BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE MARK OF CAIN
                           by
                     Eric J. Paddon

        Based on characters created by Glen A. Larson 
          This is a work of fan-fiction and is not    
         intended to infringe on any copyright laws       

                           Prologue

   The sun shined brightly over the Caprica seashore, and the gentle
breeze created a ripple effect across the ocean's waves.  It was a lovely
day for taking it easy.
   Sheba stood on the outer deck of her house, and contentedly inhaled
the salty fragrance of the ocean breeze.  It always made her feel good to
just be alive and enjoying life in the home she'd never thought she'd
have again.
   Then again, could anyone in all the colonies ever have envisioned
living in these planets again?  That after fifteen yahrens of travelling
across the universe, their journey would ultimately end where it had
began?
   Even now, four yahrens since the return to Caprica it was still hard
for a lot of people to believe it.  There were times when Sheba almost
found herself wondering if the quiet life of tranquility she now enjoyed
was only an unreal dream.
   Her thoughts were distracted when she heard the sound of her
robot-servant, Nova, coming out onto the deck.  She turned to face him,
and again felt that strange sense of irony that filled her whenever she
saw Nova.  Not that he was a robot, that she was used to.  It was the
kind of robot Nova was.
   Nova was a Cylon centurion.  Originally programmed to destroy
humanity.  But now, like millions of other centurions salvaged from the
wreckage of the colonies, he'd been reprogrammed to serve humanity.
   "I have finished programming tonight's dinner, Madame Sheba," he said
in that low garbled voice of a Cylon.
   "Thank you Nova," Sheba smiled, "That will be all for this afternoon. 
Go downstairs until you're needed."
   "By your command," he turned and departed.
   Efficient, dutiful, everything you could ask for, Sheba mused as she
came inside.  Yet there was a time not too long ago, when he'd been one
of an infinite number of nameless centurions who'd fought in that
spectacular last battle in the colonies, trying to destroy humanity.
   She shook her head slightly and chided herself for thinking about it. 
All that was past now.  The thousand yahren war between human and Cylon
machine was done.  And now, the victorious humans made use of their
former adversaries in order to rebuild the civilization that had been
destroyed so long ago.
   Four yahrens later, the 10,000 survivors of the Galactica's fleet had
been able to perform a minor miracle on Caprica and Gemon, the two
planets that had been selected for reclamation.  Caprica's initial
population of 8,000 had already tripled, while Gemon's had passed 6,000. 
Slowly but surely, the colonies were on the way back to their former
glory.
   So far, there had been no new enemies for humanity that might have
impeded the recovery.  That fact alone was all that Sheba needed to keep
herself from having any immediate thoughts about reactivating her
warrior's commission.  As her children grew older, she had slowly felt
the desire to return to the work that had been her life for so many
yahrens, but it was clear that the absence of any outside threat meant
that for now at least, there was no need to act on that desire. 
   She heard the chime of her video communicator and went over to answer
it.  She smiled when she saw her husband's image fill the screen.
   "Hi," Apollo smiled back at her, "How's everything?"
   "Just fine," she said, "I got Teague and Hera off to school all right. 
They'll be a little late coming home because they're going with some of
the other children to the triad match tonight."
   "That should be fun," Apollo noted, "I'm glad Boomer set up the new
league.  Our people need things like spectator sports more than ever."
   "Their biggest problem is who to route for," Sheba said, "Do they act
like loyal Capricans and cheer Boomer's squad to victory, or do they
cheer for big brother Boxey, captain of the Gemonese?"
   Apollo laughed, "Sometimes I think the reason Boxey volunteered for
duty on Gemon, is because he wanted to create scenarios just like that."
   His tone then grew serious, "Look Sheba, the reason I called, is
because the Archives just delivered something to me.  They've finally
gotten around to restoring the computer tapes from the Pegasus."
   Sheba's expression grew stoic, and inside she bit her cheek, "Have you
seen it?"
   "No," Apollo shook his head, "I felt you were entitled to see them
first."
   "I see," his wife said, "Can you bring them home?"
   "No.  They can only be played back on the computers here, in the
Administrative Center."
   "I'll be there in less than a centar."  she switched off the
communicator, and pressed the intercom, "Nova?"
   "I am here, Madame Sheba."
   "Nova, I'm leaving for the Administrative Center.  If I'm not back
before Teague and Hera come home, see to it that dinner will be ready for
them."
   "By your command."
   Sheba shut off the intercom and sat at the table for a centon, just
staring out the window.
   She was finally going to learn everything.  Nineteen yahrens since her
father, the legendary Commander Cain, had taken the Pegasus off into
battle and disappeared.  Five yahrens since she'd learned the general
details of what had happened to him from the dying breath of the last
Cylon Imperious Leader.  Four yahrens since her return to Caprica, and
the discovery of the wreck of the Pegasus, strewn over a wide area in the
heart of the capital city.
   Now, all of the secrets of what her father had done since leaving her
would be known.  And now, the story of how he had singlehandedly
decimated the Cylon Empire, leaving only a small taskforce of baseships
that the Galactica had destroyed in the last battle five yahrens ago,
would be known too.
   Strangely enough, Sheba had never pondered too much about what secrets
lay on the Peagasus' computer tapes.  An incident that had happened to
her just prior to the last battle, had left her with a strange sense of
serenity about her father and what had happened to him, even before she'd
learned the general story.  And because of that, she'd never felt any
rush to know the details.
   But now, as she left her house and got into her hover-mobile for the
trip to Caprica City, she found herself trembling.  The unconcern over
not knowing the details, had disappeared and been replaced by a burning
curiosity to know all the answers.
   The drive to Caprica City only took several centons.  Along the way,
she passed the multitude of construction sites and renovation work going
on.  Nearly all of them were manned by reprogrammed Cylons.  By
performing the nuts-and-bolts work of reconstruction, they freed their
human masters to concentrate on the more important task of governing the
colonies, and planning the eventual restoration of all twelve planets to
their former glory.
   That however, was a long way off.  As Sheba took one look at the
wrecked vipers and Cylon fighters that covered the landscape, as well as
the gutted buildings and rusted centurions that hadn't been attended to,
she knew that the last four yahrens had not been enough.
   Finally, she reached the main part of the city.  Or rather, what now
served as the main part.  What had been the heart of Caprica City was
rubble now.  Destroyed when the crippled Pegasus had crashed into it with
full force, destroying the nerve center of the Cylon control of the
colonies.  That alone, had accounted for Imperious Leader's decision to
abandon the twelve planets.
   The newly designed downtown was thriving with activity as Sheba slowed
her vehicle.  To one side, there was the Exchange Place where the
businessmen and speculators gathered to increase their profits and keep
the Colonial economy in sound order.  Directly across the avenue was the
entertainment and amusement center that attracted more crowds than any
other spot on the planet.  A large number of makeshift recreation
centers, restaurants and even a red-light district had given the people
the opportunity to indulge in the activities that had been largely
curtailed during their fourteen yahren odyssey across the heaven!.
   She parked the hover-mobile by the Caprican Administrative Center, a
modest structure that had once been the headquarters of a shipping
company in the pre-Holocaust era.  Since it had been the largest
surviving structure with no damage in Caprica City, it was now the seat
of the Colonial Government.  On its roof, from a makeshift pole, flew the
Colonial Flag.
   Apollo's office was on the top floor.  The office of Governor-General
of Caprica.
   "Good afternoon, Madame Sheba," Apollo's adjutant said as she entered,
"You've been expected."
   "Thank you," she nodded as the door slid open and she entered the
office, her stomach tense with anticipation.
   She saw that Apollo was not alone.
   "Hello Sheba," Adama rose and embraced his daughter-in-law, "We're
glad you could be here."
   "It's good to see you," she smiled, "I wouldn't have missed this for
anything."
   He let go of her and resumed his seat.  Despite his advancing age and
his recent decision to retire as commander of the Galactica, Adama
remained vigorously active as the President of the Council of Twelve. 
   "Everything in order at home?" Starbuck spoke up.  The
Governor-General of Gemon had his trademark cigar clamped between his
teeth.  Appointment to the second most powerful position of authority in
the colonies, as well as marriage to Athena, still hadn't changed all of
his habits.
   "It's no problem," Sheba sat down, "Nova has everything under
control."
   "That old rustbucket really turned out well?"  Starbuck had never
gotten used to the idea of using reprogrammed Cylons to serve humanity. 
To him, a Cylon centurion was something to shoot at and watch explode
into a million pieces.  His whole way of thinking had always been that he
wouldn't want to be with a Cylon and have to talk to one (as he did now
with his own servant) even if he were all alone and stranded on some
deserted planet.
   Then again, Starbuck mused, he had had that weird dream once about
being stranded on a planet and repairing a dead centurion so he could
have someone to talk to.  The whole idea struck him as so silly that he
could never remember any of the other details of the dream.  Just as
well, because they were probably not worth recalling anyway.   
   "Perfect.  I only wish Dr. Wilker would figure out a way to alter
their voice synthesizers so they wouldn't sound so Cylon."
   Sheba then noticed the final guest in Apollo's office, "I'm glad
you're here too, Bojay.  You deserve to see this as much as I do."
   The only other surviving veteran of the Pegasus smiled and nodded in
acknowledgement.
   "Well, now that we're all here," Apollo said, as he sat at his desk,
"We might as well get started."
   He then punched several buttons on his console.  And then, on the
viewing screen above them, they began to watch the secrets of the dead be
given up.

                       Chapter One

   "All right Starbuck, let's get outta' here, the Pegasus is launching
her missiles!" Apollo shouted.  And then, he and Starbuck pulled away
from the two baseships they'd gone in to engage.  Knocking out their
missile launch systems, and leaving them helpless before the Pegasus'
attack.
   As they pulled away, Apollo looked back to see an impossibly bright
wash of light against the velvet dark of space.
   "Did you see that?" Starbuck shouted.
   "I can't see a thing but spots," Apollo replied, "I've never seen a
flash like that."
   "Can you see the Pegasus?"
   "No.  There's too much smoke and debris.  I can't tell if he made it
or not."
   "What do we do?"
   "Here come's their entire attack force," Apollo said as he saw his
scanner emitting more than a hundred blips.  Cylon fighters hastily
recalled from Gomorrah by Baltar's third baseship, to protect him from
Commander Cain's onslaught.  But too late to make the battle.
   "We turn around and we go home," Apollo finished, "As fast as we can."
   And then, the two Galactica pilots hit their turbos and left the
battle site, uncertain of the final outcome.  An uncertainty that would
linger for the next fourteen yahrens.


   Aboard the bridge of the Pegasus, there was jubilation in Colonel
Tolen's voice.
   "Direct hits and confirmed destruction of them!"
   Cain stood motionless and gave his next command with rapid swiftness,
"Emergency light speed now!  Get us out of here fast!"
   The order caught Tolen off guard.  Up until now, the purpose of the
attack was to take out the two baseships and open the way for the Pegasus
to attack Baltar's ship head-on.
   "Sir...' the Executive Officer started.
   "Damn it Tolen, don't ask questions.  Emergency light speed now!"
   Tolen knew there was no point in arguing the matter.  Especially with
the man known as the Juggernaut.
   The Pegasus lurched slightly as she picked up speed.  In less than an
instant, even before the explosions of the two baseships had died down,
the aged battlestar was far away from where she'd been.


   "Status report?"  Baltar's voice was flat and terse.
   "I regret to report that our two sister ships have been destroyed,"
Lucifer said.
   "And the Pegasus?"
   "There is no sign of her on our scanners."
   "Then at least she has been destroyed too."
   Lucifer hesitated slightly, "Presumably."
   "Not presumably," Baltar's voice grew cold, "If the Pegasus survived,
she'd be on top of us by now.  Commander Cain was after me specifically. 
And he is a man who never deviates from a set plan."
   The IL Cylon refrained from commenting.
   "We need to regroup Lucifer," the human traitor went on, "There is
still the matter of the Galactica.  I want you to organize a special team
of fighters for a suicide mission.  I want fighters packed with solonite
so that when they ram the Galactica, she'll go without a sustained
battle."
   "By your command," Lucifer bowed and departed.


   Far away, the Pegasus continued heading out to deep space.  On the
bridge, Cain paced back and forth in silence while clean-up crews
attended to the damage the battlestar had sustained in the battle.
   "Sir," Tolen said quietly, "The Galactica is trying to raise us.  Do
you want to respond?"
   Cain leaned forward and sucked in his breath, "Negative," he spoke
with finality, "Maintain radio silence."
   The exasperation inside Tolen finally reached the breaking point,
"Sir, with all due respect, why are we doing this?  The crew has a right
to know."
   "All in good time, Tolen," Cain tapped his swagger stick against the
railing, "I'll be in my quarters."
   As he made his way to his quarters, everyone who noticed him saw the
image of the Juggernaut as never before.  The firm iron jaw, the
emotionless expression, the self-confident swagger in his walk.
   But when Cain finally reached the privacy of his quarters, the
Juggernaut's iron discipline cracked.
   Wearily, he deflated into his chair.  And then, for the next centar,
he sat in lonely silence, as he watched the holographic images of his
beloved daughter, over and over again.
   "Happy Birthday, Father," Sheba's smiling image radiated, "I love
you."
   Finally, Cain's tortured mind could take it no longer.  He shut off
the hologram and broke down and wept, burying his head in his arms.
   Only now, was the full realization that he would probably never see
her again, finally hitting him.  Something he'd never thought he'd have
to confront.  But now, the reality was all too clear.  If he went ahead
with what he now planned to do, he'd be parted from his precious baby
forever.
   Losing Cassiopeia for the second time didn't bother him as much.  From
what he'd seen, she'd found a good life for herself as a Galactica
med-tech.  And it seemed that she and Starbuck were drawn to each other. 
So she might mourn his apparent death, but she had a stable foundation to
fall back on.  There was no question she'd endure.  In their brief time
together again, Cassie had shown more inner strength and resiliency than
he'd ever given her credit for.
   But Sheba.  What would Sheba have in a new life aboard the Galactica,
separated from him forever?  What did she have to fall back on?  Granted,
Bojay was there too, so at least she'd have one friend from the Pegasus. 
But that would surely seem woefully inadequate.  Sheba had been
inseparable from him for yahrens.  Her devotion to him was why she'd
never even found the time to start any romantic relationships.  He had
been the center of her whole life.
   It wasn't that he doubted Adama's willingness to extend some
compassion to her.  Quite the contrary, he knew Adama well enough to know
that his old friend would do all he could to ease the burdens Sheba would
now feel.  But would Sheba be receptive?  Would she mourn for him to the
point of withdrawing from everyone around her, from life itself?
   Cain had never been a particularly religious person, and he often
scoffed at those who felt the need to pray.  Nonetheless, he found
himself doing exactly that.  He prayed with every ounce of his strength
that his daughter would be all right.  That the hopeful future he
envisioned for his daughter would come about.  That Sheba would be able
to move beyond the narrow world of being a great warrior and find someone
to love.
   But he'd never have any way of knowing.  Not if he went ahead with his
new plan.
   "Forgive me, baby," Cain whispered between sobs, "Forgive me.  I love
you so much."
   He heard the buzz outside his door.  Quickly, he wiped his eyes,
straightened his posture, and spoke with his usual authoritative edge,
"Come in."
   The door slid open and a grim-faced Tolen entered.
   "Ah I was just about to call you, Tolen," Cain said, "Damage report?"
   "It's coming along," the Executive Officer kept his voice even, "But
we are at something of a disadvantage in our remaining strength.  Our
missile banks are expended and we have only forty-one available vipers. 
And most of them were undergoing overhaul and repair, which is why they
couldn't be used during the battle."
   "Well we'll make use of them.  We still have pilots, don't we?"
   "Yes sir," Tolen nodded, "Most of Silver Spar's pilots chose to stay
with us.  Including Lieutenant Skyler."
   "Good, good," Cain nodded, "Tell him he's promoted to Captain and that
he's the new squadron commander.  Anything else?"
   Tolen sucked in his breath, "Sir, it's really getting ugly on the
bridge.  There are a lot of men who want to know why we're not answering
the Galactica.  Some of them," he hesitated slightly, "Some of them have
friends and relatives there.  They'd really feel better if we could just
let them know we're all right."
   Cain lowered his head, "No," he said flatly, "I know it's difficult
for them, but there's no other way."
   Tolen bit his lip as he tried to hold back the frustration, "Request
permission to speak freely, sir?"
   "Granted," Cain didn't look up.
   "Sir, I've trusted your judgment in all the yahrens I've served as you
as your executive officer.  And that includes a number of decisions
you've made, that on the surface could have meant certain death for us. 
But what you've done this afternoon defies all common sense."
   Cain now looked up, "Explain."
   "We've left one baseship to menace the Galactica."
   "Not likely," he interrupted, "The Galactica has enough fuel from
Gomorrah to elude her.  And knowing Baltar, he's probably scared so much
out of his wits, that by the time he regroups, the Fleet will be halfway
across the galaxy."
   Tolen chose not to press that point, "Well even so, there's a sense
among a lot of us that despite all the controversies you and Commander
Adama went through, we still belong with the Galactica and her fleet."
   Cain let out a long, sad sigh, "Where the Galactica is going Tolen, we
cannot follow.  Just as the Galactica and her fleet can't go where we're
ultimately going."
   "Why?" Tolen demanded, "And where the hell are we going?"
   The Juggernaut rose from his chair and stared out into space, "Right
now Tolen, we're going to let those tincans think we're dead.  We have to
make them think that Adama and his fleet are all that's left of humanity
in the universe.  And if they do what I think they'll do, then that's
when we return from the dead and go on the offensive."
   "How?" Tolen was unconvinced, "One battlestar against the whole Cylon
Empire?  Endless hit-and-run battles with no missiles and only one-third
viper strength?  For what?  At least the Galactica offered some security
for us.  They're trying to lead humanity to a place of safety.  Where in
Hades Hole do we end up?"
   Cain turned to face him, "I've never heard you this way before,
Tolen."
   The Executive Officer sighed, "I guess sir, what's bothering me the
most is that after the euphoria we went through when we found the
Galactica... well it's just hard to cope with the thought of being alone
on the run again."
   "I understand," the Juggernaut conveyed sympathy, "But as God is my
judge Tolen, I don't think we have any choice.  Adama needs long-term
security in order for humanity to survive, and this is the only way I can
guarantee it."
   "The only way I can envision giving Adama long-range security is by
staying with him."
   Cain sat down and stared at the table, "I'd agree with you only if I
shared Adama's faith that this Earth he's headed for offers a real
sanctuary to help fight back against the Cylons," he shook his head, "If
there is an Earth, then I don't think it'll be any help whatsoever.  My
gut feeling is that when Adama finds Earth, he's going to find a
backwards, primitive society, hundreds of yahrens behind us and powerless
to defend herself.  His odyssey will all be for nothing."
   He began toying with his swagger stick, "Sooner or later, the Cylons
would catch up with us.  And then we'd really be at a dead end.  But if
we're not with the Galactica, if we stay behind and raise major havoc in
the Cylon Empire then they won't waste their time looking for Adama. 
They won't have the strength left to do it."
   Tolen stared at him and remained silent.
   "I guess I'm not making much sense to you, am I?" Cain smiled wryly.
   "To be honest sir, you're not." he admitted.
   The Juggernaut swivelled in his chair, "Come back later, when I've
thought this out a little better."
   "What do I tell the men, sir?"
   Cain's back was now turned away from him, "Tell them we're not joining
up with the Galactica, because we're headed for the greatest mission we
could ever have hoped to undertake."
   Tolen exhaled in mild disgust, "Yes sir."
   He turned and departed, leaving Cain alone, staring out the window
into the infinite blackness of deep space.
   In all the yahrens Cain had spent traversing the stars, space had
never before seemed more cold and frightening to him.

                     Chapter Two

   Two days had passed since the battle of Gomorrah had reduced Baltar's
options to one.  Now, as Lucifer entered the command center, he awaited
to hear the results of that last-ditch effort.
   "Well?" Baltar's impatience was all too clear.
   "Our special assault patrol reports that there were two direct hits on
the Galactica, one to the bridge, and one to the landing bay."
   "Has she been destroyed?" the impatience only grew.
   Lucifer paused for that brief instant that always unnerved Baltar.
   "Not exactly..." the IL Cylon started.
   "Will you come to the point?!" he raged.
   "The rest of our fighters were destroyed before the Galactica's
destruction could be confirmed."
   Baltar sank back into his throne, "We have no more fighters?"
   "No.  If it turns out that the Galactica has survived, then a new
assault will be impossible for the foreseeable future."
   Just then, a centurion came up to them, "By your command."
   "Speak," Baltar waved his hand in irritation.
   "Our long-range communications monitors have picked up the inter-fleet
messages of the Colonial ships.  They indicate that the Galactica has
survived and is underway again."
   Baltar dug his fingers into the side of his throne.
   "Do you have any new ideas, Baltar?" Lucifer allowed only a hint of
sarcasm to enter his voice.
   "Later," he waved his hand, "Leave me for now."
   "By your command."
   As Baltar tried to plot his next move, he could never have guessed
that for him, there would be no next attack on the Galactica.  There
would be continued stalking of her from afar, but he had a rendezvous
with destiny one month in the future, that would see his power yanked out
from under him, and would see him land squarely in the Galactica prison
barge.

   In another distant quadrant of space, Cain had finally emerged from
his quarters and called a meeting of his senior officers and warriors.
   The mood was not particularly pleasant among the men who had gathered
in the room.  Especially not for Captain Skyler, the newly promoted, and
newly-appointed commander of Silver Spar Squadron.  Right now, he would
have gladly traded his new captain's wings for a spot on the Galactica.
   Skyler had never particularly envisioned himself as a leader of men. 
But then again, he'd always been flying in the shadow of Sheba and Bojay,
who were without question the two best pilots on the Pegasus.  Because of
that, he'd never thought that he'd have to worry about command
responsibilities suddenly falling on him.
   But now, the bizarre set of circumstances that he still couldn't quite
fathom, had thrust him into the unexpected position of becoming the new
squadron commander.  And he hoped that when Cain showed up, he'd find out
that it was all temporary.  That soon, the Pegasus would rejoin the
Galactica, which would bring Sheba and Bojay back, and return him to the
anonymity he'd always preferred.
   When the Juggernaut finally entered the room, Skyler found himself
anxiously holding his breath.
   "Gentlemen," Cain began, "I first must apologize to all of you for not
having offered an explanation of my actions, and just what it is I have
planned for us now.  Colonel Tolen has told me that a number of you are
quite frustrated by my refusal to let us radio the Galactica, and let her
know that we're all right.  And believe me, I understand your feelings. 
If there was any way I could signal the Galactica without running the
risk of the Cylons learning that we're still alive, I would not hesitate
to do it."
   Immediately, Skyler felt his faint hopes evaporate.  He knew he wasn't
going to like this one bit.
   Nor for that matter, were a lot of the other warriors gathered in the
room.
   "But right now gentlemen," Cain went on, "The Pegasus is beginning a
mission where for the time being, it is absolutely essential that the
Cylons have no inkling that we're still alive.  That is the only thing
will give us even the remotest chance of succeeding.  We must disappear
from the face of the known universe for the next yahren.  Maybe even two
yahrens.
   "And during that time, this is what I expect will happen.  Because
we've given the Galactica and her fleet an enormous headstart, there is
no way that the Cylons know where they are.  And keep in mind, the Cylons
are acting under the assumption that Adama's fleet constitutes all that's
left of humanity.
   "That being the case, the Imperious Leader will make the only decision
he can make, in order to track down Adama when he has no way of knowing
where he is.  He'll disperse his entire battle fleet across the galaxy to
try and find them.  He has no other choice if he thinks he has even the
faintest hope of fulfilling his dream of exterminating humanity."
   Cain paused and let his words hang in the air, "Now can any of you
comprehend the opportunity being presented to us, if the Cylons do as I
think they will, and disperse their fleet across the galaxy?"
   There was no response.  Skyler was trying hard not to show his
disgust.
   "Well gentlemen?" Cain prodded them.
   Finally, Skyler decided to swallow his pride and play the part of a
squadron leader, who understood military strategy.  He haltingly raised
his hand.
   "Yes Captain?" Cain pointed his stick at him.
   "Well um, if the Cylons disperse their baseships, they'll be leaving a
lot of major installations open to attack, won't they?"
   "You're on the right track," Cain beamed, "But you've got to take it
further.  It isn't just major installations that will be open to attack. 
It's their entire Empire.  The whole ball of wax.  There won't be any
baseship protection for a single outpost in the Empire, because they have
no reason to think they'll need it.  They'll all be looking for Adama. 
And that, is when we make our grand return from the dead.  We'll have
such a great element of surprise, those tinheads will never know what hit
them."
   There was an uneasy silence in the room.  Enough to tell Skyler that
he wasn't alone in what he was thinking.
   "Uh sir," a young lieutenant named Banker spoke up, "Are you actually
suggesting that we have the ability to wipe out the entire Cylon Empire,
all by ourselves?  We don't even have any missiles left."
   "No," Cain said simply, "I'm not a fool, Banker.  This mission is one
way, and eventually, I have the feeling that we're going to meet our
final destruction.  What I have in mind is a grander version of what we
did the other day.  Only this time, we're going to give our brothers on
the Galactica some security that will be a lot more permanent."
   He began to strut back and forth across the front of the room, "We're
going to inflict as much terror on the Cylon Empire as we can.  And then,
they'll be forced to recall their baseships.  From then on in, it'll be a
toe-to-toe slugging match.  And hopefully..." he paused, "Hopefully,
we'll take out a few of them as we go down fighting.  But no matter what,
the important thing is we'll be giving the Galactica more time to get
away from the Cylons for good.  And by the time we're through with them,
the Cylons just might not be strong enough to try and look for her
again."
   Again, the Juggernaut paused to let his words sink in.  And again, the
response was halting and tentative.  None of them particularly like what
they were hearing, but they were all too much in awe of the legend of
Commander Cain to challenge him effectively.
   "Um, Commander," Skyler said, "Aren't you taking into account the risk
that... well that letting the Cylons scatter their fleet, assuming they
do that, well that might jeopardize the Galactica's safety?"
   "Adama is a good commander," Cain responded, "He knows what it'll take
to get his people to safety.  I'm not concerned with the danger potential
of an isolated baseship finding him because I think that right now, Adama
has his fleet headed into an area where they'll never be found.  So to
answer your question Skyler, I think the Galactica will be fine."
   "But sir," Banker mildly protested, "It sounds like you're
contradicting yourself.  If the Galactica is safe from any dispersal of
baseships, then what is the point of our doing this?"
   The Juggernaut began vigorously shaking his head even before the young
lieutenant had finished.  "No, no, no Banker, I'm talking about two
different things.  I believe the Galactica is safe for the short-term.  I
think she'll have no difficulty eluding the Cylons for several yahrens or
so.  What I'm concerned with, is the long-term.  As long as the Cylons
have a fighting force, and an Empire of the size they have now, then
they'll still have the ability to track down the Galactica for as long as
they're willing, even if it took them a hundred yahrens.  That, is why we
have to give them a crippling blow.  One that'll force them to spend
their time rebuilding their Empire, instead of looking for the
Galactica."
   He paused, "In the end, we can give our brethren a thousand yahrens of
security if we're successful.  I think it's a chance worth taking.  And
by the Lords of Kobol, I intend to make it pay off."
   Another pause as he lowered his head slightly, "That's all for now.  I
can't give you any more details for awhile, because they haven't been
fully mapped out.  Right now, our first priority is playing dead and
finishing the repair work.  In the meantime, you're all dismissed."
   The warriors of the Pegasus warily rose and departed.

   "Can you believe that felgercarb he was giving us?" Banker bitterly
complained as he and the rest of Silver Spar Squadron shared some drinks
in the privacy of the Officers Club.
   Skyler decided to be more pragmatic, "I won't disagree that it was
felgercarb," he said, "But what else is there for us to do?"
   "I'll tell you what we should be doing," the dark-haired Lieutenant
Paris said, "We should be rendezvousing with the Galactica and going to
wherever the hell she's going."
   "I agree," Banker said as he downed his drink, "God, when I
volunteered to stay with the Pegasus it was because I knew Cain could
take out those baseships.  But this?  What in Hades Hole is all this,
that he wants us to do?  An ancient battlewagon with no missiles, and
forty-one gimpy vipers manned by the second-string tier of pilots, to
take on a whole Cylon Empire?  How crazy can you get?"
   "If it were anybody but Cain, I swear to God I'd start arranging a
mutiny," Paris said with equal bitterness.
   Skyler suddenly turned on him with a cold stare, "Stow that, Paris. 
Now."
   Paris frowned, "But Skyler--"
   "I said to stow it," he repeated coldly, "I agree that this whole idea
of his is rotten.  But as warriors, we've got no choice but to go along
with it.  Now I don't mind bitching about it because God knows I feel the
same way.  But there'll be no more of this mutiny felgercarb, even in
jest.  Is that understood?"
   He slumped back in his chair, "Yes sir."
   "That goes for you too, Banker," Skyler added, "I don't want to have
to pull rank on any of you guys.  The best thing you can do is to just
keep your mouths shut about it, and just do your job."
   Banker dimly shook his head and finished off his drink.
   "God I'm sure gonna' miss Sheba," he said forlornly, "Did I ever tell
any of you guys that I had a crush on her?"
   "Frequently," Paris snorted in disgust, "And every time, we kept
telling you to make your move and you never did."
   "Are you kidding?" Banker's eyes widened, "Cain would probably have
had me shoved out an airlock if he thought I was making a play for his
daughter."
   "Well if that's true," Skyler interjected, "Then just think what he'd
do if he ever found out any of you guys were ever considering mutiny."
   The other two warriors fell silent.
   "Live it up guys," Skyler said mirthlessly as he refilled his glass. 
"We're in for a long nightmare to come."

                         Chapter Three
 
                From The Journal Of Commander Cain 

   It is has been nearly two yahrens since I began this game of playing
dead.  A long agonizing time for everyone aboard the Pegasus.  We've
repaired our battle damage, have restocked our ammunition from some
isolated outposts throughout the star systems and fixed our vipers.  We
are now ready.  But it's for a battle that I know no one is looking
forward to.
   I can pretty much tell that the crew has lost a lot of their old
energetic hero-worship of me, and that their eagerness for battle has
dramatically diminished.  Behind my back, their nickname for me has
changed from the Juggernaut to the Merchant Of Death.  And by that, they
don't mean death to the Cylons.
    I try so much not to dwell on all this, because I know that to do so
jeopardizes my ability to carry out this mission.  Yet the faces of my
men are a powerful reminder to me of the frustration they feel.  They
have grown tired of all this.  They would prefer the safety and sense of
purpose Adama has given his people on the Galactica, somewhere far off in
the distant universe.
   I would prefer it too, if I believed in Adama's quest.  Unfortunately,
I do not.  I just don't believe that the key to one day beating the
Cylons lies with an isolated planet somewhere at the other end of the
galaxy.  In the last two yahrens we have come across many isolated
pockets of humanity that perhaps were part of the original expedition to
Earth.  But none of them have ever shown the ingenuity to develop a
technology that would be capable of beating the Cylons.  How in God's
name could Earth?
   And so, I've spent the last two yahrens plotting the only strategy I
can think of that might ensure the long-term survival of human
civilization.  And frequently I've found myself wishing I could be home
again.  Back on Caprica.  How I wish it could be twenty yahrens ago,
playing with my precious baby Sheba on the eastern shore, teaching her
how to swim.  Hearing Mother's voice calling us to dinner.
   I had too few centons like that.  Maybe if I'd done it over again, I
would have tried to enjoy them more often and not been so obsessed with
rushing off to battle.
   Now Mother is gone, and I'll never see my baby again.  And how could I
have ever thought that when I took the Fifth Fleet four yahrens ago to
save Molocay from the Cylons that I would never see home again either?
   I wonder what the Caprican eastern shore looks like now.  What have
the Cylons done to the colonies ever since Adama had to leave them behind
in flames?  I don't want to know.  Nothing that Adama told me about what
it looked like could ever prepare me for what I'd feel if I saw it with
my own eyes.  The thought of those heartless, evil machines living off
the colonies as part of their Empire, the same way they live off Gomorrah
is so repulsive to even think about.  Caprica City.  The Academy.  My
house.  All gone or being used by the Cylons to promote their warped
vision of a universe where every living thing is a machine programmed to
destroy all other life forms.   
   If only there was some way of fulfilling my ultimate fantasy.  If only
there was still some way of being able to win this war.  If only there
was some way to destroy the Cylon Empire.  To take back the colonies.  To
restore them to their former glory.  To reclaim our civilization.  Our
heritage.
   I guess maybe deep down I can't accept the idea that the war is
totally lost.  I can't accept the idea that the Holocaust marked the last
battle of the war.  Especially when I wasn't even there to do something
about it.
   I shouldn't dwell on these things, but I can't help but wonder how I
might have been able to change things if I'd been there.  By God, if I'd
been there, I'd have raised a riot with the President and the Council of
Twelve and told them not to trust those Cylon peace overtures!  And I'd
have had something to say about Baltar being the Council's liaison with
the Cylons!  Even at the Academy, so many yahrens ago, I knew that there
was something odd about Baltar that made him a man not to be trusted. 
How all the others couldn't have seen it, I will never know.
   And to have left the colonies totally unprotected.  Unthinkable.  I
would have seen to it that at least one battlestar be there to protect
them at all times.  Where in the name of Kobol did all our concern for
security go?
   I know, I know, I'm not a superman.  But how can I not help but think
I could have done something when I see how so much was wiped out without
even a good fight?  One centar, there are eight battlestars together,
seemingly indestructible.  Then, all of a sudden, seven of them are gone. 
The Atlantia, the Ricon, the Columbia, the Solaria
the Andromeda, the Lunaria, and the Excelsia.  I knew their commanders,
and they were all good men.  It's so hard for me to come to terms with
the fact that they were all overwhelmed so fast.  Surely the results
could have, and should have been different.
   The simplest thing for me to do would be to place all the blame on
Adar for being such a naive and gullible fool.  And yet, it can hardly be
placed all on his shoulders.  Many of our people shared Adar's dream of
finding a lasting peace, and can I really blame them?  This thing has
gone on for a thousand yahrens with no end in sight.  All because the
original race of Cylons let their machines get too sophisticated for them
to handle.  A thousand yahrens later, that terrible legacy has reared its
ugly head in the worst way.
   A climate of opinion among our people made the destruction of the
colonies possible.  Sure, Adama was skeptical but he couldn't do anything
by himself.  During that time of euphoria there weren't enough men to
help Adama voice any kind of skepticism.  If only I'd been there
alongside Adama then maybe our combined voices would have had some kind
of effect on Adar and the rest of public opinion.
   Again and again, I don't find myself looking for someone to blame.  I
only keep asking why I wasn't there to do something.  Where was I when
all that terror and destruction took place?  All alone out in deep space,
trying to forget all the personal problems I faced back home with
Cassiopeia, and how if I ever returned I'd have to resolve that situation
that threatened to destroy my relationship with my daughter.  I can never
escape the burden of knowing that those personal concerns are the reason
why I wasn't there to stop the destruction of everything I'd always
fought the Cylons to preserve.
   Maybe that's why I could never follow Adama on his quest for Earth. 
Adama thinks it's all over and there can be no looking back.  The war,
the colonies, our heritage must be left behind as surely as our ancestors
left their dying planet Kobol behind, seven thousand yahrens ago.
   Emotionally, I can't do that.  My heart and soul belongs to the known
universe, not the great unknown Adama's headed for.  This is where I
belong.  And this is where I'll meet my end.
   So irregardless of whatever ill feelings the crew might have toward
me, I have no other choice.  My path is clear to me.
   I intend to make my last battle my finest.

                       Chapter Four

   "Well gentlemen," Cain said to the warriors who'd gathered in the
briefing room, "After analyzing all your reports, I think it can now be
said that at long last, the Pegasus is back to 100 percent fighting
capacity.  At least, as far back to 100 percent as we could ever have
hoped to achieve."
   His eyes slowly moved around the room as he went on, "That being the
case, we are now going to go on the offensive, here." he pointed his
swagger stick at a spot on the navigation chart, "Gomorrah.  The weak
link in the Empire.  That's where we'll make our first strike."
   He paused as if to expect questions.  When none came, he continued, "I
intend to lay that planet to waste so it'll be of no more use to the
Cylons.  And then, once we've eliminated Gomorrah, we make our next
move."
   "Begging your pardon sir," Banker spoke up, his tone and expression
both sullen and massively indifferent, "But wouldn't Gomorrah by this
time, have rebuilt her strength to defend herself?  They were after all,
constructing a defense garrison."
   "I've taken that into account," he said, "The amount of damage we
inflicted on Gomorrah would take several yahrens to reconstruct.  They
wouldn't be finished by this point.  Plus, I don't think the Cylons will
have been giving it a high priority.  They have no reason to think they
need a major garrison on Gomorrah."
   Banker glumly sat down without saying another word.
   The Juggernaut returned to the board, "Now I intend to hit Gomorrah
and wipe her out fast.  So fast those tinheads will never know what hit
them.  And then, we go to the one place where we'll be least expected,
even if they do have time to figure out what's happening at Gomorrah."
   Cain then paused for dramatic effect, "Can any of you guess which
target I'm referring to?"
   But Banker, who'd been looking off into space, suddenly spoke with the
same indifferent tone, "Does it really make a difference, one way or
another?"
   Cain froze.  This was the first time anyone in his command had ever so
openly challenged his authority.
   Slowly, he made his way down the aisle and came up to Banker's seat. 
The lieutenant was still looking away into space.
   "Lieutenant," he said quietly.
   Banker slowly looked at him with the same expression of monumental
indifference.
   "Lieutenant," Cain was staying under control, "Come up to the board
and kindly present your alternative strategy."
   He looked him in the eye, "I don't have one, sir."
   "Then don't ever question my strategy again!" Cain's fury suddenly let
loose and he slammed his stick against the edge of Banker's chair, "Is
that understood?"
   "Absolutely," Banker remained totally unfazed, "I understand
completely.  I understand that you have totally lost control of your
sanity."
   Cain went ashen.  He stiffened noticeably as if he'd just been punched
in the mouth, and slowly made his way back to the head of the room.
   Colonel Tolen decided to step in, "Lieutenant!" he barked, "Report to
my quarters for disciplinary action immediately.  You're on report for as
long as I'm going to make it possible!"
   "Yes sir," Banker sighed and rose from his chair.
   "Hold it," Cain said softly, "Hold it right there."
   The Juggernaut softened his posture and seemingly dropped his bravado,
"Lieutenant, I take it that you're upset because you think this a suicide
mission?"
   "Yes sir," Banker said with slightly more respect, "I think this whole
idea is crazy.  The war is over and we lost.  There isn't anything we
could do to the Cylons unless we'd gone to Earth with the Galactica, and
maybe found a secure place to strike back from."
   "Uh huh," Cain nodded and then looked out to the rest of the men
gathered in the room, "Does that go for the rest of you?"
   There was no immediate response.
   "This is the only time I'm going to let you all speak freely without
any disciplinary action, so if you have something to say, say it now."
   Skyler felt his body burning up with nervous anxiety.  He wanted to
get on his feet and speak his mind in even blunter terms than Banker had. 
But his duty to Cain and his loyalty as a Colonial warrior was holding
him back, just as it had held him back for the last two yahrens.
   And Skyler knew that his compliance had kept all the other warriors
who looked to him for advice, in check as well.  Banker's cracking was an
exception that he knew would not be repeated, unless he took a stand as
well.
   With agony in his heart, he rose from his chair.
   Almost immediately, every other warrior in the room rose as well.
   "I see," Cain said, "Well that's all well and good gentlemen, but I
think I ought to remind you all of something.  None of you are here
against your will.  When I took us in on that engagement against the
baseships, I left it all on a voluntary basis.  If any of you wanted to
back out and rejoin the Galactica, you had your chance."
   There was an immediate groan from several of the warriors and Tolen
found himself wincing.  He knew that wasn't the right thing to say to any
of them.
   Skyler tried to sound reasonable and patient, "That was different sir. 
We all stayed because we felt we were going to survive the engagement,
and that when we did, we were going to rejoin the Galactica.  You never
told any of us that this is what you planned to do.  And to be quite
honest sir, if you had, it would have made a big difference to a lot of
us.  Some of us might not have even stayed."
   Cain stared at him and absently twirled his swagger stick, "You would
have preferred joining the Galactica's quest for Earth."
   "Yes."
   "And how long do you think that might take?" the Juggernaut stepped
forward and his voice rose, "A yahren?  A hundred?  A thousand?  And
while all that goes on, the Cylons keep swallowing up the entire universe
in our wake while they're looking for us?  So that by the time we do find
Earth, they just wipe out what's left of us?"
   "At the very least, Earth is something to live for, sir." Skyler
raised his voice too, "What you're having us do, takes away any sense of
purpose from the rest of our lives.  The only thing we've got now is a
slow death march to an end that has no purpose."
   "There is a purpose!" Cain snapped as he slammed his stick against the
table, "Can't any of you understand?  We're trying to destroy the Cylon
Empire to a point where they'll never be able to bother looking for them
again."
   "How much can we realistically destroy?" Skyler retorted, "Sir, when
it comes to engaging a superior task force, there's no question that
you're the best.  But an Empire that encompasses Cylon, the colonies, and
goes all the way out to Gomorrah with at least a hundred outposts in
between?  How can we ever be more than a minor nuisance?"
   "Because there won't be any baseships to protect their Empire," Cain
shot back, "Their planetary defenses, however capable, are no match for a
battlestar's firepower.  A surprise attack can do to them just what they
did to the colonies, and keep them occupied for the next hundred
yahrens."
   The Juggernaut returned to the navigation chart, "Which ties in to
what our next move will be after we eliminate Gomorrah.  As I said, the
last place we'd be expected to go to."
   "Where?" Skyler was dubious.
   "Right to the source," Cain said, "The Cylon capital.  From where all
their power flows."
   There was a stunned silence, broken only by the sound of a warrior's
pen dropping to the floor.
   He smiled in satisfaction, "Maybe now it becomes clear to all of you. 
I'm talking about the destruction of the Cylon seat of power.  The nerve
center of their Empire.  Destroy Cylon, and you destroy the Empire's
ability to build new ships and new centurions.  For all their expansion,
they've always kept their manufacturing and administrative base on the
home planet.  Take it away, and the Empire's back is broken."
   "But sir," Skyler was now more confused than confrontational, "How
could we make our way back without being detected?"
   "I just told you how.  There will be no baseship protection," his
smile widened, "In the end, we'll do to them what they did to the
colonies.  It'll be too late for their fleet to get back and save them."
   "You're assuming that the Cylon fleet will return."
   "Eventually they will," Cain conceded, "And that, I regret to say, is
when we'll probably meet our destruction.  We don't have the capacity to
take out ten baseships.  All we can do is to take down as many as
possible before it's all over.  We'll die, but in so doing, we'll have
given the Galactica permanent security.  What's left of the Cylon Empire
won't have the time or capacity to look for her again."
   There was a long pause, "Now do any of you wish to challenge my battle
plan any further?"
   With resignation, Skyler sat down.  And in so doing, the desire to
speak evaporated from all the other warriors.  They all had the same
defeated look.
   "Very well," Cain said, "The meeting is adjourned."  he then turned
and departed, walking with the confident swagger and bearing of the
Juggernaut.  Colonel Tolen followed him, an uneasy look on his face.

                      Interlude       

   "Can we stop this?"  Bojay rose from his chair, "It's been more than
three centars of looking at this, and I think I've seen enough.  There
aren't any more mysteries left for me."
   Apollo switched the computer off, "There's still a ways to go on
this."
   "Yeah, but what else is there to know?" the Pegasus veteran stretched
his arms, "Cain wiped out Gomorrah, wiped out the Cylon capital, took out
four baseships.  The Cylons didn't do as he thought and went back to
looking for us, which led to our wiping them out in the last battle five
yahrens ago."
   "Not interested in knowing the how and the why, Bojay?"  Starbuck
looked up.
   "Not really," he shook his head, "To be perfectly honest, after
watching that briefing scene, I don't think I want to watch all the guys
from my old squadron die.  It's bad enough just watching their mental
health self-destruct."
   He stopped at the door and nodded politely, "Thanks for having me
over."
   "Glad you could be here Bojay," an amazingly calm Sheba said, s he
left.
   Starbuck rose from his chair, "I'm going to call it a day too.  It's a
long trip back to Gemon, and Athena said she was going to wait for m.  I
don't want to keep her up.  Especially not in her condition."
   "Yes," Adama smiled, "By all means.  I wouldn't want you to be causing
any stress on my unborn grandchild.  Give my love to her."
   "I will.  Goodnight everybody," Starbuck grabbed his jacket and then
he too was gone.
   "Well Sheba?" Apollo looked at his wife.
   She let out a sigh, "I think I'd rather finish this.  I'd much prefer
having the book closed on all this for good."
   "Father?"
   "I don't mind finishing it either," he said, "But I'd prefer taking a
break for dinner.  And I think you'd better call home and tell Nova to
see to it that Teague and Hera get put to bed."
   "I'll take care of that," Apollo said, "You two go down to the dining
hall and wait for me."
   "All right," Adama smiled and put his arm around his daughter-in-law
as he led her out, "We'll order for you."
   Once they had left the office, Sheba let out a sigh of detachment,
"It's funny.  There isn't a single thing I've learned that surprises me. 
It's as if hearing all this is only confirming something I've always
known."
   "What do you mean?" Adama frowned slightly as they entered the
turbo-lift.
   "You remember my...well my little mental blackout just before the last
battle?"
   "Yes," he nodded, "I've always wondered what it was that got you to
turn around and come back, because Boxey told me he didn't have anything
to do with it."
   Sheba found herself staring absently at the floor.
   Her father-in-law's frown returned, "Something wrong?"
   "No," she shook her head but didn't look up, "No, it's just that I
don't know if I should tell you this.  Apollo is the only one who knows,
and I felt that if I ever told anyone else people would think I was
crazy."
   "You can tell me," Adama said gently, "Don't feel ashamed."
   She finally looked up at him and sighed, "Maybe later, after we're
done with the rest of the tapes.  Right now, I just don't know how to
explain it."
   Adama felt like offering another gentle protest of reassurance but
decided against it.  After a moment's hesitation, he finally nodded. 
   By the time the lift had arrived at the bottom of the shaft, he had
changed the subject.
   "If there's one thing I've found ironic about learning all this, it's
that your father turned out to be wrong about so many things." Adama said
as they made their way into the dining hall.
   "What do you mean?" she asked as they sat down at Apollo's private
table.
   "Well for one thing, when he left, he acted under the assumption that
we'd already succeeded in escaping from the Cylons.  But as you no doubt
remember, Baltar's ship launched one last attack two days later.  The
suicide runs that nearly killed me and nearly killed Boomer, Athena and
Boxey in the Rejuvenation Center.  We didn't lose track of them until
we'd captured Baltar a whole sectan later."
   "I remember.  That was when that evil Count Iblis crossed our path."
she tried not to shudder, as the mention of that troubling incident
always unnerved her.
   "Yes.  But what's even more interesting is that while your father
succeeded in decimating the Empire, he turned out to be wrong in what he
thought the Cylons would do next.  Instead of rebuilding their Empire,
they just went back to looking for us."
   "Which in the end, turned out to be better for all of us.  If they
hadn't, we wouldn't have finished them off and we never would have
learned about the Empire's destruction."
   Adama smiled, "Little twists of fate like that are always enough to
convince me that there's a God watching over the universe."
   "Me too," Sheba sighed, "Thank God all the wars and craziness are done
with for good."
   Just then, a Cylon waiter came up and placed drinks on the table, then
turned and silently departed.
   "And there's the most powerful reminder of how those days are over,"
Sheba added, "Can you ever get used to the sight of that?"
   "In a ways I can't," her father-in-law mused, "I spent my whole life
convinced that you could never change a Cylon's basic hatred of humanity. 
That's why I was reluctant to let Dr. Wilker go ahead with his scheme to
reactivate them."
   Adama paused to sip his drink, "I suppose it's poetic justice of a
sort, that after a thousand yahrens of inflicting death and suffering on
humanity, Cylons should do something constructive for humanity instead."
   "I agree.  I always wondered though, just what exactly made the
original race of Cylons build those robots in the first place?"
   He set his drink down, "The story's pretty sketchy, but from what I
understand, the planet Cylon was being torn apart in a civil war between
rival nations.  Because the wars were causing such a drain on manpower,
both sides decided to experiment in building robots that would in
essence, fight the wars for them.  This rivalry for superior technology
was what let one side to achieve the breakthrough that developed the
Cylon centurion as we know it.  But although the breakthrough enabled
that one side to win the civil war, they didn't count on their machines
turning against them and destroying them as well."
   "What a tragedy," Sheba shook her head.
   Just then, Apollo came up and joined them, "Hi."
   "Hi," his wife grinned, "Everything all right at home?"
   "Well, the children got back okay.  They had a lot of fun at the triad
match.  The final score was Boxey leading the Gemonese Greens to a 15-8
triumph over Boomer's Caprican Gold."
   "Hmmm," Adama slowly shook his head,  "I'm not sure whether to be
happy for Boxey, or disappointed for Caprica."
   For the rest of the dinner, they purposefully avoided discussing the
Pegasus.  Instead, they talked about the ongoing process of rebuilding
the colonies.  Of Teague and Hera's schooling.  Of Starbuck and Athena's
impending child.  And other matters of family and work.
   Finally, they finished their dinner and slowly made their way back to
the lift, and back to Apollo's office.
   "All right," Sheba sucked in her breath as she sat down, "Let's pick
it up and get this over with for good."
    Apollo nodded and pressed the button.

                   Chapter Five

   "Commander," Tolen said as he followed Cain down the corridor, "If I
can speak freely."
   "Go ahead," the Juggernaut said briskly as he maintained his stride.
   "I think it was a serious mistake for you to have let your guard down
in front of the men."
   "Was it?"  Cain turned around and stopped, "I had to let them vent
their feelings before they blew sky-high, Tolen.  I had no other choice."
   "That's not the impression you've left with them," Tolen was angry,
"For the first time ever, they saw the Juggernaut lose his composure. 
They've held back all this time because they've feared your wrath. 
You've been a larger-than-life figure to them.  But now, you've lowered
yourself and exposed your normal human frailties to them."
   "To make them understand!" Cain flailed his arms and then resumed
walking.
   Tolen held his ground, "Mark my words Commander.  Before today, the
men hated you but still respected you.  But they won't respect you after
this."
   "So what are you saying?" again, Cain stopped and turned around. 
"That they might mutiny?"
   "Let me put it this way.  After today, they won't so easily dismiss
the idea."
   The Juggernaut gave him a blank stare for a moment.  He then moved for
the door to his chambers.
   Suddenly, the lights went red and the piercing wail of the klaxon
filed the hall.
   "What in the name of Kobol?" Cain was totally bewildered as he quickly
made his way to an intercom, "Bridge.  What's happening?"
   "Commander, I...I don't know.  We're surrounded by something I've
never seen anything like before."
   "I'm on my way," Cain shut it off and began sprinting toward the
turbo-lift with Tolen trailing him.


   Centons later, they were on the bridge.  Cain looked out the viewing
screen and his mouth dropped open in disbelief.
   On the screen, was a brilliant display of white lights moving rapidly
against the backdrop of motionless stars.  Moving faster than anything
ever imagined by human eyes.
   "What is it?" Cain whispered in awe.
   Major Ham, the senior duty officer, shook his head, "We don't know
sir.  They're not registering on our scanners."
   "Not registering?" Cain's disbelief deepened.
   "We can't tell if it's natural or machine or what."
   "Get a patrol out to pursue."
   "It's already been done.  Lieutenant Banker's leading five ships out."
   "Patch me through to him," Cain moved over to the console, "Banker
this is Cain.  Are you getting anything on your scanners?"
   "Negative sir.  But whatever they are, they're way beyond anything
I've ever seen before."
   "Have they made any hostile moves?"
   "No, not as far as we can tell."
   "Hold your fire until then.  In the meantime, pursue and find out
where they're coming from."
   "Yes sir, we--" abruptly Banker broke off.
   "What is it Banker?"
   "Something really big's coming up behind me.  It's...oh God!  It's,
that sound... I can't..."
   "Banker?  Banker!"
   There was no response.  Only a piercing hum that could be heard over
the intercom.
   Then silence.
   "Banker!" Cain shouted again into the communicator.  "Answer me,
damnit!"  he turned to Major Ham, "Get me through to one of the other
pilots.  Now!"
   Ham was staring at the scanner in mute horror.
   "They're gone," he whispered.
   "What?" Cain rushed up to him.
   "Our patrol.  It's disappeared from the scanners.  There's no trace of
them."
   "It can't be," Cain looked at the blank screen, "They didn't just go
to their turbos and leave the quadrant?"
   "No.  They were on the dead center of the scanner, and all of a
sudden, they just disappeared."
   Stunned, Cain looked back at the viewing screen.  The lights flashed
by with less intensity and frequency.  And then, they were gone.


   Several hours later, a grim-faced Tolen entered Cain's quarters.  The
Juggernaut sat behind his desk looking thoroughly drained.
   "Any word?" Cain looked up.
   Tolen shook his head, "Still no trace of the patrol sir.  We're
conducting a full-scale scanner sweep of all planets within the region,
but so far we've turned up nothing."
   Cain leaned back and slowly exhaled, "And those lights haven't
returned?"
   "No."
   "Well Tolen, it looks as if our best-laid plans have gone awry.  Until
we find out what happened to our patrol and what those lights are, we're
staying put right here."
   He began staring off to one side, "For all we know, these things could
be an even bigger menace than the Cylons.  Either way, we have to know
what they are."
   "I think that's a good idea, sir."
   Cain then rose from his chair and stared out the porthole into space.
   "I guess it is kind of frightening to envision the possibility of a
greater threat to humanity, somewhere in the universe," Tolen went on.
   "Yes," the Juggernaut nodded, "For the last thousand yahrens, we've
always thought of the universe in bipolar terms of humans and Cylons.  At
least, we were the only races of any significance.  The others, like the
Delphians, they only kept to themselves.  But there's so much to the
universe that we've never seen, so the idea of an advanced civilization,
more powerful than anything we've ever known, shouldn't be too
surprising."
   His tone suddenly grew more pensive, "I only hope the Galactica hasn't
encountered anything like that."
   The intercom then chimed.  When Cain didn't budge, Tolen answered it.
   "Yes Major Ham?"
   "We've just finished scanning a planet in Epsilon seven quadrant,
Colonel.  We're not picking up any lifesigns, but there are indications
of a pretty large concentration of wreckage somewhere."
   "Dear God," Cain suddenly turned around and came up to the intercom,
"Ham, I want several warriors to meet me in Alpha Launch Bay for a search
expedition of that planet.  We're going to take a look-see."
   "Sir," Tolen protested as Cain shut off the intercom, "Do you think
you should be risking yourself in a situation like this?"
   "Tolen," the Juggernaut said gently, "I appreciate your concern, but
let's look at it from this standpoint.  If these things are part of a
more powerful enemy, then it isn't going to make a cubit's difference
what happens to me.  I might have a large ego when it comes to facing the
Cylons, but I'm not foolish enough to think I could beat something
bigger.  In the meantime, you'll be in command.  If they come back while
I'm down there, you use your best judgment."
   The Executive Officer gave up trying to argue, "Yes sir."  he bowed
slightly and departed.
   Alone, Cain cast an idle glance at the picture of Sheba on his desk.
   His concern for himself, his  missing men, and the Pegasus did not
rank at the top of his priority list at the moment.


   "What's this all about?"  Paris asked as he and a young cadet named
Ryan, followed Skyler down the corridor to the port launch bay.
   "I don't know," Silver Spar Leader shook his head, "Apparently, Cain
wants us to check out one of the planets for signs of the missing
patrol."
   When the three warriors arrived in the launch bay, they saw that Cain
was already there, with his helmet under his arm.
   "Captain, Lieutenant," he nodded in acknowledgement, "And you, your
name is?"
   "Uh, Cadet First Class Ryan, sir." the young warrior snapped to
attention and saluted.
   "At ease Ryan.  Glad to have you aboard for this."
   "Any idea what we'll be up against down there?" Skyler inquired.
   "None," the commander shook his head, "All we've got to go on is a
signs of some kind of wreckage.  We're not picking up life forms down
there, but given the fact that whatever those lights were didn't register
on the scanners either, we ought to stay on our toes.  It might be
advisable to carry an extra weapons pack." he then turned away and headed
for his viper.
   "Sure," Paris chuckled sardonically as soon as Cain was out of
earshot, "We have to survive this so we can be killed by the Cylons
later."
   Skyler then angrily wheeled on him, "Paris, I have put up with your
felgercarb for the last two yahrens long enough.  You either stow it or
I'll personally throw your ass in the brig."
   The dark-haired lieutenant shook his head, "Why do you always stand up
for him, even when you know better too?"
   "Because he's your commander, and mine too."  he refused to let up,
"You took the same warrior's oath I did, Paris.  And that oath says we
all must be prepared to die fighting for our nation.  Cain's plan is
rotten to the core, but it's a plan motivated by patriotism, not
insanity.  That means you are going to obey orders, Lieutenant."
   Paris stiffened noticeably.  He'd never gotten use to his old buddy
Skyler pulling rank on him.  It took him a moment to collect himself
before he finally walked away to his viper.
   Skyler then glanced at the nervous visage of Cadet Ryan, "I hope
you've learned your lesson from all this, Ryan?"
   "Oh I have," Ryan said hastily, "I have completely, sir."
   The squadron leader smiled at him and went over to his ship.


   With Skyler in the lead position, the four vipers made their way
toward the reddish-gray planet just ahead.
   "Still no indications of lifesigns, Commander," he radioed.
   "You picking up that concentration of wreckage yet?" Cain responded.
   "Uh, yeah.  Got it now.  I'll bring us in close to that site."
   "All right then.  At this point gentlemen, I'm not sure whether it'll
be good news or bad if the wreckage turns out to be Banker's patrol.  So
let's just let our minds go blank and be prepared to face anything that
might come up."
   The four vipers entered the planet's atmosphere and then emerged from
the cloud cover.
   Beneath them lay a combination of open terrain and dense forests. 
Around them, the sky retained its odd reddish hue.
   "Sure is funny looking," Ryan commented.
   "That seems to be caused by all the red vegetation down there," Paris
checked his console, "Atmosphere's okay though."
   "All right Skyler, we're following you down," Cain said.
   Skyler found a clearing just beyond the forest, and came to a graceful
landing.  The other three landed right beside him.
   Cain was the first to pop open his cockpit.  He removed his helmet and
took a deep breath of air.  It then occurred to him with irony, that he
hadn't breathed the normal fresh air of a planet since he'd last left
Caprica, four yahrens ago.
   "All right," he hopped out of his ship, "I'll lead the way.  Skyler,
how far to that contact?"
   "Estimate about two hundred metrones, dead ahead."  Skyler jumped out.
   "Bring your weapons to full power and have them drawn.
   Slowly, they made their way forward.  They then cleared a small ridge,
and to their amazement, saw the sky return to a normal color."
   "The vegetation's all scorched up here, that's why it now looks
normal," Paris noted.
   "Weird," Cain grunted and then motioned his arm, "Should be over that
ridge dead ahead, right?"
   "Yes," Skyler nodded.
   "Commander!" Ryan blurted.
   The other three turned around and saw the young cadet off to one side,
hunched over the ground.
   "What is it, Ryan?" Cain asked as they made their way over.
   Ryan picked up a small object that had been half-buried with dust,
"This is a Colonial laser pistol."
   "My God," Paris whispered, "Then the patrol did crash here."
   Ryan handed the pistol to Skyler, who studied it closely and then went
ashen.
   "Commander," Skyler said evenly, "If this came from a Colonial
warrior, then it didn't come from one of ours."
   "What are you talking about?" Cain frowned and took it from him.
   "Look at the markings.  The Fleet emblem's wrong."
   Cain studied it for an instant and his expression hardened.
   "Sir?" Ryan looked at him in confusion.
   "This came from the Galactica." Cain said flatly.
   "The Galactica?" Paris's mouth dropped open.
   "Yes," there was no emotion in the Juggernaut's voice, "This is her
emblem."
   An uneasy silence came over the other three warriors.
   "Was this pretty well-covered with dust?"  Cain looked back at Ryan.
   "Uh, yes sir.  It was."
   "Well, it certainly looks worse for wear.  That means it's been here
for a while," Cain paused to do some mental arithmetic, "If the Galactica
came this way after leaving Gomorrah, she would have been here about a
sectan after we separated."
   The Juggernaut then shot a glance toward the ridge, "Now the prospects
of what lies over the ridge are suddenly more ominous.  We'd better go
take a look."
   Slowly, with trepidation, they made their way to the top of the ridge. 
And though he appeared more collected than the others, inside, Cain felt
the nervous tension more than the others.  If what lay beyond had some
connection with the Galactica then could that mean that something had
happened to his precious Sheba as well?
   But when they reached the top and looked down into the gully below,
the fear that was building inside him, suddenly reverted to confusion.
   "Boy, whatever that is, it's big," Paris said in amazement, "But that
doesn't look like anything Colonial."
   "Maybe it's one of the civilian ships from the Galactica's fleet,"
Ryan offered.
   Skyler shook his head, "I don't think so.  It doesn't resemble one of
them in the least.  It's too big to be a civilian ship, and it's
obviously not the Galactica itself."
   Slowly, the four made their way down the ridge and drew closer to the
wrecked ship.
   "Hold it," Paris warned, "I'm getting some pretty strong radon
readings.  If we get too close to that thing, we'll end up poisoning
ourselves."
   Cain put his hands on his hips and tried to make sense of the
situatio.
   "Strange lights that go faster than anything known to man, and don't
register on scanners.  Five vipers that disappear without a trace, a
lifeless planet, evidence the Galactica's been here, and a mysterious
wrecked ship.  What other surprises are we in for?"
   No sooner had Cain uttered his thoughts, when the sound of a soft
lilting voice, echoed through the gully.
   "Hello!"
   The four men spun around brandishing their laser pistols.
   Then, when they saw what they saw, they slowly lowered them in
disbelief.  Ryan was so stunned, he actually dropped his.
   "Commander," Skyler nearly trembled, "Reassure me that I'm
hallucinating, and tell me that what I think I'm seeing isn't there."
   "You're not hallucinating, Captain," Cain stared ahead, "I see it, but
I don't believe it."
   "It's not possible," Paris whispered, "There aren't any readings..."
he trailed off, unable to say anything else,
   Standing at the top of the ridge, waving to them, was a strikingly
beautiful woman.
   Her beauty was almost indescribable.  She was dressed in a flowing
white robe that somehow still managed to accent the contours of her body. 
Her hair was reddish-brown and flowed down to her shoulders.  Her brown
eyes were piercing, and her face carried a cool, almost regal look. 
Indeed, her very bearing seemed regal.  She seemed like a woman would
expect to find in the halls of a royal palace instead of the desolate
surroundings of a desert planet.
   "Hello," she repeated and waved to them.
   "Hello," Cain answered as he put his pistol back in his holster, and
cautiously made his way toward her.
   "I'd all but given up hope that I'd see another living soul again,"
she smiled at them.
   "You came from that ship?" Cain frowned as he stopped just several
feet from her, amazed by how radiantly beautiful she looked, and how she
seemed not to be disheveled in the least.
   "Yes," she nodded, "My name is Sapphira.  I was a passenger aboard
that ship when it was destroyed long ago."
   "Destroyed by who?" Cain's frown deepened.
   "The Great Powers," she said simply.
   Cain continued to stare at her with caution, "And what are the Great
Powers?"
   "Forces far beyond your level of understanding.  It would be too
difficult for me to explain."
   "How would you know what's within our level of understanding?" he
tried to maintain the skepticism in his voice, but for some reason found
it difficult to do so.
   Sapphira's beautiful face broke into a frown, "I'm not sure. 
I...somehow just seem to know.  You, you are Colonial warriors, aren't
you?"
   "We are.  You know of us?"
   "By reputation," she said, "It's difficult to travel the galaxy and
not know about the legend of the Colonial warriors."
   Cain uneasily licked his lips, "Ah, Sapphira, you say you survived the
crash of that ship.  Exactly what happened?"
   She continued to frown and looked at the ground, "I don't remember,"
she said, "It was so long ago.  I seemed to black out then, and the next
thing I knew I was wandering the planet.  It's taken me a long time to
recover myself."
   "A very long time?"
   "Yes," she nodded.
   The unease in Cain deepened.  And yet, there was something about her
that seemed so strangely innocent.
   He tried to shake it off and continue the tough, skeptical posture,
"Have you ever encountered any one else like us before?"
   "Certainly not.  If I had, I would surely not still be here."
   "Yes, that's true," he nodded, "Well I can imagine that you must be
tired after your ordeal, so allow me to extend some hospitality to you. 
I'm Commander Cain of the Battlestar Pegasus.  This is Captain Skyler,
Lieutenant Paris, and Cadet Ryan.  If you like, we'd be glad to take you
back to the safety and comfort of our ship."
   "Thank you very much Commander," she smiled and bowed her head in
gratitude, "Perhaps I might be able to help you in return."
   "Oh, in what way?" Cain gently inquired.  "How might you be able to
help us?"
   Sapphira let out a sigh, "I'm certain there are many ways I might be
able to help.  Perhaps later, once I've had a chance to relax aboard your
ship."
   "Very well," Cain returned her smile and motioned his arm, "I f you'll
follow me?"
   "Gladly," Sapphira's smile widened as he began leading her down the
ridge back toward the vipers.
   Behind them, the other warriors shook themselves out of their stupor
and began following them.
   "I don't get it," Paris whispered, "The scanners said no lifeforms. 
Where the hell did she come from?"
   "Makes you want to ask not who, but what is she?" Skyler grunted.
   "The Commander sure seems taken with her," Ryan said.
   "No," Skyler shook his head, "Don't be fooled by the charm act.  Cain
knows what he's doing, and the smart thing is to take her back for more
questioning.  Obviously, the patrol isn't here, and we can't investigate
the wreckage of the ship with those radon leaks.  By taking her back,
he's playing it just by the book."
   "What do you think the connection with the Galactica is?"  Paris asked
him.
   "I don't know," he shook his head, "But I'm sure that's the one thing
Cain is most anxious to find out."


   "Please forgive me if my men and I seemed so surprised when we saw
you," Cain said, "I'm afraid that the last thing we expected to find on
this planet was a beautiful woman like you."
   "And what did you expect to find, Commander?" Sapphira's smile took on
a coy mischievous edge.
   "Well, I had hoped to find five missing warriors from my ship," Cain's
tone was neutral but he was finding it difficult to keep it that way,
"They disappeared somewhere in this quadrant."
   "I'm sorry.  I wish I could help you, but I know nothing of it.  I
have seen no one else like you."
   "Yes, so you said," he nodded, "These Great Powers you spoke of, that
destroyed your ship.  What are they like?" 
   Sapphira pursed her lips, "It would be difficult to describe them to
you.  I can only say that they are a force that you have never seen the
likes of before."
   "Oh, I have a feeling I have seen them before," Cain said as they drew
closer to his viper.
   "Have you?" she lifted an eyebrow.
   "Perhaps," he looked her dead in the eye, "Strange white lights that
move faster than the eye can comprehend."
   Abruptly, she turned away from him and looked at his viper in
amazement, "Your ships look somewhat primitive by my standards, but they
seem efficient."
   "Yes," Cain noted the sudden changing of the subject, "Yes they have
served us well.  If you let me help you, you can sit in the rear seat."  
 "Thank you Commander," again she smiled that radiantly beguiling smile
of hers, "This should be most interesting."
   Remarkable woman, Cain thought as he helped her in.  Beautiful too,
and there was something so damned innocent about her that almost made him
want to trust her completely.  But she was also a little too damned
mysterious.  He knew he was going to have to confront her at some point
about the Galactica laser pistol, and he was going to make damn sure he
got some answers to that.
   "All right, sit tight," he said as he closed the cockpit and started
up the systems.
   The only way I'm going to treat you, he mused silently, is with
extreme caution.


   "Commander Cain to the Pegasus.  Prepare to recover planetary
expedition in five centons."
   "Affirmative Commander.  Preparing recovery in Beta Bay."
   "Also see to it that special VIP guest quarters are set up."
   There was a brief pause, "Uh, Commander, did I hear you right?"
   "You did," Cain responded tersely, "Don't ask questions Ham, just see
to it."
   He then switched frequencies, "The three of you behind me?"
   "Yes sir, sorry we were a little late getting off," Skyler answered.
   "Quite all right.  Keep your eyes open," he looked behind to Sapphira,
"It won't be long before we're aboard the Pegasus.  I hope our standards
of comfort won't seem too primitive for you."
   Once again, her smile was both beguiling and captivatingly coy, "I'm
certain they'll be much preferable to the planet."
   "How insensitive of me," Cain chuckled.
   "Quite all right," Sapphira's lilting tone grew softer, "If the
qualities of the Pegasus are as fine as those of her commander, I'm
certain I shall have a wonderful time."
   "Yes," Cain felt a strange sensation come over him.  Mentally, he
tried to shut it out, but emotionally, he felt it just the same.
   "Commander," Ryan's voice came through and jolted him back to reality.
   "Yes Ryan?"
   "I've got four contacts on my scanner, coming into the quadrant
bearing vector four-one-seven.  Request permission to check it out."
   "Paris, give him some assistance."
   "Yes sir," and then, the two vipers went to their turbos.
   "Sir, what about me?" Skyler radioed.
   "Well for the moment Captain, I don't want to risk too many men.  Not
until we find out what those things are."
   "Yes sir," a note of frustration crept into his voice.
   Cain did not let it go unnoticed, "It's only a precaution, Captain. 
I've lost enough men for one day."
   "Is your work usually this busy?" the mysterious woman inquired.
   "Not lately."  Again, her melodic, lilting voice produced that funny
sensation inside him.
   "Holy Frack!" Paris's voice blurted, " Targets confirmed.  Four Cylon
fighters."
   "Engage and destroy them!  Skyler, you go help."
   The third viper broke away and went off.
   "You're not going to help?" she asked.
   "Only if they need me.  But these Cylons aren't any good.  They'll get
rid of them."


   "Okay, there they are.  Dead ahead."  Paris said, "Ryan, go for the
ones on the left.  I'll get 'em on the right."
   "Gotcha," Ryan nodded and opened fire.  Immediately, he got the first
Cylon.  But the second one veered off and Ryan was forced to go to his
turbos to pursue it.
   The more experienced Paris, had no such trouble.  In two shots, he
destroyed the two Cylon fighters just as Skyler pulled up alongside him.
   "Need help?"
   "No, I've already got 'em.  Ryan was supposed to take care of the
other two."
   "Ryan, need some help?"  Skyler radioed.
   "No problem, I'll have this last sucker in a micron," Ryan responded.
   The young cadet fastened his eyes on his attack computer, waiting for
it to lock on to the Cylon fighter.
   Finally, the image blinked, signalling that it was locked.  But just
as he was about to press the fire button, he was distracted by a bright
light that flashed past him.
   "What the...?"  Ryan looked up as another light zoomed past.  And then
another.
   "Ryan?" Skyler's voice crackled.
   "Holy Frack, Captain!  Those lights!  They're all around me!  Dozens
of them!"
   "Dear God," Cain whispered, "Ryan, what do you see?  Where are they
coming from?"
   "I can't tell," the fear in the young cadet's voice was obvious,
"There's now hundreds of them...Luminous and brilliant...They almost look
beautiful...They...Oh God!  God no!  That sound!..."
   "Ryan!" Cain shouted and then wheeled around to look at Sapphira, "Do
you know what he's talking about?  Do you know what those things are?"
   "The Great Powers," she said simply but with a trace of sadness.
   Just then, a loud piercing hum could be heard.
   "Ryan!" Cain shouted again.
   "He won't answer," Sapphira said, "He is gone."
   "Commander," Paris radioed, his voice filled with horror, "He's
disappeared form the scanner.  There's no trace of him."
   The Juggernaut slowly exhaled and shook his head, "What about the last
Cylon fighter?"
   "I don't see it on the scanner either, sir," Skyler chimed in, "Can't
tell if he got it, or if it escaped, or.." he exhaled slightly, "Or if
it's where he is now."
   "Great," Cain sagged in his seat, "Both of you return to the Pegasus. 
There's nothing more you can do now."
   "Yes sir," Paris said.
   "Yes sir," Skyler echoed, "Damn."
   As Cain's viper neared the Pegasus, he again heard that melodic,
lilting voice from the back, "My sympathies to you, Commander.  I imagine
it's difficult to lose someone in your command."
   This time, Cain didn't allow the sensation to come over him, "Listen
Sapphira," he said angrily, "You obviously know a lot about these 'Great
Powers' as you call them, which have now taken six of my men from the
face of the universe.  When we get aboard the Pegasus, I'm going to
expect some answers to a lot of questions."
   "All in good time, Commander," she said softly, "All in good time."
   All in good time, Cain grimaced as he set his viper down in the
starboard landing bay.  And what in God's name am I going to find out?

                        Chapter Six

   As Cain led the mysterious Sapphira down the corridors of the Pegasus
to the VIP quarters, crewmen stopped in their tracks to stare in amazed
wonder at her.  And when she had passed them, she left them in a dazed
stupor for quite some time.  Small wonder though, considering that of the
Pegasus' complement of 1000, more than 95% were male.  The Juggernaut's
blood-and-guts reputation had generally made the Pegasus a less than
hospitable environment for female warriors, and thus had contributed to
the ship's status as the only battlestar in the Colonial Fleet without a
sizable contingent of female pilots or bridge personel.  Sheba's
experience as a squadron commander had been the exception in the
Pegasus's history, and not the rule.
   "Here are your quarters," Cain said firmly as he opened the door,
"Anything you need, just use the intercom to ask for it."
   She looked about the elegantly furnished quarters in admiration,
"Thank you."
   "I'll be back later," he went on, "And when I'm back, I expect you to
be forthcoming."
   "Of course," She smiled at him.
   Cain awkwardly bit his lip.  The sensation was coming over him again,
and for the first time, he fully realized that it was physical arousal.
   It's as if she were casting some kind of spell over me, he thought. 
What is it about her that's causing this?  And why do I....?
   Quickly, he shook himself back to reality and closed the door.  And
then, he uneasily made his way back to the bridge.


   Once there, Cain, Tolen and Skyler stood by the navigation board and
tried to assess the situation.
   "As if these damn lights weren't enough, we now have the added problem
of a Cylon presence in this region," Cain said, "Any guesses as to where
they came from?"
   "I don't think they came from a baseship," Tolen said, "My guess would
be a long-range scouting patrol from Gomorrah.  We're barely within range
to be on the maximum end of their limit."
   "I'm not sure," Skyler stared at the board, "Remember, we found that
laser pistol from the Galactica on the planet.  It could be that they've
been trying to pick up her scent."
   "Well either way, it presents us with an awkward dilemma," Cain said,
"We don't know if that last fighter escaped, or if anything got radioed
back to where they came from.  But on the other hand, a missing patrol is
going to raise their antenna and make them automatically think there has
to be a hostile presence in this region.  Either way, it blows our
element of surprise for any future move on Gomorrah."
   "Unless we attack now," Tolen pointed out.
   "Yes, but I'm not particularly keen on making the attack when we've
just been reduced to thirty-six vipers.  That would also mean leaving the
area before we found out what this mysterious force is.  And we'd be
writing off our missing pilots as dead." Cain shrugged in exasperation,
"Once we leave, we're committed.  We can't ever return."
   "Well, whatever decision you make, Commander, has to be real soon. 
We're running out of time," Skyler noted.
   "Yes," the Juggernaut nodded, "But before I make it, I'm going to have
a long talk with our mysterious guest.  She alone, knows the answers
that'll help me make it, and by God I'm going to get them out of her."


   Minutes later, Cain was back in the VIP quarters, thoroughly
determined to not let himself be distracted by Sapphira's beguiling
charm.
   "All right my dear young lady," he said with a noticable level of
brusqeness, "I haven't got much time, so you'd do me a favor by giving me
some direct answers."
   "I'll certainly do what I can to assist you, Commander," she continued
to smile winsomely at him, "But I'm afraid you're going to find that
directness will be impossible for the most part."
   "Why?" he folded his arms.
   "Because to be direct would require explaining things that are totally
beyond your knowledge"
   "Try me."
   She laughed.  A soft, beguiling laugh that only heightened her
attractiveness, "Commander Cain, let me try to use a hypothetical
situation that will make you understand my position.  Suppose you
encountered a civilization so primitive, that the people used only sticks
and stones for weapons, wore animal skins for clothes, and lived in
caves.  Would it be easy for you to explain to them, everything about
yourself and where you came from?"
   Cain allowed her words to sink in, "I take it then, that by your
standards, I would belong to this tribe of primitive cave dwellers?"
   "If you like," Sapphira nodded.
   The Juggernaut slowly exhaled, "How could you convince me of that?" he
softly demanded, "Where do you come from, to be so advanced?"
   "From a place you have never been to before, and would mean nothing to
you, if I told you."
   Cain skipped a beat as he tried to think of his next question.  But
before he could, Sapphira spoke up.
   "You're about to ask me if I come from a place called Earth.  I'm
sorry, I don't."
   Cain's eyes widened, "How do you know of Earth?" he whispered, "And
how did--"
   "There is nothing about your civilization that I don't know," she cut
in softly, "Just as there is nothing about you, that I don't know."
   "What do you mean?"
   Sapphira smiled, "You were born on the planet Caprica.  You graduated
first in your class at the Colonial Academy.  Your first command was the
starcruiser Antilles."
   He kept his expression stoic, "You've been reading my computer file?"
   Her smile took on a more mischievous edge, "You were married once.  To
a woman named Bethany.  Your term of affection for her was 'Mother'."
   Cain's composure cracked slightly and he felt the sweat break out on
his forehead.  She wouldn't have learned that from a computer file.
   "You have a daughter named Sheba," she went on, "You think about her
constantly.  She's somewhere far off in space aboard the Battlestar
Galactica.  You miss her---"
   "That's enough," he interrupted, his jaw clenched, "You've made your
point.  You're a mindreader of some sort."
   "Yes," she said, "And that is one of the few things about myself that
is within your realm of comprehension."
   Cain struggled to regain the initiative, "But evidently there are
forces more powerful than you?" he prodded, "Powerful enough to destroy
your ship?  The ones who've abducted my warriors?"
   Sapphira's smile faded and her gaze shifted away from him.  She then
turned around and stared out the window.
   "Well?" Cain pressed on.
   "Just as you fight the Cylon Empire," she said, "So do my people fight
the Great Powers."
   "What do you fight for?" he took a step toward her, "What conflict can
there be, between such advanced races?"
   She turned back to face him, her expression unsmiling, "The stakes in
our conflict far exceed anything in your imagination."
   Sapphira suddenly took his hand, her voice soothing and gentle, "You
should not remain here.  Your mind is filled with curiosity about what
they are, but there is nothing you can do to confront them."
   Cain quickly yanked his hand away from her, "Why?" he raised his
voice, "What are they?  Where do they come from?  And who and what are
you?"
   "I haven't convinced you?"
   "The only thing you've given me, apart from your mindreading, is some
sweet charm, mixed in with a load of doubletalk," he snapped, "Right now,
you've only convinced me that you're from an advanced race.  But one
thing you haven't convinced me, is that I can trust you."
   She seemed bemused, "You think I could be a threat to you?" she
pointed to herself, "Remember Commander, I have not abducted six of your
warriors."
   "For all I know, you could be one of them," Cain refused to be let u.
   She laughed, "I assure you, I'm not."
   "Then why have you lied to me already?" he demanded.
   "About what?"
   Cain marched over to the door and opened it.  Outside, a security
guard handed a laser pistol to him.  He then closed the door and angrily
came up to her.
   "This was found on the planet by my men," he said, "It came from the
Battlestar Galactica.  I want you to tell me what you know about it."
   She looked over it in amusement, "I know nothing of it.  The only
thing I know of the Galactica is from your mind."
   "I don't believe you," his words came out rapidly, "What do you know
about it?"
   Sapphira sighed, "I understand your concern.  You're worried about
Sheba.  You're worried if something's happened to her."
   Enraged, Cain lifted his arm as if to slap her.  But Sapphira grabbed
it and, in a powerful display of strength, forced it down and twisted it
around his back, causing him to grimace in pain.
   "I wouldn't try anything rough, Commander," for the first time, her
voice was cold, "You'll find that I don't let myself get pushed over by
anyone.  My strength far exceeds anything you're capable of."
   "So I can tell," he grunted, trying not to give an inch.
   "Remember that always," she said the words as though they were a
command, "Never forget the things that make me your superior."
   "I don't gave a damn about your strength," Cain whispered through
clenched teeth, "I want to know the truth.  What do you know about the
Galactica?"
   She let go of his arm and pursed her lips, "You have my word of honor
that I know nothing about it.  I can only surmise that the pistol ended
up on the planet before I did."
   "Perhaps," Cain was unconvinced, "But not likely.  The Galactica is
searching for a planet called Earth.  She has no reason to stop and
investigate a dead planet unless there was something of interest," he
paused, "Like your wrecked ship."
   "My ship would be of little interest to them.  If they had arrived
later, which they did not," her tone resumed its beguiling edge, "There
are nothing but radon levels that would kill you, and my unfortunate
comrades who ought to be left in peace for eternity."
   "What exactly did happen to your ship?" he tried to remain on the
attack, "And how is it, that you were able to survive without a mark on
you?"
   "I can not explain the type of combat that goes back and forth between
the Great Powers and my own race."
   "Try me."
   "I won't," she was emphatic, "You are not prepared for that."
   Cain slowly shook his head in mild exasperation.
   "But there are more important things that I can tell you," her voice
suddenly returned its gentle, lilting quality, "Things that can be of
great help to you and your people."
   "What do you mean?"
   Her expression grew even softer, radiating an almost innocent aura of
compassion, "Let me help," she whispered tenderly, "Put your trust in me. 
Anything your heart desires the most, I will be able to give you."
   Cain felt the sensation returning to him again.  He bit his lip in
what was fast becoming a desperate effort to maintain his composure.
   Again, Sapphira took his hand, "You're skeptical.  But your mind also
reveals a desire to trust me, because your situation is so desperat."
   He remained silent.  But this time he didn't find himself pulling away
from her.
   "It's very desperate," she went on in her lilting whisper, "You
yourself know that ultimately, the fate of the Pegasus is death at the
hands of the Cylon Fleet.  But it does not have to be that way, Commander
Cain.  If you put your trust in me, your situation can be full of hope
and joy."
   The Juggernaut seemed frozen.
   Sapphira smiled and squeezed his hand even tighter, "I understand your
concern, Cain.  You live with the memory of what happened to the Colonial
Fleet at Caprica, and you know you should be skeptical and suspicious of
me.  You're afraid that if you trust me, I could lead you to an even
worse fate than your current battle plan.  Or even worse, I could bring
about the destruction of the Galactica and the ones you love who are
aboard her.  Including your beloved daughter.  The one person in the
universe you wish you could see again."
   Cain mentally tried to make himself let go of her, but found to his
horror that he couldn't find the strength.
   What is happening to me, he thought.  What in the name of Kobol is
happening to me?
   "You feel conflict inside you," she suddenly answered his silent
question, "But let go of your conflict, Cain.  Trust me.  Ask anything of
me, and I shall deliver it to you.  But you must make your decision soon,
Commander.  You're running out of time."
   Finally, Cain managed to summon the strength to jerk himself away from
her.  And then, without saying a word, he quickly left the room.
   He could hear her soft beguiling laugh as the door closed behind him,
and he felt as if he was going to be very sick.


   Walking at a brisk pace, and trying to shake off all the feelings and
emotions that had run through him, Cain was back on the bridge in less
than two centons.  
   "Sir?" Tolen looked up from his console.
   Cain assumed his command position, "Set course for Gomorrah now.  Top
speed," he barked.
   Tolen came up to him, "Sir, have you found out anything?"
   "No," he shook his head, "I'm getting nothing from her but more
questions.  And that's what makes it all the more frightening."
   The executive officer frowned, "Then why leave the area?"
   Cain hunched over his computer console, "For a simple reason. 
Whatever she is, and whatever she belongs to, this area isn't safe for
us.  If we stay here any longer, we might end up suffering a fate even
worse than the Cylons.  I'm going to resume my normal battle plan before
I lose another fighter."
   "You know what that means sir," Tolen pointed out, "We're writing off
Banker and the others."
   "I know," Cain nodded, "Dear God, how I know."
   "Estimate time of arrival Gomorrah, in twelve centars," Major Ham
reported.
   "For better or worse, Tolen, it all begins," Cain sucked in his
breath, "And where it all ends, God only knows."


   "Estimate time of arrival, nine centars," Ham reported with mechanical
efficiency.
   "All weapons systems to ready."
   "Viper pilots standing by on Yellow Alert."
   Cain idly tapped his stick against the railing, totally immersed in
concentration.
   Then, something broke it.
   "Commander!" Tolen blurted.
   Cain looked up at the viewing screen and felt his heart sink, "Not
again," he whispered, "Dear God, not again."
   Flashing by the screen at incredible speed, were the brilliant,
pulsing white lights.
   "Do you want to launch, sir?"
   "No!" Cain shouted angrily, "I'm not going to lose any more men. 
Prepare laser turrets for immediate firing."
   Ham tensed himself as he activated the target computer on the Pegasus'
laser guns.
   "They don't register on the scanner, Commander.  It won't be easy to
get off a shot."
   "Hades hole!" Cain retorted, "Just fire a shot at them.  Anything to
get them off of us."
   Ham kept his eye on the viewing screen as he put his finger on the
button, and nervously pressed it.
   On the screen, they saw the burst of laser fire hit directly on one of
the moving objects.
   But nothing happened.
   "Frack," Cain banged his stick against the rail, "They seem impervious
to laser fire."
   The Juggernaut then angrily marched over to his console, "Security,
this is Cain.  I want our guest brought to the bridge now.  And don't
waste a micron getting here."
   "You think she'll know what to do?" Tolen asked.
   "I don't know," he shook his head, "But by God Tolen, I'm going to get
some answers out of her even if I have to shove her into an airlock and
turn down the pressure until she begs for mercy."
   With a sense of frustration and helplessness, they continued to watch
the hauntingly beautiful lights zoom past the Pegasus.
   Then, Cain turned around and saw the myusterious Sapphira enter the
bridge, flanked by two security guards.
   "All right Sapphira," Cain's tone was cold, "Give me some answers. 
Why are these Great Powers, as you call them, chasing us across space?"
   She stared at the sight of the lights and seemed to recoil in obvious
revulsion.
   The Juggernaut did not let her reaction go unnoticed, "You seem to
fear them.  Maybe it isn't us these Powers are interested in.  Maybe it's
you."   
   "I fear nothing," her voice was a cold monotone, her brown eyes
piercing, "Not even them.  They are the Powers that deceive.  Beautiful
in appearance, but only to mask their true purpose."
   "What do they want?" Cain pressed on, "What can they do to us?"
   "Much," she continued in her flat monotone, "But I shall see to it
that they remain of no consequence to you or your people."
   She began walking closer to the viewing screen.  As she passed close
to the bridge equipment, a loud crackling static suddenly erupted.
   "What the hell?" a startled Cain murmurred under his breath.
   "Commander," Tolen couldn't conceal the fear in his voice, as he
watched Sapphira draw up to the screen, "I don't know why, but somehow,
she's causing our instruments to go crazy."
   The entire bridge crew watched in dumbfounded amazement as Sapphira
stood there with her eyes closed, and her head tilted back.
   Then, with a flutter of her robe, she lifted her arm high into the
air.
   For what seemed like an eternity to the crew of the Pegasus, she stood
frozen in her position, as if she were in a trance.
   Cain watched in near-shock as the lights came by with less frequency,
until finally, they were gone.
   An uneasy dead calm filled the bridge.
   Then, Sapphira abruptly turned around and looked Cain dead in the eye.
   "You've been skeptical of me, Commander.  So now, I have performed a
task that should leave no doubt as to my intentions.  Behold!" she
motioned her arm to the computer scanners where Major Ham was seated.
   Ham looked at the scanner and then his mouth dropped open, "Commander,
I'm getting five, no make that six ships bearing toward us.  It's...sweet
Lords of Kobol, it's our patrol!" his voice burst into jubilation.
   Cain dashed up to him, his eyes bulging, "Are you sure?"
   "Yeah," Ham nodded in stunned happiness and tapped his earpiece,
"Lieutenant Banker's requesting clearance to land."
   A loud cheer went up from the rest of the bridge crew.
   Cain looked up, his expression contorted into a mass of stunned
disbelief, and stared directly at Sapphira.
   The beautiful and mysterious woman simply stood there and smiled her
most beguiling smile at him.
      
                       Chapter Seven

   In the Officers Club there was a jubilant mood of celebration over the
safe return of the missing pilots.  The warriors who had not been present
on the bridge were all anxiously gathered around the bridge crew members,
as they learned the details of what had happened.
   "It's the most incredible thing I ever saw," Ham said as he took a
gulp of his drink.
   "She just stands there, goes into a trance and just like that, the
pilots are back?" Paris was filled with awe and amazement.
   "Yeah," Ham nodded, "The lights just disappear, and then before you
know it they were all back."
   "God," the dark-haired lieutenant leaned back, "If she's capable of
fighting off those things, then just think of what she could do against
the Cylons."
   Skyler, who'd been largely silent up to now, suddenly frowned, "What
are you talking about?"
   "Just think of it, Skyler," Paris went on, "This strange mysterious
woman is obviously from a race with powers greater than a half-dozen
battlestars.  If we could get her to help us against the Cylons, think of
all the possibilities."
   "Wait a centon," Skyler raised his voice with a note of caution, "Wait
just a centon.  What makes you think we can trust her for something like
that?  Quite frankly Paris, the more I listen to Ham tell this story, the
more bothered I am."
   "Bothered?" Paris's eyes bulged in amazement, "Why should you be
bothered?  Because of her, our buddies are back.  What's there to be
bothered about?"
   "She's too mysterious for my taste," Silver Spar leader went on, "If
she's powerful enough to force those adversaries of hers to return our
men, then how was it that she couldn't save herself and her ship from
destruction?  It doesn't make any sense."
   "I'm not sure I give a damn about all that," Paris said, "Look at the
hard facts, Skyler.  Our men are back, and she is clearly capable of
giving us some much needed help."
   "I am looking at the hard facts," Skyler retorted, "And there's one
hard fact you shouldn't have forgotten about, and that's the laser pistol
from the Galactica that we found."
   "That probably wound up on the planet before she did.  Remember, the
thing was covered with dust, and they could have only been there one
sectan after we separated."
   "Possibly," he conceded, "But it could also mean that she's preparing
us for some kind of trap."
   "Well let's get the opinion of someone who saw the whole thing.  What
do you think Ham?  Should we trust her?"
   The major shot an uneasy glance at the two of them, "To be honest
guys, I'm not really sure.  I agree it's best that we remain cautious
with someone we don't know everything about, but at the same time there's
something about Sapphira that makes you wonder if we've stumbled into
something hopeful for our future."
   "Precisely," Paris jumped in, "Sapphira might very well be the only
hope we've got for survival.  And if her powers can give us a chance for
survival instead of a slow march to suicide, I'm all for that."
   "So what do you want to see happen, Paris?" Skyler tried not to hide
the sarcasm, "You want to see Cain turn over command to her?"
   The lieutenant leaned back and smirked, "That might not be such a bad
idea, you know."
   Skyler shook his head in exasperation and he left the table.
   "Poor Skyler," Paris sighed, "Ever since Cain gave him captain's wings
and a squadron command, he's been so protective of our dear Commander's
reputation."
   Ham finished off his drink, "Haven't we always been that way toward
Cain?  It wasn't too long ago that we were all ready to mutiny when
Commander Adama had him relieved."
   "Different scenario, and a different time," Paris said pointedly, "I
always admired Cain's zest for dangerous battle because he always had a
way to pull us out of the fire and let us go on to keep fighting for
something meaningful.  But when I volunteered to stay for the engagement
with the baseships, I figured that this was going to be it.  Things were
different now, with the Galactica and all that.  I believed that once
those three baseships and Gomorrah were off our backs, we could finally
go someplace where we could be safe from all that.  But then, when you
find out that he lied to all of us, and only wanted to throw away our
lives for the sake of an ego trip, I lost all the respect I'd ever had
for him.  And if I'd had my druthers, I'd have organized a mutiny sectans
ago."
   "So that's why you'd rather see Sapphira take over?"
   "It'd be a change for the better," he admitted.
   Ham smiled with a mischievous edge, "No qualms about turning the
Pegasus over to a, ah, woman?"
   "Watch it Major," Paris grinned, "Just because Sheba is no longer
here, doesn't mean you can voice something like that without any fear of
retribution.  There might only be fifty female crewmembers aboard our
ship, but all of them together could still see to it that you were strung
up by your ass over the reactor engines."
   The major laughed and ordered another drink. 

         
   "Do you remember anything?" there was almost a note of pleading in
Cain's voice, "Anything at all?"
   Banker absently gazed at the floor as he shook his head, "I"m sorry
Commander.  All I remember was this big white ship coming up behind me. 
Bigger than a battlestar, it seemed like.  And then, I blacked out, and
the next thing I knew, I was flying back into the landing bay."
   Cain somewhat dejectedly lowered his head, "All right Banker.  I won't
keep you any longer.  You can go now."
   "Yes sir," he rose and made his way to the door.  But when he reached
it, he stopped and looked back at his Commander.
   "Um, sir there's something that's been bothering me for a while.  I
want you to know that I'm really sorry for my outburst in the briefing
room the other day."
   Cain looked up at him in amusement, "Lieutenant, I haven't given that
a micron's thought since it happened.  It's all forgotten, as far as I'm
concerned.  In the meantime, you just relax and enjoy the festive mood
that's taken hold of this ship."
   "Yes sir," he smiled and departed.
   "That's the last of them," Tolen said, "and they all don't remember a
thing."
   "Yes," Cain absently swatted his stick against his desk, "The only
significant thing was Ryan telling us that he didn't get that last Cylon
fighter, and that it probably ended up where the rest of them did."
   "Which would seem to indicate that Sapphira was capable of making
those adversaries of hers distinguish between who and who not to set
free."
   The Juggernaut looked up at his executive officer with a wry
half-smile, "If that's true, then I guess there'd be no doubt as to her
total benevolence."
   "Meaning you still have doubts?"
   The two looked toward the door and saw Sapphira enter, still smiling
in apparent triumph.
   "Your crew no longer seems to have any doubts about me," she went on,
"Why even as I came here, Cadet Ryan actually hugged me in gratitude for
his safe return, and for your permanent deliverance from the Great
Powers."
   "Yes, you certainly have cast a spell on them," Cain kept his tone
dry.
   "I do not 'cast spells', as you so quaintly put it," the warmth in her
voice dropped slightly, "Your crew has seen with their own eyes, that
which I am capable of, and they know they can trust me." 
   "To do what?" Cain challenged, "If we are to trust you, as someone we
know will not harm us, then what do you intend to do?"
   Her smile grew warmer and took on its most beguiling edge, "Trust in
me, so that I might become your leader.  And then, I will be able to
provide you and all of your people the things you have only dreamed
about.  Things that can become as real as the miraculous return of your
pilots."
   The Juggernaut's expression froze, and for a long minute there was an
uneasy silence.
   Standing off to one side, Tolen felt as if he were watching a clash
between an irresistible force and an immovable object.
   Finally, Cain rose from his chair.
   "Tolen," he said to the Executive Officer, "Report to the bridge to
await my next instruction.  Keep us at full stop for now."
   "Yes sir," Tolen cast an uncomfortable glance at Sapphira as he made
his way out.
   The silence lingered after his departure, as the two stood with their
expressions locked on each other.  Sapphira's beguiling, winsome smile,
and Cain's frozen, implacable stare.
   Finally, the Juggernaut chose to speak, "You want to take charge of
us?"
   "If you so desire," she continued to smile, "I do not command you or
your people to follow me.  I only ask it."
   Another silence passed before Cain responded, "If we refuse.  Then
what?"
   "You have that option," Sapphira admitted, "But ponder all the
opportunities that you would forfeit, if you made such a rash decision."
   "What opportunities?" Cain demanded as his voice rose, "Explain
yourself."
   Still smiling, she made her way over to his desk, where the framed
pictures of his late wife, Cassiopeia, and Sheba sat.
   "You have a remarkable affinity for beautiful women, Commander," she
said as she looked them over, "Let's see.  Your wife, your daughter, the
other I don't know."
   "What opportunities?" Cain angrily repeated.
   She ignored it and held up the picture of Cassiopeia, "Who was she?"
   Cain bit his lower lip, his eyes blazing with fury.  But he remained
silent.
   "Who was she?" her tone grew almost teasing, "Don't play games with me
Cain.  You can tell me."
   "I don't have to tell you anything," Cain angrily forced his words out
in a low whisper.
   "No, you don't," she nodded, "But that wouldn't stop me from finding
out."
   The muscles throbbed visibly in Cain's neck.
   "Let's see," Sapphira said, "Her name was Cassiopeia.  Your mistress
for about a yahren, following the death of your wife.  A very special
woman, who gave you emotional comfort and companionship at a time when
you needed it desperately."
   Cain slowly raised a clenched fist.
   "Ah, ah, Commander," her tone was still playfully teasing, "You've
already tried that before."
   Still trembling with rage, he lowered his fist.
   "Why do you fear me, Cain?" she set the picture down and slowly
stepped toward him, "I only want to help you.  I have powers that cane be
of the greatest assistance to you.  I can fulfill for you your heart's
desire, and enable your greatest dreams to be realized."
   She was now only inches from him, "I feel what is in your heart as
well as your mind, Commander Cain," her voice faded to a soft, lilting
whisper, "You desire to see the Cylon Empire not merely crippled, but
destroyed for all time.  To see your civilization reclaimed."
   Amidst the rage and anger inside Cain, he suddenly felt the aroused
sensation returning to him as well.
   No, his mind cried out.  No, I cannot let this happen to me.  I must
be on my guard.  I must be on my guard.
   "It's only been a dream to you," Sapphira went on, her tone taking on
a seductive edge, "The stark reality of your current battle plan has been
an inevitable death, because you lack the strength to destroy the Empire. 
And that is why your crew resents you.  You and they have known that
ultimately, the Pegasus would be destroyed.  But it need not be that
way."
   Trembling, Cain's composure cracked just a tiny bit.  Enough to ask in
a choked whisper, "You have such power?  To destroy the Empire
altogether?"
   "Had they a thousand times their power, the Cylons would still be as
insignificant to me as a blade of grass," her voice became a soft
sensuous purr, "Yes, Commander Cain.  Such things are possible.  You can
defeat the Empire.  Reclaim your civilization.  And in time, I could
fulfill a desire even greater to your heart than the destruction of the
Cylons."
   She skipped a beat, "Your daughter.  Sheba.  Your greatest desire is
to see her again."
   Cain felt the sweat break out on his forehead, and felt also as if his
legs would give out from under him.
   "You've missed her so," Sapphira put her hands on his cheeks, "Without
her, your life has been so lonely and full of agony.  For two long,
unbearable yahrens you have been alone.  Your daughter is somewhere far
off on the other edge of the galaxy.  You have no one to turn to for
strength or for tenderness.  It has been an unspeakable misery for you."
   The iron-willed man called the Juggernaut, who had stood in the thick
of combat so many times without moving a muscle, suddenly felt his body
tremble.
   "But I can end your suffering," she went on as her voice grew even
more sensuous. "I can be more than the one who saved your people from the
Cylons.  I can also be to you what Cassiopeia was.  I can fill the
terrible void in your heart, and make your life full and complete again."
   No, Cain wanted to scream.  This can't be happening.  This--
   And then, Sapphira pulled his face to her and softly, tenderly, kissed
him on the lips.
   The last two yahrens finally took their toll on Cain.  In the space of
an instant, he moved beyond the point of resisting by throwing all his
doubts aside and pulling her tight to him.

                       Chapter Eight

   Once again, the warriors of the Pegasus had gathered in the briefing
room.  But unlike the last briefing, the mood was decidedly upbeat.
So much so, that only Tolen and Skyler found themselves frowning at the
sight of the mysterious Sapphira standing at the head of the room....with
Cain standing passively off to the side.
   "Gentlemen," she spoke with authority, and began moving back and forth
across the head of the room, "I have been most appreciative of the
gratitude you have expressed over the safe return of your comrades.  As a
result, I have had a most productive talk with Commander Cain, and he has
agreed that I might be able to lead you, and assist you in your
struggle."
   There was a noticeable stir in the room.  Throughout it, Cain avoided
looking at his men, staring absently at the ground.
   "Under the terms of this arrangement," she continued, "Commander Cain
will retain command of the Pegasus, and of all tactical military
decisions.  My role, critical as it is, will be limited to the areas of
strategy and support.  In those areas, I have much to offer that will
enable you to achieve a total military victory over the Cylons."
   The anxious buzz increased.  And Skyler felt his sense of unease only
deepening.
   "Yes gentlemen," she smiled, "Total victory, and assurance of
survival.  The one element of Commander Cain's battle plan that has made
you uncomfortable, the fear of an eventual death, can now be removed. 
With my help, you will be able to inflict your revenge on those who
destroyed your civilization....and live to enjoy it."
   An air of excitement now took hold over the men in the room.
   "Now I should caution you all about one thing," Sapphira said
pointedly, "My display of strength in recovering your comrades from a
horrible fate, represents the maximum capability of my powers.  But in
assisting your effort against the Cylon Empire, I must adopt some
restraints on what I can do.  For instance, it would be all too easy for
me to lift my arm, and the Cylon Empire would be brought to its knees
without even the need for you to fire a shot.  But I operate under
guidelines, dictated to me by my people over eons of time, that forbid me
to act so boldly.
   "Do not look to me then, to make things totally easy for you.  Look to
me only for the extra degree of help that you need in order to achieve
victory, and survival.  That is all I can give you.  But when it is all
over, think of how much opportunity there will be for all of you. 
Perhaps even a reunion with those you left behind on the Galactica."
   She paused for a moment and stopped pacing back and forth, "I put it
now to all of you.  Are you willing to follow me as your leader?"
   Almost immediately, Paris stood up.  It set off a chain reaction that
saw virtually every other warrior in the room stand as well.
   Skyler looked about in dismay as he saw that he was almost the lone
exception.
   "It is done then," Sapphira smiled and turned to Cain, who had
remained seated throughout the entire briefing in total passivity.
   He rose and turned to the dumbfounded Tolen, "Colonel Tolen, resume
course for Gomorrah.  Top speed."
   The Executive Officer immediately noticed that Cain's voice lacked its
usual edge of feisty authority, and his amazement only deepened.  But
finally, he nodded and left the room.
   Cain then faced the warriors, "Gentlemen, you have exactly one centar
to enjoy the hospitality of the Officers Club for one drink only, on me. 
After that, you will be on Yellow Alert and at full battle readiness. 
Dismissed."
   The warriors all rose and were quick to file out.  All except Skyler,
who gave Cain an uncomfortable look before he finally departed.
   When they were all gone, Sapphira smiled at Cain, "You were right. 
Your men were most receptive.  Their desire for hope is very powerful."
   Slowly, Cain made his way up to her.  When the man known as the
Juggernaut finally spoke, it was in a voice that was most unlike him.
   "They have seen the light," he whispered reverently.
   "Just as you have," she drew him close to her, "My love."
   And then, she kissed him on the lips with a great deal of passion. 
There was no resistance from Cain.  Only joyous submission.


   "Colonel," Skyler ran down the hall to catch up with Tolen, "Wait up. 
I need to talk to you."
   The Executive Officer stopped but did not turn around, "You're not in
the mood for a free drink either, Captain?"
   "Right now, I am more interested in knowing why you, the Executive
Officer and Cain's closest friend, didn't show the same enthusiasm for
that Sapphira that the rest of the warriors seem to have."
   Tolen finally turned around, his expression grim, "Two centars ago, I
left his quarters and he looked like he was ready to strangle her.  He
had the same look on his face that he might have had if he were about to
take on the Imperious Leader himself.  And two centars later, she's got
him eating right out of the palm of his hand.  Seeing a transformation
like that, especially to someone like Cain, has me scared shitless."
   Skyler incredulously shook his head, "Incredible.  I'm probably the
only warrior on the Pegasus who's had doubts about her.  And after
hearing that, I'm now convinced more than ever that there's something
wrong about her."
   "Why have you had doubts?" they resumed walking toward the lift.
   "Because we still don't know anything substantive about her.  Where
she's from.  What she really is."
   "Tell me why you're using the word, what?" a nervous edge crept into
his voice.
   "Because she doesn't register on a life scanner, for one thing.  And
second, there are too many unanswered questions she left behind on that
planet we found her on.  Not just the Galactica laser pistol, but in her
ship as well."
   "Didn't you study the wreckage?"
   Skyler shook his head, "There were radon levels all over the place. 
We would have needed decon suits to get a look, and we didn't have the
time to go back and do that," he let out an exasperated sigh, "God, if
only I could go back there with a decon suit, I'd finally be able to take
a good look."
   "Out of the question," Tolen said with finality as the door to the
lift opened and they stepped in, "We're heading away from that planet at
top speed for Gomorrah.  And at full battle readiness.  If you even tried
to sneak your way back, Cain would notice in an instant."
   "I guess so," Skyler's shoulder sagged, "God, it's all so frustrating. 
All around, it seems like the whole damn crew is losing its mind."
   "Can you really blame them, in a way?" Tolen questioned, "This crew's
been on the brink of a nervous breakdown for two yahrens.  And I can
understand why they're willing to follow Sapphira so blindly.  What I
don't understand, and what frightens me the most, is the way Cain seems
to have submitted to her."
   "That should tell us a lot about the kind of power she wields.  You
and I had better stay on our toes."
   "I intend to," the Executive Officer said pointedly, as the lift came
to a stop and he got out, "I intend to."


   "Estimate time of arrival Gommorah, in five centars," Ham reported.
   "All weapons stations report," Cain's command came out mechanically,
with no emotion.
   "All laser batteries at full power, with full ammunition capacity."
   "Defensive shields at full strength."
   "All pilots on Yellow Alert standby."
   Cain softly exhaled, "If we only still had missile strength."
   Standing next to him, Sapphira smiled, "You will not need missile
strength, Commander.  Your current level of strength will be more than
sufficient to destroy the planet."
   He looked her in the eye, "What help will you give us, to make it so?"
   "I will keep that a secret for now," she continued to smile, "But when
the time comes, you will see what it is.  And it will be all you need to
win, without losing a single ship."
   Slowly, Cain returned the smile and went back to his console.


   The planet Gomorrah stood alone in an isolated region of space known
as the Cryllian star system.  Once, for thousands of yahrens, it had been
the home planet for a race known as the Delphians.  They had been a
benevolent race of fifty million, with no interest whatsoever in space
colonization.  Instead, they'd devoted themselves to making their own
planet a center of high culture and learning, unmatched in the known
universe.  Although they were too distant to be frequented by human
travelers from the twelve colonies, their achievements had become
legendary in the fields of art, music, philosophy and architecture.  For
that reason, they'd always been referred to as the Delphian Empire.  An
Empire of reason and knowledge.
   All that had mattered little to the Cylon Imperious Leader, who could
not abide the thought of any other race existing in the universe, and
threatening Cylon order in any way.
   And so, just as he had ordered the final destruction of humanity,
Imperious Leader had ordered the final destruction of the Delphians.  And
unlike the earlier assault on humanity, where survivors had fled aboard
the Battlestar Galactica, not a single Delphian had escaped from the
terror of the Cylon Holocaust.
   Imperious Leader then set about to turn Gomorrah into a model of Cylon
culture and machine efficiency, as the Empire's outer capital.  A place
to be used as a stepping-stone for the Cylons to extend their dominion
beyond the known universe.
   No sooner had Gomorrah been secured, then the team of Cylons seeking
to convert the planet to their standards ran into an unexpected menace. 
The Battlestar Pegasus, fleeing the destruction of the Colonial Fifth
Fleet at the Battle of Molocay, had arrived hoping to seek supplies from
their Delphian allies.  Finding instead, their Cylon enemies, they spent
the next yahren making constant hit-and-run raids, preventing the base
from acquiring its full capability.
   Then, Gomorrah's fortunes suffered another blow in the arrival of the
Battlestar Galactica, bearing the survivors of the Cylon destruction of
the colonies.  In the great battle that saw the Pegasus destroy two
baseships, Gomorrah suffered severe damage in a combined assault that saw
its defense batteries destroyed, and its fuel depots raided.
   The Imperious Leader himself, had been present during the battle to
dedicate the new base, and was quick to vent his wrath.  The base
commander was promptly executed and replaced by a new commander who had
spent the last two yahrens overseeing the reconstruction of the base.
   The Commander was an IL series Cylon named Spektor.  Imperious Leader
had appointed him on the strong recommendation of Baltar, who had
reported that Spektor's outstanding service as commander of a small
garrison on the planet Atilla had entitled him to the job.
   Actually, what had impressed Baltar, was the effusive praise and the
slavish compliments that Spektor had expressed to the human traitor
turned Cylon commander, in his final dispatches from Atilla.  And Spektor
had never revealed the real reason for why he'd left the planet.  It
hadn't been because of Atilla's hostile climate to Cylon circuitry. 
Quite the contrary, Spektor had never revealed that the Cylon garrison
had been driven from the planet by the small family of humans they'd
originally conquered.  Assisted by the Galactica warrior Lieutenant
Starbuck, they'd reclaimed their home and inflicted a humiliation on
Spektor that he was determined to keep secret forever.
   Now, Spektor had the sort of command he'd always envisioned for
himself.  And he was determined to make it a success, because now he
realized that his position was not as secure as it had been.  His most
powerful ally, Baltar, had mysteriously disappeared.  Driven by some
strange whim to go out and seek the Galactica under a sign of truce,
because of the sudden appearance of strange mysterious lights that had
left everyone aboard his baseship baffled.  His personal craft had left,
and never returned.
   Now, Lucifer had assumed Baltar's command, and Spektor knew that his
more advanced IL Series counterpart harbored a deep suspicion of him. 
Indeed, Lucifer long suspected that there had been much more to Spektor's
sudden abandonment of the Atilla garrison.
   Fortunately for Spektor, Lucifer had not had any time to pursue the
matter.  Imperious Leader's order to disperse all ten Cylon baseship