Title: Faoi Dheireadh
Part: 21
Rating: PG, maybe PG-13 later
Pairing: A/R
Summary: The survivors of the Holocaust have finally reached Earth, but they find out that's not the end of their problems
Beta: Elly
Note: I do want to thank Vi, Marta, Axelrajr, Moggie, and AlbertG for their expertise. Without their input this story would not be what it is today. Be warned, this takes place sometime near the end of season two. Anything after Epiphanies are conjectures from the author's warped mind. . .
Disclaimer: Battlestar Galactica and its characters are creations of Glen Larson and copywrited by Universal Studios. I make no money off of this.

Colonial speech: " "
English speech: ' '

Chapter Twenty-one

Gaeta looked through the door and into the now empty corridor. Kara could only stay for so long before she had to return to her responsibilities. Glancing at his watch, he realized that he should already be in CIC. His obvious absence couldn't be helped, besides Adama already knew the reasons well enough.

"Glennan?" he asked as he turned his back to the open door.

"I. . .come. . ." she said slowly as she stood For a moment she seemed unsteady on her feet, but quickly recovered as she moved towards her locker. She grunted in approval as she quickly searched through it looking for something. The hat she pulled out was different from the one she wore when she went before the Quorum. This one was made of soft material with no stiff edges to it. When they stepped out of her quarters, she made it a point to turn around and secure the door. She had learned a painful lesson, one she was not likely to forget.

As she turned back around, he couldn't help but notice her figure. On its own, his mind went high-speed through what it might be like to feel her. Stop it, Felix! he told himself sharply, then forcefully pushed the images off to the side. He had a job to do.

"I. . .we. . .c-come?" Angela shook her head in frustration at her seemingly inability to remember what she recently learned. For a moment she turned, raising her fist again, but before she could throw another punch at the wall in frustration he grabbed hold of her wrist. She spun around - her reflexes fast, fortunately his were faster having pre-empted a second strike. Though Gaeta never remembered how he caught her other hand before it reached the cheek bone it was aiming for. With his superior strength he quickly pushed her against the wall, very aware how easy it would be for her to trip him up. "Calm down," he said softly, lowering his voice so as not to antagonize her even further.

She seemed to want to fight, but eventually the tension drained out of her face leaving bleak despair in its wake. When he loosened his grip, she slid down the wall and sat on the floor. He knew she was in no condition emotionally to see the Admiral, but it needed to happen.

Why despair, he wondered as she put her face in her hands.

oOoOo

Adama looked over to the transceiver. He knew he had to contact O'Neill again, but not before he talked to Fisk. The day before, the Commander had seemed willing to use the Pegasus's manpower and extra space to help with the supplies. O'Niell's words, though, were bothering him. If it was true, then the bad black market situation was worse than predicted.

"What is it?" Laura asked as he turned and moved to his office. Reaching over the desk, he grasped the comm device, punching a few buttons as he pulled it towards him. Normally he didn't do it this way, but in this case he didn't want anyone knowing about the conversation unless absolutely necessary.

"This is Admiral Adama. I need to speak with Fisk." He hesitated before continuing, "Lee? Where is Fisk. . .He left you in charge?. . .I want you to find him. And as soon as you do, I want to talk to him." Lowering the comm, he paused before setting it back in its cradle.

"What was that about?" Laura asked.

Glancing back, he saw she was still seated at the table.

"Something's not right." He shook his head, moving back across the room.

"It's that 'something' you won't discuss with me, isn't it?" she teased.

"Not really. I found out about a black market problem and now Fisk is nowhere to be found. Lee's gone looking for him."

"Yes, well if there are answers - I'm sure Apollo will find them. His people know each shuttle's destination."

"That's what's bothering me." Before he could say anything else, the door opened all the way to reveal a marine standing in front of Gaeta and the Terran liaison. The petite woman's face was completely devoid of emotion and her shielding was very tight against any intrusion while her uniform resembled the fatigues he wore while on Kobol. One of her hands was bandaged up. Shifting back around, Bill maneuvered to his desk where he had left the transceiver on, but disconnected. Reaching for his notes he caught a glimpse of Laura making room for Glennan. The Terran refused and stood at attention. For a moment he felt like she seemed ready to find out her fate. Gaeta's slightly worried glance made him think differently. Something must have happened, he thought to himself.

When the line was open once again he moved back around to the front of his desk and spoke, "This is Admiral Adama, I need to speak with Captain O'Neill again."

"Admiral, are you calling to continue the discussion from earlier?"

"No, Captain. This is completely different. This is a situation that needs to be discussed and preferably resolved before it gets blown out of proportion. We don't want to give the accusations and wild rumors a chance to damage this further."

"All right. . ." Mair answered slowly. "What is it?"

"On two separate occasions our vice president has attempted to take Lieutenant Glennan's property."

"Three," Laura called out.

Bill looked at Laura in confusion, "Three, Madam President?"

"I'll explain it, Admiral," Laura finished.

"Three," Bill acknowledged then continued. "This morning was different. He was able to take her hand translator. He was found attempting to hack into it when a couple of my officers and Glennan found him. In what my officers saw as a fit of rage, she physically removed it from him, injured him in the process." Glancing over to Angela, he saw her head bowed, acceptance seemingly translated into resignation. "This entire incident is the vice president's fault and he will have to personally deal with the consequences of his actions. What Baltar did is not the actions of an entire culture, I do hope you understand," he finished on what he hoped was a plea that it wasn't entirely Angela's fault. Baltar may have started it all, but she definitely finished it.

"I see," she finally answered. "Is she present?"

"Yes, Captain," Bill nodded.

'Lieutenant Glennan?'

Angela's head whipped up, and for a moment a hint of something flashed across her face before disappearing behind that mask of calm she cultivated as her back straightened. 'Yes, ma'am,' she answered crisply.

'Has Admiral Adama and their President tried the MRE's yet? I sent some over in the gedunk box with a note attached to them.'

'No, ma'am.' Angela shook her head. 'With. . .with all that's happened. . .I forgot.'

'Glennan, I want you to retrieve two of the MRE's. Adama has already given you permission to bring them.'

Angela hesitated before answering, 'Do you want me to retrieve two for them now, ma'am?'

'Yes.'

"Admiral, Lieutenant Glennan has what we call meals ready to eat in her cabin. I wanted you to see and try them so you would know what the first supplies are. I would like for you to let her get them."

"That's fine," Adama nodded while glancing over to Laura.

'Glennan, I want you to retrieve two of the MRE's. Adama has already given you permission to bring them.'

'Aye, aye, ma'am," Angela nodded and turned on her heal and left the room.

"Is she gone?"

"For now," Adama answered.

"Admiral. . .I had hoped she would be well suited to this task. I'm sorry that she wasn't. I will begin the process of having Lieutenant Glennan replaced by another officer better suited for the job."

"No!" Laura said sharply.

"I agree, sir," Gaeta spoke up for the first time.

"Why is that Lieutenant?" Adama asked while moving over to his tactical officer.

"Because, sir. Vice President Baltar may have been the one to start this whole mess, but she finished it. There were, not including today, three incidents. Two of those had at least five witnesses present." Gaeta glanced over to Laura then back to Adama.

"So, what do you want me to do?" Mair sighed.

"Give her another chance. Plus the marines will not be happy if their class gets canceled before it even got a chance to start." For a moment a wry smile played across Bill's face before it disappeared. "There is something else, Captain. For some time we've been trying to find a way to have him removed from the vice presidency for extenuating circumstances. Glennan has done an invaluable service to us. When he is sufficiently recovered, Baltar will be removed from the Galactica permanently. And if circumstances warrant it, even the vice presidency."

'Sir?' Angela stepped back inside, carrying small packages. Approaching the two Colonial leaders, she each handed them one.

"Self heating," Laura muttered as she turned it over and examined hers. Suddenly she blinked her eyes in surprise. "Captain? I can read the instructions."

"Yes, Ma'am. I made sure of that. What would be their use if you didn't know what to do with it?" Mair asked rhetorically with a smile in her voice.

Laura closed her eyes and sighed, "You have done so much for us. How could we ever be able to repay you for what you've done?"

"To be prosperous. Disasters have happened many times on Terra and the strongest countries have always leant a helping hand to the poorer nations."

The comm unit buzzed during a pause. "Fisk?" Laura asked quietly as Bill moved past her. He didn't answer, but went on to take the call over near his rack. "Adama," he answered while sitting down.

"Dad, Fisk is dead," Lee answered softly.

"Frak," Adama muttered while pinching the bridge of his nose. "Who else knows?"

"I don't know. I went into his quarters by myself."

Why me? Bill thought to himself. This was something he did not want to hear.

"There's something else. . .Commander Fisk had at least one package that was intended to go to the Gemanon Traveler."

"I see." Bill sighed before continuing, "Captain O'Neill told me that everything is tracked. She reported to us that several pallets never made it to their intended destinations. Listen," he looked around for a moment before turning his attention back to Lee, "I want you to see what you can find out. Also, see what you can find out about Fisk's death as well. Do it quietly."

"Yes, sir."

Bill placed the comm unit back in its cradle then noticed something that had been knocked on the floor. Leaning down, he picked it up and put it back on the small table where it came from. Getting up he moved back to the other side of his quarters. Glennan was standing beside his desk with her head down. He glanced over to Gaeta, hoping his tactical officer could understand what was being said. The younger officer shook his head.

Frak, now I have to appoint someone to command the Pegasus he thought. "Why now," he murmured shaking his head then raised up quickly when he heard O'Neill. The Terran captain's voice had developed a sharp edge then softened somewhat near the end. When she finished, Glennan's face transformed from resignation to shock. Once the line was disconnected Angela turned around and faced him. "I. . .come?" she asked while indicating the door.

"Go," Bill answered, correcting the obvious mistake.

Angela nodded while repeating, "I go?"

Bill nodded while turning his attention to Gaeta, "You're dismissed."

"Uh, sir?"

"Yes?"

"Do you want me to make sure she's all right?"

Before answering Bill asked his own question. "I noticed the bandage, was that because of Baltar?"

A smile flashed across Gaeta's face before disappearing. "No, sir. She. . .um. . .took her frustrations out on the Galactica since Baltar wasn't available. Medic said the bones were bruised, that's all."

"Lieutenant, make sure she's settled, then see to your duties."

"Yes, sir." Gaeta saluted then turned on his heel and exited the room, pulling the door closed behind him.

"Bill, I found out from O'Neill why Lieutenant Glennan reacted the way she did with Baltar and in here."

"Which is?" Bill pulled out one of the chairs at the table and sat down.

"She has a temper that can be cataclysmic when it is set off with the right, or wrong, trigger. Because of that she has what O'Neill calls a black mark on her record."

"Glennan probably thought her future was finished."

"That sounds about right." Laura sighed while closing her eyes.

"Commander Fisk is dead."

Laura's eyes flew open. "What! How?"

"That's what I want to know. I asked Lee to look into the matter quietly. He seems to think it's tied into the missing supplies." Bill hauled himself to his feet and went back over to his office. Once again, he picked up the comm and dialed the Pegasus directly. "This is Adama, I want Captain Garner to see me." He disconnected the line before the other had even a chance to answer.

"Who will be in command of the ship?" Laura turned to look at Bill.

"Lee. He's acting XO, and with Fisk now gone, he's the CO until I can get someone permanently in place."

Laura glanced to the door for a moment before continuing, "I think it would be good to have Glennan get another hand translator. I would think she would also jump at the chance to be able to at least communicate with everyone."

Bill thought about it for a moment before answering, "I can also send new instructions to Agathorn. I want to see what he can find out about Terra and why they seem to be in this defensive posture."

oOoOo

Angela looked around her cabin, still in shock with what just happened. Of all things, she never expected to be told that she would be staying. Shaking her head she looked back around to the mess she created in her heated anger. Slowly, she started picking up the various items and carried them over to the - - no her - - she corrected herself, table. Once she got everything off the deck she would go through and organize it. In the middle of her cleaning up she felt her stomach growl and stopped to think. She hadn't eaten since yesterday.

Shrugging her shoulders, she went over to the gedunk box and rummaged through it. There were several MRE's that her CO had sent, along with all sorts of Terran snacks. Pulling out one that she knew was better, she opened it up and let it heat while she went back to organizing her mess. After a minute she turned her attention back to it then pulled it open, careful of the escaping steam. Once cooled sufficiently, she quickly ate it then tossed the container in the trash. Taking a deep breath, she went back to her pda. She had been so far beyond anger that she never really checked to see what was wrong with it. All she knew was that it didn't work.

Pressing the power button, she waited for it to boot up. 'Good, at least it's not totally fried and it can turn on,' she commented as she pulled the host computer's components that had remained attached when she yanked it out. What showed on the screen immediately told her everything she needed to know. 'Damn; error.' When it finally registered that the hard drive had been wiped she lowered her head. 'Oh no. What did I do? The Captain was right, I had no right to do what I did.'

Turning the pda off, she got up and went over to the shelf behind her rack and pulled out her rosary necklace. Not even bothering to find someplace that was more comfortable she sunk to her knees and closed her eyes while fingering the necklace. When finished she got to her feet and put the necklace back where she found it then turned around. Angela jumped in surprise seeing Gaeta standing there with a slightly guilty look on his face.

oOoOo

Baltar sat on one of the examination tables while cradling his limp arm. "I demand to be treated immediately!"

"Sir, there's no need to yell. I can hear you easily enough," a medic arrived pushing a tray towards the table. He glanced at the two marines standing against the wall then back to the vice president. "Now," he started. "What seems to be the problem?"

"Problem? Problem! I can't move my arm! That's the problem! I'm the Vice President and I - -"

"Sir, I don't need a litany, all I asked was what was wrong," the medic interrupted with an edge to his voice. "Now, you can't move your arm?" he asked as he moved towards the table.

"Of course I can't move my arm. Can't you see?" Baltar angrily answered while indicating his arm.

"This may hurt. Tell me if it's too much. If so, I'll get you something for it." Coming closer he gently touched the back of Baltar's shoulder. "You have a dislocated shoulder, sir."

"Of course I do! I could have told you that!"

"Then why didn't you?" the medic answered angrily crossing his arms.

Baltar opened then closed his mouth as the medic turned to the tray and started prepping a sedative so the procedure would not be as painful.

"Where's Cottle anyway?" Baltar complained.

"Busy. Now, could you please wait while I get this ready, sir."

"No! I demand to be treated now! I'm tired of this!" Baltar huffed.

The medic looked at the sedative he was preparing then shrugged his shoulders. He set it down in the tray then walked around. Without warning he grabbed Baltar's arm and with a sharp jerk, popped the shoulder back in place.

"Now," he asked after Baltar stopped his shrieking, "Mr. Vice President, would you like to have the sedative I was prepping?"

oOoOo

This is Playa Palacios from the Colonial Gang reporting for D'Anna Biars. The distribution of supplies is going on schedule with the Rising Star being next to receive support. There are also four ships whose FTL drives are still being worked on by technicians from the Galactica and Pegasus. By best estimates from the technicians they say the ships should be repaired with the next day or two. The repairs on Colonial One will take several weeks before it will be flight worthy again.

Vice President Baltar was injured in his laboratory on board the Galactica. Contacts within Life Station have revealed that his shoulder has been dislocated. So far no one has stated how it happened.

One last thing before I finish. D'Anna Biars, who's voice you normally hear, is gravely ill in Galactica's Life Station. The same contact mentioned that Dr. Cottle has requested support from the Terran hospital ship Mercy. D'Anna's condition is critical and she is on full life support. We ask that you include her in your prayers and thoughts for a speedy recovery. We need everyone if we are to survive.

This is Playa Palacios, signing off.

TBC...