Battlestar Galactica-This Is Only A Test
Virtual Season 6-Episode #7
By Eric Paddon

From the Adama Journals

     The reality of how close we are to Earth continues to grow with each
passing day.  Now, for the first time we have reached a new milestone in
our journey.  For the first time, using the  charts and photo images
taken from captured Risik files, it is now possible for us to actually
see and pinpoint Earth's sun among the multitude of stars visible to us
now.  Consequently, any ship in the Fleet that has an observation deck or
a view like that of the Rising Star's Empyreal Lounge, or the Celestial
Dome on the Galactica, is often filled with crowds of people anxious to
look and see Earth's distant sun for themselves.  I've been forced to
tell the captains of these ships to stop maneuvering themselves out of
normal Fleet formation just to get a "perfect view" for the benefit of
their passengers.  There's even an unofficial rumor going around that a
black market is operating whereby civilians get charged for a special
shuttle ride aimed at giving them a quick fifteen centon look at where
Earth is through the shuttle cockpit window.  I wouldn't be a bit
surprised if Starbuck has a piece of the action in it!
     Ila continues to vindicate her decision to become Council President. 
Four days of each sectan is devoted to her visiting a different ship in
the Fleet to meet the people who live there and find out their concerns,
and to also let them know that their needs will be met in this last
critical phase.  The one thing she feels frustrated about is that because
of security classifications, she can not tell the people that we will
likely go through a final rough period before Earth arrival takes place. 
The upbeat attitude so many of them feel because our journey is so close
to completion, and because of the good news about the Liberation of the
Colonies, is something that will eventually disappear when this final
challenge that I know is inevitable, comes.  Because of that, Ila wishes
she could warn them of the need to be vigilant, and of the need to
prepare themselves for a final rough period, but it simply can't be done
at this time.  Especially when we have no certainty of what that will be. 
Will our greatest fears be realized if indeed, the Cylon and Risik
Empires team up as part of an effort to track us down and defeat us with
seemingly indestructible warships?  This last point weighs on us heavily
as we know the lone BaseShip dispatched into the Alpha Quadrant to search
for Neutrino has hooked up with a Risik ship and is  being escorted to
the Risik capital.  And from our intercepted messages, the Risik, since
our defeat of them, have discovered Neutrino in their own domain and are
finding ways to utilize it.  Mindful of this, we keep asking our advance
patrols to check every planetary system, and even stray asteroids and
meteors for signs of Neutrino deposits that we might be able to utilize
ourselves against this potential future threat.  Whether the threat
manifests itself before or after our arrival on Earth.....that too is an
unknown variable.  But it is one we will face regardless of whether the
Risik ultimately do join forces with the Cylons......or if the lone Cylon
BaseShip will be forced to make a quick retreat home once the Pegasus
finally comes out of hiding to unleash their assault on the Home System.
     It is on that front, that things are moving in a positive direction. 
After many long sectars of hard work on the part of his crew and Dr.
Ravashol's people, as well as the cooperative Cylons based on Arcta, the
components for the pulsar weapon have at last been fully installed in the
Pegasus' empty missile banks.  And now comes the period where the Pegasus
must conduct necessary tests to make sure this miracle weapon that can
unleash the firepower of three battlestars in a single shot can function
efficiently in an operational battlestar.  If these tests end in
failure......then the Pegasus will be forced to extend her down time at
Arcta and delay further her return to the Colonies to take up a much
needed security position that will become necessary if the Imperious
Leader ever learns the truth that he has lost control of the Colonies.  I
know that Commander Deval and the Resistance leaders of the other nine
planets are very anxious to see this finally happen.  Even though the
reclamation efforts are proceeding with more survivors emerging, and with
total cooperation with the remaining Cylons based on Libra and Aquarius,
the leadership knows it can all come crashing down in an instant if the
Imperious Leader were to not simply learn about the Pegasus being back in
charted regions of space, but if he were to learn that Ila was on the
Pegasus at one time long before she was supposedly executed by Governor
Malus.  That he has not learned this information even after his BaseShip
stopped at Brylon Station where they could have learned this, we can only
chalk up to the goodness and mercy of the Lords......as well as perhaps,
the conscience of the human traitor Siress Rosalind, who is acting as
their emissary to these alien races.
     And meanwhile......there is the cryptic warning of Ama that she
senses a danger among us that frightens even her.  Something that she
does not think is connected in any way to what might happen with the Risk
or Cylon Empires......but may very well be the danger that will one day
manifest itself on 'those who are close to you' as she says.  Does this
mean what Apollo and Sheba might go through again at the hands of Iblis
one day?  Yet Ama says she senses that the threat is female in nature and
one that is somehow known to her she thinks.  Yet she can offer not even
the slightest speculation as to how.
     Ila and I spent a sleepless night discussing this cryptic warning
and whether we should share it with Apollo and Sheba.  Ama said it was
not her place to reveal that directly to them.  For now....and with Ila's
reluctant concurrence, I've decided to let Apollo and Sheba enjoy the
peace and quiet they've experienced these last sectars.  They are flying
patrols together again, and showing enthusiasm in the many training
missions they've undertaken.  Bethany the Second is nearing her second
birthday and has formed her first words, bringing new joy to their lives
and ours.  Boxey, fully recovered from any ill-effects of his near-brush
with death happily enjoys the time Aurelius spends with him in the
Rejuvenation Center or taking him to the triad matches.  Combined with
the peace and quiet Athena and Boomer are also experiencing in their
lives and with the twins, I want to just hold these moments for as long
as I can and not let fear and paranoia guide our thoughts.
     May my judgment prove right in this.

Chapter One

The Pegasus
     "All systems secure, sir."
     Cain acknowledged Tolen's remark with a nod of the head and slowly
moved to the railing of the upper Bridge level.  
     "All right," he said with authority but without any swagger or
bombast, "Achillas....take us out of planetary orbit......one-third
speed."
     "One-third speed," the Cylon centurion manning the helm position
reported.  He had once been part of the crew of the Cylon BaseShip under
the flag of the late Commander Dagora that had been damaged in battle by
the Pegasus and forced to surrender and ground itself permanently on
Arcta.  Since then, the surviving members of the crew had pledged their
loyalty to the Enlightened side with the majority reassigned to the Cylon
detail on the ice planet with additional numbers sent to the Pegasus to
integrate with the existing complement of Enlightened Cylon pilots from
Gomorrah.  Because the Pegasus had lost her helm officer, Jacks during
the battle and with no one else qualified to take his place (since Jacks
had been the replacement for Kylie upon her promotion to Senior Bridge
Officer), the centurion re-christened Achillas had stepped into the
position as the first Cylon to serve on the Bridge crew of a Battlestar. 
After more than six sectars, all the uncertainty about seeing one in this
position (in contrast to working in the Lab or serving as a pilot) had
largely dissipated and Achillas was accepted by nearly everyone like "one
of the boys" as Cain had put it.
     The three senior officers on the upper level, Cain, Tolen and Kylie
felt a slight jolt beneath their feet as the Pegasus broke free from the
orbital pull of Arcta for the first time in many long sectars.  The
Executive Officer could tell right away how sluggish the old girl seemed
to feel after such a long extended time in orbit.  Not to mention the
fact that she was carrying additional weight in her missile banks in the
form of a new weapon that had taken these many sectars to install.  The
ability of the Pegasus to maneuver effectively with this new weapon
system in place would be the first critical test of the system.
     "Now at one-quarter speed," Achillas said.  His Cylon monotone meant
there would be no emotional inflections in his reports, and that if
anything only heightened the inner tensions inside every other person on
the Bridge.
     Cain idly glanced at the chronometer and a sour look passed over his
visage.  It did not go unnoticed by Kylie.
     We're not up to speed as fast as we should be, Cain's wife thought. 
If having this thing in our innards makes us move like a stuck porcine in
the muck, we're really in trouble.
     "One-third speed," Achillas called out.
     "Maintain heading course six-four-six for three centons, then
execute ninety degree starboard turn," the Juggernaut went into a typical
posture of leaning over the rail, idly holding the swagger stick in his
right hand.
     "Six-four-six."
     At least he's not saying 'By your command' out of habit, Tolen
couldn't help but think.
     The Pegasus continued to move.  Tolen still felt a sensation of
sluggishness, but for now he was inclined to think that was just the
result of the extended orbit the battlestar had been in for so many
sectars in order to facilitate the constant shuttling back and forth of
personnel to the ice planet below, and the seemingly endless tasks of
first repair and overhaul, which the Pegasus had not had since before
she'd left for the Battle of Molocay over seven yahrens ago, and then the
longer period of installing the new pulsar weapon.  After all this time
the entire crew had become too used to the slow speed of being orbit and
the effects of a gravitational pull.  Sufficient time would be needed to
see any early sluggishness was just their sense of becoming reacclimated
to moving through open space, or if it was caused by the new weapons
system.
     "Executing ninety degree starboard turn."
     If we're handling properly we should make the full turn at one-third
speed in fifteen microns at the most, Kylie thought as she activated the
handheld chronometer to see how long the turn would take.  As the
battlestar turned to starboard, Cain remained mute from his position at
the railing.  The only sign of movement was his first idle tape against
the rail with his swagger stick.
     "Turn completed."
     "Time?" Cain broke his silence.
     Kylie stopped the chronometer.  "15.4 microns."
     A slightly more vigorous rap of the stick against the railing
indicated Cain's annoyance.  It was only a fraction outside the maximum
normal time, but everyone on the Bridge knew that the only thought going
through the Juggernaut's head was, 'Close but no fumarello.'
     "In sixty microns, execute ninety degree starboard turn.  Let's see
if the kinks in the old girl are gone now."
     "Sixty microns," Achillas then turned around, "Need explanation of
'kinks'."
     Even though most of the Bridge crew felt too terrified to laugh, a
few snickers erupted and even Cain found it hard not to smile.
     "Disregard any and all future references to the term, Achillas."
     "By your command."
     That time I get why he said it, Tolen suppressed a chuckle.
     "Executing ninety degree starboard turn."
     Kylie took a breath as she hit the chronometer.  
     "Turn completed."
     "Time?" Cain looked over at the Senior Bridge Officer.
     "15.3 microns," she knew that wasn't going to go over well with him. 
As she predicted, Cain rolled his eyes slightly and then went back to
leaning over the rail.
     "All right, in sixty microns, execute ninety degree starboard turn. 
We're going to keep doing this until we get it under that fifteen micron
mark and then I plan to do it at least three more times to make sure we
stay consistently below fifteen microns."
     Tolen leaned over to whisper to Kylie, "You think anyone's blaming
it on our new helm officer?"
     "They shouldn't," the woman who had spent six yahrens in that
position shook her head, "Turn execution is automatic once you input how
much.  It's all a question of whether the innards of this thing react
quick enough to your input, whether it's done by human hands or Cylon
hands."
     The Executive Officer smiled, "Now I know what to say if anyone does
come up to me complain privately."
     The next turn maneuver saw the same results of 15.3 microns.  Only
on the fourth turn did it finally drop to 14.9 which Cain regarded as
"acceptable" but needed to be improved.  Then came a total of five more
ninety-degree turns at one-third speed until all of them were
consistently below the target figure, to a low of 14.1 microns.
     "All right," Cain said with satisfaction.  "Now let's assume
consistent heading of five-three-eight Delta, and gradually increase
speed from one-third to one-half to three-quarters to full space normal
over the next five centons.  Report distance covered at end of period."
     Over the next three centars, the Pegasus continued to perform more
test runs based on the ship's ability to navigate, increase speed and
turn with its new weapons system in place.  Toward the end, Cain
interjected some variables that included abrupt banking maneuvers and
instructing Gunnery Officer Falstaff to fire laser turrets on an asteroid
target while in the midst of a sharp turn.  The new pulsar weapon itself
would not be tested during this first day of trial maneuvers for the
Pegasus.
     Throughout it all, as she took timing readings and reported them,
Kylie noticed that for the first time in many sectars, her husband looked
like he was finally back in his natural element.  The idleness had been
getting to him, leaving him prone to moody outbursts and it had been up
to her as his wife to keep those outbursts in check so they weren't
manifested against either the crew of the Pegasus or Dr. Ravashol's
Thetan workers from the planet surface.
     When Cain finally declared the day's trials at an end and ordered
the Pegasus to remove orbital position above the ice planet, there was a
great deal of satisfaction in all quarters.


     "Slightly slow beginning, but all-in-all I can't complain with how
she maneuvered," Cain said that night as he conferred with Kylie, Tolen
and Major Skyler.  "Tomorrow though, we have to turn things up a notch. 
We've only proved that having this thing isn't a drag on us in normal
space maneuvers and low-level combat situations.  The next thing we're
going to have to do is put her through some more intense maneuvers
reflecting a full combat atmosphere."
     He looked over at Silver Spar leader, "I'll expect you to have all
of Silver Spar and Phoenix Group airborne during tomorrow's tests, Major. 
Phoenix Group will play the role of an attack force and act like.....they
were originally programmed to act in a combat situation by moving in on
us and your group will pursue.  The only difference is that you and
Phoenix will be flying with your laser firing systems in total off-mode
to prevent any kind of accidental firing on each other from taking place. 
We'll be keeping our turrets muted as well.  I want to see how we react
with ships flying about us and if we lose so much as a half-micron in how
we'd typically maneuver in those conditions."
     "Sir," Skyler said quietly, "I have to argue against that kind of
exercise.  At least as far as asking Phoenix Group to play the role of
the enemy."
     Cain's eyes narrowed, "Explain yourself, Major."
     "Commander, we didn't build up trust with these new pilots to become
Enlightened in one day.  It took a long time to establish it, and at the
same time it took us time to get used to the idea of being integrated
with Cylon pilots.  I think we shouldn't run an exercise in which it only
takes one unconscious foul-up on either side to turn the exercise into a
total disaster that could undo all that accumulated trust."
     "How do you define an 'unconscious foul-up', Major?" Cain was
listening to this challenge calmly and without any irritation.  It was
something he wouldn't have done yahrens ago.  The more patient Cain,
forged by the Battle of Gomorrah and nurtured by the counsel Ila had
given him as a friend and advisor, and which Kylie had continued as his
wife, had managed to tame that part of Cain that could too easily
intimidate a subordinate who needed to speak his or her mind to him.
     "I mean if you thrust a pilot who was trained to fight Cylons in
battle conditions into a drill where he has to pretend these Cylons are
still his enemy he might accidentally forget to set his lasers to
off-mode.  Not because he'd consciously do it to frack things up, but
because out of force of habit, he'd leave them on."
     "Then how come we've never had an incident during an integrated
combat flight, Major?" Cain sounded like he wasn't impressed.
     "Because the men are conditioned to react properly there, sir. 
Arnoff's recognition detection system that helps them tell Phoenix Group
from the Cylon fighters they're trying to kill is burned into them by
instinct now.  See the blue dot and they won't fire.  But if you ask
Phoenix Group to be part of a war games exercise where they're supposed
to be playing the enemy again out of convenience......then I'm not sure I
can guarantee that everyone in Silver Spar won't revert to their old
instincts."
     "You sound like you're selling your men short, Major," Cain leaned
back in his chair.  "There hasn't been any bad blood between us and any
of the Enlightened Cylons in our ranks going all the way back to when we
found Commander Cobre's team on Delta Aquinas.  That's because I made it
our business to accept them after I overcame my initial doubts."
     Cain's gaze had briefly wandered over to Tolen when he'd uttered
that last sentence.  The Executive Officer knew that was a silent signal
to him that Cain hadn't forgotten his initial hostile instincts when
Tolen had brought back Cobre and his three centurions from the Delta
Aquinas/Equellas mission.  And how Tolen had openly threatened to invoke
Colonial military regulations to have Cain relieved of command if Cain
ordered the destruction of the Cylon team. In the end, changed
circumstances, beginning with Ila's arrival and the Pegasus sudden
transport across the stars to the environs of Brylon Station, forced Cain
to reconsider his initial instincts and realize Tolen had been right.
     "I'm not selling my men short, sir," Skyler said with a distinctly
awkward air.
     "Aren't you?" the Juggernaut gently retorted, "I haven't heard you
express this kind of concern before, Major.  There has to be something a
little more specific that's making you concerned over this possibility
that one of your pilots is going to suddenly forget this is only a test
we're having and have a flashback to Molocay."
     Skyler let out an easy sigh which immediately told the other three
plenty.
     "Major," Tolen spoke up, "This is about one pilot in particular,
isn't it?"
     "Level with us, Major," Cain calmly ordered.  Kylie was remaining
silent since Skyler outranked her and she knew that tact required she not
pile on when his superiors were already making their point effectively.
     "All right, sir," Skyler felt embarrassed.  "It's....Ensign Wynn. 
He's the odd one out among us because he disappeared before we knew there
was any such thing as an Enlightened Cylon and he came back to us after
we fought together with Enlightened Cylons at Cannes.  He's the one
person who's had to do the most adjusting, and because of that he was
still off flight status when we tangled with Dagora's BaseShip.  Now he's
finally medically cleared to fly a Viper again and......."
     "Major," Cain cut him off, "If it's Ensign Wynn you have doubts
about then ground him tomorrow from the test exercise."
     "Commander, I just wouldn't feel right doing that!" Skyler
protested, "Wynn has been waiting forever to get back to full viper duty. 
He's earned the right to go out there and do his part again.  I think
he'd perform just fine in the same battle conditions we went through at
Cannes where he'd know how to react to the Recognition System and
separate Phoenix Group from hostile Cylon fighters."
     "But because his first time back in any kind of combat exercise,
even simulated, would be the way he's always been used to it.....you
think the potential is there for him to screw up and act on instinct,"
Cain said.  "Well all you're doing is proving my point, Major.  Order him
grounded from the test tomorrow."
     "Sir," he was trying not to clench his teeth, "If I do
that.....after all the waiting he's gone through to get back to flight
status.....and after the whole horrible ordeal he went through, I think
that would undo all the progress he's made mentally and emotionally since
his return.  He'd become worthless to us if he didn't think he could be
trusted."
     "Major, you are right now avoiding a command decision that has to be
yours to make," Cain now rose from his chair.  "Either you trust Wynn to
be back on duty in this exercise, or you don't trust Wynn to avoid making
an 'unconscious foul-up' his first time back.  Now what's it going to
be?"
     "Sir, it seems to me that we can avoid this situation if we just
refrain from having Phoenix Squadron be part of the exercise!"
     "Oh is that so?" for the first time, a sarcastic edge crept into
Cain's tone and inside, both Tolen and Kylie were beginning to feel
uncomfortable seeing this.  "So you want me to make our Cylon friends
feel less important because potentially one man in your ranks you should
be doubling down on might have some issues?"
     "Commander," Tolen spoke up quietly feeling this was getting out of
hand, "I think there is one point that should be adjusted.  Why have all
of Phoenix Squadron play the part of the enemy?  At the very least, some
of their ships should be integrated with Silver Spar in the exercise
since after all, that's what it's going to be like just like at Cannes
and against the BaseShip."
     The Juggernaut nodded, "Now that, Colonel, is a sensible and fair
point.  Some of Phoenix Squadron should be on 'our side' during the
exercise.  Thank you for reminding me of that."
     "And one other thing," Tolen added, "Commander Cobre and Flight
Leader Gryphon should explain the exercise to the rest of Phoenix
Squadron and put the matter of who acts out as the 'enemy' on a voluntary
basis.  That way.....no one in Phoenix Squadron has the sense they're
being slighted by being assigned to that role."
     "I'll go along with that too, Colonel," Cain nodded.  "Report to the
Bridge and contact Commander Cobre on the surface.  Tell him he's needed
on the Pegasus by the end of the day."
     "Yes sir," the Executive Officer nodded and left the room.  His
departure immediately made Kylie feel uncomfortable because with the XO
gone, that meant she had to bear silent witness to what was likely going
to be an unpleasant humiliation for Skyler.
     "All right Major," Cain said calmly but with devastating firmness,
"What's it going to be?  Do you clear Wynn for flight duty tomorrow or
not?"
     Skyler squeezed his left hand into a fist to burn off the tension
inside him.  "If you want all of Silver Spar to fly in this, then that
means everyone who is eligible for flight duty goes."
     "Then the issue is settled," Cain sat down, "If you change your mind
and decide to hold back Ensign Wynn, that will of course be your
decision, Major."
     "Yes sir," he got his words out without showing how he felt inside,
"By your leave, sir?"
     "Dismissed," Cain said with a respectful motion.  As soon as Skyler
was gone, Cain looked over at his wife. 
     "Was there something you wanted to add.....Captain?"
     Kylie stepped forward, "If Skyler's concerned about Wynn......I
think I should talk to him and get a sense if he feels ready to go, and
if he's capable of adjusting to the new routine."
     "Before we get into the matter of whether or not that's a good idea,
you should have mentioned that while Skyler was still in the room," Cain
said with just an edge of disapproval, "The fact that Skyler is above you
in the chain of command is no reason for holding your tongue, Kylie.  I
expect you to feel confident enough to say what you think in his presence
or Tolen's presence as much as you would in my presence.  If it ends up
embarrassing them.....so be it.  That's part of what it means to find
your voice in the command structure."
     "Yes sir, you're right," Kylie nodded.  It wasn't often that Cain
felt the need to reproach her on something, because she had more than
justified her rapid rise in the ranks from manning the helm to Senior
Bridge Officer.  But when the occasion warranted it, her husband never
held back from saying what she needed to hear for her own good.
     "Good.  We've got that part out of the way, now let's get down to
why you think you should approach Wynn."
     "Because I'm someone he'd listen to if I gently pointed out how he
has to double-down on his first time back on a meaningful flight
exercise," she felt her confidence back now that the other matter was out
of the way, "He and I were close before he disappeared.  Not romantically
close.  I told you how I turned him down when he tried to seduce me, but
he was the one pilot I saw as a brother more than the rest.  He'd listen
to me for that reason alone and.....I wouldn't even have to offer him the
slightest hint about the circumstances of what he can never be told
about."
     "I'm glad you made that part clear, Kylie.  If you do talk to him,
that has to be kept out of the conversation entirely," he paused, "Is
that the reason you've avoided any personal talks with him since his
return?"
     "It cuts both ways," his wife said.  "I've been afraid to have a
heart-to-heart with him because of what I might say that I shouldn't say
regarding where he was and how he came to be freed.  And he's been
reluctant to talk to me like the old days because of how my status has
changed from before.  Now suddenly I'm his superior in addition to being
your wife.  That kind of change is another reason why it's taken so long
for him to readjust himself."
     "Fair point," Cain conceded, "If you feel you can put aside your
concerns about how you can talk to him......then do what you think is
best, Kylie.  You have to make that call for yourself just like Skyler
has to make the call on clearing him for flight duty."
     "I understand," Kylie nodded.  "I'm going to take care of that
matter right now."
     "You do that.  I trust your instincts, Captain."
     "Thank you.....sir," she saluted sharply and left.
     Still learning her lessons in command responsibility......but she
hasn't let me down once.


     The Pegasus Officers Club was only half-full and most of those
present were from the Bridge crew or maintenance division taking the
opportunity to unwind after what had been an intense exercise of 'space
trials' that day.  That suited Ensign Wynn fine since it meant he wasn't
going to see someone from Silver Spar try to intrude on his privacy with
yet another attempt to see if he would open up about the circumstances
surrounding his mysterious disappearance and even more mysterious rescue. 
Even though the questions had largely died down since the Pegasus's
arrival at Arcta and the overhaul work had begun, stray ones still had a
way of popping up now and then.  It was why he'd gone to Skyler and told
the Squadron Leader that he wanted the rest of the pilots to know in no
uncertain terms that any time he spent in the Officers Club was meant to
be his time only and that he wanted everyone else to steer clear of him. 
Skyler had obliged and since then, one table at the back wall had become
his private spot.
     "Room for one more?"
     He looked up and his eyes widened at the sight of Kylie standing
above.  Immediately he blushed in embarrassment as he set down his drink.
     "Oh.....Captain, I----,"
     "Come off it, Wynn," she sat down, "We've known each other too long
to be formal and awkward just because.....a lot changed while you were
gone."
     "Pretty big changes," he said as he remembered the many
brother-sister type talks they'd had over the yahrens.....culminating
with their last talk before his disappearance when he'd made a desperate
plea to her that they begin a relationship.  At the time, the Pegasus was
in the midst of its seemingly pointless wanderings through space after
the Battle of Gomorrah and everyone was resigned to the idea that one day
they'd all die in a final blaze of glory in one last battle against the
Cylons.  That had divided the Pegasus into two camps.  The Loyalists who
accepted things, and the Grumblers who blamed Cain for separating them
from the Galactica and denying them a chance for long-term hope.  Wynn
had become one of the leading Grumblers while Kylie, keeping her feelings
for Cain hidden at the time, had been in the Loyalist camp.
     "Yeah, that's for sure," Kylie acknowledged.  "But just because our
roles are reversed in terms of who outranks who shouldn't change things,
Wynn."
     "It isn't just that, Kylie."
     "I know" the beautiful brunette warrior said.  "That makes it
difficult for a lot of people I used to have easy talks with.  People on
the Bridge like Altair and Falstaff who I could shoot the breeze with
during a shift because we were peers working on the same level.  When I
got promoted I couldn't do that with them any longer.  But.....you and I
had something more special, Wynn.  You were always like a brother to me. 
And since I had no family of my own to speak with, coming from a dismal
orphanage on Taurus, that always meant a lot to me."
     "But now you're more than just a superior, you're the Commander's
wife, Kylie," Wynn said with dead seriousness.  "That requires a certain
distance be maintained."
     "With others yes, but with you it shouldn't be that distant," she
emphasized.  "I need to have the freedom to talk to people who aren't
intimidated by the fact that I'm married to Cain now.  Especially since I
lost access to my closest friend when Ila went back to the Galactica."
     "You don't get to talk to her over the magic comline?"
     "About once a sectar for ten centons at most, because the comline
needs to be reserved for official business only," she paused, "I
understand you and she had a couple of good talks before she left."
     "She was supportive," Wynn acknowledged as he signaled the bartender
for another drink.  "She helped me get over asking questions to myself
about where I'd been all that time and not to dwell on the random things
I've remembered......the two Earth space travelers who were originally
with that guy the Galactica found later, Captain.....Byrne."
     The ensign's new drink arrived and he immediately took a long sip
from it, "She told me if I wanted to finally get back to viper duty, I'd
have to stop asking questions to myself for my own good.  And I did. 
I've focused on nothing but getting back to flight status.  Happiest day
of my life since I came back was when Skyler told me I'd earned my way
back and I got to do my first patrol again.  So I owe the Professor a
lot.  But......I understand why she had to leave."
     "Her arrival literally ended all the bad feeling that used to
exist," Kylie said, "Until then, we didn't know there was a Resistance
movement and we didn't know this whole phenomenon of Enlightened Cylons
was widespread.  Because of that, we were able to change our whole
outlook on things.  It wasn't a question of biding time until our
destruction like it was before."
     "Yeah.  The thing that made me the number one Grumbler on the
Pegasus.  Even more than good old Paris was," he then sighed, "Finding
out he bought it at Cannes was the biggest blow to the gut for me when I
got back.  I know he rubbed a lot of people the wrong way but he was a
good guy."
     "I know what you mean," Kylie said.  "I was the one who found
Sergeant Culhane's body after the ground assault on Cannes.  And I had to
see poor Jacks die in front of my eyes in the spot on the Bridge that
used to be mine.  Even when you come through a battle nearly
unscathed.....just one person dying is enough to remind you that the gap
between 100% survival and 99% is an enormous one."
     "And you know something, Kylie?" he half-smiled as he raised his
glass in a toasting gesture, "That's the best change that's happened to
you since I've been away.  You've matured as a warrior and you've found
your true niche away from that helm position."
     "Thank you," she returned it and decided it was time to zero in on
the reason she'd come, "Do you feel ready to do more than just fly on a
patrol mission?"
     He finished his second drink with a deep gulp and set the glass
down.  "You mean combat?"
     "I mean integrated combat," Kylie stressed, "How long did it take
you to get used to the idea that not all Cylons are the enemy and that we
have to work with the ones who've become Enlightened?"
     "Not long," he shrugged, "If some of them want to switch sides, who
am I to say boo?"
     "And you wouldn't ever let any.....unconscious habits come back to
you during an integrated combat exercise?"
     Wynn looked at her strangely, "Unconscious habits?"
     She looked him right in the eye, "Like maybe forgetting in the heat
of the moment that the Cylons in Phoenix Squadron are on our side now."
     He didn't react.  Kylie couldn't tell if he was offended or if he
was thinking it over.  She knew she had to keep a perfect Pyramid face of
her own as she waited to hear him respond.
     "You mean, would I ignore that recognition signal Doc Arnoff has in
all our vipers now that tells us how to separate Phoenix Group from the
bad Cylons?" he asked the question in a way that still didn't reveal how
he felt.
     "I don't mean deliberately ignoring it," she kept looking directly
at him.  "We're talking about something that goes against all of your
training and all of your experiences that you've had in the past.  And
tomorrow......Silver Spar Group is going to do a training exercise where
some of Phoenix Group's pilots have to pretend to be the enemy which
means making sure the laser generators are set to off-mode.  Is that
something you'll also not let yourself unintentionally forget?"
     He said nothing.  Kylie decided she needed to get one other point
across to him.
     "Wynn.....I am asking this because the question has come up behind
the scenes.  I am not going to give you particulars on who said what and
why among those above you, but the bottom line is that I volunteered to
come to you and put the matter to you directly.  So you can understand
what's involved and so I can put others at ease that you're more than fit
to return to duty and be an equal part of Silver Spar Group once again. 
I think its safe to say that if you were in their position......you'd
know it's not unfair for them to ask these questions."
     Finally, the ensign sighed and nodded his head.  Immediately, Kylie
felt all the tension in the air dissipate.
     "No," he acknowledged, "It's not unfair to ask.  Not when you're
dealing with a crazy scenario of what happened to me and how so much
changed while I was gone.  I know that's why my return to flight status
was slow-walked, and I wasn't helping things either with all the little
flashbacks I was having about Captain Byrne's two friends being in the
same place I was.....wherever that was."
     "Have you had anymore since?" Kylie decided to delicately probe what
she knew was a dangerous subject.  Not just for Wynn but for her since
she knew the truth and she knew why Wynn had been released from bondage. 
Because she had made it possible in an act of self-sacrifice that had
left her with the deepest scar imaginable.  The inability to ever have
children of her own.
     "Not about where I was," he admitted and then looked at her
unflinchingly.  "But.....I have kind of gotten a general sense in my mind
that......if there was any single person responsible for why I'm
back......I know it's you, Kylie."
     It took all the lessons she'd learned from Cain about command
discipline to keep her Pyramid face, as she kept her elbows on the table
and her hands under her chin.
     "Am I right, Kylie?" Wynn asked.
     "My memory's a jumble too about what happened on that planet, Wynn,"
she gave him an answer that was a half-truth.  There were still details
of the experience that hadn't returned to her, but they centered on the
female minion of Iblis who had taunted her and challenged her during the
whole sick exercise.  The face and the name had been snipped from her
memory completely.  But all the details about what she'd done to save
Wynn.....those were clear and vivid and would be for all time. 
"But.....I'd like to think I did what I had to do."
     "I know you did, Kylie," the ensign wished her arm was resting on
the table so he could have reached out and touched her wrist, "Whatever
it was, and wherever I'd been.....I know you were there for me.  And not
just because of the friendship we had before I disappeared, but
because......you've come a long way since then in your own right. 
So.....that's why I am glad if someone in the chain of command had to
raise this subject about whether or not I'm up to being a combat pilot in
the new scheme of things......I'm glad it was you."
     He then added with emphasis, "I'm not only going to be ready for
tomorrow, I'm going to perform my pre-flight checklist a half dozen times
with Marshak and make sure he hears me say over and over again that my
laser generator is in off-mode.  I'm more than ready to be part of this
squadron and function the way things are now and not how they were then."
     She smiled approvingly, "We're all glad to have you back, Wynn."
     "Thanks, Kylie.  It means a lot hearing it from you," he then added,
"Permission to say something.....personal?"
     "Granted."
     "Cain is a lucky man," he said simply.  "And I say that without a
drop of envy.  Everyone always knew how you felt about him......and
you've earned the right to that happiness."
     "Thanks Wynn," her command facade cracked slightly, "Someday, when
this is all over.....you're going to find someone in the Colonies who was
meant for you."
     "Maybe.  I'm just grateful the Lords gave me my life back when I
probably didn't deserve it."
     Yes you did, she said to herself.  Yes you did.
     "Guess I'd better get the lowdown from the Major on tomorrow's
exercise," he rose, "Good night.....Captain."
     "Good night.....Ensign," she said simply.  Only when he was gone
from the Club did she completely let go of her command facade as she
sighed and closed her eyes.
     Watch over him tomorrow and in all the days ahead.

Chapter Two

The Pegasus
     Skyler hadn't slept well.  The dressing-down he'd gotten from Cain
had given him a cold reminder of how uncomfortable he'd always felt being
part of the upper command structure with the designated status of #3 in
the chain of command.  In the old days, when he'd been #4, he always
relied on the presence of Major Ham to act as the buffer who could shield
Skyler from ever having to dwell on just how close he really was to the
top.  But Ham was now long gone from the Pegasus and enjoying his new
life on Cannes Two as Princess Shandra's consort.  And notwithstanding
Kylie's sudden rise through the ranks, seniority had required Skyler
getting the nod to move up to #3 in the chain even though he'd never had
any battlestar command aspirations in his life.
     I thought I'd overcome all those insecurities after the Starlos
mission, he'd thought.  I came through on that.  I didn't let personal
things get in the way of what had to be done.  And because of that, the
Cylons pulled out of Starlos without ever finding out we were there. 
That should have been the end of things on whether I'm up to being this
high in the chain or not.  So why do I feel like I'm right back where I
was before?
     He knew it was silly to ask because he knew the answer to that. The
return trip he'd made to Starlos to bring the freed prisoners from
Commander Dagora's BaseShip back to their homes had also given him a
chance to reconnect with Jocasta.  The frightened native of Starlos who'd
managed to escape from the planet during the height of Cylon efforts
aimed at rounding up the Human population for slave labor work in the
Cylon Home System only to run out of fuel and land on an asteroid with an
abandoned Cylon listening post.  Who would have starved to death
eventually if a patrol led by Skyler hadn't found her, which had resulted
in Jocasta developing an attachment to Skyler out of gratitude that had
been off-putting to the warrior at first.  Especially when he was still
obsessed over the fate of his former girlfriend from the Colonies,
Shayleen.  
     But when Skyler found himself forced to lead an intelligence mission
to Starlos to find out what was going on there, in which Jocasta had to
go as well to guide them to the right places, things had changed in ways
the Viper pilot couldn't have anticipated in a million yahrens.  That not
only would the mission end successfully with the Cylons withdrawing from
Starlos without knowing the role played by warriors from the Pegasus, but
he would also end up learning that Shayleen had after their breakup
yahrens ago married and relocated to Starlos.  And when he became
convinced that Shayleen and her husband had been packed off as part of
the last group of prisoners the Cylons had taken away from the planet, he
had put all his personal feelings aside for the sake of seeing the
mission through to successful completion.  The one thing he hadn't
anticipated was that in getting the Cylons to leave Starlos and free her
from further domination, Jocasta had realized there was no need to go
back to the Pegasus.  She could return to what had always been home for
her.  And only when he'd realized that Jocasta would no longer be a
constant presence in his life aboard the Pegasus did Skyler finally
realize that he did have feelings for her that he'd been trying to deny.
     One more unexpected twist had followed when the successful
engagement with Commander Dagora's BaseShip in the Arcta System led to
the discovery that Shayleen and her husband had actually been released
just before the final Cylon pullout and were already back on Starlos.  So
when Skyler took advantage of the initial downtime caused by the Pegasus
undergoing repairs and refit, he had taken the remaining Starlos natives
back to their home planet in one of the special "fast shuttles" Dr.
Ravashol had designed.  Which had given him the opportunity to reconnect
with Shayleen and close the books on their past relationship......and to
also see Jocasta again.
     The meeting with Shayleen and her husband Jeremiah had been cordial
but brief.  A chance for him to apologize for not trying to free the
couple when he became aware they'd been taken prisoner.  But Shayleen had
been quick to assure him that Skyler had done the right thing by not
jeopardizing the primary mission.  Any overt attempt to rescue them might
have resulted in Cylon discovery that the Battlestar Pegasus still
survived which would have had catastrophic repercussions.  
     "You were sent to do a mission, Skyler," Shayleen had told him. 
"And you proved once again why Cain values you.  You thought on your feet
and you came up with a strategy for getting the Cylons off Starlos that
succeeded beyond expectations.  As for us......the Lords were looking
after us when we got released, and then you were able to take care of the
rest of those who didn't get released with us.  It all worked."
     Her reassurance had helped give him one bit of needed closure.  A
recognition why the relationship he'd had with her in the Colonies had
broken up, because of his devotion to being a warrior and that Shayleen
hadn't been cut out for the life of being tied to a warrior.  She had
instead found a man more in line with her needs in life and it was clear
that she and Jeremiah were an ideal match.  They'd been able to part for
good as friends.
     But if he'd found closure with Shayleen in his return visit to
Starlos, a new set of doubts had resulted from his reunion with Jocasta. 
He could see how the liberation of Starlos from any further Cylon
presence and Cylon terror had enabled Jocasta to leave behind the
frightened child-like persona he had known before and allow her true self
to re-emerge.  And the true Jocasta was a bright, intelligent woman who
was anxious to do her part for getting the Colonial Zone of Starlos back
on its feet after all those who had not been taken away by the Cylons had
been forced to go into hiding.  Someone doing work that was positive and
constructive.  Someone....that Skyler realized he wanted to be with.  Up
to this point, Skyler had figured that once the Cylon Empire was finally
defeated and the Colonies liberated, he could find things to do helping
his native colony of Gemon get back on its feet.  But now.....he found
himself wishing he could be part of the new spirit of rebirth taking
place on Starlos.  Especially if it meant he could be doing it with
Jocasta.
     He'd been able to share a private dinner with Jocasta at a reopened
caf‚ in the Colonial Zone that one night he had on Starlos before he had
to return to the Pegasus.  It had been a dinner where many things were
said between them......culminating with Skyler confessing to Jocasta that
he was in love with her and that he wished he had the courage to stay
behind on Starlos with her and take part in the rejuvenation of the
Colonial Zone.
     He could still see Jocasta, a vision of youthful blonde loveliness
with her coiffed hair and her white gown.  So unlike the disheveled,
traumatized picture of emotional fragility who had attached herself to
Skyler because she saw him as her savior from death.  This was the real
Jocasta that had been kept submerged by the Cylon terror.  The Jocasta he
was now in love with.  And she had responded to him with a sigh that was
equal pleasure and equal regret.
     "It means everything to me to hear you say that, Skyler," she said
with a maturity she'd lacked in the early period he'd known her, "Because
I love you too.  But.....your job where you belong still isn't finished."
     "I'm not so sure of that any longer," he said ruefully, "For me, the
whole thing was about leading my squadron into a battle that would
liberate the Colonies from Cylon rule and now.....I won't be doing that
because Professor Ila was able to get a Peace agreement with the Governor
who it turns out was on our side all along.  So that means.....they're
already free and I didn't have to do anything."
     "But what about the Cylon Home System?" she pointed out.  "Isn't
that the last piece of business you have to take care of?"
     "Yes," Skyler nodded, "But....am I really needed for that?  The
Pegasus is right now starting work on getting a weapon installed that if
it works should make the need for a Viper assault on the Home System
unnecessary.  It's turning me into a redundancy."
     "And what if the new weapon doesn't work?" she gently challenged,
"Skyler....you know there's no guarantee of that.  And even if it does
work.....I think you've already demonstrated just how important you are
as a leader.  You can't leave your squadron in the lurch scrambling for a
replacement."
     He lowered his head and sighed, "I guess I'm tired of the
responsibility, Jocasta.  Hades.....I never asked to be a Squadron
Leader.  I got forced into it when the two people ahead of me got stuck
on the Galactica after the Battle of Gomorrah and we separated from her. 
I've.....done my best, but....I'm tired.  Tired of not living a normal
life with someone I love.  And I think of Major Ham on Cannes Two,
enjoying his retirement as the consort of a beautiful tribal princess and
high priestess, and I guess......I just want that for myself now."
     She reached out and squeezed his hand.
     "Our time will come, Skyler," she said simply.  "But that time isn't
now.  You have too many things ahead of you to make the end of the Cylons
final and complete......and I have my work cut out getting the Colonial
Sector of Starlos back in order.  There are only three hundred of us
collectively who came out of hiding, combined with the thirty prisoners
you freed from the last load and that's only a fraction of what we used
to have.  Even with help from the Orion Sector and even with the Starlos
government helping us......it's going to take a while.  I'm not ready to
settle down yet.....just as you're not ready to settle down yet."
     "It could be a couple yahrens before we can launch a final strike on
the Home System," Skyler looked her in the eye, "Can you wait that long
for me?"
     "Yes I can," she looked him back in the eye, "Because I love you,
Skyler.  And the only thing that can keep me from waiting for you is if
gods forbid, you get killed in action.  But I know that's not going to
happen to you.  So I can wait and look forward to the day when we can be
together here on Starlos and have a future with no further
complications."
     He felt both admiration at how much she'd matured as a woman.....and
at the same time shame for doubting her ability to wait for him.
     "All right Jocasta," he said simply, "But maybe.....just to prove
our commitment to each other we should----,"
     "No," she cut him off, "Don't ask me any questions about sealing or
about spending the night with me before you go back.  I won't give you
the answer you'd want to hear to either question.  Because I'd rather
give you a different answer when you come back in triumph to tell me how
you helped destroy the Cylon Home System and that you're settling here
for good."
     "Okay," he smiled, "If that's how you want it.  That's how it will
be."
     And so he'd left the next morning to return to the Pegasus in the
fast shuttle with a silent understanding in place with her.  One that in
theory should have been able to help him get through this next phase when
it would all come down to the ability of the Pegasus to at last take the
fight to the Cylon Empire's home planet and destroy what was left of it
once and for all.  Yet in the sectars since leaving Starlos, Skyler had
felt  the restlessness building up inside him.  Restlessness from the
long idle time caused by the battlestar's retrofit for the new pulsar
weapon.  Restlessness from the fact that the only thing Silver Spar Group
could do was conduct rear patrol sweeps to make sure no signs of hostile
"loyalist" Cylon elements were approaching the Arcta System. 
Occasionally, a minor war games exercise could break the monotony but now
that so much had happened with the Colonies liberated, and with Skyler
clear on where his long-term future way.......he wanted to get there now
and he wanted to make certain nothing could get in the way of it.  And to
his horror he realized that was having a negative impact on his ability
to show the command instincts he'd worked hard to develop over the last
three yahrens.
     I really fracked it up in front of Cain last night, he thought as he
stared at the ceiling.  My first real chance to register a command level
concern in sectars and I came off like a whiny cadet instead.  I've
gotten so damned restless about wanting to move forward it's throwing me
off.  I can't let that happen again.  Not if I really want to make sure
I'm going to be able to hold Jocasta to that promise by surviving and
getting back to her.
     The red glow of the alert filled the room and abruptly he and every
other pilot was jumping out of their bunk to the ground.  No klaxon
sounded though.  Only the voice of Colonel Tolen over the unicom.
     "All pilots of Silver Spar and Phoenix Squadron report to Flight
Operations for special briefing immediately.  All pilots of Silver Spar
and Phoenix Squadron report to Flight Operations for special briefing
immediately."
     As Skyler hurriedly dressed himself, he realized that Cain had
decided to make a silent statement to him by not letting him perform the
mission briefing.  
     Okay, Commander, I get it.  I'm on probation now.  In that case, get
set for me to lead them on a letter-perfect exercise that will do you
proud!
     

     "This is going to be a full-scale Battle Exercise test in which the
pilots of Silver Spar and half of Phoenix Squadron will be taking on the
other half of Phoenix Group as part of a mock attack on the Pegasus,"
Cain said to all the assembled pilots in the Flight Operations Center. 
The Pegasus pilots took up the front four rows while the Cylon crews of
Phoenix Squadron only took up the back row with others content to stand
against the rear bulkhead wall.  "The purpose of this mock attack is to
make sure that the Pegasus is in no way slowed down by the presence of
this new weapon in our missile banks under these kinds of conditions."
     He moved about, "Now under the principles of a mock attack,
laser-generators in all ships, Viper and Raider, will be set to the
off-position.  Your telemetry recordings will tell us later if you got
off your simulated firings in time to make a critical difference in
inflicting damage on the Pegasus.  What we're particularly interested in
is if we can't move fast enough to avoid a potentially lethal hit from a
suicide run because of the added weight factor or if we're more apt to be
vulnerable to mass laser fire because our combat maneuvering isn't up to
speed."
     He turned to Commander Cobre, who was the unofficial leader of all
Enlightened Cylons assigned to the Pegasus.
     "Commander Cobre, will now address the matter of Phoenix Squadron's
responsibilities in this exercise."
     "Thank you, Commander Cain," the command centurion said pleasantly
in the human sounding voice that had been duplicated from the vocal
synthesizer of the IL Cylon Lucifer at Brylon Station.  "Last evening, I
gave a preliminary briefing to the members of Phoenix Squadron to see
which members would be willing to volunteer for duty as 'the enemy' in
this particular exercise.  I wish to thank once again those pilots and
crew who recognized the importance of this test and were quick to
volunteer."
     Brilliant job of letting us know there were no hard feelings or
bitterness in their ranks over this, Lieutenant Banker thought as he
leaned back in his chair. 
     "Those fighters in Phoenix Squadron playing the "enemy" will have
their recognition monitors turned off so that the others will know which
to pursue.  A "kill" will be recorded whenever the attack computer on a
fighter indicates a blinking target for a sustained period of one micron. 
Whereupon, the signal of "Kill" will be transmitted and the fighter that
has been so designated will withdraw immediately from the exercise for a
period of five centons before officially re-entering the fray.  This will
continue until the signal is given by Major Skyler, as Squadron
Commander, that the war games exercise is officially over."
     Great.  Nice to know Cain's showing me that much consideration and
not making it a unicom announcement on his part.  Skyler thought with
folded arms from the front row.
     "It is important at all times for the exercise to be centered in
proximity to the Pegasus as she performs her combat maneuvers.  The laser
turrets will be maneuvering, but they too will have their laser
generators in off-mode during the proceedings.  As for 'enemy' ships
staging attack runs on the Pegasus......you are to maneuver to no closer
than three microns of the ship itself so as to avoid any possible danger
of actual collision.  For a simulated run on the landing
bays.....maneuver no closer than five microns short of potential impact
and break off at a forty-five degree angle based on which landing bay you
are approaching."
     The command centurion looked about.  Some of the Pegasus pilots,
even those long-used to working alongside Enlightened Cylons shifted
slightly as if they found the idea of actually hearing orders being given
by a Cylon a little disconcerting.  But as soon as each of them caught
sight of Cain throwing one of his patented stares, they quickly stopped
their shifting.
     "Commander Cain hopes that at the conclusion of today's test, we
will be closer to proceed with an actual test of the new pulsar system. 
But that....is entirely up to all of us to do our part.  On behalf of all
Cylon personnel who have worked alongside you in our various endeavors
for the past yahren.....I wish you all good luck."
     Cain resumed the lectern.  "Thank you, Commander Cobre.  We all echo
those sentiments.  The importance of the pulsar weapon is to make certain
the final battle we are preparing ourselves for will be clean and without
any leftover ambiguities to inhibit permanent peace between Human and
Enlightened Cylon.  We do not want to leave any margin for endangering
the efficiency of that final battle, which is why this preliminary test
of the Pegasus ability to maneuver during attack conditions is vital."
     He looked about the room, "I think the purposes of the mission have
been outlined with total clarity so there should be no need for any
questions.  The Phoenix pilots who have selflessly volunteered to be the
'enemy' for this exercise will report to their fighters immediately and
stand by for launch in the next centar.  All other pilots, Silver Spar
and Phoenix, will remain on Yellow Alert standby and will respond as soon
as the Red Alert klaxon sounds."
     And then the brief pause before the final perfunctory word,
"Dismissed."
     "TEN-hut!" Skyler impulsively bolted to his feet and sounded so that
all other Pegasus warriors would rise and wait for the Juggernaut's
departure, along with Commander Cobre.  He noticed Cain giving the barest
crack of his right lower lip rising as if to register his approval of the
gesture as he followed the command centurion out.  From the corner of his
eye, Skyler was impressed to see that the seated Cylons had also arisen
in perfect formation and were respectfully waiting for their superiors to
leave.
     I guess this is going to work out just fine.......I hope.


     "'Enemy' group of Phoenix Squadron ready to launch," Altair
reported.
     "Launch immediately," Cain said.  "Tell them to head out to distance
of five hundred microns and then turn back toward the Pegasus."
     He then looked down at Centurion Achillas at the helm station, "Take
us out of orbit at one-half speed exactly one centon after all designated
ships have launched."
     "Affirmative," Achillas acknowledged.
     Cain stepped back in between Tolen and Kylie.  All of their eyes
trained on the bridge monitor as they saw the first group of Cylon
fighters that had launched from the Pegasus.  Headed away from the
Battlestar where they would eventually turn around and go into "attack
mode."
     "'Enemy group' fighters away," Achillas sounded.
     Cain glanced at Kylie who had her chronometer out and had just
clicked it.  A centon of silence went by and then she looked up and said
simply, "Mark!"
     "Take us out of planetary orbit.....ahead one-half speed."
     "One-half speed."
     "At what range do we sound Red Alert?" Tolen asked.
     "Just under a hundred microns," Cain tapped his stick against the
bridge map behind him.  "I'm keeping forward deep scan off so we can
simulate a sudden emergence of them at a hundred microns."
     "One-half speed reached," the centurion at the helm called out.
     "Time?" Cain turned to Kylie.
     The Senior Bridge Officer smiled faintly, "One-half speed achieved
in eight microns on-the-nose."
     "First good news of the day.  Let's hope the trend stays that way."
     For the next ten centons the Pegasus performed more turning
maneuvers like they had done the previous days.  Each one offering
further confirmation that the new pulsar weapon wasn't an impediment to
normal space flight.  Soon though, a test case would come up to see if
that maneuverability would hold true in less normal conditions.
     And then came the first report from the helm.
     "Objects approaching from Delta Sector nine-two, one hundred microns
off."
     "Scan for identification," Cain wanted to go through all the routine
orders he'd issue if this were an attack for real.
     "Identification confirmed as Raider class fighters," Achillas
avoided using the term 'Cylon' but that was to be understood.
     "Sound Red Alert!" Cain barked.
     "Battle Stations!" Tolen matched his tone.
     The Red Alert glow filled the Bridge along with the sound of the
two-tone klaxon.  Cain made his way forward to the rail and looked down,
"Give me distance readouts for every ten microns."
     "Ninety microns and closing."
     Two centons elapsed with the distance closing to seventy microns
before Altair reported, "First wave of Silver Spar Group ready to
launch."
     "Launch!"
     Collectively, the forty odd vipers and fifteen raiders taking part
in the exercise only needed eight centons to launch.  By that point, the
approaching 'attack force' had closed its range to thirty microns.
     "All ships away and headed on intercept course," Altair called out.
     "They'd better not be too efficient scoring 'kills'," Tolen said
dryly.  "How else do we get a chance to perform tactical battle maneuvers
unless one of them gets through?"
     "That's why they get to have a second go-round after they get
'killed'," Cain smiled faintly.  "Of course if things get too efficient,
I'm prepared to order them to let a couple get by and force them into
pursuit mode.  But because these are the Cylons on our side, I think
their overall flying skills have improved in those areas."


     "Okay, all ships assume heading to intercept approaching fighters."
     Wynn heard Skyler's order through his headset as he eased his viper
into formation alongside that of Ensign Marshak, the man who had been his
wingmate before his disappearance and who had also been present on the
surface of the planet where he'd been rescued from.  For quite some time
afterwards, Marshak had avoided Wynn as if he felt unable to face his old
friend.  He'd heard secondhand stories that Marshak had gone through a
traumatic shock when searching for Wynn with Kylie, but whatever happened
was something he had no recollection of.  But once Wynn was cleared to
fly regular patrols he had asked for Marshak to be his wingmate once
again and there'd been no objection.  Even so, Wynn could tell during
patrols that the easy conversation they once had with each other had not
returned.  They did their jobs, they got along fine.....but something was
missing and Wynn was certain that the explanation for it lay in the
matters he'd vowed not to explore again.
     Maybe it'll turn around some day.  Hades, if Kylie could finally
talk to me direct again, Marshak should be able to as well.  I should
give him time.  Just like they've given me time to get back to this
position of being able to fly again and now be part of a combat
exercise......even if it's only a test.
     "Fifteen microns to intercept," Flight Leader Gryphon of Phoenix
Squadron radioed.  The "loyal" Cylons were staying in one packed group,
well to the starboard flank of Silver Spar's vipers. 
     "On my signal.....break formation." Skyler signaled to everyone.
     He's probably going to wait for them to break first before we do.  
     "Ten microns," Gryphon's voice sounded.
     Wynn looked down at his scanner which showed the approaching twelve
Cylon fighters who'd been designated the 'enemy' for this exercise.  All
of them spread out in a lateral formation instead of approaching in
packed columns.  A conscientious decision based on the fact they were
outnumbered four to one.  Immediately, Wynn found himself giving credit
to the Cylon command pilot acting as squadron leader for this exercise. 
This reflected an enhanced flying skill that Cylon pilots generally
weren't known for.
     His eyes then caught sight of the critical switch on his cockpit
instrument panel.  The switch that controlled power to the laser
generators.  Resting securely in the OFF position.  He felt a wave of
satisfaction go through him that he hadn't let Kylie down on that point.
     "Five microns." 
     "Visual contact!  They are now.....okay.....BREAK!"
     Wynn and Marshak immediately rolled left tucking in behind the two
vipers of Lieutenant Banker and Lieutenant Angus who were senior to them. 
Their roll pattern brought them on a vector to intercept three Cylon
fighters that had broken off.....but all three managed to slip past them
before the four vipers could line up behind them.
     "They're going to afterburners!" Banker radioed.  "They're playing
for keeps right out of the gate!  They'll be on top of the Pegasus in
another thirty microns at this rate."
     Wynn switched on his attack computer and saw that for the moment
Marshak had a better line on two Cylons that had split off from the
initial group of four.  He glanced up through the cockpit window and
could see the Pegasus looming just off in the distance.  Already, he
could see the Battlestar executing a very quick forty-five degree turn to
port.
     All that's missing is laser fire and this could easily be the real
deal.


     "Two fighters approaching off port beam, ten microns and closing!"
Achillas's Cylon monotone managed to capture the sense of urgency as well
as any human crewman could have done.
     "Forty-five degree starboard turn!" Cain barked.  "Ready laser
turrets!"
     "Laser turrets ready!" Falstaff sounded as he hurriedly glanced at
the switch that controlled the firepower for the fiftieth time since the
Alert sounded, and made sure it was still in the OFF setting.  Now the
attack computer was on, showing one Cylon fighter beginning a banking
descent toward the top of the battlestar.  But right behind it were two
trailing vipers.
     "Silver Spar Leader reports kill!" Altair shouted.  As soon as the
words out of the communication officer's mouth, the approaching Cylon
fighter abruptly turned away and headed back out.  Officially 'out of
action' for the next five centons.
     "Starboard turn successfully executed in four point seven microns!"
Kylie reported.  
     "Good, good!" Cain felt his exuberance rising.  "The old girl's
behaving just as she should!"
     "Three more fighters approaching from port......twenty microns
range."
     "Execute one hundred twenty degree port turn!" 
     Immediately Tolen's eyebrows went up.  Cain was calling for a more
radical about-face turn than going sixty degrees starboard which would
have been the more ideal maneuver to try to outrun the approaching
fighters.  But then he realized this was likely deliberate to see if the
fighters would get close enough for the turrets to perform the "kill"
operation.
     He really wants to see if the ship can take something this radical
with that new baby inside us.  This is the time to find out and not
during a real battle.
     "One hundred twenty degrees hard port!"


     The sudden turn in an unexpected direction by the Pegasus seemed to
catch the four viper pilots pursuing the three 'enemy' fighters
off-guard.  The distance between them and the three 'enemy' fighters
widened slightly as the battlestar drew closer.  But just as quickly,
Banker's viper went to turbo to narrow the gap.
     "First one is mine.  And.....KILL!"
     Abruptly the raider Banker had been lined up behind, peeled off and
did a full retreat in the opposite direction.  An acknowledgment that it
had been "killed" and would now retreat for the next five centons.
     "Second one......" Lieutenant Angus intoned and then suddenly he
said with frustration.  "Out of my range.  Marshak, Wynn, those two are
your responsibility."
     "Pursuing!" Marshak acknowledged as he took the lead position.  The
raider he was chasing was headed for the Pegasus at an angle that
indicated an approach toward the starboard landing bay.  The one Wynn now
lined up behind was headed toward the top section of the battlestar
amidships. 


     "Two ships approaching," Achillas called out.  A slight pitch
adjustment in his tone again reflecting the urgency.  "Vipers are in
pursuit."
     "Either in turret firing range?" Cain called over to Falstaff.
     "First one headed toward Beta Landing Bay......too low."
     "Twenty degrees down on new course heading one-one-four!  That
should expose him broadside!"
     The Pegasus executed another quick turn timed by Kylie.  In order
not to distract him with a vocal readout, she gave Cain a quick nod and
thumbs-up to indicate it had been accomplished within the expected time
limit.
     "Got him sized up......" the gunnery officer raised his voice,
"KILL!"


     "Pegasus reports kill with laser turret!" Marshak shouted.  Before
his sentence was finished the raider he'd been pursuing toward the
landing bay had veered off, indicating they'd gotten the indication
direct from the battlestar.  The pilot felt only a twinge of
dissatisfaction that he'd been unable to claim credit for the kill but he
knew that was irrelevant for purposes of a training exercise.  Especially
one where Cain was more concerned about how the Pegasus maneuvered in a
scenario like this.
     "Okay," Wynn said calmly as he saw the Cylon fighter ahead of him
was now moving on an upward trajectory that could only mean one thing.
     Well, he's really throwing himself into the part.  He's going to go
into a strafing dive once he's directly above her!
     Calmly, the ensign kicked in his high turbo to cut down on the
distance.  He glanced down at his attack computer.  Still too high.
     "Need help?" he heard Marshak radio.
     "This one's mine," Wynn kept his voice level, showing not a hint of
nervousness or unease.  He was feeling his old reflexes as a pilot
kicking back in like never before.
     Closer the fighter loomed but it still wasn't lined up with the
attack computer targeting.  And then, it did a perfect circular rotation
to begin its strafing dive down in the direction of the Pegasus's topside
hull.
     Whoa.....that looks a little too good and at that angle.....the
turrets couldn't possible score a clean kill!
     "Twelve microns!" Banker chimed in, "Come on, Wynn!"
     The Cylon fighter came out of its dive and was now skimming above
the length of the Pegasus hull from two-thirds back.  Wynn saw it passing
above the closed Celestial Dome.  Within microns it would be above the
raised tower formation of the Bridge.......
     His eyes widened in horror at what he saw next.  On sheer instinct,
his left forefinger hit one switch on his cockpit gauge and his right
forefinger then pressed down on the red button on his control stick.


     The flash of light was visible on the Bridge monitor, followed by
the sound of a thumping against the hull which sent a vibration through
the floor.  Abruptly, all the activity on the Bridge came to a halt as
though everyone wasn't sure of what they'd just seen and felt.
     A bewildered Cain was the first to break the silence.
     "What the hell happened?" he demanded angrily.
     "Approaching fighter has been destroyed," the monotone of Centurion
Achillas reported.
     "Destroyed?" Cain quickly descended the steps from the upper level. 
"What do you mean?  Did it crash against us?"
     "Indications of debris strike against outer hull," Achillas said. 
"Target was destroyed by laser fire beforehand."
     A sick silence came over all of the Humans on the Bridge.  It was
only broken when Altair slowly turned around in his chair with his hand
to his earpiece.  A look of horror on his face.
     "Sir," he said quietly, "Confirmation from Silver Spar Group.  It
was destroyed by live laser fire from one of our vipers."
     Abruptly, the Juggernaut exploded with a fury that no one had seen
the likes of in the last seven yahrens, going back to when the Pegasus
had last left the Colonies for Molocay.
     "Recall all fighters now!  On the double!  The exercise is
cancelled!  All pilots are to report to Flight Ops immediately upon
landing!  I want all telemetry data on what happened backed up
immediately and telemetry from every viper in Silver Spar group reviewed
and analyzed thoroughly before yesterday!"
     He sprinted back up the steps and angrily marched toward Tolen and
Kylie. 
     "Colonel, you're to accompany me to Flight Ops.  Captain, inform
Commander Cobre of what's happened and have him meet me there as well and
to make sure all Cylon personnel are present too.  After recovery of all
ships, have us return to planetary orbit immediately.  You have the con."
     Kylie had no time to utter so much as a 'yes sir' to her husband
before he stormed out with Tolen hastily following him.  When she turned
to look back at the scene on the Bridge below, she felt a flashback to
how everyone on the Bridge felt during the dark days of Molocay.
     Frack, felgercarb and shit.

Interlude #1

Cylon BaseShip #1040
     Events had moved rapidly for the crew of Cylon BaseShip #1040 in the
past twenty-four centars.  Their sectans long escort by the Risik patrol
cruiser Dreadnought that had begun in the faraway environs of Brylon
Station had at last come to an end with their arrival in the planetary
system of the Risik Capital (per Risik protocol it was not to be referred
to as the "Home System").  The Dreadnought's commanding officer,
Commander Clubb, had gone down to the planet surface in one of the
smaller scout vessels for a debriefing with the Star Force Commander,
Admiral Trilligan, while the BaseShip meanwhile remained in orbit
awaiting final clearance from the Risik Star Force on when they could
send emissaries to the planet for a long awaited meeting with the Risik
Supreme Council and the Supreme Leader himself.
     The delay gave time for the Cylon crew of the BaseShip to take
thorough scans of the planet beneath them, which were now being digested
by the three most important Cylons aboard the warship.
     "Their civilian communications are not particularly informative,"
Commander Needa, the BaseShip commander noted.  "Nothing but state
propaganda broadcasts that declare the glory of their Supreme Leader with
frequent replays of his speeches and addresses, mixed in with the usual
entertainment and competitive athletic programming that inferior
biologicals have such a peculiar craving for to lull their minds into
inactivity." 
     "Presumably that is one additional way this Supreme Leader of theirs
keeps the masses in check, in addition to how he exercises control of the
military and security agencies," the DG Cylon Ambassador Gracchus
observed.
     "Much like our own Imperious Leader, he likely must contend with the
element of the.....unpredictable," Lucifer chimed in.  Which caused his
fellow IL to stare directly at him.
     "I think we can dispense with any demonstrations of sarcasm,
Lucifer."
     "I am afraid, my dear Needa, you invite it, the longer you find it
necessary to keep His Eminence from being forced to deal with two
unpredictable elements he is still unaware of.  My survival, as well as
that of the Battlestar Pegasus."
     "Neither of which has any impact on the matter of our present
mission, Lucifer," Needa found himself wishing not for the first time
that he could have found a way to return Lucifer to the disassembled
state he'd been in for more than a yahren in a Zykonian lab on Brylon
Station.  But he knew it was too dangerous to do that because while he
was convinced that no centurion members of his crew had come down with
the so-called "Disease" that had seen so many Cylons from Gomorrah to the
Colonies become disloyal to the High Command, some of them might see in
Lucifer a viable alternative to the current Cylon Imperious Leader. 
Especially since his crew knew that  Lucifer had been the other finalist
for the position at the time the Leader was selected following the
Carillon disaster.  Disposing of Lucifer could easily force him to deal
with an insurrection of another kind different from what had taken place
at Gomorrah.
     "Am I to presume then, that once we find out if the Risik can be
persuaded to give us Neutrino, you intend to end this......information
blackout on those two subjects with His Eminence?"
     "That will depend on how the Risik behave in the matter," Needa kept
giving him the electronic equivalent of a glare.  "If the news is
good......then His Eminence I think will find the matters of both your
survival, and that of the Pegasus, to be less important in the bigger
picture of things."
     "Unless we discover the Pegasus never crossed this Frontier to
hook-up with the Galactica," Lucifer retorted, "In which case, His
Eminence has a much more serious problem on his hands than the matter of
Neutrino shortages."
     "Time will tell on that matter," Needa held his ground, but
inside.....he was beginning to realize he may have erred in at least not
informing Imperious Leader in his previous dispatches that they had
learned from the Risik and the Zykonians that the Pegasus had indeed
survived.  He had been so confident they would eventually learn that the
Pegasus had followed her sister battlestar out into deep space that it
seemed a trifle to tell Imperious Leader about it, because it might upset
him needlessly.  Needa had set out on this assignment with a
determination to boost the Cylon ruler's confidence at a time when it was
seemingly ebbing because of the problems of the Disease and the Neutrino
shortages.  He was certain that news about the Pegasus might have
compelled Imperious Leader to order a hasty recall of his ship without
seeing through the mission objective of finding a race that had access to
Neutrino.  Which from Needa's standpoint would have been foolish and
foolhardy.
     Now though, with no confirmation that the Pegasus had followed the
Galactica, Needa had to consider the real possibility that maybe,
Commander Cain had decided to double back into charted space.  Was it
even possible that Cain might have finally learned about the Resistance
movements in the Colonies?  If that possibility existed......then
Imperious Leader would undoubtedly register his displeasure with him for
withholding the initial report of the second battlestar's survival.  And
if he also knew that Lucifer was back, it was equally possible that
Imperious Leader could put aside his distaste for his one-time rival by
having Needa relieved and Lucifer placed in command.
     Needa could admit to himself that he had likely bungled on those
points.  But in order to keep the upper hand with both Lucifer and
Gracchus (whom Needa knew was carefully watching to see which way the
balance of power ultimately shifted before committing himself), he had no
choice but to maintain his bravado and defend his decisions.
     And he also had to hope that good news as far as the Risik and
Neutrino access was concerned would help push these matters to the
background.
     "Perhaps you are right, Needa," Gracchus spoke up, which both IL's
knew was a sign that the DG Cylon wanted to get them to stop the game of
subtle one-upmanship.  "Time will tell when Siress Rosalind and I meet
with the Supreme Leader and his Council tomorrow."
     "You are both convinced her presence will still be necessary?"
Lucifer had long made no secret of the fact that he didn't trust the
human collaborator who had been pressed into the role of emissary by
Imperious Leader.
     "Even if you don't trust her, Lucifer, the Risk will find her quite
valuable for their purposes," Needa felt glad the conversation was on a
topic he felt more strongly on.  "We've heard a good deal from Commander
Clubb about how much the Galactica's humiliation of their Star Force in
two separate battles is a sore subject with the Risik leadership.  At the
very least, Siress Rosalind can give them insights into the Colonial
mindset that not even we can give them.  That alone, will make them far
more appreciative of our diplomatic overtures and more willing to
cooperate with us on what we need."
     "You certainly can't dispute the logic of that, Lucifer" Gracchus
added.  On this point, he too had no problem committing himself.
     "Perhaps not," Lucifer conceded, "Nonetheless, there is still the
matter of whether Siress Rosalind has been more forthcoming with
Commander Clubb than she has with us."
     "You're still obsessed with what happened on that isolated planet
with those Galactica prisoners who'd regressed?" Needa scoffed.  "Really,
Lucifer.  We've discussed that more times than we should have these last
few sectans."
     "Perhaps," his fellow IL allowed, "But with hindsight, we might have
been better served if a centurion had accompanied her to the surface. 
Then we'd know for certain if she was completely forthcoming about what
she saw and experienced."
     "And perhaps I'd have lost a centurion the way Clubb lost one of his
own men.  If you really don't want to let go of this matter, then perhaps
we should at some point ask the Risik leaders to subject Clubb to some
kind of interrogation."
     "Which would not be helpful at all," Gracchus added.
     Opportunistic fool, Lucifer thought.  So typical of the DG class. 
But he knew that this too was not a point worth arguing today or
tomorrow.
     But there was always next sectan.  And if Lucifer was able to
correctly anticipate future events, that would be the time to end this
standoff between him and his fellow IL.


The Risik Capital
     "You have all had a chance to read Admiral Trilligan's summary of
what Commander Clubb described to him in his debriefing," the Risik
Supreme Leader looked about the conference table where all the members of
the Supreme Council were seated.  "Your initial thoughts?"
     "My initial thought is that I'm surprised Admiral Trilligan has
chosen to leave the Ziklagi Frontier totally unobserved because he agreed
to have the Dreadnought come home," General Arkom said with more than a
touch of cynicism.  Which brought an immediate glare from the Star Force
Commander.
     "If you're going to spend needless time on trivialities and avoid
the substance of what we're here to discuss, General, this is going to be
a most unproductive meeting.  Commander Clubb had no choice but to
provide escort for this Cylon BaseShip to guide them to our planetary
system and he could not risk transmitting confidential information ahead
of time that this BaseShip likely would have been able to intercept."
     "Granted," the Risik Army Commander nodded, "Still-,"
     "We still have our monitors in the Trading Post on Brylon Station,"
the Alien Affairs minister Kurum cut in, "If the Ziklagi pirates they
deal with learn that anything has changed in their civil war while the
Dreadnought is absent from the system, they are bound to find out.  But I
agree with Admiral Trilligan. That is a most secondary matter at this
point.  We have known for some time about the existence of the Cylons
because of the.....intemperate messages the Colonials left us with
following the events of Ne'Chak.  As I recall, General, you promised to
develop a contingency plan for dealing with the Cylons if they were to
intrude in our dominion."
     "Those plans dealt with a contingency for a massive pursuit force
chasing the Colonials," Arkom retorted, "They did not anticipate dealing
with a solitary warship seeking diplomatic cooperation.  We took for
granted Commander Adama's words that the Cylons would automatically
engage in a campaign of conquest and plunder.  It's obvious that whatever
we choose to do with these emissaries who will arrive tomorrow, the old
contingency plan might as well be tossed into the ash heap."
     "On that, we can agree," Trilligan said.  "The Cylons obviously
believe we can give them something they want, and they have already
proved their ability to give something useful to us.  When Commander
Clubb eventually returns to the Ziklagi Frontier to resume his monitoring
of the civil war, he will finally have full access to Brylon Station for
his ship and his crew, and that will improve our intelligence gathering
tremendously in that region of space."
     "It seems you're already suggesting we're going to have to deal with
them on a friendly basis, Admiral," State Security Director Iakir said.  
     "I'm not certain greeting them with hostility and empty boasts is
likely to be productive," Trilligan then for the first time looked
directly at the Supreme Leader. "A year ago, we would have had the
military capacity to adopt a threatening posture against a single capital
class warship of theirs.  In light of present policies though.....that is
not a viable option."
     A quiet came over the room as the other members of the Supreme
Council wondered if the Star Force Commander had just invited the wrath
of the Supreme Leader.  But the Leader instead broke into a smile and a
nod of his head.
     "Quite true, Admiral.  It would be pointless to deny that our
ambitious program aimed at a hundred-ship Neutrino Fleet has made it
impossible to think we could launch a mass assault on a warship the size
of the BaseShip, which is certainly the equal of the Galactica."
     "And in one critical respect, superior, Eminence," Trilligan added. 
"Remember.....this Cylon BaseShip is also composed of Neutrino.  A mass
assault by our old Fleet might have still succeeded......but the results
would likely have been far more costly to our side."
     "And Neutrino would seem to be the thing the Cylons are most
interested in," the Leader looked over at Arkom, "I trust that our
supplies of Neutrino that we are mining for our purposes
remains......extensive?"
     "Preliminary studies by our Engineering corps make it clear that
there remains untapped veins of Neutrino throughout this planet that
yielded the deposits to us," Arkom said.  "More than enough to meet the
demands for completing the hundred-ship project, and beyond."
     "But more importantly, enough for the Cylons to think we can offer
them access to our Neutrino surplus, which they covet for themselves,"
the Leader added.  "So now gentlemen, the question would seem to be one
of whether we make the Cylon emissaries tomorrow think that we are
receptive to giving them access......or do we play......what is the term
Te'rans use, Professor Tsu-Lan?"
     "'Hard to get' is the expression," said the director of Te'rean
Studies, who taught at the University and supervised a staff of Earth
natives who following their abductions had sworn allegiance to the Risik
cause.  "We make them think for a while that we will not cooperate and
capitalize on the fact that we hold the upper hand and force them to make
more concessions before we agree to their terms."
     "Yes, that would seem to be the most hostile diplomatic posture we
could pursue," the Supreme Leader acknowledged.  "But....even though this
BaseShip is all by itself, we can not underestimate its potential to
inflict massive devastation on our Capital....and perhaps even on our
infrastructure that is supervising construction of our new Star Force. 
Provoking them too much might result in losing what we have committed so
much of ourselves to this past yahren."
     What *you've* committed us to, Trilligan silently thought.  Our
people go through food shortages, industrial shutdowns and rationed lives
simply to fulfill this mad fantasy of yours to make us chase after a goal
rooted in a falsehood.  And then, as if he felt it was too dangerous to
let his true thoughts be expressed even to himself, he blocked them out.
     "Prudence would seem to dictate we avoid antagonizing them," he
spoke up.  "And I would add this.  They have among them, a Colonial who
has been working for them, and who was instrumental in getting the
Zykonians to grant full Station access to the Dreadnought.  Siress
Rosalind by name."
     "Yes, that I confess is the most intriguing thing about your report,
Admiral," the Supreme Leader said.  "For the first time, we will have the
opportunity to speak to a Colonial ourselves.  Someone who at the very
least can provide us with valuable insights as to how we can fight the
Colonials when we resume the pursuit.  What she doesn't know about
military hardware she is bound to compensate for in her knowledge of the
Colonial mindset.  In particular, Commander Adama, if she is in fact
personally acquainted with him."
     Minister of the Colonies Ibate, who had known the Supreme Leader the
longest of any of the members of the Supreme Council, going back to the
days when the Leader had been a junior Star Force Officer in the days of
the forced retreat caused by the Ke'Zar, spoke up for the first time.
     "There is no question, Eminence, that regardless of what steps we
take with the Cylons, we must extend full hospitality to this Siress
Rosalind.  Perhaps in time, we could make her more receptive to being
less an instrument of the Cylons.....and more a convert to our cause."
     "Sound thinking," the Leader nodded at his old friend and turned
back to Tsu-Lan, "Professor, I expect you to give her a full tour of the
University and introduce her to the Te'reans on your staff.  I think she
will be much more relaxed to find herself in the presence of
those.....who are like her."
     "Of course, Eminence."
     Sycophants, Trilligan thought as he realized he needed to speak up.
     "I agree completely that Siress Rosalind should be treated as a
separate matter from how we deal with the general matter of what do we
give the Cylons.  I do however request that following the first round of
talks with her and the other emissary who will be accompanying her, that
I conduct a private talk with her myself."
     "Why you, Admiral?" Arkom looked at him with just the faintest
suspicion.
     "Because I am the one member of the Risik Government she's had an
opportunity to learn more about these last few months thanks to Commander
Clubb," the Star Force Commander smiled with an air of mock modesty. 
"She will be in a greater.....comfort zone in my presence as far as a
private discussion is concerned because she has some idea of what to
expect."
     No one said anything because like before they were waiting for the
Supreme Leader to say something first.  And once again, he was smiling
and nodding.
     "You have a keen grasp of what we are facing, Admiral.  Yes, by all
means speak with her after the first round of discussions tomorrow.  If
she seems ill-at-ease by what takes place in the presence of all of
us.....you can be the one to offer her reassurances, since if she indeed
has learned to trust Commander Clubb, as your report indicates, she will
likewise be able to do so with you."
     "I will vindicate your judgment in my ability, Eminence," Trilligan
slightly bowed his head and tried to blank out the sick feeling in his
stomach.
     "I will close on this note," the Risik leader looked about the
table.  "As our esteemed High Priest, Si-Um can confirm, I have seen the
hand of Belial guiding us these last months with our discovery of
Neutrino on a previously pacified planet, and the insights into building
our new hundred-ship Star Force that will one day devastate the
Colonials.  Which will allow us to not only avenge the humiliation of
Ne'Chak, but make the way clear for Te'rea's conquest at last, unimpeded
and in our own time, and not in a generation yet to come.  And if our old
foe, the Ke'Zar seeks to impede us in those goals......they will not be
able to stop us."
     He leaned forward, "I have shared this revelation before from
Belial, and I will share it with you again.  Before we received the first
message from Commander Clubb of this diplomatic contact with the Cylons,
the Supreme god told me that we would need outside help to achieve our
goals of revenge and conquest.  Why should we not think that perhaps the
Cylons, these enemies of the Colonials, are not the ones foretold by
Belial?"
     He didn't wait for a response before going on.  Not that he would
have expected to hear one anyway, since everyone at the table was
expected to treat his question as purely rhetorical in nature.  If they
wished to retain their positions.
     "In some way.....they will help us achieve our final goal.  And we
will not find ourselves placed in a subservient position to them.  That
much is clear.  It is only a question of how we will fulfill Belial's
will for us.  And on that.....I do foresee the need for more prudence,
and less of our instinctive desire to boast about our destiny to rule. 
That is admittedly not in our normal character, but where Belial's will
is concerned, I think we can afford to adjust ourselves.  Would you all
not agree?"
     A chorus of yeas and other affirmations went up from those who knew
what they had to do.  Admiral Trilligan's lips didn't move but he managed
to conceal that from the others by picking that instant to cough and put
a hand to his mouth.  He had to admit this was the most restrained he had
ever seen the Supreme Leader behave in all the years he'd known him.  And
it made him realize that if the Leader toned down the flamboyance that
was his trademark and behaved in a rational way with the Cylon
negotiators.....it was going to be much more difficult to perform the
task that he was hoping Siress Rosalind would find herself amenable to
supporting when he got the chance to talk to her privately.
     The eventual overthrow of the Supreme Leader and the entire Risik
political and religious order that had ruled unchallenged for centuries. 
And an end to the wasteful fools errand obsession with the planet
'Te'rea' or Earth.

Chapter Three

     Cain and Tolen were the first to arrive in the empty Flight
Operations Center.  The next to enter the room was Commander Cobre.  He
came up alongside the two men and nodded his head respectfully, but said
nothing as they waited for the pilots, Human and Cylon alike to arrive.
The first to enter was a grim-faced Skyler who immediately took a seat in
the front row.  The others were right behind him and soon all the Human
pilots were in the room within five centons.  Only then did the Cylon
pilots start entering, taking up the seats in the back two rows and the
overflow position along the back row.  Not a sound emanated from any of
the Humans and only the whirring optical light of the Cylons kept the
room from being deathly quiet.
     Finally, convinced there were no stragglers, Cain stepped in front
of the lectern but didn't say anything immediately.  All he did was look
about the room with the coldest, iciest stare no one could ever remember
seeing before in the seven yahrens since they'd left the Colonies.  For
every Human in the room it was unnerving.  It reached the point where
Wynn, seated in the middle row decided that he couldn't let this go on
any further.
     "Commander, I----," he said as he got to his feet.
     "SIT DOWN, Ensign!" Cain barked.  "If you have something to say,
it'll come when I'm ready to ask you to say something!"
     "Sir, I am responsible for what happened!" Wynn held his ground. 
"This does not concern the rest of Silver Spar Group, it concerns me and
me alone."
     A stirring went up among those pilots who hadn't yet realized that
Wynn was the one who had opened fire on the Raider.  It ceased when Tolen
stepped forward and with only slightly less intensity than Cain, barked
out one word, "QUIET!"
     The murmur ceased but Wynn was still on his feet, looking directly
at Cain.
     "Whether this concerns you and you alone, is yet to be determined,
Ensign," Cain glared at him, "If your astrum isn't back in your chair in
the next two microns, your astrum will find itself in the Brig with the
rest of you!"
     Reluctantly, the Ensign resumed his seat.  Next to him, Marshak
found it amazing that Wynn hadn't emotionally cracked.  Similar thoughts
were going through the other pilots from Silver Spar Group.  Skyler
meanwhile, was trying to fight back the sick feeling inside him that he'd
failed as a Squadron Leader by not expressing his doubts better the
previous night with Cain.
     "All right," Cain's voice was now calm.  "The first order of
business.  To Commander Cobre, and to all Cylon personnel serving aboard
the Pegasus and by extension to all Enlightened Cylons serving on Arcta
and in the Colonies.  What happened during this exercise is a terrible
tragedy that should in no way hinder what Humans and Enlightened Cylons
have achieved these last several yahrens toward the common goal of
defeating the High Command.  You have my personal assurance that this
will be investigated to the fullest so that the true facts of what led to
this incident can be ascertained......and the appropriate steps taken. 
There will be no cover-up, no concealment of the facts, and if punishment
is necessitated, it will be meted out.  It is my hope that this candor
will leave all of you who have made the courageous step to renounce your
past allegiance to the High Command, to not see this terrible tragedy of
today as an occasion to reconsider that step."
     Flight Leader Gryphon got to his feet, "Commander Cain."
     "Yes, Flight Leader," Cain wondered what Phoenix Leader was going to
say since Gryphon carried a secret known only to a select few members of
the Pegasus crew.  That he had originally been placed among the
volunteers from the Gomorrah garrison to act as a would-be saboteur.  It
was only when Gryphon saw the favorable treatment he and the other Cylons
were receiving from the crew that he realized his past programming to
kill Humans could no longer be justified and he had confessed to Cain and
the command crew as well as Commander Cobre.  And to his surprise, Cain
had agreed to not subject him to any punishment.  A demonstration of what
Humans called "forgiveness."
     "I believe I speak for all of my fellow Cylon pilots that we are
convinced that what happened does not represent anything that would ever
cause us to reconsider the wisdom of our decision to be part of this
collaborative effort aimed at a.....mutual goal," he paused, "We trust
your ability to judge this matter fairly......whether that decision must
result in punishment.....or forgiveness."
     The use of the last word was not lost on Cain, Tolen and Cobre.  And
those who did not know the hidden meaning behind it felt some partial
relief that they wouldn't be seeing some kind of mass Cylon protest as a
result of what happened.  But inside, Wynn was seething.  Already he was
getting the sense that he was being set up to take the fall for something
that he knew in his heart he was not to blame for. 
     I get why Cain thinks its important to reassure the Cylons, but why
this way?
     "Your remarks are understood and appreciated, Flight Leader," Cain
said with sympathetic understanding.  "If any of the rest of Phoenix
Squadron would like to say something?"
     "I will say this, Commander Cain," Cobre stepped forward.  "We have
been undergoing a long and difficult process of letting go of what had
been our primary programming as a race for nearly a thousand yahrens. 
There are many of our kind who have struggled to let go of that base
instinct and because many haven't, the war against the High Command is
necessary.  We are well aware that adjustment has been required on the
part of Humans toward us.....and why we have never expected that
adjustment to be perfect.  I give you my word that Cylon-Human
cooperation for the common good will continue."
     "Thank you, Commander Cobre," Cain said.  "We are all reassured by
that, and we are grateful.  There is no need for any Cylon pilots to
remain as this investigation continues.  All that will be needed is an
accounting of the crew personnel of the fighter in question and if any
Cylon can report firsthand any conversations with those personnel before
the launch and during the exercise."
     "I will attend to that, Commander," the Command Centurion said.  "I
will report my findings to you as soon as possible."
     Cain nodded and looked about the room, "Cylon personnel are now
excused from the meeting."
     It took four centons for all the Cylons, including Cobre to depart. 
When the last one was gone and the door closed, Cain looked about the
room at all the pilots of Silver Spar Group.
     "I did that in your presence for a reason," he said quietly,
"Because the first order of business was to rapidly defuse any potential
tensions between us and the rest of the Cylons over what happened out
there.  And I don't give a daggit's felgercarb if any of you feel
slighted or humiliated or ticked off because I did that.  Too much has
been invested into this relationship to let anything come between it and
keep us from what we've been aiming for these last two yahrens.  That's
why as this investigation into what happened unfolds, not one of you is
going to close up ranks behind one of your own out of some misguided
sense of loyalty.  Your reaction to what I decide to do is going to be
one of total acceptance because whatever decision comes from this
investigation will be based on one thing and one thing only."
     He looked around at each face for any sign of anger or displeasure. 
On Wynn he could see a struggle to maintain a stoic, disciplined facade
but the ensign wasn't cracking.
     "Facts," he said simply and then raised his voice, "Facts,
gentlemen.  That's all that matters.  And that is the only thing that
will guide the matter of a final decision.  Not one of you is to assume
that anything other than facts will decide what finally happens to the
pilot in question."
     He then looked directly at Wynn, "The pilot responsible for what
happened will now stand up and identify himself."
     Without hesitation, Wynn rose and at full military bearing said,
"Ensign Wynn, sir!"
     Cain looked at him directly, "You freely acknowledge, without
coercion or duress, that it was you who opened fire on the Cylon fighter
in question?"
     "Yes sir!"
     "Was this an accidental firing on your part?"
     "No sir!"
     "Did you do this in response to anyone's tactical order, or was it
done on your own independent initiative?"
     "My initiative, sir!"
     Cain looked about, "All pilots who were direct eyewitnesses to what
happened will now identify themselves.  By that, I mean those who saw
Ensign Wynn fire on the Cylon raider with their own eyes.  Do not rise if
you only saw what unfolded on your scanner or attack computer."
     Slowly, Marshak got to his feet, followed by Banker and Angus.  Each
of them gave their names and ranks.
     "Finally, those who saw what happened on their scanners and were
aware of what happened the instant it took place."
     Two more rose.  Lieutenant Tegran and Sergeant Harroun who
identified themselves.
     "Anyone else?"  The Juggernaut waited thirty microns and when no one
else rose, he then went on, "All right.  The rest of you with the
exception of Major Skyler are dismissed.  You remain on Yellow Alert
status and no one is to so much as go near the landing bays until I know
that all necessary telemetry data from the vipers in question have been
downloaded and backed up by Core Command.  Colonel Tolen will inform you
when that has taken place."
     The other pilots rose and slowly filed out in silence, which left
Cain and Tolen facing Skyler, Wynn, Marshak, Banker, Angus, Tegran and
Harroun.  Slowly, Cain went over to the wall-unit comline.
     "Bridge, this is Cain.  Inform Lieutenant Bryce that two members of
Colonial Security are to be stationed outside the door to Flight Ops
until further notice.  No one remaining in Flight Ops is to leave until
they've received a direct summons from me."
     "Yes sir," Kylie's voice was deliberately terse and unemotional.
     "I will be in my quarters conducting necessary......debriefings with
material witnesses.  The Bridge is to relay any telemetry data I request
on a micron's notice."
     "Yes sir," Kylie then added.  "Arcta Garrison has made an inquiry as
to why the exercise was called off so soon."
     "Who made the inquiry?"
     "Ambassador Orchus."
     Damn.  The least reliable Cylon in our midst.
     "Tell him he'll get a full briefing from Commander Cobre before the
day's over.  Not a hint about what's happened.  The same thing applies if
Dr. Ravashol makes contact."
     "Yes sir."
     Cain held the line open for a few microns to see if his wife was
going to make any kind of additional remark.  But Kylie, professional to
the core, had nothing else to say so he let go of the comline and went
back in front of the lectern.
     "Colonel Tolen, Major Skyler......and Ensign Wynn, accompany me to
my quarters.  The rest of you.....wait until you are summoned.  You're
going to be called one at a time to give your version of events.  And if
I get so much as a hint that you've coordinated your accounts with each
other......you'll be in a lot of trouble.  Talk about anything else you
want to amongst yourselves.  You're even free to call me every name in
the book if it makes you feel better.  But don't talk about what happened
out there." he paused, "I'm trusting you not to have Security monitor
what you say, so don't make me regret that."
     And then he strolled out with Tolen following him.  Followed by
Silver Spar Leader and the man who was now facing the deepest scrutiny of
anyone in the history of the Pegasus.  When they were gone, a collective
exhale went up from the remaining pilots.....but mindful of Cain's
warning, they were too unnerved to say as much as one word to each other. 
They were only mentally replaying the events of what had happened and
what they were going to say when it was their turn to face the
Juggernaut's interrogation.


     Not a word passed among the four men as they walked the distance
from Flight Operations to Cain's quarters.  When they entered, Wynn found
himself casting a glance toward the back end of the vast room where the
living space was, since he found himself suddenly self-conscious about
the fact that was where Cain shared his marital bed with Kylie now.  He
wondered how much the Juggernaut knew about her conversation with him
last night, and if that was going to have any influence on whether Cain
believed his account of events or not.  
     Don't think you can rely on her for help.  You have to sell your
account of events all by your lonesome self if you have any chance of
getting out of this fracking mess, he thought as he seated himself in
front of Cain's desk.  Skyler took the chair to his left while Tolen
stood against the compartment well just to Cain's left, enabling him to
stare directly at the two men who were going to be questioned.
     Cain calmly activated a recording device tied into the computer on
the right edge of the desk and began in a formal tone.
     "This investigation into the events of today in which Ensign Wynn of
Silver Spar Squadron opened fire on a Cylon raider attached to Phoenix
Squadron, resulting in its destruction and the loss of the Cylon flight
crew, is now underway.  Present are Commander Cain, Commanding Officer. 
Colonel Tolen, Executive Officer.  Major Skyler, Squadron Commander, and
Ensign Wynn."
     Cain leaned forward, "Ensign Wynn, this is not a court-martial or a
disciplinary hearing.  It is an investigation aimed solely for the
purpose of getting to the truth of what happened.  Consequently, the
right to counsel does not apply.  It is possible that disciplinary action
may result from this investigation, but you are to give that no
consideration whatsoever and to answer all questions put to you
completely and truthfully.  Do you understand this?"
     "I understand completely," Wynn kept his eyes directly on Cain.
     "Good.  Now in your own words, Ensign, please describe what
happened.  I will interject with questions whenever I deem it necessary."
     Wynn took a breath and began, "During the training exercise, I was
part of a group of four vipers consisting of myself, my wingmate Ensign
Marshak, and Lieutenants Banker and Angus that chose to pursue three
Cylon fighters from Phoenix Squadron that were playing the role of the
enemy in this attack simulation." Wynn gestured with his hands, showing
the relative positions of the fighters in question.  "Since Lieutenant
Banker was the senior most pilot, he led formation with Lieutenant Angus
following, while Marshak and I brought up the rear.  Lieutenant Banker
succeeded in scoring a simulated kill on the first of the three Cylons,
which then peeled off and removed itself for the designated five centon
penalty phase."
     "Approximately what was the range to the Pegasus when Lieutenant
Banker scored the successful simulated kill of the first Cylon?" Cain
asked.
     "Approximately 14 to 16 microns distant."
     "What about the second Cylon fighter?"
     "Initially, Lieutenant Angus expected to take care of it.  But the
second and third Cylons were both out of his range and because the two
Cylons were reacting more quickly to the Pegasus course change that took
place, that put them closer to the ship and closer to my viper and Ensign
Marshak's.  That made them our responsibility."
     "And did Ensign Marshak score a successful kill on the second
Cylon?"
     "It's my understanding he did not.  The second Cylon's simulated
destruction was the result of targeting by the Pegasus's starboard turret
gun."
     Cain leaned back slightly in his chair, "These Cylons were flying
somewhat more unorthodox than what you were used to dealing with in the
past, wouldn't you say?"
     "I can only speak for myself, but they were not flying in a typical
Cylon pattern as I remember from more than three yahrens ago at the
Battle of Gomorrah.  Of course, unlike the rest of Silver Spar, I was not
present at the Battle of Cannes to judge current Cylon flying patterns,
but having said that, I do make an allowance for the fact that the Cylons
who are part of Phoenix Squadron have had the opportunity to learn new
techniques in flying that when applied to a training exercise such as
this are bound to produce elements of the unexpected."
     "But it wasn't causing you to panic in any way, was it?"
     "No sir!" Wynn said emphatically, "It may not have been what I was
used to seeing, but it certainly wasn't enough to make me forget this was
only a test we were going through."
     "There was no implication you forgot it was only a test, Ensign,"
Cain quietly but cuttingly retorted.  "The question was whether you felt
any sense of panic because of how the Cylon was flying in proximity to
the Pegasus."
     "Not then I wasn't."
     "Meaning that you did panic later?" Cain quickly seized on the
remark and immediately, Wynn showed signs of getting flustered.
     "Well.....I don't think panic is the right word, Commander, if this
is meant to apply to how I felt when I made the decision to open fire on
the Raider.  I was concerned and alarmed at that point and felt decisive
action needed to be taken to prevent the Pegasus from suffering serious
damage in a dangerous collision."
     "We'll get to that point in just a bit," Cain held up a hand. 
"Let's first establish one thing. Your laser fire control was in the
off-position when the exercise began?"
     "Absolutely yes, sir," Wynn stressed.  
     "Which means to carry out the destruction of the fighter that took
place......you changed the setting from off-mode to active."
     "Yes sir, I did," he nodded.
     "Describe the course of events that took place that made you decide
you needed to activate your laser generators and to then open fire."
     The ensign took a breath, "After the second kill was recorded and
that fighter peeled off, the last one took an upward trajectory heading
until it was directly above the Pegasus at a distance of some ten
microns."
     "When you say directly above, which part of the ship was it directly
above at its apex?  Forward?  Amidships?  Astern?"
     "More astern but forward of the main thrusters.  Near the primary
intercoolers.  At that point, she did a full circular rotation and began
to spiral downward toward the Pegasus to undertake the equivalent of a
strafing run dive on the topside hull."
     "Is that when you moved your laser generator from off to on-mode?"
     "No.  I assumed he was just going into a simulated strafing dive,
though it was unusual that he went so far upward at first.  A Cylon
fighter doesn't have to take an upward trajectory to position itself for
a strafing dive. It's more than capable of just dropping into one from
closer range.  But it seemed to pull out much too close to the Pegasus'
hull and it was skimming along the length of the hull, and then......it
seemed evident to me that it wasn't going to be able to pull up.  It was
on a collision course with the bridge tower base from my vantage point so
that was when I made my decision.  I decided that since there was no time
to radio the fighter, the only way I could insure the safety of the
Pegasus was to activate my laser generator and to open fire."
     Cain took all of that in for nearly ten microns before he asked his
next question.
     "If this were a training exercise in which a Viper played the role
of an enemy fighter, and the same situation presented itself to
you......would you have opened fire and destroyed it?"
     Wynn's eyes widened, which indicated he was completely caught
off-guard by the question.
     "Sir, I----," he blinked as if he was still stunned by it.
     "Answer the question, Ensign," Cain cut him off with the same
devastating quiet precision. 
     "Sir," he shook his head, "That wasn't the situation I was presented
with.  In the first place, we didn't have any Vipers acting as the enemy
in this exercise so you're describing a situation that was never going to
present itself."
     "It has a bearing on why you were quick to decide that the
destruction of the raider was your only alternative, Ensign," Cain raised
his voice just a hair.  "You said there was no time to radio the Cylon to
tell it to pull up.  If it had been a Viper, piloted by someone you
know.....would you have still taken that extra time to radio him and warn
him that unless he pulled up you'd have no choice but to open fire?"
     "Sir, I can't speak for what I might have done in that kind of
hypothetical.  I can only report  what I did in this situation and why I
did it.  I'm not trying to hide from my actions."
     "No one said you were, Ensign," Cain leaned back again, "But let's
deal with reality.  You were presented with a situation where it wasn't
one of your buddies potentially endangering the Pegasus but a Cylon crew. 
You didn't have to face the moral dilemma of killing someone you knew for
the good of the ship, it was just three centurions who despite being on
our side now in Phoenix Squadron, are not personal acquaintances of
yours.  I'm assuming that since your return to us, you haven't had too
many personal interactions with the Cylon personnel aboard the Pegasus?"
     Inside, Wynn was beginning to seethe, but he knew he couldn't show
any of that.
     "Not a lot," he admitted.  "I have....had more interactions with
Centurions Festus and Serpentine, who are assigned to Dr. Arnoff's lab,
and.....there's a reason for that which I don't think is relevant to this
investigation."
     Cain nodded in understanding.  The unspoken reason was that Wynn had
discovered the human voices of the two centurions, given to them by the
Zykonians at Brylon Station, were the same voices as the two missing
Earth natives from Captain Kevin Byrne's expedition.  Two men that Wynn
knew had ended up in the same horrible place he'd been in for two
yahrens, even if he couldn't remember any other details about that place.
     "Yes, we'll pass over that, Ensign.  But as far as the pilots in
Phoenix Squadron are concerned.....you wouldn't know one from another. 
Is that right?"
     "Except for possibly Flight Leader Gryphon and a couple others
who've had their voices replaced, no I wouldn't."
     "Then that makes it easier for you to not think of the moral dilemma
you're facing over opening fire on what it supposed to be a friendly ship
participating in a simulated exercise."
     "Commander, it was a moral dilemma for me to decide whether I should
wait to get clearance to open fire or make the decision myself, and not
just whether I should try to contact the Cylon fighter," Wynn struggled
to remain patient.  "I had very little time to react, and I sensed a
danger to the Pegasus if quick action wasn't taken.  If I stopped to
ponder the other intangibles, the Bridge might have sustained serious
damage from a suicide hit."
     "You'd calculated its course trajectory would have resulted in a
collision with the Bridge Tower base?"
     "That was my best judgment, yes."
     "And that was your deciding influence in choosing to open fire?" he
asked pointedly, indicating that this was the most important question of
the interrogation.'
     Wynn drew his shoulders up and then said quietly, "Yes.  It was."
     Cain waited another ten microns before he spoke again.
     "You are fully cognizant of the reasons why this matter goes beyond
the fact that a terrible tragedy happened during a training exercise."
     The Ensign rose from his chair to a full military bearing.
     "Commander Cain.....I recognize completely the ramifications of this
event regarding our relations with Enlightened Cylons, and the need to
make certain nothing will ever disrupt that relationship.  I know I
wasn't here during the time first contact was made with Enlightened
Cylons, and I know I wasn't a participant in the Battle of Cannes when
the rest of Silver Spar learned to work with Enlightened Cylons on an
integrated basis in combat.  But getting myself back to flight status and
justifying the decision to return me to duty has meant learning to
appreciate what this changed status has meant for us.  At the time of my
disappearance, the situation for myself and the Pegasus was something
that I would have characterized as bleak.  The fact that the situation
has changed and that we have a hopeful future now with the Colonies free
and a chance to destroy the Empire once and for all is more than I could
have hoped for.  The idea I'd do anything to jeopardize that because of
past feelings regarding the Cylons is personally offensive to me, and is
a slur on my honor and integrity as a Colonial warrior."
     Cain then rose from his chair to match his gesture.
     "You have a right to defend your integrity, Wynn.  But your
integrity and honor as a warrior is not at risk.  No one thinks you
looked for an excuse to kill a Cylon just to satisfy some kind of blood
lust or old grudge, or some misguided desire to drive a wedge between us
and the Enlightened Cylons.  There are ultimately three possible
explanations to account for what happened today.  One of them is that the
Cylon crew suddenly went amuck and decided it wasn't going to play-act
the role of being Enlightened any longer.  We know there's precedent for
that.  If that happened, then your actions were justified and you're
entitled to a commendation.  Another possibility is that the Cylon
fighter developed some kind of malfunction that put it in a situation
where it couldn't have pulled out in time, and thus action taken to
destroy her before damage could be inflicted on the Pegasus was entirely
justified, and you likewise would be entitled to a commendation."
     He then made a deliberate pause and added, "And the third and final
possibility, Ensign, is that there was no danger to the Pegasus and that
you misread the situation and overreacted.  Which would make you guilty
of negligent judgment.  Not because you acted out of malice, but because
your judgment was poor.  I think you'll agree that the fact you undertook
your actions out of a genuine concern for the well-being of the Pegasus
would not be relevant if there was no actual emergency at the time.  Is
that not so?"
     Wynn bit the inside of his cheek to keep  from showing his anger,
"Yes sir.  That is so."
     "I'm glad you recognize that, Ensign," Cain said.  "You have my word
that I only want to find out which of the three explanations is the true
one based on the facts.  Your account.  The accounts of your fellow
pilots.  What Commander Cobre finds out about the Cylon crew.  What the
telemetry data tells us.  All of that will tell us what happened......and
whatever it shows is what we'll deal with regardless of the personal cost
that it might involve to anyone.  No one is going to make you a
scapegoat.  But no one is going to engage in a whitewash for you either. 
I hope that much is understood."
     "Perfectly, sir," his voice was almost a rasp trying to get the
words out.  He knew he wasn't concealing his anger and bitterness at this
point, but Cain didn't comment on it.  The Juggernaut resumed his seat.
     "Thank you for your time and your candor, Ensign Wynn.  As of now,
you are off flight-status pending the outcome of this investigation but
you will continue to perform regular duties aboard the Pegasus," he
leaned forward, "And remember, Ensign.  I am not your enemy."
     "I've never seen you as one, sir."  He then sharply saluted, "By
your leave?"
     "Dismissed."
     As soon as Wynn left the room, Skyler broke his silence.  "Was the
ship really in danger when he opened fire?"
     Cain let out a sigh and motioned to Tolen, "Colonel, you tell him."
     "The fighters participating in the exercise were warned to come no
closer than three microns to the Pegasus.  That distance is based on when
the collision alarm kicks in to alert us to the danger of a pending
suicide hit."
     Immediately, Skyler realized where the XO was going, "You mean....."
     "Yes, Major.  When Wynn opened fire on the raider, the collision
alarm on the Bridge hadn't sounded. That meant from our standpoint, no
danger existed."
     "Frack....." he whispered, "But maybe....maybe it would have gotten
too close.  Maybe Wynn gauged its path correct and took action before the
collision alarm could sound."
     "Anything's possible, but that's not highly probable," Tolen said. 
"The collision alarm is supposed to detect that quicker than the human
eye can comprehend."
     "We don't have the telemetry from Wynn's viper processed yet.  It
must have given him a reading on where that fighter was in terms of
distance."
     "That data will help, but remember, Wynn didn't mention a readout on
distance when he opened fire," Cain pointed out.  "That means he wasn't
checking the distance, he was going by his gut on how far away it was."
     Skyler looked at the commander with just a trace of dubiousness, "I
thought you always told us to rely more on our gut in a crisis situation,
sir."
     The Juggernaut gave him the faintest smile in return, "Point, Major. 
Which is why if the rest of the facts vindicate him, then he'll really be
entitled to a commendation."
     The comline sounded and Cain reached over to answer it, "Yes?"
     "Commander, we have the video telemetry from Ensign Wynn's viper
ready," Kylie said.
     "Put it on my monitor, Captain," Cain said as he motioned Skyler to
come up behind the desk so he, along with Tolen could see what would
unfold.
     A few microns later the three men could see the scene from the video
mount on Wynn's viper showing the scene as Wynn moved in on the Cylon
fighter.  They could see the Cylon going into the sudden upward rise just
as Wynn described before doing a perfect circular half rotation and going
into a dive toward the form of the Pegasus below.  They watched in
silence as the raider seemed to level off and was skimming just above the
battlestar's hull......until suddenly a burst of red laser fire caught
the raider in its port side and it exploded in a fiery burst sending
pieces of debris crashing into the hull while others scattered about it
into space.  Finally, the video playback ended.
     "Thoughts?" Cain inquired.
     "Wasn't a perfectly clean hit.  Otherwise it would have been totally
incinerated without leaving any debris trail," Tolen noted.  "From that
angle though.....I'm not sure.  It looks like it pulled out of the dive
after cutting it close, but was it showing any signs of pulling up or
that it was going to veer off?  I can't tell."
     "I can't either," Skyler agreed.  "It was pushing the limit distance
wise when it came out of the dive.  That's for sure.  You'd think that
Cylon pilot would have recognized they were cutting it too close. 
Still.....I don't think that's conclusive one way or the other.  But
remember, that camera isn't showing us how it looks from the pilot's
vantage point inside the cockpit.  The angle can be deceiving."
     "Exactly," Cain nodded as he hit the comline, "Captain, do you have
the telemetry data tapes from Wynn's viper ready?
     "Stand by," the Senior Bridge Officer replied.  Several microns
later the monitor was filled with a number of digital readouts.  The
three pairs of eyes immediately went to the column that indicated the
target's distance from the Pegasus at the time of destruction.
     "Four microns," Tolen said simply.  "Still within the safety margin
by one micron.  That's why the collision alarm didn't sound."
     "Does that match the distance the Bridge tapes would have recorded?"
Skyler felt the frustration inside kicking in.
     "We'll find out," Cain said as he called the Bridge and asked Kylie
for the Bridge telemetry readouts.  A centon later, they were able to
read those figures.
     "Exactly the same.  Still one micron within the safety zone," the
Juggernaut pointed out.  "Which also means the question of whether the
collision alarm was working at the time is entirely moot."
     "But that doesn't mean the fighter was going to veer off," Skyler
held his ground, "Wynn clearly thought it was still on a trajectory
headed for collision even if he guessed wrong on the safety margin."
     "We're going to need the computer to plot the potential angle
trajectories based on the video telemetry from not just Wynn's viper and
the Pegasus hull cameras, but also the other three vipers that were in
close enough proximity to capture what happened," Cain said.  "Marshak,
Banker and Angus.  But before we do that......let's talk to them one at a
time."


     Wynn's wingmate was first.  Cain knew that there had been a close
bond between Wynn and Marshak before Wynn's disappearance.  He also knew
that Marshak had undergone a traumatic shock when he'd accompanied Kylie
on the search for Wynn on the planet where the ensign had been found. 
Marshak's memory had blotted out the details, but there was no question
in Cain's mind that Marshak had seen Wynn in his transformed condition. 
Subconsciously, that had somehow kept Marshak from resuming the close
friendship he'd had with Wynn from before, but it hadn't stopped him from
agreeing to be his wingmate again.  Because of these things Cain knew
that Tolen and Skyler didn't, he knew he'd have to play things carefully
with Marshak to a degree.
     The questioning began with Marshak giving a straightforward account
of everything up to the point when he and Wynn had found themselves the
only two vipers capable of handling the remaining two raiders.  He
confirmed Wynn's point that the Cylon pilots in this exercise were
demonstrating more unorthodox flying tactics, that like Wynn, he
attributed to the knowledge that Phoenix Squadron had picked up from
flying integrated patrols with Silver Spar.  And he confirmed that
because of that, he'd been unable to line up the raider that had
eventually been 'killed' by the Pegasus' starboard laser turret.
     "After that Cylon moved off, you continued to monitor Wynn's
progress with the remaining raider."
     "Yes sir.  Myself, and Lieutenants Banker and Angus knew it was
possible that the remaining raider would engage in its simulated attack,
and then veer off to attempt a second run which would have brought it in
closer proximity to our vipers than to Ensign Wynn's.  That's why
Lieutenant Banker, who was in tactical command of our group, didn't want
us to return to hook up with Major Skyler and the main body of Silver
Spar Squadron."
     "Were you concerned by the trajectory the Cylon fighter was taking
when it moved in on the Pegasus?"
     Marshak hesitated slightly before answering, "Maybe not concerned,
but I was taken aback by how the fighter went on that upward trajectory
before starting the strafing dive.  It seemed like a waste of time since
the Cylon raider is more than capable of starting a dive without having
to climb up to an apex point.  It seemed like a waste of time on the
pilot's part at first."
     "You saw the strafing dive unfold in full while Wynn closed in."
     "I did.  I glanced at my scanner once, but the rest of the time my
eyes were on what was happening with the raider and whether Wynn would
score the simulated kill."
     "Did you ever think at any time that the raider was going to crash
into the Pegasus?"
     The viper pilot took a breath, "I.....was concerned when I saw the
angle of the dive.  If a viper was doing that, I'd think that maybe I was
seeing a hotshot pilot trying to show-off and skate close to the edge.  A
Cylon pilot.....no.  I was starting to wonder if something might be wrong
with him."
     "How so?" Cain gently pressed, "Did you think it was potentially
deliberate?  Or did you think the raider was experiencing a malfunction
of some kind?"
     "I hadn't formed that kind of judgment, sir.  Only that what I saw
was concerning."
     "Well if you were concerned, what would you have done if you had
been in Ensign Wynn's position?" he turned it up a notch ever so
slightly.
     Marshak took a breath but then his jaw seemed to lock.
     "Ensign, answer the question," Tolen spoke up.
     He bit his lip and slowly shook his head, "I....I honestly can't say
what I would have done in that situation, sir.  It was concerning to me,
yes.  But I knew it was up to Wynn and so....I wasn't thinking about what
I might have done in that situation."
     Cain picked up a stylus on his desk and idly tapped it against the
edge.  It was meant to be a silent signal that he was less than satisfied
with Marshak's answer.  But given the extenuating circumstances regarding
Marshak's history with Wynn he wasn't going to chew him out about it. 
After five microns of tapping, he then set the stylus down and came
forward in his chair, bringing his hands together.
     "You had full confidence in Ensign Wynn's ability to fly again and
perform in this kind of training exercise, didn't you, Marshak?"
     This time there was no hesitation as he looked at Cain directly, "If
I didn't have full confidence in him, sir, I wouldn't have agreed to be
his wingmate again."
     "In other words, you weren't doing it out of any sense of obligation
to him, or because of your friendship with him before his disappearance."
     "No, sir!" Marshak was adamant.  "I think Wynn has done a lot to get
himself back to flight status, and if he felt in his judgment he had to
take decisive action to prevent a potential calamity, I don't think it
had anything to do with what happened to him before."
     "Did you think the Cylon was going to crash into the Pegasus?" Cain
asked him bluntly.
     Wynn's wingmate hesitated, "I hadn't reached that conclusion yet,
Commander.  But I wasn't as close to the situation as Wynn was.  If I had
his vantage point, I might easily have felt the raider wasn't going to
pull up or veer off."
     Cain decided to wait several microns before he finally nodded his
head, "That will be all, Ensign Marshak.  Thank you for your time and
resume Yellow Alert status."
     Marshak rose and stiffly saluted before making his exit without
saying anything.  Once the door closed, Tolen decided to speak up.
     "We're probably going to get more of the same from Banker and Angus. 
They'll say they were surprised by the trajectory but they'll likely
defer to the fact that Wynn was closer than they were to make a visual
judgment.  And they probably won't commit to what they would have done in
an identical situation."
     "I wouldn't presume to speak for them, Colonel," Skyler said
defensively, "Speaking for myself, if I were convinced that Cylon was
going to crash into the Pegasus, I know I would have done just what Wynn
did."

     "I think the Colonel's broader point is that their personal
judgments of what they would have done aren't necessary to getting to the
truth and we should dispense with that when we question them," Cain
decided to make sure no sniping erupted between his XO and his Squadron
Commander.  "Am I right, Colonel?"
     "Yes sir," Tolen said, understanding what Cain had just done and
realizing he needed to do his part to defuse things with Skyler before
they got started. "I'm not suggesting in any way that we not question
them.  Only that we streamline things a bit."
     "You agree with that, Major?" Cain looked back at Skyler.
     "Yes sir," the defensiveness was gone from him. 
     "All right, let's call Banker next."


     It took two centars to question Banker, Angus and then the two
pilots who had observed things on their scanner, Tegran and Harroun. 
There was little variation in their accounts, but still just enough to
make it clear they hadn't coordinated their accounts beforehand.  Each of
them admitted they were surprised by the unorthodox maneuver the Cylon
fighter had taken on its upward trajectory.  Each of them admitted they
were feeling concern over the fighter's approach on the Pegasus.  All of
them were caught off-guard when they saw Wynn open fire.  Of the four,
Lieutenant Tegran was the one most willing to admit he would have acted
the same way Wynn did if he felt the Cylon was on a collision course.  An
admission that didn't surprise Skyler since he knew that Tegran was a
pilot known for being instinctively aggressive.
     After the last of them had left, the senior officers spent some time
looking at the video telemetry from their respective vipers.  As they
expected, the angles were far less definitive than the one from Wynn's
viper.  But they did reinforce the basic idea that the Cylon raider in
question was not flying in a conventional way.
     "There was definitely cause to be concerned," Cain said as they
finished watching the feed from Marshak's viper and then took another
look at Wynn's.  "It's time we get some answers from Commander Cobre
about this particular crew."
     A summons to the command centurion brought him to Cain's quarters
within five centons.
     "We've finished talking to the pilots," Cain said.  "What have you
found out regarding the crew of this raider?"
     "The crew commander, renamed 'Decius', was a command level pilot
attached to escort patrol duty for tankers at Gomorrah," Cobre said.  "He
was not under the direct command of the late Commander Fuga, whose
treachery we are all familiar with.  In fact, I have been given
permission by Flight Leader Gryphon to tell you this.  Every Cylon on the
Pegasus is aware of what Gryphon attempted to do with his would-be act of
sabotage when Fuga had him assigned to the Pegasus.  He felt it was
important for all other Cylons he works with to know about what he went
through, just in case any of them might have entertained second thoughts
about working with Humans, or who may not have been genuinely Enlightened
to begin with."
     "So in other words, Decius never showed the slightest sign of being
less than Enlightened," Cain couldn't let himself feel disappointed by
this news because he knew that it would have offended Cobre's sense of
honor, as well as the rest of the Cylons aboard the Pegasus if one or
more of their own had betrayed them.  But this good news for the Cylons
in his command was ultimately bad news for Ensign Wynn.
     "None whatsoever."
     "What about the two junior pilots?"
     "In accordance with present procedure, they had not been given a
proper name but had been given the new designations of X1 and X2 to mark
their assignment to Decius's raider.  No one can report any out of the
ordinary behavior by either of them.  There is one detail though you
might find interesting.  The centurion designated X2 was one of the few
survivors from Cannes Garrison."
     Cain and the others took that in, "Do you think a Cylon previously
assigned to Cannes Garrison is more apt to.....be less than Enlightened?"
     "I make no judgment," the command centurion said.  "But I am well
aware that such concerns have existed before, as Major Skyler can
attest."
     "That's true," Skyler conceded, "When Centurion Kleitos was assigned
to our team that went to Starlos, there were concerns because he'd been
part of Cannes Garrison too.  The six survivors of Cannes all experienced
levels of devastation that few Cylons live through, and they were
basically left with no choice but to work for us if they wanted to live. 
The Gomorrah contingent is another matter entirely."
     "This....X2 wasn't the only centurion from Cannes who was flying in
Phoenix Squadron, was he?" Tolen asked.
     "No.  But he was the only Cylon from Cannes who was in a raider that
was playing the role of the enemy in the exercise," Cobre answered.  "And
there is one other connection to Cannes.  The raider in question was one
of the two recovered from the garrison to replace the two vipers lost in
the battle."
     Cain didn't immediately respond but it was clear from the look on
his face he found that detail intriguing.  As did Tolen and Skyler.
     The Juggernaut then came forward, "The other raider in the
exercise?"
     "It was part of Flight Leader Gryphon's team under the command of
Centurion Icarus."
     "In that case, we'll have the maintenance crew and Security to go
over it completely.  If there's any possibility that raider acted crazy
because it was from Cannes Garrison, then maybe the other raider can tell
us something."
     "Perhaps," Cobre acknowledged, "I would suggest though that Cylon
personnel be part of the inspection since they are more familiar with the
components."
     "I'm on the same wavelength with your enlightened mind, Cobre.  I'll
have Festus and Serpentine down there immediately."
     After the command centurion had left, Cain took a centon to notify
Dr. Arnoff to have the two centurions report to the landing bay. 
Followed by a request to the Bridge to have Security and Maintenance
teams to report as well.  When he was through he calmly leaned back in
his chair and looked mirthlessly at his two senior officers.
     "Candor time, gentlemen.  If our teams don't find evidence of a
malfunction in a Cannes-based raider, or that a former Cannes-based
centurion may have sabotaged things.....then I may have no choice but to
decide that Ensign Wynn be permanently grounded from flight duty. 
There'd be no court-martial or any disciplinary punishment, but absent
any definitive proof that could  justify his action, I don't think any
Cylon in our ranks would ever feel comfortable flying with him again."
     Tolen didn't hesitate to speak up, "I agree completely, sir."
     Cain looked over at Skyler, "Major?"
     The Squadron Leader sighed and then with a good deal of reluctance,
nodded.
     "We're agreed then.  That's what we do if we find inconclusive data
to vindicate Wynn."
     "Commander, how long do we wait before we decide we can't find
conclusive evidence and that Wynn has to be grounded?" Skyler asked
quietly.
     "There won't be a rush to judgment, Major, but I can't stretch this
investigation out indefinitely.  We have to get back to the matter of
testing the pulsar so we can finally get underway for the Colonies, and I
don't want to put that off for the sake of trying to take our sweet time
looking for the hot laser that will clear Wynn.  I'm only guaranteeing
that we've got at least a couple days to look at our remaining leads and
recheck all our telemetry data.  And then.....if things are status quo,
that's when I'll make my decision and when I do, I expect nothing less
than total concurrence from the both of you."
     Both Tolen and Skyler nodded and made their way out.  Skyler exited
without saying anything more but Tolen stopped and turned around to say
one more thing to Cain.
     "Per regulations, Commander, all of the senior command officers need
to be informed and brought into concurrence too."
     Cain's eyes narrowed since he knew right away what that meant.  And
he knew that wasn't going to be pleasant.
     "Yes, Colonel, you're right.  Thank you for reminding me of that,"
he paused, "Report back to the Bridge for now and.....bring her up to
date on the matter."
     "Yes sir," the Executive Officer nodded and left.  When he was out
in the corridor he let out a long uneasy exhale.
     One thing's for sure.  Cain's not going to have an evening of
domestic bliss tonight.


     Over the next few centars, Cain immersed himself with other matters.
First, a conversation with Dr. Ravashol on Arcta, explaining what
happened with the exercise and how it would likely represent a setback of
several days before resuming tests on the pulsar weapon's compatibility
with the Battlestar.  The scientist was sympathetic to Cain's plight and
mentioned how it wasn't dissimilar from an incident he'd once dealt with
when one of his Thetans had been forced to kill a Centurion who had acted
in a threatening manner.  Subsequent investigation by himself and
Commander Vulpa had revealed the Centurion in question had shown signs of
disenchantment with Vulpa's edict that they were no longer loyal to the
Cylon High Command and the Thetan had been exonerated.  It had been a
learning experience for the Centurions in Vulpa's command of how
challenging the concept of "Enlightenment" brought nothing for any of
them, and from that point on Ravashol never had another incident again. 
Cain had thanked the scientist and assured him that if the evidence
pointed to a clear case of Cylon misconduct in the exercise, then he was
sure that the Cylons aboard the Pegasus would understand completely why
Ensign Wynn had chosen to act as he had.  
     After his talk with Ravashol, Cain then digested the latest dispatch
from Commander Volahd on Gomorrah regarding intercepted transmissions
between the lone Cylon BaseShip of Commander Needa, and the Imperious
Leader on the Cylon Home World.  A terse message that they had reached
the planet of the Risik Capital (not "home world" since that was
apparently a term loyal Risik never used) and that their emissaries, the
DG Cylon Gracchus and the Human traitor Siress Rosalind, would be meeting
with the Risik Supreme Leader the next day.  Cain decided that this
message didn't justify contacting Adama on the Galactica or Commader
Deval on Caprica for now.  Only the next message, indicating what
progress, if any, the Cylons would make with the Risik regarding access
to Neutrino would merit a full-blown discussion.
     Lords help us all if they do get access, the Juggernaut absently
thought as he put the report aside.  It could be a total game changer as
far as the war back here is concerned, especially if the Pulsar can't do
what we hope it does and that's destroy the rest of the Cylon Fleet and
the Cylon High Command once and for all.  Not to mention an even bigger
game changer for Adama, Ila and the rest of the Fleet as far as the Risik
pursuit of them.
     Cain was just about ready to look at the next item on his desk,
which he noticed was a request of some kind from Wallis and Kelli, the
Piscean agro-workers who along with their two small children had left the
Galactica during the stop at Brylon Station in the hopes of becoming
landowners on the Zykonian world, Brylon V. The disillusionment of that
experience had led them to join the Pegasus where they'd become
productive workers in force-growing small quantities of vegetables and
fruits in a confined environment aboard the Battlestar. They had also
developed a close bond with Kylie, who for awhile had helped look after
their two children in her off-duty periods from manning the helm on the
Bridge and had become the beloved "Auntie Kylie" to little five yahren
Linden and three yahren Karin.
     Before he could read the request though, the door slid open and
Kylie entered. Even though her duty period was over, the stiffness of her
bearing and her stoic expression indicated she still regarded herself as
on-duty. Already, Cain knew that she'd gotten her briefing from Tolen and
clearly wasn't happy about what she'd heard.
     "Request to speak freely regarding the matter of Ensign Wynn?" she
asked in a deliberately formal, stiff tone.
     "Why don't we just dispense ranks, Kylie." Cain said gently but she
shook her head vigorously.
     "No.  You didn't dispense with ranks with Tolen and Skyler and since
my position requires notification on this matter, ranks should stay in
place."
     Cain faintly nodded, "As you wish.....Captain." He gestured to a
seat, but she remained standing.
     "Thank you, sir," she was keeping her tone respectful, but distant. 
Inside, Cain felt some regret that he was likely going to have his first
real clash with Kylie since they'd been married but he always knew that
it was inevitable someday, since the very nature of their relationship as
Commander-Subordinate meant that sooner or later she'd feel a reason to
question his decision making.
     "Commander, with all due respect, I think Ensign Wynn deserves more
than just a few days to clear his reputation. Especially after what he
went through."
     "I know what he went through just like you know what he went
through, and what he doesn't remember going through," Cain injected the
edge of the Juggernaut into his voice just a bit. Not as much as he would
have done with any other subordinate, but more than enough for her to
notice. "That matter is a non-issue in my decision on how long to wait
before I feel action is necessary."
     "May I ask why?"
     With anyone else, he might have simply said, "you may ask" and let
that be the end of it.  Once again though, he decided to cut her some
slack. He knew inside that he was being unprofessional by treating her
differently than he would another member of his crew.  But he didn't give
a damn right now. As far as he was concerned, Kylie had earned the right
to never have to face the wrath of the Juggernaut unless she committed a
court-martial level offence.  And he knew she was too good a Warrior to
ever do that.
     "Because Wynn should get the same consideration I'd give any other
pilot in Silver Spar Squadron.  And if it was anyone else, and the
evidence was inconclusive to justify opening fire on the Cylon raider,
they'd be grounded too."
     The Senior Bridge Officer shook her head. "No they wouldn't,
Commander. It seems to me that the only reason you're ready to have Wynn
grounded permanently is because he's not indispensable to the Squadron.
If it were Skyler or anyone else who took part at Cannes, you might give
them ten days in the brig or some other form of discipline, but you
wouldn't have them grounded permanently because you know how much we need
the skills of every pilot we have. But because Wynn has been gone for two
yahrens, it's as if you feel we can get by without him in the Squadron."
     "That's what it seems to you." Not a question. A bald statement of
fact.
     "It does."
     "Very well, Captain.  If that's what my decision seems like to you,
are you prepared to hear what your objection seems like to me?"
     His wife didn't bat an eye. "Yes sir, I am prepared.  But I believe
that I already know what you think of my objection."
     "Then enlighten me, Captain." Their voices remained level but Cain
could feel the tension in the air between them.
     "Because I was personally close to Wynn before his disappearance,
and because of my involvement in the matter of his return, my objections
may seem like I am letting personal considerations blind me to the
lawfulness of your directive. That may be true to an extent, Commander. I
do feel a certain bond to Wynn because I saved his life, and I paid a
pretty steep price for it that's left a scar on me that can never heal. 
But the reason I'm opposed to seeing him grounded is because the chance
to fly again is the only thing he has to live for. Without that, his
value to this ship is worthless and, in the end, he'll probably think his
life is worthless too."
     "So noted," Cain nodded.  "But my decision is final, Captain. If
there isn't any exculpatory evidence in three days from now, then the
interests of this ship, and the interests of our long-term mission
require putting the matter behind us, which means Ensign Wynn is
permanently grounded from Viper duty. That won't extend to shuttle duty,
but if I'm to maintain good relations with our Cylon pilots, that means
letting them know I can't let one of my own men off the hook for an
action against one of them that wasn't justified."
     "With all due respect, Commander, Flight Leader Gryphon was guilty
of something far worse, and he was forgiven for his action and allowed to
keep flying. The only precedent you're establishing is that Cylons in our
ranks are being given more leeway than our own pilots."
     Cain said nothing. Kylie couldn't tell if she'd scored a point with
him or if his silent stare was a way of trying to tell her that he wasn't
going to be swayed. But then he broke his silence with quiet coldness.
     "Do you have an alternative suggestion to offer......Captain?"
     Kylie knew this was putting her on the spot.  She decided to play
things half-way.
     "Yes, I do......Commander. But in the interests of propriety, I will
refrain from offering it until it becomes necessary. Wynn still has three
days to be exonerated."
     "Indeed he does," he nodded. "And we will be devoting our full
resources to looking for exculpatory evidence in that time. I expect you
to be part of that effort."
     "I intend to.....sir." she said bluntly. "I owe that to Wynn."
     "And that's admirable, Captain." For the first time the cold command
edge disappeared from him. "But the responsibilities of command include
knowing when to put aside personal regard for an individual for the good
of the whole crew.....which includes the Cylons in our ranks along with
the Humans. Not to mention the good of the mission, which includes
getting back on schedule with the pulsar tests."
     "I recognize that, sir, and I appreciate the...difficulties of your
position. I still think Ensign Wynn deserves better."
     "So noted," Cain repeated. "Are you through, Captain Kylie?"
     She nodded, "Yes, Commander. I am through."
     For now, Cain. For now.
     "Then we don't have to talk about this any further tonight, do we?"
     "No." Her voice suddenly became less formal, and Cain realized she
had deliberately left off the 'sir' to indicate she now considered
herself off-duty. He felt that maybe he should reciprocate and say
something encouraging to her as her husband. But before he could do that,
she turned away and headed toward the living space area of their
quarters, which made it clear she wasn't in the mood for normal
husband-wife conservation right now.
     So be it, Cain thought as he went back to the request memo from
Wallis and Kelli on his desk. As he read the substance of it for the
first time, he immediately felt his face drop.
     Kylie's not going to like hearing this either.
     But he wasn't going to share it with her tonight.


     Wynn had retreated to his usual back wall table in the Officer's
Club.  Wondering how and why a day that he'd seen as the beginning of a
fresh start in his life had ended in total disaster.  Taking part in his
first meaningful exercise as a viper pilot since his return was supposed
to mean that he'd managed to put the black hole of his lost two yahrens
behind him.  Instead, he found himself fighting for his reputation and
honor as a warrior and a pilot because he'd done what he felt was the
right thing in saving his ship from the calamity of what looked like a
certain suicide hit from a Cylon fighter that wasn't acting the way an
"Enlightened" Cylon crew should have acted.....even in a training
exercise.
     Why are you doing this to me?  He found himself railing at the
Lords.  If you brought me back from that place I can't remember just to
go through this, why did you bother to do it all?  Why didn't you just
leave me there?
     "Wynn?"
     He looked up and saw Skyler standing there with a concerned look. 
With any other pilot, Wynn might have snapped and told them to get lost,
but never his squadron leader, and certainly not when Skyler was hearing
his case.  Instead, he quickly straightened himself.
     "Uh....yes, Cap.  If you want to sit down, go ahead."  He would
never stop addressing Skyler as 'Cap' even though Skyler was a Major now. 
It was too ingrained in Wynn from the old days and since his return, he
couldn't let go of it.
     "Thanks," Skyler sat down and got the point, "Wynn.  Level with me. 
Is there anything you left out of your interview?  Something you only
remembered later?"
     "Not a damn thing," the ensign shook his head and said bitterly as
he downed his third drink.  "Cain may be intimidating, but I remembered
everything and I told all of you everything."
     "All right," Skyler nodded, "So what would you say if I told you
that right now we don't have conclusive evidence to support the idea that
raider was going to crash into the Pegasus?"  Wynn looked him in the eye,
"Then I'd say you've got to dig deeper because there's no way that Raider
was going to pull up.  Whether that was by design or accident is not for
me to say, but the end result would still have been the same.  That
Raider was going to crash into the Bridge Tower from behind."
     "And you weren't anxious to pull the trigger?"
     "Of course not!" he raised his voice slightly which caused a few
heads at nearby tables to glance over, but they quickly turned away once
they realized who was there.  "Good Lords, Cap, do you think I'm that
stupid?  Do you think after all I've been through to get cleared for duty
again that I'd risk throwing it all away just to take a potshot at
someone who I know was supposed to be on our side?"
     "I don't think you're stupid, Wynn.  No one thinks you consciously
tried to sabotage things.  But level with me.  There's no possibility
your judgment might have been off when you sized up that danger?  You
don't think there's the slightest chance that maybe unintentionally you
overreacted?"
     Wynn decided it was time to lower the boom on him.  He wouldn't have
done this in front of Cain and Tolen, but man-to-man in this setting was
a different thing entirely.
     "You're the one who cleared me for duty, Cap.  You obviously didn't
think I was capable of overreacting in this kind of situation or you
would have tried to get me pulled."
     "I almost did."
     Suddenly all of Wynn's bravado that had gone into his last remark
disappeared rapidly.  Replaced by stunned shock.
     "I went to Cain and tried to get him not to have Cylons fly as the
enemy.  I didn't want to single you out.  I tried to argue we shouldn't
run a war games simulation with members of Phoenix Squadron playing the
enemy because of the general danger that might happen if a member of
Silver Spar forgot himself.  But when Cain tried to make it all about you
and said I should  ground you if I was concerned about how you'd
react......I decided to give you the benefit of the doubt. But believe
me, Wynn, if I'd had my druthers we wouldn't have run that test at all
because I didn't want to see you thrown into a scenario I wasn't sure you
were ready for."
     "So let me get this straight," Wynn tried to get his composure back. 
"You didn't have full confidence in me going into this mission.  You just
let me fly because you.....felt sorry for me and didn't want to hurt my
feelings by grounding me while the test went on.  Is that it?"
     "Yeah, you can put it that way, Wynn," Skyler didn't bat an eye.
"Call me every name in the book if you like for thinking that.  I just
didn't want your first non-patrol flight to carry that kind of risk. 
And, I didn't think it was essential to have any Cylon fighters play the
enemy when our primary focus should be on testing the laser.  I'm more
mad at myself that I didn't try to push Cain on that."
     "But you still think I wasn't ready," he decided he wasn't going to
call him 'Cap' any further.  Just to let Skyler know how mad he was.
     "For that kind of exercise," Skyler stressed.  "But nothing will
make me happier to realize how wrong I was if we find evidence that
proves you made the right call.  I'm not interested in protecting my
image on what I thought about you flying before the exercise.  I'm only
interested in knowing what the truth is.  And right now......there just
isn't enough to tell us what the ultimate truth is on whether that Raider
was going to crash into the Pegasus."
     "And if there isn't enough.....that means the safe course of action
is to make an example of me for the sake of keeping the Cylons happy."
     Skyler let out a reluctant sigh, "That's not my call, Wynn.  That's
Cain's decision if it comes to that.  But.....I have to sign off on that
if that's what he decides is necessary."
     The ensign picked up his empty glass and began to rap the bottom end
of it against the table, as if he were trying to release tension gently
without smashing it.  Skyler recognized the mannerism.  A quirk Wynn had
developed in the days when he'd been one of the 'Grumblers' disenchanted
with Cain's leadership.
     "So you're not willing to stand up to him for a brother member of
the Squadron?" the bitterness was unmistakable.
     "Wynn.....I'm not going to insult you by asking you what you'd do if
you were in my boots.  But I could protest all I like and he wouldn't
budge a milli-metron.  That's just the way Cain is, and even though a
lot's changed about him since you were away, there are some things about
him that are still the same and one of them is sticking to a course of
action he's decided on.  And I'm damn sure it would be the same if Kylie
tried to push him.  So if he's not going to listen to his own wife, he
sure as Hades isn't going to take my feelings into consideration beyond a
simple 'objection noted' and leave it at that." he paused, "I'm sorry,
Wynn.  I wish I could do more but at this point it comes down to whether
or not we find something definitive in the next few days that makes it
absolutely clear your judgment to destroy that Raider was the right
call."
     The desire to smash his glass seemed gone but the bitterness was
still there.  "And you're telling me all this ahead of time for my own
good."
     "I figured you deserved to know how things stand, Wynn.  Any Warrior
would.  This way you can take time to decide what your options are if
Cain decides you're permanently grounded from viper duty."
     He looked at him, "That's what I'm facing?"
     "Yes.  No other disciplinary action and no loss of shuttle flying
but no more viper duty.  You'll have to decide if you want to stay on the
Pegasus long-term if it comes to that."
     "And what in Hades are my other options for making something of my
life?" the anger returned to his voice.
     "There are plenty of things you can do here.  Or you can always
transfer to permanent duty on Arcta.  Or you can wait until we get to the
Colonies and ask for some kind of assignment there since there's bound to
be jobs that need to be filled as part of the reclamation efforts.  I
know how much it means to you to fly combat again, but it's not as if
that's your only option now.  And yes, I know that doesn't seem like much
in the way of compensation, but it's not like we're looking at the
hopeless situation that existed before you disappeared."
     For nearly a centon, the ensign stared off into space, avoiding eye
contact with Skyler.
     "I'm a viper pilot," he said with defiance.  "It's what I trained
myself to be when I decided to become a warrior.  It's the only line of
work I ever wanted as a warrior.  If I'd washed out of pilot training, I
would have quit the Service altogether."
     "And then you would have been dead in the rubble of the Colonies or
hauled off to the Cylon Home System for slave labor," Skyler interjected. 
"Remember, the best estimate of survivors in the Colonies who are alive
to start rebuilding is right now no more than about 25,000 people
collectively on ten planets."
     Wynn rolled his eyes, "And that's supposed to be my cue on how I
should appreciate the other jobs that are available to me?"
     "If it comes to that," he injected a more forceful edge in his tone,
assuming more the air of his superior than his friend.  "I've told you
how things stand, Wynn because I think you're capable of figuring out how
to handle the Pyramid hand you get dealt with.  Right now you're waiting
for the dealer to give you another card that will decide if you've got
the right hand or if you have to fold.  Maybe you'll get the right card
and get vindicated if we find the proof that justifies what you did, but
if you don't get the right card and have to prepare for life beyond viper
flying, then by God, you should be ready for that.  Now what's it going
to be, Wynn?  Are you going to handle this like a man or are you just
going to keep sitting here on your astrum and drowning yourself in a sea
of self-pity punctuated by endless refills of bad quality grog?"
     For over a centon there was only a cold stare from Wynn which Skyler
decided he needed to match in return.  As if the two were engaged in a
standoff waiting for the other to crack and finally speak.
     Finally, with a great deal of reluctance, Wynn was the one to give
ground.
     "So be it," he said bitterly, "But I still think I deserve better
from you and the Squadron."
     "If you want to hate my guts from now on, that's your prerogative,"
Skyler held his ground but inside it hurt to go through this.  "So long
as you show you're still willing to serve."
     And deciding he'd done all he could for him, Silver Spar Leader rose
and left the club, leaving Wynn alone at his table.  The ensign seemed on
the verge of ordering another drink but then decided he'd had enough as
he rose and left the club.  Taking the long walk through the corridors of
the Pegasus back to the pilots barracks.  Despite the infusion of ranks
from the Cylon personnel and the Thetan work crews, the corridors of the
battlestar were still largely empty because of the large-scale evacuation
to the Galactica that had taken place during the Battle of Gomorrah. 
That suited Wynn just fine.  He wanted nothing but solitude and silence
to get himself through the night.
     You could use some help.
     Wynn stopped in his tracks and frowned.  He'd heard a voice, but the
corridors of the Battlestar were empty.  No one was there.....but he'd
heard the voice.  Distinct and.....feminine. For a brief micron, he
wondered if it was Kylie, but that was impossible.  At this late stage of
the cycle, Kylie was no doubt tucked away in her quarters......with her
husband.
     If you need help......I can give it to you.
     There it was again.  He glanced around but again there was no sign
of anyone.  He wondered if he was cracking.....just wanting to hear a
friendly, feminine voice to ease his bitterness to the point where his
mind was producing it.
     "Nobody's there," he said firmly and aloud.  "I am not going to lose
my mind.  I am going to keep my head and just.....hope and pray for the
best."
     And then he resumed walking back toward the barracks.  When he
turned the corner, a white-garbed figure suddenly emerged and let out a
rueful sigh.
     So much for tonight, Helena thought.  But there's always three days
from now.  After my son makes his decision.  And then, my dear Wynn, you
will listen and begin the path back to where you rightfully belong!

Chapter Four

     "Every video angle of what happened has been programmed into the
computer to give us an animated holographic version in three dimensions,"
Dr. Arnoff explained as he set up the monitor in the Electronics Lab. 
Cain, Tolen and Skyler were all seated in front of it waiting for the
presentation to begin.
     "So in theory we can stop and study what happened from any vantage
point?" Tolen asked.
     "Within reason, yes.  The fact that video scans existed from three
different vipers, as well as two cameras on the Pegasus, combined with
the telemetry allows for greater accuracy in----,"
     "I think your point has been made, Doctor," Cain cut him off in the
gentlest way possible.  "Proceed."
     The senior officers now watched an animated perspective of the Cylon
fighter as it headed toward the Pegasus.  From the keyboard, Arnoff made
adjustments to change the angle every few microns, going from a portside
view to one directly above to starboard and then back to port. 
     "I regret that I can not recreate the vantage point from inside the
Cylon raider itself," the Electronics Chief said, "As you know, our
Bridge telemetry recording systems have been incapable of recording
telemetry streams from Cylon fighters due to incompatibility issues. 
While we have isolated that issue during this retrofit thanks to spare
parts from Commander Dagora's BaseShip, the conversion process is only
one-third complete in Phoenix Squadron and did not include the subject
fighter that was destroyed yesterday."
     There's one mistake to cite for the final action report that has
nothing to do with Wynn, Cain thought as he folded his arms and watched. 
I should have had only fighters keyed to our telemetry recording system
on the Bridge play the role of the enemy in the attack.  Then we would
have known right away whether there was mechanical failure when it went
into that dive. Regardless of whether or not he'd have to permanently
ground Wynn from flying, this incident had highlighted other changes that
needed to be made for the future.
     The three senior officers watched the animated displays unfold. 
They were studying the moment when the raider went on its peculiar upward
trajectory that according to Wynn had made him sense something wasn't
right about the raider.  
     "Well?" Cain asked.  "Is the maneuver more than just unorthodox?"
     Skyler let out a sigh of frustration and shook his head, "I can't
say for sure.  That's the problem, Commander.  It's unorthodox and it
justifies paying attention to......but it's still not enough to say he
was going into a suicide dive."
     "Colonel?"
     "Agreed." Tolen said simply.
     "All right, Doctor," Cain said, "I want this in slow motion.  Show
me the trajectory as it starts to head downward and then from each angle,
freeze it so we can see where it is before Wynn's lasers incinerated it."
     "I'll have all three angles up in just a couple centons."
     They waited in silence.  It gave Cain time to ponder the silence
he'd received from Kylie last night after she'd said her piece.  This
issue was creating the first genuine case of marital strife he'd known
with her and he didn't like it one bit.  As a husband he wanted to listen
to her and give Wynn a reprieve from permanent grounding.  But as a
commander he knew he couldn't do otherwise if he didn't have the
conclusive evidence to justify such a decision.
     By all the Lords, don't put me in this box.  If the evidence is
there then give it to me!
     Finally, the Electronics Scientist brought up three separate images
on-screen, each showing the Cylon fighter positioned above the hull of
the Pegasus.  It was very close to the surface of the ship, but even Cain
could tell that the distance was not sufficient to have caused the
collision alarm on the Bridge to sound.  There had been pitched battles
between vipers and raiders at that point above the surface of the
Battlestar for many yahrens and it was something they'd long grown used
to.
     "What does that really tell us about his final trajectory?" Skyler
snorted in disgust.  "He could be skimming the top to remain at a safe
distance, but all it would take is a few degrees down and he's just
microns from impacting."
     "If we back it up, does it look like he's in a controlled dive or an
out-of-control dive?" Tolen ventured, keeping his tone more detached, but
the XO knew he was at an advantage over the two of them because of the
lack of a personal state in the outcome for him.
     "That wouldn't give us anything conclusive either," Skyler shook his
head.  "It's clearly a judgment call, and the only thing that can settle
it one way or the other is telemetry data from inside the raider."
     "Which we don't have access to, Major," Cain said quietly.  
     And whose fault is that?  Skyler asked to himself, not daring to
speak it aloud since he knew it was a subject where the blame could be
spread equally among the senior officers and among the top Cylons like
Cobre and Gryphon.  Instead he decided it was time to try something else
that hadn't been suggested.  Something he'd been thinking about all
night.
     "Maybe we can recover the data," he offered.
     "How?" Tolen frowned.  "The raider was blasted to nothing.  You'd be
lucky to find so much as one piece of space debris, let alone their
telemetry recorder."
     "I admit it's a longshot," Skyler acknowledged.  "But as long as
there's a possibility that there's a piece of space debris from that
raider floating out there, maybe it'll be something that can give us the
answer we're looking for."
     Cain smiled thinly, "It's a lot more than a longshot, Major.  But by
all means have a patrol sweep the area and have them retrieve every last
particle that can be traced to that raider."
     "With your permission, sir, I'd like to head the patrol myself,"
Skyler drew himself up. "I've had more than my fill of looking at
computer monitors."
     "Permission granted.  Don't work longer than an eight centar shift
though and confine it to a maximum of four vipers."
     Skyler saluted and left the Lab.  Cain and Tolen looked at the
animated displays for several more centons until finally, they felt
they'd seen enough.  They rose just in time to see the doors to the Lab
open and Commander Cobre enter.
     "Ah, Commander," Cain approached him, "Anything to report?"
     "Festus and Serpentine are helping Security conduct a full
inspection of the one remaining raider from Cannes," the command
centurion said.  "They have found nothing out of the ordinary."
     "Any potential mechanical abnormalities?"
     "None.  Your maintenance crew performed a thorough repair of some
internal wiring on both Raiders that came from Cannes, but they have
shown  no abnormalities in the time since."
     "Well, I know its tedious work, but have the check continue for the
rest of the day.  Even if it means rechecking the same systems over and
over for something tiny that could indicate potential sabotage or an
internal mechanical defect."
     "Fortunately, we Cylons are not capable of feeling tedium, as you
call it.  The maintenance and security crews may feel otherwise, but I
sense.....they are anxious to find anything that could vindicate the
pilot in question so that might override whatever tedium their emotional
psyche might ordinarily feel."
     Cain looked at him directly, "But you have no doubts as to their
integrity."
     "I certainly have no reason to doubt their integrity," Cobre said. 
"I hope you are not doubting your own personnel, Commander."
     "No," the Juggernaut sighed.  "But....this is, as we both know, a
difficult situation.  In the end, I only want the truth to prevail
regardless of what the implications are for any single individual."
     "We share that commitment, Commander," the command centurion bowed
his head respectfully and then moved off to assist Dr. Arnoff.  "Good
day."
     So far, it hasn't started off that way, Cain sighed as he made his
exit from the Lab.


     ".......Maybe that last sentence could be stronger.  We shouldn't
just say we have 'concerns' over Wynn being grounded, we should say we
'strongly object'......"
     Sergeant Harroun looked over at Marshak, "I'm willing, but do you
think the rest of the Squadron will sign their names to something that
strong?"
     Before Marshak could answer, there was an angry voice from the entry
to the pilots barracks, "What the frack is going on?"  The two pilots
immediately shot up from their berths to a ramrod position and saw Skyler
standing there, glaring visibly at the two of them.
     "We were just talking among ourselves, sir," Marshak didn't show any
signs of being intimidated.  He was prepared to respect his squadron
commander, but he wasn't going to hold anything back.
     "About what?" he drew up to the two pilots, who were the only ones
in the barracks.  
     "About the fact that we're not happy about the idea of Wynn being
grounded."
     "Who told you that Wynn was going to be grounded?" the Squadron
leader demanded.
     "He did, sir," the ensign held his ground.  "He....was letting off a
lot of steam last night after your talk with him in the OC."
     "And was it his idea to have you and the rest of the Squadron draw
up some kind of petition to send to Cain?"
     "No sir!" Wynn's wingmate matched the angry level.  "Wynn doesn't
know anything about this.  It's entirely my idea and Sergeant Harroun is
the first pilot I've approached about it."
     Skyler said nothing and just stood a mere fraction away from
Marshak, staring at him and waiting to see any sign of a cracking
composure.  But after thirty microns, Marshak was holding his ground
completely.  Finally, the squadron leader took two steps back and when he
spoke it was in quiet, but firm and commanding tone.
     "You're going to tear up that petition and I'm going to forget you
ever drew it up, Marshak," he said simply.  "I don't like the fact Wynn
is facing this any more than you do.  But we've got to spend the time
we've got left looking for the evidence to clear him, and not doing
foolhardy things like trying to undermine Cain's authority when we're on
the cusp of more important things," he held up a hand to keep Marshak
from saying anything in protest, "Yes, Marshak, I said more important
things.  Getting this Pulsar in place so we can finally head for home is
more important than anything else, and that includes the reputation of
any single individual.  Kobol knows I'd like to take a whole yahren to
look for the hot laser that would clear Wynn once and for all, but we
don't have the luxury of time any longer.  Especially when our cover
could be blown at any time and make the Imperious Leader send what's left
of his Fleet to the Colonies before we're ready to face them.  When we've
come this far already, we can't jeopardize that."
     "Wynn doesn't deserve this," Marshak seemed unmoved.
     "Then by God, Ensign let's do something about it!  I came down here
to look for volunteers to join me on an eight centar sweep to look for
space debris of that Raider.  Maybe, just maybe, the key to Wynn's
vindication is lying out there waiting for us to find it," he paused,
"Are the two of you up to the challenge?"
     "Yes sir!" Harroun spoke for the first time.  Marshak then nodded
and repeated the words.
     "Then let's get going."  Skyler said, feeling grateful he'd managed
to defuse a potential crisis before it got started.  But he also knew
that if they didn't find the evidence needed to clear Wynn, the crisis
was likely going to erupt again.


     After telling Tolen to return to the Bridge, Cain made his way down
to the Launch Bay so he could get his own firsthand look at the
inspection taking place on the one remaining Raider that had come from
the destroyed Cannes Garrison.  When he got there he could see six
centurions, led by Festus and Serpentine, interacting with the six
members of the maintenance crew led by Master Chief Livia.  The only
female on the Pegasus other than Kylie who had an important leadership
position had noticeable grease stains on her hands and orange coveralls,
revealing just how hard at work she'd been.  As soon as she saw Cain she
wasted no time coming up to him.
     "Forgive me for not saluting, sir," she sounded noticeably tired as
she indicated her grease-stained palms.  
     "Protocol is waived," he said simply.  "Anything new to report?"
     "Not a thing, sir," she shook her head.  "We've looked at every bit
of that Raider twice, and there aren't any flaws in it.  Theoretically
there shouldn't be because we gave it and the other Raider from Cannes a
full rewiring check after we recovered them.  If a mechanical flaw was
responsible for what happened with the other Raider.....it's not a design
flaw that was also in this one."
     Cain glanced over her shoulder and could see the tired looks on the
other maintenance tech workers.  "All right, Chief.  That's enough work
on this.  Get back to your regular duty assignments for today and tell
the centurions they're detached back to regular duty as well."
     "Yes sir," she nodded and turned away.  Cain didn't waste any time
leaving the Launch Bay since he was now finding it hard to conceal the
frustration building up inside him.
     If we don't find evidence, I have to ground Wynn, but if I do that
I'll reopen the whole underlying bad feeling that existed in the crew
before Ila arrived.  I can sense it in the air.  And the way Kylie acted
last night proves it.  She didn't say a word to me after she said she was
off-duty.  She's that mad at me about this and if I ground Wynn she may
never forgive me for that.
     Prudence would have dictated he bend and come up with another form
of disciplinary punishment for Wynn.  The kind of punishment he would
have given any other pilot.  But with Wynn there was a difference.  He
knew where Wynn had been and what Wynn had been transformed into.  And
even though he knew of the sacrifice his wife had made for Wynn to get
him freed from Count Iblis's clutches free and clear, Cain couldn't help
but wonder if this incident meant that Kylie hadn't been able to
completely free Wynn from bondage.  That maybe......even with Kylie's
sacrifice of never being able to have children, Count Iblis had still
found a way to use Wynn as a tool of disruption.  And if there was any
remote possibility of that being true......then Cain knew he could never
feel secure seeing Wynn inside a Viper cockpit again.  There would always
be doubt and mistrust on his part. 
     That was why he was committed to staying the course unless hard
evidence emerged to convince him otherwise.  And not just because of the
time deadlines the Pegasus faced to get the Pulsar operating and to get
back to the Colonies.
     I want to be wrong, he thought as he stepped on the turbo-lift.  But
so far....I see nothing to indicate that I am.  I'll have to make a
decision that will be the right thing to do as far as the good of our
mission objective is concerned.......but it may damage things between me
and Kylie just because it's Wynn.  And when she finds out about Wallis
and Kelli its only going to make things worse.
     Inside, he felt the need to pray harder.  It wasn't for Wynn's sake. 
It was for his own.


     Restricted duty meant that Wynn was expected to perform a shift of
administrative and security duties.  When he'd shown up at Security
Operations, Lieutenant Bryce could see what a foul mood the ensign was in
and immediately ordered him to report to the target range and brush up on
his firing skills even though Wynn wasn't due for a check for another
sectar.  But from Bryce's standpoint, it would be the best opportunity
for Wynn to let off some steam in a productive way.
     When he arrived he exchanged no words with Sergeant Keuchel, who was
manning the center that day.  Keuchel could see in Wynn's eyes a rage and
fury that needed to express itself.  Already, he was convinced the ensign
was likely going to bust the scoring on the target computer and break the
unofficial record that he'd been told Kylie had set nearly a yahren ago
in the period just before she and Cain started seeing each other.  
     The ensign didn't disappoint him.  Wynn's firing was precise and
methodical, with not a single miss.  As the bell sounded to indicate hit
after hit, Keuchel noticed how Wynn's expression remained the same.  The
level of fury in his eyes remaining constant as if none of it were being
expended.
     He's firing like a man possessed.


     Don't you feel the hate inside you?  The hate for how Cain has let
you down?  How even those you regard as your close friends like Major
Skyler aren't willing to go the extra distance?
     Wynn could hear that feminine voice inside his head as he kept
unloading his laser pistol on the target.  He tried not to acknowledge
its existence as he kept firing his laser pistol.
     If no one can help you.....there is another you can turn to. 
Someone who could give you....help.  If you will accept it of your own
free will.
     Abruptly, he reholstered his laser and without saying a word to
Keuchel he left the room, walking through the corridors and
hoping.....that the voice would disappear.  Despite the soft, gentleness
of the voice, something deep inside him was telling him not to listen to
it.....or acknowledge its existence.  Exactly why, he didn't know and
didn't want to know.  All he felt was a determination inside to shut that
voice out.  He knew he'd heard it last night after he'd left the
Officer's Club.  And he'd been hearing it all day since he'd awaken.  
     As he rounded the corner and decided to go to the Wardroom for a
bite to eat, the presence of the one who had spoken briefly appeared.  No
one would have been able to see her but for Wynn if he'd bothered to turn
around.  But he hadn't.
     He is strong, Helena thought.  This effort may be futile.....but it
must be attempted.  To see if he can be brought back to us.
     "Taking time off from your other assignment?"
     She turned around and saw standing before her with a glaring
expression, the white-garbed figure of the man who had once been
Executive Officer of the Battlestar Callisto when it was lost five
hundred yahrens ago.
     "Really, Delambre," she said disdainfully.  "You know that my power
is all but unlimited.  In the blink of an eye, I can be either here on
the Pegasus or back on the Galactica keeping dear little Marcus in line
for what he has to do."
     "But evidently you've been causing enough of a stir to the point
where a certain Empyrean Necromancer has sensed your presence," Delambre
folded his arms.  "Is that why you and your Master decided to take time
out from the Galactica and try to create an incident that could get your
lost minion from the Pegasus back under your control?"
     "Nothing about this incident was created by the Master or myself or
anyone in his service," she retorted.  "We know the rules, Delambre.  And
so do you.  But merely because Ensign Wynn was released does not mean he
is not a fair target from that point forward.  An opportunity has
presented itself, and we are taking advantage of it.  It is up to Ensign
Wynn to decide of his own free will if he will seek the help of another,
when it is clear that those he regards as his friends are letting him
down."
     "You know what the truth is about what happened out there and so do
I," Delambre warned. "If you or your Master try to interfere with the
efforts aimed at finding the truth.....that will be a violation of the
rules, Helena.  And since you are the primary mover of this little
affair, that would mean the scheme you have in mind for Sheba, using
Marcus, ends as well."
     A smirk passed over her face, "I suggest you tell John that this
little game of sending emissaries to issue warnings about staying within
the rules is futile.  Whether it's you, or my son's first wife or Captain
Apollo's first wife, it has no effect on me because you make the mistake
of assuming I'm that stupid.  The reason you can't stop our plans is
because we know how to anticipate what you would interpret as a violation
of the rules and the matter of free will.  That is why we will succeed."
     "That almost sounds like you're assuming an equal footing with your
Master, Helena," Delambre noted with just the faintest amusement.  But
she shook her head vigorously.
     "Do not think you can sow discord between us, Delambre.  I have
always known my place with him.  And right now, my place is helping him
achieve his greatest of victories.  If I fail to regain Ensign Wynn for
his service, it will be of no importance when it comes to the greater
things that lie ahead." she paused.  "Even now, events in the Risik
Capital are taking place to move that process further along."
     "So they are," he acknowledged.  "But remember.....there are those
among the Risik who are beginning to question the order imposed on them
long ago by your Master.  The seed of Enlightenment that came to the
Cylons is now beginning to sprout among them."
     "Races come and go after they have served their purpose," the woman
who was Commander Cain's mother shrugged and walked several steps away
from him.  "Whether the Risik stay devoted to the Master forever is of no
consequence.....provided the greater goals are fulfilled."
     "The permanent enslavement of your own granddaughter," Delambre
faintly shook his head with disgust.
     "The contract Marcus made must be fulfilled," she turned around and
looked the one-time Callisto XO in the eye, "And his will shall be done."
     Delambre kept his composure as he knew he had to.  He realized the
conversation had run its course.
     "I've done what I had to do," he said.  "But remember.....no matter
what spot of the universe you choose to occupy to do your master's
bidding......you are always being watched."
     "That does not intimidate me at all," she laughed mockingly, "In
fact, I revel in the fact that your kind can watch.....and do nothing
except bore me with visits like this."
     He said nothing since the desire to get the last word in was a
selfish impulse that he could never indulge in.  Instead, he stepped back
and then in the blink of an eye was gone.
     So much for that, Helena smirked again.  And now, back to more
important matters.


     Cain spent most of the cycle trying to find other things to occupy
his mind.  He found the best way to do that was to go down to the
reconfigured missile bay area which now housed the new, but still
untested Pulsar weapon.  For several centars, Technician Bremer, along
with two Theta workers from the surface gave him an up-close tour and
inspection of the weapon in its final installed state.  The two Thetans,
one male, one female, spoke with pride in how their Father-Creator, Dr.
Ravashol, had been able to devise on short notice a replacement for the
original Pulsar that would guarantee their long-term safety from any
outside assault.  But not wanting to make his colony of Thetans and their
children a permanent fortress subject to constant attack from the Cylons,
he had also hit upon the idea of reactivating Command Centurion Vulpa in
the hopes that Vulpa's potential for Enlightenment might make a
difference with the centurions sent in to re-establish Cylon control. 
That gambit had proved successful, resulting in the cooperative
relationship between Thetans and the newly Enlightened Cylons who could
at the same time keep the prying eyes of the Imperious Leader away by
pretending to still be loyal to the High Command.
     Hearing the Thetans recount all that as they gave the inspection
tour only reinforced in Cain's mind the urgency of getting underway and
why waiting indefinitely on Ensign Wynn's situation was a non-issue as
far as he was concerned.  The Thetans and Dr. Ravashol had pulled off the
impossible of keeping the High Command at bay, just as Governor Malus had
pulled off the impossible by keeping the High Command at bay from the
Colonies and just as he had pulled off the impossible of keeping the
Pegasus' survival a secret from the High Command.  Yet all it could take
was the unraveling of a single thread for all of that to come undone and
put Arcta, the Colonies and the Pegasus in danger from the task force the
Imperious Leader had at his disposal.
     Hell, who knows if that BaseShip's arrival in the Risik Capital has
changed things.
     After finishing the inspection, he took his time returning to the
Bridge.  He knew if a major break had developed, there'd be a Unicom
announcement urging him to come to there.  Plus, he wasn't sure he wanted
to face Kylie, who he knew wasn't happy about the situation.  So he
passed the time doing inspections of several other areas of the Pegasus. 
By the time he did return to the Bridge, his wife had gone off-duty and
only Tolen was there on the upper deck.
     "Sir, Major Skyler's patrol just returned from their sweep for
debris from the Raider."
     "Did they find anything?" Cain knew he had to ask.
     "They picked up some items and are taking them to Dr. Arnoff's lab
for analysis but....they didn't find any telemetry or flight recorder
components.  The Cylon crews gave them meticulous instruction on what
those should look like if they're floating around out there."
     "Well, it seemed like a longshot anyway," Cain sighed, "I suppose
they'll try again tomorrow?"
     "Skyler says he's willing to, but......their sweep was pretty
thorough   He doesn't think they'll find anything more."
     "Thanks for the report, Colonel," he turned and immediately left the
Bridge.  He knew it was time to go back to his quarters and see if his
instinct about Kylie was right.  He was almost hoping she wasn't there,
because that would mean she'd decided she wasn't in the mood for a
confrontation either.
     When he arrived though, he saw her seated on the edge of the desk. 
That was her way of saying she wanted to talk to him as his wife and not
as his subordinate.  But the look on her face made it clear she was even
more angry than she'd been the previous night.
     Before he could say anything, she held up a sheet of paper, "Why
didn't you tell me about this?"
     Cain froze.  She was holding the request sent to him yesterday by
Wallis and Kelli.
     "I didn't think it was the right time for you to find out they've
put in a request to stay behind on Arcta," he kept his voice level. 
"You're upset as it is about the Wynn situation.  I didn't want to add to
that last night."
     She slipped off the desk and came up to him.  "I'm a big girl, Cain. 
I can handle bad news like that.  If Wallis and Kelli want to stay behind
on Arcta, that's their business and no one else's.  I'm certainly not
going to try to change their minds just because," she suddenly lowered
her head and sighed, "Just because it means....." she shook her head as a
wave of emotion came over her, "Oh Hades!" 
     He wanted to reach out and hold her in his arms, but he sensed she
didn't want him to touch her right now.  He kept his distance and allowed
Kylie the time to compose herself.
     "After all," she slowly exhaled.  "It's better for their kids to
stay.  There are scores of Theta children on the planet for Linden and
Karin to play with and they need that more than they need their Auntie
Kylie acting out Lord Georges killing the Draco again to them.  Arcta is
more stable than the Colonies are right now.  It's an established
community and Wallis and Kelli could get a lot more done as agro-techs
here than they could in the Colonies.  The decision makes sense." she
straightened herself and then glared at her husband, "You don't have to
patronize me by thinking I can't handle news like that."
     "I wasn't patronizing you, Kylie," Cain wasn't going to let himself
raise his voice to her.  "I know how much those kids mean to you. 
Especially after.....what happened to you.  I just didn't want to make
last night any worse than it was.  Besides, you weren't in a conversing
mood after you said your piece about Wynn."
     Her eyes narrowed, "Your....command judgment as it were?"
     "My judgment as your concerned husband, Kylie."
     "Which means we're back to patronizing, because you think my
emotions are still that fragile when it comes to me and kids."
     "When it comes to those kids, Kylie," he said pointedly.  "I've
heard you say more than once how much it still means to you to spend just
one centar every sectan with them and be their Auntie who learned how to
bond with them after they came aboard at Brylon.  Do you really think you
needed to hear that news last night after everything else?  Hades, you're
not taking it well now.  The ideal time would have been after this whole
business with Wynn was settled.  Why do you think Wallis and Kelli
haven't mentioned it to you yet?"
     The anger dissipated slightly from Kylie's face, "Point taken. 
But....they could have just as easily expected you to tell me once you
got the request."
     "Let's not argue about it," he decided he wasn't going to plead. 
"This is something for later.  After the matter of Wynn is settled."
     A mirthless smirk formed at the corner of her lip, "We may end up
arguing more about that tonight."
     "Must we?"
     "I might as well give you my proposal I mentioned last night, seeing
as how nothing's breaking in his favor based on what I heard today," she
said. 
     "I'm listening."
     Kylie drew herself up so that her bearing and poise was as firm and
confident as could be, "Give him two sectans in the Brig.  That way you
let him and the Cylons know that a serious error in judgment can't go
unpunished and that you don't play favorites with anyone, which is how it
should be.  But don't ground him permanently."
     Cain didn't answer her, but it wasn't because he was trying to
intimidate her with Juggernaut style silence.  It was because he was
waiting to hear more from her.  Only when he heard nothing more did he
finally speak.  "That's it?  Put him in the Brig?"
     "That would still make it a stiffer penalty than Technician Bremer
got for what he did."
     He knew he was going to be in for another rough ride with her and he
was determined to play things as gently as he could, "Bremer's situation
was different, Kylie.  That was a mental breakdown.  One thing we're all
agreed on is that Wynn didn't lose his mind when he opened fire on the
Raider or have any kind of blackout."
     "A lot of people in the crew, especially the pilots, will think
there's a double standard," his wife held her ground.  "Do you really
want to run the risk of turning back the chronometer to the days when
this crew was divided into camps of Grumblers and Loyalists?  They don't
have the slightest idea what Wynn went through, just like he doesn't, but
they do know he's suffered enough and doesn't deserve this kind of
treatment.  Especially since they also know that if it were any other
pilot, you wouldn't even consider permanent grounding as a punishment."
     "But you and I both know Wynn is different, Kylie," he decided he
couldn't hold back his inner feelings on the subject since he'd vowed
never to keep any secrets from her if their marriage was going to work. 
"We may not have all the details, but we know where he was, and what he
was during that time.  Haven't you considered the possibility that what's
happening to Wynn may have something to do with.....that?"
     It took his wife a micron to realize what he meant and a dark cloud
came over her.  She began vigorously shaking her head.
     "No.  If that's the reason you're using to justify grounding him,
then frankly that makes you sound like you're paranoid, Cain."
     "It's not an unreasonable thought, Kylie," he kept his tone gentle
but she only shook her head more vigorously.
     "No, damn it.  Not after the price I paid to free him.  My mind may
not remember everything, but I made it damn clear that freeing Wynn meant
no strings were attached.  If you think he's suddenly reverting
to....what he was, then that means the price I paid was for nothing.  I'm
never going to believe that," her voice started to rise and get
emotional.  "I can't believe that. That what I did to get him freed was
for nothing....."
     Cain's eyes widened and he realized immediately the horrible mistake
he'd just made.  Impulsively he reached out and pulled his wife to him.
     "I'm sorry," he whispered, "Lords, I'm so sorry, Kylie.  Forgive
me."
     She didn't draw away from him but at the same time, she didn't sound
ready to forgive, "Are you sorry you thought it, or are you just sorry
you said it to me?"
     "Kylie," he whispered.  "Please.  I.....look, I know I should have
thought of how that would look from your perspective, but......I'm still
at a blasted disadvantage.  I don't have my memory of that event back.  I
know I saw you make that sacrifice for Wynn, but I can't connect to how
it unfolded because my memory's still gone on it.  If only I could
remember seeing what you went through, then I wouldn't have been so
thoughtless.  And.....yes, maybe I wouldn't be so damned paranoid that
maybe Iblis found a way to get around what should have been an iron-clad
guarantee he could never use Wynn again," his voice rose in exasperation,
"Damn it all, if we just had one tangible piece of evidence that backed
up Wynn's judgment on this, we wouldn't be going through all this
felgercarb right now!"
     His frustration seemed to soften the anger and resentment she'd been
feeling toward him.  She suddenly embraced him tightly.
     "If I can't believe what I did for Wynn ultimately served a higher
purpose, I lose all my reason to have faith in God and the idea that
there is Good in the Universe," she said softly.  "Don't you understand,
Cain?  If I can't believe Wynn is free from Iblis forever, then it
destroys everything I can still have hope in.  Can't you see that?"
     "I wish I had your faith, Kylie," the Juggernaut sighed, "I wish I
had Adama's faith.  I wish I had Ila's faith.  It's not that I still have
any Skeptic tendencies.  I know there are powers greater than ours in the
Universe.  What doesn't come easy to me is being able to trust them
automatically.  Like right now for instance.  If Wynn acted rightly, then
why can't they make sure we can have the evidence that would prove that,
so we can move on from this whole thing? Why drag this out when its
holding us up from more important things that impact hundreds of
thousands of lives potentially?  But if nothing turns up.....then maybe
that's a sign that Wynn didn't act rightly.  And if I have to face that
possibility, then how can I not consider the idea that maybe Iblis still
found a way to make use of him?  Maybe in a way so that Wynn doesn't know
he's doing Iblis's bidding."
     He let go of her and looked his wife in the eye, "I have too much
room for doubt, Kylie.  Maybe.....maybe if I could remember seeing what
you went through so it was an event burned in me like it is with you, I'd
be able to believe that Iblis has nothing to do with this.  But.....the
Lords haven't given me my memory back.  Is there a reason for that?  Is
it because I saw something you didn't that would be too painful for you
and me to know?"
     The anger was gone from Kylie now that she'd heard him explain
things.  There was still some disappointment in her that Cain hadn't
instinctively dismissed the possibility and hadn't considered the
ramifications for herself.  But she could at least see how his attitude
had been shaped by the burden of command and his frustration over not
having something specific to act on that could settle the whole matter
right away.  
     "Trust me, Cain," she said simply.  "Whatever the explanation is
behind this, Wynn isn't doing Iblis's bidding.  Put that out of the
equation and just.....put him in the Brig for two sectans if you don't
find evidence to exonerate him by your deadline.  But don't ground him. 
You can trust him to fly again, and he needs to fly again."
     He let out a long, sad sigh.  He wanted to trust her.  He hated
himself for the fact that he couldn't trust her instinctively on
this......and yet, there was still one part of him that felt that if he
gave in on this he'd be going against his own command instincts, and that
was something he'd vowed long ago, when he first attained command of the
Pegasus that he'd never let himself do. 
     "Kylie," he finally spoke, "Let's.....sit on this for one more day. 
We have one more day to find the evidence we need and if nothing's
changed.......then I'll consider what you say.  Don't make me commit
now."
     "Are you committed already and just stalling for time, Cain?" the
disappointment returned to her voice.  "If you are, then you're just
patronizing me again."
     She knows me too damned well, he thought.  She's not like Bethany or
Cassie because she thinks like a warrior, just like I do.  He realized
the only way to deflect this was to say something the warrior side of her
could connect to.
     "Are you giving up on Wynn's innocence already, Kylie?" Cain asked
with more of the edge of the commander than the husband.  "Because if you
want me to decide now, that means you have no faith in the Lords that
they'll vindicate him before the deadline passes."
     Her reaction immediately vindicated his judgment as the
disappointment and anger vanished.  Replaced by an uneasy dose of
self-awareness just like he'd felt a centon ago.  
     "Point," she slowly nodded and then smiled crookedly, "I
guess.....we've both learned how to hit each other where it hurts,
haven't we?"
     He matched it, "Just a comment on how compatible we really are even
when we fight."
     "All right," his wife shifted to a tone of resignation.  "We're on
hold for one more day.  And if the Lords answer my prayer......I won't
ever ask you if you were already committed to grounding him no matter
what."
     Answer her prayer, he thought simply as she moved off to change for
bed, though he knew there'd be no romantic intimacy tonight between them. 
And mine too.  For our sake as much as his.


     For the second straight night, Wynn sat in his bunk looking up at
the ceiling with a brooding air of bitterness.  Skyler had candidly told
him they'd searched high and low for space debris from the Cylon Raider
and had found nothing of significance.  He'd promised to make another
patrol sweep tomorrow but realistically it wasn't likely they'd find
anything that could be of help since the only debris that could help Wynn
would be a voice or data recorder.  Only those devices could shed some
light on what was going on inside the cockpit when the Raider went into
its dangerous dive on the Pegasus that had forced Wynn into action.  And
the odds that one of those two devices were still intact out there and
had data that could be extracted.......were seemingly beyond
comprehension.
     "Your friends have let you down.  They are of no help to you in your
greatest centar of turmoil."
     There it was again.  That damned voice inside his head.  Soft. 
Sympathetic.  Feminine.  And.....familiar?  Was it a voice he'd heard
some time before it had begun to pop in his head yesterday evening when
he'd stormed out of the Officer's Club?  He couldn't think of a
connection he was aware of.  The only female voice he'd known all that
time was Kylie's.
     "I can help you.  If you really want it.  But you must.....come to
me."
     He put his hands up to his forehead and gently rocked his head back
and forth.  As if he hoped what he was hearing would just spill out of
his head and go away if he shook it gently.  It seemed absurd, but he
found the idea of this voice even more absurd.  
     Damn it, the last thing I need is to hear voices inside my head!  I
am not going to crack up, because by the Lords that would only make it
seem like I cracked up out there and I did NOT crack up!  That Raider was
threatening the Pegasus and I acted the way a good pilot in that
situation was supposed to act!
     He pressed his fingers against his temples harder, wondering if
induced pain might make the voice go away.  It didn't.
     "Don't shut me out.  Come to me.  I will tell you where."
     Think, he raged internally.  Think.  There must be something
everyone's overlooked.  Cain, Skyler, the whole fracking lot of them. 
Something stuck in their heads like mine that should be obvious and
yet......
     He then came up in his bed as something occurred to him. 
Stuck.....stuck.  Oh Lords, it's silly but maybe this is it!
     He quickly bolted from his bunk and hurried across the barracks to
where Skyler was fast asleep.  With no sense of propriety, he began to
shake the Squadron Commander's shoulder vigorously.
     "Cap," he whispered through clenched teeth, "Cap, wake up!"
     Skyler came to and he quickly swatted Wynn's arm away as he
struggled to a sitting position, "Frack.....Wynn, what's the idea?"
     "Cap," Wynn leaned close and kept his voice at a whisper, "When you
looked for debris from that Raider did you check for any debris lodged
against the hull?"
     He squinted uncomprehending at the ensign, "Huh?"
     "The hull, Cap, the Pegasus' hull!" he raised his voice slightly but
not loud enough to rouse the other sleeping pilots, "When I hit that
damned Raider, he was so close to the hull, some of the debris must have
lodged against it somewhere.  Did you check?"
     The cobwebs finally disappeared from Skyler's head, "Well.....no. 
We were checking....the coordinates where it happened."
     "But coordinates don't mean anything if some debris lodged against
the hull!" Wynn's voice rose.  "You've got to check for it now!"
     "Wynn," Skyler said patiently, "Thank you for pointing that out. 
I'll have it checked in the morning."
     "For God's sake, Cap check it now!" a pleading edge entered the
Ensign's voice, "If this is just a false hope of mine, then let's settle
the matter now.  Don't make me twist in the wind all night.  I need to
know now, and then....." he shook his head, "Please, Cap.  Please."
     The sight of him reduced to this was something Skyler knew he
couldn't ignore.  And the Squadron Leader also knew that fundamentally,
Wynn was right.
     "All right," he threw back the blanket and got to his feet.  "All
right, I'll take care of it....now.  We can have the matter settled in a
centar."
     He moved past him and quickly rapped his hand on the side of
Marshak's bunk, "Wake up, Marshak.  We're going flying."
     Dear Lords, Wynn lifted his eyes upward, Please let this be it.  If
it's not it, why did this just pop into my head just now?  Let this be
it.


     "It is it."
     Helena, who had been watching from the other side of the room,
unseen and prepared to show herself to Wynn in the event he responded to
her, didn't turn around.
     "You heard me, Helena," Delambre knew he couldn't gloat.  "He's
figured it out.  And you're not going to make the evidence disappear."
     Now she turned to face him with the bemused air, "You're making the
mistake again of thinking I'm stupid, Delambre.  That attitude is going
to be the undoing of you and all you serve with in service to One who
will never prevail over the Master.....or me."
     "For now, you have lost," Delambre was unmoved, "Tomorrow.....things
change."
     The woman who had been Commander Cain's mother shrugged her
shoulders, "As I said before, Delambre.  Nothing ventured, nothing
gained.  The final resolution of things does not depend on whether Wynn
returned to our service or not.  It is time now to move on to other
matters of greater interest."
     "'Our service'," he shook his head with amusement, "There you go,
sounding so.....co-equal again."
     She faintly shook her head as if to indicate she wasn't going to
take his bait.  "If you or one of your compatriots wishes to keep track
of me......you will find me observing things on the Galactica for the
near-term.  My one-time husband needs to see the occasional reminder of
my presence.....to keep him in line."
     And then, she was gone.  Leaving the one-time XO of the Callisto
feeling relieved and at the same time, well aware that this was only the
end of a minor matter in the bigger picture of what still lay ahead.

Chapter Five

     Cain's routine on the Pegasus had remained unchanged over the
yahrens.  If there was no alert situation he would always rise at 0600
according to the Caprican Standard time chronometer the battlestar
remained set to.  If some emergency situation did develop, it would mean
the comline on his desk at the other end of his office/quarters would
sound, which would necessitate getting out of bed and making his way
across the room to answer it.  In the last six yahrens, Cain could count
on one hand the number of times he'd been forced to make that journey
across the room, since every other time he expected to be roused before
0600 he'd always prepared for it by sleeping in his chair behind his
desk.
     That was why it was a jolt to him to hear the comline chime sound,
disrupting him from his sleep.  He threw back the sheets and hurried
over, wondering if this meant a worst case scenario had erupted.  Behind
him, Kylie had stirred awake and come up to a sitting position on the
bed.
     "Yes?" he answered it urgently.
     "Commander, you need to come down to Dr. Arnoff's lab immediately,"
Skyler's voice said with an edge of excitement.
     "This had better be good, Major," he didn't conceal the annoyance
from his tone now that he realized this had nothing to do with a
potential attack.
     "Oh it is, Commander.  We've found the evidence that clears Wynn."
     Abruptly the annoyance disappeared from the Juggernaut.  "You've
found it?"
     "We've found it, sir.  We wouldn't have gotten you up if we hadn't
confirmed it."
     "I'm on my way!" Cain shut off the comline and quickly turned to
head back to the other end of the room so he could dress.  He stopped in
his tracks when he saw Kylie out of bed, standing there with a determined
look.  Immediately, he broke into a smile.
     "Yes, you're coming down there too, Captain."
     She returned it, "Thank you, sir!"


     "When Wynn suggested that maybe some of the debris from the Raider
might have lodged against the hull, I took Marshak out and we did a
thorough topside scan sweep from stem to stern," Skyler said as soon as
Cain and Kylie arrived.  Centurions Festus and Serpentine were standing
in front of a table that two distinct pieces of debris were resting on. 
Cain immediately recognized one piece of debris as the remains of a
centurion helmet.  The other piece, nearly a half metrone in diameter was
unfamiliar to him.
     "And you found these items?"
     "Yes.  The helmet was lodged underneath the forward turret gun.  The
second item was jammed up under the base of the Bridge Tower."
     "What is the second item?" Cain folded his arms and looked at them
intently.
     "It is a voice recorder," Festus spoke up.  "Cylon Raiders are
equipped with them to record all exchanges among cockpit personnel during
an actual combat flight.  Some BaseShip commanders were known to review
them for efficiency rating evaluations."
     "And the data was intact?" Kylie spoke up, surprised that such an
object that could be so essential had managed to survive the incineration
of the Raider under laser fire.
     "It was," Festus nodded, "For a period of fifteen centons prior to
actual destruction."
     "Voice recorders are equipped with extra levels of internal
shielding to offer some hope of surviving total destruction under laser
fire," Serpentine added. 
     "Thank goodness for Cylon ingenuity," Cain caught himself from
prefacing his remarks with the words, 'I never thought I'd say this,
but.....'.  "You've already played this back."
     "We have, sir.  The file's been retrieved, processed and digitized,"
Skyler said.  
     "Play it for me now."
     The Squadron Leader pressed a button on a terminal and soon the last
conversations that took place aboard the destroyed Raider filled the lab.
     "Assume heading mark two-five-six toward the Pegasus," the humanoid
voice of Flight Leader Decius spoke.
     "Flight Two reports they have been successfully killed by pursuing
viper.  They are retreating to begin next phase," this from one of the
two pilots, speaking in a conventional Cylon voice.
     "Flight Three status?" Decius inquired.
     "Flight Three has eluded pursuit.  Closing in on Pegasus Beta Bay. 
Likely target for Pegasus point defense turret."
     "Avoid Pegasus landing bays.  We will prepare for simulated strafing
attack on topside hull from amidships to Bridge Tower.  Let pursuing
Viper only score kill on us.  Avoid ability for Pegasus turret to score
simulated kill."
     "Simulated targeting set for Pegasus strafing run."
     Several microns of silence passed and then one of the pilots spoke
next.
     "Controls are operating sluggishly......not at peak level of turning
efficiency."
     "Flight Three is confirmed kill by Pegasus laser turret.  Now
withdrawing to begin next attack phase cycle," the second pilot chimed
in.  But when Flight Leader Decius spoke, he only directed himself to the
first pilot.
     "Clarify problem in turning efficiency."
     "Controls reacted too slow for full execution.  Five micron delay in
achieving course heading.  Indications that ailerons and rudder are not
responding as quickly as they should."
     "Controls are not jammed or non-functional?"
     "Negative, they are merely....operating slower than they should."
     "Pursuing viper closing on us," the second pilot chimed in.
     "Let us apply new flight technique taught to us by Colonials,"
Decius instructed.  "Take us on upward trajectory arc prior to initiating
strafing dive.  This will allow full test of ailerons and rudder to make
sure they are not damaged."
     "Executing upward trajectory arc."
     As Cain and Kylie listened, things began to fall into place.  But
neither said anything as they waited for the rest of the recording to
play out.
     "Ailerons and rudder......not performing to normal efficiency.  More
pressure needed to maintain control......."
     "Apply more pressure!" Decius's voice rose and since his voice had
been reprogrammed to sound human, there was even an edge of humanlike
concern creeping in.
     "Entering strafing dive," the second pilot intoned.
     "Apply maximum pressure to aileron and rudder control!" Decius was
almost shouting.  "If collision is imminent with hull, break radio
silence and issue unicom warning!"
     "Coming out of dive.  We are......out of dive.  Four microns above
hull.  But.....controls are strained.  Not sure if we have ability to
pull up."
     "Bridge Tower approaching," pilot number two reported.  "Fifty
percent danger of collision unless we pull up.  Ten microns to potential
impact."
     "Pull up!" Decius ordered.  "Maneuver us away from hull and then
break radio silence so we can report system malfunction!"
     And then......the recording abruptly stopped.  Cain said nothing for
several microns and then looked at Skyler who was smiling with deep
satisfaction.
     "They were having trouble with their aileron and rudder controls,"
the Juggernaut said aloud.  "The crazy upward trajectory was their way of
trying to clear up the problem and then the controls fracked out when
they pulled out of the dive."
     "We can't tell if they would have been able to pull up in time but
they knew a potential collision with the Bridge Tower was possible and
they were on the verge of breaking radio silence about it."  Skyler said. 
"There's no question Wynn read the situation accurately.  Maybe he acted
a micron or two prematurely at most, but there's no question it was a
real danger and it's likely that in another micron or two the Collision
Alarm on the Bridge would have been triggered."
     "But what caused the controls to go bad on them?" Kylie asked.
     "We'll probably never know the answer to that since we didn't find a
telemetry recorder," Skyler said, "Festus and Serpentine do have a theory
though."
     "Lack of proper lubrication to the ailerons would impact their
maneuvering ability," Festus spoke.  "It is possible some mishap took
place in regard to that."
     Cain frowned, "But haven't all Raiders and Vipers undergone routine
maintenance checks to prevent that sort of thing from happening?"
     "Affirmative," Serpentine nodded, "This particular Raider had its
last maintenance check only three sectans ago."
     Cain's attention then went over to the helmet, "Did that reveal
anything the recorder didn't?"
     "Only to this extent," Skyler said.  "This looks to have been the
helmet worn by one of the two pilots.  And it contains a video receptacle
that recorded the last five centons of what things looked like from his
vantage point.  So in addition to the audio from the cockpit recorder we
also had a visual record of how things looked from the cockpit
perspective."
     "Let me see it."
     Silver Spar leader hit the terminal and now Cain and Kylie saw a
silent video, grainy looking in comparison to the external video
telemetry recordings from the Vipers, but still quite easy to make out. 
He could see the gleaming silver plated arms of a Cylon pilot reaching
out and manipulating switches and control gauges on the cockpit
instrument panel.  On the top half of the screen, was the view out the
cockpit window.  The looming form of the Pegasus was quite distinct and
growing closer.  But what caught Cain's attention was how the arms of the
centurion pilot were moving in a jerky, rapid fashion as they made
adjustments to the controls.
     "We haven't had time to synch this to the audio," Skyler said.  "But
it's obvious that what we're seeing here is the difficulty the Cylon
pilot had with the aileron and rudder controls."
     Cain said nothing as he continued to watch.  Now he could see the
unexpected upward climb of the Raider followed by the strafing dive. 
Again, the rapid arm movements of the pilot testified to the struggle
with the controls.  Once he could see the Raider moving over the top of
the battlestar's hull, a clear picture of the danger that Wynn alone had
spotted became evident.  By the time the video abruptly ended with a big
white flash, Cain knew there was no room for doubt in his or anyone
else's mind.
     "They weren't going to pull up," Cain said aloud.  "They may not
have been close enough for the Collision Alarm to sound but that was only
because Wynn took quick action.  He had no other choice because we never
would have had enough time to activate our turrets."
     Cain then turned to the two Cylons, "It wasn't Decius's fault or the
two pilots.  Something mechanical happened that no one in the cockpit was
expecting.  We can all take comfort in the fact that this whole incident
wasn't the result of one of our own cracking under pressure or one of
your own rebelling against Enlightenment."
     "That is reassuring," Festus acknowledged.  "Hopefully we will
discern what caused the controls to not respond properly so that we never
see this happen again."
     "Indeed.  That's our next priority now before we resume tests on the
pulsar," Cain nodded and turned to Kylie, "Report to the Bridge and tell
Colonel Tolen to report to my quarters immediately.  You have the con."
     "Yes sir," his wife nodded and left the lab.  Cain looked back at
Skyler who was still smiling with a faint edge of satisfaction.
     "Where is Wynn?"
     "I told him to wait in the barracks until you'd had a chance to see
the evidence, sir," Silver Spar Leader said.  "Shall I have him report to
your quarters immediately?"
     "By all means, Major." Cain then looked him in the eye, "And if I so
much as see a hint of an 'I-told-you-so' in his face or yours, it'll be a
night in the brig for both of you."
     "Yes sir!" the smile vanished from Skyler's face as he too departed.


     "So as you have no doubt seen and heard, Ensign, there was clear
evidence of mechanical failure that was putting the Raider on a collision
course with the Bridge Tower," Cain said fifteen centons later as Wynn
stood at perfect ram-rod attention in front of his desk.  Tolen was
behind Cain and Skyler, his face devoid of emotion was seated to one side
of the ensign.  "Even if the Raider did have enough time to pull out and
avoid a collision, the timing factor was so close that your reaction to
the situation as it existed represented the sound instincts of a trained
pilot under pressure.  You are hereby formally cleared of any wrongdoing
or errors of judgment in regard to this tragic incident and will in time
receive formal commendation for your actions that likely prevented
serious damage and injuries to the Pegasus."
     "Thank you, sir!" Wynn didn't move and didn't put too much gratitude
in his tone, not because he didn't feel any but because he knew Cain
wouldn't have wanted him to express it.
     The Juggernaut then rose from his chair.
     "Remember Ensign......this entire proceeding was always from the
outset concerned only with discovering the truth.  And thanks to your
insight as to where to look, as well as with the blessings of the Lords,
the truth has been found out.  I know that in the future when we'll be
conducting difficult combat operations in the Cylon Home System, you'll
be up to the challenge just as you were in this situation."  He paused,
"Dismissed."
     Wynn saluted sharply, and then left the room.  Only when he was out
in the corridor did he decide it was safe to let out a grin and a victory
dance.
     And thank the Lords, that voice I was hearing is gone now.

     "The only thing left now is the matter of why the ailerons and
rudder weren't properly lubricated and fracked up the systems on the
Raider," Cain said.  "It didn't have anything to do with the fact it came
from Cannes, or else we would have noticed lubrication problems on the
other Raider yesterday."  He looked at the two senior officers,
"Theories?"
     "We're in a lot of trouble if the lubricating grease we're using on
our ships isn't doing the job properly," Skyler said, "Because that would
mean every Raider would be susceptible to the same problem in control
that this one went through, and Lords help us, maybe our Vipers could
become at risk."
     "What causes lubricating grease to lose its effectiveness in a short
period of time, since this Raider had its maintenance check only a few
sectans ago?" Cain brought his hands together. "There has to be something
obvious that accounts for it, and let's not assume the whole supply of
what we're using is no good.  I want to think of a reason that would
cause a failure in isolation with just one craft."
     Tolen, despite not having been a viper pilot in more than thirteen
yahrens suddenly spoke up, "Cold weather."
     Cain turned around to face him, "Cold weather?"
     "Yes.  Prolonged exposure to extreme cold weather causes the
lubricant to lose its viscosity, which means its quite possible that 
when you need to use ailerons and rudder to conduct fancy maneuvers in
combat.....suddenly they don't move as fast as they should."
     Skyler slowly rose from his chair as things became clear to him. 
"And we've been parked above an ice planet for more than eight sectars
now and a number of our ships have made trips to the planet for sustained
periods to bring supplies and personnel back and forth."
     "What you say makes sense except for one thing," Cain noted, "Why
should the cold on Arcta have any greater impact on the lubricant than
the vacuum of space?"
     "The cold combined with the atmospheric composition of the planet,
perhaps," Tolen said, as he thought back to what he'd learned in science
courses as an Academy cadet.  "Prolonged exposure to Di-Ethene in
temperatures that low could easily affect the viscosity curve at a more
accelerated rate than say, prolonged exposure in the vacuum of space
would."
     "All of that is theoretical, Colonel, and I don't have the luxury of
time to conduct full-blown viscosity breakdown tests on the surface,"
Cain said, "But having said that.....if we discover that this Raider made
prolonged visits to the surface since their last maintenance check three
sectans ago......then I think we'll have found the last missing piece of
the puzzle."
     It only took five centons for the information Cain wanted to be
relayed from the Bridge.  When they saw the results, the Juggernaut
slammed his open palm against the table.
     "There it is," he said, "Decius's Raider made two trips to the
surface to bring some components back and his Raider spent over two
straight days at one point parked out in the open at the Aerodrome
facility on the planet, and that was just last sectan!  With the
temperatures down there and the constant Di-Ethene storms, it's no wonder
the lubricant lost some viscosity.  And the reason the problem wasn't
noticed was because you don't need to make fancy turn maneuvers just to
go to and from the surface!  It was only in those simulated combat
conditions that they realized there was a problem."
     "I would have thought the lubricant would have been strong enough to
handle those kinds of conditions if the Cylons were already used to
operating on the planet," Skyler shook his head in amazement.
     "Their lubricant is, Major, but not our lubricant," Cain felt a deep
level of rising satisfaction inside him as each element of the mystery
fell into place.  "That's the mistake we've been making all this time. 
We need to make certain that every ship that goes down to the surface and
spends extended time there gets re-lubricated with what they use before
they leave.  It's obvious our own lubricant isn't equipped to handle the
sustained cold periods unique to Arcta.  At least as far as the Cylon
ships are concerned.  Just to make sure, I'm going to cross-check how
many Vipers of ours have been on the surface for extended periods and
might have problems too."
     "I'll get on that, sir," Skyler said. "We need to have all of that
addressed before we resume the Pulsar tests."
     "And I want those tests resumed tomorrow, so get cracking, Major."
     Skyler saluted and left, leaving Cain and Tolen alone.  The XO let
out a sigh of relief.
     "Thank the Lords it wasn't as bad as we thought."
     Cain turned around in his chair to face him, "It was still bad,
Colonel.  We ended up exposing some major areas of inefficiency that we
should have picked up on a long time ago.  Wrong lubricant for cold
weather.  Failure to connect Cylon telemetry to the Bridge recorders. We
have to make sure all of that's straightened out before we can finally
get underway, even if the rest of the Pulsar tests go off without a
hitch."
     "I was talking about Wynn, sir," Tolen said calmly.  "Given the
alternative, it's a lot better to find out we've had some inefficiencies
that have gone unaddressed."
     "True," Cain conceded and turned his chair away from the XO, "True."
     "After all sir.....there are still a lot of unanswered questions
regarding.....where he was all that time, aren't there?"
     Cain didn't turn back to face him, "There's nothing I can tell you
about that, Colonel."
     "Can or won't, sir?" Tolen decided to gently press.  "It's not as if
I haven't got some ideas in my head."
     Cain realized that he'd never had a conversation with him before
about this subject.  "What ideas do you have, Colonel?"
     "I know Ila knew some things that she told me she couldn't elaborate
on.  Something to do with all those conversations she was having with the
Galactica while you and Captain Kylie were down on the planet surface
looking for Wynn.  I'm sure you know everything she wouldn't tell me. 
Not to mention why Kylie came back from the planet with a tumor that Doc
Laughlin said seemed to have spontaneously generated itself in a few
centars and had to be removed quickly.  Whatever the situation was
regarding where Wynn was and how he came to be rescued, I at least know
there's no simple, easy answer to it.  And I also know you were wondering
if Wynn's behavior might have been tied into the mysteries of where he
was and how he was released."
     "Well it turned out it had nothing to do with it, Colonel," Cain
said flatly, still avoiding him, "So we can just move on from that."
     Damn, Tolen thought.  He decided he needed to get this point out in
the open.  "Commander, if you expect me to be able to take charge of this
vessel in an emergency situation, then that means I should know what the
deal is with Wynn.  Especially if there's information you know about him
that you haven't told me or Major Skyler."
     "If a situation comes up that justifies telling you, Tolen, you'll
be the first to know," Cain couldn't fault his Executive Officer for
asking the questions, which was why he was keeping his tone terse but
gentle.  "For now, there's no reason to do it.  I'll only tell you that
if something happened to me and you found yourself in command, you can
get a full briefing on it from Adama and Ila on the Galactica.  But until
it becomes necessary......leave the matter for now."
     He finally turned his chair to face him, and this time the
gentleness was gone.  "That's an order, Colonel."
     The XO nodded with reluctant resignation, "Understood.....sir.  I'll
be returning to the Bridge."  He saluted and slowly headed for the door.
     "Colonel."
     Tolen stopped and looked back at Cain.  "Sir?"
     "Never forget that if you ever see anyone underneath you in need of
a reproach, you give it to them with no holds-barred.  Whether it's the
lowest of cadets, or the Senior Bridge Officer, you'll always have my
full backing."
     Tolen got the message and immediately felt his bruised ego repaired
in full.  "Thank you, Commander."
     The Juggernaut smiled and gave him an encouraging wave of his
swagger stick.


     As soon as Kylie got word from Cain that Wynn had been formally
cleared and returned to flight duty, the rest of her shift on the Bridge
was smooth sailing for her.  There were many tasks to perform. 
Discussions with Dr. Ravashol on the surface about this new matter of
lubricant viscosity and exploring how the formula used by the Cylons at
the garrison was stronger than the existing supply on the Pegasus. 
Rescheduling the timetable for new tests of the Pulsar that would begin
tomorrow.  Processing new data file messages sent from Caprica as well as
the Galactica.  Things she could concentrate on without the distraction
of worrying about Wynn......or what Cain might have done if the
exculpatory evidence hadn't been found.
     When her shift ended, she was free to deal with something else she
knew she had to address.  Especially now that she was in a better frame
of mind to deal with it.  And so, instead of heading for her quarters,
she went straight to the experimental Agro-Lab, where she knew Wallis and
Kelli were still on-duty and rang the chime.
     "Oh!  Hello, Kylie," there was mild surprise in Kelli's voice when
she opened the door and saw the captain standing in the hallway.  
     "Hello Kelli," Kylie said, "Can I come in?  Or are you and Wallis
busy with your experiments?"
     "No, we're just about ready to wind things up for today.  Come right
in," the agro-tech motioned her in.  When Kylie entered, she marveled at
how much Wallis and Kelli had made use of this old storage space to
create a makeshift agro-facility that had managed to force grow a limited
supply of fresh vegetables for the crew.  The overall amount might have
been small, but it had relieved some of the burden from seeking supplies
directly on other planets, and it also meant some quantities could be
served fresh without being kept in long-term frozen storage.
     "Hello Kylie," Wallis waved to her from the other side of the sealed
agro container that took up the entire center of the room.  Above it, a
solar lamp provided the necessary heat and sunlight to the seedlings that
grew underneath.  "We.....sort of figured you'd be stopping by
eventually."
     "Well yes," Kylie admitted as she stopped on one side of the
container which put her equi-distant from the two ago-techs who had
originally been in the Galactica Fleet, but had then jumped ship at
Brylon Station to take the opportunity to become landowners on Brylon V. 
Only to go through a discouraging experience for themselves and their two
small children, Linden and Karin which resulted in them joining the
Pegasus when the battlestar had arrived.  But because Wallis had been in
considerable debt to the Zykonian government, it required careful
diplomacy to secure permission for them to leave Brylon.  Part of that
diplomacy had included a lie to the Zykonians that Kylie was Wallis's
niece and that there were familial reasons to justify their leaving.  In
order to further that deception, when Wallis had been forced to serve two
sectans in a mining detention facility to clear his debts with the
Zykonians, Kylie had taken on the task of helping Kelli and her two
children acclimate themselves to the Pegasus while they waited for
Wallis's release.  It was during that time that Kylie had formed a bond
to the children as their "Auntie" that had become precious to her ever
since.
     "You saw our request to stay on Arcta," Kelli said simply.
     "I did," Kylie avoided looking at either one of them, keeping her
focus on the plants growing under the container.  "I.....understand. 
Completely."
     "Believe me, it wasn't an easy decision," Wallis said, trying not to
stammer as he usually did.  "Especially now that the Colonies are
liberated and it wouldn't be an active war zone we'd be coming home to. 
But......when we found out how so much of Piscera was decimated,
that....,made the idea of coming home a lot less appealing.  That was our
home and.....well it just wouldn't be the same to set up on one of the
other Colonies."
     "Arcta may be cold, but it's a stable, thriving community," Kelli
spoke up.  "And....seeing all those Theta children really makes a
difference too.  I know there are a lot of children among the survivors
in the Colonies, but......it's a rougher life for them, whereas the
children here are so happy and living with the kind of stability Linden
and Karin have never known before in their lives.  Plus.....from a
professional standpoint, the challenge of helping to force-grow crops for
a community that lives in these kinds of environmental conditions is a
lot more appealing to us than becoming landowners again.  It means we'd
be continuing the work we've been doing here on the Pegasus for the last
yahren in a new way."
     "I think you're making the right decision for yourselves and for the
children," Kylie kept looking down at the container and gently tapped her
finger against the transparent tylinium that covered it.  "You shouldn't
let anything else influence that."
     Kelli let out a sad sigh, "When we told them that we'd be moving
down to the snow planet and that they'd get to live in a place with
hundreds of children their own ages to play with, the first thing they
asked was if their Auntie Kylie would be moving there too.  When we had
to tell them that......you need to stay on the Pegasus with Commander
Cain.....they didn't take it particularly well."
     Kylie felt the beginnings of a tear forming in her eye and she
rapped her knuckle against the tylinium.  "They'll learn.  In
time.....when they get used to life down there and start having all kinds
of fun with the Thetans......they won't remember me at all."
     "No, Kylie," Wallis shook his head and came up to her, "They're
never going to forget you.  You made that much of a difference in their
lives."
     She looked at the agro-tech and smiled crookedly, "Did I?"
     "Yes," there was no stammer at all in his voice.  "Kylie, I can't
begin to tell you how bad it was for them on Brylon V.  Even if I'd made
a successful go at being a landowner there, it was pure Hades for them. 
When I made the decision to have us jump ship from the Galactica, neither
of us ever stopped to realize how damaging it would be to the kids not to
have any other Humans to connect with.  And I'm not counting those
burnouts, Rotsler and Sharman who jumped with us, because they were
worthless from that standpoint.  When the only would-be helpers and
nursemaids available on the planet are hideous looking aliens to a
child.....it really has a damaging effect on their psyche.  That's why
when they had someone like you to bond with when their mother needed to
do her work, it was the best thing that could have happened to them.  You
gave them a friend and a family figure they could connect with and
respond to.  Because of you, they've been able to adjust to life here on
the Pegasus and regard it as home, even though a battlestar is really no
place for small children."
     "It helped that they're such absolute darlings," Kylie vowed she
wasn't going to get emotional but she knew it was going to require all
her strength.  "You two taught them how to behave and that's why I never
had a problem looking after them and being with them."
     "No, Kylie, you taught them how to behave," Kelli shook her head,
"You had such a good connection with them, it helped keep them in line
when you couldn't be with them and they had to put up with Med-Tech Ivy
and her stern disposition.  Lords, you made things so much easier for me
because they've always known that if they misbehaved it would mean no
time with you when you could spare it.  And you helped get them used to
the idea of not being afraid by the sight of a Cylon walking through the
corridors after they were first brought up to think of them as soulless
monsters.  I would have been lost bringing them up in this environment if
it weren't for you.  That's why.....it's so hard for us to make this
decision where you won't be part of their lives any longer.  Especially
when.....we know how much you love them as much as they love you.  And
also because......well because of what happened to you."
     The solitary tear was streaming down Kylie's face but she still kept
her expression tight-lipped and stoic.  Kelli came up to her and took her
hand.
     "Kylie, I know you were dealt a cruel blow but I can't believe the
Lords don't mean for you to somehow, someday find the chance to give back
some love to a child of your own the way you were able to do it with our
children.  You're too good a person to not get that chance."
     "I know anything's possible," she managed to speak, her voice still
calm and normal.  "There are probably a lot of orphans in the Colonies
who need love.  Maybe that's the answer some day for someone like me. 
But.....for now, I've got too many other duties here on the Pegasus that
don't leave room for motherhood.  So.....don't worry about me.  I'll be
all right.  You just make sure those two little darlings behave for you
and make friends with the Thetans.  Because that's their future from now
on and I think you're making the right choice staying here. Because one
thing we know for certain is that even if the Cylon High Command finds
out they've lost control of Arcta.....they really can't do anything about
it so long as the Pulsar can fight off any ship that threatens them."
     "You'll see them before we go, won't you?" Kelli was trying not get
emotional herself since she ached inside for the fact that Kylie could
never have children of her own.
     "Of course I will," her expression brightened.  "I'll give them a
final farewell performance of Lord Georges and Princess Sabra killing the
Draco for them to remember me by.  I wouldn't miss doing that for the
universe."
     "The Lords bless you, Kylie," she hugged her friend.  "The Lords
bless you."
     A few centons later, after she'd said her goodbyes for the evening, 
Kylie stepped out into the corridor, calmly exhaled, and wiped away the
one tear that she'd permitted herself.
     I will be strong, she vowed.  I will be strong.  Cain expects
nothing less of me.
     And then, she decided it was time to head over to the Officer's
Club.


     "Listen up all!" Wynn shouted with exuberance.  "In honor of my good
fortune over being returned to flight duty and regaining my chance to rub
shoulders with all of you.......I hereby declare the next round of drinks
to be on me!"
     The approving roar from the half-dozen off-duty pilots went up even
though aboard the Pegasus, it was largely symbolic to say one was buying
the next round.  Money had ceased to have any relevance aboard the
Pegasus after the Battle of Molocay and ever since, the earnings of the
crew were based on a "credit" system whereby they earned a designated
amount of credits based on their work that they would then redeem for the
purchase of small luxuries aboard ship like drinks at the OC or to use in
Pyramid games.  Wynn though, already had the luxury of a surplus of
credits that he'd been awarded as 'back pay' following his rescue, so on
any given day he could afford to use some of them up this way.  Until
today though, he'd never felt the urge to do it.
     After settling himself at his usual table in the back, he was
pleasantly surprised when the other pilots one-by-one came up to
congratulate him and raise their tankards in a toast.  Harroun.  Tegran. 
Angus.  Banker.  Marshak though, somewhat tentatively sat down across
from him.
     "I hope you don't mind," his wingmate said.
     "No, not a bit, Marshak," he said.  "Cap told me you were the one
who spotted the voice recorder lodged under the Bridge Tower."
     "Yeah, I was, but.....anyone concentrating their scan would have
noticed it.  Still, I'm glad he drafted me for the assignment. 
Especially if it made the difference."
     "Thanks," Wynn said, "I do appreciate it, Marshak.  Even if....." he
trailed off.
     "Even what?"
     The ensign sighed, "We may have been wingmates, but before I
disappeared, things were getting pretty strained between us, weren't
they?  I mean.....after we all got our promotion bumps following
Gomorrah, that made me an ensign and you were still just a sergeant, and
I started putting on a few too many of those 'I'm an officer' airs which
wasn't good of me after all the yahrens we'd flown together."
     "Ancient history, Wynn," he said simply.
     "Yeah but.....since you're an ensign now, and you earned your
promotion and didn't get it just because of an across-the-board bump like
we all got back then......it makes a difference."
     "Not really," Marshak waved his hand, "I got my promotion because
Paris's death at Cannes created a vacancy at Lieutenant which Tegran
filled and then I got picked to fill the Ensign vacancy that came up.  It
was more of the same."
     "Cain could have easily picked Harroun," Wynn pointed out, "The
point is.....you've got a good record, Marshak.  And......I know I
haven't found a micron to thank you for being part of the rescue mission
for me.  Even though they tell me you went through some kind of horrible
shock at one point."
     "I don't remember a damn thing about what happened, Wynn," he again
tried to sound dismissive, "And maybe it's better that I don't."
     "You're probably right," he nodded, "Maybe for the same reason that
I can't remember where I was and what in Hades happened to me.  But.....I
should have thanked you for going down there and I'm sorry I haven't
since I got back.  I've.....probably spent too much time brooding by
myself.  Way too much."
     Not too far from them, Kylie had entered, watching and waiting for
the conversation to end before she'd approach Wynn.  She hadn't meant to
eavesdrop but when she heard the exchange regarding Marshak's memory
blackout during the search for Wynn, she sighed with relief that neither
wanted to pursue the matter.  She alone knew that the horrible shock
Marshak had undergone had been when he'd seen Wynn transform before his
eyes into the hideous creature he'd been forced to be.
     "Well.....we haven't exactly reached out to you as much as we could
have," Marshak responded,, "Most of us I guess were too obsessed with
wanting to ask questions about what happened to you, which I know you got
sick of after a while, and we didn't count our blessings enough that we
got you back.  And I think now.....after what you just went through where
you almost lost your right to fly with us again after you did the right
thing......well it makes me at least feel bad about not welcoming your
back with a lot more gratitude than I should have shown.
     He paused, "I'd like things between us to be like they were in the
old days.  Before Gomorrah.  When we always knew we had each other's back
out there as wingmates."
     Wynn smiled at him, "I'd like that too, Marshak."  He reached his
hand out with the three fingers extended and his fellow pilot grasped it
in the traditional Warrior's handshake.  They held it firmly for ten
microns before they let go and Marshak bid him goodnight with a final
toasting gesture with his tankard.  It was then, that Wynn saw Kylie
standing off to one side.  He quietly motioned her to come over and she
sat down in the now vacant seat across from him.
     "Thanks for dropping by," he said with gratitude.
     "I'm glad I caught you here," she said.  "I'm sorry I didn't take up
your generous offer, but......I don't drink this time of the evening as a
general rule."
     He almost started to form a word but then stopped and shook his
head.  "Sorry, I think I was about to say something inappropriate."
     "I'm a big girl, Wynn," she said with a disarming air, and thinking
how odd it was she was using that phrase again after she'd used it in
anger the previous night with Cain.
     "And you're also the Commander's wife," he looked her in the eye,
"I'm glad you told me the other night that you still think of me as a
friend like in the old days, but.....I'm never going to violate proper
protocol with you."
     "I don't expect you to," Kylie said, "But I'm always going to care,
and I'm so happy you came through this and were vindicated.  The Lords
were with you."
     He nodded his head, "That's......something I haven't let myself
appreciate enough, Kylie. The Lords found a way through you to bring me
back from wherever that place was......and they helped me realize where
the evidence we were missing might have been.  I was beginning to doubt
they were there, and.....I think I started hearing voices in my head
trying to tell me I couldn't trust my friends or the Lords, but.....I'm
so glad I didn't listen to them."
     Kylie's brow knitted slightly at this revelation about voices, but
she showed no overt reaction to it.  
     "It makes me wonder if.....all the time I spent as a Grumbler before
I disappeared, and not learning to trust the goodness of the Lords is
what made me vulnerable to whatever happened to me.  And that maybe.....I
haven't done enough praising the Lords since I came back.  Yeah, I
learned how to take Ila's advice about concentrating on getting back to
Flight Duty and not wasting time thinking about where I'd been,
but......I wasn't looking to the Lords for guidance I was treating it
like something I could only do myself.  Warriors I think like to pride
themselves on the idea they can get themselves out of a scrape on their
own initiative, or with their buddies, and don't have to turn to prayer
except as a last resort.  But.....I can see more clearly now that's the
wrong approach."
     "I'd agree with that," Kylie said gently, "I...wasn't a particularly
religious person until recently.  I wasn't a Skeptic or anything like
that, but it was something I tended to keep at arms length.  I'm not that
way any longer.  It's.....made a difference in my life."
     "I can tell," Wynn nodded, "There's a kind of.....aura about you,
Kylie, that's different from what I remember," he paused and added, "I
wouldn't be surprised if that's the reason why Cain finally noticed you
too."
     She smiled at him but didn't respond.
     "The one thing I'm taking away from this experience is that it isn't
enough to just put the past behind me.  I've got to rely on the Lords and
the Almighty to guide me through this new phase of my life that was given
back to me.  And that means.....if I have to face situations like what
I've faced the last couple days, I can't give in to any sense of
abandonment or listen to voices telling me that my friends and the Lords
have let me down.  Because they haven't.  I know they haven't."
     "You're absolutely right, Wynn" she said simply.  "And because they
returned you to us, you were there to prevent a potential catastrophe
that could have cost some lives on the Bridge if that Raider did collide
with us."
     Left unspoken was the understanding it could easily have been her
among any potential casualties.  He nodded and raised his tankard with
appreciation.
     "My toast to you, Kylie," he said.  "Thanks for everything.  And
someday....maybe I can really repay you for what you did for me."
     "Just keep being a good Warrior and a good pilot.  That's all the
repayment we need." she rose, "See you around."
     As she left Wynn looked at her and sighed with only a twinge of
regret.
     I never would have been good enough for her.  I'm lucky just to have
her as a friend.


     Well, all's well that ends well with that, Kylie thought as she left
the OC and began the winding walk through the corridors that would take
her back to her shared quarters with Cain.  Where she was looking forward
to a more pleasant evening with her husband in contrast to what had gone
on between them the last two nights.  
     And I need to make sure he delays final approval on Wallis and Kelli
leaving until after I've had a chance to say goodbye to the kids.  Of
course he'll grant that request in a micron.
     She then stopped briefly and frowned when she felt a strange
sensation of cold air rushing through the corridor.  She knew these
passages weren't particularly well ventilated to begin with, and she
could never recall something like this before in all the yahrens she'd
been on the Pegasus.
     Odd, she thought as she kept walking and rounded the corner. 
Oblivious to the unseen presence watching her from behind.  
     I am still bound by the terms you forced me into regarding Ensign
Wynn, Count Iblis was glaring contemptuously at her.  But one day, you
contemptible mortal, I will choose to settle matters between us in a way
you will not anticipate!
     And then.....the Dark One was gone.

Interlude #2-The Risik Capital

     The Supreme Leader and the entire Supreme Council had finished
listening to the presentation from the Cylon representatives.  Gracchus
had done the initial talking and then turned matters over to Rosalind who
had given the Risik leadership the primary "pitch" dealing with the Cylon
Empire's need for Neutrino and desire for a cooperative working
relationship.  As the Leader and the Council listened to her, Commander
Clubb, present only as an observer, managed to lock eyes with Admiral
Trilligan.  The Star Force Commander gave him the barest nod of his head
and then quickly turned his attention back to Rosalind's monologue.
     When it was over, no one spoke since every member of the Council
automatically waited for the Supreme Leader to speak first.
     "I must say that what I have just heard from both you, Siress
Rosalind, and you, Ambassador Gracchus, is a far different picture of the
Cylon Empire from what Commander Adama of the Battlestar Galactica claims
it to be."
     "But you have your own quarrel with Commander Adama and the
Galactica," Rosalind spoke, having steeled herself inside for sectans to
play the role of a proper emissary for the Empire that she despised. 
"With all due respect, Eminence, you do not have reason to find them more
trustworthy."
     "But you do not deny the history of conquest that the Cylon Empire
is supposedly noted for, according to them," he quickly answered.
     "There is no denial of how the Cylon Empire has been compelled to
conduct itself regarding its potential rivals......just as we have heard
no denial from Commander Clubb regarding the necessity for the Risik
Empire to conduct itself with its potential rivals.  But merely because
we have our respective rivals does not mean that a productive
relationship between our two nations cannot be forged."
     "Quite true," the Supreme Leader conceded. "We both have our
rivalries to deal with.  And if we were to grant the Cylon Empire access
to Neutrino.....would it make the Cylon Empire inclined to one day use it
against us?"
     "I think it is clear to you that the Cylon Empire has no territorial
ambitions in this part of the galaxy," Rosalind said.  "Just as it's
become evident that the Risik Empire has no ambitions in our part of the
galaxy.  The fact that the Dreadnought is the lone ship you have sent to
the Ziklagi Frontier, and the fact that only a single ship has been sent
out by the Cylon Empire confirms both of these points."
     The Supreme Leader found himself smiling faintly and soon the others
at the table were doing likewise and nodding their heads.  Trilligan,
watching the Human, knew she had to be giving the performance of a
lifetime, and the fact she was doing so and remaining totally cool under
pressure, only fueled his desire to see her privately and get a measure
of what the real Siress Rosalind was like.
     "But we also have one other thing in common," the Leader leaned
forward. "We are both interested in revenge upon the Galactica.  She has
humiliated the Cylon Empire no less than she has ourselves."
     "The Galactica is purely a secondary matter for us," she was
emphatic.  "We are certainly interested in more information as to her
whereabouts, and if she has in fact been joined by the second battlestar
called Pegasus......but the Cylon Empire is first and foremost interested
in the matter of access to Neutrino.  That should remain the primary
issue of negotiations."
     "I believe Admiral Trilligan can enlighten you both on the matter of
this other ship called the Pegasus," he motioned to the Star Force
Commander.  "Admiral?"
     "Of course Eminence," he bowed his head respectfully.  "We have
found no evidence to indicate that the second battlestar called Pegasus
ever crossed into our Frontier after she was known to be at Brylon
Station.  Indeed, it is the best guess of our military intelligence that
if the Pegasus was responsible for the loss of Commander Clubb's scout
ship under the command of Sub-Commander Kraitch, that would indicate that
she chose to return the way she came."
     Gracchus, who had been sitting back and letting Rosalind handle the
discussion immediately knew that this was likely going to make things
come to a head between Needa and Lucifer on the matter of informing the
Imperious Leader about the Pegasus.  And that was something the DG Cylon
had no intention of tipping the Risik Leadership off about.
     "If what you say is true, Admiral, then there is no question that
the Cylon Empire is concerned first and foremost with Neutrino for use in
our own section of the galaxy.  And that nothing is to be gained by
antagonizing our threatening you in any way.  Just as you would have
nothing to gain by needlessly threatening the Cylon Empire."
     "There is certainly no need for either of us to threaten the other,"
the Leader acknowledged.  "However.....if we were to give you access to
Neutrino, we would have to have some indication of what we would gain
from you for being so......generous as it were."
     "Intelligence about the Galactica for one thing," Rosalind had to
fight off the sickness inside her over doing this, "You will find out
more about how Colonial Battlestars function and about her Commander from
what the Cylon Empire has on file than you will ever know from other
sources."
     He nodded, "That is a point in your favor, Siress.  In fact, it is
the reason why I am quite happy to continue these discussions over the
next few days.  However....." he deliberately trailed off and allowed a
silence to come over the room for the next few microns.  But Rosalind
refused to prompt him with a "Yes?" since she knew this was a deliberate
waiting game on the Leader's part to try and provoke intimidation or
impatience.  She'd once heard Adar describe this negotiating technique to
her.
     Once it was clear that Rosalind wasn't going to give him a verbal
prompt, the Leader went on, "However, I think it might be beneficial if
follow-up discussions were carried out with the Commander of your
BaseShip present.  Not that I haven't found your presence charming,
Siress Rosalind, but I think I would much prefer seeing the face of those
who have the greatest vested interest in the outcome of these
negotiations."
     Gracchus suddenly spoke up, "I would remind you, Eminence, that I
too speak with the full authority of the Empire."
     "And I mean no disrespect to you, Ambassador Gracchus.  But since
I'm well aware of the fact that the Cylons are first and foremost a
military empire, I think I should at least see what I am dealing with
when it comes to a member of the military class, as opposed to the
diplomatic class.  Naturally, I welcome your continued participation in
these talks, but I think that when we convene again tomorrow, it might be
best if Siress Rosalind be excused from the proceeding so she might enjoy
some of the hospitality we have to offer here in the Capital.  Especially
since she will have the opportunity to meet some members of her own race
who have learned to embrace the wisdom of what we have to offer them."
     The DG Cylon had to fight back his sense of inner humiliation.  The
only way he could do that was to assert himself while at the same time
granting the Risik Leader's request.
     "As you wish, Eminence.  We will reconvene tomorrow then, and I am
sure that these discussions can go further.  But before we end matters
for today, I would like to get this matter out into the open.  If an
agreement regarding Neutrino is possible, then before any such agreement
could be finalized it would be important for us to study a sample of what
you have been able to mine so it might be analyzed by our own scientific
instruments aboard the BaseShip."
     "As a sign of continued goodwill I will grant that request
immediately," the Leader said and then turned his attention to the Army
Commander, "General Arkom, upon conclusion of this meeting, please escort
Ambassador Gracchus and his centurion guards to our main lab facility and
present him with samples he can bring back to his BaseShip."
     "Of course Eminence," Arkom bowed with the obsequious air that
always nauseated Trilligan.
     "And for now, I believe Admiral Trilligan would like to extend his
hospitality to you, Siress Rosalind.  He will provide you with further
information on your stay in the Risik Capital.....as my guest."
     Inside, Rosalind tried not to show any outward signs of relief.  The
fact the Leader wanted to talk to one of the IL Cylons instead of her on
the deeper issues of concern to Risik-Cylon relations was a lucky break
for her in that it relieved her of the burden of playing the role of a
committed traitor to the Cylon cause any further.  And it also meant she
was going to get the opportunity to talk to a Risik leader she'd been
told she could trust.
     And if I can't trust him..........it's the end of the line for me.


     "Sit down, Siress Rosalind," Trilligan said pleasantly as Rosalind
entered the Admiral's office, which was spacious and featured a window
view that looked out into the heart of the Risik Capital.  Out there she
could see buildings that rose to modest heights, but nothing that dwarfed
this massive complex that housed the government buildings.  She was sure
that was deliberate, since a regime like the Risik would always want to
strike a formidable posture by having its symbols of authority and
leadership look more impressive than anything else.
     Rosalind took a seat in a comfortable chair across from Trilligan's
desk and idly glanced behind her at the closed door.
     "Commander Clubb cannot be present," the Star Force Commander said. 
"But....I assure you, I know everything I need to know from him.  Last
evening, I had the chance to meet with him and he turned over a complete
summary of what he has learned about you that not even your
Cylon......acquaintances are aware of.  That also includes the contents
of a certain book and audio recording found on a planet you stopped at
during your journey to the Capital."
     She looked him in the eye.  "Then you know why I'm really working
for the Cylons."
     "I do," Trilligan nodded, "And.....you have been caught in a most
difficult position.  Which is why I think it's for the best that the
Supreme Leader has relieved you of the need to be present at any further
negotiations.  It gives us more time to talk.....and to let you know
other things that for Commander Clubb's own well-being I can't tell him."
     "Is this office secure?" Rosalind asked with an edge of concern. 
     "Oh yes.  Quite secure," the fact that Trilligan didn't chuckle or
laugh made her more at ease.  "I have built up a relationship with the
Leader over many years that makes me one person he'd never suspect of
disloyalty.  That's the reason why the man who deserves all the credit
for setting these events in motion, Sub-Commander Morovik, felt safe
approaching me when he had his story to tell of what he'd learned during
his time as a prisoner aboard the Galactica and how there was clear
evidence to indicate that our early history is not what we've been taught
it to be.  You have now been the instrument that proves that beyond any
room for doubt.  Making use of that evidence though.....is going to be
more difficult.  It's going to require a good deal of patience on your
part, or otherwise, you'll likely find your life at a premature end."
     And yours as well, Admiral?
     "My concern isn't with my own life," the Siress said.  "What I am
concerned with are the lives of a half million Human prisoners being held
as slave labor in the Cylon Home System.  Regardless of how things play
out between your people and the Cylons, I have to make sure that some
kind of agreement on Neutrino is reached for their sake.  If only to buy
them some time, because without an agreement, the Cylon Imperious Leader
might decide its time to do away with them."
     "I understand that," Trilligan nodded.  "But you realize of course
that an agreement with the Cylons on Neutrino likely carries with it,
ominous news for your fellow Humans in the Galactica Fleet, and also the
Humans living on the planet......Earth."
     The fact that Trilligan didn't use the term "Te'rea" was another
encouraging sign for her. It gave her the confidence to say what she said
next.
     "Unless there was a change in the Risik Leadership and the Risik
political and religious order."  She phrased her words slowly and with
great emphasis.
     "It won't come as quickly as either of us would like it to, Siress,"
the Star Force Commander emphasized.  "Not when State Security and the
Army are both devoted to the Supreme Leader and the Religious Order. 
That's why you will have to play things very carefully during your time
in the capital and trust only those I specifically tell you that you can
trust.  And even when you know who they are, you can only talk to them
openly in specific locations and environments, because the overall reach
of State Security on our world is quite extensive."
     "I'm a quick study, Admiral," she said, "Tell me right now who I can
trust so I can have a sense of how many of you Risik are as Enlightened
as yourself, Commander Clubb and Lieutenant Katkov are."
     "I've already given you the name of Sub-Commander Morovik of the
Star Force, but he is currently on assignment aboard a star cruiser that
is being decommissioned so its components can be recycled into a new ship
that is part of this Neutrino Fleet the Leader wants finished in the next
two years.  As far as someone who you are likely to meet in the next few
days, I will give you this name.  David Marshall."
     "And who is David Marshall?  That name doesn't sound like he's a
Risik."
     "He is a native of Earth who was abducted by one of our scout ships
and brought to the prison colony of Ne'Chak, which I know you are
familiar with from Commander Clubb."
     "I am," she acknowledged.  "It was my understanding that all of
those prisoners were liberated by the Galactica.  They had some
very....harsh messages for your Leader."
     "Indeed they did," Trilligan smiled faintly, "Mr. Marshall though
was the one member of that group who sometime earlier chose to join our
cause.  He did so out of a genuine belief in our propaganda that only we,
the Risik, could save his planet from itself, and that because we had
once been the masters of Earth many thousands of years ago, we had a
moral claim of sorts to rule over them."
     "He doesn't sound like someone I can trust."
     "He's been forced to re-evaluate his past views because
Sub-Commander Morovik first approached him with the evidence that our
teachings regarding our first settlement of Earth was likely a lie and
that in fact the first settlement was made by Humans who came from a
planet called Kobol.  After he saw this evidence, I approached him
directly and Mr. Marshall needed no further convincing.  He has been won
over to our side on the point that the Supreme Leader is completely mad,
a dangerous fanatic, and that the Religious Order has lied to our people
for thousands of years to justify themselves.  Mr. Marshall proved that
if he's going to follow a cause it has to be because he believes it to be
true, and if it isn't true, then he no longer gives it any loyalty."
     "What does he do?" Rosalind found herself wondering if this David
Marshall was in some ways not too different from herself.  Someone who'd
been fooled into serving an evil cause as she'd been with the Cylons.
     "He works at our University in the Department of Te'rean Affairs. 
There are many natives of Earth who work in that Department and are paid
handsomely for their efforts, but Mr. Marshall, being a true idealist, is
the only one we've trusted so far to know the truth and realize that
someday, action must be taken.  Tomorrow, when you are introduced to
Professor Tsu-Lan, the head of the Department, he will introduce you to
his staff, which will include Mr. Marshall.  Find any pretext to see him
privately and let him know what you've found out regarding the ancient
connections between your ancestors from Kobol, and the so-called "Old
Ones" mentioned in that book Lieutenant Katkov found.  It will help
reinforce his confidence that he's done the right thing joining our
cause."
     "How is he helping the cause?"
     "For now, he's being a good listening board for further signs of
discontent among his fellow humans who were recruited by us.  Like the
rest of our population, they're dealing with the problems of food
rationing and material shortages caused by this crash-building program of
a Fleet of Neutrino ships.  Since the effort aimed at overthrowing the
Old Order will take time, we have to know beyond any doubt who else might
join our cause when the time comes."
     "I will watch for him and try to approach him," Rosalind said, "But
it seems to me Admiral, that the arrival of the Cylon Empire is going to
force you to change whatever timetable you were thinking of regarding
when the Supreme Leader and the Old Order can be overthrown."
     "I fear you are right," Trilligan acknowledged.  "Events are forcing
us to move faster than I had envisioned or would like to, but the
evidence of the tape and the book should at least help us win more
converts to our side."
     "Regarding the tape, I must emphasize this.  The one piece of
information that the Cylons can't learn anything about is the matter of
Commander Adama's wife.  I'm sure you realize that I have a vested
interest in not letting the Cylons realize they have lost control of
events in key areas of their Empire.  In particular their control over
the original Twelve Colonies that the Galactica and her people were
forced to flee from.  If they learned Professor Ila was at Brylon Station
with the Pegasus they'd realize the Governor of their Occupation Forces
in the Colonies has been lying to them and is working for the Resistance
movement."
     Trilligan let out a chuckle, "There's an expression Earth people
have for what you're describing.  They would say that the jig would be
up."
     "Do tell," Rosalind said dryly.  "I imagine that's not the last
Earth expression I'll become familiar with in time."
     "Definitely not.  At any rate, we always knew the Cylons had a
problem with disloyal elements in their ranks because of the one BaseShip
that accompanies the Galactica, but I confess I wasn't prepared for the
magnitude of how desperate their situation really is.  At the very least,
my knowledge of that means I can be more forceful with our Leader when it
comes to the wisdom of cutting a deal with the Cylons, because I know as
a loyal Risik that the Cylons can never be a threat to us for reasons the
Leader will never know."
     "That is reassuring, since the promise of an agreement will at least
benefit the well-being of the prisoners on the Cylon Home World I
mentioned earlier."  Rosalind then shifted gears, "Have you been able to
learn more from that book?  Lieutenant Katkov said he didn't have enough
knowledge in the ancient Risik language to attempt any further
translation."
     "It may be some time before a thorough translation can be completed,
because it will necessitate finding a skilled translator who can be
recruited to our cause," the Star Force Commander said, "However....I am
not without some knowledge of the ancient language myself.  I looked at
several pages last night and I can tell you this.  There is no question
in my mind that the so-called 'supreme god' in our religious tradition
was the sower of disharmony between our ancestors, and the Old Ones whose
interbreeding with the Kobollians led to our very creation.  And that the
banishment of the Old Ones was instigated by this one our Religious Order
knows as Belial.  Who in Risik religious tradition has fostered this
sense of total racial superiority that we have used to justify our
imperial conquests and subjugations of other races.  The truth of our
actual origins has been suppressed by the Religious Order, but the
fanatical impulse Belial instilled in us at the beginning to make us turn
on the Old Ones, has remained a constant."
     "Which you have used to justify your original conquest of Earth and
the desire to re-establish control over Earth one day," Rosalind noted.  
     "Yes.  To my eternal shame, I must admit.  This philosophy is not
rational for how a civilized race should conduct itself.  Especially when
it's incapable of letting our people know the truth of who we are and
why, and how we came to be as we are."
     The Siress nodded.  "And the story of what happened to the Old Ones
on that planet?"
     Trilligan shook his head, "That must wait for another day when the
book can be translated more thoroughly, Siress.  But based on what you
saw and what this unfortunate human named Lydia saw, it almost seems as
if the Old Ones were trying to use Kobollian technology to alter
themselves into a new genetic strain that would be superior to the ones
who expelled them and that once they succeeded in that, they hoped to
return to the Risik home world and defeat them.  But the experiments
clearly went wrong and produced side-effects that reached down through
the eons that later impacted your fellow Humans who came to be on that
planet."
     Rosalind slowly took all of that in. "That.....would explain
everything.  I suppose the details of that don't matter too much, but
hopefully a thorough accounting can be made for the sake of the truth. 
Because the more thorough the truth is, the greater the chance of
recruiting more to the cause of opposing the Old Order."
     "Quite true.  But like all of these other matters that concern my
people, and your people.....it will take time," he paused, "Can you
afford to be patient, Siress Rosalind?"
     The one-time Colonial Cabinet Minister managed to smile, "I'm at a
stage where I can afford to be patient for anything, Admiral."
     He managed to smile back and nodded in understanding.  "I'll make
arrangements for your accommodations......and your visit to the
Department of Terran Affairs tomorrow.  Remember though.  Don't express
any private thoughts aloud.  State Security is that thorough."
     "I'll remember."  The fact that she was trading the prison of the
BaseShip for the prison-like conditions of the Risik capital represented
at best a marginal upgrade for her.  But at the very least, she could
take comfort that it was a small step in the right direction.
     Oh Lords, may it be so!


     "We have the final report on the Neutrino sample that was sent to
us," Command Centurion Strelka said over the comline.  
     "And the purity level?" Needa pressed.
     "91% purity.  Two percent lower than the maximum level found in any
of our own Neutrino mines."
     "Thank you for the report," the BaseShip Commander shut off the
comline and turned to Lucifer. "So the Risik have found Neutrino that is
not as strong as the alloy we have used."
     "Though still formidable enough to make a mass fleet of theirs
something that the Galactica and Baltar's ship might have difficulties
with.  Although......"
     "Although what, Lucifer?" Needa already sensed that the IL Cylon he
held such a high disregard for was about suggest something dangerous.
     "Perhaps if the Risik felt they could launch an assault on the
Galactica with a ship even stronger than anything they are capable of
building......they would be even more amenable to an agreement with us."
     Needa didn't need long to realize what Lucifer was implying, "If
you're suggesting that this ship should remain in the Risik system and be
subordinated to their authority in a campaign against the Galactica, that
is completely out of the question."
     "I would remind you, Needa, that the Imperious Leader's order to
have the Galactica and her Fleet destroyed that was issued over five
yahrens ago has not been rescinded by him," Lucifer responded coolly. 
"If the Risik can give us that opportunity, perhaps that is for the
best."
     "Our primary duty is to get Neutrino back to the Home System," an
edge of anger started to creep into his voice.  "We don't have time to go
further away from home to catch up to the Galactica.  If we reach an
agreement with them, then we must take as much Neutrino as we can in the
tanker ships that are available to us and then return home with it!"
     "Do you really think the High Command needs Neutrino now in order to
finish off the problem in the Colonies?" Lucifer retorted.  "His Eminence
still has three BaseShips at his disposal.  If he weren't so paranoid
about keeping the Home System 'secure', he would have dispatched them
long ago to take care of that problem.  Or he would have given me more
reinforcement when I was pursuing the Galactica so that it wouldn't have
made any difference when Baltar turned traitor back to the Humans!"
     "That will be enough!" his fellow IL was shouting.  "I am still in
command, Lucifer.  And our primary mission is not going to be concerned
with satisfying your own personal needs for revenge.  You continue with
this, then I will have no choice but to assume that the so-called Disease
is beginning to affect you."
     "I think my being the victim of treachery from the ranks of the
"Diseased" has more than immunized me on that level, Needa."
     "But being Diseased does not necessarily mean casting lots with the
Humans as Baltar's crew did or the traitors in the Colonies," Needa held
his ground.  "The late Commander Dagora is further proof of that."
     "I still believe an apology is in order."
     If Needa could have smirked, he would have.  "If it will make you
feel better, Lucifer, you have my apology."
     "Apology accepted, Commander Needa." 
     "Then perhaps that will be the end of this nonsense.  I must now
make preparations to visit the surface tomorrow and see what sort of
leader this Supreme Ruler of the Risik really is," he began to glide
toward the door.
     "Of course," Lucifer's voice returned to one of deference, "But
there is one other matter"
     Abruptly, the BaseShip commander stopped and faced his fellow IL.
     "Now that we have received absolute confirmation that the Pegasus
did not continue into the Risik Frontier and has undoubtedly chosen to
return to charted space......do you now plan to inform His Eminence of
this important detail?"
     Needa seemed to hesitate before answering, but when he did his voice
was firm.
     "It will keep until after we have secured an agreement with the
Risik."
     "I see," Lucifer said coolly, "An agreement will be your way of
softening the bad news regarding the Pegasus."
     "His Eminence need not know when we discovered the Pegasus was
alive," Needa emphasized, "After all.....you're not really anxious for
him to find out you're alive....yet."
     "Mmmm, I suppose that would all depend," Lucifer mused, "But that of
course.....is your decision, Commander Needa."
     Needa said nothing further as he turned and left the room.  Only
when the door had closed, leaving him alone did Lucifer say anything
else.
     "It is also your last decision, Commander."


     As Needa walked through the circular corridor of the BaseShip he had
commanded for over fifteen yahrens, all of the circuits in his two
computer brains were devoted to the matter of his meeting with the Risik
Supreme Leader tomorrow.  And how he would not let the meeting end until
an agreement guaranteeing Neutrino for the Cylon Empire was secure.
     As he passed numerous centurions in the corridor he gave none of
them any thought.  He knew all of them after fifteen yahrens, because
like all BaseShip commanders he knew where each centurion was supposed to
be and what their designation was.  There was no need to give them any
thought whatsoever because he had long since come to take their loyalty
and service for granted.  Not even the outbreak of the so-called
'Disease' among so many centurions elsewhere in the Empire had made him
question the devotion of his own crew.
     Which was why when he saw Command Centurion Strelka approach him,
flanked by two centurions he knew right away were designated #720 and
#1944 he gave them little thought.  If Strelka had anything to report, he
would speak directly to him without hesitation and since he'd already
heard from him about the Neutrino report, it wasn't likely he'd be
hearing anything else from him.  So consequently, as Needa prepared to
pass his three subordinates on his left, his head was down in
contemplation as he thought of the meeting that lay ahead with the Risik
Supreme Leader tomorrow.
     Needa never had time to realize that he would never keep that
meeting......or that his taking for granted the loyalty of Strelka had
now resulted in his swift and sudden termination.


     "So you finally made your move."
     Lucifer looked over at Gracchus with an air of amusement.  "You're
not surprised?"
     "I knew it was inevitable," the DG Cylon said.  "Two
ambitious-minded IL's, especially ones who were on opposite sides in the
last matter of Imperial succession couldn't possibly maintain peaceful
co-existence indefinitely."
     "And you decided it was in your interest not to choose sides
beforehand."  Which brought the equivalent of a snort form the
Ambassador.
     "Really, Lucifer, what would I have gained from siding with either
one of you?  Regardless of which of you emerged on top, I'm still needed
to serve a vital role in these matters of diplomacy.  Especially now that
I have met with the Supreme Leader."
     "Quite logical," Lucifer conceded.  "You do serve a purpose,
Gracchus.  And now that you've seen how events have played out between
Needa and me, you know what you must do from this point on."
     "Of course," Gracchus bowed slightly but there was a hint of
exaggeration in the gesture that implied sarcasm.  "And I can certainly
make sure the Supreme Leader will not grow inquisitive about why
Commander Needa is now......permanently indisposed.  The only question
though is when do you inform His Eminence regarding the changes that have
taken place?"
     "That will come after we have concluded matters with the Supreme
Leader tomorrow, my dear Gracchus," Lucifer said with a rising level of
confidence.  "I am about to make an offer to him that I don't think he
could possibly refuse.  And once he has accepted that......then I think I
will be ready to convey the good news to His Eminence."
     Good news indeed, Gracchus thought.  Regardless, he had every
intention of being present when that communication took place.  If only
to hear the Cylon Ruler's reaction.

Chapter Six

The Pegasus
     "Target range?" Cain called out.
     "Fifteen hundred microns and closing," the centurion technician
Achillas reported back.
     The Juggernaut leaned over the railing of the upper level and idly
tapped his swagger stick against it.  A few steps behind him, Kylie
noticed the hush that had come over the Bridge.  Everyone still doing
their duties as they should, but none of them uttering a sound unless
they were responding to a directive.  Because all of them were keenly
aware of just how much was riding on what would happen very soon when for
the first time, the Pegasus would use the Ravashol designed pulsar.  The
chosen target, an asteroid the approximate size of a Cylon BaseShip.
     Cain turned his attention to Falstaff since as the Senior Gunnery
Officer, the responsibility for operating the Pulsar was his.  "Activate
target computer."
     "Target computer is active!" Falstaff intoned.  "Five hundred
microns to firing range."
     "Call off firing range at hundred micron intervals until we are one
hundred microns away.  Then call off at ten micron intervals."
     Not much longer, Tolen thought.  The XO had his hands behind his
back and wasn't moving a muscle.
     "Four hundred microns."
     "Negative shield." Cain ordered.  The bridge shield opened up giving
everyone a clear view of the asteroid in question.  It was an outlier
lying just outside the large conglomeration of space rocks that comprised
the so-called Sellian Asteroid Belt, and that was what also made it an
inviting first target for the Pulsar.  If successful, the plan was to
then move closer to the Asteroid Belt and test the Pulsar on multiple
smaller targets.
     Prudence might have dictated testing the thing out on smaller
targets first, Cain thought as he heard Falstaff give a readout of three
hundred microns to firing range.  But we might as well go for broke the
first time and see if this baby really can do what its capable of doing. 
No point dragging our feet any longer.  If it can't destroy this
thing.....we're stuck here in this system for Kobol knows how much longer
until we get the damned thing just right.  And the problem with that
option is......do we really have the time to do that any longer?
     "Two hundred microns."
     Kylie slowly made her way forward so that she was standing alongside
her husband.  Eyes forward.  No gestures of support that would have meant
a breeching protocol.  But all the same, she wanted Cain to see her in
the corner of his eye and know she was there.  Just to let him know that
she was hoping and praying with all her strength that this critical test
would succeed and allow the Pegasus to finally leave Arcta and head for
the Colonies.
     "One hundred microns.  Switching to ten micron interval count."
     "Do full countdown when you reach ten microns." Cain broke his
silence but didn't change his position.
    
"Ninety......eighty.....seventy.....sixty......fifty......forty......
thirty......twenty......ten......nine, eight, seven, six, five, four,
three, two, one.......MARK!"
     "FIRE!" the Juggernaut raised his voice to the highest level
possible.
     And then, Falstaff pressed the button that activated the Pulsar. 
All pairs of eyes on the Bridge saw a brilliant blue streak shoot across
the stars and impact the asteroid right in the center.  For just a half
micron, the entire shape of the asteroid glowed a brilliant white and
then.....it exploded in a giant white nova-like burst.
     "Helm, execute fifty degree starboard turn at full speed!" Cain
barked.  The Battlestar began to move to the right, hoping to dodge any
would-be space debris.  Two long centons passed with no one saying a word
until the Juggernaut gave a new order to bring the Pegasus back on course
toward Arcta.  
     "Give me a final report on what happened!" he ordered.
     "Scan reveals total destruction of asteroid with minimal space
debris generated," Achillas read the details off his monitor.  "Nothing
larger than one metrone in diameter."
     The magnitude of what the Cylon crewman had just said slowly sunk in
on everyone.  A collective exhale and murmur started to go up until
finally, Cain spoke above the din.
     "At ease!"
     And then, everyone on the Bridge burst into loud cheers and whoops. 
With Cain taking the moment to accept the extended arms of his beaming
wife and embrace her tightly.


     "It couldn't have gone any better," Cain said later as he made a
report to both Adama on the Galactica and Commander Deval in the
Colonies.  "One shot literally pulverized a whole asteroid into almost
total space dust.  And we were using it at just seventy-five percent
firepower."
     "No structural issues caused by carrying that kind of firepower?"
Adama asked.
     "None," the Juggernaut shook his head.  "Ravashol knew exactly what
he was doing in figuring out how to tailor this kind of firepower to our
missile banks.  We never had to reduce normal combat speed to carry the
load.  Of course it probably helps that we're not carrying a normal crew
complement and have a good deal of empty compartment space.  I can't say
with a hundred percent certainty that you could have modified the
Galactica to handle a weapon like this in your missile banks."
     "Since we still have three of our missiles at our disposal, the idea
never would have occurred to us," Adama noted dryly, which brought a
smile to the Juggernaut's face.
     "As ever, the prudent Commander," he couldn't help but say which
brought chuckles from both Adama and Ila who was sitting next to her
husband.  Cain then turned to the second monitor which showed Commander
Deval's face.  "We intend to leave for Caprica in no more than two days
from now.  We just need to take care of some final wrap-up matters now
that the Pegasus is leaving for good.  It means losing some valuable
members of our crew who've decided to stay, but....from what I've seen in
my previous visits in the fast shuttle, the Colonies have their share of
ex-warriors who might like a crack to serve aboard a battlestar again."
     "Indeed," the Caprican Resistance leader said.  "If I weren't
considered indispensable to the Leadership here, I'd be volunteering in a
micron to get a chance to fly a viper again.  I've really missed it."
     "Once a warrior, always a warrior."
     Deval then decided it was time to shift gears, "Has Commander Volahd
intercepted any new messages from Needa's BaseShip to the Imperious
Leader?"
     "I haven't heard anything from Volahd for almost a sectan," Cain
said.  "If the BaseShip has reached the Risik Capital by now, it could be
they haven't reached any kind of agreement yet.  We know Needa's not
interested in giving the Top Snake anything other than good
news......which no doubt explains why the matter of our survival still
hasn't come up in any of his dispatches.  Whatever the case, I'm glad
we're going to be under way for home before they've had a chance to find
out.  God forbid the truth comes out and they decide to make a move on
the Colonies.....I'm going to be in position to head them off.  Not even
three BaseShips could hold up to this kind of firepower."
     "I hope you're prepared to deal with contingencies if it ever fails
during battle conditions," Adama chimed in with caution.
     "Oh, I will be, Adama.  I will be.  You can count on that." he
sighed, "I guess that's it for now.  Anything from your end I should
know?"
     Adama sighed, "I wish I had some good news to report on our efforts
to create Neutrino by artificial means, since we still haven't come
across any planetary systems that contain any, but I'm afraid we've had
no breakthroughs there yet.  If the Risik do succeed in building a
massive fleet of Neutrino-based ships.....it's going to be a much more
formidable challenge than we could have imagined."
     "Just a thought," Cain mused, "Do any of your people from Earth like
Captain Byrne know if Neutrino might exist on Earth?  Maybe it's an alloy
that they're familiar with by a different name."
     "That did occur to us," Adama said.  "The problem is that out of
sixty odd-survivors from Earth, none of them have any expertise in that
field so they wouldn't be able to tell the difference between Neutrino or
any other metallic substance used in constructing warships."
     "I see.  Well....I hope you find a breakthrough on that before you
reach Earth.  Kobol only knows what that BaseShip and the Risik are up to
right now."
     "Governor Malus hasn't learned anything?" Ila spoke up, directing
her question to Deval.
     "Governor Malus hasn't heard from Imperious Leader for almost a
sectar now, though that's not out of the ordinary," the Caprican
Resistance leader said.  "If Imperious Leader were to discover that the
Pegasus is potentially back in the regions of charted space, but remains
ignorant of Ila's survival and connection to her, then he wouldn't
hesitate to contact Malus and inform him about it.  So I don't think we
have to worry about the possibility that Imperious Leader knows about the
Pegasus from a message that Volahd's team on Gomorrah failed to
intercept."
     "I hope you're right about that," Cain grunted, "If Volahd were to
miss just one message, the results could be disastrous.  But he's assured
me their system can detect any long-range transmission sent back to the
Cylon capital."
     "We'll pray for our good luck to keep holding," Deval said. 
"Signing off for now."
     "I'll contact you again for a brief message when we begin our
departure," Cain promised.
     As soon as the connection from Caprica was broken, leaving just the
line to the Galactica open, the conversation between Cain, Adama and Ila
turned informal.
     "I know we couldn't mention this while Deval was connected," Ila
said, "But we read your text message last night about the whole business
with Wynn.  I'm so glad he was exonerated."
     "So am I," the Juggernaut sighed wearily, "If we hadn't found that
evidence proving the Raider had malfunctioned, it would have been bad for
Wynn, bad for the crew and.....Lords I would have been filled with
paranoia about whether or not Iblis had reneged on whatever bargain Kylie
made to free Wynn."
     "Where is Kylie?" Ila asked.
     "Giving a farewell performance of Lord Georges slaying the Draco to
Wallis and Kelli's children," he said.  "They've decided to stay on
Arcta."
     "I see," her tone grew slightly pensive since she understood how
much Kylie had enjoyed spending time with little Linden and Karin.  "Did
she take that news well?"
     "She didn't greet it with sunshine and smiles, but.....she knows why
they did it.  She's ready to......let go."
     The slight hesitation didn't go unnoticed by Adama and Ila.
     "The Lords will bless the two of you someday in their own time,
Cain," the woman who had helped bring Cain and Kylie together said, "I
don't know how, but.....I'm convinced the two of you won't spend the rest
of your days alone together."
     "Maybe," he allowed a faint smile, "Nothing worth focusing on right
now anyway.  Not when there's planning to do with Malus, and a battle to
be fought.  As a matter of fact......" he then trailed off.
     "Yes?" Adama prompted.
     "Nothing," he shook his head, "Nothing, I don't know where I was
going, Adama.  Right now, I just want to stay focused on what comes next
for the Pegasus."
     "Of course," Adama decided it wasn't worth pressing.  He decided it
was time to end things on something more positive, "Sheba sends her love. 
Next time, I'll try to let the two of you have some time alone together. 
I know it's been awhile since you've been able to have a private talk
with her."
     "I'd like that," Cain admitted, "And give me a chance to see my
favorite granddaughter too."
     "We'll arrange that," Ila said and gave him a wave, "Bye!"
     Cain motioned his stick with a smile as the transmission ceased.  He
sat there for several microns thinking about the idea that had popped
into his head just now that seemed too crazy to express aloud.  And
yet....there was a certain logic to it.  Something that would help
address a multitude of problems.....provided other things happened first.
     It's too early to tell Adama and Ila about it.  Probably even too
early to tell Kylie.  It can wait.....for now.


The Galactica   
     "What idea do you think popped into his head just now?" Ila asked
her husband as he shut off the monitor on his desk.
     "Knowing Cain as we both do, I doubt it was something innocuous,"
Adama said. "He may have learned how to become a team player thanks to
you, but he's still capable of being unorthodox."
     "That he is," his wife nodded and smiled, "If I were still on the
Pegasus I'd probably be pressing him to tell me what's on his mind,
but......that's not my job any longer.  I imagine he'll tell Kylie
eventually and get her take."
     "And hopefully it won't be the kind of surprise that might cause
some friction between us," her husband sighed.  "I don't need to go
through anything like that again."
     "I wouldn't worry about that," his wife shook his head, "He's not
going to pull a Battle of Gomorrah stunt on you again.  Those days are
definitely over for him now that the stakes are so much greater for all
of us."
     "I'll take your word for it," he was about ready to rise when the
comline sounded.
     "Yes?" 
     "Commander, this is Dr. Wilker," the Chief Scientist's voice sounded
exuberant, "You need to come down to the Lab immediately!  We've got some
good news to report."
     "I'll be right there," he shut the comline off and looked at Ila,
"Care to join me?"
     "Definitely!"


     They arrived several centons and saw Wilker anxiously come up to
them. "Commander, Madame President.  Thank you for coming!" his voice was
like that of a giddy school child.
     "Relax, Doctor," Ila said gently, "Does this concern your Neutrino
experiments?"
     "Yes it does, Madame President!  We've finally cracked it!" he
motioned to his senior technician, Hummer, who was standing alongside the
IL Cylon Septimus.  
     "Go on," Ila said. 
     "We have finished our tests and simulations on the samples we have
from Baltar's BaseShip, as well as wreckage from past engagements with
the Cylons," said Hummer.  He led them to another work station. "From our
data, part of the Cylons' problem with making their BaseShips totally
impervious was the purity problem. The Neutrino they had access to has a
number of impurities which keep even the finished product from achieving
full strength."
     "Which is why they never succeeded in making their Fleet completely
invulnerable," Adama noted.  "You've found the solution?"
     "I think so, Commander," replied Hummer. "We broke the material
down, which as you know is a naturally-occurring alloy of several unique
minerals, and thoroughly scanned every element in it, including the
impurities which compromise it's value." He activated a screen, whereon
were displayed a mass of equations and chemical formulae. "Now, here, as
one reaches the quantum/sub-quantum barrier, we..."
     "Please, Hummer," said Adama, in no mood for one of the technician's
famous techno-babble orgies.  It seemed like everyone on Wilker's staff
was prone to inheriting their superior's penchant for over-verbosity.
"Just the final results."
     "Yes, of course, Commander. Madame President....uh...." He switched
scans.  "We finally hit upon the idea of using the transporter device we
obtained from the Zykonians.  You....are familiar with that, Madame
President?"
     "The Pegasus obtained it from the Zykonians too," Ila said and
decided she could be a little verbose herself.  "In fact, they used it
successfully to rescue Commander Cain and myself when the Eastern
Alliance thugs were holding us prisoner."
     "Oh yes!  How silly of me, I forgot that Dr. Arnoff sent me a report
on how they'd made use of it too."
     "It is a remarkable piece of technology," Ila agreed.  "But how does
it factor into this?"
     "Allow me to explain, Madame President,"  Septimus took up the
narrative. "Scanned into the unit is every chemical element making up the
sample. By reconfiguring data used to modulate the pattern buffer
filters, we have finally hit upon a breakthrough that I must confess has
confounded Cylon science for hundreds of yahrens.  The ability to remove
those elements entirely from the samples and create a Neutrino alloy that
is as close to 100% purity as it can be."
     "You mean you can produce pure Neutrino, without all the usual
intermediate processes? You filter them out by way of the transport?"
asked Ila.
     "Indeed," said the onetime deputy BaseShip commander with pride.
"And here we are."
     Septimus showed them a metal plate, which was a full metron square 
and as thick as a fumarello. "This was made from mineral samples we have,
as well as Cylon wreckage. It is as close to a full hundred percent pure
as has ever been achieved."
     "And by a technology the Imperious Leader does not possess!" Hummer
chimed in with enthusiasm.
     Ila found herself suppressing the urge to inject a cautionary note. 
Because the BaseShip of Commander Needa had stopped at Brylon Station, it
was possible they could have learned about the Zykonian transport
technology from them, even though there'd been no messages sent back to
indicate it.  She decided this wasn't the time to dampen the buoyant
mood.
     "I have to assume you have more than just this one metal plate at
your disposal," Adama was impressed, but felt the need to maintain a
cautious attitude.
     "Oh we do, Commander, we do!" Septimus said reassuringly.  "Our
inventory of the Fleet reveals that we have twenty-five thousand tons of
imperfect Neutrino samples that can be subjected to this process and
provide."
     "Twenty-five thousand?" he lifted an eyebrow, "How do you account
for that?"
     "From the salvaged wrecks orbiting the planet where we encountered
the Entity," Wilker chimed in.  "Several had varying amounts in their
construction. Hulls. Engine housings, and such. The material is
remarkably heat and radon resistant."
     "And from this sample base.....in conjunction with this process
using the transport technology......it is now possible to mass produce
synthetic Neutrino using our own technology aboard the Foundry Ship?" 
Adama wanted to make sure there wasn't the slightest possibility of a
loose end in all this.
     "Yes, Commander, it is now possible," the Chief Scientist was
emphatic.  "Of course it will take time to make any kind of mass
production a reality."
     "Are we talking yahrens or sectars, Dr. Wilker?"  Ila asked
pointedly.  "It would certainly help if we achieved this breakthrough
before we reach Earth."
     "I would definitely say we will have it before then, Madame
President.  As to how many sectars.....or a yahren at the outside, that
will depend on things we don't have control over.  Obviously Chief
Shadrach, and our Maintenance and Industrial workers aboard the Foundry
Ship will be needed to give their input."
     "Get it," Adama nodded, "But remember, Dr. Wilker.....keep these
details classified for now.  I don't want word to get around the Fleet
that we're experimenting with something that might prematurely raise
hopes too high.  Prepare a report for Professor Ila and myself at the
earliest convenience on when we can move this breakthrough to the next
level, which would be constructing new viper craft from Neutrino that
could be totally impervious to laser fire during battle."
     "Yes sir," Wilker nodded with determination, "We're ready to got
there."


     "Talk about a gift from the Lords!" Ila said after she and Adama had
finished and left the Lab. "I never thought a breakthrough like that was
possible."
     "It is something to be grateful for," her husband nodded as they
walked through the corridors back to their quarters.  "But-and I'm sure
this popped into your head during that demonstration----if we can figure
out how to use Zykonian technology to make Neutrino, then the Cylons
could too if they got that technology from the Zykonians at Brylon."
     "It did pop into my head," the Academician turned Council President
acknowledged, "But none of Needa's messages to the Imperious Leader
indicate they learned about that technology.  Maybe Rosalind had a hand
in that like she seems to have had in keeping them from finding out I was
there with the Pegasus."
     "Possible, or it could be something as simple as the Zykonians not
revealing it at all to them.  Whatever the case, we can't take for
granted the idea that only our side is going to figure out the secret of
how to make synthetic Neutrino."
     "No indeed.  But if we can at least apply it to some practical
building programs over the next yahren and a half, we'll be in better
position to fight back against any kind of Risik assault in the future,
even if they do come at us with Neutrino ships."
     "And Earth will know the secret of how to make Neutrino ships
themself," Adama said. 
     Ila then stopped as something else occurred to her, "Should we
reconnect with Cain and tell him about this?"
     "It's much too soon since we ended contact and the BaseShip needs
time to recharge its systems after the power drain from the transmission. 
I wouldn't want to hear Baltar complain about that."
     "Of course," his wife nodded and then she smiled, "And if Cain can
have his little secret from us for a while, we can have one from him."
     "Spoken like a true politician," he returned it. 


The Pegasus
     Cain was still at his desk contemplating the idea that had popped
into his head just before his conversation with Ila and Adama had ended. 
He'd made some idle scribblings on a notepad sketching out the idea in
crude detail, wondering if that would dissuade him from thinking about it
further.  Only to find it had produced the opposite result inside him. 
Instead, he stared at what he'd written and found the idea taking greater
shape in his head.
     It was only when Kylie returned that his thoughts finally went
elsewhere.  He looked up and saw his wife was leaning against the door
and letting out a slow exhale with a decidedly sad undercurrent.  He
immediately knew why.
     "They've gone now?" he asked gently.
     She nodded, "After I killed the Draco one last time......and after I
gave the kids some gentle and wise words of wisdom to keep them from
crying......I saw them and their parents off down in Alpha Bay. 
They're.....on Arcta now.  Where they belong."
     "What did you say to them?"
     Kylie closed her eyes and smiled but the inner pain was still
evident, "I.....told them, that just like the end of the story is a new
chapter in the lives of Lord Georges and Princess Sabra, they have to see
going to Arcta as a new chapter in their lives to be happy with all the
new friends they're going to make among the Thetans.  That they need to
be with kids their own age every day more than they need to be with their
Auntie once a sectan, which is all the time I've had for them ever since
I got promoted."
     "Did they listen to you?"
     "Linden took it with a stiff upper lip.  He's older and catching on
a bit more to how life isn't always fair.  Karin's still too young to
realize that so she was asking why I couldn't come with them to Arcta. 
And I knelt down and put my hands on her shoulders and looked her in the
eye and told her that if I came with them, I'd be letting the Pegasus and
Commander Cain down and that she wouldn't want me to do that, because
then she wouldn't like me any longer.  And how sometimes, life means we
have to say our goodbyes to the people we love and move on to new
things."
     She then looked at him directly and decided that as his wife, it was
safe for her to say this, "Kind of like how it is with you and Sheba,
isn't it?"
     Cain didn't react negatively to her comment, but instead just
nodded, "In a way, yeah."
     Grateful that he'd agreed with her she went on, "So....I told them
both gently and firmly that I wanted them to remember the good times we
spent together but to keep things focused on what lies ahead.  And that
someday if it was convenient, I'd try to come back on the fast shuttle, 
but that they shouldn't make waiting for that a big deal.  Just enjoy it
when it happens and always know that even if we don't see each other
again, we'll always remember how much fun we had.  And that nothing can
take that away, ever," she smiled weakly, "I had the vidrecorder going
when I acted out my last performance of the story and told them they
could always have that as a memory of listening to me, but.....it was
important to never make a habit of watching it.  Keep it only for special
occasions."
     Kylie then came over and dropped into a chair on the other side of
his desk, "And then we exchanged our hugs and kisses......and then Wallis
and Kelli arrived and told them it was time for them to go to Alpha Bay
and take their shuttle to Arcta.  I went with them and gave them a final
hug and waved goodbye to them when they got aboard the shuttle.  And
then.....that was that."  She sighed, "The end of one of the happier
experiences of my life."
     "You'll see them again," Cain said reassuringly, "When things are
settled for us."
     "Oh, I'm sure I will.  But when I do, they'll be older and wiser and
they'll have found new friends and new things to focus on.  Which is how
it should be.  After all.....they're Wallis and Kelli's responsibility. 
I was just a good family friend who knew how to give them something they
needed after that miserable yahren they spent on Brylon." she paused,
"And if it ends up being the only taste of motherhood I ever get to enjoy
in my life.....I can be grateful for that."
     Cain was glad to see her acting in a way that was professional and
accepting of the situation, but at the same time not devoid of emotion. 
     "Maybe it won't be," he said with tenderness, "Someday.....when all
this is over.  We might find a way to.....do something."
     "Adoption?" Kylie smiled weakly and sighed, "Yeah, I keep thinking
about that.  Especially with all the orphans there probably are in the
Colonies now that the Occupation is over.  And Lords know, I should
relate to that because of my own sad background as an unwanted orphan. 
But for some reason.....it just isn't registering with me right now."
     "Well that's understandable," her husband acknowledged, "We've still
got a lot of things to take care of before this is all over.  As a matter
of fact......" he trailed off.
     "Yes?"
     Cain decided it was time to share his idea with her, "Now that we
know this Pulsar works, it's possible that we might be able to take care
of the whole problem of destroying what's left of the Empire a lot sooner
than we anticipated.  And if we're successful in clearing out the entire
Colonial Frontier of any legitimate threat to the Colonies and ensuring
that they can take care of themselves for a period of a couple
yahrens.....maybe that could free us to do something that until today
I've never thought possible."
     "What's that?"  Kylie frowned.  
     The Juggernaut took a breath, "If the Galactica and Earth is now
threatened by a potential assault from a Fleet of Risik ships made from
Neutrino.......then maybe we can cancel that out by taking this old girl
across the Alpha Quadrant and destroying the Risik military capability
with the Pulsar......as well as that one Cylon BaseShip that's joined up
with them."
     His wife wasn't sure she'd heard him right at first.  But then, she
slowly rose from her chair and came up to the desk.  
     "Tell me more," Kylie said simply.

Epilogue

Cylon BaseShip #1040
     "By your command......Your Eminence."
     Despite the fact that the Imperious Leader's face and body shell was
modeled after that of the extinct reptilian Cylon race, he was not
capable of changing expression.  But hearing a voice that was all too
familiar to him, and which made it clear he wasn't seeing Needa at the
other end of the transmission caused him to come forward in his chair. 
As if the Cylon ruler hoped that his three brains were overloading and he
hadn't heard what he thought he'd heard.
     "Lucifer?" he barely forced the word out.
     "Yes.  Reports of my demise it seemed, were quite exaggerated," he
tried to keep the level of smug satisfaction in his tone to a bare
minimum.  Not overt, but just enough for his long-time rival to notice
it.
     "Where is Commander Needa?" Imperious Leader demanded.
     "Permanently indisposed," the IL said tersely and with devastating
effectiveness.  "I am afraid, Your Eminence, that from this point forward
you will be hearing only from me.  And Ambassador Gracchus has given me
his full support on that.  I wouldn't mourn Needa's loss too much, since
after all, ever since I was rescued at Brylon Station, he was not anxious
to inform you that I survived that last engagement with the Galactica."
     "Your ship?" he barely forced the words out.
     "Destroyed alas, but that was to be expected since after all, you
put Commander Septimus and myself in an impossible situation when Baltar
was restored to command on your order, and he found he could capitalize
on a growing level of what I believe is known as 'the Disease' in Cylon
circles." he paused, "Believe me, Your Eminence, I learned everything
regarding the current state of things in the Empire from Needa before he
outlived his usefulness to me.  It became necessary for me to act before
the first meeting with the Risik Supreme Leader took place."
     A million questions were raging through the Cylon ruler's three
brains.  Many of them having to do with how Lucifer had survived and
ended up on Brylon Station and why Needa had withheld this news from him. 
But he quickly processed the critical point that he couldn't waste time
on them.  He had to accept that his one great challenger to the Cylon
throne when both of them had vied for it following the Carillon disaster
was back, and that it was more important to deal with that reality from
this point forward.  The details of how Lucifer had managed to pull it
off could wait until later.
     "What happened to Siress Rosalind?" he asked cautiously.
     "She has performed admirably.  I give you full credit for
recognizing her value to this mission, Your Eminence.  Despite our past
history, I would never deny you credit where it is due.  A Human emissary
was necessary to make the Risik more receptive to listening to our
requests and to assure them that we have no imperial designs on either
their home planet, or their own territorial possessions.  And that our
only desire is an agreement that would give us access to Neutrino in the
long-term.  Now that Rosalind has prepared the way, they are more than
ready to talk directly to us."
     The Cylon ruler waited a beat before making another cautious
inquiry.  "And you've decided she's now outlived her usefulness to you
just as you decided with Commander Needa?"
     "Hardly.  She's now enjoying the full hospitality of the Risik and
being introduced to the Humans from Earth who have joined their cause. 
Better to let her be among her own kind from this point forward, because
that means she will be less likely to feel any sense of responsibility
toward those she left behind in the Home System......let alone the
Colonies." he paused, "Which would make any promise you made to her about
the future disposition of those prisoners a moot point.  I am sure you
would appreciate that."
     The Cylon ruler, who had once been an IL Cylon before his elevation
to three-brain status, knew that his old rival was toying with him.  He
responded with an air of gratitude but made sure to put just the right
hint of insincerity in his tone.  "That was most considerate of you,
Lucifer.  Let us hope you are correct in your belief that she'll find
life among those of her kind more.....agreeable."
     "She is in no position to do anything, unlike......the last Human
you chose to entrust with special duties," again there was the hint of
disdain that he knew the Cylon ruler would notice, but not comment on. 
"And being a realist, she will as I said, realize it is for the best to
enjoy the rest of her days on the Risik home world and give them more
insights into what kind of person Commander Adama is, since she does have
some past acquaintance with him."
     "Let's return to the main point, Lucifer," Imperious Leader decided
it was time to reassert himself.  "I must assume you wouldn't have
contacted me unless you had more to report than just your miraculous
resurrection and your disposal of Commander Needa."
     "Most logical of you, Your Eminence," Lucifer bowed his head but the
excessive flamboyance of the gesture again communicated the underlying
mocking edge.  "I have indeed reached an agreement with the Supreme
Leader of the Risik.  He is prepared to give us access to Neutrino. 
Although their samples reveal it is slightly below the levels of purity
we are used to, it would be more than sufficient to satisfy our needs for
constructing at least one if not two capital ships if we were able to
return to the Home System with fully loaded carriers in our hold."
     "That would be a tremendous boost to our morale," Imperious Leader
acknowledged.  "If you are able to return soon with this Neutrino, then I
am prepared to dispatch two of my three remaining BaseShips to Gomorrah
and take back the garrison.  We must have our outer capital back to act
as a base for constructing new ships because it would be in closer
proximity to the Risik Frontier."
     "Logical," Lucifer said.  "But....that would be premature of you,
Your Eminence."
     The brief pause that represented the Cylon equivalent of a frown
followed, "What do you mean by 'premature', Lucifer?"
     "I mean that in order to secure an agreement with the Supreme Leader
for future access to Neutrino......there was one stipulation attached
that I had to agree to."
     "And that was?" he demanded sharply.
     "I believe Commander Needa has told you of the past Risik experience
with the Galactica and the humiliation they suffered in battle with her. 
The Supreme Leader is most determined to achieve his revenge on Adama for
this.  Especially since the Galactica stands in the way of the Risik
ability to one day conquer Earth as they have intended to do for quite
some time.  This is why they are rapidly building their own fighting
force of ships constructed from Neutrino, which they feel could
compensate for the firepower of both the Galactica and our renegade
BaseShip that Baltar is still commanding."
     "Yes?" he had no idea where Lucifer was going with this.
     "Because the Risik now realize that their own supply of Neutrino is
of a slightly inferior quality to our own, that means that any ship they
build will still be potentially vulnerable to sustained laser fire just
as our own ships and fighters have always been.  That is why the Supreme
Leader believes that if his Fleet can be supplemented by at least one
capital ship of superior construction.....the odds in his favor for total
victory will be greatly increased."
     Immediately things fell into place for the Cylon Ruler and he could
barely hold back his fury over this realization.
     "Lucifer," he forced his words out, "You are saying that you intend
to take your ship with them in pursuit of the Galactica?"
     "I thought you would be pleased, Your Eminence.  After all, it does
represent the fulfillment of what you ordered me to do when you first
assigned me as Baltar's deputy, and which I inherited when I assumed
command following his......unusual disappearance that first time.  It
would be most disappointing to think that you had given up altogether on
the idea of seeing the Galactica destroyed once and for all."
     "Times have changed, Lucifer," he decided he was going to be candid
and blunt, "The idea of exterminating the Human race in toto has proved
to be an unrealistic concept.  The pursuit of that unrealistic goal by
our predecessors led us to in the dangerous realms of overreach which I
am convinced is what led to the onset of the Disease.  In order to
re-establish our viability as an Empire worthy of exercising our dominion
as we had dreamed, we must deal with other matters first and the
destruction of the Galactica is no longer a priority for us."
     "I will grant for purposes of this discussion that what you say is
true," Lucifer said.  "But the reality, Your Eminence, is this.  We
cannot re-establish ourselves without Neutrino, and unless you are
prepared to send the last three BaseShips in the Home System out to join
me in a campaign of conquest against the Risik......we will never obtain
access to Neutrino unless I agree to join them in their pursuit and
destruction of the Galactica."
     "And given how far away the Galactica must be now, and how long the
Risik need to finish building their Neutrino ships, you're talking about
something that is at least yahrens in the future!" Imperious Leader
retorted.
     "One yahren.....or two.  I think we can afford to be patient, Your
Eminence.  After all, it's not as if the Home System is in need of my
ship for the purposes of defense from some outside threat.  Your only
concern is making sure the three BaseShips that you need to safeguard the
Home System remain unaffected by the Disease.  And while I recognize the
humiliations you've recently suffered at Gomorrah, Cannes and Starlos and
the treason of Commander Dagora at Arcta, it is my understanding that
Malus is keeping things from deteriorating further in the Colonies, is he
not?"
     "He has," Imperious Leader admitted.  "The Resistance is more of a
nuisance at this point and not in danger of overthrowing the Occupation
forces, but it is still too premature for me to send a BaseShip back to
the Colonies and engage in a scorched planet campaign.  Disease seems to
take hold in the centurions and even some of our own IL's whenever they
leave the Home System."
     "That is interesting," the IL Cylon said, "You're convinced that
Malus has never shown any signs of becoming Diseased himself?"
     "Of course," the Cylon ruler retorted sharply.  "Kore was the
Occupation Governor who showed more signs of being a potential Human
collaborator.  That's why I had Malus dispose of him.  His loyalty is
beyond dispute as far as I'm concerned."
     "I am in no position to dispute you, Your Eminence," Lucifer
suddenly struck a deferential tone. "But to return to the matter at
hand.....I am afraid that if we want to get Neutrino from the
Risik......we must help them destroy the Galactica first.  I think the
fact that in the end we will be fulfilling one of our own objectives is
more than sufficient to make this acceptance not seem like a concession
on our part."
     "Granted.  Even so, I will greet the news of the Galactica's
destruction with less enthusiasm than I will the news that you are on
your way back.  Only then will I take the risk of sending two BaseShips
to Gomorrah where I will then expect you to link up with them and bring
the Diseased usurper Commander Volahd into submission."
     "I will look forward to that day, Your Eminence.  And in the
meantime, while I am still here in the Risik system, I will use the full
resources of my crew to assist the Risik in finishing their building
program as soon as they can so that the final pursuit and destruction of
the Galactica will take place sooner than later."
     "I expect you to keep me fully informed of your progress, Lucifer."
     "I shall, Your Eminence.  I shall," he bowed again, but this time
with no exaggerated flourishes.  This time it was with pure respect.
     The transmission to the Cylon Home World ended and slowly, Lucifer
returned to his full bearing.  He looked over at Gracchus, who had
watched all of the proceedings unfold with interest.
     "As you saw, Gracchus, it didn't take long for him to accept the
reality as it now exists."
     "The reality as you presented it to him," the DG Cylon said with
amusement.  "After all, the Risik didn't stipulate that we join in the
pursuit of the Galactica.  That was a request you made of them, after we
secured their cooperation to give us Neutrino in exchange for a simple
promise of non-intervention in Risik territorial affairs."
     "But His Eminence need not know that," an edge of what almost
sounded like mischievousness entered the IL Cylon's voice.  "After all,
he must accept the idea that our original primary mission of destroying
the Galactica must be carried out, or else our very honor as a race is
forever tainted because we did not avenge the losses the Galactica is
directly responsible for."
     "That I can understand," the Ambassador said, "But what I don't
understand, Lucifer, is why you chose to continue Needa's game of
deception regarding the Pegasus.  After all, it was quite a matter of
contention between the two of you."
     Lucifer's reply remained mischievousness, "Perhaps now that Needa is
gone, I am learning to see things from his perspective better.  Why
burden His Eminence with bad news about the Pegasus when there is good
news to tell him of an agreement with the Risik for Neutrino?"
     "I see," Gracchus now understood just why Lucifer had come so close
to getting the throne himself.  "And if.....the Pegasus were to show up
unexpectedly in the Home System and catch them by surprise?"
     "Really now, Gracchus.  If His Eminence still has three BaseShips at
his disposal, he is surely safe from any threat the Pegasus might present
to them......assuming they are indeed back in charted space and not with
the Galactica.  But if the Pegasus is with the Galactica, then I do
believe our Risik allies will stand a much greater chance of success with
us present."
     The DG Cylon said nothing.  Lucifer had all but admitted that he
didn't care if the Pegasus were to show up in the Cylon Home System and
inflict enough damage to produce a vacancy on the Cylon throne.  A
vacancy that he still had dreams of filling for himself.
     But Gracchus wasn't going to ever express that thought openly.  Not
now.  Not ever.  Not when it was clear that his very survival now
depended on showing nothing but total devotion to the new BaseShip
commander.


The Risik Capital
     Rosalind had been provided with comfortable accommodations.  Not the
equivalent of a luxury resort but infinitely preferable to the small
cubicle she'd been living in on the Cylon Home World for more than four
yahrens, and also a step above her private quarters on the BaseShip. 
Mindful of the warnings she'd received from both Commander Clubb and
Admiral Trilligan, she didn't utter any private thoughts aloud.  And not
wanting to take the chance that the Risik had learned how to read
Colonial script, she decided to jot some observations down in a private
shorthand she and Adar had designed yahrens ago in order to communicate
with each other, knowing no one but her could read it.  So that when she
received her tour of the University tomorrow from the director of Te'rean
Affairs, Dr. Tsu-Lan, she'd know who to watch for.....and who she would
need to see privately.
     When she was introduced to the eight natives from Earth who worked
on Dr. Tsu-Lan's staff the next day she could tell which of the six men
was David Marshall before she heard him identify himself.  There was a
cautious air in his posture and demeanor that she recognized immediately
after being a prisoner of the Cylons for the last four yahrens.  It was a
posture she'd seen in herself every time she'd seen her reflection in a
mirror.  The posture of someone who knew he had to look over his shoulder
constantly just to make sure that his luck wasn't finally running out. 
By contrast, the other seven natives of Earth, five men and two women
exuded an almost robotic aura that reminded her of a centurion.  As if
they had been subjected to brainwashing to get them to embrace the Risik
vision of conquering their own planet one day.
     During the tour of the Institute, in which she'd seen examples of
Earth culture the Risik had brought back with them, she'd made sure she
got close to David Marshall.  Close enough so that she could bump into
him and drop a stylus she'd been carrying so that when they both leaned
down to get it, she was able to whisper to him in a low voice.  "The
Admiral told me I should see you.....alone."
     He had glanced at her for just a brief micron but long enough for
her to see that he understood her message.  With the barest nod of his
head, he handed her stylus back to her and the tour of the Institute
resumed.  When it ended nearly a centar later and Professor Tsu-Lan was
instructing the staff to bid her farewell, David Marshall stepped
forward.
     "Professor, I was wondering if I might escort Siress Rosalind back
to her accommodations.  She might like a chance to see some of the
capital's beauty like Iakir Park."
     The director looked at her quizzically, "You have no formal escort
from your Cylon friends?"
     "No," Rosalind shook her head, "Now that the negotiations are being
handled on a direct command level, I have been given total free rein. 
Admiral Trilligan arranged for a staff vehicle to take me here."
     "I see.  Well, in that case it probably would be nicer for you to
enjoy a pleasant walk back and since you should do so with an escort,
then yes, David, you may take the afternoon off and do so."
     "Thank you, Professor," David nodded gratefully.
     As the gathering broke up and David came up to the Siress he
whispered briefly, "Not until we reach the park."
     They walked in silence for the next fifteen centons from the
University complex to the public park area he'd indicated.  During the
walk, Rosalind was able to look about and for the first time see signs of
the shortages that had been described in Trilligan's dispatch to Clubb. 
There were a dearth of vehicular traffic which Rosalind knew had to be
related to fuel rationing. And she could see lines of Risik lined up in
what she was certain was their version of a food exchange.  Waiting to
receive handouts that also could only have stemmed from a rationing
program.  She also noticed that whenever she passed other Risik, there
was a largely downcast quality in their expressions.  Something that
exceeded the typically humorless visage of a Risk that she'd seen in the
likes of Clubb or Katkov or the rest of the Dreadnought crew.  It was
obvious that these people were undergoing hardships.
     When they finally reached the public park that bore the name of the
current chief of stat security (Rosalind could tell from the position of
the sign that it had undoubtedly replaced the name of the previous one
who had clearly fallen out of favor), David broke his silence.
     "We talk to each other as we walk alongside each other, but never
turn your head no matter what you hear and never change your expression."
     "I won't forget," she said simply, "I learned how to keep a perfect
Pyramid face a long time ago."
     "A what?" he tried not to frown.
     "Never mind.  I'll explain that idiom from my culture another time,"
Rosalind paused, "So you know everything the Admiral knows?"
     "He took me into his confidence," David admitted.  "That was after
one of his officers, Sub-Commander Morovik, who had once been a prisoner
aboard the ship called Galactica had approached me some time earlier. 
They.....explained to me there was evidence to indicate that everything
the Risik ancient scrolls say about their relationship to Earth is a
lie."
     "And you believe them?" despite his youthful appearance, Rosalind
could tell that he wasn't a shallow thinker, unlike the other Earth
natives she'd met at the University.  
     "I have no choice," he said tersely.  "The evidence is irrefutable. 
When it's irrefutable, you have to be honest enough to acknowledge the
truth.
     "What specifically do you regard as irrefutable?"
     He hesitated slightly, "Something I don't think I could explain to
you in a first meeting.  Not until I've had a chance to know you better. 
It's not that I don't trust you.  It's only that apart from the Admiral
and Sub-Commander Morovik, I've never been able to speak to anyone about
these matters."
     "You've found no one else you think you could trust with this
information that the Established Order of the Risik needs to be changed?"
     "No one I can approach right now," he stressed as they walked around
the circular path of the well-kept park.  "I've seen many Risik who I
think would welcome the opportunity, and who might be potential
candidates for a movement to overthrow the existing order.....but right
now they're too afraid of State Security and the Army."
     "Sooner or later you have to recruit someone, Mr. Marshall," she
said.  "Maybe I can help you with that."
     He almost looked at her but stopped himself, "What exactly is your
role with these.....Cylons, and with the Colonials?"
     The former Cabinet Minister sighed, "It's a complicated story, Mr.
Marshall.  I think it may require two circuits around the park perimeter
for me to tell you.  Can you give me that much time?"
     "I think so."
     Rosalind managed to give him a telescoped account of her back story. 
Her relationship with Adar.  Her unwitting role in a treason plot against
her own people that had contributed in part to the Cylon destruction of
the Colonies.  Her capture and transport to the Cylon Home System and the
desperate situation of nearly a half million Humans being forced to work
in the Neutrino mines.  Being forced by the Cylon Imperious Leader into
her current diplomatic assignment.  The double game she'd been forced to
play of serving the Cylon cause to get them access to the Neutrino the
wanted, and at the same time concealing vital information from them in
order to safeguard her own people fighting for freedom back in the
Colonies.  Her visit to the desolate planet where she'd found her old
acquaintance Siress Lydia regressed to a troglodyte, and the secrets
she'd learned about the connection between the forebears of Humanity and
their forebears of the Risik.  The alliance she'd managed to strike with
Commander Clubb and Lieutenant Katkov which had led to her private
audience with Admiral Trilligan, which in turn had led to her knowledge
about David.  When she was through, she had managed to tell the Earth
native everything in one and a half times around the park pathway.
     "Remarkable," David was impressed by her narrative.  "Obviously you
are a woman of far more experience in your field, and yet.....I can see
some similarities to my own situation.  I'm in this position because I
had foolish beliefs once in ideas that I now realize were a lie, and now
I find myself trapped in a situation where I have to act one way to one
group of Risik and at the same time try to safeguard others who are
depending on me like the Admiral."
     "And I think that gives us a basis on which we can work together
productively," the longer Rosalind walked with him, the more she began to
feel stirrings inside her that she hadn't felt in a long time.  From the
corner of her eye she could tell that he was a young and attractive man
from her standpoint.  But not so young that he had no trace of maturity
or gravitas within him.  And for Rosalind, she found that a refreshing
change from the older, powerful men she'd had her affairs with in the
past like Adar and Commander Solem of the Rycon.  
     I won't try to make that kind of move on him today, she thought. 
But if we can connect on the things that matter most to us, then by God I
am going to see if he's interested!  It's been so damn long since I've
had that.
     "Do the Cylons plan on giving you continued free rein in the
Capital?"
     "I'm beginning to think I've outlived my usefulness to them," she
said with resignation, "Especially now that there's been a change in the
leadership of the BaseShip that brought me here.  I don't think the new
commander the Supreme Leader is talking to is particularly interested in
getting Neutrino back to the Cylon Home System yet.  From what I know of
him, he's more interested in seeing if the Supreme Leader is capable of
serving his agenda, which  like the Supreme Leader's is the destruction
of the Galactica."
     "Take advantage of it then," David said and then added, "I really
could use a friend I could talk to on a regular basis and could trust. 
I've.....frankly been going crazy for a while having to keep my mouth
shut in my apartment and at work because of the listening devices State
Security has in place.  If you and I were able to see each other
regularly we could go to other places together and talk these things out
openly."
     "I'd like that," she realized he was suffering from the same need
for companionship that she was.  "I'd really like that.  Maybe I could
put through a request that I be assigned to you or you be assigned to me,
and that way we'd be able to just.....talk about a lot more we need to
talk about.  If we have any hope of helping the Admiral's cause, and my
people's cause and your people's cause by bringing down the Risik Order
one day, we have to begin with each other."
     He suddenly broke his protocol and turned to look at her, giving her
a friendly smile.
     "Do you know what a movie is?"
     "No," Rosalind shook her head and looked at him now, deciding it was
safe to do so if he felt it was as well.  "Something common on Earth, I
presume."
     "It's basically a popular form of drama recorded on what we call
film or video."
     "A vidcom entertainment," the Siress nodded.  "Yes, I know what you
mean."
     "Well, anyway, where I come from, there's a famous one called
Casablanca, and there's a line in it that I think seems appropriate right
now."
     "And what is it?"
     David's smile widened, "'This looks like the beginning of a
beautiful friendship.'"
     Rosalind returned the smile as they neared the park exit.  She knew
a lot of uncertainty lay ahead of her now, but she was convinced she'd
just turned a major corner in her life.


The Galactica
     Adama and Ila had just finished listening to Cain summarize the
latest intercepted message to the Imperious Leader from Commander Needa's
BaseShip.....only to discover that Commander Needa was no longer in
command, but someone known to them.
     "It never occurred to any of us that the Zykonians would reassemble
Commander Lucifer and give him back to the Cylons when they arrived at
Brylon Station," Cain said.  "I do remember from our study of his memory
banks that he was a very ambitious Cylon and was the chief rival to the
current Leader for the throne when it became vacant after Carillon. 
Which leads me to conclude that if he has any inkling that the Pegasus
ultimately decided to turn back to the Colonies rather than hook up with
you, he's not telling the Imperious Leader because he doesn't care if the
Cylon Home System were attacked.  Not that I think he believes I'd
succeed, but if it means the Top Snake gets humiliated he'd be all for
that."
     "That would make sense," Adama nodded.  "I think what I'm going to
have to do when our conversation is over, Cain, is bring Baltar in on
this.  Obviously since he knows Commander Lucifer better than anyone else
he can offer the best intelligence on what to expect from him in the
future now that he's committed himself to joining the Risik pursuit of us
when that takes place."
     "I can't disagree with you," Cain concurred, "But even so.....this
is the sort of scenario that just might make him think self-interest
would dictate switching sides again.  At this stage I'd trust his Cylon
crew a lot more than I would him.
     "I don't think we have to worry about that, Cain," Adama said.  "His
wife has been a moderating influence on him.  I don't think he'd ever
want to run the risk of earning her disfavor, even if it meant dying."
     "I'll have to take your word for it," the Juggernaut sighed.  "At
least we'd completed our tests on the Pulsar by the time this message
came through.  If the worst had happened and Imperious Leader found out
about us, there's no question I'd be able to get to the Colonies ahead of
any BaseShips that might be sent out from Cylon."
     "What's your ETA?" Ila asked.
     "Four cycles from now.  I'll make sure the first order of business
when I arrive is a meeting with Malus to get a coordinated strategy in
place.  The Pulsar might in theory be able to do the job right now, but I
have to make sure I get a sense of how many extra hands I can take aboard
from the Colonies, both Human and Cylon.  And that means finding out if
getting close to a full crew complement again adds anything to the mass
variables as far as operating the Pulsar is concerned.  I'd estimate that
in the best case scenario, I'm still looking at a few sectars before I
can make a move on the Home System, assuming I still retain the element
of surprise."
     "It would seem that for now, Commander Lucifer is making sure you
get it," Adama grunted.  "Of course now I have to factor in the element
of what a BaseShip and a fleet of Risik ships made from Neutrino would
mean and that's not going to be pleasant.  Even though we've finally
reached a breakthrough in how synthetic Neutrino can be produced and how
it can be applied to our existing Vipers and any new Vipers we construct,
advantage to the Risik if they're gaining a fully operational BaseShip to
their ranks."
     "Adama," Cain seemed to brace himself, "This might as well be a good
enough time for me to say this.  If, and I stress, if I can destroy the
rest of the Cylon Fleet once and for all and destroy their Home System
within the next six sectars or less.....maybe I can give you a hand and
cancel out the advantage Lucifer is giving the Risik."
     Both Adama and Ila reacted with stunned disbelief when they heard
this.
     "You're talking about.....catching up to us?" the Council President
asked in amazement.
     "Maybe I wouldn't have to catch all the way up to you," he said. 
"The Risik aren't going to move on you until they finish building their
Neutrino Fleet and I doubt their Supreme Leader is going to act until he
knows it's going to be his Fleet leading Lucifer by the hand and not the
other way around.  If they still need in excess of a yahren to do that,
then if I take care of what's left of the Cylon Empire first and insure
the Colonies are free and secure from any long-term threat, then I can go
back into the Alpha Quadrant and at least make it to their Home System
and use the Pulsar to destroy their Fleet before it has a chance to be
launched.  And take care of Lucifer in the process."
     "Cain, even at top speed, it might take longer than that just to get
to the Risik Frontier," Adama warned.  "Can you keep the Pegasus 
flightworthy for a journey that long, that fast?"
     "I might as well try, Adama," Cain said firmly.  "If I'm needed,
after I've taken care of the immediate problem of the Cylon Home System,
then you have to let me try to help.  I can't just sit back in the
Colonies afterwards basking in my triumph with Kylie and watching your
progress anxiously over a distant monitor hook-up to see if you can
handle and survive this last assault.  If I'm available, then you need
me."
     Adama let the words sink in.  It was the voice of the Juggernaut in
all his proud and daring splendor proposing what sounded like the
impossible, full of foolishness and reckless risk. And yet.....there was
so much logic to what he said that he knew he couldn't dismiss the
suggestion out of hand.  Especially when what Cain had just proposed
might well be the very key to the Fleet's ability to survive and reach
Earth safely.
     "We'll discuss this more as future events warrant, Cain," he finally
said.  "For now....we both have other priorities that have to come
first."
     "Agreed," Cain nodded.  "And mind you, Adama.....if events happen to
make this idea unnecessary, so be it.  But for now, we'll both feel a lot
easier if we know the option of the Pegasus is there for you."
     "We'll know soon, one way or the other," Ila said.  "The Lords keep
you and Kylie safe in your journey home, Cain.  And in everything else
that happens afterwards."
     He gave a farewell nod of acknowledgment and the transmission
ceased.  Cain's image had barely faded from the screen as Adama quickly
activated the comline to the Bridge.
     "Put me through to Baltar, immediately.  Urgent priority."


     The one-time traitor listened to Adama's summary of events with a
mixture of fascination and raised eyebrow incredulity.  The latter,
largely the result of the news that his one time subordinate was not only
reactivated and returned to the Cylons but actively commanding a BaseShip
again.  Even so, he said nothing until Adama was through.
     "That's the situation as it exists," Adama said, "From what you know
of Commander Lucifer, is he capable of deceiving the Imperious Leader
about the Pegasus for his own purposes?"
     An ironic smile came over Baltar followed by a chuckle.  A smile and
chuckle so reminiscent of Baltar when he'd been the universally despised
traitor for his act of betrayal against the Human race.
     "Oh yes, Adama.  He is more than capable of that.  I always knew how
much Lucifer resented his assignment as my subordinate.  Why do you think
he never launched an attempt to rescue me after I was lured into
surrendering myself?  And I know for a fact that he never had a high view
of this Imperious Leader since he was a onetime rival of his in the IL
class who beat him out for the throne after Carillon.  Even so, I don't
think his reason for joining up with the Risik in pursuit of us has
anything to do with a desire to make sure the Imperious Leader has a
weakened long-term defense in the Home System.  For now, that's only a
fringe benefit to him."
     "What does he want, Baltar?" Ila asked.  
     He let out another chuckle.
     "It's obvious, Madame President.  Lucifer doesn't care what happens
to the Imperious Leader or the Home System because first and
foremost.....he wants......me."


Fleeing from the Cylon tyranny.....the last Battlestar Galactica leads a
rag-tag fugitive fleet on a lonely quest.  A shining planet..... known as
Earth.