Battlestar Galactica, Flight Deck: 16:30
"Admiral on deck!"
The elder officer responded automatically. "At ease."
He approached the Raptor being prepared for launch and addressed the Chief.
"Alright, let's go." His practiced facade was falling fast. All he wanted was to be on that ship, facing whatever their was to be faced. If she was hurt, he needed to be there. If she was dead...he stopped himself at the thought, realizing that he may have waited too long to tell her what that night on New Caprica had started inside of him.
His mind went back to several days earlier. "We have certain responsibilities," he said. She'd reacted with the same poise they'd both perfected, sad but certain that there simply wasn't time or space to be anything other than Admiral and President. He promised the Gods he didn't believe in that if they would only spare her one more time, he'd figure out how to make both time and space.
"Sir. Sir?"
Adama snapped back to the moment, focusing on the Chief's insistent words and gaze. He nodded at him expectantly.
"Sir, the first medical team is on site. Cottle reports a few injuries but no fatalities. It could have been a lot worse."
The Admiral almost sank down the side of the Raptor with relief. No fatalities. She was alive. Now he simply needed to know in what condition. He steeled his voice.
"Good to hear, Chief. Did they give a status report on President Roslin?"
The scruffy young man was taken aback at the intensity of the question. He could tell that the fact that he didn't know the answer didn't bode well for him.
"No, sir. I don't have details. They do report that they have the crew they need there. There's no need for a second medical team."
Like hell, Bill thought. He was getting to that ship if he had to commandeer a bird himself. He realized as the Chief looked at him strangely that the thought must be written on his face. He forced a tight smile.
"Alright. Good. I'm going to need to get over there myself, however. Damage control. The press that's always lurking over there is going to wonder why a military ship just tried to take out the center of government." The center of government, the center of the fleet, the center of my world, he added silently.
"Yes, sir. Raptor will be skids up in three minutes."
