Apollo had been summoned to the bridge before the end of his sleep period. As he groggily dressed and made his way towards the bridge, he thought on how things had begun to change for the fleet. Instead of being summoned for an emergency patrol to fight the enemy, he had been summoned for a briefing on the path the fleet was taking. He had begun to take more and more of an interest in their chosen route since his encounter with the Terrans. That and the decrease in patrols and lack of signs of Cylons, he finally had the time to pursue his love of space exploration and his father had been seeing that he flew more and more of the missions for charting purposes. He appreciated that his father understood his interest and supported it any way he could. It provided Apollo a chance to think about something other than the destruction and the losses he had suffered. It was a chance to think about the future and not the wars of the past. And Lords knew they all needed a break from the pursuits of war.

Apollo was also glad that Starbuck would be joining him. While he knew his buddy didn't necessarily enjoy encounters with the Cylons, he did enjoy flying and Apollo thought this would be a perfect chance to give Starbuck some more hours in the cockpit, plus a chance for the two of them to fly together again.

But Apollo could not find Starbuck in the barracks. He knew that Starbuck was on the same roster as himself, so he should also be just waking up. He tried Cassie's place first but when he asked her where he might be found she answered him angrily with "I don't know and I don't care!" He had apologized for inconveniencing her and delicately made his exit. Obviously Starbuck and Cassie were on the outs again. Apollo searched the officer's club next, assuming Starbuck had had a drink or three to cool off after his date last night, and fallen asleep in the club. No one had seen him there either, although Bojay was there and commented that he had seen Starbuck earlier.

He finally found Starbuck sitting alone in a corner of the crew's lounge. Starbuck jumped at the chance to get off the Galactica, clueing Apollo in further that the fight between Starbuck and Cassiopeia must have been a big one. He made a mental note to ask Starbuck later what was up, but then thought, "No, it's not my business, and besides, for Starbuck and Cassie it's usually the same argument over and over again."

It became increasingly clear as they were briefed and launched on their mission that something was definitely bothering Starbuck. He was extremely quiet in his Viper and not his usual bantering self. Apollo was beginning to feel as if Starbuck was just waiting for him to ask. Well, he was Starbuck's best friend, and wingleader. He might as well ask and at least get him talking.

"Hey Buddy, are you still with me over there?" Apollo voiced over the intercom.

"Yeah, sorry, just got a lot on my mind," Starbuck answered, sounding distracted.

"Well of course you do. You're always working on some new pyramid scheme, or a cheaper better way to make ambrosia from thin air, or how about some new blend of tobacco for your cigars, or . . ." Apollo joked.

Starbuck laughed, the response that Apollo had been hoping for. "Well, besides that," Starbuck said. "It's just Cassie and me."

"When isn't it?" Apollo threw back.

"Well, see, that's just it," Starbuck said, becoming more serious rather than more lighthearted as Apollo had hoped for. "I was thinking that maybe we ought to cut through all this felgercarb and just settle down."

Apollo was stunned into silence. "Uh, I think my comline is malfunctioning here," he said once he found his voice. "Did I hear you say that you're fighting because you WANT to settle down?"

"Well, yeah, can you believe it? I mean I'm not getting any younger. And everybody else seems to be, well, you know, pairing off, and getting sealed. So I thought maybe we ought to too." Starbuck answered. "Especially before Cassie starts her residency."

"Oh, now I get it." Apollo replied. Was Starbuck looking to intervene before Cassie was buried in medical modules up to her blonde hair, knowing she would have limited time to spend with him? "You didn't say it that way to Cassie did you?"

"Well, kind of, not exactly, but. . . Yeah I guess that was a pretty stupid way to say it to her." Truthfully, he'd spent more time planning the bachelor party and the music and booze at the reception, than how he was going to propose. "But that's not what she was mad about."

"You mean there's more?!" Apollo said, unable to control himself laughing.

"Come on, Apollo, I'm serious here."

"Okay, sorry bucko. What was she mad about?"

"I was talking to her about kids and stuff you do when you settle down and I mentioned how we could maybe wait a yahren or so and then (omit she?) we'd have kids. Maybe I'd be a Captain then and we could get some bigger quarters so that she could do some cooking and sewing. That's when she got mad. Yelled something about how she wasn't going to fulfill my 'domestic goddess' fantasy and there was no way in Hades she was going to raise my brats while I flew off to romance the stars."

"Poor choice of words, Starbuck. You know how important it is to her to be a doctor." Apollo replied, mentally shaking his head at his friend. Starbuck was one of the best pilots out there, and he really had a way with people, especially with women. But there were also times when Starbuck just wasn't thinking his plans through, too used to flying by the seat of his pants, and his meaning could get lost in his inability to find the right words.

"I thought that's what she wanted? Lately she's always mad at me. I thought I was giving her what she wanted. I just give up. I can't figure her out. Anyway, she got really calm all of sudden and said that maybe we both wanted different things and that maybe we should take a break and explore our 'different paths'," Starbuck said with a sigh.

"So you broke up again." Apollo said rather flippantly.

"Yeah, only this time I think it's for real," Starbuck said acknowledging his friends comment. "So, you think maybe she's been seeing someone else?"

"Starbuck, you've only been broken up for what, 6 or 8 centons now?" Apollo laughed at his friend.

"No, I mean maybe she's been seeing someone else while we were dating? Do you think maybe?" Starbuck said seriously.

Just then the alarms went off in both Vipers on their long-range scanners.

"It's a hot one, Apollo. It's coming from the sector in front of this. And the warbook is reading Vipers! That can't be right?" Starbuck yelled excitedly, remembering the report of a Viper at the briefing. "More than one?"

"Let me double check, because I've got the same thing. That's odd, I'm also picking up a small Cylon freighter behind three Vipers." Apollo said perplexed. "Confirming . . ."

"Confirmed. I got the same thing again."

"Let's check it out. Go easy, we don't know if Cylons are learning to fly vipers or not."

"I'm doing a lifeform scan again, but it's still coming up human, even in the freighter." Starbuck said.

"The freighter?" Apollo puzzled over the readings and debated just what tactic to take, direct contact or observation. He did a lifeform scan for a third time, same results, human.

"Hey Apollo, what do you want to do? They're headed directly for us." Starbuck asked breaking Apollo's concentration.

Apollo switched his comline over to short range broadcast. "Approaching Vipers, please identify!" Apollo waited a few moments. The Vipers and shuttle were still rapidly approaching. "Approaching Vipers, acknowledge and identify or we will be forced to take offensive action!"

As Apollo finished his second message two of the Vipers peeled away from the freighter and hit their turbos, blasting towards Apollo and Starbuck, their lasers firing.

"Apollo?" Starbuck said.

"Evasive Action!" Apollo yelled back to him.

"What happened to offensive?"

As Apollo and Starbuck began evasive maneuvers, the approaching Vipers performed an elaborate dip and spin, straight into a climb, ending by climbing between Apollo and Starbuck's vipers, another spin and a dive ending up directly on the Colonial Viper's tails.

"Frack, what was that?" Starbuck said in amazement, looking back over his shoulder reflexively, and switching to rear scan.

"Colonial Vipers," the inner fleet comline crackled on Starbuck and Apollo's vipers. "Maintain position or we will be forced to fire."

"Who are you?" Starbuck asked, still amazed at how quickly they were overcome.

Another voice answered, a more mature voice, "This is Commander Dante of the planet Dilmun. I once held the rank of Colonel on the Battlestar Atlantia. Identify yourselves…"

"That can't be!" Apollo said incredulously. " The Atlantis was destroyed at the twelve worlds."

"And fortunately for myself, I was on an extended mission away from the Atlantis. I assure you Warrior, I am who I say I am. I survived. Now if you would identify yourselves, and kindly follow us back to the Galactica."

"The Galactica? What makes you think we're from the Galactica?" asked Starbuck. "We're on our own. Making our way across the galaxy and avoiding Cylons."

"Because we have been tracking you for the last 3 sectons. Please identify yourselves immediately"

There was silence for a moment as both Starbuck and Apollo absorbed the information and their minds filled with questions. Why hadn't the Galactica scanners picked up their vessels if they had been tracking the fleet, Apollo wondered to himself.

"I'm Captain Apollo and this is Lieutenant Starbuck," answered Apollo, unsure as to what he should do. If this man was correct it was incredible. If he was deceiving them and was truly a Cylon spy, it could be disastrous. But he had never seen any Cylons fly the way those vipers flew.

"Before I lead you back, I would like to contact the Galatica and let them know you're coming. You are flying a rather unconventional shuttle."

"Certainly Captain, I completely understand. Let me handle it for you, my range is quite a bit longer than yours." The Colonel responded.

***********

"Father," Athena said, forgetting Bridge decorum in her excitement, "There's a message coming in on long range scanners. It's coming from a Cylon channel, but the voice, its, its human!"

"Patch it through to my console." Adama said, suddenly concerned for his latest patrol on recon mission. Apollo had taken command of that patrol and he immediately wondered if he and Starbuck had gotten into trouble.

"Galactica, this is Commander Dante of Dilmun, former Colonel of the Battlestar Atlantis, again, do you read?"

Adama was taken aback by the mention of the Atlantis, suddenly flooded with memories of the peace conference and the destruction of the twelve worlds. His first thoughts were that it couldn't be. It had to be a Cylon trick. But there was no mistaking it, the voice was human, and although it had been a while, Adama thought he recognized the voice. He had had occasion to work with Dante once or twice. The voice was vaguely familiar.

"Commander Dante, this is Commander Adama of the Battlestar Galactica."

"Adama, nice of you to visit our neighborhood!" As the voice came across the com channel, the vidscreen began to transmit a rather grainy picture, but the image was clear enough to make out the man whom Adama recognized from a few brief meetings. If his memory served him, the dark hair and dark eyes were the same as the over eager Captain he had once worked with briefly in the past.

"Dante! It is you! By all that's holy, how did you survive? The Atlantis was destroyed!"

"Simple, I was not aboard. Not all of our fleet was lined up in the Colonies awaiting their destruction. I had been temporarily assigned on an away mission. But we can discuss all that once I'm aboard. It is best we limit our transmissions on this frequency for now. We will be escorting your patrol home and steering you away from trouble. I believe you have a Capt. Apollo and Lt. Starbuck as part of your crew?"

"Yes they are. I assume they made contact with you?"

"Yes, they were headed directly towards a Cylon base, granted a small outpost, but I'm assuming you'd like as little trouble as possible on your journey."

"Yes, your assumption is correct. Dante, I must ask, how have you survived? And to have surpassed our fleet?" Adama asked, his mind flooded with questions, and the nagging guilty feeling that if Dante and others have survived, could it be possible that Adama had left too many behind?

"There will be time enough for a thorough briefing once I'm aboard. This is not a sector of space to be loitering. Commander Dante out."

Colonel Tigh who had approached Adama during the conversation commented from behind Adama, "Commander Dante? I thought it was Colonel?"

Adama turned around to answer his friend with a wry grin, "I didn't think you were one to be jealous, Tigh?"

"Not jealous, Commander," Tigh said, adding extra emphasis on the rank, "just curious. Very curious."

"You are not the only one," Adama replied, noticing the buzz of conversation on the bridge. Adama knew it would be only a matter of time before the news had spread. Contact with more survivors. If they could find Cain and now Dante, how many more were there out there. They were not alone, and the realization lifted a huge burden from Adama's shoulders. He noticed the uplift in morale already. He felt a lightness in his own chest at the news. He had suffered under the responsibility of saving the human race. It was a relief to know that others carried on their hope for survival.

Starbuck's was the first Viper in. He hurriedly jumped out of his cockpit to meet their guests. He was curious to talk to the pilots who had tailed him rather skillfully, never letting up for the whole journey to the Galactica. Starbuck had tried a move or two. Nothing too obvious, but the pilots stayed with him, almost sensing his moves before he made them. He was impressed. It's not often he found someone who could keep up with him. It wasn't conceit, just a fact.

Added to that was the information that these pilots were Colonial. Before Commander Dante insisted on radio silence, he had informed them that while he had at one time been Lt. Colonel of the Atlantia, during the peace accord he had been away from the fleet on a mission on the Battlecruiser Zakar. Starbuck had known a few warriors that had been stationed on the cruiser and he was anxious to know if they had survived.

But what had Starbuck intrigued, and he knew also Apollo, was the information the Commander let slip just before ordering silence; he had been to the Colonies three sectons after the Cylons took over. While Starbuck could probably guess how things had turned out once the Galactica had sped away leaving the Colonies behind, the Warrior still longed to know what happened to those left behind. He had always felt that it was a cowardly move to just turn tail and run. While he understood the reasoning behind it, the urgency, well, it just wasn't Starbuck's style. He would have liked to have stayed and fought until the bitter end, to try to stave off the Cylons so one more ship could get away. He would have liked to have gone down to the surface and tried to get more survivors on more ships. He would have gladly fought the Cylons hand to hand. But that was not the hand he'd been dealt.

Instead he had to leave pilots behind for lack of fuel. He had joined his Battlestar and watched from the viewports as the Colonies grew smaller and smaller. They were not their concern, the few survivors they had rescued were. It had felt like having to fold your hand and lose your ante. He had always wondered what had happened to those left behind and like the rest of the fleet had just assumed they had all perished. Yet here they were, those who had seen the end of their worlds, and survived the horror. Starbuck wanted to get to them first, before Apollo and Adama could censor his questions. He had to know.

The next Viper in was the one that had held his tail the longest. It landed smoothly next to Starbuck's, and he thanked the lords that he would probably have a few uninterrupted centons to talk to the pilot. The pilot who jumped down out of the cockpit was clothed in a blue uniform, much like the royal blue of the Warrior dress uniforms. Starbuck began to walk over and stopped dead in his tracks. He watched in amazement as she removed her helmet and shook out shoulder length, sun streaked, blonde hair. She threw her helmet back up into her viper and turned her tanned face toward him.

Starbuck was stunned for a moment by the glow that she radiated. It had been a long time since he had seen the healthful complexion of someone who enjoyed the outdoors of a planet. He thought of the yahrens he had spent locked up in gray tin cans with artificial light and air. What he wouldn't give for just one day in the sun, he thought wistfully. He nearly stumbled when he received his second shock. She was young, maybe 20 yahrens, couldn't be much more than that. "How could she learn to fly that, she's barely old enough to go to the Academy," he thought.

As she turned towards him and smiled, he quickly assessed that she was cute, perhaps a little young to be called beautiful. It was her eyes though that struck him breathless, deep ocean blue, and full of life. When she smiled at him, it was her eyes that really smiled, like the sun breaking through a rainy day.

She took all of Starbuck in, locking eyes with his for a moment before stepping towards him. "Hi, I'm Rene." She said extending her hand.

"I'm Starbuck." He stammered shaking her hand. He caught his composure as he saw Adama, Athena, Tigh and Boomer coming to join them from the turbolift. He moved in front of her, blocking the way.

"Look, I uh, I want to ask you something." He leaned towards her and quickly asked, "The Colonies? After the Cylons, what happened?"

Her smile faded for a moment and it was as if lightening flashed in her eyes. "We lost. Didn't you know?"

"Yeah, I do. I mean," Starbuck stammered, knowing he had only a moment, but he didn't know how to ask all he wanted to know. "Were you there? What happened? How many…" he swallowed hard and then spit out the words, "How many did we leave behind?"

She shook her head, but didn't have a chance to answer. Her wingmate who had just landed came up to join them. He was also blonde and fairly young, though he appeared older than Rene.

"Hey, I'm Jake." He looked between the two, realizing that he must have interrupted something.

"Starbuck."

"THE Starbuck?" He asked awed.

"Unless there's another one out there, I guess so." Starbuck said, but his eyes were still locked with Rene's.

"We've heard a lot of stories about you Lieutenant." Rene said, winking at him. "We'll have to talk later to see if the best parts are true. About cards and gambling, right?"

"Yeah, right." Starbuck answered, wondering if he would ever have his chance again to ask what he really wanted to know.

The young male moved a step forward, inserting himself between Starbuck and Rene. "Is it true that you rigged all of the academy simulators to cheat on your finals?" Jake asked incredulously. "And you did the Kessel run in 10 parsecs? And…" The young pilot continued to fire off questions as Rene stood there as if she was sizing Starbuck up.

Before Starbuck had a chance to ask anything else, more Warriors mobbed them. The third pilot, a taller darker man, joined the two young blondes in blue. "No boy." Starbuck corrected himself. They were all too young to fly as well as they did.

Waiting for the shuttle to land, Apollo was the last in to the bay. He could wait to ask the questions that bubbled in his brain. After all, he would be involved in many of the briefings. He would find the answers. Plus he knew there were some questions that could never be answered, such as why someone would sell out their own people. Or why the Cylons were so bent upon their destruction. Why had the Lords so forsaken them as to destroy their worlds? Those answers Apollo did not seek. Not anymore.

Adama and Tigh were greeting Commander Dante and his second in command and Apollo knew he should join the reception. First, he looked over to the other pilots to see if they too were heading towards the shuttle. They were engrossed in conversation, and despite a yearning to join them, the Strike Captain turned away. Duty called. He paused mid-step, something niggling at his mind. Whatever it was made him turn back. There was a familiarity about the pilots in blue. He didn't know if it was the Academy recruit haircuts of the young men, or the color of the female's hair. He studied them a moment longer, trying to draw forward a memory. Finally he shrugged. It was probably a nostalgic longing to have some connection to those from his home world. No, Starbuck had the pilots well in hand. Apollo turned back to greet Commander Dante and his second in command.

Adama nearly sprinted to the landing once the patrol was in range of the fleet. He could not believe their good fortune. Just when the fleet needed a miracle the most, divine intervention had delivered once again, not only the supplies needed to continue their journey, but also the much needed Warriors to keep the fleet safe. Adama knew that a Battlecruiser could easily hold up to 200 Vipers, more if the Vipers were disassembled. Cruisers were built for speed and aerial attacks, not for long extended missions. Crew quarters were limited, as well as recreational facilities. A Battlecruiser was essentially a heavily armed Viper carrier. They were the ultimate flying arsenal. The Zakar would easily provide the Vipers necessary to fend off two Cylon Baseships, maybe three.

Adama marveled at Dante's progress, but at the speeds the Zakar was capable of, Adama knew it easily made it this far in mere sectars compared to the yahrens his fleet had taken to reach the same point. Granted, at top speed, the Galactica could have reached this quadrant in a yahren or less. "But at what cost?" he reminded himself. He was responsible for the survival of his people. While the journey had been slow, it had thus far been successful.

From what Adama remembered of Dante, it was no surprise the man had successfully evaded the Cylons. Dante had been a go-getter from the moment he entered the Academy. He had a knack for accomplishments, and could get things done while following the regulations by the book. He had risen steadily in command, changing duty stations often in his rapid rise. There had been rumors at one point that Dante was a bit overzealous with his colleagues and crewmen, but results spoke volumes in a time of war. Complaints and numerous transfer requests were often overshadowed by kill ratios and completed missions.

As the shuttle doors opened, Adama speculated that Dante had seen no reason to change his style. His jet-black hair was peppered now, yet still cut military recruit short. His uniform appeared to be new, pants creased, boots polished to a high gleam. He wore the blue of command sans the cape, and had added the gold epaulets that Cain had favored. Like his pilots, he was tan and well fed. He sauntered down the gangway like the prophesized savior.

"Dante, by all that's holy! How is this possible?" Adama could not contain his enthusiasm as he greeted the man who was now his equal.

Commander Dante extended both hands to Adama. "By the Lords. I thought I'd never see another survivor. What took you so long!"

They shook hands and Adama took note of the man he had briefly worked with yahrens ago. Dante had been one of the youngest and brightest on the fast track to command. He reached the rank of Colonel at least ten yahrens before most. He was the poster child for Colonial Service, strong, tall, dark and handsome. Adama searched the man's face for signs of the stress that Adama knew had etched lines in his own features. Perhaps it was the recent sun exposure, but Adama judged the man to be relaxed and untroubled, and unburdened.

"We hurried as fast as we could. How by the Lords of Kobol did you sneak past us?"

"Quite frankly, Adama, I have no idea, unless you factor in our speed. A Battlecruiser is substantially faster than the pace you are keeping. That of your slowest passenger vehicle I suspect."

Dante's second in command interjected, "Quite frankly, we weren't sure if you had survived Commander Adama. Colonel Gage," he introduced himself.

"Gage?" Adama tried to place the officer, but unfortunately drew a blank. The man also wore his brown hair severely short. He was not nearly as tall as Dante and looked to be almost ten yahrens younger, in his late thirties. He was far too young to carry the rank on his collar, and carried himself like he too was aware of the fact. He was careful not to step ahead of Dante, and looked to his Commander before turning back to Adama.

"I'm sorry. Did we ever serve together?" Adama asked.

Tigh helped Adama out, "Weren't you a Strike Captain on the Pacifica before transferring to the Zakar?"

"Yes you were, weren't you?" Dante said, not looking over his shoulder to Gage. "Tigh, isn't it? We've had a few field promotions in the last few years. Without Colonel Gage, we wouldn't be where we are today."

"And where are we? Is it true this Quadrant has twenty seven habitable planets?" Adama's eagerness overflowed.

"Actually, it's thirty nine in our six solar systems." Gage added.

"The Lords have smiled upon us." Adama said in awe.

Commander Dante laughed. "Oh yes, the old mysticism. Our reconnaissance might have more to do with it. We have simply found ourselves one of those rare pockets of life in the universe. While we have a wealth of planets, habitable is often a relative term. Most are small in size and the weather patterns are unpredictable. But shouldn't we be discussing this on the bridge where we can map out the details and plot you a safer path than the one you are on."

"First I'd like to hear about your trip to the Colonies and about your journey. This is truly miraculous."

"Oh Adama, it is truly a long story," Said Dante, "And best told over a few drinks. Business first though. This quadrant is not without its pitfalls."

"Yes, we did notice some rather nasty asteroid fields," Tigh commented.

Dante laughed, "Oh, those aren't asteroids. Those are our mines. We'll fill you in and plot you a course to safety, have no fear." Dante turned to his second, his voice stern, "Gather up my pilots. Remind them they are on duty."

"Yes, Sir," Gage quickly headed towards the pilots.

"I've brought some fresh supplies, and thought that perhaps over a meal I could tell you our story." Dante said.

"Yes, yes, that would be wonderful. A chance to catch up." Adama said. "Let me show you around, then we'll have a meal and talk."

Dante barked, "Muster Up." The three young pilots immediately came to attention. "Rene, Point." Without hesitating Rene drew her weapon and took up a position in front of Dante as his Colonel came to his side. She drew her weapon cradled in front of her body. The Galactica warriors were stunned for a moment. Adama said quietly to Dante, "This isn't necessary."

"Yes, Adama, and what happens when we let our guard down? We end up watching as our worlds are destroyed. Lieutenant, lead on." Rene marched across the landing bay to the lift to the bridge. Jake and the other pilot drew their weapons also, taking the same stance as Rene with their weapons cradled in front of them, holding back for the others to pass them, taking their positions at the rear of the group.

Starbuck held up also, and as they headed towards the lift mumbled to Jake, "Is he always like that?"

"Like what?" Jake asked sarcastically.

"Like he's got a launch tube up his astrum."

"Oh no, sometimes he's worse." Jake said just before they reached the lift, flashing Starbuck a strained smile.

Starbuck muttered back, "Remind me not to put in for a transfer."

"No worries there." The dark haired young man replied, his eyes lingering on Starbuck's unruly hair. "You wouldn't pass the profile."