Everyday life happens every day, but soon the every days will be all gone so use them the while you can.  Shambhala Bradbury Kobol, Twelfth Lord of Kobol.

"So, have you been cured of your wanderlust, Commander?" President Roslin asked.  A gentle smile took some of the sting out of her words.  Soft pink spots dotted both cheeks, either from make-up or better blood pressure than yesterday.

She was justified, Adama knew, but he didn't intend to admit it.  He valued his freedom, and he and President Roslin were still jockeying for control.  Continuing with the incident report, he said, "Garner Graham and Amoss Rainier are in the Galactica sick bay under sedation for the time being, one of their henchmen, Blakeney too.  But the doctor's say he'll be on his feet in a week.  The other two I'm keeping in my brig until I decide what to do with them.  Maybe when you get that government going, they can be your first court trial."

President Roslin nodded slowly.  Perhaps she hadn't considered the harsher aspects of government -- law enforcement, courts and sentencing.

Adama continued, "As for the Star Chaser herself, she'll be in dry dock for another three days then you can reload passengers and crew.  She had a complement of thirty before, but she's good for up to one hundred fifty with a little remodeling and some work on the septic.  Chief Tyrol's already taking care of that.  I think Maya won't mind carrying a bigger crowd.  She seems to be a people sort of person."

"Ah, yes, Commander Godden.  Is she cooperating?"

"What do you mean, Laura – 'cooperating'?"

The President's aide-de-camp, Billy, had pushed a serving cart down the aisle of Colonial One's passenger cabin and stopped next to them.  "Coffee, Commander?" he asked.

Adama accepted one with sugar.  He sipped a mouthful that washed across his taste buds like honey.  Colonial One's coffee was a lot better than Galactica's.  They must still have packets of the gourmet blends.

"Mr. Keikeya," he said, "if you have any more of this nectar, could you shoot some over to us?  Our galley is in a frenzy trying to put together a decent menu for the party tomorrow."

Billy said he'd check with the stewardesses and that they might still have some liquor too.

Before Billy rolled away, he handed President Roslin a slip of folded paper.  Adama sipped his coffee appreciatively while she read it.  Looking up again, she answered his question.  "Sorry about that.  What I meant was, has Godden agreed to keep her mouth shut?  I'm not sure how our citizens would react if the whole story got out.  It's bad enough they know about Graham, but if they knew you were involved …"

The Commander made a deprecating gesture with his hand and shook his head to indicate insignificance.  The President over-rode him with, "You don't understand, Hush, because you're not a politician.  If we were back on Caprica and doing approval polls, you'd get something like ninety percent.  People are not only praying for you, they're praying to you!"

President Roslin looked envious and maybe a little irritated.  Adama felt overwhelmed.  "Well, you can tell them I don't plan on dying anytime soon so it won't do them any good."  Only the dead could be added to the sacred pantheon of Lords.  "Maybe this whole Earth charade wasn't such a good idea.  Mother Elosha must be pissed."

"No, she's not, but she prays for you and your whole crew every day.  She's going to the party with Colonel Tigh, you know."

"No, I didn't.  The old dog."  There were a lot of locker room stories about Kobol priests.  They were trained in sexual pleasuring techniques, supposedly to counsel parishioners, but according to the stories, the training was often put to other uses.

Adama had seen Tigh only briefly the night before after the Star Chaser finished docking in the starboard landing pod.  Tigh had worn one of his patented "I-told-you-so" faces.  Adama had taken one look at him and said, "Oh, shut up."

Putting down his empty coffee cup, Adama said to President Roslin, "Well, to answer your question about Maya, she doesn't even know that I am Commander William Adama.  She thinks I'm a chief petty officer named Husher."

President Roslin did a take off that.  "You're going to our party with a woman who doesn't even know who you are?  Oh my, and I thought my problems were bad."  She began to laugh.

Trying not to laugh with her, after all it was going to be a very touchy problem to resolve, Adama asked, "How did you know that?"

President Roslin was still laughing.  She couldn't seem to get it under control.  Waving the slip of paper Billy had handed her, she gasped, "I've got spies everywhere."

Adama did not want to think who they might be, although he suspected one of them was his own son.  Still grieving his mother, yesterday Lee had been upset about Maya and the party.  "Well, I'll figure something out and I'm sure Maya will be discreet.  Now, about the Kobol Dream.  She's offloading her water at the Galactica right now, and you'll be next."  They talked a few minutes more about schedules and the agenda for tomorrow's party.  As Adama left, President Roslin called after him, "Thanks, Hush."

He turned and asked, "What for?"

"The first real laugh I've had this week.  Keep safe."  President Roslin actually looked better than when Adama had arrived.  She had a big relaxed smile and a twinkle in her eye.

"You can count on that, ma'am."  With a grin Adama threw her a casual salute and hurried on his way.  Colonial One had to undock from the Galactica and move off so she could receive her water quota.  Her people were already filling up laundry bags and pulling out bars of soap.

With the Kobol Dream back, everyone, Adama included, was in for a busy day doing a week or more of wash as well as other things.

Adama had to call CIC to run down Chief Tyrol's location, but he finally found him at the port aft cargo hatch where the Kobol Dream had docked.  A huge translucent hose, about a quarter-meter in diameter, ran through the open air lock and down the passageway, only to turn and snake down a stairwell.  Adama could see water running through and heard it bubbling and gurgling.

With an "Attention on deck!" Tyrol's crew popped upright as Adama walked up.  He returned their salute.  "As you were.  How's it going, Chief?"

Tyrol looked even more frayed around the edges than yesterday.  He'd probably put an all-nighter into the Star Chaser after yesterday's entertainment.  Except for that woman of his, nothing fascinated the Chief more than a new toy.

"It's going to take at least an hour, sir.  The Dream can't kiss our external water valve, so we're hosing it down.  But we've got gravity working for us, sir."  Tyrol looked to be stifling a grin at his weak joke.

Adama rolled his eyes.  He was never going to live this down.  "What about the rest of the fleet?"

"A mixed bag, but I think we can make your twenty-four hour promise if the other ships take their drinks two at a time.  Specialist Socinus here is going with Commander Smith to help with the connections."  Tyrol jerked his thumb at Socinus who was talking to the portly dark-haired Smith just inside the airlock.  Adama went to greet the tanker commander.

"Commander Smith!" Adama said and held out a hand.  Smith's hand felt clammy and he had a dewlap under his chin that wobbled when he spoke.  "How was your flight?  Any problems?"  Socinus went to talk with Tyrol.

Smith shook his head, which flapped his dewlap.  "We found that gas giant right where your Lieutenant Gaeta said it'd be.  There were twelve moons, however.  The giant hides three of them from this angle."

At their feet the hose made an especially loud gurgle and shifted.  They stepped away.  "Like Gaeta said, one of the moons had a liquid water core.  We just drilled a hole and pumped her right out.  Those Cylons come looking, they're not going to find much.  We plugged it up all nice."

President Roslyn had said Adama wasn't a politician.  He felt a need to prove her wrong.  "Well, I know that I speak for the entire crew of Galactica not to mention the rest of the fleet when I say that you, sir, are my hero.  I plan to take a ten-minute shower this evening!"

Smith smiled but above his lips the eyes looked shiny and tearful.  "No, Commander Adama, you and your crew here on the Galactica, you're all my heroes.  I lost my wife and two sons on Geminon and anything I can do to help fight the frakking Cylons, even if it's just hauling water, is an honor for me.  Everyone on my ship feels the same."  He kicked at the hose, which fortunately was made of sturdy plastic and was too heavy with water to shift much.

Adama still forgot sometimes how much everyone had lost.  He clapped his hand on Smith's beefy shoulder.  "You're a good man, Commander.  We're still working on getting you that gunship escort.  You be sure and come to our party tomorrow, okay?"

Smith nodded.  "Okay, sir, you bet."

Socinus came back hauling a large armful of assorted aluminum connecting-collars.  He and Smith boarded the Dream.

Adama gestured for Tyrol to come close.  "Chief, I wanted to tell you personally how sorry I am about Suben.  I know the work is going to really pile on you now."

"Yes, sir.  It's okay, sir."  Two sirs in two sentences.  Tyrol must really be groggy.

Adama continued, "I have a proposal that I think you might like."

Tyrol had been watching the water hose.  He looked up.  "Sir?"  Another sir --Tyrol was dead on his feet.

"We're going to need someone to head up a repair and maintenance division for the whole fleet.  I'm not sure yet whether President Roslin will want a civilian, but I do know that it will have to be one of our best.  I was thinking of you."

Tyrol looked stunned.  "You mean you want me to resign?"

"No, Chief, I want you to take the job and I'll fight to make sure it stays military."

When Tyrol didn't speak, Adama brought in his biggest motivation.  "It means a commission, Tyrol.  You can marry your lieutenant."

Tyrol still didn't jump at it.  That surprised Adama.  Something must have changed since Tyrol's marriage request had landed on his desk.  "Can I think about it, sir?"

"Yes, of course.  In the meantime, I want you at the party tomorrow, okay?  Bring a date."  Adama turned to move off.

"Commander, sir?" Tyrol called after him.

Adama turned back again.

"Can I bring a non-com. to the party?  It's kind of short notice and all."

"Bring anyone you want, Chief."

On a roll now, Adama gingerly stepped over Tyrol's water hose and took off in the direction of CIC.  He didn't get very far.  He seldom did when he walked Galactica's passageways.

"Oh, Commander Adama!" a woman's voice called from behind him.  It was the priest Mother Elosha.

"Yes, holy Mother.  I wasn't aware you were still aboard."

"Colonel Tigh asked me to stay and help prepare for the party tomorrow."  The Mother hugged a large flat box in her arms.

"Oh, I see.  Well, we're grateful for anything you can do.  So is there something I can help you with?"  Adama didn't mean to be abrupt, but the holy Mother seemed to have something on her mind.

"Well, I'm looking for Lieutenant Thrace.  I've got a present for her."

A present for Kara?  Of all Adama's rescuers yesterday, only Kara had been openly amused.  "I think she may be out on Viper patrol.  What do you have there?"

"It's a party dress.  Colonel Tigh asked me to find a home for it and I thought … well, I understand that he and Lieutenant Thrace are at odds a great deal."

"I know you mean well, Mother Elosha, but Kara would never accept a gift from Saul."

"But it wouldn't be from him, Commander.  It would be from me.  It really is a beautiful dress.  The Colonel bought it for his wife, and I just think it would do his heart good to see it on Lieutenant Thrace."

"May I see?"  Elosha opened her box a few inches to reveal sparkling red feminine things, almost like a box filled with fire.  Long silky straps and fine chains of gleaming red beads threatened to fall out.  It would be a shame to let such beauty go to waste.  Adama relented.  "I tell you what we could do.  Let's put it in her locker and let her try to figure out where it came from.  You know the old saying – gift rockets burn just as hot as any other kind.  I think she'll wear it."

Only a short detour brought them to the women pilots' quarters.  Everyone who was awake and off-duty was either in the showers or doing personal laundry so the compartment contained only sleeping women.  It took a while to figure out which locker belonged to Kara.

Adama felt a little silly, like the Gift Horse in Caprica's mid-winter celebration.  Mother Elosha, however, seemed pleased.

The things a command officer had to do.

Because it was still his watch, Adama resisted the temptation to stop in his quarters and take a shower.  Colonel Tigh was asleep, or at least he should be, if he wasn't taking a shower like everyone else.

At last stepping into CIC, Adama nodded to Captain Kelly to let him know he was taking the bridge.  Kelly saluted and left in a hurry for who knows where.  Dualla handed Adama a stack of flimsies.  "Anything I should know, Dee?"

"We have one hundred percent of the commanders committed to the party, sir.  And the Sunrise Edition has volunteered her shuttle, which will help a lot.  The off-ship attendance count is at a hundred and ten, including President Roslin's party from Colonial One."  Dualla paused.  She looked a little bashful.  "Commander Godden is coming too, sir.  She sent a message to Chief Husher.  I put it in your stack."

Frak, Adama thought, everyone on the whole ship must know.  Putting on his glasses, he riffled through the papers and found Maya's message.  Short and simple, it said, "Tall Doll has welcomed us with open arms.  I arrive on Galactica at 1200 tomorrow.  Track me down when you can.  Maya."

Dualla still stood looking at Adama expectantly.  "Send her a message from Chief Husher, Dee.  Tell her … uhm, tell her that I'm looking forward to seeing her and that I say 'hi' to Dehan."

"Yes, sir."  Adama began to read some of the other flimsies.  "Uh, sir?"  He looked up.  "Billy Keikeya, you know, President Roslin's aide, has asked me to the party and I've arranged for a short shift tomorrow.  I was thinking … I thought maybe I could sort of meet Commander Godden at the airlock and help her get ready.  That is, if you weren't planning to, sir.  She won't know anyone and she probably just has the clothes on her back.  Chief Brendan's putting together some party clothes and uniforms for our guests, but I thought if Miss Godden had some help …"  Dualla's voice trailed off but her implication was clear, "She's your date, Commander Adama.  Let me help her be beautiful for you."

Adama wanted to have some privacy when Maya discovered who he was.  In fact, from what he'd seen of her yesterday, he probably should wear a bulletproof vest.  "Dee, that would be just wonderful.  Thank you.  Do you know what she looks like?"

"Petite, red hair, slant-set blue eyes.  Very striking.  Very lively," Dee said promptly.  "Lieutenant Gaeta told me."

"Gaeta?"

"Yes, sir.  He heard it from Specialist Campbell, who heard it from Lieutenant Rogers, who heard it from …"

"That's enough, Dee."  Apparently, everyone on the whole ship knew about Maya or soon would.  Oh frak.  So much for the dignity of command.

:y:y:y:y:y:y:y:y:y:y:y:y:y:y:y:y:y:y:y:y:y:y:y:

The applause of a single human being is of great consequence.  From Boswell, Life of Johnson

Need I say more?  Please tell me what you think.