XI

Laura Roslin, Gaius Baltar, and Galen Tyrol waited pensively for Lee and Kara to show up with Admiral Adama. Galen had chosen a forgotten cargo storage area on the underside of Galactica, which had a port for a Raptor to attach to. It was as out-of-the-way as anything on the old ship.

It was a bit of an awkward time for the three: the Colonial President, who had a long and contentious relationship with the former Colonial President, and the Johnny-come-lately Cylon, who had worked with Roslin to help diversify the workforce in The Fleet. Amazingly, Laura thought to herself, she trusted Tyrol, the Cylon, far more than she ever would Baltar, the Human.

Now, they were all in the same boat. All of them targets for one reason or another: Laura for allowing the Cylon Alliance; Gaius, for not stopping The Cylons on New Caprica; Galen because he was a Cylon. It made the awkwardness a little more tolerable.

After what seemed like hours, the hatch to the compartment opened, Kara leading the way in, Laura behind her, Lee behind the President.

"Good to see you, Mr. Tyrol", Admiral Adama said, Galen giving him a surprised look.

"Admiral, Madam President", Galen said, glancing between them, "we need to get you to the Baseship ASAP. I've got Athena as your driver on a Raptor that should hook up here momentarily. She'll get you there."

"Gaius", Laura said, turning to her rival, "I want you to come along as well. One, you may be an eternal pain in my ass, but you're too important to leave to these thugs, and two, you are accepted, more or less, far more than I am by the Cylons."

"I suppose I should take both as a compliment?"

Laura gave him a small, but genuine smile, and a brief chuckle. "Permission granted."

The President stepped over to her wife, knowing how painful this moment could be. She had lost Kara once. She had almost driven Kara away after she returned. And with this uprising, with Kara staying behind to fight, she could lose her again.

"I don't want you to stay behind, Kara", Laura said, tears refusing to stay in her eyes. "I've been such a fool since you came back. I love you, my dear, with everything I am. I know why you need to stay, and what you need to do."

"I have half a mind to argue with you, Madam President", Kara said, laughing even as she started to cry herself. "The only thing that matters to me are you and the baby. Kacey will be safe, of that I'm sure, but I will be here when you come back."

The stared at each other for a moment, then moved at the same moment, giving each other a desperate, needy kiss, the five men in the room looking away out of respect. In the midst of this emotional scene, Galen's radio crackled, just as Athena arrived.

"Section 12, copy?"

"Go".

"Marine fire team just went past, looks like they're coming your way."

Galen turned to the others. "You have about two minutes, everyone. Let's wrap this up."

Bill and Saul shared a look, knowing they weren't going to be on that Raptor. When he looked at Laura and Baltar, they both knew it, too.

"Mr. Tyrol, take Lee and Kara back the way they came."

Lee sensed it. "What are you doing?"

"Saul and I are going to make sure the Raptor gets outta here safely."

Kara started to protest. "Shouldn't Lee and I..."

The Admiral cut her off. "No, and that's an order. You and Lee", he indicated, looking at both of them, "are the future of this Fleet. You need to continue fighting. Saul and I? We're the remnants of a Universe that no longer exists."

There was no time for further hugs. As Laura boarded the Raptor, she stopped and looked back at her wife. "I love you, Kara Roslin!"

"I'll be here when you get back, now go! I love you!"

Lee, Kara, and Galen went up the hatch that Galen had entered. The Raptor departed. Bill Adama and Saul Tigh awaited their fate.

"Sir", Crewman Gage said sharply, "that Raptor has left Galactica, and is heading toward the Baseship!"

"Who's out there on CAP, Gage?"

Gage's reply was immediate. "We've got Redwing and Hot Dog in the lead, sir."

"Godsdamn, Hot Dog", Narcho said in frustration. Brendan Costanza had been like a brother to him since he arrived from Pegasus, and Kat had been almost like a sister. But Noel Alison knew Hot Dog would in no way fire on the Raptor. As he was deliberating on that dilemma, more news made it to him from Aaron Kelly.

"Commander", Kelly said, using Narcho's new title. "We have the Admiral and Tigh. Injured but alive."

"Who the hell..."

Noel got his answer from another call on speaker. "This is President Laura Roslin aboard the Raptor. Do not fire!"

Like hell I won't fire, Narcho thought viciously to himself.

"Red Viper two, Redwing", the voice of Paolo McKay boomed out, "The target's in your front yard, Hot Dog. Engage."

"I don't know", Costanza replied nervously, "that was the President. She's onboard the target." Brendan looked at his position vis-a-vis the Raptor, and where Redwing was, who still couldn't fire. I'll be damned if I let that cocksucker shoot down the President, he thought with determination. He stalled for time.

"Lieutenant Costanza, Galactica Actual", Narcho said in a voice that brooked no denial. "You were given an order, now follow it!"

"No way", Hot Dog said, without pressing the mic.

"Hot Dog", Redwing nearly screamed, "stop fraking thinking and shoot, godsdammit!"

Costanza had made up his mind. They're getting close to the Baseship. If I can stall Redwing just a little longer...

At that moment, Redwing hit his boosters and rolled around Hot Dog. "Galactica, Redwing, tally, I have the target. Maneuvering into position."

"Frak, Redwing", everyone in CIC heard Costanza bitterly shout.

Redwing fired. Athena was able to bank away from the shot just in time. The missile sailed off to one side, impacting the Rebel Baseship.

"The missile missed the target", Gage said in quiet anger. "The Raptor boarded the Baseship."

Lee, Kara, and Galen were about ready to split, the first two would head toward the Brig and CIC, while Galen would stay hidden and try to orchestrate resistance. Just before they broke off, Galen heard a call on his walkie. "Chief, Adama and Tigh are alive and in custody. President Roslin is aboard the Baseship."

"They'll be taken to the Brig", Lee said, thinking as logically as possible. "That will have guards, but not as many as CIC. We can get the Admiral and Tigh out of there, then work on how we proceed."

"That sounds good, guys", Galen said calmly. "I'm gonna get some of my team together and see where we stand. This isn't over by a long shot."

"Agreed", Lee said, nodding vigorously. "I'm pretty sure I might be able to find a hand-held somewhere going up there. If I do, I'll stay in touch, Galen."

"Got it", the Cylon nodded, "now get lost. They'll be looking for you soon enough."

Kara and Lee disappeared around the first corridor to their left.

Back in CIC, Narcho and Bulldog studied their options. Roslin getting away was a blow to what they were trying to accomplish, but they still held most the cards. It was time to truly step up the pressure on the government.

As they waited for Bill Adama to be brought to CIC, another call came in. "Commander Alison, I have Hardball on the line. Wants to talk to you privately."

"I'll take it", Bulldog said, as Narcho was vectoring more assets around the Baseship.

"CIC, Bulldog."

"CIC, this is Hardball." The voice of Diana Seelix was brittle, and very emotional. "Mission onboard Colonial Oneaccomplished. Returning to base."

Seelix had cut the connection before Novacek could respond, understanding the woman's horror at what had taken place, but he answered anyway. "Copy that, Hardball, CIC out." He hung up the phone, looking sadly at Narcho, who nodded.

Novacek knew this would be necessary in some form or another when trying to take a ship as big as Galactica, and the civilian fleet that sailed with it. It was simply the calculus of war-there would be casualties, and there would be deaths. Even after what the Old Man had put him through, he didn't want to see the Admiral, or Tigh, even if he was a Cylon, executed, but he, Narcho and others had calculated that it would be the price to bring some order and sense back to The Fleet.

"Why are you firing at us?" Natalie hadn't exactly been honest with the Humans she had been dealing with, but this wasn't part of any deal.

"You're not under attack", Roslin said with a dismissive wave of the hand. "They're firing at us."

"What?"

Athena looked over at the Six. "The government has lost control."

"The government has not lost control", Roslin responded emphatically.

"Excuse me", Baltar said, a rare show of resolve in his words, "but how would you describe it Madam President? Admiral Adama is a fugitive, as are Lee and your wife. Alison and Novacek have an army. You and I both know Adama and Tigh were making a stand when we left Galactica. I would have to surmise they're both in custody."

"Adama is free, and..."

"He and Tigh were cornered in an airlock when we left."

"If you were forced to escape", Leoben said with urgency, "then Alison and Novacek must have substantial support."

"They don't", Roslin insisted.

Tory shook her head, a massive headache descending on her. "This is not good. We have to jump out of here."

"I agree", Natalie echoed.

"What about Tyrol, Tigh, and Ishay?"

Roslin stared at Leoben. "If you jump, you'll never see them again. They're after anyone who can get in their way-they already tried to kill Lee, but Kara stopped that. You need to move this ship into the middle of The Fleet. Give Kara, and Lee a chance to rally. Galen is organizing resistance on the ship. If you give them the time, they will succeed."

It took a few more minutes of heated words, but the Six agreed to Roslin's plan.

"You want to show you care for the people, Admiral?" Noel Alison thought he could play this game, and was pressing Bill Adama. "Get on the line and tell Roslin to surrender."

"You call her", Bill Adama said with scorn. "She'll laugh in your face."

"Very well. All hands to battle stations, set Condition One throughout the ship, prepare..."

"Sir", Gage said sharply, to get his attention, "the Baseship! It's moved into the middle of The Fleet!"

Noel cursed under his breath, Adama laughing under his breath.

"Danny, let's spin up our FTL, advise the other ships to do the same." Noel didn't flinch as he stared down Adama.

"Now, you're gonna shoot me, right, Mr. Alison?"

"You can't just shoot him, Noel", Danny Novacek argued passionately. "We've been saying we need to bring back integrity and honor to The Fleet. How can we do that if we just execute him, and even the Cylons onboard? That makes us no better."

They were in Adama's office, which as far as Noel Alison was concerned, was his territory now. Admiral Adama had been right: Narcho simply wanted to shoot everyone who was in his way, whether it was Bill or Lee Adama, Laura or Kara Roslin, even Hot Dog and Kat, if it came to it. As for Tyrol, Tigh, Ishay, and Foster, he didn't think they were owed anything.

"All that's gonna do is slow us down, and give those standing against us a chance to organize and counter-attack."

"Look", Danny said reasonably, "I'm not happy with Bill Adama, and how he abandoned me after that mission, but he was only following orders himself then. It isn't about that. My beef with him is this alliance, and how I think it will be a disaster for our people. Our people are what matters. And we can't gain the trust of the people if we simply and summarily execute anyone. We lose the moral high ground."

Alison thought about that for a moment. Bulldog was right. One thing that had pissed Alison off since the destruction of The Colonies was what he saw as all this political intrigue: Admiral Adama trying to state a coup against Laura Roslin; Laura Roslin trying to rig an election that Gaius Baltar had won; Gaius Baltar selling out to The Cylons; Laura Roslin selling out to The Cylons. It was madness. What happened to honor and dignity, as Novacek had said. Yet he simply wanted to get past this bloody period.

"OK, we'll give him a quick trial. This can't be like that bullshit that Baltar went through, that lasted a few weeks. This has to be done, today."

"You'll be the judge?"

Noel nodded. "Yes. We need to get Romo Lampkin up here, to...defend the Admiral. But my mind is already made up. This is just a formality."

"Fine, it's a formality", Novacek said with some contempt, "but if it ever gets out that this was a sham..."

"It won't be a sham, Danny", Noel assured him. "We've been building up to this for almost two weeks. We have all the proof we need-it's sitting about a thousand yards away in that Cylon Baseship."

"OK, I'll mind the store while you take care of this. I'd take Gage and Sanders along as guards while you carry this out. But I want this looking as legal as possible."

Romo Lampkin was onboard Galactica that day, and it didn't take much to find him. Alison made sure Lampkin met with Bill Adama, but a half hour after that, Noel Alison had passed his sentence-execution by firing squad.