Battlestar Galactica: The Art of Diplomacy
Virtual Season 4, Pegasus series
By Eric Paddon
May 23, 2019

Chapter One     

     "We again request to speak to Commander Adama to verify your
identity."
     Cain felt his exasperation rising but he tried not to show it, "I
will explain again, as best I can.  We are not the Battlestar Galactica,
we are the Battlestar Pegasus.  Commander Adama is not with us.  He
commands a ship identical in appearance to us, but different from us."
     There was silence on the communications band.  In the meantime, the
Zykonian warship that had moved in to intercept the Pegasus from reaching
Brylon V and the nearby Brylon Space Station sat in front of the
battlestar's path in a decidedly unfriendly posture.  They had already
fired one warning shot when the Pegasus had made its initial approach
that Cain had been unprepared for because he had expected this alien race
to be used to the sight of a battlestar.  The intelligence they had mined
from the computer brain of the captured IL Cylon Lucifer had told them
that prior to engaging the Cylons, the Galactica had spent a considerable
amount of time at the Brylon space station enjoying the hospitality of
the Zykonians and had helped them negotiate a truce with their long-time
enemies, the Ziklagi race.  Because of that information, Cain had decided
that it would be safe to approach the Brylon System and ask the Zykonians
for assistance in resupplying themselves so the Pegasus could ponder its
next move.
     But so far, things had not gone according to expectations.  Just one
centon after the Pegasus had cut from light speed to make its final
approach to Brylon V, they found themselves greeted by the sight of the
warship that had asked them to identify themselves.  They had not
anticipated the warship because it had suddenly appeared from out of
nowhere as though it were using a cloaking device of some kind.  That
certainly told Cain that the military technology of this civilization was
even more sophisticated in some areas than Colonial technology had been
since cloaking devices had never been effectively developed for practical
military use throughout the entire thousand yahren war.  Success had only
come in using them for small shuttlecraft or the occasional viper but
even then the energy needed to maintain a cloaking device was so great
that it shortened the effective flight time for a ship utilizing it. 
Applying that same principle to a ship the size of a battlestar was
deemed far too costly by Colonial science, and treasury budgeters, to
justify the expense.
     Cain had given his response patiently and told the Zykonians that
they were the Pegasus under Commander Cain, and that Commander Cain was a
friend and acquaintance of Commander Adama.  To his surprise, the answer
was not viewed positively by them.  Instead the Zykonian ship had asked
for Commander Adama to speak personally so their identity could be
verified.  Cain's explanation that Adama was not present because he was
on a different ship was greeted with a warning shot barrage of laser
fire, clearly designed not to hit them but to send a powerful message of
displeasure and suspicion.
     Now Cain waited for the Zykonian ship to react to his second attempt
to explain things.  As the delay stretched on, he could study the
contours of the alien warship more closely and noticed that it had
features in some areas that resembled a battlestar.  Particularly in the
dual pod launch and landing bays on each side.  He was beginning to
wonder if that was more than just a coincidence when the communications
band came to life once again.
     "Your last message is not understood.  Commander Adama never
indicated there were other ships like his in the galaxy, and that his was
the last of its kind.  If you truly know Adama, then he or members of his
staff we have dealt with before should be able to verify your identity."
     "Blasted idiot," Cain whispered as he muted the unicom button and
motioned to Bridge Office Kylie.  "Standby for emergency reverse
thrusters and hyperspeed if I feel it's warranted."
     "Yes, sir.  Do you request positive shield?" the brunette woman
asked.
     Cain looked back at the warship on the screen and tapped his swagger
stick against the railing as he pondered that.  He then glanced over at
Tolen who shared his surprise that things had not gone the way they had
expected.
     "I wouldn't," the executive officer admitted.  And Cain was nodding
in agreement.
     "Negative that, Kylie," the Juggernaut finally spoke carefully. 
"They might be able to scan our doing that and we'd end up confirming
their worst instincts.  Let me try something else with them."
     He adjusted the unicom so it was no longer muted, and which enabled
him to speak to them again.
     "Zykonian ship, please understand that no one aboard our vessel has
visited your planet or your people before.  Consequently there is no one
among us you would be personally acquainted with.  However, we do have on
board, Commander Adama's wife and she would, I am sure be able to prove
our good intentions to act in the same spirit of peace and cooperation
that her husband did."
     I should have thought of this sooner, Cain thought as he tensed
himself and waited for the next answer.  One didn't come right away. 
Instead, the wait stretched out for over five centons.  In many contexts,
five centons was not a long period but in this instance it might as well
have seemed like a thousand yahrens.
     "Your impressions of this long wait, Colonel?" he inquired of the
Executive Officer.  This was something Cain had never done in the past
until Tolen had returned from the Delta Aquinas mission a changed man
from what he had been.  Now, Tolen had become a man whose voice Cain
wanted to hear in any situation.  Whether he took Tolen's advice or not,
Cain would always from this point on respect it.
     "They're clearly giving it a lot of thought," Tolen said.  "I'm sure
the Commander of that vessel is having a long conversation with his
superiors."
     Cain glanced over at Bridge Officer Altair who monitored
communications.  "Any indication of short-range signals from that ship?"
     "Yes sir.  All appear to be coded or scrambled," Altair answered.
     "Then that has to be what's going on," Cain nodded, "But what I
don't understand is why they're so instinctively suspicious.  It's as if
it's easier for them to believe someone else they're enemies with, built
a duplicate of the Galactica than it is to believe there's always been
another ship just like her."
     "Maybe this truce Adama brokered with their enemy hasn't been
holding together.  After all, that information we got from Commander
Lucifer's memory banks is more than a yahren out of date."
     "Possible," the Juggernaut conceded.  
     A crackle burst through the communications band indicating that a
reply was at last coming.
     "Unknown vessel," a different voice said.  "You say the Lady Adama
is on your ship?"
     Cain's eyes narrowed.  He understood right away the hidden meaning
of the question.  And he knew exactly how he had to answer it.
     "That's not her correct name or title.  Her name is Ila.  Professor
Ila."
     Again, there was no immediate response but inside Cain was beginning
to feel optimistic.
     Finally, when the new voice spoke again, the tone was completely
friendly.
     "Battlestar Pegasus," he said, "At your earliest convenience, please
launch a shuttle with a delegation that will be escorted to Brylon
Station.  For the moment, we would prefer your ship to remain in position
until matters of your arrival have been negotiated face-to-face."
     "We concur," Cain said.  "Delegation will consist of myself and
Professor Ila."
     "Signing off."
     A collective sigh of relief went up from all the Bridge personnel
including Tolen.
     "You see what their game was with that question, Tolen?
     "Yes, sir," the executive officer nodded.  "Adama's told someone
only in high authority at some point what his wife's name is, so it
wouldn't be common knowledge among the Zykonians or their enemies."
     "And if I had said, 'yes the Lady Adama is on our ship' the next
thing we would have seen would be laser fire aimed directly at us.  I
think maybe things will go smoothly from this point on.  Notify Ila and
tell her to meet me in Alpha Bay."
     "You don't want a security detachment?" Tolen called after him as he
took his first two steps down from the Upper Deck.
     Cain stopped on the stairs and turned back to face him, "No, Tolen. 
The more trusting we are of them, the sooner we'll get what we need.  But
be that as it may......if you get any message from them telling you that
they're holding us hostage and demanding your surrender, then you know
what you have to do."
     "Yes, sir!"  Tolen emphatically nodded.


     Ila was already waiting in the Launch Bay for him, still wearing the
brightly multi-color patterned civilian dress furnished her by Bridge
Officer Kylie.  Attractive as it looked on her, Cain found himself
thinking that something similar to Councilor's robes would have been more
appropriate given the formality and the importance of the event he was
asking her to undertake.  But then again, Ila's choice of wardrobe was
limited given the paucity of female crew aboard the Pegasus.  The only
other options for her would have been wearing the black pressure suit
outfit she'd worn during her suspended animation flight from the Colonies
or a warrior's uniform, and neither of those would have been good
options.
     As they boarded the shuttle, he could tell that she didn't seem
nervous in the slightest.  As though she were anxious to perform a
meaningful task that went beyond what she'd been doing up to now which
was providing Cain with information on what was happening back in the
Colonies.  Information that even now, she hadn't given all of the details
of, since Cain wanted to wait and see how events folded in the short-term
regarding the Pegasus' potential ability to be able to go back.  And
whether or not their ultimate decision might in fact be to try and catch
up with the Galactica instead.
     "I'm glad you don't think this is an imposition," he said almost
apologetically as he strapped himself into the pilot's seat while Ila
took her place in the space next to him.
     "Not in the least," Ila snapped the fastening straps in place. 
"Once you told me about Adama having a past history at this place, I
assumed it was inevitable I'd be needed."
     She then threw her old friend a smile, "Besides, if there's one
thing I've noticed about the Pegasus, it's how much you really *need* a
woman's touch in some important role.  Notwithstanding Sheba's position,
you really didn't make this ship a place of opportunity for women!"
     Cain let out a dry chortle, "I hope you gave Adama that lecture at
some point since I don't think the Galactica ever had a woman commanding
a squadron!  And his ratio of female pilots and crew in general was
probably only a tick higher than mine overall."
     "True, I did give him a hard time about that once," she admitted. 
"I'm sure he's seen the error of his ways, now.  Especially now that he
has Sheba in his ranks."
     "Well, we may actually get a chance to find out about that, among
other things," Cain adjusted his headset.  "Alpha shuttle to Core
Command.  Systems secured, we are ready to launch."
     "Alpha Shuttle, you are clear to launch," Bridge Officer Altair
answered.
     Even though Cain hadn't actually flown a shuttle personally in more
than three yahrens, it was one of those things a good pilot never forgot. 
Like riding one's first bi-mobile it always came back.
     The shuttle emerged from the Pegasus and immediately set course
toward the Zykonian warship that remained between the planet Brylon V and
the battlestar.  Cain kept the shuttle's speed on a moderately slow
heading, not wanting to appear impulsive or aggressive.  He also was
expecting to see some type of shuttle or fighter craft emerge that would
either escort him to the warship or preferably to the space station,
which at this point he could make out as a speck against the backdrop of
Brylon V, a much larger planet in size than any of the twelve worlds.
     Cain's hunch proved correct as he soon saw two fighters emerge from
the warship, and then heard his communication band come alive.
     "Shuttlecraft from Battlestar Pegasus.  Please follow the two
fighters to Brylon Station.  They will guide you to the nearest docking
port."
     "We copy and will follow in," Cain acknowledged and then muted the
transmitter.  "Well, so far so good.  I'm glad they're letting us go
straight to the Station since that means we'll likely meet someone higher
in authority than that ship's captain first."
     "I wonder what they're like," Ila mused as the shuttle ducked into
formation behind the two Zykonian fighters, keeping as respectful a
distance as possible.
     "Well, they're certainly careful and cautious.  But at least Adama's
proved they're not instinctively prejudiced toward humans."
     "No, I was thinking more about how they look.  What
their.....culture is like."
     "Oh," Cain found himself shrugging, "I.....hadn't given that much
thought."
     "Never had much time to think about alien civilizations?" she looked
over at him, "Easier to just....think of the universe in bi-polar terms
of humans and Cylons when you spend all your time fighting the war?"
     "I wouldn't say that.  I've had to think about alien civilizations
quite a bit when it came to figuring out who our friends were and which
ones were adopting that cowardly posture of "neutrality" when it came to
the war.  Every warrior had to know the diplomatic positions of the major
races from Borellians to Tucans to Hasaris to Deltons and any other race
you might come across in an open space port somewhere."
     "But that was just about all any of us felt we had to know about
them," Ila said.  "And every race you mentioned, Cain.....they all had
one thing in common.  They all looked so....."
     Cain wryly smiled, "I think the operative word would be 'ugly'."
     "Well.....," it was clear that Adama's wife didn't want to use that
term, "at the very least, alien races, even the ones we've gotten along
with have a tendency to look very.....different.  And I sometimes wonder
if that instinctive......aversion we had to how other races looked might
have contributed to our defeat."
     "In what way?"
     "Because we never wanted to interact with them, and really
appreciate what they had to offer us from a cultural standpoint," Ila
said.  "It only mattered what their diplomatic posture was on the war,
and what they might offer us in trade relationships.  We, as humans, we
never wanted to *go* to their planets and interact with them.  We
preferred to keep to ourselves in the Colonies and in our outposts."
     "But it cut both ways," Cain pointed out, "Our allies were never
anxious to visit the Colonies.  Races that start from
different.....biological makeups always inevitably prefer to associate
among themselves."
     "That's true," she conceded, "Still.....I sometimes wonder if
maybe.....our attitudes were different and we tried to be more.....open
in terms of our interactions we might have had a more unified front
against the Cylons.  Something that could have made it harder for the
Cylons to plan the Destruction."
     "You really think it might have made a difference?"
     "Maybe," Ila shrugged, "All I know now is that we didn't integrate
our alliances and that made it easier for the Cylons to target us for
extinction because an attack on the Colonies wasn't going to result in a
massive counter-attack from a group of other powerful races committed to
our defense.  All of our allies that supported us diplomatically and
traded with us......they just took the everyone for himself approach. 
And I suppose I really can't blame them, as shortsighted as that was. 
The attack on the Colonies wasn't in their backyard, so they had no real
reason to rush headlong and stop them."
     Cain realized that this wasn't the most opportune time to bring up
the subject of things that Ila had yet to reveal regarding the Resistance
movement in the Colonies that she had been part of.  He had told her that
he wanted those matters deferred until he was absolutely certain that the
Pegasus had a viable plan of attack for returning to the Colonies to aid
that effort.  Otherwise, if events forced the Pegasus to decide that
their destiny lay in eventual reunion with the Galactica, the additional
information that Ila had yet to talk about wouldn't have any relevance
whatsoever.
     Nonetheless, in light of what Ila had said, he decided he had to ask
one general question.
     "Is this the kind of information you've......learned more about
during the last two yahrens in the Resistance movement?"
     "Some," she acknowledged, "And some of it is just......philosophical
musing on my part based on my experiences in it."
     "Well regardless of whether I end up agreeing with you or not, keep
musing aloud whenever you feel like it," Cain said as their shuttle now
passed directly over the Zykonian ship.  "I enjoy hearing it, Ila.  In
fact......it's really made the Pegasus a less lonely place than its been
these last two and a half yahrens."  
     Ila glanced over at him, as though she were trying to discern more
from his comments.  She knew there was nothing inappropriate in his
remarks nor was anything inappropriate intended.  But the more time she'd
spent talking with Cain since her arrival, the more she was beginning to
see just how much he appreciated her presence from the standpoint of
friendship.  The friendship of a contemporary, and one he had a deep
personal tie to, from her being Adama's wife and also the best friend of
Cain's late wife, Bethany.  It was something that had been absent from
Cain's life during a very difficult period since he'd chosen to part from
the Galactica.  Cutting himself off not just from his daughter and his
one-time mistress, but the friendship of a contemporary like Adama. 
Leaving him all alone with a crew that only saw him in mythic terms.
     "Attention, Battlestar Pegasus shuttle," one of the Zykonian
fighters was radioing them.  "Follow course vector three-one-one to
Brylon Station.  You will be contacted by Brylon Station control for
final docking procedures."
     "Affirmative," Cain radioed back.
     As they drew closer to the large planet that was Brylon V, the size
of the space station began to become evident.  Ila's eyes widened and her
mouth fell open slightly as she wasn't prepared for a sight that big.  
     Cain too couldn't help but be impressed.  He'd seen his share of
well-constructed space-dock facilities in the Colonies that Battlestars
would put into ever several yahrens for overhaul and retrofitting, but
this station dwarfed even the best of those.  Not even  the largest of
Cylon facilities he'd encountered measured up to this.  It was clear that
the station was more than just a repair facility.
     "This.....should be interesting," was all he could say.
     "Pegasus shuttle," a different voice now radioed.  "This is Brylon
Station Control.  You are cleared for mooring in docking ring #14 based
on your current course heading.  It will be so identified by light
display to distinguish it for you.  Upon securing, you may open your
hatch and exit."
     "Affirmative, Station Control," Cain kept his tone even.  He then
glanced over at Ila.  "Well, that's one thing I approve of.  They aren't
insisting that one of their representatives board us first.  That's more
the kind of greeting they'd give a guest."
     Ila just nodded.  At this point she was still struck by the size of
the station.  It sent within her a pang of memory of what had once
existed in the Colonies in terms of building achievements and what had
been lost.  And how now, the goal within her was to make it possible for
these kind of things to exist again one day.  To vindicate the work she
had been part of for the last two yahrens since her group of survivors
had finally emerged from the sheltered catacombs of Caprica they'd hidden
in during that first yahren after the Destruction.
     Work that she wasn't sure in her heart she was prepared to give
up.......even at the cost of the greatest thing her heart still desired.

Chapter Two

     Cain was partially surprised that the shuttle was able to fit
securely to the docking ring he'd been directed to.  Then again, it stood
to figure that if their docking rings weren't compatible with Colonial
shuttles originally, the past contact with the Galactica might have led
to some modifications on that front.  Whatever the case, it represented
one less complication to deal with at this stage.  Now would come the
matter of finally confronting these mysterious Zykonians face-to-face.
     After powering down the shuttle and getting his harness straps off,
he activated the door which opened up with a whoosh indicating that the
air pressure inside the station was equal to that inside the shuttle and
there were no complications on that front.  With airs of tentative
anticipation, he and Ila stepped out from the shuttle and into what lay
on the other side.  Around them, they noticed an empty room that seemed
no different from a normal docking lounge waiting area, with the only
difference that no benches were set up.  Several video monitors lined the
walls, but the wording on them struck no recognition with Cain or Ila.
     Finally, the grinding noise of a door opening at the end of the
lounge caught their attention and the saw it rise.  And once it was up,
they finally got their first look at a Zykonian.
     "Greetings, Commander," he said.  "I bid you welcome to Brylon
Station.  I am Commander Hir-Zykor."
     Both of them were taken aback completely by the sight.  Not even
Ila's musings about how different alien races looked from the human norm
had prepared them for this.  The Zykonian's appearance was a cross
between cobran and lupus.  More the former with the reptilian eyes and
the hairless skull but more the latter with the legs and arms.  
     "Commander," Cain managed to bow, but it was still a struggle for
him to overcome the instinctive aversion he felt inside him toward the
Zykonian.  It was obvious that it wasn't going to be easy to converse
with the station commander......or any other Zykonian for that matter.
     "My appearance startles you?" Hir-Zykor's tone suggested he was
frowning.  Cain couldn't tell from the face if that was true.  "Surely
you are by now, thanks to Commander Adama, familiar with our race.  That
accounts for your presence here, does it not?"
     "Well----," the Pegasus commander started and then stopped as he
found himself fishing for words and trying to submerge his instinctive
feelings inside.  Already he could sense that things were not getting off
on the right foot.
     Suddenly, Ila stepped forward, "You must forgive us, Commander
Hir-Zykor," she managed to repeat his name the same way the Zykonian had
pronounced it.  "This is the first time for Commander Cain and all of us
aboard the Pegasus that we have ever seen a member of your race.  Our
reaction is......instinctive and......unfortunate, but it is our
intention to overcome that in the interests of seeking mutually
beneficial results."
     Thank the Lords of Kobol! Cain felt relieved that Ila had bailed him
out.  It was clear that like her husband, she was blessed with certain
diplomatic skills that had long been alien to the Juggernaut's mind set.
     "Indeed?" the Station Commander cocked his head, "How is it so that
you are not aware of our appearance?  I was led to understand that you
are in fact, Commander Adama's wife."
     "I am honored to say that I am," Ila bowed respectfully, "My name is
Ila.  But the explanation, Commander is that I, along with Commander Cain
and the crew of the Pegasus, have not been in contact with my husband and
his ship for quite some time.  Our last contact in fact, predates his
encounter with your people."
     "Ah," he nodded this time with understanding, "That would
explain.....in part.  If you will follow me to our conference room, we
might talk further."
     As the Zykonian motioned them to follow him through the doorway out,
Cain leaned over to Ila and whispered, "If you'll pardon the expression,
thank you for saving my astrum."
     "I'll keep covering your rear flank the whole while," Ila winked at
him.


     As soon as the Zykonian named Hir-Zykor led the two humans out into
the corridor connected with the docking lounge, both Cain and Ila were
greeted for a new surprise.  The sides of the corridor consisted of
translucent glass that allowed them an open view and what they saw was a
vast open atrium of thriving activity.  Beings from several different
races mingling about on walkways and through open kiosks that were
clearly set up for merchandise, recreation and entertainment.  The
majority were also Zykonians but there were others with appearances more
bizarre (and to Cain's eye hideous) than even the station commander
seemed to them.
     They were led across the walkway to another door that opened up into
a conference room with a table and chairs.  Hir-Zykor motioned to them to
sit down and the two humans did so, preferring to stay next to each other
rather than sit on opposite sides.  The head of the table was where the
Station Commander chose to sit down. 
     "We shall begin preliminary matters," the Zykonian said.  "You were
saying that you have not been in contact with Commander Adama since
before his arrival in our quadrant.  Yet how is it that you know of his
visit?"
     "We learned our information from another source, and that was why we
felt it was safe to proceed here."  Cain spoke up, deciding he felt
comfortable enough to do so.
     "I see.  And this other source?"
     Cain decided he wouldn't hold back.  "It was intercepted
intelligence from a member of our enemy."
     "The Ziklagi?" his tone and expression revealed frowning.
     "No, not the race you were fighting that Commander Adama I believe
helped negotiate a truce over," Cain said.  "This was intelligence that
our enemy, the Cylon Empire had in its possession.  I'm certain Adama
told you about them."
     "Yes," the commander nodded.  "Yes, we do know of the Cylon Empire
through Adama.  But we have never encountered them.  I am surprised that
they would have possessed such knowledge."
     "We don't have much we can say about that, Commander Hir-Zykor," Ila
said.  "It simply represents the situation as we know it.  From this
intelligence that Commander Cain speaks of, we felt it was safe to
proceed to Brylon and contact you directly."
     "Yet you didn't when your advance ships made first contact with our
system last sectan.  It *was* your ships that patrolled and scanned our
system prior to your arrival this day?"
     "It was," Cain admitted.  "But at the time, we had not intercepted
the intelligence that explained your identity to us and your past
relationship with Adama.  We were approaching our discovery of your
system with caution."
     Again, there was a nod.  "If all is as you say, then that is
logical.  Perhaps though, you will understand better why when you
appeared we did not immediately see your ship as friendly."
     "Even though our ship is identical in all respects to the
Galactica?" Ila felt that if she chimed in often enough, Cain would feel
the pressure taken off.
     "That is exactly the reason.  Because you are identical, but not the
Galactica.  We had to guard against the possibility that
our......adversary may have chosen a dishonorable means of subterfuge."
     "You're talking now of the Ziklagi," Adama's wife decided that these
areas of diplomacy and their culture were things she could take charge of
and one glance at Cain's relieved posture confirmed she was right.
     "Yes.  While your husband negotiated a truce that has held together
since he was with us, that does not mean we take our adversary for
granted.  The Ziklagi are capable of many forms of subterfuge and
deception.  Such as using a ship identical to the Galactica as a means of
potentially breaking the treaty and beginning our war again through a
form of sneak attack."
     Cain frowned, "Do they have such ships identical to the Galactica?"
     "Not to our knowledge," the Zykonian Commander said.  "But when
Commander Adama was here, part of the trade negotiations that he
conducted with our people required our ability to inspect all aspects of
the Galactica from top to bottom.  That we could copy that information
for our records as to the practicality of applying the Galactica's design
to our own warships.  And under treaty obligation with the Ziklagi we
were required to share that information.  So therefore, it is entirely
possible for our adversary to have constructed a duplicate battlestar for
the purposes of elaborate subterfuge as a preliminary to a sneak attack."
     "I see," Cain said, even though Cain really didn't and he wasn't all
that interested in the nuances of the diplomatic arrangements Adama
worked out.
     "But you have scanning capability," Ila interjected, "Does this mean
the Ziklagi are humanoid?"
     Hir-Zykor let out a laugh, "Hardly!  If anything, of all the races
who inhabit this sector of space, we are the closest to you humans there
is."
     Great, Cain thought to himself.  That's all I need.
     "Then you would have known we were human once you scanned us."  Ila
went on.
     "Our scans did show you were human.  However, there are some
Ziklagi, who have the capability to......I believe the term is
'shape-shift'.  That is why we could not instinctively trust our scanner
readings.  It was only, Lady Ila, when your name was revealed to us that
we could confirm that you could not possibly be our adversary planning a
trap and that you were in fact who you claimed to be."
     "My official title is Academician, but I am always addressed as
Professor Ila.  I come from no background of nobility," Ila said,
"Apparently my husband mentioned my name only to.....a select few of
you."
     "Quite correct.  Only three of us, including myself, knew your name
was Ila  from private conversations we'd had with him and the rest of his
family.  Therefore, anyone attempting to deceive us would not have used
it."
     Ila felt herself tensing inside but kept her outward appearance cool
and diplomatic.  "Then you also met my son and daughter.  Captain Apollo
and Lieutenant Athena."
     "Oh yes.  Although Captain Xlax, who served as liaison officer spoke
with them more than I did.  We also were acquainted with their spouses."
     "Spouses?" this time Adama's wife couldn't stop her eyebrows from
going up.
     "Why yes," Hir-Zykor's puzzlement returned.  "You mean your children
were not betrothed when you last saw them?"
     "No," Ila shook her head.  "It will.....interest me greatly to know
who my children have married."
     "I am certain!" the Zykonian laughed.  "How strange that I should be
the instrument of such happy news to you, Lady----I mean, Professor Ila. 
Our god Zykor has surely blessed you in making your visit to Brylon
possible!"
     "Perhaps so," Ila managed to smile but inside was a churning mass of
anxiety.  Cain was wondering if she'd be able to keep her composure.  And
he also couldn't help but wonder if he was going to learn that Ila's
daughter Athena had married Starbuck.  Ila had revealed that at the time
of the Destruction, Athena had seriously been involved with the warrior
Cain had later met, but who by then was in a relationship with Cain's
ex-mistress, Cassiopeia.
     Did he break up with Cassie?  And if he did and Cassie is
unattached, then.....what does that mean for me?
     "You do know their names?" Ila added.
     "Oh yes!  Yes of course.  Your daughter Athena is married to a
warrior from the Galactica......."
     Cain felt every part of his body tense as he leaned forward in his
chair.
     ".......named Boomer."
     Ila's blue eyes widened in surprise while Cain found himself
relaxing in his chair with a strange feeling of relief.  He remembered
Boomer but only slightly.  The more important part of that revelation was
that it meant Cassie and Starbuck were likely still a couple.  What made
that a relief from his standpoint is that it removed a personal issue
from the table as far as considering his long-term options.
     "Boomer," Ila whispered.  "Yes, I.....know him, though not too well. 
He is a fine man and Warrior."
     "His compassion for his wife was most evident when she was injured
during her stay here."
     "Injured?"now her amazement turned to one of maternal panic.
     "Oh, yes.  It was a shuttle accident in our main landing bay.  A
very complicated story involving a Ziklagi shape-shifter, but it was
successfully resolved and your daughter recovered.  And there were no
complications to her pregnancy.  They were in quite good health when the
Galactica left Brylon."
     Athena's mother was at a loss for words.  All of this was staggering
to Ila to realize things had moved this far in the time since Cain's last
contact with the Galactica.
     "I'm....pleased to know that my daughter is fine and has
clearly.....found some happiness," she finally recovered herself.
     "Yes, she showed much signs of being happy.  As did Captain Apollo
and----,"
     "Excuse me," Cain held up a hand to interrupt.  "Commander, this
information is of great help to Professor Ila personally, but I think at
this time before we proceed any further with that, I'd like us to get
back to the primary reason why the Pegasus came to your system."
     "Very well.  If you prefer to wait?" the Zykonian glanced over at
Ila who had the look of someone slowly detuning.
     "Yes, I think it should wait until.....later," Ila nodded and
cleared her throat.  "As Commander Cain said, there are more important
issues we need to discuss regarding the Pegasus's need of food and fuel
resources."
     "In contrast to Adama, we are not a fleet of many ships but only one
ship," Cain said, "We may not be able to offer as much to you as he was
able.  But as a humanitarian gesture, and out of respect for one who I am
sure served the interests of your people well, we would hope to see
compassion for our present situation."
     Commander Hir-Zyrok leaned back in his chair at the head of the
table.  
           "I am not the one who can be the final arbiter of such
matters," he said.  "I am sure that
something can be arranged, but the full parameters will
require.....consultation on my part."
     "How long will that take?" Cain asked, trying not to sound anxious.
     The Station Commander shrugged his shoulders.  "Bureaucratic
decisions always have their complications.  I can only promise it will be
made known within a cycle or two at most."
     "And in the meantime?"
     "In the meantime, my authority as station commander does permit me
the freedom to extend the hospitality of Brylon Station to you and your
crew," he rose.  "I will have two Decurions escort you to Station Control
so you may notify the Pegasus that she can dock with the Station and her
crew be given free access to all facilities......provided they remember
to respect Zykonian law at all times.  Failure to do so could result in
some needless complications. One Galactica warrior in particular learned
that, although eventually we did show mercy to him."
     "We will observe, respect and honor all Zykonian customs and laws
for the duration of our stay on Brylon," Ila had her full diplomatic
bearing back.  "We only wish to leave you as friends, as surely as my
husband did."
     "That sentiment I know will carry much weight," Hir-Zyrok said.  "If
you would wait here but a few more centons for me to summon the
Decurions."
     As soon as he exited the room, leaving them alone, Ila let out a
long exhale
     "And the revelations keep coming," she said simply.
     "With more to come later," Cain looked across at her with empathy,
"Ila, I'm sorry I interrupted the news about Apollo, but given all that
was said about Athena I thought it would be too much to take all that in
at once.  We can always find out later about him, and at the very least,
we know Apollo is all right or he would have said something there."
     "No, I agree with you completely, Cain.  Once he said Athena had
been injured here and was pregnant......that was more than I could handle
for one day.  I'll just tuck away the matter of who Apollo's become
sealed to for later.  It can definitely keep until we've taken care of
more important matters," she looked over at him and smiled, "That
officially makes us even."
     "And that proves how much of a good team we make in complementing
each other," Cain returned it.  "In the meantime,
congratulations.....Grandma."
     She had no response except to good-naturedly form her right hand in
a mock gesture of shooting a laser pistol at him.  Inside, only one
question went through her head. 
     Will I ever get to see my grandchild, ever?


     The two Zykonians that the Commander had identified as "Decurions"
(clearly, Cain realized a counterpart to the term centurions) arrived and
escorted Cain across two additional walkways that took them to the
communications center in Station Control.  From here, Zykonian
technicians gave their radio messages to all orbiting ships and arriving
shuttles.  In addition to that, the center also handled the public
address announcements inside the station and the music system that played
throughout the outer atrium areas and inside the various kiosks.  It
represented a sophisticated set-up that reflected an increasingly
sophisticated technological society.
     With all of them briefed by Hir-Zyrok, Cain was given a headset and
allowed to contact the Pegasus.  He informed Tolen that contact had been
made with the Zykonians and that while no final agreement had been
reached for supplies, permission had been granted for the battlestar to
dock and for the crew to come aboard.  But for now, to avoid the risk of
incidents, Cain gave strict orders that only five groups of four people
would be allowed to visit first, and all of them were to stay together at
all times and show total deference to local authority and custom.
     When that was done, the Decurions furnished Cain and Ila with
hand-held guides that would allow them to make their way through the
entirety of the station without getting lost.  Instructions were also
left that Commander Hir-Zyrok would page them over the Station's public
address announcer whenever he had new information on the trade
negotiations.  Until then, Cain and Ila were free to do as they pleased. 
The commander had even generously given them one thousand credits each in
Zykonian currency to let them make some initial purchases for themselves.
     They took the turbo-lift down to the level that opened out to the
main atrium.  Now, it was possible for them to mingle among the Zykonians
and other races that moved about the station enjoying what it had to
offer.  For the two humans, it remained an overwhelming experience.
     "I don't ever recall anything this elaborate in the Colonies," Ila
found herself looking up at the giant overhead expanse of the atrium
where she could see the numerous deck levels.  "After all these yahrens
of living in rubble and destruction, to see something like this where
people of all races are moving about and just.....*living*, seems so
surreal."
     "And it's a far change from over four yahrens being cooped up inside
a Battlestar," Cain said.  "I just hope the crew doesn't get too
impressed by the.....charms this place and presumably Brylon V have to
offer."
     Ila chuckled, "'Mutiny on the Bantai' come to life?"           
     Cain laughed, "They've called me a lot of things over the yahrens,
but being likened to the fictional Captain Blogh, who was a relentless
sadist, and drove his crew to mutiny after they got too much liberty at a
pleasure port, has yet to be one of them!"
     "Well I have a confession to make, Cain," Ila said with a twinkle,
"I can remember one of my drama classes doing a production of that famous
tale and the student who was playing the immortal Captain Blogh said that
he had no choice but to study vid-com interviews of you in order to
'find' the part."
     "Ha!" Cain enjoyed the banter with her.  Camaraderie among
contemporaries with deep personal ties, and not a smidgen of anything
that could be considered improper.  "I guess that makes you even with me
for the 'Grandma' crack."
     "I suppose I deserved it since it's clear Adama and I beat you to
the title of grandparent." she said.  "But don't count yourself
out......yet."
     The Juggernaut smiled, but inside it was hard for him to envision
Sheba opening herself up to romance in her life.  Not with her
determination to be just like him as a warrior, and her recognition that
being the best often carried with it a personal price.  It was much
easier for Cain to see Sheba learning from his example with her mother
and deciding that she preferred staying the loner and not entering a
relationship where someone she loved would inevitably get hurt.      
Then again, he wondered if that was just an excuse his mind had concocted
as a rationalization for what he hoped to be true, as opposed to what
might be true.
     Maybe my mind just doesn't want to envision her sealed, he thought. 
A part of me that doesn't want to let her go and still wants her to be
with me again someday, flying for me aboard the Pegasus.  Like it was
before I lost her.
     You have to let her grow up, Cain. You have to let go, whatever
betides.
     "Look at that!" Ila's voice broke his inner thoughts.  "A clothing
kiosk.  Maybe I'll get lucky and there's a fitter who can get me
something to broaden my wardrobe."
     Cain looked over and saw the sign that according to the guide he'd
been provided read, 'Har-Coutur'.  
     "Be my guest," he said.  "According to this, there's a bar and
restaurant called the Har....Har...."
     "Har-Bitah," she read it fluently.. 
     "Thank you.  Anyway, that's just down several locations from here,
so you can meet me there when you're done."
     "And I know I shouldn't have trouble seeing you stand out from
everyone else," Ila said, "Can I trust you to curb your.......instincts
about aliens?"
     "Completely!" he raised his arm as if about to take an oath. 
"Completely."
     "I'll try to be no more than a half-centar," Ila moved over and
disappeared into the clothing kiosk while Cain, slowly made his way
toward the massive entrance to the Har-Bitah.
     Just order drinks, observe and enjoy the atmosphere and say nothing
stupid!  Remember, today you're a diplomat, not a warrior.
     Cain moved past so many aliens on all sides of him.  More Zykonians,
and others from races he knew not where and frankly wasn't interested in
knowing.  All of them blending together to form a group that made him
oblivious to the sight of another human being stepping out of an
agro-parts distribution center on the side opposite from the clothing
kiosk.
     The human being, whose name was Wallis, immediately caught sight of
Cain, and immediately recognized not just the tan warrior uniform but
also the man wearing it.
     And suddenly.....for the first time in several sectars, the man felt
like the Lords of Kobol were at last answering his prayers as he hurried
over to catch up with Cain's receding form.  

Chapter Three

     The Har-Bitah was certainly huge in scale.  It had its distinctly
separate areas of bar, restaurant, chancery, and at the far rear was the
entrance to a spectator's gallery that overlooked an athletic court.  Had
Cain investigated further, he would have discovered a game similar to
Colonial Triad called "Rykgo".  But choosing to be cautious and not
wanting it to make too difficult for Ila to find him later, the Pegasus
commander chose a seat in the bar area that was close to the entrance
he'd come through.  When the Zykonian waiter approached and asked him
what he wanted, Cain haltingly asked if they had ale.  This had drawn no
reaction from the bartender, so he then asked if there was brandy or
grog.  Finally a not entirely friendly nod from the bartender came
without a word and he departed and it made Cain wonder again if he'd made
a misstep.  It was just another reminder of how this sort of thing wasn't
his usual line of work.
On top of that the music in the station sound system and the chattering
of aliens around him combined with the bells of the adjoining chancery
games was starting to irritate him.  
     For two and a half yahrens, I've kept myself cocooned inside the
Pegasus and never ventured out when we did raids on depots and other
planets or when we made brief contact with other human settlements.  I've
practically forgotten how to interact in an outside ship setting and I'd
probably be just as ill-at-ease if this was run by humans.
     There was an irony in all that.  The younger version of himself, the
one from his earliest days as a warrior, used to thrive in settings such
as these.  Liberty space ports filled with pretty barmaids, chanceries
and plenty of alcohol had drawn him like a proverbial moth to flames
because he'd seen such places as the ideal safety valve for his system
after protracted stints of combat duty, first aboard the Battlestar
Cerberus (where young Ensign Adama had been his wingmate) and then in his
initial years commanding a squadron aboard the Pegasus.
     But it was when the by now Lieutenant Adama and his wife Ila
introduced Cain to the woman he would marry, that Cain realized how his
frequent visits to Red-Light Districts in dozens of star systems had been
his way of covering up an inner shyness and insecurity within himself.  A
shyness and insecurity when it came to meeting the proverbial "right
girl" which deep down was what Cain's heart desired more than the
pleasures of the Red Light District.  Bethany, in contrast to the
barmaids and socialators he'd known before, had been the personification
of pastoral peace and quiet.  Which was what exactly what he truly craved
in his heart for relief from the job he excelled so much at.
     He could admit honestly that Cassiopeia had provided some of that
same feeling to him when she'd freed him from the black period of
depression following Bethany's death.  He had never seen Cassiopeia as
anything like the others in her profession he had known before his
marriage.  Instead, Cassiopeia had offered peace, gentleness and comfort
to him in ways that touched at his heart in the same way Bethany had
done.  And that was why even the rift that developed with Sheba couldn't
at the time make him contemplate the idea of giving Cassie up.  In his
mind, Cain thought that he had made the appropriate concession to the
greater importance of Bethany in his life by telling Cassie that under no
circumstances would they ever become sealed.  That, to Cain was a status
that only Bethany was entitled to have in his life.  
     But even if Cain wasn't prepared to put Cassie completely on the
same level he had placed Bethany, he would always see her as cut from the
same mold of woman who epitomized what he truly in his heart preferred
for relief.  Peace.  Gentleness.  Quiet.  Not the noisy, raucous din like
that which assaulted his senses now and which he hoped a good Zykonian
drink would at least dull to a degree. 
     The waiter returned with his drink and he took a sip.  At least, he
could give the Zykonians credit for making something that resembled
Sagitarian brandy and almost tasted like it.  When the waiter came back,
all he'd have to do is say, "I'll have another of this," and that would
be it.
     "Commander Cain?  Commander Cain?"
     Cain paused in mid-sip and frowned.  It was a male voice that had
called, but it was much too soon for anyone from the Pegasus crew to have
arrived on the Station, let alone this far in its interior.  He wondered
if the Station Commander, Hir-Zyrok had sent someone to summon him but
when he turned around he was surprised to see a human male who was
definitely not from his crew.  The man looked to be in his early thirties
and wore a green coverall that he was sure was reminiscent of an
agro-tech planter.  The coverall looked well-worn in a couple areas
though no holes had developed.  His dark hair was not well-brushed and
his demeanor seemed nervous.
     "Yes?" Cain frowned.
     "It is you," he said with amazement as he came up to the
Juggernaut's table.  "I could scarcely believe it when I saw you.  To see
just one other human is amazing itself, but that it's you.....it's an
answer to prayer.  May I join you?"
     Cain ordinarily would have played it cautiously and demanded some
basic answers before agreeing but he realized that talking to a human
would be the easiest way to keep himself out of trouble before Ila
returned.  He motioned him to sit down across from him.
     "All right.  What's your name?"
     "Wallis.  I'm.....an agro-planter by trade."
     "You were on the Galactica?"
     "Yes.....or to be more precise, in the Fleet.  I worked as a planter
aboard the main Agroship."
     "And you were left behind somehow?" Cain could scarcely believe
Adama leaving without making sure everyone was accounted for, even if it
was a high number totaling in excess of 70,000.
'     "Oh no, no.  Nothing like that.  I.....that is, I and my family
decided to stay behind on
Brylon V when the Galactica left to resume her journey."
     "Your family," Cain was slowly sizing up the man and could already
tell where this was going to go.  "How many?"
     "My wife Kelli and our two children.  Our boy, Linden is four, our
daughter Karin is two."
     "And why did you stay behind?"
     The man named Wallis sighed.  "We.....saw an opportunity.  An
opportunity that we doubted we would ever live to see if we had stayed
with the Galactica's quest for Earth."
     "What kind of opportunity?" the Juggernaut was rapidly regaining his
comfort zone doing this kind of interview.
     Wallis looked him in the eye.  "The joy of owning one's own plot of
land, and the ability to plant on it, farm it, and earn a living from it. 
Aboard the Agro-Ship......there's nothing like that.  You're just a
regimented tech-worker doing what's necessary to meet the quota
obligations for the Fleet in controlled conditions inside space. 
It's......not the same thing that being an agro-planter truly represents
and why I became one originally.  It was the chance to work and live on
real *land*.  And to raise my family in that kind of environment.  I've
wanted nothing but the chance to have that back since......the
Destruction when I lost everything I'd planned my life for."
     "Which Colony?" Cain injected a sympathetic edge, but not too strong
a one.
     "Piscera.  The southern lowlands.  I owned some eighty hectares of
land that grew the finest maize crop in all the inner colonies."
     "Maize is a lost delicacy to be certain," the Commander nodded.  "So
you and your family.....got permission from Adama to stay behind."
     Wallis uneasily lowered his head.  "Um.....no sir, we didn't."
     "You didn't?" his eyebrows went up.
     "We ah.....put in a request.  For myself and my family,
but......Commander Adama rejected it."
     "Did he tell you why?"
     The uneasiness in Wallis's bearing, and his constant habit of
drawing in his breath revealed how awkward and embarrassing it was for
him to revisit this subject, even though he knew he had no choice.
     "He ahhhh.....wrote a memo back to me explaining why he rejected my
request.  There were two specific reasons.  The first was that if he
allowed so much as one person to leave the Fleet and settle on an alien
planet it would be an open invitation to mass desertion.  That the Fleet
would run the risk of losing important specialists and it would cause
morale to collapse and destroy any possibility of the Fleet reaching
Earth safely one day."
     Cain took this in, "And the second?"
     "Well.....Commander Adama warned that despite the hospitality the
Zykonians were showing to our people, it was not a guarantee they would
treat outsiders as true equals with the same rights as their own people
over the long haul.  That....we could likely expect to be treated
with.....disrespect or as.....second-class subjects."
     "And have you?" the Juggernaut zeroed in and asked pointedly.
     Wallis was looking down at the tips of his boots.
     "Wallis, if you expect me to be interested in your plight, you'd
better learn to answer questions a lot more quickly," Cain was glad he
could exercise his customary bluntness on this occasion.
     "I'm sorry, Commander," the agro-planter said and looked at him
directly once again.  "It's not at all what I thought it would be.  The
first couple sectars were great.  We were given good land on Brylon V in
a new section of the planet that's undergone terra-forming.  Twice as
much as what I had on Piscera.  We were even given enough cash incentives
that allowed us to hire a team of eight Zykonian workers.  But......when
the first crop yield was below expectations, I.....found that it was
difficult to get help from the authorities to.....alleviate the
situation.  And ever since, it's only gotten worse.  The civil authority
was soon giving greater incentives to my workers to leave their jobs
which they did.  Apparently they encourage Zykonians to work for
outsiders only long enough to meet minimal qualification standards to get
land opportunities they previously had no training for.  And it doesn't
matter if the outsiders are suddenly left with no one to help work their
land."
     "In short, they see people like you as a short-term quick fix for
unqualified natives to make them qualified," Cain said.
     "Yes.  I only have one worker left and......my wife and I have to do
almost round the clock work to produce barely enough for us to subsist on
and she's doing this while looking after two small children!"
     "And you've left her and your children alone on Brylon V while you
came up here to the Station?" a faint edge of hostility now entered his
voice.
     "I.....trust my one remaining worker.  He....is different from the
others."
     "Rather naive of you, Wallis," Cain said, "Unless you were looking
for an excuse to temporarily run away from your problem?"
     Wallis sighed.  "Well.....yes, in a way.  Officially, I came to see
if I could get a loan deal on some agro-parts I've been unable to get
locally on the planet.  But......I knew I had little chance of succeeding
because I hadn't established myself as successful.  So I don't have a
credit rating that would let me get those parts.  In short....my
situation has become desperate."
     "You'd lose your land ultimately to a Zykonian.  What would you and
your family do then?"
     "I don't know," he said sadly.  "I'm....sure I could find work in
the city.  Shad Zil.  But....that's not the kind of work I envisioned for
myself or my family.  Given a choice between working in an alien city or
on the Agroship of the Fleet.....I should have stayed there."
     Cain decided it was time to come to the point.  "And now that you've
run into me, you want you and your family to leave with me aboard the
Pegasus."
     For the first time, a smile came over the young Pisceran's face. 
"Oh, sir, it would be the answer to all my prayers if we could!"
     "Well, I don't know if it's going to be that easy, Wallis."
     Before he could go further, his eye caught sight of Ila entering the
bar.  Carrying a bag, she no longer was wearing the brightly patterned,
youthful dress of Bridge Officer Kylie.  Instead, to Cain's amazement was
now wearing an elegant green and white tunic that while not quite
Councillor's robes, had the air of formality that would have made her
look at home on the Council of Twelve.
     "Over here, Ila!" he waved to her and she quickly made her way over,
her deep blue eyes widening in surprise when she saw Cain had human
company.
     "Hello," she said, "Who do we have here?"
     "Ila, this is Wallis," Cain pointed.  "Wallis, this is Ila. 
She's.....Commander Adama's wife.  Presumed dead in the Destruction, but
found alive by us."
     "Oh!  That's incredible, it's an honor to meet you!" Wallis half
rose from his chair.
     "Please, no need to get up on my account," Ila said humbly and sat
down in between them.
     "Well it looks like you found what you were looking for at the
kiosk." Cain said.
     "I did indeed," Ila said.  "Attractive as Bridge Officer Kylie's
dress is, it's really informal casual wear.  I think this will be more
appropriate in future discussions with the Zykonian officials."
     "Practically I agree, if not wholly aesthetically," Cain smiled. 
"The fitters had no trouble with you?"
     "Not at all!  They worked on a lot of people in the Fleet when they
were here last yahren.  Making clothes on short notice for humans comes
easy to them."
     "How many Zykonian credits did it cost you?"
     "Two hundred.  Going by Colonial cubits, that's overpriced but in
this case, I was too desperate to argue downward."
     She then turned to Wallis, "Forgive me, Wallis.  I've forgotten my
manners.  Were you part of the Fleet?"
     "Wallis was just explaining his situation to me," Cain said.  "I
think you should go through it again for Ila's benefit."
     The look on the agro-planter's face revealed that he didn't want to
do that again, but reluctantly he did.  Cain leaned back and saw Ila's
reaction.  Largely sympathetic and filled with concern.
     "That's just awful!" Adama's wife said when he was done.  "Cain,
isn't there something we can do for him?"
     "I'm not sure, actually," Cain said.  "Your family, as you said
isn't here on the station.  That would mean to take you we'd likely have
to go through formal channels with the Zykonians.  Do you think they'd be
willing to let you go?"
     "I.....don't see why not," he shrugged, "It's just that....."
     "Yes?" Cain prompted.
     "Well.....as a non-Zykonian currently in debt, I ah....."
     "You didn't mention that," the Commander interrupted.  "That means
from a legal standpoint, the Zykonians would be able to block you from
leaving?"
     "Well.....I know for a fact it's why I can't emigrate from Brylon V
to another planet in the Zykonian frontier.  All debts must be settled
before one is given any formal permission to engage in interplanetary
travel."
     "And how close are you to fulfilling your debt obligation?"
     He sadly shook his head, "I wouldn't have it fulfilled even if my
land were confiscated.  I'd likely face imprisonment if it came to that. 
And Zykonian prisons are not exactly......"
     "All right," Cain cut in curtly.  "We don't need those details.  How
long are you going to remain on the Station?"
     "My pass is good for another two cycles."
     "Well make use of it for that long.  I can't commit to anything just
yet."
     "But Commander!" Wallis protested, "I *need* this chance for me and
my family."
     "I said I can't make any commitments yet, Wallis." Cain repeated. 
More quiet, but more forceful.  "Just for now.....stay on the Station. 
I'm assuming the Zykonian authorities will be talking to Ila and me in
the near-term so we'll meet again here at the Har......Har-Bitah,
tomorrow and I'll find out how things stand."
     "Yes, sir," the agro-planter had an air of sad resignation in his
tone as he rose from his chair.  "I'll be here."
     "One other thing," Cain said, which caused Wallis to stop.  "Are
there any other human families like you who stayed behind?"
     Wallis bit his lip, "Well....."
     "The truth, Wallis."
     Reluctantly he said.  "I know there's another couple.  Gemonese. 
Rotsler, and his wife Sharman.  No children."
     "And that's all?"
     "As far as I know."
     "And is Rotsler as discontented with his situation as you are?"
     "Umm......" he then shook his head.  "No.  No he isn't."
     "I appreciate your candor, Wallis," Cain said.  "It wouldn't have
helped your situation if I didn't know how everything stood as far as
those who went AWOL from the Fleet was concerned."  He calmly finished
his drink.  "That's all for now."
     As soon as Wallis was gone, Ila looked at Cain with the most neutral
expression she'd given him since her arrival on the Pegasus.
     "You were kind of rough on him."
     "I had no choice," Cain toyed with his empty glass.  "His situation
could be very problematic if we tried pressing it with the Zykonians, and
it could also be even more problematic even if we took him and his family
with us."
     Light slowly dawned on Ila.  "Oh.....that's right.  If he comes with
us, he's automatically expecting that we're going on to catch up with the
Fleet."
     "Which of course we may end up doing," Cain hastily acknowledged. 
"But.....if we did something else, he'd have to understand the stakes
involved and are they really better than what he's dealing with now?"
     "I don't know," Adama's wife said.  "Maybe we should have let him
explain what Zykonian prisons are like before I could give him a definite
answer about how bad the alternative might be."
     "Oh I imagine we'll get that detail from the Station Commander
before long," he shook his head.  "Whatever the case, this won't be easy. 
It's another diplomatic complication to deal with.  And I wish we had as
few of them as possible."
     At that moment, the music playing inside the bar ceased and there
was suddenly a loud voice over the Station unicom which meant every
corner of Brylon Station could now hear the message.
     "Attention.  This is Station Commander Hir-Zyrok.  Will the
distinguished representatives of the Battlestar Pegasus, Commander Cain
and Professor Ila, please return to the briefing room near Docking Lounge
#14."
     "Well, let's see what they've conferred about," Cain rose and left a
ten credit note on the table.  "Shall we?"
     Ila rose, "I'm dressed like a Councilor now.  I intend to act like
one.....in the tradition of a good member like my husband."
     The Juggernaut smiled, "I'm so glad you remembered to throw in that
qualifier."


     During the time it took for them to walk back across the atrium to
the main turbo lift they'd used earlier, another public address
announcement revealed that the docking of the Pegasus elsewhere had been
completed and the first groups of crew personnel were on the station.
     "Attention.  At this time, all merchants and dealers are to honor
credit vouchers from human personnel visiting from the Battlestar
Pegasus.  All reports of purchases to be submitted to the nearest
Decurion for inventory.  Cumulative vouchers per individual to add up to
no more than five hundred credits during the course of their collective
stay on Brylon Station.."
     "Clever of them" Ila noted.  "They're trusting them     to make
purchases with the understanding that every transaction will be logged
and noted and if they exceed five hundred credits, they'll be in
violation of local law."
     "Notwithstanding the desire some of them might have to cut loose,
they should be able to keep themselves in check," Cain said as the turbo
lift opened and they stepped in, riding it back to the level of Docking
Lounge #14.  
     "And if they don't, then you *really* would take a page from Captain
Blogh," Ila couldn't resist adding.
     "Ha!" Cain chuckled as they stepped off onto the walkway level where
once again the translucent sides revealed the sweeping vista of the
station atrium below.  At the end of the corridor, they saw two Decurions
standing at attention in front of the door to the conference room they'd
been in earlier.  They respectfully allowed the two humans to enter.
     Once they were inside, they saw that Commander Hir-Zykor was now
joined by two other Zykonians.  One of them looked to be of higher rank
than the Station Commander, while the bearing of the other suggested a
subordinate officer. 
     "Welcome again, Commander Cain.  Professor Ila," Hir-Zykor rose.  "I
can tell you have found things of interest on the station."
     "Yes, I have," Ila said and then held up her bag which contained the
dress she'd worn earlier, "Would it be possible for someone to put this
back on our shuttle so I don't have to carry it around any longer?"
     "I see no problem with that," the Station Commander pressed a button
which summoned the Decurions from outside.  He requested one of them to
do the errand on behalf of their honored guest.  When Ila handed her bag
to the Zykonian guard she remembered to bow her head slightly to indicate
her thanks.
     Yet another diplomatic touch that wouldn't come instinctively to me
with these people, Cain thought as he seated himself on one side of the
Conference table.  Unlike the first time, Ila sat down next to him so the
two of them could confer privately if they needed to.
     "I have been joined here by Captain Xlax, who as I mentioned
previously was liaison officer during the Galactica's earlier visit.  It
is best that he perform that some role again for you and your people
during this remaining time."
     Xlax bowed his head slightly and this time Cain forced himself to do
likewise.
     "And here," Hir-Zykor motioned, "Is Governor Bougairul, territorial
administrator for the whole of Brylon V.  Insomuch as your requests
involve natural resources found only on the planet, it is important that
he be party to these negotiations as well."
     "Of course," Ila said respectfully.  "What do you have to tell us?"
     The Commander motioned to the Governor who rose with an air that he
intended to take charge of the session.  It was the kind of attitude that
Cain recognized in civilian administrators who were always anxious to
offer reminders of what they saw as their instinctively innate
superiority to all members of the military.
     "Based on the prior visit of the Galactica, we are familiar with the
basic components used for fuel by your ships.  Tylium, I believe is your
principal fuel source?"
     "It is," Cain said, noting that the haughty tone of the Governor
confirmed his initial instincts.  "In our case, the Pegasus is in greater
need of tylium because we are an older class battlestar than the
Galactica.  As a result our fuel drive requires greater amounts of it
than did the Galactica."
     "But we are still one ship compared to the two hundred odd ones
Adama had under his control," Ila added.  "Even though our ship needs
more than the Galactica ultimately did, it is clear that the totality of
our tylium request would not be the same as his was."
     "Would only that it were, Professor Ila!" Bougairul let out what
sounded like a laugh.  "For us, tylium is a waste mineral that we spend
more time trying to dispose of than put to use.  You can take as much as
you want and it would be a blessing."
     "So in other words......we can top off our tanks without needing to
offer anything substantive back to you."
     "I believe there is an expression one of your warriors used, called
'on the house' at one point," the Governor said.  "We will transport
several tankers from the surface and you may fill them up to your heart's
content."
     "We appreciate your generosity in that area," Cain said.  "Does that
also apply to food?"
     "That.....is not quite as simple," the air of friendliness gave way
to a tone that reminded Cain of how politicians and bureauticians always
liked to save their proverbial 'yes, but' matters for later.  "While we
have made great advances on Brylon V this past yahren in continuing the
process of terra-forming, we still have quotas to meet from our new
land-owners.  It is not that we are without surpluses in areas of grain
and vegetables, it is just that if we are to use them
elsewhere......something in return to Zykonian interests would be
appreciated."
     "Do you have something to offer, Commander?" Hir-Zykor chimed in.
     Ila leaned over and whispered in Cain's ear, "This might be the
point where we offer them access to inspect the Pegasus."
     "I was hoping that could be tied in to something technological that
they have," Cain admitted as he whispered back.
     "Wouldn't be an equal trade," she shook her head.  "Let's get this
secure and we've accomplished our chief goals."
     Slowly, Cain nodded.
     "Commander, Governor," the Juggernaut wasn't going to dare risk
tripping over the pronunciation of their names.  "We are prepared to
offer full Zykonian access to the Pegasus to inspect all areas of our
ship, with the full cooperation of our crew."
     "What can the Pegasus tell us that the Galactica hasn't already told
us?" the Commander's tone was neutral.
     "Not all battlestars are alike, Commander," Cain leaned forward
slightly.  "And older battlestars such as the Pegasus have some areas
that not even the Galactica possesses.  Since our purpose is purely
military given our lack of civilian ship responsibilities, we have been
forced to make appropriate modifications that could easily
prove.....useful in demonstrating how such modifications can be made when
one starts with the Galactica template."
     Hir-Zykor traded glances with the Governor and both Cain and Ila
sensed the body language tone was positive.
     "Soundly argued, Commander Cain.  We accept that as the basis for
trading you food resources you need in grain and vegetables."
     "Could we add surplus livestock?" Cain added.  "We are required to
kill and freeze such animals for later consumption.  Given the importance
of protein to our diet, it would be helpful to have resupply there as
well."
     "Granted," the Governor said.  "We.....out of necessity must thin
out the population through controlled hunting in areas where certain
livestock roam.  You have arrived at a time when that could be more
easily disposed of if you are in need of livestock for food."
     "Thank you, Governor," Ila said.  "We are glad that Providence has
made it possible for the timing of our arrival to be mutually
beneficial."
     "It would seem then that you have succeeded in the objectives of
your visit," Hir-Zykor said.  "It would appear that no further
negotiations or discussions are necessary."
     "Not necessarily, so, Commander," Ila leaned forward deciding that
she needed to make a diplomatic fine point.  "There are other areas of
interest we would like to discuss, but with one stipulation.  That right
now, we sign a formal agreement in regards to what we have discussed on
matters of food and fuel so that *regardless* of what is discussed
subsequent to that and regardless of how relations between us might end,
nothing will impact these essential points we have just reached agreement
on."
     The two high-ranking Zykonians stared at her with expressions that
Cain was sure were neutral.  He wasn't quite sure why Ila had jumped in
on this, but at this point he was trusting her judgment completely given
her broader exposure to the world of diplomacy that she'd seen with
Adama.
     "You wish us to sign a separate agreement immediately rather than
proceed with matters for an all-encompassing agreement pertaining to all
matters we might discuss?" Bougairul asked. "Surely that would only
complicate matters."
     "On the contrary, Governor Bougairul," once again Ila managed to
pronounce the Zykonian's name perfectly, "A separate agreement is the
simpler procedure.  We have reached accord on the matters that are of
primary importance to the Pegasus.  We do not wish for any other matters
we might discuss to potentially jeopardize that basic agreement."
     "Are you suggesting that there are matters of potential
disagreement, Professor Ila?" the Station Commander interjected.
     "Negotiations always bring with it the presumption that two sides
may not come in with the same impressions on certain matters," Ila said. 
"Time will tell on that.  But for now, let us declare proceedings on the
first and primary areas of concern to be over, and that we may sign an
agreement pledging these areas of agreement to be inviolate.  In the
event we are unable to come to terms on other matters......then at the
very least when we leave you, we can take satisfaction in knowing that
our primary purpose in coming to Brylon was a success."
     Again, an exchange of glances between the two high-ranking
officials.  And again, both the Governor and the Station Commander seemed
to give off a positive vibe that this time culminated with the two of
them holding up their arms to admit that they had no desire to argue
these points.
     "Very well," Bougairul said. "We will draw up the first agreement
and affix our seals to it so that those matters might begin immediately. 
What other matters shall we then discuss?"
     "There are areas of technological development you've made that could
be of potential use to us when we resume our journey," Ila said.  "In
addition......we would appreciate knowing what information you have on
any humans who were part of the Fleet who may have chosen to remain on
Brylon after the Galactica left."
     "Oh?" if the Governor had eyebrows they might have gone up, "Why is
the latter point of interest?"
     "There may be family members of such people aboard our ship who
would want to know they're alive," Cain interjected.  "And likewise, in
the event we are able to make contact with the Fleet once again, their
status would be of interest to Commander Adama."
     "Of course.  Quite understandable," he then motioned to Hir-Zykor
who in turn motioned toward the up-to-now mute Captain Xlax.
     "Captain, please bring back formal parchment and implements so these
matters of discussion can be finalized."
     The Zykonian subordinate nodded and left the room by a side exit.
     "Once we sign the initial agreement," Hir-Zykor turned back to the
two Humans.  "Do we then proceed immediately on these other matters?"
     Ila leaned over and whispered into Cain's ear, "Let them inspect the
Pegasus now and we'll resume on these points in six centars."
     "Why six centars?" he whispered back
     "That gives your men who are on board the station the chance to
quietly ask around about a few things." she emphasized.
     Cain nodded and then motioned to her to continue.
     "Governor Bougairul, Commander Hir-Zykor," she said.  "Upon
completion of all signatory matters to the first agreement, we request a
six centar recess to facilitate your initial inspection of the Pegasus. 
This way when negotiations resume, you will be in better position to
understand our technological position when we discuss these other
matters."
     "You would agree to the initial matters of inspection before any
food or fuel resources have arrived?" the Station Commander was
impressed.  "That is most generous and considerate."
     "It has been earned based on your courtesy and hospitality."
     "Very well, we accept your proposal."
     So far, so good.  The Juggernaut thought as Captain Xlax soon
returned with the parchment and the process of writing out final terms
began.  The most critical matters for his ship, getting food and fuel had
been secured and he knew that without Ila, there was no way it would have
been done so effectively and efficiently.  If Cain had done things alone,
he never would have seen the logic in separating matters which
effectively boxed the Zykonians in to come through on the food and fuel
question regardless of what happened.
     Finally, ten centons later the first agreement was formally signed
by Hir-Zykor and Bougairul for the Zykonians and Cain and Ila for the
Colonials.  An exchange of handshakes soon followed (which forced Cain to
the greatest levels of self-control possible when his hand touched the
furry ones of the two Zykonians).
     "It is done then," the Governor said with solemnity, "We are now
recessed for.....six centars."
     "You wish to enjoy more hospitality aboard the Station?" the Station
Commander asked.
     "A little later," Cain said.  "Right now, with the Pegasus docked,
we'd like to return our shuttle to our ship in the interests of
simplicity."
     "Quite understandable," Hir-Zykor nodded.  "Until later.....friend."
     

     "Don't speak too freely when we're back inside the shuttle," Cain
whispered as he and Ila walked down the walkway that led to the Docking
Lounge.
     "Listening device?"
     "They've had all this time to put one in and I don't want to take
the chance.  If we get back to the Pegasus before their inspection begins
we can speak freely about the other matters.
     "I agree.  We're handling them reasonably well, but.....there is
something about them that suggests they could get difficult."
     "And that's why you insisted on locking them in to giving us food
and fuel," he said with genuine admiration.  "That was brilliant."
     "I had a good teacher when it came to studying diplomacy," Ila
smiled.
     "Speaking of which," Cain was reluctant to bring this matter up but
knew he had to.  "Since this is a repair facility we're at, I don't think
we should ignore the possibility of that Zykonians......fixing your
shuttle so that it could be used again."
     Ila stopped right in front of the unguarded door that led back into
the Docking Lounge and her cheerful expression faded.
     "I.....honestly hadn't thought of that," she said.  "If.....the
shuttle were fixed, that means you're suggesting the possibility of----,"
     "I'm not suggesting anything, Ila," Cain interrupted.  "I just think
it's a good idea to.....keep all options open and having your shuttle
fixed so it could fly again would fall in that category."
     "I guess so," Adama's wife didn't sound overly enthusiastic as she
touched the switch that allowed the door to open.  The Docking Lounge was
empty and the door that led inside to their shuttle was already open. 
They said nothing more as they stepped back inside and after contacting
Station Control, they made their return to the docked Pegasus in total
silence.

Chapter Four

"The first Zykonian inspection teams will be aboard in ten centons,
Commander," Tolen 
said as soon as Cain was back on the Bridge.
     "Which gives me ten centons to take care of these matters," Cain
said.  "I want you to recall the initial group of crewmen who went aboard
the Station.  We need to send some new groups out with new instructions."
     "What, specifically?"
     "I want them to do as much friendly mingling with the non-Zykonian
aliens they come across.  Try to get their impressions of what they think
the Zykonians are like.  Also, try to get a sense of what punishments
usually befall non-Zykonians who run afoul of Zykonian law.  In addition,
try to get an unofficial, non-governmental perspective on the current
state of their detente with the Ziklagi that Adama worked out.  If it's
cracking in the slightest, we may have to guard against the prospect of
the Zykonians trying to draft us into becoming mediators and doing the
same thing Adama did.  Get those groups organized right away."
     "Yes sir," Tolen nodded and left the upper deck of the Bridge,
leaving Cain and Ila to look out at the station in front of them and
Brylon V below.
     "If they did need us to shore up the truce, then what?" Ila asked.
     "That is a question I hope we don't have to confront," Cain said,
"It shouldn't be our job to do that.  Ideally, whatever squabble they
have with the Ziklagi shouldn't be any of our business."
     "Now you're sounding like some of those trade allies in our war with
the Cylons I was talking about earlier," Ila said with irony.
     Cain looked at her.  "Ila, do you really think we *should* get
involved with something like that if they asked?"
     "I don't know," Adama's wife admitted.  "All I know is.....Adama
clearly thought there was a good reason to bring about a truce.  And on
top of that, what little I've been able to glean about the Ziklagi seems
to indicate that they were likely the more aggressive party in the
conflict.  Remember what Hir-Zykor said about how Athena was injured."
     "Yes, that's true," Cain admitted.  "Still......I'd really rather
not get dragged into that whole business.  Not when we're facing more
important decisions of our own."
     "I know," Ila said quietly.  "They....are important.  And they won't
be easy."
     Cain knew he had to change the subject, "And of course there's also
the matter of Wallis, the agro-tech worker whose had second thoughts. 
When I see him again tomorrow, I'll hopefully have more insight into how
much of a risk we can take for him and his family."
     "That isn't an easy situation for him and his family," Ila was glad
they were off the matters she didn't want to confront.  "I
can.....understand I suppose why he did what he did, but at the same
time, I don't blame Adama for not giving permission."
     "Neither do I.  Adama was right."
     "Commander?" Major Ham, the Senior Bridge Officer and number three
in the command structure called over.  "There's a message from the
Station Commander."
     "Put it through."
     "Commander Cain, this is Commander Hir-Zyrok,"
     "Yes, Commander." Cain's voice was at its most pleasant.
     "Are you prepared to receive our inspection shuttle?"
     "Yes, we are.  If you could begin your tour inside our Alpha Landing
Bay that would be convenient for our purposes."
     "We shall."
     "And Commander," Cain added, "There is a modified, one person
shuttle in Alpha Bay that I think your people will find interesting.  It
is currently in need of repair and if repairs by your personnel can be
made to it so that it's primary purpose can be restored, that would be of
interest to us."
     A brief pause from the other end.
     "Thank you, Commander for volunteering that.  If there is a
representative who can explain the primary purpose of the shuttle, that
would be appreciated."
     "Of course.  Signing off."
     Cain turned back to Ila whose uncertain expression had returned.
     "I'm sorry, Ila, but.....you are the only one who can explain it to
them since.....I don't think you've ever fully debriefed us on how the
shuttle was modified."
     "No.....we did kind of put that matter off," Adama's wife sighed. 
"I'll go down there and tell them.  Regardless of what ends up happening,
it is important it be repaired if it can."
     Without saying anything else, she left the upper deck.  Cain felt
himself empathizing completely with the dilemma Ila was going to have to
confront.  If the shuttle was repaired it would ultimately mean that the
final decision regarding her future would potentially be in her hands and
not his.
     And he wasn't sure if that was doing her any favors whatsoever.


     With Tolen greeting the inspectors and Ila giving them a briefing on
her damaged shuttle, Cain decided he had nothing else to do but retreat
to his quarters for a couple centars of needed repast.  Soon, he would be
facing the Zykonians directly again on other matters that might prove
more problematic, and all he could do was hope to the Lords that with
Ila's help, nothing would be fracked up.  The sooner things were all
neatly resolved and the Pegasus had what they needed and could leave
Brylon, the better.
     As he leaned back in his chair behind his desk, finding that it was
always more restful for brief periods than lying down, the chime sounded
and because Cain was in such a relaxed posture he didn't answer it until
it had rang for a second chime.
     "Yes?"
     "Um, Commander this is Lieutenant Bryce.  I've just returned from
Brylon Station."
     Cain came forward.  Bryce was head of the Colonial Security division
aboard ship and had officially 'chaperoned' the first group of visitors. 
"And?"
     "Well.....sir, there's a little bit of a problem.  We.....had a
stowaway aboard our shuttle."
     All of the Juggernaut's feelings of restfulness evaporated.  "You
had what?"
     "A stowaway sir.  And he insists on speaking with you."
     Cain's eyes narrowed, "Lieutenant, I take it this is a human, and
not an alien."
     "Yes sir.  That's why the Zykonian inspectors didn't notice him when
we got off.  They just assumed he was one of our crew."
     "Bring him up here on the double!" Cain barked.  "And keep him out
of sight of those inspectors in case they start getting other
assumptions!"
      
     
     Five centons later when the door to his quarters opened, the
Juggernaut was standing in front of his desk holding his swagger stick
and looking thoroughly displeased.  He saw Lieutenant Bryce escorting
Wallis, who still looked nervous and awkward just as Cain had left him. 
Cain dismissed the Security Chief and immediately lit into him.
     "I told you I'd meet you back at the bar tomorrow, Wallis," he said
angrily, "Why are you putting me in a difficult position by sneaking
aboard my ship?"
     "I'm.....I'm sorry, Commander Cain, it's just that......"
     "Do me a favor, Wallis," Cain's voice was filled with low menace,
"You want me to help you, then the least you can do is stop stammering."
     "Yes sir, I'm sorry.  The reason I had to do this is because, after
we talked my wife telecommed me from the surface.  Our last worker has
left and she's all alone with our children."
     "I told you, you were too trusting," Cain found it hard to feel
sympathy for the man given his long string of bad choices, "If your wife
and children need you, you should be with them, and not here."
     "But Commander, I couldn't get anymore credits to leave the surface
again and how else would I be able to contact you?  I have to make you
understand why it's imperative you petition the Zykonians to let my
family leave with you."
     "I've already asked the Zykonians for all the information they have
on humans who stayed behind," Cain said.  "I anticipate they will tell me
about your family and also the other couple, Rotsler and Sharman.  And
then, I expect to find out about the procedure, but if they find out you
snuck aboard to pressure me into giving you asylum from whatever problems
you might be facing with Zykonian justice, that isn't going to help one
bit!"
     "But, Commander, please you must understand what will happen if I
default!"
     "What will happen?  You get thrown into a Zykonian jail?"
     "Worse, sir," Wallis's voice grew quiet.  "I'll end up with at least
a fifteen yahren sentence working in the orium mines beneath the surface
of the planet."
     Cain almost dropped his swagger stick.  
     "Fifteen yahrens for defaulting on your credit?" he shook his head,
"In a labor camp?"
     "Yes, sir, that's exactly it.  And my wife and children would be at
the mercy of bureauticians who wouldn't give them the time of day for
anything!  If they don't starve, they'll end up in someplace worse in
Shad Zil, and my children might end up being sent into Zykonian homes!"
     "All right, all right," Cain held up his stick and looked aside
trying to think.  "You didn't indicate your plight was this bad, Wallis. 
Obviously, I'm going to have to bring this matter up when I meet with
them again.  But in the meantime, I'm going to have to give you a better
explanation for why you came aboard the Pegasus.  If Zykonian justice
takes a dim view of defaulting on your credit rating, it's going to make
things worse if you're traveling without proper clearance."
     He looked up and studied him carefully, "Does Zykonian authority
know everything about your family history?"
     "My family history?"
     "Yes.  Relatives, what you did in the Colonies and all that?"
     "Um....well only my planet of origin, what I did for a living, and
what Kelli did."
     "Did you have to give them a list of all your relatives.  This is
very important."
     "Just....my parents.  I didn't have to list any other family
members."
     "Did you have any brothers or sisters?"
     "One brother.  He died in the Holocaust."
     "Did he have children?"
     "No."
     "He does now," Cain reached over and pressed the unicom. 
"Attention.  Bridge Officer Kylie, report to my quarters immediately."
     Wallis was frowning.
     "Congratulations, Wallis," Cain was smiling, "You just became an
uncle and Bridge Officer Kylie is your niece whom you needed to see again
when you learned the Pegasus was here.  When she arrives, you're going to
spend the next couple centars getting to know each other personally so
you'll be able to tell some convincing lies in case you need to, to
Zykonian authority.  Have I made myself clear?"
     The agro-worker was nodding vigorously, "Yes, *sir*!"
     "Now before she gets here, I might as well level with you about
something else," Cain said, "You've been operating under the assumption
that when the Pegasus leaves Brylon, we're going to try and catch up with
the Galactica.  Is that so?"
     "Well, yes sir."
     "That may not be our final destination, Wallis," Cain said
pointedly.  "You might as well know that we've learned about Resistance
activities taking place back in the Colonies and one option we're
considering is to head for home and take part in that effort."
     Wallis stiffened upon hearing this but he said nothing.
     "Does the prospect of that disappoint you, Wallis?" the Commander
asked.  "I won't be a fool and ask if you'd prefer fifteen yahrens in a
labor camp to that, but suppose for argument's sake Professor Ila and I
are able to negotiate a favorable settlement to your case that would
allow you to continue farming on Brylon V with no more outstanding debt
problem.  Would you prefer another chance at starting over with a clean
slate on Brylon, if that can be arranged?"
     Without any hesitation, Wallis shook his head, "No, sir, I would
not.  And neither would my family.  My wife and I realize we made a
horrible mistake based out of self-centered motives that failed to take
into account the greater good we were doing as agro-tech workers in the
Fleet.  Even if it's true as you say, that you may not be planning on
catching up with the Fleet, simple patriotism on our part would mean
going back with you, not to mention of course the fact it would be much
better for our children."
     "All right," Cain nodded.  "So long as you understand what you and
your family would potentially be in for aboard the Pegasus.  If you
thought being an agro-tech was confining in the Fleet, it'll be more so
here because all you and your wife can do is help us with planetary
sweeps for more food once we'd need new supplies."
     "Well, Commander, if you are committed to going back, there is a
planet you could check out that has even more supplies of food than
Brylon has.  I know I could be of great assistance to you there since the
Galactica and the Fleet made use of it before we entered the broader
Ziklagi and Zykonian frontier."
     Cain's eyebrows went up.  "Is this planet inhabited?"
     "No, sir, that's what makes it more ideal.  It does have one
peculiar quirk though....."
     The chime to the door sounded indicating that Bridge Office Kylie
was outside, waiting.
     "We'll discuss that later, though remember, it may not ultimately be
relevant information," Cain headed for the door.  "When Kylie comes
in.....get to know everything about her, and let her know everything
about you and your family."
     The Juggernaut stepped outside where the brunette woman of 22 was
waiting and standing at attention.  After giving her the at-ease command,
he spent the next few centons explaining the situation to her.
     "I know this is awkward and on short notice, but I had to pick you
because I know you came from Piscera like he does," Cain said.  "That
means it will be easy to coordinate stories based on what you both know
about the planet.  Hopefully you won't have to be present in front of the
Zykonians but just in case, make sure you absorb everything you and he
talk about over the next few centars."
     "I will, sir," Kylie nodded in understanding.  There had always been
within Kylie, an inner devotion to Cain from the beginning of her service
career at age 17 when she'd insisted on being assigned to the Pegasus
just before it departed for the Battle of Molocay.  That was how much
she'd admired Cain in the stories that been written up about him in the
Colonial press over the yahrens.  It didn't matter that Molocay would
potentially be the most dangerous undertaking of his career.  She just
wanted to be there and to be in his presence, watching a great man in
action.  Notwithstanding the fact that her decision had irrevocably
parted her from home, Kylie had never questioned it.  If anything her
silent hero worship of the Juggernaut had grown, though she had always
drawn the line at letting it cross over into feelings of unrequited love. 
She saw her devotion to the greatest warrior in Colonial history as a
sign of perfect patriotism on her part, and that helped to justify the
choices she had made in her life and leave her with no regrets over the
things she had given up to do that.  Whatever Cain asked of her, she
would always regard as something that was for a good reason.
     "Thank you, Kylie," Cain said with gratitude.  "I'll leave you with
him for now."


     Seven Zykonian inspectors had been aboard the initial shuttle that
arrived aboard the Pegasus.  To quicken the process, they had been split
up into two groups of three to tour the ship with Tolen taking charge of
the first group and Captain Skyler the second.  The final one, whose name
was Kel-Zor stayed in Alpha Bay where Ila would show him the modified D-2
shuttle she had traveled in from the Colonies in a suspended animation
state.
     "I'm amazed that a craft this small could travel such an enormous
distance!" the Zykonian was looking at the contours which were tight and
compact.  Essentially, the shuttle consisted of a small cockpit "tub"
area and then the rear engine section with no room for the occupant to
maneuver him or herself.
     "That was due entirely to the modifications that were made in the
engines," Ila said.  "Such shuttles were built originally for one person
rapid travel from a planetary surface to an orbiting ship such as the
Pegasus or Galactica.  They were not meant for long-range travel."
     "And you replaced the original engine thrusters which were clearly
sub-light with.......faster than hyperdrive propulsion?"
     "Yes," Ila said, "That is to say.....the people I was working with
at the time replaced the thrusters.  Once that was done, I volunteered to
fly it."
     "Indeed?" this clearly surprised Kel-Zor.  "Are all females of your
species so......unorthodox?"
     Sexist, Ila thought behind her friendly smile.  "Our situation is
one where any usual distinctions among genders during time of peace
become......less relevant."
     "Ah," the Zykonian inspector acknowledged.  "That *would* indicate a
desperate situation.  So you have flown this craft?"
     "I did, but for this modified purpose, actual flying skills are not
needed.  The shuttle was programmed with an automatic launch sequence and
once I had achieved escape velocity from my planet of origin, I had only
three more tasks to perform.  One, to program the specific general course
and the circumstances that would result in the end of my journey.  Two,
to activate the hyperdrive, and three, to activate the process that would
place me in suspended animation until the completion of my journey." 
     "And once the journey is complete......the shuttle effectively is no
longer functional.  That is your problem now."
     "Exactly," Ila said, "The hyperdrive could only function for one
journey, and the suspended animation state that is essential for such a
long-range journey can not be duplicated without the exact form of gas to
induce suspended animation that was initially utilized."
     The Zykonian stopped at the back end of the craft studying the
engines.  He knelt down so he could take as careful a look possible and
then pulled out a device from inside his tunic that Ila assumed was some
type of scanning device.
     "I must compliment the architect behind this modification of the
engines to accommodate hyperdrive," he said.  "He has to be a man of
exceptional intellect."
     "He is," Ila said, not willing to reveal too much since she had been
forced to defer all discussion of Dr. Ravashol for the time being with
Cain.  She wasn't about to let the Zykonians have more information about
him than Cain did.
     "I am assuming of course he is not among your people, now," Kel-Zor
went on.  "That is why you would like to know if your craft can
be.....recalibrated I believe?"
     "Yes.  We would like to know if the shuttle *could* be made
functional again, though whether it is used again in the near-term is for
now......an open question."
     "All dependent upon.....circumstances?"
     "Yes," Ila said diplomatically.  "It would require not only
recalibration of the hyperdrive for a new flight, but also
re-installation of the suspended animation matrix to allow the passenger
to be placed in stasis once again."
     "That might prove to be the more difficult matter than recalibration
of the engines," Kel-Zor said.  "You are not an expert in what was used
to place you in stasis?"
     "I am not," Ila conceded.  "That too came under the provenance of
the man who modified the engines."
     "That might prove more difficult to recalibrate than the engines."
     "Have your people experimented with suspended animation techniques?"
     "We have.  But of course you recognize the biological distinction
could produce areas of incompatibility."
     "Of course," Ila realized.  "It would require......a study of
bio-compatibility to make sure that any replacement gas or device used
was safe for further human use."
     "And that I must admit is not my area of expertise," Kel-Zor said
with humility.  "It shall factor into my report.  I think I have seen
enough at this point and will proceed to a study of your ship's fighters
and regular shuttles, though the information is liable to repetitive from
our past experience with the Galactica."
     The Zykonian moved off to another part of the Landing Bay where two
more guards from the Security unit would provide a supervisory escort. 
Leaving Ila alone alongside the craft that had carried her from Caprica
to the Pegasus in the hope that it would lead her to Adama and the
Galactica.
     As she stared at it, voices from before she'd left Caprica filled
her mind.
     "So much depends on this, Ila.  If you can make contact with Adama,
he *must* understand how much his help could prove to be the final step
necessary to turn the tide."
     "By the greatest generosity and grace of the Lords of Kobol, we have
come much further back than our hopes and expectations could have been
that first night.  But we will need more to achieve a true tipping point
so that what we're doing is no longer a mere holding action."
     Voices that she knew had the potential to haunt her dreams for the
rest of her life......if events did happen a certain way.  And if she
made a choice that her heart ached so much to make.
     Tell me your will, Lords, her heart cried out as she absently
touched the top of the shuttle.


     Cain decided to head for the Electronics Lab since he was convinced
that sooner or later the Zykonian inspectors would be asking questions of
Dr. Arnoff, the virtual one-man head of the division since all of his
other support technicians had been evacuated to the Galactica as
"non-essential personnel" prior to the final engagement with the two
baseships.  From time to time, warriors and guards on "down time" would
chip in to help, but as far as experts were concerned, Arnoff was
basically it.
     And with our four new "crew" members, and that incredible
breakthrough we found, I can't imagine how taxed to the limit he must be
getting.
     When he arrived, he found Arnoff conversing with the command
centurion, Commander Cobre.  On his table was the deactivated body of the
IL Cylon, Lucifer.  The three regular centurions, who had now taken the
names of Festus, Serpentine and Lucifer (who was fast demonstrating a
willingness to answer to the name "Lucy" as though he recognized the need
to avoid confusion with his disassembled namesake) stood off to one side,
as though they were enjoying the proceedings.
     "Ah, Commander," the scientist looked over.  "I'm glad you're here. 
Commander Cobre and his centurions have been most invaluable in providing
further clues on how to tap into the deeper memory banks of this IL."
     "You mean there's more than what you've already downloaded from his
brains?" Cain asked.
     "Much more," Cobre spoke, "The deeper memory banks of the IL class
house the highly classified levels of information know to those of high
command rank.  This is distinctly different from their active memory
banks."
     "Which is what we have already downloaded," Arnoff said, "In other
words, we have the full information at our disposal of what Commander
Lucifer *personally* experienced, and what he was actively drawing upon
at the time he was immobilized and deactivated.  But some information is
apparently programmed into the deeper memory bank, to be drawn when it is
needed, but it is not part of the *active* memory."
     "In other words, something like, what is the nature of the defensive
system surrounding the Cylon home planet?" Cain exactly.
     "Your reasoning is correct," Cobre said.  "That is information that
is not necessary in an active context, so it would not be in the primary
memory bank.  These deeper levels of classification require.....more
detailed penetration of this unit."
     Even though the monotone way of speaking was still the same, Cain
found it easier to detect the signs of emotion within the centurions the
more he talked with them.  In this case, there was the satisfaction of
Cobre, as a centurion, being able to speak derisively and contemptuously
of a superior class Cylon he had been forced to do the bidding of.
     "How close are you to cracking these deeper memory banks of the IL?"
Cain asked.
     Arnoff shrugged, "Hard to say.  I don't dare rush this, because as
Cobre warns, there is the possibility of memory flush or self-destruct
units present that could make us lose whatever information there is
forever.  We were fortunate that didn't happen with the primary memory
banks."
     "All of which you have safely secured, backed up and duplicated, I
trust," Cain said.
     "Yes, multiple copies stored on different computers and backup files
on portable drives as well."
     "Do you have an extra drive with that handy?" Cain asked.  
     "Yes, in my office," the scientist frowned, "I thought you had one
already, Commander."
     "I do.  But there is a possibility it could be useful as
a.....bargaining chip of sorts."


     Four centars went by, which proved long enough for the Zykonian
inspectors to finish their tour of all areas of the Pegasus that were of
interest to them.  With one centar remaining before  negotiations would
resume on Brylon Station, the commander retreated to his quarters for a
conference with Ila and Tolen.
     "Okay, we might as well make a preliminary list on the points we can
hopefully bargain with the Zykonians over," Cain said.
     "Point number one," Ila said, "Wallis and his family.  We have to
get them off the planet and allow them to come with us."
     "Agreed," Cain said.  "If what he says about long sentences to labor
camps for a credit default is true, Kobol only knows what they give for
major offenses.  And besides, regardless of what we do after this, we
could use qualified agro-techs in our ranks.  It would let us manage the
food resources more efficiently."
     "Speaking of which, Commander," Tolen said.  "Now that we have a
binding agreement for them to give us food and fuel when can we expect to
see the tankers and freighters arrive?"
     "We should press on for as early as tomorrow on that, even if
negotiations on these other matters are still going," Cain looked at Ila,
"Agreed?"
     "Agreed," Adama's wife nodded.  "Related to that, what about other
humans on Brylon V?  Is it only this couple Rotsler and Sharman?"
     "We'd certainly have to make arrangements to speak to them and see
if it's true they want to stay," Cain said.  "And if they still want to,
even knowing that their early good fortune isn't likely to last......I'm
not inclined to think we can force them to leave against their will."
     "It wouldn't make us look good, that's for sure," Ila concurred. 
"Point number two.  What deals can be made for Zykonian technology and
technological assistance?"
     "And what do we have to offer in return?" Cain leaned back.  "Let's
put subheadings on each item related to this point.  Two A.  Can they
repair your shuttle?"
     "According to Inspector Kel-Zor, the hyperdrive may be within their
capacity to fix so the shuttle could be recalibrated for a new flight and
using the Pegasus as a reference guide, she could be programmed again to
fly until locking on to a battlestar's wake.  The problem would be
duplicating the gas needed to induce long-term stasis so that it would
work on a human passenger.  That would likely require a bio-medical scan
of the would-be passenger to confirm that they had devised an efficient
means of inducing stasis."
     "Put another way, you would have to submit to a Bio-examination by
the Zykonians," Cain said pointedly.  "Are you up to doing that, Ila?"
     Adama's wife hesitated for an instant but then she nodded her head
firmly.
     "If that's what has to be done, then yes," she said.  "That doesn't
mean I've.....committed to that option, but......the option should be
made available.  And if it means I must submit to a scan, I will do so."
     "I don't want you to feel forced on that, Ila," Cain said.  "The
decision is yours and yours alone."
     "And I've made it," Ila's firmness increased, "I want the option
available and I will submit to a scan if that's what it takes."
     The Juggernaut knew he had to conceal any reluctance he felt over
Ila doing that.  Part of it was his fear that if Ila allowed herself to
be looked over by Zykonian med-techs and doctors, something could go
wrong.  The other.....was his fear of what might happen if Ila decided to
use the shuttle and leave the Pegasus.  A fear that he dared not ever let
her suspect existed.
     "Two B," he moved on.  "We need to make inquiries regarding
this......cloaking technology the Zykonians demonstrated when we first
entered the system.  How far is it advanced with them?  Can it be applied
in theory to a ship like the Pegasus?"
     "And did they give it to the Galactica?" Tolen interjected, "It
seems to me that whatever they were willing to let the Galactica have
they should be equally willing to share that with us."
     "In theory you're right, Colonel," Ila said, "But....I'm sure that
Adama had to trade something to get access to that technology.  They
might not be willing to let us have it for nothing.  And if they think
we're going to eventually hook up with the Galactica again, they might
feel its redundant to let us have that secret.  Now I do think we should
take the initial position that we're entitled to whatever they already
gave Adama, but we may have to bargain down from that with whatever
things we have to offer them."
     "And what do we have to offer them?" Cain wasn't asking from
ignorance.
     "Obviously they get the plans to the shuttle and how to make one for
themselves," the executive officer noted.
     "Which might end up being a trade-off for their fixing it, so we'll
need to be prepared to have more to offer," Ila said.
     "Well, we do have this," Cain held up the backup computer drive he'd
taken from the Electronics Lab, "The primary data from Commander
Lucifer's memory banks.  This would give the Zykonians all raw
intelligence his task force had regarding their knowledge of the Zykonian
frontier."
     "That's definitely something they'd want," Ila acknowledged.
     "But there's one thing that could complicate  that," Tolen said. 
"When the inspectors visited the Lab, they heard Dr. Arnoff mention how
we were still trying to get access to Lucifer's deep memory banks.  They
might insist on that, or even insist on having Lucifer's remains turned
over to them before we've finished extracting everything of value there
is from our standpoint."
     "I don't want to be in a position of offering that IL to them at
all," Cain said.  "Even if we do get everything there is from it. 
There's always a possibility that an intact IL could.....theoretically
serve a greater purpose later on."
     "If you're talking about reprogramming an IL to do our bidding,
that's been attempted by the Resistance," Ila said.  "But no
breakthroughs on that front had been made at the time I left."
     "Could Lucifer represent a better opportunity?" this was the first
time in a while he'd gotten new information regarding the Resistance and
he knew that after the Pegasus left Brylon he'd need to get the full
debriefing on that he'd been putting off.
     "Perhaps.  I wouldn't say one way or the other at this point because
that's not my area of expertise.  But ideally, we should try to prevent
them from getting full access to it if it can be avoided."
     "And be prepared to give it up if we're left with no choice?" Tolen
asked.  "Is the cloaking technology worth making that sacrifice, if
that's what it takes to get it?"
     "Complicating that line of thinking is Point Two C," Cain said, "I
found this out from Kylie's conversation with Wallis.  It seems as though
cloaking technology isn't the only significant breakthrough the Zykonians
have made ahead of us.  They've also made breakthroughs in teleport
transportation."
     "Teleport transportation?" Tolen frowned.
     "The principal of transporting a person or object directly from one
location to another by reducing the object to its component atoms and
reassembling them at the new location.  In effect it makes space
transport irrelevant over short distances," Ila chimed in.
     Cain looked over at her in amazement.  "Is *that* something the
Resistance has been working on too?"
     "There have been experiments," the blonde woman admitted,
"But.....not yet at a stage where we'd implemented them in an operation. 
Obviously it would help to know what the Zykonians have done, but would
it be worth giving up too much?  I think we'd have to get a sense of what
their overall attitude is."
     "Well according to Wallis, it is replacing planetary shuttles as the
easiest means of transport between Brylon Station and Brylon V.  So
they're clearly moving forward there.  I certainly can see the potential
for this in operations we'd be undertaking on other planets where the
risk of a shuttle or viper might be too great."
     "I'm not sure I like the idea at all," Tolen said, "What happens to
you if the process goes wrong?"
     "That's exactly the reason why the Resistance hasn't tested the
concept on a human being yet with what they've developed," Ila said. 
"The idea of dying as a result of an teleport experiment gone wrong
frightens people more than the idea of being gunned down by Cylon laser
fire."
     "Okay, obviously we try to get these benefits at minimal cost to
ourselves.  If we're not leaving anything else out, we can consider all
matters of Point Two closed."
     "Point Three, then," Ila said.  "Will the Zykonians ask us to become
involved in their cold war with the Ziklagi as participants or
mediators?"
     "The initial greeting they gave us shows how paranoid they are about
them," Cain said, "I guess we should have checked to see if any Ziklagi
actually mingle with the other races on the station.  We never did get an
accounting as to what they look like."
     "Major Ham did get a reference pack sent over from them that gives
us visual references to all alien races that are part of the overall
Zykonian frontier, including the Ziklagi," Tolen said.  "It amounts to
ultimately 160 sentient races from probably close to a like number of
planets."
     "160?" Cain leaned back in his chair in amazement. "And to think
we've spent the last two and a half yahrens avoiding contact with *any*
non-human race!  Do we at least have the Ziklagi appearance isolated?"
     "Yes, sir, we do, and.....well if we're not used to what the
Zykonians look like, believe me they're worse."
     "And remember what Hir-Zykor said about some of them being able to
shape-shift," Ila noted.  "Not to mention their being responsible for the
accident that he said injured my daughter when the Galactica was here."
     "We'll need to ask for a full accounting on just how much the
Galactica was involved with the Ziklagi, which I'm sure was the basis for
Adama negotiating the truce agreement." Cain noted.
     "Lucifer's memory banks do confirm that the Ziklagi is the more
aggressive race," Tolen said.  "That much information they learned from
their mole inside the Fleet before that mole was shut down prior to the
battle that ended with Baltar's defection."
     "I have no doubt that they're worse, though the Zykonians don't come
off as the most enlightened of species if they put you in a labor camp
for 15 yahrens because of credit default," the Juggernaut said.  "But
what I said a few centars ago still goes.  I have no interest in, or no
desire to be part of their conflicts.  That's ultimately their business
and not ours.  Unless their zone of influence extends all the way back
into charted space, what they do to each other has no bearing on our
long-term destiny."
     Tolen nodded his head in the affirmative.  Cain saw no immediate
response from Ila which prompted him to prod her gently, "Ila?"
     "I......really can't dispute what you say, Cain," Adama's wife had a
thoughtful air, "If we're looking at it from the self-interest
standpoint, it isn't our quarrel.  I'm only wondering though.....if the
Ziklagi have the capacity to be as destructive as the Cylons at their
peak were.....wouldn't we have *some* kind of obligation to do
something?"
     "What's there to do?" the Commander shrugged, "If Adama worked out a
treaty for them and if the treaty's still in place, that should take the
matter off the table entirely."
     "They say it's holding," Ila said, "But what if they told us
otherwise?"
     "I'm inclined to hold firm and say no regardless of the situation." 
Cain said.  "I haven't spent the last two and a half yahrens raiding
Cylon ammo depots and replenishing our weaponry to use against a would-be
enemy I never heard of until a few cycles ago."
     "Circumstances changed and put us in this quadrant, Cain," Ila
pointed out.  "We may end up discovering that circumstances can change
regarding how we use what we have."
     "For the time being, our formal diplomatic position is that we stay
out of their affairs," the Juggernaut held firm.  "Since you're going to
be doing most of the talking for us, Ila, I have to make sure you're on
board with that."
     Ila finally nodded.  "I am."
     "In that case, I guess that closes all the major issues that are
likely to come up in the negotiations," Cain rose from his chair.  "We
might as well get-----,"
     The chime on his desk interrupted him and he answered it.  "Yes?"
     "Commander, this is Captain Skyler.  I think you'd better come down
to the solium storage room."
     "Anything wrong?" he frowned.
     "It'll be easier to show you, sir."
     "I'll be there," Cain shut it off and looked quizzically at Ila and
Tolen.
     "The group Skyler was in charge of would have been in the solium
storage room," the executive officer pointed out.
     The Juggernaut's eyes narrowed and he hurriedly left his quarters
without saying a word.


     "Low level charge with not too much firepower, but if this had gone
off next to one of these full tanks-----," Skyler let the rest of the
sentence go unfinished.
     "It would have ripped us clean in half," Cain noted as he looked at
the small explosive device that was affixed to the backside of one of the
eight solium tanks inside the storage area.  Dr. Arnoff had already
arrived and was on his knees inspecting its components.
     "How long was that group of Zykonians in here during the tour?"
     "About five centons tops," Silver Spar Leader said.  "I was only
showing them this area to explain how our storage room has more tanks
than the Galactica does because we're an older class battlestar."
     "What were the names of the Zykonians in your group?"
     Skyler exhaled, "Well.....quite a mouthful but they were Zel-Tok,
Hor-Tul and Xlar."
     "So one or more of them put that charge there," he turned his
attention to the Electronics Scientist, "How soon until you can get that
off, Dr. Arnoff?"
     "Just one more centon while I make sure there's no booby trap in
it," Arnoff said.  "There wasn't any danger of it going off right away
because it's clearly on a delayed time activation."
     "Can you tell how long?"
     "Well.....if I'm reading this right, a minimum of cycles, if not a
sectan."
     "Cycles?" Cain was amazed.  "That long a delay?"
     "It's not unheard of, Commander.  Some models of programmed
detonators have delayed charges that can run up to a whole sectar.  They
come in handy for intelligence missions when it's in their best interests
to not set it off too premature."
     "And obviously, they wouldn't want us to blow up while we're still
docked to Brylon Station, unless it's a plot to destroy the Station." 
Skyler noted.
     Cain was silent.  His arms folded as he studied where the charge was
placed.  Then, he backed up several steps and realized he was in the open
doorway that led out into the corridor.
     "Who noticed the charge?" he asked.
     "Sergeant Marshak.  He had just entered to take over the shift."
     "How long did it take him to notice it?" Cain was still standing in
the entryway.
     "He saw it right away."
     The Commander said nothing while Dr. Arnoff finally loosened the
charge off the backside of the tank.
     "It's off," the electronics scientist said.  "That's the end of it."
     "No," Cain shook his head, "It's practically the beginning."

Chapter Five

     When Cain and Ila were escorted into the conference room on Brylon
Station, they were once again greeted by Governor Bougairul and Station
Commander Hir-Zykor.  Immediately, they noticed that Captain Xlax wasn't
present, but another Zykonian in a similar uniform was.
     "Thank you for coming Commander Cain, Professor Ila," the Governor
said.  "I'm pleased to inform you that you may expect the first shipments
of food and fuel tomorrow."
     "We appreciate your swift implementation of our initial binding
agreement, Governor Bougairul," Ila said as she and Cain sat down at the
table.
     "That is the good news we have to report," Hir-Zykor said. 
"Unfortunately.....there is some distressing news we have to report as
well."
     "How so?" Ila asked.
     "We.....regret to inform you that a Ziklagi spy infiltrated the
ranks of one of the inspection teams that was recently aboard the
Pegasus." the Station Commander said.
     Cain and Ila exchanged concerned looks and the scholar turned
diplomat decided that the commander should speak for them at this point.
     "Was this spy someone in your ranks working for the Ziklagi?"
     "No," Hir-Zykor shook his head.  "It was a worse example of Ziklagi
treachery.  I told you in our first meeting how there are some Ziklagi
who possess the power of what you call shape-shifting."
     "Yes, you mentioned that," Cain said, his tone even.  "And that a
Ziklagi shape-shifter was responsible for the injuries sustained by
Professor Ila's daughter, Athena when she was here at the Station."
     "Yes, exactly," the Commander said.  "Incidentally, the full report
on that incident is being transmitted to the Pegasus, so you may
understand exactly what happened at the time.  It also contains all
matters pertaining to the Galactica's interactions with the Ziklagi prior
to their arrival at Brylon Station."
     "That's deeply appreciated, Commander.  I know we'll find that
information useful," Cain's tone remained polite and even.  "Now about
this shape-shifter.  How you were alerted to his presence?"
     "Colonel Dagbob, who is present," he motioned to the third Zykonian
in the room, who was standing in the place Captain Xlax had been in at
the earlier session.  "Discovered in a storage area that Technician
Hor-Tul, one of the members of the team, had been attacked and left for
dead.  We revived him and he told of being attacked by someone who
had.....assumed his form."
     "I see," Cain nodded, "You are certain it was a Ziklagi and not
merely a Zykonian who was impersonating this.....Hor-Tul?"
     "We captured the imposter when the inspection teams returned to
Brylon Station," Colonel Dagbob spoke for the first time.  "He is being
held for interrogation.  He has been identified as a Ziklagi
shape-shifter."
     "You have the ability to keep a shape-shifter confined?" Ila asked,
with an air of scientific curiosity.
     "It is a technology we have been forced to perfect," Hir-Zykor said. 
"Suffice to say, we are attempting to discover what his purpose was
aboard the Pegasus.  He has admitted to doing nothing other than trying
to gather information on your ship that could be useful for his own
race's purpose."
     "If he was attempting to do something to my ship, then I think
either myself or a representative of my ship should take part in his
interrogation," Cain said.
     There was just the briefest silence from the Station Commander
before he answered, "I think....something could be arranged after we have
finished these discussions.  In the meantime, Colonel Dagbob, would you
return to the Guardhouse and see if he's revealed anything else?"
     "Yes, Commander," Dagbob saluted his superior and departed, which
left only two on each side in the room.
     "This development, I'm sure you will agree, Commander Cain, does
present some ramifications for other matters we might discuss in this
session," Bougairul said.  "Specifically in regard to the danger the
Ziklagi pose to us.....and by extension to you."
     "I'm to understand then, that the treaty Commander Adama negotiated
between your sides is perhaps not as stable as you indicated earlier?"
     "It is not the present leadership we fear so much," the Governor
said.  "It is the prospect that leadership in the Ziklagi is prone to
change.  If it does, then the air of militancy that has defined its
existence for centuries will undoubtedly reassert itself.  The present
leadership was willing to negotiate with Commander Adama, but that
entailed risk."
     "Ziklagi militants assassinated their own Supreme Triumvir for
entering negotiations with us and even injured Commander Adama and
members of his party during the summit conference," Hir-Zykor said.  "It
is fortunate his injuries were only minor."
     Ila's eyes widened and her hand clenched the edge of the table.  She
would have shown a more demonstrative reaction like when she'd heard the
news about Athena's injury, but for the fact that she already knew from
the intelligence gleaned from Lucifer that Adama was alive and well after
the Galactica had departed Brylon.  Even so, to learn that not one but
*two* of the people dear to her had undergone such trauma only heightened
the sense of ache and longing within her heart to see her family again. 
To share the tough and bitter experiences of what they were going
through.
     At this rate, when am I going to hear something I haven't learned
yet about Apollo?
     "It comes back to the matter of how nothing can be taken for granted
with the Ziklagi," Governor Bougairul said.  "This new act of espionage
aimed against you, for whatever potential end, only confirms that."
     "Governor, Commander," Cain said curtly, "We will return to that
subject later.  For now, Professor Ila and I would like to discuss more
immediate matters that touch on things we can reach potential agreement
on immediately."
     "As you wish, Commander," Hir-Zykor raised his arms with humility.
     Cain motioned to Ila who by now had recovered from her inner jolt
about her husband's experience here.  It was time for her to be a cool,
calm and collected diplomat.


     The first part of the negotiating session dealt with the issues of
technological exchange.  The issue of repairing Ila's shuttle in exchange
for the Zykonians ability to duplicate the technology proved easy.  The
Zykonians also said that they had no need to independently do a bio-med
scan of Ila to develop an appropriate suspended animation gas, but would
only require her existing bio-scan history that was already aboard the
Pegasus from when she'd been found.  Which relieved Cain immensely since
it meant Ila wouldn't have to subject herself to examination by an alien
doctor.
     The matter of the transport device technology and the cloaking
device technology, as Cain had anticipated, proved more problematic.
     "Yes we did provide examples of this to Commander Adama," Hir-Zykor
acknowledged. "He was scarcely in position though to implement them with
any degree of efficiency."
     "And a yahren ago, the transport technology was less developed," the
Governor added.  "There was only one device on Brylon and it was
restricted to government use.  Today, there are several and we use it
facilitate civilian transport from the surface to relieve the crowding of
shuttle traffic."
     "We are hardly in much of a position to efficiently develop such a
system ourselves," Ila said.  "Giving us the same instructive principles
that you gave Commander Adama in these areas, would seemingly be the
fairest solution."
     "Commander Adama provided us with useful technological assistance in
return," Hir-Zykor said.  "Do you have anything that would benefit us in
sharing this technology again."
     Cain then pulled out from his jacket pocket the data disc drive and
placed it on the table.
     "On this data drive is information that will be of considerable
value to you concerning the adversary we fight, the Cylon Empire," he
said.  "I'm sure your inspectors informed you how we have in our
possession, the remains of an advance class Cylon who was part of their
command structure.  This Cylon in fact was commanding a task force
stalking the Galactica at the time she was visiting Brylon.  They chose
to ignore encroaching on your territory or the Ziklagi Frontier because
it would have disrupted with their plans for ultimately engaging the
Galactica.  Consequently, you will learn from the memory banks of this
Cylon Commander exactly what the Empire knows of your people and what
their ultimate intentions are."
     It was clear that the two Zykonians were impressed by this.  The
Governor and the Station Commander leaned close to confer with each
other, and out of the earshot of the two Colonials.
     "What *are* their ultimate intentions?" the Governor finally asked.
     "To destroy you of course, as well as the Ziklagi.  But only if they
had the ability to intrude in your frontiers again," Cain said.  "It is
possible that with these breakthroughs you have developed that you
previously furnished Adama, we could be the instrument to insure that the
Cylon Empire never intrudes in your territory."
     "And Commander Adama can not?" this from the Station Commander.
     "Commander Adama, I am sure, has told you that his ultimate
intention is to seek a distant colony of Humanity far from here," Cain
said.  "His primary task is not keeping the Cylon Empire at bay in terms
of what they do to his rear flank.  However, the Pegasus is more likely
to be performing that task instead."
     Ila knew that Cain's remarks did not mean he'd made his final
decision on what the Pegasus was going to do when they left Brylon.  But
for now, diplomacy favored the appearance of making the Zykonians believe
their intention was to go back to the Colonies.
     There was another exchange of whispers between the two Zykonians and
it made both Cain and Ila realize how all of this represented
gamesmanship and bluffing like nothing else.  
     Like a Pyramid game without cards and cubits, the Juggernaut
thought.  
     "Commander Cain," Hir-Zykor said, "I don't believe this represents
the full extent of what you have available concerning he Cylon Empire. 
You have more than just this, do you not?"
     "That would depend on what you are thinking of, Commander," Cain
said.
     "Very well," the Station Commander said.  "According to our
inspectors, you have four of these Cylons at your disposal.  Fully
functioning Cylons who represent the standard model of how their Empire
fights and achieves their conquests."
     Cain motioned to Ila to indicate that she speak on this point.
     "You're speaking of a non-negotiable point, Commander Hir-Zykor,"
she said firmly.  "We are in no position to make the four Cylon
centurions available to you.  However......there are other matters
related to the advanced class Cylon's remains if that is what it would
take to reach agreement on a broader technological exchange."
     "Why are the centurions a non-negotiable point?" Hir-Zykor frowned.
     "Because they are," Ila put as much finality into her voice.  "The
sooner we leave that subject, the better, Commander Hir-Zykor.  However,
as I stated, we are prepared to offer more that should further deepen
your understanding of the Cylon Empire.  The advanced Cylon is still
undergoing study in an effort to tap its deeper, more protected memory
banks that should reveal everything he knows regarding the entire Cylon
infrastructure.  We would be willing to let your scientists work in
conjunction with our electronics specialist, Dr. Arnoff, to achieve the
breakthrough so that all of that information, even more extensive than
this," she pointed to the drive Cain had placed on the table, "has to
offer."
     That brought more conferring and whispers by the Zykonians.
     "If we were to assist you in extracting this additional material
that you say is of greater value," the Governor spoke, "Then would you
have any need of keeping the original.....unit afterwards?"
     "The unit, even fully extracted and disassembled still has potential
value to us for additional activities against the Cylon Empire," Ila's
expression was impervious, "However, you would have the means to
construct one yourselves, just as you would the shuttlecraft."
     "Yet we can not do so with the four centurions?" Hir-Zykor
challenged again, which prompted a vigorous head shake from the
professor-turned-diplomat..
     "I said we would not discuss that matter, Commander Hir-Zykor," she
said.  "Let's maintain negotiations on what we have to offer.  It is by
far a generous one that more than satisfies basic principles of an
equitable trade-off.  You have two things of potential value to us.  We
have two things of potential value to you."
     "More like one thing with variable elements, Professor Ila," the
Station Commander said. "It would seem that allowing us access to the
four centurions would enable things to be more.....equitable as it were."
     "Our position is unchanged on that, Commander."
     "Then we are either at a permanent impasse, or else a renegotiation
of one to one, may be in order," he said.
     "In other words, you'd let us only choose one of the two
technologies?" Cain interjected.
     "Perhaps," there were no hints from Hir-Zykor, "For now, maybe we
should move to other matters of interest and return to this subject
later?"
     "If you like," Ila said, "There is only one other matter of
importance to us.  The question of humans who stayed behind."
     "Yes, I am glad you brought that up!" Governor Bougairul said
brightly as he produced several documents that he pushed across the
table.  "As you requested earlier, we have a full accounting of humans
who are living on Brylon V now."
     Ila took the document and gave it a cursory look before handing it
to Cain.  The battlestar Commander was making sure everything on it was
exactly what it should be if Wallis had been truthful with him.
     "Thank you, Governor," Cain kept his eyes on the document instead of
looking at the Zykonian Administrator.  "It's time for me to be candid
with you.  I am aware of this one called Wallis and his family."
     He then went on to give the cover story he had arrived at about
Wallis sneaking aboard the Pegasus to visit his niece, who was a crewman
and that Wallis was still aboard the battlestar.  
     "In light of the fact that Wallis has a relative aboard my ship, and
that his situation on Brylon V has not measured up to expectations for
him and his family, I think it would be in your best interests to allow
him and his family to leave with the Pegasus."
     "Not possible," Bougairul said flatly.
     "Oh?" Cain set the document down, "Why is that?"
     "Because Wallis has consistently failed to meet his agricultural
quota and is also in considerable debt to Regional Credit Authorities,"
the Governor said, "When he defaults on his debt obligation in three
cycles time, he must receive proper punishment under Zykonian justice."
     "What is your definition of proper punishment?" Cain leaned back in
his chair.
     "The penalty is fifteen yahrens in the mines beneath the surface,"
The Governor said, "And notwithstanding your explanation that he has a
niece aboard the Pegasus, he has only compounded his transgressions by
illegally leaving Brylon Station to a place where he lacked proper
authorization to visit."
     "He is technically still a Colonial citizen, and as such is entitled
to visit any place that can be regarded a Colonial territory," Ila spoke
up.
     "If you wish to give him asylum, that is your concern.  We certainly
do not have any intention of sending troops of ours aboard your ship to
forcibly bring him back," Bougairul was firm.  "However, if you do grant
him asylum, that would mean permanent separation from his wife and
children on Brylon V."
     "Not very humanitarian of you, Governor," an edge of displeasure
entered Ila's voice.  "Being separated from one's family is not a
pleasant experience.  I know something of that.  As does Commander Cain."
     "But you have committed no criminal offenses," the Governor
countered.  "And in the case of this....Wallis, what he has done is an
offense that must carry consequences.  To default on one's debts, and to
fail to meet crop yield obligations at a time when Brylon V's rate of
terra-forming *demands* maximum production and efficiency, can not be
tolerated."
     "With fifteen yahrens in a labor camp?" Ila was dubious.
     "Such penalties are a deterrent to crime itself.  They help us to
build a society that is orderly and efficient."
     "And one that is apparently discriminating against outsiders like
Wallis," Ila said.  "He says that as a non-Zykonian, his opportunities in
establishing himself were far more limited compared to what would-be
Zykonian landowners would receive."
     "If we were truly discriminating against outsiders, we would give
them no land opportunities or access to this station!" Bougairul scoffed. 
"We are a truly open society, Professor Ila."
     "Open societies can have their own levels of.....benign prejudice as
it were," Ila chose her words carefully.  "Even we, in the Twelve worlds
of the Colonies, were guilty of this.  I don't presume to say we are
instinctively superior in submerging such prejudice.  But when it is
pointed out to us, we recognize that we need to examine ourselves."
     "But it is not so in this instance!" the Governor angrily scoffed. 
"There is another family on Brylon.  The couple called Rotsler and
Sharman.  They are in good standing among us.  And if you were to talk
with them, I think you would find they are most content with their
situation!"
     "We would like to talk with them as soon as possible," Cain said. 
"Can you transport them to the Station, in the interests of convenience? 
I would prefer not to visit the planet surface if it can be avoided."
     "We will have them here tomorrow for you to interview.  They will
confirm that they are prospering."
     "But what if they were to decide that notwithstanding their
prosperity, they would prefer to return to their own people?" he asked. 
"Surely you would not stand in the way of that."
     "They have sworn oaths of allegiance as citizens of Brylon V," the
Governor said.  "Just as Wallis and his family have done.  Those oaths
are binding."
     "Do I understand you correctly, Governor?" Ila was dubious.  "You
seem to be saying that no one has the right to give up citizenship or
choose to relocate themselves.  That would mean in the case of Wallis and
his family, he would still be obliged to stay here even if he didn't face
his criminal penalties."
     "You speak correctly, Professor Ila," Bougairul leaned back in his
chair.  "We can not allow this once the decision has been freely made. 
It would set a precedent that would have serious repercussions."
     "I'm at a loss to understand how," the one-time Music and Drama
instructor shook her head, "The entire human population of Brylon V is
six people from two families, four adults and two children.  What
repercussions are you looking at when it's obvious you're not going to
get anymore outside human additions?"
     "The repercussions on non-Zykonian citizens," the Governor said. 
"They would come to see their oaths of allegiance as non-binding, and it
would give them potential incentive to collaborate with the Ziklagi if
they could be lured with greater promises.  But when they are honor-bound
under penalty of imprisonment for violating their oath of
citizenship......it insures their loyalty.  That is why a precedent can
not be set with the two human families under any circumstance."
     "Yet you just said you wouldn't attempt to forcibly remove Wallis
from the Pegasus," Cain interjected.
     "If he wishes to leave by abandoning his wife and children, who
legally can not leave Brylon V, that must stay on his conscience for the
rest of his life," Governor Bougairul shrugged.
     Commander Hir-Zykor then re-entered the discussion.  "It's curious
you, of all people, should object to this policy, Professor Ila.  Your
husband after all refused the requests of these two families to settle
among our people and they ultimately decided it was in their best
interests to break the oath they had made to be part of his journey.  Do
you believe your husband was wrong to deny their requests or did he deny
their 'freedom' as it were based on a devotion to the greater good?"
     A mirthless half-smile formed on Ila's face.  She then leaned over
to Cain and whispered in his ear.  "I'm afraid they have the winning hand
on that point.  They know I can't possibly argue that Adama's policy was
wrong, and here I am telling them it's wrong for them to act just like
Adama.  We're going to have to bargain something with them to get
Wallis's family freed."
     "And we may lose our access to the technology in the process if they
insist on keeping all things 'equal'," Cain whispered, "I don't have
anything else tangible to give them."
     "There is that one other matter we discussed before we came over,"
     "I'm saving that until the last possible micron," Cain was final. 
"Carry on."
     

     Ila resumed the negotiations and for the next ten centons it was an
impasse.  The Zykonian representatives suggested that they might be open
to letting the entire family of Wallis go, but only under one of two
conditions, neither of which were acceptable to Cain and Ila.
     "If it means so much to you to have all of the humans who disobeyed
Commander Adama back, then we would agree to this," Bougairul said. 
"Rotsler and Sharman must leave, regardless of whether they want to or
not.  That way, we can tell the population that we have chosen to banish
all humans, or if you prefer, we could say that all of them were guilty
of criminal offenses in leaving Commander Adama, and you are consequently
administering priority justice.  Which from a technical standpoint, would
be true."
     "But if Rotsler and Sharman don't wish to leave, then what happens?"
Ila asked.
     "Then you must forcibly take them," the Governor said.  "Consistency
dictates nothing else.  Either you take all of your fellow humans with
you, or none of them."
     "Of course if it means so much to negotiate *only* for Wallis and
his family, then perhaps a reconsideration of other matters we have
discussed before would be in order," Commander Hir-Zykor chimed in. 
"Perhaps their freedom is worth more to you than the matter of the
cloaking technology or the transport technology, for which you have
offered the Cylon memory data."
     "Those issues should be completely separate," Ila said coolly.  "We
will not negotiate the memory data at the expense of receiving nothing in
the way of technological cooperation."
     "Then let us return perhaps to another matter," the Station
Commander said.  "Specifically the four centurions.  If you were to allow
us immediate inspection of them and enable us the ability to copy their
components for manufacturing, then perhaps *that* can be the basis for
the release of Wallis's family."
     "Totally out of the question," Ila said flatly.
     "You would do well to explain why."
     Ila looked over at Cain who nodded his head.
     "The Cylon centurions can no longer be thought of as drone robots,"
Adama's wife began. "They are not our prisoners, nor are they willing
subjects.  They are an integral part of the crew of the Pegasus because
they have defected to our ranks, and have earned the right to be treated
as sentient beings with minds and free will of their own.  We do not have
the right to treat their lives or their freedom of action in the context
of any form of negotiations, just as we wouldn't with any human member of
the Pegasus crew."
     It was clear that this was something the two Zykonians were
unprepared for.
     "This is remarkable," Hir-Zykor said.  "Our inspectors indicated
that you had them under your control, but this.....free will you
describe.  What accounts for it?"
     "We don't know," Ila said.  "All we can do is observe by means
totally independent from how we extracted the data from the advanced
class Cylon, who they regard now as the enemy.  We of course would have
no objection to your inspectors talking to them, but if they do, it must
be in the context of treating them no different from sentient beings. 
There will be no experiments conducted on them, and no sharing of their
inner workings.  We aren't conducting those kind of experiments because
we know that if we did, they would lose whatever incentive they felt to
turn against the advanced class Cylons and work with us now in the
greater cause against the Cylon Empire."
     "Remarkable," Hir-Zykor repeated.  "Commander Adama gave no
indications this was possible.  In fact, when he was here he had a
captured centurion in his possession that he *gave* us full access to. 
There was no such sign of.....independence in it."
     "Excuse me?" Ila interrupted, "You've *had* access to a centurion in
the past?  Is that what you're saying?"
     "Yes.  As I said, this one centurion that I believe they referred to
as 'Agrestis' was brought over to the station for maintenance work and we
were given full access to study its components."
     Cain nudged Ila so she could lean over and hear him whisper in her
ear.  "Adama must have had a lone Cylon captured at some point that never
showed independence.  Remember, his time here predates what happened
later when Baltar's crew suddenly defected to his side.  That was likely
the first time he learned about the centurion capacity for independence."
     Ila nodded and returned to her normal position.
     "These developments post-date my husband's departure," she resumed. 
"Though we have reason to believe from the advanced Cylon's memory that
he is aware of them now.  It is not likely that the signs of what we have
experienced were present at the time in any Cylon centurion he gave you
access to."
     "But if they have happened with your centurions, then they must be
given to us for study," the Station Commander said.  "The details of what
we learned from the centurion called 'Agrestis' now constitutes
out-of-date information."
     "I'm sorry, Commander, but we can not honor that request," Ila shook
her head.  "We will not submit them to procedures that even we are not
subjecting them to."
     Hir-Zykor seemed to be frowning.  "Why is that?"
     "Because as I said, we will not treat the centurions in any manner
that they could construe as demeaning, or treating them in a second-class
way that they already received from the advanced Cylons." Ila's voice
rose to a forceful level.  "The end result would destroy what we are
trying to accomplish in using them against the Cylon Empire.....and in
turn would destroy efforts to keep the Cylon Empire free from your
dominion."
     The Station Commander shook his head in amazement, "For any sentient
life form, I can understand......but they are still
fundamentally......machines.  Incapable of true independent thought. 
Surely.....it makes no real difference."
     "You had best adjust your thinking, Commander," Ila injected the
cool edge to her tone once again.  "Failure to appreciate such
developments could one day be used against you."
     "But these are the beings responsible for your Destruction and your
plight," Governor Bougairul said.  "Does it not.....betray your own sense
of honor to show such.....consideration for them?"
     "It would betray our sense of honor if we did *not* keep our word to
them."
     Ila then slowly leaned forward and allowed her blue eyes to look
directly into their reptilian faces the most penetrating, forceful stare
possible.
     "And I think it would do you well to remember the importance of
honor when it comes to conducting *any* form of negotiating in good
faith."
     Looking at the two Zykonians, Cain knew it was hard to discern what
their silence meant.  But when their heads lowered, and he heard the
Station Commander make a sound that suggested he was clearing his throat
the Juggernaut had the distinct impression that a deeper point had been
made.  One that was now making Hir-Zykor at least, if not the both of
them, feel very uncomfortable.
     "You-," the Station Commander made the throat clearing gesture
again, "You seem to be suggesting something, Professor Ila."
     "Perhaps I am" Ila's blue eyes continued to stare piercingly at
them.  "For instance, it's rather strange that you would have insisted on
access to the four centurions for purposes of duplicating their
components when by your own admission you've *had* access to a centurion
in the past from my husband.  Theoretically, you should already be in
possession of that information.  So why do you insist on using that as a
point for haggling over other matters?"
     The reptilian skin and face of the two Zykonians meant it wasn't
possible to see a reaction that in human terms would have been the
equivalent of an embarrassed flush, but Ila was convinced that was
passing across Hir-Zykor's face at that instant.  Inside, Cain was amazed
at Ila's quick thinking brilliance in picking up on the blunder the
Station Commander had made, that enabled her to call him out on that
point.
     Not waiting for an answer, Ila decided now was the time to go for
the jugular.
     "I sincerely hope, Commander there isn't *anything* else that could
raise questions into matters of honorable conduct in these negotiations."
     There was still no response from Hir-Zykor who was trading glances
with the Governor.  And then, leaning closer to him for a private
conference of their own.
     "If you want to step out for a few centons for more privacy, we're
agreeable to that," Ila said.  And then with deliberateness she added,
"Perhaps Colonel Dagbob will have some information to pass along......if
there is any."
     The Station Commander abruptly looked back at Ila and Cain, and the
two humans could see the uneasiness in his face.  The uneasiness of
someone who felt boxed into a corner and was trying to find an easy way
out.
     Finally, he cleared his throat, "We will....take your kind offer of
a few centons.  Governor, if you'll come with me?"
     "We'll be waiting," Ila said as the two Zykonians left by the side
exit.
     As soon as the door closed, Commander Adama's wife said simply,
"Five centons to tell someone in higher authority that they need to make
a clean breast of things, and then they'll be back."
     "I wouldn't have been able to hold my temper with them," Cain
admitted, his bearing calm.  "And I know it wouldn't have gotten us
anywhere."
     "This way, they'll learn how it's possible to get your honor back
when you're given enough of a chance."  She looked over at Cain, "You
were on to them right away?"
     "Right away," the Juggernaut nodded.
     Five centons later, the Governor and the Station Commander had
returned.  The slowness in their bearings suggested they had just gone
through a humbling experience.
     "Commander Cain, Professor Ila," Hir-Zykor, "On behalf of the
Zykonian people, please accept my apology.  The......situation I spoke of
earlier regarding the Ziklagi spy in our inspection team was not......I
confess, accurate."
     "Go on," Cain decided he needed to speak now.
     "It was.....not a Ziklagi shape-shifter posing as Hor-Tul, it
was......a Zykonian who.....planted an explosive charge in your solonite
storage room.  His intent was not to destroy your ship, but merely for it
to be found by you later so that the Ziklagi would be blamed for an
attempted act of sabotage.  If you have......not discovered the charge
already, it will be very easy to locate, and it is not in danger of going
off because......it is on a delayed charge of one sectan and has no booby
trap if it is disconnected.  As I say, the attempt was not to destroy,
merely to....in a misguided way impress upon you the danger of the
Ziklagi."
     Cain had to summon all of his self-control to keep an effective
Pyramid face.  He knew that Hir-Zykor was trying to save face by
admitting most, but not all of the truth.  Cain and Ila both knew that
the Station Commander and probably others in Zykonian authority had
masterminded this hoax themselves by using the real Hor-Tul to carry the
order out.  From the very beginning, Cain found it odd that a would-be
saboteur would have placed a charge in plain sight so it could be noticed
right away by the next warrior to walk through the entryway to the solium
storage area, as had happened when Sergeant Marshak had arrived.  That
meant the purpose had been rooted in the ongoing diplomacy and not in any
actual military threat to the Pegasus.
     It was the kind of thing that would have made Cain, if left to his
own devices, raise a riot at the table.  To openly call the Zykonians
treacherous, deceitful liars to their faces who were trying to manipulate
his people into becoming part of a war that from Cain's standpoint, was
none of their business.  To give them the ultimate harangue about their
lack of honor and integrity.  That would have been true to Cain's own
character and his own sense of honor.
     But it also, Cain knew, would have done more harm than help.  It
would have denied them any hope of obtaining valuable resources the
Zykonians possessed that he knew could be helpful if placed in the hands
of the Resistance against the Cylon Empire.  It could even have
jeopardized the existing agreement on food and fuel that the Pegasus
desperately needed.  His sense of honor and fair play as he saw it, might
have produced some temporary satisfaction but the long-term damage would
have been incalculable.  It would have left his ship, his crew and his
cause in a precarious state.
     Which was why he could only thank the Lords again that he had Ila to
show how diplomacy actually worked.  And how it needed to be conducted.
     I'd be utterly lost without her skills and her temperament, he
thought.
     "To what purpose?" Cain finally responded to Hir-Zykor's face-saving
confession.
     "To.....convince you of the need to assist us against the Ziklagi. 
We.....are increasingly convinced as I said before, that the treaty
negotiated by Commander Adama will not last if Ziklagi leadership
changes."
     "Your military is sufficient to the task to deal with the Ziklagi,
is it not?" Cain knew he had to let what he'd been learning about
diplomacy from Ila to rub off on him.
     "We believe so," Hir-Zykor said, "But the Ziklagi are little
different from the Cylon adversaries you have fought in terms of their
capacity for ruthlessness." 
     "All right.  Assuming this incident that you say a misguided
Zykonian created to generate anger and wrath in me and my crew toward the
Ziklagi had succeeded.......then what?"
     "The Zikalgi are currently in a state of.....unrest," Governor
Bougairul spoke.  "Civil war in fact.  There is......a fear in the minds
of some-,"
     "Like this misguided Zykonian extremist," Ila gently interrupted.
     "Yes, yes, exactly," the Governor vigorously nodded.  "Those like
him believe that if a military strike against Ziklagi interests were
conducted now, it would leave them in a too weakened state to think of
challenging our sphere of interest regardless of which side prevails in
the Civil War."
     "So if I understand you correctly, Governor," Ila said, her voice
still calm and diplomatic.  "It was the hope of this lone, misguided
Zykonian extremist that if an outside force had reason to strike against
the Ziklagi and disrupt their operations......it would benefit Zykonian
interests by weakening the Ziklagi and at the same time, keep the treaty
intact because it would not be the Zykonians who fired the shots."
     "Yes," the Governor confessed, "You have summarized the matter
completely.  And....it is clear that would not have been appropriate. 
Now that the truth is known to us.......we see how.....wrong that would
have been for you."  
     "Yes," Hir-Zykor was nodding vigorously.  "Completely wrong.  We are
glad we.....discovered this unfortunate act of deception before it
erupted into something serious."
     "We appreciate that you did discover it," Ila said, putting the
appreciative tone in her voice to match the words so that it sounded
sincere.  "It would not have been to our benefit to engage in such
activities, especially if such activities were rooted in a false
premise."
     She then leaned forward.  "While we certainly wish your side well in
handling the challenge the Ziklagi present to you, it must remain your
struggle, just as ours with the Cylon Empire is our struggle.  But where
we ultimately benefit each other is in pursuing our struggles with
vigilance so that they never become part of the other's.  You do not need
the problem of the Cylon Empire and we do not need the problem of the
Ziklagi."
     "Of course," the Station Commander bowed his head.  "We understand
that clearly."
     "Then in that case, we need not refer to this unfortunate matter any
longer that a misguided extremist triggered, and can return to the issues
that have already been under discussion," Ila said.  "Are you prepared to
do so?"
     "We are, Professor Ila," Governor Bougairul also bowed his head with
respect.


     From that point on, the negotiations stretched out for another two
centars, but with considerably less tension in the air.  The outstanding
points of dispute that remained were slowly, but surely resolved
one-by-one.
     On the matter of Wallis and his family, it was agreed that they be
allowed to depart but with one stipulation.  That Wallis spend two cycles
in the labor camp mine on Brylon V as an example of what the penalty for
credit default was, whereupon he would receive a conditional pardon that
included permanent deportation from Brylon V.  Under Zykonian justice,
Wallis would stand disgraced for his actions and the matter of the other
human couple, Rotsler and Sharman need not factor into the decision at
all.  Cain would be allowed to question Rotsler and Sharman so they could
be informed of the battlestar's presence and that they were free to leave
under terms of being considered fugitives from Colonial jurisprudence if
they so desired.  But if they preferred to stay, they would be allowed to
do so and remain in good standing as Brylon citizens.
     On the issue of technological exchange, Cain agreed to let Zykonian
scientists in coordination with Dr. Arnoff study the remains of Lucifer
in a laboratory aboard the Station in an effort to tap into the deep
memory banks of the IL Cylon.  Once success was achieved, the Pegasus
would receive the complete data Lucifer's deep memory possessed but
physical possession of Lucifer's remains would go to the Zykonians as a
good will gesture by Cain.  In return, the Zykonians agreed to forego any
interest in the four centurions, and would also provide the exact same
levels of information software and hardware they had given Adama one
yahren before concerning cloaking technology and teleport transportation. 
All of that, in addition to the earlier agreement to repair Ila's shuttle
and restore it for a future suspended animation flight.
     And so over four centars after their arrival, the second treaty
between the Pegasus representatives and the Zykonians was drawn up and
received the formal seals of approval.  The formalities ended with Cain
and Ila shaking hands with Governor Bougairul and Commander Hir-Zykor. 
With both sides agreeing that the remainder of the battlestar's stay at
Brylon Station would be a time for the treaties to be implemented, and
for the crew to enjoy the Station's complete hospitality for recreation.
     "I am grateful we could come to an agreement," Cain said as he
finished shaking hands with Hir-Zykor.
     "As am I, Commander," the Station Commander said.  "Diplomacy is
never easy, but.....it is rewarding when results can be achieved."
     "As I know it had to be when Adama negotiated the treaty between you
and the Ziklagi," Cain said.  "While you are right to maintain the
eternal vigilance of caution......it will be my prayer to the Lords of
Kobol, as surely as it is your prayer to Zykor, that the Ziklagi have
learned to enjoy the fruits of Adama's wisdom."
     "We appreciate those sentiments, Commander," he turned to shake
hands with Ila.  "Professor Ila, it is gratifying to know that you are as
talented a diplomat and negotiator as your husband."
     "I learned well from him," Ila smiled with pride as she shook hands.
     "I wonder," Hir-Zykor said with admiration, "Perhaps it was he who
learned his skills from you."
     Ila stepped back alongside Cain and prepared to depart through the
door that led to the docking lounge, while the two Zykonians moved toward
the rear door.  As Hir-Zykor reached it he turned back to give them a
final goodbye.
     "Until tomorrow when we meet again as part of the new beginning. 
Captain Xlax will, as he was with the Galactica, act as liaison officer
for the remainder of your stay at Brylon Station."
     "Thank you, Commander," she and Cain moved toward the door but
abruptly she stopped in her tracks and called after Hir-Zykor who was
halfway out the door.
     "Commander!"
     "Yes, Professor Ila?" he stopped.
     "Forgive me for bringing this up, but.....now that negotiations are
over, there is one matter I'd all but forgotten about.  When we first
met, you told me about my daughter Lieutenant Athena's marriage to the
warrior named Boomer.  But you also said that my son, Captain Apollo is
also married now?"
     In the doorway, just one step ahead of Ila, Cain was smiling.  He
was glad Ila could celebrate the success of this exhausting and difficult
session in the art of diplomacy with some happy news.
     "Why yes," the Station Commander was glad that they could at last
converse on a non-diplomatic matter.  "Yes, I did meet him and his wife. 
A very charming woman."
     "What is her name?"
     "Lieutenant Sheba."
     The only sound that followed was that of Cain's swagger stick
clattering against the floor after it fell out of his hand.
     
          
     A half-mumbled goodbye to Hir-Zykor was the only thing Ila had the
strength to say after she and Cain heard the revelation.  Everything
after that, was a silent blur for them both as they made their way back
to the Docking Lounge and their shuttle.  The silence and expressions of
disbelief continuing as they strapped themselves in.  When Cain managed
to contact Station Control to indicate their departure and then the
Pegasus to inform them they were returning with a signed treaty that
resolved all outstanding matters, the words came out with a forced,
almost robotic effort.
     Only when the shuttle was away for the short journey to the Pegasus
on the other side of the station, did Ila finally break the ice......with
a long, hearty laugh.  And soon, it spread to Cain as he cracked a smile
and felt himself laughing as well.  For both of them, it was the laughter
of tension being released after a long, difficult and trying day of
diplomacy with the Zykonians.  And with the release of tension for both
was a sense of joy that they had been rewarded for their long, hard
efforts with news that was more wonderful than either could have
imagined.
     "My son and your daughter," Ila felt happy tears forming in her
eyes, "Oh, dear Lords of Kobol, I can hardly believe it."
     "I know," Cain felt himself wiping his eyes as well.  "And yet.....I
wonder if....."
     "You wonder what?" she looked at him, finding it hard to believe
that now, her ties to Cain and her dear late friend Bethany, had become
those of family.
     "I'm trying to remember.....something I noticed when I first met
Apollo aboard the Pegasus," he said.  "I don't think I told you the
circumstances of how the Galactica and I crossed paths."
     "No you didn't," Ila admitted, trying to bring herself down from the
cloud her mind was on.  "Is there a connection?"
     "There might be.  Anyway, Apollo and Starbuck were on a patrol that
brought them into the Gomorrah quadrant and they ran into a patrol led by
Sheba.  Or rather, they flew into Sheba's path and because Sheba was
trained to regard any encroachment into the quadrant as hostile, she went
into pursuit and nearly flew Apollo right clean out of his......" he
stopped not wanting to finish the euphemism.  "Well, anyway, once she
took scans and saw they were human, she escorted them to the Pegasus but
because they landed in separate landing bays, Apollo didn't get a chance
to meet her.  Apollo and Starbuck were brought to my quarters and.....to
make a long story short, I mentioned at one point how they'd already met
my daughter and I showed them an old holographic birthday greeting to me
from Sheba.  And.....well I can't begin to tell you how beautiful she
looked in that video.  Anyway.....I have this memory now of Apollo
looking at the hologram and there was this.....look on his face.  The
look of someone who......I don't want to say was spellbound or anything
that dramatic, but......he was definitely taken with her image.  And then
he said, 'Sorry, if I'd met that young lady I'd have remembered,' and I
had to tell her that she was the pilot who nearly flew him......."
     "'Out of his britches,'" Ila smiled mischievously as she finished
the euphemism.  "Lords of Kobol, Cain, I know the look on his face you're
describing.  That's *exactly* the look I remember on Adama's face the
first time we met.  Not the expression of someone who was ready to fall
at my feet but the expression of someone who was.....interested and
wanted to find out more about me in his own quiet usually reserved way. 
I can see Apollo  falling in love with someone exactly the same way. 
Nothing whirlwind, but something that slowly developed over a reasonable
period of time."
     She then added wistfully, "Oh how I wish Bethany could have known."
     "I think she does," Cain said quietly.  Which made Ila look at him
in thoughtful understanding.
     "Just think," she said, "Someday, you and I will probably have the
same grandchildren."
     Cain wasn't sure of what else he could say.  The more his mind
thought of Apollo and Sheba being sealed to each other, the more he felt
a strange sense of......disconnect within himself.  On the one hand it
was gratifying to know that his daughter had found happiness.  And it
clearly meant Adama had  done his part in the time leading up to it, to
extend his friendship to Sheba and make her part of his extended family. 
Exactly as he had counted Adama on to do when he'd made the painful
decision to let go of her two and a half yahrens ago.
     And yet.......there was one part of Cain that felt a strange sense
of what he could only call loss.  The realization that his daughter, as
he had known her, was truly gone forever.  That if he ever saw her again,
she would no longer be his baby.  She would truly be a woman who had
emerged from his shadow completely.
     "Cain?" Ila prodded.
     "Yes?" he came out of his reverie.
     "Tolen just radioed to give you landing clearance."
     "Oh.....right," he flicked a switch.  "Alpha Shuttle, copy.  We are
headed in.  Have the Zykonians transmitted the terms of our second
treaty?"
     "We have them, sir," Tolen said.  "The terms regarding Wallis are
understood.  Do you want me to inform him?"
     "No," Cain shook his head, "I'll do that myself.  I'm probably going
to have to shout some sense into him about it, but he'll learn to accept
it.  Tell him to report to my quarters immediately."
     "Yes, sir.  What about a full staff briefing regarding the other
terms of the treaty?"
     "Have it convene in Flight Operations in exactly two centars.  I
want enough time to get the loose ends with Wallis taken care of.  In the
meantime, continue rotation of furlons to the Station in groups of five,
each to spend no more than six centars aboard the station."
     "Yes, sir."
     "Signing off." he switched off and looked back at Ila.  "There's a
lot more I wish we could talk about, Ila.  I wish I could celebrate all
this with you, but......."
     "I know," she sighed, "I could probably use the time to be alone and
introspective, anyway, Cain, because.......this makes my options as far
as the future goes, more difficult too."
     And mine too, Cain thought as he brought the shuttle in for landing. 
Mine too.

Chapter Six

     "I have to spend two cycles in the mines?" the nervous anxiety in
Wallis's bearing seemed greater than at any time since Cain had met the
agro-tech.
     "That's the agreement," Cain said curtly.  "You'll be pardoned and
released to me afterwards.  Your family will be aboard the Pegasus
waiting for you and all matters will be resolved."
     "But----,"
     "No buts," the Juggernaut came up to him and his voice grew cold. 
"Professor Ila and I went to the mat for you and your family in a big
way.  We were willing to disrupt agreements of vital importance to us
with the Zykonians just to make sure you and your family were taken care
of.  Considering the disrespect you demonstrated towards Adama, you're
lucky I didn't  just let you spend the full sentence you were entitled to
under Zykonian justice.  After all, Wallis, being an agro-tech means you
know all about the axiom of as you sow, so shall you reap.  Do you
understand me?"
     Wallis stiffened and nodded.
     "Now tomorrow, you're going to be turned over to the Zykonians to
get your sentence out of the way," Cain took a step back from him, his
voice calmer, "Your family will greet you on the Station so you can be
assured that the Zykonians have upheld their end of the bargain.  I
expect you to cause no trouble with them during that time so that when
its over, I can consider it a closed issue.  And then, I expect you to
become a productive member of the crew of the Pegasus as our senior
agro-tech.  Are you prepared to do that?"
     The agro-worker nodded again.
     "I can't hear you," Cain said softly.
     "Yes, sir," he mumbled.  "I do appreciate what you've done for me
and my family."
     "That's better," he said, "Two more things.  Until the Pegasus
leaves, I want you to continue the fiction about Bridge Officer Kylie
being your niece.  It turned out not to be as necessary as I thought it
might, but the last thing I need is a snag with the Zykonians where it
looks like I lied to them during the negotiations about anything."
     "I understand sir," Wallis said, slowly adjusting to the reality. 
"And the other thing?"
     Cain moved back behind his desk and sat down.
     "Tell me some more about this planet you say the Galactica found
with all the food resources."


     Ila purposefully skipped the Staff Meeting even though her
increasingly important role in the command structure of the Pegasus would
have entitled her to be present.  But as far as she was concerned, Cain
could summarize all the details of the treaty and deal with their impact
on the rest of the crew.  And she also knew that formally, the Juggernaut
would not yet be committing himself where the Pegasus would go next.
     But Ila was certain she knew what Cain's decision was going to be on
that front, and she was also certain that the revelation about Apollo and
Sheba wouldn't change his mind about that.  If anything, Ila wondered if
it was possible that Cain would be more inclined to let go of the dream
of reunion if he now knew that his daughter had found something new in
her life to take the place of the devotion she'd always had to him.  The
devotion to a husband.....and perhaps by this point, children just as it
had already been with Athena?  That would be enough to tell Cain just how
much Sheba had been able to move on with her life.  That Sheba clearly
wasn't haunted or traumatized by his absence to the point where she
needed him to return to give her life meaning.
     Cain won't change, Ila thought as she lay on her bed in the unlit
room of the VIP quarters she'd been placed in.  He may take a few extra
centars to think the matter more thoroughly than before, but.....he'll
stick with the mission that's guided his life the last two and a half
yahrens.  I'm sure of that.
     And if that was to be Cain's decision, it would mean that when the
Pegasus left, Ila would be faced with the greatest decision of her life. 
The shuttle would be fixed, and she would have to decide if she wanted to
use it to catch up with the Galactica.  Where she could let the three
people whose faces had been burned in her heart and soul for the last
three yahrens know that she was alive.  Alive and well and aching to hear
their voices and to touch their faces once again.  The Lords had given
her closure regarding her one child who no longer lived when she'd
experienced the vision of Zac comforting her.  Surely this would be their
way of providing closure for her regarding Apollo, Athena and......Adama.
     And yet.....Ila knew it wasn't as simple as that.  The last three
yahrens had seen her life defined by a purpose that she was convinced had
been divinely ordered.  That from the outset, she had been chosen by the
Almighty to be part of the Resistance movement and to help them in what
increasingly, with each passing cycle, she saw as a movement that had the
capability to one day do what would have seemed so unthinkable that night
of the Destruction.  To set right what had been made wrong in the
Colonies.  That had been the cause that had given her life purpose and
meaning once again.  Allowing her to be at peace with why she had
survived in the rubble of Caprica while being parted from her loved ones 
  It was a cause she believed  strongly in and devoted herself to. 
Sharing the unexpected joys and triumphs that had elevated the movement
from the darkened catacombs beneath the old Caprican Agricultural
Institute to something stronger and viable.  Sharing the tragedies of
seeing new friends and comrades lose their lives in the effort, but
always tempering the sense of loss with the optimism that the sacrifice
wasn't going to be in vain.
     Ila knew full well it was the cause that had sent her into deep
space in the shuttle, and not the personal benefits she could achieve
from it.  The benefits had been seen as a happy byproduct for herself
that more importantly would be the key to convincing Adama of just how
strong the Resistance was and how he could help make the difference by
abandoning the quest for Earth and coming home.  Without the cause, there
would be no journey.  All that she understood when she'd volunteered and
strapped herself into the shuttle for the journey that she expected to
end with Adama's face awakening her.  She would get her brief time of
happy reunion.....but then her job would be to tell her husband that he
needed to embrace the cause that was her cause.  That itself carried a
grave risk of potential quarreling and rupture with her husband, but it
was a risk she was prepared to take because she knew, as did everyone
else in the movement from Commander Deval on down, that she was the only
one who had a chance of persuading Adama.
     It hadn't been Adama though who had found her.  It had been Cain,
whom no one ever suspected of being alive.  Cain, who had been biding his
time in the outermost charted regions of the Alpha Quadrant to one day
fight a cause identical to hers, only without any possible hope of
success.  Instead of Adama, who was prone to be skeptical of any pitch
regarding Resistance and return, it was Cain who believed in the same
basic principles of the cause.  All he'd needed was enlightenment as to
how things really were.
     Ila now realized that the Divine order of things that had spared her
on the night of the Destruction and separated her from her family had
been at work again when her shuttle locked onto the Pegasus instead of
the Galactica.  Leading her to Cain and giving *him* a new and directed
purpose in life that had been largely absent since his decision to
separate himself from Adama.  And above all, giving the Juggernaut
something he'd lacked and that was someone with a sense of diplomatic
tact and who had some understanding of how the diplomatic game
functioned.  Even if Ila had no training as a diplomat, twenty-five
yahrens as a teacher had forced her to play the game of diplomacy
constantly when dealing with students, department heads and
administrators.  It taught her how to argue without being impulsive, and
how to get a point across effectively.  All of those skills she'd
acquired and they had given Cain a dividend in the form of the diplomatic
negotiations with the Zykonians.  She had been the more dominant voice
for the interests of the Pegasus and it had kept Cain from showing off
his impulsive side that while valuable in combat, would likely have led
to disaster at the bargaining table.  There was no question that she was
not meant to be found by the Galactica in her initial flight from the
Colonies.
     But what about now?  Can't I just regard my task as done?  There are
only a few more things I have to tell Cain, like about Dr. Ravashol and
Vulpa and also what happened in the Cylon home system that worked to our
advantage.  Once he knows all that......does he really need me any
longer?  Won't I have succeeded in the mission and done right by the
cause?  Couldn't I be just......free to go and have my life back with my
family?  To have Adama.....all to myself at last?
     All to myself......
     The echoes of a thought she'd expressed to herself just centars
before the Destruction, and just centons before a fateful call from her
friend Zakiya inviting her to a reception at the Astral Needle, filled
her mind.  When she'd sat alone on the terrace of her home looking out to
sea and contemplated the life she thought lay ahead of her.  Of no more
war.  Of Adama, able to retire from military duty at last and confine
himself only to his seat on the Council of Twelve, which would allow him
to stay at home on Caprica.  Where at long last, their marriage would no
longer be defined by the long separations, but where they could be
together always.  When she could at last have Adama.....all to herself.
     That was how it was supposed to be.  That was how they'd dreamed of
it.  Sharing retirement together in their golden years.  Where he could
continue studying the ancients and she could still do the occasional
writing and composing she'd dabbled in.  But the bulk of their time would
be together.  Enjoying each other's presence.  Sharing the memories that
were precious to them both.  Of him as a reserved young Ensign just out
of the Academy trying to show an interest in the young Faculty member of
the Fine Arts Institute without seeming too overt.  The two of them
connecting with each other on their first date when she took him to the
theater to see an unusual type of musical drama.  A two person story of a
married couple and their life together from the wedding day through early
yahrens of overly young optimism, through rough periods of middle age,
and finally at story's end the couple together in old age, able to
acknowledge that despite all they had gone through, it had still been a
good life together.
     One song from that play had touched them deeply.  So much so, that
as Adama and Ila continued to date and soon realized that they were in
love and destined for each other, it had become their song.  They'd hired
a singer to perform it at their sealing ceremony.  And in the yahrens
that followed, there had been those many times in the living room of
their house, with Ila playing the spinnet, and the two of them singing
together.  Adama in his rich bass baritone, she in her less refined but
pleasing alto.


     "Sometimes in the mornin' 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

     "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

     "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
     With love *-


     Even now, lying alone in the dark, she could hear their voices in
unison together on the last words.  Reminding her again of what she had
missed and thought was gone forever.  Now.....it was theoretically there
for her again.  Her children.  Her husband.  Her life.  All she had to do
was tell Cain that once the Pegasus was underway again, she would use the
shuttle and go back to them.  That was what her heart wanted.
     But.....was her heart's desire necessarily what the Divine order she
believed so much in, had planned for her?  
     Intellectually, she had to look past the happy moments of reunion to
assess what her life would be like in the Galactica.  Of a life where
Adama's cause, the cause that had given *his* life purpose and meaning
again, would define everything.  The search for Earth.  Where the
Colonies and what happened to them no longer mattered any longer and had
to be forgotten.  Where the Cylon Empire couldn't be overthrown but only
outrun to the point where distance would make them irrelevant.  That was
the way of things in Adama's world, and if she was going to be a part of
that world and be part of his life once again, she would have to accept
that.
     And sadly......Ila was filled with endless doubts that she could
ever accept that.  Not when she had invested every part of her life these
last three yahrens to the cause of the Resistance.  Believing in its
goals to justify risks she had taken on a number of potentially
life-threatening missions and surveillances.  Believing in the people who
had sent her in that shuttle because *they* had been counting on her to
make a difference for *them*, and not because they were selflessly
serving her personal needs by giving her the chance in the shuttle.
     Going out at this stage, Ila knew, would be purely for herself and
nothing else.  Her role with the Resistance would be over forever and the
fate of those she had worked alongside of, would never be known to her. 
It would mean a total reversal of the last three yahrens when she'd had
no inkling of what had become of her husband and children after they'd
left.  And given how so many of those people in the Resistance were like
family to her now......the emotional trauma would be the same.
     And if she were openly carrying that sense of inner trauma and
guilt.......what would that do to Adama?  What damaging impact could that
have on *his* ability to lead the people and hold them together so that
*his* purpose in life could be fulfilled?       
     Intellectually, it was easy for Ila to see how her presence in
Adama's life at this stage could in the long-run be more harmful than
helpful.  To both of them.  Impacting in a negative way the different
causes they saw themselves chosen for.
     But.....shouldn't our love be enough to overcome that?
     She honestly didn't know the answer.  She could only pray about it. 
And hope that when she made her decision in what would likely be two or
three sectans from now, it would be the Lords will she followed.
     
(*Note-The song is "My Cup Runneth Over" from the 1967 musical "I Do!  I
Do!" by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones (not the singer).  I have taken the
dramatic liberty of assuming that some unknown Caprican musical writers
were inspired to write the same song!)     

Chapter Seven

The Pegasus's stay at Brylon lasted another three sectans.  The tankers
and freighters 
from Brylon V had arrived with their food and fuel and left the
battlestar's storage compartments filled to capacity.  During that time,
the Zykonians had even helpfully converted an empty section of the
warship that had previously been used to bunk crew members who had been
evacuated to the Galactica into additional storage space.  That way more
food could be housed and cut down on the time when the battlestar would
need to look for more resources.
     Now that Cain had qualified agro-techs aboard the ship in the form
of Wallis (who had dutifully served his two cycle sentence in the
subterranean mines of Brylon V and been formally pardoned) and his wife
Kelli, the battlestar had also set up a new experimental agro-lab to try
and grow small quantities of food in the controlled conditions of
shipboard environment.  The Zykonians had provided necessary agro-parts
to make sure it could be started efficiently.  The rest would be up to
them.
     The other human couple who had abandoned the Galactica for Brylon V
would not be joining them.  Cain had met Rotsler and Sharman on Brylon
Station and knew right away that they weren't likely to be receptive. 
Rotsler had unkempt hair that fell to his shoulders and an enormous beard
that Cain found the sight of repelling.  His wife, while attractive in a
natural way also preferred to dress raggedly in a decidedly
non-conformist fashion that Cain also couldn't see fitting into the
shipboard environment of the Pegasus.
     "You need to understand this," Cain had said firmly, "Once we go,
that's it.  We're never coming back and neither is the Galactica.  And
with Wallis and his family leaving that means you two are it as far as
humans in the whole Zykonian quadrant is concerned."
     "Doesn't matter," Rotsler had waved his hand dismissively while
Sharman was taking a puff on a cigarello......only the smell of it
reminded Cain more of plant vapors.  "As far as the human race is
concerned, to Hades with it.  Just let us be."
     Cain looked at the two of them with a mixture of pity, amusement and
contempt.  "You really think that low of humanity?"
     Rotsler leaned back and let out sarcastic laugh, "Humanity hasn't
done Sharman and me any favors.  Plunging us into a war they couldn't win
and getting us destroyed and ruining yahrens of planning we'd made.  Then
we get shoved into neatly ordered regimented lives aboard the Galactica
with no real chance to *live* again.  We both vowed we weren't going to
spend the rest of our lives cooped up in a freighter being told what we
had to do.  That's why we jumped ship the first chance we could get.  No
more of Adama's rules.  Just our lives back the way we wanted them.  Land
to live on under open skies and fresh air that gets better every cycle
with each new cycle of terra-forming."
     "But you're okay with Zykonian rules, is that it?" Cain was dubious. 
"Wallis and Kelli saw how rough they can be.  What makes you think the
same thing won't happen to the two of you eventually?"
     Rotsler's wife Sharman crushed her cigarello out and let out a
contemptuous snort of her own.  "Silly Wallis thought too high.  He
wanted to be a wealthy big landowner.  Us, we don't want to be big
landowners.  Just a small plot to grow enough to get by and just enjoy
*living*.  The Zykonian bureauticians know we're not significant.  They
just leave us be and let us sit back and have a good time with each
other."
     "Not exactly the kind of environment to raise a family in."
     "What family?" Rotsler rolled his eyes.  "There's just the two of us
and there never will be anything more.  I had a procedure before the
Destruction so that doesn't factor into it."
     "I see," Cain's inner disdain for them only increased.  "For the two
of you, living is just relax and avoid all the responsibilities that go
with it."
     The bearded agro-worker in the purposefully ragged clothing leaned
forward with an angry look.
     "We did our part," he said coldly.  "We were a couple with big
career ambitions in the Colonies and that was taken from us.  And we did
all the work we were expected to do when we were with the Galactica.  If
my wife and I think we've earned the right to a respite from all
that.....that's our choice.  Nothing's happened to us in the last yahren
to make us regret what we did and that's why our final answer to your
offer is an unequivocal, no thanks."
     "Very well," Cain wasn't going to argue.  "You've made your choice. 
You'll have to live with it."
     Cain's only thought as he'd left them was wondering if it would take
more than a yahren or less for the two of them to regret their decision
of today.  Whatever the case, he knew he wouldn't be around to ever know. 
Nor did he particularly care.


     Two sectans into their stay was when the breakthrough they'd been
hoping for with the deep memory banks of Lucifer's remains finally took
place.  Cain had dropped what he was doing and headed over to the lab on
Brylon Station where Dr. Arnoff had been working with the team of
Zykonian specialists led by their chief electronics expert, Katagah.  To
his surprise, Commander Cobre was also there.
     "Commander!" Arnoff's voice was full of excitement, "It's done!  The
deep memory banks of the IL Cylon have been successfully tapped!  All
data has been extracted so that means everything stored in the
subconscious memory of Commander Lucifer will be ours."
     "How extensive is the data?"
     "Over eighty times *greater* than what we got from the primary
memory data base!  It's as if all of this is what enables advanced brain
Cylons to know extensively everything they should know about the inner
workings of the Empire.  The amount of information is just.....staggering
to consider!"
     "I want multiple copies of this backed up," Cain said.  "I don't
want to run the slightest risk of losing this data.  It needs to be part
of the primary computer system and as many independent and portable
terminals possible so that not even the greatest of computer malfunctions
can cause us to lose this!"
     "We're seeing to it!" Arnoff said.
     "It is *most* gratifying to see his kind subjected to this."
     Cain's head darted around at the sound of a voice he didn't
recognize though it had a familiarity to it.  But when his eyes focused
on Arnoff, he saw the electronics chief grinning and pointing a finger at
Commander Cobre.
     "Commander Cobre?" Cain slowly came up to him in amazement,
"You've.....had your vocal synthesizer.....replaced?"
     "Yes, I have," the voice that came from the gold-plated centurion
was no longer the lower pitched monotone, but a normal human voice.  "Dr.
Katagah and the Zykonians said it was possible to give me a new voice if
I so desired one.  The final choice was mine to make.  They were most
efficient with the procedure."
     "I can tell," the Juggernaut was impressed.  "It will make
conversation much easier, and....it is also a sign of the opportunities
that are available to you."
     "The other centurions, Festus, Serpentine and Lucy will get their
own voices too," Arnoff said.  "We're just trying to find recorded
templates that will be suitable since we shouldn't have them all sound
the same.  It's getting away from the centurion formula of everyone
sounding alike that appeals to them."
     "Quite understandable," Cain nodded.  "Your voice, Commander.....it
sounds familiar."
     "It was his," the command centurion pointed to the glass tube at the
other side of the lab, where inside, the remains of Lucifer were mounted. 
A seemingly infinite number of wires connected to all parts of the IL
Cylon's body and head.  The bulbous head was drooped slightly, as though
the IL were in a permanent posture of defeat.
     "I see," Cain nodded as he looked over and saw the Zykonian
technicians taking new readings.  
     "It was amusing to see his reaction when he heard me speak."  the
disdainful contempt was easy to make out in Cobre now that he had
Lucifer's voice.
     "Oh?" the Commander was intrigued.  "Did he say anything?"
     "Only one thing," Cobre said, "Over and over, he said, 'Oh the pain. 
The pain.'"


     Cain had barely stepped out of the Electronics Lab when he saw
Captain Xlax, the Zykonian liaison officer approaching him.
     "Commander, I was about to have you paged!  If you could come with
me to my office?"
     "Of course, of course," the Juggernaut was still trying to come to
terms with the magnitude of the latest news.  "It's.....always a
pleasure."
     "I'm glad you think so, sir," the Zykonian led him to a lift that
would take them up to the level where his office was okay.  "I was
honored to be liaison officer to the Galactica, and to do so again with
your crew has reminded me of how pleasant those days were."
     When the door to the lift closed with them alone, Cain decided to
play a hunch he'd been meaning to do with Xlax for some time.
     "Tell me something, Captain," he said, "Was there.....a particular
reason why you weren't present at the negotiating session that produced
the second treaty?"
     Xlax seemed to sigh uneasily and then he slowly turned to face Cain.
     "This is......off the record, I believe the expression is?"
     "Completely," Cain nodded.
     "Very well," the Zykonian captain said, "I did not.....consider it
appropriate for me to be present during the proceedings, given certain
things I was aware of at the time.  Things that....in light of my past
history with the Galactica, would have offended my sense of.....honor."
     "I see," Cain knew he had to be delicate in what else he said,
"But.....you are glad to know that in light of what happened, your sense
of honor is no longer offended?"
     "Completely," Xlax then looked him in the eye, "And you will be
interested to know, off-the-record, that Technician Hor-Tul was
reassigned to a *most* distant outpost after negotiations were
concluded."
     "I understand completely," Cain said, knowing that nothing more
needed to be said.  
     The doors opened and Xlax escorted the Pegasus commander down the
corridor to his office.  He motioned him to sit down and offered him a
drink, which Cain, not wanting to get used to the taste of Zykonian
liquor, politely declined.
     "Your departure I presume will be in no more than a sectan from
now," Xlax moved behind his desk.  "Before that happens, I would be
remiss in not providing you with this file that was of interest to the
Galactica."
     He handed a folder to Cain who went through it with a frown.  It
showed a number of old pictures depicting six humans, five men and one
woman, in clothing he didn't recognize.
     "I don't understand, Captain.  Who are these people?"
     "They came from a planet called Earth.  Many yahrens ago, in the
generation before mine."
     "Earth?" Cain looked up, "You heard that term specifically?"
     "Yes.  As I said, this is only limited information.  It was a craft
found drifting in space near one of our old frontier regions.  The six
crew in these pictures were taken to one of our outposts and I believe
were detained at the time, but later escaped.  Or that is, some of them
escaped."
     "This wasn't at Brylon?" Cain couldn't make out too much detail in
the picture.  He noticed that the man who he guessed to be the leader,
based on his command bearing, had what could have been a name across the
right chest of whatever uniform he might have been wearing.  It spelled
out B-Y-R-N-E if he read it right.
     "Oh no, not at Brylon.  The station was only in the planning stages
then."
     "And you don't know where they went."
     "I'm afraid not.  As I said, this was of great interest to Commander
Adama.  I felt it would be of interest to you as well."
     "It certainly is.....interesting, Captain," Cain said.  "That I can
guarantee."


     For Ila the end of negotiations meant that her time aboard Brylon
was now a time to just "unwind" and partake in the shops, restaurants and
cultural activities the station had to offer.  On the third day, she
discovered that the Station had its own Concert Hall and for the next ten
cycles it had been the place she had frequented most.  The first two
nights alone, but then Bridge Office Kylie began accompanying her.  Of
the fifteen women who were still aboard the Pegasus as crew, Ila had
found Kylie the easiest to bond with and not simply because the two were
the same size and the young brunette woman had loaned some of her
wardrobe to Ila prior to the arrival at Brylon.  Kylie was the highest
ranking of the fifteen women left and that seemed by default to give her
a greater level of maturity than Ila had seen in the others.  Most of
them were several yahrens older than Kylie, ranging in age to as high as
thirty but the difference Ila had noticed is that whereas the other women
in the crew seemed like they could have been daughters to Ila, Kylie had
enough maturity to be more like a younger sister figure.  And that meant
another outlet for thoughtful conversation when she didn't feel like it
would be appropriate with Cain.
     "So after ten cycles of nightly exposure, can you tell if Zykonian
musicians as good as Colonial musicians?" Kylie asked as they exited the
Concert Hall and filed back among the crowds of Zykonians and other races
throughout.
     The one time Music instructor laughed, "They're a good enough
facsimile for me.  Considering I haven't been able to listen to any music
for three yahrens."
     "You know there are some old music discs and drives for portable
listening in the barracks.  Just about all kinds of genres I think are
represented from late fifth millennia Aquarian folk to contemporary
Caprican classical."
     "Really?" Ila asked as they moved past the Art Gallery.  They had
looked in on it once, and Ila had come away unimpressed.  Painting and
sculpture had never been her cup of java when it came to the arts.  She
had always been honest enough to admit that those who favored areas like
Music and Drama as she did, tended to be people who had no natural
affinity for craft arts like painting and sculpting and that had driven
her away from showing much appreciation for those areas.  Not to mention
the fact that painting and sculpting could often remind her of the "turf
wars" she'd been thrust into at the Caprican Fine Arts Institute so many
times over budgetary battles.  The painters and sculptors trying to get
more money at the expense of the Music and Drama Departments that Ila
always fought for with the tenacity of a tigress.
     "Yes," Kylie nodded, "Most of them I have to admit.....aren't ours. 
That is....a lot of them belonged to the crew who were evacuated to the
Galactica.  They didn't get a chance to take much of their personal
gear."
     "I see," Ila decided to probe, "How many other women in the crew
were there?"
     "Well we had about seventy who were evacuated.  Of course some of
those you have to remember were originally survivors from the rest of the
Fifth Fleet after Molocay.  But most of them were ours.  Med-techs,
support personnel, shuttle pilots.  Non-essential as Cain defined them."
     "And you were considered essential."
     "When you're on the Bridge manning the helm and navigation, you've
earned the right to be considered essential." 
     "True.  Is it rough, when there are so few of you compared to
several hundred men?"
     "Sometimes," Kylie admitted, "But.....of late, I don't seem to see
as much.....grumbling if you will, as there used to be.  The last sectan
it's almost.....disappeared."
     Ila stopped and looked at her, "You mean since we all had the
blackout and then found ourselves thrust clear across the galaxy?"
     "Come to think of it......yes." the Bridge Officer's eyebrow
knotted, "How'd you guess?"
     "An inner hunch," Ila smiled, thinking back to how she'd seen the
vision of Zac during that blackout, and also getting the sense that
things were going to be all right in the short-term.  And so far, all of
that had been proved correct as far as the Pegasus was concerned.  
     They came to a stop by the entrance to the Har-Bitah, and were just
in time to see the Station Commander leaving.  He came up to them with
his head bowed in a courteous fashion.
     "Good evening, Professor Ila," he said, "It is good to see you."
     "It is good to see you, Commander Hir-Zykor," she said politely.
     "You are enjoying the hospitality of the station, now that
the....work is over?"
     "Very much," Ila smiled, "Bridge Officer Kylie and I just came from
the Concert Hall."
     "Ah yes," he took note of the brunette woman.  "Your uncle is none
the worse for wear after his experience?"
     Ila tensed for a brief micron but then to her relief, Kylie answered
him right away without batting an eye, "He is quite fine, thank you.  And
he again is grateful for the mercy of Zykonian justice."
     "I hope he's remembered to thank Professor Ila," Hir-Zykor motioned,
"She is a *most* effective persuader!  At any rate, may you both enjoy
the hospitality and atmosphere of the Har-Bitah while you are still
here."
     He moved off, with just a slight stagger in his step which indicated
he had probably had one drink too many.  Ila looked over at Kylie and
breathed a sigh of relief.  "I'm glad you still remembered your role."
     "Cain said for as long as we're still here, I still have an
'uncle'," Kylie chuckled as they entered the establishment.  They decided
to sit in the restaurant area further from the main entrance where Ila
could hear the sounds of music.  Ila knew this wasn't the recorded music
that was generally piped through the sound system of the station to all
the kiosks, it was clearly live.  Remembering how restaurants and luxury
ships throughout the Colonies generally had their own residential
musicians, she was in the mood to sample something different.  
     "The funny thing about Wallis is that he's really not old enough to
be my uncle," Kylie said after they were seated and had given their drink
orders.  "I think Cain would have been better off casting me as his
younger sister."
     "More likely for that to have been cross-checked.  Uncle-niece would
have been less likely for them to know," Ila said as her ear focused on
the music.  It sounded like a keyboard, the electronic version of a
spinnet that could often imitate but never fully duplicate the natural
sound that Ila knew so well from being a more than passable spinnet
player herself.
     "Well I understand why the diplomatic precaution was taken," Kylie
went on as she leaned back and took in the atmosphere of the place. 
"Sometimes you take precautions that end up being unnecessary."
     "And sometimes, things happen unexpectedly that you never could have
taken precautions for."
     Their drinks arrived and they leaned back to sample them.  The
Zykonian version of ambrosia was more than passable to Ila.  The taste
even reminded her of the little sidewalk establishment she and Adama had
gone to after their first date.  The night they'd gone to the musical
drama they'd enjoyed so much. 
     What a night that was, she took another sip and lazily began to hum.
     "You know that tune?" Kylie frowned..
     "Hmmm?" she looked up.
     "That tune you were humming."
     "Oh," Ila blushed slightly,   "Sorry, for some reason I was thinking
of it just now."
     "With good reason," the Bridge Officer pointed across the room,
"That's the one that's playing right now."
     Ila, who'd been through more moments of sudden revelation than she
could keep up with in recent days looked over and saw the oversized
keyboard next to what looked like a giant plant.  She tried to discern
who was playing the instrument, but.....there was nothing but the plant. 
Or was it a plant?  No, she could see what looked like plant tentacles
working their way.....over the keyboard.  Playing an all too familiar
tune to her.
     "'My cup runneth over......" she softly sang along to it under her
breath, her disbelief mounting.
     "Ila?" Kylie was growing concerned.
     "Kylie," she was staring over at......whatever it was.  "How many
credits do you still have?"
     "About four hundred.  I only splurged for two new outfits and a case
of what tastes like Pisceran honey."
     "Do me a favor," her voice was calm.  "I want you to go to the
nearest electronics kiosk and get a mini-com recorder.  Can you do that?"
     "Sure, I think I know where one is on the level just above us."
     "If I'm not here, I'll be over there," her stare intensified as she
pulled out her Languatron.
     "Okay," Kylie shrugged and got up, glad that it was nothing serious. 
As soon as she was gone, Ila rose with her drink still in her hand, and
slowly made her way over to the keyboard.  The closer she got to it the
more she could see clearly that the "plant" was indeed a sentient
creature.  Totally unlike the Zykonians or any of the other species she'd
seen wandering through Brylon Station.  It reminded her of an inverted
artichon, with numerous tentacles, a bulbous head and a single red eye. 
Keeping herself under control, she waited for the familiar melody that
she had played so many times on the spinnet herself to end before she
spoke.
     "That's a lovely song," she said aloud.
     "Why thank you!  You are most kind," a high pitched voice emanated
from the creature.  And then it added with a level of surprise, "You are
human!"
     "Yes," Ila nodded, "Yes, I am.  You've.....met humans before,
haven't you?  And it was a human who.....taught you that song?"
     "Why certainly!  From the Galactica!  You know of the Galactica?"
     "Yes.  Yes, I do.  You met......Commander Adama?"
     "Indeed, I did!  Yes, that was a song he taught me.  I met his whole
family.  Captain Apollo and his wife Lieutenant Sheba.  And Lieutenant
Athena and her husband......Boomer, yes!  Why I spent.....several of
your.....sectars with them after they left Brylon."
     "You were with them *after* they left Brylon?" this Ila hadn't
expected and she thanked herself for having sent Kylie off to get a
recorder.  It was already obvious that she was going to spend a very long
time with this creature.  
     "Oh yes.  I stayed with them until they stopped later at the RB-33
space station.  And then I was able to take a transport back to my home
planet, Calcorya.  So very kind of them to make that possible!  I had not
been home in so long."
     "But you're back here now on Brylon Station."
     Several of the tentacles moved in a manner that Ila guessed was a
shrug.  The tone of the high-pitched voice indicated she'd guessed right.
     "We Calcoryans love to ply our trade throughout the star systems,"
the creature said, "After a half yahren, I found myself.....anxious to
return to the circuit.  When a transport arrived for Brylon
Station......I decided to return.  Overall, the atmosphere has
remained......pleasant.  Though so long as the Ziklagi Empire
exists......even in its now unstable condition, there will always be some
underlying tension." 
     "What is your name?" Ila seated herself at the empty table just by
him.
     "My name is Ozko-Bolzakian," the Cacloryan said.
     "It's a pleasure to meet you," she bowed her head respectfully,
oblivious to how repelling he looked.  "My name is Ila."
     A brief pause and she was sure that Ozko was frowning, "Your
name.....is familiar."
     "I am Commander Adama's wife," she smiled.  "And if you can spare
yourself from your wonderful keyboard playing, I think we have *much* to
talk about."

               
     One sectan later, the last night at Brylon arrived for the Pegasus. 
A final night of liberty and leave for crew aboard the Station.  A final
night of checking the final touch-ups and repairs that Zykonian
technicians had made to the venerable warship.  A final night of winding
down the last matters related to treaty implementation.
     And for Cain, Ila, and Tolen, a last night to share information of
vital importance before the Pegasus would leave......and critical
decisions would be made.
     "All right," the three of them were in the empty Flight Operations
room instead of his quarters because Cain wanted to make use of the
navigation screen.  "Let's start by going over everything we now know
about the Galactica in terms of what she did after she left Brylon
Station."
     He activated the screen and pointed his stick to the initial map
that had been generated after the Pegasus had found itself mysteriously
transported from the charted space regions of the Alpha Quadrant to an
area totally unknown to them.  Only now were the pieces being filled in,
and from a variety of different sources.
     "The Galactica engaged the task force of two baseships, commanded by
Baltar and Lucifer in this area that we mapped as Delta Section
originally.  Baltar chose to defect with a crew of independent centurions
and they destroyed Lucifer's support ship.  Now, Ila, please summarize
the critical matters that happened after this which you learned from
this......Ozko-Bolzakian."
     "You need to dispense with the adjective, Cain," Ila smiled thinly,
deciding some early levity was needed, given the magnitude of what was to
be discussed.
     "I'll remember not to be so instinctively.....prejudicial," the
Juggernaut returned it, "Proceed."
     "Ozko-Bolzakian came aboard the Fleet because he'd missed his
transport ship back to his home planet from Brylon, though it was no
guarantee that he'd be able to make it back by joining the Galactica.  At
any rate, he had a first hand view of the battle that resulted in
Baltar's defection.  Apparently this marked the beginning of what the
Fleet is calling a "Detente" whereby Baltar's ship and the centurions he
commands have been integrated into the overall command structure with
Adama retaining overall command."
     She looked down at her notes, "Incidentally, Ozko's information also
clears up a point of confusion in Lucifer's memory files regarding the
Cylon mole inside the Fleet that kept the task force informed of the
Galactica's movements while she was at Brylon.  The mole was Sire Geller
of the Council of Twelve."
     "I remember him when I appeared before the new Council on the
Galactica," Cain said.  "A former Sagitarian trade official."
     "Who at one time had been a prisoner of the Cylons in his younger
days and that resulted in his being brainwashed into becoming a sleeper
agent who was activated somehow during the time at Brylon to transmit
information over a great distance.  Geller apparently had access to a
rare piece of Kobollian technology that made long-range communication
from Brylon to Gomorrah possible."
     "So that's how they did it," Cain said with amazement.  "Our
ancestors were more advanced than any of us could have imagined."
     "The mole is no longer a problem?" Tolen interjected.
     "Not anymore," Ila shook her head.  "To resume.  After the Detente
was considered to be in place, the Galactica proceeded to a six planet
system in Beta Section on our map.  It was on one of those planets that
they found for the first time in their journey.....a native of Earth. 
Specifically, the commander of the group of Earth people depicted in the
photograph from Central Archives that Captain Xlax provided."
     Cain put up the image showing the six people on the screen.
     "This is truly the amazing thing." Ila went on, "Ozko actually
*knew* all of these people when they first entered Zykonian space.  It
was more than a generation ago, and it happened far away from Brylon. 
But apparently there were two ships from Earth and these six were the
survivors out of what was originally a crew of ten and somehow they ended
up in a Zykonian detention facility on a planet called Krylamic."
     "Which just goes to show how for all their benevolence, the
Zykonians have had their unenlightened moments," Tolen snorted.
     "Apparently, six of them in two ships, with Ozko's help escaped from
Krylamic.  Ozko never saw them again after that.....until the Galactica
found the commander on that planet in the six planet system, alive.  The
commander's name was Byrne."
     "The only survivor of the crew?" Cain asked.
     "Yes and no," Ila said.  "The woman in the picture survived
initially but was dead by that point.  But she and Byrne had a daughter
and the daughter was alive."
     "An actual Earth native," Tolen said with amazement.  "Tangible
proof of Earth's existence.  That had to be a major morale boost for the
Fleet."
     "It was," Ila nodded.  "But there's more to it.  The woman, whose
name if I heard Ozko correctly was 'Genesis' had been killed during a
raid on the planet by Zykonian pirates.  And during this same
confrontation, the third member of the crew, a man named Allen, was
abducted.  Now the reason that's important is because all those yahrens
later after Byrne and his daughter were rescued, the Galactica was able
to trace the same pirates and Allen to a space station called RB-33."
     "That name came up in some of the discussions the crew had with the
Zykonians," Tolen said.  "An older, less advanced station located in what
they called the old Bosaq Frontier.  An empire that used to control the
territory until its collapse paved the way for the emergence of Zykonian
pirates to pretty much control that section of space because it's too far
away for the civilian government to do much about them.  Especially with
their hands full against the Ziklagi."
     "Correct," Ila noted.  "At any rate, this brings us to the end of
the line regarding what Ozko could tell us about the Galactica because
after this, he was able to take a transport back to his home planet,
where he remained for six sectars before returning to Brylon Station. 
There's a lot I could tell you about how the Galactica rescued Allen and
how they dealt with the pirates, but it really doesn't add much that's
important from an immediate standpoint."
     "No," Cain reached over and changed the image on the navigation
screen once again.  This time they saw a Zykonian map that showed charted
space as it extended outward from Brylon Station to the distant RB-33
station.  "The important thing is.....just a little under a yahren ago,
the Galactica was here.  And where they went next.....we don't know."
     "But we do know this," Ila said turned a page in her notes.  "And
this is confirmed not just from Ozko but also from the Zykonians during
their discussions with Adama and also cross-checks with data from
Lucifer's memory banks.  The Galactica's general course heading toward
Earth is the same.  Circumstances occasionally require her to deviate
from it, but inevitably they always return to it because according to
Adama they know that Earth lies somewhere along it."
     "And the course heading is?" Cain asked.
     Adama's wife took a breath, "Epsilon Vector 22, on a circular
reckoning course of zero-zero-zero, point nine.  A star system with nine
planets and one sun."
     She let her words hang for half a centon before resuming. 
"According to Adama.....Earth is on that trajectory.  He doesn't know if
it will be found soon....or in a generation.  But at some point, some
how, it will be there."
     Again there was only silence in the Operations Room.  Finally, Tolen
broke it.
     "There's just one loose end in all this," the executive officer
said, "Did these Earth ships reach this area of space by following that
heading?"
     "No," Ila shook her head, "Apparently they did not come here by
design.  They passed through some kind of phenomenon they referred to as
a wormhole."
     "I've heard of that," Cain said, "The technical descriptions would
put you to sleep, but the animated visual depictions of them are enough
to give you nightmares for sectans.  The only other detail I'm not
picking up from this is what happened to the second ship with the other
three Earth natives that escaped from this detention planet?"
     "It was never seen again," Ila said.  "Ozko said he thinks, but
can't be sure that Adama knew more about what happened to it, but he
never revealed that to him.  It was probably something kept on a
need-to-know basis only."
     The silence returned to the room.  Ila and Tolen were waiting for
Cain to advance things along, but the Juggernaut was hesitating, as
though he knew that a critical hour of decision was at last arriving for
them and he was reluctant to finally bring it to a head.
     "Commander," Tolen said gently.  "I think it's time."
     Cain was looking across at Ila.  She could see the hesitation and
reluctance in him.  How much for her sake and how much for his, she
couldn't tell.  She knew he felt both. 
     "Well," Cain finally cleared his throat, "I think.....taking all of
this information into account, we can agree on one thing.  There is no
scenario I can envision that would ever dissuade Adama from the goal of
finding Earth.  In the time since I last saw him, he has clearly found
more.  Much more in the way of tangible evidence that confirms Earth as a
legitimate, definable goal for his people.  And with the presence of
Earth people within his ranks.....he would regard the idea of abandoning
Earth as a betrayal, no matter how the argument was made to him......and
no matter who made the argument to him."
     Ila slowly lowered her head but showed no other emotion.
     "The only question we can confront for ourselves is this.  Are we
prepared to join Adama's quest and make it our own?"
     He began to pace about the room.  "There are, I will admit, powerful
arguments in favor of joining Adama's quest.  Starting with the fact that
some outside force that we must regard as benevolent, chose to transport
us clear across the stars to this section of space that brings us in the
closest proximity we've been to the Galactica since we were parted from
her.  We are now closer to her than we are to the Colonies.  Assuming
that Adama has been forced to maintain the slower levels of speed that
the rest of the Fleet must travel......he may not be very far away from
us even now.  If we were to travel to this......Space Station RB-33, we
might conceivably learn the final pieces that would help us pinpoint his
exact location.  Can we totally rule out the possibility that the outside
force brought us into this area of near proximity to the Galactica,
because.....her destiny is our destiny too?"
     Cain stopped pacing and looked out at them again, "And.....is it
possible that we're this close to him now because......Adama could use
our assistance as he travels through.....whatever other alien forces lie
in his path?  He obviously doesn't have to worry about the Cylon Empire
any longer.  But......it's obvious from what we've seen with this
Zykonian-Ziklagi conflict that the potential for additional alien
empires, with military capabilities of their own do exist.  And they
could be no less a danger to Adama than the Cylons originally were. 
Certainly it's within our capacity to help him there."
     He then took a breath and both Ila and Tolen thought they heard a
sniffling sound as though the Juggernaut was trying to choke a kind of
sob from rising up within him.  But when the words came out, they were
clear and normal.
     "There are of course personal considerations involved that apply
to.....all of us.  Not just myself.  Not just you, Ila.  But many others
in the crew as well.  To be reunited with our friends, our comrades
and.....even loved ones in some cases would be a blessing."
     Now, Cain put his hand up to his mouth and coughed.  Not once, but
twice.  As though this was a more effective way to push whatever inner
emotional anxiety he was feeling back down.  Then, he cleared his throat
and went on.  Ila was convinced that the next word he was going to say
was 'but" and on that she was proved right.
     "But personal considerations of course can not be the basis for
guiding us.  We must also ask.....if we can envision scenarios for the
Galactica where our help is not needed.  And it must be said that what
we've learned in our time here tells us that the Galactica now has much
more at her disposal than she's ever had.  Starting with the fact that a
defecting Cylon baseship effectively doubles her strength and her
firepower.  In addition to that, the Galactica received many of the
technological breakthroughs at Brylon that we have received, and surely
she has learned how to apply those as well.  While we of course can not
presume that the journey the Galactica has made in nearly the last yahren
or so has been uneventful......neither is she powerless.  And knowing
what a great military leader Adama is, I think we can trust his judgment
to handle any new crises he might confront."
     Cain paused and it was clear that the crux of the case would be made
now.
     "There is also this," he began, "We are faced with the simple fact
that while there is a case to be made for joining Adama.....there is a
greater case to be made for not joining him.  And I say this, with the
greatest and heaviest amount of sadness I have ever found myself saying
in all my yahrens of service as a Warrior."
     "Cain," Ila suddenly interrupted.  "I think we know what it comes
down to.  I think you should save that speech for the crew tomorrow. 
It'll be more effective if it comes from the heart then, and not as if
you were doing it for the second time."
     Her words of blunt wisdom caused him to relax and he broke into a
smile.
     "Thanks, Ila," he said simply, looking down at his boots,
"I.....needed that.  Tolen.....you'll have them all here as soon as we're
out of Zykonian space and headed for.....the Epsilon 22 course heading."
     "Yes, sir," the Executive Officer rose and debated as to whether he
should say anything else.  But in the end, Tolen decided that a simple
"goodnight" to Cain and Ila was sufficient.  That now left the two
in-laws alone.  Alone with their own personal thoughts of anguish and
conflict about what was to come.
     "Ila," Cain said simply, "When we reach the Epsilon 22 course
heading tomorrow.....I want you to get yourself in the shuttle.  I'll
make sure you're launched and I'll wait so that when I leave and go in
the opposite direction......there'll be no mistake this time and you
won't end up back here."
     Adama's wife took more than a centon to answer him.
     "You think I should go."
     "You've done your duty, Ila," Cain said.  "I think the Lords were
delaying your reunion with Adama long enough so......you could tell me
the truth about what was happening back in the Colonies and make me
realize what it is I have to do.  And you can tell Sheba I'm alive and
well, and how happy I am that she's found a man who loves her in Apollo. 
And then.....you can be where you belong with Adama and enjoy the rest of
your yahrens together."
     "You're saying there's nothing left for me to contribute?"
     "I didn't say that," Cain said.  "I'm just saying.....it's not your
job anymore.  You've done everything that's necessary."
     "Have I?" Ila rose from her chair and looked him in the eye.  Every
inch of her was professional with no emotions intruding whatsoever.  "I
still haven't told you about most of the particulars of my last yahren in
the Resistance."
     "We can go over all that now.  Tell me all about Dr.......Ravashol
and what he's done for the Resistance."
     "Cain it's even more complicated than that," Ila felt her inner
strength increasing.  "If you've decided to go back to join the
Resistance, there are nuances in the whole Resistance command structure
you need to understand.  Commander Deval is considered the default
leader, but he has to maintain order and coordination among at least a
half dozen other Resistance leaders scattered throughout the Inner
Colonies.  And it hasn't always been easy to do that.  Because most of
these movements were like us, hiding deep underground for the first six
sectars to a yahren, that means each movement has its own sense of
parochialism.  Trying to get a spirit of teamwork in order for the
greater good hasn't been an easy task.  But we know that teamwork is
needed, and not individual leaders trying to strike their own blows of
personal glory.  That means if you go back, you're going to have to
change your whole approach to fighting battles.  It's not going to be a
one-man personal crusade like you were planning for when you decided to
leave Adama."
     The Juggernaut was silent.  It was clear to Ila though that she had
just pointed out a fact-of-life to him that hadn't crossed his mind at
all.
     "How important do you regard my work negotiating these agreements
with the Zykonians, Cain?"
     "Without you it would have been a disaster," Cain freely
acknowledged.  "I would have walked out on them and told them to go to
Hades the instant I learned about the hoax they pulled to try and get us
to do their dirty work for them as far as the Ziklagi are concerned. 
We'd have been left with no food, no fuel and no technological benefits."
     "And no information on the present status of the Galactica," Ila
added.  "The bottom line, Cain, is that you need me more than ever, and
what's more I *know* you need me because I understand how the Resistance
works.  I can be the go-between with you and the Resistance leaders and
keep our movement from collapsing because of a clash of egos.  I know
that's not what you want to happen, Cain, but I know the potential is
there just because......I know you very well, and you know yourself very
well.  You're the greatest commander in the history of the Colonies, but
you're also the lousiest when it comes to tactful diplomacy and being
part of an integrated command system."  
     The Juggernaut's taut expression slowly turned into a disarming
smile, "Is it easier for you to be this blunt with me, now that we know
we're.......family?"
     Ila relaxed and returned the smile, "Maybe so, Cain.  Maybe so.  And
maybe......that's all part of what the Lord's plan has been in bringing
us to this section of space.  To learn things that can put our minds at
ease at how the ones we love have been doing, and.....to deepen our
understanding of each other.  And to let us realize that.......Adama has
his chosen task, and we have ours."
     She came up to him.  The determination in her voice increasing.
     "I'm staying, Cain.  I won't deny how much it tears at my heart to
say that.  But.....if I left tomorrow, I'd only be complicating things
for Adama and what the Lords lifted him up to do. I'd be complicating
your ability to be a vital part of the Resistance, and.......worst of
all, I'd betray the cause I've been part of that's justified my continued
existence these last three yahrens.  I can't let any of those things
happen just for the sake of......my personal happiness."
     Cain felt an admiration within himself for Ila that he'd seldom felt
for anyone.  At that instant, he saw how Ila had become a mirror of
himself.  Willing to give up the things that were dear to her, even when
there was a chance to have them again, in the name of a higher purpose.
More than ever, Cain knew that Ila was right.  He did need her.  Not in
any improper sense but in the truest sense of the term, rooted in working
together and in friendship.  
     So moved was Cain that it took him more than a centon to finally
speak.
     "It doesn't have to be tomorrow," he said quietly, "But......the
shuttle is always there for you.  If you ever decide
that.....circumstances have changed."
     "I know," Ila nodded, "In a way.....that makes it easier for me to
stay now.  At least I know that.....my decision isn't
necessarily......permanent."
     "I hope it won't be," Cain's voice was down to a whisper.  "I truly,
truly pray and hope that it won't be."
     "Let the will of the Lords be done," her voice was down to a quiet
calm of acceptance.  "They will make it known.......in their own good
time."
     The Juggernaut drew his shoulders up and took a breath.
     "If you don't want to be at the briefing with the crew
tomorrow......"
     "I'll be here," Ila quietly interrupted.  "From this point
on....there isn't a single briefing you give I can afford to miss."
     "True," he nodded and then, not knowing what else he could say or
do, added, "Good night, Ila."
     "Good night, Cain."
     Ila left the Flight Operations Center, stoic and with her head held
high.  Walking back to her quarters looking every inch the proud, noble
woman who had earned the respect of the Resistance leadership in the
Colonies, and who had rapidly earned it aboard the Pegasus as well.
     It was only when she was in her quarters alone, and with the lights
off that her outer facade shattered and she spent the rest of the night
sobbing uncontrollably.  So that by the time the next day came, there
would be no more tears left within her.


     There were no tears from Cain when he returned to his quarters. 
Only the quiet of final introspection as he understood well the
ramifications to his own life, and his own sense of loss that was about
to become permanent.  
     He sat down and quietly activated the holo-tape image in his file
that he had looked at so many times over the last two and a half yahrens. 
The same holo-image that he'd shown Apollo and which he now realized had
been the initial trigger for Adama's son that had set him down the path
to becoming Cain's son-in-law.
     "Happy Birthday, Father," Sheba's smiling image radiated in front of
his eyes, "I love you."
     Cain froze the playback so that her image stayed up.  And then, he
let out a heavy sigh that represented the limit of how far he would go
emotionally.
     You look just like your mother did when I met her, he thought.  No
wonder Apollo fell in love with you.  He saw in you exactly what I saw in
your mother.
     What would it have been like, he wondered, if Sheba had followed her
mother's path in life and not his?  Choosing a life in the theater where
Sheba could have channeled the side she'd inherited from him to a life of
success and independence even greater than what her mother had
accomplished as Caprica's greatest actress?  Sheba's drive to be the
best, and her determination to be nothing less than that, did reflect his
legacy.  But she didn't have to channel that into becoming a warrior
trying to emulate him.  That, he was now convinced, was something she'd
chosen more out of a sense of obligation.  She was his only child.  She
had to continue the legacy because there had been no son of his upon whom
the mantle would automatically have fallen.
     But there might have been, Cain let his mind drift to a subject that
for twenty yahrens had been an unspoken one in his life.  When Bethany
had become pregnant for a second time when Sheba was four......and had
lost the child.  A child that would have been a son.  His son, upon whom
the responsibility would have rested.  Freeing Sheba from any sense of
obligation he might have placed upon her when she was growing up to
become a warrior, and which he knew deep down, Bethany didn't want to see
happen.
     Of course even if the Lords had chosen otherwise and the would-be
son had lived, Sheba might still have chosen the path of being a warrior. 
The difference would have been that she would have done it completely on
her own and from her own sense of determination and without any pressure
or prodding, subliminal or otherwise from him.  In fact, Cain *knew* that
if he had a son ready to follow in his footsteps, he would have joined
Bethany in discouraging her from doing likewise.  Becoming a warrior in
that context would have been her statement of independence, and not an
act of obligation.
     Considering that it had on many levels been an obligation, it was
amazing that ultimately, there had been so much of himself in Sheba that
allowed her to become the best warrior on the Pegasus.  Everyone
recognized that she had earned the honor to command Silver Spar Squadron
and no one had ever accused Cain of engaging in nepotism.  But if the
pressure had been off......Sheba could have gone one of two ways.  She
could have become a greater success in a line of work similar to her
mother's.......or she could have been an even greater warrior than she'd
become because it would have been all determination and no obligation on
her part.
     Whatever the case, Cain could look at her image and now admit
honestly that being her father's daughter and more importantly, his only
child, had put pressures on her shoulders that had ultimately held her
back.  Kept her from showing the sensitive part of her that represented
her mother to others.  Kept her from letting herself look for love and
happiness in her own life because pleasing him and *wanting* to please
him had to come first.  That had been yet another reason why Sheba had so
resented Cassiopeia's presence in his life, because in the context of
everything else, it had represented not just a perceived slight on her
mother's memory, but a sense that she had failed him.  And if she failed
him in anything.....then her life itself could only seem like a failure.
     But you were never a failure, Baby, Cain thought as he kept looking
at the image of her.  Anything that made you think that......it was my
fault.  I hope you've forgiven me for that.
     Perhaps ultimately......the fact that Sheba was sealed now was proof
enough that she had.  And that she had moved on from trying to think
first of pleasing him and upholding the legacy of being Commander Cain's
daughter.  That even if she was still a warrior......it was for herself.
     And that was why......Cain knew he could finally let go of her.  And
make his decision on what he had to do with an even clearer conscience
than he'd felt when he'd left her two and a half yahrens ago.
     "I love you always, Baby," he whispered aloud in the lonely dark of
his quarters. 
     And then he shut off the hologram and went to bed.          

Epilogue

     The air on the Bridge had been one of almost quiet solemnity when
the Pegasus cleared 
all moorings and left Brylon Station the next morning.  When the final
exchange of heartfelt goodbyes from Commander Hir-Zykor had taken place,
everyone on the Bridge from Cain to Ila to Tolen to Ham to Kylie and the
other spectators who had gathered like Captain Skyler and the agro-tech
Wallis, had just watched the station recede from view until it was gone. 
But even then, the silent solemnity continued until Brylon V itself was
gone from view.  Only then, was there a seemingly collective exhale and a
return to normal operations aboard the battlestar.  
     Cain understood the reasons why.  Brylon Station had proved to be
more than just a place where critical negotiations had taken place to
give the Pegasus much that would benefit her in the long days and months
ahead.  It had also offered for the crew, a much needed time of respite. 
When after nearly four yahrens since the Battle of Molocay, those aboard
the Pegasus could get their first true reminder of what it was like to
enjoy life again.
     And now its up to us to make it possible for our people to live like
this again, Cain thought before giving the order to Tolen that he wanted
all warriors and section leaders to report to the Flight Operations room
immediately.


     They were all assembled, including Ila.  In addition, the Unicom had
been set up so that all other members of the Pegasus's crew currently on
duty could hear what he had to say.  The most important moment in the
history of the Pegasus in two and a half yahrens.
     Cain began by giving the crew a similar recounting of what he, Tolen
and Ila had gone over the previous night about the Galactica's situation. 
The case that did exist to follow her.  But now, came the moment when
Cain had to give the remarks Ila had stopped him from making last night.
     "When I made the decision two and a half yahrens ago to not have us
stay with the Galactica, it was with the greatest reluctance and with a
great deal of personal anguish," Cain began, "Today......I make a
decision that is made with even greater reluctance and even more personal
anguish.....for ourselves.  That while the Galactica is not relatively
speaking, too far ahead of us......we face a situation where our
obligation must to be to a cause other than the one Commander Adama is
committed to.
     "Before I go further with this, I want this absolutely understood. 
If the situation in the Colonies represented what I had envisioned it to
be when I began this......crusade for want of a better term......I would
not be undertaking this action.  I freely admit that when this whole
thing began for us, I envisioned a situation where our home planets lay
permanently devastated and devoid of remaining human life, and where the
only thing we could do was basically one giant battle that would let us
go down swinging and hope the Galactica would have more security for the
long-term in her quest for Earth.  In short.....I committed all of you to
a path that I knew in my mind from the beginning, was one where I
expected you to accept your eventual deaths in a final blaze of glory
against the Cylons.  And for that.... I apologize to all of you."
     A low murmur went up from the crowd gathered in the room and among
those who were listening.  This was Cain humbling himself in a way that
none of them ever would have imagined.  
     "As events have turned out however," Cain went on, "My decision at
the time has proved right.....for entirely different reasons.  Because in
making that decision to have us spend two and a half yahrens quietly and
surreptitiously preparing ourselves for a suicidal battle.....we found
ourselves in position to intercept the shuttle bearing Commander Adama's
wife, and from her learn that the situation in the Colonies is not as any
of us thought it to be.  That there is a Resistance movement we can be
part of.  And thanks to her insights, and to the new breakthroughs we
have achieved in the form of our four Cylon defectors, and the gifts we
have received from the memory banks of IL class Cylon Lucifer and those
from the Zykonians......we are in position to strike a blow against the
Cylon Empire that offers us not the inevitable fires of an honorable
death.......but a true hope for victory.  It is because *that* goal is
not beyond reach, that I make this decision to leave the Galactica to her
quest for Earth.....while we begin on this day the first step in the
journey home."
     Cain took a sip of water from the container he'd placed on the
lectern behind him.  This too, the men knew was not a normal gesture of
his, and it further underscored the burden he was carrying.
     "Professor Ila, I will add, has chosen to stay with us, even though
she has at her disposal the means to leave and be reunified with her
family aboard the Galactica.  She has done this because she recognizes
the insights she can provide to all of us in understanding what's at
stake in the Colonies and how that can also help to make the difference
between winning and losing.  I think all of us at this time, should
salute her for her courage and integrity in making this decision......at
a personal cost to herself greater than any of ours."
     A thunderous applause erupted from all of those assembled in the
room, and it was even joined in by those listening in like Kylie on the
Bridge and Dr. Arnoff in the Electronics room.  Ila, her expression proud
and appreciative, and without any of the emotion she'd expended privately
last night in her quarters, rose to accept the applause with a bow of her
head and then she sat down again.
     "And now that the decision has been made," Cain resumed, his voice
firmer and closer to that of the Juggernaut, "Where do we go from here in
taking the journey back?  The key to that begins with the course heading
the Galactica is following to Earth.  Epsilon Vector 22, on a circular
reckoning course of zero-zero-zero, point nine.  We simply start from
that heading.....and follow it back.  It is my understanding from our
newest arrival, Agro-Tech Specialist Wallis and his wife Agro-Specialist
Kelli, that the Galactica began following this heading no more than six
to eight sectans after the Battle of Gomorrah."
     The slightly nervous agro-tech realized that Cain had been asking
him to speak up and he awkwardly rose from his chair.  "Um.....yes,
Commander that's true.  We were.....following that course heading for the
better part of a yahren before we arrived at Brylon.  With....occasional
deviations, but we always returned to it."
     "Fine.  That is what we will do in reverse since that means by the
time we end up where the Galactica started, we will be close to the
beginnings of charted space in the Alpha Quadrant which means we will be
in proximity to what I intend to be our first active combat target.  And
that target is the Cylon outer capital at Gomorrah."
     Another murmur went up from the audience.  All of it matter-of-fact
and approving with no underlying air of dissent.
     "According to Lucifer's memory banks and Professor Ila's
intelligence, Gomorrah is still in an active functioning state and has
not been impacted by the developments that have plagued the Cylon Empire
in the Colonies......or that resulted in the defection of Baltar's
baseship to Adama.  Consequently, when we reach Gomorrah, *that*," he
abruptly banged his swagger stick against the navigation board, "is when
the Pegasus delivers her first blow on behalf of the Resistance."
     The murmur grew louder and more approving this time.
     "In the meantime," Cain grew quiet, "Until we reach Gomorrah, we
will continue to avoid all forms of combat with any non-Cylon race we
encounter.  We must maintain our weaponry and our viper fighting force
for one enemy only.  No other conflict we come across is any of our
business or concern.  And that is why as we make our way back I intend to
make use of the charts provided to us by the Zykonians to avoid every
last sector of space inhabited by the Ziklagi and their allies.  We are
fortunate that Zykonian intelligence says they are in a state of civil
war that makes them less likely to probe their outer frontier areas that
lie in the initial stages of our journey back.  But to be absolutely
certain that we are not distracted, I'm prepared to deviate from the
Epsilon 22 heading if need be so that I know the Ziklagi are totally
behind us without ever becoming aware of our existence."
     A number of the warriors were nodding, including Captain Skyler and
Lieutenant Angus.  During their time on Brylon Station, they had gotten
to know more about the Ziklagi and it left them with little desire to
become involved in any kind of fight with them.
     "Now this doesn't mean however that we're going to just keep moving
full speed until we reach Gomorrah.  Obviously, as we make our way back
we still have to be concerned with finding additional planets for
necessary resources.  In fact, the first planet we'll be stopping at is
one where again, according to Wallis and Kelli, we know the Galactica
made considerable use of.  A planet full of food resources,
but.....unusual weather patterns.  And yet, that's not the only reason
why that planet is worth stopping at.  This so-called "weather planet" as
it came to be known in the Fleet is also a planet that shows signs of
something we're going to be actively searching for on other planets
between here and Gomorrah.  And that is signs of the original journey to
Earth by our ancient ancestors, the Kobollians."
     Cain moved forward again, "The existence of Earth confirms
everything we have read in the Book of the Word and the Testament of
Arkada about Kobollian civilization.  That it possessed technology
greater than anything known to the minds of present-day man.  If we were
to find.....examples of that technology our ancestors destroyed when they
settled the Colonies, but which the Thirteenth Tribe possessed during
their journey......we may end up finding yet more that will aid us in our
long-term goal of helping the Resistance take back our Civilization."
     He then paused for effect, "We may even find things that if applied
properly could even allow us to one day do that which at present we can
not do, and that is to contact the Galactica directly from wherever we
are."
     The positive murmur began to build once again.
     "So that gentlemen.....and ladies of the Pegasus, represents what we
will be doing from this day forward, and what our goals are.  It will not
be an easy task......but unlike the task I asked of you two and a half
yahrens ago, it is not a hopeless task.
     "May the Lord of Kobol bless our brethren aboard the Galactica and
in her Fleet as they search for the final location of Earth......and may
the Lords also bless us all in our journey back."
     And finally, a simple solitary word to end it all, "Dismissed."
     Every person in the room bolted to their feet and was applauding and
roaring their approval for Cain at near deafening levels.  The Juggernaut
stopped in mid-step toward the side exit and with the prideful smile
befitting the legend that was Commander Cain, he tipped his swagger stick
to show his respect to his crew.  And then, he was gone.
     Even then, the applause continued for him.  And in the front row,
Ila was applauding with the same vigorous level that all of the warriors
were.  Completely at peace with events in her entire mind, heart and
soul.
     Now it truly begins, she thought.  The Lords will be done.

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