Chapter 7

New Caprica

An explosion rocked the end of the street. The baby began to cry. One of the two men in the hut drew his gun; he held it up and peered around the table. A shot ricocheted off of the wall. As quickly as he could, he pulled back around the edge.

"There are four of them, just down the road. We can't move until they've gone." He said. Clearly, he was worried about the baby, as he kept looking over to check on it. It was being amazingly quiet. The baby was definitely special; there was something he just couldn't place about it.

He looked up at the woman holding it, she was covered in dirt and she looked very tired, yet still she clung to her baby. The man walked over to her, leaving the table for the first time in almost two hours.

"Miss, are you sure you're alright. We may be in here for a while and if there's anything you need, please, tell me." The man said.

With a slight laugh, the woman replied "Sir, if you can stop the Cylons, go ahead, otherwise, no, can't think of anything."

The man laughed. He turned around and collapsed - Shortly followed by the three others at the table. The woman screamed as she realised what had happened. Three metal Cylons entered the room, followed by a tall, bleached blonde woman.

"That baby belongs to us," the blonde said, "Give her to me and I'll let you live."

The woman looked down, her baby was crying. Staring hard at her, then at the Cylon, she made her choice.

"You'll have to kill me first." She told the Cylon in a last act of defiance.

"I was hoping you wouldn't say that." Said the Cylon.

From outside, gunshots and screams could be heard. Then, the female Cylon exited, carrying the infant in a cloth. She climbed onto another ship and left, to join Gaius on the lead Basestar in orbit.

Kara looked up, above her, she could see another shuttle flying over. That was the second in a short time. She wondered what was going on. Three more people ran past her and into the bunker. She watched as a large group of people came running down the main street. Kara looked behind them and she began to scream at them. What she had noticed was a group of Cylons, armed and about to fire. The men and women were unaware of what they were about to face. The Cylons were going to shoot civilians in the back as they ran.

As they got close, the Cylon's opened fire. The entire group fell to the ground within half a minute. Kara screamed and began to fire wildly into the Cylon group. She hit one before being pulled down into the base.

"It's too late Kara," someone told her, "They're gone and the Cylon's have taken the entrances. We need to seal this." Starbuck never imagined she would die like this; caged like an animal and waiting for her death. Yet still, she knew she had to hold onto the slight beacon of hope that they would survive. As the hatch slammed shut, Kara turned to see what it was that they had all managed to save. Of the people that had died, Kara knew six. She didn't know whether that was a blessing or a sign of the desperate situation they were all in. Even after having settled for so long, they hadn't all taken the time to get to know each other. She knew there were an awful lot of them, but then, an awful lot had been killed.

Ex-President Roslin approached her.

"Kara," she said softly, "Did you see Mr Baltar come through the hatch at any point?"

Kara wasn't sure. She didn't think so but so many people came through. Could she have missed him?

"I'm… I'm not sure Ma'am. He could've come through during the rush. Try asking Tyrol. He may know."

"He's busy at the moment ensuring that the Cylons don't get our hatches open. Thank you Kara, I'll just search myself."

"There are thousands of people down here." Kara said.

"And I will search them all, it will occupy my mind." Roslin replied.

Kara had the greatest respect for her at this point. To be able to concentrate on such a task at this time was something that Kara herself couldn't manage. She was used to being under fire but normally, there was a viper sitting comfortably around her. Though unsure how, Kara knew it was different.

"Ma'am," Kara said, "Good Luck."

Laura smiled and walked off down the tunnel.

The Fleet – Battlestar Pegasus

"This is Lee Adama to all stations. Be advised, there is now less than five minutes till we go in to the fire-zone. All pilots prepare for immediate deployment."

Lee put down the phone and then, turned to his command staff. All eyes were on him. They were all scared in their own way. Lee was terrified. Even with the combined force of the Pegasus and Galactica, they may not have enough firepower to take out even two Basestars. They were going up against at least 3.

Lee knew he had to at least say something – "Let's go to work" he said before swiftly moving over to the command area.

The Fleet – Battlestar Galactica

William Adama loved his son very much and watching the Pegasus make the first jump in would be the hardest thing he ever had to do. Yet he knew, Lee was the best man for the job and, if the human race was to fall there and then, he knew Lee had his best fighting chance on the Pegasus.

His command was always one based on respect for his fellow men, not asking them to do anything he wouldn't do himself. Yet now, in the moment it was most important, he found himself wondering if he would have the courage Lee and his crew had to summon to get their task done.

He then moved over to his shipwide intercom.

"In a little under five minutes, the Pegasus will commence their jump into the firing zone. A minute later, and we will enter too. All pilots and raptor crews must be ready for deployment immediately after we arrive in orbit. Good luck out there to you all."

Then, he placed the phone back onto the holder and moved himself over to the consoles. How was it that two Battlestars were going to take a planet, protect a fleet and take down the largest Cylon force that they'd faced?

Bill didn't care to think of it.