Starbuck
(Based loosely on 'Return of Starbuck' episode of Galactica '80)
by Jeff King
November 8, 1998

     From the log of Captain Martin Phelps:  Since our first encounter
with the Cylons we now know they pose a very large and very real threat. 
Thank The Lord that our new pilots were ready enough to fight them off
with minimal losses.  However, I feel we must endeavour to learn as much
about these Cylons as possible so that we will know how to combat them
because they too, are now aware of the Pegasus and will strike back
harder in future attacks.  We are the only line of defense for the solar
system and we cannot retreat in space.

     Another concern is the large number of refugees from the Mars
colony attack.  This must be handled wisely or the panic will do the
Cylons' job for them.

     On the Pegasus bridge,  "Sir, something odd coming through on the
com." A tech reported.
     "Scan please."  Phelps told her.
     "Commencing.  A distress beacon!  Ship is no known configuration. 
A derrilect."
     "Life forms?"  
     "Yes! One sir, in deep hiberation."
     "Send out a Crimson Viper patrol.  Apollo, Boomer."

     The flight crews hustled in the launch bay preparing the Viper
recon.  One, then the second fired out into space.  The G-forces pressing
the pilots, Apollo and Boomer back into their seats.  "Whew!  Nice to get
out here again Colonel?" 
     "Sure is Boomer.  Let's go. "
     "Visual on target ship sir.  Scanning for hostiles.  It's clean."
     "O.k. Major, let's bring 'er into the barn before the planet's
gravity gets it and there's a paranoia outbreak!" 
     "Got it."  
     The two fightercraft pull the mystery pod along with their
tractor beams back to the growing defence fleet.  Upon landing the pod is
stripped and searched by security in detoxification gear.  To the
amazement a small child is found.  As well as a beacon, still
transmitting a weak origin.

     In Martin Phelps' command chamber, he and the two pilots Boomer
and Apollo discuss the next stage.  "Icredible!" gasped Phelps in
astonishment.  It had not been so long since they'd been found by the two
warriors standing with him now whose giudance had been invaluable.  Earth
naval command had not prepared him for this during his many years.  Then,
the Cylons and now this.  "Could it be that this craft you found followed
the same course you did to find Earth?"
     "Doubtful sir" Boomer answered  "She was hardly moving in any
way.  Adrift."
     "But it did and still  is emitting a weak beacon." Apollo
continued.
     "Hmmm.  A Cylon decoy perphaps."
     "No sir, when we scanned it we found traces of human life and
crews found a child during decontamination." said Boomer
     "Good Lord!" said Phelps  "and this beacon?"
     "I'd like to go back out with a squad and try to follow it a
ways."
     "Yes Apollo, but be careful.  We don't know what's out there."
     "Yes sir.  Boomer?" Apollo gestured his old friendto follow.
     "Right behind you Apollo."  The two warriors exited.

     As the two vipers launched after the mysterious beacon, Phelps
took time to review in his mind exactly what had happened til this point. 
Now this mystery child.  A boy.  Who seemed to grow in intellect as well
as physically at an alarming rate.  The council looked on this boy as a
miracle.  Perhaps the second coming?  God knows he thought,  the world
sure needed a saviour in its current state! Martin continued to track the
boy's testing progress as an interest project.  "Zee" amazed everyone and
seemed to be able to predict events before they happened as well.  Could
he be the answer in an impending vicious conflict with the Cylons?  Did
he know the future and most importantly could they change it if
necessary?  Only time would tell.

     The vipers beared down to the cold and desolate planet the weak
beacon had led them to.  The warriors emerged and began walking. 
"Apollo?"  Boomer questioned.  
     "We're close to the source Boomer, I can sense it."  Boomer
shrugged and looked at his friend.  But, he knew Apollo to be uncanny
with his "senses"  so he followed.  Just then they saw a
wreckage/makeshift hut and Cylon corpses laying.  They inspected the long
dead enemy that had had the worst of the enviroment inflicted as well
onto them.  Just then,  a laser blast errupted only metrons away.  "What
the-"  Boomer looked up.  "Holy Frack!  Apollo it's..."
     "By the Lords!"  Apollo answered as he shielded his eyes to see
who their hunter was.  A aging, gruff man who was although, familliar. 
"Starbuck!"  
     "What?  Who?  How do you know my name?"Starbuck stuttered. 
"Apollo? Is that you?  Boomer?"  he remembered.  "I gave up ever being
found again and then just about blew the pogees off my rescue squad!" 
laughed Starbuck regaining his roguish charm.  He ran down the hill to
embrace his friends. 
     "Us too buddy.  Us too." Apollo answered noticing how frail and
ragged his friend was after all that time.  "How did you find me?" 
Starbuck gasped. 
     It clicked.  "The beacon!"  Boomer exclaimed.  
     "Beacon?"  Starbuck looked at him.  "Ahhhh, Angella!"  Starbuck
looked to the heavens.  "That life pod!  It still transmitted?"
     "Yes."  Apollo said. "We tracked it to you.  Who are you talking
about?"
     Hhe looked puzzled.  "A long story."  Starbuck trailed off in
memory.   "C'mon,  boy could I use a fumerello!"   

     That night, sheltered from the sub zero cold and using the
rations from the Vipers as a meal,  Starbuck reaccounted his story about
crashing there during a battle,  Cy,  and Angella and the baby child.
     "This is amazing!" Apollo said.  "The information you have about
the Cylon you rebuilt is invaluable to help us finally understand them!"
     "Wait, you mean those tinheads are still around?"  Starbuck was
surprised.
     "Yes and... we need it to defend Earth against them."  Apollo
stopped.  
     "Earth?" Starbuck said  "You mean you finally found it?"
     "We did."  Boomer interjected.  "Now we gotta protect it to keep
it."
     "It's just too bad Father didn't live to see it after searching
so long and hard."  Apollo spoke quietly.  Starbuck sank,  Adama had been
as much a father to him as Apollo and Athena who were his children by
blood.  "I'm sorry" he whispered.

     "And this child?"  Apollo changed the subject.  "He led us to
you." 
     Angella's child!  Starbuck thought,  that's how.  "Well fellas
I've had enough surprises for one day."  Starbuck retired to his thermal
cot.
     While he slept, she came to him again.  Angella. 
"Starbuck...Starbuck  my dearest one I have not abandoned you.  I still
love you and I said I would not forget you.  We will be together again. 
But for now you will be safe."
     Starbuck jolted awake.  Confused at first, stunned.  But next he
felt content and whispered back to her  "I know.  Thank you."

     Later that day,  they blasted off back home to the Earth fleet
with new finding.  A lost friend and possibly the knowledge for final
victory.
END