Raptor 1

Jolly was piloting as Athena sat in the ECO's rear seat. The jump was unremarkable though the CAG had to adjust some perimeters because of the Void's composition.

Ahead of them was the alien space station Gaelatu. It was a hive of activity with an assortment of vessels coming and going but none of these were Colonial.

Jolly turned back. "Well Colonel?"

Athena glanced at her Dradis console. "No Cylons."

"Yet." He added pessimistically.

"Contact them, Jolly but don't get to friendly." She warned, her eyes on the Dradis just in case raiders or a behemoth basestar should pop in.

The captain sighed and tapped the comm unit. "This is shuttle Tango requesting permission to dock."

There was an eerie pause that Athena assumed was the dockmaster wondering why a Colonial raptor was going by a civilian tag.

"This is Docking Control. Shuttle Tango, you are cleared to land in Hanger 321, Strip 2." Came the gruff reply.

Jolly again turned to Athena, who nodded. "Into the belly of the beast." He murmured.

The raptor gracefully approached the hanger as huge cargo ships lumbered by, their alien markings looking more like a child's scribbles than an actual language.

Athena looked out the forward window. "They're equipped to handle a ship the size of Columbia." She pointed to a docking clamp.

He nodded. "So how do you want to handle this?" Jolly asked while he guided the raptor onto strip 2 where a deck crewman motioned where he was to park.

"Carefully." She smirked then opened the hatch. The sound of work crews and shouts in dozens of languages assaulted their ears. "We'll take a look around."

Both were dressed in civilian clothes but here in the hanger they appeared to be the only humans. The station itself was made up of 63 levels offering its clientele numerous opportunities for cuisine, business dealings and entertainment. A female Tucanas singing trio seemed to be the biggest draw, signs indicating as such were everywhere.

Many of the aliens were staring at them as they passed. Their passage was blocked by a powerfully built felinoid, a Khressari, who towered over them by at least a foot.

Athena didn't know what to expect and was prepared to reach for her compact pistol in its shoulder holster, concealed by her jacket.

"You're drawing attention to yourselves." The Khressari finally said. "Unless you have a death wish, I suggest you leave the station now."

Jolly and Athena exchanged looks. "If we don't?" She asked him.

The Khressari glared at her. "You will most certainly die." His vertically slit eyes glanced at those nearby.

"Listen pal, we don't take kindly to threats." The Columbia's CAG snapped back.

"We can not talk here. Come." The Khressari motioned to an more isolated area. "I am Shras." He whispered. "News of the attack on your worlds has traveled at hyperspace and I can say that those on Gaelatu are more interested in their own survival. They will gladly sell you out to those Cylons if it means life."

"Even if it means the Cylons becoming the most dominant power in the galaxy? Do you really think their aggression will stop with humanity?" Jolly couldn't believe the other species would just protect their own collective ass.

"Personally, no I don't but then my opinion matters little to them. You should head for Starlos."

Athena sighed. "We can't. Our ship suffered damage." She was unsure whether to divulge anything to Shras.

Shras thought for a moment. "My cousin has a small repair station near Cimtar."

"Why should we trust you?" Asked Jolly.

Athena ignored her command pilot's outburst. "We'll need to return to the Colonies as soon as possible. Can your cousin's station handle a battlestar?"

Shras looked at both of them. "Yes. Returning to your Colonies is a bad idea though. The Cylons have complete control of the system. There are no survivors….except for rumors that a few ships escaped, escorted by the Battlestar Galactica. You are from that battlestar?"

"No." Athena answered. The thought that the Colonies were already taken and that the Cylons had carried out their massacre of the human race was very hard to rationalize. She wanted to believe Shras was lying and that the remnants of the Colonial Fleet were holding their own. "Uncle William…" She whispered, knowing it was still optimistic to assume that since his ship survived, he had as well. Ever since her father died 18 years ago, William Adama had been a supportive presence in her life. It gave her a sense of hope, that even after this savage attack, he was still around. As for Lee, Aunt Caroline and her own mother…She tried not to think about what horrid fate had befallen them.

"Why do you want to help us? Like you said, the people here are only looking out for themselves." Jolly was still suspicious.

The felinoid glared at him. "I am the only help you can expect. Your nation is gone and others will appease the Cylons to avoid your fate."

"How much would this cost us?" The CAG continued.

"Cubits are worthless now. Besides, I'll think of something suitable."

"Do you have access to tylium?" Inquired Athena. She was not as weary as Jolly knowing they were doomed without assistance.

Shras' expression soften as he turn to her. "The Ovions have an extensive mining operation on Carillon.. It will be costly, say 5,000 Orion checks." Orion currency was a fairly universal economic tool. "There is a chancery on the station if you are need of funds."

"Let's go, Colonel." Jolly said disgustedly.

"Don't be too hasty, Colonel." Shras ignored the pilot and concentrated on the woman. "You could leave but with a damaged ship, just how far would you get before the Cylons overtake you? Take my offer, it is best you're going to get."

Several levels away, the Dockmaster Margon moved through the corridors with the authority his position gave him. Rather pompous, he looked upon others like a despot looks upon his people. Gaelatu was profitable, making him one of richest persons in the region. His gray sagging skin gave the impression he was melting, disappearing in the folds of his black robes.

He was accompanied by his squad of bodyguards, believing there were always scrupulous fellows on his station ready to steal from him or take his life. Piracy was kept in check mostly due to the humans but since their destruction, he feared the worse. His bottom line would be hurt by this.

Margon entered the man's assigned cabin. "You wanted to know if others of your species came here.." He did not divulge anything else until a bag of Orion checks was placed before him. 'Two have arrived, male and female on the Shuttle Tango. It is a Colonial raptor."

Aaron Dorel did not say anything so Margon continued. "For a man whose homeworld has been reduced to an nuclear wasteland, you seemed awful composed.' Again, he elicited no response. "I would prefer that you and these other humans be off my station before you attract unwanted guests."

"Don't worry Margon, it will soon be over."

The dockmaster grumbled, picked up his money and left. Dorel went over to his computer and with great ease, hacked into the station's security surveillence net. Locating two humans among the thousands of organics on Gaelatu would have been a formidable task, for an organic…Not a Cylon. It knew the humans were not from the Galactica. There were many possibilities but it assumed Columbia, a crippled battlestar that needed repairs.

It began to skim its options. A bomb or tracking device on their raptor would serve well but Dorel considered another option. What if the Columbia had made contact with other fleeing ships; other battlestars not already destroyed?