Chapter Five
Admiral Cain stared at the dradis consol in the CIC with wide-awake eyes, despite having been up all night studying star maps. She was contemplating the cylon's next move. For a year now they had been following a small fleet of about two to three baseships and an unknown ship. She had worked out that they must be following someone or something, but she had no idea who or what. What she did know was that the cylons considered their target important enough to follow it zealously across the galaxy.
"What are your orders Admiral?" asked Fisk
"We need to start predicting where those frakkers are going" said Cain sternly. "If they are following someone then they'll be tracking the systems where people would most likely jump to."
"Systems that hold natural resources?" asked Fisk with caution in his voice. He knew full well not to inadvertently question the Admiral's orders.
"Exactly. Lieutenant Hoshi I want you to find the nearest systems that could potentially be sources of tylium."
"Yes Sir" saluted Hoshi.
"We'll start with those systems and then move on to more outer systems to see if any of them could hold resources."
Cain signed and massaged the ache in her neck. It was going to be a long couple of months.
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They had just come off from a 15 hour rotation and they were all exhausted. Kara stood under the spray of the warm shower trying to rid her body of all the aches and pains that coursed through her. It had been a week since the infamous triad game where she had cleaned up the table.
Kara had lost count of the people who had asked her if she was wearing the bra she had won from Racetrack. Secretly she had no plans to wear the bra anytime soon, it really wasn't her style, but she had hidden it in her locker for safekeeping.
Kara stepped out of the shower and cocooned herself in her towel. Frak she needed some sleep regardless of whether or not it was only 1900 hours. She grabbed another towel and started to dry her hair stealing a glance over at the shower stalls as Lee exited with a towel wrapped around his waist.
Kara loved that towel. She loved it even more when it wasn't around his waist.
They exited the officer's head together still wrapped up in their towels. They were too tired to even idly chat. Both of them longed for some down time.
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D'Anna Biers covertly eyed the corridors of the Galactica as Dualla guided her through the ship. She had never imagined that it would be so easy to get onboard. Now all she had to do was find the "subjects" that she was after. She had some specific objectives to achieve and report back to her people.
D'Anna smiled forcefully as Dualla showed them yet another pointless feature in the corridor. At this rate she would bore all her viewers to death. She swore that getting this woman to show them around was the Commander's idea of a bad joke.
Out of the corner of her eye D'Anna saw a man and a woman walking side by side wearing nothing but towels. She wondered if they were two of the people she was after. Unfortunately her guide seemed to be leading them in the opposite direction.
D'Anna swore under her breath.
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Kara pulled her military bra over her still damp hair and huffed loudly.
"What's wrong with you?" asked Lee who was still only wearing his towel
"We just finished a 15 hour rotation" she answered pulling her tank over head.
Lee grinned "yeah, well, you better get used to it. We're gonna be short on pilots till the rest of the fleet pulls the stick out of its collective fat ass"
Kara couldn't help but laugh and sneak a look at Lee's abs "more fallout from Tigh's moment of glory?"
Lee was taken aback and walked towards Kara "you heard about his death threat?"
"Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy" Kara quipped "I just can't believe that I haven't been called in for questioning yet."
"Oh, you were top of the list. But don't worry I told Tigh that you wouldn't know Caprican poetry if it was hot-soldered across your helmet."
Kara was caught between being offended by that comment and loving how he was teasing her. Kara decided that she would make him eat his own words as she walked right up to him saying "From the darkness, you must fall, failed and weak to darkness all." She was so close that Lee could smell her freshly washed hair "Kataris. Not one of his best"
When the frak had she learnt poetry thought Lee completely taken aback.
"Can I be a suspect again?" Kara added "please?"
Lee didn't know how to respond to Kara quoting poetry at him so he just gazed into her eyes. It took all of his resolve not to grab her and kiss her. As much as he wanted to kiss her, a crowded bunkroom was not the ideal place and besides she would probably smack him with that right hook of hers.
Kara didn't want to break off from looking at Lee either. She found herself wishing that she was in a much more private place then in the bunkroom during flight rotation. Unfortunately her pleasant thoughts were interrupted by loud noises coming from the corridor. The source of the noise was Hotdog who was closely followed by Kat as they came running into the bunkroom.
Kara made a mental note to put Kat through hell later.
Two other people were now standing at the hatch, one of them with a camera in his hand. Kara had heard that a reporter was coming aboard, someone's frakked up idea of boosting moral in the fleet. She decided it would be wise to start putting on some more clothing as Lee yelled at Kat for playing up to the camera and mooning.
Kat was really grating at Kara. Her moods had been fluctuating all week, disobeying her orders and picking fights. She could swear that Kat was getting more like her everyday, her arrogance going way off the scale.
Lee ordered Hotdog and Kat out of the senior officer's bunkroom and then turned his attention to the reporter.
"So, you must be the reporter we were expecting" he said holding out his hand.
Kara smirked discreetly as Lee lost his towel, stealing glances at his well formed behind. She would bet cubits that the camera footage would be played repeatedly in slow motion by virtually every woman in the fleet, herself included.
"Whose brilliant idea was that?" asked Lee gesturing to the now empty hatchway.
"Roslin's idea of trying to rally the fleet behind the military" Kara said exaggeratedly and rolling her eyes.
"Yeah, right" laughed Lee as he opened his locker. He grabbed his shorts and slipped them on "You'd better get used to the reporters being here, they're going to be dogging us for the next two days. Personal interviews start tomorrow and yes they are mandatory."
"I'm not talking to a frakking reporter"
"Direct orders from the Commander so you can either attend at your allotted time or I'll make sure she interrupts you at an inconvenient time."
Kara threw her towel at Lee "frakker" she teased.
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D'Anna smiled privately to herself. She had found Captain Lee Adama and who she guessed to be, from Leoben's description, Lieutenant Kara Thrace. Those two had seemed awfully cosy in the bunkroom. D'Anna was under strict instructions to make sure she obtained footage of the Captain and Lieutenant as well as a number of other people.
Her interviews would begin tomorrow and hopefully she would also get the chance to film the hangar deck. It would be useful to know how many vipers were protecting the fleet.
D'Anna played back the footage she had obtained so far. The footage from the officer's bunkroom started. She paused the film and gazed at the image. The Captain was only in his towel with the Lieutenant leaned in next to him in her underwear.
"In order to destroy people all you have to do is find their weaknesses" D'Anna said quietly to herself and smiled. She pressed play and continued watching, plans forming in her head.
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Kara had finally gotten the few hours sleep she really needed but it had still been an effort to haul herself out of her rack at 0430 hours. Her second 15 hour rotation was fairly uneventful and she had successfully managed to avoid the reporter for most of the day. The only time that she had been caught on camera was when Kat had kicked off on the hangar deck.
Kara had no idea what was bothering Kat but the way she was going she would get herself killed and they needed all the pilots they could get.
It was now the final day of filming on the ship and Kara was feeling particularly pleased with herself for missing her personal interview slot. Lee hadn't mentioned her lack of attendance yet so she started to think that she was really going to get away with it.
Kara was spending her free time that morning with Lee. They had both gone early to the gym.
They had been punching and kicking the stuffing out of the punch-bag, giggling and laughing at each other as they took their turns. But they had given up with serious exercise about 20 minutes ago. Now they were kicking the bag at each other and starting to play fight.
Kara and Lee were completely unaware of D'Anna and her cameraman who had taken up residence just outside the hatch. They were filming the whole exchange of giggles and playful blows between them.
Lee playfully swiped his arm at Kara's torso as she feigned being injured spinning around so that her back was to him. Lee suddenly remembered something Zak had told him once and had a devious idea. He stealthily leapt forward and squished his fingertips into the sides of her stomach. Lee never thought he would live two seconds beyond hearing Kara squeal the way she did. She squirmed at his onslaught attempting to wriggle away.
Lee felt a surge of supremacy as he continued to unabashedly tickle her until her legs gave way and she was in a giggly heap on the floor.
*Squeal* "you are frakking dead Adama!" *Squeal*
"Sorry what was that Thrace?" said Lee tickling her even harder.
"Frak! Lee!" Kara yelped again.
"It's hard to believe that the almighty viper ace known as Starbuck can be defeated so easily"
"Frak you! You're cheating!"
Kara took advantage of Lee's temporary cessation of his onslaught. She quickly flew her legs out connecting with Lee's legs, sweeping him off his feet. He came crashing to the ground knocking the air out of his lungs. Lee coughed deeply as he laughed and tried to get his breath back.
"Oh Lee," mocked Kara as she stood up "you should know by now that no-one can beat Starbuck."
"Wanna bet?" said Lee launching himself off the floor and grabbing at Kara's waist again.
*Squeal* "Lee no!" *giggle* "stop it!"
D'Anna smiled as she gestured to her cameraman to walk away. She stole a quick glance at Kara and Lee as they each battled for control, their laughter echoing down the corridor.
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Early evening had fallen on the Galactica. Most of the crew were trying to get their 5 minutes of fame with D'Anna Biers. She was currently in the officer's Rec room taking some last minute interviews. Everyone was crowded around and watching.
Kara decided she would hide as far away as possible from all the commotion in the virtually empty hangar deck. She was currently underneath her viper with a wrench.
"Frakking piece of…" she said as she struggled with some of the parts.
"Anything I can help with?" asked Lee as he knelt under the viper.
"She felt off after that last encounter today but I can't find what's wrong." Kara banged the wrench against a canopy. After the session in the gym her day had gone dramatically downhill. Firstly Kat had flunked her landing and was stretchered to lifestation screaming her head off. She managed to damage the deck and her viper because she had been overdosing on stims. What made matters worse was the frakking reporter capturing it all on camera. Secondly they had another encounter with the cylons. Their attacks seemed to have increased threefold since Kobol, one of these days their luck was going to run out.
"Hey are you okay?" asked Lee concerned
"Yeah, I went to see Kat about an hour ago. She's was crying and apologising. I can't believe I had no idea she was heavy on the stims."
"It's not your fault Kara"
"I'm her instructor Lee and you're her CAG, she's both of our responsibilities." Kara banged the wrench against her viper again "frakking thing."
"At this rate Kara you're viper will never fly again" Lee said as he slid underneath the viper. He shined a torch at the underside "are you sure anything is wrong?"
"I know my viper Lee and something definitely felt wrong after I shot that raider down."
"Did you take a hit?"
"I don't think so but I think some of the raider's debris caught my underside" Kara grabbed her torch, which had been resting on her chest and shone it deep inside the viper's belly.
"Just a sec I think I see the problem" Lee took Kara's wrench, leaned over and started levering open a bolt above Kara.
"You sure?" questioned Kara "hang on it can't be that"
"Sometimes an impact can cause pressure on the valves behind this panel, which could throw out the yaw trajectory."
Lee struggled with the bolt but finally it started to come loose. Suddenly there was popping sound and then a cracking sound.
"What the…" was all the words Kara could get out before the bolt flew out causing oil to flood out from behind the panel. Lee slid quickly out of the way, his arms coated in the slick black oil.
"Frak!" Kara cried out as the oil came pouring out on top of her. She pushed herself on the backboard out from underneath the viper, assisted by Lee who pulled her feet. She was covered, her blond hair mostly turned black.
Kara quickly wiped the oil from her face and cursed.
"Frak I'm sorry I had no idea the damage was that bad" said Lee. Kara was silent incredulous of what had just happened and looking down at herself.
After a minute Lee began to laugh.
"It's not funny"
"I know, I'm sorry I can't help it, you look ridiculous" he said still laughing.
Kara looked down at herself and also began to laugh.
"Come on" Lee added "Lets get you cleaned up the Chief can deal with this mess."
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It took about 6 showers to get the oil out of her hair with Lee watching on and laughing.
"I think you missed a bit" he teased as she exited from her 6th shower. He was fully expecting the towel that flew at his head.
"It's not funny"
"Come on, you would be laughing your ass off it was me"
"True" Kara said grinning. She walked slowly up to Lee. He was not expecting the coated in oil tank to fly at his head. Small splodges of the slick liquid stuck to his head and hair.
"Oh you are so going to pay for that" he said and took off after her as she fled down the corridor laughing. They didn't stop running until they came to the bunk room. The hatchway was closed as all of the pilots had agreed to block off the room until the cameras were off the ship. Kara and Lee closed it behind them.
Blissfully the bunkroom was empty as everyone was still in the Rec room with D'Anna Biers.
"Okay I give up" said Kara raising her hands in mock surrender. Lee chucked the tank on the table
"You should know never to lower your defences Adama" cackled Kara as she grabbed the tank and whipped it at Lee's torso.
"Frak! Kara"
Lee managed to grab the tank but Kara didn't let go. He gave it a strong yank completely catching Kara by surprise. She flew forward and collided straight into Lee, which threw him off balance. Stumbling backwards Lee's leg caught on the table and gravity did the rest. He hit the deck closely followed by Kara who came tumbling after him landing squarely on his torso.
They were nose to nose.
"Um" was all Lee could manage as he tried to keep his body under control. Having Kara lying on top of his was testing all of his resolve.
"Nice balance Lee" said Kara trying to sound normal despite not moving from her current position.
"Um, Kara" Lee said again. Kara just looked straight into his eyes.
"Yeah" she was expecting him to yell at her to get off of him.
"Um, I think you lost your towel" he said with a small voice. Kara felt her face flush as she realised their bare chests were pressed together. Somehow she had lost a grip on her towel when she fell.
She started to stand up "frak, close your eyes."
"What? Kara I've seen you in states of undress hundreds of times."
"This is different" She couldn't believe or have dreamt that she would find herself in this position. For some reason she couldn't lift herself up off of him and let him watch her stand up with her bare breasts exposed. A desirous thought then hit her, if she had lost her towel what the frak had happened to his? No sooner had she contemplated this possibility did she know that the positioning of his towel was not really the problem anymore as she felt him harden against her thigh.
All she could manage to say was "oh."
Lee pushed Kara's torso up and she jumped to her feet repositioning her towel as she went. Lee also jumped to his feet trying to hide his embarrassment with his towel.
Kara couldn't look Lee in the eye so she turned her back to him.
"Frak" was all Lee managed to say.
Kara had no idea what suddenly came over her to explain what she did next. Months later she would look back at this moment and realise that she just knew that it was the right time to act. She would look back without regret and smile about it with a hint of sadness. She would know that it was one of the best decisions she ever made and dream of the moment over and over again.
It was also a moment that would change her life forever…
Kara had spun suddenly on her heels and before she knew it she had cupped his face with her hands, her lips meeting firmly with his. Lee was completely stunned by the sudden kiss but began kissing her back immediately, his hand stroking up her arms and meeting at the top of her neck.
The kiss then softened, their tongues starting to caress each other gently, eyes closed and taking in the taste of each other.
As they kissed Lee slowly moved Kara backwards until her back met gently with the hatch. The cool metal of the hatch made Kara gasp and she paused momentarily breaking off the kiss. Their breathing came in deep pants as they pressed their foreheads together. Lee felt like he could stay this way forever as he pulled his head back and gazed into Kara's deep green eyes, he was lost in them. The desire for her burnt through him as he gently stroked her face and lightly pressed his lips back on hers.
Their lips started a slow dance again with Lee stroking his hands down Kara's back. He then reached out his arm quickly dogging the hatch.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" Lee whispered as he kissed gently up her jaw and nipped at the bottom of her ear.
Kara didn't respond instead she brought her hand down to her towel. She looked into Lee's eyes as the towel slowly fell from her breasts and cascaded to the floor. Lee's brain was in overdrive taking in Kara's body. Absolutely perfect he thought as he admired her smooth skin with her curves in all the right places.
His hands moved from Kara's back around her side and caressed the sides of her breasts. Kara let out a gasp as Lee gently brushed his thumb across her nipples. Her gasp was halted as Lee brought his lips back to hers. As Kara slowly kissed him her hands felt their way down his strong torso and loosened the towel. Lee pressed himself closer as the towel dropped to his feet. So many thoughts were going through his head. He had lost count of the times he had dreamt about having a naked Kara pressed up against him.
Lee wanted to take his time, make love to her slowly but he also desired to grab her and frak her up against the hatch.
Kara made the decision for him as she reached down and took him in her hand. It took all of Lee's resolve not to embarrass himself right there and then as he gasped at her soft touch gently starting to stroke him up and down his length.
"Oh my Gods" Lee sighed into Kara's ear. Kara responded by nipping at his ear lobe. As great as the feeling was, Lee only wanted to come inside of Kara not all over her hand. He reached down and cupped her behind lifting her off the ground. Her legs went around him holding him tight.
As much as he loved it Lee wasn't sure how long he could sustain this position.
Kara seemed to read to his mind as she breathed "table, now" into his ear.
Lee pushed away from the wall and carried her to the table, sitting her gently on the side.
Kara slowly laid herself out against the table arching her back, her legs still enveloping his waist. Lee stroked his hand down the length of her body all the way to her nub, giving it a small pinch. Kara had never come so quickly in her life, the waves of pleasure striking through her body like a lightening bolt.
Lee couldn't wait any longer. He grabbed Kara's hips and brought her closer to his crotch, leaning over her pressing himself against her.
"Are you sure?" he asked gently.
"Gods yes! Please!" Kara softly cried out.
Lee leaned further over and pushed himself slowly into her, hooking his arm around her lower back. They began a steady rhythm, perfectly complementing each others thrusts as they looked intently at each other, worshipping the passion washing over them.
Kara felt the waves of pleasure continuously flowing through her body so that she didn't know when one orgasm was finishing and the next one beginning. It didn't take long before she let out a cry as a sudden sharp orgasm hit, sending shockwaves through Lee. He felt himself release strongly inside of her, satisfaction resounding through his body.
Kara smiled, putting her hand around Lee's neck pulling her lips up to his.
Lee was the one who spoke first "well that makes things more complicated" he said smiling into her lips. Kara followed his smile and then bit down on his lower lip, stroking her hand through his hair.
Unfortunately the beauty of their moment was very rudely interrupted by someone trying to noisily open the hatch. Kara and Lee froze staring wide eyed at each other both wondering if they had locked the hatch.
They began to breathe again when the hatch didn't open.
Their lips had just met again when a loud banging echoed through the room.
"Open the frak up" came an angry voice through the hatch.
"Frak off!" Kara shouted back over Lee's shoulder.
"I need to get to my bunk. I have direct orders from the CAG"
"Frakking liar" muttered Kara and was just about to put the voice straight when she realised she couldn't. She couldn't shout out that she knew Lee hadn't given that order because he was currently nestled between her thighs and still inside of her.
"Frak" Lee said as the banging started on the hatch again.
Kara really didn't want to break her contact with Lee as they separated. She grabbed her towel wrapping it around herself and then paused in front of the hatch.
"Frak, how do we explain us being in here alone?" she said.
Lee hadn't thought of that. If anyone found out that he and Kara had been locked in the bunkroom together the rumours would spread like wildfire. He couldn't imagine how he would lie convincingly to his father that there wasn't any truth behind the ship-wide gossip.
"Get in my rack" said Kara as she quickly scooped up their clothing and threw them in her locker. The banging on the hatch continued, she was going to hurt whoever was behind it. Lee threw himself in Kara's rack and drew the curtain as Kara opened the hatch. Palladino barged right past Kara nearly knocking her off her feet. He was closely followed by other pilots trying to get to their racks.
"Next time frak someone during down time not when we want to sleep" sneered Palladino as he barged back out of the room with a bag over his shoulder leaving Kara speechless. She would have retorted but everyone in the bunkroom was staring in her direction.
"Who have you got hidden in your rack Starbuck?" laughed out Duck.
"Frak off" said Kara sneaking into her bunk. She knew they wouldn't open her curtain, they knew better than that. Kara lay out on her back. It was a frakked up way to end such an amazing night.
Suddenly she felt Lee's hand reach under her towel and gently stroke her stomach. Kara closed her eyes and smiled as she took in his touch. She didn't care if there were people just outside the curtain getting ready for bed.
Kara rolled over onto her front and straddled Lee's waist discarding her towel. Lee sighed contently as stroked his hands up to her breasts. He was more than ready for round two. Kara looked at Lee as she lifted her body and then lowered herself onto him.
Lee gripped Kara's waist as she started a slow but steady pace. She pushed her hand up against the roof of the bunk to gain more leverage biting her lip to stop herself crying out. Kara felt the pressure building up inside of her as she clenched her muscles around him. It didn't take long before the pressure burst inside of her sending bolts of pleasure through her body.
She was completely satisfyingly spent.
Lee sat upwards scooping Kara into his arms. He quickly lifted her slightly and twisted them round so that he was now on top. Kara settled back into the bunk as Lee started thrusting steadily into her as he nipped at her neck soothing the marks with his tongue.
It didn't take long for Lee to reach his peak and come hard collapsing into Kara's shoulder to stop himself from groaning out loud. He could feel Kara satisfied panting beneath him. Lee carefully rolled to the side pulling Kara half on top of him. She settled herself into his side drifting off into sleep. The bunkroom was so silent that Lee was sure that they had been heard but he didn't give a frak. He nestled himself into Kara and closed his eyes.
Lee found himself being partly thankful for Palladino's interruption.
This way he got to sleep with Kara in his arms.