2670.260 New Kobol Space station dry dock viewing lounge: President Tigh and Commander Apollo were looking at the Galactica, and were both happy and sad to see what was being done to the "old girl".

"So Apollo, how is that new granddaughter of yours doing?"

"She's just fine Tigh."

"Have they given her a name yet?"

"Yes they have Tigh, they're naming her Ila."

This brought a smile to both Apollo and Tigh, "Your father would be proud of everything that we've done Apollo, but that honor would make him smile the most."

"I know Tigh, I remember how disappointed he was when Sheba and I didn't name our daughter Ila."

Apollo smiled and laughed a little.

"What's so funny Apollo?"

"I was thinking about the time when Hera was about 9 years old. She was with my father, and she asked about her grandmother. Well he told her all about my mother, and she saw that he was crying after he had finished. She asked him why he was so sad, and he told her that he missed her. I think it was right then that she decided that her first girl would be named Ila."

As they stood there, silently watching the dismantling of the Galactica, the door opened and Rachel came in.

"I thought I would find you here Commander. Hello Mr. President."

"Hello Rachel."

"Apollo, I have the final schematics for you to approve."

"Thank you Rachel, I'll look them over in a little while."

"Are those the designs for the new Vipers Rachel?"

"Yes Mr. President. Virgil and I finished them today."

"May I see them Rachel?"

Rachel handed him the compupad and he looked at the new design. Tigh was very impressed at what he saw, "4 improved laser cannons, 2 tri-mount missile launchers, improved power plants, inertia dampeners, improved avionics, longer ranged scanners, enhanced armor, and E.M. shields. Rachel, you and Virgil have outdone yourselves."

Rachel smiled a little, "Why thank you sir, we aim to please."

All of them laughed a little at that remark. "So what are you going to call these new Vipers Apollo?"

"Actually Tigh, Virgil came up with the name already. Your looking at the new Scarlet class Viper."

"So Tigh, how are the trade negotiations going?"

"Not to bad Apollo, I was amazed at how fast the word about Ambrosia had spread."

"Don't forget about the Taurian pears and Caprican peaches."

"How could I Apollo, it seems that they're worth their weight in gold. But this has brought another bunch of headaches."

"I know Tigh, just last week Starbuck's viper wing had a run in with a group of pirates. That's why I asked Virgil and Rachel to start redesigning the Vipers."

"So when will work on the Vipers begin?"

"I had wanted to wait until the Galactica's refit was done, but I don't think that will be possible. So I've got the Forge ship making the parts for the new Vipers as well as the parts for the refit."

"Won't that slow down the refit?"

"Yes, but it has to be done that way."

"How far back will it push the refit?"

"At least another year, maybe longer."

"Well like you said, it has to be done this way."

The jump point into the system flared, and a Confed Frigate exited the jump point. The ship set a course for the planet of New Kobol. Within two minutes, a wing of colonial vipers was hailing the ship.

"Attention Confed Frigate, this is Lt. Darius of the Kobolan intersystem command. Please send your ID and destination. Over."

"Lt. Darius, this is Admiral Tolwyn of the Confederation space force. I am here for a meeting with your President and his senior military staff. Would you be kind enough to inform them that we will be in orbit in about two hours." then the transmission ended.

Lt. Darius was to say the least a little upset by the way this man had spoken to him, "Ok people, and let's escort the Admiral to New Kobol." and the vipers moved into an escort pattern around the frigate. Lt. Darius next contacted the central command and informed them of the Admiral's arrival, and their ETA to New Kobol.

The orderly entered the observation room and informed Apollo of the message from Lt. Darius.

"It seems Tigh, that we're about to have some company from Confed."

He turned to the orderly, "Ask Captain Chang to come here as soon as possible."

"Yes Commander." and the orderly left the room.

"I wonder what this Admiral Tolwyn wants Tigh?"

"Knowing Confed Apollo, It could be just about anything."

Apollo and Tigh stood there wondering just what this Confed Admiral wanted to talk to them about. As they were waiting for the Frigate to arrive, Vagabond joined them.

"You wanted to see me Apollo, Mr. President?"

Apollo looked at him, "What can you tell me about an Admiral Tolwin?"

They could see Vagabond almost flinch at the name.

"Why would you want to know about Admiral Tolwin Apollo?"

"Because he's coming here, and should be here in about another hour."

"Well Admiral Tolwin has been in Confed for almost 50 years, and he's one the most highly decorated officers in Confed. The last I had heard, he was posted to special ops shortly before the end of the Kilrathi war."

Vagabond then proceeded to tell them what he knew about Admiral Tolwin.

As soon as the Confed frigate reached orbit of New Kobol, the Admiral was informed that Commander Apollo and President Tigh had moved to the Battlestar Pegasus. He had his shuttle ferry him over to the Pegasus. When his shuttle arrived, an Honor guard met it, and he could see three men and a woman waiting for him. Everyone on the flight bay came to attention, and he proceeded through the Honor guard and stopped in front of the four of them, He immediately came to attention and saluted Captain Chang, who returned the salute.

"It's good to see you again Capt, I hope that you're not to board in your posting."

"No Admiral, I'm not board in the least."

"Excellent, would you do the honors Captain?"

"Yes sir. It's my privilege to introduce President Tigh of Kobol system, and his senior military officers Commander Apollo, and Commander Athena."

The Admiral saluted them, and they saluted in return. President Tigh asked the Admiral if he wished to talk in private and the Admiral agreed they then proceeded to Commander Apollo's temporary office on the Pegasus.

After they arrived, and Apollo had his aide bring refreshments, the Admiral got right to business.

"Commander Apollo, as you may recall, our Intel people questioned in detail about the cylons and the location of their home world."

"Yes Admiral, we all remember those sessions."

"Well Commander, when our Intel people were reviewing your data on the cylons, and the data gathered by our own personnel, it was decided to back track your fleets course."

"What our people found was not something we expected."

"What did they find Admiral?"

"Apparently the cylons that were following you all those years, had been dropping communication relays in the systems that they traversed after you. We were also able to jump into the system where Terra was located."

The other people in the room could tell by the way he had said that, that he didn't have good news about Terra. Apollo looked at him,

"What do you mean by was Admiral?"

"Well Commander that system is under the complete control of the cylons. What's worse is that they have a shipyard set up in the system and it is building Base-stars. When our people discovered that fact, they immediately returned to Confed space and in the process made another interesting discovery."

President Tigh looked at the Admiral, "What else did your people discover Admiral?"

"Well Mr. President. It seems that your two Battestars were not the only Colonial capital ships to survive the cylon attacks."

This bit of news shocked the three colonials, and even Vagabond appeared intrigued.

"As our people were making their way back to Confed space, they ran across another colonial ship."

It had apparently been following the same course as your own fleet, and the Base-stars. But unlike your fleet, they didn't have a forge ship, so they had to stop in the occasional system and make needed repairs from whatever materials they could find."

Tigh looked at Admiral Tolwin now,

"What ship was it Admiral?"

"It's the Colonial Destroyer Ares, and it should be arriving in the Kobol system in 2 days."

They all looked at Admiral Tolwin now and they could see that that was not the only thing he wanted to talk to them about.

"Admiral, while we're very happy to know that more of our people survived, I can't help but wonder why you're here."

"Quite right Commander, I'm here with a proposal from Confed high command. The idea of an enemy building a large fleet on our borders worries us. We want your people to help us mount an attack on this system and wipe out that threat."

Apollo looked at him, "Admiral, our people are just now getting used to the idea of living in peace. We're still in the process of upgrading our ships, so they can be on par with your own ships."

"We understand that Commander, and we want to assist you as much as we can. So to help facilitate the refit of your ships were sending a small group of ships here."

"What type of ships Admiral?"

"Two portable dry-docks and two ship tenders, along with the most advanced automated fabricating ships that we have. This will enable you to not only refit both of your Battestars in just over a year, but it will also help you to refit and build more Destroyers and Battlestars."

The 3 colonials looked at each other, and then at the Admiral.

"Admiral Tolwyn. We don't have enough personnel to crew another Destroyer, let alone another Battlestar."

"I know that Commander, that's why we're also sending personnel here to be trained by your people, and to help train your people. As you know, the new Battlestars and Destroyers will be a blending of both of our technologies."

Athena looked at the Admiral, "So how long a time are we talking about Admiral?"

"Well Commander, high command estimates that we can have an effective strike force ready in just over a year."

Apollo looked at the Admiral, "How soon do your people believe it will be before the cylons will be entering Confed space?"

"Given the fact that the cylons are using the same type of travel that your fleet used, and the fact that they don't have civilian ships slowing them down, about 5 years. That's why it's imperative that we strike the shipyards and the Base-ships before they can amass a large enough fleet."

President Tigh looked at the Admiral, "Admiral, we'll have to take this up with the Quorum. I for one would love to see the cylons beaten down, but we will have to abide by their decision."

The Admiral sat there quietly, "I understand Mr. President, matters of this importance fall into the area of politics. Perhaps I could speak with your Quorum, and impress upon them the importance of this mission."

President Tigh shook his head; "I'll arrange a session of the Quorum for tomorrow morning."

"Thank you Mr. President. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some data that I'll need to prepare before that meeting."

After Admiral Tolwyn left, the 4 of them sat looking at each other.

"Well Apollo, for the first time in 25 years, we have a chance to go after the cylons, and get a little payback."

"I know Tigh, but at what cost?"

Now the 4 of them sat quietly, not daring to speak they were each wondering what the cost of this plan would mean to the new colonies, and to themselves.