Three
John had been furious that Gianne had released Lee but with his release he was able to use his access code along with John's to open the hanger facility. Also with his release he was able to contact Starbuck and McQueen with wireless contact established Apollo informed McQueen of the belief that the launch keys had been removed from the ships at Delphi and instead he ordered the APC to evacuate the Caprica Resistance at Delphi Union High School while he and the others at the reserve base prepared the prototype Patrol Craft. The two ships each a third the length of a ship the size of Galactica combined could carry more than five hundred people but could be crewed by less than thirty if needed both carried twelve prototype Viper Mk. 9 fighters and two combat Raptors. For now the underground hanger was safe but time couldn't last forever.
The APC flew at terrain level for the 300 kilometres seperating them from the High School to find the Cylons had found the resistance and the school was under heavy assault. McQueen stood at the APC's cargo hold "marines, you're out first secure the high ground and bring the rain" he ordered looking at the each of them "our mission is simple. The APC cannot carry all of us and the resistance in one trip. We need to hold until it comes back for us." He said as the ship came in low the ship rocked slightly as the forward weapons fired then again rocking more heavily as it landed on the School forecourt. "5-8, don't take your time." McQueen ordered as the door opened behind him. Pulling on a combat helmet McQueen grabbed his rifle led the marines out the doors joining the resistance in the firing line.
"Hawke, Sharon, keep an eye on the skys. Damphoouse, Wang cover our flanks. Helo, get these people aboard as quickly as possible." Vansen called out from the cockpit Sharon's help had been accepted by McQueen after Helo vouched for her and both Apollo and Starbuck vouched for Helo but there was still a mistrust. Each of the Wildcards had been told to take down both Sharon and Helo if they needed to.
From nearly every angle of the APC fire tore into Cylon Centurions who were advancing on their position "DRAIDIS Contact!" Sharon shouted "we've got three Raiders coming in low."
"I see them" Hawke called out "one, two, three!" He shouted as missiles and pulse lasers cut down the three raiders in rapid succession. "Take that you toaster bastards!" He cursed as the first of the civilians charged aboard with Helo grabbing them and directing them to the back of the ship counting as he went. The APC could carry fifty civilians at the most meaning they would need to make at least two trips.
"Com'on!" West shouted back from the cockpit as a Centurion straffed the front of the APC with fire fortunately the armour held and Vansen cut down the Centurion with the forward pulse cannons.
"Forty-seven, -eight, -nine, fifty. We're full!" Helo shouted fortunately whoever was at the school had been counting with him and there was no more civilians coming. Even as Helo closed the door West was boosting the APC into the air.
On the ground McQueen and the marines joined Samuel T. Anders, Starbuck and the resistance members holding off the Centurions eveyone that was left was armed, everyone that was left knew there was no retreat until the APC arrived. Even as the marines took up positions on the roof and in cover positions two resistance members were cut down by Centurion fire. "Colonel McQueen" McQueen said as he took position beside Anders.
"Samuel Anders" Anders replied seeing no reaction from the Colonel "Colonel, I can see me liking you" Anders joked standing up firing off a burst of weapons fire.
"How many Centurions?" McQueen stood up firing his own rifle cutting into Ander's target.
"We've counted forty but they can call in reinforcements, we can't" Anders said.
"No, but we can even the odds" McQueen said seeing a squad of marines in position on the High School roof "third squad treeline alpha light it up." He said into his helmet microphone "everyone down!" He then shouted as the seven marines on the roof fired down on the Centurions with their grenade launches causing explosions all along the Cylon line.
"Colonel, I could definently get to like you." Anders said looking up seeing several dead Centurions just as the APC rose up firing its own weapons into the Centurions cutting away more of the machines. "Oh yeah." He said looking up as the ship flew over their position continuing to fire as it pulled away into the air.
"Now we hold" McQueen said following Anders gaze as the resistance line was fired on again by more Centurions forcing both Anders and McQueen down.
As the APC rose into the air Damphoouse and Wang cut into the Centurion lines with their side guns "Nathan keep us low, we don't want to give them a shot at our belly" Vansen said "Sharon, Helo keep an eye on our sensors."
"We've got three more contacts coming in from the west." Sharon said soon after "they are coming in a lot faster." She warned them.
"They're too fast for missiles switching to pulse turret" Hawke called out "got one!" He called out "two coming in close" the APC rocked as the hull was impacted by several KEW shots "got number two!" Hawke shouted
"And that's number three!" Vansen shouted as the Raider flew past the front of the APC.
"Coming in from the East!" Sharon called out "the Raiders learn our tactics, they'll try different vectors until they find a weakness."
"Then we keep mixing it up!" Vansen answered "Hawke, give them some fragmentation shots." She suggested
"With pleasure Captain" Hawke said changing the ammunition type on the missile instead of the high explosive homing type of missile Hawke changed the missile type to a proximity explosive type of missile normally used against ground targets. "They are going to get a lot closer!" Hawke warned
"We're ready" Damphoouse called out knocking her fist against her helmet.
"Get ready missiles away!" Hawke warned as the Raiders also fired their own guns cutting into the APC's rear armour.
"Throwing a jig!" West called out immediately changing the course, altitude and speed of the APC throwing off the Raider fire as the two missiles Hawke had launched exploded just ahead of the Raiders shredding the craft with their fragmentation munitions.
At the reserve base the personel were trying to bring the two ships online Apollo directing one crew while also checking up on what John was doing for some reason his crew were finding a lot more problems with the second ship than he was with his. As the APC came into range Apollo saw the problem the ship was under attack from four Cylon Raiders which were using their superior speed to avoid the bigger ship's heavy guns. If it was allowed to continue then the APC would never make a second run "Gianne, I need your help" he said grabbing her hand leading her to the test room "bring the computers online one by one and link them in to my set."
"What is this?" Gianne said quietly as Lee sat down in the centre chair.
"Our last great experiment. This was going to replace Viper pilots one day." He said lowering the back of the chair over his head "it's a modified Holoband" he said seeing Gianne's gasp the technology had been banned since the First Cylon War.
"All online" She said looking at her screens each displayed a different external view of the base and runway. Across from her Lee was sat back in the chair his eyes focused on something that Gianne could not see. For Lee the sensation was far different gone from the room he was suddenly inside one of the Air Force Vipers on the runway outside. Instantly he "reached" forward and activated the Viper's flight controls bringing the engines online. On two other Vipers the same actions happened as the three Vipers lept into the air flying in a triangle formation straight at the incoming APC.
"APC dive in three, two, one" Lee said clearly as his voice activated the Viper's wireless. The APC dived towards the deck out of the way "Fox One, Fox Two" Lee called out as all three Vipers fired onboard missiles at the incoming Raiders destroying all three with the volley fire. "APC head for the hanger that trick isn't going to work a second time." He warned however there were no Cylons nearby instead he looped all three Vipers around and back to the base to a controlled landing. Raising the headband Lee wasn't a bit surprised when the door burst open.
"What the hell are you doing with that thing? It's never been cleared for use!" John snarled as he charged into the room.
"And it never will the government that called for its testing is dead!" Lee shouted back "I will use everything and anything to survive the Cylon threat. Now let's go welcome our guests." He said pushing passed John Gianne following silently.
Reaching the bay Lee saw the battered APC had landed there were dozens of fresh KEW strikes all across its hull he wondered silently if the ship would be space worthy after this. As the Civilians moved from the ship they were led to the underground hanger and the ships that would take them off planet. One of the last to leave was Helo who smirked on seeing Apollo who approached with his own smile "Helo, well done" Lee said the two had briefly met before the attacks he saw Sharon standing in the doorway behind him "you sure about her?" He asked quietly
"I am" Helo said defiantly looking up he saw Gianne standing "as sure as you are I guess" he finished bringing a further smirk from Lee. Suddenly however Lee's features changed as he reached to his holster brushing Lee to the side as he drew his sidearm. "Stand where the frak you are!" He screamed silencing the bay Helo's pistol was aimed not at Gianne but at her father standing just behind her.
Lee stood beside Helo "Karl, what the hell are you doing? That's Gianne's father!"
"He's a frakking Cylon!" Helo shouted "there's a Father Cavel with the resistance!" He explained as Lee turned to face John the Cylon was in motion drawing a concealled pistol he grabbed Gianne pressing it to her side before anyone could move.
"You had to come across another fraking one, ruin it all" he shouted as he dragged Gianne close "but now your shot at being a hero is spoiled."
"Dad, what are you doing?" Gianne shouted shocked at John's actions
"Shut up you stupid bag of meat, I'm a fraking Cylon get it now?" He shouted as Gianne began to break down in shock "I'm protecting my kind, now I know where this place is it's only a matter of time before the others arrive."
"I've got the shot" Helo said keeping his pistol trained on John
"Com'on take it, I dare you and watch them all turn on you and your pet Eight!" John taunted Helo
"Don't do it Karl!" Lee warned him drawing his own pistol
"Affraid He'll hit your one true love Apollo!" John shouted "well fine I'll let him off the hook!" John shouted pulling the trigger shooting Gianne in the right side, she screamed in pain and fell away from John. "Final victory will be ours" he said raising his gun both Lee and Helo shot John several times in the chest.
For a moment everything was in silence and slow motion as Lee moved to Gianne's fallen form. She was drifting in and out of consiousness "Gianne!" Lee screamed seeing the growing pool of water "stay with me! I can't lose you again!" He shouted breaking down in tears as her hand rose to his face.
"I can't stay" she whispered
"The medics can patch you up" Lee sobbed
"Not this time. You need to be strong you need to care for our son now, Michael needs you to be strong they all do." She whispered "I love you" she said finally before drifting away. Lee's scream of anger and anguish echoed throughout the hanger with no-one moving around him or near the pilot.