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Prologue
The plan hadn't been fool proof. He was going to have to go down with the ship. Like a commander traditionally did. There was honor in it. Not that that was why he was doing it – it was his responsibility. He had saved the fleet before – but he didn't do it for the fame, he did it because it was his job, and humanity needed him. It just so happened that humanity needed him again. The controls were set; there was no turning back now. Everything was in place, so he raced down to the hanger deck where the last Raptor was waiting for launch – but this time there would be no ECO – he would be on his own this time.
It was more difficult than usual to pilot the Raptor – he was launching from a ghost ship. He was the last person on the Pegasus getting his crew to safety even before contemplating his own emergency evacuation. Memories flashed before his eyes as he steered the Raptor off of the platform. He remembered the last time he saw her face, telling her to leave, because this was something he had to do. He remembered telling her to go to his father, and to let him know the things he was always unable to say to him. She understood – she knew the Adama's so well. She knew that he would never change his mind, and she cried knowing that she probably would never see him again.
He had less than thirty seconds before the incoming Cylons would destroy his Raptor, and because of that, he had to make a blind jump. The rest of the survivors had just been rescued from New Caprica. The Pegasus had been the distraction, and the colonials had been successful. The majority of the civilian ships had already jumped, and the rest were waiting for their turn in the sequence. He glanced over towards the Galactica as he started the FTL sequence. They were about to make their own jump, as soon as the Vipers landed. As soon as their CAG got everyone in safely.
He knew the Cylon's would have a hard time with the Pegasus – but then again, that was the idea, that's why the plan was going to work. That is why the sacrifice was going to be justified. As he set the coordinates for a blind jump he took deep breathes. Blind jumps were never a good idea, but there was no other choice. He had to do it, or else he would die – he would go down with the ship. He spinned the drive and whispered a prayer to the Gods, and with that, he was gone.
Back in the Galactica CIC Gaeta reported that the Raptor had jumped. Adama bowed his head in silence, whispering the same prayer his son had moments earlier. Two women fell silent, and knew that there was nothing they could do. They could only hope.
Next: Chapter 1 – Dualla's Fear