Chapter 54.

The secure message from Starbuck was not a welcome one, not welcome at all. Matt had thought the op was permanently scrubbed due to the loss of the crucial "element of surprise." Even with both Battlestar's complete air wings, the deck was stacked highly against success. Sitting in the cockpit of his fighter, Matt spot checked the new control board that had recently been installed for his weapons system. Peter Laird was still sending a steady stream of badly needed supplies over to Galactica, parts that were extremely rare, and up until recently, had been patched up as best as possible by Galen Tyrol's deck gang with whatever materials they could cobble together. This control panel was taken fresh out of the bubble wrap packaging it was put in by the long destroyed manufacturer.

It was a stroke of incredible luck that the Pegasus was dry docked for a retrofit when the Cylons attacked, just a day before the attack, they had taken on a massive shipment of parts and equipment for their viper and raptor squadrons. Many of their crew were off on leave when the attack commenced, leaving far more aircraft then pilots to fly them. Immediately after assessing Galactica's air wing shortages, Admiral Cain shipped forty Mk. VII vipers, and six raptors to address their shortage. Her online viper production facilities would slowly continue to turn out vipers, but were running dangerously low on metals for the fuselage, and tylium. Matt's daydreaming was soon disrupted by the sound of knocking on the port wing of his viper.

"A cubit for your thoughts, Heph." The voice belonged to Kara "Destiny" Fan, she wore a pair of running pants with Pegasus' logo embroidered on the hip. Her short black hair was slicked back with sweat, and her a towel draped across her shoulders.

"Afraid I'd be short changin ya, lass." replied Matt pulling himself up to sit on the rim of the cockpit. "Just goin over some new equipment, courtesy of Pete Laird."

"We really haven't had a chance to shoot the felgercarb since finding each other, gods know I've logged some ear-bleeding moments with Roadkill, but you and I seem to keep missing each other."

"Sorry Kara, things have been crazy since the transfers, the abandoned op and now me recent promotion to CAG...been runnin about like a chicken wit its bloody head sliced off."

"How does your girlfriend feel about that?" shot back Kara with a playful smile.

"If yuir speakin bout D'Anna, then she's handlin it just fine. She's plenty busy herself, more so now that Pegasus has joined the fleet." Matt could sense there was something more than just small talk, Destiny frequently scanned the catwalk above them, and her surroundings, as if she was being watched. He hopped down onto the wing, and lowered himself to the floor, a foot or so between them. "Whats on yuir mind, lass? You've never been one for small talk." She immediately became more relaxed, and spoke softly.

"Whats going on with the outpost op? Rumor mill has it that it's on again." she asked. Matt frowned, how did word get out already he just found out an hour ago. As far back as the academy, Matt knew that Destiny was well wired into the rumor mill, and that she had a knack for obtaining all sorts of information, especially the hard-to-get kind.

"All I can tell you is that Cain wants a second bite at the frakin apple." replied Matt tersely. "Not sure what's runnin through her mind, but if ya ask me... I think she's frakin daft to attempt another run. The element of surprise is lost to us, we should be jumpin to the next system and pray that we find a planet containing Tylium."

"All the refined fuel, materials and raw tylium is right there on that outpost for the taking, Heph. Cain has been doing hit and runs on these type of remote outposts since the attacks. Just another walk in the park."

"Yes... remote outposts." repeated Matt. "Not ones protected by Baseships, and the probability of more jumpin in to join the party! Think about it lass, one ,we're badly outnumbered, two, we have a deadly asteroid field to traverse, eating up fuel and most likely the lives of many of our pilots. Lastly, what about the fleet? What happens to them if more Cylons show up while the two Battlestars are engaged in the op?"

"Tough one to answer, Heph. Babysitting a civilian fleet isn't something the crew of the Pegasus has been used to. We're used to moving hard and fast, this is so different, and at times aggravating."

"Aggravating!" said Matt taken aback. "Listen to yuirself Kara, yuir talkin about whats left o' the human race. It's our duty to protect them, to ensure they survive in order to reach Earth and repopulate whats left of humanity."

"Don't get your underwear in a twist Matt, you know I don't mean any disrespect. However, I'm sure you've heard that Cain isn't warm to the idea of finding the mythological home of the lost thirteenth tribe. She wants to go back to the Colonies to kick their metallic asses off our worlds."

"Please tell me you haven't been suckered into that fairytale," said Matt shaking his head. "The Colonies are an irradiated wasteland, and you know that! We can go back with one hundred Battlestars, and do ya think it'll make a wee bit o' difference."

"Not a side to you that I'm accustomed to seeing." said Kara.

"Kara, think about it for a moment...Cain's way will get us all killed, every last one of us. Finding Earth, or any other habitable world is our only hope o' surviving." He could see a weakening in her defenses, it was time to take a chance and see much. "Kara...Cain is dangerous. You must see that!" Kara's face reddened as she moved closer to just within inches Of Matt.

"Heph, all throughout the academy I strove to be the best viper pilot, to graduate number one, something, by the way, you screwed me out of. All I wanted was to get assigned to Pegasus, under Helena Cain. It was a dream come true, assigned to the most sought after battlegroup on board the flagship itself. When the Cylons hit us at the Scorpion shipyards it was Cain who saved us with quick action. With two nukes bearing down on , she ordered a blind fraken jump. Blind! You realize what a set that takes?" asked Kara. "Seriously Heph, she saved her ship, her crew and then took the fight right back at them."

"I know the back story Kara, and to set the record straight... I earned the top slot at the academy. Be that as it may, we're talkin bout yuir commanding officer now. I mean it lass, there's a fundamental difference between Cain and Adama, and the safety of this fleet hinges on who commands it!" Kara's demeanor quickly changed, and she studied Matt's face intently.

"What are you talking about Matt?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Cain is the commander of this fleet."

"Kara, if she remains in command of this fleet then we're all doomed. She's reckless, and has no regard for the people that depend on us to protect em."

"You're treading dangerously Matt, the wrong person hears you and Cain will throw your ass in the same cell as Helo and your former deck chief." warned Kara.

"I'm not fraking around here Kara, I need you to think long and hard about where yuir allegiance lies. In time it may be called on." Without another word, Matt turned and walked off the hanger bay, leaving Lt. Kara "Destiny" Fan utterly speechless.

Commander Adama's Quarters

William Adama stretched himself flat on his leather couch, one of the few cherished personal items that adorned his quarters. He had taken an early dinner in his quarters which sat on his desk relatively untouched. Processed algae...again. His glasses lay atop his chest as he attempted to steal a moment's rest. The knock at the hatch announced that that was surely not going to happen. "Enter!" he snapped, mildly annoyed at the intrusion. The hatch swung open, and in stepped his executive officer with a concerned look on his craggy face.

"We got problems, Bill!" announced Tigh walking over to one of the overstuffed chairs opposite the desk that were reserved for visitors. Sitting down he reached over and lifted the lid off the tray holding Adama's uneaten dinner, a frown fixed itself to his face, and he replaced the cover.

"Well if you're hand delivering the news to me instead of manning your shift in the CIC, then it's either very important, or off ship." said Adama rubbing his eyes.

"Both. It looks like the bitch is at it again." growled Tigh. Inside of five minutes Tigh related the story of the "appropriated" Caprican-made 218- Alpha energizers from the Gemeni freighter. The Black Market was an open secret throughout the fleet, and largely ignored by the military authority as long as they kept their business discreet. Adama had frequently caught an earful from the president, as she was clearly displeased by the market, feeling that the members of the fleet should be above such actions while fleeing for their very lives. She was usually more displeased when Adama would reply that the Black Market was a needed element within their current situation, and her idealism while admirable, was misplaced in their current predicament.

Massaging his temples, Adama exhaled loudly, not needing another headache added to his list. "What did Fisk charge Mandell with?"

"Illegally conspiring to conceal vital goods in time of war, and failure to comply with a command from the Admiral of the fleet if you can believe that." retorted Tigh with disgust.

"Look we both know your friend Fisk's hands aren't exactly "Temple clean," but we also know that he doesn't have the authority himself to remove a civilian ship captain. This is Cain pure and simple."

"What do you want done?"

Adama chuckled and sat up, adjusting his tunic. "What can I do? Helena Cain is the fleet commander, she does have the authority to remove Mandell, but usually through a process, and more importantly with presidential input, seeing as how no state of martial law has been enacted."

"Word has it that Cain doesn't even accept Roslin's calls anymore." replied Tigh. "Look I'm no fan of the school marm, but she is the legal president of the colonies through succession. How far are we going to let Cain go?" Tigh put up his hand to cut off Adama's reply saying "look Bill, lets cut through the felgercarb, Cain has got to have her fraken wings clipped, or this fleet will tear itself apart!"