Ten

Alarm bells rang throughout the old Battlestar as Admiral William Adama entered the CIC of the Battlestar Galactica. "Report" he called out he noticed Saul Tigh was not within the CIC instead Lieutenants Anastasia Dualla and Kendra Shaw stood facing each other over the centre table. When neither immediately spoke the Admiral spoke again "today ladies" he ordered.

"Sir, Raptors 861 and 923 both off Pegasus have arrived with the fleet. Both are in combat configuration." Dualla replied "no sign of damage to either ship or a sign of Pegasus."

"No communications?" Adama asked avoiding the point that Pegasus was not with the two small craft. Neither woman spoke "give me the contact" he said raising the desk phone to his mouth "this is Galactica Actual to Raptors report."

"Sir, this is Kasper, Pegasus has encountered a force of ancient Cylon Raiders from the First War" the pilot reported Adama could see his officers exchange glances. "Commander Adama ordered the ready Raptor to pass to all deployed ships to return to Galactica under their own power and to report."

"Galactica Actual to Kasper, Pegasus status?" Adama asked worried that his son's Battlestar had gone down fighting the First War Cylons.

"She is short jumping taking the Cylons away from the fleet." The pilot replied.

"Dock your Raptors aboard Galactica" Adama ordered "Lt Shaw, join a marine team and meet with those Raptors in the bay, make sure those pilots are not Cylons." He said to the young woman she had served on Pegasus she was in a better position to identify the pilots than anyone else within the Battlestar. The Lieutenant began to speak then nodded and stepped out of the room "Dee, raise Colonel McQueen on Icarus, I want Colonel McQueen and Lt Valerii onboard as soon as possible and find Colonel Tigh." He ordered the newly promoted Lieutenant nodded agreeing.

Several hours later Adama read Kasper's report for the second or third time sitting in his quarters looking over at Colonel Tigh who looked just as grim as he scanned over the report of the First War Cylon fighters. The new fighters were technological marvels living fighters that could be reborn after being destroyed with the aid of a resurrection ship however the first craft were a plain space craft carrying three Cylon Centurions aboard outfitted for war. There was a knock at the door and in entered Colonel McQueen and USMC Lt Sharon Valerii "welcome aboard" Adama said to McQueen raising from his chair.

"Thank you Admiral, Pegasus run into trouble?" McQueen asked everyone was talking about the return of the two Raptors without the their Battlestar.

"You could say that" Tigh said raising from his chair stepping over to Sharon "you care to explain why these toasters are still flying around after all those years?" He said handing her the paper folder with Kasper's report in it. Sharon read through the pages slowly before looking back at Colonel Tigh then to Admiral Adama.

"They are the Guardians" she said her voice soft and full of surprise.

"The Guardians" Tigh snapped "not only does she know these frakkers exist but they have a name!" He shouted in anger "what else is this frakking Cylon hiding?" He said pointing at Sharon.

"Still doesn't take much to make you snap Colonel." Sharon shot back "want to crawl back inside your bottle?" She taunted

"Lieutenant!" McQueen snapped stepping between the two "that is enough. Now these Guardians who are they and what are they doing out here?"

"They are a section of the original Cylon race who intended on bettering our species by mixing Human tissue and Cylon technology. Ultimately their research met a dead-end and we saw no further way to develop the technology. When the armistice was signed, and the chances of gaining human tissue diminished, they broke away from the Cylons and disappeared. They have become legends within the Cylon people we thought them dead." She explained Adama stood there for several moments in thought.

"Last mission of the War I think I might have encountered them" he said "they were experimenting on several colonists that I discovered aboard a ship. I tried to contact Galactica that the ship was escaping but they reported that all Cylon assets were accounted for. We never saw the ship again."

"Until now when the Pegasus stirs the nest." Tigh said looking back at the Admiral who nodded "question is what do we do?"

Aboard Pegasus things were beginning to grate on the Battlestar's crew thirty-two jumps had been completed and they were no further away from the Raiders than they had been to start with. These older Raiders seemed to be capable of far faster sub-light speeds than other ships and were capable of FTL jumps although not as frequently as the Pegasus or a Raptor. Pegasus had slowly been increasing the distance travelled in each jump. "Jump 33 completed, no DRADIS contact... strike last Cylon baseship dead ahead!" Hoshi reported "launching Cylon Raiders!"

"They have been herding us like cattle." Elena Rand concluded

"Then let's show them we have teeth and don't like backed into a corner." Lee said looking over at her from the other side of the desk "launch air group, commit all Vipers, bring defence grid to full power" he ordered. From both sides of Pegasus Vipers streamed from the Battlestar forming up in their squadrons as the Battlestar's own guns began to fire at the incoming Cylons and their missiles.

Starbuck squinted to see the Raiders and realized they were different from the other Raiders "Pegasus this is Starbuck, these are normal Cylon Raiders." She reported

"All Vipers this is Actual consider hostile and engage all Raiders, all squadron leaders are to ensure their fighters stay within Pegasus ECM range." Lee ordered as the fighters began to engage each other. With very few available Raptors the Pegasus would have to serve as the fighters Electronic Counter Measures craft. It limited the utility of the fighters but also made sure that recovering them would be easy enough.

"Sir, the other raiders are closing on us" Able Thornton reported from another console.

"Have secondary batteries prepare to engage those fighters." Lee ordered watching the DRADIS screens as he saw several Vipers had been lost engaging the Cylon raiders already but so had many of the enemy Raiders.

"Pegasus this is Sheba, the Cylon Raiders just broke off from their engagements! They are completely ignoring our fire. Permission to pursue and destroy?" Sheba requested after several more moments. Lee watched as the sets of Cylon Raiders and Vipers seperated with the Vipers remaining within Pegasus ECM range. He watched as the Raiders arced towards the incoming Raiders.

"Pegasus Actual to all Vipers, negative on pursuit at this time. Begin combat landings" he said looking at Elena who had a questioning look on her face "Major, plot a direct intercept course for that Basestar" he ordered with a smirk "the Raiders abandon their Basestar we'll make sure they have to fly home themselves."

As the Vipers began to stream back aboard the Pegasus landing in all four of the ships landing bays Starbuck continued to circle the Battlestar watching the Cylon raiders as she made sure all the remaining Vipers and the recovery Raptor landed before her. "Pegasus this is Starbuck, the two sets of Raiders are engaging each other!" She called out with joy "and it's brutal they are committing suicide runs against each other!" She said watching as raiders smashed into each other on both sides as every fighter ignored the weapons fire using their own ships as weapons.

"Starbuck this is Actual, message understood now get your ass aboard!" Lee snapped exasperated by the pilot's antics. "Helm as soon as Starbuck is aboard bring us onto Major Rand's course." He said soon after Starbuck's fighter merged with Pegasus and the Battlestar's engines ignited turning the massive ship's bow towards the enemy Baseship.

"All forward guns volley fire on target as soon as we are in optimal range." Elena Rand ordered "point defence to continue to cover us from the raiders."

"Sir, the Raiders are still engaged with each other."

"Very good" Rand said smiling "that leaves the Baseship to us. I want to see accuracy from the gunners on that Baseship a single pass should take it out." She said intending on encouraging the Pegasus crewmen. As the ship closed rapidly on the Baseship she looked at Commander Lee Adama "this is for the Ares" she finally admitted.

"On your command, Major" Lee said nodding his agreement with her wish.

"I want that Baseship dead" Elena Rand said in a louder voice so all the CIC crew could hear. Lee Adama silently activated the personal announcement system putting her voice through the whole ship. "I want this ship for all those souls they Cylons killed when they attacked our Colonies. For all those Battlestars who didn't have the chance to die in battle because of a computer program, I want them for all the people they have killed on this Battlestar and within the fleet!" She said realizing her voice was carrying to the ship "I want to show them that if they want to push us any more we are going to push back!" She said beginning to run out of words as tears began to run down her face remembering those that had died on her Battlestar and those she had lost.

"SO SAY WE ALL!" Lee Adama said in a loud voice all around the CIC and throughout the vessel the crewmen were repeating these words as Pegasus gunners targeted the enemy Baseship. The words so well known throughout the fleet were a near a scream as the Battlestar's guns fired. Ships like the Pegasus were designed to fight front on against an enemy while on the offence, under the ship's 'nose' were two twin mountings of the biggest cannons the colonies had ever mounted on a Battlestar while there were further mountings of cannons on the front of both flight pods adding considerably to the ships firepower.

All four forward twin mounts were targeted on the single Baseship which stood no chance against the charging Battlestar. The first rounds struck the upper 'star' section of the hull while the next rounds worked progressively down the hull. If the ship tried to jump away it was too late as rounds from Pegasus continued to pound the Cylon warship into pieces. Even as the Pegasus' engines pushed the ship past the Cylon vessel the Battlestar's port side guns opened up on the Basestar ending any hopes of its survival. The Pegasus clear of the destruction immediately jumped clear of the area leaving the two sets of Raiders to engage each other.

Aboard one of the Raiders one of the silver Cylons turned to its Gold Command Centurion "Sir, the Cylon Baseship has been destroyed by the Battlestar Pegasus. The Battlestar Pegasus has jumped away. Cylon Raiders continue to attack."

"Destroy the Cylon Raiders. Then return us to the Baseship. We will pursue the Battlestar Pegasus until it is destroyed." The Gold Centurion ordered

"By your command" the silver Centurion reported.

Admiral Adama entered President Roslin's office/home aboard her vessel the Colonial One. "Ah Admiral just in time you are the topic of 'Talk Wireless'" she said turning up her personal wireless set's volume.

"...the question is simple, is Admiral Adama's plan to follow the Pegasus purely to do with the fact that his son commands the ship?" one of the reporters asked.

"Of course it isn't the Battlestar Pegasus significantly adds to the firepower of this fleet safeguarding all of us. Admiral Adama's decision to follow them is simply about serving the greater good of this fleet. Not to mention there are almost 2,000 souls aboard that vessel." The other said as Adama moved across the room and sat down.

"Tarnished souls" the other pointed out "the Pegasus crew have hardly held themselves to the highest regard in the time since the fall of the colonies."

"You can't judge a ship by the commander Randy. It's been made quite clear since the ship joined the fleet under Commander Lee Adama that crew want to make amends for Admiral Cain's choices."

"And now their new commander puts us all at risk because his father plans to chase them down. Perhaps its high time the President stands up to Adama and tells him what is happening. We are a civilian run authority we will cut our losses..." he continued as President Roslin switched off the radio. Her health and strength had steadily returned since Dr Baltars treatments now she was as strong as he'd ever seen her.

"I'm sorry for that Admiral" she said at first "that was uncalled for."

"The Press have always been a pain for Politicians and for the Military it's nothing new." Adama said quietly "I wanted to inform you personally we will be waiting for two more Raptors then the fleet will be jumping to Pegasus last known coordinates."

"So your mind has been made up? You are going after Pegasus?" She said not surprised by his decision.

"It's a military decision Madam President" he said emphisizing that it was his choice to make they had always decided that anything to do with the military was his choice. "The Pegasus is the most capable vessel we have I won't give up on her without looking for her first." He said "I also won't risk keeping the fleet in the same location for too long. Already we have lingered here while our supplies dwindle and they Cylons could be moving in for all we know. It is time to move."

"Both Icarus and Phoenix are capable vessels could they not be dispatched to search for Pegasus while we continue to search for Earth?" She said putting out the idea she'd heard members of the Quorum suggest.

"If Pegasus needs help in battle or after one we, the entire fleet, are the only thing that can give her the best hope of survival. I am willing take only the military vessels after the Pegasus Madam President, each captain can make their own choice whether or not to follow."

"You would divide the fleet?" Roslin asked surprised by his admission.

"I'm getting the Pegasus back." He said firmly even Roslin could read that as he was getting his son back but she could also tell that his mind was made and that with all the military vessels planning on leaving the fleet had no choice. Adama had another point the fleet had been sitting around too long.

"Well" she said raising from her chair "Admiral I can guarantee that your President and her ship will be with you." She said extending her hand as Adama raised "good luck in your search Bill" she said using his first name as he shook her hand.

"Good luck to us all" Adama finished.

Adama returned to the Galactica shortly after and made his way directly to CIC. Colonel Tigh was standing at the centre desk "sir, the final Raptors from Pegasus are aboard. FTLs on Galactica, Icarus and Phoenix are spun up and the CAP has been recalled."

"Very good. Lt Shaw begin the clock. Dee, pass jump coordinates to all ships." Adama ordered

"How did it go?" Tigh asked the Admiral in a low voice. "Will she keep the fleet with us?"

"We'll see" Adama said glancing at Shaw who nodded she was read "Lt Shaw jump the ship" he ordered. Galactica's flight pods slowly retracted and then in a flash of light the Battlestar disappeared from the fleet appearing in another system. Moments after the Icarus then Phoenix appeared followed by Colonial One and then several more ships and then the rest of the fleet.

"All ships accounted for!" Dualla reported triumphantly everyone knew there was a risk in Adama's plan but everyone also had known that Galactica had stood by them through it all.

"Let's find the Pegasus" Adama finally said.

End of Part Three

To Be continued