Chapter 6

The Fleet – Battlestar Galactica

Helo was subdued. Adama noticed this the second he walked onto the deck. Obviously whatever happened between him and Sharon had hurt him deeply. He left to visit her soon after talking to him. For less than two hours, he was off the Galactica. However, he soon returned. He had been quiet since.

Now wasn't the time however, Adama needed everyone at their peak but he was worried that if he brought this up, so close to their time of attack, it would affect him greatly. Therefore, Adama moved silently past him. He walked over to the phone attached to the table and lifted it to his ear.

"This is Admiral William Adama to all ships and personnel in the fleet. For too long, our brothers, sisters, parents, children and friends have been abandoned on New Caprica. The Cylons are holding the vast majority of what's left of our race. It will not stand. Over a year ago, this fleet was split up. We, not me, not any singular man or woman, we brought the fleet back together. Our family; and we will do it again. In just under four hours, we will be executing the battle plan. I need everyone in positions and ready in three. I know I'm asking a lot of you all but I've had the honour to serve with you all and I know every last one of you is up to this challenge. Godspeed and good luck."

He looked around at his bridge officers, he noticed Lt. Agathon exit the Command deck and his replacement take his place. As he turned, visually inspecting every crewman who he could see, they all met his eyes with their own personal look of defiance, fear or anticipation. Bill wondered whether he was displaying his feelings. He severely hoped not. Showing emotion wasn't the role of an officer on duty and as such, minus the odd smile or laugh, he tried to keep a straight face and a level head; despite the fact that on occasions such as this, he was as scared as anyone else.

The Fleet – Battlestar Pegasus

Lee heard it. The call he had been expecting all day – the signal that meant that soon they would be there. The fire in his heart had returned; the feeling he had lost so long ago. They were going to take the fight back to the Cylons. There were more Basestars than they'd ever faced, not to mention masses of Cylon's in an occupation force. But Lee wasn't scared. He had something that he needed to get from this. Not only the thrill of battle that he had once felt, but the company of his colleague; no, friend, Kara. Though he doubted he'd ever be able to tell her, she was his guiding star. The only thing that made waking up each day special and since they'd fallen out, he had been so depressed. He knew that it wasn't really fair on Dee but then, love never seemed to be fair on everyone.

The Pegasus was the fortress; the main force behind their attack. They would be entering the combat zone first, hoping to block the planet from the Cylons, that way the Galactica could slip in, under their cover, and deliver the pilots. Being the more advanced of the two ships; Lee suspected that they would be the main target as well. When he looked around him, he could see in the faces of all his crew that they knew the same.

He walked over to the phone and lifted it.

"Ship-wide transmission – This is Commander Lee Adama, you've just heard the admiral. We're all here to do a job. Know yours, perform it well and you'll get out of this fine."

Lee put down the phone. He was aware that in comparison to his father's speech, his was much less inspirational. However, he got the message he wanted to across. They were about to enter the toughest battle yet. However, he didn't feel he could say anything more that would help. He had never acquired his father's skill at talking to people. The shy Lee Adama, the one who only spoke to those he knew, was very much still alive.

New Caprica

Kara watched as, one after one, people were brought down. They had received various injuries and it became clear that the Cylon's had opened fire upon the human population who were trying to help. Many who came down over someone's shoulders had received a fatal shot from a Cylon. Without thinking, Kara began to help sort the bodies.

Shereen's jaw dropped. What was happening? She shouldn't be shell-shocked. Far worse had happened to her. Why now? She was sickened by the sight and smell of death that now inhabited their tunnels.

"Kara!" A woman shouted loudly. In response, Kara spun around. There, standing unharmed was Laura Roslin. "I know I'm hardly a military tactician but the Cylon's have opened fire up there, I say we get people at the entrance armed, they can fight whilst other teams find people and bring them down here. There should be room."

"That could work." Kara said. "But, I want to be a part of this. Give me a gun and let me get to the door. This was my fault Ma'am, I'll be damned if I have to sit it out in here."

"I understand." The ex-president leant back and grabbed a weapon from a cabinet. She handed it to Kara and with a slight smile, sent her off to the doorway.

People poured in. They kept coming. Like the Cylons, who were now openly bombing, probably in the hope that it would damage the tunnels integrity, causing a collapse. Luckily, the tunnels were under construction from before the time the Cylon's arrived and were as strong as could be needed.

Across the town, a group of civilians were hiding in an area of housing. They were scared, cold and unsure of what they were going to do. With them was a woman with her child.

"Excuse me Ms, we need to get your baby someplace safer and soon." Someone told her.

"Don't worry," she said "Hera's a tough baby, she'll be okay."