BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
SEASON TWO 
EPISODE 1 (SEASON PREMIERE)
GHOSTS OF THE PAST
Written By:  Shawn L. Scialo

PREVIEW:  
     Two months after the events of "The Hand of God," the weary
survivors of the colonies approach the first anniversary of the cylon
holocaust that destroyed the 12 planets of mankind.  As the Galactica
approaches a strange nebula, Adama is under intense scrutiny for his
"illegal" release of the traitor, Baltar.  Meanwhile, Starbuck
announces his intentions of marrying Cassie to Apollo while the two are
on a deep space probe.  The two warriors then stumble upon a planet
which may hold a secret to the whereabouts of Earth.  Back on the
Galactica, the crew is haunted by dreams or visions of loved ones long
gone.  A mysterious nebula seems to hold the answers.

                    CHAPTER ONE

     Two months removed from receiving their second gold cluster
awards, the highest honor that can be bestowed on a colonial warrior,
Captain Apollo and Lieutenant Starbuck guided their vipers through the
cosmos on a deep probe for the battlestar Galactica.  Their first gold
clusters had been awarded to them shortly after they guided the rag-tag
colonial fleet through the dangerous Nova of Madigon.  Apollo had
volunteered himself along with Starbuck and Boomer, to clear a
minefield that blocked the colonial fleets path to the fuel rich planet
of Carillon.  Shortly thereafter, the colonials were betrayed by the
devious Ovions who had sold them out to the cylons.  Several sectons
after the battle of Carillon had been won , commander Adama awarded the
three brave warriors their promised military award in a private
ceremony in his chambers.  Neither Boomer, Starbuck, or Apollo wanted
an elaborate ceremony at a time when so many were still suffering in
their fleet.
     Now, things had changed.  It was true, of course, that the human
survivors still lived in cramped quarters with meager rations, but they
had gotten over the initial shock of losing everything.  Of losing the
colonies.  They had begun to forge lives for themselves on the small,
metal worlds of the colonial fleet.  With the support and encouragement
of their president and commander, Adama, the people of the fleet once
again attended sporting events, concerts, and even indulged themselves
in ceremony.  
     That is why when the most improbable of plans actually worked,
Starbuck and Apollo being able to sneak aboard a cylon basetar and
destroy its scanners, Adama and the council of twelve insisted on an
elaborate celebration to be witnessed by every man, woman and child in
the fleet.   The ruling body of the colonials wanted their people to
cheer and feel a part of the victory.   The ceremony itself was held in
the Galactica's large shuttle bay, the same one where just sectons
earlier, the fleet had witnessed the promotion of the late commander
Kronos.  
     Inter-fleet broadcasting carried the ceremony live so that
everyone in the fleet could take part in the celebration.  Entire
families gathered in front of every available video monitor to witness
their two most heroic defenders of freedom, Apollo and Starbuck,
receive their second gold clusters in less than a yahren.  Of course,
Apollo was quite embarrassed by all the attention, but Starbuck soaked
it up.  Apollo's acceptance speech was short and to the point. 
Starbuck's took up half a centar and was interrupted several times by
hecklers in the audience.  Each time he was interrupted, Starbuck would
point out the heckler and tell an embarrassing little story about them. 
Soon after the ceremony, Boomer, Jolly and Greenbean were nowhere to be
found.  They had left the party, completely mortified by the quick
witted Starbuck.
     As the three hecklers left the bay, someone heard Boomer say,
"Fellas....we've just been Starbucked!"


     "Starbuck, we'll you just spit it out?  I haven't seen you fidget
like this since ..."
     "Apollo, what's wrong?" asked a perplexed Starbuck.
     Apollo's thoughts had drifted back to the last time he had
witnessed the usually unflappable lieutenant stammer and fidget like a
daggit on a sunspot.  It was the day he had announced his plans to seal
Serina, the beautiful newswoman from Caprica.  Starbuck had later
admitted to Apollo that he was somewhat jealous.  It had been a
touching moment between the two best friends.  Now, it reminded Apollo
of his late wife.  He tried to choke back the growing feelings of dread
and hurt and concentrate on his friend in the viper not far from his own.
     "Apollo?"
     "I'm fine.  I was just thinking back to the last time I had to
deal with a certain  nervous and unsettled lieutenant.  Do you have
something you want to tell me, Starbuck?  You haven't been able to
formulate a complete sentence since we left the Galactica," Apollo
deadpanned.
     "Yeah," sighed Starbuck.  "Well, buddy, I've made a really big
decision and I felt you should be the first to know."
     "Well, spit it out!"
     "I've decided to ask Cassiopea to marry me."
     Apollo was stunned.  Starbuck married?  Impossible.  Just a secton
ago, Apollo had had to pull the oversexed lieutenant away from a very
willing Brie at the bar of the officer's lounge.  And just a couple of
days before that, Starbuck had been really touchy freely with
lieutenant Dietra after a triad match.  What could have possibly
happened for him to have such a change of heart overnight?
     "Starbuck, is Cassie..."
     "Pregnant?!  No, of course not!" exclaimed Starbuck.
     "I'm sorry, pal.  I just didn't see this coming.  If it's what you
really want, then of course I'm happy for you."
     "Gee, thanks," said a slightly agitated Starbuck.
     "C'mon, Starbuck!  In the last month alone, you've tried to mate
with half the females on the Galactica!  And, I would be shocked if
none of that hasn't found it's way to Cassie's ears."
     "I...I w-was just... y'know...sowing my oats."
     Apollo burst out laughing.  Starbuck looked over at his friends
fighter and could see him shaking his head from side to side in the
cockpit.
     "Look," Starbuck continued.  "I've been doing a lot of soul
searching the last few sectons and I've come to the conclusion that
Cassie is the best thing for me.  And, I think I'm the best thing for
her too.  I mean if I wait until we find Earth to get sealed, I could
be an old man."
     Apollo's smile faded away now.  The thought of meandering through
the universe and never finding a safe haven for their people was a
depressing but realistic concern for all colonials.  Apollo blinked
himself out of that thought but the next thing that hit him made him
feel even worse.
     "What about Athena, Starbuck?"
     Starbuck hated talking with Apollo about his relationship with his
little sister.  It had always made him uncomfortable.  While it was
true that Starbuck had once felt something like love for Athena, the
fire had been completely stamped out just after the destruction of the
colonies.  Athena had made it clear that she didn't have time for a
relationship, especially with the likes of Starbuck, when so much was
uncertain now in all of their lives.  Starbuck reacted spitefully when
he made love to Cassie in  a launch tube so soon after his breakup with
Athena.  Of course, Athena had the last laugh there when she released
the steam purge on the hot and bothered lieutenant.  He couldn't sit
without pain from those burns for days.  
     Starbuck knew that Athena would be back, though.  The confident,
cigar chomping warrior knew her attraction to him was too intense.  He
also knew she hated him for that.
     "Apollo, I'll always feel something very special for your sister. 
But, it just wasn't meant to be.  Athena's too career oriented and
headstrong for me.  You know that."
     "Just break it to her gently, ok?  No matter what she says, I know
she still loves you," said Apollo.
     Apollo's last statement makes Starbuck think for a centon.  He
smiles a mischievous grin, then shakes his head to wipe it from his face.
     "Hey, buddy, I've loved a lot of women in my life.  You know that. 
But , I can honestly say that I've only been in love with three.  Three
very special, beautiful women," says Starbuck as the grin once again
appears on his face. 
     Apollo smiled, "Cassie, Athena, and..."
     "Aurora," finished Starbuck.
     After a long moment, Apollo cleared his throat.  He had been
thinking of his own brief engagement to Serina.
     "Starbuck, congratulations.  I really mean it.  I know you love
Cassie," said a somber captain Apollo.
     Inside his cockpit, Starbuck  looked over at Apollo's viper to see
him giving the thumbs up sign.
     BLIP!
     "Apollo?"
     "I see it.  Scanner detects massive life form readings on
planetoid dead ahead."
     "There's something else, captain.  Some sort of high energy
yielding substance," reported Starbuck.
     "Well, we're here to look.  Let's go!" said Apollo as both
colonial warriors kicked in their turboes and sped towards the alien
planet.     


     Isabella, the newest reporter on the IFB staff, had just finished
her report about the upcoming observance of the one yahren anniversary
of the holocaust.  Throughout the fleet, people are discussing her
observations with family, friends and strangers alike.  It had become
painfully obvious over the past several centars that the entire
population was feeling anxiety and incredible sadness about the
infamous date that was quickly approaching.  Even with the last cylon
encounter occurring only 2 months ago, the majority of the fleet wanted
to stop their journey and settle on the next habitable planet.  Many
are simply tired of trudging through space and living in horrible
conditions with no end in sight.  These people of the fleet live in a
constant state of fear.  When is the next cylon attack coming?  Will we
survive it?  Where is the fleet's next fuel source?  Can we maintaining
our food supply?  These are the thoughts that weigh heavily on the
minds of the colonial people.
     Another subject touched on by Interfleet Broadcasting's beautiful
brunette was also causing a stir throughout the fleet.  Commander Adama
had struck a deal with the traitor of all humans, Baltar, in order to
supply Apollo and Starbuck with the necessary intelligence to destroy
the cylon basestar.  In return, Adama had agreed to release the human
abode on the next habitable planet.  He even promised Baltar short
range communications.  
     Before anyone in the fleet knew what had happened, Baltar was set
free on a desolate world with rations and an ancient short wave
communications device.  The people of the fleet were furious.  Even the
staunchest of Adama supporters questioned the commanders decision and
his misuse of power.  This led to a formal board of inquiry conducting
an investigation into the commanders legal right to make such a
decision and maybe more importantly, to decide if it was indeed time to
end martial law.  
     A group led by Sire Uri, the former council member who had
resigned after the battle of Carillon, had pressed formal charges
against the commander.  Once again commander Adama, the man responsible
for saving and organizing this rag tag fleet, was being asked to prove
his worthiness to lead.  Sire Uri had been the first to challenge
Adama's leadership when they were still in colonial space.  His plans
of disarmament failed at Carillon and only Adama's sixth sense and
battle savvy had saved the newly formed fleet.  
     Later, Adama had found himself in a popularity contest with the
living legend, commander Cain.  Many of the brave, yet desperate
colonists, believed the military genius of Cain would suit their
perilous journey better than the religious zeal of Adama. 
Unfortunately, Cain and the battlestar Pegasus were apparently lost at
the battle of Gomorrah.  
     Soon after that episode, the mysterious count Iblis had appeared
and nearly stolen control of the fleet away from Adama by performing
nothing short of miracles to prove his good intentions.  One of those
miracles had been bringing count Baltar to his knees and to justice. 
When Iblis disappeared, many in the fleet cried foul.  Conspiracy
theorists had a field day with the council's published reports on the
incident.  Now, the Baltar incident seemed to be the last straw
with Adama's detractors.  A vote was to occur soon to decide the future
government of the colonial fleet.  
     To this point in time, the fleet had been split almost perfectly. 
On one side were the followers of the Kobolians who sided with Adama
and his quest for Earth.  On the other, was a group that now called
themselves the realists.  They believed in dealing with the facts. 
They strongly opposed the search for a planet of myth, they wanted an
end to martial law, and they wanted to settle a planet to raise their
children.  In short, a civil war was brewing inside the colonial fleet.
     
     The appearance of Isabella's first guest stunned many viewers
throughout the fleet while angering others.  It was commander Adama.
     "Commander Adama, thank you so much for this interview," gushed
Isabella.
     The commander smiled and replied, " The pleasure is all mine.  I
hope I can quell some of our people's concerns and misconceptions of
their government... and of me."
     Just off camera, Isabella's next guest, Uri,  is watching with a
keen eye on Adama.  
     "Commander, what are your feelings as we approach this horrible
anniversary,  the first anniversary of the cylon invasion of the
colonies and the holocaust that followed?"
     "Well, like everyone else in our fleet, I feel deep sorrow for the
loss of the populations of our twelve worlds and our home planets
themselves.  Everyone in our fleet experienced  loss  that horrible
day.   I lost my youngest son, Zac and my beautiful wife, Illya."
     "You have stated that from this yahren on, you would like this day
of infamy to be remembered and honored as a holiday?" asked a grim
faced Isabella.
     "Yes, I would.  While I believe we should honor the victims of the
holocaust, I also believe we should celebrate with a feast of
thanksgiving every yahren on that date.  It should be a celebration of
life for those that survive on this fleet.  We have all been given a
second chance and should honor our fallen loved ones by making the most
of it.  We will re-seed our civilization."
     "On Earth?"
     In the shadows, Uri smiles.
     "Yes, Isabella.  I believe it is our destiny to find the
thirteenth tribe and I believe they are on Earth."
     "Why Earth?" asked Isabella sincerely.
     Throughout the fleet, non believers shake their heads in support
of the reporters question.
     "Well, I believe I have answered this question before but--"
     "If you are referring to the interview conducted by your late
daughter in law, many of us never saw it.  Also, some of Serina's work
was lost forever when she was struck down."
     Without being invited to do so, Sire Uri sits down in the chair
right next to Adama's.
     "Sire Uri?" said a surprised Isabella.
     "I'm sorry, Isabella, but I just couldn't wait for my turn.  I
would also like to hear Adama's response to your question.  Especially
since his last interview on the subject was conducted on the surface of
yet another mythical planet by his son's wife," sneered Uri.
     "Uri,  Kobol is as real as you or I.  An entire squadron of our
warriors landed on the planet and saw it with their own eyes!" lamented
an angry Adama.
     "I believe they were substitute warriors, were they not?  Very
inexperienced.  How could they truly understand what they were seeing?"
said Uri smugly.
     Isabella interrupted, "With all due respect Sire Uri, the evidence
does seem to point to some sort of human civilization once inhabiting
that planet. Although, commander, I'm sure you are aware of a growing
number of conspiracy theorists in our fleet who believe the Kobol
landing was a hoax."
     Adama felt like this was going to get him nowhere with the people
of the fleet.  If anything, he was digging himself a deeper hole.
     "Utterly preposterous.  But, back to your previous question.  You
asked why Earth.  The book of the word foretold that the tribes of
humanity would reunite on the green, white and lush landscape of
Earth."
     "You are referring to brief passages in the Koboliana.  But,
doesn't the legend of the 13th colony actually come from Garden of
Earth?" suggested the young reporter.
     "A children's fable," added Uri.
     Adama paused for a moment, then continued, "I recently accessed
the Galactica's historical vault and uncovered some interesting, and
I'm sure forgotten , evidence which points to the existence of a 13th
tribe.  Early on in the war against the cylons, the legendary commander
Ares and his crew of the battlestar Poseidon were swept up in a
magnetic sea much like the one we stumbled across some time ago.  Like
us, the Poseidon stumbled upon our lost motherworld, Kobol.  However,
unlike us, the planet commander Ares discovered was not dead and
dormant.   Ares and his crew actually met the thirteenth tribe and saw
them off on their journey to Earth.  I am making these documents public
now.  They will be uploaded to every console in the fleet."
     Throughout the fleet, both rejoicing and angry contempt flood
through the human population.
     Isabella asked," This is very interesting, sir.  But, I am
somewhat of a student of history myself and if my memory serves, didn't
the colonial government denounce the Poseidon's story as blasphemy?"
     "They had been brainwashed," suggested Uri.
     "That crew of that great ship saved our homelands on more than one
occasion. Denouncing them would be blasphemy," said the commander as he
stood up.  " I will supply the IFB with Serina's uncut interview.  It
will have the answers you seek."
     "Commander, one more question.  Can you comment on the upcoming
trial?" asked Isabella.
     "I'm sorry.  I cannot comment until after tribunal.  I will simply
say that these are desperate times we live in and sometimes desperate
measures are required," Adama smiled weakly.

     On the freighter, Infinity, a man shouts out, "That's it?!  What a
phony!"
     Another shouts back, "Adama is the savior!"
     Once again, of late, a fight based on political party association
breaks out among citizens of the fleet.

     Young Boxey tosses and turns in his bed.  He is reliving the night
the cylons attacked on Caprica for the second sleep period in a row. 
The boy whines aloud as his pet daggit is once again crushed beneath a
fallen column.  Seeing the daggit's bloodsoaked fur between two
pillars, Boxey screams.  He sits up suddenly and rips the covers off. 
As he rubs his eyes and wipes away the tears, he hears what he believes
to be his auntie Athena's voice.  He immediately begins to feel better
and tries to calm himself.
     "There there, little one.  It was just a bad dream."
     Boxey turns to embrace his aunt but what he sees shocks him.  He
gasps and scurries to the other side of the bed and on to the floor. 
Slowly, he regains enough strength, not to mention curiosity, to peak
over the top of the bed.
     "My....you act like you've just seen a ghost?  Is that anyway to
treat your mother?" asked Serina.

                                CHAPTER 2

     The planet that Apollo and Starbuck now stood on certainly lived
up to their vipers computron readouts.  It was a jungle world with all
kinds of animal species scurrying about. To be safe, they both carried
emergency supply packs and their helmets on their backs. 
     As the two warriors made their way through the dense brush,
following their portable scanners signal, a twig snapped some distance
away.
     "Shhhhh!  Did you hear that?" whispered Apollo.
     Starbuck paused a moment, "I don't hear a thing."
     "That's just it.  Suddenly, the animals in this forest have gone
completely silent.  Plus, I thought I heard a branch being broken."
     "Apollo, l-let's just keep moving.  Ok?" Starbuck said as he
nervously peered at the dense jungle around them.
     They continued on for several centons without  incident and
appeared to be approaching a large clearing .                          
                                                                       
     The fact that they were walking in a breathable atmosphere was
noteworthy in itself, not to mention that their scanners had detected
some sort of energy source.  The colonial fleet had not come across a
planet capable of supporting life in quite some time.  In fact, the
last time a colonial had set foot on an M-class planet was when Apollo
had been captured on the planet Terra.
     Since then, the fleet had landed on several unremarkable planets
where the warriors had to wear their helmets with the face shield and
glove sealers activated.  These planets served as no more than minimal
fuel suppliers.
     Finding this planet could answer two important questions currently
being asked throughout the fleet.  Where is our next fuel supply going
to come from and where is the next clue to proving the existence of
Earth and where it might be.  Not to mention, many others in the fleet
beginning to boldly state that they would settle on the next hospitable
world, period.  
     As Starbuck approached the large clearing that they knew must be
ahead due to the absence of trees over head and the sun shining
through, he thought of the last "discussion" he had with Apollo about
the possibility of finding Earth.  As everyone knew, when discussing a
controversial subject with Apollo, you had to be ready for his
legendary temper.  Starbuck had made the mistake of suggesting to
Apollo that maybe the fleet should think about settling the next
uninhabited M-class world.  The discussion had ended with Apollo
exiting the room after shouting that they all should trust his father's
judgement and continue their search for Earth.  After Apollo had left
the room, Starbuck had muttered to no one in particular that they had
not encountered any more clues to Earth's existence or location in
quiet some time.  The further out in space they went, the fewer signs
of human life they encountered.
     
     As Starbuck stepped into the clearing, he immediately saw
something that took his breath away.  Not far away stood several
structures that appeared to be primitive buildings.
     They were made of wood and straw and did not appear to be very
sturdy but they had clearly been made by an intelligent species.  By
the looks of them from this distance, Starbuck guessed they were
probably of some humanoid design.  He glanced at Apollo who was clearly
thinking the same thing.  Simultaneously, they both drew their weapons.
     "Let's go," said Apollo.
     
     What the warriors found several centons later was a deserted
village.  Primitive tools, bowls and eating utensils lay strewn about. 
Then, a grisly discovery inside a large hut.  Apollo and Starbuck both
gasped as they looked over a room full of skeletons.  Clearly, human
skeletons.
     "Well, there's your clue," sighed Starbuck.
     Apollo knew exactly what his lifelong friend was referring to and
he cracked a weak smile.
     "How long do you think they've been here?" asked Starbuck.
     "Not long, actually.  I'd say this happened within the last few
yahrens," answered Apollo as he studied his portable scanner.
     Starbuck took a closer look at the skeletal remains nearest him.
     "The bones are almost perfectly preserved.  No residue of any
kind."
     Apollo scowled at Starbuck's last observation.
     "What?" Starbuck asked.
     Apollo took a closer look at the skeleton himself.  He passed the
scanner over it several times before speaking again.
     "Starbuck, I think these people were eaten alive!"
     "Eaten?!" exclaimed Starbuck.
     "Maybe a carnivore or maybe...put your helmet on!" ordered Apollo.
     Starbuck hurriedly complied while asking," What?!  What is it?!"
     "This could be the work of some kind of plague or disease,
Starbuck!"
     "Scanner said the atmosphere was safe."
     "You wanna trust the scanner?"
     "Nope!" said Starbuck as he activated the face shield on his
helmet.  
     As the invisible force shield activated on the warriors helmets,
so did their pressure suits underneath their uniforms.  The material of
the g-force suits seemed to grow and envelope their hands like
skintight gloves.
     "Let's keep going," said Apollo.  "We'll find the source of that
fuel reading and get the frak out of here."
     "I'm with you, buddy.  This place is starting to give me the
creeps."


     Tigh watches helplessly as he is drawn further and further along
an alien landscape.  It is a barren world with violent storms tearing
at the terrain ahead.  Somehow, he is unaffected.  With the force of
the winds swirling around him, he should be airborne, but he is not. 
He continues to walk calmly towards his goal.  A humanoid creature,
possibly a man, lies on its side with it's back to him.  Then,
something else appears.  A glare off of a helmet.  Slowly, a red light
strobes menacingly from side to side.  Then, a large, black gloved hand
turns the still body over.
     "Baltar!!!"
     "Colonel?  Colonel, are you ok?" asked a startled Omega.
     Tigh realizes he is back on the Galactica bridge.  The entire
bridge crew is staring at him in bewilderment.
     "Get back to work!" orders the embarrassed colonel.
     Quickly, the members of the bridge crew comply.  They all know
better than to incur the wrath of their colonel.
     "Colonel, are you sure you're ok?" Omega asked.
     "Yes, I'm fine.  What do you have to report, Omega?"
     "We're approaching a large nebula which usually wouldn't be
newsworthy except that it wasn't there a centar ago."
     "What?!"
     "It's like it just appeared out of nowhere.  Although, there could
be some interference that was hindering our scans," suggested Omega.
     "Interference?" asked Tigh as he takes the report out of Omega's
hand.
     "These readouts don't seem to make any sense.  There are
transmissions, of some sort, coming out of that nebula but they are
incoherent at best."
     "Sir, there's something else," interrupted Omega.  "Our long range
patrol of Captain Apollo and Lieutenant Starbuck is now overdue."
     "What else is new with those two?  I would be shocked if they ever
reported back on time," sneered Tigh.
     "But sir, our last reading on their position puts them somewhere
within that nebula."
     "Omega, get the commander up here at once!" exclaimed a very
concerned Tigh.
     "Yes, sir!" replied Omega
     As Omega passes her station, Rigel quickly puts away the holo of
her parents.  
     Omega turns to see his lover trying to hide the fact that she has
been crying.
     "Honey, you have to stop doing this to yourself.  God, this one
yahren anniversary has sent everyone over the edge," said Omega.
     Rigel wiped away her last tear and whispered, "And you have to
stop calling me honey when we are on duty!  Nobody is supposed to know
about us!"
     "Why not?  I want to scream in front of the whole fleet and the
commander that I love Rigel."
     "You do?" smiled Rigel.
     "Yes, I do.  Listen, I can't talk now.  But, we will talk about
this later."


     "Boxey!  Boxey!  It's ok!  It's your aunt Athena!  You were just
having a bad dream," Athena exclaimed as she held her nephew close.
     "A-Athena?" the boy sobbed.  "Where did mother go?"
     "Boxey, Serina is gone.  Remember?  It was just a dream," Athena
said as she stroked Boxey's hair.
     CRASH!
     Startled, both Athena and Boxey gasp and look towards the sound of
the loud thud on the other side of the room.  Athena gets up from
Boxey's bed slowly and makes her way to the wall unit on the other side
of the compartment.  Behind a chair, she sees a large holo unit that
had fallen from the top shelf.  She picks it up and for some reason is
compelled to push  the activate button.  Immediately, a large 3-D
hologram of Serina appears.
     "Boxey, you are my gift from the gods.  I love you so much, son. 
Always remember that.  See you soon," said the holo of Serina.
     Athena felt the hair on the back of her neck tingling.  She had
seen this message before.  Boxey and Apollo had dozens of holo
recordings of Serina but what were the chances that this particular
message would play at this particular moment.  It was so eerie thought
Athena.
     "Mama's coming back!" Boxey suddenly exclaimed.
     "Boxey, I'm sorry, but your mother isn't coming back.  I think you
were probably having another one of your nightmares about the attack on
Caprica.  Maybe, when you woke up and shouted, the holo was activated
and you thought you were seeing your mother."
     "You mean it was just a picture?"
     "I'm afraid so," sighed a not so convinced Athena.
     Once again, Athena took the boy in her arms.
     "I miss her so much, aunt Athena," sobbed Boxey.
     "I know you do, sweetheart.  We all do.  Especially, your father."
     Boxey pulled back a bit from his embrace with Athena.
     "When is my dad going to be back?"
     "He's on deep probe but I'm sure he'll be back real soon."
     The door to Boxey's compartment opened, and for a brief moment,
Athena thought it would be Apollo walking through the door.  Instead,
Muffit Two, the mechanical daggit bounded into the room and onto
Boxey's bed.
     "Muffey!" Boxey shouted with glee.
     Athena smiled and thought that it was just as well that Muffey
came to save the day.  The daggit was the only other thing that could
cheer Boxey up besides Apollo.


     Cassiopea smiled and handed the latest batch of reports to Dr.
Salik.  It had been a long and eventful work period and Cassie was
looking forward to getting out of her nurse's uniform and into
something more comfortable.  Preferably, something to the liking of a
certain dashing blue squadron lieutenant.  
     "What is going on with all of these people?" asked a perplexed
Salik.
     "It must be the holocaust anniversary.  It's overwhelming
everyone's thoughts, conscious and subconscious," suggested Cassie.
     "Yes.  But, 56 new cases?  Sightings of ghosts?  Has everyone gone
mad?  Because, according to my tests, all of these people are in
perfect health," said an exhausted Salik. "  There's no common
denominator.  They're from different ships, different tribes, ages,
sex...I'm at a loss."
     "Well, I know I've had  a pretty bad case of the blues myself.  I
think so much has happened over the past yahren, that none of us has
had any time to think about the holocaust.  All of those people we had
to leave behind to be slaughtered by the cylons?  I mean, a yahren ago,
I was partying on the streets of Gemon.  It's really hard to deal with
the fact that the colonies are gone.  Forever," sighed Cassiopea.
     Salik paused to think of his own loved ones that had been lost on
Caprica.  He had always hoped that they had met a quick end and didn't
have to suffer.
     "Cassie, your shift was over a centar ago.  Go and get some rest. 
We'll be fine here," said Salik softly.
     "You don't have to tell me twice.  See you tomorrow, doctor."
     Cassie left the medical center and headed towards her compartment
with a little more energy in her step.  Starbuck should be back from
patrol by now and he had promised her an awfully sweet reunion.  He had
been acting strangely the past few days and she definitely got  the
feeling that he was up to something.
     "I wonder what you're doing right now," said Cassie as she laughed
aloud.


     "Apollo!  They're right behind us!!!  I-I don't think we're gonna
make it," shouted an out of breath Starbuck.
     "Head for that large hut at the end of the alley!" Apollo shouted
back.
     Out of nowhere, the duo had been attacked by a group of large
simian like bipeds.  The warriors had tried to scare them off with a
laser volley, but they kept coming.  The two warriors had no choice but
to blast the aliens apart.  This did not seem to slow the attack,
though, as more and more animals continued to appear out of the forest. 

     Starbuck reached the dwelling first and forced open the door. 
Hiding behind the door, he laid down cover fire for the fleeing Apollo. 
The captain dove through the door just as one of the large animals was
about to take a bite out of him.  Starbuck shot the beast at point
blank range and it fell harmlessly at his feet.  Quickly, he closed the
door behind him while Apollo gathered items to jam the door shut.  As
they worked feverishly to barricade themselves in, they could see the
animals tearing away the flesh of their fallen comrade.
     "Cannibals," gasped Starbuck as they finished their makeshift
blockade.
     Both warriors took a moment to catch their breath before speaking
again.
     "Well, I guess we know what happened to the natives," sneered
Starbuck.
     "Maybe," replied the always cynical Apollo.
     Apollo took off his backpack and knelt down as he opened it,
spilling many of it's contents onto the floor.
     "What are you doing?" asked Starbuck.
     Apollo did not answer until he found the small device he was
looking for.  He stood up and waved it in front of his friend.
     "Now, why didn't I think of that?  I guess that's why your the
captain," smiled Starbuck.

     On the other side of the forest, two colonial vipers engines
sprang to life.  Small critters that had been near the craft, leapt
away as fast as they could.  Inside the cockpits, nav-computers
activated as the joysticks and pedals slowly began to move.  With a
sudden surge, the vipers rocketed away.

     "They'll be here in a centon," reported Apollo as he skillfully
brought the vipers in on remote control.
     "Hold it," said Starbuck on the other side of the room.  "What do
you make of this?"
     Apollo walked over to the large container that Starbuck was
pointing to, all the while, piloting the vipers towards their position. 
Starbuck opened the chest and dust sprang out and all over the two
warriors.  Coughing, they waved the dust away to find a chest full of
what appeared to be scrolls.  Starbuck opened one and studied it
intensely.
     "I can't read any of it but it appears to have been written by a
human," said an excited Starbuck as he pointed out several drawings of
what appeared to be human beings.
     "It looks an awful lot like the writings that were in the tombs of
Kobol," said Apollo as he exchanged glances with Starbuck.
     BEEP
     "The vipers are on final approach," Apollo said as he returned his
attention to the remote scanner in his hand.
     Meanwhile, Starbuck gazed up at a piece of metal that had caught
his eye.  Pushing past debris, he approached a pedestal that seemed to
be displaying something.
     "Apollo, what do you think this dwelling was used for?"
     Apollo looked around and then back at the pedestal where Starbuck
stood and said, "My guess would be a church of some kind.  The layout
of the room seems to be designed to honor that object on the pedestal
behind you."
     "Yeah," said Starbuck as he wiped away layers of grime and dirt on
the large object sitting atop the pedestal.

     Outside, the vipers landed without incident.  Finally, something
had scared the simians as they fled back into the jungle.
     "Let's go, Starbuck!  The coast is clear now but I don't know how
long it will last!"
     "Wait!  Apollo, look at this! It appears to be some sort of machine."
     "Looks like an ancient computer," suggested Apollo.
     "Yeah, but from the looks of this village, these people wouldn't
have that sort of technology," said Starbuck.
     "So, it must be from somewhere else?"
     "Or someone else," Starbuck said.
     "Ok.  We take it with us!  It and the chest of scrolls.  Now, let's
move!" ordered Apollo.

     Just as the warriors were about to leave the safety of the hut,
they noticed the animals were beginning to return. 
     "Hang on," said Apollo as he flipped a switch on the remote.
     Instantly, both vipers turbo lasers began to fire as their engines
sprang to life again.  The lasers strafed a large number of the aliens
down while the other  gray apes wailed.  To the apes, the vipers
probably appeared to be large, angry insects who had sprung back to
life and shot their venom.  Once again, the apes fled into the forest.
     "Ok, now!  Let's go!" shouted Apollo.
     "Right behind ya' buddy!" gasped Starbuck as he struggled to run
with the large chest.
     Apollo, meanwhile, was dragging the primitive machine on the
ground with some cables he had rigged around it.  The duo put the chest
inside Starbuck's undercarriage while Apollo hooked up the machine to
his tow cables.  The primitive computer was too large to fit inside the
viper.  A few centons later, Apollo and Starbuck were airborne and on
their way back to the fleet.

                                  CHAPTER 3

     "Yes, Tigh?" said Adama as he arrived on the bridge.
     "Commander, we are approaching a strange nebula the likes of which
I have never seen before."
     "How's that?"
     "Well, for one thing, it wasn't there a few centars ago,"
exclaimed an excited Tigh.
     "Perhaps we missed it on our initial sensor scans?" offered Adama.
     Tigh simply shook his head no.
     Stepping forward, Omega said, "The nebula is emitting a form of
energy that our computers cannot designate, sir."
     Adama studies the printout that Omega has handed him.  Omega and
Tigh recognize the familiar look coming over their commander's face. 
The look of deep concern  mixed with the curiosity of a great explorer. 
Adama sighs a familiar sigh and hands the report back to Omega.
     "Launch a buoy," orders the commander.
     "Aye, aye, sir," replies Tigh as he pats Omega sternly on the arm.
     Omega receives the order loud and clear and is no sooner sitting
at his station when the small probe droid is fired from the Galactica's
underbelly.  
     "Buoy away, commander!" reported the colonel.
     "Order all ships to dead stop!" Adama said with great authority.
     "Omega, signal all captains to slow to station keeping," said
Tigh.
     "Yes, sir!"
     "Sir!" shouts Rigel.  "The buoy has just disappeared from our
scans.  Their was a brief signal containing the probes first readings
and then...nothing."
     "Anything to report on the scans, Rigel?" asked Tigh nervously.
     "Nothing, sir.  Except...sir! Two strong transmission signatures
from the center of the nebula!"
     Rigel exchanged a nervous but excited glance with Omega who
immediately checks his own scanner.
     "Commander!  Two vipers have just emerged from the nebula's dust
cloud," reported Omega.
     "It's Apollo and Starbuck's patrol!" gushed Rigel as she
approached the command station.
     "Thank the lords," whispered Adama.
     Tigh ,noticing that Omega was having trouble of some kind, left
Adama's side and approached the bridge officer's station.
     "Something's wrong.  They're not responding to my hails," said
Omega.
     Adama heard Omega's remark and quickly appeared behind the bridge
officer's station.
     "Life signs?" Adama asked weakly.
     "They're both alive commander but they appear to be unconscious,"
Omega reported to a very relieved commander Adama.
     "They also appear to have something in tow," noted Rigel.
     "Colonel, order a shuttlescout launched to intercept those
vipers."
     "A shuttlescout, sir?"
     The colonel knew what a shuttlescout was of course.  He just
didn't understand why the commander would choose that vehicle to tow in
the drifting viper fighters.  Shuttlescouts were brand new to the
Galactica's arsenal.  Doctor Wilker's team of designers, along with
Boomer, had designed the shuttlescout to do the job of both a fighter
and a typical colonial shuttle.  The scouts were just slightly larger
than the conventional shuttle but were still significantly quicker. 
The scouts also had front and rear laser turrets as well as a dome on
top where a human gunner could fight off enemy attacks.
     "Just as a precaution, old friend.  We don't know what happened to
our pilots, nor do we know what they have brought back with them.  Have
a score of warriors accompany the regular crew compliment," the
commander said.
     "Yes, commander," replied Tigh as he rushed away to see to the
launch himself.
     Adama turned away as his lifelong friend left the bridge.  As he
sat down, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that Rigel had
affectionately rubbed Omega's shoulders before returning to her
station.  The commander smiled, then returned his attention to his
scanner screen.


     In Beta bay, final preparations were being completed for the
scout's launch.  Tigh was furiously ordering men and women around as
Boomer gathered his troops just outside the ship.
     "Ok, you guys know the drill.  Those are our friends out their but
we must abide by the code of search and rescue.  That is, after, we are
sure there is no bomb or other device being towed back to the ship,"
said Boomer.
     Jolly, Greenbean, Giles, and Dietra all exchanged worried and
confused looks.
     "Bomb?" asked Dietra.
     "Commander's sending us with the scout team just in case whoever
or whatever knocked our two hotshots out is planning on using them as a
cover to either breach our security or attack us in some way."
     "Right.  Let me know how it all turns out," sneers Giles as he
tries to turn and walk away.  Roughly, Jolly and Greenbean pull him
back into formation.
     "Knock it off, Giles.  Now, let's move!" ordered Boomer as he led
the warriors into the shuttlescout.

     Inside the scout, everyone found their station quickly.  Boomer
took the pilots seat while Giles took the co-pilots seat.  Greenbean
manned the rear tail gun mount while Dietra stepped up the short ladder
to the top turret.  Meanwhile, strapping themselves into the remaining
seats were a dozen warriors and two med-techs.  
     "Launch!" ordered Tigh.
     Boomer heard the colonel over his headset and quickly complied as
he pushed forward on the throttle.  The scout roared out of the bay to
the howls of a dozen support staff.  This would be the first use of the
scout on a real mission.  Up until now, the scout had only launched for
basic training maneuvers.  Tigh, satisfied with the launch, stepped
onto the turbo lift and pushed the ascend button.


     Starbucks head was pounding but he felt himself beginning to
regain consciousness.  As his vision cleared, he could see that he was
inside his viper which was inside the Galactica's landing bay. 
Suddenly, he was startled by a loud and obnoxious knocking on his
canopy.  It was Boomer.
     "Wake up sleepy head!  Thought you may have actually bought the
forced nitron field this time, my friend," laughed Boomer.
     "Boom-Boom, will you cut the felgercarb and give me a hand?!"
moaned a still woozy Starbuck.
     "Bucko' wants his hand held as he exits his ship?" asked Boomer as
he did help Starbuck down.
     As Starbucks boots hit the landing deck, he noticed Jolly,
Greenbean and Dietra laughing hysterically.
     "Glad to provide a little comic relief in your day, fellas,"
sneered Starbuck.


     Soon after he and Apollo had debriefed the commander on their
discoveries, Starbuck made his way to Cassiopea's compartment.  This
was to be a special night.  This was the night that Starbuck would
profess his love to one woman, and one woman only.  
     When Cassie's door opened, Starbuck got the surprise of his life. 
The beautiful blonde before him was not Cassie.
     "Miri?!!!"
     "Welcome home, Starbuck," said Miri as she leapt into his
unsuspecting arms.
     Miri passionately kissed Starbuck for a full centon, pressing
herself against him as hard as she could.  Starbuck was too dazed, not
to mention aroused, to fight her off.  How did she get here he thought. 
Miri was the young beauty Starbuck had encountered briefly on the
planet Atilla.  He had helped Miri and her brother Kyle rescue their
father from the clutches of a renegade cylon called Spectre.  Shortly
thereafter, Starbuck had asked Miri and her family to join the colonial
fleet in it's search for Earth but they had declined.  That was almost
three quarters of a yahren ago.  
     "Miri, wait," pleaded Starbuck as he pushed her away.  "How did
you get here?"
     "Oh, Bucky, you're such a joker!" laughed Miri as she poured
herself another glass of ambrosia. 
     "Bucky?" whispered Starbuck. 
     She drank the ambrosia in a single swig and then poured a glass
from a different bottle for Starbuck.
     "Here, Bucky.  Drink up and then take off your clothes!"
     Starbuck took the glass for Miri.  He looked at the glass and then
at the beautiful girl in front of him.  For the first time, he realized
that she is exactly as he remembered her.  In fact, she's wearing the
exact same outfit that she wore on Atilla.  Starbuck tries to think of
something else, though, he does not know why.  He did want to make love
to her.  Why shouldn't he?  Wait.  He had come here for a reason.  Why
couldn't he remember it now?  
     As he turned to tell Miri that he would have to leave, Mire took
off her last article of clothing and got into the bed.  
     "Maybe I could stay for just one drink," he said with a wry grin.
     Starbuck guzzled the drink down so quickly, he hardly had time to
realize that it was not ambrosia.
     "Wow!!!  What the frak is this stuff?"
     "It's grog.  Does Bucky like the groggy?" asked a teasing Miri.
     Starbuck tossed the glass over his shoulder and jumped into bed.

     The next morning, Starbuck woke up with a grin from ear to ear. 
Mire was even more enjoyable than he had fantasized she would be.  He
felt like he had made love to six women!  
     He turned over to face his lover and kissed the back of her
shoulder.
     "Mmmmmm.  What time is it?" she said.
     "Time for another kiss on those wonderful lips," sighed Starbuck
as he pulled her around to face him.
     "What a sweet thing to say, Starbuck".
     "Tenna?!!!"
     "Starbuck, what's the matter?" asked Tenna.
     "How did you get here?!  Where's Miri?" demanded a frightened
Starbuck.
     "She's in the turbo wash."
     Starbuck began to sweat profusely.  
     "I gotta get out of here!" he said.
     As Starbuck turned to get out of bed, he came face to face with
another Tenna.
     "Good morning, lover," said the second Tenna.
     
     Starbuck jumped out of bed and put his pants on as fast as he
could.  As he put his shirt on, he tried to rationalize what was
happening to him.
     "Y-you...you c-can't be real!" he exclaimed.
     Of course, the Tenna's were clones from the ice planet Tairac. 
Although, some called the planet Arcta.  Starbuck recalled meeting the
blonde beauties when he along with Apollo, Boomer and a bunch of
convicts were assigned by Adama to blow up the powerful Ravashol
pulsar.  Although they succeeded, Starbuck had been very upset that he
was not going to be able to explore the experience of being with three
clones of the same woman.  The fleet had to move on before more cylon
basestars arrived.  Now, two of the clones stood before him.
     Before Starbuck could decide whether to run out of the room or ask
more questions, the door to the washroom opened and Aurora came out
followed closely by Miri.
     "You have some explaining to do, Starbuck," said Aurora.
     "Yes, Bucky.  It's time for you to choose," added Miri.
     "You cannot have us all," said the Tennas.
     Starbuck turned to make his escape but he was cut off by Athena.
     "Athena!!!"
     "You're not going anywhere until you make up your mind, flyboy!"
     "You're pitiful, Starbuck.  I guess I made the right choice when I
sealed with Devon!  You'll always be a chauvinist boray!" exclaimed
Aurora.
     "You're sealed?!" asked a shocked and disappointed Starbuck.
     
     Just then, the door to the compartment slides open and Cassiopea
walks in.  Starbuck wants to run to her for help but he can see by the
look on her face that she is furious...with him.
     "Cassie, let me explain," pleads Starbuck.
     "Sure, go ahead.  Because, when you promised me an evening I would
never forget, this is not what I had in mind.  I didn't even do this
when I was a socialator!"
     Starbuck grins, "Cute.  Listen, I don't know what all of these
girls are doing here but I brought  you here to ask you to marry me."
     Cassie stared at Starbuck for a long moment, surveyed the room one
last time and then abruptly turned and exited the room.
     "Cassie, wait!" cried Starbuck as he tried to chase after her.
     Athena and Miri blocked his escape route and pushed him across the
room and into a chair.
     "You're gonna pay for the way you've treated all of us, Starbuck!"
shouted Athena.
     "Besides, what do you want with that socialator?  She could never
be faithful," said Aurora.
     The Tenna's added in unison, "She's hiding something from you
Starbuck.  Something that concerns your past and your future."
     "What?!"
     Menacingly, the women approach Starbuck with the looks of crazed
killers.  They slam him back against his chair violently.  Starbuck
blacks out.  He awakes to another violent rocking motion.   As his
vision clears, he realizes he is inside his viper cockpit and that his
viper has just been fired upon.  However, it isn't cylons he detects on
his scanner or sees when he picks up his visual scanning.  To Starbucks
utter surprise, the ship that fired on him was a colonial shuttlescout.

   TO BE CONTINUED...
     END OF PART ONE:  COMING SOON 
                                        ADAMA'S TRIAL
                                        EARTHLY FIND?
                                        BALTAR'S BACK?
                                        AND MUCH MORE...