7375.321 Battlestar Galactica Commander Apollo's office: Apollo was sitting behind his desk, when Lt. Valus buzzed him.

"Sir, Major Sheba and Ensign Hera are here to see you.",

"Send them in Valus.".

As the two women entered the office, Apollo could see by the look on their faces that he wasn't going to like this visit.

"So what can I do for the two of you.".

Hera came to attention, "Commander, I wish to volunteer to be the Fleet ambassador to the Confederation fleet.".

"At ease Ensign. Why should I send you as the fleet ambassador?".

Hera looked at Apollo, "There are several reasons sir. First, I am a warrior. In my training, I had to learn cylon tactics, and I had to learn about their equipment. Second, I have been around the quorum members long enough to know how to act in any diplomatic situation. Third, I am your daughter. Who would be better to send than the Fleet Commanders own child. That alone would tell the Confederation how serious we are. And finally sir, I can fit in the seat.".

Apollo looked at her for almost a centon without saying anything.

"Well Ensign, those are all very good reasons, but are they all of your reasons?".

Hera just looked at her father for a few microns, "I don't know what you mean sir.".

"Don't you Ensign? Your not the only warrior with friends in the fleet. It seems that there were a few warriors that spent some personal time on the agro ship a few cycles ago. The senior tech was a little upset, it seems that they had to postpone the pollinating of several of the fruit trees for over a centar.".

Hera began to blush a little. "You wouldn't know anything about that , would you Ensign?".

"Yes Commander, I do. Ensign Dalton and I thought it would be a good idea to show Vagabond the fleet sir. Then we had a midday meal on the agro ship sir.".

"And the music Ensign?".

Hera looked right at her father, "Vagabond was telling us of a custom among his people sir, called a picnic. The music is something that his people have at a picnic.".

"Thank you Ensign, for your honesty, I will think about your request. Dismissed.".

Hera knew by the tone in Apollo's voice, that she was dismissed, so she turned and left his office.

Sheba looked at Apollo, "You were a little rough on her Apollo.".

"No, I was fair and impartial. I listened to her reasons and then I decided against them.".

"Is that you talking as the Fleet Commander, or as her father?".

Apollo looked at Sheba, he knew they were going to argue, and he knew that he would most likely lose. Sheba was, if anything, a brilliant tactician.

"Apollo, the reasons Hera gave you were all very good reasons why she should go. The only reason as to why she shouldn't go, is that your not ready to let her go. She's your little girl, and you don't want to risk her life. Well she's a warrior, just like you and me. She has taken an oath to protect and defend the people of the colonies just as we did. She knows the risks of the mission, and she had the best diplomacy teacher the colonies ever produced, Commander Adama.".

"But what about the agro ship Sheba?".

Sheba moved around behind the desk and sat on it in front of Apollo. "What about it Apollo?".

"She was there having a , what did she call it? A picnic.".

"Yes she was, and it may surprise you to know that it was my idea.",

"Your idea, why would you".

Sheba put her finger on Apollo's lips before he could say anything else.

"Apollo. While it is a fathers right to embarrass his child, it's a mothers right to meddle in her child's life.".

Sheba leaned forward, and softly said, "Besides, do you know of a more romantic setting anywhere in the fleet?" and then she kissed his cheek.

Apollo remembered a few of the times that Sheba and he had been to the agro ship before they were sealed, and a few of the times afterward. He also knew that he had to follow the same advice that he had given Starbuck just a few cycles before.

Apollo looked at Sheba, "Your right, I am thinking like her father and not her Commander. If Dalton or Troy had given the same arguments, I wouldn't have thought twice about sending either of them. Now I know what my father went through all of those yahrens.".

Sheba put her arms around Apollo's neck, "Now that's the Apollo that I sealed with, lets go tell are daughter that she's going.".

They both stood up and were headed for the door, when Sheba took his hand.

"You know Apollo, this custom of picnic could become very popular in the fleet.",

"I hope not Sheba, the techs on the agro ship won't be able to get any work done.".

This got both of them laughing. As the door opened , he saw Hera was still in the outer office, pacing nervously. Hera looked at Apollo, and he just nodded his head. Hera ran up to him and hugged him,

"Thank you father.I've got to tell Vagabond the good news." and Hera was running out the door.

Apollo saw Lt. Valus just smiling, "What you to?" he said smiling.

Hera ran all the way to Vagabond's quarters, she rang the chime several times. When he answered the door, he was only wearing his boxer shorts. Hera rushed into the room,

"He's letting me go Vagabond, he's letting me go.".

Then she saw how he was dressed, and quickly turned around.

"So when do we leave Lt.."

Realizing how he was dressed, Vagabond pulled the blanket off the bunk and wrapped it around his waist. Just as soon as I clean up and eat Hera, so if you don't mind, I need a few centons.

"Of course sir, I'll just wait outside.".

As she started to leave, they looked at each other and each saw the embarrassed look on the others face. They started to laugh. "Go on Hera, I'll be right out.".

After 10 centons, Vagabond came out of his quarters and they went to breakfast. They ran into Dalton and Troy and told them the news.

Two centars later, Apollo and Sheba met the 4 warriors in the landing bay. Vagabond had changed into his flight suit, and Troy, Dalton and Hera had their helmets as well.

"Well Commander we're all set.".

"Good Lt., do you have the new coordinates for were the fleet will be?",

"Yes sir, if all goes well, we should be rendezvousing with you there in two cycles.".

Apollo turned to Hera, "Be careful, I know that you'll make us all proud." then he hugged her.

As Sheba was hugging Hera, Apollo looked at Troy and Dalton.

"Shouldn't you two be going now?".

They both responded "Yes sir Commander." and headed for their vipers.

He turned to Vagabond, "Have a safe flight Lt.." then he and Sheba headed for the lift.

Vagabond and Hera climbed into the cockpit of the Excalibur and strapped in. Vagabond went through his preflight warm up, and checked all ship systems, except for only having 3 missiles, the ship's systems were at 100.

"Galactica command, this is Excalibur one requesting permission to take off.".

"Roger Excalibur one you and Escort flight are cleared for immediate launch.".

"Roger Galactica command, Excalibur one taking off.".

Vagabond pushed the throttle forward, and was soon rocketing down the bay. As he cleared the Galactica, He saw several vipers launching as well.

"Escort one, this Excalibur one, glad to have you along.".

Major Bojay answered, "Well Lt., were to escort you to the edge of the system, and help out if you meet any cylons.",

"Lets hope that that doesn't become necessary Major.".

After a few centars, they were approaching the edge of the system.

"Well Escort one, this is were we part company.",

"Roger that Excalibur one, good luck.",

"Thanks Escort one, but we might not need that much luck. Just watch this.".

Vagabond brought the cloak on line and activated it, and the Excalibur vanished in front of Escort flight.

"Escort one to Excalibur one are you all right.",

"Affirmative Escort one, we're just fine.",

"Roger that Excalibur one, you sure know how to scare the feldergarb out of people.".

"Sorry about that Major, Excalibur one out.",

"Escort flight returning home." and the vipers changed course and headed back to the fleet.

After the vipers had left, Vagabond asked Hera, "Are you alright back there?",

"Yeah, it's just a little unnerving.".

Vagabond smiled, "Don't worry Hera you'll get used to it.",

"I don't know Vagabond, it's like were actually in space, without a ship.".

"I know, I've flown this way a few times, and I still get a little weirded out by it.".

Vagabond brought up the coordinates for the jump point in his Nav comp and they turned toward it. Hera started to giggle.

"What's so funny Hera?",

"I was just thinking of his reaction when the ship vanished. Bojay sounded like you kicked him in his pogees.".

"His what?",

"His pogees, oh yeah, between his legs.".

"OK, gotcha." that got them both giggling now.

Vagabond's scanner started to beep, "Looks like we've got company. I'm showing a flight of cylon raiders on long range scan.".

"Have they seen us?",

"I doubt it, but I'm going to alter course just to be safe.".

He watched his scanner to see if they changed course, but they didn't.

"I don't think they saw us. Resuming previous course.".

As they were flying Hera asked Vagabond what his people used for time units, she wanted to be familiar with them before she spoke to his people. They spent the next hour comparing the different measuring systems that both of their peoples used. After an hour, his scanner beeped again.

"We're coming up on the jump point. Inputting jump point trajectories. Activating jump drive.".

For a second Hera didn't think anything would happen, then a spot in front of the ship became very bright, and they flew into it. Everything around them became a white blur for a few seconds, then it was normal again. Hera now saw 3 large ships directly in front of them.

Captain Eison was on the bridge when the sensor operator called him,

"Sir the jump point is activating."

They watched as the jump point flared, but nothing came out. He was about to call for a red alert, when the comms officer spoke.

"Captain, we're getting a landing request from Excalibur one.",

"On speaker.".

"TCS Victory this is Excalibur one requesting permission to land, over.".

Forgetting himself for a moment, the Captain got on the transcomm.

"Vagabond, you lucky son of a bitch.",

"It's good to see you to sir.".

The Captain gathered himself for a second, "Excalibur one, you have clearance to land. Activating ALS. Good to have you back son.".

As the Excalibur decloaked, the ALS system locked on and was bringing the ship in. Captain Eison put on the ship wide comms.

"Attention all personnel, our lost lamb has come home." he then headed for the landing bay.

As the ship was landing, Vagabond and Hera could see people coming out to greet them. Vagabond saw Col. Blair and Robin running toward his ship. The ground crew pushed a landing platform up to his ship, and everyone waited for him to get out of his ship. Just as he had gotten out of the cockpit, Robin charged up the stairs. She grabbed him and hugged him, she had tears running down her face, but she was smiling.

"Don't ever scare me like that again.".

Col Blair was right behind her. He slapped his shoulder, "Your one lucky bastard Vagabond.".

The Col. and Robin now noticed that there was someone else in the cockpit in the observers seat. As they stood back, Vagabond helped Hera out of the cockpit.

"Col. Christopher Blair, Lt. Robin Peters, it's my pleasure to introduce Ensign Hera of the Battlestar Galactica.

As the 4 of them walked down the stairs of the platform, the people on the flight deck were cheering and applauding . At the bottom of the steps, Maniac, who had pushed through the crowd, grabbed Vagabond and lifted him off the ground in a huge bear hug.

"It's good to see you to Maniac." Vagabond wheezed.

As he was setting him down, the Captain arrived on the flight deck. The crew got out of his way, when someone yelled "Attention, Captain on the flight deck.".

Captain Eison stopped in front of Lt. Chang, and saluted him, which Vagabond instantly returned. Then Captain Eison saw the young woman standing next to Vagabond.

"Captain Eison, I would like to introduce Ensign Hera of the Battlestar Galactica."

Hera saluted the Captain as she had seen them do, and the Captain returned the salute.

"It's an honor to meet you Ensign, welcome to the TCS Victory.",

"The honor is all mine Captain.".

The Captain looked at Col. Blair, "This should be an interesting debriefing Col.. Lt. Peters, escort the Ensign to sick bay and have Dr. Iverson examine her. And then I want the two of you to report to the briefing room.".

"Yes sir. Would you follow me Ensign.".

Flint and Hera then proceeded to sick bay. Captain Eison looked at Blair and Vagabond,

"Shall we gentlemen."

As they were leaving , the Captain asked Rachel to check out the Excalibur.

As they were walking to sick bay, Robin noticed that Hera was very quiet.

"There's nothing to be afraid of Ensign, this is just a formality.".

"Yes Lt., it's just that I saw how you hugged Vagabond.".

Robin could tell what the Ensign was worried about, and stopped and looked at her.

"Hera, Vagabond and I are just good friends, I was with him on the mission, and I thought that he had been killed. I was just very happy to see that he was alive.".

Hera visibly relaxed now.

"Besides, I don't think that Chris would like it if I started seeing someone else." Robin said smiling.

The two women started talking as they made there way to sick bay. By the time they arrived, they felt like long lost friends.