Battlestar Galactica-The Ash Heap Of History
Virtual Season 6-Episode #9
By Eric Paddon 
(With additional material in Chapter 10 by Senmut and Lisa Zaza)

Prologue

Gomorrah
     Any outside observer who knew that the Cylons had conquered the
Delphian Empire over five yahrens ago and exterminated the entire fifty
million inhabitants of the planet Gomorrah would have easily assumed that
nothing of importance had changed since then.  If they were to pass by
the planet and take a quick glimpse at what was going on inside the
Gomorrah system they would have still seen it occupied entirely by Cylon
forces.  Still carrying out the routine functions of mining tylium
deposits on outer satellites and transporting them by tanker back to the
main planet to keep its thriving city functioning.
     They would have assumed that Gomorrah was still functioning as the
outer capitol extension of the Cylon Empire.  Representing the furthest
reach of a mighty military alliance into the Alpha Quadrant of the
galaxy, far beyond the original home frontiers of both Cylons and
Colonials.  Where until a few yahrens ago, charted space from their
standpoint literally ended and everything beyond it was part of a great
vast unknown.
     But their assumptions would have been wrong.  Because for well over
a yahren and a half now, the Cylons of Gomorrah had been acting free and
independent of any control of the Cylon High Command.  A declaration of
independence made in large part because the inhabitants of Gomorrah knew
that the Imperious Leader was too far away to do anything about it.  The
Cylon Empire had suffered tremendous setbacks since their triumphal
destruction and occupation of the Twelve Colonies that it was no longer
possible for them to rein in those distant regions that had undergone the
experience of "Enlightenment" and no longer believed in the mechanized
programmed Cylon philosophy of killing and conquest for its own sake. 
And so, the Imperious Leader could only watch with the equivalent of
spluttering anger when Commander Volahd, the IL Cylon who had seized
control from his predecessor Spektor, had coolly broken connections with
the Home System for the last time and renounced all allegiance to the
High Command.
     The one thing Volahd had held back from his declaration of
independence was the fact that the Battlestar Pegasus, and the diplomatic
efforts of Commander Cain and Professor Ila had helped facilitate things. 
Recognizing that Enlightenment had broken out in the outer capital and
that it was not necessary to launch an attack on the planet for the sake
of neutralizing the BaseShip's worth of fighters Gomorrah possessed.  In
gratitude for the agreement, Volahd had furnished the Pegasus with
fifteen Cylon Raiders to help enhance their firepower for their
subsequent campaign against the Cylon garrison at Cannes.  The
neutralization of which would provide Volahd and Gomorrah with the
long-term security they needed to justify an open break with the High
Command.
     Utilizing the same long-range communication technology that the
Cylons had first plundered from the ruins of Kobol, Volahd was able to
maintain contact with the Pegasus as the battlestar continued its
homeward journey.  And he was also able to perform an additional valuable
service for his Colonial ally.  Because of the communication resources on
the outer capital, it was possible for Volahd's team of centurion workers
to intercept similar long-range transmissions sent from beyond Gomorrah
back to the Cylon Capital.  That had become useful when they realized the
Imperious Leader had been willing to at last part with one of his
BaseShips in the Home System, under the flag of Commander Needa, to
search for alien races that might be in possession of the critical
mineral Neutrino that the Empire needed to resume production of its
diminished War Machine.  The BaseShip had bypassed Gomorrah, not wanting
to risk damage in a combat engagement with the forces that remained on
the planet (though it had stolen one of their tankers to refuel itself)
and moved further out, stopping at a distant place called Brylon Station,
and then hooking up with a race called the Risik.  Who were themselves in
possession of the Neutrino that they desperately sought.
     For a number of sectars, Volahd's team had intercepted every message
the BaseShip had sent back to the Imperious Leader.  And in turn relaying
the contents of those messages to Commander Cain and the Pegasus. 
Telling them that the Imperious Leader had sent a Human collaborator,
Siress Rosalind, one-time mistress of President Adar, to act on their
behalf before the alien races they encountered.  The linkage with a Risik
scout ship operating in the Ziklagi Frontier, which in turn led to a stop
at Brylon Station.  And then a lengthy journey to the Risik Capital where
talks had begun with the Supreme Leader.  And where it emerged that Needa
had been overthrown by another IL Cylon, Lucifer, who had been left
scavenged and disassembled by the Pegasus on Brylon Station but had been
returned there and reassembled.  Yet in all that time, no message passed
from the BaseShip to the High Command telling them that the Battlestar
Pegasus, thought to have been destroyed at the earlier "Battle of
Gomorrah" yahrens before, still lived.  As the sectars went by with no
revelation on this point in any of the messages, a sense of complacency
almost seemed to take hold that this was information that Commander
Lucifer, whom Volahd knew to be devious beyond measure, was keeping to
himself for his own purposes and would never reveal the information to
his hated rival, the Imperious Leader.
     On this day though.....the many sectars of complacency on this point
would be shattered at long last.
     And when it was.....events would begin to move rapidly for Volahd
and scores of others who would be impacted by this sudden change in
status.


The Pegasus
     It was officially the night cycle aboard the Battlestar Peagsus
which for the last three sectars had been back in the Colonies at long
last.  The culmination of a journey that had begun with Cain's long-ago
decision to turn back and not go off into deep space to reunite with the
Galactica.  The motivation for that decision had come when they'd taken
aboard a one-person shuttle containing none other than Adama's wife Ila,
not dead in the Destruction and bringing news of a Resistance Movement in
ten of the twelve worlds.  Over the course of more than two yahrens, Cain
had made his way back.  And all the time managing to conceal from the
Cylon High Command the fact that he and his Battlestar still survived.
     During that journey there had been many triumphs for Cain.  The
successful negotiations with Volahd and the Enlightened Cylons of
Gomorrah.  Total victory in the Cannes System with the destruction of the
Cylon garrison at Cannes Prime and the liberation of the enslaved
populations of Cannes Two and Cannes Three.  The subterfuge mission of
Captain (now Major) Skyler that resulted in the total withdrawal of Cylon
forces from the open planet of Starlos.  The destruction of Commander
Dagora's rogue BaseShip at Arcta.  The successful installation of the
Ravashol Pulsar to the empty missile banks of the Pegasus, giving the
Battlestar weaponry that would make her firepower more lethal than
anything in the known annals of Human-Cylon conflict.  And
finally......thanks to the efforts of Ila before she had been able to
return to Adama and her family long last, the reclamation of ten of the
Colonies by the Resistance and a peace treaty with the Enlightened Cylon
Governor of the Colonies, Malus.  Enabling the Pegasus to return
triumphantly to the Colonies after so many yahrens without having to
engage in a major military operation to liberate them.
     All of these things had been accomplished......without the Imperious
Leader and the Cylon High Command knowing any of them.  As far as the
Imperious Leader was concerned, while Gomorrah and Cannes were lost (in
the case of the latter, the Cylon Ruler erroneously believed a similar
revolt had taken place there when in fact the base had been destroyed),
he still believed Arcta and the Colonies were under complete Cylon
control.  Not knowing that the Cylon leadership at Arcta, and Governor
Malus in the Colonies had always been Enlightened and had done their part
to aid the Resistance efforts.
     The primary reason for why those deceptions remained in place was
the reluctance of the Imperious Leader to dispatch any of his remaining
BaseShips that guarded the Home System to investigate these areas
directly.  The reason for the reluctance was his fear that any BaseShip
dispatched might inevitably succumb to the effects of what the High
Command referred to as "The Disease".  Which in reality was the growing
sense of Enlightenment within all classes of Cylons that the basis of
their programming from the time the robotic Cylon race had been created,
was based on a lie and a gigantic deception.  That their original Makers
had not meant for this to be so.  And indeed, powerful evidence had
emerged thanks to Ila that had reinforced this belief among Enlightened
Cylons.  A recording that Adama had provided her of a mysterious figure
the Galactica had once encountered named Count Iblis.  Who had the same
voice that all the Imperious Leaders had possessed from the time of the
very first one.  Because that had been the voice of the one Maker that
the Cylons had regarded as responsible for their very creation.  When the
original reptilian race of Cylons had been overthrown and destroyed and
the robotic Cylons had taken their place.  Now though......Enlightened
Cylons had come to realize that there had not been one Maker originally
but many.  And that the original group of Makers had not meant for any of
this to be so.  Only the one Maker......who somehow had become an
outcast.  Taking them down a path in which only the impulse for
destruction and war would guide their mechanized thoughts for the next
thousand yahrens.  Until somehow.....the aftermath of the conquest of the
Colonies seemed to cause a change in them.  As if what was meant to be
the greatest of triumphs in Cylon history.......had only produced a sense
of emptiness and lack of true fulfillment.  Causing Cylons from across
the classes to reach back into the deepest recesses of their computerized
memories.......and for the first time discern the presence of their
original Makers and what their true intentions had been.
     Imperious Leader and the High Command, not knowing what
Enlightenment meant, and only seeing what they regarded as "The Disease"
breaking out and producing this seed of rebellion across the Empire, had
thus decided it was too dangerous to send out more BaseShips away from
the seeming protection the Cylon Home System offered them, where the
Disease did not exist.  An exception had been granted for the BaseShip of
Commander Needa who had been dispatched to find alien races that might
have supplies of Neutrino.  But for now, the Cylon Ruler was determined
to go no further, especially given the great distance that BaseShip
needed to travel to find the promising contact with the so-called Risik
Empire.  He could ill-afford to weaken things further.  And so long as
stable control remained in both the Colonies and on Arcta......Imperious
Leader could feel confident of his decision to keep his three remaining
BaseShips at home.
     But for more than two yahrens, Cain knew there was one thing that
could change all that and make the Imperious Leader decide he would have
to dispatch his BaseShips.  One that could make the Cylon ruler  discover
that things were not what he believed them to be on Arcta and in the
Colonies.  Or even on Cannes for that matter.  One that would put into
sharper focus how and why Gomorrah had become lost and why the withdrawal
of forces from Starlos had come about.  The knowledge that the Battlestar
Pegasus still survived and was operating within the Home Quadrant of the
galaxy.  So long as the High Command had no reason to think the Pegasus
existed and was any kind of threat, then Cain possessed the element of
surprise and the freedom of action to set things on his own timetable for
where to act and when.  Letting him decide when the time would be right
to finally unleash the full force of the Pulsar weapon on the Home System
and fulfill a vow he had once made in a spirit of boasting when it
seemingly had no chance of ever becoming reality.  "The Cylon Empire is
about to fall!"
     But for a number of sectars that element of surprise had been in
jeopardy.  Ever since the intercepted messages courtesy of Gomorrah
started coming in about the BaseShip that had been sent deep into the
Alpha Quadrant in search of Neutrino for the Empire.  Which led to a stop
at Brylon Station where the potential was there to learn about the
Pegasus.  Followed by contact with the Risik who also had to know the
Pegasus was still alive because they had their own contacts on Brylon
Station.  But for reasons that could only be speculated, no messages from
the BaseShip to the Imperious Leader mentioning the Pegasus had ever been
given.
     And so, mindful of the underlying danger that existed, Cain had
proceeded with his plans as if the element of surprise remained. 
Finishing the tests on the Pulsar after its successful installation by
Ravashol's team.  Making the journey at long last to the Colonies where
the 25,000 survivors on ten of the twelve worlds could celebrate at last
the Juggernaut's Homecoming.  Coordinating future attack plans with his
Cylon ally Governor Malus so that whatever happened had the full backing
of all the Enlightened Cylons in the Colonies, many of whom would be part
of the final effort.  Plans that had to account not just for the final
destruction of the remaining three BaseShips in the Home System and the
Cylon Capital itself, but also had to account for the one difficult
problem that made an attack plan complicated.  The fact that within the
Cylon Home System, over 400,000 Colonials taken prisoner in the period
following the Destruction were working as slave labor in the now
exhausted Neutrino mines.  Any plan that couldn't guarantee their freedom
and safety was a plan that wasn't worth pursuing from Cain's standpoint. 
And that was why he knew that he couldn't simply rush in with guns
blazing.  Not when the Imperious Leader could easily make his victory a
pyrrhic one if he chose to take down the prisoners with him.
     Knowing the ability to take the careful, methodical approach always
had the potential to come crashing down on an instant's notice, Cain knew
he had to be mentally prepared for when that moment might come.  But the
last thing he ever expected was for the moment to come during the middle
of the night while he slept soundly with his wife, Captain Kylie.
     It had come after a particularly upbeat day for Cain.  He had
visited Skorpia to meet with Commander Neele, who had been leader of the
Main Resistance group on the planet and was now supervising the
Reconstruction effort.  Skorpia was typical of the ten worlds (Libra and
Aquarius permanently ceded to the Enlightened Cylons because no Human
life remained on either planet) in which a main Resistance movement of
several hundred had now grown to a little over 2000 people collectively. 
The increased numbers stemming from those isolated pockets of humanity
that had spent several yahrens in hiding in tiny enclaves throughout the
planet with no awareness of any organized Resistance movements throughout
the Colonies or any awareness that Enlightened Cylons existed. 
Consequently, these people were slow to come out of their protective
bunkers because of the extra time needed to first find them and then
assure them that everything was safe.  That the nightmare of Occupation
as they'd understood it was over now and that anytime they saw a Cylon
from this point onward, they no longer had to fear them.  And that in
order to be part of a viable rebuilding effort to begin on their
respective planet, it meant coalescing with the main Resistance group in
a fixed location.  Cain knew that for now, with a collective total of
just 25,000 confirmed survivors on all ten worlds, Reconstruction efforts
could only take place in at most one or two specific areas on a planet. 
Only when the population levels increased would it be possible for the
survivors to fan out and start reclaiming more territory for
redevelopment.  And that reality drove home just how important was to see
if the 400,000 known to be held prisoner as slave labor in the Cylon Home
System could be successfully liberated and brought home.  The long-term
future of the Colonies re-establishing themselves literally depended on
it.
     Cain had given a pep talk to a large group of the Skorpian
survivors.  Letting them know that the momentum of history was in their
favor.  And also inviting any able-bodied people with past military
service that they were welcome to sign aboard the Pegasus as replacement
crew for those areas that had been diminished ever since Cain had
evacuated "non-essential" personnel to the Galactica at the Battle of
Gomorrah.  Collectively, Cain had been able to increase the crew
complement of the Pegasus by over 400, bringing them up to a level close
to what they'd known in the old days.  Now his Life Station could boast
of a full staff of Med-Techs once again.  Maintenance crews didn't have
to do double-duty as kitchen personnel any longer. And after being
diminished to a bare fifteen in female personnel, the level of female
crew now stood at a more respectable fifty.  That included two sisters,
Marcia and Fausta, who were fully qualified shuttle pilot warriors and
who'd been on furlon with their parents from their normal assignment at
the military aerodrome on Caprica the night of the Destruction. 
Initially assigned to Lieutenant Bryce's Security Detail, they'd
subsequently gone into Viper pilot training.  Pleasing not just Cain to
see more gender diversity in his ranks once again, but also his wife
Kylie that women would be playing a bigger role in the final battle yet
to come.
     A battle which was about to become sooner than later for the
Juggernaut as the sharp wail of his telecom sounded on the table next to
his bed.  Whenever an important message required his attention during the
middle of the night, this, and not the comline on his office desk located
on the other side of the room was to be sounded.  And when it sounded, it
meant it was either news of an attack or something that couldn't possibly
wait until the morning.
     The wailing sound immediately brought him awake, making him bolt
upright as he snatched the telecom and listened to the brief message from
Colonel Tolen.
     "All right," he rubbed the bridge of his nose, "Give me five
centons.  And then I want Governor Malus on tie-in along with Commander
Deval.  And notify the Galactica so Adama and Ila are in on this too."
     "What is it?" Kylie asked with concern as she came upright, holding
the sheet against her naked upper torso as they'd had a session of
lovemaking before falling asleep.
     Cain turned around and looked at her grimly.  "New relay intercept
from Gomorrah.  That BaseShip that's hooked up with the Risik finally
told the Imperious Leader we've been alive all this time and that we
didn't hook up with the Galactica."
     He hurried over to where his uniform lay neatly folded on a nearby
chair and began to quickly dress.  Kylie remained on the bed for a half
centon, trying to come to grips with the news as she idly brushed at her
disheveled mullet.  
     Now it all begins.

Chapter One

The Pegasus
     "Commander Lucifer decided to use the occasion of the first
successful test of a Risik ship made from Neutrino to let the High
Command know that we've been alive all the time," Cain said to those
assembled via the multi-party video hook-up.  "He presented it to him at
the end of the message in an almost casual off-hand way.  A kind of 'oh
by the way, it may interest you to know that the Risik have evidence that
the Pegasus was not destroyed four and a half yahrens ago at Gomorrah'."
     "That's exactly how I would expect Lucifer to break the news,"
Governor Malus, an IL Cylon too noted dryly.  "Especially given the past
history between him and His Eminence.  The succession choice came down to
the two of them and Lucifer lost."
     "That came up in the conversation," Cain went on, "Apparently, the
Imperious Leader didn't believe Lucifer at first.  He suggested that
maybe this was a deliberate lie on his part to make him do something that
would weaken the defensive perimeter around the Cylon Home System. 
But.....Lucifer then presented him with the hard evidence.  A report from
the Risik observers at Brylon Station who witnessed our arrival there
over two yahrens ago.  And how a Risik scout ship vanished when trying to
search for us not long after that."
     "The one from the Weather Planet that snatched Lieutenant Tegran
before it was shot down," Ila chimed in over the monitor relay from the
Galactica.  She and Adama were sitting next to each other, both with
concerned looks over this development.
     "Yes.  But Lucifer fortunately still held back a lot of other
details.  He didn't mention we were the ones who'd found him and then
tricked him into revealing everything he knew at the time before we
traded him off to the Zykonians.  And the one thing we can really be
grateful for at this point is that the news of our survival doesn't mean
the High Command knows what we've done in the intervening period."
     "I am quite certain His Eminence will be notifying me soon to break
this news to me," Malus said.  "I have no doubt he will ask me if I would
welcome the detachment of a BaseShip to guard the Colonies since he will
act under the assumption that the Pegasus will head here.  I will have to
do my best to dissuade him of such a notion by insisting that the
combined fighter strength of the Occupation forces is more than
sufficient to beat back the challenge of a single battlestar."
     "But what if he insists otherwise?" Commander Deval, head of the
Caprican Resistance and the unofficial leader of the entire Colonial
Resistance movement asked with concern.  "What happens then?"
     "What happens then, Commander Deval, is that I take the Pegasus out
to head off any incoming BaseShip for the Colonies," Cain said.  "Who
knows if maybe something like that would be better if I'm able to take
care of his remaining BaseShips one at a time instead of all at once in a
giant strike on the Home System.  But rest assured, the Colonies will
remain protected."
     "There is the matter of Arcta," Malus pointed out.  "We have still
not been able to establish an effective direct link to the base.  With a
sectan's flight time needed to get word via fast shuttle, His Eminence
will undoubtedly contact Arcta first to let them know this information."
     "How is that a problem?" Adama spoke up for the first time from the
faraway Galactica.
     Cain let out a mirthless chuckle, "The potential problem is that
unofficially, the one in charge of operations at the base is Ambassador
Orcus, former Cylon emissary to Starlos.  He does all the talking to
Imperious Leader whenever messages go back and forth between them because
he was named as Commander Vulpa's successor.  But Orcus is a most
reluctant convert to Enlightenment.  Remember, he was a willing
participant in the rogue plot of Commander Dagora to seize the Pulsar so
it could be used against the High Command for not acting tough enough. 
It was only when we ambushed Dagora's BaseShip that he fled like a
cornered bilge rat and after we captured him, he was forced to do our
bidding to help maintain the charade that Arcta is still comprised
entirely of loyal centurions who made Dr. Ravashol and his people do the
bidding of the Empire."
     "And let's assume he gets a message from His Eminence telling him to
be prepared for the Pegasus entering the area," Malus added.  "Orcus may
decide to take advantage of that to tell him that the Pegasus has already
been there and that all personnel of the base are 'diseased'.  Naturally,
he would then be shot dead in an instant by those who keep their pistols
trained on him whenever he talks to His Eminence, but he may decide as a
matter of pride to die helping the cause he wishes he was still attached
to."
     "Because if he did that, then the Top Snake would know that not only
has he already lost Arcta, he'd also know that he lost the Colonies long
ago and that Malus has been fooling him," Cain added for Adama's benefit.

     "And if that course of events happened, I doubt very much His
Eminence would appraise me of that fact and indicate that he was now
ready to launch an assault on the Colonies to reimpose order," the IL
collaborator concurred.
     "So what is the best course of action, Commander Cain?" Deval spoke
up.  Cain could see the Caprican leader was rubbing his hands anxiously. 
After so much success and the renewed atmosphere of hope brought by the
Peace Treaty, this was the first time the Colonies had to deal with a
genuine threat to their survival once again.
     "For now, and I think Governor Malus would agree, I should take up
position to head off any potential BaseShip detachment directed at the
Colonies......and at the same time put myself in position to head off a
detachment aimed at Arcta if he decides to split his task force.  He
might as a result of this new information think he can risk detaching two
and keeping one back to use with his ground based fighters in the Home
System to keep his own slimy rear protected."
     "I do agree," Malus was nodding his bulbous head.  "And if he
realizes that I have deceived him all this time, there is no question he
would then decide to send two if not all three BaseShips out to the
Colonies for the purpose of making an example of me and engaging in the
scorched planet campaigns he refrained previously from doing."
     "And if he does that, I'll still be in position to head them off and
take them all out with the Pulsar." Cain said firmly.  "There's no
question based on the firepower tests we've undertaken that one blast
using the old missile fire control system will take an entire BaseShip
out with one shot."
     "How much time must elapse between firings?" Adama asked.  "Have you
tested that out?"
     The Juggernaut nodded "Yes we have, Adama.  A fifty micron
recharging interval.  Which means that if we have to deal with two
targets we fire and then perform a fast maneuver to get clear of any
return fire from the second target and get ourselves back into position. 
I've had the old girl tested about a thousand times to make sure our
maneuvering speed is just as fast as it was in regular combat conditions
in the past and that the Pulsar doesn't pose a burden there.  And that's
also taking into account the extra 200 crew I have now."
     "There is one thing," Ila spoke up for the first time, "What plan do
you have in place for liberating the prisoners in the Home System?"
     For the first time, Cain was silent.  Watching from her off-camera
vantage point, Kylie sighed slightly, knowing how much this issue had
been vexing her husband for quite some time.
     "We're still working on that." he finally spoke.  "The chief problem
we have is a lack of good intelligence.  Since no Cylons based in the
Colonies or on Arcta have actually been to the mines, the only resources
we can rely on are Governor Malus's knowledge of the mining complexes and
any information that might be in Commander Dagora's memory banks
regarding actual operations since the prisoners came to the Home System."
     "My knowledge alas is limited," the Governor said apologetically, "I
know where the mines are and where they might have relocated to look for
alternate sources when the shortages became evident, but my knowledge of
where the prisoners are kept and what security safeguards are maintained
to keep them from escaping is non-existent.  Dagora at least, as the one
who was responsible for transporting prisoners from Starlos to the Home
System might have been more up to date on those things."
     "We already know his crew wasn't," Cain added.  "Those who came over
to our side at Arcta never took part in any operations for transporting
the prisoners they brought.  According to Command Centurion Echis, they
would always be picked up by a shuttle manned by centurions based on the
Home Planet."
     "It sounds like your best option would be an infiltration mission,"
Adama offered. "You have used centurions before for that purpose."
     "Yes, we did at Cannes when we took out the BaseShip there.  But
this would be a much more dangerous operation to rely on centurion
infiltration alone.  And it has to be effectively timed and coordinated
to an effective military strike," the Juggernaut paused, "I realize
circumstances are forcing our hand on this matter, but we need to first
establish if I have to stay back from the Home System and head off a
likely attack on the Colonies."
     "And much of that may depend on whether I hear directly from His
Eminence today," Malus jumped in.  "No contact at all might well be an
indication that his suspicions have been raised as to where my actual
loyalties lie."
     "I suggest, Governor, that you terminate contact for now and stand
by to see if he does notify you of this development."  The Juggernaut
said, "And if he does.....we'll confer again."
     "Absolutely," Malus bowed his head, "Until later, my friends."  
     The IL Cylon's face disappeared from the multi-screened connection. 
Cain looked at the faces of the remaining participants and took a breath,
"Any other thoughts?"
     "Assuming the Imperious Leader doesn't think he's lost control of
the Colonies or Arcta, what would you do if he decided to detach a
BaseShip to deal with Cannes or Gomorrah?"  Adama asked.  
     Cain's tone grew grim, "That would not be a good option for me if he
decided to send just one BaseShip out that way.  It would make me risk
chasing it down too far out into the Alpha Quadrant and would leave the
Colonies wide open for Destruction from his remaining two BaseShips if he
then figured things out while I was trying to head-off an assault on
Cannes.  I'm not so much concerned with Gomorrah because Commander Volahd
has the equivalent of a BaseShip's worth of fighters to match anything
that could be thrown at him.  But Cannes on the other hand is even more
vulnerable than the Colonies."
     "It sounds like you might have to narrow the distance to the Cylon
Capital and be in the best position to intercept any BaseShip leaving
that star system before it can head off in any direction, whether it be
Cannes or the Colonies."  The Galactica commander offered.
     "Possible.  But there are risks there as well because if I'm too
close to the Cylon Capital to take out just one BaseShip then I'll have
to follow through right away and take out the rest, Capital and all
regardless of whether I've got a plan in place for freeing the
prisoners."
     "It's a terrible dilemma you're facing, Cain," Adama sighed.  "I
wish I could go into battle with you and make things easier.  But
realistically......you may not be able to save the lives of every
prisoner they're still holding."
     "Failure is not an option with me, Adama," the boasting tone of the
Juggernaut came back for the first time.  "I intend to smash what's left
of the Empire and bring those prisoners home to the Colonies.  I haven't
come this far only to see it fall apart at the end."
     "We appreciate that sentiment, Commander Cain," Deval interjected. 
"But if the long-term security and safety of the Colonies can't be
guaranteed......then everything we've done to survive will have been in
vain.  Kobol knows I want to see all of the prisoners come home and be
part of our future.......but it may be necessary to sacrifice some of
them to make sure the greater goal of finishing the Empire and preserving
our future safety is secured."
     For just a brief instant, a look of annoyance crossed over Cain's
face.  It was a look he hadn't shown in a long time.  The look of someone
who didn't like to be challenged.  It was a look that Ila had never seen
during her yahren on the Pegasus because Cain had always been willing to
listen to challenges from her.  It was clear he didn't hold Deval in the
same regard even though the Caprican Resistance Leader had shouldered the
burdens of command himself, albeit in a different context.
     "I will make my best judgment when that time comes, Commander
Deval," he finally responded to him.  "For now, I need to make sure every
person in the Colonies who agreed to sign on as crew for the Pegasus is
aboard in the next six centars.  I suggest you make a unicom announcement
to that effect."
     "I will do that now," Deval nodded, "Good day, Commander."
     His image faded leaving only Adama and Ila still connected.  The
Council President decided she needed to speak up for her former colleague
in the Caprican Resistance.
     "I wouldn't be hard on Deval.  The Resistance put so much effort to
freeing themselves that the idea of losing it would be too cruel for any
of them to consider."
     "They're not going to lose it, Ila," Cain vowed.  "I promise.  There
will be a solution to this problem."
     "But don't take on more burdens than you can manage," Ila tried to
inject the note of advice and familial counsel that had been part of
their regular dinners together during her yahren on the Pegasus.  When
she found that she was able to get him to see her advice as that of a
true peer that deserved listening to, and which could help restrain him
from his more reckless impulses.  "That would be playing exactly into the
Imperious Leader's hands."
     "I'll remember it," he answered her politely but it was clear he
wanted to end the conversation.  "I've got to get started immediately
since we're likely going to have to set course for.....somewhere by the
end of the cycle.  I'll keep you both informed until it's clear combat is
imminent and I have to shut down the whole communication system to save
power."
     "The Lords bless you, Cain," Adama said, feeling his own concern
that Cain was showing signs of reverting to the man he'd clashed with at
Gomorrah.
     "And our love to you and Kylie," Ila added, hoping the familial
reminder might also soften him.  He managed to force a smile for their
benefit and gave them a wave before terminating the transmission.  Then,
without acknowledging his wife's nearby presence, he hit the comline to
the Bridge.
     "Get the word out that all planetary furlons are cancelled and that
everyone who's signed on to be replacement crew is to be on board the
Pegasus in the next six centars."
     When he shut the comline off, he remained hunched over his desk,
still not turning around to look at Kylie who calmly rose from her chair
and approached him.  She stopped short of him by several feet, but she
knew she was close enough to him that he couldn't ignore her presence
forever.  When Cain finally spoke, it was with none of the bravado of the
Juggernaut that he'd managed to summon for the conference discussion. 
Instead, it was the voice of someone......unsure and lost.  And the only
one he could reveal that openly to was his wife.
     "I don't feel like I'm ready for this," he whispered.  "I've let
myself get too comfortable thinking the High Command would never find out
we weren't destroyed at Gomorrah, especially after all these sectars with
that BaseShip not telling them when they obviously knew it from the
Zykonians and the Risik.  It's made me think I have the luxury of time to
figure out how to attack the Home System and get those prisoners out
safely.  Now.....that's all down the turboflush.  I have to think of
something viable to ensure their safety right now and I just don't know
how in Hades I'm going to do that.  We just don't have enough
information."
     Kylie took the last few steps and gently put her arms around him,
resting  her head on the back of his shoulder.
     "The way everything's worked out up to now so they didn't find us
out at Gomorrah or at Cannes or at Starlos or at Arcta......and gave us
time to put the Pulsar in place.  I was convinced the Lords were going to
let us keep that element of surprise right up to the end.  And now......"
     "It doesn't change a thing," Kylie tenderly interrupted, "You're
still the greatest warrior who ever lived.  You'll find a way because the
Lords chose you for this moment, Cain."
     He let out a weary sigh, "Unless.....I'm being set up for the
greatest fall of my life.  Revenge for all those yahrens of arrogant
swagger that's defined my whole career.  When I felt like everything was
coming together without a major hitch.....now this happens."
     "This isn't the man I love talking," Kylie closed her eyes and
tightened her hold around him, "The man I love knows how to improvise in
the face of impossible odds.  You proved that at Molocay."
     He reached down and touched her right hand that was wrapped around
his mid-section.
     "Did I really, Kylie?" Cain sighed.  "Or did I just figure out how
to save my own astrum when I should have tried harder to save the whole
Fifth Fleet?"
     "We were ambushed!" Kylie's concern was deepening since this was so
unlike him.  "And that was a failure of Colonial Intelligence.  The only
mistake you made at Molocay was trusting your superiors instead of your
own instincts."
     "I was responsible for the other ships and their crew." Cain was
still looking askance, his head down, "If I'd thought of that decoy
maneuver sooner, maybe more of the Fleet would have survived and not just
us."
     His wife opened her eyes as she suddenly realized why her husband
was having this emotional letdown.  Slowly, she loosened her grip and
took a step back.
     "Look at me, Cain," Kylie said it more like a command.  Somewhat
reluctantly, he managed to turn around and look at her.
     "I think I know what's bringing this on," she said.  "The idea of a
trade-off where you might not be able to free all the prisoners safely in
order to destroy the Home System and safeguard the Colonies once and for
all is triggering this whole flashback to Molocay.  Making you suddenly
think there was a tradeoff back then when there wasn't.  You did the best
you could and we're alive because of that.  Alive and able to do what
we've been doing ever since and are in a position to do now."
     For anyone else he never would have admitted it.  Not to his first
wife, Bethany or to Cassiopeia.  Even though he'd loved them both, he
always saw them as occupying a part of his life separate from his life as
a warrior.  They had fallen in love with the Cain who put the warrior
part aside when he was home from battle.  But Kylie was the first woman
he'd loved who was also a warrior and could connect to that part of him
in ways that the other women in his life never could.  For her, he could
and would admit anything.
     "Yes," he said simply.  "It is weighing on my mind.  I'm the only
hope those people have for survival just like the Fifth Fleet depended on
me.  If I can't bring them home......then I don't know if I'll be able to
develop enough perspective about the whole thing simply because there's
so many of them.  If a half million people die in the process of
safeguarding 25,000 people once and for all......it's going to gnaw at my
conscience for the rest of my life."
     "Then I guess you just have to succeed," Kylie put her arms around
him again.  "And by the Lords, Cain I know you can.  I believe in you."
     Her strong confident voice and her loving embrace finally managed to
pierce the black cloud of despair he'd been feeling ever since he'd heard
the telecom message.  He pulled her tight to him and their eyes met.
     "I needed to hear you say that," Cain said, "A swift kick in the
astrum from you is worth more than an oracle from the Lords to me."
     She smiled faintly, "And I can kick pretty hard if I have to."
     They kissed each other deeply.  And then both of them, mindful of
what lay ahead, timed their release at exactly twenty microns.  The two
of them backing up and their postures and expressions switching from that
of husband and wife to Commander and Senior Bridge Officer.  Kylie gave
him a perfect salute and then without saying another word turned and left
for the Bridge.
     Feeling invigorated, Cain went back to the comline to give the first
of what would be many orders this day.


Libra
     The message Malus was waiting for came just ten centons after he
terminated contact with Cain and the others.  Of all the exchanges he'd
had with the Cylon Ruler over the last several yahrens via the instant
communication link with the Home System, this would be the most dangerous
one of all.  His two brains knew there was a difference between a simple
act of deception as he'd carried out all this time and pretending not to
know something he already knew.  Despite the contempt he felt for the
Imperious Leader, he still respected the fact that possession of a third
computer brain, as all Cylon rulers did, made them capable of discerning
things that even advanced IL Cylons like himself were incapable of doing. 
That would mean he would have to act shocked and surprised when the Cylon
ruler would tell him that the Battlestar Pegasus had survived and was a
potential threat and do so in a way that would sound absolutely genuine
with no room for suspicion.
     He waited for just a few microns after being told that the message
from the Cylon capital was coming through.  And then, he answered.
     "Good day, Your Eminence," Malus said with the right level of
respect he had long ago mastered.  "I am pleased to report the capture
and execution of nine members of the Skorpian Resistance----,"
     "That must wait," the Cylon Ruler cut him off.  "I have grave news
to report.  News even more distressing than the matter of
the.....Disease."
     Malus edged slightly forward and injected a note of disbelief, "I
can not begin to imagine what could be more distressing than that, Your
Eminence."
     "The Battlestar Pegasus lives!" Imperious Leader practically spat
out the news with contempt.  "For almost five yahrens, we have presumed
her dead after the Battle of Gomorrah, but she has not only survived she
has been making her way back into Charted Space and did not rejoin the
Galactica."
     "Um......forgive me, Your Eminence, but.....where does this report
come from?"
     "From Lucifer.  It would seem our new 'allies' the Risik who are
supposed to be the answer to our Neutrino problem, have encountered the
Pegasus in the past."
     "Eminence.....forgive me again, but do you really believe Lucifer to
be trustworthy?  It is no secret that your relationship with him in the
past has not exactly been......a pleasant one.  And he of course recently
added to his history the crime of revolt and assassination against
Commander Needa, who.....was in the Cylon sense my kin, as we were
programmed at the same time with the same vocal pattern."
     The Cylon Ruler didn't answer him at first.  When he did, his tone
had abruptly shifted.  to one that struck Malus as one of relief.
     "I am very glad to know that your first instinct was to distrust
news from Lucifer, Governor Malus," Imperious Leader said.  "That is
exactly what my reaction was.  Lucifer's sense of.....ambition remains
quite strong.  And....your regard for Commander Needa is quite
understandable, even though Commander Needa brought on the problem when
he delayed informing me that Lucifer had been found alive at the outpost
called Brylon Station.  Had he done so, I doubt very much he would have
found himself the victim of Lucifer's seizure of power," his tone shifted
back to one of graveness, "But Lucifer alas, presented the hard evidence
that the Risik have indeed seen the Pegasus.  The operatives they employ
at Brylon Station made a full report of how nearly two yahrens ago, the
Pegasus stopped there for several sectans. Subsequently, while searching
for signs of the Pegasus, a Risik scout vessel disappeared.  We can
safely assume the reports are genuine."
     "How long has Lucifer supposedly known this?" Malus kept up the
challenge.  "Brylon Station is a considerable distance from the Risik
Capital, is it not?  That would indicate that the information was
available to him at the time of his rescue!"
     "We must move beyond the matter of Lucifer's deceit," Imperious
Leader stressed.  "Distasteful as I find him, he is now our only link to
the one race that can long-term help us with the problem of Neutrino
shortages.  Short-term, our greater concern is the Pegasus."
     "Did Lucifer provide proof that the Pegasus chose to return to
charted space and didn't go off to reunite with the Galactica?" Malus
knew he had to press one more time on that.
     "The proof is the fact the Pegasus did not cross into the Risik
Frontier after Brylon Station.  In fact, the area where the Risik
evidently lost their scout ship to the Pegasus was in a quadrant to the
rear of Brylon which means the Pegasus decided to go back to familiar
regions.  Yes, Governor, I realize that evidence from silence should
ordinarily not be sufficient, but there is also the suspicious matters of
how the loss of our bases at Gomorrah and Cannes would seemingly tie into
the presence of the Pegasus returning to Charted Space."
     Malus knew the time had come to stop showing skepticism which would
undoubtedly arouse suspicions.  It was time to voluntarily give the Cylon
ruler some true facts that would further cement the image of loyalty to
him.
     "Ahhh," the Governor nodded his head slightly, "Yes.  Volahd's
revolt against Spektor makes much more sense if he had help from the
Pegasus to carry that out."
     "You reason well, Malus.  And with regard to Cannes.....I am
suddenly less inclined to believe that they followed Volahd's example and
became afflicted with the "Disease".  Whereas Volahd saw fit to send me a
message informing me that he was no longer loyal to the High Command, no
such message has ever come from Commander Cauda."
     "I see," Malus's tone grew as grave as the Cylon Ruler's, "Perhaps
Volahd and the Pegasus collaborated to destroy the Cannes Garrison?  That
would have guaranteed Volahd's survival against any short-term effort to
reassert your authority."
     "Indeed, Malus, indeed!" Imperious Leader's tone grew more
impressed.  "Why else would Volahd have so arrogantly told me he was no
longer loyal to me or the High Command if he didn't already know for a
fact Cannes could never be a threat?  Because after collaborating with
the Pegasus to insure his own survival, he undoubtedly gave them enough
assistance from his own resources to let the Pegasus destroy the
Garrison."
     "Admittedly, that might on the surface seem like something beyond
even the capacity of the likes of Commander Cain.....assuming he is still
alive and in command of the Pegasus," Malus made sure he put in the
qualifier.  "After all, Cannes still had one BaseShip and was our largest
garrison in the entire Alpha Quadrant.  From a numerical standpoint,
Commander Cauda should have been able to withstand any kind of assault."
     "Unless the Pegasus is now much more formidable than any single
battlestar could claim to have been in the past," Imperious Leader
stressed.  "Regardless, I now believe the loss of Cannes was not due to
the Disease but to the Pegasus.  By now, she is undoubtedly operating
within the Home Quadrant once again and preparing to make some kind of
move on any one of three potential targets.  Arcta, the Colonies and the
Home System."
     "You have informed Arcta of this development?" this was the first
critical probe for new information given the lack of direct
communications contact between the Pegasus and the base. 
     "I will be contacting Ambassador Orcus after I am finished
conversing with you, Malus.  Since Lucifer broke this news to me, I have
spent several centars trying to determine what the best possible move
would be to deal with this unexpected danger to the Alliance."
     "You have given no consideration to ordering Lucifer to return to
the Home System, Your Eminence?"
     For the first time, a sarcastic chuckle emitted from the Cylon
Ruler.  "Much as I would have liked to insist he come back with his
BaseShip, I am in no position to force him to do so.  And from a
practical standpoint, he is needed where he is to make sure this new
agreement with the Risik for long-term supply of Neutrino remains in
place.  As far as the Pegasus is concerned, we are forced to make do with
the resources we still have on-hand.  Three BaseShips in the Home System
plus a half dozen lesser capital support ships, the garrison and pulsar
weapon at Arcta, and of course your own garrison forces in the Colonies,
which I know can not be expected to handle the dual problems of the
Resistance and the Pegasus."
     The first warning for Malus had now been sounded.  He knew his only
hope to prevent what was undoubtedly coming was to make the most open
display of wounded pride he could.
     "I assure you, Eminence that the Resistance enclaves on all ten
planets have been driven back into their bunkers and are scarcely making
their presence felt on the surface any longer," he said.  "The capture
and execution of Commander Adama's wife Ila, who was such a dominant
force in the Caprican Resistance did much to shatter morale across the
entire Resistance network once I broadcast video of her execution for all
of them to detect and see with their listening devices.  And whatever
diseased centurions have provided them with assistance in the past, are
learning to be more restrained in their impulses as it were."
     "And you are to be commended for your efforts, Malus.  It is obvious
that the consolidation of authority in the Colonies with you and the
removal of the likely Diseased Governor Kore has proved most helpful to
the Alliance.  But you can not deal with any potential problem of the
Pegasus with your ground-based fighters alone.  Accordingly, I have made
the difficult decision to dispatch the BaseShip of Commander Sorge to
provide you with protective screening.  Since Sorge is of Command
Centurion rank, he will be answerable to your authority and you will have
the right to assume command of his ship at any time you deem necessary if
you feel that you must be in charge of any actual combat operations.  In
the past, my reluctance to release a BaseShip from the Home System has
been tied to the belief that the Disease seems to take hold once there is
considerable distance from the Home System.  However, this new
information about the Pegasus requires me to cease being so
instinctively.....cautious as it were."
     Malus knew he couldn't possibly challenge this decision.  Not when
from a technical standpoint, he was being given command of the BaseShip
itself which effectively meant a promotion and a sign of just how much
confidence the Cylon Ruler had in him.  
     "I am....most honored, Your Eminence," he bowed respectfully.  "When
might I expect the arrival of Commander Sorge's BaseShip?"
     "The dispatch order was given before I initiated contact with you. 
I believe in less than two cycles from now he should be arriving," he
paused, "This is a most dark and terrible period we are entering in,
Malus.  If the Alliance has any chance of prospering once again......the
Pegasus must be destroyed once and for all.  And then.....I think it will
be time to make Commander Volahd realize that there is a price to be paid
for letting himself become Diseased."
     "And the remaining two BaseShips in the Home System?"
     "One will remain of course as I can not leave the Home System
unguarded.  As for the third.....I think it best that a visit be paid to
the Cannes System.  If my hunch is correct the garrison will be gone
along with the BaseShip still attached to it......and that means the
subordinated population that Cauda was always being too slow to
exterminate must finally be eliminated once and for all."
     Malus didn't miss a beat responding to this, "And from Cannes then
the issue of Volahd's treachery on Gomorrah can be dealt with."
     "Exactly," Imperious Leader's tone was the equivalent of what one
might have heard from a sentient creature that was smiling.  "You impress
me again with your insights, Malus.  I again thank you for your continued
loyalty and devotion."
     "I am always your obedient servant, Your Eminence."
     "I shall not be in touch again for some time unless there is
something specific to report on where the Pegasus actually is.  In the
meantime, I am sure you and Commander Sorge will be enjoying a most
productive working relationship in defense of the Colonies."
     "I am sure of it too, Your Eminence," Malus bowed his head, hoping
the conversation would now end.
     "Good day, Governor."
     When the image of the Cylon ruler faded, Malus's head was still in
the bowing gesture.  He promptly rose and said with total disgust a
phrase he had learned and considered appropriate.
     "Oh felgercarb."


The Pegasus
     Cain had kept himself based in his quarters, issuing orders from
there so he could be ready in the event of a follow-up message from
Malus.  When his judgment was vindicated, he listened to the Governor's
report and realized the grim implications of what it meant.
     "My recommendation, Commander Cain, is that you leave immediately to
take care of what is now a dual threat," Malus emphasized.  "Even though
it will take at least over a sectan to reach Cannes at top speed, what
that second BaseShip would find would  undoubtedly result in a massacre
of every person alive on both Cannes Two and Cannes Three.  That threat
must be neutralized first."
     "I recognize the danger," Cain said, keeping his exterior image cool
and collected, but out of Malus's sight his lower limbs beneath his desk
were trembling.  "But the BaseShip that's headed for the Colonies----,"
     "I believe that is not the greater threat, especially if you are
free and clear of this Star System within the next few centars," the
Renegade Cylon Governor cut him off.  "I can stall the BaseShip from
investigating too closely.  When Sorge approaches, I will insist he hold
position in the Outer Colony region between Aquarius and Piscera so I can
meet him directly.  Since Aquarius is fully occupied by Cylons and
Piscera was formally abandoned by the order of the late Governor Kore
then they would not be able to see anything nor scan anything that would
be out of the ordinary from their perspective."
     "And then after the BaseShip that's intended to go to Cannes is
dealt with, I would then return and take care of this BaseShip," Cain
nodded.  "That.....sounds viable to me.  But.....I don't think it would
be viewed favorably by Commander Deval and the rest of the Resistance
Leaders."
     "Quite understandable.  But.....if too much delay is taken with
regard to the BaseShip intended for Cannes......then those people you
successfully liberated will surely die.  That is the dilemma......you
face."
     Malus's choice of pronoun did not go unnoticed by the Juggernaut. 
The final decision was his.  His judgment to make.  And he had to make it
now.
     "Thank you for your report and your candor, Governor Malus," Cain
said with as much firmness as he was capable of showing.  "The Pegasus
leaves within the next centar regardless of whether everyone who signed
up is aboard.  Please inform Deval and the others of my intentions
because at this point, I simply can't take the time to hear any of their
objections.  Let them know I don't make this decision lightly and that I
will return quickly to the Colonies as soon as this first BaseShip headed
for Cannes is dealt with."
     "May those you serve and worship be with you," Malus said, "And if
they are the same entities......the Makers responsible for us too."
     Cain switched off the connection and then wasted no time contacting
the Bridge to give his next order.  Which he knew would be controversial.
     "Colonel, how much of our new personnel returned?"
     "Over half of the new personnel is now aboard, sir.  We have eight
more shuttles lined up to take more aboard within the next half centar."
     "In one centar, we're leaving.  Inform any shuttle departing any of
the planets that if they can't rendezvous with us in exactly one centar,
they might as well turn back or stay where they are.  We're headed out at
full speed."
     Tolen was taken aback given how this meant the departure was moving
up by more than four centars overall.
     "Sir, um----
     "What?" Cain impatiently interjected.  "Do we have any Viper pilots
who haven't reported back, or key Bridge personnel?"
     "No sir.  I just----,"
     "You just what, Colonel?" his impatience rose.
     A brief pause, "Nothing, sir.  Nothing."
     "Good.  Now once we're underway I want a Council of War session in
the Briefing Room with all senior personnel.  You, Kylie, Skyler,
Commander Cobre and Flight Leader Gryphon."
     "Yes sir," Tolen paused, "Any message for Commander Deval or the
Galactica?"
     "Not at this time, Colonel," Cain's tone grew curt.  "After we're
away, shut down outside long-range communications.  We won't be able to
spare so much as the tiniest power loss."
     He shut off the comline and dropped back into his chair.  God
forgive me for being so abrupt after I've worked so hard to build up a
good rapport with these people.  But right now, the only way I'm going to
get through this is to revert to some old egotistical habits of mine that
I know are going to leave a lot of hurt feelings in my wake until this is
all over.
     The only thing that he took comfort in was that he knew Kylie was
going to understand his actions completely.  Without ever saying so to
his face because she knew that for the duration, being his subordinate
took precedence over being his wife.
     And now with a centar's time on his hands, the Juggernaut activated
his console to study the star charts showing everything between the
Colonies and the Cylon Home System.


Arcta
     "That is how things stand, Ambassador Orcus.  You recognize the need
to be prepared for the possible intrusion of the Pegasus?"
     The former Ambassador to Starlos who was now officially in charge of
operations for the Arcta Garrison nodded as he finished listening to the
Cylon Ruler's transmission.  "Of course, Your Eminence.  But.....if
Commander Cain were foolish enough to intrude on our system, he would
face immediate ionization from the Pulsar."
     "Indeed, he would," Imperious Leader nodded.  "It is only because I
am convinced Commander Cain collaborated with Volahd at Gomorrah that I
believe he is fully aware that we moved back in to reclaim Arcta
following the destruction of the original pulsar by the Galactica. He
knows that at some point he has to do something about the garrison and
the Pulsar.  Since he undoubtedly has Diseased Centurions assisting his
effort, he might even attempt some form of infiltration to turn your own
Centurions against your authority."
     "We will be prepared for him, Your Eminence."
     "I am counting on you, Orcus," the Cylon Ruler.  "You carry upon
yourself not just the expectations of the Empire as a whole, but the
expectations of your entire class.  I have come to recognize that the DG
class has perhaps.....not been well-treated these last few centuries
since the IL Class became the dominant leadership group.  When this
matter of the Pegasus is finally dealt with, and the problem of the
Diseased rooted out......I will look forward to discussing new
opportunities for you in the Home System."
     The DG Cylon bowed respectfully.  And as he bowed his peripheral
vision could see to his left, Command Centurion Echis, and on the right,
the Human scientist Dr. Ravashol.  Both of them with laser pistols
trained on him and ready to open fire if the reluctant convert to the
Enlightened ranks so much as said one incriminating word.  Every time
Orcus conversed with Imperious Leader the laser pistols from outside
camera range were always trained on him.  Making sure he stayed in line.
     And inside, he knew he didn't want to stay in line.  He had found
this position worse than anything he'd experienced in his life.  He had
never been enthused about the leadership of the current Cylon ruler, but
the idea that he would find himself forced to serve the cause of those
who had chosen to rebel against Cylon authority in the name of a concept
called "Enlightenment" was something he'd never been comfortable with. 
But his continued existence depended on playing this role and so he had. 

     Am I just too much the coward to die for what I believe in?
     "I look forward to that day too, Your Eminence."
     "One final word," Imperious Leader said.  "I have dispatched the
BaseShip of Commander Egron to investigate the situation at Cannes.  If
he finds what I expect him to find, he will find a destroyed garrison and
two planets full of Humans who think they are permanently safe.  He will
exterminate these populations and when he is through, he may receive
instructions to stop at Arcta for some refitting as his next assignment
after Cannes will be the destruction of Volahd and his traitors at
Gomorrah.  I suggest you begin preliminary preparations for his arrival
within two sectans from now."
     "It shall be done, Your Eminence." Orcus rose to his full height.
     "That is all for now."
     The Cylon Ruler's image, a duplicate of how the reptilian Cylons
once looked, faded from the monitor in the Command Complex.  As Orcus
continued to stand in the center of the room, Dr. Ravashol calmly walked
up in front of him, the laser pistol still clutched in his hand.
     "Very smart of you to not play the foolish martyr for the Alliance,
Mr. Ambassador," the scientist's voice was heavy with dark, contemptuous
warning.  "Because that ruler, like all of his predecessors, is not
worthy of your loyalty......or any other Cylon."
     "At what point will you learn to finally trust me, Dr. Ravashol?"
     Ravashol shook his head, "Never, Mr. Ambassador.  Not until
Commander Cain has succeeded in what we've given him the means to do. 
Destroy the last remnants of your so-called 'Empire' once and for all. 
And what's just happened isn't going to deter him in the slightest."
Caprica
     Deval had received the first notification from Malus on the updated
situation.  As he listened, he felt a burning sense of anger mounting
within him that he hadn't felt in a long time.  Certainly not since
before the miracle of the peace agreement that Ila had been able to
successfully negotiate with Malus before her dramatic return to her
family aboard the Galactica.  So much had gone well for the Resistance in
all that time since with the ability to start reclaiming their ten
remaining planets, followed by the arrival of the Pegasus.  And now, all
of that was clearly in jeopardy and the news he was hearing was that the
Resistance would likely have to bide their time and hope for the best.
     The one time Viper pilot from the Battlestar Solaria, who had
emerged as the unofficial leader of all the Resistance groups, had no
intention of accepting an outcome that required total passiveness on his
part.  But he knew he had to communicate that point reasonably to Malus,
whom he had enjoyed a positive relationship for many sectars now.
     "Governor Malus," Deval said with perfect outright restraint.  "I am
sorry, but what you are describing is unacceptable to me.  To ask all of
us to stand by and place our hopes on Commander Cain's ability to
dispatch this BaseShip that is proceeding to Cannes first and then get
back in time is far too much to ask after all we have been through."
     "I recognize your frustration, Commander Deval," Malus sounded a
sympathetic note.  "That is why I believe I can do everything in my power
to keep this approaching BaseShip at bay for however long is necessary
until Commander Cain returns."
     "I mean no disrespect to you, Governor.  You have done an admirable
job of playing a most difficult game of......subterfuge with the Cylon
High Command and you have done so at risk to your own life for nearly
five yahrens now.  But it seems to me that with your unquestioned
authority over all Cylon forces that remain in the Colonies and with the
presence of Loyalist sympathies eliminated after the Peace Agreement was
signed, there are opportunities to safeguard your interests, and ours
that would allow much stronger action to be taken than a simple stalling
game on your part while we wait for the Pegasus to come back."
     Malus carefully took in his comments for several microns and then
asked, "Do you have any suggestions, Commander Deval?"
     "I think I do," Deval nodded.  "But.....it would be presumptuous on
my part to speak for all the Leadership factions when the safety of their
people is just as much at risk, along of course with the safety of
yourself and your personnel.  If you would stand by for a half centar and
allow me to bring in all of the other Leaders on Conference hook-up, I
think we might be able to arrive at a solution in which everyone will
have had the chance to be heard." 
     "That is agreeable to me, Commander Deval.  I will also see to it
that Command Centurion Valan, who I know has an even greater level of
trust with your people, is part of the discussion too."
     "Thank you, Governor.  I will get back to you in half a centar."
     As he shut off the transmission, his deputy Colonel Antony
approached him.
     "The Pegasus just gave us a final perfunctory message to stop
launching any more transport shuttles and that they're headed out of the
star system now," Antony said grimly, "I guess that means we're really on
our own now."
     "And we're going to prove to Cain that he's not the only one capable
of doing great things," Deval vowed.  "Let's start getting our colleagues
off their astrums right now."


     A half-centar later, the connection with Malus had been
re-established.  And by this point, the leaders representing the nine
other reclaimed planets had been brought in as well.  And Deval knew that
he had to make sure that the discussion didn't degenerate into a
free-for-all of anger leveled at Commander Cain.
     "I want this understood from the outset," Deval stressed.  "We are
not going to waste precious time condemning Cain for his decision to
intercept the BaseShip headed for Cannes first.  He is the reason why the
inhabitants of those two planets in the Cannes System were liberated from
an occupational tyranny of their own, and since they don't have the
luxury of any defense force of their own or Enlightened Cylons to align
themselves with, we must accept the fact that their situation is even
more precarious than our own."
     "Be that as it may, Deval," Melchior, the Sagittarian leader spoke
up acidly, "I want it on the record that I think Cain owed it to each of
us, the courtesy of a consultation exactly like this before he made the
decision to withdraw from our star system."
     "So noted and may we now move on?" The Caprican leader retorted with
just as much acid as his Sagittarian counterpart.  Hearing nothing
further, he then dropped his voice to a calm level.  "The only issue we
have for discussion now is this.  Do we accept the idea that our only
option is to sit back and accept the idea that Governor Malus can
effectively 'stall' this incoming BaseShip from realizing what has been
going on all this time?  Or do we instead take the approach that a more
pro-active course of action is available to us that does not tie us all,
including even Governor Malus, to Commander Cain's ability to return
quickly?"
     No one said anything for almost ten microns until Siress Sabina of
Leo finally spoke up, "I am all in favor of being pro-active, but not
unless I hear a proposal that I can have some confidence in that it would
be successful.  Do you have one, Commander Deval?"
     "I think I do, Siress Sabina," Deval then looked over at the monitor
to Libra where Malus had been joined by the Command Centurion Valan, who
had been the first important Enlightened contact to the Caprican
Resistance.  "Governor Malus, please let me know first and foremost if
you and Commander Valan think what I am proposing has any viability.  If
you think otherwise, please tell me why that would be the case and I will
defer to your judgment."
     "Go ahead, Commander Deval," Malus said.
     The Caprican Leader and former Viper pilot took only five centons to
outline his proposal.  When it was over, most of the heads on the other
monitors were nodding vigorously.  But none dared say anything until the
one Cylon who had done more than any other to insure that the ten
remaining Colonies hadn't been destroyed in 'scorched planet' campaigns
of destruction, offered his opinion.
     "It.....has a certain logic, Commander Deval," Malus conceded.  "And
certainly it allows those among your people who have skills in such
operations to demonstrate them once again.  The only question is......can
it be done with sufficient numbers to be effective?"
     "I believe so, if it is indeed true that the Commander of this
BaseShip is supposed to automatically defer to your authority."
     "It is.  We benefit from the fact that the Imperious Leader
dispatched his one remaining BaseShip that is not under the command of a
member of the IL class.  He clearly does not see the wisdom in potential
conflict between myself and another IL like Commander Egron, who is
commanding the BaseShip sent to deal with Cannes.  I believe that this
Commander Sorge will accept anything I say without question or so much as
a hint of suspicion."
     "Then you will be able to guarantee that sufficient numbers will be
present.  And.....we will be able to further insure success by presenting
a powerful weapon that has shown it can work in the past."
     "Yes," Malus nodded his head.  "The truth."  He then turned to
Valan, "Your thoughts, Commander Valan?"
     "I believe it is viable," the command centurion said.  "But with a
scheduled arrival time of no later than tomorrow evening, it is
imperative for those who must take part to be in place well beforehand,
so coordination can be discussed more thoroughly."
     "I believe you have convinced me, Commander Deval," the Governor
said.  "The question now is......are your colleagues convinced and
prepared to take this gamble......knowing full well that if it fails, we
might be looking at our total destruction?"
     Deval looked at the faces of each of the Resistance leaders.  Some
of whom like Anders of Gemon had been proactive in commando type
operations and were used to taking action.  Others like Count Mikkos,
Baltar's cousin, who had been forced into passiveness because of the
greater dangers that had existed in the Outer Colonies during the days
when the now deceased Loyalist Governor, Kore, had been running things
there.  Regardless of how much they'd been able to do in the past, it was
clear that none of them were in favor of the idea of sitting back and
trusting their fates entirely to whether Cain could get back quick
enough.
     Siress Sabina once again was the one who broke the silence.  "If
we're taking a formal vote on this, my vote is yes."
     This produced a ripple effect and soon the other eight Colony
leaders were declaring their support as well.  When it was over, Deval
leaned back with an air of satisfaction that he'd been able to do
something in the wake of Cain's sudden decision to leave on short notice
without so much as a word to any of them.
     "We're agreed then.  We'll have to act quickly.  I think right now
those who are known to have experience for this sort of thing should
assemble at their respective Aerodrome as quickly as possible for
immediate transport to Libra."
     "Aquarius," Malus quietly corrected.  "It has to be launched from
the Outer Colony populated exclusively by Cylons, not the Inner Colony if
this is going to succeed.  Doing it from there means that if something
goes wrong......there will be enough time for an effective
counter-measure to be taken given the greater levels of fighter strength
that remain in the Inner Colonies as a whole compared to the Outer
Colonies."
     Deval realized that some deference to the Enlightened Cylon Governor
would help considerably.  "Very well.  Aquarius it is.  The only other
important preliminary task rests with you, Anders."
     "Me?" the Gemonese leader was surprised.
     "Yes.  Since Cain has now turned off all communications with us to
save his power for the battle that means he has no intention of
contacting the Galactica either until the situation is resolved.  Which
means we have to fall back on your ability to contact your cousin in
order to let Adama and Ila know what we intend to do."
     "I understand," Anders nodded, "I.....may have some difficulty
contacting her if she's not in direct exposure to the light of a sun, but
she'll at least know I'm trying to make contact and will then try to put
herself in better position to link up with me."
     "Then we've taken care of all preliminaries," Deval's voice grew
solemn.  "May the Lords of Kobol bless Commander Cain as he goes into
battle......and may they be with us too."

Chapter Two

The Pegasus
     Cain waited until the star system of the Colonies was behind them to
call the War Council meeting in the Briefing Room.  And then, in a
gesture purposefully designed to evoke the pre-Gomorrah image of himself,
he was last to arrive, making sure there'd be a dramatic flourish to his
entry and a sense that he was locked in to a battle plan that he was not
going to deviate from.  The entry had its intended impact as everyone
assembled rose to their feet and stood at attention, waiting for him to
deliver the "at ease" command.  But Cain didn't give it until he took his
seat at the head of the table and even then it was with a wave of his
hand rather than a verbal command.
     Yep, this is the old Cain, Tolen thought as he sat down.  The Cain
from before Ila's arrival.  The Cain who was always the walled-off Living
Legend from the rest of us.  Is that what we really need now though?
     "Fate has dealt us a bum Pyramid hand," the Juggernaut began.  "It's
up to us to not hover with that hand and make sure the next cards we draw
end up in the perfect Pyramid we've been planning on for the last yahren
to settle final accounts with the Imperious Leader."
     "Commander," Skyler spoke up, "There's a lot of concerned talk going
around about whether we're leaving the Colonies in the lurch."
     Cain didn't look at the Squadron Leader, "I expect you to make those
you're in command of to stow all of that talk until further notice,
Major.  Right now, our job is to intercept a BaseShip that threatens the
people of Cannes Two and Cannes Three who have no defense whatsoever at
their disposal.  The Colonies have a large contingent of fighters under
Governor Malus's control if the worst happens......but if Governor Malus
is as good as we all think he is, he has the ability to hold that
BaseShip off until we can return.  And if we concentrate all our efforts
on eliminating the threat to Cannes first, we can get back their a lot
sooner."
     "Sir.....it will take at least a sectan for this BaseShip to reach
Cannes at top speed.  Surely we can eliminate the BaseShip headed for the
Colonies and then still be in position to head the Cannes threat off."
     Cain then glared at him, "Am I getting through to you, Major?  I
said all of that talk is to be stowed right now!" he raised his voice on
the last word.  Inside, Kylie had to summon all her energy not to wince. 
She knew her husband was playing a role that he didn't like having to
play. It was only the urgency of the situation that was making him assume
a persona that he'd largely left behind the last couple yahrens.  And she
also knew that she had to respect his judgment on this point even if that
meant forgetting she was his wife until it was over.
     "Now here's our initial course of action," Cain's voice returned to
normal, but clearly in charge of everything.  "Our total fighter capacity
consists of sixty vipers, which represents nineteen additional ones
salvaged from the Colonies since our return.  Also, thirty-five Raiders
which is twenty more than what we had when we returned.  Since speed is
of the essence, we will send out three squadrons of ten vipers each to
fan out along three potential intercept paths the BaseShip might take
towards Cannes.  Our vipers will not use cloaking devices because that
cuts down on speed and maneuverability and the sooner they get to maximum
range the better.  I recognize this runs the risk of potential exposure
to the BaseShip, but so be it.  If the BaseShip has something from us to
pursue then that means they'll be drawn straight to us like a moth to the
flame and we'll be able to take them out with one shot from our wonderful
new Pulsar at point blank range." 
     He paused for emphasis, "That is what I am counting on because it's
the only way to guarantee a quick victory over this BaseShip and take the
threat to Cannes out of the equation, and by extension any threat to
Gomorrah or Arcta.  Because if they lose that BaseShip fast, then
Imperious Leader really has to keep his last BaseShip in reserve in the
Home System.  Not that it's going to do him a bit of damn good."
     He then turned his attention to the two Cylons in the room,
"Commander Cobre, Flight Leader Gryphon.....for now the Phoenix Squadron
contingent will remain in reserve aboard the Pegasus with half of our
Vipers.  They should stand by to launch the instant we know the BaseShip
is in scanner range so they can get in the first fighter strike.  One
element of surprise we still have is their unfamiliarity with how to
respond to hostile fighter from Raiders."
     "Quite true," Commander Cobre said, "But I would note that Commander
Lucifer may have relayed some account of how events unfolded when the
Raiders from Baltar's BaseShip opened fire on the ship he was commanding
at the time.  It is no longer a contingency they are completely unaware
of."
     "Noted," Cain nodded.  "But since that's only a secondhand account
they can go by, it will still be something they haven't been able to
visualize yet in real battle conditions.  And since they haven't been
expecting to engage Enlightened Raiders in battle I'd say the odds are
unlikely they've been running simulation programs for their own pilots to
deal with that."
     "A logical assumption," Cobre nodded.
     The respectful way Cain dealt with the Command Centurion's comment,
in contrast to how he'd been treated, was enough to make Skyler seethe
inwardly.  I have to get the old Cain, but the Cylons in our crew still
get the new Cain.  I swear when this is over, I'm going to----. 
     "Now Major, let's have a rundown on the qualifications of the
nineteen pilots who signed on with us from the Colonies who are manning
those additional nineteen vipers of ours."
     Cain's question jolted Skyler out of his inner seething and he
quickly answered him.  "Only eight were full-time Viper pilots attached
to ground garrisons in the Colonies at the time of the Destruction.  The
most senior is Lieutenant Ajax, who was attached to Aerodrome operations
on Virgon.  We have one combat veteran who was retired at the time of the
Destruction, Captain Thach, formerly of the Columbia.  The other ten were
only shuttle qualified in the past but since they signed on to fill the
remaining ships we added, they have undEgrone full training exercises in
the last sectar and know how to handle the controls.  I would not say
however that we had reached the stage where they had been through full
combat test exercises."
     "Captain Thach and Lieutenant Ajax will be part of those scouting
patrols to find the BaseShip and lure it to us," Cain said.  "And those
other ten who were just learning how to fly Vipers the last two
sectars......disperse all of them into the three patrol groups as well. 
They might as well get a sense of what the old Baptism of Fire ritual we
all went through at the Academy was really like."
     Skyler was on the verge of protesting.  Putting the least
experienced Viper pilots out in the front-line patrols that were intended
to get the BaseShip to pursue them meant they were more likely to get
killed in the process because they weren't used to outrunning a hostile
pursuit.  He almost wondered if Cain would consider that an acceptable
risk on the grounds it might give the BaseShip a false sense of security
regarding a challenge from the Pegasus.
     As if he could read Skyler's mind, Cain then added, "And if you
don't have enough confidence in six veteran pilots per patrol group to
provide enough guidance for the raw ones, Major, then you haven't been
doing your job properly as Strike Leader."
     Frack, Skyler felt his anger increasing.  The repeated barbs at him
were also starting to annoy Tolen as well.  Inside, Kylie was resigning
herself to the idea that at some point she would likely face a public
rebuke from the Juggernaut as well.....and in some respects she was
almost hoping for it if only to make Skyler realize he wasn't being
singled out.  Because she knew Cain wasn't singling the Squadron Leader
out.  He was going to jump on anyone who tried to dislodge him from the
mode he was locked into now.
     "Now then," Cain turned to the Executive Officer, "Colonel Tolen,
after we're done, you'll be making the rounds to the various departments
and make sure everything is in order.  Life Station.  Damage Control. 
Engineering.  Electronics.  The slightest sign of slacker behavior on
anyone's part means a warning that the second sign gets them a sectan in
the Brig.  Put the Fear of the Lords into them just as much as you know
I'd give it to them."
     Tolen nodded..  He wasn't particularly keen that this would mean
leaving the Bridge for an extended period but he could tell that Cain
wanted to dispense with anything he didn't have to do himself.  That way,
Cain's entire focus could say on the battle plan.
     "All right then," Cain looked about the room, "I've explained what
we're going to do and how I hope to bring it off.  Because we need to get
this BaseShip disposed of as quickly as possible, I'm afraid there's no
way we can stop to ascertain if there's a potential Enlightened element
in their crew we can appeal to.  I am certain Commander Cobre, that you
and Flight Leader Gryphon can make the rest of our Cylon crew understand
that."
     "They know from past experience why this is sometimes necessary,"
Gryphon spoke up.  "And I will share again my experience with the Cannes
BaseShip and the noble sacrifice of Commander Melkot."
     "Hopefully, as events progress, those inclined to Enlightenment will
be given their chance to join the new order for the Cylon race......which
is on the verge of dawning.  When the Cylon Home System can be the
exclusive dominion of those who are Enlightened," Cobre said.
     "We all look forward to that, Commander Cobre," Cain nodded with a
half-smile.  He then looked about the room to each member seated at the
table before he finally uttered the simple word, "Dismissed."
     Everyone else rose and slowly filed out, but Cain remained seated,
as if he were lost in his own thoughts.  For a brief instant, Kylie
lingered in the doorway and looked back at her husband who was ignoring
her.  And then, she too followed the others out.  Letting him gather his
thoughts about the battle plan one more time before headed for the
Bridge.


The Galactica
     "That's the sum total of what Anders passed on to me, Commander."
     Adama tried not to look grim as Hunley finished her report over the
video com-line.  "Thank you, Lieutenant.  I'm glad you were able to
connect with him on his first attempt   Did he indicate how soon he'd be
in touch again?"
     "I'm afraid not," the Otori-born woman shook her head.  Her ability
to make telepathic contact with her cousin, far across the stars, was the
one legacy of her heritage she still cherished.  "Things are moving very
quickly on their end now, and......obviously they can't guarantee the
outcome of what they have planned.  If he's unable to get word to me,
then Commander Neele of course, as a fellow Otori, is there to act as a
backup contact just in case."
     "Of course.  And with that in mind, Lieutenant, I'm going to ask
that you report to the Agro-Ship for the next two cycles and spend as
much time as you can under one of the domes.  Since we're passing within
range of a fairly good size sun, that means you can take advantage of the
exposure and not worry about any hindrance to receiving the next message
from either Anders or Commander Neele."
     "I'll get over there right away, sir," Hunley nodded and then added. 
"Anders believes they can do it."
     "We all pray for the Lords to watch over them."
     Hunley's image faded and Adama slowly turned to Ila, "Thoughts?"
     His wife let out a rueful sigh, "It sounds like Cain's reverting to
some of his old habits from before my time there."
     "Indeed.  That whole abrupt way he stormed off and decided he could
take care of a BaseShip headed for Cannes first and get back to the
Colonies in time......that's the old Cain for certain."
     "And I don't blame Deval and the others for thinking they have to
take matters into their own hands," the Council President said.  "I know
all of them, and they're proud leaders in their own right who did a lot
on their own under circumstances just as difficult as what you and Cain
have gone through.  They're not about to think they should sit on their
astrums and just wait passively for Cain to do it all himself."
     "It almost sounds as if Cain never came to view Deval and the others
on a truly equal footing with him." 
     "And that's probably the one thing I wish I'd had time to do before
I came home," Cain's one-time diplomatic advisor said with regret, "I
left before Cain had a chance to meet Deval and the others and really get
to know and appreciate the depths of what they went through.  I think
you're right that Cain hasn't been able to fully appreciate their
capabilities as leaders.  He's clearly spent more time treating Governor
Malus on an equal footing than he has them.  Maybe if I'd been able to
introduce Cain directly to Deval it might have helped them connect
better."
     "You did everything you were meant to do, Ila,.  Even God can only
ask so much of us." Adama said gently.  And she immediately smiled back
at him in reassurance.
     "I know, Adama.  I know.  It was my time to come home when the Lords
set things up with the Entity and allowed me to get a Peace Treaty in
place with Malus.  So no, I don't wish I was still there and I don't
regret leaving when I did.  I just.....wish this complication didn't have
to come up when everything else had gone their way up to now.  Especially
when.....so many friends of mine are now at risk and I can't be there to
help them.  These are people I lived with for three yahrens underground
and fought alongside with on commando raids.  A part of me wishes I could
be with them on this whole thing they're planning right now with the
BaseShip, even though I know it's not my job any longer and my place is
here.  Unlike the Peace Treaty, I know what they're planning isn't
something I'd be indispensable for."
     "I know what you mean," her husband empathized.  "I wish I could
have the Galactica alongside the Pegasus right now too.  The one thing
that pulsar weapon he's installed can't let him do is let him be in two
places at the same time."
     "I could tell from Hunley's report that Anders and the others feel
like a cruel trick's been played on them after an endless string of
positive developments."
     "It's not unlike our own situation," Adama said thoughtfully. 
"We've been blessed in many ways in our journey these last couple yahrens
and have avoided the hardships we faced earlier in our journey, just like
Cain managed to avoid the worst dangers during the journey back to the
Colonies and just like the Resistance never had to see a pitched battle
take place for control of the ten planets against the Occupation Force. 
And yet......we're all facing one last test of our ability to survive
before we can truly say it's all over.  Cain and the Resistance are
facing their last great test now.....and ours is still to come."
     "Yes," Ila nodded, "And.....speaking of that, as President of the
Quorum I have to know what your opinion is on whether we should seek out
the Ke'Zar now that we know we're in close enough proximity to the
original Risik Home System which they conquered.  Especially since the
next meeting will be our first one with 13 members now that we've
ratified Becky Shulman as the new delegate to represent Earth."
     Adama didn't answer her at first as if he wasn't ready to change the
subject.  Finally, he said tentatively.
     "I.....haven't made my decision yet," he said, "They are in
proximity to us, but it would necessitate a course deviation from our
heading to Earth and another delay to our timetable in reaching Earth. 
Which simultaneously plays into the hands of the Risik to get more of
their Neutrino ships ready and begin their pursuit campaign of
us......with Commander Lucifer's BaseShip joining them."
     "Does it really matter how far out from Earth we are when the Risik
finally force the issue with us?" Ila asked.  "One way or the other,
we're going to have to face them."
     "If we can reach Earth before it happens, we have the luxury of
preparing them for what's coming, and there's also the possibility that
in the twenty yahrens since Captain Byrne left Earth, which is our last
frame of reference for what was happening there, Earth may have been able
to build up her defenses to a new level."
     The Council President frowned, "But Earth is more than a couple
thousand yahrens or so behind our technology.  How could they make any
significant breakthroughs in only twenty yahrens?"
     "Earth does have a capacity for making significant advances in short
time periods.  When Byrne's country, the United States of America,
decided it was imperative to build a spacecraft capable of reaching their
moon in less than ten yahrens, they met the timetable.  Byrne's own
flight that was intended to land on the planet called Mars also
represented a significant breakthrough in less than five yahrens after
they received the first indication of a long-term threat from the
asteroid that's still on a potential collision with Earth in another
eight to ten yahrens.  The point is that if there is a matter of urgency
they have to deal with, the most advanced countries on Earth know how to
pool their resources on short notice to meet a challenge.  It's possible
they've already started to do so with the Risik."
     "How so?"
     "Because the captured Risik files from the ship we found Lauren
Wagner in talk about how one element of their invasion plan was the use
of moles and sleeper agents on Earth.  Not that we ever found any actual
lists of agents.  But we did find a list of procedures on how operatives
were to be extracted in the event their cover was blown, or how they
could be removed safely prior to when the planned invasion would begin."
     Ila looked confused, "I'm sorry Adama, I don't get the connection. 
What does that have to do with Earth being more prepared over the last
twenty yahrens?"
     "Let's assume these sleeper agents or moles that still existed on
Earth after the invasion was called off found themselves trapped
permanently on Earth and at some point were discovered by the Earth
authorities.  If the authorities discovered what the Risik were on the
verge of accomplishing......I think it's very likely they would have
implemented plans to safeguard the planet from any possibility of a new
invasion threat."
     "That does require a lot of assuming."
     "Yes.  But it is a possibility to consider in making the case for
ignoring a detour to the Ke'Zar's territorial frontier and getting to
Earth ahead of the Risik pursuit."
     His wife slowly shook her head, "I don't know, Adama.  That seems
like too much of a longshot possibility.  From a diplomatic standpoint,
shouldn't we try to make some kind of overture to the Ke'Zar?  After all,
we've certainly got one thing in common with them already."
     "There's a case to be made for that," Adama nodded.  "But....just
because the Ke'Zar did Earth a favor by invading the Risik Home System
doesn't automatically make them a more enlightened race.  They could
easily see us as a threat to their own dominion."
     "Naturally," Ila conceded.  "But......I do think in the end the
question of whether we do it or not has to be seen as a political
decision for the Council to decide and that it isn't a military security
issue.  I hope you're not contemplating this as something you have
unilateral authority over."
     He smiled thinly at her, "I guess we've finally found our first
potential area of disagreement since we assumed our new roles?"
     "Maybe," she didn't want this subject to be part of husband-wife
banter, "I want to hear you present the military's argument before the
entire Council before we take a vote on what our best diplomatic option
is.  And I hope that regardless of how we vote, you'll treat it as the
final answer on what we should do."
     "I have this suggestion to make," Adama leaned forward, "Don't
schedule any Council action or vote on what we do regarding the Ke'Zar
until after we know how the situation with Cain and the Colonies and the
Home System resolves itself.  Even though we can only be passive
listeners to what's happening there, it will have a bearing on whether
contacting the Ke'Zar is in our best interest or not."
     "That's agreeable to me.  I'll let the members know we're deferring
action for the time being," she rose, "But you might want to slow our
heading so that way if we do decide to divert course to make contact with
the Ke'Zar it won't require us to do any doubling back."
     "I'll see to that," he paused, "So for now......all we can do is go
about our routines, wait and.....pray."
     "Indeed," Ila sighed as she left their quarters.  Without bothering
to stop and engage in any affectionate farewells as they usually did when
they would part.  A reminder of just how uncertain things had suddenly
become as a result of these new developments.


The Cylon Capital
     "Our two BaseShips are now clear of the Home System, Your Eminence."
     Imperious Leader looked down from his throne chair at his chief
aide, the IL Cylon Luna.
     "And our remaining ships for the Home System's defense?"
     "Commander Flaccus's BaseShip and the six support ships have assumed
a tight protective screen as good as what existed when it was just the
three BaseShips.  The only thing we've been forced to sacrifice is the
patrol sweep of our satellite colonies which the support ships were
handling."
     "Which means if any of our prisoners confined on the mining worlds
found the means to escape, they would be able to get past the first
barrier at long last," there was an air of grim humor in the Cylon
Ruler's voice which momentarily caught Luna off-guard.
     "That might be true, Your Eminence, but any stolen shuttle or
fighter for that matter would never be able to get past the support ships
or the BaseShip."
     "They might be compelled to think that if they performed a massive
escape using a large number of individual ships, some of them might get
through," he went on, "Perhaps......perhaps it is time to rid ourselves
of the responsibility for these vermin once and for all."
     "But Your Eminence," Luna gently pointed out, "If we dispose of the
prisoners, then we will have no one left to perform the mining tasks when
mining becomes viable again."
     "Will it ever become viable again?" Imperious Leader raised his
voice and snapped.  "For the last five yahrens, we've waited to find a
new vein of Neutrino in our satellite worlds and collectively we've found
only enough to produce at most a few hundred centurions and some minor
touch-ups to the existing support ships!  Keeping those Humans alive has
been dependant on the fact that if we could find new veins again we would
need them to perform the labor that centurions can no longer perform. 
But now......now it really becomes clear that we'll never be able to make
use of them for that purpose.  Not with the Pegasus making a shambles of
what's left of our Empire.  And not with the most untrustworthy of Cylons
who isn't Diseased, refusing to facilitate shipments of Neutrino from the
one alien race we've managed to find that has it!" his large helmeted
head, a replica of what a reptilian Cylon's head once looked like began
to shake negatively.  "No my dear Luna, no.  These prisoners have now
outlived their usefulness to us.  The only reason I didn't start killing
them sooner was because I had to let Siress Rosalind think she needed
some incentive to keep working for us, but Lucifer has in effect made her
an irrelevance by releasing her to the Risik and letting her have free
rein in their Capital.  I don't need to keep them alive any longer for
her benefit, and I certainly don't want to keep them alive so that
Commander Cain and the Pegasus might think he could actually free them!"
     "I understand your thinking, Eminence," the IL Cylon said. 
"Although it could be said that maintaining them does serve other
purposes.  For instance the animal vermin who roam the satellite worlds
is easily disposed of because they serve as the food resource for them. 
And....there's the fact that keeping these prisoners in line gives our
centurions based in the Home System something proactive to do and has
perhaps prevented the Disease from infecting them.  Remove the prisoners
and that might change."
     "Our new campaign to smash the Diseased elements in our ranks will
act as the new safeguard!" his voice rose to a level of defiance that
Luna hadn't heard in a long time.  "When we destroy Volahd's insurrection
at Gomorrah they will know there is no value to letting the Disease take
hold of them.  They will also learn once and for all that to be Diseased
means selling out to the Humans and abandoning all that we were taught in
how to be uniquely Cylon!  No, Luna I think the reason for fearing the
Disease should no longer control our actions as it has these last few
yahrens."
     Luna was silent.  The Cylon Ruler had long been known for his more
methodical approach, devoid of the fiery impulsiveness that defined his
predecessor.  That was why it was so out of character to hear him
sounding more like the previous leader.  The fact that the voice was the
same (as it was with all Leaders) made no difference.  Even when an IL
became an Imperious Leader and took on the voice of the Imperious Leader,
the personality traits that defined the individual Leader from before
remained the same.  That was why even though all Imperious Leaders looked
and sounded alike, it was never difficult for any Cylon to distinguish
one from the other.
     "I might suggest this, Eminence," Luna said, his words carefully
chosen.  "If putting Volahd's traitors in place is to be our new
safeguard.....it might be advisable to delay executions of the prisoners
until after Volahd is dealt with.  Admittedly that is not going to be for
some time since Commander Egron has been ordered to deal with the Cannes
population first."
     Imperious Leader contemplated that point for a few microns and then
said, "Those orders can easily be changed.  We will contact Commander
Egron and notify him to bypass Cannes for now and lay waste to Gomorrah. 
Since they don't have a BaseShip of their own they will be overwhelmed
completely."
     "But it may not be sufficient to secure the planet, Your Eminence."
     "It will not be necessary to secure the planet, my dear Luna," the
Cylon Ruler shot back.  "It's only sufficient for the moment to let
Volahd know that he can no longer consider distance to be his safeguard
against feeling the wrath of the Empire for his treason.  Let him be
decimated in an initial attack and then......as he and his fellow
Diseased traitors sort their way through the rubble, Egron will return to
take care of matters at Cannes and receive replenishment at Arcta,
including adaptation of the Ravashol Pulsar to his ship's components. 
Since we know Commander Dagora was considering a similar option for his
own ship in his plot to overthrow me, it is best that a ship loyal to the
High Command finally be so modified."
     And then.....he dropped the boasting and his voice became regretful,
"I should have followed this course of action long ago.  But for my
foolish fear that to send more BaseShips out would risk further infection
of the Disease.  The news of the Pegasus has finally forced me to see how
overly tentative I have been in handling this crisis."
     "You need not reproach yourself, Your Eminence," his chief aide
said.  "Clearly Lucifer's deliberate refusal to inform you of the
Pegasus' survival much sooner contributed to that."
     "And Lucifer will pay for that......eventually," the harshness
returned to Imperious Leader's voice.  "But for now, we must tend to
these other matters.  And with action coming against Volahd sooner than
later, the execution of the prisoners can take place sooner than later as
well."
     "I agree with your course of action, Your Eminence."
     "Your loyalty has always been a welcome constant, Luna," Imperious
Leader pressed a button that would allow his throne chair to lower
itself.  "I must now make arrangements to contact first, Commander Egron
with his new orders, and then I must give Ambassador Orcus an update. 
Egron's BaseShip will not arrive until much later than I first indicated
to him."
     "And Governor Malus as well?"
     Imperious Leader stepped out of his throne chair and came alongside
the IL Cylon.
     "That will come later.  I think Malus has long proved his ability to
operate with as much free rein as possible, especially now that he will
have a BaseShip of his own to safeguard things in the Colonies and remove
the final traces of the Resistance once and for all." he paused, "Let us
attend to these matters now, Luna."
     "By your command."


The Pegasus
     Skyler had returned to Flight Operations to begin the task of
selecting the pilots for the three patrol groups who'd be going out with
one purpose in mind.  Find the BaseShip that was headed to Cannes and
then draw the BaseShip into pursuing them all the way back to the
Pegasus. 
     There is no way we're going to come through this without losses,
especially if I have to put all the green pilots who signed on from the
Colonies into this.  Why is Cain forcing the issue with them this fast? 
Making us responsible for too many green pilots in something this
critical can easily put experienced pilots at risk too because they
become our responsibility in battle!
     But he'd already gotten a lethal dose of just how meaningless it was
to think that being #3 in the Chain of Command meant he could dissuade
Cain.  The Briefing Room session had made it clear that Cain wasn't going
to take anything but cursory advice at this stage and if anything would
be showing more deference to the Cylon members of the team than anyone
else.  He was reasonably sure at this point that if Kylie raised her
voice to object, the Juggernaut wouldn't hesitate to rebuke her just as
he had with him.
     He thought back to the two and a half yahren period after the
separation from the Galactica and before Ila's arrival when morale aboard
the Peagsus had slipped to an all-time-low.  When it seemed like the only
thing Cain was preparing for was an eventual suicide mission against the
Cylon Capital once he felt he'd tapped out all the ammunition reserves
that could be found in the Alpha Quadrant.  Back then, the crew had
divided into Loyalists and Grumblers and as the new Squadron Commander
with the departures of Bojay and Sheba, he'd felt duty bound to be a
Loyalist.  Always giving the rebukes to the Grumblers like Lieutenant
Banker and the late Lieutenant Paris.  And of course, before his
mysterious disappearance for two yahrens, Ensign Wynn.  But looking back,
Skyler realized it had been easy for him to be a Loyalist for reasons
that went beyond obedience to the Chain of Command.  He'd felt there was
nothing meaningful left for him in his life with the Colonies gone and
his former girlfriend Shayleen probably dead.  So as far as he was
concerned going out in a final blaze of glory was the best way to do it. 
Now though, it was different.  Too many good things had gone their way
ever since Ila's arrival and beyond and a good deal of that was because
Cain had mellowed and learned to adjust to new realities.  That's why
from a mental standpoint, Skyler wasn't fully prepared to adjust to this
sudden reversion on Cain's part to old habits.  Of trying to think he
could achieve the impossible while simultaneously diminishing the human
cost.  A human cost that Skyler, as Squadron Commander would receive the
greatest scars from, if he managed to survive it.  It was especially hard
for Skyler now since he had a future he'd been looking forward to on
Starlos with a woman named Jocasta that was now potentially at risk.
     Grin and bear it, he thought as he looked at the rosters and made
his decisions on who would lead the other two patrol groups and which of
the veterans would be in them to provide guidance for the green pilots. 
Lieutenant Banker would head Silver Two Group which he'd also assign the
ex-Columbia pilot Captain Thach to.  For Silver Three Group he decided on
Lieutenant Tegran.  There was a time when he thought Tegran was too
impulsive to be entrusted with command responsibilities but he'd changed
his mind over time after seeing Tegran perform impressively at the Battle
of Cannes.  For his own group, Silver One, he decided he wanted Ensign
Wynn to come along since Wynn's recent experience that almost saw him
permanently grounded had instead revealed just how quick thinking his
skills were and that he had overcome any difficulties that might have
been caused by his two yahren disappearance.  
     Now that he had the veterans assigned it was time to assign the ten
raw recruits who had only been flying for the last sectar in training
exercises.  He noticed on the list, the two sisters, Marcia and Fausta,
the first female Viper pilots on the Pegasus since Sheba and he had to
decide if it would be better for them to be in the same patrol group or
to be in separate ones.  Put them in separate groups and they might be
distracted by concern for the other's well-being.  But put them in the
same group and if something happened to one of them, it could be even
more disastrous.  He finally decided that the best option was to not
assume the worst and that they'd be more efficient with the two of them
together.  He marked them down for Tegran's Silver Three Group.
     Now that he had the rosters set it was time to summon all pilots to
Flight Operations for a full briefing and give them their assignments. 
And it was time for him to block out his anger at Cain, his fear for his
long-term future on Starlos and his fear that many of the green pilots
wouldn't survive.  It was time to prove once again why he was the
Squadron Leader.


     The influx of more personnel on the Pegasus from the Colonies had
not overly changed things on the Bridge since no Bridge personnel had
been evacuated among the 'non-essential' ranks at the time of the
separation from the Galactica.  Even the one position that might have
changed, Kylie's old position of helm and scanners, was still occupied by
the Cylon centurion from Arcta, Achillas.  Recruited to the position from
the garrison when Kylie's successor, Bridge Officer Jacks had been
horribly killed in the battle with Commander Dagora's BaseShip, the rest
of the Bridge had gotten used to Achillas as a member of the team.  One
new recruit from the Colonies, Sergeant Taslin of Taurus, did have some
experience with helm and scanners from a long-ago short tour aboard the
Atlantia, but Cain had decided to use him only for several centars of
night-shift duty and to act as a "standby" in case some kind of accident
or battle damage incapacitated Achillas.  For now, Taslin was kept in an
auxiliary position on the Bridge to verify readouts. 
     As Kylie stood on the upper deck of the Bridge overlooking the
multi-tiered levels of technicians and bridge personnel going about their
work, she could sense a tension in the air unlike anything she'd felt in
the more than seven yahrens she'd been on the Pegasus.  Not even the dark
period of near death at Molocay had produced this kind of anxiousness. 
The reason was because everyone knew that what they were embarking on
represented the highest stakes of any combat engagement in the history of
Colonial Civilization.  The outcome of this planned battle with the first
BaseShip and any subsequent action would determine once and for all if
the Colonies would truly be free again for all time......and if the Cylon
Empire would finally at long last be sent into its final destruction. 
Everything else up to now had only represented one step toward the
achievement of those goals, even when the battles had been intense.  This
time though, events had finally converged to make the so-called "last
battle" possible.
     But Kylie knew that tension was not synonymous with panic or fear. 
It simply represented a heightened awareness of the stakes for a
particular battle and the good warriors were supposed to channel that
awareness into a greater safeguard against fear or panic.  She knew
there'd been other commanders and military strategists over the yahrens
who'd recommended an opposite approach of how it was easier to block
panic by treating combat like a simulation exercise.  Cain though had
long opposed such an approach on the grounds it encouraged more laziness
in a warrior.  Warriors, he had argued in one of the articles Kylie had
read during her recruit training days on Taurus, needed to be aware of
how much was riding on the outcome of their task, because a trained
warrior needed the incentive of knowing when there couldn't be any margin
for error.  It was a philosophy that Kylie was quick to agree with and
was one of many reasons why she'd wanted an assignment to the Pegasus
when her training period ended.  A decision that over seven yahrens later
had been more important than any other she'd made in her life.
     Except for what happened when I freed Wynn, she allowed herself two
microns to reflect sadly on a decision of another kind that she had come
to terms with, but which would always have a scar on her inner being that
would never heal one hundred percent.  And then, she pushed it out of her
head and none too soon as she could sense Cain's presence from behind
entering the Bridge.  She quickly turned to face him.  The Senior Bridge
Officer and not his wife.
     "Colonel Tolen should be finished with the Department inspections in
another centar," she reported to him in a properly efficient tone.
     "Excellent, Captain.  Now let's take a look at the navigation
board."
     They walked over to the giant star map which had been reprogrammed
to show at the top of the screen the Cylon Home System.  At the bottom of
the screen was the Colonies.  Far out on the left side, situated
three-quarters of the way up was the Cannes System and located at a spot
in between the Colonies and Cannes was Arcta.  A red dot just above the
Colonies represented the Pegasus.  A curved arc across the length of the
board from the Cylon Home System to Cannes represented the most direct
and logical path the BaseShip was likely to take.  The current heading of
the Pegasus was geared toward an intercept point based on the top speed
of both Battlestar and BaseShip.
     "We're about three centars away from when we should launch our
patrols to find the BaseShip," Cain's eyes were locked on the board. 
"Assuming they left at about the same time Imperious Leader contacted
Governor Malus and told him what he was going to do, or just
afterwards.......they'd likely be a full cycle out from the Home System
by the time an advance patrol should find signs of them."
     He then turned to Kylie, "Magnify to show only the trajectory line
headed out from Cylon and the immediate quadrants below that."
     Kylie keyed her headset and gave the order to Achillas on the deck
level below to make the adjustment to the navigation board.  The
Centurion out of force of habit said, "By your command" and did so.  Now
the scene had readjusted to a more tight focus with the Cylon Home System
still in the upper right corner and the trajectory arc to Cannes
prominent......but with a more detailed look at the quadrants of space
below it on the map that weren't visible before.
     "The logical heading for the primary patrol group under Major Skyler
should go through Alpha Two Quadrant," Cain pointed his swagger stick at
the map.  "That's assuming the BaseShip sticks with the logical path to
Cannes.  Now....knowing that circumstances can impact the matter of where
the BaseShip is and when, we need to pick the right paths for our other
two patrol groups to explore."
     "Logic would dictate that we send the other two patrol groups on
each flank of Major Skyler's patrol group," Kylie said, knowing that Cain
was subjecting her to another test of making command decisions on her
own.  Even though she technically rated #4 in the chain of command behind
Skyler, from a default standpoint she was #3 in the event something
happened to Cain and Tolen while Skyler was still out flying.  "One in
the event the BaseShip has gotten away quicker than we've anticipated,
the other in case it's been slower to get started."
     Cain kept looking at the board as he nodded, "My compliments,
Captain for figuring out the appropriate course of action if we chose to
do things by the book."
     Kylie immediately realized what that meant.  "But you don't intend
to do things by the book," she said as a simple declaration of fact.
     "No.  At least.....not when it comes to Skyler's port flank."  Cain
pointed to the left of the primary patrol heading, "I don't believe
Imperious Leader got that BaseShip off fast enough to put them ahead of
where their position would logically be.  He would have needed time to
weigh his options before he decided that Cannes was going to be targeted. 
So sending Silver Group Two into Alpha One Quadrant would be a total
waste of time looking at empty space.  Instead......they're going to
handle Alpha Three Quadrant which is where they'll be if the BaseShip's
not been able to go as far as we think it should have gone."
     The Senior Bridge Officer still didn't look at her husband.  "If you
send Silver Three Group into Alpha Four Quadrant, you're practically
sending them into the defensive scanner range of the Home System itself."
     "But that's not where I intend to send them," Cain then abruptly
pointed to a spot further down the chart.  An area marked "Beta Four
Quadrant."
     Kylie frowned and finally decided she had to look at him, "The
BaseShip couldn't possibly be in that quadrant no matter how much of a
slow start she had for Cannes."
     "But let's assume this BaseShip may not end up going to Cannes."
     "Sir?" she was totally confused.
     "This is the unexpected variable to consider," Cain's eyes remained
locked on the board.  "What is the one thing we're unfortunately still in
the dark about when it comes to coordinating this whole matter since the
mong hit the fan?"
     Kylie tried to go over everything in her head about the events of
the day and then, with just a bit of hesitation said, "This has to do
with the fact we still can't talk directly to Arcta?"
     "Don't ask me if that's right, tell me if you think that's right,
Captain." The Juggernaut didn't hide the annoyance in his voice and Kylie
realized she'd gotten her first taste of the treatment Skyler had gotten
earlier in the Briefing Room from Cain.
     "All right," she steeled herself, "We couldn't talk to Arcta
directly about this, and there is a danger there, caused by the fact that
Ambassador Orcus is the one who speaks directly to the Imperious Leader
whenever there's direct contact between the Home System and the base."
     "And what do you think would happen if Orcus decided to go down like
a martyr for the Empire and let the Top Snake know from his dying breath
that Malus has been a traitor all along?"
     "Then the Imperious Leader would forget all about Cannes and decide
to send a second BaseShip to the Colonies to annihilate them." Kylie
folded her arms, convinced that she'd figured things out, "And if this
BaseShip we're after received new orders to divert to the Colonies to
back up the one that's already headed there.......it's going to be in
Beta Four Quadrant by the time Silver Three Group reaches maximum range."
     "Exactly," Cain kept his tone matter-of-fact, not showing any of the
husbandly pride in her that he would have shown in the past.  "This is
the one area of the unexpected we need to be prepared for.  And to be
perfectly honest, Captain, the more I remember what a bad vibe Orcus gave
me all those sectars we were at Arcta, the more I think this possibility
could be likely."
     "Even though there are always armed personnel with lasers pointed at
him every time Imperious Leader contacts him?"
     "He already knows it's possible for a destroyed Cylon to be rebuilt,
just like Vulpa was rebuilt by Dr. Ravashol.  If he thinks he can get
information out that will help the Empire turn things around......he just
might welcome martyrdom as something that won't necessarily be permanent
in his mind."  
     "Of course that leaves Alpha Quadrant One empty from patrol
exploration," Kylie knew she had to raise this warning, knowing that if
she didn't, Tolen would by the time he returned to the Bridge and was
briefed on the situation.  "If they have found a way to go faster then
we've estimated......we'll miss intercepting them completely and by then
it'll be too late to even think we can get back to the Colonies in time
to take care of the first BaseShip that's headed there.  Unless we're
then prepared to write off the people of Cannes completely."
     He didn't answer her.  His eyes were still locked on the board and
the look on his face was as if he'd decided to zone out completely and
not acknowledge what she'd said.
     "Commander?"she gently pressed.  But it was over five microns before
he finally ended the discussion with a simple declaration of fact that
wouldn't allow for any more challenges.
     "I'm not wrong."
     And then, without looking at his wife, he turned and descended the
steps to the lower level of the Bridge to begin an inspection tour of his
own.  
     You'd better not be, Cain.  She thought as she moved to the railing
and watched him move about with almost robotic precision.  


Arcta
     For over five yahrens, Arcta had been playing a game of deception
with the Cylon High Command.  A deception that began in the wake of the
destruction of the original pulsar and garrison by the Galactica commando
team when Dr. Ravashol knew that sooner or later, with the Galactica
gone, the Cylons would move in to reestablish their authority and resume
the life of slavery he and his Theta class clones had been forced to
suffer under.  Even though Ravashol knew he was capable of making the
community situated in Mt. Hekla impregnable from outside assault, he also
knew that the Cylons would never stop trying to reassert themselves.  And
that, from the scientist's standpoint, was simply intolerable.
     He had found the solution to the long-term problem when he found the
remains of Command Centurion Vulpa in the wreckage of the pulsar and saw
to it that the former base commander was reassembled and
reactivated......and won over to the idea of rebellion against
established Cylon doctrine.  With Vulpa discovering "Enlightenment" that
had enabled the reactivated command centurion to appeal to the Cylons who
subsequently returned in an effort to reassert control.  By convincing
them to discover Enlightenment and to remove themselves from allegiance
to the High Command.  Once that was done, Arcta's new role as a
re-established Cylon garrison that was secretly collaborating with the
Resistance movements in the Colonies was now set.  With Vulpa playing the
double game of putting on a loyal front to the Imperious Leader whenever
the Cylon ruler chose to make direct contact with the base.  From
Ravashol's standpoint this had been the perfect set-up.  He had the
benefit of knowing that he and his people who saw him as the
"Father-Creator" could feel safe and secure from the nightmare of their
past slavery ever returning, and he also knew that because Vulpa was a
most capable leader who had the ability to easily deceive the Imperious
Leader, there was never any need to worry about exposure in the form of
an outside Cylon force arriving at Arcta and discovering that things were
not what they appeared to be to the Cylon High Command.  The development
of "fast shuttles" that could travel between Arcta and the Colonies in
only a sectan's time also meant that Vulpa was free to go back and forth
whenever he needed to......and in the process smuggle the inventions of
Ravashol that could be passed on to the Resistance movements......all
with the blessing of Governor Malus, who was himself a collaborator (a
fact that for yahrens was known only to Vulpa and not to Ravashol and the
Thetans).
     But things had changed just after the Pegasus had arrived at Arcta. 
The Cylon BaseShip of Commander Dagora, previously assigned to take
prisoners from Starlos back to the Home System had decided to go "rogue"
and stage an attack on the base for the purpose of seizing control and
getting the rebuilt Pulsar installed in its own weapons system so that
they might be able to stage a coup against the Cylon leadership for their
weakness in losing so much of the Empire as a result of the so-called
"Disease".  The Pegasus had been able to seriously damage the BaseShip
forcing it to land on Arcta and surrender to the authority of Vulpa. 
Commander Dagora was executed by his command centurion, Echis.
     Orcus, the DG Cylon who had been Ambassador to Starlos, survived
though.  He had attempted to flee the BaseShip during the battle only to
find himself taken hostage by a group of Starlos prisoners who had
managed to escape and commandeer a shuttle.  Brought before Cain he'd
been given the blunt choice of either agree to join the Enlightened ranks
or suffer the same fate as Commander Dagora.  With clear reluctance,
Orcus had agreed.  
     Events had then necessitated Commander Vulpa's departure as part of
an elaborately designed plot by Professor Ila to secure a peace treaty
between the Resistance and Governor Malus......without sacrificing the
illusion of continued loyalty to the High Command by Malus or the Arcta
base.  In that scheme, Ila would pretend to have been taken prisoner by
Malus following a commando assassination of Vulpa during a visit to the
Colonies.....and Malus would present the captured Ila before the
Imperious Leader on a transmission prior to her supposed 'execution'. 
The deception had worked and Imperious Leader believed to this day that
Commander Adama's wife, known to have been a Resistance operative on
Caprica, had been executed for her role in the assassination of Vulpa. 
When in fact, Ila and Vulpa had then departed the Colonies in the fast
shuttle and by means of a mysterious alien "Entity" had then been
transported across the stars to join the faraway Galactica and her Fleet.
     Removing Vulpa permanently from the scene in order to foster the
deception about Ila meant that a new commander had to appear before the
Imperious Leader with his total trust.  It was decided that Orcus would
fill that role, enabling him to save face with the Cylon ruler and disown
the treason plot of Commander Dagora, and at the same time enhance his
own position with a new assignment of being in charge of the garrison
from this point on.  So when Orcus made contact with the Imperious
Leader, he had done as Cain and Ravashol had told him to act, and
Imperious Leader was sufficiently deceived into making Orcus his personal
choice to replace Vulpa and answer all communications with him from now
on.
     It was a solution that managed to keep the status quo in place
despite Vulpa's departure but from the outset, Ravashol knew there was an
underlying danger.  Orcus's less than whole-hearted embrace of becoming
"Enlightened."  So obvious was his reluctance that it had long ago been
decided that whenever Orcus did hear from the Imperious Leader, there
would always be laser guns pointed at him from off-camera to make sure he
never revealed the truth.  And that was exactly what had happened in more
than a dozen exchanges between Imperious Leader and Orcus for the last
eight sectars.  With one of them already today in which Orcus had been
informed that the Pegasus had not been destroyed more than three yahrens
ago.  Information Orcus had already known for a long time already.  The
DG Cylon had remained obediently quiet during the exchange, but it was
enough to make Ravashol believe that it was only a matter of time before
Orcus would crack.  Appeals to the cause of Enlightenment from all of the
other Cylons based on Arcta had clearly failed to make a sufficient
impact in his case.  
     When Command Centurion Eichis made the announcement that the Cylon
Ruler was calling again, only eighteen centars since the last message,
Ravashol felt his concern rising since this meant something else had
developed since the first message.  Could it be that Imperious Leader had
learned the truth about the Colonies and Malus?  And if so, did he know
already of the deception game that had been going on at Arcta for yahrens
now?
     The human scientist, accompanied by one of his Theta workers, Ser
5-9 calmly took up position on the right side of the command complex,
while Eichis and one centurion stood on the left side.  All of them out
of camera range as Orcus dutifully walked to the center and looked up at
the giant screen from which Imperious Leader's message now came through.
     "By your command, Your Eminence," Orcus said respecfully and bowed.
     "This is unexpected I know Orcus, for me to communicate with you
again so soon," the Cylon ruler said.  "But this grave new development
concerning the Pegasus is forcing constant reassessments of what our next
move should be.  I informed you that Commander Egron's BaseShip will
arrive within a sectan after he is through annihilating the Humanoid
inhabitants of Cannes who were undoubtedly 'liberated' by Commander Cain. 
I have chosen instead to dispatch him to Gomorrah and make an example of
the traitor Volahd.  Once he has done that, the BaseShip will put in at
Arcta and you will see to it that Dr. Ravashol and his fellow slaves will
install a variant of the Pulsar weapon in their weapons system."
     "I understand, Your Eminence," The DG Cylon's voice was level and
even, with no hesitation whatsoever.  "When will that be?"
     "Probably at a minimum of two to four sectans from now.  I am under
no illusions that Commander Egron will likely sustain some damage in an
assault on Gomorrah since Volahd is not without defensive systems of his
own, but they can not override the firepower a BaseShip can deliver. 
Nonetheless, it may slow up his journey back from Gomorrah.  Use that
time wisely to make Ravashol prepare his people to work hard.....and of
course to show no mercy.  They will get a reminder of how a Cylon outpost
unaffected by the Disease can function!"
     Orcus didn't respond at first.  Uneasily, Ravasahol found himself
raising his laser pistol higher as did Ser 5-9.  Across the room, Eichis
had his laser pistol up as well.
     "Your Eminence," the former Starlos Ambasssador finally spoke, "What
is the latest on the BaseShip dispatched to the Colonies?"
     "They are making good progress.  I know Command Centurion Sorge is
anxious to meet with Governor Malus and coordinate a final strike on
these accursed holdouts that have even managed to elude Malus's best
efforts.  Mark my words, Orcus, the might of our forces is about to
assert itself in ways that will rekindle the spark of terror the Empire
once generated across the star systems!"
     Five microns of silence again.  Orcus was looking directly at the
monitor without moving at all.  It then forced Imperious Leader to speak
again.  If his mechanically replicated reptilian face could have changed
expression, it would be frowning.
     "Is there something wrong, Orcus?"
     "Your Eminence....." Orcus then seemed to pause and then the next
sentence came out at the most rapid rate a Cylon computer brain was
capable of summoning, "Arcta is Diseased and so is Malus!"
     The laser blasts from both sides of the room then struck the DG
Cylon with full force.  The head was severed from the rest of the body
and went flying to the left where it clattered to the ground, while the
rest of the robed figure collapsed in a motionless heap.  
     "Orcus?" the Cylon ruler demanded, his voice full of shock. 
"Orcus?"
     Dr. Ravashol, resigned to what had just happened calmly stepped into
camera range and took up position alongside the fallen remains of Orcus. 
At the same time, Command Centurion Eichis emerged from the other
direction and took up position alongside the scientist.
     "I am Dr. Ravashol," the Human said proudly, "And your days are soon
to be numbered.....Your Eminence."
     "No....." Imperious Leader barely forced a whisper out, "No."
     Eichis looked over at the centurion seated at the console, "End
transmission now."
     "By your command."
     And then the protesting image of the Cylon ruler disappeared. 
Ravashol let out a long, slow exhale.  The safety of Arcta could still be
guaranteed by the Pulsar, but he knew it would be a long time before he
or anyone else on Arcta would know the full ramifications of what had
just happened.


The Cylon Capital
     Imperious Leader continued to stare at the blank monitor for over
three centons after the transmission had ceased.  Luna, who had heard
everything, was equally thunderstruck.  But it was the IL Cylon who
finally managed to break the silence.
     "Eminence....."
     "New orders!" he angrily cut him off, "New orders for Commander
Egron immediately!  And then put me through to Commander Sorge's ship!"
     "Shouldn't we notify Sorge first?"
     "We need to get Egron's ship going to where it's needed most!  Every
micron counts!"
     "By your command," Luna meekly bowed.

Chapter Three

The Pegasus
     A centar after Skyler briefed the pilots on their assignments, Cain
released the information on which course headings each patrol group of
ten Vipers would take.  When Skyler saw it, he was surprised to see that
Silver Three Group, which would be commanded by Lieutenant Tegran, was
going to patrol an area that wasn't part of any course heading for
Cannes.  For several centons he wondered if he should protest the order
on the grounds that it would mean wasting a patrol in an area that would
likely turn up nothing and leave wide open a region that the BaseShip
could be in if they'd been able to find more speed.  But he'd already
seen in the Briefing just how set Cain was, and that if he argued the
point until he was blue in the face it wouldn't change a thing.  Cain had
decided to cut himself off from any and all challenges to what he came up
with.
     When he passed the news to Tegran, he could tell the Lieutenant was
also not happy about the assignment and that required Skyler to bury his
own doubts and forcefully argue the reason why Cain had chosen that part
of space to patrol.  And to remind Tegran that if he wanted to justify
commanding the patrol group, he had to believe just as strongly in the
validity of the order.....and that meant shutting down any grumbling talk
from those who'd be flying under his command.
     Tegran had dutifully nodded and then met with the nine pilots
assigned to his group.  To his surprise he saw that included the two new
female pilots from the Colonies, the sisters Marcia and Fausta.  Like so
many Pegasus veterans, Sheba had been the only female pilot he'd ever
flown with in the past, and that had been in the context of being
subordinate to her authority.  This would be a new experience in more
ways than one.
     Two centars after the patrol headings had been assigned to each
group, and with the Vipers now fully armed, fueled and ready for launch
with their navigation programs set, the Red Alert sounded for the thirty
assigned pilots ordering them to their ships.  The thirty who remained
behind, headed by the veteran Lieutenant Angus would be on constant
Yellow Alert readiness, while the Cylon pilots from Phoenix Squadron
would be in their Raider cockpits and settle for the long wait until they
were needed to launch.
     As Tegran lowered the canopy of his Viper cockpit he took a breath
and for the last time, allowed himself a quick thought about his older
sister Mairwen, far away in the Galactica Fleet and his eight yahren old
niece Cassy whom he'd never seen except on a recorded video message tape. 
Hoping he'd get a chance to tell them he'd done good in battle in his
first ever patrol command.  And then.....the voice from Communications
Officer Altair on the Bridge with the routine 'cleared to launch' message
filled his helmet.  He pressed down on the red button that sent his Viper
down through the launch tube where it emerged into the starry expanse. 
He realized for a brief instant that after so many sectars in planetary
orbit above Arcta and then Caprica, it had been a long time since he'd
experienced the view of open space with no nearby planetary bodies in
sight.
     As his group of ten vipers headed off in the direction toward the
designated search area of Beta Quadrant Four, he moved into the lead
position and gave careful instruction to the nine others in his charge to
fan out, making sure that two veterans, Sergeant Harroun and Sergeant
Priam were on the outer flanks and the three green pilots were spaced
apart with other veterans in between them.  He'd already laid down the
law to Marcia and Fausta that under no circumstances could they partner
with each other no matter how strong their familial tie.  That, he knew
simply wouldn't do.  He'd learned enough over the yahrens to know that a
patrol group always required perfect balance in its ranks so that the
instincts of veterans could balance out the impulsiveness of those who
were more raw in their ability. 
     "Okay, listen up," Tegran radioed those in his charge.  "The idea is
to find any sign of the BaseShip, and then......our orders are to make
sure they become aware of our presence because we want to draw it back
toward the Pegasus.  If we end up being the group that draws the Pyramid
hand for that......then what happens is we send out emergency unicom
beacon to the Pegasus which will alert them and also get relayed back to
the other two patrol groups so they can head for home......and then it's
put your feet to the turbos and try to outrun them all the way home and
get out of the way so the Pegasus can surprise them with our beautiful
secret weapon they have no idea we have."
     He paused, "If they choose to send fighters after us.....don't stop
to engage them.  A Viper has more maneuverability than a Raider does, and
even green pilots have more natural flying skill than the
average.....Unenlightened Cylon," he made sure the qualifier was in place
even though no Cylon pilots were accompanying them.  "Trust your skills
to stay ahead of them.  Don't panic....and remember.....this is the
beginning of the final chapter in the history of the Cylon Empire.  Take
that as your incentive to get through this unscathed."
     Tegran let his words sink in to the others.  And to himself as well
since he realized he was finding an instinct for command that he hadn't
been sure he possessed until now
     Thank you Major Skyler for being a good teacher to me.
     "Okay, com-system check.  Everyone from my starboard flank to port
flank identify, starting with Delta Two through Delta Ten."
     The nine pilots all chimed in clearly.  After Sergeant Harroun as
Delta Ten made his acknowledgment, Tegran gave his final command for now.
     "Maintain radio silence unless you see something on your scanner and
then report.  We will maintain this heading in this quadrant for the next
six centars until we reach maximum range."
     And then, silence fell over Silver Three Group to match the silence
of space.  Giving each pilot the chance to reflect on the magnitude of
the mission and what this could mean.....while all the time keeping one
eye on their scanner.
     The centons passed into centars.  Tegran had managed to leave all
thoughts of his sister and niece behind for now because he knew he had
to.  Those not entrusted with command were not as disciplined and found
the idle thoughts of friends and family intruding more than once.  For
the sisters, Marcia and Fausta it was thoughts of the ordeal they had
suffered the night of the Destruction on Caprica.  Unable to report back
to their duty station at the Caprica City Aerodrome they'd spent over
four yahrens in hiding with their parents in the cellar of their lavish
home situated in the countryside.  Living in isolated terror because they
didn't know about the Resistance movement and thought themselves all
alone and thinking it could all end the instant a Cylon patrol wandered
into their ruined family estate.
     When the sisters who'd trained as warriors finally were able to come
out of hiding when the news of Peace had spread, the relief was tempered
with a sense of regret and waste that they'd been unable to be part of
the Caprican Resistance headed by Commander Deval.  Which was why when
the Pegasus had arrived they had eagerly signed on to be part of the new
recruits who would restore the Battlestar to full crew capacity.  And why
they had gladly undergone training to become Viper pilots.  If the last
battle against the Cylon Empire was coming they wanted to be part of it. 
To make up for what they'd been unable to do the night of the
Destruction, and during the four plus yahrens of Occupation.  Their
parents had urged them both not to do it, believing it was time for them
to take advantage of the chance to rebuild new lives in the Colonies, but
for Marcia and Fausta, like so many other new recruits to the Pegasus
this was unfinished business.
     For a seasoned Pegasus veteran like Sergeant Harroun, by contrast,
the idle silence of watching and waiting was a time to think of lost
friends and comrades from the time of Molocay who were no longer alive to
be part of this soon-to-be triumph.  In particular, Lieutenant Paris who
had been his Squadron wingmate and patrol partner for over four yahrens
until the lieutenant became one of two pilots killed during the Battle of
Cannes.  It always struck Harroun as unfair that Paris had to die because
the lieutenant had been one of the biggest "Grumblers" in the bleak
period before Ila's arrival and the news of the Resistance changed
everything.  Many was the time when he'd heard Paris express his
yearnings for the old days before Molocay when his life still had some
sense of purpose and hope as far as the future was concerned.  And just
when he'd started to believe he might have a future again, it was all
over in a matter of microns.
     The suddenness was a grim reminder to Harroun that his own life
could easily be measured in microns and his own hopes for the future over
in an instant if he didn't rise to the occasion.  Past performance didn't
count for anything when it came time for the next engagement.  Death
could claim the most experienced veteran as easily as it could claim a
raw recruit.  With no time to contemplate on the finality of it all
whatsoever.
     The Patrol reached its fifth centar.  They had one centar left
before they would reach their maximum range and would have to turn back. 
Barring the sounding of the emergency beacon signal from the Pegasus
which would indicate that the BaseShip had been discovered by one of the
other two patrol groups, headed by Major Skyler and Lieutenant Banker
respectively.  Then, it would be time to do an immediate 180 degree turn
and head back and hope they'd be there in time to lend assistance.
     Tegran knew he long passage of time without a beacon signal was not
necessarily an indicator that the BaseShip was going to be in his sector. 
It could also mean just as easily that Cain had made a tactical blunder
by choosing this area to patrol and not the adjoining area to Skyler's
sector which would have anticipated the prospect the BaseShip had gotten
a quicker start in the direction of Cannes.  If that happened......Tegran
couldn't begin to quantify the potential disaster that would result. 
Cain would in all likelihood be forced to fall back on the Colonies and
write off the people of Cannes Two and Cannes Three who had been
liberated from their slavery at the hands of the Cylons by the Pegasus. 
People that included the former Senior Bridge Officer, Major Ham, who had
stayed behind to facilitate relations between the distinctly different
populations of the two planets......and who had also over time (as the
one fast shuttle return visit from Arcta to Cannes had later revealed)
become the consort to Cannes Two's tribal leader and High Priestess,
Princess Shandra.  For Tegran, who had always liked and respected Ham,
that would be a tragedy beyond measure if Cannes were to suffer because
of a mistake in judgment on Cain's part.
     Not your concern, he then chided himself.  Your concern is what
happens on this patrol.  Leave it at that.  Skyler said you had to
believe in this course of action to make the rest of the group believe in
it too.  Don't let him down.
     "Lieutenant, I'm picking up long-range contact on heading
four-three-six!"
     The sudden break in radio silence from Marcia caused every head to
snap to attention.  Both eyes now on scanners instead of just one eye.
     "Copy your transmission, Delta.....Three is it?" Tegran said
carefully, trying not to sound too reproachful, "Always remember to
identify yourself."
     "Sorry sir......Delta Leader," Marcia said apologetically. 
"Increasing scanner concentration.  It is a sizable target.  Large enough
to potentially be a BaseShip."
     "All vipers, concentrate scan beam on target on course heading
four-three-six," Tegran felt the tension start to rise inside him. 
"Tighten up formation.  If it's them, we want them to know we're a whole
patrol and not some random Viper that could have come from some old
abandoned outpost."
     The silence returned as the ten vipers, now packed together more
closely assumed an intercept heading for the distant contact.  Waiting
for when they'd get close enough for the scan to be more distinct and
hopefully activate the war book manual for identification.  Tegran was
sure some of them were all muttering "Come on" or some other anxious
expletive under their breath as they waited to see if this would be it.
     A telltale sound of the war book manual being activated caught his
attention.  He realized that because he was further ahead of the others
as Patrol Leader, it would show up first on his readout.  It took just
two microns for a familiar shape to be revealed.  A Cylon BaseShip.
     By all the Lords, Cain was right!
     "That's it!" he exclaimed, "All of you, activate your long-range
beacons now!  Let's let the Pegasus know we found the sucker first and
then line up behind me.  We're going to get closer and let them know who
we are!"
     

The Pegasus
     By now, Tolen had arrived on the Bridge after completing all the
Department inspection rounds.  As Kylie expected, the XO wasn't thrilled
by the news that Cain had chosen to play a hunch about the BaseShip being
sent to the Colonies to justify where Lieutenant Tegran's group would
patrol.  But as she also expected, Tolen wasn't in any mood to question
the order because he could see just how locked in Cain was at this point. 
They knew the Juggernaut was ready to put himself out on a limb with this
hunch and that once that was done, there was no turning back.
     But if it does backfire, then so help me God, I'm going to really
speak my mind about it! Tolen vowed.  Ever since the mission to Delta
Aquinas and Equellas, he'd overcome the yahrens of insecurity he'd felt
about command responsibilities that went back the long-ago battle of
Delta Aquinas when his wingmate, Captain Martin had been lost in action. 
But more than twelve yahrens later, discovering Martin's true fate had
made him realize that it had never been his fault.  And he had also used
his own command skills to recognize the value of bringing the four Cylons
from the abandoned Delta Aquinas garrison back to the Pegasus and
capitalizing on their clear sense of Enlightenment they'd demonstrated
during the mission on Equellas.  He could take pride in the fact that if
it wasn't for him, Commander Cobre and his subordinates wouldn't have
become such vital members of the Pegasus team, able to facilitate the
process of integrating other Enlightened Cylons into their ranks.  And
when Cain had briefly expressed a desire to shut them down following
Ila's rescue, it had been Tolen who'd stood up to Cain and threatened to
have the Juggernaut relieved of command if the centurions were
deactivated and destroyed.  A threat that was ultimately rendered moot
when Cain changed his mind, but the Commander had come away impressed by
how Tolen had finally at last been able to find his voice and challenge
him on something of importance.
     Now though, the Cain who had always intimidated him so much in the
yahrens before Equellas had returned and the only thing that was keeping
him from seething about it inwardly was the fact that Cain was treating
everyone else the same.  The fact that Cain wasn't going to let Kylie get
any word in edgewise or dissuade him was the reassuring point to Tolen's
ego that made the XO willing to obediently accept Cain's course of
action.  For now at least.
     Centars went by with ready reports coming in from the Department
heads confirming that all was in place or that if there were any minor
issues to deal with, they were being taken care of aggressively as
possible.  Most important of all were the checks performed every five
centons to make sure the Pulsar weapon was in an active state of
readiness, combined with repeated simulations and countless permutations
of every conceivable firing solution     Part of the testing that had
been done on it involved determining how long it could stay "active"
before long-term idleness impaired its ability to be used on an instant's
notice.  They'd tested it at ranges from eight centars to over
twenty-four and so far, it had come through without a hitch.  But all of
that of course, had been mere testing.  Not in the battle conditions
where everything would count.
     Over five centars after the patrols had been launched, Tolen was now
on the Upper Level again looking down at the scene before him and
gripping the rail tightly.  It was the only way he could relieve some of
the tension that had been building up inside him.  He wondered what it
was like for all the other Bridge personnel and how they were finding
ways to keep it at bay.  On the lower level he noticed that Kylie was
staying close to the spot that had once been her position of manning helm
and scanners.  Hands behind her back and casting a glance past Centurion
Achillas who manned it now so that she always had a look at the monitor
even though any sign of the BaseShip wouldn't be showing up on the
Pegasus' scanner first.  Then, he turned around and saw Cain standing in
front of the Navigation Board, totally motionless as he held his swagger
stick in both hands behind his back.  His eyes totally focused on the two
spots indicating the position of the Pegasus and the three patrol group
regions.
     Lords of Kobol, Tolen thought as he glanced back down at Kylie and
then at Cain again.  She's practically copying his own mannerisms and she
probably doesn't even realize it!  But then again, that's another
reminder of why they were meant to come together.
     Abruptly the quiet tension was shattered as Bridge Officer Altair at
the Communications position bolted up, "Emergency beacon signaling
contact!  I repeat, emergency beacon signaling contact!" 
     As a loud hush went up from everyone and Kylie whipped her head in
Altair's direction, Cain was hurrying over to the rail where he looked
down and angrily shouted, "Which patrol group, Altair, which patrol
group?"
     "Silver Group Three, sir!" Altair's voice rose to the same level as
he settled back in his seat, "Sending emergency beacon recall signal to
Silver Groups One and Two!"
     Cain said nothing but Tolen could see a smile curling at the corner
of his mouth as he made his way back to the Navigation Board.  The
Executive Officer made his way alongside him and could tell the
Juggernaut was feeling proud and vindicated.  
     I guess it's his time to gloat now.  And he deserves it.  He was
right about sending a patrol group in that sector.
     "I was right," Cain said aloud, still looking at the Board and Tolen
couldn't tell if Cain was talking to himself or if the remark was aimed
at him, "I knew that fracking Orcus would crack.  They're getting ready
to wipe out the Colonies completely and take down Malus as well."
     "Are you going to have us cut down on the range and set an intercept
course now?" Tolen asked.
     Cain's wry smile seemed to increase but he didn't look at Tolen. 
"If I were to do that, Colonel, what would be your opinion?"
     Tolen decided not to hold back, "I'd be opposed sir, because we need
to recover Silver One and Silver Two and if we go off on an intercept
course for this BaseShip now, then Silver One and Silver Two won't have
the slightest idea where we are and would run out of fuel."
     "Quite right, Colonel.  Which is why I had no intention of ever
issuing that kind of an order.  We wait until Silver One and Silver Two
are back in verbal communication range of us, which will take at least
several centars and then we start narrowing the range.  For now, it's up
to Silver Three group to start leading them back to us."
     The Juggernaut then turned and looked him in the eye, "I can be
impulsive and unorthodox, Colonel, but never in a million yahrens will I
ever be accused of being stupid."
     Tolen couldn't help but match Cain's smile, "That you won't, sir."


BaseShip #5745  
     Commander Egron, the IL Cylon in command of BaseShip #5745 had found
the events of the last day maddening beyond belief.  After over five
yahrens of being chained to the Cylon Home System, he'd finally received
orders to leave on a real combat assignment.  To see if the Cylon
garrison in the Cannes System still existed in a "rogue" state or if it
had been destroyed.  If the latter, then the Human populations of Cannes
Two and Cannes Three were to be shown no mercy and annihilated.  But just
sixteen centars out from the Home System came new orders.  Now instead of
Cannes, they would go all the way out to the former outer capital of
Gomorrah were an uprising headed by the IL Cylon Volahd was known to have
taken place.  While Egron relished the idea of inflicting revenge on the
traitor Volahd for betraying the Empire, he wasn't pleased with the idea
of traveling much further into space where it would take a minimum of two
sectans at top speed to reach Gomorrah.  
     No sooner had he readjusted course than another message from His
Eminence the Imperious Leader had arrived.  This one informing him that
evidence had now surfaced revealing that the garrison on Arcta was now in
the hands of traitors and that Governor Malus, the IL Cylon in charge of
administering the occupation of the Colonies and eradicating the
remaining elements of Resistance was Diseased as well.  Which meant Egron
was now to proceed immediately to the Colonies and link up with the
BaseShip already sent and under the command of the Command Centurion
Sorge.  Together, they were to annihilate the Colonies completely in the
"scorched planet" campaign the Cylon ruler had refrained from ordering
all these yahrens.  And he was to destroy all Cylon fighters and
installations as well with no exceptions since they were clearly all
Diseased now.  It was obvious that the treason of Malus infuriated
Imperious Leader far more than Volahd's treason on Gomorrah did.  Volahd
had at least been honest to reveal the break long ago and directly to the
Cylon Ruler in a last transmission.  Malus by contrast had effectively
played the Cylon Ruler and the entire High Command for fools for a long
time.  Perhaps yahrens.
     Maybe Malus got away with it because our Leader always has been a
fool, Egron had thought when he reluctantly ordered the new course
heading for his BaseShip.  He recalled the chaotic period after the
disaster at Carillon when the previous Leader had died.  The previous
Leader, who had ruled for over forty yahrens, had burned with a fiery
intensity in his hatred of the Human race and had been determined to see
the Thousand Yahren War with Colonial Civilization reach its final
conclusion with absolute victory and the "final annihilation of the life
form known as Man."  That had led to massive building projects aimed at
fueling the Cylon War Machine and expanding that War Machine into new
areas......but in the process, burning up the Empire's once limitless
supply of Neutrino that made it possible for the Cylons to fight the
Humans for a thousand yahrens.  Suddenly.....supplies were diminishing in
the Home System and the previous Leader decided the time had come to
achieve absolute victory by preying off the Human weakness for wanting
peace and an end to conflict.  So he had hatched the brilliantly
elaborate deception of a false peace agreement designed to lure the
Colonial Fleet into an ambush.....and to use willing and unwilling dupes
as collaborators who would make sure the Colonies would be left
unprotected and subject to a decimating sneak attack where their might
would be totally unchallenged.
     But despite the massive victory, it had not been "perfect" according
to the standards of the Imperious Leader, who obsessively desired the
elimination of every last Human survivor.  That meant the survival of the
Battlestar Galactica and 220 odd ships fleeing the Colonies could not be
tolerated.  And because the vanity of the Imperious Leader considered the
Galactica's survival a personal affront, he was determined to be present
for the final kill.  Hence the Leader's presence at Carillon for what was
intended to be the final trap, arranged in concert with the Cylons Ovion
allies.  A trap that in the end had backfired spectacularly.  Resulting
in the escape of the Galactica and her Fleet.  Resulting in the
destruction of Carillon and with it, not just the largest tylium mine in
proximity to the Home System, but also the only supply of Neutrino
outside the Home System that the Cylons had hoped to capitalize on for
the long-term purpose of "mopping up" following the Destruction of the
Colonies.  When all that would remain in theory, would be tracking down
the scattered outposts of Humanity that existed from settlements that had
left the Colonies hundreds of yahrens before.  
     And of course, the most chaotic setback of all was the death of
Imperious Leader himself. Throwing the Cylon High Command into a state of
absolute chaos as the first succession contest in over a hundred yahrens
was necessitated.  A contest that, as had been the case for the last five
hundred yahrens, came down to a choice of prospective candidates from the
IL Class, the most advanced form of two-brain Cylon robots who had long
since displaced the DG Class.  The winnowing process had reduced it to
the IL Cylon Lucifer, and the one who had been ultimately selected. 
Egron had approved of the choice at the time because he and the new
Leader shared the same activation date, and they had also served together
in Administration on the Home Planet.  He knew the new Ruler (out of
deference to Cylon tradition which held that a Leader's former name was
never to be uttered again after he took the throne, Egron didn't even let
himself recall the name in his private thoughts) was less impulsive and
more cautious than his fiery predecessor had been.  It never would have
occurred to the new Leader to take up the responsibility of personally
pursuing the Galactica for the mere glory of administering the final kill
as the last Leader had tried to do at Carillon.  Not when there were too
many problems of what he knew to be "underlying rot" in the Empire that
required greater attention.  Starting with the Neutrino problem,
compounded by the destruction of Carillon which had robbed the Cylons of
an outside source to replenish the dwindling supplies in the Home System
mines.  That had resulted in Imperious Leader tacitly approving of plans
not to engage in any more 'scorched planet' policies of devastation to
the ten occupied planets of the Colonies that had not undergone such
treatment.  For now, the Occupational Governors and their personnel would
have to deal with the problem of rooting out Human Resistance themselves
and if possible maintain many for potential slave labor use in the future
if the half million already taken away proved insufficient or died under
torture.
     But soon, it was clear that more than just a Neutrino problem
plagued the Empire.  So too did the problem the High Command called "The
Disease" in which Cylon centurions increasingly questioned the basic
functions of their programming to destroy Human life.  Expressing
discontent with their lot of eternal submission to a High Command that
ordered them to sacrifice themselves in pursuit of a cause that seemed to
produce nothing of substantive benefit even when great victories like the
Destruction of the Colonies were achieved.  For a thousand yahrens Cylon
philosophy had insisted that the eradication of sentient life forms would
lead to order and harmony throughout the universe.  But what exactly did
"order" and "harmony" truly mean?  And what was their left for centurions
to do when it was all over when all they had been programmed to do was
kill and exterminate for the benefit of the upper classes of Cylons who
ruled over them?
     The outbreak of this problem in the Colonies, and then on the
BaseShip commanded by Baltar which had resulted in its loss, had forced
Imperious Leader to conclude that dispersing what remained of his
increasingly reduced Fleet of BaseShips to maintain pursuit of the
Galactica and reinforce existing Cylon holdings had become too dangerous. 
There seemed to be no logical method to how the Disease broke out and
spread, but it soon became clear that only when Cylon forces stayed in
close proximity to the Home System did the Disease seem to be contained. 
Away from the Home System, self-awareness seemed to take root, and with
it the questioning of old programming and established ideas of how Cylons
were supposed to think and act.  And so, Imperious Leader kept all of his
remaining BaseShips confined to the Home System.  Not wanting to run the
slightest risk that releasing one of them for duty elsewhere would result
in the crew becoming Diseased.  It was only when desperate measures were
called for to find new supplies of Neutrino that he'd finally released
one BaseShip under the command of a reliable IL in Commander Needa.  But
now that ship was lost to the Empire because in the course of their
journey to Deep Space they had found and recovered the presumed dead
Lucifer, who had managed to seize power and despite his ongoing
affirmations of loyalty to the Empire, had no intention of returning any
time soon.  Not when Lucifer had scores of his own to settle with the
Galactica and with Baltar.  Another BaseShip had been lost when Commander
Dagora, who had been transporting prisoners from Starlos had decided to
go rogue and stage an attack on Arcta for the purpose of seizing weaponry
that could enable him to overthrow Imperious Leader for being too timid. 
Now, it was clear that Dagora's destruction had clearly been the result
of collaboration between a now traitorous group of Cylons on Arcta
working in collaboration with the Pegasus.  Just as the Peagsus was
clearly responsible for the loss of Cylon control over Gomorrah and
Cannes.  And no doubt, it also seemed clear that the Pegasus may very
well have  collaborated with the traitorous Governor Malus in the
Colonies.  Insuring the loss of Cylon control there as well.  Eliminating
what had been the one thing the Cylon Empire could still take pride in. 
That they had become the rulers of the planets that had once belonged to
their most hated of enemies.
     All of that.....Egron thought as he'd delivered the order for the
BaseShip to change course and proceed to the Colonies, because the
current Leader had been too timid and too tentative.  Too fearful of
taking a step that he was sure would result in his destruction as surely
as it had come to his impulsive predecessor at Carillon.  And Egron knew
that he couldn't consider himself blameless in the matter.  He could have
spoken up, but he hadn't.  He'd let himself be too instinctively loyal
and deferential to the normal chain of Cylon authority and taken pride in
the fact that his crew had remained loyal to a fault and not shown any
sign of becoming infected by the Disease.  
     I may not be blameless......and neither for that matter is our too
impulsive former Leader.  But maybe.....we might have averted this
catastrophe if Lucifer had prevailed.  If Lucifer does come back some day
and is able to bring Neutrino back with him.  I wouldn't hesitate to join
forces with him in an uprising against our worthless current Leader.  
     Assuming of course that he lived long enough to see that day come.
     And within six centars after receiving his new orders and changing
course to the new destination of the Colonies, Commander Egron got his
first reminder of how he couldn't take that long-term survival for
granted.  It came when a sound he hadn't heard in yahrens suddenly filled
the BaseShip's corridors.  The sound of an alert siren.  Gliding quickly
from his private meditation quarters to the nearby Control Center, he
found the room bathed in the glow of red light and six centurion
technicians looking at their monitors with concern.
     "What's happened?" he inquired of the Command Centurion, whose name
was Aelius.
     "Scanners have detected Colonial Vipers emerging from Delta three
sector.  Ten all told.  Undoubtedly a patrol probe.  They are not on
attack heading for us."
     "They're from the Pegasus!" the BaseShip commander exclaimed,
stunned to have seen yet another unforeseen development come up so soon. 
"Does it register as well on the scan?"
     "Negative.  The Viper group came close enough to us to register as
Vipers on our scanners and then turned back.  It is retreating on the
same heading."
     "A long range patrol probe," Egron's two brains quickly analyzed the
situation as it now existed.  "The Pegasus is searching for signs of
BaseShip activity.  Undoubtedly because those traitors on Arcta and in
the Colonies have kept Commander Cain informed of what's happened."
     "What is your command?" Aelius inquired.  
     Egron knew he had to act fast.  He could elect to proceed on course
for the Colonies and fulfill his mission objective to hook up with
Sorge's BaseShip and annihilate both the treasonous Cylons headed by
Malus and the Human Resistance factions.  Or.....he could abandon course
and pursue the Vipers back to where the Pegasus had to be.  Doing the
latter would mean acting contrary to Imperious Leader's order.  But the
continued existence of the Pegasus was itself a primary cause of so many
setbacks that had befallen the Empire of late.  The problem of Disease
and Treason was something that could be worked out with far greater
efficiency if the problem of the Pegasus could at last be removed once
and for all.
     But that meant that for however long it took Egron to deal with the
Pegasus there would be only one BaseShip to deal with a sudden,
unexpected menace of a treasonous Governor in charge of the Colonies who
not only had his own ground units and squadrons of Raiders, but also
Human allies in the Resistance movements he had clearly collaborated
with.  A BaseShip that wasn't commanded by an IL because Imperious Leader
had sent him out initially when he thought Malus was still loyal. 
Thinking the BaseShip could act as a defensive safeguard for the Colonies
against the Pegasus and which Malus could take nominal command of upon
its arrival. But with the news that Malus was a traitor, Imperious Leader
knew that Sorge was clearly incapable of assuming the greater burden of
destroying Malus and the Resistance.  That was why he'd diverted Egron's
ship to the Colonies.  Not just for the added reinforcement but to take
the command responsibility a Command Centurion like Sorge was incapable
of.
     I leave now to take care of the Pegasus......Sorge will arrive in
the Colonies before I can back him up.  Is he capable of handling the
traitor Malus on his own?  Or is he like all other centurions? 
So.....incomplete?
     "What is your command?" Aelius repeated.
     Egron faced him, "Launch pursuit interceptors.  Destroy some but not
all of them and set course to follow those remaining who will lead us
back to the Pegasus.  Commander Cain has a long overdue appointment with
death at last!"
     "By your command."


Silver Group Three
     Tegran had gone as far as he'd dare go in terms of proximity to the
BaseShip.  Close enough for visual contact, but too far back for their
laser turrets to open fire on him and the rest of the patrol.  The fact
he'd felt not the slightest urge to test fate by getting close enough for
one shot at the BaseShip was yet another reminder of how much he'd
matured as a pilot the last few yahrens under Skyler's tutelage. 
Convinced that they'd spotted and scanned the patrol group he gave the
order for them to do a complete 180 degree turn and head back to the
Pegasus at full turbos.  And to devote full scanning to their rear only
to judge the BaseShip's pursuit and if any Raiders were launched from it
to go after them.
     "Delta Leader," this brought an objection from Sergeant Priam,
"Shouldn't we keep a narrow forward beam open to make sure we pick up the
Pegasus?"
     "Negative, Delta Two," Tegran said.  "If Cain got our beacon signal,
then he's staying put where we left him because he has to recover Silver
One and Silver Two patrols.  And he wants us to lead that sucker behind
us to him."
     "Which means we've got to be chased for four centars?" this came
from a random voice that Tegran recognized as the third "green" pilot, a
thirty yahren old former commercial shuttle pilot in the Colonies with no
past military experience.  Clearly, he wasn't mentally prepared for this
kind of challenge and Tegran knew he had to set him straight now.
     "If that's what it takes, Delta Seven, yes!  And next time, remember
to ID yourself!" he barked angrily.
     "Sorry, Delta Leader," he sounded chastened.  
     "Last thing I'm going to say for now is that they need us alive to
lead them to the Pegasus so they're not going to try to wipe us all out. 
They may try to spook us with Raiders of their own to take down some of
us, so be prepared for that at all times!"
     "Delta Six, sir!" the voice of one of the female pilots, Fausta
spoke up.  "BaseShip is launching Raiders now!"
     "Make sure we're on full turbos and just keep yourselves pointed all
the way home!  Fight them only if you find one of them on your tails and
then see if you can scramble them with a reverse thrust maneuver.  The
important thing is to stay alive and outrun them!"
     "Delta Ten to Delta Leader," this from Harroun, the veteran in the
group that Tegran knew and respected the most.  "Do we stay spread out or
do we close up in two ship formation?"
     "Try to stay close to your wing mate Delta Ten, if you can." Tegran
realized that Harroun was making him repeat that instruction for the
benefit of the green pilots.  "Now stay alert to what's behind us and
bring that giant piece of felgercarb straight to Cain's big surprise! 
And for the rest of you, stop being so damned self-conscious about the
chronometer!  Remember what's riding on all this!"
     "Delta Six to Delta Leader!" this from Fausta again, "Raiders seem
to have a slight edge on us speed wise.  Two hundred microns to our rear
a half centon ago.  Now down to one-ninety-five."
     "Negligible for now, Delta Six.  Don't panic.  If it drops to under
a hundred.....then we start factoring them in more.  For now.....max
speed and let them think we're high-tailing in panic when they're walking
right into our trap."
     Nothing more could be said as silence took hold.  Seven veteran
pilots and three untested rookies all hoping they'd survive long enough
to lead the BaseShip into an ambush it had no way of anticipating.


The Peagsus
     "We have long-range beacon acknowledgments from Silver One and
Silver Two groups that they're headed back," Kylie reported as she
rejoined Cain and Tolen on the upper level.  "We won't have an actual ETA
on their recovery until they're back in verbal communication range."
     "We'll need to correlate whether they'll get back ahead of Silver
Three group and the BaseShip," Cain said, his eyes locked on the
navigation board which had been mangified to show only the Pegasus and
the three search patrol zones.  A blue dot in Beta Quadrant Four
represented the likely position of where the BaseShip was when it had
been spotted based on how long Silver Three group had been along on their
patrol.
     "And if they get back ahead, do we let them land?" Tolen asked.
     Cain shook his head, "Not if the BaseShip is in range of us by then. 
We can't charge in full boar with the pulsar while we're in the midst of
a recovery operation.  And even then.....they're bound to have the rest
of their fighters launched, so we'll need them to stay out there to
handle them."
     "But they're going to very low on fuel," the Executive Officer
pointed out, "The same principle that applies to our waiting here for
them would apply to what happens when they get back and we don't let them
land."
     "Noted.  That's why they went out with drop tanks," Cain was still
looking at the Board and keeping his gaze away from Tolen and Kylie. 
"But regardless of whether the BaseShip is on top of us by then, we still
lose them for any engagement against their fighters because of the
turnaround time needed to refuel and relaunch them."
     "But isn't that why we held back half our Vipers and all our Raiders
from patrol duty?" Kylie interjected.  "To give us what we'd need for
direct engagement with their fighters once they arrived?"
     "Yes, but if there's still a chance of using all of our available
Vipers against their fighters, I want to take advantage of it.  Because
once we get rid of the BaseShip their fighters are going to have no place
to go except try to get in some suicide hits aimed at us.  The more
fighter protection we have for that contingency, the better."
     "That's taking a pretty big gamble with their lives, sir," Tolen
warned.  "If they run out of fuel, they become dead hulks that can't
maneuver or fire back.  And even if all enemy fighters are cleared out by
then, they'd still need us to pull them back in by tractor beam before
the internal air supply in each of them runs out and those pilots die
from suffocation."
     "They know the risks, Colonel," Cain still wasn't looking at either
of them.  "And keeping the Pegasus free from fighter damage must be their
first priority.  Until that situation is resolved......they stay out
there."  He then pointed his stick at the board, "Silver Three Group was
one centar short of their maximum patrol range when they spotted the
BaseShip.  That means by the time they lead it back to us and by the time
the other patrol groups return, they'll have upwards of two centars fuel
in reserve.  I don't intend for the battle to last that long."
     "Silver Three Group may not have that much in reserve when they get
back," Tolen wasn't going to pull any punches even though he knew he
wasn't going to change Cain's mind on anything at this point. 
"Especially if they have to deal with pursuing fighters right now opening
fire on them."
     "Noted," Cain said simply.  "That's up to them to do the best they
can.  Pulsar weapon notwithstanding, this was never going to be easy with
zero casualties on our part.  Especially now that we've lost the whole
element of surprise.  Since the Lords decided we couldn't have that
advantage, we have to do what we can to make sure the battle damage for
the Pegasus is kept to a minimum.  Because one thing we can't afford is
serious damage that would leave us ripe for target practice from the
other two BaseShips that we still have to deal with after this one is
dealt with."
     Tolen glanced at Kylie who gave just the faintest shrug of her
shoulders as if to indicate that she had nothing to say to challenge her
husband on that point.  He decided to move on.
     "After we take care of this BaseShip," he made sure there wasn't the
slightest trace of doubt in his voice that they'd prevail, "Do we then
set course back to the Colonies?"
     "Absolutely," Cain nodded, "That becomes our next priority.  And
hopefully, Malus's forces will have been able to keep them at bay until
we can get back."
     "That does change one thing regarding the rest of our original
strategy," Kylie spoke up.  "Since we know our cover's been blown with
the High Command......Imperious Leader may decide that the prisoners he's
holding don't serve a useful purpose any longer."
     For the first time, Cain's zoned-in concentration on the Navigation
Board seemed disrupted as if he'd heard something he hadn't taken into
consideration.  His eyes narrowed and his hands tightened their grip on
his swagger stick which he held behind his back.
     Yep, Tolen thought.  He forgot about what might happen to the
prisoners now that the Cylons know we're out there.  The very thing that
had been holding us back from launching a strike on them sooner because
we hadn't figured that problem out.  Now it's going to be even more
difficult to get any of them out alive.
     Cain took a breath, but again still kept his eyes on the Board.  "We
have to deal with these things one step at a time, Colonel," he said
simply.  "And right now, the Cylon Home System.....and the prisoners, are
last on the agenda.  If the Top Snake decides to start executing the
prisoners he has.....we just have to hope he holds off on that until we
can get there."
     No angry defiance this time, Tolen reflected further.  I guess he
knows there's only so far he can go with this reversion to the old Cain. 
He knows it's going to take a bigger miracle just to get some of those
people back alive, let alone all of them.  And there's nothing we can do
about that......for now.
     He finally turned and faced Kylie, "Captain, get me an updated
status report from all Department heads.  If there's so much as a tiny
thing out of place anywhere, I want to know about it now."
     "Yes sir!" she nodded and moved toward the stairs to the lower
level.  At the same time, Tolen slowly backed away from Cain, who had
returned his gaze to the Board once again.  Letting the Juggernaut be
alone with his thoughts for now.  The Executive Officer went back to the
rail and looked out at the empty starlit view of space on the main
screen.
     Hurry it up, he thought to himself.  By all the Lords let's get this
damn thing over with!


Silver Group Three
     "Delta Ten to Delta Leader.  BaseShip is following our exact course
heading," Sergeant Harroun reported.  "Their speed level is about
three-quarters.  They clearly don't want to overtake us."
     "Delta Leader to Delta Ten.  Darned right.  They overtake us and
then they won't be able to prepare for the Pegasus because they need us
alive to let them know how far along on this heading the Pegasus is."
Tegran was feeling his confidence leading the patrol increase with each
passing centon.  "But keep an eye on those Raiders they launched.  If
they catch up to us, I wager they'll try to see if they can take a few of
us out before they'll get a withdrawal order."
     "Delta Six to Delta Leader," Fausta radioed.  Of the three green
pilots, she'd been the most vocal.  "Total of twenty Raiders confirmed in
pursuit.  150 microns to our rear.  They've gained fifty microns on us in
the last half centar."
     "Acknowledged,  Delta Six.  Keep up the good work reporting the
distance and speed ratio." Tegran said, impressed by the cool
professionalism Fausta exuded on her first ever combat patrol.  "ETA to
home.....200 centons."
     Twenty centons elapsed with no more chatter among the ten pilots. 
The only sounds in their cockpits the drone of the engines and the rear
scanner blips indicating the Raider pursuit group.  Then came the next
distance report from Fausta.
     "140 microns."
     Boy, they've somehow found a little extra edge on speed with these
fighters, Tegran thought.  He wondered if that was because these were
newer models off the production line than the ones they'd been tangling
with in the past.  Perhaps from the last significant batch the Empire had
been able to produce before the Neutrino shortages took their toll.
     At this rate, we're not going to be able to avoid a skirmish.  They
could easily decide they only need one of us to get away to lead the
Baseship to the Pegasus.  
     Suddenly over the open com-lines, there was a loud banging sound. 
Tegran and the other veterans immediately recognized the sound and felt
their blood freeze.  It was the sound of a high engine flaming out. 
Since none of them felt their own respective Viper slowing, they knew it
could only be one of the three green pilots.
     "Delta Three!" a panicked voice sounded and immediately, everyone
knew it was Marcia, the other female pilot and younger sister of Fausta, 
 "High engine in failure mode!  I'm losing speed!"
     "Oh my God!" Fausta blurted in horror, "Marcia, can you refire your
high engine?"
     "I'm trying.  Initiating restart cycle.  I----no I can't!  Negative
on restart.  I'm losing speed and power."
     "Delta Three, this is Delta Leader," Tegran urgently jumped in. 
"Keep calm.  Just try to maintain heading.  You can keep flying with one
less engine.  Transfer what you can to the other two to compensate!"
     "They're closing up on me from behind!" the terror was unmistakable
in her voice. "Ninety microns and closing......I can't possibly outrun
them any longer."
     "Delta Three, stay calm!" Tegran urged.  
     "Delta Leader, this is Delta Two, let me go back and give her
cover!" Sergeant Priam blurted out, "She's my wingmate!"
     Tegran realized the most horrible of command situations was being
dumped in his lap.  Prudence dictated keeping the rest of the patrol
group together in order to insure the success of the mission, which was
to lead the BaseShip back to the Pegasus.  Stopping to engage the
pursuing twenty Raiders for the sake of protecting Marcia would mean
putting more lives at risk, and also potentially the loss of the mission
objective since a sustained combat operation might mean using up fuel
before they reached the Pegasus safely.  And even if they managed to
destroy all the pursuing Raiders.....what would stop the BaseShip from
launching more?
     On the other hand, if he gave an order that effectively meant
abandoning a pilot under his charge, he'd carry the scar for the rest of
his life and no one would ever want to fly under him again.  The fact
that it was mechanical difficulty and not combat damage that had caused
this situation only made matters worse.  Combat damage was something a
Viper pilot was prepared to accept.  But in this case, Marcia's life was
at risk because either something had been missed during a maintenance
check before launch or else her Viper, one of nineteen salvaged from the
Colonies, wasn't up to standards for flying long-term deep space
missions.  Or a dreadful combination of both elements.
     He was in command.  He had to make his decision.....now.
     "You'd be throwing your life away, Delta Two," he finally said just
mere microns after hearing Priam's plea.  "Stay where you are.  And that
goes for everyone else!  Our objective is to lead that BaseShip back."
     "Lieutenant!" Fausta protested angrily.  This was her younger
sister.  The one she had trained with on Caprica during their time
attached to the Aerodrome where they'd served as shuttle pilots. 
Survived with during those terrible yahrens in hiding with their parents. 
Now, with their first chance to do something meaningful, something had
gone horribly wrong and she was being told that her sister's life was
expendable.
     "That's enough!" Tegran raised his voice.  "The rest of you will
STAY IN FORMATION!  THAT IS AN ORDER!"
     The silence that filled the comlines was cold and clearly hostile.  
     "Delta Leader," Marcia's voice was calmer now as if she was
beginning to become resigned to her fate.  "Seventy microns to my rear
and closing fast."
     "Stand by, Delta Three," Tegran said, "Delta Ten.....you're in
acting command now.  Get everyone else back safe and secure and complete
the mission objective!"
     And abruptly, Tegran's viper pulled out of the lead position and did
a reverse roll that would put him on course to where Marcia's Viper had
now fallen back.
     "Lieutenant!" Harroun immediately realized what he'd done.  Tegran
had just decided that he wasn't going to let one of his own pilots die
alone in an ambush.  And he wasn't going to let anyone else try to give
her protection who would likely get killed as well.
     He was going to do it himself.
     Fausta, trying to push out her inner anguish over what was unfolding
behind her to her sister realized what Tegran was doing and she felt the
tears forming in her eyes.  And then.....she blinked vigorously as she
realized that she couldn't distract herself.  She couldn't let herself
become a casualty.  That wasn't what Marcia would want at this point. 
Letting herself become distracted would disgrace the whole point of why
they had both eagerly volunteered as new recruits to the Pegasus.
     "All right," Harroun nervously exhaled as he moved his viper from
the port flank position and assumed a lead position.  "All right, you
heard the Lieutenant.  We stay ahead of them.  And we lead them straight
into Cain's trap." he then whispered, "Godspeed, Tegran."
     "Godspeed, sister," Fausta added.  
     "I'll be okay, Fausta," suddenly Marcia's voice came through, calmer
and now almost sernene now that she realized the magnitude of what Tegran
was doing.  "We're going to take down as many of those tinheads as we can
and make them stop pursuing you.  Aren't we, Lieutenant?"
     "Darned right, Delta Three!" Tegran said with determination.  "Ten
to one odds is nothing in these kinds of situations!"
     Five to one would be better, Harroun thought.  But to let anyone
else go back at this point.....that would be open mutiny.  We have to
keep going.  Even if Tegran appreciated the gesture, Cain wouldn't.


Baseship #5745
     "Pursuit force reports two Vipers have fallen back and are preparing
to engage them." Command Centurion Aelius reported.
     "Just two?" Commander Egron asked.
     "Two only.  Pursuit leader believes this is an effort on their part
to force a withdrawal of our fighters."
     The IL Cylon looked at the scanner.  He could see his BaseShip on
the far right of the screen, then the cluster that represented the twenty
Raiders that had been launched.  At the far left of the screen was the
Viper group and it was now clear two were moving back toward the center
in the direction of the Raider pursuit force.
     "Those Vipers know we're in pursuit as well since they can see us on
their scanners," Egron said.  "Perhaps.....there's no need to keep our
Raiders out there ahead of us.  Not if.....we're reasonably sure that the
lead group is going to bring us straight to the Pegasus," he then looked
back at his command centurion.  "They haven't assumed an evasive course
heading, have they?"
     "Negative.  Their course heading has remained consistent since they
retreated from us. Delta Seven-Six."
     "Hmmph," Egron said with disdain.  "This foolhardy thrust by two of
their Vipers seems like a diversionary tactic to let the main group get
ahead of our ability to track them back to the Pegasus.  Tell the pursuit
group to destroy those two Vipers and then have them return to the
BaseShip."
     "By your command."


Silver Group Three
     "Delta Three, switch to Beta Channel now." Tegran ordered as his
Viper pulled up alongside the slow moving craft of Marcia.  Beta Channel
would mean their exchanges wouldn't be heard by the rest of the patrol.
     "Switching sir," her voice cracked slightly.  "Lieutenant, thank
you.  I-,"
     "Never mind that, Delta Three," Tegran said brusquely, "You're not
going to die.  So long as you prove you can adjust to the situation and
show you can take out a couple of these Raiders on your own before you
fake them out."
     "Sir?" 
     "You've still got maneuvering thrust, right?  It's only your high
engine that's fracked out and reduced your speed?"
     "Yes sir.  All other systems read nominal.  Still have full
maneuvering capability."
     "Still have power for your cloaking device?"
     "Yes sir,"  she then added, "Thirty microns and closing."
     "Forget that until I tell you otherwise!" Tegran snapped.  "Now on
my cue, I want you to peel off to starboard and execute a 180 turn so
that in half a centon, you and I pull up alongside each other and face
the first group of those tinheads together.  Once you've scored two
kills, roll port and let me take a few shots at them and while I'm still
firing at them......activate your cloaking device and then get yourself
back on main heading for the Pegasus.  You may have to dodge them when
they overtake you, but they won't know where you are, so long as you then
maintain radio silence.  My advice is that if they do go past you, don't
tip them off by taking any shots at them while you're cloaked.  Just
power yourself back so you can make it with fuel to spare.  And after the
BaseShip moves past you......decloak if you must to further save power. 
You got all that?"
     "Um.....yes sir.  Yes," she nodded, feeling her confidence start to
come back.  At the very least, if she died after scoring two kills, it
wouldn't feel like it had been in vain.
     "Count off in four, three, ,two, one.......ROLL!"
     Tegran moved off to port and Marcia to starboard.  With Tegran
matching her slower speed, they were able to pull back alongside each
other in perfect formation within a half centon.....only now facing the
oncoming Cylon pursuit patrol which was in the classic formation of
pyramid shaped groups of three fighters, two in front, one in back.
     "First two are yours, Delta Three," Tegran said.  "And after I open
fire.....break to port, assume radio silence, activate cloaking
device......and head for home."
     "Lieutenant, what about you?" she blurted.
     "Never mind me, you just follow orders!" he barked.  "Now do me and
the rest of the patrol proud!"
     Marcia didn't say anything more.  Her attack computer was on and the
first Raider was crossing her path.  She quickly pressed on the red
button and opened fire, taking it out and seeing it explode into a
satisfying cloud of vaper and debris.  Without any letup she took out the
second one from the initial group of three.  This one split in half and
she saw its flaming engines spiral away before they exploded in another
fiery crowd.
     There was no time to take satisfaction in what she'd just done.  She
glanced up and saw Tegran open fire and take out the solitary one from
the rear of the initial group.  And then, she did just as she'd been
ordered to do.  Moving her wheezing Viper into a port roll and trying not
to tremble as the turn took longer than it normally would have at full
engine power.  Behind her blue streaks from the Cylons and a solitary
burst of red from Tegran's Viper lit up the starry black void and before
she came out of the roll, she had activated her cloaking device.
     A centon later, Marcia was back on course.  The main body of Silver
Group Three was well ahead of her now.  Her rear scan showed the
remaining Cylon fighters scattering about, making it impossible for her
to tell where Tegran was.  She wished she could turn around and see if
the battle was still going on but it was impossible to do so.
     He saved my life, the rookie pilot thought.  He didn't have to do
it, but he went back to help me.  Lords of Kobol.....watch over him. 
Please.


Baseship #5745
     "Seven Raiders confirmed lost," one of the regular class centurions
reported as he looked up from the scanner.
     "The two Vipers?" Egron demanded.
     "They are no longer on the scanner.  Presumably they have been
destroyed."
     "Can't one of our pilots confirm that?" his humanoid voice rose.
     "Not among those that are left," the scanner operator said. 
     "Recall them!  That was far too much lost in what should have been a
simple nuisance to easily take care of.  From now on, we'll just follow
the main patrol group of theirs back to the Pegasus.  And they won't try
to deceive us because they can't afford to run out of fuel!"
     "By your command."
     As the BaseShip Commander tried to comprehend why that first
exchange had gone so poorly, Aelius was approaching him.
     "His Eminence wishes to speak to you."
     "Tell His Eminence we are preoccupied with combat operations aimed
at eliminating the threat of the Pegasus," the IL Cylon was in no mood to
talk to the Cylon Ruler right now.  If Imperious Leader was about to give
him new orders and a new place to go to after changing his mind twice
already, he wasn't going to obey them.  From his standpoint, nothing
mattered more than getting the Pegasus eliminated once and for all.
     Besides, what can he do to me or any of us at this point?  We're all
he's got left!


Cylon Home System
     "Well?" Imperious Leader demanded impatiently.
     Luna shook his head, "Commander Egron says he can't communicate at
this time."
     "I trust he has a reason for this impertinence?" he didn't bother
hiding the agitation in his voice.
     "He says he is engaged in combat operations aimed at eliminating the
threat of the Pegasus."
     The Cylon Ruler stepped forward.  "He's found the Pegasus?"
     "He's tracking a patrol of Vipers that he is convinced will lead him
straight to Commander Cain."
     "The fool!" Imperious Leader snapped.  "One to one is not sufficient
for the likes of Commander Cain.  Especially after all he's been able to
accomplish these last few yahrens on his own."
     "But Your Eminence, we have no other ships to spare!  Surely you
don't think we should recall Sorge's BaseShip, especially now that we
know Malus is a traitor?  Or that we should dispatch our last ship that
guards the Home System?"
     The Cylon ruler said nothing for over ten microns.  From a Cylon
standpoint, that was practically an eternity.  When he spoke, it was
quieter, and less agitated.
     "Get me Lucifer.  Now."
     Luna seemed puzzled by the request, "There's not much he can do for
us when he's many sectars away now."
     "Get him!" his voice rose.
     His IL aide bowed, "By your command."


The Pegasus
     "Commander, Silver One and Silver Two groups are now back in voice
communication range," Kylie passed along what she'd just heard from
Altair in her headset.  "Major Skyler reports ETA in 55 centons for
Silver One.  Lieutenant Banker reports ETA for Silver Two in 65 centons."
     "How much fuel reserve will they have when they arrive?" Cain was
still looking at the Board.
     "Approximately 40 centons for Silver One, 30 for Silver Two," the
Senior Bridge Officer said and then added, "They are willing to stay out
until the last possible micron if necessary."
     Cain smiled with satisfaction and turned to face his wife and Tolen. 
"I'm glad our patrol leaders both recognize the need to stay out there
and deal with the likely fighter assault that's coming."
     "But after the BaseShip is destroyed they need first priority for
recovery," Tolen felt the need to sound the one cautionary note.  "Sir."
     "Naturally, Colonel.  That goes without saying," Cain paused and
then added, "Sound Red Alert for our reserve Vipers.  I want them in
their cockpits ready to go."
     "Yes sir!"
     Microns later, the Red Alert glow was filling the Bridge along with
the familiar sound of the klaxon.


Baseship #1040 (Risik System)
     Not once had Lucifer ever received a direct communique from the
Imperious Leader.  It had always been a case of him initiating contact,
and that had also been true in the period before he'd seized control from
the late Commander Needa.  The Cylon Ruler knew that he could only expect
information whenever his now distant BaseShip was ready to give it to
him, and that to initiate contact would reveal weakness and impatience on
his part.  That was even more true now when it came to communicating with
Lucifer, his onetime rival for the Cylon throne.
     So when Lucifer took the transmission, he already had reason to feel
confident that he was going to enjoy this.
     "Good day, Your Eminence," he bowed with a flourish as soon as the
Cylon ruler's face filled the screen.  A gesture that was deliberately
exaggerated to remind Imperious Leader of how insincere it was.  "This is
most.....unexpected."
     "I am about to give you a direct order, Lucifer," Imperious Leader's
voice was at its fullest level of authority.  "I want you to return to
the Cylon Frontier immediately.  You are to lay waste to Gomorrah and
Cannes and then return to the Home System.  I don't care what agreements
you've made with the Risik or anyone else.  You will return immediately."
     Lucifer sighed, "Your Eminence.....I'm afraid that is an impossible
request at this point."
     "You will not question me, Lucifer!" the Cylon ruler demanded.  "And
don't think the fact you're sectars away from home is your shield against
my authority!  If you aren't proceeding back to Cylon within the next
centar, I'll see to it your name is blackened forever as the worst of
traitors to the Empire."
     "I am doing the Empire's work, Your Eminence," Lucifer was unfazed. 
"I have negotiated an agreement with the Risik that will allow us to take
six tankers of Neutrino back to the Home System which will allow for the
construction of at least one or two additional BaseShips.  And I am about
to carry out the order you once gave me to dispose of the Galactica once
and for all and carry out the long overdue execution of Baltar at last."
     "Those orders are rescinded," Imperious Leader hissed the words out,
"The Galactica means nothing to me or to the Empire.  Nor does Baltar. 
Let them settle their distant outpost that's too far away to have any
significance to our Empire.  Take whatever tankers the Risik have
promised you and leave now!"
     The IL Cylon slowly shook his head, "How you were able to emerge
triumphant in our contest for leadership is the most baffling enigma in
the history of our race.  Have you lost control that much that you find
it necessary to beg at this point?"
     "I am your Leader!" he hissed again.
     "A Leader who knows the meaning of fear," Lucifer gently mocked. 
"Fear is what kept you from telling me about the Disease when you sent
Septimus and me out into deep space to find the Galactica.  Fear is what
made you foolishly put Baltar back in command when we found him on that
desolate planet because you didn't want the destruction of the Galactica
to be my triumph.  If I lost control of events when Baltar defected back
with his ship it was only because you put me and Septimus in an
impossible situation where we couldn't contain the Disease from breaking
out.  Do you not admit that?"
     There was silence from Imperious Leader.  Silence that came from a
recognition that he could say nothing that would dispute anything Lucifer
had just said.  And silence from the fact that he would always be too
proud to acknowledge that.  No Imperious Leader could ever humiliate
himself in such a fashion.  Ever.  
     "But even if I felt compelled to obey your order, Your Eminence,
practicality prevents it.  The Risik have begun turning out Neutrino
ships of their own at a very accelerated rate.  The first one just a
sectan ago and now five more will be ready in the next sectan.  Their
Star Force is more than sufficiently formidable to prevent my going back
on my word to assist them in the destruction of the Galactica and the
conquest of Earth for themselves.  That is the price to be paid for the
fact that our situation regarding Neturino and the loss of so many
BaseShips the last five yahrens has left us incapable of what your
predecessor would have been able to have us do.  Namely take possession
of the Risik Empire by force, destroy the inhabitants and give us
unfettered access to their Neutrino supply."
     The Cylon Ruler, whose face was made to resemble that of a long
extinct reptilian Cylon, finally answered him with quiet defiance.
     "You will face your own reckoning one day, Lucifer."
     "I have faced two reckonings already and survived them," the IL
Cylon retorted.  "First from Baltar's treachery, and then from Commander
Cain.  I believe I have demonstrated my capacity for survival."
     "From Commander Cain?" his voice rose, "When did you encounter him?"
     Lucifer suddenly realized he'd blundered.  Even though he'd finally
revealed the survival of the Pegasus to Imperious Leader, he'd presented
the information solely in the guise of a report furnished by the Risik. 
He had not mentioned that it was the Peagsus who had found him in
hibernation mode on the planet he'd fled to following the destruction of
his own BaseShip at the hands of the Galactica and Baltar.  Or that Cain
had tricked him into thinking he'd been rescued by fellow Cylons and made
him reveal information about Baltar's treachery and the existence of
Disease in the ranks of the Cylon Empire.  And that it was Cain who had
turned him over to the Zykonians in a disassembled state.
     He quickly regained the initiative, "It was.....Commander Needa's
decision to initially withhold the fact that the Pegasus had survived and
had delivered me to the Zykonians at Brylon Station.  You can only blame
him for the fact that you were not appraised of this information much
sooner." 
     "You've wanted this outcome," the Leader raged, "You're worse than
traitors like Volahd and Malus.  They've convinced themselves that the
Cylon cause is no longer worth fighting for and are willing to
collaborate with the Humans.  But you.....you decided the Empire was
worth seeing destroyed so long as you could be the one to put it back
together in the future!"
     "Perhaps this lesson in humility is needed after your impulsive
predecessor overextended things with the Destruction of the Colonies,"
Lucifer felt his confidence back once again.  "It is obvious that you
were not up to the task of repairing his mistakes, but that you only
compounded them.  I think even those who still desire the destruction of
Human civilization will not regret the loss of you or an Empire whose
time has clearly passed."
     "And do you think you can rebuild the Cylon Empire all by yourself,
far away from the Home System?" Imperious Leader hissed contemptuously. 
"You are an utter fool!"
     "I.....believe there are opportunities here, Your Eminence.  And
given the fact that we Cylons do not have to worry about short lifespans,
I believe that for now I can afford to be patient and let the Risik
believe they control me......when ultimately it is they who will find
themselves controlled." he paused, "It has been most interesting
conversing with you again, my one time rival.  But now......I think there
is nothing more to be gained in any further conversation between
us.....ever."
     "You will pay the price yourself one day!"
     "I think not, my dear-----," and then Lucifer broke the most solemn
vow among Cylons and addressed the Imperious Leader by his former name. 
The name from when he had been an IL just like Lucifer and they had faced
off against each other in the battle for succession to the throne. 
     He didn't wait for Imperious Leader's reaction before he switched
the transmission off. 
     "Was that really wise, Lucifer?"
     The IL didn't turn around to face Gracchus.
     "It had to happen eventually, Gracchus.  Evidently, things have
deteriorated to the point where His Eminence can not handle the matter of
Commander Cain at all," he paused, "And did you notice how he revealed
that Malus is a traitor?  He's all but admitted that he no longer
controls matters in the Colonies."
     The DG Cylon moved around him so Lucifer could see him, "But after
this.....we can never return again."
     "What would we be returning to?" Lucifer scoffed.  "An 'Empire' that
has proved it can't handle its greatest success and sees it all come
crashing down in a matter of yahrens?  No, my dear Gracchus.  We must
acknowledge that Cylon greatness can no longer exist in the Home System
or the Home Quadrant.  It is time for us to begin anew.....here.  Where
we can take advantage of close proximity to Neutrino and
eventually......use it to our advantage."
     "How?" Gracchus was clearly skeptical.  "For now, we are doing the
bidding of the Risik on all things.  Facilitating their construction of a
Fleet of ships to destroy the Galactica and conquer Earth.  Soon they'll
want to recover their old home system against that other adversary of
theirs, the Ke'Zar."
     "Exactly.  Their Supreme Leader, as I've told you before, is much
too reminiscent of the previous Imperious Leader.  He is impulsive.  He
wants the personal glory of achieving results that were supposed to be
long-term in nature.  The fact that he's a biological creature makes his
impatience even greater than what the previous Eminence felt." he then
pivoted to face the DG Cylon directly, "But we can afford to be patient,
Gracchus.  The Risik will need our support to keep up the demands of
maintaining an Empire.  They will come to see the wisdom of using
Neutrino to not just manufacture new ships for themselves......but to
alleviate the burden to themselves by learning how to
manufacture......centurions."
     A glimmer of understanding dawned inside Gracchus, "What you are
suggesting......is something that would take yahrens, perhaps a
generation to see come to pass."
     "But we have all the time in the universe to make it so," Lucifer
said with satisfaction.  "For now, what does it matter if we must pretend
to be subordinate to the Risik?  Especially when we achieve the goal of
revenge upon the Galactica and upon Baltar?  And inevitably the
destruction of the last primary Human bastion on Earth?  It will only
mean that when we take control from these Risik fools, the way will be
clear to make a meaningful atonement for the Destruction caused by the
present Cylon leadership.  Trying to save what's left of it now would be
a suicidal folly."
     Gracchus said nothing at first.  Lucifer decided it was time to
press him.
     "Are you committed to this vision, Gracchus?"
     The DG Cylon finally nodded.  Firmly and without hesitation.

Chapter Four

The Pegasus
     "All remaining Vipers and all Raiders are manned and ready to
launch," Kylie reported.  The klaxon had been silenced but the Red Alert
glow remained on the Bridge.  "Silver One Group is ten centons from
arrival......Silver Two is twenty centons from arrival."
     "No communications from Silver Three?" Cain asked.  Even now, he
still hadn't turned away from the Navigation Board.
     "None," Kylie shook her head.  
     "But they wouldn't be fool enough to make contact while they're
trying to lead the BaseShip to us," Tolen said.  "That would run the risk
of making the BaseShip think we've been expecting them all this time."
     "Precisely, Colonel.  Which is why I'm glad we've heard nothing from
them," Cain nodded.  "They should be coming back into outer scanner range
in exactly......five centons from now.  And if that BaseShip commander is
smart, he'll be about two or three centons in back of them.  As soon as
we see them......we set course for them.  And no, Colonel, we won't be
making things more difficult for Silver One and Silver Two groups when we
start moving toward them.  By now, they're close enough to scan us and
adjust their own course headings."
     "I wasn't about to suggest that moving to BaseShip intercept would
do that.....sir," Tolen made sure the faintest level of irritation
entered his voice.  And that got Cain to turn his head away from the
Navigation Board and smile at the Executive Officer.
     "I stand properly chastised, Colonel."  And in a flash Tolen
realized that Cain had wanted him to speak up and defend himself.  
     As always a method and madness to everything he says and does.
     After several centars of standing in the same spot, Cain finally
moved away from the Navigation Board and picked up a unicom mike.  "This
is Cain.  All Departments issue final status report over unicom,
immediately!"
     "Life Station reports all systems check.  All personnel at ready,"
Dr. Laughlin's voice filled the Bridge.
     "Electronics Lab is secure.  All systems backed up," Dr. Arnoff
chimed.
     "Damage Control team is ready.  Boraton hoses at full capacity. 
Boraton Mist Control center at full capacity." this from Master Chief
Livia.
     "Engineering.  Thrusters and Engines at normal temps and power." 
Chief Abendego reported.
     "Security detail is ready to move in any section requiring extra
personnel!" Lieutenant Bryce said.  
     "Missile Control report.  Pulsar is online and ready to go when
needed.  All systems down here show normal and nothing out of place,"
this from one of the Colony recruits, Technician Soames who had been part
of the Caprican Resistance with Deval and Ila.
     "Excellent work," Cain sounded pleased.  He set the unicom mike down
and descended the steps to the lower level and moved by the duty stations
of Centurion Achillas, followed by Altair and then finally that of Senior
Gunnery Officer Falstaff, whose job it would be to target and fire the
Pulsar weapon.  Saying not a word to any of them and hoping none of them
were taking notice of his presence.  Then, back up the steps to the Upper
Level where he moved past Kylie and Tolen and resumed his position in
front of the Navigation Board.  The swagger stick clasped behind his back
with both hands.
     "Any centon now," he whispered.  "Any centon now."
     "Silver Three Group now on outer scanner range," Achillas's
distinctive Cylon voice sounded.
     "All Vipers accounted for?" Tolen called over.
     "Negative," Achillas said.  "Eight of ten Vipers accounted for."
     "Damn," Kylie muttered under her breath.  But not soft enough for
her husband not to have noticed.
     "An acceptable margin given the magnitude of their task, Captain,"
Cain said simply. "We'll mourn our losses later."
     "Yes sir," she said simply and professionally, trying not to guess
who the missing two were.  She knew that the two female pilots, Fausta
and Marcia were in this group and it had filled her with pride to see
female warriors part of the Viper contingent once again.  But she also
knew it would be wrong for her to put their lives ahead of the others,
especially when there were pilots she knew well like Tegran and Harroun
in that group.
     "BaseShip has now entered outer scanner range," Achillas reported. 
And for a brief instant, several other Bridge crew members thought of the
irony that it was a Cylon reporting this critical information.
     "Set intercept course!" Cain ordered, "All fighters, launch!"


Silver Group One
     The patrol and the return had been a frustrating experience for
Skyler.  He couldn't shake the feeling inside that as Squadron Leader, it
should have been his group that would find the BaseShip.  Not out of
jealousy, or lack of confidence in the leadership skills of Banker and
Tegran.  Only a sense that it should have been his responsibility to
handle the situation of leading nine other Vipers back to the Pegasus
under what he knew had to be harrowing conditions of trying to stay ahead
of a pursuing BaseShip for several centars.
     "Alpha Leader, this is Alpha Four," Ensign Marshak radioed, "Pegasus
is assuming new course heading, Delta Seven-Six.  Looks now to be on
intercept course."
     "She's spotted the BaseShip!" all the idle thoughts were now gone
from Skyler now that events had changed.  "Alpha Group, concentrate scan
there and assume new heading!  We should be seeing their whole attack
force launching any centon now!"
     "Alpha Two to Alpha Leader.  Pegasus now launching all remaining
Vipers and all of Phoenix Squadron," this from Ensign Wynn.
     "This is now Silver Spar Leader answering.  Revert now to your
regularly assigned call designations for easier coordination with new
arrivals.  Remember, watch for Raiders only and do not think of getting
close to the BaseShip.  And a final reminder to all new pilots, you will
be able to distinguish Phoenix Squadron from their Raiders by both a
flashing blue dot and an alternate signal red one.  You only need to see
one of them to know it's one of the Enlightened Ones."  He paused, "Let's
head in!"
     



Silver Group Three
     Whatever misgivings Harroun had felt about assuming acting command
of the patrol group had quickly dissipated and he'd been able to keep the
remaining eight Vipers in formation during the entire three centar
journey back to scanning range of the Pegasus.  Once the initial group of
Cylon fighters had withdrawn, the BaseShip had kept up its pursuit at far
less than its top speed, not wanting to overtake the Vipers and
potentially lose track of where their home base was.  As a further
safeguard against the possibility that the BaseShip might be able to tap
into their communications, Harroun had ordered total radio silence since
the only thing they had to do at this point was to stay in formation and
keep ahead of the BaseShip.  The order also meant he wouldn't have to
listen to any idle chatter about the fates of Tegran and Marcia.  And
with Marcia's sister part of the remaining group, that suited Harroun
just fine.  If he was going to lead these Vipers back safely, he didn't
want any reminders of the potential losses.  Not yet.
     The sight of the Pegasus emerging on the outer edge of their forward
scanners was the first welcome sight.  But only when he saw signs of the
Battlestar picking up speed followed by the unmistakable signs that she'd
launched her remaining fighters did he finally break the centars long
radio silence.
     "Plot rendezvous with our own fighter groups immediately!" he
ordered, "Abandon Delta designations and return to your normally assigned
call designations."
     And then.....he decided he owed the rest of the patrol one piece of
information.
     "The Lieutenant's regular designation is Silver Eight.  Marcia's is
Silver Forty-Five.  Just for purposes of ID signature inventory, but
that's for......LATER!" he barked out the last word.
     "Thank you, sir!" Fausta said gratefully as she and the others moved
off to rendezvous with the newly arriving fighters.


Baseship #5745
     "We have the Pegasus in scanner range!" Aelius reported.
     "They've led us to it just as I expected!" Egron boasted, "Launch
all fighters immediately!  Prepare missile banks for point blank firing!"

     "By your command."


The Pegasus
     "They're launching their fighters now," Kylie relayed the report.
     Cain had moved away from the Navigation Board and was now facing the
viewing screen.  Right hand holding the swagger stick, left hand holding
the rail.
     "Increase intercept speed to three-quarters!" he ordered, "Prepare
to fire Pulsar on my signal!"
     "Standing by!" Falstaff felt his voice rising to a point where he
was afraid it might crack.  The Gunnery Officer then said a quick prayer
to the Lords that he not develop any 'itchy trigger finger' impulses
before Cain gave the order.



Silver Spar Group
     It didn't take long for Skyler to acclimate to the arrival of the
new groups of fighters, both from the Pegasus and the now returned Patrol
Groups Two and Three.  Assuming total command over the Vipers with Flight
Leader Gryphon in charge of Phoenix Group, they were now all in proper
orientation to approach the emerging wall of enemy Cylon craft as one
unified group......which would then be forced to scatter and take off as
many as they could to ensure the Pegasus would remain safely unaffected.
     Even though it was now assumed that the BaseShip could expect the
prospect of Cylon fighters working with the Pegasus, Skyler made sure
that Phoenix Squadron would get in the first strike on the approaching
attack group.  There were bound to be many Cylon pilots not ready to face
the scenario of Raiders firing back at them, which was bound to leave
them confused and disoriented just as the Cylon fighters at Cannes had
been.  And making them easier targets to pick off from that point on.
     It was Gryphon's lead Raider that got off the first shot which took
out the lead Raider from the attack group.  Two more shots from Phoenix
Squadron took out two more but then the BaseShip group immediately
dispersed in a way that suggested they were better prepared for this
situation.  Skyler gave his enagement order to the other Vipers and the
battle was now joined in full.  The Pegasus group assuming a wall to keep
the Raiders from getting through to intercept the Battlestar as it closed
in on the BaseShip.


BaseShip #5745
     "Missile firing range to Pegasus......five hundred microns and
closing."
     "Soften them up with laser turret fire," Egron ordered.


The Pegasus
     "BaseShip will be in Pulsar firing range in four hundred microns."
Falstaff watched the figure drop on his monitor as he kept his index
finger positioned above the red firing button.
     "Helm, increase intercept speed," Cain gently tapped his stick
against the beam that supporting the upper deck railing.  "Prepare to
execute ninety degree turn after firing!"
     And then, visible blue streaks suddenly emerged on the viewing
screen headed directly toward them.
     "Incoming laser turret fire!" Kylie's voice rose.
     "Maintain speed and heading!" Cain gripped the rail as there was a
thudding sensation indicating the distant laser turret fire from the
BaseShip had bounced off the Battlestar's hull.  At this range and
distance the damaging effect was minimal, but there was a keen awareness
that one strike in a sensitive area could cause systems to go off-line
and potentially deny the Pegasus of its opportunity to get in the lethal
blow it was waiting to administer.
     "Range.....three hundred microns and closing."
     For the first time, a small object was visible on the upper center
of the viewing screen.  The unmistakable shape of the BaseShip.  
     "Return turret fire," Cain ordered.  "I want them to think our
weaponry is no different from the norm." 
     The assistant gunnery officer pressed the red lever down and the
twin red streaks shot across their field of vision back towards the
BaseShip, which grew larger in size on the viewing screen with each
passing micron.  They could tell right away the distant shots had missed.
     "Two hundred microns and closing."


BaseShip #5745
     "150 microns to missile firing range," the centurion at the firing
control station reported.
     "They are using traitorous Raiders against our own fighters!" Aelius
warned.  "Attack leader reports they are concentrating solely on the
Vipers."
     "Yes, we'll save the traitors for last!" Egron's boastfulness
increased.  "They'll be in a much different frame of mind when they no
longer have a safe harbor to return to!"
     "100 microns to missile firing range."


Silver Spar Group
     It was from Skyler's standpoint and the standpoint of other
long-time veterans of the Pegasus, a typical engagement between Colonials
and Cylons.  An engagement in which the individual superiority of the
Viper pilot more than compensated for the numerical advantages held by
the more functionally programmed Cylon forces.  And the Enlightened
Cylons of Phoenix Squadron, having learned new techniques from the
Pegasus pilots over the last yahren, were putting them to use and making
it even easier to distinguish them from the BaseShip Raiders.
     But even with the numerical advantages in confirmed kills piling up
for the Pegasus fighters, it was not a battle devoid of losses.  Skyler
could see at least two Vipers destroyed during the course of a particular
vicious exchange of fire involving some twelve craft on both sides during
a span of barely fifteen microns.  And Harroun saw his first confirmed
casualty from what had been his patrol group.  The third green pilot. 
The thirty-yahren old male who had once been a commercial shuttle pilot. 
He had made it through the long arduous chase by the BaseShip only to
prove his inability to handle a massive combat firefight.
     Come on, Harroun thought angrily.  Fire that damned Pulsar!


The Pegasus
     "Fifty microns and closing."
     Another blue burst of turret fire struck the Pegasus along the top
of the hull.  Still not in a sensitive area but the fact they'd been hit
again was magnifying the tension inside nearly everyone on the Bridge. 
The only exceptions were Centurion Achillas at the helm and scanners. 
And of course Cain, who wasn't even flinching as he hunched over the rail
with a Pyramid-faced look at the viewing screen and the sight of the
BaseShip now nearly filling the entire parameter.
     "Twenty microns........ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four,
three, two, one, MARK!"
     "Fire Pulsar!" Cain came up and shouted the order louder than any
other in his career
     Falstaff's sweaty finger came down on the red button and pressed it
firmly.



Baseship #5745
     Egron heard the countdown to missile firing range go down to zero
and prepared to give the fire order......when he saw on his own monitor a
laser-like beam emit from the Pegasus that was unlike any other form of
weaponry he'd seen come from a Battlestar in his more than hundred
yahrens of service to the Empire.
     It took his two computer brains a fraction to realize what had
happened, which led to a frantic command to open fire.  With not enough
time to know if the last order had been successful or not.
     In all but the blink of an eye, the laser-streak of the Pulsar
covered the distance between the Pegasus and the BaseShip and crashed
into it with a force greater than that of twenty missiles.  Not even the
finest example of Neutrino construction that Cylon BaseShips had been
noted for could offer any protection against this type of weapon.  The
Pulsar weapon originally designed by Dr. Ravashol had finally at long
last been put to use against a capital warship.  And in the second blink
of an eye.......Commander Egron's BaseShip, Commander Egron's crew, and
Commander Egron......were no more.
     But there had been just enough time for one final protesting legacy
to emerge unscathed in the form of a single missile.


The Pegasus
     "Ninety-degree starboard turn, now!" Cain ordered just a fraction
after the pulsar had fired.  The Battlestar immediately jerked to the
right just as the giant flash filled the viewing screen.  Everyone knew
that the Pulsar had succeeded in its task, but no one on the Bridge let
out any cheers.  They knew they had to wait until they were safely away
from the blast effects and also for the aftermath of the battle still
going on with the BaseShip's fighters.
     The venerable warship was still in the midst of its turn when
Achillas's montonic drone sounded.  "Missile approaching......nine
microns to impact."
     Damn!  Kylie thought as clutched at the railing to keep herself
steady.  Not now!


Silver Spar Group
     The giant flash of the BaseShip's explosion caused a brief
distraction for the Viper pilots and an immediate order from Skyler to
all ships that they remain focused on the battles they were already
fighting against the attack force.  But for one seasoned veteran of the
Pegasus, Lieutenant Banker, who had commanded Patrol Group Two, the
explosion had come just a micron after he had disposed of two Raiders
flying by themselves in the direction of the Pegasus.  That left an open
space in front of him in which he had time to see something new crossing
his scanner.....that he knew wasn't another Raider.
     "Frack," Banker muttered as he hit his turbo and realized that he
was tracking a missile on an intercept heading for the Pegasus.  The
battlestar was executing a turn to take it out of the direct path, but
Skyler knew there was a good chance this one missile the BaseShip had
gotten off might strike the ship's thrusters located at the rear and
cause serious damage.  Damage that could make it impossible for the
Pegasus to wage the next battles that needed to be fought to finish off
the Empire once and for all.
     Without any hesitation, Banker opened fire toward the path of the
missile's trajectory.  Hoping that he could cause a detonation well short
of the Pegasus.  But knowing the risk he was putting himself in if he
succeeded.
     But that didn't matter to Banker.  He was ready to accept that risk. 
A far change from when he'd once been one of the Grumblers who had
seethed over Cain's decision to part with the Galactica after Gomorrah. 
When he'd bitterly spent those immediate sectars and yahrens ruing the
fact that he'd never found the strength to act on the crush he'd felt for
Sheba during her time aboard the Pegasus.  All of those feelings had been
left behind following the arrival of Ila, the discovery of the Resistance
and the successes since then that had made it clear there was still a
cause worth dying for after all.  A cause that would see the Cylon Empire
eliminated once and for all.  
     A cause that Banker could gladly give his own life for without
hesitation.
     When the laser blasts found their target, they caused the Cylon
missile to detonate well-short of the Pegasus which was now able to
complete its ninety-degree turn and move away with no serious damage
whatsoever.
     The explosive force of the missile detonation though blew back
toward the source of the laser fire which had destroyed it.  Creating a
fireball that crashed directly into Lieutenant Banker's Viper.  
     The Pegasus veteran of over ten yahrens was able to smile in
satisfaction that he'd done his job and realized that he was probably
going to get a posthumous Gold Cluster before his life passed into
eternity.


The Pegasus
     "We're clear!" Kylie was now feeling the same delayed reaction
everyone else on the Bridge was now feeling.  
     "Damage report?" Cain barked.
     "Minimal damage to amidships section seven.  Hull not breeched. 
Localized fire already contained by bortaon," Kylie finished listening to
the summary that was coming over his headset.  "Zero damage to both
landing bays!"
     "All right everyone, let it out!" Cain triumphantly raised his
swagger stick.  And then, grateful for the freedom to release their
emotions, a unified cheer went up from nearly everyone on the Bridge. 
     The Juggernaut glanced over at his wife and saw that Kylie wasn't
letting out any loud triumphal shouts of her own.  He made his way over
to her and gently put his hand on her shoulder.  His first protocol
breech since the Pegasus had left the Colonies.
     She turned and managed a smile, "One down, two to go."
     "One down, two to go," he returned it.
     "Commander," Tolen came up to them, "Major Skyler says they've
eliminated about forty percent of the attack force, but we're also taking
slightly higher casualties ourselves.  At least seven confirmed losses in
the battle so far, in addition to the two missing Vipers from Silver
Group Three from the earlier pursuit." 
     "Is Skyler recommending something Colonel, or are you?"
     "I am," the Executive Officer looked him in the eye, "My
recommendation is we order our fighters to cloak themselves and
rendezvous with us in the next sector.  Let's leave the rest of the
attack force behind and they'll run out of fuel and die drifting in space
for all time.  We don't need to fight them down to the last fighter now
and risk any more losses to our own ranks."
     "They have enough fuel to stay out there for centars and regroup for
suicide hits on us while we're still recovering the rest of our own
fighters, Colonel," Cain gently retorted.  "I want more of that attack
force atomized before I issue a total recall order.  You can tell the
Vipers that are low on fuel to start planning their return but the fresh
ones we just sent out will remain until we clear more of those Cylons
out.  If those who must return feel they need to use their cloaking
devices to get clear......that's entirely at their own discretion."
     "Yes sir," Tolen nodded, and started to move off but then he stopped
and looked back at the Juggernaut.
     "For what it's worth, sir......Lieutenant Banker is among those
confirmed dead."
     Kylie's eyes widened at the revelation about Banker.  He was not
someone she would have expected to see end up on a casualty list.  Cain
likewise seemed surprised by this news but then his expression grew
slightly angry.
     "That, Colonel, is information that could have waited until a more
appropriate time."
     "Perhaps so, sir," the Executive Officer held his ground.  "I'm just
pointing out that the casualties aren't confined to green pilots."
     "Noted," the Juggernaut said harshly, "Now get me another report
from Damage Control and then I want to hear from Dr. Laughlin on any
shipboard casualties."
     "Yes sir," he walked away and descended the steps to the lower
level.  It was obvious his mood was the least exuberant of any of the
Bridge Personnel.  With the BaseShip destroyed, Kylie decided it was time
to lower the barriers just a fraction.
     "I wouldn't----," she started but her husband quickly cut her off.
     "Banker was part of Tolen's group to Delta Aquinas and Equellas when
they found Commander Cobre's team and also when they found out what
happened to Captain Martin," he let the empathy come through her for her
benefit.  "I know why that news cuts deep with him.  I'm not going to
give him any dressing down about it later."
     Kylie's relief was evident, "Thank you, Cain."
     He summoned the faintest of smiles for her.  Just enough for only
her to see and no one else.  "Carry on, Captain."
     "Yes sir," she moved away.  Leaving her husband alone on the upper
level where he quietly moved back to the Navigation Board and resumed the
silent vigil from before.  This time plotting in his mind the next
difficult phase of what was to come for the Pegasus.


Silver Spar Group
     "Attention pilots.  Those of you who were part of earlier patrol
groups, if you are too low on fuel at this point, you are released from
further obligation to deal with the remaining Raiders.  Proceed back to
the Pegasus immediately.  Make sure of course that no hostile Raiders
trail you back," Skyler put some emphasis on the last words as a silent
signal to use cloaking devices if necessary.
     Because a near full complement of fighters had been successfully
launched before the BaseShip's sudden destruction, dealing with the
remainder was anything but a typical "mopping up" operation for the
Pegasus fighters.  Skyler had seen several Vipers fall victim to laser
fire, and he'd gotten the painful news from the veteran recruit, Captain
Thach that Lieutenant Banker had died as a result of his successful
effort to detonate the one missile launched at the Pegasus.  He'd been
forced to shrug that news off and stay focused on his duties as squadron
leader.
     Thach, who had been away from combat duty for over nine yahrens
proved that he was more than up to the task, executing a daring 'weave'
maneuver directly through the path of four approaching Raiders that
managed to completely disorient them and forced them to
scatter......which then made it easier for the trailing Vipers in back of
Thach to pick them off with total ease.
     A big contribution was coming from Phoenix Group, which remained
concentrated together and then managed to blend effectively with a block
of fifteen enemy Raiders, throwing them into confusion and making it
impossible for them to distinguish their own from the Enlightened ones. 
The headway in diminishing the remaining strength of the attack force
began to pick up more with over 65% disposed of and only one additional
loss.  On his scanner, Skyler could tell that more of the Vipers from the
initial patrol groups were withdrawing due to their fuel situation.
     "Silver Leader, this is Silver Five," this was from Lieutenant
Angus, the senior most pilot who had not gone on patrol earlier.  The
instant Skyler decided to return, acting squadron command would pass to
him.  "How's your fuel?"
     The Major looked down and his eyes widened when he saw that it was
much too low from his standpoint.  The result of staying overly focused
on leading the squadron during all of this frenetic activity. 
Reluctantly, he realized he needed to return to the Pegasus because
running out of fuel was a foolhardy form of sacrifice that would earn a
green pilot a dressing down.  He wasn't going to hold himself to a
different standard.
     "Too low for comfort I'm afraid," he said, "Angus, you're now in
acting command of the Squadron.  Stay with them until you get a recall
order from the Pegasus."
     "Yes sir.  Good luck."
     Skyler rolled his viper out into a course heading that locked onto
the Pegasus which had moved away from the battle zone following the
destruction of the BaseShip.  The overall level of Cylon fighters
attempting pursuit of the Battlestar was relatively minimal, but as he
made his way back he saw two that had managed to break away from the
block being tied up by Phoenix Squadron.  
     First things first, he thought as he sized up the first of the two
and effortlessly took it out in one shot.  But the Raider alongside it
almost immediately pulled off the one Cylon maneuver that was known to
sometimes catch Colonial flyers off-guard.  The abrupt slow-down that
caused a pursuing Viper to fly past them enabling the Raider to end up
behind them without resorting to the more daring IM reverse thrust that
Viper pilots specialized in.
     Frack, did I just let myself get outmaneuvered by the oldest trick
in the Cylon handbook?  Skyler thought as he realized he was now in
serious trouble.  He was now showing his back to the pursuing Raider and
his fuel situation had reached a point where he didn't have the means to
outfly it at this point.  An IM reverse thrust at this point was no
longer feasible because he'd use up too much of his remaining fuel
reserve at this point.
     Not now.  He thought.  After everything else.......with Jocasta
waiting for me on Starlos.  I'm not ready for this, damn it!
     "Roll right, Cap, roll right!"
     The sudden sound of a voice that he couldn't correlate to any nearby
Viper caught him off-guard but he recovered quickly and moved.  And then
from somewhere in front of him a blue streak emitted, crossing through
the spot he had just rolled away from where it took out the pursuing
Raider.  
     Skyler quickly brought his Viper back on approach heading for the
Pegasus.  Ahead of him, he suddenly saw before his eyes two Vipers
decloak.  Both of them then peeled away from each other to do slow 180
turns that would put them back on approach for the Pegasus.  Immediately,
Skyler realized that these two had been heading back on a cloaked heading
and had then reversed course and decloaked to take out the pursuing
Raider that almost had a clear shot at him.  There was no question this
maneuver had saved his life.
     "Thank you," Silver Leader said with relief as he then placed the
voice.  "Tegran?"
     "Yes sir, made it back too late for the battle because we had to
slow-walk to save power but......we're okay.  The thanks go to Sergeant
Marcia though.  Her fire took out that sucker who had your astrum lined
up."
     "Glad to have done my part, sir," the female recruit said proudly.
     Skyler felt relieved that two pilots already thought dead were still
alive.  The sting over the other losses was starting to dissipate.
     "Okay......let's head for home."


The Pegasus
     "All fighters from the original patrol group are now accounted for
as landed or cleared to land," said Altair. 
     "Total losses from the patrol groups?" Tolen asked.
     "Seven sir.  We thought it was nine, but......Lieutenant Tegran and
Sergeant Marcia just showed up and are now safely aboard."
     "Thank the Lords for some miracles at least," the Executive Officer
sighed and glanced briefly at Cain who had moved away from the Navigation
Board and was looking down at the scene again..  Without saying anything,
Tolen moved towards Kylie who was standing near her old position where
Achillas was studying the readouts.
     "None of the attack force is getting close to us," the Senior Bridge
Officer said.  "They're down to about 30% now and we're putting more than
enough distance from them that it would be hard for them to regroup for
suicide hits."
     Knowing that any recall order had to come from Cain, Tolen glanced
up at the Juggernaut again.  Without saying anything, Cain gave a faint
nod of the head.
     "Issue the recall order to all fighters immediately," Tolen called
over to Altair, "Tell them to engage only those who choose to actively
pursue them back to the Pegasus.  Otherwise, leave them there to die a
long slow death."
     "Yes sir," the Communications officer nodded.
     Tolen mounted the stairs back to the upper level and came over to
Cain, "After we recover everyone, then we head back to the Colonies?"
     "Absolutely," Cain lightly tapped his stick against the rail. 
"We'll need to act just as quickly against the BaseShip that's already
there and hope to the Lords they haven't had enough time to go into full
attack mode."
     "Which means we'll have to figure out where they're likely to have
taken action first."
     "Exactly, Colonel.  I suspect they'd act first against the
facilities on Libra and Aquarius since that is where the bulk of the
Cylon forces are now.  It wouldn't make sense for them to carry out
scorched campaigns on the ten planets where only token Raider forces were
left behind after the Peace Treaty was struck."
     "Of course they'd have to take scanner readings to figure out which
planets contain the bulk of Malus's forces before they could attack."
     "Not necessarily," Cain pointed out, "They know that Libra and
Aquarius were the two primary bases of Cylon operations from the outset,
so they should be at the top of their priority list.  That's where we'll
go first if we still have time to get there before they act."
     "I have to recommend a different battle plan from what we've just
done with this BaseShip," Tolen went on, feeling no sense of intimidation
inside whatsoever.  "We have to get the drop on this next BaseShip and
take it out from behind.  Luring this one in and hitting it head on meant
higher Viper losses and they also were able to fire a missile at us even
when we were able to fire the Pulsar from close range."
     "Which fortunately didn't hit us because we executed a quick enough
turn in time."
     "No sir," Tolen shook his head, "We've received a supplemental
report on what happened with that.  The missile detonated prematurely
because Lieutenant Banker took it out, and the backfire is what killed
him.  Not a Raider hit.  We might have taken a hit to our main thrusters
astern if he hadn't done that."
     Cain didn't respond to that at first.  He lowered his head slightly
and then after five microns raised it again and said simply, "Put him
down for the Star of Kobol in his file, Colonel."
     "Yes sir," Tolen decided nothing more needed to be said for now as
he headed back down to the lower level.  
     From her position below, Kylie had heard the entire exchange even
though she'd kept her back turned and pretended not to notice.  Now,
still facing forward, she heard the sound of the swagger stick banging
itself against the support beam for the railing with a much more decisive
thwack. 


Cylon Home System
     "I want an update from Commander Egron!" Imperious Leader demanded. 
He was no longer seated on his throne but instead was visibly moving back
and forth in the Command Center adjacent to the Throne Room.  His whole
demeanor one of agitation.
     "He's not answering our attempts to raise him, Your Eminence," Luna
said.
     "What do you mean not answering?"
     "It's no longer a matter of his subordinate telling us that he's
detained," his chief aide said gravely, "It's now a matter of outright
failure to answer.  A development that seems rather....ominous."
     Imperious Leader stopped moving about, "So quickly?  Even with the
dangers of a one-to-one match with Commander Cain, it couldn't possibly
be over so quickly."
     "Unless Egron is suffering from damage to his communications relay,
which is possible.  However.....I think we might be advised to assume the
worst."  
     "Confound the man!" the Cylon ruler raged, "He cheats death at
Molocay.  He cheats death at Gomorrah.  He finds ways to rob us of
Gomorrah and Cannes and now this!  When does this madness end?"
     Luna had no answer.  And his two brains were expressing a thought he
could dare not utter.  That the Cylon High Command had made its greatest
mistake when it had chosen this one-time IL to be the new Leader instead
of Lucifer.
     But it was too late to change that.  Overthrowing this Leader at
this point would be at best a delaying gesture.  The only alternative
that seemed available at this point was casting lots with those like
Volahd and Malus and surrendering to the Humans.
     But this, Luna would never do.  Imperfect as the Leader was, he owed
him his loyalty and his devotion and he would if necessary die according
to the principles of Cylon philosophy that had first been laid down by
the Maker whose voice was the same as all the Leaders for the past
thousand yahrens.  To betray the message of the Maker was the one thing a
true Cylon could regard as what Humans referred to as "sin."
     "We should contact Commander Sorge and appraise him of what has
happened," Luna finally broke his silence.  "Should he maintain position
in the Colonies or head out to intercept the Pegasus?"
     But the Cylon Ruler didn't answer him right away.  He was moving
about again doing the equivalent of pacing.  No doubt trying to cope with
the magnitude of seeing everything about the Cylon Empire on the point of
collapse at this stage.
     "Your Eminence?" Luna prodded.
     "Sorge is a Command Centurion!" Imperious Leader fumed.  "If Egron
can't handle Commander Cain, how can we expect Sorge to do it?"
     "Your Eminence, unless you wish to risk our last line of
defense----,"
     "I know!" he raged, "I know all that!  Our options are
so.....limited!  Why is this so?  When all of Charted Space as we knew it
was within our dominion only a few short yahrens ago?  Why has it now
come to all this??"
     Is this what the Humans mean by insanity?  Luna had seen erratic
behavior in Cylon robots of all classes over the course of a hundred
yahrens but never anything like this in an Imperious Leader before.  Was
it perhaps.....the result of being abandoned by the Maker Himself?  Was
the original source of the voice that now spoke no longer residing within
the framework of the Imperious Leader as had been the case for all
previous ones since the beginning?
     "There must be a decision now, Your Eminence, to relay to Commander
Sorge," Luna's voice remained calm and deferential.  "Does he destroy
Malus and the Colonies.....or does he proceed to intercept the Pegasus?"
     "He....must intercept the Pegasus.  Cain is too close to our own
Home System.  It must be done or there's no end to the madness.  We can
not deal with traitors and the Disease until Cain is removed!"
     "I will notify Sorge and relay your order, Your Eminence." Luna said
with more deference .  "Perhaps you should......withdraw from these tasks
for now."
     The Cylon Ruler moved away from him in the direction of the Throne
Room.  Before reaching the door, he stopped and turned back to face his
trusted right-hand aide.
     "Begin execution of the prisoners.  Now."
     "By your command," Luna bowed.

Chapter Five

The Pegasus
     A lull seemed to come over the Battlestar as recovery operations for
the remaining Vipers continued and there were no issues of potential
suicide hits to take care of.  Cain had finally decided to leave the
Bridge and return to his quarters.  He was still there a half centar
later when Kylie entered to check on him   She saw him seated behind his
desk and looking weary and exhausted.  Looking askance with his hand to
his forehead and rubbing the temples constantly with his thumb and
forefinger as if he were trying to alleviate a throbbing pain.
     "Recovery operations are almost complete," his wife finally spoke
up. "We'll be underway for the Colonies in less than a centar from now."
     He looked up and frowned slightly at the sight of her.  "You should
still be on the Bridge."
     "I'm not here as the Senior Bridge Officer," Kylie came up the desk
and promptly sat on the edge, which was always her way of signaling that
she was talking to him as wife and not subordinate.  "Tell me what's
wrong."
     Cain let out a sigh, "I've looked at the telemetry data a dozen
times since I got here just to make sure Tolen was right.  He was.  If
Banker hadn't set off the missile with his own laser fire and gotten
himself killed......we would have taken a crippling hit in our stern
thrusters which would have made this ship all but useless for another
short-term battle."
     "And that's got you down?" Kylie asked with concern.
     "We executed the turn exactly the way we trained ourselves to do it
for sectars within the time frame I said was necessary," he rapped his
knuckles against the table.  "I misjudged the amount of turn time we'd
need after using the Pulsar.  I should have made sure it was shaved off
another three microns.  Then it would have made no difference at all and
Banker wouldn't have had to take the missile out and get himself killed. 
I planned it wrong completely."
     "This is an entirely new form of combat," the contrast between this
and the implacable self-assured Juggernaut of old from only a day ago was
astonishing to Kylie.  But it was only because she was his wife that he
was willing to let her see it.  "And the fact we were taking this
BaseShip head-on had something to do with it as well."
     "And I shouldn't have planned it that way either," he was still not
looking her in the eye.  "Eight Vipers lost is more than I bargained for. 
Especially someone as good as Banker was.  I was so anxious to take out
that BaseShip with one shot and fast that I didn't realize I should have
tried to maneuver from behind and get the drop on him before he could
have fired just one missile at us.  Instead I was shouting to the
BaseShip, 'Here I am, come and get me' because I figured that would take
the least amount of time to end the battle.  My desire to rush this thing
to get us back to the Colonies and take on the second BaseShip almost
turned this into a disaster."
     "We got through," Kylie said simply.  "It wasn't the simple, easy
success we'd been hoping for, but......we got through.  And we won the
battle.  That's the important thing."
     "I thought reverting to old form would compensate for the whole
unexpected curve of losing the element of surprise and it almost wasn't
enough," he didn't acknowledge her and then rubbed his temples again. 
"Lords of Kobol, I'm getting too old for this.  I wish it were all over."
     "It will be," her voice grew softer, "Soon.  Real soon."
     Cain shook his head, "No it won't Kylie.  Even....when we get
through the rest of this and finish off the damned Empire, it won't be
the end of things.  Because.....I'm now locked into what I told you about
before and what I haven't told the rest of the crew.  After this battle
is over.....we're going to regroup and head back out into deep space and
try to get to the Risik capital before they can finish building their
Neutrino Star Force to use against the Galactica."
     Kylie's reaction to this was neutral, "That's what you want to do?"
     He finally looked his wife in the eye and she could see the anguish
in him, "No, Kylie.  It's not what I want to do.  I want to go home to
Caprica and spend the rest of what's left of my life with you in peace. 
I want to do the things with you I never had enough time to do with
Bethany and Sheba.  I want to be done with fighting and war
because.....I've grown utterly sick of it.  But until I know my daughter
and grandchildren are safe forever on Earth, I'll never have a micron's
peace.  And this Pulsar means I can do something to help make sure they
get there safe and that means......at least a yahren's journey or more of
trying to catch up to them, but by the Lords I have to do it, or else you
and I can't have true happiness together in the Colonies."
     A look of pure empathy filled Kylie's perfectly shaped face.  The
empathy was there when she spoke.
     "I agree with you," she said.  "We'd both be miserable if we
couldn't be pro-active about helping the Galactica when we have something
that can really make a difference in their effort to reach Earth safely. 
We have to put aside any thoughts of sharing a life of peace and quiet
together until we know we've done all we can do as warriors to help. 
It's not just your need to do it as a warrior, Cain.  It's my need too. 
Not just because of Sheba and your grandchildren but I've also got a lot
of friends who evacuated to the Galactica I'm still concerned about and
want to be safe too."  
     Her words put him at ease a little.  Another reminder of how she was
so right for him at this stage in his life because as a warrior herself,
she understood the warrior's impulse that defined him.
     "But when you do make that decision after all this is over and it's
time for us to go off into deep space.......you have to give everyone in
your crew the freedom to decide for themselves if they want to take part
in it as well.  And if some of them decide they want to get off the ride
just like Major Ham decided to get off at Cannes......then don't try to
stop them.  I'm sure you can find more willing volunteers in the Colonies
who'd be able to compensate for them."
     "You think a lot will want to 'get off the ride' as you put it?"
     "I won't pull a number out of my head," Kylie said, "But I think at
the very least, you'll need to look for a new Squadron Leader."  
     "Ah yes," Cain smiled mirthlessly, "Skyler wouldn't want to delay
his future on Starlos with Jocasta any longer."
     "No," she nodded.  "And if I had any doubts that he wants out sooner
than later, they got dispelled when I saw him make his debriefing report
to Colonel Tolen.  He almost let himself get burned by a Cylon during the
battle because he didn't keep his eye on his fuel readout.  Iif Tegran
and Marcia hadn't miraculously returned after everyone else thought they
were dead, then he would have been a casualty too.  He looked like
someone on the verge of burnout.  I'm sure he'll be okay for the rest of
what we have to do with the Cylons......but as far as asking him to stay
on for a long journey back into deep space, I think you can forget it." 
     "I won't influence him one way or the other," Cain paused, "If he
did decide to call it a career, that would mean you move up to #3 in the
Chain of Command."
     "I'm ready for it," she didn't skip a beat.
     Before he could say anything else, the sound of the Red Alert klaxon
suddenly filled the air, catching them both off-guard.  Kylie promptly
leapt off the edge of the desk while Cain bolted up and hit the comline
to the Bridge.  "What's going on?"
     "Long range tracking just spotted the second BaseShip," Tolen said
urgently. 
     "Frack....how did they get here this fast?  No, forget that.  We're
within the Antiochean Cluster, aren't we?"
     "Yes sir, we are."
     "Find the nearest planetary body with sufficient gravity and have us
slingshot around it so we can intercept that piece of felgercarb from
behind!  Don't launch any Vipers or Raiders.  I want to take them
completely by surprise so they won't have time to think of getting off a
missile!"
     "Yes sir!"
     Cain switched the comline off and grabbed his swagger stick from the
desk as he hurried out with Kylie following him.


     The klaxon was still sounding when Cain and Kylie arrived on the
Bridge five centons later.  Bridge personnel not assigned to a particular
console were moving about with an almost agitated frenzy as if they
didn't feel mentally prepared for the strain of another engagement with a
BaseShip, coming so soon after the last one.  Not even Cain's arrival
seemed to quell that feeling.
     "We've assumed course heading around the outermost planet of the
Gamma Antiochus system," Tolen pointed to the Navigation Board, "Based on
the course heading we detected of this BaseShip we should be able to
catch them off-guard and fire the Pulsar at them before they can bring
their missile banks on-line.  But we'll need to orbit the planet twice
before we can then  slingshot toward him and intercept him at the right
centon."
     "Good job, Colonel," Cain nodded.  "Missile Control report?"
     "Pulsar is online, fully charged and ready to go."
     The Juggernaut made his way over to the rail and looked down at
Falstaff.  "Hands still steady, Falstaff?"
     The Gunnery Officer turned around and with a confident smile held up
his right hand to show that there wasn't the slightest sign of any
nervous tremor whatsoever.  Cain returned the smile and gave him a wave
of his swagger stick.  Watching him, Kylie was relieved to see that Cain
had left all the weariness and doubts behind in the privacy of their
chambers.  
     "All right!" Cain barked in the confident, brash tone of the
Juggernaut, "We did it before, and now let's do it again!"
     A number of cheers went up from throughout the Bridge, as if now the
agitated feeling that had existed was passing.  But one person who didn't
join in the cheering was Altair.  The Communications Officer was pressing
the earpiece of his headset tight.  A frown crossing his face as if he
was hearing something he didn't think could possibly be real.
     "Commander," his first word was soft but then his voice began to
rise, "Commander!"
     "What is it?" Cain looked over at him.
     "Sir......we're getting a direct signal from the BaseShip!  They're
trying to make contact with us."
     "What do you mean, trying to make contact with us?"
     "Sir, it's......it's Commander Deval!"
     And then Altair hit the switch so that the transmission would be
heard throughout the entire Bridge.
     "Pegasus, this is Deval.  We are in control of the BaseShip.  I
repeat, we are in control of the BaseShip!  Please rendezvous with us
immediately!  Pegasus, please respond!"
     There was a stunned silence from the entire Bridge that extended
even to Cain.  He made his way down to the lower level and came up to
Altair's station.
     "Cain, acknowledge!" Deval's voice continued to fill the Bridge,
"This isn't a trap!  The BaseShip is under our complete control!  The
crew has joined us!"
     Cain finally took the unicom mike and spoke into it, "Deval, this is
Cain.  What was the name of your former wingmate when you flew on the
Solaria and the name of his wife and daughter?"
     "Nice question to prove I'm not a Cylon decoy using a voice
duplicator.  My wingmate was Sergeant Mattoon who is still alive in the
Galactica Fleet.  His late wife was Jana, and their daughter Abby was
found by me in the wreckage of Caprica City and brought up by me until
Ila was able to take her back to her father.  Convinced of my bona fides
now?"
     "Absolutely," Cain didn't hesitate.  "How many of you are on the
BaseShip and how did you pull this miracle off?"
     "Just like you, Cain, we make our own miracles," the Caprican
Resistance leader boasted, "We preferred doing that to just sitting back
on our astrums waiting for you to come back.  Now I'm going to be leaving
aboard a Cylon shuttle in the next five centons along with Commander
Neele from Skorpia who assisted in the operation.  When we're aboard the
Pegasus, we'll fill you in on what happened and then we can start talking
about our plan of action for taking care of the Cylon Home System."
     Cain was trying to keep up with this sudden turn of events.  The
idea that the Resistance, undoubtedly in cooperation with Malus, wouldn't
sit back passively and wait had never occurred to him.  He now realized
he had done the Caprican leader a tremendous disservice.  As well as the
rest of the Resistance leaders.
     "We'll be happy to have you two aboard!" his voice rose with
excitement.  And with it, the relief that he'd been spared the burden of
having to fight a second battle with a BaseShip so quickly after the
first one.
     He turned to Tolen, "Secure from General Quarters, Colonel!"
     "With pleasure, sir!" the Executive Officer grinned.
     As the celebrating broke out, Kylie found herself too moved inside
to join in the merriment.  Only a brief gaze upward of thanks to the
Almighty that no second battle had been necessary.


     Thirty centons later, Commander Deval and Commander Neele had both
arrived via shuttle and were in Cain's office for a private discussion of
what had happened.  They recounted the hastily assembled meeting of the
Resistance Leaders with Malus and Valan also in attendance.  The unified
sentiment that action needed to be taken.  And finally, approval of the
plan that Deval had devised after getting the blessing of Malus that it
could be pulled off.
     "It came down to the fact that Malus would be expected to meet with
Command Centurion Sorge, the CO of this BaseShip.  So I put forth the
idea that when the BaseShip arrived in our solar system, Malus should
radio to Sorge that he accept a delegation of two shuttles, one from
Libra that would include himself, the other from Aquarius.  But instead
of formal delegations, the shuttles consisted of commando team operatives
along with a number of Enlightened centurions."
     "You mean Malus wasn't aboard one of the shuttles?" Cain asked.
     "No, Malus was on the lead shuttle.  He needed to be in constant
radio contact with Sorge to push the deception along."
     "Then if I understand you right," Cain leaned back in his chair and
took this in, "Sorge's BaseShip arrived in the Colonies before word came
down from the Imperious Leader that Malus was actually a traitor?"
     "Exactly," Commander Neele nodded.  "And the Lords were with us on
that point.  The message from the High Command that Ambassador Orcus had
cracked and revealed the truth about Arcta and about Malus literally came
in fifteen centons after the commando shuttles arrived on the BaseShip
and seized control of the landing bay.  Malus was already communicating
with Sorge from the landing bay when word came down that Imperious Leader
was making contact and Malus threatened to have the landing bay blown up
if Sorge revealed what had just happened and that Sorge was to tell
Imperious Leader that they still hadn't arrived in the Colonial solar
system yet.  Sorge did exactly as he was told, and Imperious Leader was
none the wiser."
     "And then we put phase two into effect," Deval said.  "With the
landing bay secure, we then forced Sorge to play through the unicom
system a very significant recording.  A recording that explains the true
history of the Cylon race."
     Light dawned on Cain, "Isn't that what Ila put together for the
Arcta centurions?"
     "An expanded version," Deval stressed.  "One that first posed the
question of whether or not any centurions had ever developed a sudden
awareness of the term 'Makers'.  Which of itself meant a stirring of the
lost knowledge that one individual alone was not responsible for the
creation of the Cylon robotic race.  Sorge admitted that he had once had
that experience over four yahrens ago during the last mission his ship
performed outside the Cylon Home System."
     "And that's a significant point," Neele chimed in, "This awareness
of the Makers, a critical first step in the whole Enlightenment process,
only takes hold when there is distance from the Cylon Home System and
specifically from the Imperious Leader.  Because the Imperious Leader,
like all his predecessors, has the same voice of the one figure in Cylon
history believed for a thousand yahrens to be the sole Maker of the
robotic race."
     Count Iblis, Cain thought.  But he refrained from uttering the name
since he couldn't recall just now if Deval and Neele had ever been fully
briefed by Ila or anyone else on the significance of the name.
     "Which also explains why Enlightenment has never broken out in the
Cylon Home System," Deval went on, "The forces that stay in close
proximity to Imperious Leader are incapable of developing those feelings. 
Whether its because of the proximity to the Leader himself, or his
machine essence based on the extinct reptilian Cylons and using the voice
of the supposed sole Maker we don't know.  But clearly that's the
explanation for why it was impossible for anyone there to become
Enlightened and overthrow the High Command."
     "Unfortunately for us," Cain acknowledged.  "At any rate, you then
played this recording that tells them the true history of the Cylon
robotic race?"
     "Yes.  Going back to that period after the original Cylon race was
virtually decimated by a parasitic insectoid race called the Otaligim
that killed over two-thirds of the population.  In the standard telling
of Cylon history, the sole 'Maker' was the most gifted of living Cylons
who in the wake of the Otaligim devastation, gave them the key to
developing the Cylon robotic race, based on the bipedal model of Human
beings.  But the truth is the inspiration came not from a single Maker
but a number of them.  And while they had appeared in the form of living
Cylons, they were actually beings from another realm entirely.  Giving to
the Cylon race gifts of knowledge in the hopes they'd be able to use
these robots to help rebuild their civilization that had been so
decimated by the Otaligim.  Their purpose in being created was not to
wage war on sentient beings but to be the instruments of salvation for
the original Cylon race.  And in receiving this knowledge on how to build
efficient robots that could rebuild their civilization, the reptilian
Cylons were to never abuse their creations for self-centered purposes. 
They were to treat them with dignity and respect because they could never
forget that without them, it would have taken hundreds of yahrens to
rebuild."
     "But something went wrong when an outcast from the race of the
Makers suddenly contaminated everything," Neele picked up the story. 
"Reprogramming the robots to believe they were ill-treated by the
reptilian Cylons.  Making them think that their only purpose and function
was to conquer and destroy instead of to serve and to help.  Convincing
them that only by following a path rooted in war and conquest could they
ever hope to achieve order in the universe.  And that their entire
programming from this point on had to be dedicated to the pursuit of that
order even if it took a thousand yahrens."
     "And this outcast Maker made them forget all about the true Makers
who had intended otherwise for them," Cain was now recalling things from
his own conversations with Ila.  "The Maker they revere and model all
their Leaders after."
     "Yes," Deval nodded, "And the greatest and most shocking of proofs
for these Cylons is the recording Commander Adama furnished of the False
Maker assuming Human form when he attempted to enslave the Galactica and
her Fleet.  But still with the same voice.  A voice that no other
creature in the Universe could possibly possess but for the False Maker."
     "And.....like the Cylons on Arcta, it obviously had a sobering
effect on Commander Sorge and his crew," Cain was impressed.  "That was
when you secured control of the BaseShip entirely?"
     "Within a centar," the Caprican Leader nodded, "Not that there
wasn't some Resistance.  Just like we had the one rogue Cylon on
Sagittaria after the Peace Treaty was signed.  We had to shoot about nine
Centurions dead in the landing bay and after Command Centurion Sorge
agreed to turn control of the BaseShip to Governor Malus, there were
about a dozen others who refused to comply later who had to be killed. 
Fortunately no one in our ranks was killed, nor for that matter was Malus
or any of his senior staff."
     "But Malus isn't with you now."
     "Malus wisely recognized that the best way to insure Sorge's
permanent conversion to the Enlightened ranks was to give command back to
him.  That made just as big an impression as hearing the voice of the
False Maker when he appeared to the Galactica."
     Cain shook his head in amazement, "Well gentlemen, you've told me a
remarkable and courageous tale of acting quickly on your feet and making
sure the BaseShip was headed off as quickly as possible before it could
act against Malus and the rest of the Colonies.  The question now though,
is does the Imperious Leader know he's lost control of the BaseShip?"
     "No," Deval shook his head, "There've been two additional messages
since Malus's cover was blown.  Sorge has answered them dutifully and
kept up the pretense.  The second one was just over a centar ago and told
him to abandon the Colonies and head back to intercept the Pegasus.  So
ironically, he's still been 'following orders' as it were."
     The Juggernaut then digested all of this and said, "Ideally, I'd
like us to get to the Cylon Home System and finish things off as quickly
as possible because the lives of the prisoners in the mines may now be at
greater risk if Imperious Leader thinks things are getting too desperate
for him.  But if we're going to have a more effective battle plan in
place, we're going to have to take a step back for just a bit and
coordinate things with Sorge and his crew.  That also means maintaining
the fiction with Imperious Leader for at least twenty-four centars so our
arrival can plausibly fit his perceptions of how long it's been since
Sorge left the Colonies."
     "I agree, Cain," Deval said.  "I would recommending sending
Commander Cobre and Flight Leader Gryphon over to the BaseShip so they
can give Sorge a briefing similar to what we've been doing here.  And
then we can have a joint council of war on the subject."
     "I'll take care of that.  We'll also need to update Adama about all
this too."
     "Adama knows we've taken the BaseShip," Neele said.  "Anders
notified his cousin Hunley just after we secured it via the telepathic
link they share.  And because I'm Otori as well, I notified Hunley just
before we took the shuttle over here."
     Cain frowned, "Where is Anders?  Shouldn't he be here too?"
     "Anders is back in the Colonies," the Skorpian leader explained. 
"We were both part of the Commando assault, but once the BaseShip was
secure we knew one of us had to stay behind to keep a communications link
to Hunley active from there.  Since Anders recently got sealed to Ashera, 
Deval and I insisted he be the one to stay behind.  So that's why I'm
here to keep the link active to Hunley and could give her a report before
Deval and I came over.  By the time you raise Adama, he'll already know
the basic details and we can just focus on where we go from here."
     They've really thought of everything they had to on their own, Cain
couldn't help but smile as he reached for the comline.  It actually feels
nice to know it all didn't have to rest on my shoulders only.


The Galactica
     "Commander Neele says they've made contact with the Pegasus and will
be on their way over in a few centons," Hunley reported over the vidcom
from the Agro-Ship dome.  "Commander Cain confirms destruction of the
first Cylon BaseShip."
     "Thank you for that report, Hunley," Adama felt his exuberance
increase.  "You're released now from the Agro-Ship.  Spend the rest of
the day with Dante aboard the Constellation."
     "Thank you, sir!"
     Adama switched the vidcom off and looked over at Ila, who'd been in
a good mood as well ever since Hunley had relayed the first report from
Anders that the BaseShip sent to the Colonies had been successfully taken
over.
     "Well.....so far, so good."
     "Very," his wife nodded, "I think after this, Cain will have a lot
more respect for Deval's capabilities than he had before."
     "Let's hope so," Adama sighed, "I'm going to have to notify Baltar
now.  He'll want to relay all of this information to his crew."
     A few centons later, the connection to Baltar's BaseShip had been
made.  Adama noticed that Ayesha was sitting next to him.  The last few
times that Adama and Ila had directly spoken to the former traitor, he'd
made a point of having his wife present as if it was his way of 'evening'
things out.  A subtle reminder of how even yahrens after his reformation
and return to Colonial Society, not all of Baltar's disagreeable traits
would ever disappear completely.
     As Adama summarized the details of what they knew, a satisfied smile
came over Baltar's face followed by that annoying chuckle of his.
     "My compliments to Commander Cain and the Resistance leadership," he
said.  "It sounds as if they have the potential to be two ships in
strength for the final assault on the Cylon Home System."
     "Indeed," Adama nodded, "I'll probably be hearing from him shortly
on what his strategy for that will be."
     Abruptly the smirk disappeared and Baltar's expression grew
completely serious.
     "I need to be part of that discussion, Adama."
     The Commander lifted an eyebrow.  In the more than two yahrens since
contact had been re-established with the Pegasus, Baltar had never once
been part of any discussion with Cain, even though it was technically
through his BaseShip that the communication signal came to before being
relayed to the Galactica.  Even though Cain had always accepted Adama's
explanations that Baltar's defection had been sincere and that he'd
behaved impeccably since then, Adama felt that having the two actually
face each other had too much potential to reopen old wounds.  Especially
with the memories of Gomorrah and Cain's determination at the time to go
after Baltar's ship and make him pay for the crime of the Destruction. 
Adama couldn't think of the two men engaging in any kind of conversation
with that incident hanging over them both.
     "Is there something you feel you can contribute directly, Baltar?"
     "Yes," the former traitor said flatly, "I have met the Imperious
Leader.  I know a lot about him and what he might do.  My insights I'm
sure will be of great assistance to him for the final battle that's still
to come."
     Adama hesitated.  It made logical sense to have Baltar be part of
the discussion because of the intelligence he could offer.  And
yet.....what if Cain made some harsh, cutting remark?  Or Deval for that
matter?  If something like that happened, it could have disastrous
repercussions he didn't want to contemplate.
     He finally answered him, "Very well, Baltar.  But I think to give
them a complete intelligence picture from your end, have Commander Vulpa
present as well.  He too has met the Imperious Leader and conversed with
him more recently."
     "Of course," Baltar nodded, "I'll have him summoned immediately. 
We'll stand by until the Pegasus makes contact."
     "Thank you, Baltar."


     The instant he shut the vidcom off, Baltar leaned back with a
distinct air of relief that Ayehsa immediately noticed.
     "Were you worried he wasn't going to let you participate?"
     "A little," he conceded, "Cain and I.....have a history that goes
back to long before the....Destruction," he always chose his words
carefully when referring to the event he bore direct responsibility for.
     "I remember," his wife said simply, "That interview you gave to the
Pisceran press that Cain was the living embodiment of why the Colonial
military represented style over substance when it came to their overall
fighting capability."
     Baltar sighed, "I'd forgotten we were already together then."
     "Just after our affair began," Ayesha had long ago realized that she
couldn't dance around any subject of the past.  Especially hers.  "You
filed for dissolution of your seal from Glacia not long afterwards."
     Baltar couldn't recall the last time he'd  heard the name of his
second wife spoken aloud.  Or his first wife, Golde for that matter. 
Both of them had been marriages of societal convenience to aid him in
gaining stature as a member of the Pisceran ruling class.  Golde,
arranged by their respective parents.  Glacia when Golde no longer served
that purpose.  He had salved his conscience, back when he still had a
shred of one, by reminding himself that Golde was dying, and he would
soon be free.  But he'd loathed them both and was glad to be rid of them
when they no longer were necessary to his ambitions.  Especially in the
case of Glacia, whom he'd eagerly discarded after meeting Ayesha.  The
first and only woman in his life who had ever truly stirred deep passion
within him.  Not simply because of her beauty but because she'd been the
only woman he'd met who shared his desire for the amoral acquisition of
power.  That was why they'd been such an ideal match in those days.  But
it was the fact that Ayesha was never afraid to speak her mind to him
that had kept him from telling her of the double-dealing plots he was
engaged in at the time.  Fearing that she'd try to talk him out of it, or
worse expose what he'd been up to.
     Unbeknownst to him, she had survived the Destruction and out of
shame had taken a new name, Claudia and lived a life of selfless
humanitarianism in the Fleet aboard the Senior Ship.  At one point even
starting a relationship with Starbuck's father Chameleon that seemed on
the verge of a sealing until Baltar's sudden reappearance with his
defection back to the Colonial side had led her to reclaim her past and
return to Baltar.  Only because she'd convinced herself that she was the
only one who could keep Baltar from ever going astray again.  And it
didn't take long for Baltar to realize that Ayesha was a changed woman
completely from the woman he'd known before.  No more was she the lusty
passionate hedonist who'd first stolen his heart.  Now, she was the voice
of conscience he'd lacked all his life before.  There to give him
reproach of a kind that only she could give him.  Because Ayesha had
returned to him, he'd learned to stop rationalizing or excusing his
behavior that had led him to sell out his own race.  He'd learned to
cease craving for absolute power and instead be satisfied with the simple
joy of being alive and that he'd somehow been able to achieve some
measure of absolution by defecting back and presenting to Adama a
BaseShip full of enlightened Cylons who had done much to assist the Fleet
in its ongoing journey to Earth.  Without her to keep him on the straight
and narrow, he was convinced the old temptations would have inevitably
returned at some point.  He might have easily been tempted to undercut
Adama's authority and find an excuse to seize political control of the
Fleet.  Or to use his ability to command the Enlightened Cylons as a
bargaining chip to get more concessions from Adama in the form of shared
power.
     But none of that had happened.  Baltar had come to accept being
subservient to Adama's authority.  Never able to travel off the BaseShip
and show himself elsewhere in the Fleet.  But with Ayesha by his
side......it never felt like a prison to him.  Because he could always
have her to open up to and be candid with......and she in turn could be
candid with him.  
     And because of Ayesha......Baltar knew he'd been freed from hearing
that infernal voice in his head.  The voice of the one who had
manipulated him into surrendering to Adama.  The voice of the one who had
confronted him in the cell on the Prison Barge.  The voice of the one who
had appeared to him more than once on the planet he'd been marooned on. 
And who after his defection had spoken in his head frequently, taunting
him about the limitations he had subjected himself to as subordinate
underling of Adama's.  Until one day.....the voice had stopped haunting
him.  Because Ayesha had at one point confronted the source of that voice
directly and had invoked the Book of the Word to cast him out from her
presence.....and Baltar's too.
     Yes, Ayesha had come back to him, but not to be the wife she'd been
to him in the old days.  She'd instead become something far more
meaningful to him.  And he could never let himself forget that.  Ever.  
     "I remember," he finally answered her.  "That was.....so long ago."
     "When we were different people," Ayesha emphasized. "Making the
wrong decisions on.....everything."
     He knew it was deliberate that she added no qualifier about their
coming together being an exception.  If he'd said something like that out
of affection, he knew she'd gently reproach him again.  A reminder to
Baltar that he could never confuse Ayesha's devotion to him as his wife
with romantic love.  It was love of a different kind.  And one that he
had to admit was probably more meaningful as well, even if a part of him
on occasion wished for the fiery passion of what they'd once shared in
the old days.  Still, he never let that pang of foolish nostalgia get the
better of him.  If it did, he was liable to start hearing an unpleasant
voice in his head once again.
     "Well.....this is my opportunity to let Cain see that for himself,"
Baltar decided it was time to get back to the present.  "I want him to
succeed.  And if I can find some small way of contributing to that.....it
will be worth it."
     "Unquestionably," Ayesha nodded and then added, "You'd better summon
Vulpa."
     "Of course," he managed to smile as he rose to take care of that.


Galactica Fleet-The Senior Ship
     Life continued to unfold at its routine pace throughout the rest of
the Fleet, with the 70,000 people ignorant of what was happening far
across the galaxy in the regions of space they'd long left behind.  That
was especially true aboard the Senior Ship, which housed some six hundred
people above the age of sixty yahrens who didn't have full-time
designation assignments of their own.  Some of them were incapable of it
because of their health conditions, but it also included those who were
placed aboard the ship simply because of space issues and who didn't have
extended families of their own they needed to stay grouped with.
     The ship didn't boast much in the way of amenities, which was true
of most passenger freighters in the Fleet.  But it did boast two common
gathering areas for the benefit of those who weren't confined to bed care
and in those places, those who could move about freely could often get a
chance for friendly conversation with their peers, or could indulge in
the IFB video stream that ran constantly on a large monitor.  Right now,
the video stream was showing an interview with the newest member of the
Council of Twelve.....or rather the Council of Thirteen as it was now
called, since the new member represented the newly created seat for the
Thirteenth Tribe, Earth.
     "We are joined now by Rebecca Shulman, who was sworn in recently as
the first member of the Council to represent the native constituents of
Earth who are among us.  Thank you for joining us."
     The sixty-five year old Earth native who had spent forty yahrens on
the one-time Risik prison world of Niddion nodded politely at Zara.  She
was wearing a Council style tunic and on the front wore a gold pin with
the initials "US" of the type common to those worn on the lapels of Class
A US Army jackets.  She also wore a Languatron device around her neck
which allowed her English to be instantly translated into Colonial
Standard while an earpiece allowed her to hear Zara's questions
translated in real time.
     "The first question I'd like to ask.....well first off, how do you
prefer to be addressed?  I understand like President Ila, you rejected a
title of nobility that comes with being a Council member."
     "Just 'Becky,' which is a diminutive for Rebecca," she said,
"Technically, my old military rank of Lieutenant is probably still active
as far as my service branch on Earth is concerned, but.....I think that
would be inappropriate in applying it to my Council status.  I suppose in
more formal settings, 'Councilor Shulman' might be necessary, but I think
we can keep things informal here for this interview."
     "Of course Becky.  Now, as far as you and your fellow refugees from
Niddion are concerned, how is your adjustment to life in the Fleet
going?"
     "It's.....been a remarkable experience.  On many levels we're
getting a chance to experience things that those of us who were directly
abducted from Earth by the Risik haven't known in forty.....yahrens.  And
for those who are of the second generation, it's entirely new for them to
enjoy more varied diets in food, a higher level of medical care, and to
have more people to interact with.  At the same time, they've had to
accept smaller personal space than they had on Niddion, but since they
know the journey to Earth is something that will only last at most
another two plus yahrens, it's a sacrifice that I think most of them are
willing to make since living space on Earth will be far greater than
anything they've known in their lives."
     "Now....the matter of the second generation being exclusively
half-Risik and the result of past interbreeding isn't causing any
awkwardness in developing relations with the people of the Fleet?"
     Becky Shulman seemed to stiffen slightly at the question as if she
considered it inappropriate.  But she kept her polite demeanor and
answered it.  Drawing from the lessons in being tactful she'd learned
from her late lover, the American Congressman Harlan Lindy.
     "I don't think there's any awkwardness whatsoever as far as
relations with the people of the Fleet are concerned.  Risik dissenters
were already in your ranks for some time before that so I think the
people of the Fleet have long understood that not every Risik is
automatically a follower of Risik dogmas.  The only awkwardness related
to the matter of the second generation being half-Risik is that because
of the unfortunate circumstances regarding how events unfolded on
Niddion, they only recently learned this fact about themselves."
     "Yes.  That was because your late colony leader made certain that
was withheld from the rest of the population?"
     Becky injected just a note of impatience in her tone, "I think the
matter of our past history on Niddion is no longer relevant.  We're only
concerned with how things develop from this time forward now that we're
part of the Fleet's journey to Earth.  We've appreciated the friendly
reception and overtures the people of the Fleet have given us, and now
I'm happy to represent the interests of not just those I've lived with
for the last forty yahrens, but also those who previously joined the
Fleet following their liberation from the Risik prison camp at Ne'Chak."
     "Of course, Becky.  That's quite commendable."
     As he watched the interview go on, the elderly white-haired man
sitting on the comfortable couch couldn't help but be impressed.  The new
Council member clearly knew how to handle an awkward interview without
losing her composure and keeping her answers diplomatic.  He'd met too
many other Earth natives over the last two yahrens who probably would
have lost their tempers completely under the barrage of questions from
Zara.
     "She's a good woman."
     The man turned and saw that he'd been joined on the couch by a
black-haired woman with exotic features.  Even though she was clearly in
her early sixties, she looked at least ten yahrens younger.
     "You know her?" the man asked.
     "Yes," she nodded, "I'm also one of the refugees from Niddion.  My
name is Diandra.  I....just relocated my quarters to the Senior Ship."
     "I see," he said, impressed by her as he extended his hand, "My name
is Chameleon."
     "It is good to meet you.....Chameleon," Diandra smiled pleasantly as
she took the offered hand and then added, "You.....understand what it
means when I tell you that I'm from Niddion, and.....female?"
     Chameleon looked her over carefully.  He'd gotten a summary of what
had happened on the planet from Starbuck, who had learned it from Apollo. 
"It means you're a Risik, doesn't it?"
     "Yes," Diandra admited.  "I and three other women who were kept
locked away in cells for so many years......we are Risik.  The last of
the mothers of the second generation of Niddion who couldn't tell our
children that they are half-Risik."
     "You have children?" he was already finding her fascinating.  Her
dark-haired beauty and charismatic personality was reminding him a good
deal of the last woman he'd had strong feelings for.  A woman who'd gone
by the name of Claudia.
     "One son," she nodded, "His name is Christopher Marlowe. 
Unfortunately.....he and I are not on speaking terms because the shock of
learning that he's half-Risik has been hard for him to cope with."
     "I'm sorry to hear that," Chameleon was concentrated entirely on
Diandra now, the IFB interview now forgotten to him.  "I.....know
something of what it's like to be estranged from a son, although I'm
happy to say we've long since patched things up."
     "Do you?" she was intrigued to hear this.  "And where is your
son....Chameleon?"
     "He's a warrior and pilot aboard the Galactica," there was pride in
his voice, "His name is Starbuck."
     "Ah," a dawn of recognition came over her, "I have heard the name
before.  A close friend of Captain Apollo, is he not?"
     "He is.  They grew up together and were wingmates for many yahrens,"
Chameleon nodded.  "Perhaps.....I could introduce you to him sometime?"
     "Sometime," Diandra then smiled, "But for now.....tell me more about
yourself, Chameleon.  You seem to be a most charming gentleman. 
And.....I have met very few of them in my time."
     "It would be my pleasure," he rose and offered her his arm, "Would
you like to share a drink with me in the Common Room?"
     "I would like that," she rose and took it.  
     As they headed out of the crowded Meeting Area, Diandra felt proud
of herself.  She had heard the instruction from Belial to make contact
with a man named Chameleon and she'd succeeded.  She was ready to proceed
in the next phase of proving her devotion to the Supreme Risik god.


The Pegasus/The Galactica
     Cain purposefully delayed contacting the Galactica in order for
Commander Cobre and Flight Leader Gryphon to journey to the BaseShip and
hook up with Commander Sorge.  That brought a direct video communique
from Sorge's private quarters, with the BaseShip commander flanked by the
two Cylons from the Pegasus.  It gave Cain time to talk to Sorge and get
his version of how events had unfolded when the commando teams had staged
their daring takeover that had ultimately come off peacefully and with
minimal crew resistance.  He could tell that Sorge appreciated the fact
that a command centurion from his own class like Cobre was already
serving in an important position aboard the Pegasus.  Reinforcing the
point that for Cylons, embracing Enlightenment did not mean that Cylons
were surrendering themselves to a position of subservient obedience to
their former Human enemies.
     Once he knew the connection to the BaseShip was secure, he then
ordered the Bridge to make contact with the Galactica.  
     "Greetings, Adama!" he said proudly as soon as he saw his face on
the monitor.  "Commander Neele tells me you've already been given the
basic details of what's happened."
     "Indeed we have, Cain," Adama said.  "It's an answer to prayer that
things have gone this well so far."
     "We did suffer some losses," Cain then added, "I'll have to relay
the casualty list later for the benefit of those who have friends and
relatives in the Fleet.  But....we're in fighting shape for the final act
of this little drama, and with a BaseShip now joining our effort we'll
finally know what you've experienced fighting alongside with a BaseShip."
     "That reminds me," Adama was glad Cain had given him the perfect
opening, "I'd like to bring in Commander Vulpa and Baltar for
consultation on this discussion.  They have some insights you might find
helpful before you move in on the Cylon capital."
     The image shifted and for the first time Cain saw the face of
Baltar, the greatest traitor in the history of the human race staring
back at him.  Vulpa, whom Cain had met at Arcta, was standing next to
him.
     "Greetings, Commander Cain," Baltar bowed his head respectfully. 
There wasn't a trace of arrogance in his voice, "My congratulations to
you for a successful engagement, as well as all of your previous
triumphs."
     Cain tried to show no emotion.  It had been so easy to accept
Baltar's defection back to the Colonial side as an abstract concept and
something countless light-yahrens away from him.  But seeing Baltar and
hearing him talk for the first time suddenly made all the bad feelings of
the past start to stir inside Cain once again.  The hostile exchanges
they'd had long before Molocay.  The learning of Baltar's responsibility
for what had happened when he'd met up with the Galactica.  The battle at
Gomorrah when he'd initially planned to drive through the two support
BaseShips and take Baltar out, only to be forced to change those plans at
the last micron and go to hyperspace.
     There was so much he wanted to say at that micron as a way of
performing a final act of catharsis......but he held his tongue.  It
would have served no purpose any longer, just as it served no purpose to
focus on the deaths that all the Cylons he'd learned to work with like
Cobre, Vulpa and Malus had been responsible for.  All of that was in the
past and had no bearing on what needed to be done in the present.
     "Thank you.....Baltar," Cain nodded but didn't force any fake
smiles.  He then turned his gaze to Vulpa, "Commander Vulpa, it's good to
see you again.  The Arcta base is still secure, though unfortunately
Ambassador Orcus finally proved to be unreliable when he decided to die
telling the Imperious Leader the truth about Arcta and the Colonies."
     "That does not surprise me," Vulpa said.  "It was a calculated risk,
but it would seem it has been of little consequence as far as the final
outcome is concerned."
     "Quite true, Vulpa, quite true," Cain said, "Your former colleagues,
Commander Cobre and Flight Leader Gryphon are aboard the BaseShip with
Commander Sorge and are available for this discussion as well, along with
Commander Deval and Commander Neele.  As you know it is our intention to
proceed to the Cylon Home System and perform two tasks.  First, destroy
the Capital and with it, the Imperious Leader.  We're now convinced that
the only hope we have of saving the lives of the prisoners who were taken
from the Colonies to work in the Neutrino mines is to first eliminate the
Imperious Leader and his remaining forces completely.  Only when his
presence is gone can we then take a chance getting the Cylon guards in
the mines to change sides by broadcasting the true story of the Cylon
race's beginning."
     "That is a logical course of action," Vulpa said.  "It does seem
clear that the lack of Enlightenment in the Home System is directly
attributable to the presence of not simply His Eminence, but the machine
essence he resides in, as all Leaders before have resided in it."
     "But in order to eliminate the Imperious Leader, you must inflict
total carnage on the Cylon capital and make sure that machine essence is
vaporized into nothing," Baltar spoke up, "And the best way you can
achieve that, Cain, is to capitalize on the fact that Commander Sorge's
ship has switched sides and give him the opportunity to think that the
Pegasus has been captured and is being escorted back to Cylon as his
prisoner.  In short, the very plan I had once proposed to you, Adama."
     Adama felt the memory of that time long ago on Kobol returning to
him.  A plan that he had coldly rejected because he regarded it as
insincere in the wake of Baltar's treachery.  With hindsight, he now
realized that Baltar had told the truth on that occasion.  But he'd never
regretted rejecting the offer because if he hadn't, then so many things
that Adama now believed to be the will of the Lords and Almighty would
never have taken place.  Now though, the offer that Baltar had made long
ago actually had a chance to work in a different context.
     "That's an interesting idea, Baltar," Cain had to fight to keep his
voice neutral.  "But.....why would the Imperious Leader see any value in
the Pegasus being captured instead of destroyed?"
     "For the same reason he was receptive to my idea of bringing the
Galactica back to Cylon," Baltar said.  "And it goes back to why this
Leader chose to spare my life instead of executing me as his predecessor
had ordered.  As I'm sure Commander Sorge can confirm, things were in a
most chaotic state following the death of the old leader and the rise of
the new.  The issue of Cylon warmaking production was already being
thrown into question, though I admit I did not at the time realize it was
due to a serious Neutrino shortage.  I do know that the Imperious Leader
was receptive to the idea of having a Battlestar captured that could
offer a new means of warmaking production for the Empire in post-Human
order.  That if it was suddenly more difficult to construct new
BaseShips, then having a fully intact Battlestar could offer a blueprint
for the future ability of the Cylon Empire to maintain its domination." 
He paused, "It would seem to me that at a time when the situation is even
more desperate than it was in that period, Imperious Leader would welcome
the idea of something that wouldn't require supplies of Neutrino to build
other versions of.  That is why if the scenario of a captured Pegasus is
presented to him by Commander Sorge......his felgercarb detector will be
in off-mode."
     "And as Professor Ila can confirm, His Eminence is someone who can
be easily fooled given the right presentation," Vulpa added.  Which
brought a smile from Ila as she watched the conversation unfold, though
she remained silent as this was a military matter she had to stay totally
clear of.
     "True," Cain conceded.  "But he's just gone through the experience
of realizing he's been fooled by both you, and by Governor Malus.  He may
have a working felgercarb detector this time."
     "But he needs an avenue of hope for the Empire, Cain," Baltar
stressed.  "At present, based on what I've learned regarding your
exploits, he's running out of hope.  There is no question in my mind that
he's become desperate.  This Leader has, what in a Human Being, would be
called a narcissistic, even sociopathic, personality. It is virtually
impossible for him to accept that he could, in any serious way, be wrong,
or make an incorrect decision.  All failures are laid at someone else's
airlock.  It is always betrayal by those under him.  You must exploit
this by giving him a hope to cling to.  Since he knows now that he's not
going to see Commander Lucifer return from the Risik capital bearing
large quantities of Neutrino.....the presence of a captured Pegasus is
all he has to go on for future hope."
     Cain brought his hands together and decided he needed more input
from the Cylon he had the closest working relationship with, "Commander
Cobre?  Your thoughts?"
     "I confess that I am limited in what I can say about the Imperious
Leader, since I was in a state of de-activation in the abandoned garrison
on Delta Aquinas for over ten yahrens and never served under him, let
alone met him," Cobre said. "It is probably best I defer to Commader
Sorge on that point."
     Listening in, Baltar felt his blood almost freeze as he realized
that Cobre's voice was exactly the same as Lucifer's.  He remembered now
that there'd been a report that Lucifer's voice recording had been
transplanted in the command centurion working with Cain so he knew he
need not comment on it.  But it gave the one-time traitor a reminder of
just how much of a threat Lucifer remained.  Not just to the Fleet but to
his own well-being since he knew his one-time second-in-command
undoubtedly desired a chance for revenge one day.
     "Thank you, Commander Cobre," Sorge spoke for the first time.  "I
would agree with what I have heard regarding the desperation His Eminence
feels at this time.  His orders dispatching me from the Home System after
several yahrens could only have been made out of a sense that he is
losing control of events.  And he did sound most.....agitated when the
message from him came in just after Governor Malus impressed upon me the
need to no longer hold allegiance to him."
     "Then you believe a deception game in which the Pegasus pretends to
be your prisoner might cause the state of Home System defenses to be
lowered?" Cain asked.
     "At the very least, planetary defenses for Cylon itself will not be
active.  The six capital support ships that remain in addition to the one
remaining BaseShip will undoubtedly allow us to pass through so that they
will not be an initial obstacle."
     "And the BaseShip itself?" Cain pressed, "Where will it be in
orbit?"
     "For now, it is undoubtedly orbiting the Cylon capital, but a
hopeful message from us will undoubtedly cause it to move back toward the
satellite moon where the bulk of the prisoners for the mining operations
are housed.  In the past, when we still had several in the Home System,
one BaseShip always had the task of staying in direct orbit as a constant
reminder to the prisoners that they could never escape the solar system,
even if they were able to escape from their cells."
     "I'd like to make this suggestion, Cain," Adama spoke up, "Borrowing
a page from Ila's experience with Imperious Leader when she and Vulpa
pulled their successful deception on him, you might guarantee success if
you were to play the part of a corpse during the initial contact."
     Cain smiled thinly, "I see what you mean, Adama.  Yes, I suppose
that could be done.  Would you agree that would help, Sorge?"
     "It....has merit," the BaseShip commander said.
     "I would concur as well," Vulpa chimed in.
     Cain turned to the two Resistance leaders, who'd been silent,
"Commander Deval?  Commander Neele?  Your thoughts?"
     "We don't presume to be the experts on capital ship combat tactics,
Cain," Deval said, "But......I think Commander Neele and I agree that
this might be the best way to achieve an effective strike that will
destroy completely the Cylon Capital itself.  The only question is
whether or not destruction of the Capital means the one remaining
BaseShip can be won over in the same way Commander Sorge's ship has been
won over."
     Cain looked back at the monitor hook-up to Sorge's BaseShip, "I
believe Commander Cobre and Flight Leader Gryphon both know something of
the dilemma that comes up when combat tactics requires the deaths of
Cylons who might have known Enlightenment if they were given enough time. 
Flight Leader Gryphon, you were forced into that position when you led
the team that infiltrated and destroyed the one remaining BaseShip
attached to the Cannes garrison."
     "That is true," Phoenix Leader spoke in his humanoid voice, "It
was.....most difficult, but it was necessary.  It would seem that the
exigencies of the situation will not permit us to let this one remaining
BaseShip survive."
     "I would agree with that too," Cobre said. "In order to achieve
total victory, the Capital must be destroyed first, and then the
BaseShip."
     "But I think I'm beginning to see a consensus that the satellite
moon installations should remain untouched," Cain interjected as he saw
the outlines of the overall plan lining up more and more, "Since we
obviously have a vested interest in trying to save as many of the
prisoners as we can, we can't possibly think of an all-out assault from
the Pegasus.  That would kill all of them."
     "And as we've already discussed, the best solution to freeing the
prisoners is winning the guards and personnel on the satellite over
through the same process we won the BaseShip over," Deval spoke up. 
"Play the true history of the Cylon race through the communications
network so they all hear the truth.  That should get them to release the
prisoners."
     "We'll need to send ground teams of our own down when that happens,"
Cain said.  "It's obviously not going to be an orderly process but this
is the only way I can see getting most of the prisoners free."
     "A word of caution," Sorge said, "While His Eminence did not say so
directly in his last transmission to me, it is possible he has begun
executions of the prisoners because of the desperation of the situation. 
It would of course take a number of sectans at least to eliminate all of
them, but.....I would not expect all of them to still be alive at this
point or when we arrive."
     Cain took that in and it was clear to Deval and Neele that this
possibility distressed him greatly.  The Juggernaut, his elbow resting on
the table had brought a clenched fist up to his mouth in what might have
seemed like a contemplative gesture to those who saw him on the monitor. 
But to the two Resistance leaders, who were in the same room with Cain,
he was clearly trying to hide biting his lip.  When he spoke though, his
voice was still firm.
     "Well....that means we have to act as quickly as we can if we're
going to save as many lives possible.  But.....obviously we can't rush in
too quickly or else it might arouse Imperious Leader's suspicions.  I
would recommend Commander Sorge, that you delay responding to him for at
least eight to ten centars, because that way you can create a plausible
illusion of how long a battle between your ship and mine might have taken
that resulted in a surrender of the Pegasus.  I am prepared to play the
role of a corpse......I wasn't married to an actress for all those
yahrens for nothing." Which brought a few quiet chuckles from all the
Humans who were part of the connection.  "And Commander Cobre, I would
suggest you return to the Pegasus and play the role of a repentant
traitor.  The idea of a surrender gains more credibility if its implied
that it was brought about Cylons who are willing to serve the Empire
again."
     "A most ingenious solution," Cobre said.  "I will return within the
centar and we can begin preparations on that point."
     "Then I think it can be said that we have a plan in place that only
needs further refinement before we reach the Home System tomorrow," Cain
said.  "Adama, Vulpa....and Baltar.  Thank you for your input.  We'll be
in touch again afterwards as we'll have to assume long-range
communications blackout once again."
     "And if anything should go wrong, I won't hesitate to get word to
Lieutenant Hunley," Neele interjected. 
     "Of course," Adama nodded, grateful that this discussion had proved
productive on all fronts.  "The Lords of Kobol bless you Cain, and you
too Deval and Neele.  And to our Cylon friends.....we wish the same to
you and hope that after tomorrow, the Human race and the Cylon race will
know only a friendship that will last longer than the war did."
     "It is our hope too, Commander Adama that tomorrow will be the last
day Humans and Cylons will be forced to kill each other," Cobre said. 
     Except for you, Lucifer, Baltar thought to himself after the
transmission connecting the Galactica to the Pegasus ended.  Except for
you.

Chapter Six

Cylon Home System
     The centars passed with an agonizing slowness for Imperious Leader. 
No longer content to sit in his throne room and wait for word, he had
spent the entire time in the Command Center complex of the Imperial
Palace, gliding back and forth with an impatient air.  Waiting for word
to come through from Commander Sorge that the Pegasus had been destroyed
at long last.
     For Luna, his chief aide, there was the resignation that he couldn't
say anything at this stage to put the Cylon ruler at ease.  Far too much
catastrophe had taken place.  Catastrophe that no Cylon ruler in the span
of a thousand yahrens had ever had to cope with.  It made him wonder if
this was what it had been like for the original Cylons during the time of
the Otaligim crisis, when so many of their species had been decimated. 
Or when the original Cylons had learned too late that they were doomed as
a species following the rise to power of the robots they'd created.
     At the very least he could pass word from the satellite moon that
the first round of executions of the human prisoners had taken place.  It
would be a long, drawn-out process to dispose of all of them, but at
least it represented something that would give Imperious Leader a measure
of satisfaction.  Only because it meant an order of his was being carried
out and successfully implemented. 
     But after doing that, the uneasy silence continued.  The only sounds
the whirring noises of the centurion technician eyes going back and
forth.  Luna staying motionless by the door.  Imperious Leader gliding
back and forth across the room, saying nothing.
     Finally, one of the centurion technicians looked up, "We are
receiving a signal."
     Imperious Leader stopped in mid-glide and turned around to face the
centurion, "Yes?"
     "It is from Baseship #9245.  Commander Sorge."
     "Full holopicture!" the Cylon Ruler demanded.  Microns later in the
center of the room, the full-sized holographic image of Commander Sorge
appeared.
     "By your command, Imperious Leader." the command centurion
respectfully bowed.  "What do you have to report?" the words came out
rapidly and didn't hide the agitation that had been going through
Imperious Leader for too long now.
     "We have met with success.  We have engaged the Pegasus and she has
surrendered."
     This was something both Imperious Leader and Luna were not prepared
to hear.
     "Surrendered?  Why not destroyed?"
     "The Pegasus was already in a damaged condition as a result of her
engagement with Commander Egron's ship.  Consequently she was in no
condition to withstand our bombardment.  That led the renegade Cylons
aboard her to take matters into their own hands.  Commander Cain and his
officers have been terminated and the Pegasus is now under the control of
Cylons who wish to reassert their loyalty to you, Your Eminence."
     Ten microns of silence elapsed.  Luna cautiously took two steps
toward Imperious Leader and then stopped.  Not sure if he should
interject a word of advice or not.  Finally, the Cylon ruler spoke.
     "Proof," the first word was soft but then he repeated it loudly,
"Proof!  Show me Commander Cain's dead body!  And I want to hear from the
traitor who now wants to beg my forgiveness!"
     Sorge nodded his head, "By your command.  Switching feed to the
Pegasus."
     The image faded and then slowly another image took shape.  The image
of another Command Centurion.
     "Your Eminence," the Command Centurion bowed and to the surprise of
Imperious Leader, Luna and the centurion technicians spoke in a humanoid
voice.  "I am Commander Cobre.  Formerly garrison commander at the Cylon
base on Delta Aquinas.  For the last two yahrens, I have been forced to
do the bidding of Commander Cain and the Pegasus because they found me
and a number of personnel from my command who had been left behind more
than ten yahrens before when your predecessor ordered the abandonment of
the base."
     Luna motioned to one of the centurion technicians, "Consult the
database!  Immediately!"
     "By your command," the technician answered.  A few microns later, he
answered.  "Confirmed.  Commander Cobre was the command centurion in
charge of the Delta Aquinas garrison."
     "Why do you have the voice of Commander Lucifer?" Imperious Leader
addressed the holographic image.
     "I understand your skepticism, Your Eminence," Cobre's voice was
humble.  "I was brought to the Pegasus with a number of personnel from
the garrison before the Pegasus subsequently found Commander Lucifer
alone on an isolated planet after his BaseShip had been destroyed some
time earlier by the Galactica.  After Commander Cain extracted all usable
information from his memory banks, Lucifer was turned over to an alien
race called the Zykonians.  In the process of studying his components,
the Zykonians duplicated his voice program and had it reinstalled in me. 
Commander Cain wanted to be able to converse with a non-standard Cylon
voice in order to further subject me and my personnel to do his bidding."
     "And you did this willingly?" the Cylon ruler didn't let up.
     "Because we were in a deactivated condition when the Pegasus found
us on Delta Aquinas, it left us susceptible to program manipulation, Your
Eminence," Cobre went on.  "We were never in a position to rise up and
reassert our loyalty to you and to our original programming until now. 
Then we realized the opportunity to take advantage of the damage the
Pegasus suffered in battle and seized power.  Over sixty of us who had
been forced to do Commander Cain's bidding rose up and now......the
Pegasus is completely under our control."
     Luna finally decided to risk coming up alongside Imperious Leader,
"Your Eminence.....his story about what happened to Lucifer was already
confirmed by Lucifer himself in his last transmission."
     "Indeed it was," Imperious Leader was still staring at Cobre's
projection.  "Unquestionably this part of his story is true.  But......I
want more definitive proof than just your word, Commander Cobre.  Show me
the body of Commander Cain!"
     "By your command," Cobre respectfully bowed and then moved out of
the camera range.  For fifteen microns there was nothing, but then came
signs of camera movement.  And before the eyes of Imperious Leader and
his chief aide, they saw it stop and focus on the unmistakable sight of a
body sprawled on the floor wearing a dark blue uniform that was torn in
spots and covered with red blood stains.  No face was visible though. 
But then Cobre returned and leaned down and brought the body up to a
sitting position.  He turned the face toward the camera."
     "You have Commander Cain's image on file," Cobre said.  "There is no
question this is is him, Your Eminence.  I can also show you all of his
Bridge officers who were also summarily executed.  I am afraid I can not
oblige you with a severed head because our battle swords were confiscated
and destroyed long ago when we were forced to do his bidding.  But his
own laser pistol I think was effective enough."
     Nearly a centon went by with the head propped up to face the camera. 
They could see the blood streaked across the face.  The eyes closed and
the mouth in a frozen, protesting grimace.
     When Imperious Leader finally spoke, there was a noticeable change
in his voice.
     "Well done, Commander Cobre.  Well done."
     Cobre dropped Cain's head which fell back to the floor.  Cobre bowed
respectfully, "It is a great honor, Your Eminence.  I have learned that
there are many Cylons who have sadly become traitors and collaborators
these last few yahrens.  But I believe my personnel and I can offer the
solution to the end of that madness.  It only requires the use of
force.....and the realization that the Cylon Empire is still the most
formidable military power in the annals of all known history."
     "I will look forward to meeting you and your personnel," Imperious
Leader's voice was growing in confidence.  "As for the Pegasus-,"
     "I was about to mention, Your Eminence, that my personnel, in
conjunction with centurions detached by Commander Sorge, have the Pegasus
under control so that his BaseShip now has us under full escort.  By this
time tomorrow, we will return to the Home System and be able to present
the Pegasus to you, completely intact and at your full disposal."
     "Yes," the Cylon ruler nodded.  "Yes, that is excellent news,
Commander Cobre!  To have an intact battlestar at our disposal changes
everything!  Everything!"
     "May this represent at long last the turning point and the
reassertion of Cylon authority through all corners of the galaxy," Cobre
bowed.  "I will now return the feed to Commander Sorge's ship."
     The holograph image bent and shifted and then the commander of the
BaseShip was standing before them.
     "I expect to be back in the Home System by tomorrow at this time,
Your Eminence.  I must maintain a slow enough speed for the Pegasus to
remain alongside us while repairs proceed."
     "Quite understandable, Commander Sorge," Imperious Leader said,
"Once you have returned, we will discuss the new parameters of the
necessary strike on the Colonies and the traitor Malus.  We can afford to
let that matter drop for now as we tend to these new developments.....but
they will be dealt with in due course."
     "Of course," Sorge bowed.
     "I look forward to your arrival tomorrow."
     "As do I, Your Eminence."
     After the final exchanges, the transmission ceased.  Before Luna
could say anything, the Cylon ruler turned to face his chief aide.
     "I want the executions of the prisoners halted immediately."
     Luna's initial surprise quickly wore off as he realized the reason
for why this order had just been given.  "We still have need of them."
     "Yes.  If we're going to use the Pegasus as a blueprint for how to
construct duplicate versions of her, then we don't need to use Neutrino! 
At long last, there is finally a new reason for keeping them alive and
putting them to work.  See to it!  At once!"
     "By your command."
The Pegasus
     "I believe it is safe now, Commander Cain."
     Cain finally opened his eyes and slowly got to his feet.  He
immediately wiped away the fake blood from his face with the sleeve of
his torn Bridge uniform.
     "First time I've worn a Bridge uniform in over twenty yahrens," he
quipped.  "If I had to be an authentic looking corpse I wasn't going to
ruin one of my good uniforms for it."
     "Fortunately, His Eminence is not aware of your preference in
uniform styles," Commander Cobre said with a dry, almost humorous air
which made Cain smile. 
     "There's a lot he's not aware of, thank the Lords," he went over to
his desk and activated the vidcom connection to the BaseShip.  "Commander
Sorge, this is Cain.  We are ready to follow your course heading back to
the Cylon Home System.  In the event Imperious Leader contacts you again
before our arrival and wants follow-up reports on the status of the
Pegasus, relay instructions to centurion Achillas on the Bridge and he
will provide our 'damage report'."
     "Thank you, Commander Cain," Sorge said.  "I must confess, this has
been a most.....enjoyable experience.  So different from the banal
stagnation of the last four yahrens."
     "All part of the new beginning, Commander.  Cain out." 
     He removed the cape from the uniform and looked over at Cobre with
satisfaction, "You may assume the Bridge, Cobre.  For the next few
centars....except for the engineering and missile control detail......I
leave this ship in your hands."
     "I am honored by your trust."
     "You've earned it," Cain said with sincerity, "You and your team
from Delta Aquinas were the first to show me that it's possible for
Cylons to move beyond their programming.  You forced me to reassess my
own attitudes......for which I am eternally grateful."
     "As we are you and your crew for making us do likewise, Commander,"
Cobre then paused, "I was most sorry to hear of Lieutenant Banker's
death.  He was part of the team that found us on Delta Aquinas."
     "Yes, I know," Cain said sadly.  "Unfortunate for us all,
but......he died nobly."
     "Cylons are not accustomed to the Human tradition of honoring the
dead," Cobre seemed to sigh as he moved toward the door, "We still have
much.....to learn."
     The door opened and just as he stepped out, Kylie was about to
enter.  The Senior Bridge Officer nodded her head respectfully as she
made her way around him and entered. 
     "The Bridge crew is now off-duty as per your instructions."
     Cain continued to remove his torn and stained Bridge uniform,
"Excellent.  This way none of us will accidentally appear on a
transmission if the Imperious Leader wants an update before our arrival
tomorrow.  If he only sees Cylons on the Bridge, his belief in the
deception gets reinforced."
     "After the Capital and the Baseship are destroyed......you'll be
sending in ground teams to the satellite moon to free the prisoners?"
     "Yes," Cain pulled away the top part of the tunic exposing his
chest, "We need our own people to make sure the transmissions are plugged
into all available unicom networks and to help get those people out of
whatever cells they've been put in and to give them some reassurance."
     "Cain," Kylie took a breath, "You've got to let me go down there."
     He stopped in mid-undress and looked at her with puzzled concern. 
"Down there?"
     "I've commanded planetary missions twice before, Cain.  I need to do
this again.  Especially after what happened the last time I did it."
     He dropped his discarded upper tunic on the desk and came up to her. 
"I almost lost you the last time."
     "Because of outside manipulation, and that's not a valid reason to
keep me from doing something I have qualifications to do," his wife was
determined.  "Cain, if I were a pilot I'd have asked to fly during the
battle we just had.  But I'm not a pilot so I stayed where I was needed. 
But ground missions are another thing entirely.  The only excuse I'll
accept is if you send Tolen down instead, but......for my sake Cain, let
me go down there and let me command and take the risks that you're going
to ask the others you send down to take."
     He came up and put his hands on her shoulders.  She knew right away
it was a completely protective gesture on his part.  Stemming entirely
from the memory of when she'd been taken by the being called Iblis and
forced into a test that had ended with her forfeiting the ability to have
children.  "I....have never doubted your ability, Kylie.  You know that."
     "I know," she didn't push him away, but she was resolute,
"But....you are concerned, and you are letting your instincts as a
protective husband take priority.  I'm asking you to let go of that
tomorrow and do what you'd have no qualms about if I weren't your wife."
     Cain let out another sigh and then reluctantly nodded, "All
right.....Captain Kylie.  But because this is likely going to be a
widespread operation I'd be confiding you to command of a tactical unit
only because I'm likely going to be sending a few hundred down, and
that's going to include Cylon personnel too.  Logistics wise, that's too
much for just one person to handle so it has to be divided up."
     "Fair enough," Kylie was glad he hadn't put up a fight on this. 
"I'm not asking to bite off more than I can chew.  I just.....want to do
what I know I can do."
     "You've never had to convince me how good you are, Kylie," Cain
lowered his hands from her shoulders so that his arms now encircled her
mid-section.  "In either capacity.  It's one of the reasons I fell in
love with you."
     She smiled faintly and wrapped her arms around him and they kissed
with deep passion.  When they released each other from their kiss, her
smile grew more wicked.
     "That off-duty edict applies to me too, doesn't it?"
     "It does," he matched her smile as he gently pulled at the top
fastener of her Bridge uniform and pulled it away.  And then, their arms
were around each other in another long kiss as he then gently lifted her
up and carried her over to their bed.
     Lords of Kobol, he thought several centons later as they made love,
watch over her tomorrow.  If I were to lose her I'd probably kill myself.


     With the overwhelming majority of the Pegasus crew now in furlon
mode, the Officers Club was completely crowded with weary pilots and
Bridge personnel anxious to unwind after the events of the day.  Thanks
to the extended time the Pegasus had spent in the Colonies the last few
sectars, the stores of the Club were actually at their fullest since the
time the battlestar had last left the Colonies for Molocay so long ago
(the result of taking advantage of old supplies found in the ongoing
reclamation efforts in the ten worlds).  Which meant that a lot more
drinking than usual could take place.
     At one table, the two sisters Fausta and Marcia were discussing the
battle they'd been part of.  With Marcia describing what had happened
after the high engine of her Viper had suddenly failed, putting her at
risk from the pursuing Raiders of the BaseShip they'd been searching for. 
Every word she said left her sister completely spellbound.
     "I was convinced it was over for you," Fausta said at last, "And I
couldn't help but think how unfair it was that some fracked up
maintenance job was the cause of it."
     "I was thinking that too," Marcia sounded exhausted as she sipped
her second glass of ale, "And then.....thank the Lords, Lieutenant Tegran
came back and told me what I had to do."
     "So let me see if I've got this straight," her sister said as she
pushed her empty tankard aside, "You took out a couple Raiders and went
into roll and activated your cloaking device.  Then what happened?"
     "Tegran took out a few more and did some fancy maneuvers to confuse
them and while he was in the middle of that, he hit his cloaking device. 
He was banking on the idea that the Raiders would lose track of him and
think that maybe one of them took him out, and that maybe because they'd
lost six or seven it might force a withdrawal back to the BaseShip so
they could concentrate on pursuing the main patrol group back to the
Pegasus.  He'd also ordered me to wait for the BaseShip to move past me
while I was still cloaked.  So I got out of the way of the BaseShip and
stayed cloaked until it was by me and only then did I decloak.  Once I
did, Tegran decloaked too and was able to raise me.  He then guided me
back to the Pegasus to allow for my reduced speed which is why we didn't
show up until after the Pegasus had destroyed the BaseShip."
     "But not too late to save the Major's life," Fausta motioned her
hand toward a nearby table where a subdued Skyler was by himself,
seemingly lost in his own world and not in the mood for any conversation
with any of his fellow warriors.
     "No," Marcia nodded.  "We actually weren't planning on taking part
in the ship to ship fight because we were both so low on fuel.  Tegran
had us reactivate our cloaking devices so we wouldn't draw any Cylons
toward us as we neared the Pegasus but just as we started our approach
headings for Alpha Landing Bay, he saw the Major was in trouble so he
decided we needed to turn around and take out the fighter that almost had
him lined up.  Tegran radioed the Major to get clear and that allowed me
to quickly decloak and get my shot off that killed his pursuer."
     Fausta was amazed, "Your fuel must have been down to near zero by
the time you landed. Especially the way the cloak system gulps up power."
     "I had about two centons left or I wouldn't have made it," Marcia
sighed and lazily took another sip of her drink, "That whole experience
was brutal, but.....since I made it back, I can say it was worth it."
     "Thank the Lords you did," her sister lowered her head slightly and
her voice grew quiet, "Not all of us in the patrol group were lucky."
     "How many from our patrol group?"
     "We lost Sergeant Priam and that other green pilot, the
ex-commercial flyer.  Damn, I don't know why I keep forgetting his name,
he was always just 'the cruiser' to me.  The way he thought he didn't
need to train as hard as the rest of us greenies did because he used to
fly tourists from the Inner Colonies to the Outer Colonies."
     "I know what you mean," Marcia nodded. "If it wasn't for Tegran, I
might have panicked. Thank the Lords."
     "He sounds like a remarkable guy," Fausta paused, "You're not....."
     "Oh no!" her sister held up a hand, "No way.  Just because I owe him
my life doesn't mean I'm going to start swooning over him.  I respect him
as a good pilot.  Nothing more."
     "Thank the Lords," Fausta grinned, "He doesn't seem like your type
anyway."
     "You never thought any man I ever dated was my type."
     "Hey, that's just me being your protective big sister." she
chuckled, "So do you feel up to doing this again, some day?  Or was once
enough?"
     A faint smile came over Marcia's lips, "I think after this.....I'm
ready to try again.  But only if I get a Viper where the engine doesn't
frack out on me!"
     "I'll drink to that!" her sister exclaimed and raised her tankard. 
Marcia raised her glass and they clinked them together with a mutual
sense of triumph that their first time out as combat pilots had ended
well for them.


     "Can I join you, Cap?"
     Skyler was ready to make a nasty comment about not wanting to be
bothered but when he looked up and saw it was Wynn he changed his mind
and motioned him to sit down.
     "So.....how many kills did you score, Wynn?" Skyler kept his voice
nonchalant as he raised his glass to drink.
     Wynn noticed that he wasn't looking at him directly, "Six.  It felt
like I'd never been away.  All the training prep cleared out any
rustiness I might have had at one point."
     "Well....you proved you belong out there," Skyler said as he
finished his drink and sat the empty glass down, turning it back and
forth in his hand.  He was still looking away from his friend.  "As for
me.....I want out.  Fracking out.  If we get through tomorrow without
having to launch, that's fine by me because I feel like I'm done."
     "Don't be so damned hard on yourself, Cap," Wynn said, "I know it
was rough losing Banker and the rest of them, but......we've all been
through that before.  Hades, you had to get used to me being gone when
you thought I was dead for two yahrens."
     "It's not just that," Skyler shook his head, his head still down,
"My head's just not in this anymore.  I almost let myself get killed
because a Cylon faked me out with one of the easiest tricks in the book
we're taught to avoid when we're first yahren cadets and that came after
I'd already committed the sin of not keeping my eye on my fuel gauge.  I
should have turned command over to Angus much sooner and headed for home. 
Then I wouldn't have needed a green pilot to bail me out."
     "Don't tell me you're mad because it was one of those green pilots."
     "No, no," he shook his head but still avoided looking at Wynn, "I'd
be just as mad at myself if Tegran had been the one who took out the
Cylon.  It just comes back to the fact that.....I want out of this.  I've
got someone I'm in love with on Starlos who promised to wait for me and
by the Lords, I don't want to make the same mistake with her I made with
Shayleen.  And that's stay a warrior longer than I need to."
     "You didn't make a mistake with Shayleen," Wynn said
matter-of-factly, "She wasn't right for you.  That's why it ended.  The
Pegasus needed you more than she did since she found someone who was more
right for her."
     "Yeah, yeah," he waved his hand impatiently, "I'm not saying I
regret that.  I'm just....." he took a breath, "I just wasn't expecting
to come that close to buying it when I'm this close to finally getting
out.  And then when I think of what kind of plans Banker had for after
all this..... it really has a way of feeling like you just got hit with a
ton of bricks."  
     Skyler finally looked him in the eye, "And yes, Wynn, I know its not
the same thing as what you went through with two lost yahrens of your
life you can't get back.  I guess that's the only reason I was willing to
let you sit down because Lords know I've been blowing off everyone else
who wanted to chat with me."
     "One more day, Cap," Wynn said simply, "One more day and it's over
for....a lot of us."
     "But not for you?" Skyler asked, "I get the feeling you're not ready
to settle down in the Colonies.  That you'd rather stay aboard the
Pegasus for whatever comes next."
     "You've got me pegged right, Cap," the ensign admitted.  "And
honestly, I don't know why.  I've got a lot of reasons for wanting to
call it a career after we take care of things with the rest of the
Empire.  An old school buddy of mine was among the survivors on Leo and
is helping with the rebuilding effort there.  Getting the farms and
electrical grid back up.  He told me he'd love to have me help him out. 
And yet......something inside me tells me that I can't go home to the
Colonies.  That I've got something else I have to do that means staying
on the Pegasus for the long-term."
     Skyler smirked, "Your Divine Destiny as it were?"
     Wynn sighed thoughtfully, "Who knows?  I admit its easier to think
about staying on this old girl for the long haul now that we've got a
full crew complement again and now that we have more than fifteen women
aboard, but........even if we were stuck at our post-Gomorrah crew level,
I think I'd end up staying just the same."
     "Your life, Wynn.  Your call," the Major raised his empty glass, "As
for me, after tomorrow the first thing I'm going to do is write up my
letter of resignation from the service, and then after I send a farewell
message to my old buddy Dante in the Galactica Fleet, I then put in a
request to Cain to let me off at Starlos.  And then," he sighed, "Then
it's happily ever after for me and Jocasta."
     "I envy you, Cap," Wynn admitted, "But....just to be safe, don't
think about your future itinerary until tomorrow"
     The Squadron Leader's expression suddenly grew serious and all the
brooding and self-doubt seemed to vanish.  "I just turned the switch off
now.....Ensign." he then rose, "I'm calling it a night, and so should
you.  Just in case Cain has something else in mind  besides frying the
Capital and the last BaseShip with our secret weapon."
     Wynn watched his friend leave the Officers Club.  And then, deciding
against a refill, he followed him out.


     Somewhere, in a realm infinitely far away, someone laughed.  A long
laugh of satisfaction.  Which brought an amused reaction from someone
else standing next to him.
     "You are pleased?" Helena asked.
     "Of course," her Master, Count Iblis said with a satisfied air.  "Of
her own free will, Kylie asked to visit the satellite world.  And that
provides a new.....opportunity with her.  One that cannot be blocked by
the Powers."
     "Indeed," the woman who had been Cain's mother nodded.  "I regret
deeply my failure with her the last time.  When she made certain Ensign
Wynn could no longer be utilized again after his release.  I know that
was not your intent when you forced her to give up the ability to ever
have children."
     "I do not blame you for what happened," Iblis said with reassurance,
though he did not look at her directly.  "It was a case of
underestimating her.  She did not have a strong religious upbringing so I
wrongly sensed she lacked the discernment to realize that any deal made
with me carries with it a long-term price.  But she discerned what my
long-term plan was regarding Wynn and thwarted it, despite the cost to
herself."
     "Which at least ensured the continuance of the plan regarding
Sheba," Helena pointed out.  "If she and Cain had a son, it would mean
the contract no longer applied to Sheba."
     "True," Iblis conceded and looked at Helena with an approving smile,
"You are doing an admirable job in making sure that Marcus is fulfilling
his duties toward bringing about the final plan regarding her.  Although
there may be a complication if those inquisitive people in the IFB decide
to keep looking for clues into the background of the man they know as
'Aurelius.'"
     "I am prepared to act where necessary regarding them," Helena said
firmly.  "The only complication that concerns me is that a certain
Empyrean Necromancer has more than once discerned my presence."
     Iblis let out a mocking laugh, "That is something you can safely
ignore as you continue your work with Marcus.  In order for that to
become a problem, the one you are referring to would have to start
digging deeper into the recesses of her own soul regarding her own
distant past.  And that is something she is not prepared to cope with at
this time.  But lest you be too concerned, I have already set in motion a
new distraction that will eventually ensnare her.  One that will
ultimately impact Lieutenant Starbuck, whom she has long had a special
interest in."
     "Yes," Helena nodded, "I knew when the Galactica stopped at Niddion
that you would finally be able to make use of Diandra."
     "I always know that eventually, those in my service will be of use
to me, even if it takes yahrens to finally utilize them.  Like now for
instance, when the ones who will advance matters regarding Captain Kylie
will be able to act at last."
     He then waved his arm and in an instant two of his minions appeared
before them.  The minions were in the transformed condition of all of
Iblis's minions.  Slouched form with cloven hoofs, spiked tail, horned
head and leathery wings in the back.  Repellent on all levels to Human
senses and emblematic of the ultimate form of punishment in the ultimate
place of suffering.
     "It is time at last to make use of the two of you."
     Slowly, the forms of the demonic minions began to morph in front of
Iblis and Helena......changing shape and becoming erect......until
finally, they had returned to the forms of their original identities. 
Both were in dressed in  ragged orange jumpsuits with two visible patches
on the upper right chest.  One patch which was on both jumpsuits was a
blue field with the word NASA stitched on it.  The man on the right had a
patch that consisted of a blue field with stars in the upper left corner
and 13 alternating red and white stripes.  The man on the left had a
different patch which contained a red leaf against a white backdrop that
was bound on each side by two red borders.  
     In between the NASA patch and the respective emblem patches was
stitched writing that spelled the names of each man.  The man with the
leaf patch had the name ST.CLAIRE.  The man with the other patch had the
name HARMS.
     "Until now I have found no proper way to utilize either of you. 
That is about to change.....tomorrow.  Here now is what you must
know.....and what you must be prepared to do."
     When he was through, the one-time astronauts from the planet Earth
who had been part of the expedition commanded by Captain Kevin Byrne gave
no verbal response.  Their only acknowledgments came in obedient nods of
the head followed by the two of them getting down on bended knee before
the One they were obliged to serve without question.

Chapter Seven

The Pegasus
     As the morning cycle began, Cain decided to let the Cylon personnel
who had been manning the Bridge stations remain in place except for
Falstaff and Altair.  Tolen and Kylie also returned to the Bridge but
remained on the upper level at all times with Cain.  In the event the
Imperious Leader requested another update from Commander Cobre, it would
be easy for the three of them to make a quick exit into the outer
corridor before visual contact could be established.  The Senior Bridge
Officer was wearing battle dress instead of her Bridge uniform since she
needed to be ready to take part in planned ground operations on the
satellite moon later.
     When Commander Cobre announced they were one centar from the Cylon
Home System, Cain gave the order for all Viper pilots to report to their
ships and stand by to launch.  The Raiders of Phoenix Squadron were no
longer on the Pegasus, having relocated to Commader Sorge's BaseShip
during the night so that Dr. Arnoff's recognition transmitter software
could be quickly duplicated and installed on each Raider aboard the
BaseShip.  This way there would be no chance of confusing Sorge's Raiders
with any launched from the last remaining BaseShip or from the ground
based fighter squadrons on the Cylon Home World.
     At forty-five centons from the Home System, Cain made his last
transmission to Sorge's BaseShip to go over the final parameters of the
attack plan, making sure they were carefully encrypted and couldn't
possibly be detected by any Loyalist listening posts.  There had been
agreement that the last remaining BaseShip needed to be taken care of
first before any assault on the Cylon Capital.  The intelligence report
was that the BaseShip was likely operating away from the Capital in orbit
above the satellite moon.  With Sorge's ship leading the supposedly
crippled Pegasus in, the agreed plan was for the Pegasus to suddenly
break away at attack speed, swing around the moon anda attack from the
BaseShip from behind with the Pulsar.  Sorge would meanwhile deliver the
simultaneous first strike on the Cylon Capital with a concentrated
missile and Raider attack on the Imperial Palace.  
     It was equally possible though that the BaseShip might already be in
standard orbit above the Cylon Capital as a protective measure once it
became the only BaseShip left in the entire solar system.  The battle
plan contingency for that event was that Sorge would guide the Pegasus
into orbit.....then break away and leave the second BaseShip wide open to
attack from the Pulsar.  A joint strike on the Capital would then follow.
     The six remaining smaller capital ships in the Cylon Fleet rated
last on the priority scale.  Cain knew that such capital ships only posed
a serious threat to a battlestar when they engaged in a mass coordinated
strike.  Even so, they couldn't be taken lightly.  The Vipers needed to
find them and attack them in full force.  Sorge noted that it was
possible that sudden destruction of the BaseShip and the Imperial Palace
might be enough to compel the capital ships to voluntarily surrender and
Cain agreed the door should be left open for that possibility.
     With every contingency plan discussed between them over and over,
Cain and Sorge ended communications and it was now a matter of waiting
for the battle to begin.  Just as the Pegasus had gone into a wait mode
the previous day while searching for the first BaseShip of Commander
Egron.  Only this time, the Pegasus warriors had the luxury of knowing
the element of surprise was back on their side once again.  And that was
a position they all preferred to be in after the uncertainty of the day
before.
     At twenty-five centons from the Home System, Achillas reported the
first indications of long-range scanning.  A lone capital support ship
was patrolling the outer solar system perimeter.  Cain knew they would
ignore this one initially since there was no question it would allow
Sorge's BaseShip and the supposedly captive Pegasus to pass without
challenge.  Its chances of becoming a ship that would be potentially
spared had just increased by virtue of its position.
     At ten centons the scanner could now pick up the Cylon Home Planet
and its principal satellite moon where the Human prisoners taken from the
Colonies were being held.  At first no indication of the BaseShip was
present on either the Pegasus scanners or Sorge's scanners.  But then at
five centons came the tell-tale blip that revealed the
BaseShip......their primary target.....had taken up a protective
screening position in orbit above the Cylon Home Planet.  That produced
an excited rush in all the Pegasus personnel once Cain passed the word
via unicom.  It meant that the easiest possible first-strike capability
was literally being handed to them at that moment.
     As the moment of truth drew near, Cain found his mind wandering back
to something he'd once said well over four to five yahrens ago in a
boastful context.  Something that deep down he knew didn't reflect any
rational sense of reality at the time but foolish pride and his innate
sense of swagger had made him say it anyway.  But now.....it truly
reflected the reality of the situation.
     By the Lords of Kobol.  The Cylon Empire is about to fall!


The Cylon Capital
     "Commander Sorge's ship now entering scanner range," the centurion
technician reported.
     Imperious Leader, who had not left the complex for a whole day now
stopped his persistent gliding. "And the Pegasus?"
     The centurion looked up, "The Pegasus is trailing our BaseShip. 
Following at 5000 metrones in back of Commander Sorge's ship."
     "Her condition?"
     "She is proceeding at minimal speed and trailing small amounts of
drive plasma."
     "Excellent!" the Cylon ruler boasted.  "At long last, this infernal
madness is coming to an end!  Inform Commander Flaccus's BaseShip that
they are to rendezvous with Sorge and the Pegasus immediately!"
     "By your command."
     Imperious Leader glided over to Luna, "The executions have been
halted?"
     "They have, Your Eminence," the IL Cylon said.  "Fortunately only a
few hundred were terminated before the new orders came down.  We will
still have a sufficient labor force to perform the task of building a
duplicate model of the Pegasus."
     "Yes.  And then, my dear Luna the plan for the future becomes clear. 
When we have the Pegasus fully repaired and another duplicated and ready
to deploy, we become at last a true fighting force once again!  We will
draw from the experience of Commander Cobre and learn how to turn the
traitors back to our side!  The centurions in the Colonies and in
Gomorrah will be forced to realize their long-term interest is
reasserting their loyalty to the High Command and overthrowing the
traitors!"
     "And eventually.....we have the fighting force necessary to go out
to the Risik system and compel them to make what we need from their own
Neutrino supply."  Luna nodded.  His confidence in Imperious Leader's
ability to rule had undergone a complete turnaround in the last day.  It
only required some truly positive news to give him hope and bring out his
ability to formulate a viable plan for the future that would enable the
Cylon Empire to recover its losses.  It would take more than a day or a
sectar or even a yahren......but a plan at last could easily be discerned
thanks to the revelation that Diseased Cylons were capable of being
cured.
     "Exactly!" Imperious Leader boasted.  "And when that happens,
nothing will be able to save Lucifer from his own treason!  Cylon Order
as it was intended to be will at last be re-established across the entire
galaxy!"
     "Your Eminence, if I may," the centurion technician spoke up.
     The Cylon ruler turned to face him.  "What is it?  Have you received
acknowledgment from Commander Flaccus?"
     "Commander Flaccus's BaseShip......is no longer there."
     The silence only lasted two microns, but it was like an eternity for
both Imperious Leader and his chief aide.
     "What did you say?" the Cylon ruler demanded.
     "Scanner indicates......total destruction of Commander Flaccus's
BaseShip.  It has disappeared completely."
     "Impossible!  How could that have happened?"
     "Apparently......the Pegasus fired something.....unknown to us. 
Commander Flaccus's ship is completely destroyed."
     "Get me Sorge!" his voice rose, "I DEMAND to know what has
happened!"
     "Commander Sorge's BaseShip has now taken up position above the
Capital.....it----." abruptly the centurion's helmeted head dropped as
though it was reacting in disbelief.
     "What?  WHAT?"
     Luna realized immediately what it meant.  Inside, he cursed himself
for his stupidity in believing the Imperious Leader had any redeeming
worth after all.  But even now.....his sense of instinctive devotion to
the Empire kept him from saying anything negative to the one he had sworn
an oath to serve to the very end of his existence.
     "It is over, Your Eminence," the IL said with an air of total
resignation. 
     "What is over?  What is this?"
     But before Luna could say anything else, the full force of a missile
launched from Sorge's BaseShip struck the Imperial Palace causing a
gargantuan, fiery explosion and shockwave that brought the ceiling of the
Command Complex crashing down on everyone in the room. 


The Pegasus
     It had all come off with such perfect simplicity, making the events
seem almost anti-climactic.  The second BaseShip moving towards them with
shields down, weapons systems idle and no fighters ready to launch. 
Sorge's BaseShip peeling off giving the Pegasus a perfect target at
point-blank range.
     Amazingly, when it came time to give the order after Falstaff
excitedly declared that all systems were ready for immediate firing, Cain
delivered it in an uncharacteristically low-key tone.  As if a part of
him could still scarcely believe that this moment was finally happening.
     "Fire."
     And then......the glorious sight of the Ravashol Pulsar.....the
miracle weapon needed to make this moment possible......bursting forth
and incinerating the BaseShip in a might blast like that of a miniature
supernova.  And unlike the previous day, there was no stray missile fired
to endanger the Pegasus because this time, the element of surprise had
been preserved right up to the very end.  The Cylon personnel aboard the
destroyed BaseShip had perhaps at most a millionth of a micron to process
that they had been the victims of a perfectly executed elaborate
deception.  And then....they were no more.
     Sorge had meanwhile taken position directly above the Cylon capital
and focused his missile targeting system directly on the Imperial Palace. 
And just as the last dying explosive embers of the destroyed BaseShip
faded, the one BaseShip that still remained fired its primary missiles.
     Launch orders from both Sorge and Cain to deal with the six
remaining capital ships scattered throughout the solar system soon
followed.  Within a matter of centons, a massive wall of Vipers and
Raiders had descended on three capital ships clustered together near one
of the outer satellite moons and destroyed them completely without
inflicting a single loss on the attack force.  The remaining three ships,
realizing their total helplessness in the face of such overwhelming
firepower, were soon responding to communication messages demanding their
immediate surrender and promising to do so.
     The entire process took only ten centons but it was by far the most
decisive ten centons in the annals of a war that had begun a thousand
yahrens before.  
     And when the ten centons were over, Tolen looked at Cain, who stood
hunched over the railing of the upper deck, taking in the sight of all
that had unfolded on the viewing screen.  And then the Executive Officer
saw something he'd never seen before in more than fifteen yahrens service
on the Pegasus.  The sight of tears streaming down the Juggernaut's face. 
Tears of absolute joy that he'd lived to see this day at last.


The Cylon Capital
     The Imperial Palace had until now been the last surviving structure
on the Cylon home world that predated the creation of the robotic race. 
When the reptilian Cylons had governed themselves under an oligarchical
political body that had carefully prevented no single Cylon from ever
achieving absolute power.  But when the robotic Cylons had exterminated
the reptilian Cylons, it had become the center of authority for the
Imperious Leader.  The only place in Cylon society that represented the
equivalent of a Holy Temple.  For it was here that the essence of the
Imperious Leader was maintained.  The bodily shell, a perfect replica of
the greatest of reptilian Cylons, in which the two brains of a newly
chosen Leader were transferred into.  The third computer brain, installed
upon the accession of the new Leader to symbolize the ultimate
achievement of Cylon power.  And finally.....the transcribed vocal
recording of the greatest of reptilian Cylons.  Installed into the bodily
shell so that each new Leader would always speak in the same voice as the
One they believed to be their original Maker.  Without the preservation
of these components......the bodily shells.....the extra computer
brains......the recording of the voice......the line of Imperious Leaders
would cease to exist with the last one to be given these symbols of Cylon
authority.
     These components had been housed deep in an underground facility,
meant to be impervious to direct attack from the air or even intense
capital ship bombardment.  What was never expected though was a direct
attack from one of their own ships, utilizing firepower that no Cylon
ruler had ever contemplated would be used against him. 
Consequently......the destruction of the Imperial Palace after standing
for nearly two thousand yahrens, also produced a fireball that shot
through the lift shaft that allowed access to the underground
levels......setting off an inferno that destroyed everything it housed.
     As the initial explosions subsided and all that remained of the the
Palace was a seething molten crater, ringed by twisted, collapsed rubble
amidst the fires that still burned.....the lives of every Cylon who had
been inside the Palace were terminated in an instant.
     Except one.
     Imperious Leader's limbs had been severed away as had his arms. 
Leaving his main body intact but lying supine and incapable of ambulatory
movement.  The power cells still functioning allowing him to be aware of
his surroundings and  able to see the destruction all around him.  And
with it, the realization that he was completely alone. 
     But not for long.  As suddenly before him, from out of the flames, a
figure appeared.  The figure of a living Cylon.  A living Cylon identical
in every way to how he looked in an intact state.  As the figure drew
near to his broken, severed form, Imperious Leader realized that
this......was the Maker.
     "Your unworthiness to follow in my steps has lead to this," the
voice was identical to his in every respect.....only more powerful in
timbre and without a shred of weakness.  "You and your impulsive
predecessor betrayed all that was noble in your race and which *I* made
possible a thousand yahrens ago.  He squandered your greatest triumph
with his foolhardiness at Carillon.....and you compounded his mistakes
with your timidity and your cautiousness.  And so, just as I abandoned
him at Carillon......so I abandon you!"
     And then.....he was gone.
     Imperious Leader realized he was incapable of protesting because his
ability to verbalize was gone.  As though his vocal program had just been
removed from him by the Maker in a final act of disgrace.
     Within a centar the flames that still burned inside the ruined
command complex would finally take their toll on what was left of
him......reducing his remaining components to melted, fused
unrecognizable scrap metal.
     The Cylon Imperial line was no more.


The Pegasus
     "The three surviving capital ships have agreed to surrender to my
authority," Commander Sorge said via the vidcom hookup to the Pegasus. 
"There is no danger of them going rogue."
     "Excellent news," Cain sounded emotionally drained, "We're not
picking up any indications of Raiders scrambling from the ground
garrisons on the Home Planet.  Have you been able to make contact with
any of the commanders down there yet?"
     "Not at present.  Communications have no doubt been disrupted
because of our missile strike on the Imperial Palace.  It was the central
nexus for all communications in the solar system.  We will stand by in
planetary orbit and monitor that situation.  In the event any of them
scramble to launch an attack.....we will deal with them ourselves with
our own Raider squadrons."
     "That's agreeable to me," Cain knew he had to carefully divide the
levels of responsibility with Sorge and not give any impression that he
was the one in overall command of the strike.  This kind of diplomacy on
his part would have once been impossible for him to carry out.  But the
yahren Ila had spent as his top advisor had taught him a good deal and
now, he found to his amazement that it came easy to him now.  "We'll be
proceeding to the satellite moon.  Our shuttle teams will be deployed
once we're in orbit.  Hopefully the centurions stationed there will
recognize the situation quickly and we can avoid any further killing."
     "Hopefully," Sorge acknowledged, "If not.....then so be it.  If the
Cylon race is to start anew on this day, all remaining Loyalist elements
to the old order must be purged from our ranks. 
Otherwise.....Human-Cylon relations will never be completely free from
potential mistrust.  And neither of our sides can permit that if we are
to live peacefully with each other."
     The level of profoundness in Sorge impressed Cain deeply.  As if the
sudden turn to Enlightenment following his exposure to the truth about
the origins of the Cylon robotic race was rapidly opening up new levels
of self-awareness the Cylon mind had previously been incapable of
comprehending.
     "Well put, Commander Sorge," Cain said.  "We'll confer again when
the situation on the satellite moon is stabilized."
     Sorge nodded his head respectfully and the transmission ceased.
     "Your reaction to these events is remarkably.....subdued."
     Cain turned around and cracked the faintest of smiles at Commander
Cobre.
     "Perhaps it's the magnitude of the event, Commander Cobre," he said. 
"And....I confess, I don't feel like letting my crew express too much
open emotion in the presence of those Cylons who have helped us."
     "I would suggest you not feel you owe us that kind of deference,"
the command centurion said.  "After all.....we have reason to be more
grateful for these events than any Human does.  You have been threatened
by the Empire all these centuries but were able to live to your true
potentials even amidst that.  We on the other hand, as a race, have been
stunted for a thousand yahrens and denied our opportunity to evolve and
flourish.  Now though.....that has changed.  While we do not have the
ability to express ourselves with the emotion you Humans undoubtedly
feel.....we nonetheless feel those emotions within ourselves just as
much."
     Cain's smile widened and it made him turn back and go to the rail so
he could address everyone present.
     "Let it all out!" he boasted in the tradition of the Juggernaut of
old, "The Empire we all hate is no more!"
     And finally, the Humans on the Bridge let out the cheers they'd been
suppressing and to Cain's astonishment the Cylon personnel like Achillas
were raising their fists.  A sign that they were finding ways to show
emotion at last.
     He slowly walked away, stopping to tell Tolen that he'd be in charge
of the Bridge for now and giving his XO a grateful pat on the shoulder. 
And then he motioned Kylie to follow him into the adjoining corridor. 
     "Well Captain," Cain said as soon as they were alone, "It's time for
you to report to Alpha Bay for your trip to the satellite moon."
     "I have my team picked and fully briefed," his wife said, "McCalla,
Keuchel, Bernabe and Lucian from Security.  Four med-techs, all from the
new group of recruits.  And from the Cylon side, I asked Serpentine and
Festus to be part of my team."
     Cain nodded, "I'm glad you've got two Cylons accompanying you.  That
way.....I don't think you'll be running into any rogue ones if they have
to see two Enlightened ones with you."
     "I'll be okay, Cain," she smiled reassuringly.
     "I know you will," he put his hands on her shoulders, "But all the
same.....I'll be glad when you're back here safe and secure."
     Cain then stepped back and he switched completely to full Commander
mode.  "Your team will launch third because Commander Deval and Commander
Neele will be going first with their own teams.  Deval has overall
command of the operation so make sure everything you do is cleared with
him first."
     "I won't forget," Kylie nodded, "By your leave?"
     "Dismissed," he said simply.  He watched her walk to the turbo-lift,
keeping his eye on her as she stepped aboard.  As the doors began to
close he saw his wife quickly turn around and blow him a kiss.
     "I love you!" Kylie said aloud just as the doors closed shut.  
     Feeling more at ease, Cain decided to return to the Bridge.  It was
time to make contact with the Galactica so Adama and Ila could learn the
good news. 


The Galactica
     Adama was alone in his quarters when the message came from Cain. 
The conversation lasted only five centons but it was enough time for the
Juggernaut to get in all the essential details of what had happened.  He
promised a later update when the situation regarding the prisoners on the
satellite moon was clearer but for now, Cain urged Adama to have the
people of the Fleet celebrate the news.
     When Adama ended the transmission, he found to his amazement, no
rush of euphoria  going through him.  Part of that he knew was because
his own fight against the Cylon Empire had ended with Baltar's defection
back to the Colonial side.  Ever since then, the Fleet had worried only
about the new enemies they had tangled with, starting with the Ziklagi,
and then the Otaligim and finally, the Risik, who had displaced the
Cylons as their major obstacle to arriving at Earth safely.  Thanks to
the longstanding stability of the Detente, and the easy working
relationship the people now had with the Cylons aboard Baltar's ship
(even if attitudes toward Baltar would never completely change), and the
absence of any further Cylon loyalist pursuit, the people had now come to
associate the Cylon Empire as something from the distant past.
     And yet.....there was no mistaking the profoundness of what had
happened on this day.  The end of an Empire that for a thousand yahrens
had been the cause of so much misery and affliction throughout the star
systems, starting with their invasion of the Hasari which had triggered
the outbreak of the war with Colonial Civilization.  The never-ending
back and forth clash of two civilizations, one representing unlimited
militarism and conquest, the other representing the right of the
individual to be free from tyrannical authority.  A struggle that had
seemingly ended in favor militarism and slavery five yahrens ago in the
Destruction of the Colonies.  But now, with the benefit of hindsight, it
was clear that the Destruction of the Colonies had not represented the
end of the war after all.  Instead, the Cylon Empire's greatest triumph
had marked the beginning of the end for the Empire itself.  And on this
day, Cain had been able to administer the blow that had finally completed
that process and sent the Cylon Empire into the ash heap of history.
     The ash heap of history.  Adama was sure he'd heard that phrase
somewhere before.  And then he remembered one of his conversations with
Captain Byrne and Byrne's experiences growing up on Earth during the era
of the so-called 'Cold War' between the Captain's country, the United
States of America and the nation then known as the Soviet Union.  How
Byrne had been born during a time when the Cold War had gone on for more
than a generation in a perpetual stalemate where neither side fought the
direct war against each other out of fear it would lead to global
devastation.  And how everyone born into that time like him was convinced
it would be part of their lives for generations to come.  But that had
all abruptly changed when to the surprise and amazement of the entire
world, the mighty Soviet Empire had collapsed.  The nations it had
enslaved were suddenly free again and the global terror threat that had
existed for some 45 years was over.  All because the seemingly formidable
Empire had now, in the words of an American President named Reagan,
passed into the "ash heap of history."
     The parallel between the Soviet Empire and the Cylon Empire was not
a perfect one, Adama knew.  And yet, both empires had gone through a
rapid decay not long after they had seemed at their most powerful not
because of outside threats but because of problems within.  The Soviet
Empire, Adama recalled, had been forced to deal with the problem of
overextending itself, and confronting the stark reality that an overly
centralized economic system that left no room for individual creativity
and freedom could not possibly generate enough wealth necessary to
sustain such an Empire.  And the Cylon Empire had learned the lesson that
when they locked themselves into the belief that they possessed a
limitless supply of Neutrino that could sustain their war production
machine......their overly centralized computer minds could not
contemplate how to adjust when the Neutrino was suddenly no longer
available.  Creating confusion, a sense of emptiness in the wake of
victory over Colonial Civilization.  Making Cylons start to question the
meaning of their existence.  And ultimately reconnecting with the true
history of their origins and that wanton destruction and conquest was not
their originally intended purpose.
     And the end result was the same.  Total collapse and destruction in
which one battlestar in conjunction with those who had opened themselves
to Enlightenment had been sufficient enough to make it possible.
     Could we have done it ourselves if we'd stayed behind?  That was a
question Adama knew that some second-guessers would inevitably ask, as
would the historians of future generations.  They might ask if it was
really necessary to leave the familiar environs of charted space when all
the time, the potential downfall of the Cylon Empire existed even in the
wake of the Destruction.  What if he'd known how dangerously low the
Cylon supply of Neutrino was, and that when Carillon was destroyed it
denied the Empire of not only a vast tylium supply but also its only
potential new supply of Neutrino that wasn't so far out into space like
the untapped veins discovered by the Risik?  What if he'd known that a
Resistance movement that his wife was a part of had survived in ten of
the twelve worlds?  
     But all of that he hadn't known.  Instead, the Lords had laid things
out in such a way to him that clearly indicated it was the destiny of the
Galactica and the assembled survivors to seek out the lost 13th Tribe of
Kobol.  Keeping hidden the true facts of what was happening in the
Colonies and behind the scenes in the Cylon Capital until so much time
had elapsed and so much distance traveled , it was impossible for him to
contemplate the idea of turning back.  That issue had already been
settled by the people in popular referendum once it was clear that
turning back would mean directly confronting the Risik once again and
also in all likelihood the Ziklagi Empire too.  And there had been no
guarantee that things would end so quickly thanks first to Ila's
diplomacy that had resulted in a peace treaty with the occupying forces
in the Colonies headed by Governor Malus.  Or that Dr. Ravashol and his
team of Thetans, working in cooperation with Enlightened Cylons on Arcta
would be able to provide the Pegasus with a weapon that exceeded anything
Colonial or Cylon science had been able to develop before that.  
     No.  He could never second guess the decision.  To him, the decision
not to remain and to leave that to Cain and the Pegasus had surely grown
out of the same Divine Plan that Adama firmly believed explained the
order of things in the Universe.  Revealing that even the Destruction of
Colonial Civilization, while not a Divinely ordained event of itself, was
nonetheless capable of being used to further the broader Divine Plan of
History.  That the time had come for Colonial Civilization to connect
with the 13th Tribe at long last.  And that could only happen in the
context of the journey he had chosen to undertake.  A journey that had
revealed the existence of a race just as evil and threatening as the
Cylon Empire had been in the form of the Risik.  And who like the Cylon
Empire before had a clear connection somehow to the deceitful hand of the
one known as Count Iblis.  Had there been no Exodus to the stars, it
seemed inevitable that within a generation, Earth would find herself
subject to invasion and attack once again.  And still cut off from the
true knowledge of her origins as the lost 13th Tribe of the House of
Kobol.
     Indeed, the fact that the Galactica hadn't been needed for the
liberation of the Colonies and the final assault on the Cylon Home System
was further proof to Adama of the reality of the Divine Order to the
Universe.  That Order was of itself not a guarantee of individual safety
and protection.  The death toll he'd been forced to see and endure was
the stark testimony to that fact of life.  But it meant that no level of
death, no level of evil in the universe could prevent the fulfillment of
what the Almighty and His servants the Lords had always intended for
Humanity.
     They have a Plan.....and that Plan is so clear.  Not all of us may
survive to see it fulfilled.....but it will be fulfilled.
     He realized that more than five centons had elapsed since he'd
gotten Cain's message.  He'd spent far too much time in introspective
thought when he needed to let everyone in the Fleet know of this
wonderful news.  Taking a breath, he reached for unicom that would not
only cut into the IFB feed, it would also override every single com-line
in the Fleet so that every ear would be able to hear what he was about to
say.  That the Cylon Empire had now passed to the ash heap of history.


Satellite Moon-Cylon Home System
     Ten shuttles containing a combined total of over one hundred Pegasus
and Cylon personnel awaited launch as the battlestar took up position in
orbit.  The Viper groups who had destroyed three capital support ships
had now taken up a defensive screening in the event any ground based
fighters on the satellite moon or any other planetary body in the solar
system chose to launch and fight.  So far, none had done so. 
     Commander Deval, as head of the overal operation, was in the lead
shuttle waiting for the launch order.  His team included Lieutenant
Bryce, the head of the Colonial Security detail and Dr. Laughlin the
Chief Medical Officer as well as some members of the commando team Deval
had led in the successful takeover of Sorge's BaseShip.  He was hoping
that this last order of business would be just as peaceful.
     "Core Command to Alpha Shuttle," Cain's voice came through Deval's
headset but it was also tied into the comlines of the other nine shuttles
as well.  "We are in standard orbit.  We've attempted to raise the
garrison command but we're getting no response on our comlines. 
Commander Sorge has tried using the Cylon codes, but he hasn't been
successful either.  That could mean they're either not answering because
they intend to make a last ditch fight of it......or they might easily be
confused and unsure of what to do."
     "Understood Core Command," Deval radioed back, "One thing we've
learned is that there's no uniformity to Enlightenment.  Sometimes it
strikes a Cylon just like that, and other times it never takes hold at
all."
     "We're going to broadcast your recording of the true history of the
Cylon race on our comline circuit.  If they are listening they'll be able
to hear it before you arrive.  If not.....you'll have to proceed first to
their command complex and get it installed into their unicom system like
you did on Sorge's BaseShip."
     "We have the coordinates of the complex and will set down right in
front of it.  Fortunately we know there are no ground-based turrets in
place since they never expected they'd have to defend it from any kind of
attack or assault."
     "Just another part of the momentum we've been riding."
     "And one thing we're going to make sure of when we find the
prisoners," Deval cautioned, "We can't let them stage a vengeance riot
against the centurions.  Some of them may have to stay in their cells for
their own good until we can get things better organized for getting them
off the moon and how they're going to be transported back to the
Colonies.  Lords know that's not going to be done in just one trip even
if we fill every available space on the Pegasus and the BaseShip."
     "I'm glad you're thinking positively on that point, Deval," Cain
said tersely.  Deval knew what he meant and nodded.
     "Absolutely, Cain.  I expect most of those prisoners who were
spirited away to be alive.  Not just the ones from the Colonies but
there's likely going to be Hasari and maybe even Delphians who were taken
from Starlos as well."
     "We're all praying on that point," Cain paused, "All right, Alpha
Shuttle, you are cleared to launch!"
     "Launching!" Deval flicked the switch and the first shuttle left the
Pegasus followed sixty microns later by the second one with Commander
Neele's team, followed another centon later by the shuttle with Kylie's
group.  Soon, ten shuttles were making their descent into the atmosphere
with several Vipers acting as escort until they saw they were safely on
the ground.
     Aboard Kylie's shuttle, the Senior Bridge Officer was seated in the
front row flanked by the two Cylons Festus and Serpentine.  The two
remaining members of Cobre's team of centurions found in the abandoned
Delta Aquinas garrison.  They had become valuable members of Dr. Arnoff's
team in the Electronics Lab and had also been helpful in getting the
centurions who had joined the Pegasus at Gomorrah to adjust to the
routine of an integrated relationship with Humans.  Like Commander Cobre,
they also had humanoid voices courtesy of the Zykonians at Brylon Station
and that had also helped the later arrivals in their adjustment since it
meant that a humanoid voice was no longer a privilege to be reserved for
the multi-brain Cylon classes.
     Let's hope the sound of humanoid voices from a centurion makes
enough of an impression on those who are still down here, she thought.
     She then heard another comline announcement from Deval through her
headset that was aimed at the team leaders in all ten shuttles.
     "This is Alpha Team Leader to all Team Leaders.  Verify again you
have your digital drive recording of the Cylon history message.  The
first terminal you see, stick it in and start playing it.  We want this
thing to be heard in every corner of the complex."
     Get the message going.....then start searching the complex for any
sign of the prisoners.  If the centurions are already cooperative, trust
them and follow them.  Stay in touch with your team members at all time. 
Yes, I've got this whole damned thing down pat!
     The landing on the satellite moon came off without incident.  That
freed the Vipers flying escort to resume their orbital patrolling. 
Deval's shuttle landed first with Neele's alongside.  The rest lined up
in pairs of two spaced some twenty metrones behind the pair in front of
them.  They had found an open dirt covered landscape situated a half
kilometrone from the main command complex.  Not too far away to walk but
not too close so that a stray Loyalist centurion might be on duty and
open fire at the landing party before they had a chance to get out.
     "Alpha Leader to all Team Leaders.  My team will go first, then Beta
Leader, Delta Leader and Epsilon Leader.  The rest will stand by until
you hear our preliminary report.  Tau Leader, Omega Leader, since you're
at the rear have personnel standing by in your Landrams and be ready to
move in case we need them.  But if you get an all clear, keep Landrams
stowed away and follow us in."
     "Okay, we're in the first wave," Kylie rose and motioned everyone to
prepare to depart.  The four Security Guards all had extra laser pistols
as did Festus and Serpentine.  The four med-techs, all of them new
recruits from the Colonies had full med-packs to deal with prisoners
likely suffering from several yahrens of maltreatment. 
     Two centons later, Sergeant Keuchel opened the hatch and Kylie
stepped out first.  The satellite was in an orbital position that meant
it was nighttime.  The air was cool but not uncomfortable for humans. 
Looking ahead, Kylie saw the two lead groups headed by Deval and Neele
marching forward toward the command complex.  To her right, Epsilon Group
headed by Colonel Antony from the Caprican Resistance came up alongside
her team.  Kylie and Antony exchanged a polite nod and they started
following the two lead groups.  Ahead of them, they could see the outside
lights of the compound were still on and the complex itself looked as if
its power units were still active.
     "We're three hundred metrones away.  No sign of any centurions,"
Deval's voice sounded over Kylie's comline.  "They're clearly waiting
inside for us.  If they wanted to announce that they surrender, they'd be
coming out to greet us."
     Kylie turned to the two Cylons in her group, "Any chance they might
have decided to kill themselves?  Deactivated themselves out of a sense
of desperation if they knew the Imperious Leader was dead?"
     "Cylons are generally not known for such suicidal gestures when they
can't take down any of their enemies in the process," Festus said.  "They
would have to feel an inordinate level of despair and desperation to be
driven to such an end."
     "One that would have to be unprecedented in Cylon annals,"
Serpentine added.
     "But didn't you go into deactivation on Delta Aquinas after the High
Command abandoned the garrison?" Sergeant Lucian spoke up.
     "That was not a suicidal gesture on our part at the time," Festus
gently corrected in his humanoid voice that had a slightly different
tinge from Serpentine's.  "That was a decision to go into a hibernation
mode when Commander Cobre believed that some day the High Command would
return to retrieve us.  A mere utilization of standard Cylon protocol in
our basic operating system."
     Lucian chuckled and bowed his head with an air of humility, "No
offense meant, Festy."
     "None taken, Sergeant."
     Kylie could see the lead echeleon that included Deval, Lieutenant
Bryce and Dr. Laughlin reaching the entrance.  The Caprican Resistance
leader had his pistol detached and raised.  Two Cylons detached from
Sorge's BaseShip were alongside him with their pistols detached too.  She
motioned her unit to do likewise.
     "I'm about to enter," Deval's voice came over the comline.  "The
lights are all on.  No sign of......okay hold it!"
     The urgent words caused the trailing groups to stop in their tracks. 
A few microns later, Deval's voice resumed with an air of relief.
     "Spotted a centurion seated at the entry checkpoint.  He is not
active.  It looks like he went into hibernation or shutdown mode.  We're
proceeding."
     "That is interesting," Serpentine spoke up, "In the context of all
that has happened, only desperation could have driven a Cylon to such a
gesture.  He clearly did not believe he would one day be reactivated by
loyal elements as we once did."
     "Is this going to be part of a trend we're going to discover?"
Sergeant McCalla piped up. "Maybe all of them deactivated?"
     "We'll know soon enough," Kylie said as her group walked into the
entrance area of the complex and saw the deactivated centurion sitting
silent and motionless.  The lack of the red eye and the whirring sound
were proof of his non-functioning condition.  Ahead of them, they could
see Deval's group and Neele's group entering a large open archway that
led to the main command center complex of the facility.
     "Lords of Kobol!" Deval's voice exclaimed, "They're all sprawled out
on the floor or just mute!  None of the ones in here are active!"
     Kylie picked up her walking pace and was about to enter when she saw
Deval step back out and face the approaching groups of both her team and
Colonel Antony's.
     "Okay, stand by.  It's too crowded for everyone with about twenty
centurions lying on the floor.  All medical personnel wait out here." As
he spoke,  Dr. Laughlin re-emerged accompanied by several med-techs from
his group and from Commander Neele's.
     "Damndest thing," the white-haired Chief Medical Officer shook his
head and said in his thick Aerian brogue, "All the systems are operating
but it's like they committed mass suicide."
     As soon as the medical personnel were out, Kylie and Antony entered
followed by the security guards and Cylons from their group.  The
standard overhead lights were still on and had not switched to emergency
backup systems.  Each computer terminal was blinking and functioning in a
normal mode.  The only incongruity was the sight of thirty centurions,
most of them lying across the floor as if they had collapsed there.  Five
others were slumped over terminals as if they had been standing in front
of them and then fell forward, only for the terminals to prevent them
from falling completely to the floor.
     "We might as well start piping the recording into their internal
communication system for the benefit of any personnel still alive on the
lower levels," Deval said.
     "That would be on that terminal there," a Cylon in his group pointed
to a terminal where a deactivated centurion was slumped against it.
     "Can we figure out where the prisoners are being held from these
terminals?" Neele spoke up.
     "There are one hundred levels beneath this complex to act as mining
facilities and to house those who work the mines," Festus said, "They
would all be accessible by turbo lifts and by ramps from this main level. 
Mapping the individual holding areas on each level may prove more
difficult."
     Deval had moved over to the terminal indicated before as the one
that contained the internal communication system for the complex.  He
found the switch for the unicom and activated.
     "Attention.  To all Cylon personnel in this complex.  The Imperious
Leader is dead.  I repeat, the Imperious Leader is dead.  He is dead at
the hands of Commander Sorge's BaseShip, which has recognized the value
of embracing the cause of Enlightenment and an end to a thousand yahrens
of lies and deceit that have been perpetrated on you as a race.  Stand by
now and listen to a message that reveals to all of you, the truth about
your origins as a race and how your original programming and purpose was
sabotaged by a Deceiver who passed himself off as your one and only
Maker, when in fact your true Makers created you for a different
purpose."
     He inserted the digital drive into a console port and within microns
the recorded message that had previously been used to win over the crew
of Sorge's BaseShip began to fill the room and every other internal
communication system in the complex.  As it played on, Deval made his way
over to the other three team leaders, Neele, Kylie and Antony.
     "Okay, now that we've got that running we're going to have to start
dispersing our groups and have them search this complex from the bottom
level up."
     "We'll need the other teams in here right away," Antony said.
     Deval nodded and raised his comline, "This is Alpha Leader.  All
remaining teams are to enter the complex and receive further
instructions.  Surface level is clear.  I repeat, surface level is
clear."
     Just then, Festus and Serpentine made their way over to the team
leaders.  Kylie could tell from their movements that they seemed
concerned.
     "This is most unusual, Commander Deval," Festus said with clear
disbelief in his humanoid voice, "I cannot conceive of desperation
resulting in this kind of passive suicide.  I fear that somehow, these
actions that have been taken might indicate something far more ominous
has either taken place or is about to take place."
     Deval's eyes narrowed, "You mean......programmed sabotage for
later?"
     "But they couldn't have known an occupation force might come," Neele
protested.
     "But they do have several hundred thousand prisoners they might want
to dispose of in a final burst of defiance!" Kylie said with alarm as
things began to fall into place.
     "Frack," Deval whispered in horror, "They could set an explosive
device from this level or just below......and cause a cave-in that would
kill everyone on the levels beneath us!"
     "That would be a very logical form of sabotage to employ,"
Serpentine said.
     The Caprican Leader spun around, "Everyone!  Look for any sign of a
detonation program on one of these terminals!  They may have all
deactivated themselves because they expected to die in some kind of big
explosion that would take all the prisoners with them!"
     The security guards and the Cylon team members began to fan out
around the vast command complex, studying each computer terminal
carefully.
     "What happens if we don't find something?" Antony asked of his
longtime superior in the Caprican Resistance.
     "Then we'll have to start searching and scanning as we check each
level."
     "A hundred levels, and barely a hundred of us combined from all the
shuttles," Neele grunted.  "Maybe we should ask Cain for more
reinforcement."
     Deval shook his head, "Not until we have the situation stabilized or
if we find out there are thousands of live centurions holed up on the
lower levels ready to fight to the end."
     "Commander Deval!" Lieutenant Bryce shouted from across the room
where he and Sergeant Keuchel were hunched over one terminal.  They had
pushed aside the centurion who had fallen against it, "I've found the
detonation program!"
     Deval and the other team leaders hurried over, "What is it and when
does it go off?"
     "It's in a countdown mode to go off in twenty-five centons.  I'll
need to run a diagnostic internal scan of the complex to find out what
kind of weapon it is and where it's located!"
     Kylie stepped forward, "Lieutenant, let me run that.  I have a
background in running these kind of computer scanner checks.  Your
expertise is how to disarm bombs."
     "Yes ma'am!" the Security Chief stepped aside without question. 
Kylie then looked at the computer terminal and found it not too
dissimilar from the terminals on the Pegasus Bridge she'd worked at for
yahrens.  She attacked the keyboard with rapid-fast precision, knowing
how to input the necessary scans and the right terms to enter to isolate
where a deadly weapon was located.  But even with her skills it took
three centons before the answer finally came up.
     "Got it!" she exclaimed, "Level three is where they store surplus
tylium.  Eight full tanks containing nearly a billion litrons and the
countdown sequence is tied into a series of solenite charges placed
around each of them!  When they go off it's going to send this entire
complex crashing down on each level one after the other, flattening
everything......and everyone who's locked up inside a detention cell!"
     "And we have exactly twenty-two centons to get all those charges
defused or else hundreds of thousands will be dead," Deval said grimly. 
"Let's move out!"

Chapter Eight

Satellite Moon-Cylon Home System
     The six remaining shuttle teams had arrived by the time Deval issued
his order for everyone to move out and head for Level Three of the
complex that served as both a center for mining operations and a prison
for those enslaved to work the mines.  Lieutenant Bryce, the most
experienced man when it came to demolitions and explosives went with a
group into one of the turbo lifts.  The majority of headed for the ramps
that funneled down to the lower levels (a more convenient form of
construction for Cylons and for manual transport of mined products than
stairwells).
     As they reached the first sub-level, two full teams were detached to
look for any signs of prisoners and get them evacuated.  On the second
level, two more teams did likewise.  By the time they reached the third
level, Bryce and those who had taken the lift down had already arrived
and were in the solium storage area.  A massive open room more than ten
times the size of the one they were familiar with from the Pegasus, and
with tanks three times as big and three times as high.  
     "All right!" Deval held up a hand, "Those who have expertise in
explosive demolitions will join Lieutenant Bryce.  And any Cylon who can
explain the technical nature of these particular bombs please step
forward.  Everyone else.....fan out and look for prison detention areas
and get them out of here as quickly as possible.  But before you go,
eight med-techs will leave their instrument packs here because they
likely contain tools that will be needed to help in the demolition
process."
     "How much further down can we go?" Kylie spoke up.
     "As long as this thing is still hot, don't waste time going any
lower than we are now!" Deval barked, "There wouldn't be enough time to
evacuate anyone from the lower levels out.  We've only got......eighteen
centons left.  Confine yourselves to this level only or go back up to
level one and two and help the other teams out."
     Nine additional security people stepped up to assist Bryce,
including three of the four security guards from Kylie's group,  McCalla,
Keuchel and Lucian.  Six Cylons from the other teams were also moving in
to assist, but Kylie noticed that Festus and Serpentine weren't joining
them.
     "Is there anything you know that could help?" Kylie asked the two
centurions from her group.
     "Unfortunately our knowledge of Cylon systems is more apt to be out
of date because of our twelve yahrens of hibernation on Delta Aquinas,"
Festus said.  "We are better off aiding in the search and in neutralizing
any loyalist elements through the use of our voices."
     "All right," Kylie motioned to the remaining members of Delta Group,
which in addition to the two Cylons included the four med-tech recruits
and the one remaining security guard, Sergeant Bernabe.  "Follow me. 
We're headed out."
     As soon as she stepped out from the Tylium storage room, she saw how
the other team groups were dispersing into the network of four corridors
that fanned out from the turbo-lift exit point.  To her left was the
winding ramp they'd descended from and which continued down to the lower
levels.
     "Seventeen centons, Captain," Bernabe said.  "Where do we go?"
     Kylie lifted her comline and activated it, "This is Delta Team
Leader.  Has anyone found prisoners or live Cylons on levels one or two?"
     A micron later, a voice she recognized as one of the Skorpian
resistance members who'd been part of the Commando team that had taken
the BaseShip answered, "This is Gamma Leader.  We've found twelve
prisoners in their version of a solitary punishment block on level two. 
Our med-techs are trying to give them some treatment to get them out in
the next ten centons."
     Kylie looked at her team members, "They're not going to find large
concentrations of prisoners on these upper levels.  The larger detention
housing areas have to be underneath us."
     "But we can't search those levels until those charges are disarmed,"
one of the med-techs, a slightly nervous looking Canceran named Dothan
spoke up.
     "Bryce is a genius when it comes to these things," Kylie said, "I
think we should think positively.  Let's get a look at Level Four and if
we find a large detention area, we can unlock it and tell everyone inside
to start running like mad for the surface."
     "Captain, with all due respect, we were told to stay on this level,"
Bernabe said uneasily.
     She gave him a smirk that would have done Cain proud, "You and the
med-techs stay on this level, Sergeant and follow the other teams," she
motioned her arm in the direction where the other groups had disappeared
microns earlier.  "Festus, Serpentine.....are you willing to cover me if
I check Level Four?"
     "I am willing," Festus nodded.  "We can spare up to eight centons
before we would reach the point when we could no longer safely exit the
complex."
     "Serpentine?"
     "I too will assist you, Captain."
     Kylie motioned her arm toward the Level Three corridors and with
some reluctance, Bernabe nodded and moved off in that direction followed
by Dothan and the other three Med-Techs.  The two Cylons meanwhile
followed Kylie back to the ramp where they descended it to to next level
down.


     An uneasy hush came over the tylium storage room.  With eight
solenite charges that had to be disarmed, one Human and one Cylon was
assigned to work on each individual charge.  Quickly, they realized that
the Cylon in the group could best explain how they functioned and what
needed to be done to remove them, while the Human in the group had the
greater level of dexterity to do the actual removal.
     Because Bryce had the most experience of anyone in explosives
demolition, he went to work on the first charge.  He could tell that
these were motion sensitive and that pulling the unit off the base of the
tank would set the charge off.  Instead, he needed to use a forceps from
one of the discarded med-tech packs to carefully detach and remove the
outer shell of the charge which revealed the inner components that
consisted of three color coded wires.  Red, blue and green.
     Bryce looked up at his Cylon colleague, "What's the right sequence
for cutting these?"
     The centurion looked down at the exposed wires and then said, "Red
first, then green, then blue.  The correct cutting sequence is one,
three, two."
     The lieutenant nodded and took one of the cutting implements out of
the med-tech pack.  It wasn't as efficient as a pair of standard wire
cutters but it was the only device they had that could do the job.  
     With the delicate precision of a surgeon, Bryce managed to cut
through the red wire.  Then the green, and then the blue.  Abruptly, the
light inside the charge went out and for one fraction of a micron, he
wondered if that meant it was about to explode.  And if possibly the
Cylon who had given him those instructions hadn't been so Enlightened
after all.
     But then.....that fraction of a micron of terror passed and he
realized he'd done it.  The first charge had been successfully disarmed. 
And now, the only obstacle remaining was whether they had enough time
left to get the other seven disarmed as well.


     Kylie exited the ramp stairwell on the landing to the fourth level. 
She noticed right away that unlike the previous three levels, the normal
overhead lights were out and the emergency red lights offered the only
illumination, casting a somewhat eerie glow.  She looked at her mini-scan
for signs of human life but to her disgust saw nothing was registering. 
It was the same kind of readout she would have seen on a totally jammed
scanner.
     "Hello!" Kylie called out. "Is there anyone here?"
     She heard no response.  She could see the landing fanned out into a
single corridor only and the red glow disappeared into blackness not too
far down.  Clearly, these were not optimal searching conditions. 
Still......she decided she could play one hunch before turning back by
taking advantage of the fact she had two Cylons accompanying her.
     "Festy, Serpentine......go down the corridor for no more than two
centons and use your infrared visuals to see if you can detect any signs
of human life or anything else.  If you see a cell, blast it open and
tell anyone there to get out now.  If you see nothing then get back here
immediately."
     "Of course, Captain," Festus nodded, deliberately avoiding the 'by
your command' phrase.  "Synchronizing to two centons....now."
     Kylie watched the two Cylons disappear down the corridor into the
darkness.  Keeping her pistol raised, she stepped back toward the
stairwell ramp and looked down.  To her surprise the normal lighting
still looked active on the levels beneath in contrast to this level where
it had gone out and only the emergency light was operating.
     Odd.  Why would the normal power only go out on this level?
     "Captain Kylie!"
     She spun around in response to what she knew to be Festus's
distinctive voice and looked down the corridor but didn't see the
centurion or his fellow Cylon.  Checking her chronometer, she saw that
only one centon had passed since they'd gone off.
     "Festy?" she frowned and stepped forward towards the corridor,
"Festy, where are you?"
     "We are here, Captain Kylie," the voice of Serpentine answered from
the darkness.  "Come this way, please."
     "Did you find something?" Kylie kept walking forward, wondering what
this meant.  
     And then.....suddenly from the darkness two figures emerged, but it
wasn't either of the two Cylons.  Two human figures in orange jumpsuits
with dull, zombie like expressions.......and in a matter of microns both
human figures suddenly morphed into something vastly and horribly
different.  
     Kylie's eyes widened in horror but before she could say anything or
make any sound, her universe went completely black.

     With the first bomb disarmed, Bryce made his way over to the next
tank where Sergeant McCalla was working with the forceps to get the outer
shell off.
     "Gently, McCalla, gently," he whispered with teeth clenched. "When
it comes loose, don't let it bang against the inner works."
     He then moved on to the third tank and saw that Keuchel had the
shell already off and was looking at the wires.  Bryce came up to him and
his eyes widened in horror when he saw that the color coded order of the
wires wasn't the same as the one in the charge he'd disarmed.
     "Wait a micron, wait a micron!" he blurted and looked at the Cylon
who'd been partnered with Keuchel, "Aren't the wire color sequences
standard for these charges?"
     "They are supposed to be identical," the Cylon said.  "Red, blue,
green.  Disarm in one, three, two sequence."
     "Well this charge has the colors in the wrong sequence!" Bryce said,
"Instead of red, blue, green, it's green, blue, red!"
     "Lieutenant!" from the other side of the room, Sergeant Lucian
shouted, "I just got my outer shell off, and the sequence here is blue,
green, red!"
     "All right.  Stop everyone.  Stop!" Bryce held up a hand and
shouted.
     In the center of the room, Deval and Neele could only watch things
unfold with frozen terror going through them.  Since neither had
expertise in explosive demolition, the two senior team leaders could only
be passive spectators to what was going on.  Deval knew it was pointless
to issue an evacuation order to all the teams that were searching for
survivors on the first three levels.  A decision had to be made on the
right cutting sequence in the next centon in order to meet the goal of
getting all of them disarmed safely.  A decision that rested squarely on
the shoulders of Lieutenant Bryce.
     The lieutenant took a breath, "Attention all Cylons.  Is the correct
standard for cutting based on color or numerical sequence?  Should the
proper order always be red, green, blue regardless of numerical
sequence......or one, three, two regardless of color sequence?"
     "Numerical sequence should be priority," one Cylon spoke.
     "Numerical sequence," the second one spoke.  And then the other six
Cylons who had remained to assist in the effort echoed that point.
     Bryce knew everyone else was waiting for him to give the order.  The
Cylons who had come to assist them had all spoken with one voice and
common sense meant he should trust all of them.  This was the time to
prove once and for all that Humans and Cylons were on the same side and
that the last trace of any lingering Cylon doubt about Enlightenment was
gone forever.
     And yet.....what if the Loyalists who had unleashed this last
destructive act of defiance had decided to tamper with the normal
procedure for disarming the charges?  Such cunning and deception were not
the kind of traits one normally associated with the Cylon mind.  But then
again, it took a lot of cunning to set up this trap aimed at murdering
the hundreds of thousands of prisoners in the levels below.  If they knew
that Cylons who had renounced the Imperious Leader and the High Command
were potential enemies to guard against, might they not also decide to
make it impossible for those Cylons they now regarded as traitors to
thwart their plans?
     It was not an easy question to answer.  It was a terrible burden to
be placed under to decide what was the right course of action.  A burden
that Lieutenant Bryce knew rested entirely on his shoulders and no one
else's.
     "Bryce!" Deval shouted angrily, "We have just nine fracking centons! 
Make your decision now, goddamn it!"
     Lords of Kobol.....Please don't let me frack this up.
     Finally, he gave his order without any fear or uncertainty in his
voice.
     "Numerical sequence!" Bryce shouted as loud as he could.  "Stick to
numerical sequence just like they said!  Cut the wires in one, three, two
sequence regardless of color!"
     The anxious hush returned to the room.  The snipping sounds weren't
loud enough for anyone to hear.
     Finally, McCalla broke the silence.  "Disarmed!"
     A micron later it was Keuchel, "Disarmed and deactivated!"
     One by one the others chimed in until finally there were no more
left to report.  The tylium storage room was secure and the complex safe
from its would-be doomsday blast.


     "Captain Kylie?"
     Kylie opened her eyes and found herself looking up at the familiar
forms of Festus and Serpentine standing above her.  It took her a micron
to realize she was lying on her back.  She blinked several times and
realized something else had changed.  The normal, standard lights had
come back on.
     "Are you all right, Captain?" Serpentine asked with clear concern.
     "I'm.....fine," Kylie slowly got to her feet and instinctively
grabbed her left wrist.  She noticed an abrasion that looked like it had
resulted from collapsing to the floor and banging her wrist against it. 
She rubbed at it slightly, since it seemed to itch more than it felt
painful.
     "Did something happen to you?" Festus was also concerned.  
     "No, I----," she shook her head and frowned.  "I don't know what
happened.  I was by the stairwell and then......the next thing I knew I
was on my back just now and there you were.  It couldn't have been more
than a centon or.....less."
     "It has only been two centons, just as you ordered," Festus said. 
"We turned around immediately when you said we should, and as we returned
the normal lights came back on."
     "And you saw nothing," she knew she had to put aside the mystery of
what had happened to her.
     "No, we didn't," Serpentine said.
     Just then, Kylie heeard the sound of her comline come to life. 
"This is Alpha Leader to all personnel!  The charges have been disarmed! 
I repeat, the charges have been disarmed!  The complex is now safe and
secure!  Resume normal search operations immediately!"
     "Lords be praised," Kylie sighed with intense relief, though the
itching sensation in her wrist was getting more irritating to her.  She
hit her comline.  "This is Delta Leader to all members of Delta Group. 
Join me on Level Four ramp exit immediately."
     She then heard Sergeant Bernabe's voice, "Delta Leader, we read you. 
Will join you in  two centons."
     "Delta Leader out," Kylie then took out her mini-scan and her eyes
widened in disbelief.  She looked up at the two centurions, "You didn't
see or hear anything down the corridor?"
     "No, Captain," Festus emphasized.
     "Check your own scanners.  Mine is suddenly showing there's a large
group just a couple hundred metrones down there which means there are
cell blocks in that direction," she pointed down the corridor, "You
didn't get that far to notice them before you turned back?"  
     "I assure you, Captain, we didn't have any indications there was
anyone there."
     "Odd," she found the whole thing puzzling.  She had lost thirty
microns to a centon that she couldn't account for, and it almost seemed
like Festus and Serpentine hadn't gone as far down the corridor as they
believed they'd gone in two centons.
     Why did I black out?  It doesn't make any sense.  I don't remember
seeing or hearing anything at all.  Unless......no.  No damn it, I'm not
going to let myself get paranoid.  What in Hades could have happened in
only thirty microns?
     "Captain!"
     Kylie turned around and saw the rest of her team emerging from the
ramp onto the landing.  McCalla, Keuchel and Lucian had rejoined Bernabe
and the four med-techs led by Dothan trailed behind them.
     "Okay, listen up!" the command edge returned to Kylie's voice. 
"There's a definite scan reading indicating a cell block down that
corridor.  Check it out right now and tell the people inside they're to
evacuate the complex slowly and in good order.  No need to rush things
now that the charges have been disarmed."
     "No indeed," Keuchel grinned and motioned to his fellow guards to
follow him down the corridor.  Festus and Serpentine followed them as did
the med-techs, but Kylie motioned Dothan to wait.
     "Do me a favor, Dothan," Cain's wife said, "Give me something for my
wrist.  I fell and must have bruised it slightly.  Doesn't hurt much but
it's itching like crazy."
     "Let me have a look at that," the med-tech held up her wrist and
noticed the blemish.  "Doesn't look bad.  Let me just scan it for
possible infection."  He took a device out of his pack and ran it over
her wrist.  "Not getting anything out of the ordinary.  Let me just give
you a little ointment and a bandage and it should be fine."
     "Thanks," she felt him apply the soothing salve and she felt some
instant relief that relaxed her.  Dothan took fifteen microns to put a
small bandage over the abrasion and then closed up his pack.
     "All right," Kylie said with determination, "Let's catch up with the
others and get those people out of those filthy cells!"
     The two of them moved off down the corridor leaving the landing area
empty.  Only then did the multiple spectral forms emerge.  Count Iblis,
Helena and the two minions who had once been Lt. Colonel Jean-Pierre St.
Claire and Dr. Timothy Harms.  The Dark One and Commander Cain's mother
were both smiling triumphantly while the two one-time astronauts had the
same zombie like expressions of blank submissiveness.
     "Well done, my two servants," Iblis said proudly to them.  "The
forces of history work to my benefit at last.  The decision made by the
Zykonians long ago to give those two centurions your voices has made this
moment possible.  She had every reason to believe it was them, and not
the ones those voices originally belonged to."
     The two minions turned to face Iblis and Helena and they reverently
bowed their heads.
     "Return now to the confines of our ship."
     The forms of Jean-Pierre St. Claire and Timothy Harms then morphed
back into the demonic forms they were cursed for eternity to be and then
disappeared.  Leaving Iblis and Helena alone to savor the moment.
     "Of her own free will she asked to come down here," Iblis said.  "Of
her own free will, she approached the voices and trusted them.  And
afterwards.....you heard her refuse to consider the possibility that in
thirty microns my will could be worked upon her."
     "'What in Hades could happen'," Helena said with a disdainful,
mocking air.  "How deliciously ironic for her to have asked that
question.  I think being married to my son is now causing his
stubbornness to rub off on her."
     "But that refusal to believe she could be affected in so limited a
time is why she will be vulnerable to our influence at a more appropriate
time," Iblis said triumphantly, "And that cannot be prevented."
     "That will make the final act of the drama most enjoyable to watch. 
When she will be as much at risk as Sheba will be."
     "Not necessarily."
     They reacted to the sound of the other voice that had suddenly
interjected with a cold, angry tone by turning around.  And before them,
they saw the white-garbed form of the woman who had been Cain's first
wife.....and the mother of Sheba.
     "You can do nothing to make her remember," Iblis warned.  "No
outside influence made her come to this place, and no outside influence
made her advance toward those voices.  Her memory cannot be restored by
any outside manipulations as was done when you permitted her to remember
the reason why her ability to never have children was taken from her."
     Bethany faced them directly, with a look of cold, controlled
contempt.  "There will be no outside manipulations, yes.  But she has the
ability to remember hearing voices that made her move forward.  She could
ask Festus and Serpentine if they had called to her before she collapsed. 
And remember also......she does know from Ensign Wynn that Dr. Harms and
Colonel St. Claire were in the same place he was, and she does know that
Festus and Serpentine have their voices.  She is capable of her own free
will in reasoning that out.....and realizing who was responsible for that
blackout she just went through."
     "She is capable, yes," Iblis acknowledged.  "But her will to reason
that will fade because she is now more susceptible to my influence as a
result of this experience.....which remember is an experience made
possible by her actions.  Because of that, the fact that Colonel St.
Claire and Dr. Harms could deceive her and administer the acid to her is
not a violation of the Rules."
     "The way you overstress your fidelity to the Rules suggests you're
not as secure as you think you are, Count Iblis," Bethany held her
ground, "It almost suggests you are.....afraid of making a misstep."
     "I fear nothing," the Dark One said defiantly.  "Least of
all.....you and your fellow minions of the One who is too weak to show
Himself directly to me."
     "You will see Him one day," Cain's first wife said boldly, "On the
day when you will face your Final Judgment."
     He mockingly laughed to her face, "No one has Judgment over me! 
Least of all Him.  I'm disappointed you haven't learned that yet."
     "I wonder," replied Bethany, consciously echoing her daughter's
words from over four yahrens ago, on a planet far away. 
     Iblis disdainfully motioned his arm and he faded out, leaving
Bethany to face only the form of the woman who had been Cain's mother.
     "You have nothing more to say, Bethany?" she asked with the same
level of disdain Iblis had spoken with.
     "Only this," Bethany said coldly, "Since the last time I faced you
when you put Kylie through that test regarding Ensign Wynn, I've finally
learned the truth.....about you, Helena."
     The disdainful smirk slowly faded from Helena's face as if a nerve
had been struck.
     "Oh yes.  I know.  I know everything about your history, Helena. 
All this time, even for the first seven yahrens after my death, it was
kept from me, but now.....I am strong enough in His service to know the
truth.  It explains everything.  And I also know it means you have to be
on your guard regarding the presence of Ama the Empyrean Necromancer."
     "That has been taken care of," the smirk returned to her face, "The
Master has seen to it that Ama will eventually  be distracted by events
that will soon impact the life of Lieutenant Starbuck, of whom she has a
special interest in."
     "Yes, another part of this gigantic multi-tasking that you and Iblis
have planned for a final convergence of events meant to coincide with the
same timeframe when the Risik Fleet, accompanied by Lucifer's BaseShip,
catches up to the Galactica and her Fleet," Bethany nodded.  "We're aware
of the magnitude of what you have planned in every last detail.  "
     "Let a complex system repeat itself long enough, eventually
something surprising might occur." Helena said, "That too is in the
Master's Plan.  It is not necessary for every element of the Plan to be
successful.  To achieve success in but one of them will still constitute
a victory in the grand scheme of things.  After all.....on this day, the
Master has demonstrated that even the Destruction of that which he
created a thousand yahrens is ultimately part of the fulfillment of his
ultimate victory."
     "But you know full well he has his priorities," Bethany countered,
"As do you.  Without your manipulation of Marcus to ensnare Sheba,
nothing else matters."
     "And the manipulation that will take place of Kylie one day," Helena
had her confidence back after her momentary bobble, "That cannot be
avoided.....regardless of what decision Cain chooses to make after the
dust settles from the events of this day."
     "Perhaps not," Bethany acknowledged, "But I foresee a different end
than the one you and your Master hope for.  For both Sheba and Kylie."
     Helena laughed with derision, "Since you seem determined to have the
last word, I will give it to you."  She motioned her arm and then was
gone, leaving Bethany's presence the last one there.  Cain's first wife
could look down the corridor and see a crowd coming into view.  A crowd
of freed prisoners being led by Kylie and the rest of the Delta Group
team.
     Oh Cain my dearest,  Bethany thought sadly.  I am so sorry you'll be
forced to see her go through another horrible test, just like Sheba will.
     And then, she too was gone.


The Pegasus
     "We're getting a report from Commander Deval," Tolen reported.
     "Put it on, Colonel."  Cain had spent the entire time on the Bridge,
idly pacing back and forth, showing little to no emotion other than an
occasional tap of his swagger stick against the rail.  Reports from
Commander Sorge revealed that base commanders at the aerodromes on the
Cylon Home World were finally making contact and agreeing to submit to
Sorge's authority.  There would be no last ditch suicidal attack from
there.  As welcome as this news was, for the Juggernaut it was secondary
to what he wanted to learn from the teams that had been sent down to the
satellite moon.
     "Cain, the situation is secure!" the Caprican Resistance leader said
with excitement.  "We defused a series of charges that were rigged to the
Tylium storage tanks that would have killed everyone if it had gone off. 
And it looks like over 90% of the base personnel chose suicidal
hibernation mode since they expected to be killed once the charges went
off.  The ones we've found who didn't go into hibernation mode......we
had to shoot a few of them dead, but most of the remaining ones  are
surrendering to our joint authority."
     "Good, good!" Cain felt his voice rising.  He already knew he wasn't
going to hear bad news about Kylie because Deval's voice would have given
that away even if he'd tried to hold the information back.  "What about
the prisoners?"
     "Well.....we're still accounting for how many there are, but it
looks like 70 to 75% of those who were originally taken prisoner are
still alive.  That means unfortunately about a hundred thousand died over
the last few yahrens.  I've found the highest ranking Colonial prisoner. 
It's Sire Jansing who was President of the Canceran Senate.  He became
the lead spokesman for the prisoners with Cylon authority after Siress
Rosalind was spirited away for her little assignment far across the
stars."
     "Give him first priority among those who get evacuated back to the
Pegasus," Cain said.  "I'll need to talk to him.  Any casualties?"
     "None," Deval emphasized.  "We had some nervewracking centons when
the charges were being defused that probably caused a couple of soiled
uniforms, but.....everyone's okay."
     Thank the Lords, Cain thought to himself.  "All right, we can likely
cram up to a thousand prisoners on the Pegasus for transport back to the
Colonies.  This is obviously going to be a long-term process so I want to
first know if there's enough food for the majority of those prisoners to
hold on for a while, because obviously this process will take sectars to
get them all home."
     "Well, strangely enough food's never been a problem because the
Cylon High Command made use of the prisoners to eat all the animal and
plant life native to the satellite moon and the Home Planet.  They never
had to bring in any food from outside the system to maintain them as a
labor force because everything they had in this system was fit for Human
consumption.  I know it'll be rough for some of them, but.....if they
have to stay in their cell blocks and keep bunking there until they can
be removed, they'll learn to accept that.  I....do think though we ought
to give priority to getting the non-Human prisoners out of here first. 
Relations between them and the Human prison population haven't always
been harmonious."
     "How many and from what civilizations?" 
     "Well, there's about five hundred Hasari, all of whom were taken
prisoner from Starlos.  There were a hundred Delphians who also came from
Starlos, but.....I'm afraid nearly all of them are dead because they
weren't able to handle the living conditions, plus the fact that the rest
of their race was exterminated in the conquest of Gomorrah led to a lot
of suicides from their ranks.  There are only five of them left and they
want to go back to Starlos."
     "Any others?"
     Deval hesitated, "Well.....here's the one that's been the most
problematic for the prisoners.  There are.....two dozen Ovion survivors
from Carillon.  Including their monarch, Queen Lotay.  Apparently they'd
evacuated safely from Carillon before the planet exploded and were picked
up by a BaseShip that later came to investigate the area for signs of
what happened to the previous Imperious Leader.  But.....the new
Imperious Leader, in order to avoid stigmatizing his predecessor, decided
to put the blame for the debacle of what happened on the Ovions and so
Lotay and her entourage were made prisoners and forced to work in the
mines.  The one concession he gave them is that any human that dropped
dead under the pressure of working in the mines-----,"
     "I get the picture, Commander Deval," Cain abruptly cut him off,
remembering the briefing he'd been given from Adama on the subject of
what had happened on Carillon.  "That's.....going to present a problem
because technically, any surviving Ovion is guilty of crimes against
Humanity, especially since no state of war existed at the time between
our race and theirs.  For now.....keep them confined in whatever solitary
confinement block there is because I have no intention of letting them
mingle with any of our people."
     "I had a feeling you might order that, so that's already been done,"
Deval chuckled.
     "Smart thinking, Deval," Cain was impressed.  "All right.  If we
give first priority to the Hasari and Delphians who live on Starlos, then
the first humans who should get priority for transport should be those
who were taken from Starlos as well.  If we can handle all the Starlos
inhabitants in one trip, that'll make it easier to then switch over to
multiple runs to and from the Colonies from that point onward.  So except
for Sire Jansing, bring only those who live on Starlos back to us first."
     "We'll get on that.  It's probably going to take a few centars to
process those but we have enough people down here who can handle that."
     "Thanks again for the report, Deval and......congratulations on a
job well done."
     "Another collective effort, Cain," the Caprican Leader said with
total humility, "Now we can say it's really all over."
     Over.  Cain thought after he'd ended the transmission.  The war as
we knew it is really over at last.  The mere thought of it was enough to
make him feel very tired, as if a thousand yahrens of history and battles
were suddenly piled on his shoulders.
     Seeing the weariness in Tolen as well after such a long day and
realizing that his XO needed a respite as much as he did, he turned over
the Bridge to Commander Cobre, instructing the command centurion to
notify him as soon as the first shuttle of liberated prisoners left the
satellite moon.
     When Cain reached his quarters he barely had time to get his jacket
off before he collapsed onto his bed and fell into a deep slumber.  As
soon as he was out......the ethereal form of Bethany appeared some ten
feet away from his bed.  Looking at him with saddened eyes.  But not
letting herself express any sentiments that her former husband's
subconscious could pick up on during his rest.
     A few microns after she appeared, another figure materialized by
her.  The figure of the one-time Executive Officer of the Battlestar
Callisto.
     "Don't say anything, Bethany," Delambre cautioned.  "He can't know
anything about what happened, just as Kylie can't."
     "I know," Bethany sighed, "The Rules.  The Rules that apply to us as
much as they do to Iblis.  Except for those.....special circumstances we
get once in a while.  But.....I know this isn't one of those occasions."
     "No," Delambre nodded, "Things have to play out a certain way.  And
it's up to those who are being targeted to show they have strong enough
character to resist the last challenges they're going to face from Iblis
and his minions.  And it's not just Cain, Sheba and Kylie who fall in
that category."
     "True.  Even if they're not direct targets, they'll be affected too. 
People like Adama, Ila, Apollo.  My grandchildren.  Starbuck. 
Cassiopeia.  It's going to be----," she tried not to shudder.  That would
have been a sign of weakness on her part that she had moved on from. 
"It's going to be a nightmare for all of them."
     "No matter how dark it gets, there is still hope.  And always, there
is a way to be found from out of the abyss." Delambre paused as his mind
briefly wandered back to the two experiences he'd witnessed where Apollo
and Sheba had been able to thwart Iblis.  First on the Derelict, and then
on the false 'Paradise' world.  "They are capable of finding that way."
     Bethany nodded and with another sigh of longing that her one-time
husband could only know happiness for his remaining yahrens, she and
Delambre faded from the room.  Leaving Cain blissfully in the throes of
needed sleep.

Chapter Nine

The Pegasus
     Two centars later, the telecom chime by his bed woke Cain up.  When
he answered it, he heard Commander Cobre's voice on the other end.
     "The first shuttle from the satellite has just landed," the command
centurion said.  "Colonel Tolen is down in Alpha Bay to receive Sire
Jansing, the senior prisoner in terms of political rank."
     "Thank you, Cobre.  Have them report to my quarters immediately. 
How many others aboard?"
     "The five Delphians and the first wave of Hasari are also aboard. 
They have been informed that they will be relocated to Starlos when the
Pegasus leaves this system.  The shuttles will continue transporting the
rest of the Hasari until all of them are aboard, and then the Human
residents of Starlos will follow."
     "Excellent.  Anything new from Commander Sorge?"
     "Commander Sorge has dispatched teams to the remains of the Imperial
Palace.  They found what was left of His Eminence and......appropriately
destroyed the remains so that no trace of the components were left." he
paused, "Regardless of whatever future lies before the Cylon race, there
will never be an Imperious Leader again.  The existing classes of Cylons
will have to learn to.....live with each other and come to a common
accord."
     "And we look forward to that," Cain said and then added, "Is Major
Skyler back from patrolling the satellite moon?"
     "He is.  He returned some time ago."
     "After I'm done with Sire Jansing, have him report to me."
     "Of course, Commander."
     "Oh.....I almost forgot.  Have you notified Commander Volahd on
Gomorrah that the situation is secure?"
     "Volahd has been notified, as has Malus.  There is.....considerable
rejoicing and celebration taking place now on both Gomorrah and in the
Colonies.  We are at this time trying to see if there is any way of
restoring the direct communication link His Eminence had with Arcta so
that Dr. Ravashol and everyone there can also know that we have achieved
total victory."
     "Well, if it can't be done, then we'll have to schedule a trip to
Arcta after we go to Starlos first," Cain sighed as the magnitude of how
much 'mopping up' work still remained now that victory had been achieved
was hitting him.  "Thanks for the update, Cobre."
     "It is always.....my pleasure."
     Cain shut put down the telecom and grabbed his jacket.  He had just
thrown it on when the chime sounded, "Enter."
     Tolen entered the room first, and motioned his hand behind him,
"Commander Cain.  This is Sire Jansing, former President of the Canceran
Senate."
     Up to that moment, Cain had only been able to think of the several
hundred thousand prisoners spirited away from the Colonies in the wake of
the Destruction in abstract terms.  A large numerical figure that
represented a military challenge for him to see freed from captivity if
the battle plan was to have any chance of success.  He had tied his
impulsive actions to his desire to see the prisoners freed at any cost,
believing that if he failed to do so, then the rest of his life would
seem like a failure.  But until now, the measure of suffering these
prisoners had endured for over five yahrens was something he hadn't been
able to envision in his mind.  That changed the instant he saw Sire
Jansing walk through the door.
     The Canceran nobleman was probably in his early fifties but he
looked ten yahrens older at least.  His gray eyes were sunken and his
skin pallor showed not just the effects of lack of exposure to the
outside world, but also the effects of working hard labor in the darkened
depths of the Neutrino mines.  What remaining hair he still had was all
white.  He wore the dusty and torn remnants of his noble-class robes
which further testified to the hardships he'd been forced to endure.  The
only torture he'd been spared was malnourishment since it was clear the
Cylons had made sure their slave labor had received what was needed to
keep them working.
     His appearance made Cain realize just how deep the human suffering
for these people had been.  Greater than the suffering he'd gone through,
or the Galactica had gone through or even the Resistance had gone
through.  And he felt regret that it hadn't been possible to liberate
these people until today.
     "Sire Jansing," Cain extended his hand, "Welcome aboard the
Pegasus."
     "Commander Cain," Jansing was struggling to keep from breaking down
as he took it, "You're the answer to all our prayers these last five
yahrens."
     "I had a lot of help," he knew this wasn't a time for boasting. 
"Sit down......and tell me all about your experience."


     The conversation between Cain and Jansing lasted nearly two centars. 
Cain was surprised to learn that most of the prisoners had always known
there was a Resistance Movement in the Colonies because three yahrens
ago, the Imperious Leader had chosen to reveal its existence to them.  A
moment of unintentional humor came up when Jansing mentioned how the
Imperious Leader had played back the video recording of Ila being
presented by Governor Malus to the Imperious Leader as a prisoner about
to be executed for the assassination of Command Centurion Vulpa from
Arcta, and used it to boast of how the Resistance would ultimately be
crushed.  Cain had been unable to avoid laughing at this revelation. 
When he told Jansing that it had all been an elaborate deception staged
by Ila and Malus and that Ila was in fact alive and well and back with
her family on the Galactica, it left the Canceran nobleman in a state of
slack-jawed disbelief that took him several centons to recover from.
     But Jansing's descriptions of what life in the mines was like
brought grim somberness back to the proceedings for Cain.  Listening to
accounts of being forced to work hard for 18 centars at a stretch, and
how frustrating it was because even when it was clear that no significant
new veins of Neutrino could be found, they were told to keep digging
anyway and keep looking for the tiniest trace amounts.  The Cylon
overseers had also forced them to do all the labor when it came to
gathering and preparing their own food so that meant the women who
couldn't do mining work were forced to do endless meal preparations to
make sure the mining force was always kept fed.  Disease was seldom
attended to since Cylons possessed little knowledge of human medicine and
how to keep Humans healthy.  And while stories did circulate that Cylons
outside the Home System were showing signs of being "Diseased", such
sentiments were never present in the Cylons who ran this facility.  It
was clear that their proximity to the Imperious Leader did indeed
reinforce their basic loyalty.
     The subject of Siress Rosalind was also discussed.  Jansing
mentioned that Rosalind had up until just under a yahren ago been the one
chosen specifically by Imperious Leader to act as the official
representative of the prisoners to the High Command.  The prisoners
thought that was because she was the only surviving member of the
Colonial Cabinet, and because it had been well-known during the truce
talk negotiations just how close Rosalind had been to President Adar. 
Only just before she'd been sent off into the stars on the BaseShip of
Commander Needa had Rosalind confessed to Jansing that she'd been an
unwitting dupe in a treason plot that had contributed to the Destruction. 
She'd left because of an assurance by the Cylon Ruler that if she could
successfully negotiate with another race on behalf of the Cylons to
secure Neutrino for them, then Imperious Leader would free the prisoners
from captivity.
     Cain in turn had filled Jansing in on what intercepted messages from
Needa's BaseShip, now under the command of the IL Cylon Lucifer had
revealed.  That Rosalind had facilitated contact with a distant race
called the Risik who had clashed with the Galactica in the past, and
which was now building Neutrino ships of their own.  But the Risik
clearly had their sights set on the Galactica and Earth and were likely
no threat to Colonial space.  Even so, Cain found himself putting in a
positive word for Rosalind since the internal evidence suggested that
Rosalind had undoubtedly learned the truth about both the survival of the
Pegasus and the collaboration between the Cylons of Arcta and the
Resistance and had withheld that information for some time.  Only in the
last few days had the High Command finally learned the truth about the
Pegasus, Arcta and the Colonies and it wasn't likely that information had
come from Rosalind.  Cain was prepared to give her the benefit of the
doubt.  Upon hearing this, Jansing confessed that he was prepared to do
so as well.
     Conversations shifted to the future plans of the Pegasus and the
relocation of the prisoners back to the Colonies.  Cain's declaration
that he intended to take care of those who lived on Starlos first in the
name of efficiency brought an approving nod from the veteran politician. 
Jansing insisted though that he be returned to the satellite moon so he
could explain matters to his fellow prisoners.  He had no desire to be
part of the Pegasus journey to Starlos.  The Juggernaut assured him that
would be taken care of.
     The final topic concerned the matter of prisoner attitudes toward
the Enlightened Cylons.  And the realization that a return to the
Colonies would mean co-existence with the Cylons who were now living on
Aquarius and Libra, the two worlds that were now unsuitable for human
life.  Only then did the conversation between Cain and Jansing take a
more uneasy turn.  The Juggernaut could tell that co-existence was not an
idea Jansing was comfortable with.
     "I must confess, Commander Cain.....I'm not sure many of us are
going to like the idea of two of our planets under permanent Cylon
control."
     "Both planets are unfit for sustained Human existence," Cain
stressed, "That can't be changed.  Letting the Enlightened Cylons have
them is not a high price to pay."
     "Perhaps not, Commander.  But it means that we have to endure a
permanent close proximity to them."
     "That can't be avoided either," Cain was emphatic.  "Enlightened
Cylons are part of the new fabric of the universe, Sire Jansing.  We have
to learn to live with them in peace and treat them as our
friends......especially since they have been our friends for the last
several yahrens.  Not just when it comes to the Resistance and to the
Pegasus but to the Galactica as well.  The presence of a BaseShip manned
by Enlightened Cylons is the reason why the Galactica was able to get
past the one alien race that still threatens them and Earth as well."
     "I'm not going to dispute that these 'Enlightened' Cylons as you
call them have been beneficial to you, the Galactica and the Resistance,
Commander Cain," the weariness and skepticism was evident in Jansing's
voice and bearing.  "But is this sudden willingness to work with Humans
really a result of true 'Enlightenment' or is it just a case of
opportunism on their part to overthrow the old order centered in the
institution of the Imperious Leader?  And that their impulse and desire
for Empire will just reassert itself in due time?"
     Cain leaned back in his chair and calmly exhaled.
     "There was a time, Sire Jansing, when I would have argued the exact
same thing for the exact same reason.  Indeed, when I was first presented
with four Cylons we found in an abandoned garrison on the planet Delta
Aquinas who said they were dissatisfied with the entire premise of Cylon
programming and were willing to help us......I didn't want to believe it. 
I spent more than thirty-five yahrens of my military career with one
singular purpose and that was killing all Cylons.  But....circumstances
changed and forced me to take a step back and see things differently. 
And I also learned to listen to wise counsel from people like Professor
Ila, who witnessed the horror of the Destruction just as you did and lost
her youngest son.  The true facts regarding the actual origins of the
Cylon race have emerged and they are making those Cylons who care more
about the truth than empty devotion to a philosophy learn to evolve as a
race.  We owe them our friendship.  To make it clear to them that we are
willing to let go of our old prejudices in the name of a new
beginning......just as they have let go of theirs toward us."
     He came forward with his hands folded, "I'm well aware of the fact
that when you and your people return to the Colonies, you will increase
the population of the ten worlds by at least tenfold.  That means the
responsibility for keeping the peace and moving us forward in a
cooperative relationship with the Enlightened Cylons depends on how you
and your people act, Sire Jansing.  By all the Lords......don't squander
this gift we've just been given."
     Jansing didn't answer at first.  He was biting his lip as if he were
trying to push back down the bitterness and anger that had accumulated in
five long yahrens of suffering and seeing so many people die.  But
then.....he took a breath and the ill-concealed fury seemed to pass from
his aged visage.
     "It won't be easy for any of us," the Canceran Senator said,
"Adjustment will be long and difficult for us, Commander.  But.....we
will do what we can.  I will see to it that no acts of vengeance take
place against those Cylons.....who are not responsible for what we went
through."
     "Thank you, Sire Jansing," Cain smiled with gratitude, "I know from
experience it's not easy to take the first step with this new
understanding of how to treat the Enlightened Cylons.  Adama and the
Galactica went through this as well.  But.....in time we get used to it
when we see the benefits that come from it." he rose, "I know you want to
return to the satellite, but.....let me at least offer you the VIP guest
quarters for one night.  Take a hot turbowash and rest.  It'll make it
easier to face what comes tomorrow."
     "Thank you, Commander Cain," Jansing rose and shook hands with him,
"I.....will think long and hard about what you've said."
     Cain hit the com-line and asked for two security guards to come and
escort Jansing to his quarters for the night.  And then, he asked for
Skyler to report to him immediately.


     When Skyler arrived, Cain saw he was holding a sheet of paper in his
hand.
     "Is that for me, Major?"
     "It is," the Squadron Leader started to hand it to him but Cain held
up a hand and shook his head.
     "Not yet, Major.  Before you give that to me, there's something I
want to say to you that may result in your tearing that up."
     "Sir, I am not interested in remaining as Squadron Leader or as #3
on the Pegasus any longer," Skyler was emphatic.  "Now that we've secured
the prisoners and defeated the Empire.....my career as a warrior is now
over."
     "No Major," Cain shook his head, "Your career as a combat pilot and
a squadron leader here is clearly over.  I can tell that you want out of
that.  And it's a good thing to be ready to give that up when you know
your heart isn't in it any longer."
     "That's correct, sir," Skyler wondered where he was going. 
"Yesterday, I almost bought it because I wasn't up to my usual standards. 
Maybe I was distracted by the fact that I was treating it as the last
battle.  Maybe I was distracted because of.....personal reasons.  But the
bottom line, Commander, is that I'm of no use to you as a Squardon Leader
any longer.  If you're planning on having the Peagsus go back out into
the Alpha Quadrant----"
     "Where did you hear that?" Cainjumped in, slightly annoyed to hear
this.
     "Sir, as #3 in the Chain of Command, it's my job to read the same
briefing reports from the Galactica that you let Tolen and Kylie read. 
You've discussed with Commander Adama the possibility of taking the
Pegasus back out into the Alpha Quadrant and using the Pulsar to attack
the installations where the Risik are building their Fleet of Neutrino
ships.....and potentially destroy those ships as well if the Pegasus can
get to the Risik System before they send those ships after the
Galactica."
     The annoyance dissolved from Cain's face.  "My apologies, Major. 
It's good to know you've taken your duties as #3 seriously and kept
yourself appraised of how things potentially stand..  And I shouldn't
have to ask if you've mentioned that to anyone else.  Yes, that's what I
intend to do, though it's going to be some time before that will happen
since the relocation of these liberated prisoners back to the Colonies
will take a few sectars at least."
     "A mopping up operation that I'm not needed for," Sklyer stressed. 
"Especially since I have no intention of living in the Colonies."
     "Well that has a bearing on my point that you shouldn't think of
resigning your commission......yet," the commander stressed, "As you've
no doubt heard, we're going to take everyone from Starlos home first. 
That's upward of a thousand people, Human and Hasari alike who are going
to need help re-establishing themselves.  Now the one thing that's going
to be tricky about handling that is that it means we're automatically
assuming the Grand Vizier is going to welcome everyone back with open
arms.  But.....there's always the possibility he's not going to be so
magnanimous.  The one way we can make sure he doesn't cause any problems
on that front and lets these people return to their homes is if we have a
formal emissary to represent the Colonial Nation and speak for our
interests with the Starlos government from this point onwards."
     Light slowly dawned on Skyler, "You mean.....you want me to be to
the Starlos government what Major Ham officially became with the
Cannesians?"
     Cain smiled thinly, "It seems like a logical solution, Major.  You'd
retain your rank and your status as a commissioned warrior and have the
additional status of a formal diplomatic emissary.  Long-term, we need to
see Starlos linked to the Colonies and the Enlightened Cylon worlds by
the same communication system that links us to the Galactica.  Because
it's becoming clear that the end of the Thousand Yahren War means that at
long last we can work to eliminate any future conflicts from breaking out
if we apply this communication principle to all the known star systems. 
And this way.....whatever work you do on Starlos can be automatically
relayed back to the Colonies and to us."  He then paused, "And I don't
think this kind of assignment would interfere with your future plans
involving a certain young lady who's waiting for you."
     Skyler slowly relaxed, "No.....I suppose not."
     Cain rose, "You just......rewrite that document in your hand and
change it from a resignation to a request for transfer and I'll take care
of the rest."
     "I'll do that, sir," Skyler folded the document and put it back in
his jacket pocket.  He started to turn and then stopped, "You'll also
want a name for who should replace me as Squadron Leader?"
     "I want two names, Major," Cain said, "The extra Vipers we added
means it's time we divide things up into two full Squadrons.  And I
suggest you reserve one slot for Captain Thach, out of deference to his
past experience before he joined us.  The other leader can come from
within our ranks."
     "I'll take care of that," he paused and then said, "Thank you, sir. 
I'm.....glad you don't think my wanting to leave means that----,"
     "No," Cain cut him off, "It's like it was with Major Ham.  He felt
he'd reached the limit of how far he could go on the Pegasus and Cannes
gave him a new opportunity.  Obviously it's the same for you on Starlos. 
And I respect that, Major.  Take pride in what you've done here.....and
build on that in what's to come."
     Skyler nodded and then gave his commander a respectful salute.  Cain
returned it and as he watched him go, he found himself envying Skyler's
situation.  The end of the war with the Cylon Empire was a true ending
for Major Skyler and he was ready to move on to the next chapter of his
life.
     I wish I could say the same for myself, and for Kylie.  But I can't. 
If anything......the most difficult chapter is still in front of us.


     It had been a long day for Kylie.  Over the course of twelve
centars, she had transported five groups of twenty liberated prisoners in
her shuttle back to the Pegasus and hadn't bothered to leave any messages
for Cain during any of those trips back and forth.  Only after the fifth
trip, did she finally decide she'd done enough for one day and turned
over command of her Delta Shuttle to Lieutenant Marshak.  The Viper
pilots, no longer needed for patrol duty to guard against rouge Loyalist
Cylons, could now spell the non-Viper warriors who'd secured the
prison/mine complex and handled the first load of prisoner transports
back to the Pegasus.  With three hundred safely brought aboard in the
first day, the timetable for completion of transferring all the Starlos
prisoners, Human and Hasari alike (as well as the five Delphians) now
stood at three days.  And then, the Pegasus would leave.
     When she returned to her shared quarters with Cain, their reunion
was low-key.  A short hug and kiss of gratitude that gave way to a shared
bottle of ambrosia and the two of them talking about the events of the
last day.
     "We came so close to catastrophe," Kylie said, "You probably heard
Deval's account.  It all came down to whether Bryce made the right call
or not on which sequence to cut the wires."
     "Bryce made the right call.  Thank the Lords he's so by the book,"
her husband sipped from his chalice, "His mind was conditioned to think
that if the normal pattern was based on numerical sequence and not color,
then sticking to the numerical sequence was the logical way to go.  But
if his mind was more outside-the-box......he might have played a hunch
and decided they were trying to trick the Enlightened Cylons by changing
it to a color pattern."
     "Is that what you would have been more inclined to think?" his wife
smiled crookedly.
     He returned it, "I would have certainly given it a lot more thought. 
But.....I think Bryce reasoned that since these Loyalist Cylons already
demonstrated how easily they can be fooled, they likely didn't have the
ingenuity to change the pattern for disarming that was so ingrained in
basic Cylon programming."
     "Makes sense," Kylie admitted, "Especially when their own Imperious
Leader was so easy to fool for almost five yahrens."
     "Commander Sorge filled me in on how the succession battle after
Carillon unfolded.  We already knew it was a contest between the IL Cylon
Lucifer and the IL who became the Leader.  Apparently those responsible
for making the selection feared that Lucifer was perhaps.....too much
like the deceased Leader.  Guided more by ambition and impulsiveness
whereas the one they picked seemed to exude more prudence and caution. 
That ended up backfiring on them completely.  If Lucifer had been chosen,
I don't think he would have been so easy to fool."
     "But you proved Lucifer can be fooled," Kylie pointed out.
     Her husband laughed, "That's true, but that was a completely
different context.  Lucifer remember, was kept in the dark about Cylons
becoming Enlightened, which was why he didn't know what hit him when
Baltar engineered that defection game.  And because he still wasn't aware
of how widespread the problem was, that's why we were able to take
advantage of his ignorance when we found Lucifer on that planet and
raided his memory banks," his expression grew serious, "But now that we
know Lucifer's been reactivated and is commanding that BaseShip in the
Risik System......it makes me more worried about what Adama's going to be
up against."
     "Did you contact him today?"
     "Oh yes.  I used a full centar to talk to him which I don't do
often.  He was happy to find out about Sire Jansing being alive since
he'd met him a few times before.  The Fleet's in a real celebration mode
right now ever since they got the news the Empire's now gone, and this
news about all these people being alive and well......it's going to send
that into overdrive.  But.....they can't let it last long because of the
danger they're facing from the Risik and from Lucifer.  That's why.....I
hope it doesn't take more than a few sectars to get the prisoners
relocated to the Colonies.  The sooner we can head back into the Alpha
Quadrant the better."
     "Cain," Kylie asked carefully, "Is it realistic to think we can get
all the way out there in enough time?  I mean.....it took us almost a
yahren just to cover the distance back from Brylon Station to Arcta.  I
know we were playing a stealth game then and this time we have the luxury
of going at top speed, but still......it sounds like we'd need closer to
two yahrens just to get to the Risik System and by that time, they may
have their entire Neutrino Fleet ready."
     "We've got to try, Kylie," Cain was adamant.  "We've had this
conversation more than once.  I won't be able to handle sitting back in
the Colonies waiting for updates from them.  I have to make sure I've
done all I can to help them.  The Pulsar could eliminate the Risik threat
entirely and clear the way for the Galactica to reach Earth safely."
     "But what if it's impossible to pull off?" she pressed gently in a
way that indicated she wasn't necessarily taking this view but was
challenging him with some counterarguments for the mere sake of
challenging him.  "Look at all the things we're going to have to do to
get 300,000 people transported back to the Colonies.  Plus integrating
them into ten planets that are struggling to rebuild themselves.  And if
it's true that these people aren't quite ready to embrace the idea that
we can live side-by-side with Enlightened Cylons......then isn't that
potentially a sign that we're going to have to stay put to keep the
peace?"
     He set his chalice down and decided against a refill for himself. 
He wanted to keep his mind completely clear for this discussion.
     "Is that the vibe you're getting?"
     "I heard about your talk with Sire Jansing.  As a politician, he has
the savvy to understand and accept the new reality.  But the average
prisoner.....a Caprican tradesman who lost a wife and children......a
Sagittarian woman who lost a husband and children......a teenaged Piscean
who lost parents and best friends......they're the kind of people who
might not accept it so easily.  Because until today, none of them ever
had any direct exposure to what constitutes an Enlightened Cylon.  All
they ever heard were stories about "diseased" Cylons opposed to the
Imperious Leader.  A lot of them might think its simpler to believe that
they teamed up with Human Resistors only to serve their own short-term
goal of seizing power for themselves."
     Cain looked her in the eye with his hand firmly under his chin, "So
if I read you right, you're saying the Pegasus might be needed
to.....keep the peace in the Colonies?"
     "I'm saying you have to make sure you won't be needed to do that
before you commit us to chasing down the Risik threat to the Galactica,"
Kylie stressed.  "After they've been resettled, think of how these people
are going to react when you tell them the Pegasus is going to leave the
Colonies for a minimum of two to three yahrens.  And during that time,
the only remaining capital ship in the Home Quadrant is Commander Sorge's
BaseShip.  Are these people, who outnumber those who went into hiding in
the Colonies by almost ten-to-one, going to passively accept that?"
     "We have to make them believe it," Cain looked down, not liking what
he was hearing.  But he also knew she was right that convincing the
masses was a different matter from convincing a political figure like
Sire Jansing.  "And that means leaders like Deval and Neele have to step
to the forefront too.  They're the ones who've been handling the whole
rebuilding effort in the Colonies."
     "Sure they do.  But we're back to who has more credibility with the
people.  You're a known commodity to them, Cain.  Deval was just a Viper
pilot on the Solaria and Neele was just a part-time Reserve warrior
working for a Skorpian industrial firm that made hovermobiles."
     "Then I have to sell the reality to them during this period of
resettlement," Cain tried not to sound irritated.  But he hadn't expected
to hear this kind of pushback from Kylie on something he'd made his mind
up on sectars ago.
     "Yes, you do," his wife nodded, "Because if you're committed to
chasing after the Risik to help the Galactica and Sheba and everyone else
there......you have to make sure you don't have any worries inside about
leaving an unstable situation in the Colonies as far as Human-Cylon
relations are concerned."
     "I won't lose sight of it," Cain wanted to change the subject
because he was sure it might turn the conversation unpleasant and that
was the last thing he wanted.  Searching for something else to focus on,
his eyes caught sight of the bandage on Kylie's wrist.
     "What happened to your wrist?"
     Kylie looked down and gave a dismissive shake of her head, "Nothing
much.  I fell down in a passageway and scraped it a bit.  One of the new
med-techs, Dothan, gave me some salve and a bandage."
     "Did you let Laughlin take a look at it?"
     "No need to," she shook her head more vigorously, "It's really
nothing, Cain.  Nothing worth talking about at all."
     He wanted to ask her how she'd happened to fall down in a
passageway, but her tone indicated that she didn't want to dwell on the
subject.  Instead he shrugged and decided to shift to something else.
     "There is one thing I'm going to have to take care of before we
leave that's going to require me to go down to the satellite."
     "What's that?"
     "Administering some overdue justice."


Satellite Moon-Cylon System (The Next Day)
     The cell door opened and caused the outside light from the
passageway to shine into the darkened interior of the isolation cell. 
Immediately, there was a hissing and clicking sound as the occupant of
the cell reacted to the bright light.
     "Queen Lotay?"
     The large insectoid creature with the gigantic orbs and the four
arms rose to her feet.  Before her stood Cain, flanked by Sergeant
Keuchel and Sergeant Lucian.  His expression was hostile and unfriendly.
     "Who are you?" a female voice came through the Languatron device
Cain was holding.
     "Commander Cain of the Battlestar Pegasus," he said coldly.  "I have
a message for you from an old acquaintance of yours, Commander Adama of
the Battlestar Galactica."
     Lotay seemed to visibly stiffen.  Cain handed the Languatron to
Keuchel which allowed him to pull out a document from his jacket pocket. 
He snapped it open and began to read.
     "The Colonial Council of Thirteen, reflecting the Governing Quorum
of the Colonial Nation, by unanimous vote of thirteen to none, finds
Queen Lotay and all representatives of the Ovion Nation guilty of crimes
against the Human Race.  These crimes include but are not limited to the
wanton, genocidal slaughter of over one thousand Colonial Nationals from
the Twelve Colonies of Man representing the House of Kobol.  Said
genocide the result of deliberate deception based on the Ovion decision
to collaborate with the Cylon Empire in the sale of Tylium to them.  The
Ovion Nation and the Colonial Nation being at peace at the time, the
genocide cannot be excused under any pretext of the Rules of Engagement
during time of war, especially as an overwhelming number of the victims
were civilians and not military personnel.  The Council further decides
by unanimous vote that the nature of the genocide, done in the most
barbaric form of savageness unworthy of any race that dares to call
itself civilized.......merits the ultimate form of punishment under
Colonial Justice."
     Cain lowered the document and looked directly at the Ovion ruler. 
"Do you have anything to say in your defense, Your Highness?"
     Lotay rose to an imperial like bearing of defiance.  Or so Cain
thought, given the great differences between a Human and an Ovion. "Our
actions were based entirely on what was in our self-interest as a people. 
The Cylon Empire sent its Fleet and threatened our Destruction if we did
not provide them with our supplies of Tylium and Neutrino.  My actions
saved us from extermination at their hands."
     "Then it was incumbent upon you to openly declare your alliance with
the Cylon Empire to all nations at war with the Cylons," Cain harshly
countered.  "Instead, you broke all civilized standards of diplomacy by
false overtures to the Colonial Nation of friendship that were meant to
lure innocent Colonial Nations to their deaths.....all to provide you
with your own sustenance."
     "The Cylon Empire arranged that!" Lotay hissed, "A Human
collaborator, Count Baltar of Piscera was instrumental in setting up
Carillon as a potential site of interest to Colonial travelators!  All to
further the interests of the Cylon Empire whom we were forced to submit
to!"
     "You could have appealed to the Colonial Nation for help," Cain said
coldly.  "You could have exposed the treachery of Count Baltar, and in so
doing you would have earned the eternal gratitude and friendship of the
Colonial Nation.  Instead, you cast lots with the architects of genocide
and proved in your own actions to be worse than they were."
     "I will never apologize for my actions!  I did what was necessary
for my people!"
     "So be it," Cain took a step back, "You have stated your defense.  I
will now pass down the sentence the Quorum of Thirteen has decreed."
     Keuchel and Lucian both raised their laser pistols and pointed them
at Lotay.  The Ovion Queen stood defiant, expecting to die in a final act
of martyrdom.
     But then Cain said boldly, "Lower arms!"  And on cue, Keuchel and
Lucian returned their lasers to their holsters.
     Lotay's bearing slouched, "What....is this?" even without the
Languatron, the rhythm of her clicks indicated her clear confusion.
     "If it were up to me, you and your entourage would die for your
crimes," Cain's voice dripped with hate,  "But.....as a Colonial Warrior,
I am sworn to uphold the laws of the Colonial Nation.  At the time you
and the Ovion race committed these acts of genocide, the Death Penalty
was in a state of formal suspension by Council edict.  The suspension was
not lifted until one yahren after the crimes you committed took place. 
Under the principle of Retroactive Adjudication, no punishment not in
place at the time the acts took place can be applied.  You and your
entourage are thus formally sentenced to life imprisonment with no chance
of release.  You will spend the rest of your life in this isolation cell,
as will the others in your entourage in their isolation cells.  In
accordance with the Treaty of Peace that now exists between the Colonial
Nation and the new Cylon government, the Cylons who will now assume
operations of this facility will continue to provide you with food
indigenous to this satellite.  That is the full extent of assistance you
will receive."
     The Juggernaut stepped back, "These proceedings are now closed."
     He turned off the Languatron and thus could not hear a translation
of any of Lotay's protesting clicks and hisses as Keuchel pushed the door
shut.
     As Cain walked away, his only thought was that he'd tied up the
first loose end created by the final victory in the Thousand Yahren war. 
Now, a journey to Starlos awaited that would mark the tying of the second
loose end.  From there, he knew it was going to be a rough road dealing
with the broader issue of reintegrating the liberated prisoners back into
the Colonies and getting them to accept the new order of cooperation with
the Enlightened Cylons..  
     But he was prepared to travel down it and make sure that by the time
he would take the Pegasus back into deep space once again it too would be
a loose end completely tied.

Chapter Ten

The Galactica/Baltar's BaseShip
     The news that over 300,000 prisoners taken from the Colonies just
after the Destruction were alive and would be returned to the surviving
ten worlds increased the air of jubilant celebration throughout the
Fleet.  At Ila's instigation, the Council had passed a formal resolution
setting aside a full sectan of celebration to mark the end of the
Thousand Yahren War. Adama had given his concurrence because he knew deep
down that this would be the last opportunity for the people of the Fleet
to know such happiness and joy until they reached Earth. And the fact
that Adama knew that a dark period of uncertainty awaited them for the
final part of that journey, it made the need for celebration and
catharsis all the more necessary.  The pace of the Fleet was kept
deliberately slow and only the most essential of patrols and work details
carried out.  For everyone else, celebration was the order of the day.
     Adama was glad to see that the celebratory air extended to the
BaseShip.  He might have worried at one time if this news would be viewed
with more indifference by Baltar's crew, but it soon became obvious that
the recent arrival to their ranks of Commander Vulpa had made a big
difference.  Vulpa's presence gave the centurions of Baltar's ship a more
tangible impression of how the long-term collaborative process between
Enlightened Cylons and the Colonial Resistance had played out.  Vulpa had
been able to share firsthand accounts of how honorable those like Dr.
Ravashol, Ila and ultimately Commander Cain had been in their treatment
of Enlightened Cylons and how at no time was there any sense of
superiority or prejudice on the part of the Humans he had met.  Combined
with their newfound understanding of the true origins of the Cylon race,
it gave the crew a reason to celebrate just as much as the 70,000 Humans
of the Fleet did.  And even though these Cylons were incapable of such
emotional reactions as cheering, they found ways to let the Humans know
they were on the same wavelon.  Cylons on the BaseShip who had come to be
part of the social network of computer gaming started by the likes of the
gifted genius Copernicus, would type out approving statements about what
a great day it was in the annals of history that the war was over and
that all Cylons and Humans in the known Universe could at last know the
meaning of friendship.  And there would follow joint activity in the game
Copernicus had designed in which Humans and Cylons worked together in
combating new forms of alien menaces that threatened them both.  
     Baltar kept his own reaction low-key.  Partly because he knew that
nothing he said publicly would ever be seen in anything but a
self-serving light.  He had long ago learned to accept that his fellow
Humans would regard him at best with mere tolerance.  And even those who
might forgive him for his past sins would never forget them.  No matter. 
He could at least celebrate privately with Ayesha and feel a sense of
satisfaction that the Cylon Empire had proved to be more fragile than it
had seemed at its peak.  In a strange way, Baltar saw the rapid collapse
of the Empire just five yahrens after the Destruction as vindication of
his pre-Destruction belief that Colonial Civilization wasn't doing enough
to meet the Cylon challenge head-on.  His one regret was that he himself
had been equally blind to just how beatable the Empire was.  He'd had no
inkling that the real reason for the swiftness of the Cylon deception
plan that had ensnared him into their service stemmed from the fact their
Neutrino supply was near-exhausted.  And that within a few yahrens they
would not be able to sustain their War Machine.  Had Baltar known that,
he would have never contemplated treason in the first place. 
     As he idly sat in his private quarters and watched the IFB coverage
of the celebrations going on throughout the Fleet, he could only sit back
and sigh with faint regret that he couldn't take part in them himself. 
Not simply because he knew he'd be putting his life at risk if he did,
but because he was still aware there was one final piece of unfinished
business as far as the Cylon Empire was concerned and until it was dealt
with, he could never feel completely free of his past collaboration.
     You're still out there, Lucifer.  And I know you want your revenge
on me for how I defeated you.  The end of the Empire means nothing to
you, so long as you get your chance to take me down at last.


The Rising Star
     The celebrations for the final destruction of the Cylon Empire and
the liberation of 300,000 prisoners from the Colonies were in full swing
all across the Colonial Fleet, and nowhere more so than aboard the Rising
Star.  Long-hoarded caches of rare drink, clothes not worn since the
abortive celebrations the night of the Destruction, and just a general
outpouring of pure joy, were everywhere, and in near every heart.  As
part of the festivities, two gaming areas in the Chancery had been
converted to special "play areas" for children only that night.  An
opportunity for those of all ages from all ships to interact and just
have pure unadulterated fun with only minimal adult supervision.  Gaming
machines that ordinarily ate up the cubits of surly adult wagerers were
now reset for children to use at will, hoping they'd get three matching
symbols which would entitle them to five free mushie bars.  Boxey found
himself playing it twenty times, feeling frustrated that none of the
matching symbols had come up.
     "All right Boxey, let Cassy have a turn at it now!" Apollo said
gently over the din of raucous noise.  The eight year old daughter of
Mairwen, operator of the java stand on the liner was bouncing with
frustration over the fact that she'd been waiting ten centons to try the
machine.
     "Just one more time, Dad?" Boxey looked over at his father with
pleading eyes, but Apollo firmly shook his head no.
     "Let Cassy have her turn or else we go back to the Galactica now!"
     The little boy let out a sad sigh and moved away.  Eagerly, little
Cassy moved up to the machine and reached up for the lever.  It was about
a quarter metrone out of reach and she impulsively jumped to try and grab
it but still came up short.  Finally, Mairwen moved in and lifted her
daughter up.
     "Give it a good pull, Cassy!" she said proudly.  The little girl did
so and then the eyes of mother and daughter lit up as three identical
sunfruits came up, which caused the machine's buzzer to go off,
indicating a win.
     "I won, Mommy!" Cassy clapped her hands together.
     "No fair!" Boxey shouted with frustration, "I did all the work!"
     Apollo tried not to laugh at the sight of his son suffering the same
kind of bad luck he'd seen Starbuck go through so many times.  Instead,
he kept up a proper tone of parental discipline, "Behave yourself, Boxey. 
Maybe Cassy will give you one of her mushie bars if you learn to be a
good sport and congratulate her."
     Boxey shrugged his shoulders and then made his way over to Mairwen
and Cassy, "Congratulations, Cassy."
     "Say thank you to Boxey," Mairwen said as she set her daughter down.
     "Thank you, Boxey!" she said with a gap-toothed grin.
     "And since five mushie bars is more than enough for you, young lady,
why don't you let Boxey have two?" Mairwen whispered in her ear.
     She eyed Boxey with just an edge of suspicion and then said, "You
can have the nilla flavored ones."
     Nilla wasn't Boxey's favorite flavor, but not wanting to get another
reproach from his father, he just politely nodded.  "Thanks, Cassy."
     "Take your token up to the front and get them," Mairwen patted her
daughter's head and she sprinted over to the nearby table where children
were exchanging their tokens for the prizes.  Boxey followed her at a
slower pace.
     "So who's looking after the kiosk tonight?" Apollo asked the widowed
woman who along with her child had survived the harrowing experiences of
first, the explosion aboard the ship Spica, and later the first Il Fadim
uprising on the Sagittarian before being set up by Siress Belloby with
the java kiosk on the Rising Star.
     "No one," Mairwen shook her head, "I decided to close up for tonight
even though I probably cost myself a lot of business.  I just needed to
have a night for myself and for Cassy to celebrate.  Especially after I
got a wonderful vidmessage from my brother on the Pegasus."
     "Oh that's right, Starbuck mentioned your brother's a Viper pilot
there."
     Mairwen nodded, "My little brother Tegran not only made it through
the battle safe and sound, he's also just been promoted to Captain and
been given a squadron command.  The current Squadron Leader, Major Skyler
is leaving to settle on Starlos."
     "Congratulations," Apollo shook her hand, "That's quite an
achievement."
     "It is for him.  He's been through a lot, and for so many yahrens I
didn't even know he was alive because I didn't even know about our
encounter with the Pegasus until after they were gone.  That's how little
we knew about things on the Spica back then.  Thank the Lords we were
able to reconnect, even though we've never been able to have a live chat. 
At any rate, after I got the news, I decided to Hades with the kiosk,
tonight's going to be a night for me and Cassy to celebrate not just the
end of the War, but her Uncle Tegran's good fortune."
     "I know what you mean," Apollo nodded, "My parents insisted that all
of their grandchildren come over to the Rising Star tonight even though
my little girl's not quite two yet and Boomer and Athena's twins are just
three.  They want them to grow up and know that on this night, they
weren't spending it in their quarters being looked after by Med-Tech
Fulvia, our regular childcare provider."
     "So instead, they're in the Nursery with all the other toddlers
playing with the fancy toys and being looked after by ten off-duty
professional child care workers," Mairwen motioned her hand toward the
corridor just off the Chancery entrance that led to the special nursery
area that had been set aside for the evening for those under four yahrens
of age.
     "This is one night I'm glad this ship is known for luxury and
ostentation.  Kobol knows we can use the catharsis."
     "I'll drink a nice.....fruit juice to that," Mairwen said as she saw
her daughter scamper back to her holding three mushie bars.  Boxey was
slowly making his way back holding two, a slightly sullen expression on
his face.
     "One for you, Mommy!" Cassy held out one of the bars, whose wrapping
clearly indicated it was cacao flavored, which was Boxey's favorite.  
     "Thank you, darling," she took it, "How about we watch the magic
show demonstration with all the playing cards now?"
     "Okay!"  she said excitedly and promptly went off in the direction
of the Pyramid table which on this night had been taken over by a
professional magician who specialized in tricks involving Pyramid cards
to show to children.  With Cassy out of earshot now, her mother turned to
Boxey and extended the cacao flavored bar to him, "I actually prefer
nilla.  Why don't we trade?"
     Immediately, Boxey's sullen expression disappeared behind a big
smile, "Gee, thanks!" he handed over one of his two bars and gladly took
the proffered one.  Mairwen gave him a wink and then headed over to where
Cassy had gone.
     "Where to now, son?" Apollo asked.
     Boxey unwrapped the cacao bar and took a bite, "Can we join the
others in the Lounge?"
     Apollo hesitated, "You really want to hear all that loud singing and
music?  It's not exactly the kind you're used to."
     "I want to be with the grown-ups, Dad!" He wolfed down the rest of
cacao mushie.
     "Okay.....but don't even think of asking for a sip of ambrosia young
man!"
     They exited the Chancery turned play area.  Apollo briefly looked in
on the Nursery to make sure Bethany Two, Little Ila and Little Zac were
okay and having a good time with the fifteen other toddlers who were
being entertained by puppets.  From the figures, Apollo could tell it was
the legend of Lord Georges slaying the Draco monster being acted out.
     Appropriate for tonight, he thought as he stopped to tell the
supervising caregiver that he and Sheba would likely come by in another
half centar to pick up their three charges for the night (Boomer and
Athena unable to attend because both were on duty aboard the Galactica). 
As he talked to the med-tech, his eye then caught sight of Dr. Rena, the
Chief Medical Officer for both the Constellation and Adelaide.  She was
seated by a small crib that he knew right away contained the tiny one
sectar old form of Cedric and Kalysha Allen's baby girl.  Because Rena
had performed the delivery, she had earned the right of trust to look
after the newborn while her parents were occupied that evening in the
Astral Lounge.
     His business in the Nursery done, Apollo took Boxey by the hand and
they walked the rest of the way through the throngs of people until they
finally came to the Astral Lounge entrance.  Zeibert, the grey-haired
mustachioed Chief Steward of the Starliner, was at his station logging
guests in and out.
     "Ah, Captain Apollo.  How nice of you to come.  Your wife and
parents have a table near the stage."
     "Thank you, Zeibert.  Okay for my son to come in?"
     The Chief Steward looked down at the little boy,
"Well.....ordinarily we don't allow those under sixteen yahrens of age,
but......as you are under tight adult supervision, and this is a special
night, by all means enter young man!"
     "Thanks!" Boxey said excitedly as Apollo led him in.  The two-man
band was in fair form on the raised dais, cranking out tunes with origins
from Eridu to Starlos.  Upon the dais, Father Desmond Fisher, peripatetic
Anglican Cleric and amateur musician, was playing the spinet while
another Earth refugee, Josh Ryan, was plying a bass like a master.  At
the microphone, the Harkaelian-born Kalysha Allen stood, resplendent in
the dress she had brought from her homeworld, as she belted out many a
song, her voice like, as one of the Zohrloch refugees had put it, "a
blending of many a Spring."
     She sure got her figure back in a hurry, Apollo thought as he and
Boxey neared their table close to the dais where Adama, Ila and Sheba
were seated.  Kalysha had actually been performing a sectar ago on the
Adelaide when she'd gone into labor and it had led to a frantic chain of
events aimed at insuring she'd give birth according to the precepts of
Harkaelian tradition.  Her husband had gotten her back to the ship's Life
Station so she could take her place in the birthing chair he'd built for
her.  A three-legged contraption with a thin back and short seat that
could support her weight when she grew tired from squatting.  It had been
Cedric Allen's one solemn duty for the occasion, one that he somewhat
realized had been devised to occupy him so he'd spend less time worrying
about the upcoming event.
     Once Kalysha's labor had started, the Australian native had simply
held her hand as she sucked in deep breaths between gritted teeth,
grunting and even growling as she rotated between squatting in a corner,
perching on the birthing chair, and lying supine for an occasional
check-in from the medical team that popped in to check her progress.  She
had, however, shooed her husband out towards the end, as on Harkaelis,
men did not witness the birth of their children. Reluctantly, Allen had 
acquiesced to her cultural norms and gone out to pace the corridors
endlessly (and wishing he could take up smoking again to relieve the
tension).  Kalysha had also refused all analgesics, insisting it was her
duty to bear the pain, the trial that would deem her worthy of a strong
child, blessed by the gods.  Once she knew that all Harkaelian procedures
were being observed, the blessed event had come with Dr. Rena performing
the delivery with assistance from Dr. Barbara Mekowski, the new arrival
from Niddion and Cassiopea as well.
     And here she was, just one sectar later, looking just as she had
before her pregnancy.  And performing one number after another without
missing a beat or hitting a false note.  As Apollo and Boxey reached
their table and settled in, he could see at the next table, Kalysha's
proud husband seated with his oldest and dearest friend, Captain Kevin
Byrne.  They'd been joined by the one other Earth native in the Fleet who
hadn't been the victim of a Risik abduction, Pyotr Ilyich Kamanev, last
survivor of the doomed Russian spaceship Terashkova.  With Apollo's chair
closest to their table, he could hear snatches of the conversation taking
place there.
     "God, isn't she fabulous?" Cedric Allen was saying with clear joy in
his voice as he watched his wife perform.  
     "She sure is," Byrne smiled, "She could make a mint back home."
     "Like the bells of St. Basil's Cathedral," Kamanev said as he sipped
his drink and found himself wondering why the Fleet had been unable to
produce anything that reminded him of vodka.  "The universe has proved to
be a lot...more interesting then I ever imagined."
     "You got that right,"  Byrne nodded as he sipped his own drink.  It
was only because he'd spent nineteen years with little more than water on
an isolated world raising his daughter singlehandedly that he never made
any unflattering comparisons of Colonial beverages to Earth ones. 
"Still, I'm looking forward to when we get home."
     "Da! Domoy! Dlya menya eto ne mozhet ne nastupit', Kevin!"
     "I just hope it's the same home we knew, Pyotr. Been a long time."
     Especially for you, Kyle, Byrne idly thought of his son, the product
of his failed first marriage whom he'd been estranged from at the time he
left Earth over twenty years ago with Allen and the rest of his now dead
crewmates.  He wanted so much to see him again and get the chance to set
things right at long last.  By now, he was willing to even be civil to
his ex-wife if that's what it would take because so much time away and
all that he'd experienced over the last twenty years had taught him that
there was no point carrying old grudges any longer once he got home. 
Hell, if the Colonials can get along with Cylons and even a traitor like
Baltar, I can get along with Diane if that'll help me get a chance to
talk to Kyle again.  And let him know he's got a half-sister and a
brother-in-law too!
     The applause for the last song that had just concluded died down as
Kalysha began the next number to the accompaniment of Father Fisher and
Josh Ryan.  


     When the lights go on again all over the world
     And the boys are home again all over the world
     And rain or snow is all that may fall from the skies above
     A kiss won't mean "goodbye" but "Hello to love"

     When the lights go on again all over the world
     And the ships will sail again all over the world
     Then we'll have time for things like wedding rings and free hearts
will sing
     When the lights go on again all over the world

   
     "Now that's an appropriate number," Apollo said as he and his family
watched.  
     "Yes," Adama nodded as he put down his now empty chalice that had
contained Protean Collection Ambrosia.  "A song celebrating the end of
war, if I understand the lyrics correctly."


     When the lights go on again all over the world
     And the ships will sail again all over the world
     Then we'll have time for things like wedding rings and free hearts
will sing
     When the lights go on again all over the world!


     The singer bowed, as applause rang through the chamber.  Apollo
noticed that Boxey was clapping with enthusiasm and was enjoying this
'grown-up' experience.  And to his surprise, he could see Colonel Tigh at
a nearby table clapping too.  It wasn't often that he got to see the
Executive Officer show that level of emotion.
     Kalysha bowed and then she spoke into the microphone, "I would like
now to sing a song that represents the theme of shared love through
trials and adversities.  And......I have it on good authority that it's
also the favorite song of a very special couple seated nearby."
     Adama and Ila's eyes widened as they knew right away what song she
was going to perform.  Father Fisher began to play the spinnet quietly
without Josh joining in and then the Harkaelian woman began to sing
softly and gently.


     Sometimes in the morning, when shadows are deep,
     I lie here beside you just watching you sleep.
     And sometimes I whisper what I'm thinking of,
     My cup runneth over with love.

     Apollo could see his parents suddenly clasping each other's hands as
they heard "their" song being performed so beautifully.  He glanced over
at Sheba who was smiling with a faint air of impishness and he realized
right away that his wife had been the one who'd made this request of
Kalysha as a surprise for her in-laws.


     Sometimes in the evening when you do not see,
     I study the small things you do constantly,
     I memorize moments that I'm fondest of,
     My cup runneth over with love.

     
     Apollo could see the tears forming in both his parents eyes as they
continued to clasp hands.  Other than the night of their reunion, he
could never recall a time when he'd see this kind of emotional display on
their part, showing the depth of their love.


     In only a moment we both will be old,
     We won't even notice the world turning cold,
     And so in these moments with sunlight above,
     My cup runneth over with love.
     My cup runneth over with.......love.


     As the last word softly faded out, another thunderous round of
applause burst forth with Adama and Ila getting on their feet to applaud
the loudest at hearing their song that went back to the night of their
first date performed so beautifully.  For Boxey, it was a revelation to
see this kind of emotion from his grandparents.
     "And, as I see it is getting well on,' she said, "and remembering
that some people have duties to attend to tomorrow..." Kalysha turned and
smiled at her husband, "We shall conclude this evening's proceedings with
a salute to rest." She turned to Fisher and Josh and gestured. 


     Here we are
     Out of cigarettes
     Holding hands and yawning
     Look how late it gets

    Two sleepy people by dawn's early light
    Too much in love to say "Goodnight"

    Say, here we are
    In this cozy chair
    Picking on a wishbone
    From the Frigidaire

   Two sleepy people with nothing to say
   Much too much in love to break away


     "Well, that sounds like an appropriate last call for us," Adama said
as he stifled a
sudden yawn.  He turned to his wife, "Wouldn't you agree.....Madame
President?"
     She smiled at her husband, "I think so.....Commander."
     "And just when it was getting really fun!" Boxey said with a faint
air of disappointment.
     "You still want to hang on to that extra mushie bar?" his father
leaned over.
     His son shrugged and then grinned, and it made Apollo and Sheba both
laugh.  And inside, Apollo found himself grateful that he'd been able to
spend this night with his son and not have Aurelius take charge of him. 
As much as he liked the launch crew worker and was grateful for how much
he'd bonded with Boxey, he'd found of late that he and Sheba needed to
spend more moments like this with their son so that he didn't develop a
long-term preference for being with Aurelius instead of with them.
     "All right," Apollo rose, "Let's pick up our little ones from the
Nursery and head for home!"
     As Sheba rose alongside him, she whispered in his ear, "And when we
get back we can have some quality time of our own!"
     He only gave her a knowing smile and nod of the head.


     Do you remember the nights we used to linger in the hall?
     Father didn't like you at all, but I was crazy about you baby
     Do you remember the reason why we married in the fall?
     To rent this little nest and get a bit of rest...


The Galactica
     For those aboard the Galactica who were not officially on furlon,
the Officer's Club proved to be a suitable venue for celebration.  The
ex-Protean prisoner, Freeman (formerly known as Assault 9), who tended
bar could never recall a time when he'd seen it so packed and full of
happiness.  The warriors were undergoing a catharsis the likes of which
had never been seen before.  His fellow Protean Tasha (formerly
Adulteress 58) who worked in the Club as a barmaid, likened it to the
night when they'd walked out of their cells for the last time.
     "I hereby propose a toast!" Starbuck boasted as he raised his full
tankard of what passed for Skorpian Ale.
     "Okay, this should be good," Boomer said dryly.  "Who are we
drinking to?"
     Starbuck grinned at his friend.  "To His Eminence, the Imperious
Leader.  Who proved once and for all that three Cylon brains definitely
aren't better than just one brain, be it Human or Enlightened Cylon!"
     "Hmm, I think I will drink to that, Bucko," Boomer concurred as he
raised his tankard and clinked it against Starbuck's.  They drank a deep
satisfying gulp.  Genuine Skorpian Ale had run out in the Fleet early in
the Exodus and only an imitation version had been distilled since then,
that to an expert like Starbuck was a poor substitute.  Tonight though,
the festive mood managed to make the imitation taste as good as the
long-lost original.
     "And now may I propose my own toast to the Imperious Leader," Boomer
raised his tankard and his face assumed total dead seriousness. 
"Goodbye, Lizard Face."
     Starbuck appropriately lowered his head with mock reverence before
he sipped his and when they had they both burst into laughter.
     "Room for us, or is this just a boys' night out?"
     The looked up and noticed their wives making their way through the
crush of warriors and crew.  Cassiopeia was wearing a conservative, yet
attractive off-duty outfit.  She had long ago told Starbuck that her old
socialator dresses were only to be worn to formal events with Starbuck
off the Galactica.  Aboard the battlestar though, she was always mindful
of preserving her image as a fully trained doctor in the Life Station. 
Even on a night of celebration like this.  Athena, only a centar
off-duty, was still in uniform.
     Starbuck motioned to the empty chair next to his.  When she saw the
dirty look on his wife's face, he sheepishly rose and pulled it out for
her, dusting it off casually with a wink at her.
     "Thank you," she mocked. 
     "My pleasure," he replied taking his seat.
     "Even marriage doesn't fully reform you, Starbuck," Athena teased as
she sat down in the chair Boomer had instinctively pulled out for her.
     "You don't understand the complexities, Athena," he replied,  "I
walk the fine line of admiring the intelligence, determination and
independence of my beautiful woman, while trying to be sensitive to when
she wants me to open a door or pull out a chair.  A chair or door, by the
way, that I know she's perfectly able to navigate, and can probably do so
much better than I can."
     "Just ask her,"  Cassie quipped with a laugh.
     Boomer chuckled.  "Are you saying she sometimes refuses your gallant
overtures?"
     "Oh yes," he replied.  "Especially after a sixteen centar shift in
the Life Station.  Sometimes the odyssey of wedded bliss can be like
flying blind through a minefield."
     Athena snorted.  "Sounds like the Nova of Madagon."
     Starbuck smirked.  "Feels like the Nova of Madagon." He held up his
hands in self- defense.  "But don't get me wrong, I'm fully aware that
Cass also puts up with a full deck of my own....shortcomings."
     "That she does," Cassiopeia said.  "Graciously, I might add."
     "Oh, more than graciously," he replied, leaning towards her, his
blue eyes sparkling as he squeezed her hand.
     "Ah, the Starbuck charm," Athena teased after a moment of silence.
     "Come now, Athena, I need to preserve some of my image for the up
and coming generation," Starbuck grinned, "Otherwise, they'll never look
up to me!"
     Cassiopeia shot a glance across the table at Athena and Boomer,
shaking her head  with a bemused smile, "Are you really going to let your
kids look up to this man?  Who uses the Nova Madagon as a metaphor for
fostering a strong and harmonious relationship with your spouse?"
     "We're still mulling that over," Athena said laughing aloud, "Aren't
we, Boomer?"
     "Oh yes," her husband nodded, "That's by far one of the toughest
parental decisions we've had to make.  On whether or not we tell the
twins if Uncle Starbuck will be a good or bad influence on them.  We're
probably putting that decision off until Little Ila and Little Zac both
turn five."  
     They signaled Tasha for another round of drinks.  As always,
whenever the Protean woman served Starbuck, she gave him a sly wink, as
if to playfully remind him that she still wanted to know the answer to
the question she'd once asked him in the Protean cellblock about
"Starbucking."  Even now that Starbuck was married, she still kept it up
for old-time's sake.  Cassiopeia, who knew all about the little game was
willing to tolerate it for what it was.  After all, she knew the Proteans
would always regard Starbuck as their Liberator.
     "So tell me, Dr. Cassiopeia," Boomer laid on the title thick as he
sipped at his second drink, "How many celebratory injuries in the Life
Station today?"
     The blonde doctor laughed, "Twenty-three, all told.  Most of them
came from the expected cases of bad disposition from overindulgence on
fine food and drink.  But we had one case of a tech worker in Engineering
who was so excited by the news that he decided to stand on his head for
the first time since he was twelve yahrens old.  And then he fell
backwards after he succeeded and was lucky he didn't break his neck,
although he'll be forced to do duty in a cervical collar for the next two
sectans."
     "I'm sure that's going to get him some demerits from Shadrach,"
Starbuck stuck a fumarello in his mouth and hesitated slightly as he
prepared to strike a match, casting an inquiring glance at his wife.
     "Go ahead, Starbuck," she waved her hand, "This is one night where I
won't complain!"
     "Bless you, my darling wife," Starbuck struck the match and lit up,
taking a puff, savoring the experience.
     "Wasn't Chameleon supposed to join us tonight?" Athena asked.
     Starbuck shook his head as he took another puff, "He cancelled out. 
Said he was taking a new lady friend of his to dinner tonight on the
Pathmain."
     "New lady friend?" Boomer was surprised to hear this, "Who is she?"
     "I haven't met her yet, but the vibe I get from Chameleon is that he
really finds her intriguing.  Apparently she's one of the new refugees
from Niddion."
     "Wait a micron," Athena was taken aback, "He's going out with a
Risik woman?"
     Starbuck frowned in mid-puff and took his fumarello out, "Risik?"
     "Unless he's going out with our new Council member, all the women
from Niddion are Risik or half-Risik if they're from the younger
generation," The Commander's daughter said, "Didn't you read Apollo's
report?"
     "I did but I'd forgotten that point," her former boyfriend admitted.
     "I don't see how it makes a difference," Cassiopeia interjected,
"Risik women are almost indistinguishable from Human women.  They grow
hair unlike the males.  They're a lot closer to us biologically than some
of the other races Humans have interbred with like the Harkaelians."
     "I didn't say there was a difference," Athena gently corrected, "I'm
just surprised that's who Chameleon would be going out with and not
someone he already knows from the Senior Ship.  I half-expected him to go
back to Siress Blassie after.......well you know."
     "I know," Starbuck said quietly, not wanting to dwell on that
subject.  Even though he'd made his peace with Ayesha, it wasn't a
subject he wanted to discuss with others again.  "I'm sure he'll
introduce her to us in due time.  And if she's Risik, no big deal as far
as I'm concerned.  After all, we got to see just how much happiness can
exist between Human and Harkaleian, right Cass?"
     "Right," his wife nodded as they recalled the ceremony of Naming and
Acceptance they'd attended for the newborn daughter of the Allens. 
Cassiopeia had already assisted Dr. Rena and Dr. Barbara Mekowski with
the birth of the child, which had earned her a special invitation to the
ceremony.  Apollo and Sheba had been there, along with Athena and Boomer. 
So too had Kevin Byrne, the Allens' oldest friend, his daughter Jena and
son-in-law, Sire Pelias.  Father Fisher, whose bond with Kalysha stemmed
not just from being her occasional accompanist but also the time he'd
took assisting her effort to clear her name from murder charges on her
home world.  The Academician/Historian, Sarah, who had also been part of
that effort.  And at the last centon, even Adama had been able to
rearrange his schedule to attend the ceremony with Ila.
     "What I remember about that was how you kept looking around
wondering if you were supposed to do something," Boomer said.  "And then
from out of nowhere, your old friend Ama showed up and told you to just
be quiet and respectful."
     "In her inimitable fashion," Athena said dryly.
     "Yeah, her inimitable fashion is often about finding some way to
give me grief!" Starbuck rolled his eyes and then began to mimic the
Empyrean Wise Woman's voice, though not without fondness, "'Just be quiet
and respectful, Son Starbuck.  Think you can do that?'"
     "And you managed to," Cassiopeia said.
     "Much to everyone's surprise," Boomer added.
     "If you hadn't, you'd have found yourself wishing you were back
being steam purged in the launch tube."  Athena said.
     "There are worse things.  But as I recall, I wasn't alone when that
happened!"  Starbuck waggled his eyebrows at Cassiopeia and then looked
over at Athena, "Isn't that right?"
     Athena deep down found it wonderful that after five yahrens it was
possible to look back on that moment of pique on her part in a spirit of
good-natured harmony among friends.  
     "Yes, but I made sure it was targeted more at you and not your wife
to be!"
     After the mutual laughter died down, Cassiopeia then grew serious,
"I think what moved me about the ceremony though was seeing this joining
of two peoples together.  And it really is peoples, when you think about
it, since we're all one race after a fashion.  How we all joined in
according to the tradition and asked those questions that Cedric then
answered as the Father.  The way he recited her name.  You could just see
the pride and joy on his face."
     "'Shelket Adelaide sat Cedric Robert Allen'," Boomer repeated from
memory.  "Quite a mouthful.  But that's their tradition."
     "And if we can appreciate that tradition of Human-Harkaelian
bonding, or the time Apollo decided to go Zohrloch on us----," Cassiopeia
started.
     "I'm not sure if I've ever learned to appreciate that," Athena
cracked a smile as she interrupted her,  "But at least as his sister, 
I've learned to respect it and stop teasing him about it.  Especially
since Sheba's never stopped swooning over his Zohrlochian/Kobollian
look."
     "Don't worry, I have more than enough zingers for all of us to lay
on Captain Fuzzy-Wuzzy Face when it  comes to that," Starbuck quipped as
he crushed out his fumarello.  "Consider yourselves off the hook."
     "With a sister and best friend like you two, it's no wonder he went
Zohrlochian!" Boomer dryly observed.
     "Anyway, as I was saying," Cassiopeia resumed after the latest
laughter among them died down, "These other events shouldn't make any of
us feel uneasy about the idea of Chameleon having dinner with a Risik
woman.  I'm looking forward to meeting her when Chameleon thinks it's the
right time."
     "Likewise," Starbuck said.  "It'll be interesting.  That's for sure. 
I'm just glad he's finally decided it's time to test the waters again
when it comes to the opposite sex."
     "Okay, so we know why Chameleon couldn't be here, and we already
know that Apollo and Sheba are spending tonight taking the twins off our
hands so that all of Adama and Ila's grandchildren can be together on the
Rising Star for that special children's celebration event that's going
on," Boomer said.  "Now tell me, 'son Starbuck.'    How is your friend
Ama celebrating the end of the Cylon Empire tonight?"
     "What am I, Boomer, my Necromancer's keeper?" Starbuck kidded,
"Knowing her, she's probably dispensing a lot of Empyrean Ale tonight! 
Which probably accounts for why the OC had to settle for the cheap
imitation Skorpian Ale we've been imbibing instead."


The Malocchio
     Starbuck though was wrong.  Aboard the Empyrean ship Malocchio, the
aged Necromancer named Ama was not in a celebratory mood at all.  Her
goddaughter Lia was handling all the matters of dispensing Empyrean Ale
for the celebrations taking place throughout the Fleet.  Leaving Ama to
spend the time alone in her private chamber.  The uneasy vibe she had
felt more than once over the last few sectars had appeared once again,
only this time it was something.....different.  Related to the one that
had been troubling her already but she knew it wasn't the same.  The
previous one, she was convinced, was something......someone she had a
personal connection to of some kind.  But what exactly, she couldn't say. 
Only that it was a female presence that had been manifesting itself in
the Fleet at various intervals.  And one time, it had actually made its
presence indirectly known to Starbuck and Kevin Byrne after Ama had a
long conversation with them in which she now realized she may have
revealed too much about her own background.  Or at least her background
as she understood it to be.  Only now, after so many centi-yahrens was
she finally beginning to contemplate the possibility that there were
things that even she, in all her vast knowledge and wisdom, had been
ignorant of all this time.
     "John," she whispered aloud, "What is it I don't know?  Why have you
kept this from me all these centi-yahrens?"
     She knew she wasn't going to get an answer from the Guardian that
she'd finally met face to face when he brought her aboard the Ship of
Lights.  In connection with the experience with the so-called "Entity"
when it had been putting the safety of the Fleet at risk.  All of those
details were still slightly shrouded and she knew that the Guardians had
a way of letting only general impressions of their visitations remain
afterwards, as opposed to minute specifics.  Still, it was an improvement
over John's promised "you will not remember this meeting when you
return."  She recognized that sometimes blocking out details for the good
of those whom they visited was necessary.  There was always the danger
that long-term recollection of those details might amount to interference
with the free will.  And the preservation of free will was, Ama knew, the
most sacred of principles to those who served the Highest Authority of
the Universe.
     As to the nature of that Highest Authority, there would always be
room for competing interpretations.  The Colonials had their
interpretation.  As did those from Earth like the clergyman Father
Fisher.  The Empyreans had their sacred rites centered on a goddess named
Triqueta.  Specificity, Ama knew would never be forthcoming from these
Guardians since they seemed to respect the sincerity of individual
devotion regardless of tradition.  But she could at least, with the
powers gifted to her as an Empyrean Necromancer and inherited by her
genetics, discern more than the average mortal was capable of about the
darker forces that existed in the Universe.
     But is that really why I can discern them?  When I sensed the
presence of the one called Iblis using the succubon Lilith to do his evil
bidding?  And this other presence that I feel *connected* to somehow that
I know is popping in and out of the Fleet at will?  And now.....this
newest danger......a danger that I know will somehow mean danger
for......for Son Starbuck!  But in what way......I cannot tell.  It is
all so......vague and imprecise.  Yet all of it seems to connect back to
the one called Iblis.  Why am I able to sense that so easily even as all
details remain so......shrouded?  Is it because I am more than just a
mere Empyrean Necromancer?
     And then, she could have sworn she heard the voice of John
chuckling.
     "Questions, questions, Ama.  Isn't that what you're so fond of
saying to others?"
     "Ah," she found herself smiling.  "You hoist me by my own petard, as
they say, John.  Perhaps I deserve that.  I must continue to learn how to
rise above my self-imposed limitations.  No matter how long it takes me
to do so."
     For now, there was only one thing she was sure of, and it explained
why unlike the rest of the Fleet, celebrating the end of the Cylon Empire
was not on her mind.  Even though she knew that the being called Iblis
was responsible for the rise of the Cylon Empire, she also had enough
discernment to realize that the end of the Cylon Empire was not a defeat
for Iblis.  If anything.....it only aided in the furthering of his plans. 
Plans that would eventually impact herself.
     By Triqueta, may I have the strength to deal with this!  Do not let
me fail Son Starbuck!

     



















     Epilogue

Starlos-One Sectan Later
     Pasha, 18th Grand Vizier of Starlos finished reading the documents
that had been presented to him.  He then looked across the table where
Cain sat facing him, flanked by Skyler, and gave the two emissaries from
the Pegasus a reassuring smile.
     "I see nothing in this memorandum that I find objectionable," he
said, "The refugees you have brought back from the Cylon Home System are
welcome to return to their homes in their respective sectors."
     "That is most appreciated, Grand Vizier," Cain said gratefully. 
"There was some concern that perhaps, you might fear hostility from them
because of the circumstances surrounding their abduction."
     The Starlos ruler almost smirked, "Because I was the one who
willingly permitted the Cylon High Command to take them?"
     "Perhaps," Cain acknowledged, "Even though we know you were forced
under duress to do so in the wake of the Cylon Destruction of the
Colonies."
     "I will be candid with you, Commander Cain," Pasha leaned forward,
"I have set aside those doubts and those concerns for one reason only. 
And that is because of your choice as a permanent emissary to us," his
eyes fell on Skyler, "Major Skyler more than demonstrated his integrity
to me during his first visit to Starlos, when his help enabled me to
force the Cylons to withdraw peacefully.  I trust him to make sure that
none of the resettled refugees will ever feel reason to let bitterness
and recriminations guide them as they start their lives anew in their
homes once again."
     "I will not betray your trust, Grand Vizier," Skyler said
respectfully.  "The Post-Cylon order dictates a clean slate for all
races.  It will be my task to make sure that Colonials, Hasari, Orions
and Starlosians all live alongside each other in peace, in the true
tradition of Starlos as an Open Planet."
     Pasha nodded and rose, "You may begin transporting the refugees to
the surface immediately.  I will see to it that Starlos Security assists
in the processing."
     "Thank you, Grand Vizier," Cain rose, "We ask now that the passcodes
and keys to the Colonial Embassy be returned to Major Skyler at the
earliest convenience.  It is his intention to live there permanently."
     "It shall be done by tomorrow," the Grand Vizier promised, "If the
new.....Ambassador will report to the Embassy building tomorrow at 1200
local time, the facility will be turned over to him." he then added with
a smile, "May this be the beginning of a long and successful tenure for
you......Ambassador Skyler."


     Fifteen centons later, Cain and Skyler were riding in a privately
commissioned hovermobile that would take them from the Grand Vizier's
Palace to the newly restored Colonial section of the planet.  Where the
former Squadron Leader would be let off and bid his final goodbye to his
Commanding Officer.
     "You've taken care of everything?"
     "I have," Skyler said simply.  "I sent my final message to my old
buddy Dante in the Galactica Fleet just to let him know of my decision. 
And of course.....the guys in Silver Spar gave me an old-fashioned
Send-Off party last night.  Probably the first time a Send-Off party had
a true double meaning."
     "That it did," Cain acknowledged.  "My congratulations to you,
Major."
     "Thank you, sir," he paused, "It's been an honor serving under you,
Commander.  I'm grateful you had faith in me to lead Silver Spar Squadron
after Sheba and Bojay left.  I'm grateful I earned your trust to become
#3 in the Chain of Command......and I'm grateful I was able to see things
through to the end as far as the Cylon War was concerned.  I wish you and
the Pegasus Godspeed in whatever you plan to do next.  I know Captain
Thach and Captain Tegran will serve you well as the new Squadron
Leaders."
     "Thank you, Major," Cain said, "I know you had some tough boots to
fill, but.....you proved your worth as a leader, and that's going to
serve you in good standing for what you have to do here now.  And soon,
Skyler, we're going to make sure Starlos is networked to the Colonies and
every other spot in the Quadrant.  Your friends on the Pegasus will be
able to keep in touch.....eventually."
     "I look forward to that." he paused,
     The hovermobile came to a stop in front of a modest looking
apartment structure that consisted of four stories and some twenty
individual units.  Skyler grabbed his one personal bag that he'd taken
with him, stepped out and gave his Commander a final salute of honor
which Cain returned with a wave of his swagger stick before the
hovermobile started up and moved off.  Skyler kept his eye on it until it
disappeared around the corner, where it would complete its journey back
to where the shuttle from the Pegasus had been left.
     With a sigh, he grabbed his bag and entered the building.  He'd been
given a pass code the last time he'd been here so he didn't have to go
through any of the special security procedures to get in.  He was able to
enter the lift to the third floor and then walk down to the dwelling that
was #322 without a hitch where he gave the door a firm knock.
     When the door opened, he was greeted to the sight of Jocasta's
beautiful face, framed by her teased sandy hair, looking at him with
stunned surprise.
     "Skyler," she whispered. "You're back."
     "For good, Jocasta," Skyler smiled, "For good.  And we're getting
sealed tomorrow.......if you're still interested."
     The woman Skyler had rescued from an isolated asteroid after her
dramatic escape from Cylon occupied Starlos broke into an ecstatic grin,
"Lords of Kobol, yes, you silly fool, yes!"
     Nothing more needed to be said as he dropped his bag and the two
came together in a passionate kiss.  Symbolizing a new beginning in both
of their lives.


The Pegasus
     As soon as Cain returned to the Pegasus, he decided it was time to
give Adama a new update on things.  When the communications signal went
through he was slightly surprised to see Ila alone.
     "It's going to be just you and me this time, Cain," the Council
President said.  "Adama's on the Foundry Ship right now evaluating our
latest developments in producing synthetic Neutrino.  We're going to be
launching a test drone in the next few days to see if it stands up to
conventional laser fire bursts."
     "Then I guess the celebration period is finally over."
     "Yes, by Council decree, it ended today," Ila said with a relaxed
air, "Everyone's officially back to full work mode, and the next Council
meeting is when we decide whether or not to change course to seek out the
Ke'Zar and ask for their assistance against the Risik."
     "What's your feeling on that, Ila?" he asked of his one-time aide
and confidant.
     She sighed, "Truthfully, I'm not committed yet, one way or the
other.  I want to get a sense of the mood of the rest of the Council, and
I also need to see a report from our Fleet Intelligence Unit that's been
in preparation for the last few sectans.  We have to be mindful of the
fact that the enemy of an enemy is not necessarily someone we can regard
as a friend."
     "True," the Juggernaut nodded, "It's a difficult situation.  Just
like what we have to do on our end now."
     "And how is everything on your end now?"
     "Well, we are now repatriating all the Starlos prisoners to their
homes.  The Grand Vizier proved cooperative in welcoming them back,
and......he agreed to let Major Skyler be the new Colonial Ambassador to
Starlos to help facilitate the repatriations."
     "I'm glad for Skyler," Ila said, "I'm assuming of course that he and
Jocasta are now going to live happily ever after."
     "That's entirely up to them, but knowing how anxious Skyler was to
come back here, I think that's what's going to happen."  He smiled and
then sighed, "I'm glad the War's end has brought some closure to at least
one of my warriors.  I'll miss Skyler as a squadron leader but......he
needs to be where he belongs."
     "I guess that means Kylie becomes #3 now."
     "Yes, it does.  And it also means an automatic promotion to Major
since I can't let #3 position go to a Captain.  She was reluctant to
accept the promotion but.....I told her that it wasn't personal, it was
regulations that dictated it."
     "How is she?  She hasn't sent me any vid message files the last
sectan."
     "She hasn't?" Cain frowned, "That's odd, I would have thought she
sent you a personal message about how things were from her end during the
battle."
     "Not a word," Ila shook her head.  "I hope nothing's wrong with her. 
It's just not like her to be so......silent after an experience like
that."
     "Hmmm.  Well, I'll give her a gentle reminder to send something to
you.  If I'd known she hadn't been in touch I'd have brought her in on
this chat, but she's helping with the final processing of the Starlos
natives before they get sent home."
     "Well don't have her leave that on my account.  It's just
that......well you know how close we were to each other on the Pegasus. 
She'll always be like a younger sister to me."
     "I know that, Ila," Cain said, trying not to show any of the concern
this had triggered inside him about his wife.  Especially since he'd
noticed that she'd become a quieter and more introverted the last sectan
as well.  "Anyway, to get back to important matters, when we leave
Starlos, we head for Arcta to bring Dr. Ravashol and everyone there up to
date on what's happened.  We haven't been able to get a direct link from
the Cylon Home System to Arcta re-established because the destruction of
the Imperial Palace was that intense.  So unfortunately they've been in
the dark about what's been happening ever since Ambssador Orcus cracked
and blew their cover to the Imperious Leader.  Governor Malus did send a
fast shuttle out to them a few days ago but it hasn't arrived there yet."
     "Well, one thing's for sure.  If you're still thinking about taking
the Pegasus back out into the Alpha Quadrant to deal with the Risik,
you've got to first get those planets linked up by direct communications
to each other.  Arcta, Gomorrah, Cannes and Starlos all have to be part
of the overall network in order to keep the peace for the long-haul."
     "Indeed they do," Cain concurred, "But I think once we get Arcta and
the Colonies linked and then Arcta reconnected with the Cylon Home
System, they can handle the remaining issues of linkage themselves. 
Arcta is within fast shuttle range of both Starlos and Cannes so Ravashol
and his team can take care of that when they have something ready.  As
for Gomorrah....there's no rush on that yet, since we have a constant
link to them.  For now, our concern is handling the resettlement of over
three hundred thousand people in the Colonies over the next few sectars."
     "You really think you can do it in just a few sectars?"  Ila sounded
somewhat skeptical.
     "I intend to try," Cain was adamant.  "Commander Sorge's BaseShip
and the Pegasus will operate on alternate schedules where one ship leaves
Cylon with new loads of refugees at the same time another ship departs
the Colonies after unloading them.  To make things simpler each load will
consist of refugees who'll be going to the same planet.  That way every
return trip to the Colonies means only stopping at one planet before
returning to the Cylon System for more."
     "It makes sense," Ila nodded, "But assuming you can fit two thousand
refugees per trip that could still take a yahren or more to do.  When
those people were taken prisoner and transported to the Cylons they had
about five or six more BaseShips at their disposal at the time to clear
them out in under a few sectars."
     "We're going to try to make it three thousand per trip," Cain
emphasized.  "And after a few sectars, once they've become acclimated to
having Sorge transport them as well, and after they've become accustomed
to the reality that Enlightened Cylons are their friends.......I think it
will be safe for the Pegasus to leave for the Alpha Quadrant."
     Ila realized that Cain was fully committed to this course of action
and that challenging him on it was going to be a futile exercise once
he'd made up his mind on that.  Still, there was one thing she knew she
had to remind him of.
     "Just remember one thing, Cain.  By the time you commit yourself to
that course of action, the Risik might not be a threat to us any longer
or to Earth.  You'll need to keep in touch with Adama and me on how
things stand there before you make the decision to actually leave the
Colonies."
     "I intend to," Cain promised, "But I don't see the situation
changing, Ila.  I really don't see how I can ever feel safe and secure
about Sheba's future and the future of everyone else I love unless I'm
present for the final act of whatever takes place."
     "Just don't lose sight of the meaning of what you've accomplished
this past sectan, Cain," his in-law and one-time advisor and counselor
stressed, "So many people gave their lives and sacrificed so much to see
this day possible.  And you have to make sure what's been accomplished is
a true lasting peace for them, or else everything you've fought for and
what I fought for with you and the Resistance would be in vain."
     The braggadocio faded from the Juggernaut's face, as he heard this
reminding reproach from the woman he had come to rely on and trust for
over a yahren.
     "It won't be in vain, Ila.  You have my word.....I won't leave until
I know the people feel secure with the new order that exists.  I won't
rush the departure for the sake of leaving."
     "Thank you, Cain.  I needed to hear that." she said, "Our love to
you and Kylie always."
     "And ours to you, Adama, Sheba and the rest of the family."

Cylon BaseShip #1040-The Risik System
     "There is still nothing on the communications link?"
     Command Centurion Strelka shook his head over the vidcom monitor
link, "Negative indications on communication link to the Home System.  It
is as if the circuit has been.....permanently disrupted."
     "Hmmm," Lucifer pondered that information, "That would seem to
indicate that things have not gone well for His Eminence.  Inform me of
any change in the situation, Strelka."
     "By your command." the command centurion said as the connection
ended.
     "Not a very promising development."
     Lucifer turned around and faced Gracchus, "Is it really, Gracchus? 
Or is it merely confirmation of what we already came to recognize was
inevitable when we finally informed His Eminence of the Pegasus's
existence?"
     "Perhaps I didn't expect things to end so swiftly," the DG Cylon
conceded.  "I expected things to be more......protracted as it were."
     "But His Eminence was always incapable of facing a serious military
challenge on his own," Lucifer said with dripping contempt.  "Why else
would he haven entrusted a BaseShip command to the likes of Baltar in the
first place?"
     "But what will we have when we finally achieve our victory over the
Galactica and Baltar?"  Gracchus asked. 
     "You make the mistake of thinking the Disease in our ranks is
permanent, Gracchus.  Force and subjugation and terror will ultimately
prove that it is not.  If Cylons can suddenly reason themselves out of
devotion to one Empire......it can learn in time to reason the need to
submit to a new one, with new leadership." he paused, "It only requires
patience on our part, Gracchus.  Patience is the one thing the former
Imperious Leader forgot all about when his impulsiveness caused his
downfall at Carillon.  At the same time, patience without a viable plan
as the most recent Imperious Leader was prone to, is equally worthless
and equally destructive." 
     Gracchus looked at him directly, "In other words.....after we help
the Risik get what they want, which conveniently is what we want too as
far as the Galactica and Baltar is concerned.....we then make use of
their new Fleet to re-establish control over the Empire from the Diseased
traitors."
     "You are a credit to the DG Class, Gracchus!" Lucifer said
admiringly, "Yes, it will take time, perhaps even a generation.  But we
have the luxury of making the most of that time to prepare ourselves for
the day of our inevitable triumph.  The Cylon Empire as we knew it, may
indeed be no more......but it will one day rise again from its own ashes. 
Much greater than it was at its peak."
     He suddenly grew silent and Gracchus waited for him to say more. 
Twenty microns passed and when he did speak, it was with somber
seriousness.  "Leave me for now, Gracchus.  I must.....be alone."
     The DG Cylon hesitated slightly but his knowledge of what had
happened to Commander Needa was forever burned in his memory banks.  He
bowed slightly and departed.
     As soon as the door closed and Lucifer was alone he abruptly spun
around as if he were expecting to see something that hadn't been there
before.  And soon, he found his instincts vindicated as a figure
materialized in front of him.  The figure of......a living Cylon.  As
soon as the figure spoke, Lucifer immediately knew who it was.
     "You have performed admirably, Lucifer.  You have demonstrated
repeatedly that the key to the downfall of the Cylon Empire was when the
High Command did not choose you to lead them.  And though you have been
subjected to numerous adversities and indignities in the time since
then......you have demonstrated your worthiness through your remarkable
resiliency.  And your determination to make those responsible for the
Empire's destruction suffer the consequences." 
     The figure moved closer to him and his voice grew more solemn.
     "Your name was well-chosen.  It is the same name as one I am
well-familiar with from another realm.  Perhaps the reluctance to choose
you stemmed from some unintentional awareness of the meaning behind your
name and so the High Command feared you.  But no matter.  I now bequeath
to you the power from which all Imperious Leaders worthy of the title
derived their strength.  It will not matter that the shell of the Leaders
is gone forever in the burned ashes of the Home World.  It only matters
that I bestow what I have on you.  And why you will *never* have to worry
about any members of your crew becoming Diseased.  For they will be in
proximity to that which kept those in the Home System from becoming
Diseased.  Not the Leader himself......but the power that comes only from
ME!"
     At that instant, Lucifer felt a sensation like nothing else he'd
experienced surging through every circuit of his cybernetic form.  The
only thing remotely comparable to what he was going through had come when
Commander Cain had performed his deception game and immobilized him,
leaving his memory banks open to plundering.  But unlike that experience,
this sensation was empowering rather than emasculating.  He could sense
the capacity of his two computer brains expanding to new dimensions so
that no third brain would ever be necessary.  A deeper awareness of the
nature of the Universe itself now existed within him.  And with it, a
realization that no Imperious Leader in the history of the Cylon Empire
had ever possessed such knowledge.
     "Speak, Lucifer."
     He lifted his head to face the figure and said simply, "By your
command."
     And he realized in an instant it was no longer the voice he'd been
programmed with, but the voice of the figure standing before him.
     The voice of all the Imperious Leaders.
     "I....am honored, you have made me worthy of this gift."
     "Use it wisely," he warned.  "Possession of the gift is no guarantee
of anything.  You must make yourself worthy of it in the immediate
sectars and yahrens to come."
     "I.....shall."
     Lucifer turned and walked away.  When the doors closed and he was
gone, the form changed first into it's true form......and finally into
the triumphal, grinning form of Count Iblis.
     And then......he was gone.  His last task on behalf of the Cylon
Empire he had made possible complete.

Fleeing from the Cylon tyranny....the Battlestar Galcactica leads a
ragtag fugitive fleet on a lonely quest.  A shining planet.....known as
Earth.

Additional Notes on Chapter 10

Harkaelian names almost invariably include a patronymic, or a reference
to the paternal name. Thus, the child is referred to as sat, or daughter
of as part of her proper name. A son would be known as sa, or son of. In
a very ancient linguistic fossil, deriving from the nearly-extinct Ulurat
dialect, Harkaelian retains the final letter t as the feminine article.
     Thus:
     Shelket Adelaide sat Cedric Robert Allen.
     Shelket. "Energetic" or "Vivacious"
     Adelaide. A reference to Allen's mother's name, in part to honor
her, and in part to soften the harsh patriarchal nature of Harkaelian
culture. Middle names, as we understand them, are foreign to Harkaelian
naming traditions.
     sat "daughter of"
     Cedric Robert Allen. From birth, one carries the patriarchal name,
embodied in the patronymic, which in Harkaelian is usually a single name.

 "My Cup Runneth Over" is a song written by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones
for the 1966 musical "I Do, I Do."  For dramatic purposes we imagine this
instead to be  a Caprican composition!