Authors Note

Chapter 21, hope you're all keeping with this.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters what-so-ever, so please don't sue. If you're still keen on suing me, then do it over the story that you think is the best. Leave me a little bit of ego as I go to prison.

CIC

Battlestar Galactica

Admiral Adama stared blankly at the Dradis screen in front of him. The minutes slowly ticked by, the room around him buzzing with amiable chatter. There was no sign of any contact and the crew within CIC were whispering, either getting gossip or discussing more serious aspects, such as the latest fuel leak on a civilian ship. Adama didn't mind their chatter in the least. They had been on shift now for fifteen hours straight, and they deserved to have a little time to socialise in amongst doing their work.

"Quiet today," Tigh informed him, his good eye fixated on the Dradis. Adama looked over in surprise at his sudden statement. He nodded slowly in agreement with his XO and turned his gaze back towards the controls, "not a single bit of rock out of place out there."

"Yeah," Adama agreed, his voice quiet and hoarse. He hadn't talked in hours, just staring blankly, thinking. Tigh could tell by the look on his face that Bill's thoughts were not within the walls of CIC, but didn't dare ask the Admiral where they were. He did, however, comment casually every so often to help keep his friend's head in the game, "it's calm."

"What's on your mind Bill?" Tigh asked quietly. The man had been watching the Dradis with such intensity for too long, and Saul knew that whatever he was thinking about, it was serious. Nothing else would come between Adama and CIC issues.

The chattering around them hadn't stopped, but Adama still felt the need to move around the console, closer to Saul.

"It's too quiet." He stated simply, his blue eyes fixated on Tigh. His XO didn't seem to quite grasp what the Admiral was trying to say, and nodded for him to elaborate.

"As much as I like the calm, the relaxation, I can't help but feel that something is going to happen."

"It's just your military instincts," Tigh assured him, smiling, "they drilled it into us in training on Caprica. Assume the worst, you know?"

"It's not that, not this time," Adama whispered, looking at the table in front of him. He gently placed his fingers down on the glass, which was cool against his hand. He then looked up suddenly, "It's like something is out of place. I don't know what. Something is different."

Tigh's expression grew serious, and Adama raised his eyebrow questioningly. His XO was acting peculiar lately. He was either thunderous and storming around, or anxious and worried. As temperamental as Tigh was, Adama knew that these emotions had only came about with such force in recent weeks.

Saul closed his good eye, an inner battle being waged in his mind. Adama could sense something, something different ….you, one voice stated with contempt, he can sense your metal ass, he knows what you are. Tell him now, before he throws you in the brig, explain to him, while you still have the chance.

Don't tell him, another voice interrupted, he doesn't know. He is talking about the Dradis. There is no reason for him to find out yet. Not while Kara is gone, not while Lee is over on another ship, not while Roslin is going through treatment for cancer. Don't do this to him, you're his best friend-

-and best friends should be honest with eachother. He'd want to know. Tigh growled in frustration. What was he going to do? He could come clean right now, tell Adama that he was a Cylon and face either the airlock or a long stay in the brig. He'd have been open and honest and would suffer for it. He could just as easily not tell his best friend, but he knew that if Bill was ever to find out, it would be so much worse. He seemed to have come to a conclusion, turning towards the concerned Admiral.

"Bill, I need to tell you something." His voice was steady, not giving away the pure panic that was wrestling with his insides.

"What is it Saul?" The look on Adama's face was that of genuine concern. Tigh seemed to be struggling with his words, and Bill was confused as to what he could possibly tell him. They had been friends for decades. They knew eachother too well for his XO to be harbouring some serious secret.

"Bill, I'm a-"

"Dradis contact!" Gaeta shouted suddenly, his face panicked. The crew and the senior command had been too wrapped up in their conversations to notice an enemy ship jump in.

Adama seemed to change, the Admiral mask presiding over his previous personal one.

"Sitrep!" He shouted, furious with himself for getting too lax, "now Lt Gaeta!"

"Counting one basestar and one resurrection ship sir!" Gaeta informed him, his chair spinning dangerously as he tried to both keep an eye on the Dradis and talk to the Admiral at the same time.

"Set condition one throughout the ship, and tell the fleet to spool up FTL drives!" Adama replied loudly, his hands gripping the console in front of him. His knuckles turned white. How could something like that slip past Dradis? How did they find them?

"This is the XO, set condition one throughout the ship. I repeat, set condition one throughout the ship." Tigh spoke into the comm. set, his eyes never leaving the Dradis, that now flashed red as large dots appeared on screen. The beeping sound grew erratic, as the dot drew closer.

"They're practically right on top of us," Tigh murmured, "why aren't they opening fire?"

"I don't know," Adama replied slowly, "but I'm not going to give them a chance as we wonder why. Launch emergency fighters!"

Before Tigh could press the button and inform the emergency viper pilots to get to the tubes, however, Gaeta spoke up from behind him;

"We're picking up Colonial signals sir!"

The CIC went silent at his statement. Gaeta himself looked shocked and confused as numbers and letters scrolled rapidly up his screen.

"They're using our own signals against us now!?" Tigh roared, looking around accusingly at the rest of the crew, "how the frak is that possible!?"

"I don't know," Adama muttered absently, his eyes burning a hole in the Dradis in front. Something then suddenly clicked in his head.

"Confirm them!" He bellowed, abruptly moving around the table to stand over by Gaeta. Tigh's mouth opened for a second, but no words came out. What the hell was Adama playing at?

Putting down the comm. unit, Tigh turned around to face the Admiral.

"What the frak is going on Bill? What do you know?"

"Nothing," Adama murmured, "it's a hunch."

"Colonial Signals confirmed. They're valid. Sir?" Gaeta held his ear piece, concentrating for a second, "The baseship is requesting us to open line of communication."

"Grant it," Adama commanded, and moved back over to the table. He picked up the small comm. unit, and nodded for Tigh to do the same with his. The line was static for a few moments before a familiar voice rung out in their ears.

"Galactica, this is Starbuck. Admiral? You there?"

"How do I know this is Starbuck?" Adama asked calmly. His face remained impassive, but his eyes glowed with relief and excitement. She was back, Kara was back.

The voice on the other end was filled with amusement, "Ask me anything Admiral, ask me anything."

"What d'ya hear Starbuck?" He asked, his breath held in anticipation of the answer. There was quiet for a moment, before Kara's voice came through again;

"Nothing but the rain sir." She stated, and this was followed by a laugh. She was happy to be home.

"Then grab your gun and bring in the cat." Adama responded, "It's good to hear your voice Kara."

"Couldn't leave you Admiral, must be your animal magnetism."

Adama let out a bark of laughter, before his expression once again turned serious.

"What the hell happened Starbuck?"

"That's gonna take a lot of explaining sir," Kara replied, "I'd like to meet with the President."

"I'll see what I can do Starbuck," The Admiral said, placing down the receiver. He looked once at Tigh, who was staring dumbstruck over at him. In reply, Bill nodded, assuring him that it was indeed Starbuck on the line, sitting in that basestar above them.

"Lt Gaeta." Adama abruptly called out. Gaeta turned around, looking confused.

"Yes sir?"

"I need a secure line to my own Quarters."

Admiral Adama's Quarters

Battlestar Galactica

Laura Roslin regarded the files in front of her with a sigh. Stifling a yawn, she placed her pen down and stretched her arms in front of her. It had been a long day. Her diloxin treatments were drawing to a close and she felt her previous energy starting to return. However, energy was one thing that would not help her with the reports that now surrounded her. Having a sick day was one thing, but for the President of the Twelve Colonies it was something else.

Laura took a long swig from a glass of water nearby. Adama's quarters were practically hers aswell now, and she felt comfortable enough to get her own drinks, use his desk and sleep on the sofa.

As she moved to pick her pen back up, the phone nearby started to ring. Laura slowly got up, placing her glasses on the table in front of her and walked towards the phone. Someone obviously needed to speak to the Admiral. She wondered briefly what people would think if she answered the phone in Adama's quarters, but shook the thought away quickly. It might be an important call, forget the gossip. Resolutely, she picked the phone up and brought it to her ear.

"Laura Roslin."

"Laura?" Bill's voice crackled down the line. Warmth radiated over her when she heard his voice and she found the stress of working leave her immediately.

"Bill," she responded in kind, a smile on her face, "what's wrong?"

"We have a situation."

The smile left her face, replaced with a frown. She gripped the phone tighter.

"A situation?"

"A basestar has just jumped in and given Colonial signals. It's Starbuck," Bill hurriedly explained, "She's on the baseship and she's requesting a meeting with you." The last part of the sentence was said in a tone that Laura recognised.

"And you don't want me to go." She stated wryly, her eyes glittering with curiosity. It was too much. Starbuck coming back in a baseship and requesting her of all people.

"There could be Cylons aboard." Adama stated.

"Yes there could. But Kara Thrace is also aboard and is the one requesting me. The question is, Bill, do you trust her enough?"

There was silence on the other end of the line and Laura thought for a split second that she had offended him, made him angry. Suddenly, however, his voice echoed in his ear, reassuring and warm;

"Yes, yes I do. A raptor will be prepared for you shortly."

"Thankyou Bill. We'll talk later." With that, she hung up the phone and walked back to the desk. Picking up her suit jacket from the back of the chair and her glasses from the table top, Laura exited the quarters with confidence.

A/N

All grammatical errors are mine. Hope you've enjoyed the chapter and are managing to keep with this story.