Chapter Three

Between the Galactica and Colonial One, the two fighter groups maintain their stand off. Both sides remaining firm in their positions, while waiting for the other to instigate a confrontation. Finally Apollo explodes, "this is insane! We don't have the resources to give Doctor Baltar his own personal air show. I need every pilot and ship to fight the cylons! Remember them? The actual enemy!"

The pilot, Saber responds, "don't worry, when the cylons show up, we'll be there. We just won't be enjoying the comforts of the Galactica while waiting for them."

Slider asks, "It didn't have to come to this. why didn't you talk to me?"

The opposing pilot, Rebel shouts out, "well, we thought about it Slide, but you being the CAG's rack warmer and all…"

The opposing pilot, Whiplash cuts him off, "shut up, Rebel!" He continues, "look Frankie, we wanted to tell you, but we knew it would be hard for you. But you're welcome to join us."

Frankie asks, "what about Jolly? You know your new boss has the most to gain by shooting him out of an airlock."

Saber responds, "that was all part of the deal."

Slider asks, "what deal?"

Saber answers, "he gets another chance. Nothing happens to Jolly until another test can be performed and an independent investigation by someone qualified can be conducted."

Apollo throws out in a suspicious tone, "and just who will be conducting the investigation?"

Whiplash calls, "Colonel Hadrian said that she would handle it herself."

Colonel Tigh says to Apollo on a private channel, "Captain, this debate is pointless. Leave an equal number of vipers out there…just to let them know we aren't going to forget about them. Have everyone else land so we can regroup. Looks like we need to come up with Plan B fast."

Eight vipers and one raptor filled with marines take up position at a safe distance from Colonial One, while Apollo and the rest of the squadron turn back towards the Galactica's landing bay.

Two brown uniformed guards escort Commander Adama to a small room and quickly lock him in. The room is empty, except for President Roslin lying upon a hospital bed with a chair beside her.

Adama checks President Roslin for life signs. He finds her unconscious but breathing. The only evidence of her illness, being an IV to provide her with fluids. She gives no response to his efforts to wake her. Adama does a quick search of the room, but finds nothing useful.

He laughs to himself as he sits heavily and decides to wait, "now this is ironic."

Acting President Baltar talks into the phone receiver, while his guests, including the Council of Twelve, listen to his end of the conversation, "Colonel Tigh, you have been a very naughty boy. If it hadn't been for the brave intervention of the newly formed Colonial Militia's Air Wing, you would have once again been guilty of interfering with the civilian government."

Tigh replies with venom, "no one wants to overthrow the government, just one pompous jack ass!"

Baltar refuses to lose his humor, "Colonel, is that anyway to talk to your Acting President? It probably won't look good on your references…because you need to find a new job." He pauses, nodding at Colonel Hadrian, "I am regretfully forced to replace you as commanding officer of the Galactica. Colonel Hadrian will be assuming command immediately."

Tigh blasts into the phone, "Colonel Hadrian? Mister Acting President, you are truly insane if you think I am going to surrender the Galactica to that little bullet counter."

As Tigh continues to berate him, Baltar puts his hand over the talking end of the receiver and says to Starbuck, who is sitting overwhelmed and dumbfounded next to him, "Kara? How does Captain…no, Major Thrace sound? You can be my CAR."

She clears her throat uncomfortably, "you mean CAG." Baltar shrugs as if he could care less about the actual title. Starbuck nods, "sounds pretty good. But you must have one heck of a magic wand to pull off that trick."

Baltar smiles at her, and then says into the phone, "well Colonel, let me assure you that my parents were in fact married, and neither happened to be a barnyard animal of any variety."

Baltar hangs up the phone and looks around the table attempting to gauge the reaction of the people in attendance. A few are beaming their approval. A few others, including Tom Zarek appear concerned or angry, but most just seem too shocked to know what to think. But whatever the reaction, they all remain silent. Finally Baltar says to the group, "what an unfortunate turn of events…I had really hoped that the military would learn to work with us, but…" Baltar shrugs, "it looks like we're all stuck here until this can be resolved." He gestures to the food, "please everyone, enjoy your meal." He then turns to Starbuck, and waves his hand over her head, "boom, there you go…one promotion."

Six says suddenly standing between Baltar and Starbuck, "you're letting a poisonous snake into your bed, Gaius. Do you really think even I can help you after she strikes and leaves you in ruins?"

Starbuck replies trying to smile, "just like that? I'm a Major…and CAG?"

Baltar smiles at Starbuck, "exactly."

Starbuck finally manages to muster a mischievous smile, "does this mean I get my own quarters?"

As the pilots land, Apollo assigns them duties working on preparations for a potential confrontation with the renegade pilots. He instructs the Chief to make sure that all of the vipers are ready to go fully loaded with ammo and fuel…just in case. Apollo pulls Slider aside, "Lieutenant, will you come with me to CIC?"

Slider appears confused, "why me?"

He responds, "you're my expert on the new pilots."

Once down the corridor and away from others, Apollo stops her, "Frankie, I need you to be honest with me…tell me that you didn't know that was going to happen. Not like the 'I got drunk and you just happened to lose my clothes' story, when you were actually trying to break Jolly out of the brig."

Slider looks as if she has just been hit, "Lee, I swear I had no idea they were going to pull that crap." After a moment, "how did you figure out about our jail break?"

Apollo responds, "I knew you were up to something."

She just stares at him unconvinced, until finally he confesses, "the brig controller…called me the next day to ask about the two marines that picked Jolly up for an interrogation I supposedly conducted…but I would have figured it out eventually."

Slider appears hesitant, "so why aren't I in the brig?"

He gives her a slow smile, "well, it might just be the drugs talking…the drugs you gave me…but I like you."

She smiles back at him, "you didn't put someone that intentionally drugged you, while conducting a jail break into hack because you like them?"

He looks around to make sure no one is watching, then smiles nervously, "I like you a lot."

Slider reaches up and kisses him passionately. He reacts by enfolding her in his arms and pulling her tight into him. As they break, she replies, "I like you too…a lot."

Apollo adds with a grin, "besides I don't think you can really be a member of Galactica's crew until you've committed at least one act of complete insubordination."

As Apollo and Slider enter CIC, they find Jolly seated in a wheelchair, hanging up a phone receiver while Colonel Tigh, Petty Officer Dualla and Presidential Advisor Billy Keikeya look on. Jolly says to Tigh, "They won't come back. Saber's got them wound up pretty tight."

Tigh charges, "I'm surprised you aren't volunteering to go with them. Apparently, you're the motivation for this mutiny. You might just get a Presidential pardon out of this."

Jolly replies, "I don't like this situation any more than you do, sir. They're deluded." He says with disgust, "President Baltar has no intention of letting me go. I'm quite certain the moment I'm in the militia's custody, some terrible mishap will befall me."

Billy asks Apollo, "how many pilots stayed on our side of the fence?"

Apollo responds, "eight viper pilots, one raptor and the crew of the Nebula Chaser appear to have thrown their cards in with the militia. Five viper pilots and two raptor crews remained loyal."

With great conviction, Jolly attempts to stand, "that's six viper pilots…that stayed loyal. I'm ready to report for duty."

Breaking the moment, Tigh replies, "sit down and shut up, cylon. Nobody cares. You're no good to us as a pilot anyway."

Jolly slides back into his chair obviously a little dejected, as Slider puts her hand upon his shoulder to reassure him.

Tigh says to Apollo, while looking at Slider, "do we trust the remaining pilots? I don't want any more surprises."

Apollo looks at Slider, so she responds to both of them, "I'm pretty sure they were just waiting for an opportunity to get out with their ships. Everyone left is trustworthy."

Tigh snorts, "they better be." Turning towards Apollo, "Just in case, I think we should make sure that none of the new pilots are briefed too thoroughly on our next step, and I want an experienced Galactica pilot beside each of them."

Apollo and Slider both protest, so Tigh raises his hands defensively, "I just want to make sure no one else has a change of heart. With the exception of Slider here…" Looking at Apollo, "I understand you keep pretty close tabs on her already."

Slider replies turning red, "we're pilots, not spies. Anyone leaving has left."

Jolly says to Dualla, "I thought you had Boomer taken back to her cell?"

Dualla looks at him as if he has lost it, "we did."

Jolly replies dumbfounded, "no you didn't, she's right there."

They all turn to an empty space across the CIC where Jolly is pointing. They all look at him disbelievingly, so he repeats, "she was just there."

Slider says to him, "Jordan, there's no one there. Are you sure you saw her?

He gets irritated, "yes, I'm sure. She was standing there not two seconds ago."

Just then a female deck officer walks past, who happens to bear a striking resemblance to Boomer. Tigh says to Jolly, "that's Ensign Solon. Have your eyes checked."

Slider leans down to Jolly, "you ok?"

Jolly just kind of nods staring at Ensign Solon. "Yeah…she must just have reminded me of Boomer."

Billy interjects changing the subject, "Colonel, so what is our next step?"

Tigh replies, "well so far, plan B is to use fire from the Galactica's guns to destroy the Nebula Chaser. Their vipers won't last long without a support ship to supply them with fuel and ammo. We force their fighters to stand down. Once they have, our raptors will move in and drop their marines onto Colonial One. The marines remove all resistance and we take Commander Adama back."

Slider says frantically looking to Apollo, "we can't kill our own pilots."

Tigh says to her, "I have no intention of just leaving the Old Man over there in that spider's web. If you have a better plan, I'm anxious to hear it."

Billy asks, "why can't we simply cripple the Chaser? We might not have to kill anyone."

Apollo and Tigh look at each other and then Apollo responds, "we were in the process of upgrading the Chaser into a mobile attack carrier." He looks to Slider and Jolly, "since the new pilots had success using her as a launch craft we were hoping we could use it for advance strikes on cylon positions and provide support to long range FTL patrols. She's stuffed to the rafters with ammo and fuel. She has a thick hull and any attack designed to cripple her will most likely end up blowing her up completely. Plus, if we don't take her out quickly and decisively, her vipers may try to engage us. Which is what we are ultimately trying to avoid."

Tigh adds, "we'd end up fighting over a crippled ship like dogs over a bone."

Billy suggests, "what if the Galactica pulled away from the fleet? If the Council saw that the Galactica was withdrawing it's protection…they might forcibly remove Doctor Baltar from his position."

Tigh shakes his head, "as much as that's a personal dream of mine, I don't think it would work. First off, all we would be doing is leaving the fleet with nothing but Baltar's few fighters to protect it. If the cylons should actually show up, it'd be a massacre. Secondly, if we leave, who would have the resources to oust him? Baltar's militia has all the muscle, guns and fighters not on the Galactica. If the Council hasn't stood up to him by now, our leaving will only increase his influence. And third, the man is crazy. Who knows what he might do to the Commander to try and get us back."

They all exchange concerned glances, desperately trying to conceive of an alternative idea. Finally Jolly's adds, "we could just simply give the President what he wants." They all turn to look at him, but Jolly is studying a red flashing light on the wall where he thought he saw Boomer a few moments prior.

(Flashback) Onboard the Cylon Base Star

A version of Boomer escorts Jolly back to the room where they have been holding him. He is no longer wearing his flight suit, as he is wearing a casual uniform. Boomer is forced to nearly carry him as he appears to be barely consciousness. Jolly has been cleaned up and new bandages have been applied to various wounds on his body.

Boomer drops him back into the chair and re-shackles him. She whispers while shaking him gently, "Jolly….Jolly."

He wakes with a start, "no…no more…please."

She looks at him sympathetically and touches his cheek, "It's ok…it's me, Boomer."

Jolly manages to recover some of his wits, "there's no fish in that pond."

She asks confused, "what?"

He replies weakly, "just something my grandfather used to say when someone was looking for something that isn't there."

Boomer responds still confused, "Jolly, what are you talking about?"

For the first time in days, he manages to smile, "I was raised by my grandfather and he used to take me fishing on the pond by his house. But we never caught anything. There were no fish in the pond. When I used to complain, he would reply that 'he didn't fish to catch fish. He fished because he just loved fishing.' So whenever someone did something that didn't make sense, but they just couldn't help doing it, he would look at me and say 'there are no fish in the pond.' You cylons are like that…I don't have anything valuable to tell you, but you can't help yourselves from fishing anyway."

He adds pointing at her cheek, "at least you got the scar right this time."

Boomer replies sincerely, "Jolly, it is me. Another one of my…model released me. I want to help you."

He nods and says sarcastically, "right. Of course you do."

She looks at him straight in the eye, "you need to trust me. Remember?"

It dawns on him that she had said something to that effect, but he is unconvinced, so she continues, "I'm going to try and help you get out of here."

He replies, "why? So you can go back to the Galactica and be executed?"

She touches his arm tenderly, "no. Because I can't stand watching you be tortured till death here."

He seems to be weighing her words as the door swings open and the golden centurion enters. The centurion makes no hostile movements, but Boomer seems concerned by its presence. Boomer leans down, kisses Jolly passionately and then turns to leave, never taking her eyes off the centurion as she goes. The centurion's eye seems to follow her as well, so much so that it doesn't seem to notice, when a small metal key drops from Jolly's mouth into his lap.

The centurion takes up it's position in the corner as a version of the blonde walks into the room. She's wearing a burgundy dress that he has never seen before, but as she walks over to him, he can tell immediately by her swagger that it's the model he met in the initial encounter.

The blonde asks as she sits across from him, "do you feel better? You look so much better."

A freshly bathed and shaved Jolly replies, "I'm just peachy."

She replies looking somewhat hurt by his tone, "you know, it wouldn't kill you to open up to me a little." She smiles slightly, "but not opening up just might."

Jolly still looking at the centurion asks, "who is he?"

She looks at the centurion as well, "Why do you assume it's a he?"

Jolly shrugs, "well, who is it?"

She smiles, "it doesn't really matter anymore, does it?"

He replies not meeting her gaze, "it might."

She gets up, walks around the table and leans intimately into him, "you are so wonderful. Even as you know your life will soon end, you are looking for information. As if you actually have a chance of ever making it back to the Galactica." Jolly doesn't reply, so she continues, "I think you are my favorite. Of all of the humans that have crossed my path…you are my absolute favorite." She drifts off as if lost in a memory, "well, there was one other…but that's not important."

Jolly finally responds, "you said that one of my closest friends was a model based upon that thing. I think the least you can do is tell me who it was."

She laughs lightly, "maybe later, Jordan. But for now, just sit back and enjoy...being alive another day." Jolly has learned through countless trials what will happen next. She will try to kiss him and when he doesn't respond in kind, she will order the centurion to torture him on her way out. Now was the time to try a different approach.

She kisses him, but this time he returns her kiss. Hesitantly at first, but then he surrenders to her and the passion begins to mount between them. She runs her fingernails through his hair and pulls his head into her with desire. He opens his mouth more fully as if to drink her in. She straddles his lap and presses her body fully into him beginning to grind her hips against him. As Jolly pulls back for air, she smiles seductively, "I was so hoping you would come around." And then, they begin kissing again.

Soon Jolly pulls away to gasp for air. He says to her, while gesturing at the centurion, "do we really need an audience?"

She replies while nibbling on his ear, "does it bother you? After all, you were the one that said it was nothing more than a toaster. Do you always remove appliances from a room when you're with a woman?"

Jolly responds struggling against her renewed efforts to kiss him, "that was before you mentioned that it was someone that I knew." He manages a smile, "of course, if you are afraid to be alone with me…"

She laughs, turns to the centurion and makes a dismissing motion, the door slides open and the centurion leaves the room.

They immediately begin kissing and her hands roam his body. She doesn't hesitate when her hands touch his wounds, in spite of Jolly's wincing in pain. She leans back from sitting on his lap and begins to unbutton her dress. As she begins to pull her first arm out of it's sleeve, he launches himself on her. He quickly turns her, pinning her between himself and the table and then quickly wraps the chains from his shackles around her throat. He says angrily, "sorry, but you're not actually my type. And I think it's time for me to go."

He seems a little startled when she begins to laugh. He tightens the chains around her neck to show his seriousness, but she continues to smile back at him. "Do you really think you are a match for me, Jordan?"

Before he can respond, in a blindingly fast motion she flips Jolly over her shoulder and on to the table top. Jolly bounces off the table and onto the floor. He tries to catch himself, but lands on his hand with the broken finger and cries out in pain. He tries to force himself up, but she is already there. She kicks his ribcage hard. Jolly rolls away and manages to get to his feet.

He studies her looking for the right moment to attack, but is concerned that she doesn't appear concerned in the least. She stands smiling in a relaxed stance between him and the door. Finally she says, "you don't have to die, Jordan. Tell me who helped you and we can go right back to where we were. Because from where I was sitting, I know it wasn't completely an act."

Jolly appears ready to speak, but instead strikes at her with the chains from his right hand. She effortlessly grabs the flying chain, wraps it around her hand anduses it to pullJolly in close to her. She then brings Jolly to his knees with a vicious upper cut to his mid section. Still holding the chains in her other hand she wraps them around his neck. Jolly turns purple and gags as she tightens the chains. She spits in contempt, "if you would have only tried! I could have helped you…I could have made you into more than you ever…"

She isn't able to finish the sentence as the door swings open, Boomer rushes into the room and shoots her squarely in the forehead. The blonde dies instantly and falls backwards still gripping the chains, dragging Jolly with her.

Boomer quickly removes the chains from Jolly's neck and pulls him off of the newly deceased blonde. Boomer says to him, "always hated her." Jolly stands up and Boomer pulls a bag from behind her and throws it to Jolly, "get dressed. We are going to have to make a hasty exit."

As he opens the satchel, Jolly notices for the first time that she is wearing her flight suit. Essentially reading his thoughts, Boomer thrusts a pistol into his hands while looking him straight in the eye, "and Jolly, try not to shoot me this time."

Jolly takes the gun, smiles weakly and says to her, "call me, Jordan."

After she quickly helps him into his flight suit, they nod and move out into the dark tunnels of the base star.

Commander Adama has just nodded off as the door unlocks waking him abruptly. Starbuck enters the room, still wearing her evening gown and carrying a small box. She says to Adama, "you are missing one hell of a party."

Adama replies, "I'm sure it's quite the ball. I assume you are here because the Council is removing our Acting President and we're going back to Galactica."

Starbuck replies reluctantly, "not exactly." After a moments hesitation, "actually, everyone's too busy dancing."

Adama bristles, "dancing? You mean they intend to let him get away with this?"

She shrugs, "they're politicians. Don't count on them taking sides until this thing has played out. And he does have the militia and air wing."

He asks angrily, "air wing?"

She smiles, "yeah. Tigh tried to send over a bunch of marines to spring you…he's so predictable. But several of the new pilots sold out and formed the Colonial Militia's Air Wing. So I wouldn't be expecting reinforcements any time soon."

Adama shakes his head in disgust, "so it looks like you are my reinforcements. How do we get out of here?"

Starbuck laughs, "we? I've been offered a huge promotion. I'll be a Major…not to mention the air wing's CAG."

Adama stops in his tracks, "Starbuck stop screwing around. This is serious."

Starbuck says still joking, "I am serious. You never made me a Major." She gestures at President Roslin, "so what's her condition?"

Adama replies, "she's alive. But who knows for how long."

Starbuck replies skeptically, "you don't really think Gaius would kill her?"

Adams responds angrily, "At this point, I think Gaius is capable of about anything."

Starbuck challenges, "why? Because he actually believes the civilian government should be run by civilians?"

He answers, "no, because he believes the civilian government should be run by his own personal goon squad."

Starbuck hands him the box she has been holding, "as opposed to your personal goon squad?" Deciding to change the topic, "here's your dinner. I convinced them that you needed to at least eat."

He takes it hesitantly, "how thoughtful."

Starbuck drops her shoulders in frustration, "what do you want from me?"

He bursts, "I want you to pick a side."

She forces herself to say, "maybe I have."

He growls, "the right side."

She turns to leave, "I had better go, they might be missing me."

He says to her as she reaches the door and knocks to get the guard's attention, "you mean, Giaus might be missing you. Remember you were the one that implied that he wasn't completely trustworthy."

She says without turning, "no one is. You taught me that." And the door opens and she leaves.

With a Marine guard in tow, Slider wheels Jolly towards sick bay. The marine says somewhat skeptically to Slider, "sir, I really don't think this is a good idea."

Slider smiles touching Jolly's shoulder reassuringly, "it's a horrible idea. That's exactly why we are doing it."

As they enter a nervous looking young female Ensign approaches them, "this isn't his assigned sick bay. He can't be in here."

Slider stops her and then turns to the marine, "Corporal?"

The marine replies, "yes sir."

Slider instructs him, "aim your weapon at Lieutenant Nevlin. If he makes even the slightest aggressive move, you are to shoot him. Is that clear?"

He replies raising his rifle, "yes sir."

Slider turns to the Ensign, "see? Everything is completely under control."

The Ensign turns in frustration, "it's your head if anything happens."

Slider wheels Jolly over to the bed where Lieutenant Gaeta is lying. He remains comatose and unresponsive. Jolly just stares at him in disbelief, "I don't care what anyone else thinks anymore…except for you. I need for you to believe me. I didn't shoot him."

Slider reaches down from behind and gently wraps her arms around him, "of course you didn't. I never believed for a moment that you did."

He adds sadly, "but it is my fault."

She asks, "how do you figure?"

He replies still staring at Gaeta, "if I had just stuck to the plan and left, it wouldn't have happened. I had to go back and confront Doctor Baltar. I just couldn't let it go."

Slider still holding him says, "that's not your fault. You were accused of being a cylon, it only makes sense that you would try and get some answers. The only thing you did wrong was not shooting Doc cylon before this happened."

One of the medical personnel comes to check Gaeta's vitals. Slider asks her, "how's he doing?"

The woman replies eyeing Jolly suspiciously, "he's improving. Very slowly, but he is improving."

She leaves giving Jolly a last evil look. They sit and after a moment Jolly breaks the silence, "so you and Lee, huh?"

Slider nervously pulls a chair around and sits so she and Jolly can look at one another. She responds, "yeah, Lee and I have a…an arrangement."

Jolly gives her a melancholy smile, "an arrangement? Sounds like Lee. He always was Mister Romance."

Slider corrects him, "he's been great." She adds looking guilty, "I'm the one that pulls back."

He asks, "why? He's a good guy. Quite a catch." He adds, "and let's face it, the pool of eligible bachelors isn't what it used to be."

She smiles back at him, "there's a lot of things that make it complicated. His being the CAG…all of the tension going on between the pilots…his screwed up dysfunctional relationship with Starbuck…you…"

Jolly seems confused, "me?"

Slider responds, "we've been through a lot together." She cuts him off as he tries to speak, "now you are going to give me the whole line of macho crap about not really caring, but I know it's going to be hard for you." She smiles, "just like I'll be completely psycho and treat you horribly when you find someone else."

He smiles back, "yeah, I can see that happening."

They laugh lightly and then Slider says, "besides, he's probably going to dump me for Starbuck someday anyway."

Jolly responds, "he'd be making a poor bargain if he did."

Slider shrugs, "besides his being your friend can't make it easy. I know how stupid men can be about competing with one another."

Jolly smiles in a melancholy manner, "I'm not so sure about that anymore. We were close in flight school. Stayed in touch, but the past couple of years…ever since Zach died, I haven't seen or heard much from him. When I was transferred to the Galactica a little over a year ago…I think he felt like I was somehow going against him…the Old Man being in charge and all." He sighs, "and now that I'm generally considered to be a cylon agent…I don't know if I would characterize us as friends. At least, not good friends."

She smiles jokingly, "you know, if when all this is settled, if you were dating Starbuck...that might…"

Jolly replies quickly, "I'd throw myself out an airlock first." Suddenly Jolly takes her hand firmly, getting her attention. He says, "listen Frankie, I still have gaps in my memory of what happened. But I'm pretty sure that someone we know…someone we are close to is a cylon."

Slider loses her smile, "what? You don't mean?"

Jolly nods, "yes, the gold centurion I keep remembering…it was a prototype for a model of cylon agent. They said it was one of the people closest to me."

Slider looks confused, almost angry, "but you don't remember who?"

Jolly confirms, "no, I don't remember. Look out for anything suspicious. With all the confusion going on right now…I just have a very bad feeling."

Slider replies, "we should tell Lee. With this information, we could get the pilots back."

Jolly shakes his head, "do you really think they will believe me? Remember, most people still think I'm the spy. I don't think Lee really believes me…not yet anyway. You're the only one I can trust completely."

She nods, leans over and looks like she is going to kiss him on the lips but moves and kisses his cheek, "whatever you need, I'm here for you." She gets up, "I'm supposed to be making sure our pilots are all ok with what's going on. As if that were a real possibility."

Jolly replies, "yeah, I had better get prepared for my part in this insanity."

As she walks past, Jolly decides to spend a last moment paying his respects to Gaeta, "sorry, buddy. It should have been me."

Jolly feels her behind him as she places her hands tenderly on his shoulders. She whispers, "Jordan. I'm here for you."

Jolly turns, "Frankie…." But no one is there, except the marine still leveling his rifle at him. He says to the guard, "where did she go?"

The guard replies, "where did who go?"

Jolly answers, "Frankie…Lieutenant Warrant."

The guard responds, "she left a minute or two ago."

Jolly says obviously baffled, "I must have drifted off for a moment." Then looking at the guard, "you know, you don't have to keep pointing that thing at me."

He replies without humor, "I have my orders."

Jolly gestures towards the door, "but she left, how long do you plan on holding that gun on me?"

The private replies after a moment's thought, "till I'm order not too."

Jolly shrugs, "well, I don't suppose there's anyway for you to point that thing at me and wheel me to the other sick bay."

The Private thinks and then responds, "I don't think so."

Jolly sighs as he starts wheeling out of the sick bay, "very well then, follow me." As Jolly wheels himself along, he becomes distracted by the reddish glow of one of the monitors. He remembers a similar glow.

(Flashback) Onboard the Cylon Base Star

Boomer leads the limping and hurt Jolly through the labyrinth of dark corridors. Some lead distinctly downwards and then slope upwards again. Boomer continues to hurry him along as if they are being chased although there are no visible signs of alarm or that they are being followed.

As they round a corner, they find themselves facing the barrels of a dozen or so rifles. Both Jolly and Boomer freeze as each rifle is being held by a different version of Boomer. A few are wearing flight suits similar to the one the Boomer with Jolly is wearing, while others wear civilian clothing and a few are wearing no clothes at all. Jolly appears ready to go down shooting, but his Boomer stops him, "wait! They're on our side."

Jolly eyes the gaggle of Boomers wearily, but it's obvious he's too worn out and hurt to argue. Boomer says to him, "they are going to help get us out of here."

Another of the Boomers, dressed in civilian style clothes, steps closer. She hands Boomer a large rifle, while saying "you've got five minutes to make it to the Raptor."

Jolly asks, "five minutes? What happens in five minutes?"

The Boomer that just stepped up responds, while giving Sharon a disapproving glare, "because of what's happened with Sharon, and the other model still onboard Galactica. The commanders of this ship are going to press for a discontinuation of our model. All of our model. We don't intend to allow that to happen. We've destroyed the long range communication's system and in five minutes this base star will be gone." She reaches into a pocket and pulls out a small disk and hands it to Sharon. She says, "the data you needed." She gestures to the Boomers in flight suits, "we've been running the centurions in circles with decoys."

Sharon takes it quickly and places it in a pocket from her uniform.

Jolly breathes deeply, "let me guess, if we don't get to the Raptor and out…you don't have a reset button."

The Boomer starts to reply, "no…" The Boomer that had been talking immediately takes several rounds and flies backwards. She never finishes her sentence as plates in the ceiling have slid open and several centurions are perched there firing down at them. As the Boomers return fire, some of the centurions jump down.

Sharon pulls Jolly back behind the others of her model who continue to return fire with the centurions. They run in the opposite direction as the fight continues behind them. They run frantically until Boomer stops suddenly and begins quickly searching the wall by running her hand along it. Jolly mutters as he nervously eyes the panels along the dark hallway, "it just figures that I would get held on the one base star in the middle of a family feud." His nervousness increases as the sound of gunfire steadily decreases from a fire fight to sporadic shots and then silence.

Finally a wall panel slides open and she grabs his arm, "Jordan, we have to go!" As Jolly takes a last look down the corridor, he can see the shadows of centurions rushing towards them. He catches a glimpse of gold coming around the corner just as the panel slides shut.

Baltar stands back watching the guests of his dinner party. While a few are dancing and seem oblivious to the drama taking place, most of the guests move from one group to another gossiping and trying to get as much information as possible.

Six says to him, "they're such fools. Running scared just because someone takes a little initiative. No wonder your culture was so easy to destroy. Not a backbone among them…except for him." She gestures at Tom Zarek, who is walking towards them.

Baltar looks at the man she is referring and responds, "that's Tom Zarek. A former terrorist, who managed to somehow get elected to the Council of Twelve."

Six sizes him up and says jokingly, "he doesn't look happy. Maybe freedom just doesn'tagree withhim?"

Baltar replies, "he's just angry and jealous because I have managed to do what he can only dream about. He wants to be a respected leader, yet he always manages to fall just short of the title."

He finishes, just as Tom Zarek reaches them, "Mister President."

Baltar replies, "don't be so formal, Tom. Call me President Baltar."

Zarek manages to say it through a pained expression, "President Baltar, what happens next? You seem to have planned this out very nicely."

Baltar smiles, "why Tom, what could you mean? I had no more forewarning about tonight's events than you or anyone else. It's only been a lucky set of coincidences that we still have a civilian government."

Zarek smiles, "thanks to the Colonial Militia."

Baltar replies still smiling, "thanks to the Militia indeed. I must confess, it was one of my better ideas." Looking at Six, "it just came to me, an inspiration from above."

Zarek responds, "of course, but what do you plan to do now? We can't stay holed up here forever, and I don't see Colonel Tigh turning over the Galactica. What's to stop him from removing the Galactica from this system? What is your plan if he decides to stop protecting the fleet? I don't think a handful of Vipers will be enough if the cylons should happen to find us."

Baltar gets serious, "Tom, you bring up some very important concerns, but I am quite certain that even Colonel Tigh wouldn't endanger the very last survivors of humanity, just to settle a political squabble. I do believe that this will be resolved very shortly with the best possible outcome…for everyone."

Baltar becomes distracted from the conversation as Starbuck enters the party. As she reaches Baltar, she says, "I hope I was missed."

Baltar replies slipping his arm around her, "Mr. Zarek, have you met Major Thrace?"

Zarek shakes an obviously not thrilled Starbuck's hand, "I think we may have met before. But my memory isn't what it used to be."

Starbuck looks at him as if studying something disagreeable, "it must not be. Because in my memory, you used to be a terrorist, but I guess all the horrible things you've done must have just slipped your mind. But a few of us still remember."

Zarek smiles slightly, "I've paid my debt to society, Major. Have you?" And he walks away.

Baltar turns to Starbuck, "so I trust our guest of honor is finding our accommodations to his liking?"

Starbuck smiles, "not quite. I wouldn't go in there for awhile, if I were you." She takes a quick drink off the tray of a passing server, and takes a quick swig, "in fact, I wouldn't go in there again if I were me."

Baltar responds, "nonsense, everyone knows Commander Adama treats you like his own child."

She shrugs, "have you ever seen how he treats his own children?"

Baltar looks her in the eye, "Seriously Kara, I need to know that I can trust you."

Starbuck replies, "of course, doc." After a brief moment, she adds, "so you can have the clumsy idiot that is following me assigned to some far more important duty."

Baltar smiles nervously trying to explain, "you understand that…under the current circumstances, I had to have some assurance of your loyalty. Can't be too careful."

She smiles back, "no, I don't suppose you can. And since I can only imagine the promises you will have to keep to have pulled all this off…I'd watch your back, doc."

As pregnant Boomer sits chained in the computer lab attempting to break into the cylon data, she unconsciously reaches down and feels the swell of her stomach. She smiles to herself that at last an opportunity for her to preserve her child and perhaps, her own life has finally arrived. She can't believe she almost lost faith. God will provide. She begins humming a simple melody, and doesn't notice Helo enter the room. He watches her in silence for a few moments.

Finally, she looks up startled to see him. She smiles nervously, "Helo…I didn't think they would let you see me until after I had finished helping them with the disk."

He replies slowly, "they've never forbidden me from seeing you. I just didn't want to. I've been spending most of my time volunteering for long distance FTL scouting missions."

She looks down obviously hurt, "oh…I didn't know. I guess I was hoping…"

He cuts her off, "well, I was hoping for a lot of things, but none of them are going to happen either."

Boomer starts to cry, "it doesn't have to be like this…I can't help what I am any more than you can. All any of us can do is make the best of ourselves."

He jumps on her, "and how does one make the best out of being a mass murderer! Tell me how to just shrug that off!"

After a moment, she collects herself and she responds determinedly, "you have a child coming into this world." At this, Helo looks as if he's been hit, she continues, "sooner or later, you are going to have to accept it. And that means you are going to have to deal with me."

Helo shakes his head, "you tricked me! You used me! For some sort of twisted cylon science project and you expect me to just go…'hey, no problem. Let's just be one big happy cylon family.' What the frak do you want from me?"

She gives him a hard look, "it was my mission to seduce and then hand you over. I gave up everything for you…for this child. I saved your life dozens of times, and all you can do is spout hate at me. I know this hurts you, but you know what? You haven't cornered the market on pain. Don't believe me if it makes it easier for you, but I hurt too."

Helo turns to leave, "I've been assigned to your raptor, because of the deal you made. But it's because I've been ordered to, not because I want to. Just so we're clear." And he leaves her crying.

In the CIC, Colonel Tigh speaks into the receiver, "Mister President, none of us can afford this conflict. We need every fighter available to fight the cylons. You don't have the support to take the Galactica, I can't afford to waste the ships, pilots and resources to take Colonial One. So, it seems we are in a stalemate."

Baltar sitting in the Presidential Office of Colonial One replies, "yes Colonel, you do have a point. But I must confess that I don't see an easy resolution to this predicament."

Tigh responds, "well, I do."

Baltar smiles looking up at Six, who sits across from him, "do tell, Colonel. I'm all ears."

Tigh takes a deep breath to control his temper, "I will give in to your original demand upon the return of Commander Adama."

Baltar asks, "my original demand?"

Tigh nods his head, "I will send over the two cylon agents; Lieutenants Nevlin and Valerii. You send back Commander Adama. You get your photo op as the mighty cylon executor and we go back to defending the fleet."

Baltar plays with him, "oh, I don't know, Colonel. Exchange the Commander of the Galactica for two pilots. Doesn't quite seem…equitable. I'm sure there is something you can offer to sweeten the deal."

Tigh replies quickly, "fine, keep Lieutenant Thrace and we'll call it even."

Baltar responds, "well, you can't give me what I already have. There must be something else."

Tigh's temper begins to show, "well, since you are bringing it up, I can only guess that you have something in mind."

Baltar laughs lightly, "I've always enjoyed your straight forward manner, Colonel. It appears that I have a new air wing for the militia and…thanks to you…a formidable and fully stocked support ship to act as carrier…but what we will need…eventually…is access to ammo, fuel and support staff."

Tigh nearly chokes, "you think we are honestly going to take care of those traitors?"

Baltar corrects him, "those brave souls that you dismiss so casually as traitors proved themselves as true patriots."

Tigh brushes it aside, "save it for the campaign speech." He thinks for a moment, then responds, "we'll give them access to the damaged hangar bay…it's not like we can afford to have valuable fighters out of commission because of politics."

Baltar breathes in the victory with great satisfaction, "Colonel Tigh, you are a crafty negotiator. Send over your raptor…but I only want to see the pilots and the cylons…no Marines."

Tigh replies reluctantly, "agreed."

Upon hanging up, Six says to him, "you don't really think he will follow through with the deal?"

Baltar replies smugly, "my dear, Colonel Tigh has no intention of sticking to this or any deal. In fact, I'm counting on it."

Six asks, "you really think you've got this all figured out don't you? You've put a lot on the line, if anything goes wrong…"

He replies, "if a horrible calamity should take place…and something unfortunate were to befall the Galactica's Commander and our conscious impaired President…well, then I guess the Colonel will only have himself to blame." Baltar smiles, "and if he doesn't blame himself, I'll make sure everyone else does."

Six seems skeptical, "and what if he doesn't take the bait?"

Baltar smiles at her, "if Tigh refuses to instigate an incident, then I suppose we will have to just do it for him. In fact, I've already made the necessary arrangements."

Just then Starbuck enters the room carrying two glasses of ambrosia, "what's this? Our host is avoiding his responsibilities? You are missing your own party. Everyone is starting to get restless."

Baltar gets up and walks over to her, "just negotiating an end to these disagreeable hostilities with your always charming XO."

Starbuck makes a face, "yeah, he's a charmer alright. So what's the deal?"

Baltar responds, "two cylon agents, fighter maintenance and support in exchange for one Commander."

Starbuck nods while placing the glasses down, "not a bad deal, Mister President."

Baltar adds, "apparently, he was more than willing to throw you into the pot."

Starbuck replies, "oh, he'd like to throw me into a pot alright."

Baltar puts his hands on her shoulders, "but what I really need more than anything right now, is to know that I can trust you."

Starbuck looks at his hands on her and smiles, "me? We've discussed this. Of course, you can trust me. I'm your CAG."

Baltar gives her a discerning look, then smiles, "of course, I can." He shakes his head while pulling her close, "I'm sorry, it's just all this unpleasantness." He looks at Six as he holds Starbuck, "But soon everything will be in perfect alignment."

Six looking crushed mutters to him, "you're on your own now. I couldn't save you now, even if I wanted to." Then the corners of her mouth slowly turn into a cold smile, "by the way, did you ever get around to properly reviewing the test results of the other new pilots?"

The contented smile slowly drops from Baltar's face, as he continues to hold Starbuck. He says to her, "uhm…I'm sorry. There is one more small matter that I need to deal with…before I can rejoin the party."

Starbuck notices his sudden nervousness, "you ok, doc?"

Baltar forces himself to some sort of composure and hands her the glasses. Before she can take them he quickly drains one of them. "I'm just grand. I simply forgot something that I need…to take care of…for our guests…a finale of sorts. I'll be right along."

Starbuck reluctantly takes the glasses and leaves the room. Baltar immediately calls out, "what about the pilots?" His questions meets with only silence and Six is no where to be seen. So he repeats in a more desperate tone, "what about the pilots!"

After a moment, Six strokes the back of Baltar's neck with one of her nails causing him to jump. She comes around to face him, "the new pilots. Did you bother to analyze anyone besides Lieutenant Nevlin?"

Baltar shakes his head, "you know I didn't…it was taking too long. What were the odds that one of them would actually turn out to be a cylon? Living onboard that cargo ship for so long…surely, someone would have identified them."

She smiles, "are you really so sure, Gaius?"

He looks at her disbelievingly, "why? Why tell me this now?"

She shrugs, "since you have created this perfect little scenario for yourself…with your new love by your side. I just thought you should know. I mean, President Roslin, Commander Adama, the entire Council of Twelve…" She says with some amount of disgust, "arguably the best pilot in the fleet…and of course…you." She pauses for it to sink in, "the entire leadership of the last surviving humans all on board the same ship." She adds with menace, "the same unarmed ship. What cylon agent could resist such a target." She regains her smile, "and you gave them the all clear…not to mention perhaps a fully armed viper."

Baltar has gone completely pale, taking on the look of a man that has just realized that he has created his own execution. Six continues tormenting him, "what are the chances that the other pilots could stop them? Assuming they even find out…I mean, if the agent is any good, how hard would it be to make Adama's exchange look like something just went horribly wrong? A really good agent could remove the entire government and most of your fighters in one fell swoop."

Baltar begins pacing trying to think, "I'll send Kara out. She'll fly cover for Colonial One until the cylon can be found…"

Six adds, "how do you know it's one of the pilots that defected? Could be one of the pilots that will surely be flying escort for the exchange. Funny, how just a slip on the firing switch could ruin everything."

"Which one is it?" Six simply smiles at him. Baltar becomes frantic, "tell me! Which one is it!"

Six begins rattling off call signs, "could be the obnoxious one…Rebel? Maybe the one they call Whiplash?"

Baltar thinks, "Slider? Is it Slider? You pointed me in her direction before. It's her isn't it?"

Six finally replies, "I guess you don't need me. Have Kara figure it out for you."

And suddenly she is gone. Baltar begins panicking, "I have to get out of here."

Colonel Tigh walks to the various stations in the CIC checking the status of the ship's systems and resources. As he walks, he barks back at Slider, "I said, no Lieutenant."

Slider tries again, "Colonel, I really think we need an experienced combat pilot taking the raptor over to Colonial One."

Tigh turns to her, "are you suggesting that our pilots are not experienced combat pilots?"

Slider stops in her tracks and answers hastily, "no sir. It's just that…"

Tigh cuts her off, "I know what your attachment to this mission is and I don't care. Request denied. If you don't like it, take it up with the CAG, although I believe you'll find him even less sympathetic than I am."

Slider salutes him, "yes, sir." As she turns, she almost runs into Apollo. She says looking guilty, "Lee? I didn't know you were there."

He nods without smiling, "yeah, I could tell. Lieutenant, would you walk with me for a moment?"

Slider nods and leaves the CIC in step with Apollo, although he is walking very quickly, finally she stops him in the hallway, "Lee, I wasn't trying to sidestep you."

He replies looking irritated, "what, no salute? I thought you enjoyed the little formalities to our relationship?" She doesn't appear to know how to respond, so he adds, "you didn't try to sidestep me as your CAG or as your boyfriend?"

She says innocently, "neither. It's obvious that as long as Colonel Tigh gets your father back, he doesn't care what happens to Jordan. And I don't expect you to care either. He is your father, and as far as you're concerned, Jordan is still a cylon agent, right?"

Apollo just kind of nods slightly, but still looks peeved. So she continues, "well, I do care, and I thought it only fair that someone is looking out for him, should things go badly. I didn't want you to get the wrong idea about Jordan and me…"

Apollo says sternly, "first of all, Lieutenant. As your CAG, you need to come to me with any issues regarding flight assignments. I won't tolerate you going over my head every time you are afraid to approach me. Am I clear?"

Slider responds, "yes, sir."

Apollo nods, "secondly, as your boyfriend, I need to know where I stand. And Frankie, I think I have a right to know where Jordan stands."

Slider looks confused, "what do you mean? Jordan and I are close. He means a lot to me, but I'm with you."

Apollo braces his jaw as if preparing for a fight, "Jordan hasn't been cleared of anything. I think there's a really good chance that his escape from the base star…his wounds…it's all a set up to get us to lower our guard. He could be getting information out of you."

Slider almost laughs, "Lee, I didn't even know that my own squadron was defecting. What possible information could I leak to him? Is that why you haven't even said more than two words to him?"

Apollo responds, "I just think we need to keep some distance. You haven't been away from his side for more than two minutes since he got back. People are starting to get ideas."

She replies defensively, "are you concerned about fleet security, just jealous or worried about what people are saying about the CAG's girlfriend? I'm a little confused."

"I don't care about what people talk about, Frankie. I'm worried about Jordan actually being a cylon…and you're involvement with him."

Slider smiles without humor, "is it possible, you are convinced that he is a cylon, only because your father believed he wasn't? Or is it now that Starbuck is convinced he's a cylon, you are right on board with whatever she says?"

Apollo shouts shaking his finger at her, "that's ridiculous! I am very capable of coming to my own conclusions without picking a fight with the Old Man! I won't even dignify the comment about Starbuck!"

"I didn't think you would. I had better get going." Slider comes to attention and salutes, "Don't want to be late for pre-flight briefing, sir."

Apollo returns her salute, "you are excused, Lieutenant." As she begins to walk away, he calls after her, "Frankie, we can talk once this whole mess is over." But she doesn't look back.

Jolly struggles in his wheelchair to get a uniform shirt over his head. Through the neck hole he yells at the Marine, still aiming his rifle at him, "you could put that bloody thing down for a moment and help me with this."

The Marine replies, "no sir. I was ordered…"

Jolly finishes the statement for him as he finally gets his head through the shirt, "to aim that at me and fire if I make any aggressive movements."

Jolly braces himself on the arms of the chair and begins trying to pull himself out of it. The Marine gets nervous and renews his aim directly at Jolly. Jolly throws his arms up defensively and shouts, "wait, you idiot! I'm just trying to stand up on my own. Don't shoot."

The Marine takes a couple of steps back, but doesn't lower his weapon. Jolly takes a deep breath and once again attempts to pull himself up and out of the wheelchair. With obvious discomfort and great effort, he finally manages to get to his feet.

The Marine suddenly comes to attention as Colonel Tigh walks into the sickbay. Tigh dismisses the Marine, as well as the medical staff present. The Marine quickly chains Jolly back to the wheelchair, and then with the medical staff makes a hasty retreat. Tigh says to Jolly, "what are you doing out of that chair, Lieutenant?"

Jolly replies, "I thought this would go a lot better if I could fly on my own wings, sir."

Tigh shakes his head, "negative. I need you in the chair."

Jolly is obviously about to ask why, but Tigh cuts him off, "in your condition and in that chair, I don't think they will search you too thoroughly." He explains, "no one will want to get too close to a cylon, chains or no chains. And if they don't search you too closely, you might get by with this." Tigh reaches behind him and out of his belt pulls a small pistol. He hands it to Jolly.

Jolly reluctantly takes it, but doesn't appear to know what to say, so he just stares at the weapon. Tigh continues, "the Old Man trusted you. His gut told him that you were human. I'm going to see if his instincts are still up to snuff." He points at the pistol, "it's ceramic. The scanners onboard Colonial One won't pick it up. So hide it in the last place anyone will look…if you get my meaning."

Jolly nods, "thank you, sir. Your trust means a lot to me."

Tigh laughs, "It's not loaded. I said the Old Man trusted you. I don't. No way would I let another cylon near him with a loaded gun. If things go badly, that's just to buy you a little time."

"Well, thanks anyway. I just hope I don't need to use it."

Tigh turns to leave, but pauses, "as soon as the switch is complete, I intend to inform them you have it. So don't get any funny ideas."

Jolly sits heavily back into the wheelchair, "yes sir."

As Jolly watches Tigh leave, a familiar voice calls his name. But the voice is other worldly, ethereal in nature, as if it were carried on the wind. He closes his eyes and it's as if he's standing on the dock by his grandfather's house. The house he spent almost all of his childhood. Jolly smiles while turning to take in the scene about him. It seems as if he can actually smell the lake and feel the breeze. As he turns around to see his grandfather's small house, his smile fades as Boomer is standing where the dock meets the shore. It's Sharon, the Boomer he knew, he can tell although she is wearing civilian clothing and the scar on her cheek is gone. He doesn't understand why, but he knows it's her.

She smiles tentatively at him, but he is obviously confused. Finally, he asks, "what's happening?"

She walks towards him still smiling. As she reaches him, she places a hand tenderly on his face and kisses him softly on the lips. She smiles again at his obvious confusion, so he asks again, "what's happening?"

She finally replies, "don't worry, Jordan. I'm going to help you."

Jolly doesn't get to inquire further as he is forced back to reality. He opens his eyes at the sound of a rifle bolt being pulled back. He's suddenly back in sick bay and the Marine guard is pointing his rifle directly in Jolly's face. Jolly says to him, "whoa! What are you doing?"

The guard steps back and replies, "you were getting…weird. You asked 'what was happening?' while spinning around." Jolly looks down and there are in fact tire tracks on the floor that appear to have been made by his wheelchair moving in a circle.

Jolly says to him, "just getting ready for my trip, that's all."

The guard appears unconvinced, "you looked like you were trying to kiss someone."

Jolly replies while holding his arms out, "I'm going to really miss you."

The last of the remaining pilots assemble in the pilot's briefing room as Apollo comes to the podium. He addresses the group, "I know that recent events have been difficult for all of us…I know, I've had to say that a lot lately, but we have a job to do."

He looks down at Slider, but she refuses to make eye contact, so he continues, "we're flying escort for the raptor carrying the cylons to Colonial One. I want everyone to keep their heads and not allow yourselves to get provoked into a confrontation. Picking a fight may well be their strategy to try and get sympathy and increase support in the fleet. Be defensive, but don't back down. We're there to fly the colors, but not get drawn into a fight."

He surveys the crowd trying to gage their attitude, but they all seem lost in their own thoughts. He hesitates, but realizes he needs to say more, "this confrontation has nothing to do with democracy. It's all about greed snd power. I hate the idea as much as any of you, but if…gods forbid, we are forced to fight our former comrades, strike decisively and with determination. We may well be the last thing stopping Doctor Baltar from pulling everyone down a road to madness." He sees that quite a few pilots have raised their heads and are hanging on his words, so he finishes up, "good hunting."

Three commentators appear on the screen sitting at a desk with the words, 'The Colonial Gang' in bright gold letters behind them. The female commentator says, "greetings to everybody in the fleet. I'm Playa Palacios, along side my journalistic cohorts; James Mcmanus and Sekou Hamilton, and welcome to a special edition of 'The Colonial Gang.'"

The commentator in the middle, James Mcmanus cuts in, "We apologize for interrupting the documentary, 'Tom Zarek: Peace Maker, Peace Breaker,' but we want to bring you all the events in the current stand off between Colonial One and the Galactica as they unfold."

The commentator on the right replies, "that's right, James. Tonight's events are almost too strange to be true. The Acting President's bold move of incarcerating Commander Adama, seems suicidal. Which begs the question, does Acting President Baltar really think his newly formed militia is ready to step up and play with the big boys? I mean, who does he think is going to lead the military?"

The female commentator, Playa Palicios counters, "I'm glad that Acting President Baltar has the word acting in his title. Finally, someone is acting like the President. Laura Roslin, may the gods bless her, was just never cut out to go toe to toe with the likes of Commander Adama and Colonel Tigh. Finally we have someone that will stand up and wrest control back into the hands of the civilian government, where it should have been all along. I don't think it's a coincidence that both President Roslin and Acting President Baltar have spent time in the Galactica's brig. You know what they say, what comes around, goes around. And it appears to be coming around for Adama tonight."

James Mcmanus, in the center, breaks in, "you may have a point. Who would have thought that this science nerd would turn around and pull off something like this? Who's even heard of a civilian coup? I'm sure Commander Adama never saw it coming. And I have to add…" The commentator to the right tries to cut in, but he talks over him, "…I have to add…that Doctor Baltar has saved the fleet as many times as anyone in the military. And who can forget that he did manage to lure away a significant part of the fighter squadron…so maybe even the military doesn't care for it's current leadership. I'm just throwing it out there that maybe Doctor Baltar is the best equipped to get us through the troubled days ahead. And I have to tell you that my biggest gripe with Adama is his apparent inability to get rid of the cylons we've captured. What is he waiting for anyway? We're caring for cylo…"

Sekou Hamilton, one on the right, finally breaks in, "that's just ridiculous. We need those cylons for the sake of research…finding their weaknesses and to improve our detection methods. Doctor Baltar's Militia…and let's face it, they only qualify as a militia because they have uniforms, are nothing but a bunch of thugs. I certainly don't feel safer thinking that tomorrow they will be in charge of the fleet."

The female laughs at him, "there you go again. Sekou, I don't know why you don't just go out and have the name, William Adama, tattooed on your ass?" They all laugh, but then she continues, "I don't feel comfortable with the idea that only one man can save all of humanity. It's time to put others in positions of responsibility and the Militia is a great way of allowing all of us in the fleet to have some say in our collective destiny."

The commentator in the middle asks, "so does that mean you're signing up?"

Both male commentators laugh again, but the female responds, "no, however I am encouraging all us that believe in our President and the militia to show their support." She pulls out a brown piece of cloth and ties it around her wrist. "All of us that think we need to stand behind our civilian leaders should wear brown wristbands to show our support, as a non-violent way of saying 'NO' to a military dictatorship."

Both male commentators stare disbelievingly at her. Finally the one on the right replies, "ah…Playa? Don't you feel that what you are advocating is decisive and might make matters even worse?"

She smiles at the camera, "not at all, I think it's time that we showed bullies, like Commander Adama and Colonel Tigh, how many of us there are that support the civilian authorities and don't want to live under the thumb of the military. And to Doctor Baltar, let me just say, 'thanks for looking out for all of us.'"

In his office on board Colonial One, Doctor Baltar is looking out for anything of value he can find and throw into a duffle bag. He is so busy and nervous that he doesn't notice the man in brown uniform enter the room. The man walks over and touches the bag Baltar is holding. Baltar looks up and jumps slightly. He says, "you startled me. What is it?"

The man replies, "I apologize, sir. I'm Sergeant Jason Athol. Colonel Hadrian assigned me to your security detail."

Baltar, who is nearly shaking and looks like he might run for cover at any moment, grips his bag as if about to use it for a shield.

The Sergeant reaches for the bag, "I can take that for you, sir."

Baltar says with forced composure, "that's quite alright. I won't be needing your services, please go back to the party."

The Sergeant asks, "the party, sir?"

Baltar explains condescendingly, "the party. You know that big room with food and people moving to music."

Just then, another man in brown uniform enters the office. Baltar does a double take as the new man is an exact replica of the man he is talking too. Even down to the markings on their uniforms. The first man smiles, "Mister President, we're here to take care of you."

Baltar dives for the phone. He shouts into the receiver, "THERE ARE CYLONS ABOARD COLONIAL ONE! THERE ARE CYLONS ABOARD COLONIAL ONE!"

The second man shouts to get his attention, trying to calm him. "Mister President, I'm his brother, Sergeant Terel Athol. We're twins. Identical twins."

Baltar finally stops yelling into the phone, "twins? You're twins. Yes…yes, of course you are."

The first man explains, "yes sir, we're identical twins. And we were both also cleared by your cylon detector."

This doesn't seem to make Baltar feel much better, but he says into the receiver, "never mind. This was only a test." And he hangs up. He turns giving them a nervous smile. "I'm sorry, I thought…:"

Both men smile and say in unison, "completely understandable, sir."

Baltar stands up and tries to appear dignified. He says to them, "what I need you both to do is secure a shuttle for me. I need it right now. And tell no one, not even Colonel Hadrian. This is absolutely top secret."

The second man asks, "excuse me, sir. Where should I tell the pilot you need to go?"

Baltar responds, "that's classified. I'll instruct him as soon as soon as we are away."

The first man asks, "a shuttle, sir? Might I suggest, that with the current tensions between fighter groups, that a shuttle might not be the safest place for you?"

Baltar orders, "you may not suggest. I have urgent business that might affect the lives of everyone in the fleet and I need transportation off this ship…immediately."

The second man suggests, "sir, we do have the Raptor from the air wing. It would provide you with a more secure environment than a shuttle."

Baltar nods, "yes, yes. That is a good idea. Thank you. Have the raptor pick me up. But once again, no one, under any circumstances, is to know where I am."

Both reply, "yes, sir."

Commander Adama nibbles on the food Starbuck left for him while continuing to scan the room for any possible way out. He looks up as the door unlocks and then opens. Colonel Hadrian enters the room leaving two guards behind. She smiles smugly at him, "good news, Commander. You're release has been arranged and no formal charges will be filed."

Adama stands, pauses to straighten out his uniform and then attempts to walk limping past Hadrian. She raises her hand, "not quite yet, sir. There are still a few details to be worked out."

Adama asks, "details? What details?"

She continues, "the transfer of the cylon operatives into militia custody. The Raptor should be on it's way any moment. Once we have them, you can go."

Adama scowls, "Colonel Tigh made a deal? With you?"

"A very good deal…for us anyway. We take custody of the cylon agents, keep the Air Wing and assert supply and support rights from the damaged hangar bay of the Galactica."

Adama replies angrily, "Tigh would never agree to those conditions."

Hadrian shrugs, "apparently, to get you back, he would."

Adama sits back heavily on to the chair, "well, I haven't agreed to anything. I'm not leaving under those terms."

Hadrian raises an eyebrow, "pardon me, sir?"

Adama crosses his arms, "I said, I won't leave under those terms. Tell your Acting President that I'm not accepting the conditions of my release."

Hadrian appears a little taken aback, "excuse me, sir. But it's not up to you anymore. The deal has been made."

Adama smiles without humor, "well, I'm un-making it. Tell Baltar, the deal doesn't exist until he negotiates with me. I'm not going anywhere."

Jolly is wheeling himself down the corridor towards the flight deck while talking to himself. The Marine guard has apparently decided that Jolly's wires must be crossed and appears content to keep a few paces behind. Jolly mutters, "it's ok, Jordan. People see things all the time. Could be the meds…fatigue…or a complete psychological breakdown…could be anything really."

A voice calls out just behind him, "or it could be a friend still trying to look out for you."

Jolly turns to see Boomer walking beside him. Jolly twists behind to see the guard's reaction, but he makes no indication that he has seen Boomer's sudden appearance. She says to him, "maybe you should just let me talk. He appears a little nervous and the safety on his weapon is off."

Jolly just nods, while he has begun to shake a little out of nervousness. She places a hand reassuringly upon his shoulder and says, "you aren't crazy. At least, my appearance doesn't mean you're crazy."

Jolly can't help himself, he replies in a whisper, "then what does it mean? And don't skimp on details."

She smiles at him, "while you were unconscious aboard the base star and I was cleaning you up, I…I inserted a computer chip into your head."

Jolly stops, "YOU DID WHAT!"

Seeing the concerned look that the Marine is giving him, Jolly manages to regain his composure and begins deliberately wheeling himself. Boomer admonishes him, "you may want to get control of yourself, it's not as bad as you are thinking."

He whispers, "then why don't you tell me exactly how bad it is."

Boomer explains in a voice obviously designed to try and keep Jolly calm, "I placed a small…very small…chip into your brain." She pauses for his reaction, but Jolly seems to have no reaction to the news. So she continues, "and when I died, instead of my consciousness being sent to another unit, it was sent to the chip. So now you and I…co-exist."

Jolly snaps in a hushed tone, "what the frak does that mean?"

She hesitates, but then goes on to explain, "I'm in your head. No one else can see or hear me."

Jolly mutters, "fabulous. I'm either insane or everyone will simply think I'm insane." He thinks for a moment, "or even better, I have a chip in my noggin that actually makes me a potential cylon agent. That will go over nicely."

Boomer actually looks hurt, "the chip doesn't make you a cylon agent, that's not why I'm here."

Jolly asks, "then why are you here?"

She replies, "I was afraid."

He shakes his head, "you were afraid of dying, so living out the rest of your life in my head seemed like the better option? I always thought robots would be more logical."

She admits, "I was afraid of my soul not moving on to a new body…I was afraid of the end…and God won't help me because I betrayed his work by helping you. Being linked to you is my penance."

Jolly lets it sink in for a moment, "so you picked my head over being thrown into eternal darkness. Must have been a tough choice. So how do I turn you off?"

She replies, "you can't."

"Of course, I can. If I live through this craziness, I'll have them perform a surgery. Anything that can be put in, can be taken out. We'll find a nice toaster to put you into."

She shakes her head, "it won't work. Even if they found it, any attempt to remove it would kill you. Assuming they could find it anyway. Not to mention it would only be proof of your cylon connection, they might just decide to remove it after your execution."

Jolly frowns, "good point."

As Jolly hits the flight deck, he sees his Raptor waiting with an open hatch. As he wheels towards it, he spots Chief Tyrol grabbing a tool off a cart to his left. Jolly turns and quickly wheels over to him. The Chief stops and watches Jolly's approach with some suspicion.

Jolly says to him, "Chief, I know it must be hard for you to come to terms with Sharon's…situation."

The Chief nods, but then replies, "look, I don't want to talk about it…"

Jolly cuts him off, "there's nothing to talk about, but I have to tell you something. Sharon gave her life for mine. Truth be told, she was a rotten cylon, but not a bad person…not by a long shot. I was with her at the end and her last thoughts were about you and how much she cared about you. She was sorry you got hurt and her last wish was for you to find happiness. I just thought you should know."

The Chief appears choked up and can only croak out a weak, "uhm…thanks." Before he walks off in the opposite direction.

Jolly turns back to the waiting raptor. Boomer says angrily in his ear, "I know you don't remember the end. You just lied to him. I never said those things."

Jolly mutters staring at the open raptor hatch, "well, you should have."

(Flashback) On Board the Cylon Base Star

Boomer continues to run a relentless pace through the dark tunnels of the Base Star. Jolly limps heavily and is having a difficult time keeping up. A few of his wounds have broken open and he can feel the blood begin to soak through the bandages.

Boomer is forced to help him, almost carrying him along. Finally, she says to him, "Jordan, we're almost there. The flight deck is just up ahead."

The small pinpoint of light ahead of them has gradually grown to be an open doorway. They rush through almost running into the backs of two centurions. As the centurions twist around, Boomer shoots one with her rifle creating a large hole where it's chest used to be. The second centurion manages to swat Boomer's rifle away as it's companion falls lifeless backwards. Jolly manages the strength to raise his pistol and shoot. A spray of sparks comes flowing from the centurion's eye slit. Jolly shoots it again in the head and after a hesitant step it falls forward.

Boomer quickly retrieves her rifle and points to the waiting Raptor across the deck. She places one of Jolly's arms around her and begins rushing towards the ship. They weave in between the parked raiders as she says to him, "stay with me, Jordan. I'm going to get you out of here. We can make it."

As they close the distance, they can see the raptor's hatch is open as if inviting them. They are within 20 feet of the Raptor when a version of the blonde woman comes around from the other side of the Raptor. Although unarmed, she is smiling smugly. From the other end of the ship, another blonde woman and a short man with dark hair walk casually into view, they both appear unarmed as well.

The first blonde addresses Boomer, "Sharon, it's time for this nonsense to stop. You've thrown everything away…over him…a human?"

Sharon lets go of Jolly, while she raises her rifle. The blonde smiles again and suddenly from behind the Raiders scattered on the deck, centurions begin filing in to surround them. Boomer begins to slowly lower her weapon, as every possible avenue of escape is closed off by the multitude of centurions. She drops her rifle to the ground as the blonde turns to the others and smiles.

The man with brown hair says to Boomer, "it's unfortunate that it had to come to this. But God's work must be done…with or without you."

Boomer watches in quiet surprise, as behind the human looking cylon agents, several versions of herself have crept up, taking firing positions. Suddenly, the large slit in the forward section of several of the raiders slides slowly open, and their red lights begin moving back and forth. No one seems to notice, until the hum of their engines engaging fills the flight deck. The human looking cylons suffer a moment of uncertainty as the raiders raise from the ground about them.

Sharon quickly dives on top of Jolly as the raiders and Boomers open fire upon the centurions. Sharon continues to shield Jolly as explosions and rounds go off all around them. Boomer jerks forward as a round from a centurion finds her left side.

Jolly looks up to see that the human looking cylons all lay dead and the entire flight deck has fallen in to chaos. Centurions and Boomers shoot it out, while raiders supporting the centurions have entered the fight. The deck becomes littered with fire and debris.

Jolly pulls Boomer up and they help each other stagger towards the open Raptor hatch.

The party guests on board Colonial One are getting restless. Acting President Baltar has not been seen or heard from in hours. The Council members and their guests entertain one theory after another as to what is happening. The newest officer in the Colonial Militia, Major Kara 'Starbuck' Thrace stands aside, an uneasy feeling gradually growing inside her.

Tom Zarek approaches her from behind. "Major, I would have thought that you would be checking on your new Air Wing about now."

Starbuck replies, "I guess that's what you get for thinking."

Zarek is not taken aback by her hostile reply, "since I am a novice at politics I was wondering, how does a man like our Acting President retain the loyalty from such a person as yourself?"

Starbuck replies dryly after taking a drink, "he's hung like a horse."

Zarek smiles, "nice to see that promotion hasn't tainted you."

Starbuck begins walking away, "a girl's got to have her standards. Excuse me, I'm going to go and do…something else."

Zarek places a hand on her arm, she appears ready to pull away, but he distracts her by using her old rank, "Lieutenant, I have met some good spies, but you aren't one of them."

Starbuck smiles weakly, "what are you talking about?" And then she gestures to his hand, "your hand is about to become the newest member of my body part collection of the people that made the mistake of ticking me off."

Zarek removes his hand, "my apologies. I simply want you to know that when you make your move to rescue Commander Adama, I can help you."

Starbuck laughs, "I really don't know what you are talking about….and even if you were right. Why help Adama? What's in it for you?"

Zarek explains, "when you've been on the firing line as often as I have…you develop a sixth sense about things. I get the feeling that our Acting President has bitten off far more than he can chew. And I think you may have as well. I don't think that our imperious leader has any intention of letting Adama return to the Galactica. He's going to do something stupid. And when the dust settles and Adama is back in power, it certainly wouldn't hurt my position if he owed me a couple of favors."

Starbuck still laughing, "what makes you think I am going to help him? I'm on the other side, remember?"

Zarek smiles again, "like I said Lieutenant, I've met some good spies and you aren't one of them." And he walks away.

Billy Keikeya enters the computer lab to find the pregnant Boomer working on the cylon data while a Marine guard stands over her. He says, "we need to get you to the flight deck."

She replies while still working on the computer, "why rush me? Time this correctly and I might be able to solve this puzzle for you before you send me to my execution."

Billy shakes his head, "we're out of time. We need to get going now."

She hits a few more keys and then shuts the computer down. She smiles, stands and then follows Billy towards the flight deck. Billy leads the way concerned that she is smiling.

In frustration, Commander Adama has scoured the room countless times looking for any method of escape. He is checking underneath President Roslin's bed for anything that he might have missed the last time he checked, when he hears a 'click.'

He looks up, but no one has entered the room, however the door slowly swings open. He cautiously walks over to the doorway and peers out, but sees no one in the hallway. He calls out in a whisper, "Starbuck?" There is no reply, the area is deserted. That's when he makes his decision and goes back into the room.

As Jolly moves across the flight deck towards the Raptor, several pilots and flight crew members stop what they are doing to study him. Jolly matches their angry glares, forcing each to make eye contact. As he passes three pilots, he stops briefly and says, "Hermes, I'm having a rough day and if you keep looking at me like that, chains or no chains, I'm going to beat you to death with your own helmet."

All three pilots pretend to look another way, and Jolly begins rolling again. As he reaches the hatch, Apollo comes out from inside the Raptor talking to the pilot, Burnout. He acknowledges Jolly with a nod, as Burnout goes back into the ship leaving Apollo standing next to Jolly. After sharing an awkward and painful moment of silence, Apollo says, "good luck." And he begins to walk away.

He only gets a couple paces before Jolly calls to him, "I don't blame you, Lee. If I were in your shoes, I'd sell me out too."

Apollo turns, "what was that?"

Jolly shrugs, "I was just saying that if I were you, I would sell me out too. If it were my father on the line, that is if I had a father, I'd betray a friend to save him."

Apollo almost smiles as he returns to confront Jolly, "is that what you think? That I'm feeling bad because we're handing you over? As far as I'm concerned, you're a cylon agent and you deserve whatever happens to you."

Jolly stares him in the eye, "you don't really believe I'm a cylon. You're investigation should tell you at least that much. You're just selling yourself on the idea, so you won't feel bad if I don't make it. And I'm telling you, it's ok. Whatever happens, I understand."

Apollo responds, "whatever."

Jolly continues, "and about Slider…"

Apollo cuts him off, "here we go. That's none of your fraking business."

Jolly replies, "maybe, maybe not. But…"

Apollo finishes for him, "let me guess. If I don't treat her right, you'll come back and kick my ass."

Jolly smiles, "no, you'll have to live knowing you screwed up the best thing you'll ever have." There is a brief pause and then he adds, "then I'll kick your ass. And you'll end up a lonely old man with nothing to look forward to but your daily fight with Starbuck."

Apollo smiles in spite of himself, but his smile fades the moment Slider saunters up. Making great effort to let Apollo know that she isn't going to acknowledge him, she leans down and kisses Jolly on the cheek, saying, "hey handsome."

He replies, "hey, beautiful." He clarifies, "I mean you, not him."

Apollo's brow wrinkles in discomfort, but he keeps quiet. She places a hand on Jolly's shoulder and admonishes, "fly low as long as you can." Then giving Apollo a dirty look, she adds, "we'll do everything we can for you. I'll see you later."

She gives Jolly another long hug and then walks off towards her viper. She yells out jovially, "Cally, if my gimble is still loose, it's your ass!"

Apollo and Jolly both watch her leave. Apollo says to Jolly as Billy, Boomer and her guard arrive. "Tigh told me what he gave you. Let's hope you don't have to pull a miracle out of your ass."

Boomer gives Jolly a slight smile as she enters the raptor. Helo sitting in the ECO's seat watches her enter in silence and her smile drops upon seeing him. The Marine guard chains her to the seat set up on board.

Jolly says to Apollo, "well, looks like my ride is ready." And with the help of both Marines manages to get the wheelchair on to the Raptor.

As the hatch begins to close, Apollo calls out, "Jordan." As Jolly looks up he says, "good hunting, jack ass."

Jolly returns, "back at you, tight ass."

As the raptor is moved into launch position, Apollo says to himself, "where the frak is Starbuck?"

Starbuck yells out, "stop! Please, I can't take anymore."

The man next to her stops dancing and laughs with her, "it's been a pleasure, my dear." And he kisses her hand.

Starbuck gives him a slight bow, as Colonel Hadrian comes quickly and determinedly over. She says to Starbuck, "where's the President?"

Starbuck looks around the room, "I don't know. He was in his office the last I saw of him."

Hadrian takes Starbuck by the arm and pulls her off the dance floor. Before Starbuck can protest, Hadrian says to her, "The President has gone missing and now Commander Adama is gone too."

Starbuck stops, "the Old Man's gone?"

Hadrian replies raising an eyebrow, "it appears that someone must have let him out. Someone that could manage access to the right key."

Starbuck shrugs, "don't look at me. Hey, it's not that large a ship. You'll find him."

Hadrian corrects her, "we'll find him."

Starbuck smiles, "no, you see…I'm a pilot. So unless, you can fit a viper into the hallways of Colonial One, I won't be of much use to you."

"We need everyone close, Major." Hadrian adds making sure no one else can hear, "there's something else…President Roslin is gone too."

In the deserted computer lab on board the Galactica, a monitor turns itself on. Blinking red characters begin filling up the screen, slowly at first and then faster and faster. After a few moments, the room's lights go out leaving the computer's red alien graphics as the only illumination. The characters continue to accelerate until they become nothing but a blur of red moving back and forth across the screen.
Helo stares at Boomer as the raptor makes it's way towards Colonial One. He holds his sidearm and rubs it with his free hand subconsciously. Boomer tries to match his glare but is unable.

Jolly breaks the silence, "you know Helo, you used to be a fun guy. This whole angry brooding thing really isn't a good look for you."

Helo barks while gesturing with his pistol, "shut up, Jolly. You're just another toaster. No one cares what you think any more."

Jolly frowns, "I prefer suspected toaster, if you don't mind. But I think you're not really looking at things clearly." Helo turns challengingly making sure that his gun is pointed directly at him. Jolly gestures to the pistol, "point in case, you're waving that gun around. Tends to put people a little on edge."

Helo blurts out while glaring at Boomer, "people? Let me tell you something…" Helo stops himself, "look, I was ordered to guard both of you on this little trip, but my orders didn't say anything about providing chit chat. So shut up."

Jolly nods, but stays silent. Helo turns back and looks at his scanners. After a moment of silence, Jolly can't stop himself, "I'm just saying that you seem really stressed. Trust me, things could be a lot worse."

Helo turns to yell at him, but before he can, Burnout calls back, "would you all shut it, we're on final approach to Colonial One."

Jolly leans back into his wheelchair and shakes his head uncontrollably as a ticklish breeze hits his ear. He shakes his head a few times, and finally, Helo asks, "what the frak is wrong with you?"

Jolly responds, "nothing…just an irritating itch in my ear." He holds up his cuffed hands as far as they will reach, "not like I can scratch can I? Don't suppose you'd be inclined…"

Helo admonishes, "no, I wouldn't."

As Helo turns back, Jolly says out of the corner of his mouth, "what are you doing?"

Suddenly Boomer appears next to him as she blows in his ear. She says in an alluring voice, "I'm just trying to show you that this doesn't have to be an unpleasant relationship."

She moves her hand down underneath his shirt and begins stroking his chest. Obviously uncomfortable, Jolly begins moving uneasily. He whispers back, "stop."

Both Helo and the pregnant Boomer ask in unison, "stop what?" They look at each other and then both look away.

Jolly whispers, "Sharon…time and place."

She replies still trying to be seductive, "I love it when you call me, Sharon." She kisses his neck and begins moving her hand south.

Jolly almost jumps from his wheelchair, startling Helo who also jumps up aiming his pistol at Jolly. Jolly says to everyone looking at him with curiosity, "alright, who's excited to go get the Commander back! Who's with me!" Jolly slowly sits back down while asking, "too much?"

Helo responds slowly lowering his weapon, "yeah, a little."

In the CIC, Petty Officer Dualla announces, "raptor 474 is away and our vipers have created a perimeter around Colonial One."

Tigh nods, "I want to know the moment the Commander is on the Raptor and away."

Dualla replies, "yes sir."

Dualla appears to be confused looking at a screen at her station. She calls out, "Colonel, I'm getting a power surge coming from the computer lab."

Tigh questions while coming over, "surge? What kind of surge?"

Dualla shakes her head, "I don't know, but it's shorted out the entire deck's power grid."

Tigh comes to her station, "what's causing it?"

Dualla responds, "it seems to be originating from one of the computer stations in the lab."

Tigh growls, "that's impossible. Those computers aren't networked and none of them could handle that kind of power."

Dualla answers while checking another monitor, "it's redistributing the ship's power. Somehow the computer is sucking in power from several of the ship's electrical systems and then thrusting it all back on each system individually…it's overloading everything."

Tigh orders, "shut down that entire deck…multiple decks if you have to."

After working on her keyboard and controls, Dualla throws up her hands in frustration, "I can't. It's not networked and it's cut off our ability to access the power grid.

Ensign Solon calls out from her station, "it's already burned out weapons systems and the FTL drive."

Tigh adds sarcastically, "Let me guess which computer is causing the problems. Fraking cylons. Jolly set us up and Boomer dropped the hammer."

Tigh picks up a phone receiver, "this is Colonel Tigh. Send Marines to the computer lab and destroy the computer that's on…immediately." He hangs up and orders the command crew, "turn off everything. Everything but life support needs to be offline…and even that's questionable…NOW!"

Three men in brown uniforms with the markings of the Colonial Militia search Colonial One's cargo bay. Two of them carry batons, while the third has the markings of a sergeant and a sidearm. The bay is littered with large boxes and crates of various supplies. There are large cranes on either end of the bay used to move and stack the ship's inventory. One of the cranes is currently suspending a large crate 15 feet above them. The men search behind and underneath the ship's cargo trying to find the fugitives.

A female voice calls from the open doorway to them, "we need you three to report to the flight deck right now."

The sergeant replies, "Colonel Hadrian personally ordered us to search the entire cargo bay for Commander Adama. She was very specific."

Major Kara 'Starbuck' Thrace has changed from her evening gown into the brown uniform of an officer of the Colonial Militia. She steps through the doorway into the open area, "well now, I'm being very specific. We need every available soldier on the flight deck to take the cylon prisoners into custody." She adds with a smile, "unless you think we should just give them free reign of Colonial One?"

The men come to attention seeing Starbuck's rank. The Sergeant replies, "I apologize, sir. We were ordered to search the entire cargo bay and haven't yet completed our assignment."

Starbuck nods, "The Commander isn't going anywhere and we need you in the bay now. I take full responsibility if the Colonel asks."

The Sergeant looks at the other men for a moment, then replies, "yes sir." And all three hurry out towards the bay.

Starbuck smiles, "suckers."

She decides to take a look around the cargo area herself muttering, "now, if I were on the run…with a hospital bed in tow…where would I hide." It's that moment that she notices the large crate being suspended in the air. She saunters over to the crane and hits the button that makes the crane lower the box slowly to the ground.

Starbuck smiles as she appraises the ten foot high box and climbs the crane to see over it's top edge. She laughs, "hah!" But quickly loses her smile as there is no one on top of the crate. She climbs down deep in thought, and then walks over and begins rummaging through a tool box attached to the crane.

She pulls out a small crowbar and walks determinedly towards the crate. She says almost angrily, "ok, we do this the hard way." And she begins prying the crate open. As the side of the box cracks and then falls, Starbuck is forced to jump back as small boxes fall out all over the floor. Starbuck instantly begins using the crow bar to carve a path through them, but finds the crate empty besides more boxes.

She surveys the mess and then drops the crow bar with a sigh. She leaves heading out towards the hangar bay.

A few moments after she has left a slight vibration begins to resonate through the floor. A box by the crane at the opposite end of the deck falls into a newly formed hole that is opening as the floor slides apart. A hydraulic lift raises Commander Adama and President Roslin's bed to the main deck.

He says to the open room as much to Roslin, "that was pretty close. Good thing they don't know their own ship very well. Now, we need to find a way off of this..."

He is cut off as Starbuck replies standing in the doorway, "don't leave yet. Things are just beginning to get interesting."

In the Galactica's darkened computer lab, the computer causing so many problems hums with the constant creation of more and more red characters crossing its screen. The characters move so fast that they appear to be a single red light moving back and forth.

The shadows of five Marines entering the room move eerily across the walls. Then five red dots move to settle on the computer in question. The Marines open fire and the computer explodes in a shower of sparks. The red light created by the cylon characters instantly stop.

One of the Marines turns on a large light, as the others all approach the recently deceased computer cautiously as if expecting it to come alive again. The lead Marine pulls out a radio, "this is Corporal Polos. The computer has been destroy…"

He is unable to finish as all of the other computers in the lab suddenly turn themselves on and begin filling their screens with the same red cylon characters. The Marines open fire on all of the computers.

On board Colonial One, Burnout gently lands the Raptor onto the makeshift flight deck. A dozen or so men in brown Militia uniforms form a line in front of the Raptor's hatch led by Colonel Hadrian. A couple of soldiers in line carry rifles, a few have side arms and the rest all carry batons as weapons.

Jolly looking out the cockpit window mutters sarcastically to the pregnant Boomer sitting next to him, "no friendlier reception than a bunch of big guys with clubs."

Burnout and Helo exchange concerned glances as both realize that Commander Adama isn't on the deck. Burnout says to him, "we don't give them up till they produce the Old Man, right?"

Helo nods, "I'll let Colonel Tigh know our situation." Helo calls out to the Galactica several times over the radio, but there is no response. He turns to Burnout, "I can't reach the Galactica."

Burnout replies, "they must jamming our radio somehow." He then grabs the controls and reignites the engines. "rotten backstabbers! Well, I'm not sticking around to be drafted into the frakn' militia."

Upon seeing the Raptor's engines reignite, Hadrian turns confused to the Sergeant next to her, "what are they doing?" She quickly starts shouting orders, "don't let them leave! Close the hangar bay! Shoot if you have too!"

Burnout manages to turn the Raptor about as the Militia members give chase and those with guns open fire. As the Raptor begins to lurch forward, a soldier takes aim with a long fat barreled grenade launcher. As he pulls the trigger an arc of smoke flies from the launcher directly hitting the undercarriage of the cockpit creating a small explosion.

Inside the Raptor, the windshield crashes in on Burnout as he collapses onto the Raptor controls. The ship immediately takes a nose dive and crashes skidding forward on the deck.

Helo slowly lifts himself from the floor, surveying the damage to the ship. He places a hand on Boomer's arm asking, "are you ok?"

She nods but appears to have taken a cut to her forehead, which is bleeding profusely. Helo looks at her stomach, "is it…?"

Boomer pulls her arm away, "it's fine too."

Jolly quips while pulling himself straight onto his wheelchair, "I'm ok too. Thanks for asking." He then adds looking towards the pilot's area, "Helo, better check on Burnout."

Helo rushes over and lifts Burnout off the controls. After a moment, he gently eases him back down turning towards Boomer and Jolly shaking his head.

Helo hurries across the ship and grabs his sidearm from where it landed during the crash. He then removes the safety, while moving towards the hatch and muttering, "bastards."

Boomer stops him, "have you lost your mind? There are too many of them."

Helo replies angrily, "they aren't getting away with this!"

Jolly says to him, "they won't. But the only way to make sure is for us to get out of here."

Helo points at Boomer, "you both just agreed that there were too many of them. How do you propose we get past them?"

Jolly gets an idea, "I think we can come up with something that gets us away and takes care of them at the same time."

Outside the Militia's guards stand somewhat dumbfounded staring at the crashed Raptor. Finally, Hadrian orders, "go get them!"

The soldiers all hesitate, still staring at the wrecked ship as if expecting it to explode at any moment. She yells, "get going! The ship doesn't have any weapons!"

Slowly the soldiers with guns begin moving forward towards the crippled ship. Suddenly there is a flash and 'thump' sound on the Raptor's high backend. Hadrian watches as two large spinning barrel shaped objects launch from the ship into the air and directly towards the Militia.

She mutters, "oh Lords…" She screams, "INCOMING! HIT THE DECK!" The two barrels simultaneously burst into a shower of sparks and smoke. The Militia all dive as there is no safety of cover to be had from the Raptor's anti-missile defenses. One of the barrels hits the ground striking two soldiers killing both instantly.

The spinning barrels carve a path of fire, smoke and death through the ranks of the Militia members until finally striking the end of the flight deck. Even at rest, they continue to send a shower of sparks and flame through the flight deck.

What is left of the Militia is too confused, scared and blinded by smoke to see, let alone stop Helo, Boomer and Jolly escaping from the Raptor's open hatch.

Raptor 367 continues its course around the outer perimeter of the system. The ECO, Racetrack, calls out to the pilot, "never thought I'd be happy to be on long patrol, but right now, the farther away from the fleet we are the happier I am."

The pilot, Tantrum, calls back, "no kidding. I just hope they manage to have everything settled by the time we get back."

Racetrack replies, "so say we all."

Tantrum grins, "you just want the new pilots back so you can have another chance to hit on Whiplash."

She laughs, "I just want a fair shot before Starbuck throws herself at him."

Suddenly Racetrack's attention freezes while looking at her screen, she calls out, "we've got multiple contacts. Definitely Raiders…thirty-seven of them."

Tantrum asks, "where the frak did they come from?"

She replies, "looks like they just FTL'd in to the system. They've spotted the fleet and are heading straight for them. ETA ten minutes."

The pilot hits the radio, "this is Raptor 367 on long patrol. Galactica, you've got Raiders on your doorstep, copy?"

Tantrum waits for acknowledgement, but there is no reply. She repeats, "Galactica? This is Raptor 367, do you copy?" She looks over at Racetrack, "FRAK! What happened to the Galactica?"

Racetrack scans her monitors, "she's still in position…but I'm getting an almost non-existent power reading. No engines…no weapons… she's practically dead in the water."

Tantrum hits the engines and begins racing the Raptor towards the fleet. She says, "I guess we'll have to find a way to beat them there."

Racetrack looks up, "they've spotted us. Three Raiders are moving to intercept. They're firing missiles…"

Apollo calls out from his Viper cockpit, "what did they say?"

The Raptor pilot, Hermes replies, "they've lost power to all major systems. Some sort of cylon sabotage. They've stopped the power loss, but don't know how to get everything back online yet."

Slider asks, "what kind of sabotage?"

Joker responds, "it was hard to understand. Something about Jolly's data…the traitor."

Slider mutters, "that can't be right. It can't be."

Apollo orders, "find out if Colonel Tigh wants us to call off the operation?"

The Raptor begins flashing it's message using it's signal lights. Flashes of light reply emanate from the Galactica's observation deck.

Hermes says, "we're ordered to continue, but fan out to give the fleet more protection. He wants raptors acting as long range sensors until the Galactica's are repaired."

Apollo acknowledges the order, "you heard him. All Raptors are to fan out…"

He is cut off as a flash of light brings in Raptor 367 from a hastily planned FTL jump. Two Vipers are forced to veer dramatically to avoid colliding with the sudden arrival. The Raptor's pilot begins explaining breathlessly. "Captain, we've got cylons incoming…thirty-seven of the bastards!"

Apollo curses, "frak!" He takes a deep breath, "ok, this is it. Hermes send a message…all ships in the fleet are to FTL to the next system." He opens a channel that the Colonial Militia's Air Wing will hear. "Listen, up. This is Captain Adama. We have thirty-seven incoming Raiders. We need all of you. The Galactica is sidelined out of this fight."

The Militia pilot, Saber, responds, "yeah, we saw her power drop off the charts. We'll be there, Captain. Just like we said."

Saber then orders his pilots, "ok, here's the deal. I want the Chaser to settle in front of the Galactica. Use your rail guns to keep any Raiders that break away out of the fleet. Everyone else is in the trenches…except Rebel and Whiplash."

Rebel yells out, "what the frak are you talking about?"

Whiplash adds, "we're not sitting out."

Saber orders, "yes, you are. We need someone to make sure that Colonial One stays secure until she can jump out of here and deal with any stray Raiders that break into the flock. Trust me, with that many of them, there will be plenty of action to go around."

Both fighter groups rush to confront the oncoming cylon fighters as the armed cargo vessel, Nebula Chaser takes up a defensive position by the Galactica.

In their cockpit, the cylon agent suddenly realizes it has a job to do. It doesn't understand why, but it knows it needs to complete its objective at all costs.

Nearby in the Militia Air Wing's only Raptor, the pilot Topper says to Acting President Baltar, "sir, I think we should take up a combat position…to help direct the fighters with battle intelligence."

Baltar sitting in the back of the Raptor holding his head in his hands looks up for the first time since taking off from Colonial One. He appears somewhat lost and confused, "wha…no. Absolutely not. You are to maintain position away from the Galactica and Colonial One."

The ECO, Vandal, gives Topper a disgusted look. Baltar shakes his finger at them. "I am the Acting President of the Colonies! I am dealing with things that you couldn't possibly understand or comprehend!"

Topper says, "yes sir." And they both turn away from him.

Suddenly Baltar asks, "what battle?"

Vandal explains, "the cylons, sir. There's thirty-seven of them headed this way."

Baltar struggles to catch up, "why don't we simply FTL with the fleet to the next system?"

Topper calls back, "the Galactica's had some sort of incident. We don't know what happened, only that she doesn't have power. She's defenseless and can't get out."

Baltar appears confused, "so? Leave them."

Vandal asks, "leave them, sir. The Galactica's our only true military asset. I may not like them, but we need her."

Baltar sneers at him, "need them? I don't need anyone. Don't you understand? God will come through."

Vandal asks, "which God, sir?"

Baltar is taken aback by the question and doesn't quite seem to know how to respond, as Six appears standing before him. She says, "what a great seat you have."

Baltar smiles cautiously upon seeing her, "seat?"

Vandal is confused, "Seat, sir? I'm not aware of any God named Seat."

Topper smiles calling back, "she must be the Goddess of saving your backside." They both go back to their duties deciding to ignore their Acting President.

Six says to Baltar, "you have a ringside seat to the final destruction of your tiny little collection of lifeboats. It should be quite the fireworks show." She smiles cruelly, "and it's all your doing."

Baltar shakes his head nervously, he whispers, "it's not true. You're just doing this to hurt me because I made my success without you. Your jealousy is making you crazy."

Six still smiling, "your success? God protected you to do his will. Once you fail to serve his purpose you fail to be important….yes, it's true. Even the great Doctor Gaius Baltar is expendable in the great scheme of things."

Baltar whispers, "well, nothing has happened. Colonial One still exists, as do I. So where is your little agent?"

Six laughs lightly, "They are better than I even thought. The Galactica is out of commission, Raiders on their way…I'm sure they are just waiting for exactly the right moment to strike." She looks at the Raptor's crew, "aren't these some of the new pilots…the pilots you didn't really test?"

Baltar looks up as if it just occurred to him. He says to Topper, "I need to talk to Colonel Hadrian, right away."

Vandal replies, "sir, you instructed us that no one was to know that you were with us and our position."

Baltar chastises, "I know what I said, but now I'm saying that I need you to get me Hadrian on the radio…now!"

Vandal shakes his head and contacts Colonial One. After a moment, he looks over, they can hear an excited voice talking on the other end. Vandal explains, "there's been some sort of an explosion onboard Colonial One. It was on the flight deck during the cylon transfer. No one knows where Colonel Hadrian is. The cylon agents are loose somewhere on the ship and it's FTL drive was damaged. She's not going anywhere."

Six whispers seductively into Baltar's ear, "and it begins."

Baltar lifts his head, "the Galactica."

Topper turns, "excuse me, sir?"

Baltar explains, "the Galactica. I need to get to the Galactica."

Topper responds, "the Galactica doesn't have power enough to light up a room, let alone her flight deck."

Baltar insists, "I don't care, Lieutenant. Find a way to get me onboard the Galactica."

End Chapter 3...