Battlestar Farscape

I do not own Farscape or New Battlestar Galactica. Writing this to entertain not for profit.

All power to Wikipedia and the Battlestar Galactica: Technical Manual for a lot of the Technical detail.

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Chapter 7

Leviathan Rovhu, Cauldron Artifact, Cauldron System.

Ka D'Argo felt good, in fact he felt excellent, he didn't think he had ever been this full of energy and health. He stretched and looked around. He was on Moya in one of the halls; funny he couldn't remember how he got there. He started looking around.

"Chiana!" She had been standing right behind him, she was blue.

"Arhh!" A DRD zapped him, before he could reach her, suddenly there were DRD's all over the place, with they're weapons deployed. With a few more zaps for encouragement he backed away from Chiana's still blue form, noting another blue person this one Sebacean looking, although it wasn't John or Aeryn.

"Pilot what's wrong with Chiana, why won't the DRD's let me near her." D'Argo shouted only then realizing that he wasn't wearing a communicator badge. In fact he wasn't wearing much of anything his clothing was threadbare and falling apart and his Qualta Blade was missing. The Luxan was starting to think things were weirder than normal, the last thing he could remember clearly was he, John, Aeryn, Chiana and the Interion female Jool, they were in a transport pod returning to Moya from a commerce planet and then nothing. Now he was back on Moya, Chiana and some Sebacean he didn't know, had been turned into blue statues, he just knew John was at the bottom of this.

"Ka D'Argo" Pilots voice called from an open hatchway just down the corridor.

"Pilot, what's going on." With one last look at Chiana and the swarm of DRD's guarding her, he jogged into, what he now saw was the Den, Pilot at his console.

"Ka D'Argo what do you remember." Pilot asked

D'Argo frowned at the creature infront of him, he was obviously a Pilot but not D'Argo's shipmate from Moya, which meant something horrendous had happened or this was not Moya. That brought up a vague feeling of unease something about another Leviathan.

"What Leviathan is this." D'Argo growled, the Luxan was getting more and more disturbed and was seriously thinking about getting angry.

"This is the Leviathan Rovhu. Ka D'Argo please, Rovhu and I mean you no harm. Commander Crichton and Commander Sun both talked about you at great lengths. I believe it would be easiest if you informed us of the last thing you remember. Healing by the Builder Substance seems to cause biped lifeforms memory loss or it could be a side effect of your wound. In any case I will endeavor to bring you up to date on the current situation." The Pilot spoke soothingly.

"Commander Sun? Alright Pilot, last I remember was being on a Transport Pod with the others, heading back to Moya." What wound, Builders and memory loss. D'Argo groaned he wasn't going to like this.

"Ah! At some point on your trip the Pod began to lose power, you discovered Rovhu drifting near your route and landed on him for repairs there were, problems." Pilot hesitated over the last, as if not quite sure what word to use.

"What sort of problems, what is wrong with Chiana, and why are you speaking Luxan." D'Argo realized the Pilot was speaking his native language, somehow he had missed it at the beginning of the conversation.

"Rovhu was a Peacekeeper prison ship, something I am told you have experience with. The Scarrans attacked us and in the turmoil Kaarvok escaped, we avoided the Scarrans, but Kaarvok was free. He did things, terrible things to the crew, to Rovhu, to me. We were dying when you landed but Kaarvok was still here." D'Argo could see the Pilot struggle to keep calm.

"I am speaking Luxan because you no longer possess Translator Microbes the Builder Substance only healed you, anything not part of you was disposed of. Commander Sun especially wished you to note the slave rings." Pilot said.

D'Argo quickly had a look down his top and then with a roar of pure joy, ripped his tunic off. The Slave rings the hooks that had been grafted onto his collarbones and stayed with him as constant reminders of his shame, even after he escaped. The mark of his humiliation and captivity were gone!

"Your shipmate Chiana is healing as were you, until you awoke just microts ago. The Nebari are not as robust as Luxan's it is to be expected that she take longer to heal." Pilot explained.

"What happened to us, how were we wounded, how long have I been asleep." D'Argo was getting an idea of things now, apparently everyone was well.

"How long is difficult to determine, Commander Crichton has spent some time working with Rovhu and I and we have yet to produce a answer, however it has been over a cycle and a half." The Luxan warrior cut off Pilot.

"What! A Cycle and a half. What happened to Moya, where are we." D'Argo shouted.

"I am sorry to say that we have had no contact with Moya or any other Leviathan. Where we are is also problematic, the best estimate we can make put us several sectors galactic east of Tormented Space." Pilot answered calmly.

D'Argo was stunned Tormented Space had been the edge of explored space though out all of Luxors space going history. Although images could be seen of space beyond it, no ship had ever crossed troubled area to a more stable sector. Tormented Space just became more and more difficult to navigate as wormholes and strange radiation storms became more frequent.

"Beyond Tormented Space." D'Argo whispered.

"That is correct, several elements combined in a surprising way and Rovhu preformed a overpowered Starburst to this Artifact, the Cauldron. I was." The Pilot hesitated. "I was unconscious at the time and Rovhu, delirious with pain and the damage of his wounds, he all but crashed on the Cauldron and was soon unconscious as well." Pilot continued to explain.

"Where are John and Aeryn now, can you open communications to them Pilot." Too much information D'Argo wanted to talk to his friends.

"Unfortunately not. They are out of range at this time. They are with the refugee Fleet" Pilot answered.

"What refugee Fleet." D'Argo demanded.

Pilots answer was cut off by a woman's terrified scream, from outside the Den. D'Argo immediately ran out.

"Chiana!"

Chiana had woken feeling wonderful she had just started to look around when she remembered. The pain in her stomach, the strange Alien shooting her, then the other her, looking into her eyes, with fear and guilt as she backed away, the Alien stabbing something into her head, the incredible pain, all the while she, herself, the other Chiana watched and backed away.

"Chiana!" D'Argo was holding her, and she was screaming and screaming, she couldn't stop.

Viper, Combat Air Patrol, Galactica Controlled Space

Lt. Louanne 'Kat' Katraine, had not been a member of the CDF before the Holocaust. After she finished school she had taken a job as a boonie jumper, running small loads around the Colony's and small habitats that dotted the home systems,. After being picked as Viper pilot candidate most of the training revolved around flying and what little was known about Cylon ships she had no idea what she was seeing

Dradis had it as, 710 meters long, 270 meters across and 88 meters high. Kat could see it was a big ship, at least half the size of Galactica. It had what looked like a single landing pod tucked in underneath and behind the 'head' section and was covered in gun emplacements. Dradis updated, a Dreadnought class Battlecruiser and Identify Friend or Foe locked on to its transponder. The CDF Helios.

'Kat' could hear her wing mates cheering and laughing over the radio and knew she should call on them to quite down, but she was cheering as loud as anybody, tears running down her cheeks

C.I.C. Battlecruiser Helios Unknown System.

"We are receiving a transmission Priority One channel Sir." A Communication Specialist reported

"Put it on speaker." Captain Siam ordered with a quick look at Commander Crichton.

Crichton nodded encouragingly as he watched Captain Siam run his ship. The speaker crackled to life.

"Battlestar Galactica to CDF Helios come in."

"This is the Helios we are receiving you Galactica." Captain Siam answered into his microphone.

"Standby for Galactica Actual, Fleet Admiral Adama." The unidentified voice ordered.

Captain Siam was stunned he knew Adama was a Commander.

"Acknowledged Galactica, Standing By." Crichton jumped in talking over Siam's shoulder, into the receiver.

Captain Bas Siam hastily covered the communication receiver in his hand.

"But Sir! He's trying to pull something, William Adama is a much a Fleet Admiral as I am. They're trying to take control." He protested to Crichton.

"We wan't them in control Bas, as long as they do a good job of it." John Crichton drawled.

"This is Galactica Actual." The load speaker announced to the Helios CIC.

Crichton held out his hand to the Helios Captain. Bas handed over the microphone.

"Good to hear your voice, Fleet Admiral, congratulation on the promotion, this is Commander Crichton." John said.

"Its good to hear from you as well Commander we are about to Jump, the Fleet has been here too long we are sending you coordinates." The Adama ordered.

Crichton was taken aback, he could understand what Adama and probably who ever was the President were doing. They were trying to assume command and abstractly, he approved they needed a clear leadership if the Colonials were to survive. And he and Aeryn certainly didn't wan't to be in the top jobs. At the same time he couldn't be regulated to an obedient follower, he had plans and too much and too many people counted on him being in a position to accomplice those plans.

"Acknowledged Galactica Actual, I am transferring to the Xiphos, please have your landing officer direct us in. I will be joining you, ETA 10 minutes, then we can Jump." Crichton stated.

C.I.C. Battlestar Galactica.

"That cheeky son of a bitch." Colonel Tigh commented.

"That he is Saul. Operations start working out landing instructions for a Calypso class frigate, to the Port Landing Pod." William Adama smiled slightly if he was reading it right, Commander Crichton was saying he would support him as Fleet Admiral but only so far.

"Aspect change Sir. Helios is extending her landing pod she has also altered course moving into formation with Galactica." Petty Officer Second Anastasia Dualla reported.

"Mr. Gaeta as soon as the Pod is retracted and the Xiphos secure you may begin the Jump, Colonel Tigh and I will go down and welcome Commander Crichton onboard, see that President Roslin and Vice President Balter know we are receiving him in ten minutes." Adama ordered.

No 4 Dock, Port Landing Pod Battlestar Galactica.

William Adama watched as Laura Roslin, and her entourage made they're way from Dock 3 and Colonial One to his own group clustered around the airlock to Dock 4. He had expected Billy Keikeya and maybe the new girl, Tory Foster but seeing Wallace Gray was a surprise, even hanging back with the presidential bodyguard. Adama had thought the man on the outs with the Roslin administration.

The armored blast shields covering the windows around the dock were open so they had a spectacular view of the Xiphos coming in to land. The Calypso class frigate moved into position and deployed landing gear. Adama looked over the ship as the Presidents group joined him Saul, Lee and the four Marines. 90 meters long with three spinal fitted 7-inch rail-guns, a Broadside of 10, 7-inch cannons mixed with 9 missile batteries. With a 84-piece ½ inch rail-gun point defense suit, it was a tough little battleship. Designed to scout ahead of its Battlestar, be able to get out of any trouble it got into and report back.

"Well Fleet Admiral have you spoken to Commander Crichton yet." Laura Roslin asked as they watched the gantry extend out to lock on to the side of the Xiphos.

"We exchanged a few words, Madam President, he seemed to imply he would like to support your administration but that he wasn't going to be pushed around." The airlock pressurized.

Laura Roslin frowned slightly, as the bulkhead door infront of her began to open. All in all, she couldn't of hoped for better news from Adama, but it was still worrying they were living on the edge any dissention, especially at the level of this Commander Crichton could push them over.

'Starbuck' jogged up hastily straightening her dress Grey's. On her way to her position in the line up, she paused as she passed behind Adama and Roslin.

"Sir, Madam President. Mr. Gaeta still hasn't been able to contact the Vice President" Kara said quietly then continued on, to take her place next to 'Apollo'

Bill Adama and Laura Roslin exchanged a look; both concerned about how unreliable Gaius Balter was becoming. Then the two leaders focused on the opening hatch infront of them, as the newcomers stepped onto Galactica.

First through the hatch were two Marines they took station one on each side of the door. Saul Tigh caught sight of an unfamiliar badge on each of the Marines, shoulder patches. Then the Commander exited followed by two Captains.

Crichton stepped out of the walkway and onto Galactica, infront of him the dignitaries were lined up. Directly opposite of him, was the man in the Commanders uniform, Crichton guessed they didn't have any spare Fleet Admiral uniforms in stores? He would have to see if he had anything lying around. Standing next to Fleet Admiral Adama were a striking older civilian women and a tall balding Colonel. The civilian Lady had her own escort including Plain-Clothes guards. Both the Colonial Defense Fleet officers had the look of old fighters, in the case of the Colonel probably a dirty fighter, while Galactica's CO looked more of a thinker. But they both looked like they needed a break. The civilian women who he was guessing was either the President or a top official, looked smart and friendly and also quite capable of ripping somones heart out while they watched, still looking smart and friendly as she did it.

John planted himself infront of Adama and came to attention and fired off his best salute.

Adama returned Commander Crichton's salute. Trying to get a feel for the man. He had been through hell, that was what he saw in Crichton's eyes.

It had been a shock when he had realized what was off about the boy, Lieutenant Junior Grade Mark Usen, when he had first met him. Usen hadn't been ripped apart, pulled himself back together only to be ripped apart again, over and over until the only thing holding him up, was some vague memory of who you once where. The boy had been devastated, mentally scared but he had not been dragged through the bottom reaches of hades.

What had shocked Adama, was the look in the eyes of everyone in the Fleet, the look that was absent in Lt. Usen. It wasn't the result of the holocaust as he had thought. It was the escape the continual fear of attack the constant battle alert, that had put that haunted look in the eyes of the people of his Fleet. Now he could see that unlike Mark Usen, Crichton had been through his own hell.

"Permission to come aboard, Fleet Admiral." Crichton asked.

"Permission granted Commander Crichton, Madam President allow me to introduce Commander John Crichton of the Hades. Commander Crichton, the President of the Twelve Colony's of Kobol, Laura Roslin." Adama preformed the introductions.

"Of course Fleet Admiral, it is a great pleasure to meet you Commander, a great pleasure and a great lifting of spirit, I had given up hope that others might have survived." Laura declared. Gently taking Crichton's offered hand into her own.

"I would say it was a great pleasure to meet you too, ma'am. But then my fiancée would kill us both." Crichton replied smiling. Returning the statuesque brunette's handshake.

Laura Roslin smiled a little uncertainly and cast a quick sideways look at Bill Adama but the Fleet Admiral was already moving on, introducing Tigh.

"This is Colonel Saul Tigh my XO." Adama said.

"Colonel." Crichton nodded to the hard-bitten officer.

"Commander I will say, I am glad to see you." Tigh said as they shook hands.

"These are Captain Adama my son and CAG and Lieutenant Kara Thrace my top Pilot." Adama finished.

"Good to meet you Sir." Apollo said.

"An honor Sir." Starbuck didn't even try not to grin.

"Ladies, Gentlemen this Captain Siam of the Battlecruiser Helios and Captain Carter of the Frigate Xiphos."

There was another round of introductions

Colonial One docked, Battlestar Galactica, System Unknown

Captain Greenbean Carter was showing off the Xiphos to Colonel Saul Tigh. While Lieutenant Kara Thrace and Captain Lee Adama took Captain Bas Siam back out to his ship. President Roslin and Fleet Admiral Adama wanted to talk to Commander Crichton.

Crichton was sprawled on one of the comfortable lounge chairs with his two Marine escorts standing behind him. Laura Roslin sat across from him in another, while Bill Adama stood beside her chair. Two of the Secret Service agents stood unobtrusively in the rooms corners facing Crichton's group while Tory Foster set some drinks on the small table in the middle of the room

"That will be all Tory, thank you." Laura said as she picked up a cup of tea and took a sip.

"Madam President." Tory gave her boss a nod and quietly left the room. She wasn't the lest surprised to find five marines waiting outside the door.

Back inside the Presidents office, all parties were sizing each other up.

"President Roslin, Fleet Admiral Adama this is going to be awkward for all of us. So I am just going to start the ball rolling, see how you react to it." Crichton broke the silence.

"Please do Commander." Laura said smiling faintly.

"My command staff drew up a plan for hooking up the Fleets, once we found out about you, from our intercepts of Cylon communication. It involved us slipping you as much help as we could without comprising our existence to the enemy, while you cleaned house, removing any Cylon infiltrators you had among you." Crichton said.

"Obviously something has changed Lieutenant Usen expected only the Xiphos to make contact." Adama said.

"Yes shortly after I sent Captain Carter and his people off on the first stage of the plan, a group of criminals hiding amongst our civilians made a run for it. We can only assume the Cylons caught them. The toasters showed up at our base in the Nike system and we had to retreat." Crichton explained.

"So you decided to speed up the process Commander?" Laura asked.

"Without a fixed position, it would be risky keeping in contact between two running groups, especially with us having to Jump unexpectedly when the Cylons show up" Adama guessed.

"Exactly Fleet Admiral, so here I am, we decided to bite the bullet and try to hook up as soon as possible and work on the infiltration problem after the fact. The Cylons already know too much about my Fleet." Crichton agreed.

"I take it you will be providing us the location of your Fleet then Commander." Laura asked.

"That's right Madam President, as soon as we have worked some details out. and please call me John." Crichton said.

"Won't your fiancée become upset at the familiarity, John." President Roslin asked with a smile.

"Naw, I may have exaggerated slightly, Aeryn's a great girl." Crichton said. Making a show of crossing his fingers, to the puzzlement of everybody in the room.

"Is this Aeryn the same Aeryn Sun, Commander of the Battlestar Medusa." Adama asked.

"That's my girl, G.I Jane." Crichton grinned.

"Your aware of the regulations against such liaisons." Adama said frowning, G.I Jane?

"Yep we revoked them, time of emergency and all that." Crichton answered not moved in the slightest.

"That sounds remarkably sensible, I am sure we can ratify an amendment to the CDF Code of Conduct, Bill." President Roslin broke in before an argument could start.

"Saul and I are already looking the other way for several couple's, aboard Galactica Madam President, but to actually rewrite the rules that govern our service that's a different matter." Adama replied.

"I'm afraid Fleet Admiral, we were forced to make quite a few changes to regulations, which your signing off on, will be some of the details we will need to work out, that I mentioned earlier, before the Fleets can get together." Crichton stated.

William Adama and Laura Roslin before stared at John Crichton; he had slipped from being almost too easy going for the gravity of the situation, to being deadly serious in a heartbeat.

"Such as, Commander Crichton?" President Roslin asked, letting a bit of steel into her voice.

John immediately relaxed back into his chair and smiled charmingly.

"Well take the original discrimination regulations, they're too specific for my taste, they cover discrimination based on Sex, Race, Religion, Disability and Height but don't mention Species, we fixed that." John sat back in the comfortable seat and watched his hosts

Frigate Xiphos docked, Battlestar Galactica, System Unknown

Colonel Saul Tigh looked at his old friend; Greenbean Carter was built along much the same lines as William Adama a bulldog of a man, not tall but wide shoulders and full of muscle he was a decade younger than Saul or Adama.

"You're saying he's crazy?" Colonel Tigh asked incredulously.

"As a Loon, believes in Aliens thinks he's from Earth, you know the 13th Colony and, Gods the nonsense he drops into regular conversation it warps the mind I tell you Saul." Greenbean took a pull from his beer; they were in his cabin on the Xiphos.

"Why the Frak is he running your Fleet then!" Saul barked.

"Because Commander Sun and Colonel Torins back him and he's a Hero, saved all our arses on Holocaust day, the damm kids who run the Fleet worship the ground he walks on!" Greenbean told him.

"Now he's got himself a new friend, he will be talking to pot plants soon. Then they will have to make him step down, no matter how much of a genius he is." Saul was picking up a lot of hostility and bitterness. He didn't know how much of what his old friend was saying to believe.

"New friend?" Tigh was pretty sure he didn't wan't to know.

"That crazy Pilot you off loaded onto me, and don't think I didn't appreciate that Saul." Captain Carter sneered.

"What crazy Pilot." Tigh demanded.

"That Sharon Valerii who thinks she a Cylon, we locked her up over on the Helios I hear Commander Crichton spent an hour talking to her and now there best buds." Greenbean told Colonel Tigh.

Tigh stood up abruptly this was all too weird for him, but one thing he did know the 'Old Man' needed to be told that one of Galactica's crew was in the brig on the Helios

Greenbean Carter saluted Tigh with his beer as the Galactica XO charged out the room.

Colonial One docked, Battlestar Galactica, System Unknown

"Species! you mean you wan't laws against discriminating against Cylons." Laura exclaimed.

"No Madam President the only Cylons I've seen have DNA indiscernible from ours." Crichton replied.

"Then what do you mean." Adama demanded.

"Whoa lets not get bogged down in details. I will have the documents sent over, its just one of things we have to get through if we are to work together. For instance I think you two are going to take a lot of convincing to get behind Operation Exodus, and Operation Bo-Peep would go a lot faster with your help." John had decided on his strategy before he walked in the door. He couldn't unload the facts on the Colonials all at once, despite having a multi planet society they tended to be a bit, provincial. So he would drop a hint or two, let them think about it, then send the Admiral a nice dry report when he, Crichton was on another ship, preferably in another star system.

William Adama knew he was being diverted from something, that at least Crichton believed to be important, but he really needed to know something about the other fleets operational status. And he couldn't think of any scenario where species discrimination would play a big part in Fleet doctrine.

"Would you care to explain Exodus and Bo-Peep to us." Both Adama and Roslin thought they had a pretty good idea of Exodus, the title was very descriptive but Bo-Peep? The words were so much noise to them.

"Operation Bo-Peep, like merging our two refugee fleets, had to be speeded up. In fact bringing our fleets together was the first step. The Cylons believe there are eight groups of Colonials fleeing, Bo-peep's aim is to join up those groups." Crichton began.

"Eight more groups! Do you have any more details, how many people might have survived." Laura asked.

"Not a lot, I'm afraid Madam President, most of the reports are just comment on sightings. The most informative one is on the Pegasus group, which details a sighting of the Battlestar Pegasus and sixteen civilian ships, in a raid on a Cylon supply depot. The next best is a group of Destroyers believed to be escorting several civilian ships, all the other reports are just area's of suspected Colonial activity." Crichton said.

President Roslin sat back; this was ridiculous commander Crichton seemed to be full of stunning reevaluations. William Adama was also reeling, he knew Admiral Cain he had served on her father's Battlestar during the first war.

John looked at his stunned audience and figured he had done enough damage for today, well maybe not the whole day, but at least for now.

"Madam President Roslin, Fleet Admiral Adama, I have given you a lot to think about. Why don't I head back over to the Helios, I will send you what we have on the survivors, and an outline of Bo-Peep. And of course the changes we have had to make to colonial law and CDF regulations, then we take this up again tomorrow." Crichton said standing.

"Sir, Madam I wan't you to both know, I and my people wan't to work with you. But we have been on our own, making it up as we go along since the Holocaust. I am sure you would shock yourselves, from four months ago." Crichton said.

Adama thought about that. What would William Adama from four months ago think of him now?

"Maybe your right Commander, We will see you tomorrow." Adama didn't think he had a choice anyway, unless he wanted to throw Crichton in the brig. The Fleet Admiral escorted Crichton out past the squad of Marines and detailed a crewman to show Crichton and his escorts to the Raptor bay so they could arrange a flight back to the Battlecruiser.

Before going back onto Colonial One he picked up one of the internal phones.

"Command." He told the operator.

"CIC." Lt. Gaeta answered.

"This is the Admiral, sitrep." Adama ordered.

"Yes sir, the jump went off without a hitch, all ships accounted for. Sir we are fielding a lot of calls about the Helios from the Civy ships and the Quorum has been trying to get in touch with the President or the Vice President who we still haven't been able to find." Lt. Gaeta reported.

"What have you been telling them." Adama asked.

"Just the bare minimum, the Helios is another CDF ship that's joined up with us. We have told the Quorum that you and the President are in a meeting with the Helios Captain Sir. Colonel Tigh said he needed to check on something and took a Raptor over to the Helios, he sent Petty Officer Dualla to brief you, she should be with you in a minute." Lt. Gaeta answered.

"Very well, Commander Crichton is on his way down to the flight deck, make sure there is a Raptor ready to take him to the Helios. Carry on Mr. Gaeta. Adama out." Adama signed off and hung the phone up.

Pilots Wardroom, Battlecruiser Helios

John Crichton watched the dirty blonde from Galactica hustle his pilots at cards. She had gotten a cigar from somewhere and was puffing away as she held court, and his kids flocked to her, eating up her story's even as she cleaned out what ever little cash he had managed to scrounge up to pay them with.

Crichton had arranged for everything he had promised to be sent over to the Galactica, in an hours time. He knew, what he had to tell them would blow the Colonials minds, and with tension as tight and emotion as high as he had felt it, walking the halls of the old Battlestar. Crichton could see it going very bad, very quickly. He needed them off balance, but in a good way, so he had hunted down Galactica's pilots. Lee Adama had struck him as a serious young man, who probably did a good job as Commander Air Group for Galactica. But not what Crichton needed right at the moment.

Kara Thrace looked like someone who would go above and beyond what he hoped to happen. Crichton stepped into the room.

"Attention on deck!" Lieutenant "Prowler" Kreen shouted the Xarai pilot spotted him first and jumped to attention.

"At ease soldiers. Well Lieutenant, my people keeping you entertained." John asked as he walked over to the table.

"Yes Sir." Kara answered. This was only the second time she had met the new Commander. He was about 185 centimeters tall, had dark brown hair, good looking, with what her dad called, laugh lines around blue eyes and a slightly ironic smile on a nice mouth.

"They have been keeping me out of trouble Sir." Kara finished with a cheeky grin.

"Good, Captain Siam has shown you his pride and joy. So now I thought I would show off one of my pet projects, if you have few minutes." Crichton said.

"Of course Sir." You didn't say no to a Commander, without a good reason and although her hand was good it wasn't that good. 'Starbuck' followed Crichton out of the wardroom.

Launch Bay Battlecruiser Helios

It looked like a Mark Two, Kara was disappointed to see, a bit longer, the guns looked different, bulkier the barrels not as long. The engines looked different from what little she could see, exhaust ports squarer with a strange looking grill inside. It had the sturdiness and solid look of a Mark Two, which 'Starbuck' had come to appreciate; still she preferred the sleek ultra-modern look of the Mark Seven.

She was pleased she barely felt a twinge out of her knee as she climbed easily inside.

'Starbuck' settled into the Vipers cockpit, the first thing she noticed was the smell it smelled new. She knew right away, no one had ever flown this bird in a fight, the tang of fear, adrenaline and sweat was unmistakable. The ground crews could never get rid of it, no matter how often they cleaned, disinfected or deodorized

Kara barely noticed as the Viper was slotted into a Launch tube too busy going over the controls. It had everything she was used to from before the holocaust ECM, decoys, flares the HUD was projected onto the closed canopy. A digital display covered the console, Dradis in the middle, a schematic of the ship showing all components green to the left and on the right the weapons panel. The control stick with fire switches for canons, missile and afterburner. The thrust lever sitting comfortably under her left hand. The panels of controls for regulating the ship systems squeezed in around the sides.

There were a few unfamiliar controls through, some were labeled field strength they all showed green so she didn't worry about them. Other's for cannon power setting, did worry her, but she thought she would work them out with Chief Tyrol later when she got back to Galactica.

"You all set Lieutenant." Commander Crichton's voice came over the radio.

"Yes sir." 'Starbuck replied.

'Starbuck' threw a thumbs up to the launch coordinator in his sealed booth.

Galactica Controlled Space, Viper S2 Mk1 Test Flight.

Kara Thrace had never flown anything like it, the new Viper seemed to anticipate her and responded with stunning speed.

Cruising at 11 percent of the speed of light she made a run down the spine of the Galactica nose to tail, as she passed the black engine pods 'Starbuck' gunned the viper to full speed and pulled back. Performing a prefect loop and twist, leveling out traveling at a Mk VII's top speed, racing along the Battlestar's underside at 14 PLS. As her Viper erupted from under the saurian head. She pulled a quick barrel roll and Kara was in open space infront of the Fleet.

It was nothing she couldn't have done in her Mk II, not as fast perhaps, unless she wanted to waste fuel on afterburn, but she could have made the same maneuvers. But the ease and grace, she could achieve with the new ship was intoxicating.

"Starbuck this is Commander Crichton how's she handling?" Crichton's voice came over the helmets speakers with crystal sharpness.

"Great Commander, this bird fly's like a dream." Kara replied grinning.

"Good to hear 'Starbuck' OK according to Dradis there nothing infront of you so I am going to disable the limiter." Crichton told the Ace pilot.

"What limiter?" 'Starbuck' asked. This Viper was limited somehow?

"Yep, you are actually running on one third power, half a second and then you'll see something." Crichton explained.

"What!" Even as she spoke the power display flickered and updated, a second before she had been redlining, now the speedometer showed her well bellow cruising speed.

"You have got to be Frakking me!" She had just been flying one of the fastest ships in Colonial history; sure they had ships that could make better time, get up to 15 or 16 PLS. But they were largely abandoned years ago, except in the space races, no one could afford to rebuild an engine every week, but now she's told she'd had the brakes on.

Cautiously, because although she was 'Starbuck' she wasn't stupid. Kara begin slowly increasing the thrust, and the speed climbed 18 PLS, 20PLS, 21PLS the Colonial record for an unmanned probe, unbroken for the last three years, until now. And still the numbers kept climbing, not slowly either 30, 35, 40, 45. Now the she could feel the strain of a Viper reaching its top speeds a slight weight on the controls a barely detectable shimmy in the frame.Thrust to max 48 PLS without consciously thinking about it, her thumb slipped into position and pressed firmly.

52 PLS Kara was pushed hard back into the seat as the Afterburner kicked the Viper forward, she was traveling at over half the speed of light.

Leviathan Rovhu, Cauldron Artifact, Cauldron System.

"So what's up with the Translator Microbes, why can't I talk to D'Argo." Chiana asked.

"I am afraid the Translator Microbes were destroyed in the healing process."Rovhu's Pilot answered.

Chiana shuddered she didn't wan't any reminder of the healing, over a Cycle and a half! And most definitely, no reminders of the wound she was healing from all that time.

D'Argo growled and rumbled in the Luxan language, probably asking what she had said. Chiana shared a sigh with Pilot this was going to take some time.

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A/N Talk talk talk hopefully I will get to blow something up soon.