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Lee Adama didn’t remember being this tried the last time they were being chased by the cylons. “Medical Report, Hoshi said as He followed Lee and Dee down the corridor toward sickbay.
“Four more pilots succumb to exhaustion. Ammunitions report.
“I saw this one already. “
“ Sorry Sir, Corporal Venner, reports that Starbuck is wishing to speak with you.”
“It’s alright Hoshi. I’ll talk to Starbuck after the next jump.”
“Aye, sir.” Hoshi saluted and left the two senior officers to continue their journey.
“Are you sure you want to do that?” Dee asked.
“I may need to put in a plane soon the way things are going. Hell, I may need to get in a plane.”
If Dee was at all surprised by Lee’s comment she didn’t show it. “You should be resting.”
“I need to see him Dee. Besides, it’s your ten minutes. Go now, I’ll see you in combat.”
“I check on them the next time around.”
Lee smiled at his wife and brushed her cheek “I know you will, sweet dreams.”
---
Lee approached the secluded area in sickbay and drew back the curtain. The bell and beeps of the machines, and the sight of his father before him a not so gentle reminder of their current situation. Laura was sleep with her head resting on his father’s leg, a book was haphazardly dropped on the floor. It seemed that everyone was taking what time they could between attacks to rest. Lee turned to leave. He didn’t have the heart to wake her.
“What’s happening Commander?”
Lee turned around at the sound of her tired voice. He walked over to the chair she was sitting in “I didn’t mean to wake you, Ma’am.” Lee bent down and picked up the book from the floor.
Laura graciously accepted it. “You didn’t. I think I’m programmed now. I know when we are about to jump again.”
Lee looked at his watch. “We still have another 22 minutes.”
Laura nodded. “I see. There hasn’t been much of a change here. I’m still hoping I wake up one of these times and he’ll be staring at me with those crystal blue eyes.”
Lee sat next to and took her hand. “He will, He is not going to leave you Laura, He cares for you very much.”
Laura’s breath caught in her throat. “I wasn’t aware that you knew how I felt.”
“Due Respect Madame President, you’re both pretty transparent.”
“I suppose we are.” Laura squeezed Bill’s hand. “You hear that Bill I’ve been found out. “
Lee smiled for the first time in a long time. Laura turned her attention back to Lee. “What can I do for you Apollo?”
“Kara has been asking to see us. She says she can help.”
“You don’t know if you can trust her do you?”
“I know I could trust the ‘old’ Kara. I haven’t figured this Kara out yet. I may need her to fly soon. We spread rather thin and this group of pilots is good but even the good falter. It would help if we injected some fresh blood soon. We’re already up over one hundred jumps. I’m considering getting back into a plane myself.”
“Do you really think that’s necessary? The fleet needs you Commander alive and in one piece.”
“The fleet needs pilots to defend them more. I’ll only do it if I have too.”
“Colonial One has been asking me to return. The Quorum is concerned. I don’t want to leave him, Lee. I don’t want him to wake up along, in the middle of this hell we’re reliving.”
“I heard about that and after talking to the Captain of the Colonial One and your security staff. We decided that is in your best interests to stay here.”
Laura smiled. “How did you manage that?”
“Colonial one is experiencing some problems with their jump drive. It is a security risk to have the president aboard, in the middle of a combat situation. You will remain as our guest here on Galactica.”
“Laura smiled and squeezed his hand. “Someday you will make a very good politician Commander.”
“Thank you, but no thank you, ma’am.” Lee looked down at his watch, “if you’ll excuse me.”
“Of course.”
---
The Galactica was rocked once again by gunfire. “Nukes are incoming!”
“Turn us in to the Nukes we can absorb that…protect the fleet, brace for impact.”
The CIC was jostled, Dee stood up after the impact. “Dee, your head.”
---
“Ah,” Laura was thrown from he chair in the impact all the sudden alarms stated going off around here. Ishay ran in and went to work quickly, “I need a code team… the powers out for the respiratory.” A medic arrived quickly followed by Doctor Cottle. The stated to bag the Admiral and he stabilized. Ishay moved to the other side of the bed. “Madame President, Are you alright?”
“Alright keep going like that until we get to the other side of this jump.” Cottle followed Ishay and helped Laura up. “I think I’m okay.”
“Here let me have a look.” Cottle moved Laura hand away from her forehead. “Well you’re bleeding, so I’d say you’re not okay. I doesn’t look bad though, you’re probably have a shiner, you hit the corner of that table pretty hard” Jack pointed to the bedside table with her books on it. “A couple of stitches and the cut will be fine.” Jack handed her a thick piece of gauze. “Hold that on your head I’ll be right back.”
Laura turned to Ishay and the other medic in the room “Is he all right?”
“Yes, ma’am. We just have to get power back to the respirator. We have to wait until after the jump.
Laura nodded and smiled at the young medic. “Thank you.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
---
“I’ll be fine.”
“Commander all ships away. “ Gaeta reported.
“Bring the birds home, combat landing and get us out of here.”
“All ships aboard….Jump 151 is complete.”
Lee walked over to Dee and moved her hand from her head. “You should get that looked at.”
”Mr. Gaeta you have the deck Have all department heads send damage reports. Starting with the next jump I wanted every person who’s every flown a plane in a flight suit.
“We’re getting slopping and tired.” Lee helped Dee down the corridor an in to Sickbay “Doctor, I have another injured person here.
Cottle ran by Lee and Dee put her over there. I’m dealing with the President at the moment.
Lee helped Dee over to an empty bed next to his father’s area. “Is the President all right?” Lee asked as he saw blood soaking through a strile drape while Cottle was sewing her up.”
“I’m fine, Lee. I fell and hit my head.”
Lee peeked in Dee has done the same? Lee noticed Ishay standing over his father with the CPR bag attached. “What happened?”
“Calm down, Please Commander. The Admiral is quite all right. We are just waiting for power to be restored. I’ve spoken with CIC, we have top priority.”
“Thank you Ishay.”
“Doctor, I got a lot of tired pilots. I want them put of stim rotation, every third group.”
“Will do, we’ll start now with the pilots in here and move on from there. I have also ordered all people about with flight training to suit up, so that means I’m back in rotation as well as Starbuck. Dee and Gaeta will be handling things aboard ship.”
“Lee are you sure that wise.” Laura tilted her head to look at him.
“Hold still. I don’t have time to be doing this twice.”
“It’s all we have Madame President.”
“I understand. How long until round 152?”
Lee looked at his watch about twenty-five minutes, so if you will excuse me.” Lee walked away passed his wife. “I check on you later. I need you in CIC for combat.”
“I’ll be there don’t you worry. “ Dee kissed him lightly on the lips. “Good hunting Commander.”
---
The hatch to the brig opened. Kara stood up. “So, Lee Adama returns.” The guard slid up the cell and Lee stepped in carrying a flight suit.
“This isn’t working Kara. The cylons are too close. You said you could help us and I believe you but we have to stop them from following us first.”
“It’s a difficult thing to do when the pop up every 33 minutes.”
“I’m well aware.” Lee put the flight suit on the rack. “I need your help Kara. I need where you can do the most good-in the cockpit and on my wing for the next attack.”
“You’re going to fly in the next attack…your fraking crazy, Lee Adama.”
“Maybe but we need some fresh reflexes in the air. I’ve got tired pilots, pilots on stims, and it will only last so long.”
“I’m with you. Let’s get rid of these mother fraking toaster and find Earth.”
“Okay, I’m meet you in the ready room in ten minutes.” Lee looked at his watch again. We’ve got sixteen until the clock runs out.” Lee let Kara and talked to the guard outside.
----
Six, Leobean and Sharon were all sitting in the conference room on “This isn’t working.” Natalie said.
“With each jump and each attack we are moving farther away from Earth. We are chasing them away.
“We need to try and convince the Cavils, Dorals and Simons to stop this.”
“Cavil with not listen to reason. He has already proposed to lobotomizing the raiders.”
“He has to listen, it’s the only way we are going to be able to find Earth.”
“I know a way to make him listen…I’ll get to boomer.”
“It’s risky but it might work.
---
Kara left the head and walked toward the pilot’s ready room it felt good to be in a flight suit again. The intercom sound and Hoshi’s voice came over loud and clear. ”Pilots to ready room, preflight briefing.”
When Kara reached the Ready room she saw Lee talking to several of the pilots, most looked tired and warm. “Okay folks let’s all take a seat. We don’t have a lot of time. You’ve all been doing an outstanding job. Keep up the great work…I know we’re all exhausted, but the fleet is counting on us. We have some new pilots with us…who are old pilots, like myself We’ll be joining you up there so those of you who have been working the hardest will be sitting this one out, you know who you are, so take the opportunity to get some rest, we’ll need you next time around.” Lee waited as the pilots got up to leave. “The rest of you…Combat landings expected again to be the order of the day, so... double check your undercarriage before, uh...” Lee was so fatigued he couldn’t find his voice. He looked around the room and noticed the pilots slumped down, half-asleep. “Look, you've all done this one hundred and fifty one times. Some of us who were here in the early days have done it more. You know what to do. No mistakes, and let's make it to 152 and good hunting, and be careful out there.” The pilots left the ready in the customary way touch the photo given to them so they would never forget what they are fighting for.
---
In CIC everyone looks exhausted. A clock is counting down from 43 seconds. Gaeta is watching it. Hoshi is nudging a sleeping soldier on the shoulder to wake him up. Dualla walks on to CIC and yawns.
Gaeta nods to Dee as she enters and stands opposite him in the pit. “Sit Rep.” Dee asks
“Fifteen seconds.” Gaeta states
Hoshi reports “Sir, jump 152 underway. Fifty-three ships have jumped. Ten still reporting trouble with their FTL drives, including Colonial One.”
Just wonderful, we're slowing down. We’ve got to be faster than this. “Maybe this time...”
“We can only hope.” Gaeta says as they both watch the clock hit Zero, the alarms state to sound and cylon ships can be seen on the dradis. “
dradis contact. It's the Cylons.”
“Dammit, I guess not this time.
----
Lee sat in the viper waiting with the air wing “And one minute to mark.” He and Starbuck are both squinting up their faces as though they're trying to stay awake.
Apparently we didn’t get lucky this time.” Apollo watched the basestar jump in and the raiders begin to launch “All right, you know the drill, people. Scatter formation. Keep them off the civvies and don't stray beyond the recovery line. “
Starbuck gives Apollo a thumbs up it felt just like old times, She splashed one raider and watched as a missile hit Galactica
----
All through the ship things shook, Cottle was sitting with Laura and Bill and Ishay was there as well in case they needed to act quickly. Laura started to fall and Jack caught. “Oh, this is so much fun.”
“Yeah, I’m getting tired of this real fast.”
“You and me both.”
----
Hoshi reported a hit on the starboard bow. “The damage control parties are responding.”
Gaeta looks up a the dradis console “Basestar is launching raiders. All civilian ships away, including Colonial One.”
Dee picked up the handset Apollo, Galactica…Come on home.
Apollo hears Dee over the wireless, “Combat landings!”
The vipers hit the deck and the ship is away in a flash
Gaeta looked at the board the coordinates were correct they had made it through another one. “Jump 152 complete.”
”All civilian ships present and accounted for, sir” Hoshi reported
Very good Mr. Hoshi. Mr. Gaeta, start the clock. And let's start prepping for the next jump. Damage control reports to CIC as well.
Gaeta picked up the handset and spoke over intercom. “Clock is running. Thirty-three minutes... mark.”
---
Cavil stared at his cylon brethren. “You are so weak.”
“That not the point Brother.” Six reassured him.
“It’s exactly the point. We need to eliminate the humans so that we can make Earth our own.”
“But with each jump we are moving farther away from Earth. We need the humans to show us the way. We need to follow them Cavil. We need a new strategy this isn’t working. You underestimate their resiliency” Leobean said.
“Says the model who has become obsessed with the human they call Starbuck. No, we don’t stop we keep going.” Cavil got up and walked away.
“Now What?” Sharon asked.
“He’s convinced he doesn’t need the humans, D’anna claims he only needs the five. He’ll kill them all and save the five, and the technology to find Earth. We have to stop this.” Another Sharon offered.
“Cavil is back on his ship now. If we are going to do this we don’t have much time.” Six offered
----
The jumps went on for days, just like last time Lee had flown several of them but had taken the last few off to sit with his father. “I really wish you would wake up. I could really use your advice about now.”
“No luck.” Laura said as she came in behind him.
“Oh, you look better did you sleep any?”
“I freshened up and did get a few minutes. Your father’s quarter’s seem to have a calming affect on me” Laura sat down and put her glass on and opened the book. “I assume you’ll be flying the next jump.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Lee stood up and kissed his father’s forehead.
“Good Hunting, Apollo.”
“Thank you…Ma’am.”
---
The fighting was hot and heavy, Lee and Kara were flying around and splashing one cylon are another, until Lee finally hear Dee angelic voice in his helmet.
Dee picked up the handset Apollo, Galactica…Come on home.”
Apollo hears Dee over the wireless, “Combat landings!”
The vipers hit the deck and the ship is away in a flash
Gaeta looked at the board the coordinates were correct they had made it through another one. “Jump 237 complete.”
”All civilian ships present and accounted for, sir” Hoshi reported
Very good Mr. Hoshi. Mr. Gaeta, start the clock. And let's start prepping for the next jump. Damage control reports to CIC as well.
Gaeta picked up the handset and spoke over intercom. “Clock is running. Thirty-three minutes... mark.”
---
“The 2’s, 6’s and 8’s want to make friends with the humans and that is just not going to work for me. So, 4, put a group of centurions together to penetrate Galactica’s defenses during the next attack. Let’s end this once and for all.”
“Yes, Brother.”
---
Natalie walked up and leans on the table in front of Cavil. “We want you to stop following the humans, Cavil. We stop let them regroup, once they’re sure we’re not following them. They start back on the course to Earth and we follow from a distance and then make our move when the time is right.
Cavil leaned forward and looks her straight in the eye. “I will not. It is the right thing to do. Do you know what just really rankles my ass? You've been pointing fingers, falsely accusing me of manipulation just short of tyranny, when you're the one that's been leading the charge here.”
Natalie stood in front of him with her arms crossed “We want you to stop.”
“You're not in charge. We had a vote.”
Natalie held her ground “For the last time: Will you stop? You’re bent on destroying the only chance we have of finding Earth.”
Cavil turns to Simon and shakes his head “It's unbelievable, isn't it? Unbelievable.” Cavil then turns back to Natalie “For the last time, no.”
“I was afraid you'd say that. Come in.”
Cavil watches the centurions enter the room. ”This is cute. Centurions can't vote, Six.”
“Oh, they're not here to vote, Cavil.”
The Centurions convert their arm guns, scaring Cavil and his brothers. Natalie is sad but determined, and doesn't break eye contact with Cavil.
---
She flew very nicely chief…you’ll have her ready for the next one.” Lee asked as he stepped off the ladder.
“No doubt, Sir. Permission to speak Commander.”
Lee turned toward Tyrol. “Go ahead Chief.”
“Do you think this will ever end, Sir?”
“Lee rubbed his face and began to walk away, before turning back. “I have no fraking idea Chief.”
“Dee what the damage report? Lee asked as he joined her up on the catwalk. “five more pilots down, minor hits to the starboard hull, that caused some fractures. Damage control is working on it now.” Lee pulled the hatch open and let Dee walk through before following her. “Twenty minutes to go.”
“Have you spoken with the President. “I went to sickbay after the last jump. I stayed with the old man for about ten minutes, so she could have a break. Cottle and Ishay are taking good care of both of them Lee. I think you’ll be hard pressed to pull her away from him at this point.
“Lee walked into the head and went over the first availed sink. “That’s why I’m not pulling her away. Really sickbay is one of the safest places on the ship. Just do me a favor. Keep an eye out. Lee splashed some cold water on his face.
“I will.” Dee said, as she handed him a towel. “Stims, getting to you.”
“I’m fine Lieutenant. I’m very proud of you. You’re doing a great job.”
Dee stood at attention and saluted. “Thank you, Sir.”
Lee smiles and stifled a laugh “As you were.” They walked out of the head. “How are you holding up? “I get rack time after the next jump. I’m fine. I just wish it would end.”
“You and me both. Alright let’s keep doing what we’re doing?”
“Yes, Sir.”
Lee walked into the ready room and began his pilots briefing. Dee stood back for a minute and watched before heading back to CIC.
---
“Lieutenant “Jump 241 is complete all ships are accounted for.”
Dee rubbed the sleep from her eyes, seven days of this was enough. Lee had returned to CIC for about twenty-five jumps but rotated out in a viper to relieve some of the over worked pilots. “Very well, start the clock, and let’s hope this is one of the last times I say that.”
“Attention on Galactica, Clock is running thirty-three minutes, mark.”
---
Cavil stood up in a effort to intimidate the Natalie. He forgot that the Six weren’t easily intimidated “ Now, this, uh... this isn't funny. Leave. ...I said, leave! ...Why don't they leave? I’m done talking about this You’re wasting my time. We’ve been standing here for five jumps. I’m done talking now.”
“And we are done listening to you. We are well aware of how long it’s been and each time we are pushed further away from Earth.”
“Say what?”
We, the Leobens, the Sharons, we have tried to reason with you, but it’s obvious we have to take matters into our on hands. You see we’ve decided to give the centurions a small gift. We’ve given them the gift of reason since you don’t seem to see reason.
Cavil slammed his fist on the table. “You have no authority to do this. None. You can't do anything without a vote!”
“No, we can't do anything with one. So we're finished voting.”
“Things have already been set in motion, Natalie it’s too late.”
“No, that’s were you’re wrong it’s too late for you.”
The Centurions stepped forward menacingly. There hands turn to guns. Outside the conference room, there's loud gunfire and screams.
Doral stepped closer to Cavil “Oh, no.”
The Centurions gun down the Ones, Fours and Fives as Natalie averts her gaze. When it's done, she stands in the smoke and the Centurions look to her. She wipes the horror from her face Cavil is the first to fall and Natalie hears him utter three words before dying. “You’re too late.”
---
Lee sat in the viper waiting with the air wing “And one minute to mark.” He and Starbuck are both squinting up their faces as though they're trying to stay awake.
“Here they come. Weapons Free.” Apollo ordered the air wing as the dog fight started.
“Apollo, bogie, four left high.” Kara turned her ship it’s a heavy radier and it’s heading for Galactica. We got to stop it”
“Apollo, Hotdog offensive. Three right, five at two.”
“ Tally, Hotdog. Count on me.”
Racetrack came over the wireless. “Roger that actual I'm with you.
Moments later the four pilots were heading down the gauntlet to stop the cylon heavy raider.
Apollo, Racetrack, we are approaching Galactica’s flak barrier. Cylon target is within gun range.
”Copy that Racetrack, Frak, Winged it!”
“Apollo! We're straying into Galactica's engagement zone!”
Apollo allowed the fatigue and frustration of the last week carry him through
“I'm almost there, I'm almost there. I'm almost there, come on!” He could hear Racetrack in his ear and he she was right He had to get out of there.
“Apollo, pull up, get back, pull up.”
Apollo pulled up at the last second with no joy “Damn it! I had it!” Apollo watched as the t heavy raider crashes into the non-functioning hanger bay.
”Lieutenant Dualla, Apollo reports impact on the starboard flight pod.”
“You got a decompression in the flight pod. No explosion. No fire, Hoshi. I repeat, no fire.”
“No fire. Copy that Apollo.” Hoshi looked down at the board. “All civilan ships away.
Recall the vipers Mr. Hoshi. Prepare to jump.
Gaeta looked at the board, “Vipers aboard, sir. Stand by. In five, four, three, two... Jump.”
On the other side of the jump, Dee collected herself. “Okay people start the clock. Send damage control parties to the flight pod and let me know when the Commander is available from the flight deck.”
In the flight pod the cylons were moving into their assigned positions.
The lights flickered all around the ship and then everything went black. “Frak this isn’t good.”
“I’ve lost internal communications. “ Hoshi reported scrambling. “We are still at four minutes and counting.”
“They’re not coming back, they’re done chasing us Mr. Hoshi. They’re here.”
---
Lee stepped on to the top of the ladder and worked his way out of the viper. The pilots were celebrating, for what Lee wasn’t sure.
“Hey, captain, nice work out there.”
“I'm not sure what you guys are kissing and hugging about. We screwed up. We let one through.”
“ Yes, sir.”
“What’s going on with the lights?” Racetrack asked as she came up to the group.
Apollo looked at her and the other senior pilots on the deck. They all shared a knowing glance. “Frak, not again.”
sore
drained
chipper
artistic
calm
cold
busy
weird
sleepy
awake