XII

CIC

Aaron Kelly had returned to CIC along with the Marines guarding Adama. He first got a drink at the water cooler, which was sorely needed.

"Gage", he said, turning toward the communications console, "you need a break to get a drink or take a leak?"

"Yeah", Gage said with a nod, coming to his feet, stretching out his tall body. "Gimme about fifteen and I'll be back."

"Sounds good, man." Kelly took his seat. He wasn't listening to Narcho interrogate Adama. He needed to go over the computer log to be up to speed in case anything that had started when Gage had been there came up. Most of it was routine stuff. He did notice one file on the computer that said, Colonial One Mission.

"What the hell is this", Aaron Kelly said, barely above a whisper. He opened the computer file, and an audio file was attached to it. It was the audio of Diana Seelix's call to Bulldog when she returned from the Presidential ship. He noticed how unsteady and fragile her voice was.

Kelly then noticed a link at the bottom of that file, and tapped the computer screen to open it.

He almost passed out reading its contents. The room became blurry, Kelly able to feel the prickling on top of his head that often preceded fainting. He closed his eyes quickly, and was able to regain his equilibrium. I didn't fraking sign up-for this! What in the name of the gods were Narcho and Bulldog doing?

He kept his peace until Gage returned, heading back to the cooler, and drinking a lot more water before leaving. He needed to get out of CIC. He needed to be alone for a short while.

After Brendan Costanza had landed his bird, he somehow managed to escape the grasps of the insurgents who had partially taken over the ship, heading over to the quarters that he and Kat shared. Kat was six months pregnant herself, and even though he didn't think Narcho would harm her or their unborn child, he didn't want to take the chance.

"I want to get you to Baltar's compound", Brendan said quietly as he gave his wife a hug and a quick kiss.

"No way, Hot Dog", Kat said, anger on her face. "Those mother frakers need to be taken down. I've heard that some prisoners are being held in the Brig by Noel. I think we need to make our way there and see if we can free them."

"Babe, I can't risk you and the baby, you know that?"

"Look, Brendan", Kat said, becoming as serious as she ever had been. "I don't want our child to grow up on a fleet run by zealots. I hate The Cylons just as much, but I'm standing with the President and the Old Man on this. If Noel's at CIC, Adama has to be in the brig. It makes sense. But I'm not running and hiding."

Brendan sighed, running a nervous hand over his face. "I know better than to argue with you when you get that look on your face, Kat, but for the gods' sake, we need to be smart about this."

"Preaching to the choir", Kat agreed somberly. "At least the President got off the ship. I'm glad, for now, she and the baby are safe. I'll be Kara is going fraking nuts."

"If it were you in the President's shoes, I would be, too. But knowing Starbuck, she's around here somewhere, probably already doing what we're contemplating.

"Then let's stop contemplating, Costanza", Kat said seriously, "and start doing something about it."

As Lee and Kara had done, they planned out a not-so-direct route toward the Brig, and set off to help defend their ship.

Galen Tyrol was scurrying around the innards of Galactica, trying to make his way without being seen. No one knew the interior of the venerable old girl any better than The Chief. He wasn't simply in charge of repairing the Raptors and Vipers, but he also helped take care of the FTL and sub-light engines, electrical and sewage/water systems. He could walk the ship in his sleep.

He had reached a point where he felt safe in coming out for just a few minutes to do a visual check. Pushing open a small grating, he was shocked to hear a gun click.

"Hey, Chief! Looking for a gun?"

Galen looked up, stunned.

"Hey, Aaron! Sprung you, did they?"

Aaron Kelly had gone to this part of the ship simply to think, to wonder what the hell it was he had gotten involved with, and why. The last thing he had expected-or needed-was to run into a Cylon.

"Long live the Revolution", Tyrol said tiredly.

"Out", Kelly ordered.

Galen still lay prone on the floor. "Just shoot me now, I'm too fraking tired to get out."

"You're a fraking machine", Kelly growled, "get out!"

"That's right, I'm a machine", Tyrol replied ironically. "And what does that make you...dumbass!"

It had to be the surreal nature of everything that was swirling around the two men-the uncertainty, the confusion, the frustration, for they both started to laugh hysterically for a few moments. It was literally all they could do.

Kelly lowered his weapon, and looked around the stark surroundings. "You know, this was a helluva ship once."

Galen nodded. There was one thing they agreed on. "Yeah", he said with another small laugh, "it really was."

Kelly looked back down at Tyrol, the anger returning to his face, pointing the weapon again directly at the Cylon. Galen simply closed his eyes, not wanting to see his death.

Kelly was about to pull the trigger...and then the file he had read in CIC hit him full force, confusion again creasing his face. If I do this, how the frak am I any better than those Marines onboard Colonial One? I'm not the brightest tool in the shed, I know that, but I'm not a cold-blooded killer!"

"Go!" His voice was full of uncertain resolve. Tyrol looked up at him, disbelieving what the man had said. "Keep going! Go, skin job, go!"

Galen wasn't going to hang around in case the man above him suddenly had a change of heart. The Cylon disappeared in a matter of seconds.

"Frak!" Kelly knew he had done the right thing, but the enormity of what had happened-in his name-came crashing through. He threw down his weapon, put his head in his hands, and began to bitterly weep.

In the Brig, Karl was finally conscious, Athena tending to his wound as best she could, Caprica holding onto Hera as if the Universe depended on it, which, if everyone thought about it, it just might. Tigh seemed no worse for wear from his shoot-out. Surprisingly, the insurgents hadn't put Ishay in the Brig-Athena mused that as good a nurse as she was, they felt it more important that she was there to patch people up. They could deal with her later. Tigh had informed the motley group in the Brig that Tyrol was prowling the ship.

The group heard a loud commotion where the guards were stationed, although from their vantage point, they couldn't see them too well. A few shot rang out, everyone standing up in the Brig.

"It's Kara", Athena said, breathing easier.

"It's Lee and Kara", Caprica echoed, grabbing Hera even tighter.

Lee got the Brig open, looking around. "Wait a minute, wait a minute, where is he?"

Kara looked over at Helo, with the huge gash on his head. Athena replied. "Bastards went to town on Helo when they broke into our place."

Lee was focused on Tigh. "Where is he? Where's my father?"

"Kelly took him", Tigh said, through tight lips.

"You were with him!" Lee knew in his mind his father and Tigh had been separated, but there was simply too much stress at the moment. "Where did they take him?"

"I don't fraking know!" Tigh used that bellowing command voice to let the Vice-President know he wasn't going to be interrogated.

"Come on, dammit", Kara said, growing tired of Lee and Tigh all of a sudden. "Let's get out of here before they find us."

The group heard two more sets of footsteps approaching, Lee and Kara turning their weapons toward the open gate.

"Whoa", Hot Dog said, as he and Kat came into sight, Kara and Lee immediately lowering their weapons. "Looks like we missed the party."

Kara moved over to Kat, giving her a brief hug. "What the frak are you doing here, Katraine?" She wasn't mad at the younger woman, just concerned for she and her child. "You should be somewhere safe."

"I'm a soldier, sir", Kat said with the same strain in her voice, also not mad, even though this sounded like one of their old arguments. "Best way for me to protect my child is to help to take this ship back. You know that."

Kara took a quick breath, steadying herself. "Yeah, I know. Maybe I'm just feeling guilty because Laura's on the Baseship."

"Good", Kat said with a nod, "she's safe there for now. We got work to do, Skipper."

"OK, we need to fan out", Lee commanded. "Tigh, you get Caprica and Hera to safety. The rest of us are gonna search for the Admiral. Let's get moving people."

Noel Alison was finishing up his "trial" of the Admiral, which was basically, as Bulldog had feared, was nothing but a sham. Narcho now had three Marines with him, while Adama, with his attorney, Romo Lampkin. The phone in the room rang, being answered by a Marine. Narcho excused himself for a moment to take the call.

"Noel, it's Danny. Just wanted to let you know that Tigh and the others have disappeared. My guess is that Lee and Starbuck sprung them, but I don't know for sure. Keep your eyes sharp." The phone went dead.

He turned back around to Adama and Lampkin. "Uh, I've just been informed that Saul Tigh was killed, trying to escape."

There was no reaction from Adama, Lampkin looking at his client for any sign of emotion.

"I'm sorry", Noel said, almost sounding sincere, "but you did give aid and comfort to the enemy. Saul Tigh was a Cylon, and even after you found that out, you allowed him to remain XO of this ship."

"I'm not answering any more of your questions, Mr. Alison. For the record, Tigh was a better officer than you'll ever be."

That made Alison snap. "The prisoner is guilty as charged."

Lampkin looked around the room. "This isn't a trail, this is an asylum!"

Alison rose, grabbing Lampkin by the lapels of this suit coat. "We're finished here!"

Without warning, a voice was heard over the speaker system in the room. "This is President Laura Roslin, speaking to you from the Cylon Baseship. Noel Alison and Danny Novacek have seized Galacticaby force. They Cylons were defending themselves, they will not harm you. I repeat, they will not harm you!"

As Roslin's voice continued, Alison reached for the phone, calling CIC. "Jam that signal", he said to whoever was on the other end. "Why the frak is she still broadcasting? Where's Hoshi? Well get that little frak back up to CIC."

"Shut down your FTL drives, and..."

Roslin's voice was finally cut off, Alison indicating for the guards to take Adama away to be executed.