Ten

The two weeks that followed Kobol's discoveries say a rebirth in the Colonial spirit as the fleet began to see a purpose to their journey and an end to some of the suffering their people had endured. The change in direction towards the Lagoon Nebula had brought the Fleet back on a course that would take it closer to the Colonies increasing the likelyhood of attack as a result they had become creative with the fleet's deployment. In the event of an attack the Phoenix and Icarus ready to jump away with a portion of the fleet giving the Galactica less to defend and the Colonial Civilization with a chance of survival. At the same time the Galactica had been able to continue training further pilots that could pilot the increased amount of Vipers the fleet now had due to the arrival of the Phoenix and Icarus. On the Galactica Chief Tyrol and several members of the Battlestar's crew including members from almost every department on the ship had successfully constructed a new type of fighter. Similar to the Viper in design the ship was built more as a recon vessel than a combat ship with its own jump drive and only a small missile payload for armament. The crew had christened the vessel "Laura" after the President of the Colonies although its official name was the Blackbird.

In deep space the fleet was preparing for its next set of jumps that would take it closer to the Lagoon Nebula when the DRADIS alarms sounded "DRADIS contact!" Gaeta called out over the alarms "receiving Colonial ID for the Battlestar Pegasus." He said

"Dee, contact Phoenix and Icarus on scrambler, the command is Poseidon." He ordered the young petty officer looking at Colonel Tigh who nodded his agreement "then give me the Pegasus on Fleet Comm. Alpha. Put their reply through the speakers." With his commands the Icarus and Phoenix led twenty-eight ships, with nearly a third of the fleet's population, away from the fleet in the pre-planned jump.

"This is the Battlestar Pegasus to the ship claiming to be the Battlestar Galactica please respond." The foreign voice called out Adama raised his table phone to his mouth nodding towards Dee to give him communications.

"This is Galactica Actual requesting to speak with Pegasus Actual." Adama replied

"Bill is that you?" The female voice asked surprised

"Admiral Cain" Adama replied confirming that the officer had survived along with her rogue Battlestar.

"Bill it's a miracle to see you." She said Adama could hear the relief in his superior's voice he knew that she likely thought she had been the only commanding officer remaining in the fleet. "Call the ships that jumped back, requesting permission for Pegasus landing party to come aboard."

"Granted, we will be waiting" Adama confirmed.

"It's really good to see you, Bill" Cain said finally before cutting the link.

"Colonel, inform the crew have the CAP return to the fleet and have Captain Vansen prepare our welcome for the Pegasus party." He ordered he, Tigh and Vansen had already discussed this everything was ready.

He, Roslin and Tigh made their way through the Galactica towards the port landing bay where the Pegasus Raptor would be directed. Many crewmen were making their way through the ship towards the flight deck to prepare for the new arrivals. "You sure doing this so publicly is a good idea?" Tigh asked in his usual gruff voice.

"It's the only way to get Cain's attention and to put the odds in our favour Pegasus is a beast she has far too many guns for us to even think about countering. This is the only way." Adama admitted, this strategy didn't mean they wouldn't have to fight the Pegasus but hopefully it minimized the risk of an armed conflict.

As the Raptor from Pegasus was lowered from the flight pod into the hanger Colonel Tigh and Captain Shane Vansen readied the crewmen into orderly lines. Moments later the lift came to a rest and the door on the side of the Raptor popped open first two fully armed and armoured marines, were followed by two men in Viper flight suits and finally two officers. One an older man with grey hair while the last was Admiral Helena Cain she was in her late forties, her dark hair was straight bracketing her face, her expression serious. She approached Commander Adama who saluted which she returned. "Admiral Cain" he greeted her his own face stern.

"Commander Adama, it's a pleasure to see you."

"Allow me to introduce you to President of the Colonies Laura Roslin." Adama said turning to the President beside him. She recognized her as the Secretary of Education, a big step up to be President of all the Colonies survivors.

"It's a long story" Roslin said

"Doctor Baltar?" Cain asked seeing Doctor Gais Baltar at the end "it's good to see you." She said genuinely he was one of the smartest men in all the Colonies.

"Colonel, put your men at ease." Cain ordered taking command over Colonel Tigh. As he stood down the men and women of Galactica she raised her voice "on behalf of the men and women of the Battlestar Pegasus welcome back to the Colonial Fleet!" She called out she had expected mass jubilation from the crew however not a member of the crew moved.

"Captain, if you will please." Adama spoke firmly a young woman wearing a uniform adorned with a flag she did not recognize stepped forward.

"Fifty-Eighth Squadron Attention!" Shane Vansen shouted through the ranks past Adama, Roslin and Tigh members of the Fifty-Eighth stepped forward each was dressed in full Battle Dress Uniform and armed with a auto-rifle with connected bayonet. Cain did not recognize their uniforms or the designation for a Fifty-Eighth Squadron however she allowed this show to continue. "Present Arms!" Vansen shouted moments later all seven remaining members of the Fifty-Eighth Squadron instead of showing their weapons for inspection lowered their guns at the Pegasus party. "KEEP YOUR HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM! NO SUDDEN MOVEMENTS OR YOUR DEAD!" Each of the members of the squadron shouted each member of the Pegasus party was too surprised to move in their own defence even the two marines. Through it all Cain's eyes did not move off of Adama nor did her hands move towards her side arm.

"Commander Adama" she said emphasizing his rank "what the hell is this!"

"This is the Fifty-Eighth Squadron of the United States Marine Corp. Originating from the world of Earth."

"Earth!" Cain shouted her anger raising "that world is a myth!"

"Trust me it is a very real place" Cooper Hawke snapped his weapon levelled at her head while Nathan West's rifle was aimed at the Colonel beside her.

"Commander, regardless of who these people are I am an Admiral of the Colonial Fleet, this is a Colonial Battlestar I am in command her." She stated Adama did not immediately reply instead he stepped forward.

"There you are wrong, Admiral" Adama snarled "you are under arrest." He said "For a violation of Article Sixteen, Section Eight of Colonial Fleet Code and Conduct." He stated seeing she didn't recognize the rule immediately. He raised his voice reciting the rule "During a Situation where One or all of the Colonies is threatened with immediate destruction or is cut off from the other Colonies all military objectives are to be considered void and the survival of any and all Civilian vessels is an officer's primary concern." He stated "I almost forgot that, Admiral, following the destruction of our colonies rage consumed me I was ready to take this Battlestar into the jaws of the enemy until we had not one shot left. The President and the civilians of this fleet showed me otherwise." Adama explained "you however even when shown that there was nothing left consigned fifteen civilian ships to cold slow deaths in your need for revenge." He stated seeing Cain's eyes widen with anger "you lost perspective, Admiral, and that I will not allow in this fleet."

"You will not allow?" Cain said angrily "I am the Flag Officer, I say what is allowed and what is not."

"Incorrect Admiral" President Roslin stated stepping forward carefully. "After the destruction of the Battlestar Atlantia Commander Adama took command of the fleet broadcasting that fact throughout Colonial space. He is by my Presidential order the Commander of this Fleet and by extension of all Colonial assets."

"You cannot be serious?" Cain asked looking at Adama "she is the Secretary of Education."

"She is the only elected person in this room." Adama stated

"What say we?" Colonel Tigh called out

"SO SAY WE ALL!" The assembled Galactica crew called out as one.

"The military is not a democracy." Cain said ignoring the crew's call.

"No but this fleet is." Adama said "and the military has rules and codes which we are to follow or the Civilian Authority is to remove us from our positions of power. Today Admiral that has happened, I am truly sorry that it has to be me who does this, Captain take them to the brig." Adama ordered from behind the Raptor further marines arrived supporting the Fifty-Eighth. The Pegasus party was quickly relieved of their weapons and began to move surrounded by marines.

"You will never get away with this, Commander!" Cain shouted as she was led away "Pegasus will resist all attempts to control her."

"Colonel Tigh, Phase Two please" Adama said turning to the Colonel several Colonial Marines followed Tigh into the Raptor along with Starbuck and Racetrack. Adama marched over to the wall phone "CIC this is the Commander, have the ready Raptor jump to the pre-planned coordinates and order Icarus and Phoenix to jump into Positions Red and Blue, activate defence grid and have all nuclear weapons loaded into their firing tubes." He said replacing the phone "Captain Vansen, all pilots to their planes."

"What are you doing Commander?" Roslin demanded

"Ending this" Adama stated "if Pegasus resists like Cain suggested they may we will destroy that Battlestar." He said as the Raptor raised out of the Hanger into the flight pod "I'm needed in the CIC." Glancing at the raising Raptor the Commander marched from the deck towards the Battlestar's command centre he prayed that the Pegasus did not fight but his Battlestar needed to be ready for the worse if it came to it.

End of Book Two

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