," Castor agreed. "But when you saw what Scarface was up to..."
    "No arguing with you two," Croft said. "How's the wounded trooper?" 
     "Hadrian?" Castor replied. "He'll be okay. Bullet wound to his
collar bone. He'll be back on duty in two or three days, Marcus said." 
     "The wounded prisoner?"
    "Touch and go," Wagner said. "Worse, it's Jessica's friend."
    Croft scowled. "Damn. Does she know?" 
    "Not yet," Wagner said. "And back on the bright side? One of the
women had her water break. She's in Salik's delivery room right now." 
     "Okay..." said Croft. "You go be with them, and the AAR can wait." 
    "Yes, sir!" 


       Adama and Tigh had watched the shuttles' arrival on one of the
Bridge Monitors. "Well, Tigh, that part of the mission is accomplished.
And we have our new travelers."
     "Yes, sir," Tigh said. "So far, so good. No shipboard damage, and
only three Vipers damaged. No losses." 
     Adama nodded. When was the last time that had happened? "Get me
Baltar, and Captain Byrne, please," he said to Omega. 
    "Right away, Commander," Omega said. A few microns, and he turned to
Adama. "I have them both on the line, Commander." 
     "Adama?" Baltar asked. 
     "Commander?" Byrne nodded on the monitor. 
     "What's the situation?" 
     "We've engaged all of our surface targets," Baltar said. "And we've
had one fire-support mission. Squadron Four is ready to launch if
necessary, while the others are refueling and rearming. No shipboard
damage." 
      "Thank you, Baltar," Adama said. "Captain?"
      "The base on the moon is a crater now, and we had a run-in with a
patrol vessel. He's nothing but debris. Minor shipboard damage, and no
casualties." 
       "Very good. The shuttles have returned with the raiding party and
the prisoners. Would you agree that our mission has been accomplished?" 
       "I would, Adama. We've done everything we set out to do. This
system's military capability is now nonexistent," Baltar said. 
      "Captain?" 
       "I agree, Commander," Byrne replied. "It's certainly time to get
out of here." 
       "Very well," Adama decided. "Colonel, launch our reserve fighters.
Baltar, please do the same with Squadron Four. They'll cover our course
to the heliopause. Set the decoy escape course for the nearest Brown
Dwarf." 
      Tigh nodded, then gave the order. Vipers from Green squadron shot
down their launch tubes, and Squadron Four flew out of the Base Ship's
launch bay. 
       "No sign of any other ships," Baltar noted. "But...best not to
take the chance." 
       Though it galled him to do so, Byrne nodded. "I'd go along with
that, Commander." 
     "All right; let's rendezvous, and get out of here. The Fleet is
waiting for us.' 
     "We're getting underway now, Adama," Baltar said. "We'll be with you
momentarily." 
     "Constellation's ready when you are, Commander," Byrne added. 
     "Very well, let's break orbit, and rendezvous in their cislunar
space. Then we'll get out of here," Adama said. He watched the Cylon
behemoth rise higher and higher from the planet, then it matched their
orbit.
     
    Unknown to the Task Force, there was a Risik ship watching them. It
was a Scout Ship, one that had returned from an exploratory mission prior
to the raid launching, and due to the Task Force's need to use passive
sensors, it had not been detected. Now, the ship was in Ne'Chak's polar
region, hiding from the active sensors that their systems had detected,
and the two crewmen, the commander and pilot, were watching their own
sensors, as well as through the viewport at two, then three ships, each
much larger than anything in their own Star Force. "Now what?" Asked the
Pilot. 
     "We follow them, then recover one of those buoys. Then we report
this," the Command Pilot said. They had picked up the transponders that
the emergency buoys were transmitting.
     "How?" the pilot replied. "They've destroyed practically everything
in the system." 
     The commander knew it, and he'd been thinking about that himself.
Though some might call it cowardice, who could argue with reporting the
attack to someone who might be able to do something about it, than to
what remained of the authorities down on the planet, who might be in no
condition to do anything. And these intruders, whoever they were, were
certainly not Ke'zar. And Star Force Command needed to know that. And
fast. "We go to the Capital." 
    Nodding, the pilot checked his screen. "They're moving. But two of
the ships are launching more fighters." 
    "We stay here until they're near the limit of our range. Then we
follow. Meanwhile...."
    The pilot looked at his commander. "Yes?" 
    "Record the damage below. This world's taken a beating."


    The Task Force met up, and as the reserve fighters took up their
cover positions, began to move out. First Constellation, then the Base
Ship, moved into position, and the Galactica led them on their leisurely
course outsystem, seemingly headed for the nearest Brown Dwarf that their
sensors had cataloged. As they moved further away, and Ne'Chak receded in
the Task Force's wake, Athena was watching her screen. She switched to
the rear view on the scanners, and spotted the target. "Commander? We
have a ship in our wake." 
     Adama and Tigh had been at the Plot Board, checking their course.
"Definite contact? 
    "Confirmed. Not a meteor, and not debris. He's definitely in our
wake," Athena replied. 
    "Have you scanned for identification?"  Adama asked. 
     "Scanning now...." She typed in the command. "Comes back as a Risik
Scout Ship. Two-man crew, minimal armament and shielding. He's not
transmitting any kind of ID, but the scans match. Definitely Risik." 
    "Just as Captain Byrne predicted, Commander," Tigh said. "We have a
tail."
    Adama looked at the screen, then went back to the Plot Board. Then he
nodded. "Let's decoy him. Just as Apollo suggested. Clear the Heliopause,
outrun him, then get back to the Fleet.' 
    "Commander," Tigh said. "Orders for the fighters covering us?" 
    "Tell them to take no action. Let him go," Adama ordered. 
    "Commander," 


    The three capital ships, with their fighter screen, moved on to the
edge of the Chak System, and their tail followed, thinking that he was
out of the Task Force's sensor range, but he was well within it. When the
big ships cleared the heliopause, they put on a burst of speed, and left
the Risik Scout well behind them. After a few centons, when he didn't
reappear on their sensors, Adama had a quick conference call with both
Baltar and Captain Byrne. Both agreed with him; it was time to head for
their rendezvous with the Fleet. After recovering their airborne
fighters, the Task Force turned on its new heading, went to light-speed,
and made for its rendezvous. 
 
    The Risik Scouts, though, were quite confused. "Where did they go?"
The Command Pilot asked, a mix of confusion and anger in his voice. 
    "Unknown," the pilot replied. "Their last known course was for the
star in grid BA-121. No known planets there." 
    "They need it for something," the commander said. "They wouldn't go
all that way for nothing. But what?" 
    "A meeting with other forces, perhaps?" 
    "Anything is possible," the commander noted. "But then, they could
reverse on us, and blast us out of the stars before we could react. And
what good would our information do for anyone then?" 
    The pilot nodded. What good was information if you got killed before
you could report it? "Now what?" 
   "Set course for the Capital." 
   "Not back to the planet, sir?" 
   "Headquarters needs this data, fast. Nothing good we can do back there
now. No, we need to get this to Star Force Operations as fast as we can."

   "That's three days away," the pilot reminded his commander.
   "Enough time for us to come up with a plausible cover story," the
commander said. "I don't want to explain our actions to not just Star
Force Security, but to the General Security Department." And that, he
knew, might mean a very lengthy process, where the screaming often gave
out before the body did. "Let's go."  

   "Commander," Athena called. "Risik ship on a new course. He's headed
for their Capital." 
   "As both Captains Apollo and Byrne predicted, Commander," Tigh said. 
    Adama nodded, then checked out the Plot Board. The Risik Capital was
within their sensor range. Not enough to pick out life forms or other
data, but just enough to pick out the planets. And even that was iffy.
"Athena, at his speed, what's his ETA to the Capital?" 
   She typed in the information, and got a quick response. "Three days,
Commander." 
   "And a day at least to organize and send out a reaction force. Then
three days at least for them to get to Ne'Chak, and then go off looking
for us when we're not at that Brown Dwarf," Adama said. He turned to
Tigh. "All right, Tigh. Signal the Base Ship and Constellation. Flank
speed back to the Fleet, maintain communications silence, and go to
Condition Two." 
     "Very good, sir," Tigh replied, relaying the orders. 
     "You have the Bridge, Colonel," Adama said. "I'm headed to Life
Center. And have a look and maybe talk with some of our new passengers." 
    The Exec grinned. "Yes, sir." 


     In Life Center, the freed prisoners were glad to be getting decent
medical care,real  food instead of alien whatever,and clean clothes
instead of rags that smelled and itched, even if they were just what on
Earth would be hospital gowns. "We'll get you all decent clothes in a day
or so," Cassie explained. 
     "Anything beats these rags," Amy Sanderson said. "Be glad you didn't
have to wear these in winter." 
    "How about showers?" Denise asked. 
    "As soon as we can," Cassie said. "We're still on alert, so the
showers aren't available. It shouldn't be too long." 
    Then Dr. Keel came out of an operating room.  He was one of
Galactica's best Trauma surgeons, and had been with the Battlestar for
several yahrens. He'd even declined the position of CMO on the
battlestar, because that would involve more paperwork than patients, and
that didn't appeal to him. Keel came over to where Sergeant Wagner was.
"Sergeant." 
    "How is he, Doc?" She replied. 
    "Not good," Keel said. "A lot of shock and loss of blood, plus
serious internal trauma. If you'd gotten here even a few centons
earlier...."
     She slammed her fist on the bulkhead. "Damn it!" Then she calmed
down, even though this was a first for her. "What are his chances?" 
     "No better than fifty-fifty," Keel said. "We've replaced his blood
volume, and administered the full series of tissue regenerators. But,
even with our level of medicine......"
    Lauren understood.  "Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose." 
   "Afraid so," he replied. "He's in ICU, and is still unconscious." 
    "Okay, Doc. Thanks," said Lauren. 
    "How's Ron?" Jessica said as she came up. 
    Lauren put her hand on Jessica's shoulder. "Not good. It can go
either way." 
    Jessica knew full well what that meant. Just after returning from the
Gulf War, one of her squadron's UH-46s had crashed on a training mission.
Three of the crew had been killed instantly, and a fourth succumbed to
his injuries a couple days later. The doctors had said the same thing
then. "Even with their medicine..." 
    "Can't win them all," Lauren nodded. "Even here." 
    "Some things are universal," Jessica said. She'd picked that up from
Captain Byrne. Then there was a scream that only a newborn could make. 
     WAAAHHH!
     "What the...." Jen asked. She'd helped put the toddlers to bed and
had come out for a break. 
     "Catherine's had her baby," Denise was smiling and clapping. 
     Then Dr. Salik came out. "It's a boy. Mother and son are doing
fine." 
     The former prisoners were clapping and cheering. "And the father?"
Captain Ashby asked. 
     Salik grinned. "He'll be fine. After the delivery, he fainted," 
    Cassie heard that, and shook her head. "Men!" 

    A  few centons later, Commander Adama came into Life Center. As he
surveyed the scene, a sense of pride came into him. This was what the
mission was all about. Seeing these people, who were now able to start
the long trip home, and in so doing, hopefully fill in some of the gaps
in their knowledge of Earth's culture, customs, and traditions. But that
could wait for now. Doctor Salik saw him, and came over. "Doctor?" 
    "Commander," the CMO said. "So far, everything's under control." 
   "How's the wounded trooper?" Adama asked. 
   "Corporal Hadrian is recovering well, Commander," Salik nodded. "He
took a slug to the collar bone, and with the tissue damage....some time
in a regen unit, and he'll be back on duty in two or three days." 
    "Why so long?" 
    "He insisted that some of the prisoners go ahead of him. Some have
recent and badly healed fractures, and four of them were fresh out of
that torture shed. But he'll be fine."  
    "I understand there was a seriously wounded prisoner as well?" 
    "Yes, Commander," Salik said. "Dr. Keel, the head of the Trauma
Department, handled the surgery. He's critical at the moment and is in
ICU. The next twenty-four centars are important." 
   "Keep me advised on his condition, Doctor," Adama said. "And the other
prisoners?" 
   Salik let out a smile. "So far, so good. Most have some low-grade
starvation, and nutritional deficiencies, which we're evaluating and
treating. They've all  had their physicals, and nearly all have gone to
bed. Some, though..." he nodded towards a table where Sergeant Wagner,
Petty Officer Clemens, Jen, and two of the rescued women were talking,
"are too excited to sleep. They're on Adrenalin, and that, Commander,
doesn't come with an 'off'' switch."
    "As I'm well aware," Adama said, recalling his days as a combat
pilot. It could take a while to unwind. "And the others?" 
   "There's one pregnant woman, and she's not due for four sectans, so
that's good. Four of them were either in the torture shed or just out of
it, and they're recovering. And we have had a baby born this morning, a
few centons after arrival." 
    Adama's eyes widened. "A baby?" 
    'Yes, Commander. A healthy baby boy. The mother and son are doing
fine. The father is resting. After the delivery, he fainted." 
    "A staple of many a vid-show comedy, Doctor," Adama nodded. "Did you
ever think that would ever come to life?" 
    Salik laughed. "No, Commander, but there's a first time for
everything." 
   "And the Risik wounded?" 
   "It's Scarface," Commander," Salik replied. He called up his chart.
"He's had his surgery, and is now recovering in the Security Ward." 
    "Keep him there until you hear further from me, Doctor," Adama
ordered. 
   "Yes, sir," Salik said, calling up another chart. "The Risik woman-the
Governor's, well...mistress, she's being checked out now. Lieutenant
Castor wants to put her up in VIP Quarters.' 
    "Granted," Adama said at once. "Inform Castor, and see to it that
she's made comfortable. I'll want to speak to her once she's had some
rest and something to eat." 
    "Yes, Commander," 
    Adama then went over to the table where Sergeant Wagner and the
others were talking. Clearly, the rescued prisoners were too excited to
sleep, and they had to do something. So they were just talking. Then
Wagner spotted the Commander. "Commander on the deck!" she said, and she,
Petty Officer Clemens, and one of the prisoners came to attention. 
    "As you were, all of you," Adama said. He put out his hand to Wagner.
"Sergeant, well done." 
   "Thank you, sir," Wagner said. "We got everyone out, and no one was
left behind. Though I wish we'd been a little bit faster on the
extraction...." She shot a glance over to ICU. 
   "No sense in beating yourself up, Sergeant," Adama said. "Combat is
always unpredictable. And casualties are part of it." 
   'Yes, sir," Wagner replied. "But still....if we'd been just a little
faster, maybe he'd be with us,instead of  in ICU." 
    "God willing," Adama nodded, "he will be soon." 
    "Yes, sir," Wagner said. 
    "Commander," Petty Officer Clemens said, "My friend Denise Hayden,"
she indicated the woman sitting across from her. "We were...taken
together." 
    "A pleasure," Adama said. "The Petty Officer has told us a lot about
you and your friends." 
    "Thank you, Commander," Denise said. "We're all glad to be out of
there." 
    "It's her you should be thanking. It was rescuing her from the ship
she was held on that led to this operation," Adama nodded. 
     "Still, Commander....it was your people who put their lives on the
line for us," Denise replied. She got up. "I hope you don't mind." And
she embraced the Commander. "Thank you." And she was crying. 
    Adama noticed that Denise was about Athena's age, and she had scars
on her wrists-were they from torture cuffs that the Petty Officer had
described in her written account?  What would he do if it was his own
daughter who'd come out of that Hades Hole? So he did what any father
would do, and gave her a hug. "You're welcome." 
    Denise nodded, wiped away a few tears, then composed herself. "Oh,
this is Lieutenant Amy Sanderson, Commander," she nodded at Amy, who was
still sitting down. 
   "First Lieutenant Amelia Sanderson, United States Marine Corps,
Commander," Sanderson said, standing to attention. "I was the senior
ranking military female there." 
   "Lieutenant," Adama said. "I imagine Captain Byrne's going to want to
have a talk with you." 
   "So the Sergeant has said," Sanderson replied. "A Naval Aviator and
astronaut, I gather. So...what happens now?" 
   "Once we have rendezvoused with our Fleet, and has the Sergeant told
you about that?" Adama asked.    
    "Yes, sir," Sanderson nodded, a grim expression on her face. "My
God....that's all that's left of your people?" 
    "As far as we know, yes," Adama said. "Though we have no idea if
there were any other survivors who fled in other directions, and there
may still be one battlestar out there, somewhere, all known survivors
from the Twelve Colonies are in the Fleet." 
     "My God..." Denise said. "What happened? You had a war with
these...Cylons? And Lauren said something about a false peace offer.."
     Adama nodded gravely. "Yes. We had fought a war against a merciless
and inhuman foe for over a thousand of your years, and when a peace offer
was presented to us, our political leaders grasped at it. We assumed
there would be peace..."
     "Instead," Amy said, "you fell for a trap." 
     Adama looked at her. "We did. Our Fleet was ambushed, and only the
Galactica managed to escape. We tried to return to our homeworlds to
prevent the attack, or at least warn of it, but we were too late. After
the first attack waves, all we could do was gather up whatever survivors
we managed to assemble, and flee before the main invasion force arrived.
"
    "God almighty..." Denise shuddered. "Now what?" 
    Adama smiled. "We'll get you all cleaned up, debriefed, and once
we're on our way out of Risik space, settled on either the Constellation
or Adelaide. And we'll also be putting Scarface and the captain of the
ship we found the Petty Officer on in front of a Tribunal, or what you
call in your military a court-martial, to answer for their crimes." 
     "Some of you will have to testify," Lauren pointed out. "Any of you
up to it?" 
     "Commander," Sanderson nodded. "He has fifty-plus victims, not
counting the kids. Everybody there was in that torture shed at least
once. Just say where and when, and I'll be there."
    "Same here," Denise chimed in. "I'll do it."
    "And that bastard Lemeshik..." Jessica said. "He's the one who took
me from the camp. Remember?"
    "Do I ever," Denise said, and Sanderson nodded. Both of them had been
among the women who had been...inspected. 
    "It'll be a few days, but yes," Adama said. "Meanwhile, you'll all
get settled in, and we'll go from there." 
     "It beats the alternative," Denise said, and the others nodded. 
    "It does, indeed." Adama said. "In any case, welcome aboard." 

     After the Commander took his leave, both Denise and Amy found the
adrenalin wearing off. They finally decided to go find a bed, that left
Lauren, Jen, and Jessica sitting at their table. "Now what?" Jen asked as
she sipped some juice. "Everyone's bedded down, and the cabin we stayed
in got turned over to Fredrik, Marta, and their baby.  All the other
private cabins are taken as well." 
     "I asked the Commander before we left. There's a suite in VIP
Quarters for us," Lauren nodded. She got up.  "Come on; it's been a long
day, and we all need sleep. Especially me. It'll be a while before anyone
here wakes up." 
     "And when they're all settled in?" Jen asked. 
    "We take Denise to the Rising Star," Jessica said. "Remember?" 
    Lauren smiled. "Do I. Just as long as they have those IFB jackals on
a leash." 
   Jessica grinned. "This'll be something to look forward to. And want to
bet Jasen, that tailor, has the order of his life?" 
   "What do you mean?" Jen asked, looking at her friend. 
    Lauren explained the seizure of the smuggler ship, and his cargo of
cloth, dye, and other luxury goods. As well as the drugs. "And all that
legal cargo gets used in the Fleet somehow." 
   "Oh."
   "Cassie also said they can use some of the drugs: they can break them
down and resynthesize them somehow. Nothing gets wasted. That Irel stuff,
though? It gets destroyed no matter what. It's too dangerous even for
that. 
    "Guess so, being out here in the middle of nowhere,' nodded Jen.  
   The trio picked up their bags, then went to the VIP section, where
Sergeant Fabius was on duty. "Sergeant," he nodded. "I have Commander
Adama's authorization for you three. You've got the suite that Captain
Byrne and Jen had when they arrived." 
   "Thanks, Fabius. And the Risik woman?" Lauren asked. 
    "She's in the suite across from you guys. Corporal Vesper's on her
door. Commander's orders." 
    "All right: thanks, Fabius," Lauren said as he handed her the key
card. 
   "Good night," he replied. "Or Good Morning: it's well past 0800." 
   "Whatever," Jessica said. "As long as we can sleep." 
    The trio went to their suite, and found Vesper outside Melnea's
suite. "Sergeant," Vesper said. "They told me you'd be coming." He
checked their ID ducats, pro forma. 
    "How's our new guest?" Lauren asked.  She briefly explained the Risik
woman found with the Governor to Jen and Jessica. 
    "She went right to bed," Vesper said. "Probably glad not to worry
about what someone would do to her when she woke up."
    "I'll second that," Jessica said. "I'm still getting used to it
myself."
    "No doubt," Vesper smiled. "Anyway, if there's anything you three
need, let me know." 
   "Thanks, Vesper," Lauren said as she used the key card and opened the
door to their suite. Her two friends followed, and as the lights came on,
Jessica was surprised. Jen, though, wasn't. She and her dad had stayed
there after their rescue. 
    "How about this? The digs for their President, if he was aboard. Or
some big shots, or an Admiral?" 
    "Good Lord!" Jessica said. "It'd cost me, what, three months' pay
just to have a weekend in a place like this back home." 
     "Same here," Lauren said. "The Elite Class on the Rising Star? Their
accommodations are like this, they say." 
    "Two bedrooms, bath and shower, and a big living room. Computer
interface and an entertainment suite, " Jen said. "Just like old times.
Pop and I were here after they rescued us." 
     Nodding, Lauren and Jessica took one of the rooms, while Jen took
another, for all were just plain tired. It wasn't long before all three
were sound asleep. 


     After a short nap in his quarters, along with a quick breakfast and
shave, Adama returned to the Bridge. Tigh was still there, as well as
Omega. "Colonel," Adama said "ETA to rendezvous?" 
    "Three centars, Commander," Tigh reported. "Rear scans are negative,
and we have the rendezvous system on forward scans. It's clear as well.
We're already picking up the interference from the gas giant's radion." 
    "Thank you, Colonel," Adama said. "No sign of any Risik activity at
all?" 
    "None, Commander." 
    "Still, keep scans at maximum. No telling what's out there." 
    "Yes, sir." 

     
    Aboard Adelaide, Commander Cedric Allen, RAN,  was watching his
console. Commander Adama had left him in command of the Colonial Fleet
while the Task Force had gone off on its mission, and now, he was
anxiously awaiting its return. Though the Fleet had been hidden in this
system to protect  it from any prying eyes, it also meant that he
wouldn't see the Task Force's return until they were nearly on top of
him. He turned to his sensor officer. "Anything?"
    "No, sir," she replied. "Active scans are nearly useless. The planet
is having massive aurorae, and all of the radion and gas where we are is
reflecting the scans back towards us. And passive sensors are giving out
many false contacts." 
    "Very well," Allen said. Nothing that he didn't already know, and the
false contacts had driven him, his sensor officers, and his fighter
pilots nuts, for every contact had to be investigated, and all of them
had proven negative. While he'd been waiting for the Task Force's return,
he'd been going over the stats of every ship in the Fleet. Command,
status, maintenance, and defensive capabilities. Might as well find all
this out, he mused. 
    "Captain?" Vickers, the Exec, asked. "Why not send a couple of
fighters out to the heliopause? Two ships can give enough warning." 
     Allen thought for a moment. Then he nodded. "Best idea all day,
Vickers. Make it so," he ordered. 
    Two Vipers were then sent out to scan the area out to the heliopause,
one flown by Mako Squadron's leader, Lieutenant Rico, and his wingmate,
Flight Sergeant San, with orders to return prior to being detected if any
Risik ships were spotted. 

   Ayesha came out of the quarters she and Baltar shared on the Base
Ship,  and she decided to see if Baltar or Starbuck needed anything. They
had eaten at their posts twice, and now with her motherly poultron
instincts kicking in, she felt that she needed to check on them. Ayesha
went to the cabin Starbuck used, and found him asleep on top of the bunk,
fully clothed in case of an emergency. It had been a long day, and it was
finally catching up to the Lieutenant. Then she went to the Command
Center, and found Baltar still awake, but barely, and the Centurions on
duty going about their duties with their usual efficiency. 
    He noticed her, and rubbed his eyes. "Ayesha?" 
   "Baltar," Ayesha said. "Would you like some java or something else hot
to keep you awake?" 
   "That would be good," Baltar nodded. "Once we've rendezvoused with the
Fleet, then I'll come and get some sleep." 
    "It has been quite a long day," Ayesha reminded him. "You really need
to come to bed."
    "Once we've rejoined the Fleet," Baltar nodded. "Not until then." 
    "I'll get you something." 


      On Constellation, Captain Byrne got up from a short nap in his
cabin. He knew that he needed some rest, and had finally taken his Exec's
advice and gotten some sleep. There were times when the Exec's advice
outweighed the Captain's desire, and this was one of them. Once they had
joined up with the Fleet, and gotten underway, there would be plenty of
time to catch up on sleep. The Captain had a quick shave, and a quicker
breakfast, before heading back to the Bridge. When he got there, he found
Mr. Agron standing watch as OOD. "Mr. Agron," 
     "Captain," Lieutenant Agron nodded politely. "Captain on the
Bridge," he announced. 
    "As you were," Bryne said. "Sitrep, please, Mr. Agron." 
    "So far, no contacts to report. Mr. Dilley reports that the damage to
Airlock Six has been repaired, mostly cosmetic, he says. Just an
overloaded relay. And the affected deflection circuit has been reset,"
Mr. Agron reported. 
   "ETA to rendezvous?" Byrne asked, taking a pad with the information.
After scanning it, he signed it with a stylus. 
    "One centar, Captain," Agron replied. "We can pick up the system's
planets, but the gas giant's radion and the gases from the volcanic
moons..."
    "Make detecting anything else there nearly impossible," Byrne
finished. "If we can't see it, the Risik sure can't. The key reason
Commander Adama picked this spot to hide the Fleet."
    "Yes, sir," Agron nodded. "So far, nothing on scanners." 
    "And has Mr. Dante finally reported to his rack?" 
    "He did, sir. After he nearly fell asleep on the Bridge," Agron said.
"I almost had Metxan from Security escort him to his quarters." 
     "That would've been something to see," Byrne chuckled. "Very well,
Mr. Agron. Helm: steady as she goes." 
     "Helm steady, aye," the duty helmsman replied. 
    

     One centar later, the Task Force came out of light-speed at the
rendezvous system's heliopause. On Galactica's Bridge, Commander Adama
and Colonel Tigh watched as the Task Force slowed to sublight. "Mercedes,
anything?" Adama asked. Omega's Condition Two watch had ended, and
Mercedes had taken over for him. 
     "Nothing yet....wait, Commander. We're picking up two Vipers. ID
confirmed," the bridge officer reported. "It's Mako Leader from Adelaide,
the lead transponder reads." 
     "Open a channel," Adama ordered. 
     But the Vipers came on the line first. "Galactica, this is Mako
Leader," the lead Viper called. "Great to see you guys," 
    "Glad to see you," Mercedes replied. "Where's the Fleet?" 
    "Right where you left it," Mako Leader replied. "Follow us in." 

    On Adelaide's Bridge, Kaylesha came up to Commander Allen's station.
"Ced. You need something to eat. At least, have some java or juice." She
had two cups on a tray for him. 
    "I'll take the java," Allen said. "It'll keep me awake." 
    "Sensor contact!" The sensor officer called. "Two Vipers. It's Mako
Leader and his wingmate." 
    "Vickers," Allen called to his Exec. "Stand by to go to Battle
Stations." 
    "Sir!" the sensor officer shouted. "I'm picking up......"
    "Yes?" 
    The sensor officer grinned. "It's the Galactica, Base Ship, and
Constellation. The Task Force has returned." And cheers broke out on the
Bridge. 
     
     "Commander, we're picking up transponder signals," Mercedes said.
"And...we now have the Fleet. Picking up Adelaide's now." 
    Adama and Tigh shook hands, then Adama nodded. "Open a channel,
Mercedes." 
    The bridge officer grinned. "Yes, sir!" A few microns later, Allen's
face appeared on a monitor. "Commander Allen, sir." 
    "Commander Allen?" Adama asked. "Any problems?" 
    "No, Commander, and glad to see you back," Allen replied. "The only
problems were a lot of false contacts due to all this crud here. This is
a very poor sensor environment, and my fighters kept chasing false
contacts. You made a great choice, Commander. Somebody could stay here
indefinitely." 
     "Not on the agenda," Adama said. "But...mission accomplished.
Fifty-eight people now aboard Galactica, and Ne'Chak's military
capabilities destroyed." 
     Allen let out a breath. "Thank God, Commander." 
    "We'll have an after-action review in a day or so, but I'm resuming
command of the Fleet," Adama said. "Time to get out of here." 
     "Yes, sir." said Allen."Turning command back over to you, sir." He
turned to Vickers. "Get us back in our usual position in the Fleet." 
      Vickers grinned. "Yes, sir!" 
 
     The three capital ships resumed their normal Fleet stations, and the
Colonial Fleet headed out of the system, leaving behind only some
unrecyclable garbage that, caught by the gas giant's gravity, ultimately
made a death plunge into its atmosphere.  
     Colonel Tigh turned to Adama. "Course, Commander?"
    Adama was checking the Plot Board. "Double back to the system we were
at prior to this one. Then we'll pick up our Epsilon Vector 22 heading." 
    "Commander?" 
    "The more distance we put between us and any Risik reaction force,
the better. And the fewer opportunities for the Risik to pick up our
trail." 
     Tigh nodded. "Yes, Commander," he said, relaying the orders. And the
Colonial Fleet began its course, as it doubled back to the binary system
they had stopped at previously. It would be a two-day trip. 

     
     In Galactica's VIP Quarters, the door buzzed. Sergeant Wagner opened
her eyes, and found Jessica still asleep. She got up, wearing only her
panties, and went into the suite. The buzzing continued, and she knew
someone was at the door. Who the hell was rousing them from a
well-deserved sleep? After tossing on a robe, Wagner opened it, and found
Castor there. "Good morning, Lauren." 
     "Morning? Castor, we just went to bed!" If this was some kind of
joke...
     "No, you haven't. It's 0730. You've been out for nearly a whole
day," Castor smiled, holding up his pad. 
    "What?" She took the pad, looked at it, then at Castor. "A whole
day?" 
    "Yeah. You three have been out for nearly twenty-four centars,"
Castor said. "Like a pair of shorted Cylons." He waved a steward in. "I
have a friend in Messing. He's got java, juice, pastries, and toast for
you three." 
    "Okay, come on in," Lauren said. "Just set that on the table. I'll
sign for it later," she said, indicating a table in the living room. 
    The steward smiled, nodded politely and did so. "If you need anything
else, just let us know," he said, then he went on his way. 
   "Let me go get the others woke up," Lauren said. She went back into
the room she and Jessica had, and nudged her awake. "Jessica..." 
   "Huh? What.... Lauren? Go back to bed," Jessica said, turning over and
pulling the covers over her head. 
   "Time to get up, sleepyhead," Lauren said. "You and me have been out
for nearly an entire day." Nothing. "Jess!" 
   "Huh? A whole day?" 
   "You heard me," Lauren said. "Time to get up and at 'em." 
    "Okay.." And Jessica got up, still surprised to hear that she'd been
asleep for nearly a whole day. She, too, put on a robe.  "Haven't been
this zonked out since the welcome-home party from the Gulf War back in
Norfolk. What's that I smell?"
   "Breakfast on the table," Lauren said, then she went over to Jen's
room and opened the door. "Rise and shine!" 
   "Later!" Jen's voice came from the room, and a pillow came flying
through the door.
   "Hey, we've been out for a day. Time to get up and be human again."
Lauren said, throwing the pillow back. 
   "Okay, okay," Jen said,getting out of bed with a thud,  then she
staggered out of the room. "Oh. Hi, Castor." 
   Castor shook his head. It reminded him of the times his sister had
friends over for a slumber party. "Are you all always like this in the
morning?" 
    "Never had a day like the one we just had," Jen said. "Food? Is that
food I see?" 
    "Eat," Lauren said. "So, anything new?" She asked Castor, motioning
for him to join them. 
    Castor nodded. "We're headed back to that binary system we stayed
before. Then we'll see about picking up our course, Commander says. The
sooner we get clear of Risik territory-"
   "The better," Jessica said. "Put those....people behind us.
Literally."
    Lauren and Jen nodded. Their roomie had good reason to feel that way.
"Anything else?" Lauren asked as she reached for some toast. 
    "The Governor's still making a pest of himself," Castor said. "He's
in an isolation cell in the Brig, and he's screaming his head off about
kidnapping, piracy, act of aggression, and the list goes on." 
    "I'll take care of him," Lauren said. "He'll get put in his place,
and if I have my way, that place would be some inhospitable planet-with
Jessica's captor and Scarface for company." 
    "And some hungry wildlife," Jessica added. "Betcha those animals
would like some fresh meat."
    "You two into animal cruelty?" Jen asked, and her two roomies
laughed.  
    "No arguing there," Castor said. "Jessica, Cassie said to let you
know: your friend had to go back into surgery." 
    Jessica looked at Castor, a concerned look in her eyes. "What
happened?" 
   "She said a blood clot almost went to his brain, and that alone
would've killed him," said Castor. "He's still in ICU, and still
unconscious." 
    "I need to get back down there," Jessica said. "As soon as I get
cleaned up." 
     "Me too," Jen smiled. "Got to like those kids." 
     "How are the others doing?" 
    Castor smiled. "Cassie said they're getting on their way. Some are
walking around, others just want to talk, and some are still asleep." 
    "They're adapting," Lauren said. "Just like with returned POWs back
home. They've been told for too long what to do, when to do it, and how
to do it-or else, and getting used to being free takes time. Some adapt
longer than others." 
     "But they will," Jessica said with pride. "You two have helped me a
lot, and if I can adapt, they can." 
    "That's a good attitude," Castor said. "Anyway, we'll have the
after-action review tomorrow, the Commander said. And Wilker's people are
cracking the stuff they found in Scarface's office." 
     Lauren got up and went to the bay window. The stars were going by,
and she could make out Constellation, maintaining her slot in formation.
"They find anything yet?" 
    "Haven't heard," Castor admitted. "Their crypto's easy to crack,
though. We'll find out tomorrow." 
    "Okay, Castor," Lauren said. "The Major want anything?" 
    Castor nodded. "He said to come by the SF Area when you're free from
Life Center, and he'll go over things with the rest of Team One." 
    "Tell him I'll be there when I can," she said, going back to the
table. "And at least I brought one thing back from that camp."
   "What?" Jen asked. 
   "I picked up the Chief Guard's rifle," Lauren said. "That's going on
the wall in my office on Constellation." 
    Jen and Jessica looked at her. "And when we get home?" Jen asked. 
   "Simple," Lauren said, sipping some juice. "The house I build with
some of my back pay?" 
    "Yeah?" Jessica asked. She, too, had similar plans. 
    "It goes over the fireplace mantle." 
    "That," Castor grinned. "Is something I'd like to see." Then his PDA
buzzed. "Whups...Duty calls, ladies. I'll see you later," 
    After Castor left, the trio sat, lingering over their breakfast. "Now
what?" Jen asked. 
   "We go over to Life Center," Lauren said. "There's some I want to talk
to. And check on Ron."
   "So do I," Jessica said. "Any chance Denise can share our cabin on
Constellation?" 
   "Don't see why not," Lauren admitted. "It's big enough. When he comes
aboard, I'll talk with the Captain." 
   "And she's welcome," Jen smiled. Then she hugged Jessica.
   "One other thing," Lauren said. "I did bring that souvenir back from
the camp." 
   "What?" Jessica asked. 
    Lauren gave a grim smile. "The Chief Guard's rifle. He shot Ron, and
after they shot a couple of rockets into the tower, he got tossed out. I
went towards him, along with Castor, a couple of troopers, and a few
prisoners. He tried to get on his knees and raise his rifle, but I
emptied the rest of my magazine into him."
   "After what he did-" Jessica shuddered at some bad memories of the man
flogging her, turning her back and buttocks into raw hamburger. And he
had enjoyed every minute of it.  "He may not be Scarface, but...."
   "Yeah?" 
   "I'll still buy you a couple of drinks, Lauren. He was just as bad as
his boss was." 
   "Then we can drink a toast," Lauren said. 
   "To what?" Asked Jessica. 
   "To him being out of the gene pool." 
   "Amen to that." 
    
    
    Later in the morning, showered, shaved, and in his tropical whites,
Captain Byrne shuttled over from Constellation. He had several things on
his mind, first and foremost, checking up on Jen and seeing how the
rescued prisoners were doing, then talking things over with Sergeant
Wagner, and getting her take on how the mission went, and delivering his
formal after-action report to Commander Adama. He went to Life Center,
and when he got there, he found Dr. Salik coming out of a treatment room.
"Doc." 
    "Captain," Salik nodded politely. "I see you're here to finally see
these people." 
    "That, and to see how Jen's doing."
    "Have a look," Salik said, pointing to another treatment room. There,
one of the mothers was being checked out by Cassie, while Jen was holding
a baby and the baby was so bright and cheerful . A smile was on her face,
and the baby's face was as bright and cheerful, seemingly oblivious to
everything but Jen's warm arms. And the baby's face was just as Jen's had
been when she was little. "From that, Captain, Jen's going to make a
wonderful mother." 
     Byrne smiled himself. "Nothing wrong with some advanced training,
Doc. Haven't heard much, over on Constellation, so how is everything?" 
    "A little better than we expected," Salik admitted. "A couple of them
were kind of out of it for a day, but they finally realized that they're
not in that camp any more, and have opened up. Some want to get as much
sleep as they can, and others just want to talk and talk." 
    "Just like with our own experience with returned POWs, Doc," Byrne
said. "Different people react in different ways." He looked at Salik.
"Jen sent me a text, saying one of them was critical?" 
     "I'm afraid so, Captain," Salik said. "Let me show you." He went
over to his terminal and called up the chart. "He was shot several times,
and while he came through the surgery, he's still critical. And we had to
go back in, because he had a blood clot that almost went to his brain." 
      "Damn..." Byrne muttered. "What are his chances?" 
      "If this was Earth, he'd be gone already. But here....if he comes
through the next forty-eight centars..." 
      "Fifty-fifty?" 
     "That's about it," Salik admitted. "Even with our level of medicine,
we can't win every fight. His prognosis would be better if we could send
him to either a base hospital or a Fleet Hospital Ship, but..." Salik's
voice trailed off. "What's worse, it's Petty Officer Clemens' friend." 
     "Of all the....." Byrne said. "She knows, I take it?" 
     "She does, and she's been waiting outside ICU, when she's not busy
with the others. I know they weren't close-she told me, but she had
helped him stay sane." 
     "Okay, Doc. Thanks." Byrne said. "If you would....."
     "I'll let you know if there's any change," Salik nodded. "As for the
others....they should be ready to be released in four or five days." 
      "Thanks again, Doc." Byrne said, then he went over to where Jen
was. Cassie was soon finished with the mother, and she picked up her
baby. "How do you like your babysitter?" 
     "You must be Captain Byrne?" The woman asked. Seeing him nod, she
introduced herself. "Natalie Hudson, Savannah, Georgia." 
     "Pleasure to meet you," Byrne nodded. "Boy or girl?" He asked,
nodding at the baby.
     "Boy," Natalie said with pride. "In that place, if I had a choice, I
wanted a boy. Because he can't have a kid." 
     Byrne nodded. That feeling was quite understandable. "You were
lucky. And the boy's father?" 
    "His name's Josh Ryan. Not bad for a guy from Seattle," Natalie said.
"He's sleeping now." 
    The Captain smiled. "Glad to see you're doing okay. You'll be out of
here in four or five days." 
    "And come over to either your ship or the Australian's." Natalie
nodded. 
    "Who told you-" Byrne started to ask, then he saw Jen shrug. "Oh,
well...Guess that wouldn't stay secret for long." 
      "No." Natalie smiled, and held the baby firmly in her arms. "And he
has a real future now." 
     "You all do," Byrne said. 
     "I know," Natalie nodded. "Same time tomorrow, Cassie?" 
     "You got it," Cassie said. "See you then." 
     "Captain," Natalie said. "Oh, thank you." 
    "For what?" Byrne asked.
    "Your part in sending those Risik to hell." 
    "Wasn't much," Byrne admitted. "But we did our job." 
     "Thanks again, Captain. And see you later, Cassie." And Natalie and
her baby left the treatment room and headed back to the cabin she and her
partner shared. 
     "How are you doing, kid?" Byrne asked his daughter. 
     "She's a natural with babies," Cassie said. "She'll make a wonderful
mother some day." 
     "Gotta learn sometime," Jen shrugged, trying not to blush. 
     "Where's Lauren?" Byrne asked, "I need to ask her a few things." 
     "Two compartments over," Cassie said. "She and Jessica are talking
with some of the others." 
     "All right," Byrne said. "You keep up with your homework," he told
Jen. 
      "I will," Jen said, just as Marta came in, holding her baby. "Hi,
Marta. I'll take him." She went over to pick up the baby boy. 
       "Jen," Marta smiled. "And this must be your Captain Byrne." 
      "Captain Kevin Byrne, U.S. Navy, Ma'am," Byrne nodded politely. 
     "The U.S. Navy? Here?" Marta asked.
      "Pop, this is Marta van Dyk," Jen said. "And this is Jordan," she
added, holding the baby boy now in her arms. 
      "Ma'am," Bryne said. "It's a long story, but yes, I'm U.S. Navy." 
     "Captain," Marta smiled. "Thank you. For whatever you've done to
help us." 
     "You're welcome," Bryne said. "I guess you have business with
Cassie, so... I'll see you all later."       
     Jen nodded, "Okay, Pop. Later," while Cassie and Marta nodded. Then
Byrne went over to find Wagner and Clemens talking with some of the other
ex-prisoners. Wagner saw him by the door, and said. "Captain on the
deck!" 
     Clearly, Byrne saw, several of them were military personnel, for
they all came to attention. "As you were, all of you," he said. 
     "Captain Byrne," Wagner said. "this is Captain Ian Ashby, British
Army," she pointed to the senior ranking military officer among the
former prisoners. 
    "Sir!" Ashby said, and right away, Bryne could tell the British
accent. "Captain Ashby, 3rd Royal Tank Regiment, at your service." 
     "Captain," Byrne nodded. "Not much use for a treadhead in these
parts, but I imagine we'll find a place for you." 
     "So I've been told by the Sergeant here," Ashby said. 
     "And sir," Clemens said. "Captain Zhukov," she pointed to a
still-tough looking Russian. 
    "Captain Viktor Zhukov, Comrade Captain," Zhukov said proudly, his
Russian accent showing. "Soviet Airborne Forces." 
    "Captain," Byrne said, shaking his hand. "Old rivalries back home
mean nothing now, I imagine." 
    "That is so, Comrade Captain." Zhukov said. "Pardon, old habits....."
     Byrne laughed. "You don't have to worry about a political officer 
or a KGB officer looking over your shoulder. Though I should tell you:
one's the Russian Prime Minister now-or at least was, when I left Earth."

     "Russia is ruled by a Chekist?" Zhukov spat. "Of all the..." 
     "That was a while back. But when I left, it was," Byrne said. 
     "It was bad enough with that swine Andropov," Zhukov growled. "I was
still a cadet then." 
    "Well, we've got a lot of time to get caught up," Byrne said. "And
who's this lady?" He asked, pointing at a blonde with cropped hair.
    "Lieutenant Amelia Sanderson, sir," Amy Sanderson replied,
stiffening.  "United States Marine Corps."  
    "As you were, Lieutenant," Byrne said. If she stayed at attention,
she'd risk cracking her spine. 
    "Sir,"     
    "Our jarhead," Clemens quipped. "But sir, she's tough. And one of a
handful who stood up to Scarface and got away with it." 
    Byrne raised an eyebrow. "Lieutenant, that's something I'd like to
hear for myself." 
    "Yes, sir," she said proudly. "But that was a rare event." 
    "I can imagine," Byrne said. "And this is?"
    "Sir, this is Ensign Anna Popva. We'd call her a Warrant Officer, but
they call her an Ensign in Russia. She's the nurse." Clemens said. "And
one of my best friends." 
    "Captain," Anna said. "Jessica has told us about you. And the
Sergeant here." 
   "She has," Ashby added. "And a little bit about these Colonials. My
God....they want to go to Earth?" 
   "They do," Byrne said. "And it's a long story. They're fleeing a war
they lost." 
    "A thousand years of war and they lost it in a single day," Sanderson
nodded. "This Commander Adama told me that much." 
     "He did," Wagner added. "He came by shortly after we pulled out of
the system." 
     "Well," Byrne said, It's a long story, and I'll tell you mine, if
you'll share yours." He pulled up a chair. "And the other military?"    
     "Seven others. They're either eating, sleeping, or seeing the
medics," Ashby said. 
    "Okay. There'll be plenty of time to talk to them," Byrne said.
"Sergeant, Petty Officer?" 
    "Sir?" Wagner asked. 
    "Why don't the two of you leave us for now," Byrne said. "If you have
business with Major Croft, I'd suggest you take care of that, and come
back in a while." 
    "Yes, sir," Wagner said, and Clemens nodded. It was a polite form of
dismissal, and both Wagner and Clemens understood.
    "That'll be all for now, both of you." 
    "Yes, sir," Wagner said, and she and Clemens left the room. "Well?"
    "They'll be okay," Jessica said. "Some will adapt quicker than
others, but overall? They'll be fine. She looked at her roomie. "And why
do we have to go see Croft?" 
    "I've got some things to go over with him-a post-mission talk, and
you have to thank those guys." 
    Clemens nodded. "Oh. Kinda forgot about that." 
    "Come on," Wagner said, and the two left Life Center, headed for the
SF Area. "Just remember: it's a long walk." 
    "This ship seems built for a hiker or a cross-country runner. But
hey, we can use the exercise," Clemens said, and they both laughed. 
      
     Captain Byrne had had a pleasant talk with the military personnel
among the rescued prisoners, and had also chatted with many of the
others. Who went to what ship, and when, was a topic that came up, and
Byrne said that he would speak with the Council, and promised to make
sure that individual preferences were respected, if at all possible, and
that the families that had sprung up would stay together, no matter what.
That done, he went to Commander Adama's office. 
    "Enter," the Commander's voice sounded. 
    Byrne came into the office and saluted. "Reporting as ordered,
Commander," he said. "I've got the after-action report for you." He
handed Adama a data chip. "Everything's here: the video of the
engagement, the gun-camera from the Vipers, plus damage and casualty
reports, all appended." 
   "Thank you, Captain," Adama said. "Be seated."
   "Commander," Byrne said.
    Adama then plugged the chip into his own computer, and the report
came up. "Well done."
    "Thank you, sir, " Byrne said. "All shipboard damage has been
repaired, and there were no casualties, either shipboard or among Viper
pilots." 
     "This is the first time in a while that we've had no shipboard
damage or casualties in a serious engagement," Adama said. "The previous
encounter was more like target practice than anything else." 
     "In that fight, Commander, we had no choice but to kill him," Byrne
pointed out. "Here, though.....they may have been outgunned, but they
went down fighting." 
     Adama nodded agreement. "That they did, Captain," he said. "Even the
two Patrol Cruisers that faced the Galactica and the Base Ship didn't
flinch when facing our guns. Just like that patrol craft you engaged." 
     "You can despise someone all you want, Commander," said Byrne.
"But....you can respect someone for how they fought. They knew they
weren't coming back, and they charged into the guns anyway. Like the
Charge of the Light Brigade." Adama raised an eyebrow, and Byrne
explained the term. 
     "Indeed," Adama said. "One does respect a valiant adversary, no
matter their conduct in...other matters." 
    "Yes, sir," Byrne agreed. 
    "Speaking of other matters, have you been to Life Center?" 
    "Yes, sir, I have," Byrne said. "I've spoken to quite a few of those
we've rescued, including all the military personnel. Once Commander Allen
comes for the AAR tomorrow, we'll see who wants to go onto which ship,
and we'll try and keep the families together." 
    "A sensible thing to do," Adama nodded. "Has the topic of
representation come up?" 
   "No sir, not yet," Byrne said. "Let's let the euphoria of being free
wear off, then we can talk about practicalities. As well as explaining
your governing system. But I have told them about the Council. Though
Sire Pelias has made it clear that he does want to handle their interests
for the time being." 
    "He has indicated that to me as well, Captain," said Adama. "That
would be a temporary solution, unless they decide otherwise." 
    "Yes, sir." 
    "I take it you've heard about Scarface's capture?" Adama asked. 
   "Yes, sir. His court-martial-pardon, Tribunal, is going to be
interesting. Fifty-odd witnesses testifying against him, and hardly
anyone testifying for the defense, unless that sniveling bastard Lemeshik
takes the stand." 
   "And chances are, we'd have a single Tribunal for the both of them.
And the Governor, too, if he can be linked to any specific crime," Adama
pointed out. 
    Byrne nodded.. Then something came to him. "Commander, we could still
try him if we can't nail him for any specific acts against the
prisoners." 
    "How so?"   
    "Does the term Command Responsibility appear in your military law?"
Byrne asked. 
    "What does that mean?" Adama wanted to know. 
    "Sir, it means that a commander whose subordinates committed war
crimes can be held accountable for the actions of those subordinates,"
Byrne said. "It came after our Second World War, and a few people were
convicted on that basis. At least one was executed not for what he had
done," 
     "But for failing to control his subordinates," Adama finished. "I'll
speak with Sire Solon, and see if there's anything along those lines we
can use." 
    "Thank you, sir," Byrne said. "And has anyone had a chat with the
Governor?" 
    "Not yet, but I was planning to later today,"  Adama said. "Care to
join me, Captain?" 
    "And the Sergeant and the Petty Officer," Byrne asked, seeing Adama
nod."And Commander, I think you should have Sire Pelias come as well.
He's picked up the game after talking with Sub-Commander Morovik." 
    "That he has," Adama nodded, referring to the interrogations of the
captured ship's first officer. "We'll meet at the Brig. Be there at
1500." 
    Byrne nodded. "We'll be there, Commander." He stood again. 
   "Very well, Captain, is there anything else until then?" 
   "No, sir." 
   "All right, then. Dismissed." 
   As Adama spoke, there was a ping at the door. It was Starbuck, with
his own report from the Base Ship. 
   "Captain," Starbuck nodded. 
   "Lieutenant," Byrne said, then he headed out. 
   
    
    
     It was a long walk, but finally, both Sergeant Wagner and Petty
Officer Clemens arrived at the SF Area. When they got there, they found
Corporal Tellus coming out, and headed back to the Security Officer.
"Tellus," Wagner said. 
    "Sergeant," Tellus nodded. "And Petty Officer. Here to see the
Major?" 
   "We are," Wagner said. "And got a decent hike in the process." 
    Tellus laughed. "They say this ship would give any hiker or
cross-country runner a challenge. Go on in," 
   "That it did," Clemens said. "No need for a health club here." 
   "Thanks, Tellus," Wagner said. And the two went into the SF Area.
There, they noticed several troopers cleaning and packing gear away,
while a few were on the range, keeping up with their marksmanship.
Another was at a computer terminal, writing his report. They went to
Croft's office, but he wasn't there. Then some shouting drew their
attention. 
    "MOVE IT, SLIMEWORMS! OR YOU MIGHT GET RUN OVER, YOU SLIMY MAGGOTS!" 
    "That's not Major Croft, is it?" Jessica asked. 
    Wagner grinned. "No, it isn't," she said. "Follow me." 
   Curious, Jessica followed her friend, and came to the training area,
where at least ten trainees were going through the obstacle course, and
two of the Zohrloch warriors were running the trainees ragged. And
standing nearby, with a stopchrono and a grin on his face, was Major
Croft. And to her surprise, there was not a drop of sweat on the
Zohrloch, while the trainees had sweat pouring down their faces. Then
Croft called. "Time. Five centon break." Then he made some notes on a
pad. 
    "Major?" Wagner said. 
    Croft turned, and found Wagner and Clemens standing there, and both
saluting. He returned their salutes, and nodded. "Sergeant, and Petty
Officer," he said. "Glad you could be here. Come on, and let's go to my
office." 
    "Yes, sir," Wagner said. 
    "Who are these guys?" Clemens asked, glancing at the trainees. 
    "We lost a man on an operation before we found you," Croft explained.
"They're trying to fill his slot, and fill a reserve pool."  
     "In case you lose somebody else, or have training injuries," Clemens
said. 
     Croft looked at her, then at Wagner. "She's picking this up fast,"
he noted. 
    "After working with you guys the last few days?" Clemens asked.
"Major, anyone would pick this up." 
    "I sure did," Wagner admitted. "I helped train these guys on those
weapons, and they gave me a few pointers. Which came in handy when my
guys stormed the ex-Councilmen's shuttle." 
    "No doubt, Sergeant," Croft said, leading them into his office.
There, he called up the holo display of the compound. "The main thing I'm
wondering about is that South Center Tower." He highlighted the tower in
question. 
     "How that guard got to the tower?" Wagner asked. 
    "Or how they missed him before he got to the tower," Croft said. 
    "Sir," Clemens said. "The only way anyone could get to the tower was
outside the wire. Chances are, he saw what was happening when the
fireworks started, and that's where he went." 
    "He was the Chief Guard, right?" Croft asked. 
    "Yes, sir," Wagner nodded. "One of the prisoners ID'd him. He must've
fallen out when the first rocket hit the tower leg, and wasn't blown to
pieces when the second rocket hit the tower." 
   "You shot him, right?" 
    Wagner nodded again. "Yes, sir. Emptied the rest of a magazine into
him. After he tried getting up and raising a rifle." 
    "After what he did to us?" Clemens asked. "Good riddance." 
    "I'm not disagreeing with you," Croft said. "If we hadn't been held
up by that armored column that the Base Ship took out...maybe we would've
gotten clean away. Combat's never predictable, and it's always what you
don't anticipate that gets you." 
    "Just one detail overlooked," Wagner agreed. "Other than that, it was
perfect." 
    "Wasn't anyone's fault," Croft said. "That guard just happened to get
that one lucky shot off...." his voice trailed away. "How's your friend?"

    "No change," Clemens said. "They had to go back in because of a blood
clot that almost went to his brain." She wiped away a tear. "The next two
days are important, Salik said." 
    "Frak..." Croft muttered. "Anyway, Stark's guys found this in the
Commandant's Office," he said, picking up a folded flag. "This must've
been the flag that flew over the compound." 
    "It was, Major," Clemens said. 
    "Anyway, if you want it, either to take home and put up someplace, or
give to a museum some day, it's yours," Croft said, handing the flag to
Clemens. 
    "Thank you, sir," Clemens said. "I'll keep it, and for sure, there's
a museum back home that would want this. There's one other thing. Thank
you. You guys put your lives on the line for people you don't know, and
weren't even from your home planets." 
     "You're welcome, Petty Officer. All part of the job," Croft said.
"Well, I'd like to chat some more, but duty calls."
     "The trainees," Wagner said. "There were fifteen last time." 
     "Not anymore. Four dropped out, and there's eleven left, Now it's
time for Hades Sectan," Croft said as he led them back to the training
area.
     Wagner nodded and muttered to Clemens. "What SEALS would call "Hell
Week." 
     Croft consulted his pad. "Sargamesh?" 
     The Zohrloch warrior turned. "Sir!" 
     "Full packs this go-around, and double time, if you please." 
     "Sir!" The Zohrloch said. He nodded to his fellow warrior Korl, and
with a lot of shouting and a few kicks in the backside, the two Zohrloch
got the trainees up and going again.
     "MOVE! LET'S SEE SOME DOUBLE TIME!" Korl was shouting. "DOUBLE TIME,
MAGGOTS! MY AGED GRANDMOTHER COULD DO BETTER THAN ANY OF YOU! AND SHE
USES A HOVERCHAIR! MOVE!" 
     As the two Earthers watched, Wagner's PDA buzzed. "Well..."
    "What is it?" Clemens asked. 
     "Let's get back to our suite, then over to the Brig," Wagner said.
"Major, we've got to run. See you later." 
    "Anytime, Sergeant," Croft said. "Sargamesh? Keep at it." And the two
could see a grin on Croft's face. 
     The two saluted, then headed on out. "What's up?" Clemens asked.
"And why the Brig?" 
    "They want us to help interrogate the Governor. See if there's
anything they can nail him on." 
    "Now that you put it that way...." Clemens said. "Having him face
some nasty creature? The last thing he'll do is crap in his pants, before
he's torn apart."
    "AZGUL'S BEARD! I COULD DO BETTER THAN THAT BLINDFOLDED!" Sargamesh
was shouting as the two left the SF Area. And the two heard a lot more
before the hatch closed. 
     "Is he always like that?" Clemens asked.
    "Memories?" Wagner asked. "Like your DI?" 
    Clemens shook her head. "No. My DI wasn't like that.....He could be a
Marine DI, though. Sounds like he enjoys the job too much." 
    "Maybe bring Lieutenant Sanderson over?" 
    "She's tough enough," Clemens thought after a moment. "It'd be like
old home week. And it'd help her get back in shape."
    "It would," Wagner agreed. "Come on, let's not keep the Commander and
the Captain waiting." 

   After stopping by their suite, and a quick call to Life Center, and
finding nothing new about Ron's condition, the two headed for the Brig.
When they got there, Captain Byrne was already there, waiting. "Sir,"
Wagner said as both of them saluted.
    "Sergeant," Byrne said. "Well done. You did a great job down there, I
hear." 
    "Yes, sir. Though I do wish we'd been faster on the extraction,"
Wagner replied. "Jessica's friend Ron was shot by a guard on the way out,
as you know by now. And my killing that guard is small comfort." 
    "It is that," Byrne nodded agreement. "Hope he pulls through, Petty
Officer." 
    "Yes, sir," Clemens replied. "I'm on pins and needles now." 
    "Your friends are as well. They're all pulling for him," Byrne said. 
    "I know, sir," Clemens said. "Now what happens?"
    Byrne looked at the two. "Commander Allen and I will be talking with
them beginning tomorrow. We'll see who goes to which ship, though we'll
try and accommodate individual preferences. And we'll make sure the
families stay together. Introducing Sire Pelias to them is also on the
agenda." 
    "Sir, if you don't mind my saying," Clemens said. "Having him
represent us might be the best thing. No one there is high-ranking,
militarily, and the civilians? They're all just ordinary people. Sir, one
of them's a priest, for heaven's sake. And getting involved in politics
of any sort is the last thing any of them would want now. "
    "I understand, Petty Officer. If we were five hundred instead of
sixty or so, things would be easier. We'd be able to find someone willing
to get involved in this kind of snake pit." 
     "Sir, you talking about the Council?" Wagner asked. 
     "Yes, Sergeant, I am," Byrne said. "Not the kind of combat I prefer.
And with that bitch Lydia.....dealing with her every few days is the last
thing I want." 
     Having heard of Siress Lydia's deceit in leaking Petty Officer
Clemens' presence in the Fleet to IFB, both women nodded. "No doubt,
sir," said Wagner. 
    "Ah, Captain Byrne," Sire Pelias said as he came into the Brig's
waiting area. "And the Sergeant and Petty Officer.  I see things went
well," the young sire nodded. 
    "They did, Sire," Byrne said. "Though we had a casualty on the
extraction." 
    "So I have been told.  I went by Life Center on the way here," Pelias
said. "I didn't introduce myself, that is for later, but I wanted to
check up on them. And Doctor Salik tells me that one of them is in very
critical condition." 
    "He is," Clemens said. "He's the friend I told you about. And Salik
said that he could still lose him." 
    "So I was told," Pelias said. "Though I'm not a very religious man,
the Lords willing, your friend will recover. And he has fifty-seven
people pulling for him there." 
     "Indeed," Commander Adama said as he came into the room. "My
apologies for being late, but we had a patrol debriefing run a little
over. So far, no sign of Risik pursuit, and we should be back at that
binary system tomorrow. Then we can work our way back to our Epsilon
Vector 22 heading." 
     "Good news indeed, Commander," Pelias said. 
    "It is," Adama nodded agreement. "Shall we?" He gestured to the desk,
where Corporal Stamaris was waiting. "Corporal," 
    "Commander," Stamaris replied. "Who will you be seeing today?" 
   "The Governor," Adama said as he signed in. 
   "Yes, sir. He's in the isolation unit, as ordered. I'll need the
Sergeant's sidearm, please." 
   Wagner nodded and handed over her weapon. 
   "This way, please," Stamaris said, escorting the group to the
isolation unit, where the Governor was sitting in one of the cells. "I'll
be right outside, Commander, if there's anything you need." 
    "Thank you, Corporal," Adama said as the cell door opened. It
revealed a Risik male, dressed in some civilian clothes, and sitting
impatiently on the bunk. "Governor... I am Commander Adama, the
Commanding Officer of the Galactica, and the Commander of the Colonial
Fleet." 
    "I am Governor Raduztak, of the Risik colony world Ne'Chak. I must
protest, in the strongest possible terms, your attack on that world
without any warning or provocation. You have committed an act of piracy
and aggression against the Risik State." 
    "Governor," Adama said. "I should point out that you are hardly in a
position to demand anything." 
   "You had no right-" he said, standing up. 
   "Commander," Byrne said. "I believe the Sergeant might be able to set
him straight?" 
   "I believe so, Captain," Adama said. "Sergeant?'
    Wagner nodded, then got into Raduztak's face. "SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!
Don't you dare give us your 'no right' garbage! We had every right to
pull those people out of that camp! And you had NO RIGHT to take them
from Earth in the first place! And I was one of those you abducted! WHAT
ABOUT MY RIGHTS, YOU BASTARD? As far as I'm concerned, everyone involved
in those abductions has signed their own death warrant. And you'd better
be praying to your gods that you weren't involved in any of that!" 
    The Governor was looking at Wagner, then Adama. "What do you mean?" 
    "It's simple, Governor...." Wagner hissed. "If you so much as touched
anyone held at that camp, you are in a heap of trouble. Or were involved
in any way with taking people from Earth. Because..."
    "The Sergeant is quite right, Governor," Adama said. "Our laws allow
for the prosecution in our courts of those who commit crimes against
Humans anywhere. And the penalties can be severe." 
     "How severe?" Raduztak asked, sweating. 
     "'If convicted of torture, kidnapping, and rape, the sentence can be
either life imprisonment or marooning, at the discretion of the court,"
Adama said. 
    "Marooning?" 
    "That means, Governor...." hissed Wagner. "You learn how to make a
homemade spear. And pray that the animal life on some forbidding world is
content to look at you instead of eat you. Though it's likely any large
predator might get indigestion from you....." She looked him right in the
eye. "How's that?  And if I had my way, you'd be seeing the inside of an
airlock as another possible sentence." Then she turned to Adama.
"Commander," 
   "Sergeant," Adama said. "Before we continue, introductions are in
order," Adama nodded at Pelias. "This is Sire Pelias, from our ruling
council." Then he pointed to Captain Byrne. "And this is Captain Kevin
Byrne, of the United States Navy." 
    "Planet Earth," Byrne added. 
    "And you are no doubt familiar with Sergeant Wagner here," Adama
said. 
    "The bitch and I have met previously," Raduztak growled. 
   "I'd watch that if I were you," Byrne said, glaring at the alien and
seeing Wagner's angry expression, though she said nothing. 
   "And you may be familiar with Petty Officer Clemens, also of the
United States Navy, here," Adama finished. 
    "How so?" Raduztak sneered. 
    "I was a prisoner in that hellhole you call a camp," Clemens said,
getting into his face. "Until one of your officers removed me from that
hell, and made me his personal slave. Then these people found his ship.
There was a fight, and they rescued me." 
     "The Petty Officer is correct," Adama said. "So, Governor, were you
involved in any way with what happened at the camp?" 
     "No. I had nothing to do with what happened there. Besides, they are
Te'rean, and we can treat them in any manner we see fit," Raduztak said
with pride. 
    God, just like the Nazis. Byrne thought. Totally sociopathic, and the
state can do no wrong. "You'd better pray, Governor," Byrne said. "Pray
that the camp records-which are now in our possession, by the way, prove
your story. And that the rescued prisoners confirm it. Because if they
don't...." 
     "A Tribunal is next," Pelias said. "And I seriously doubt the
Tribunal would consider the argument you have just mentioned." 
     "You are Te'rean," spouted Raduztak. As if the very word was vile to
him. 
     "Not quite," Adama said. "Captain Byrne, the Sergeant, and the Petty
Officer are from the world we call Earth. However, the Sire and I, along
with nearly everyone else in this Fleet, are not." 
    "How? You are of the same race." The man was clearly confused. 
     "It comes down to this: a considerable distance from here, there is
a star system of twelve worlds and three suns. Our ancestors came to
those worlds from our dying mother planet and settled them. Over the
millennia, we developed our arts and culture, science and engineering, to
a level beyond yours. We explored the nearby systems, met other alien
races, and we traded with them. Until we encountered a foe that was
totally ruthless and determined. One that could not be reasoned or
negotiated with. A war ensued that lasted for a millennium. Until it
ended in a single day." 
     "And so....you seek Te'rea, so that you can settle there." It wasn't
a question. 
    'Very perceptive," Pelias said. "Yes, that is our intention. However,
there were thirteen tribes that fled our mother world. Twelve settled our
colonies, and we are descended from them. The thirteenth tribe settled
the world we call Earth." 
    "That world was ours once. And it shall be again," Raduztak spat.
"The Supreme Leader and the Priests have decreed it to be so. The gods
have spoken it, and it is in the Scrolls of Skethlon! It cannot be any
other way!" 
      "Commander?" Wagner asked. 
      "Sergeant," Adama nodded. 
      Wagner got back into Raduztak's face. "Right now, I could care less
about what your so-called 'Supreme Leader' and your cabal of lying
priests have told you.  Or what your worthless scrolls say. We know all
about your planned invasion of Earth, and if you do manage to get back to
your people, tell them this: we would have done whatever it took, from
guerrilla warfare to nuclear weapons, to defend ourselves. There's a
saying in one region of my country: 'Live free or die.'  That means we
have no use at all for jack-booted thugs: whether Communist, Fascist, or
Alien." 
     "I don't believe you. The Gods have said-" Raduztak started to say. 
     'Your lying gods haven't said anything about the Galactica," Wagner
said. "And when we get to Earth, we're going to make damned sure that we
can defend ourselves. And if your people are so stupid enough to try
another invasion, we'll be waiting for you. And give your fleet a hot
reception. As in blowing it out of the sky." 
     "She's right," Byrne added. "And then, we'll come looking for you.
How's that, chump?" 
      Raduztak looked at him, but said nothing.
     "Guess it never occurred to him, hmm?" Bryne asked.  
     "Sir, it never does, with this kind," Wagner replied. 
     Raduztak glared at him, then turned to Clemens. "And what are you
looking at?" 
    "Oh, just wondering how you're finding out what it's like to be a
prisoner," Clemens said. She got into his face for the first time. "Not
very fun, is it?" 
     "We shall return to your world, and we will make it ours again. And
as for you, Commander, we shall never forget what you have done." 
      Adama, Byrne, and the others looked at the Governor. "Actually,
Governor?" Adama said. 
    "Yes?" Raduztak sneered. 
    "We certainly hope so." 
    The Governor looked at them with a very confused expression on his
face. 
    Then Byrne whispered in Adama's ear. "Commander, I think we should
let him sweat about what we've said for a day or so." 
    "Agreed," Adama whispered back, nodding. "Governor, we shall return
in a day or two, and hopefully, you are in a more.....conversational
mood. And our specialists will be examining the camp records, to try and
verify your story." 
     "And we'll be talking with the rescued prisoners," Byrne added. "If
they verify what you've said, then you have nothing to worry about." 
     "And if not?" Raduztak glared at them. 
     Wagner got in his face one last time. "I'd be thinking about jungle
survival if I were you." 
    
   
     After leaving the cell, and going back into the reception area,
Adama asked the group for comments. 
    "Commander," Byrne said. "His reaction isn't a surprise." 
    "Indeed," Pelias said. "He may be a civil servant, but he is very
loyal." 
    "He'd have to be, Sire," Byrne pointed out. "Out here, someone who
can follow the Party line would be just about necessary. A regime like
this, they don't trust easily. He must have good marks, to get this
position far from their center."
    "Exactly, Captain," Adama said. "The Eastern Alliance was the same
way. Their Enforcers were the pick of the crop, and even in an oppressive
government as theirs is, those living on the frontier are often more
free-thinking than those closer to home." 
    Wagner nodded as she reclaimed her weapon. "That smuggler certainly
bears that out, Commander. He's a lot more cynical than either the
Governor or Lemeshik are. And the First Officer is a lot more reasonable
than his CO is." 
     "What's the Eastern Alliance?" Clemens asked, and Adama explained. 
     "Think spacegoing Nazis, Petty Officer," Byrne added. 
    "Oh. I see, sir," Clemens said. "Well, I could imagine one place on
that planet where things are a little interesting right now." 
    "Petty Officer?" Adama asked. 
    "That other camp, sir," Clemens replied. "If they're criminals and
dissidents, they might have rose up after seeing that, ,uh, what do you
call it?" 
    "Base Ship," Pelias said. 
   "Base Ship, Sire. Thank you. Anyway, there might have been some kind
of revolt there. And if some of the prisoners managed to break out...."
    "That could tie down resources that would be sent our way," Byrne
finished. "What do you think, Commander?" 
     Adama paused for a centon. "It would be beneficial, Captain. That
means a ship or two, maybe more, as guard ships and for any fire support
for landing parties sent to restore order, at the very least. A very real
possibility, I must say." 
   "Anything that puts their house in some kind of disorder benefits us,
then," Pelias commented. "The fewer who are looking for us, the better.
Too bad we'll never know for sure." 
    Adama nodded. "Unfortunately, I'll have to agree with you, Sire." 
   "Commander, there's someone who could give us some insight," Wagner
said. She nodded back towards the isolation area. "The
Governor's.....lady friend. Melnea. She was a prisoner at that camp until
he....acquired her." 
     "An excellent suggestion, Sergeant. He wouldn't be the first big
shot to shoot his mouth off to his partner," Byrne said. "Commander?" 
    "Agreed," Adama said. "A valuable source of information, and not just
about Ne'Chak, but their society in general." 
     Pelias nodded agreement. "Perhaps a conversation with her would be
in order, Commander." 
    "I agree, Sire." 
    Wagner's PDA buzzed. "Excuse me, Commander," she said. Then she
scowled as she read the message, then visibly sagged. "It's from Cassie."

    "Cassie?" Byrne asked. 
    Wagner nodded somberly. "Jessica, I've got some really bad news." 
    Jessica's face grew somber as well. As if she had been expecting it.
"Ron?" 
   "I'm afraid so," she nodded.  "He just passed away." She cursed softly
as Jessica sagged into a chair, and then embraced her friend, whose tears
were starting to flow. 
    "All that time in that hellhole, and all he wanted to do was go home.
That's all any of us want! " 
    Byrne embraced her as well. He remembered full well losing Jen's
mother. The fury, the anger, and the pain. "I'm so sorry, Petty Officer."
Then he went and kicked the reception area's wastebasket. "Damn it!" 
    Adama and Pelias looked at each other, then both offered their
condolences. "Let's go to Life Center," Adama said. 


    When they got to Life Center, the ex-prisoners were milling around,
talking to each other. Some were trying to follow what was on the
terminals, but they were listening to Salik and Cassie, when the
Commander and the others arrived. "Doctor," Adama said gravely. 
    "Commander," Salik nodded. "Petty Officer," he said to Jessica. "I'm
sorry."
   "How?" Jessica asked. 
    "He appeared to be stabilizing, then suddenly, his blood pressure
spiked, and his pulse was irregular and rapid, then it slowed way down.
Before we could do anything, he was gone," Salik said. "If it's any
consolation, he never regained consciousness, and did not suffer due to
the medications." 
   "Thank you, Doc," Jessica said. "You did what you could. Can I...?"
   "Of course," Salik nodded. He showed her into the treatment room,
where her friend lay on his bed. Though now lifeless, he appeared to have
at last found peace. "Take all the time you want," 
    "Thank you," she said, and Salik left the room. He could hear the
first sob as the door hissed shut. 
    "Doctor," Adama said when he came out. "You did everything possible."

    "I know, Commander, and one never gets used to losing patients,"
Salik replied.  "If we had a base hospital or a Fleet Hospital Ship, his
chances would have been a lot greater." 
    "No use second-guessing, Doctor," Adama said. "It was like this with
Serina, unfortunately." 
     Nearby, Byrne and Wagner were chatting with some of the former
prisoners. Then Byrne brought one of them over. "Commander, this is
Captain Ian Ashby of the British Army," 
   "Commander," Ashby said, 
   "Captain," Adama nodded. 
   "He's the senior ranking military officer from the ex-prisoners,"
Byrne said. 
   "Commander, on behalf of all of us, thank you. For everything," Ashby
said. "I just wish we were talking under more....pleasant circumstances."
He nodded towards the room where Ron had died. 
    "As do I, Captain," Adama said. 
    "Both Captain Byrne and Sergeant Wagner have explained things to us,
as best they can. Not just about what the Risik had planned, but the
situation of your people." 
    "I see," Adama said. "Captain, over the coming days, we'll do our
best to get you and your fellow ex-prisoners settled in. And there are
some pressing matters that will come to the fore. Such as who will
represent your interests in our ruling council, as well as legal
proceedings against two Risik Officers." 
    Hearing that, Ashby was surprised. "That, Commander, is a matter that
is of serious concern to us all. Just say the word, and we'll all be
there." 
    Adama nodded. "Our legal office is working on that. It should be a
few days, and we're still working on evaluating the records found at the
camp, but what you call a court-martial, or we call a Tribunal, will be
convened in the coming days." 
    "Thank you, Commander," Ashby nodded. "At least some kind of justice
will come out of this." 
    Adama nodded, then brought Sire Pelias over. "This is Sire Pelias,
Captain. He's a member of our ruling council, and has offered to
represent your interests until other arrangements can be made." 
    "Sire," Captain Ashby said. "I think that would be best for now. No
one here is in any mood for politics of any sort. None of the military
personnel are of high rank-except for Captain Byrne, and he has said
politics is not the form of combat he prefers." 
     Both Adama and Pelias glanced over at Byrne, who'd heard the whole
thing, and nodded agreement. "Captain," Pelias said. "He's said that to
us as well." 
    "And the civilians? They're all just ordinary people. Who happened to
be in the wrong place at the wrong time. None of them want to get
involved in politics. Not now, anyway."
   Adama and Pelias nodded. "Understandable, Captain," Pelias said.
"There is plenty of time to arrive at a more permanent arrangement. And
we will also be taking care of a more important matter in the coming
days."
   "Sire?" Ashby asked. 
   "The children," Adama said, nodding in the direction of Jen, who was
with two of the mothers and their babies. "Their status will have to be
sorted out, and they should be recognized as dual nationals, as Captain
Byrne's daughter was." 
     "Thank you, Commander." 
     "And it will be my privilege to introduce the resolution in our
Council, should one be necessary," Pelias said. "And two of my fellow
members have agreed to co-sponsor it." 
     "Glad to hear that, Sire," Ashby nodded. "I'm sure that the mothers
will appreciate that." 
     "My pleasure," said  Pelias. 
     Wagner, meanwhile, had been talking with one of the ex-prisoners,
and brought him over. "Sirs, Sire, this is the Reverend Desmond Fisher,
who was the lone priest in that hellhole." 
    "Ah, Commander," Ashby said. "I was hoping to introduce him to you.
He's from what we call the Anglican Church, or the Church of England as
we call it in the United Kingdom or England. Or the Episcopalian Church
to our American cousins. We called him Father Des, but not when a guard
was listening." 
     "A pleasure, Commander, though I do wish the circumstances were
less...unpleasant," Reverend Fisher said. He was approaching sixty in
Earth years, and thin like the others, with a thinning head of white
hair. "But, Ron's suffering is at an end, and he is now in a better
place." 
    Adama nodded, "Yes...and I imagine our two faiths may have much in
common. I would like to have a talk about that in the days ahead." 
   "That would be an interesting discussion, Commander," Fisher smiled.
"And I look forward to having that kind of conversation one of these
days." 
    "As do I," Adama said. "But now..."
    "Yes...but even in that hellish place, one found some comfort, and I
was able to covertly give some services, despite the risks involved." 
    "I can imagine that the risks were great," Pelias said. "Given what
we know of the Risik and their.....lack of tolerance in such matters." 
     "That is so...Sire, isn't it?" Fisher said. Seeing Pelias nod, he
went on. "Had I been found out, the penalties could have been very
severe. Up to and including death." 
     "We've heard Risik we've captured use the term 'heresy'," Captain
Byrne said. "To them anyone but themselves is an infidel." 
     "That is exactly what we were told," Fisher replied. "Often with a
whip or cattle prod. But...they never found out, and having faith helped
me endure, and I was able to help others endure as well." 
     "Considering where you were," Adama nodded. "You were taking a great
risk." 
    "If I had been caught, Commander," Fisher said. "It sounds strange,
but I felt I was there for a reason, and helping those people was my
purpose in life, though I wouldn't have asked for it. I would have died
for my faith, and gone directly to God."
    "Just as in our Colonies," Pelias said. "In our past, some had
dictatorships, and they could be just as intolerant as the Risik." 
   "Exactly, Sire," Adama said. "Ah...Father, then? Where were you
abducted from? You're not in the military, are you?" 
   "Heavens, no, Commander. My father was a priest, and I wanted to take
up where he left off. One of my brothers did join the Royal Navy, for he
felt the lure of the sea, and another became a pilot in the RAF." Fisher
saw the raised eyebrows on both Adama and Pelias. "The Royal Air Force." 
    "Ah," 
    "Yes, anyway, my parish was near an RAF base in East Anglia, which is
in the eastern part of England, and home to a number of military air
bases. I had presided over a wedding, and was returning from it when I
saw a light in the sky. It approached my car, and I blacked out. When I
came to, I was on one of their ships, being examined, and then
interrogated." 
     "Father, did they want to know about the base?" Byrne asked. "We've
found that they were interested in bases with nuclear weapons first of
all." 
     "They did," Fisher nodded. "The number of aircraft, the base
defenses, the nuclear weapons storage, everything." 
     "And being a civilian, you didn't know any of that," Pelias said. 
     "Yes, Sire," Father Fisher replied. "They didn't believe me, so they
put me in a pod, and took me to the home planet, where I encountered
Scarface." 
     "And he interrogated you, and you spent time in that...prison,
before being put in a pod again, and taken to Ne'Chak," finished Byrne.
"We've heard Petty Officer Clemens' story in full." 
    "Yes, Captain, that he did," Fisher said. "And how did you get out
here?" 
    "I was on a classified space mission, Father. Along with Commander
Allen, who you'll meet tomorrow. It went awry, and so..."
     Fisher nodded. "Ah, I see. Doctor," Fisher turned to Salik. "Would
it be possible for me to give a brief service? Not just for Ron, but to
give thanks for our liberation. And the beginning of our journey home. It
may not be the Earth we left, or the Earth when Captain Byrne left, but
it is, after all, our  home." 
     "I don't see why not," Salik nodded. 
    "And may I be with Jessica? She is in need of comfort at this time.
And I would like to give what we call the Last Rites. It is a brief
prayer given to the dead and dying." 
    "Of course," nodded Salik. 
    "I'll get two or three of her friends," Wagner said. She went off,
and came back with Lieutenant Sanderson, Denise, and Anna Popova. 
     
     When Wagner returned with the three, they all went into the
treatment room, and they found Jessica sitting next to the bed, holding
Ron's hand, her face wet and eyes red. "Ron, why couldn't you have hung
on?" Jessica sobbed. "But we're going home, and I'll tell your family
what happened. And if I have a baby boy? I'll name him after you." Then
she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up, and found Father Fisher.
"Father Des?" She got up and hugged him.
     "Jessica..." Fisher said. "Don't cry any more. His suffering is, at
long last, at an end. And Ron is now in the hands of God. And he will
receive all of God's graces." 
    "Why couldn't he have hung on a little longer?" 
    "Perhaps he wanted to let go," Fisher said. "And go to a far better
place. No one, child, knows their time to go until it happens.  Come,
I'll give him the Last Rites, and then we will have a service for him,
and to give thanks for our liberation." 
     Jessica nodded, and went to be with the others. 
    As Fisher went through the Last Rites, Byrne quietly explained it to
Adama, Pelias, and Salik. When he was finished, several of them thought
they could feel a breeze. Was it the ship's air conditioning? But
Jessica, Denise, Anna, and Amy thought they saw Ron, standing there,
dressed in white. He smiled, gave a polite wave, then vanished. It
couldn't have been....it had been a trying day. 

     Unknown to the Colonial Fleet, unseen by any scanner, a vessel
familiar to several of the Warriors in the Fleet pulled away. To them, it
was known as the Ship of Lights, and it had taken on a new passenger. And
it quietly went on its way. 

    In Life Center, the ex-prisoners, along with their new Earth and
Colonial Friends, gathered in the Commissary, it being the only
compartment large enough in Life Center to hold everyone. Most of the
former prisoners were in their hospital gowns, the filthy rags everyone
had worn consigned to recycling, while some of the military personnel
were in generic Colonial uniforms, pending a visit to the Fleet's
tailors, while Captain Byrne was in his tropical whites. Jena was in her
civilian clothes, while Wagner was in her BDUs, and Clemens was in her
Navy blue coveralls. And the Colonials' own dress filled out the
remainder. Normally, such a service would be held in the Battlestar's
Main Auditorium, but no one, as yet, had been medically cleared, and so
the Commissary was the next best place. Captain Byrne had explained to
Commander Adama, Sire Pelias, Salik, and Cassie, about how things might
go, and they had politely nodded understanding. Only the occasional cry
from a baby broke the silence, then Father Fisher went to the front and
addressed everyone. 
     "My friends, old and new," he began, his rich English voice filling
the room. "We are gathered here today, in the presence of God, and our
newfound friends, to give thanks for our deliverance from evil, and
embarking on our new journey to our homes, but to also honor the life of
a friend who will not be coming with us. All that time, in a dark place
of evil far from home, we all hoped and prayed that someone would deliver
us from that hell we had found ourselves in. Three nights ago, that
prayer was answered. People who did not know us, and who are themselves
fleeing an evil far, far worse than anything we have experienced, or
known about from Earth's history, and yet, they felt it was their moral
duty to come to our aid. A brave band of soldiers risked their own lives
to rescue people they didn't even know and they did so. One of their
number was wounded, and we ask God to grant him a speedy recovery. For
they risked their own lives for people they did not know, or were not
even connected to, save that we were their fellow Man, and for that, they
have our eternal thanks. 
    "And yet, as we know, that evil struck one last time, for our dear
friend Ron Mathews was struck down on the cusp of freedom. Despite the
best efforts of our rescuers, and their medical technology that makes
what we were familiar seem like that of a witch doctor's, Ron, sadly,
succumbed to his injuries." Fisher paused for a moment, as if struggling
with his own emotions. "Despite his passing, we can take comfort that his
suffering is at an end, that he has at last found peace, and that he is
now in the hands of God. We can be assured that Ron will receive all of
God's graces, and that he will watch over us, and be with us in spirit,
as we embark on our trip home. It may not be the Earth that we left, or
the Earth that our new friend Captain Byrne left, but it is, after all,
our home. 
     "All that Ron wanted, apart from going home, was to see his dear
friend Jessica again," Fisher went on. "Jessica, he is watching over us,
and you." 
      Jessica smiled, and nodded, still trying to hold back tears. 
      "Now, though our hearts may be heavy now, it is time to look ahead,
and to move forward, as Ron would want us to. The journey will be a long
and difficult one, and yet, we will return home. And in so doing, help
our Colonial friends, who, though they have their own understanding, they
are also the children of God. And may they find a new home for their
people amongst us, so that they may recover from the horror of the
genocide inflicted upon them. 
      "Let us have a moment of silence. To honor the memory of our dear
friend Ron, and to ask for God's blessing as we embark on this journey
together with our new friends." 
     Heads bowed,  and only a baby's sounds punctuated the silence
     "May God bless us and keep us. Amen." 
     "Amen," a number of voices echoed. 
     As the crowd broke up to go back to their wards or cabins, Captain
Byrne was talking with Commander Adama and Sire Pelias. "Well,
Commander?" 
    "Interesting," Adama nodded. "I gather he had to choose his words
carefully, as there are people from different faith traditions among
those here?" 
    "That's right, Commander," Byrne said. "Fifty-seven people, from
different regions of Earth, and with their own different religion. Almost
like how a military chaplain does it back home. They have to minister to
people of different faiths, sometimes in the heat of combat. And even in
Christianity, for example, there are many denominations, and so, a
chaplain has to be able to accommodate them all."
     "I see," Pelias said, and Adama nodded. 
     Then Wagner and Clemens came over. "Short, but sweet, as they say,
sir." 
    "It was, Sergeant," Byrne said. "And how are you feeling now, Petty
Officer?" 
    Jessica wiped away a tear. "A lot better than I was an hou...centar,
excuse me, a centar ago. His suffering is over, and he's in a better
place." 
    "He is," Adama said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "If you wish to
return to your quarters, and come back later...."
    "Commander, I think he'd want me to carry on. And just being here,
with my friends, has helped. I just wish he'd been able to see me one
last time."
    "An understandable sentiment," Adama said. "I, too, wish I had been
able to see my wife, one final time. Or my youngest son. But, one must
deal what fate has dealt, and go on." 
     "That is all one can do," Pelias nodded sympathetically. "Everyone
in the Fleet has had to do so." 
     "Exactly, Sire," said Adama. "I think that seeing the Governor's
mistress can wait until tomorrow."     
     "Commander?" asked Byrne. 
     "I'll have Security let her know that we'll be seeing her in the
morning. She's in VIP Quarters, and we'll see her there." 
     "She's right across from us," Wagner said. "And she might be willing
to talk if the Petty Officer and I were there." 
      "Agreed," Adama said. 
     "Sir, there's one other thing," Clemens said, still a little
teary-eyed. "She's had a similar experience to  my own. And finding out
that she was just as much a slave as I was, she might want to talk more.
And we'd show that we aren't the people their propaganda has made us out
to be." 
     Byrne looked at Adama ."What do you think, Commander?" 
    "An excellent suggestion," Adama said. "Good thinking, Petty
Officer." 
    "Thank you, sir," 
     "Sire?" 
     "This is one interview I wouldn't miss, Commander," Pelias said.
"And she is coming with us, after all." 
     "Yes," Adama nodded. "For her, there is no going back."
     Then Father Fisher came by on his way back to Life Center.
"Commander," he said. "How did you find things?" 
    Adama smiled pleasantly. "I was...surprised. One of our priests could
have given that service, Father. Our faiths may very well have a lot more
in common than either of us know." 
   "Thank you, Commander," Fisher said. "May I ask how your people handle
funerals? Ron deserves a proper burial." 
     "Normally, Father, we bury them in space," Adama replied politely.
"We have rarely had the luxury of stopping at a planet to bury our dead."
For a moment, Adama remembered the funeral of Commander Kronus, his
remains consigned to the "Cradle of space." 
    "Think of a burial at sea, Father," Byrne added. "We can't waste time
on planetary landings unless it's for resources, like fresh water or
fuel." 
     "Oh..." Fisher said. "I understand." 
    "However," Adama turned to Salik "Doctor, is the morgue..."
    "It's quite empty at the moment," Salik replied. "We can hold the
body until the proper time."
    "Very well," Adama said. "Please do so, and Father? Once we are clear
of this area of space, and hopefully free of Risik pursuit, we will
certainly have to stop to replenish our fuel supply and fresh water.
There will be ample time then." 
     "Thank you, Commander." 
     After Fisher went back to Life Center, Adama turned to Byrne.
"Now....as for Melnea?" 
   "Commander?" Byrne asked. 
   "We'll speak to her in the morning," Adama decided. "Be at her suite
at 1000." 
   "Yes, sir," replied Byrne, and Wagner and Clemens nodded. 
   "Sire?" 
   "I wouldn't miss this one, Commander," Pelias said. "I'll be there." 
   "One more thing: the after-action review is tomorrow afternoon," Adama
reminded them.
   "We'll be there, Commander," Byrne said.
   "Very good," Adama said.
     
  
     "How you doing, Petty Officer?" Byrne asked,, after Jen went back to
help with the kids,  "You sure you don't want to take the rest of the
day?" 
     "I'm fine, sir," Clemens replied. "They didn't give us a day after
that helo crash." 
    "I understand," Byrne said. "This is different, though. Come on. I
think we can all use a stiff drink." 
    "We all do," Wagner said. 
    "Let's go to the O-Club," Bryne nodded. "First round's on me." 
  
    When the trio arrived, they found several of their Colonial friends
at a table, and both Apollo and Boomer waved. The trio waved back, then
bellied up to the bar, and Freeman was there, as usual. "Sir," Clemens
asked. "Did he glue himself to the bar?" 
    "I've wondered that myself," Byrne admitted. "Never seen him anywhere
else." 
    "What'll it be, Captain?" Freeman asked cheerfully in his lifting
accent. 
    "Three beers, Freeman, on my tab," Byrne said. 
     "Three beers, comin' right up, Captain." As the barkeep drew the
beers, he noticed both Wagner and Clemens had a glum look on their faces.
He brought them over, and asked, "Why so glum, dearies?" 
    Clemens didn't answer, but Wagner did. "One of the rescued prisoners
was Jessica's best friend. He got shot by a guard on the way to the evac
shuttle. Salik and his people did their best, but he died a couple
centars ago."   
     Freeman put his hand on Jessica's. "Lassie, my sympathies." 
   "Thank you," Jessica said. "He's free now."
   "I've heard how bad that place was from some of Croft's guys," Freeman
said. "Proteus was a paradise by comparison. No one can hurt him
anymore." 
    "I know," Clemens replied. "Thank you again." 
    "My pleasure, and Captain? First one for her's on the house," Freeman
said. 
    "Thanks," Byrne said. 
    Freeman brought the beers, and Wagner asked, "So, what'll we drink
to?" 
    "To freedom," Byrne said, and looking at Jessica, "and to Ron." 
    "Hear, hear," Clemens smiled. 
    They drank the toast, then the trio went over to where their Colonial
friends were gathered. "Captain," Apollo said. "Pull up a chair. And why
so glum? You guys ought to be ecstatic, now that those people are out." 
     "We are, but....you guys heard that one of the prisoners was shot on
the way to the evac shuttle?" Byrne asked. 
     "Yeah, we heard from Castor," Starbuck said. "A guard they missed
somehow."
     "It was Jessica's friend," Wagner said. "Salik's people did their
best, but....he died a couple centars ago." 
     Jaws dropped, and Sheba got up. She went over and embraced Jessica.
"I'm so sorry." 
    "Thanks, Lieutenant," Jessica replied. "He's free now, and no one can
hurt him ever again."
     "That's how I felt when my mother died," Sheba said. "She died of a
terrible, wasting disease, and I thought that she wasn't in any more
pain."
     "What happened?" Boomer asked. 
     "He must've been outside the wire, checking on something," Wagner
said. "Just plain bad timing."
    "He would do that every once in a while," Clemens added. "He was the
Chief Guard, and he'd do that to make sure the guards were on the job. He
had to have gone to that particular tower when the shooting started, and
waited." 
     "And when the evac shuttles come in," Apollo said, "he must've seen
his career flash before his eyes, so he decided to take a shot." 
     "He must have," Wagner nodded. "I put a magazine and a half-that's
about forty to forty-five rounds, mind, into that tower. Then two of Team
Two's guys shot rockets at the tower. He got thrown out, and I went over
there, along with Castor and a couple of troopers, and several prisoners.
This guy's uniform is smoldering, he's bleeding from several wounds, and
still, he gets on his knees and raises a rifle." 
     "And you shot him?" Sargamesh asked. 
     "I did," Wagner said. "Emptied the rest of the magazine into him.
When we got to the body, he was ID'd by one of the prisoners." 
    "And he was just as cruel and sadistic as his boss," Clemens said. "I
got flogged several times by that bastard. I still owe Lauren a couple of
drinks for her killing him." 
    "Just as with Scarface," Sargamesh said. "One like him does the
universe best by leaving it." 
    "Mr. Malik on Constellation said pretty much the same thing," Byrne
said. "But Scarface is in the Security Ward, and he'll be in court next."

     "And he'll be serving the universe when some wild animal tears him
to shreds," Clemens said.
    "That he will," Korl growled. 
    "So how many got out?" Sheba asked, taking a sip from her mug. Not
ambrosia, Byrne noted. Mineral Water, it looked like. 
   "Fifty-seven now, plus a baby born right after the first shuttle
landed," Wagner said. "And right after Salik delivered a boy, the father
fainted." 
   "Men!" Sheba laughed, then she looked at Apollo.  
   "That's what I said," nodded Wagner. "Castor, though, he's looking
around the shuttle confused, wondering what the fuss was about."
    "How'd it go for you guys?" Byrne asked. "Constellation had one
patrol craft make a charge at us. We blew him out of the sky." 
    "Going in on the planet?" Apollo asked. He saw Byrne nod, then
continued. "They never got a missile off at anybody. And if they tried to
get a gun going? We never gave them a chance, and strafed anybody who
tried." 
    "That's SEAD," Byrne said. "And Orion's crews?" 
    "Nothing left of the shipyard and the spaceport," said Sheba. "I made
a couple of passes to get some scans. A couple of Raiders did, too. All
that's left was scrap metal." 
    "How about you, Boomer?" 
    "Red Squadron and the Raiders tore up that Fleet anchorage. Two of
their Patrol Cruisers got underway, but we got the rest. The Galactica
and the Base Ship took those two out." 
    "Wait," Clemens said. "Didn't Commander Allen mention two of those
ships had arrived recently? And that Lemeshik's father was commanding
one?" 
     "That's right, Petty Officer," Byrne said. "What are you getting
at?" 
     "Captain, were those ships moored where Commander Allen said the two
new ones were?" 
    "They were," Boomer nodded. 
    "I don't get it," Wagner said. 
    "Wait," said Apollo. "One of those ships had Lemeshik's father
commanding it, right?" 
   "That's right..." Byrne said, his voice trailing off. "Holy....he had
to have been on one of them. And if Lemeshik was deep into their crime
family as we think he was....the father had to be so deep, he'd be up to
his neck in it." 
     "Holy frak.." Starbuck muttered. "You think Lemeshik's father was on
one of those ships?" 
    "Looks like it," Boomer said. "And that crime family's in for some
turmoil." 
    "Not just that," Apollo said. "If Lemeshik doesn't come back.....if
they're like crime families back in the Colonies, maybe they start
fighting each other." 
    "Just like crime families back home," Byrne agreed. "Not exactly a
mob war, but if the family starts going for each other....And the Risik
military, which has to start looking for us soon, has to clean up its own
house as well."
    "Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of  people," Clemens smiled. 
     "I'll drink to that," Byrne said. 
    "So, what's next?" Starbuck asked. "Besides Scarface and Lemeshik
going into a Tribunal?" 
    "Once Salik clears everybody," Byrne said. "We figure out who's going
to which ship, but we'll keep the families together. And the Commander
and Sire Pelias said that they'll make sure the kids get recognized as
dual nationals, like Jen." 
     "And then we drop Scarface and Lemeshik off on some jungle world,"
Boomer noted. "Or maybe some murderous desert." 
    "Maybe the Governor, too," Wagner said. "Croft's guys found him in
the VIP Cottage. We had a talk with him earlier today, and he's just as
arrogant and unrepentant as Lemeshik is. It must run through most of
their officer culture." 
    "What do you mean by 'maybe'?" Apollo asked. 
    "We may not be able to tie him to anything specific," Wagner said.
"Now, if he did touch anyone at the camp, or even, uh, 'inspected' some
like Lemeshik did with Jessica....."
    "They can nail him on that," Byrne said. "If not, there's always
Command Responsibility, Sergeant." 
     "What's that?" Apollo asked, and Byrne explained. 
    "So, even if he didn't do anything himself," Sheba noted. "They can
prosecute him for not stopping what happened in that camp?" 
    "That's right," Byrne said. "Like the accessory in a murder case. The
Commander said he'd take it up with Solon, and see if they could." 
    Wagner growled, "But if he so much as touched anyone held
there....he's done for, as far as I'm concerned." 
    "Same here," Jessica said. "And then he finds out if he was paying
attention in his survival courses...." 
    
    After another round, and a lot more lighter conversation, Byrne had
to shuttle back to Constellation, though he would return in the morning,
while Wagner and Clemens went back to Life Center. When they arrived,
they found the ex-prisoners had gotten bedded down, though a few were
still up and talking. Then Jen came out of one of the cabins. "Well, all
the kids are bedded down." 
    Wagner nodded, then looked at the chrono. "Time to head to the cabin.
You need to get caught up on your homework, like your father said, and
it's time for dinner." 
    Jen nodded. "I guess so," she said. "See you in the morning, Cassie."
    Cassie nodded back. "You too. You guys have a good night." 
  
    When the trio got back to their suite, Castor was there, waiting. He
had heard about Ron's death, and had a couple of stewards there with
meals for all three. He also expressed his condolences to Jessica, and
she hugged him in return. "Thanks, Lieutenant. You guys did everything
you could on your end."
    "Can't win them all, and we know it," Castor acknowledged. "Dinner's
on me tonight." 
    After they ate, Jen went into her room to log into the educational
database and take care of some of her homework. Fortunately, there were
no exams either missed or scheduled, so she was able to get most of what
was pending done, while Lauren and Jessica had a gab fest, talking about
their respective times in the Gulf War, and who had the better tour:
Lauren at Dhahran in Saudi, or Jessica out on a supply ship. Then it was
time for bed. 
      While they were getting ready for bed, Lauren asked Jessica, "How
are you feeling?" 
     "Better," Jessica said. "I can't explain it, and I thought I'd be a
blubbering wreck, but, I just feel calm. Like as if I know he's out
there, watching over us." 
     Lauren nodded as she took off her T-shirt and folded it neatly. With
the lack of material in the Fleet, though that was going to be soon
rectified with the smuggler's impounded cargo, even if she wanted a pair
of pajamas, there wasn't enough material for that. Yet. And outfitting
the newcomers would take priority. Oh, well, overcome and adapt.
Something an old DI of hers had said in AF Basic Training. If she and
Jessica had to sleep topless, so be it.  "I'm not going to ask you how
you know. You just know." 
     Jessica smiled as she did the same. "I can't explain it, but that's
just it." 
    "Come on," Lauren said. "It's been a long day, and a good night's
sleep is what we need." 
    Jessica nodded, then both got into bed, and turned out the lights.
Within centons, they were both sound asleep. 

    That night, a presence entered the room, unseen or unheard by anyone.
A presence that hovered over the bed, and gazed down at the two women,
one of whom had risked her own life to try and save his, and the other
was the one he had called friend. It looked down, and noted that the
blankets had come loose and left his friend's chest uncovered. It
carefully raised them, and covered her up to the shoulders. It then
turned to go, but before it left, regretfully, Jessica's voice sounded in
her sleep. "I love you." 
    It smiled, and then disappeared. 
   
    The next morning, after breakfast, and taking Jen over to Life
Center, Wagner and Clemens were pleasantly surprised when Salik told them
that most would be cleared for release in a couple days. The rest would
be cleared the day after that. They also weren't surprised when Captain
Ashby told them that they all wanted to leave Life Center together before
going off to either Constellation or Adelaide. Then both Wagner and
Clemens went back to VIP Quarters, where they found both Captain Byrne
and Sire Pelias. "Sir," Wagner said as both saluted. "And Sire," 
    "Sergeant," Bynre said. "You talked to her tf the raid, right?" he
night o
    "Yes,sir," Wagner replied. "She said that her whole family had been
arrested, and her parents executed. Her older brother sent off to a camp
worse than the one on Ne'Chak, and her baby brother put up for adoption." 
 
    "Put up for adoption, Sergeant?" Pelias asked. This was a first for
him, hearing of a government that would do such a thing to dissidents.
    "Yes, Sire, Wagner said. "Adoption by a family that
was....politically reliable." 
    "Not unknown on Earth, Sire," Byrne explained. "Nazi Germany, Mao's
China, and Stalinist Russia were infamous for that. The whole family
would be made to pay for the actions of one or two." 
    Then Commander Adama arrived. "I see everyone's here. Sire," he
nodded to Pelias, 
   "Commander," Byrne said as the three Earthers saluted. 
   "Shall we?" Adama nodded as he gestured towards the suite where Melena
was being put up for the time being. There, Corporal Andrus was on duty.
"Corporal. We're here to visit with Melnea." 
    "Of course, Commander," Andrus said as he saluted. He opened the
door, and the party entered to find Melnea sitting in front of the
suite's bay window, enjoying the view. She stood up. 
    "And you are?" 
    "Miss...Melnea? I am Commander Adama, the commanding officer of the
Galactica, and the commander of the Colonial Fleet. I apologize for not
seeing you earlier, but there were a number of serious matters that
required my attention." 
    "Such as evading our Star Force," Melnea said. For a Risik woman, she
was very attractive, and had a thin, but full, head of hair, the main
difference between Risik males and females. "I would expect that would be
at the head of those serious matters." 
     Adama made no comment either way. "Before I introduce everyone, are
your accommodations satisfactory?" 
    She nodded. "Considerably, Commander. I am not used to
such...comforts. Even on our Capital world." 
    "I am pleased to hear that," Adama said. "Now, may I introduce Sire
Pelias? He is a member of our ruling council." 
    "Miss," Pelias nodded politely. 
    "A pleasure," she replied.  
    Adama then gestured to Captain Byrne. "And this is Captain Kevin
Byrne, of the United States Navy. He is from the planet we call Earth." 
    "Ma'am," Byrne said. 
    "You are Te'rean?" She asked, and he nodded back, giving the proper
pronunciation. 
    Adama went on. "I believe you have met Sergeant Wagner here?" He
gestured to Wagner. 
   "We have met at the camp," Melnea nodded. "I cannot thank you enough
for your offer." 
    "You're quite welcome, Ma'am,' Wagner replied. 
     "And last, but not least, this is Petty Officer Jessica Clemens,
also of the United States Navy," Adama said, nodding in Jessica's
direction. "She had been a prisoner in that camp." 
      "I do not recall seeing you on the shuttle," Melnea said. 
     "I was removed from the camp a year or so ago," Clemens said. "By
one of your officers, and forced to become his personal slave." 
      "A fate that the two of us have in common," Melnea nodded sadly. "I
regret to say, it is a common occurrence." 
     "Are all of your officers like that?" Wagner asked. 
     "Some are, I am afraid,"replied Melnea. "Far too many, in fact."
      Adama nodded. "Well, let's be seated, shall we?" He gestured to the
couches, and Melnea sat down in a chair much more plush than she had ever
known. "How did you wind up the Governor's, well....servant?" 
    "Commander," Melnea began. "It all started when my parents were
arrested. My father was a prominent physician, and my mother a well-known
Procurator."
    "Procurator?" Pelias asked. 
    "It's another term for 'prosecutor', Sire," Byrne explained. "It's
been used in a number of countries on Earth." 
    "I see...Thank you, Captain," Adama said. "Please, Melnea, continue."

    "My father had gotten in touch with a number of members of our
intelligentsia; other physicians, journalists, professors, and such. Not
that many, but a few who felt that our society needed to be more open,
more tolerant. Cultural reform, in other words. They wanted the religious
influences in our society lessened, an end to the forbidden lists-" 
    "'Forbidden lists?'" Adama asked. 
    "Yes, the lists of forbidden books, art, music, video, and so on,"
Melena said. Some of those works are there at the insistence of the
priests, while others were put there by the State Security Services." 
     "Ah," Adama replied. "The State doesn't want its citizens getting
those ideas that may be...subversive." 
     "That is correct, Commander," Melena nodded. "The priests, though,
do not want anyone seeing those works that are....decadent, to use their
favorite phrase. The people my parents associated with  wanted our
government to be more open. For example: The office of Supreme Leader is
an appointed one by our Supreme Council. That position is held by members
of prominent families who supported the takeover of power on the home
planet, generations ago. My father and his associates wanted it to be an
elected position. And to have true representation in our People's
Assembly. All candidates for the Assembly are approved by both State
Security and by the Priests, and they have no real power."
    "Did the issue of the inhabitants of the....slave camp ever come up?"
Byrne asked. 
    "Yes, it did," Melenea said. "He felt that they should be returned to
their home world. Or taken to a world that would welcome them, if that
wasn't possible." 
     "So what finally happened?" Clemens asked. 
    Melena looked at her, then at Adama. "My father and his associates
were betrayed. By an informer who I do not know. Someone betrayed them,
and all were arrested, along with their families. I was arrested at the
university, where I was studying to be a teacher. My older brother, a
cadet at the Military Academy-which is separate from the Star Force
Academy, was arrested there, and my mother was arrested at home. My
youngest brother, an infant, was taken from her, and I never saw him
again. In court, we were told that he had been put up for adoption." 
     "Adoption by a family that was more....politically reliable?" Byrne
asked. 
    "Yes," Melnea said. "How did you know?"     
    "A number of dictatorships on Earth had similar policies with regards
to children of dissidents," Byrne replied. 
     "I see," Melnea said. "At any rate, we never had a real hearing. The
guilt and sentence were all preordained." 
      "You said your parents were executed?" Wagner asked. 
      "Yes, in public, I should add," Melena spat. "My brother and I were
never given the chance to say farewell." 
      "Why your mother?" Adama asked. "What was her involvement?" 
      "She was said to have printed out some of the pamphlets on our home
computer," Melena said. "My brother was arrested for failing to report
'activities inimical to the state', and I was arrested for aiding and
abetting my parents. After we were forced to watch our parents'
executions, he was sent to a camp of special regime." 
       "Was that the camp near the one for the....Te'reans?" Pelias
asked, glancing at Jessica. 
      "No, Sire, it was not. That was where I was sent. That camp is for
ordinary criminals and for those whose crimes against the Order are
deemed to be minor. A Special Regime camp is for those whose acts are not
serious enough to warrant execution, but that their sins are such that
they can never be released. And they can only be redeemed by work. If
that work is to the death, then so be it. In labor, one serves the
State." 
     Arbeit Macht Frei, thought Bryne, remembering the slogan above gates
to Nazi Concentration Camps. 
      "How long were you there?" Clemens asked. "I saw people from that
camp, and they were treated a lot worse than I was in the other camp." 
      "Not that long, I was sentenced to an indeterminate period of
'redemption thorough work', so to speak. The Governor came by on an
inspection, and noticed me and several other recent arrivals.
He...inspected us, and I was chosen to be his servant," Melnea spat. "And
not just as a domestic servant, but in....other ways." 
     Byrne looked at Clemens, who nodded back. It was a carbon copy,
almost, of her experience. "Miss, Melena? Did the Governor ever mention
the name Lemeshik?" 
    "Yes, he did," Melnea replied. "Why do you ask?" 
    "He was the one who removed the Petty Officer from her camp, and
selected her to perform the role you described," Byrne said. "He is in
our custody at the moment, and will answer for his crimes in court." 
    "Our laws allow for such prosecutions," Adama said. "The Commandant
of the camp will also face a Tribunal for his actions, and if the
Governor can be implicated in crimes against the camp's inhabitants, he,
too, will appear as well." 
     "Ah," Melnea said. "As for Lemeshik? The Governor heard of his
family's...business, but was not approached by him or by other family
members." 
     "What about his father? We've discovered through accessing his own
computer that the family's been involved in blackmail, bribery,
extortion, and murder, all in order to advance their family's fortune and
status." 
     "I have heard of his father, Admiral Beshik," Melnea said.
     "Have the two met?" Pelias asked. 
     "They have," Melnea confirmed. "Admiral Beshik and the Governor have
met at receptions and other official functions, but, as far as such power
struggles on the Capital? The Governor is a relative nobody by
comparison. He is politically reliable, but not ambitious enough to be a
threat." 
      "Not worth bribing or blackmailing," Wagner commented. "Or
liquidating."
      "Yes, and for all of his...faults, the Governor fought for the
colony's interests, even though his was an appointed position. He wanted
the shipyard expanded, which meant more settlers, and more jobs for them,
to give but one example. He also strove to increase the exports of the
colony, which would do the same. And he wanted the colony's defense
system completed. That, he complained about most strongly, but was told
by the bureaucrats on the Capital 'not to make any unnecessary requests
of that sort'," Melnea said. 
      "Typical bureaucrats," Byrne noted. "Some things are common, no
matter where in the universe you go."
      "Yes. I was not his secretary, but, if you have his personal
portable computer," Melena said. "You may find much to interest you." 
       "Rest assured," Adama said. "We will. In the meantime, there may
be others who wish to interview you. One of our Academicians, Sarah, will
certainly want to speak with you. Her specialty is alien races, and
finding out more about your society is something she would want to
discuss with you." 
     "An academician?" 
     "A teacher and former university professor," Adama said. 
     "I would be glad to," Melenea said. 
      "And if your presence is needed at the Tribunal, our legal office
will be speaking with you. Sire Solon will do so." 
      "I understand, Commander. I will be more than happy to do so." 
     "Thank you, Commander." Melnea nodded. "Now, may I ask you a
question?" 
     "Certainly," Adama said. 
     "I noticed that the Captain, Sergeant, and Petty Officer are from
Te'rea. You, and the Sire, and the raiding party, are not. How is that?
You are the same race, are you not?" Melena asked. 
     "It is a long story," Adama said. "A condensed version would be
this: a considerable distance from here, there is a star system of twelve
worlds and three suns. Our ancestors, twelve tribes of thirteen, fled a
dying mother world and settled those worlds. After a fresh start, we
developed science and engineering well in advance of your own, as well as
arts and culture, all the products of a highly developed civilization. We
explored nearby systems, and met other alien races. Some we had conflicts
with, most we traded with. Until we encountered a foe totally determined
and ruthless than any other. A foe that could not be negotiated with or
reasoned. The war that ensued lasted for a millennium. Until it was lost
in a single day. All who survived, as far as is known, are in this
Fleet." 
     Melnea nodded understanding, "Just like our Sanctuary Program," she
said. "How many?" 
     "The day before the attack, there were twenty billion in the
Colonies," Pelias said. "The day after? There were seventy thousand or
so. All who survived, as far as is known, are in this Fleet. If not for
Commander Adama, none of us would be alive now." 
      "The gods have mercy....." Melnea said. " And the thirteenth tribe?

      "That tribe settled the world we call Earth. Or you call Te'rea."
Adama said. "And we intend to find the world, and settle there, if
possible." 
      Melnea had a surprised look on her face, but nodded again. "But how
did you, Captain, and the Sergeant travel this far?" 
     "It's also a long story, but I was on a classified space mission,
with another officer who you'll be meeting later. It went very wrong, and
we wound up in this part of the galaxy, due to some kind of wormhole
effect, and the Colonials eventually found us," Byrne said. "The Sergeant
and Petty Officer, though...they're not here by choice." 
      "Essentially, Melnea," Wagner said. "The two of us were abducted
from our world by your people. I was given a medical examination, then
tortured by the man who became the commandant of that slave camp. After
being put in a stasis pod, the ship I was on got into a fight with the
Ke'zar, and had a runaway FTL drive due to battle damage. They wound up
in orbit around a world with an incompatible biosphere, and the crew all
committed mass suicide. I was in that pod for forty years, until the
Colonials found the ship, and rescued me. And ever since, I've had
unfinished business with those who planned, organized, and carried out
those abductions." 
    "She wants them dead, in other words," said Pelias. 
    Melnea nodded. "I understand," she replied. "And the Petty Officer
was also abducted, I gather?" 
    "I was," Clemens said. "They took me and a friend to your home
planet, where we were interrogated, no, make that tortured, then
imprisoned. After a while, all the prisoners-some fifty of us, were taken
in stasis pods to Ne'Chak. And put to work as slave labor." 
    "Before you became Lemeshik's slave?" Melnea asked, and Clemens
nodded. "I understand again," Melnea said. "Before the gods, Commander, I
am sorry for what has happened to them. Though we are taught that the
people of Te'rea are an inferior race, that does not justify what has
been done to them in our name. I am only one person, and I cannot account
for much." She looked at both Wagner and Clemens. "I am truly sorry for
what my people have done to you and the others." 
    The two women looked at each other. "Well, you're the first," Wagner
said. 
   Clemens added, "You and I went through a similar experience. I guess
we do have something in common." 
    "That's a small start," Byrne said. 
     "It is," Adama agreed. "Melnea, we have a number of other matters
requiring our attention over the rest of the day, but we'll be speaking
with you in the coming days. As will our representatives from the legal
office, as well as our Academicians." 
     "I will gladly make myself available," Melnea said. 
    Adama stood, and the others followed. "There is one more thing: as
President of the Council, it is in my power to formally grant you asylum
in the Fleet, once you make that request." 
    "Commander, I would like to make that request right now."
    "Granted," Adama said at once. "Sire Pelias will handle your
interests, along with the bureaucratic issues, as he does for the
Earthers, and several other aliens we've picked up along the way." 
     "Aliens? There are other....aliens here?" 
    "Yes, and you'll meet them in due time."
     "Thank you, Commander." She saw Pelias nod. 
    "In the meantime, you'll be quite comfortable." 
   Melnea nodded politely. "Again, my thanks, Commander." 


    After leaving the suite, Adama asked around. "Comments?" 
   "Commander, we can't pass this up," Byrne said. "Basic information
about their society, culture, and so on. She can tell us things the
military we've got in the Brig won't." 
    "Exactly, Captain," Adama nodded. "Though Morovik has been very
cooperative, there are, as you say, Captain, limits to that."
    "What do you mean, Captain?" Pelias asked. 
    "Sire, If I was a POW, and my captors asked me about the politics and
culture of my country, I wouldn't answer. The enemies my country has
fought have opposed both, either on a political level, or, after 9-11,
religious. Any answers could be used against me directly, or could be
used in their propaganda. I imagine Morovik and the other officers have
had some form of training in how to conduct themselves if captured. He's
much more pragmatic and open than his CO will be, but there are limits to
that." 
    Adama nodded, and considered what Byrne had said. "Understood,
Captain." He turned to Pelias "Sire?" 
    "Commander, I agree with Captain Byrne. She will be a valuable source
of information, and we cannot waste the opportunity. May I suggest that,
once she has settled in, that she could assist Pliny and Academician
Sarah in their work?" Pelias said. 
    "An excellent suggestion, Sire," Adama said. "That might be her place
in the Fleet, for a while, at any rate," he nodded. "Sergeant? Your
thoughts?" 
    "Commander, I still have this....well, loathing for any Risik
involved in the abductions," Wagner said. "But her?" She nodded in the
direction of the suite. "She's the first one-ever-we've encountered who
has apologized for those actions. None of the 'heretical' or 'infidel'
bilge we've heard from Lemeshik, say." 
    "Commander," Clemens said. "I'll go along with the Sergeant. Melnea's
just as much a victim of that government as any one of us who was
abducted. I could sit down with her and have a long talk." 
    "Her apology is a beginning, in other words?" Adama asked. 
    "Yes, sir." Clemens said. "It's not much, and only one of them,
but...it's something. But Scarface, Lemeshik, or the others involved?
They're in it, heart and soul, sir." 
   "Her apology is indeed a beginning," Adama agreed. "Well, we'll have
more to talk with her in the coming days. And I believe you four have
business in Life Center before the After-Action Review?" 
   "Yes, sir," Byrne said. "Commander Allen should be aboard shortly, and
we'll also introduce Sire Pelias to his new constituents."
    "And you will try to keep the families together?" Adama asked. 
    "We will, Commander," Byrne said. "And we'll try and satisfy
individual preferences, if at all possible."
    "Very good, Captain. The After-Action Review is in the Ward Room at
1600. See if one or two of the former prisoners would be up to being
there. If Doctor Salik approves, that is." 
     "Yes, sir," Byrne nodded. 


    Commander Adama and Sire Pelias went off to the Bridge, while the
three Earthers went for lunch. After eating, they went to Life Center,
where Commander Allen had just arrived, and Sire Pelias had gotten there
as well. They found Doctor Salik waiting for them. "Doc." Byrne said. 
    "Captain," Salik said. "I see you're all here for the meeting." 
    "That we are," Allen said. "How's everyone?" 
     "All are improving, I'm pleased to say. One's still quite jumpy, but
he's improving. I still want to keep them here for at least another two
days. They're just getting back to normal eating, and I want to make sure
their stomachs can handle a normal diet." 
     "Been there, done that," Wagner quipped, and Clemens smiled. It
hadn't been that long since she'd gone thorough the same process.
     "Quite, Sergeant," Salik replied. "Everyone's waiting for you in the
Commissary." 
    "Thanks, Doc," Byrne said, and the quartet went into the Commissary.
There, they could immediately tell the difference between the military
personnel and the civilians. The military personnel were in generic
Colonial uniforms, while the civilians were either still in their
hospital garb or in some Colonial civilian clothes. Everyone was
chatting, and the room was a bit noisy. And it was Lieutenant Sanderson
who first saw Captain Byrne come in. 
    "Captain on the deck!" she shouted, and the military personnel came
to attention, and the civilians all quieted down. 
     "All right,everyone," Byrne said. "Let's be seated, and we'll get
this started." Everyone took their seats, and only the babies' sounds
filled the room. Then Byrne got going. "Everyone, for those of you who I
haven't met, and that's about half of you, I'm Captain Kevin Byrne, of
the United States Navy. Former Navy fighter pilot and shuttle astronaut,"
There was applause, and Byrne smiled, then gestured to Commander Allen.
"And this is Commander Cedric Allen, of the Royal Australian Navy. How
the two of us got to be out here is a story in of itself, and we'll
explain things as best we can." 
     "Let me guess," Lieutenant Sanderson said. "It's classified at the
'Burn before reading' level?" 
     Byrne and Allen looked at each other. "You could say that," Allen
said. "We told the Colonials, so we'll tell you all as well." 
    "We'll do that," Byrne said. He went on, "Sergeant?" 
    "I've met some of you the night of the raid, but for those who
haven't, I'm Staff Sergeant Lauren Wagner, United States Air Force. I was
an abductee just as you were, only I spent almost my entire time in a
stasis pod, until the Colonials found the ship I was on. They rescued me,
and I'm right now the Master-at-Arms on Constellation." 
    "Thank you, Sergeant," Byrne said. "And I don't need to introduce
who's next to her..."  And there was applause for Jessica, as she
sheepishly stepped forward. "You'd better applaud a lot. Because it was
finding her, quite by chance, that led to the rescue mission." 
     There was a lot more applause, and Jessica turned a little red from
embarrassment.
    "And last, but not certainly least, I'd like to present Sire Pelias."
Byrne said, and the Sire stepped forward. "He's a member of the
Colonials' ruling body, and he's offered to represent our interests at
their Council, until something more permanent can be decided on." Byrne
turned to Pelias. "Sire?" 
    "Thank you, Captain," Pelias said. "First of all, welcome aboard the
Fleet. Second, I can promise you that I will do all I can to represent
your interests at our Council, and address any problems or concerns. One
of which I understand, is the status of your children. We have recognized
Captain Byrne's daughter, Jena, whom I believe you all have met in one
way or another." He paused to point out Jen, who smiled and tried not to
show any interest in the Sire, then went on. "She has been recognized as
a dual national, and holds both U.S and Colonial Citizenship. We will
recognize your children as dual nationals as well, and if a new
resolution in our Council is needed, I will introduce it, and I have been
assured that it will pass. And this will apply not just to the children
already born, but to those who will follow," Pelias said, and that drew
more applause. "Captain," 
    Byrne nodded. "Thanks, Sire," he said. "Now, a few things before we
start on deciding who goes where. First, the military personnel: you'll
all get proper uniforms, for starters, and we're already recognized by
the Colonials as being on a TDY status with their military." 
    "And we get pay equal to our Colonial rank equivalent," Allen added.
"We'll see about jobs aboard ship equal with your rank and experience,
and if we can't find one, we'll see about retraining. With Captain Ashby
here," Allen pointed to him as an example, "not much use for treadheads
here, but we'll find something."
       "Landram crew, maybe?" Wagner asked. 
       "Good idea, Sergeant," Allen said, and he explained the vehicle to
Captain Ashby. 
     "Thank you, Commander," Ashby said. 
     "As for your uniforms? The Fleet tailors will take care of that,"
Byrne said. "All made to your specifications. Along with a set or two of
civilian clothes, and some workout attire. Because all of you will want
to get back into shape." There were more than a few nods at that. "And
the civilians? You'll get Earth-style civilian clothes and some
semi-formal attire as well.
     "Now, before we decide on who goes to which ship, I want to
emphasize that, while we'll try and accommodate individual preferences,
the first priority is keeping the families together. Any other questions
before we get that all taken care of?" Byrne asked. He saw Captain Zhukov
raise his hand. "Captain?" 
     "Com...excuse me, Captain, how did these people get here?" Zhukov
asked. 
     "It's a long story, but before I explain it, there's a shock
involved. Everything you've learned in school about the origins of the
human race on Earth is pretty much false. And I'll tell you why: records
found on the Risik ship which held Sergeant Wagner verify that they were
on Earth several thousand years ago, and were interbreeding with the
human ancestors who were on Earth at the time, and conducting
experiments. Then they left. After they did....Sire?" 
     Pelias stepped forward."This part of the story is like this: A
considerable distance from here is a planet called Kobol, and it is the
mother world of all humanity, according to our histories." A lot of
murmurs resulted, but Pelias continued. "There were thirteen tribes
living on Kobol, and when they found out the planet was dying, twelve of
them left together to settle a system of twelve worlds and three suns.
After starting anew, we developed our civilization, with arts and
culture, science and technology beyond what you can imagine. We traveled
to nearby systems, and met other alien races; some of whom we had wars
with, others we had trade and commerce with. Until we encountered a foe
that we could not bargain, reason with, or negotiate. One that was
totally ruthless and merciless. The war that resulted lasted for a
thousand of your years. Until it ended in a single, horrifying day with
the utter destruction of our civilization." 
     "They fell for a false peace, right?" Lieutenant Sanderson asked. 
      "Yes," Pelias said. "Our Fleet was ambushed, our President and
nearly all the Council killed, and only the Galactica escaped. They tried
to return to our homeworlds to warn of the attack, but they were too
late. After the first waves had finished their deadly work, Commander
Adama called for every possible surviving ship to load up and flee the
Colonies before the main invasion force arrived. We did, and if it wasn't
for Commander Adama, no one in the Fleet would be alive today." 
       "How many made it?" Anna Popova asked. 
       "Before the attack, there were twenty billion people in the Twelve
Worlds and a number of outlying planets. The day after, in this Fleet?"
Pelias said. "There were seventy thousand." And he saw jaws drop at that.

       "And for everyone who got a seat, there were thousands who
didn't," Allen said. "And with an enemy that showed no mercy and was
totally ruthless? You can imagine what happened when the invasion force
landed their troops." 
        There was silence in the room as Allen's words sunk in. The
rescued prisoners were hearing for the first time of the slaughter of
twenty billion people. They had heard the basic story before the memorial
service, but it was sinking in for the first time. 
      After a few moments of silence, Denise asked, "So what's the
connection to Earth?" 
     "It's this," Pelias said. "According to our histories, the
thirteenth tribe went on its own, for reasons that are lost to us. And it
settled on your world: Earth." 
      "And the Risik verify that," Wagner said. "The Colonials found
documents on the ship I was on. They were on Earth several thousand years
ago, ruling as Gods over the Human ancestors there."
     "So all that Ancient Astronaut stuff that guy Von Daniken said was
was true?" Captain Ashby asked, a mix of surprise and distaste in his
voice.
     "Yes," Byrne said. "Part of it, anyway. They were there about nine
to ten thousand years ago, and they suddenly left. Why, we don't know.
Then the Thirteenth Tribe landed, and ruined whatever experiment the
Risik had done. Either some new virus or what, but...we are the
Thirteenth Tribe.  DNA proves it." He pointed to several people at
random. "You, me, all of us? And everyone on Earth? We're all descended
from the Thirteenth Tribe." 

    After a pause, in which Byrne and the others could see that everyone
was sort of speechless, as if they were digesting what they had just been
told, he asked. "Any other questions?" He saw Marta stand up. "Marta,
isn't it?" He asked. She nodded, and he motioned to her. "Go ahead." 
     "Captain, uh...when do we get home?" 
     "Good question, and I'll give you the answer we got when we asked
that question: we don't know."
There were murmurs at that, then Byrne continued. "All the Colonials have
is a course to follow. There was  no sense of time or distance in that.
We could, in theory, find Earth next month, but that's not likely. We'll
know we're getting close when we pick up our TV and Radio broadcasts, as
well as seeing stars that are familiar to anyone who's an amateur
skywatcher; is anyone here an amateur astronomer?" A couple hands came
up. "Okay, good. When we see those, we're in the neighborhood. But
there's no way right now to know exactly how far we are from home. It'd
be easier if we could travel a lot faster, but the Fleet can only travel
as fast as the slowest ship."
     "A convoy, in other words?" Captain Ashby asked. 
     "That's about it," Allen said. "Now, Galactica, Adelaide,
Constellation, the Caspia, the Century, and the Base Ship are the
fastest, but there's quite a few others that are pretty slow. Now,
compared to the Space Shuttle or what we flew, even the slowest ship of
theirs is pretty fast, but for traveling the galaxy....they're slow." 
     "Even if we knew how far we have to go, it'd still take us a while,"
Byrne added. "So...we have a goal: to get home. The Colonials have a
goal, which is to find a new home. We're all in this together, and it's
going to be an interesting ride." 
      "It will be that," Father Fisher said. "But with God's blessing, we
will get home." 
      "We will," Byrne said. "Any other questions right now?" There
weren't any. "All right, just come on up, and we'll take your requests as
to who goes where. First, though, we'd like the couples to go first. They
stay together." 


    After everyone had come up and given their preferences, they had gone
back to their respective wards or cabins, leaving Byrne, Allen, Wagner,
Clemens, and Sire Pelias to go over the results. "Well....seventeen
Americans, and they all want to be on Constellation," Byrne said. 
     "No surprise, Kev," Allen noted. "Ten British, Six French, the Dutch
couple, four Canadians, three fellow Aussies, and three New Zealanders,
and they all want to be with me, along with two South Africans and two of
the three Russians. These figures don't count the kids."
      "Which Russian wants to come over with us?" Wagner asked. 
       "Anna, the nurse," Byrne said. "She wants to be with her three
best friends: Lieutenant Lindstrom, Denise, and the Petty Officer. We
also get three Germans-one of whom is, or was, East German, still, three
Israelis, a Jordanian, two Iranians, and that'll be interesting, plus
three Chinese and a Brazilian." 
     "We have room, sir?" Clemens asked. 
     "Plenty," Byrne replied. "Mr. Dilley, the Damage-Control Officer,
actually went a little over and beyond what he was asked to do. I asked
him to get space ready for thirty, and he did it for forty." 
      "Same with my DCO," Allen quipped. "She did the same thing, and got
room ready for forty instead of thirty. Well, we'll be ready for more
kids, if that comes. Never thought I'd have kids aboard a ship of mine,
though." 
       "You could say that, Ced," Byrne nodded. "With the civilians I've
already got, we've already had one birth.." Then Salik came in. "Doc?" 
       "Captain, where is Linda, the remaining pregnant woman, headed?" 
      "Constellation, Doc," Byrne replied. "Why do you ask?" 
      Salik paused, as if choosing his words carefully. "The medtech who
did the exam to check on her pregnancy is,well, inexperienced. He's new,
and is learning on-the-job." 
      "Okay, Doc," Byrne said. "Go on." 
      Salik looked at him. "He didn't do a full scan, and when he saw one
fetus, that was it. I asked her to come back for a follow-on,with the
morning sickness she's having,  and this time, I did it myself. She's
quite pregnant, but....."
      "Doc, I don't like the way this is going," Byrne said. 
      Salik grinned, and handed him a printout of the scan. "She's having
triplets. The pregnancy is normal and healthy, and she's due in four
sectans." 
      Byrne's jaw dropped. Though he wasn't the father, the babies would
be born on his ship. "Triplets!?" 
     "Triplets," Salik confirmed. "I'll notify Dr. Rena, and no doubt
she'll be ready for the delivery. Two girls and a boy, I'm pleased to
say." 
      "What'd the father say?" Allen asked, while Jen was hugging both
Wagner and Clemens. 
       "I'll bet 'Oh, my God!'" was his reaction," Byrne quipped. 
     "It was, Captain. His exact words. At least he knows now, instead of
finding out the hard way," Salik said. "I imagine the Risik would've been
pleased to have two girls." 
    "For reasons we all know," Pelias said. "It will be a joyous event,
Captain." 
    "It will, Sire," Byrne admitted. Though he was recalling a couple of
times in the '90s when pregnant sailors gave birth on Navy ships. And a
female Marine, who didn't know she was even pregnant, wound up giving
birth on one of the amphibious assault carriers. Like most Navy men of
his generation, he hadn't been amused in the slightest. 
     "Like you said, sir," Wagner said. "It'll be an interesting ride." 
     "It sure will, Sergeant," Byrne said. 


     Shortly before 1600, the principals began to gather in the Ward
Room. The four Earthers, plus Sire Pelias, got there, and they found Sire
Xaviar and Siress Tinia already there, waiting. "Sire," Byrne said. "And
Siress," he nodded. 
     "Captain," Xaviar said. "Well done." 
     "Thank you, Sire," Byrne replied. "We had it easy compared to
Croft's people or the fighter pilots. Even the Galactica's part of the
action wasn't as hard as it could've been." 
      "So we've heard," Tinia said. "I have heard that one of the
prisoners was wounded on departure from the camp?" 
     "Worse that that, Siress," Wagner said. "He died in Life Center
yesterday. In spite of everything Salik could do." She turned to Clemens.
"And he was a close friend of the Petty Officer."
      "You have our deepest condolences," Tinia said, and Xaviar nodded
agreement. "How do you feel?" She asked Clemens. 
     "Better than I was yesterday, Siress," Clemens said. "At least he's
free of that camp, and where he is now? No one can hurt him ever again." 
     "Perhaps that is the best way to look at it," Xaviar said. "I have
worn the uniform, and losing friends is always difficult." Then Major
Croft came in. "Major,"
    "Sire," Croft nodded politely. 
    "Well done, Major," Xaviar said. 
     "Thank you, Sire," replied Croft. "It could've been better, but..."
     "Combat is never predictable, as you're well aware," Xaviar said.
"Still, it could have been worse." 
     "That, Sire, you're quite right." 
    Then Apollo, Boomer, and Doctors Salik and Wiker came in, and a few
centons later, the Commander and Colonel Tigh arrived. Baltar, Moray, and
Orion were present via com link. "Now that we're all here, Siress Lydia
will not be joining us for this meeting, as it's almost exclusively
military, but she will be with us next time," Adama said. 
    Was that relief in his voice?  Thank God, Byrne thought to himself.
The less I see of that bitch, the better.
    "Shall we?" Adama waved, and everyone took their seats. "We'll go
over the raid, and how things went in our absence from Commander Allen.
Doctor Wilker has some information for us, and Doctor Salik will fill us
in on the rescued prisoners. First, though, Major Croft and Sergeant
Wagner will go over how things went on the ground. Major?" 
    "Commander, everyone," Croft said as he stood up and called up the
holo display of the camp. "Our insertion went off according to plan, and
their defense system didn't even pick us up, as expected. The LZ was
deserted, and apart from an....amorous couple who stumbled across the
shuttles while waiting for the extraction call, there was no resistance
there. They were stunned, and were still out when the shuttles left. 
    "All teams got into the camp as briefed, though Team One had a scare
with a roving guard, who was neutralized by Sergeant Wagner. Then we
split for our targets. Sergeant?" 
     Wagner nodded and stood up. "I took several troopers and went first
to Barracks Four, where the nursery, clinic, theater, and storage rooms
were. The only guard was disposed of, and we found the nurse, a sick
prisoner, and a woman who had given birth a few days prior. After
securing them, we went to Barracks Three-"
    "Where the couples were, correct?" Xaviar asked. 
    "That's right, Sire," Wagner said. "After they were secured, and the
guard eliminated, we went to Barracks Two, where the women were housed.
They were secured, and we joined the Major in taking down Barracks One." 
     "We did, Sergeant," Croft added. "I took some troopers and checked
out the kitchen. Captain," he nodded at Byrne, "you and the Petty Officer
were right: there were bars on the windows and a guard on the door. He
was eliminated,  then I took my troopers to join the Sergeant at Barracks
One. They were secured, and that was the signal for the general raid to
start."
    "How did the prisoners react?" Apollo asked. 
    "After the initial shock, Captain?" Wagner asked. "They were pretty
calm. No panic, and they did everything we asked them to do."
     "Very good," Adama said. "Please continue," 
     Croft looked at Wagner, who nodded, then he went on. "Team Two made
its entry as planned, and took down their targets: the Commandant's
quarters and HQ, the VIP Cottage, and the Guards' and Officers' Quarters.
They had no casualties, and when they hit the VIP Cottage, they found a
prize: the Governor of the Colony." 
    "The Governor?" Xaviar asked. 
    "Yes, Sire, the Governor. Along with a lady.....companion. And she
wasn't with him by choice," Croft added. "We got his portable computer
and a satchel full of documents, and Team Two's troopers took off with
everything not nailed down in the HQ and Commandant's Office. To disguise
the theft, they left charges in that building, and those charges were
blown on extraction." 
      "And Team Three, Major?" Tigh asked. 
     "Getting to that, Colonel," Croft said. "Team Three made its entry
into the punishment area, and found two prisoners in the isolation cells.
The prisoners were secured, and Three went to the interrogation shed, and
found Scarface there with two prisoners whom he was...attending to, shall
we say. When it was time, they took down the shed, killing three torture
guards who were there, and wounding Scarface. He is in our custody, along
with the Governor." 
     "Well done, Major," Adama said. "Team Four?" 
     "They had overwatch, and called in a fire mission from the Base Ship
when several vehicles approached the compound from the town." Though he
found it distasteful, Croft turned to Baltar's face on a monitor.
"Baltar, those gunners of yours did a good job. They took out all the
vehicles, and hardly anyone escaped to get back to town." 
     "Thank you, Major," Baltar nodded. 
     Croft went on. "Team Four then fell back on the camp, I called in
the shuttles, and that's when things went a little sour. Sergeant?" 
     "As the shuttles landed," Wagner said, picking things up. "We got
the prisoners and a wounded trooper ready for extraction. First to go
were the mothers and their children, and the pregnant women. Then the
wounded trooper and the sick prisoner, and that's when we took fire from
the South Center Tower. The sick prisoner was shot several times, and I
returned fire into the tower, putting about forty-five rounds into the
tower from a magazine and a half. Two Troopers from Team Two shot rockets
into the tower, and the guard was somehow catapulted out, somehow still
alive. I went over, along with Lieutenant Castor and a couple of
troopers, and though this guy was bleeding from several wounds, and his
clothes were smoldering, he still got onto his knees and tried to raise a
rifle. I emptied the rest of the magazine into him, and one of the
prisoners ID'd the body as that of the Chief Guard." 
      "Commander?" Clemens asked, raising her hand.
     "By all means, Petty Officer," Adama nodded. 
     "Sir, the Chief Guard was just as brutal, sadistic, and vicious as
Scarface was. He must've been outside the wire when the shooting started,
and got into that tower. When he saw the prisoners being assembled to get
onto the shuttle, he must have seen his career flash before his eyes, and
he opened fire." 
     "Considering he must have thought it was either execution or worse-a
camp for him, if he did nothing, not a surprise," Boomer said. 
     Croft nodded. "It's very likely. The extraction went off without
further incident. Assault One lifted off first, then as Assault Two took
off, I detonated the charges in the barracks and the HQ building. The
fighter cover did its job," he said, nodding at both Apollo and Orion,
"and we returned to  Galactica." 
     "Thank you, Major," Adama said. "Well done, and pass that to your
men."
      "Yes, sir." Croft replied. 
      "And Sergeant?" Adama looked at Wagner. "Well done as well." 
     "Thank you, sir," Wagner said. "Just wish we were a little faster on
extraction." 
     "I think we all share that feeling," Adama said. "Combat is never
predictable, and casualties are a part of the business." 
      "Sir," Wagner nodded. 
     "Again, well done to both of you," Adama said. "Now, Doctor Salik?" 
     "Commander," Salik said as he stood. "Everyone. First, the rescued
prisoners are all doing well. Some more so than others, but all should be
cleared for release in two days, three at the most. All are recovering
from the effects of a poor diet, overwork, and torture. But all seem to
have a quality of resilience that is better than I expected, and all are
just glad to be out of that camp." 
     "As any one of us would be," Tinia said. 
    "No doubt," Salik replied. "Now, as for the wounded trooper: Corporal
Hadrian is recovering well, and should fit to be returned to duty in a
day or so, Major." 
    "Thanks, Doc," Croft said. 
     "As for Scarface? He's recovering in the Security Ward, and in three
days, will be healed up enough to be interviewed," Salik reported. "And
as was said earlier, we had a wounded prisoner, and despite our best
efforts, he succumbed to his wounds yesterday afternoon." 
      "You did everything possible," Tinia said. "But alas, even with our
medical science...."
     "Yes, Siress," replied Salik. "You can't win every fight, no matter
how hard you try." 
      Heads nodded at that, and even Baltar did as well. 
     "And the children?" Tinia asked. 
     "They're all fine. And in very good health, considering their
mothers' situation. We even had a birth within centons of arrival in Life
Center. The mother and son are doing well, and one other pregnant woman
will give birth in four sectans or so, and she will deliver triplets." 
       Those around the table saw Byrne squirm, as that woman would be on
his ship. "Captain, it's not the first time a woman has given birth on a
Colonial warship, and it won't be the last," Adama said. Not like the old
days."
      "I know, Commander," Byrne said. "We had one the day of the Il
Fadim business, but it still takes some getting used to." 
      "Even the Galactica has had births aboard," Adama reminded everyone
of Athena's twins. "It just takes some getting used to, that's all." 
      "Yes,sir," Byrne said. 
      "And Scarface? Keep him there until you hear further from me,"
Adama ordered, and Salik nodded. "Anything else, Doctor?"
       "Yes, sir,. The rescued prisoners will be cleared for interviews
in two days. I just want to make sure they're all up to it, and that they
are adjusting to normal eating. They're starting a normal diet beginning
tonight." 
      "Very well, Doctor. Is that all?" 
     "It is for now, Commander." 
     "Thank you, Doctor," Adama said. "Now, Captain Apollo and Strike
Leader Orion will go over the fighter phase of the operation." 

     Apollo stood up, "Thank you, Commander. Everyone," he began. "Blue
Squadron went in ahead of Squadron One, tasked with what Captain Byrne
calls SEAD: Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses. We used Scanner-homing
missiles to destroy not just the fire-control scanners for the gun and
missile batteries, but also their early-warning and traffic-control
scanners. Once the missiles struck home, we went in and strafed the gun
and missile sites, making sure they couldn't use any manual backups.
Several gun mounts did fire back, but no one was hit, and once the way
was clear, Squadron One came in. Orion?" Apollo gestured to the monitor. 
     "By your command," Orion said. "Squadron One split into two waves,
and the first wave, which I led, went in as briefed against the
spaceport, with priority to the atmospheric fighters. Those were
destroyed on the ground." As the Centurion spoke, a holo display showed a
replay of the strike. He went on, "We also destroyed the fuel and
munitions storage, the maintenance hangars, the control tower, and
cratered the runways as well. 
     "Was there any surface-to-air fire?' Tigh asked. 
     "There was sporadic fire from the gun sites. However, Captain
Apollo's fighters were able to neutralize those threats. Neither attack
wave had fighters hit," Orion replied. 
      "Very good, Orion," Adama said. "Please continue."     
      "By your command," Orion replied. "Wave two attacked the planet's
shipyard, and with no surface-to-air opposition, they were able to make
repeated attack runs on their targets. The construction docks, workshops,
storage facilities, and several ships under construction were all
destroyed. Upon completion of both assigned missions, the squadron
reformed, and,with Blue Squadron, covered the ground force's mission and
extraction. Upon the return of the shuttles to Galactica, we returned to
the Base Ship for refueling and rearming." 
     "Thank you, Orion," Adama said. "Well done, and relay that to your
pilots." 
     "By your command." 
      Adama nodded, then gestured to Captain Boomer and Squadron Leader
Cesorius, who led Squadron Two. "Captain Boomer and Squadron Leader
Cesorius will go over the fighter strikes in space. Captain?" 
      Boomer stood. "We'll go over this together," he said, and Cesorius
nodded, a gesture that made several of the Humans there a little uneasy,
as they were not used to that. "Red Squadron and Squadron Two attacked
the Risik Fleet Anchorage, and achieved complete surprise. There were
nine ships moored there, and we engaged six Exploratory Cruisers and a
Patrol Cruiser. There was some return fire, and two Vipers and a Raider
received battle damage that forced them to return to their home ships."
     "How was the return fire?" Baltar asked. 
     "Uncoordinated," Boomer said. "Cesorius?' 
     "I agree," the Centurion replied. "Their fire was ineffective at
best, and neither squadron gave them much time to do much more than
that." 
      "Exactly," Boomer agreed. "We took those ships apart, and got some
shots in on two other Patrol Cruisers, but they managed to power up, get
underway, and charged the capital ships." 
     "We'll come to that in due course," Adama said. "The orbital
shipyard?" 
      "Engaged by both Silver Spar Squadron and Squadron Three," Boomer
replied. "Cesorius?" 
      "Both squadrons attacked the stardocks and the orbital station,"
Cesorius said. "One of the ships, which was apparently undergoing
overhaul, did manage to return fire. The other ships were still under
construction. One Raider and one Viper were hit, and both managed to
return safely. All of the docks, and the ships in them, were destroyed,
along with the station." 
      "Very good," Adama said. "Boomer, good work, and pass that not just
to your pilots, but Captain Bojay's as well." 
       "Commander," Boomer replied as he sat down.
       "And Cesorious? Well done to your pilots, as well as Squadron
Three's as well. Relay that to them, if you would, please." 
        "By your command," Cesorius responded. 
       "Both squadron leaders would be here," Adama said. "But they are
currently on patrol." He then nodded to Tigh. "Now, the Galactica's role.
Colonel, if you please?" 
      "Yes, Commander," the Galactica's Exec said. He stood up, and
called up a holo display. "The Galactica came around the day side, and
after crossing into the night side, came across the Fleet HQ station."
The holo display showed the battlestar's movement, and the Risik station.
"They tried to hail us, but at the same time, they locked onto us with
their targeting system, and launched a number of space-to-space
nuclear-tipped missiles at us. Our anti-fighter batteries were able to
easily destroy the incoming missiles, while our heavy turbolaser and
pulsar batteries forward took the station under fire. After a number of
salvos, the station blew in half, and the lower half drifted away, then
exploded. The upper portion tumbled out of control, and burned up in
Ne'Chak's atmosphere. After engaging the station, a pair of Patrol
Cruisers came in our direction." 
      "Were these the two that arrived during Adelaide's mission?"
Commander Allen asked. 
      "We think so," Tigh replied. He nodded at Doctor Wilker. "There's
some intercepted communications that may confirm that." 
        "Remember," Byrne said. "There was a Risik admiral on one of
those, if you'll recall." 
        "Yes," Adama said. "But was he aboard at the time? Perhaps
Wilker's work will show us." Adama nodded at his Exec. "Please, Colonel,
go on." 
      "Yes,sir. The Galactica's guns took the lead Patrol Cruiser under
fire," Tigh said, the holo display now showing the engagement. "It didn't
take long for our fire to strike his magazine area, and when that
exploded...." He pointed to the display, which showed the sympathetic
detonations going aft, until the anti-matter reactor exploded." 
       "And the second ship?" Xaviar asked. 
       "He skirted our range, and headed for the Base Ship," Tigh
reported. "Command Centurion Moray can pick up that part of the action,"
he nodded at Moray's image on the monitor.
        "Command Centurion?" Adama asked. 
       "By your command," Moray replied. "While we were engaging assigned
surface targets, the second Risik Patrol Cruiser approached the Base
Ship. He came into range of our dorsal Mega-pulsar mount, and two shots
were needed to destroy him. The first shot was more of a grazing shot,
but the second strike hit his Engineering section, setting off the
anti-matter reactor." The holo display showed both strikes, and the Risik
ship exploding. 
       "Good shooting," Adama said. "And the surface targets?" 
       "All assigned targets were taken under fire," Moray replied. "The
military garrison was first priority, and the ventral guns engaged the
target. Nothing remained but rubble afterward." 
       "What about the EW facility and the Antennae Farm?" Apollo asked. 
       "Also destroyed," Moray reported. "And, prior to leaving orbit,
the underground facility under construction was taken under fire, and
also destroyed. Also, as previously reported, the only fire-support
request was acted on, and all hostile vehicles reported were destroyed." 
       "Excellent," Adama said. "Well done, Moray, and tell your gunners
their shooting was excellent." 
       "By your command," Moray replied. 
        

       "Now, we'll hear from Captain Byrne," Adama nodded. "Captain?" 
      Byrne nodded, then stood. "Commander, everyone," Byrne said.
"Constellation took up her screening position, here,' he indicated the
holo display.
      "Still like something out of a movie," Clemens whispered to Wagner.

       "I know, and it takes some getting used to," Wagner whispered
back. 
        "With no incoming ships, and neither of the Patrol Cruisers
coming our way," Byrne continued, "we went for Ne'Chak's moon. There, I
launched Katana Squadron, and they were targeted on the base under
construction and the associated construction facilities. After destroying
both, the Vipers went around to the far side of the moon, in order to
flush out any ships hiding there. They found a small patrol craft, who
fired up his engines and came around to the near side." 
       "And he spotted you?" Pelias asked. 
      "He did, Sire," Byrne replied. "We outgunned him by quite a lot,
and yet, he came right at us, head-on. They managed to get a couple of
shots off, and we had some minor damage-cosmetic, really, but that's all
he managed to do. Constellation's gunners took him apart, and they didn't
last long." The holo display showed the patrol ship becoming a fireball.
"We then maintained our screening position until the recall signal." 
       Adama nodded. "Thank you, Captain," he said as Byrne sat down.
"Once our mission objectives were met, I gave the recall signal. Our
fighter reserves were launched to cover our flanks and rear, and as we
departed on our decoy course, a Risik scout ship was detected. He
followed us on the decoy course out of the system." 
      "And he was allowed to live, I gather?" Xavair asked. 
      "Yes, Sire," Adama replied. After breaking contact, we set our
course for the Fleet rendezvous, while our scanners detected him changing
course. For their Capital." 
      "He should be there by now, correct?" Baltar asked. 
     "Yes, he should," Adama said. "Which brings us to right now. It'll
take at least a day for them to digest the information about the attack,
and then organize and dispatch a reaction force." 
      "And three days back to Ne'Chak, and then they have to figure out
where we've gone to," Byrne said. 
     "Do we know if the war with the Ke'zar is still going on?" Starbuck
ventured. "That might decide how much of a force to send out."
       "We'll have to ask Morovik that, the next time we talk with him,
Commander," said Byrne.
      "Exactly, Captain," Adama replied. "And that gives us not just
space, but time as well." The Commander called up a navigation holo
display. "This is the course we'll have to take to pick up our Epsilon
Vector 22 heading," Adama indicated. "It will take us two and a half
sectans to get back on course, provided there are no entanglements, Risik
or otherwise." 
      "And our Rules of Engagement remain in effect?' Baltar asked. 
      "They do," Adama said. "We'll try to evade if possible, but if
necessary, we will engage. Hopefully, we should only encounter their
Exploratory Cruisers and their scout ships, but be prepared for
anything." 
       "Understood," Baltar replied, and Tigh nodded. 
       "Two and a half sectans," Adama reminded everyone. "Then we'll be
out of the sector and back on our course." 
      "The Lords willing," Tinia said. 
     "Indeed, Siress," Adama replied. "Now, Doctor Wilker?" 

     The Chief Scientist stood to give his report. "Commander, everyone,'
he nodded. "First of all, our translation capabilities have increased,
and our work is now to the point where we can have translation on demand,
if that's what is needed. Now, as for what we've developed from the
captured materials? The Governor's satchel had a number of documents.
They were almost all related to the business of the colony. Food
production, output of the mines and lumber mills, locations for new
settlements. Just what one would expect from an administrator of one of
our outlying worlds back in our home quadrant." 
     "Does anything jump out at you, Doctor?" Tinia asked. 
     "One document did, Siress," Wilker said, calling up the display. The
original document, in the alien script, and the translation, appeared
side-by-side. "It was a letter to the Minister of Colonies, protesting
the lack of attention to the defense network of Ne'Chak. He was calling
attention to the fact that the colony would be a likely first target of
the Ke'zar, should they appear in the sector, for defense against any
pirates or smugglers, as well as being vulnerable to attack by previously
unknown 'infidel' races, as he puts it." 
      "I'd say we proved that, Commander," said Starbuck. 
      "More than proved, Lieutenant," Byrne said. "I'd say we gave a very
convincing demonstration." 
      "That we did," Adama nodded. "Please continue, Doctor." 
      "Yes, sir," Wilker said. "We didn't find anything about the camp in
his satchel, but did find some on his personal computer, what Captain
Byrne calls a 'laptop'. He had an invitation to the camp that night, for
a dinner with the Commandant, and that he was supposed to attend a
banquet the following evening. Along with 'entertainment' provided by
some of the prisoners." 
      Hearing that, Clemens scowled, and Adama noticed it. "Petty
Officer?" 
      "Commander, Doc," she said, nodding at Salik. "You're probably
wondering why the women are generally in better shape than the men? This
is why. Not only did we have to serve the food and drinks, but also had
to provide....other services." 
       "Of all the..." Tinia said. "How often were these...banquets?" 
       "Occasionally, Siress," Clemens replied, trying to forget the
"other services" forced upon her and her fellow prisoners. "Whenever he
felt like it." 
       "Doc," Byrne said. "Were copies sent to others?" 
      "Yes, as a matter of fact," Wilker replied. "Copies were sent to
the base commander,a Commander Felnavia; someone we've tentatively
identified as a senior priest, the squadron commander of the ships based
at the colony, and someone else, whose name has appeared previously:
Admiral Beshik." 
       "Anything on the Commandant's computer?" Baltar asked. "He may
have responded to the invitation." 
       "We're just starting to check his portable computer, and should
have that tomorrow," Wilker replied. 
       "And when was this....banquet supposed to take place?" Adama
asked. 
       "The night after the raid," Wilker reported. 
       Wagner scowled at the possibility of the...other services, but
then she grinned. "Commander, if we'd been delayed by a day....we'd have
more than the Governor locked up." 
      Adama nodded. The intelligence bonanza in that case would be
tremendous. "And more potential defendants at the Tribunal, if the
evidence had shown. And if we had interrupted such a 'banquet'...."
     "Commander, if I'd caught them in the act....," Wagner said. 
     "She would've likely killed them on sight," Croft said. "And I
wouldn't have stood in her way." 
     "A perfectly justifiable reaction," Xaviar said. "I recall reading
about bounty hunters who, finding their quarry engaged in similar
activity, sometimes eliminated them instead." 
     "Yes," Adama nodded agreement. He'd heard similar stories in his
anti-piracy days. "What else, Doctor?" 
     "Pliny and his students have begun work on the camp records.
Everyone at the camp had a file on them, both paper and electronic,"
Wilker reported. " Down to the lowliest guard. Along with a few of their
own people sentenced there for a few days of  what they call 'public
service penance.' The electronic files contained attachments." 
     "Attachments, Doctor?" Pelias asked. 
     Wilker nodded. "Yes, Sire," he replied. "All appear to show what he
called 'Disciplinary and Corrective Measures against the prisoners.' His
words, Commander." 
     Everyone around the table, as well as Baltar, was showing disgust on
their faces. "How many, Doc?" Byrne asked. 
     "All of them, I'm afraid," Wilker said. "We checked Petty Officer
Clemens' file. She has a dozen such video files in her electronic
dossier." 
      Clemens looked at Wilker, then glanced at her roomie and also at
her CO. "Commander....I never noticed a camera in that torture shed. I
was trying to concentrate on the places it didn't hurt." 
     "Understandable, Petty Officer," Adama nodded. "It may have been
well concealed. Doctor?" 
     "Yes, Commander?" Wilker replied.
     "Make as many copies as needed for Sire Solon. Those documents, and
the recordings, are now evidence for Tribunal." 
      "Will do, Commander," Wilker replied. "We also found that several
other officers tried to get a slave for themselves, but they were turned
down. Their offers of.....compensation, shall we say, were deemed to be
insufficient." 
       Wagner nodded. "At least we're not leaving anyone behind,
Commander. The roster of released prisoners matches the Petty Officer's
list. And none of them mention anyone else being removed from the camp." 
      "Thank the Lords for that," Adama said. "Give Sire Solon access to
whatever he needs. Doctor. Is there anything further?" 
      The scientist nodded. "The intercepted communications during the
engagement. The HQ Station sent a message to a Patrol Cruiser whose name
translates as Broadsword. The ship replied, and said that 'The Admiral
would be notified.' That ship then sent a message to another cruiser,
identified as Battleaxe. It was sent by Admiral Beshik." 
    "Was it the lead ship, Doctor?" Tigh asked. 
     "It was," Wilker said. "Based on the reconstruction of the
engagement, it's certain. There was a flag officer on that ship." 
     "We took out Lemeshik's father?" Clemens asked. 
     "Looks that way," Apollo said. "Commander?" 
     "If we have," Adama replied. "That would be an added bonus. For all
his....unsavory activities, he may have been a commander that could have
given us trouble, if given the opportunity." 
    "Consider," Moray added. "He may have been an accomplished commander.
The power struggle that will result in the wake of his demise may aid in
our efforts to evade Risik pursuit." 
     "A very good observation, Command Centurion," Adama nodded. 
Interesting insight, from a Cylon. "And in this crime family of theirs,
the struggle will doubtless be a fierce one." 
     "Power abhors a vacuum, Commander," Allen said. "Once word travels
that Beshik's gone, and Lemeshik's disappeared, the others may start
killing each other off." 
      "Just like in the Mafia, Ced?" Byrne asked, and Allen nodded. 
     "What's that?" Apollo asked, and Byrne explained.  "Just like the
Poros 'family' back in the Colonies, then." Starbuck looked at Apollo and
nodded back. 
     "Exactly," Adama replied. "Organized crime is universal, so it
seems. Anything else, Doctor?" 
     "One thing," Wilker said, calling up another display. "These signals
were picked up just as the Galactica broke orbit to leave the system.
They appear to be transponder signals for a buoy." 
     "A buoy?" Baltar asked. "What kind of buoy?" 
     "We're not sure. All we know is that after checking the Galactica's
scanner logs, they were deployed just before the two Patrol Cruisers were
engaged by the Galactica and the Base Ship respectively."
      "Before they were engaged?" Boomer asked. "That doesn't make
sense." 
     "It does if they knew they weren't going to make it," Starbuck
pointed out. "They might have their flight and scanner logs on those.
With imagery of the Galactica, Base Ship, plus Vipers and Raiders." 
      "It's very possible," Wilker admitted. 
      "Something no doubt unavoidable," Adama said. "And that Scout that
followed us may have imagery of its own. Not to mention the likelihood of
technical data." 
      "Knowing what we look like is one thing," Allen nodded. "Doing
something about it is something else entirely."
      "A valid point, Commander Allen," Adama nodded. "Is that all,
Doctor?" 
      "It is for now, Commander," Wilker said, sitting back down.
      "Thank you, Doctor. Commander Allen?" 
      "Commander," Allen replied. "After the Task Force left, Adelaide
and Century maintained a close watch over the Fleet. Though the gas,
dust, and radion in the system shielded us from any prying eyes, it, and
the debris, generated a lot of false contacts, and each one had to be
investigated by Vipers, one squadron of which was flying at all times.
There were no visitors at all, and, as I told the Commander when the Task
Force returned, someone could hide there indefinitely." 
     "Well done, Commander," Adama said. "Pass that on to your crew and
pilots, and I'll do the same for the Century." 
      "Thank you, Commander," said Allen as he sat back down. 
      "Now, as for our immediate course of action," Adama said. "As soon
as our patrols return, we'll get on our escape course  to pick up our
heading for Earth. Apollo, Orion?" He nodded at his two fighter leaders.
"Resume the double patrols that we flew prior to launching the mission." 
      "Yes, Commander," Apollo replied. 
      "By your command." 
     "Doctor Wilker?" Adama told his Chief Scientist. "Continue with the
decryption and translation work. The material for the Tribunal aside, the
more information you develop, the better." 
     "Of course, Commander," Wilker replied. 
     "Doctor Salik? Let me know when Scarface can be interrogated," Adama
said. "This may be our first glimpse of a real sociopath in quite a
while." Baltar excepted, of course, he thought to himself.
     Salik nodded. "Yes, sir." 
     "Now, Baltar? I've got a question for you. How many mines are in the
Base Ship's magazines?" 
      Baltar was curious, but he seemed to know what Adama had in mind.
"Moray?" 
     "We have a standard load in our magazines, Commander," Moray
replied. "Five hundred." 
     "Very good, Command Centurion," Adama said. "Now, before we leave
the system, I'd like it if three or four mines were left in orbit around
the desert world. We've landed there on our first visit, and the Risik
may want to see if there's traces of our presence. If one of their ships
happens to hit a mine..."
     "They not only lose a ship," Tigh said. "But it slows down their
search effort." 
      "Correct Colonel," Adama nodded. "And consider this: if this system
is mined...."
      "Then every system we may have visited may have been mined as
well," Moray said. "Logical. It requires them to slow down, and conduct
very thorough sensor sweeps." 
      "And that takes time, even for us," Xaviar added. "The more time it
takes them to check out a system-" 
      "The more time it gives us to clear their territory," Apollo said.
     "It does exactly that," Adama nodded. "Baltar?" 
     The traitor grinned. "A very devious idea," Baltar said. "Consider
it done. We'll leave four mines, each with a twenty-four centar delay
prior to going active." 
    "Very good Baltar," Adama said. "Please report when the mines are
laid." 
     "We shall," Baltar replied. 
      "Very good. Does anyone have any other questions or comments?"
There were none. "Very well, we're adjourned until tomorrow at 1600." 
       
      
      The next morning, Adama decided to postpone the meeting until the
following day. First, he had contacted Doctor Wilker, and found that
there would be a lot more information available that day, and that would
be useful when interrogating Scarface. Already, Sire Solon's people had
been to the lab, and translated copies of the prisoners' records, along
with the recordings of their...."punishment" had been given to the legal
office. Second, Adama wanted to have two or three of those rescued be
present, to tell their own stories, if Doctor Salik would clear them.
Hearing firsthand from them would add to their picture of what exactly
went on in that hades hole, and give insight also into the Risik plans
for Earth and their targeting. Also, he wanted to have a talk with
Sub-Commander Morovik, and inform him of the plans for the Tribunal, and
that he was likely going to be a witness for the Protection, if his
Commander, Lemeshik, chose to call him. So far, there had been no
evidence, even from Petty Officer Clemens, that Morovik, or any other
crew member, had even touched her. Though they had done nothing to help,
either. "What could they have done?" she had asked when Sire Solon had
asked her when giving her deposition. With all that, and having also to
have a talk with Heller, to remind him that it was up to the former
prisoners on whether or not they wanted to tell their stories to IFB, he
decided to wait a day. 

     That decided, he went up to the Bridge. Where he found Colonel Tigh
already there. "Colonel," 
     "Commander," the Exec said. "Our last patrol will return in a
centar, and then we'll be ready to depart the system." 
     "Very good, Colonel," Adama said. He went and checked Athena's
monitor, showing the system. Then he turned back to Tigh. "Get me Baltar,
please."
    "Commander?" Tigh asked. 
     "We should leave some additional mines in this system." 
     Tigh nodded. A few more surprises for the Risik couldn't hurt. "Yes,
Commander."
    A centon later, Baltar's image appeared on a monitor. "Yes, Adama?" 
   "Baltar, Command Centurion Moray indicated that you have the mines to
spare?" 
   "That we do, Adama. That particular magazine is filled," the traitor
replied. "You'd like some more...presents left for the Risik?" 
    "I would, Baltar. Leave a dozen or so. With the appropriate time
delay." 
    "Of course, Adama," Baltar replied. "And in the orbits that their
ships would have to use in order to scan the surface for any trace of our
presence." 
     "That would be best," Adama agreed. "Please lay them as soon as our
patrol returns, then we'll depart." 
     "That would seem prudent, and a complete surprise to
our.....friends," Baltar smiled. "We'll report when the mines are laid." 
     Adama nodded. "Thank you, Baltar, Please do, and give my regards to
Ayesha." 
    "I shall," Baltar replied. "And good morning to you," he said, then
the monitor went blank. 

     A centar later, the last patrol returned, and both the Viper and
Raider pilots reported nothing. No signs of Risik ships, nor any
communications detected.  After that, the Base Ship broke formation to
lay its mines, and when that task was completed, rejoined its position in
the Fleet. After Baltar had reported in, Adama nodded. Then he turned to
Tigh. "Our business here is finished, Colonel. Let's get out of here. Get
us on course to pick up our Epsilon Vector 22 heading." 
    "Commander," Tigh said, and he relayed the order. 

    With that, the Colonial Fleet left the system, on its course that
would take it out of Risik space, and eventually, back on course for
Earth. 


     As the Colonial Fleet departed the system, the Risik Scout Ship
arrived at the Capital, or the Ctisphon Prime System.. This was the
system that the Risik had settled, so long ago, after executing the
Sanctuary Program. Only those who had been totally devoted to the State,
showing their allegiance to the True Path, along with those who would be
necessary to revive their scientific and industrial base, as well as the
intelligentsia, and their families, had been invited into the program.
The defeatists, weaklings, and cowards had been left behind to face the
Ke'zar, along with most of the Star Force to fight the delaying action.
The losses had been frightful, but the sacrifice had ensured that the
Pure and Select of the Risik people had escaped. No living Risik had been
back to the home sector in forty solar years, and yet, the Risik State
was preparing for the day when they returned to the home sector,
reclaimed the home planet from the Ke'zar, and extracted the fullest
measure of revenge upon those who had stolen their home world and stood
in the way of bringing civilization to worlds that needed it, such as
Egyrn, Guti'la, and several others. 
    But, especially, Te'rea.
    Here, the star was exactly like the home star, and the orbital period
of the capital planet was virtually the same as the homeworld, so many
light-years away. Cities had sprouted up, along with the necessary
industries to support their society. Once things were stable, and the
population growing, the infrastructure needed to support the expansion of
the military that the Supreme Leader and the Supreme Council desired was
built. First at the Capital, then at three other worlds, including
Ne'Chak.  Eventually, the Risik would bring the benefits of civilization
to several nearby races, and in time, reclaim was was once theirs, even
if it took several generations. 
     The Scout Ship arrived at an orbiting base, larger than either one
of those that had been at Ne'Chak. The Commander and Pilot reported in to
Star Force Intelligence, and the duty officers had been skeptical at
first, until the scanner logs were replayed. The attack on the planet had
been caught, in nearly every frightening detail. The crew was quickly
shown to the head of Star Force Intelligence, and he was shocked by the
sight as the logs were replayed on his office screen. Three capital
ships, each larger than anything in the current Star Force inventory, had
reduced the ships based at Ne'Chak, and the orbital shipyard, to debris,
and the ground bases had been turned into slag. Most disturbing was the
indications that a ground force had landed, and then departed. For what
reason, the scout crew wasn't sure, but the ground force had then
departed. Taking with them no technology, resources, or booty, just
prisoners. The recovered buoy from Admiral Beshik's flagship had also
been handed over, and the flagship's flight logs examined. Though several
analysts agreed with the conclusion that the attackers were Te'rean, and
the Director of Intelligence was noncommittal, the Star Force Commander,
Admiral  Tirlagan, who was a bitter rival of Admiral Beshik, disagreed.
Still, all points of view would be presented when the Admiral made his
report. 
     The Admiral took a shuttle down to the Capital, and insisted on
seeing the Supreme Leader at once. The Supreme Leader's Equary, who
handled all appointments, wanted to know the reason for doing so. When he
was told that unknown forces had attacked Ne'Chak, the Admiral was
ushered right into the Supreme Leader's chamber. 
     The Risik Supreme Leader sat in what would be called a throne, if
the position had been a  monarchy, and nearby was a conference table for
meetings with the Supreme Council. "Admiral Trilagan," the Equary
announced. 
    "Supreme Leader," Trilagan said, bowing. "I bring important news from
Ne'Chak." 
    The Leader, dressed in a Toga and robes, signifying his position as
the Chief of State and Head of the State Religion, asked, "What is the
'important news' that such an outpost would have?" 
    Admiral Trilagan chose his words carefully. "The system has been
attacked, Supreme Leader. By forces unknown. The base facilities, both
planetside and orbital, have been destroyed, along with the shipyards and
starport. Completely. The 5th Patrol Squadron based there has been
totally wiped out, and two visiting cruisers from the 2nd Cruiser
Squadron, visiting there after Fleet Exercises, were also destroyed.
Admiral Beshik, the Squadron Commander, has been killed." 
    "WHAT?" The Leader thundered. "Who is responsible for this, this
inexcusable outrage?" 
     "That, Star Force Intelligence does not yet know. Imagery and
technical data from a Scout Ship that survived the attack, as well as
flight logs from two emergency buoys, is still being analyzed as we
speak. The attackers were three large, and in two cases, impossibly
large, capital ships. Two of them far larger and more powerful than
anything in our inventory at present, let alone planned, and the third
was merely as large as one of our Battlecruisers, though more powerful in
terms of speed and armament. All three ships launched large numbers of
fighters and strike craft to support their attack. And a ground force was
landed on the surface, and departed. Its objective was apparently,
Special Camp One." 
     "Te'reans. It has to be!" raged the Leader. "How?" 
     "My Leader, the identity of the attackers is still unknown-" 
     "Who else would attack that camp? Retorted the Leader. He turned to
his Secretary. "Convene a meeting of the Supreme Council. At once!" 
     The secretary bowed. "Supreme Leader." 


     A few tenarii later, the Supreme Council, consisting of the
military, religious authorities, the state's security services, and
ministers of industry, colonies, and alien affairs, convened. The room
was tense, like a whip, with no chit-chat. Then a powerful voice broke
the silence. "Admiral Trilagan, you will relate the information you have
told me," the Leader ordered. 
     "Supreme Leader," the Admiral bowed. "Members of the Council.
Esteemed Ministers; As you have been informed, and if you will refer to
the reports in front of you, three and a half standard days ago, our
colony world of Ne'Chak was attacked by unknown forces. The attacking
force, three capital ships-two of them far, far larger than any ship in
our inventory, either currently or planned, entered the system by a route
we do not yet know, launched fighters, strike craft, and apparently
planetary assault craft as well. The attackers proceeded to
systematically destroy everything of military value in the system. The
orbital base, the ships moored in the Fleet Anchorage, the shipyards both
in orbit and on-planet. Not to mention the starport, military garrison,
and a base under construction on the planet's only moon.." 
    "And the ground force?' Eikhe, the Director of General State
Security, asked. He was no soldier, but a security professional to the
bone. 
    "The ground force landed at Special Camp One, and it would appear
that the Te'rean slaves there were the objective of that force. The
assault craft were tracked by a scout ship as they left the camp, and
readings indicate that the camp was empty," Admiral Trilagan noted, as a
video screen showed the imagery of destruction, often cut off as the ship
taking the imagery was destroyed. "After everything of value was
destroyed, the attacking force left the system." 
     "And our losses?" Kurum, the Minister of Alien Affairs, asked. 
    "Apart from the Scout Ship that brought back the data, everything
militarily significant in the system was destroyed. The ships of the 5th
Patrol Squadron based there were all destroyed, as well as two visiting
Patrol Cruisers from Admiral Beshik's 2nd Cruiser Squadron. The Admiral
himself was killed on his flagship, we believe." The Admiral paused to
replay the imagery from the Scout ship, showing the confrontation between
the two Patrol Cruisers and the two very large capital ships. "Note the
second ship: it took only two shots from a very large laser-type weapon
to destroy a Patrol Cruiser. And both ships easily destroyed ours from
beyond our weapons range." He paused, as the images stopped. "Councilors,
we are dealing with opponents who have weapons technology that is
superior to ours."
     "How superior?" Asked Eikhe, a menacing tone in his voice. 
     "Star Force Intelligence is not sure, but at least a century  by
conservative estimates. Possibly two, even more. We have very little to
go on, as you have seen."  
     "Who are the attackers?" High Priest Si-um, the senior religious
advisor to the Supreme Leader, wanted to know. A question everyone there
wanted answered. 
      "That information, I do not have at the moment," the Admiral
replied. "My Chief of Intelligence is unsure, while several analysts
believe them to be Te'rean-"
     "A view I agree with," the Leader angrily growled. 
     "But how?" Kurum asked. "All of our information was that Te'rea was
a backwards, primitive world, barely able to travel in space on its own,
and hopelessly divided among many competing nation-states. How could they
have possibly-" 
     "There has been ample time that has passed," the Leader retorted.
"They may have had the opportunity to contact others. A race or races
unknown to us, and assisted them to develop their own interstellar
spacefaring capabilities." 
     "Or, as is likely, the nation-states have made their own contacts,
and procured different craft from different races," Ibate, the Minister
of Colonies, commented. 
      "Enough!" 
       Heads turned to face the Supreme Leader. "Eminence?" 
      "Given that the objective included the Te'rean slaves, either the
attackers are themselves Te'rean, or may have been hired by the
Te'reans," the Leader said. 
      "How would they find out?" Eikhe asked."The distance...And what
mercenaries operate capital ships?"
      "That is a question for you and Star Force Intelligence to
discern," the Leader said. He turned to the Admiral. "And how do you
propose we respond to this, this, outrage?" 
       "First, Supreme Leader, I will lead the First Cruiser and Fourth
Patrol Squadrons based here at the Capital. We will proceed to Ne'Chak at
maximum speed and will first land troops and relief supplies, as well as
restore law and order. And we will evaluate the situation and gather
what, if any, additional intelligence is needed. Once the troops have
landed, and I will leave a pair of cruisers to support them, I will take
the force along the last known course of the intruders. If we cannot find
them, I will have to deploy the force throughout the neighboring systems
and search for any signs of their presence. Once they are found, I will
concentrate all of my available forces and attack," Admiral Triligan
said. "However, there is a problem." 
      "What kind of problem?" Growled the Leader. He had little patience
for.....problems.
      "They have three and a half days' travel time on us as of now. If
their weapons technology is superior to ours, their propulsion technology
is almost certain to be more advanced as well." He slid another data chip
into the terminal, and scanner data appeared on the screen. Images of all
three attacking ships came up, with data appearing next to each ship's
image. The Admiral continued. "This is the available sensor data on the
ships. This one.." an image of the Galactica appeared, "utilizes a
chemo-nuclear form of engineering. And traces of an as yet unknown
substance were found in its wake. This one.." The Admiral paused as an
image of Constellation appeared, "uses a form of matter-antimatter
reaction, similar to our own, but far more advanced, it would seem. The
third ship?" He went on as images of the Base Ship appeared. "It has a
power curve of enormous amplitude, and yet uses a mode of power
completely unknown to us." The Admiral then called up images of the
fighters. "As for the fighters, one appears to have a single pilot,
apparently Te'rean. As for the second," an image of a Raider appeared,
"we are not sure. Scan data is limited, but these ships have no living
beings aboard, it would appear." 
       "Automated?" the Supreme Leader asked. 
      "Star Force Intelligence believes so. But, as I said, our scan data
is limited, to say the least." 
      "And they have fled the system?" Ilbate, the Minister of
Production, asked. 
      "They have, Minister, and that leads me to my next point," replied
the Admiral.
       "Which is?" 
      More scan data followed. "Their ships, when they entered star
speed, displayed more power and faster response times than anything our
scientists have developed. Not even the Ke'zar have ships with this
capability." Admiral Triligan said. 
      'I am not a propulsion engineer," Si-um nodded at the Admiral.
"What does it mean?"
      "It means they can outrun us, My Lord. Our ships cannot match their
power curves.
      "No one can hide from the Chosen Race," Si-um said dismissively. 
"The Gods willing, we will find them and make them pay." 
      "It is a large region of space to search, and given our limited
communications ability, even if they were located, the enemy may evade
our ships, or even double back and destroy them. They left that scout
behind as if he had been chained to a post," the Admiral pointed out. "It
is not defeatism or heresy to point out one's disadvantages, Supreme
Leader." 
     "No, it is not," replied the Leader. "I know the Admiral will do his
best. Even if the attackers are merely driven off instead of destroyed,
he will have done his duty. Now, Eikhe? I want you to supervise the
investigation into this atrocity. Go wherever the investigation takes
you. Whether it was on-planet or off, how did they get so far into the
system before detection? And was there a security leak that led to these
Te'reans finding out the location of the camp?" 
       "I will do so, Supreme Leader," Eikhe nodded. 
       "You will have full power to act as you see fit, to arrest,
investigate, and if necessary, execute, those guilty of negligence and
those who failed in their duty to defend the State," the Leader
continued. "Is that understood?" 
      'Perfectly, Supreme Leader." 
      "And I will issue a decree ordering all State and Religious
agencies to cooperate with your investigation," the Leader went on. "Have
Ulrikh accompany the Fleet. He will be needed to judge those arrested." 
       "Of course, Supreme Leader. He is our best judge in matters such
as this." Eikhe nodded. 
      "What will we tell the people?' Ibate asked. 
      "Nothing," replied the Leader. "Unless it leaks, and only then we
shall tell them the basic story," the Leader said. He nodded at Minister
of State Information, who was the State's Chief propagandist, Apilkin.
"And we shall tell them it was the hated Te'reans, with help from other,
as yet unknown, infidels, who perpetrated this outrage. And even if they
are not destroyed, but driven off instead, the people will know that even
if an enemy escapes, they will still have paid a price for their
impudence." 
       Apilkin nodded. "As you wish, Supreme Leader." 
      "Admiral, we shall not detain you any longer. Carry out your duty."
the Leader said . "The Gods be with you, and may they bring you success."

      Admiral Triligan bowed. "Supreme Leader. If you'll excuse me?"  The
Leader nodded, and the Admiral left. Those who remained had a spirited
discussion. 
      "What if it was not the Te'reans?" Si-um asked. "What if it was the
Ke'zar, manipulating others to do their evil work for them, in order to
reignite the war?" 
      "It makes no difference," the Leader replied. "They will be made to
pay. Now, this has set us back considerably in our shipbuilding and Star
Force expansion goals. I want the appropriate resources allocated to
repair the damage and rebuild. How long?" 
     Ilu-an, the Minister of Production, nodded. "Based on the
preliminary information that the Admiral has provided? Five solar years,
at least. More likely seven." 
     "That bad?" 
     "Supreme Leader, they have destroyed twenty percent of our total
shipbuilding and ship maintenance capabilities. There is no way to hide
that, and we will need a long while to rebuild everything. From the
beginning." 
     "Then we shall devote as many resources as possible to make good the
damage. Wait a moment, Minister Ilu-an." 
     "Leader?" 
      "How many ships do we have that are scheduled for scrapping? 
      "That, I do not know at present, My Leader," Ilu-an replied
politely. 
      "Find out. You have heard the reports. We need ships! I want those
ships reactivated if at all possible and turned over to the Star Force.
Suitably modernized if at all possible. Do you understand?" 
     "Leader, it will require-"
     "Let it require, Minister. We need ships. Until new and better ships
come off the ways, and we have more of them, we must make use of what we
have. Do you understand?" The Leader said, with a menacing tone in his
voice. One that said the unspoken  words. "Provide, or else." 
     Ilu-an gulped. "Yes, My Leader." 
.   "Well, there we have it," the Leader said. "For, in the grand scheme,
our plan will take at least another generation, perhaps two or three, to
be fully implemented. But when we are ready, we shall make our
enemies-old as well as new-quake with fear. We shall reclaim the home
planet, extract revenge upon the Ke'zar, and remind the Te'reans,
Egrynians, and others who were once our subjects who their masters are.
The galaxy will be ours, completely and totally. It is our destiny!" 
      "It is," Si-um declared. "As the scrolls pronounce, it shall be
done." 
     "So it shall," the Leader said. "Thank you, Councilors." 
    After the meeting adjourned, the Leader went to his liquor cabinet
and poured himself a cup of wine. One of the vintages from Tar'lak, the
second colony, it was expensive, but a benefit of the office was that
whatever he wanted, he got. The Leader went to his own star map, laid out
on the conference table, and noted Ne'Chak. The map didn't show the
homeworld, let alone Te'rea or Egyrn, or the Ke'zar's world, but he vowed
that all who stood in the way of the Risik's newfound Empire would be
brought to heel. The Scrolls decreed it, and by the Gods, it would be so.
Still, he looked again at the map and took a drink. Who are you, where
did you come from, and where did you go? He thought. What the Leader
feared was that he would never know, or that even if he did, the
attackers would make a clean escape. If that happened, who knew what the
reaction of the people would be, let alone the military? He prayed to the
Gods that the military would find and punish those responsible. It had to
be so. The consequences to the State in the event of failure, he didn't
want to even think about.
    
-- The End