Chapter Ten

Onboard the Battlestar Galactica-- One Hour after jumping from New Caprica

Admiral Adama stood in the situation room... staring at a map of New Caprica City. Apollo stood on the other side of the room, discussing charts with Helo.

"It looks like six Basestars jumped into orbit right before we jumped away," Helo said. "We didn't get a count of Raiders, but given the number of Basestars--- we can expect that number to be in the thousands."

"Frak," Apollo said under his breath. "How many pilots do we have?"

Helo hesitated before answering. "Eight, including you. But that's not counting our back-ups."

"Back-ups? What back-ups?"

Helo looked over at the Admiral. The Admiral gave a slight nod. Helo continued. "Over the last few months, the Admiral has been encouraging the remaining crew on Galactica to undergo basic flight training during their down time."

Apollo looked at the old man. Adama looked back at the map as he spoke. "Seemed like a good idea... just in case."

For the first time in the last hour, Apollo started to feel some hope. "Well, how many back-ups do we have?"

Helo looked at his chart. "We have 24 who've completed training, so that brings our total number of pilots to 32."

"33," Adama said from across the room without taking his eyes off the map. Apollo and Helo both shot him the same questioning look. "I can get back in the cockpit as well."

Apollo was in no mood to argue with his father right now. He turned back to Helo. "What about civilians on the other ships? Can any of them fly?"

"We're checking. We should know in the next hour or so how many pilots we have."

"All right," Apollo sighed. "Get back with me once we get an exact number."

"Yes, sir." Helo started to leave and seemed to think twice.

"Sir--- don't you think we should get Sharon in on this conversation as well?"

Apollo closed his eyes. "For all we know, Helo--- she's the one who contacted them."

Helo tried to push back his anger as he answered. "If she were going to do that... why would she wait a year? Why now?"

Apollo ran his fingers through his hair in exasperation. "Maybe she was waiting until she knew that we didn't have the resources to fight back. I don't know. All I know is--- I don't trust her."

Helo paused before answering. "With all due respect, sir. I trust her."

Apollo paused and looked at Helo. "Fine. Talk to her and just see what she says." Helo gave a slight nod and started to head for the door.

"Helo," Apollo called. Helo stopped and turned around. "Don't tell her about our back-up situation."

Helo looked a little upset, but nodded once again before he left the room.

Apollo leaned against the table and took a deep breath.

33 Vipers vs. thousands of Raiders, he thought. Hardly seems like a fair fight.

He turned to his father, who seemed to be lost in thought.

"What do you think?" Apollo asked.

The Admiral seemed to be connected to that map. He still didn't look up.

"I think I'm an old fool," he said with a hint of anger in his voice. "I guess I just wanted to believe we could stop running."

Apollo nodded. "It's been a year. You're not the only one." He paused. "Somewhere in the back of your mind you must've thought there was a possibility they'd return. Otherwise we wouldn't have those back-up pilots."

Adama smiled slightly. "Old habits die hard. I didn't think we should be completely unprepared." He sighed and his voice got quieter. "We need to get a plan together and get back there. I know they're still alive."

Apollo wasn't sure what to say. Past experience would indicate that the Cylons would've destroyed the colony almost immediately. But something told him, too, that they were still alive.

Then it dawned on him why he felt that way. Kara. I would know it if Kara had been killed.

Lee felt a slight pull in his chest. He'd been trying to push thoughts of Kara out of his mind for months now, but it couldn't be done. She was still his first thought every morning when he woke up and his last thought right before he fell asleep.

He had been keeping tabs on her to a certain extent... casually asking about her on those rare occasions where he talked to the Chief or someone else who'd moved down to the planet. Everyone he talked to told him she seemed fine, but a little more distant than usual.

Just moments before the Basestars jumped into orbit, she had called him. Old wounds immediately reopened--- and he grew even angrier when he realized that she'd only called to get "a favor." When she told him she thought Sam might die if Apollo didn't give up some medicine, he was ashamed at the first thought that went through his head. For a split second, he actually considered saying "no." This is what you've done to me, Kara, he thought.

But it turns out he didn't have to make that decision... because just seconds later, the Cylons were in orbit. And his world changed yet again.

All angry thoughts were pushed away as he immediately worried about Kara's safety. "Move," he had shouted into the comm as he hung up. He had to put further thoughts of her on hold as he called Pegasus into active alert.

When the Fleet jumped out of orbit a few minutes later, his thoughts turned back to Kara. He knew she could take care of herself. But he also knew those Basestars could obliterate the planet in just a matter of minutes... giving none of the colonists a chance to fight.

Even so, he could feel that she was still alive. He hoped to the gods that wasn't just wishful thinking.

He jumped back to the present as his father continued talking. "Every time we've encountered the Cylons, they've attacked almost immediately. This time, we were caught off-guard. They could've blown us out of the sky as soon as they arrived. And they didn't." He looked at Lee.

Lee realized that he was right. "They didn't fire a single shot," he said slowly.

The Admiral looked back down at the map. "No. Which means they must have something else in mind."

Lee's entire body relaxed. Kara was still alive. Now he just had to figure out a way to get to her.