A/N: I know, I know. Long time. But at least I edited all the previous chapters of this story, plus I'm gonna try to finish this one.

The Colonel stood in front of the assembled company of Marines, leaving heavily on the lectern set up on the flight deck. He was staring at his notes instead of the assembled Marines of the Galactica. One hundred and thirty-three faces waited expectantly, bodies in parade rest.

"Men and women of the 352cond Colonial Marine Regiment, I want you to know I'm proud of you. Each and every one of you."

He looked up, eyes sharp.

"I'm here to ask you a favor. Just one more. Anyone who doesn't opt to join us, no one will hold anything against you. This will be a dangerous mission. A mission of valor. Everyone who wants to..."

There was thunder in the tiny bay as boots slammed against the deck, all the marines taking a single step forward without a second thought. The Colonel looked back down at his prepared speech, shaking his head.

"Alright, Marines. You always did do me proud. Here's the jist of it: accompany Starbuck back to Caprica, provide security as she rendezvous with the Caprican Resistance. Rescue as many of the survivors as possible, and return."

The Marines stood rigidly, staring straight ahead.

"The mission's Marine contingent will comprise of personnel selected by Lieutenant Taiters, two platoons total. Half of our men and women in all the Raptors we have left. Failure or success, every man there will be immortalized. Every man and woman in this room has his or her name, rank, serial number, and profile have been burned into the computer banks. You will live forever, Marines. The pilots are being briefed as we speak. Lieutenant Taiters has given me his list of preferred candidates, which I will post as soon as this is over. Those whose names are there, report to Briefing Room C for details.

You men are heroes, never forget that. DIMISSED!"

BSG BSG BSG BSG BSG BSG

Gunny Sims' name was first on the El-Tee's list. He wasn't limping anymore. Hell, Gunny's entire squad was first on the list. So, he caught up with Hernandez.

"Hey Gunny. I saw you were first on the list. The living legend himself."

"Ah, stow it. I'm still kinda freaked out. We're leaving the bullet sponges here alone. We're walking into lords-knows-what. "

"Hooah. But we're Marines, right Gunny?"

"Yeah, I know. Doesn't mean we're idiots."

"Gotcha, sir."

They sat down quietly, at the very front of the room, and were quickly concentrating on the details. The mission itself was well thought out for something so ambiguous, with a landing site already selected and contingencies set. Hell, they even had gear and fresh rifles from the Pegasus. Sims was nodding along with Taiter's explanation when the duty phone rang. The lieutenant frowned, and a corporal quickly leapt from his seat and took the call.

"Gunny Sims? Emergency call, from sickbay."

"Oh, frak," he cursed as he double-timed up the stairs. The lieutenant kept on going. He grabbed the phone gratefully from the younger man.

"Sims."

"This is Doctor Cottle. Gunny, Cally's hurt."

"How bad?"

He could see the eyes on him.Slowly turning around, away from the briefing.

"He busted her jaw pretty bad, had to wire it shut. Fractured her orbital bone, busted her nose."

"Repeat last? HE?"

"Tyrol brought her in, and the MP's took him. He did it to her."

"TYROL?"

That brought the briefing to a screeching halt. The betrayal in his voice was clear. The pain, the anger.

"Wassamatter, Gunny?" called out a frowning, concerned Taiters.

"Tyrol beat my girl half to death, sir."

"Shit, son. Take a seat. We're kitting up and heading out in an hour. I'm sorry, but there's not a damn thing you can do."

"Permission to kill that son of a bitch I thought was my buddy, sir."

"Denied. Sit back down, you're my XO on this one. You can fuck him up when we get back. Is that five by five, Gunnery Sergeant."

"Wilco, sir."

He sat back down. Hernandez looked at him sideways as he tried to concentrate. But he kept fidgeting. Finally, Taiters just stopped.

"Dammit, Gunny, just go see your woman and don't murder no one. Be kitted out and squared away on the port flight deck in twenty, got me devil dog?"

"Hooah, sir. Thank you, sir."

BSGBSGBSGBSGBSG

The pad of paper and pen were provided by Cottle, who quickly made himself scarce. That in itself was odd. But Sims was concentrating on one thing.

"I came as soon as I could, babe. Oh, lords, what did that asshole do to you?"

She rolled her eyes, scratched something out in her tiny handwriting and showed it to him.

It's okay, Craig. I'll be fine.

"I'm here for you, babe. But I gotta go soon. I had to skip out on a briefing to come here..."

Go where?

"Can't say, dear. I can't, orders."

When will you be back?

"Don't know."

Will you be okay?

"I'll be fine, dear. You know I will."

Gunny, I have to tell you. Don't hurt him.

"Tyrol?"

She nodded, kept writing. A few painstaking minutes later,

I don't think you'd understand. You've looked out for me for a long time, and I love you for it. But so has he. And now, I have to look after him. I love him too, Gunny. I'm sorry. I hope you understand.

He stood there in shock a moment, feeling heat and hurt crawl up his neck.

"Well. Well. I guess this is it."

And with that, he turned on his heel, and left, heartbroken.

The trip out was comforting, in a way. In Starbuck's Raptor, he slouched back and checked his gear. Shotgun, sidearm, grenades, everything. Hernandez looked at him funny, still. Tommy looked at the decking, then quietly asked the question.

"You okay, top?"

"Feelin' fine, Tommy."

"Hooah, top?"

"Hooah."

BSG BSG BSG BSG BSG BSG BSG BSG BSG

"SAR team, this is Starbuck. We just lost Raptor 612. We are proceeding as planned, out."

Sims cursed. Three Raptors down. Fireteams 18, 3 and 12 were gone, and he hoped for the best- that the end was quick for 612, and that the other two Raptors made it home safe and sound.

"Hernandez, who were the poor souls on there."

"Jacob's...oh my lords, Craig. Craig."

"What's the matter, man?"

"That was the HQ Raptor. The El-Tee was on there. You're in charge, Gunny."

"Captain! Can you get me a channel to my men?"

"Sure thing, Gunny. We'll be on the ground in five, remember that."

It was the one time she wasn't in the way. Go figure, he told himself.

"Marines, this is Gunny Sims. raptor 612 was carrying our HQ unit, including Lieutenant Taiters. They jumped into a mountain, Lords rest their souls, so I think I'm in charge now. Same plan, form up and be ready. Listen to your sergeants and corporals, men. Get out of the box as fast as you can. Live forever, Marines."

A single word came through overwhelming on the same channel:

"HOOAH!"