Marcus Cole opened the comm. link. "Cybele, this is White Star 27. Are you ready?"

"This is Cybele. We're ready."

With Lyta being delayed for at least an extra day, Marcus Cole was assisting a Colonial ship in perfecting jump coordinates which could be used to jump to a gate in neutral space which could be further used to travel known routes as necessary.

The Cybele was being used because all of the civilians and the cargo which it had been carrying had been transported to the planet's surface and it was the most expendable ship available. A pilot who held a reserve rank with the Colonial Fleet was controlling it with a minimum crew (2 others) pulled from civilians who had volunteered and had the requisite knowledge of the systems on a freighter.

With the assistance of the EAS Alexander, a transponder had been installed along with a voice/data communication system compatible with most known species. The hardest part had been getting the Colonial computer on board connected and transmitting English translations of Colonial Modern, as the dialect of Greek used by the Colonies was now unofficially designated.

This communication device also allowed the ship in question to send a signal to a jump gate to activate it.

The two ships, along with a raptor currently berthed in the White Star, would be jumping back and forth between different neutral gates and Septis II space.

The White Star would open a jump point and lead the now-emptied freighter to the first jump gate they were planning on calculating.

Marcus ordered a jump point activated. "Stand by, Cybele." As soon as the Vortex was fully formed Marcus said, "Proceed."

"Proceeding to jump point."

Smoothly the Colonial Freighter entered the jump point. Marcus directed the White Star after it and, as soon as they were through, the jump point closed.

Marcus called the freighter. "Okay. We're now in hyperspace. Proceed on provided route to primary jump gate." The White Star had given over navigation data to the jump gate in question.

"Proceeding on planned route. We'll keep an eye out for any alert." The White Star would follow and immediately notify the freighter of any detected deviation.

"Understood. White Star 27, out."

Despite the planning, no intervention had been required and the two ships made the expected route with no trouble.

Marcus, testing the data communication system, sent out a message confirming the destination. The Cybele would wait in hyperspace until the White Star had confirmed that the system was clear.

The White Star, upon entering normal space, confirmed that there were no other ships present. "Okay, then. Let's see if this works." He sent a message and waited.

It was a long twenty seconds but Marcus breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the jump gate activating and the Cybele making its way out. He decided to call with voice. "White Star 27 to Cybele. No problems?"

"No problems on this end, White Star. All systems read as normal."

"Good. Pegasus Raptor 2-2 will exit the White Star momentarily and calculate jump coordinates. Stand by."

While theoretically, an FTL jump could be calculated based on what could be detected from stellar cartography, the actual knowledge of a destination system allowed for a much quicker calculation. It took about five minutes if one wasn't in a rush. In a rush, it could be a minute but no verification could be done.

"This is Raptor 2-2 to Cybele and White Star. Jump coordinates calculated. Transmitting now." The raptor transmitted the coordinates. The White Star couldn't use them but they could keep a record. The Cybele, however, entered the jump coordinates, ready for the next step.

"Raptor 2-2, Cybele has received the jump coordinates."

"Acknowledged, Cybele. Raptor 2-2 is jumping in thirty seconds."

"Cybele is standing by." The Cybele would stand by until for the raptor jumped to Septis and back.

Thirty seconds later, the raptor winked out.

Lee Adama on the Pegasus watched his instruments. Finally Lt. Dualla sounded out. "Commander, raptor has arrived."

"Send Challenge," Lee ordered.

"Sending Challenge." She pushed a few buttons. "Colonial raptor, this is Pegasus. Challenge: Omicron 2-5."

"Pegasus, this is Raptor 2-2. Challenge Response: Phi 4-9."

"Raptor 2-2. Response accepted. Welcome back."

"Thank you, Pegasus. First jump test successful. Raptor 2-2 transmitting jump coordinates for Primary Jump Gate location."

"Commander, Jump Coordinates received."

"Acknowledge and send them on their way." Lt. Dualla immediately moved to do so.

"Raptor 2-2. Jump Coordinates received with our thanks."

"Acknowledged Pegasus. You're welcome. Raptor 2-2 will jump again in two minutes."

"Acknowledged Raptor 2-2. Good luck. Pegasus out."

They waited for the raptor to jump and Lee nodded. "Good job. Ensure the Galactica receives coordinates immediately."

"Aye, Commander."

During this test, all possible problems had been discussed. One problem had been the possibility of the raptor and the Cybele being captured and its crew forced to jump back. For security's sake, a challenge and response had been instituted for this mission. Besides the correct response, there were variations which could be sent which might inform the Pegasus of particular circumstances.

Once the challenges were completed, Raptor 2-2 or the Cybele would immediately transmit all jump point calculations to ensure that any interruption or accident would not mean a complete loss of any knowledge gained.

The Colonials were being overly cautious, but they had been on the run for months and months from a murderous foe and they were now in an area they were newly arrived with few who knew of their existence and few allies. No chances were being taken.

The tests proceeded apace. Once the raptor jumped back, the Cybele would jump there and back. Then the raptor would test its ability to open a jump gate. The entire group would move to the secondary jump gate. Tests would occur between the two jump gates and Septis II space, now called Colonial Space.

Calculated coordinates would be transmitted by the ships each time they returned to Colonial space.

Unfortunately, their luck ran out on the last test.

The final test was for the raptor and the Cybele to jump, without being led, to a fourth and final jump gate verified as neutral territory, formerly containing a world destroyed during the Shadow War. The Cybele would jump back to Colonial space and the Raptor would enter the jump gate and travel back to where the White Star waited.

"This is Raptor 2-2. Jump coordinates verified. Let us know when you're ready."

"This is Cybele. Final jump entered and we are waiting for the go order."

"Go."

The two ships, a freighter and a tactical vessel, both disappeared and reappeared in the final system. "Jump complete. Jump gate 200,000 kilometers distant, as expected."

"Raptor 2-2, this is Cybele. Position verified. We have case red."

"Confirm status."

"The drive overheated. Too many jumps too fast. We're going to need to let it cool for thirty minutes before we could return to home base."

"Acknowledged. Raptor 2-2 initiating Lambda protocol." Lambda was the protocol for a malfunctioning jump drive. Instead of jumping back, the Cybele would enter the jump gate back to the White Star and the White Star would lead it home if necessary. In this case, the drive would be cool enough for it to jump, but they did not want to wait around in any system. And so orders were to enter the jump gate immediately.

"Cybele confirms Lambda protocol. Proceeding to local jump gate."

"Raptor 2-2 acknowledges. We'll be right on your wing."

"Acknowledged." Unfortunately, their Dradis systems were not powerful enough to see the Omega destroyer peeking out from behind a nearby moon.

Captain Hall on the Heracles listened to the report. "Two ships of unknown configuration. One appears to be civilian. One appears to be a shuttle of unknown type."

"Where did they come from?"

"Unknown, sir. No jump point detected. According to instruments, they just appeared."

Trevor Hall took a long look at the two ships. "Magnify."

A crew member pushed several buttons and the two ships came into focus. "You call that a shuttle. That looks like a gunship of some type."

"We're too far away to verify that, sir." Suddenly the two ships formed up and began moving toward the jump gate.

Hull was a loyal supporter of the Clark regime. He was all for doing whatever necessary to ensure Earth authority was acknowledged and he followed all orders to the letter. And one such order was to retrieve examples of technology which might prove valuable to the Earth Alliance. "Well, these two might be raiders or pirates of some type. Move the Heracles between those two ships and the jump gate."

"Aye, sir. Heracles moving to intercept."

The First Officer was a bit alarmed. "Captain. I need to iterate that this is recognized neutral space. We don't have the authority to stop ships that are not registered as Earth vessels."

Hall replied, "We are mandated to ensure any raider or pirate we encounter is captured or destroyed. It's a part of every treaty Earth has signed. I haven't stopped the ships yet. I am only checking who they are."

As the Heracles came into visible range, the two ships had immediately stopped. "Any more you can tell me?" Hall asked.

"No sir. Coming into scanning range in ten seconds."

Ten seconds later, "Scans of the two ships show three people on the larger ship and two on the smaller one. No weapons detected on larger ship. Smaller ship shows simple kinetic weaponry." After a pause the bridge officer said, "Minimum threat level."

Hall snarled, "I'll determine what's a threat. And any ship which can just appear like that is a threat. What race?"

The officer paused and then said with some confusion, "Human, Sir. They read as Human."

Before he could order channels opened, the two ships began turning away from the Omega.

"Move the Heracles to intercept. Open a channel."

"Aye, Sir!"

The Comm Officer called out, "Channel open."

"This is Captain Hall on the EAS Heracles. You are ordered to cease operations and prepare to be boarded."

The Comm officer called out, "Reply is being sent, data only."

"What is the reply?"

"This is Colonial Freighter Cybele and Raptor 2-2 of the Colonial Fleet. This is neutral space and you have no authority to prevent our movements. We do not wish to speak to you."

Hall ordered, "Send reply. EAS Heracles reads you as Human, which means that your personnel and ships are assumed to fall under Earth jurisdiction. As such we order you to stop and prepare to be boarded. The small vessel is ordered to land on the Heracles under fighter escort."

The Comm officer waited. "Sir, the reply is a repeat of the earlier transmission."

"Well, then. Launch Alpha Squadron and instruct them to prevent those ships from retreating."

"Aye, sir." He pushed a few buttons and the Starfuries started dropping. "Alpha Squadron launched."

Suddenly, the smaller of the two ships winked out of existence. "WHERE DID IT GO?" he screamed out.

The officer on scanners replied, "Unknown, Sir. Scanners read a small buildup but we could not read any known type of exit to hyperspace." The officer looked up. "Whatever happened it's completely unknown." The officer looked down. "Sir, scanners read that the ship there has artificial gravity. Gravity system is unknown type."

Meanwhile, the Raptor had immediately jumped back to Colonial space. "MAYDAY! MAYDAY! This is Raptor 2-2 calling Protocol Omega!"

Lee immediately ordered, "Open the channel." Dee quickly did so and nodded. "This is Pegasus. Report!"

"On the last test, the Cybele's drive overheated. We immediately began moving toward the gate but an Earthforce Omega appeared from behind the nearby moon. They pursued. As ordered, we retreated but they started saying something in a very aggressive manner. We responded with the prepared reply via datalink. They spoke again, and we replied again. The Omega immediately began to launch fighters. The Cybele will attempt to jump in 14 minutes, the time needed for the drive to cool down. If they can't and are boarded, the Cybele will fry their drive and computers and allow themselves to be captured."

Lee thought quickly. "According to Major Ryan, they might send a breaching pod. That's ten minutes from order to launch – I'm sure they hadn't been ready for that. If they can maneuver long enough, their drive could still get them out. Raptor 2-2, jump back to White Star 27 and tell them to return here."

"Confirmed!"

Lee hit a button. "This is Pegasus Actual. Set Condition One throughout the ship. This is not a drill. Prepare to jump in twenty minutes if the Cybele does not appear in that time. Condition One. Prepare to jump." He turned off the intercom. "Get me the Admiral." Lee noticed that the raptor had disappeared from Dradis.

On board the Cybele, one of the crewman was watching the internal cameras. "Whatever they sent, it's latched onto a cargo bay."

Lt. Danvers (Reserved) nodded. "That's a breaching pod. I was told when this mission was coordinated, as quickly as it happened. Seal all hatches and turn off electronic controls."

"Aye, sir." In a few moments all hatches were sealed. There were at least four bulkeads between the cargo hold and the bridge.

Crewman Rokos called out, "Breach is successful! We've got a squad of Earthforce marines."

Danvers looked and saw that yes, there were now eight marines. He breathed a sigh of relief – a breaching pod could hold two platoons, or so he had been told.

He watched as the marines inspected their surroundings. They found the bulkhead and tried for thirty seconds to activate it. As all power had been removed, they had to retrieve the tools to cut through. "They could have tried to apply a portable power source. It gives us another minute. What's the status of that drive?"

"Drive needs only three more minutes."

"Thank the Gods they don't want to damage us too badly. If they destroy our engines they lose what they are probably ordered to retrieve. Besides our beautiful selves of course."

The two crewmen, both old hands, snickered. None of those present were particularly attractive. There was a reason they had been on space freighters rather than planetside. None of them were marriage material and they knew it. All had come to grip with that years ago. Give them a friendly tumble once in a while from a professional or an amateur and they were okay.

"They've reached the second bulkhead – it's thinner than the rest. It won't hold them more than thirty seconds."

"I see it."

"Two minutes to drive activation."

The last two bulkheads were actually the strongest. The ship had been designed during the original Cylon conflict and Cylons were great at cutting through. This would take longer to breach. Or so they hoped. "What's happening out there?"

"Their fighters are just flying around."

"Wave at them."

The two snickered again and did so. They also noticed that the marines were having a tougher time getting through the third hatch.

Crewman Delis sounded out, "Drive is ready to activate."

"Well boys, I'd say it's time to get the hell out." Lt. Danvers reached over and pushed a button. The jump drive built up a charge for thirty seconds and all of them felt the transition. They looked out and immediately saw the Pegasus nearby.

"I think we likely disappointed whoever was running that big ship." He opened the radio. "Pegasus. This is Cybele. We have 8 Earthforce marines cutting through the bulkheads to the bridge. We could use some help."

"Understood. Vipers scrambling. Open up the hatch for a raptor carrying a squad of Colonial Marines."

"Acknowledged."

The Earthforce Marines had paused when they had felt the transition. A few of them looked wobbly. They looked around trying to figure out what had happened. Danvers opened the bay and the Raptor entered.

"Let's give our boys a path." He activated the opening from the bay to the rest of the ship. The Colonial marines quickly moved to cut off access. They had a crewman from the Alexander with them to speak to the Earthforce marines. As soon as the two groups were confronting each other, Danvers reactivated electronic control and opened the viewing port right nearest the invaders which had been closed. Luckily the port showed out toward the very large and very mean looking Battlestar Pegasus.

He saw the moment that the Earthforce marines decided to surrender. "Pegasus. This is Cybele. Earthforce marines surrendering. We're going to give them a couple of minutes and then go out and tell our marines that you've been alerted."

"Acknowledged Cybele. Pegasus out."

After a moment the three moved to exit toward the confrontation.

"I can't tell you how good it is to see you guys. These," he motioned toward the disarmed Earthforce marines, so different in dress to their own.

Danvers noted that the Earthforce marines had no idea what was being said. None of them, apparently, knew Colonial Modern or its Earth equivalent.

One of the captured prisoners spoke to the crewman from the Alexander and the crewman answered. "What did he ask?"

"He ask what language. I tell him Greek." Not all speakers were as fluent as that Marcus character.

On Galactica Adama waited for word regarding the invasion of the Cybele by Earthforce. Lyta Alexander was now wearing the uniform of a Colonial Lt. Colonel and had been meeting with Adama about what the plans for Baltar were. She stood nearby with her translator from the Alexander.

Gaeta sounded out. "Message coming in from the Pegasus."

"Put it on, Captain." Lyta noted that Felix sent a jolt of pleasure at the Admiral's reply.

"Pegasus. You are on with Galctica Actual."

"Galactica Actual, this is Pegasus Actual."

"Go ahead, Commander."

"Eight Earthforce marines captured, no injuries. As soon as they saw that they were no longer where they thought they were, they gave it up as a bad job."

Adama breathed a sigh of relief. "What do you suggest we do with them?"

Lee paused. "Well, they're marines. According to our brief talk to with Major Ryan, Earthforce marines are ground troops and rarely have any significant tactical or strategic knowledge. They move when ordered, do what's ordered, and mostly wait around in between, at least at the lowest levels which these seem to be."

Adama paused. "Should we put them on the Astral Queen?"

Lee paused and then replied, "I don't think so. I have an idea."

"Go ahead."

"Let's contact Babylon 5 and see if we can reach that alien who sent the food. That warship they had was pretty impressive. And they aren't in a war with Earth. Let's see if we can get them to escort Colonial 798 to Earth space. We can take the captured marines back and send a formal message that we protest Earth's attempt to waylay a peaceful freighter. Earth is going to find out about us some time. They already saw a raptor and a freighter. Use this to send a message that they have no control over us."

Adama looked away. "Let's ask Mr. Alexander." He turned to Lyta. "What do you think?"

Lyta considered it for a long moment. "Well, a diplomatic mission to return marines that way would make a statement. If you question them, Earth can learn what you are interested in by the questions you ask. You don't really have the extra resources yet to feed people who aren't contributing and turning them over to another race means that you aren't strong enough to handle them. Turning them over to rebel Earthforce personnel might create troubles for Babylon 5 or the Alexander. They haven't seen the Alexander and they shouldn't see it."

"We sent a crewman from the Alexander to help translate."

"Did he identify the ship he was from?"

Adama considered that. "Let me find out."

It took a few minutes, but it had been verified that the crewman had been asked to remove identifying insignia. And the fact that he spoke Greek was no in his file because he considered he spoke it poorly. He was non-descript enough for the Marines, not trained intelligence gatherers, would have a hard time identifying him.

"Lt. Colonel. Do you have anything else to add?"

Lyta considered it and then spoke. "The idea of an escorted mission is good. But you might consider one of the Battlestars as an additional escort in addition to the Narn. If you send a Battlestar, send the one that's smaller. You give away less information that way."

Adama nodded and then got on with Lee again. "Get those Earthforce marines into cells on the Pegasus. Keep the Alexander and any crew members away from them. Don't question them. Make sure they are fed and in good shape. Order a doctor check them out - preferably one of ours. And then get on a raptor and meet us over here. The President is coming back and we'll talk with her when she gets here. "

"Aye, Admiral."

"Lee?"

"Yes, Dad?"

"Good job. And pass that on to your people for me too. Galactica Out."

Trevor Hall on the bridge of the Heracles was in a towering rage. "Where in name of all that is holy did they go? They were there on our screens and sensors. We had a squad of marines on that ship. And it just disappears?"

The officers running scanners and communications were standing at attention. "Our instruments could not decipher the means which they used to escape."

Tervor Hall wanted to ream his people out but he had seen the same as them. "Get a complete report together; and then prepare to give me a channel to Earth Dome on Gold Channel One."