A/N: I want to thank everyone for the reviews they've left, especially the ones highlighting some factual errors I've made. I appreciate your willingness to take time to write that up, and I also appreciate your willingness to keep reading despite my errors :) Particular thanks go to the anonymous reviewer who corrected some of my careless interpretations of mass effect technology. I've used some of your concise summary in this chapter.

As always, thanks to my betas: Grenade, Craggidor, and Yoru.

Admiral William Adama looked at Artemis Shepard as she leaned against the wall, and saw the same scrutiny in her eyes. When she looked at them, what did she truly see? How much of what she'd heard did she actually believe?

Shepard cleared her throat, breaking the impromptu staring contest. "To be perfectly honest, your best bet is to throw in with the Systems Alliance. Your forty thousand is a drop in the bucket compared to the rest of humanity, but you and your people have been through fire recently. You've got the skills and reflexes that we're going to need to fight the Reapers. I know from experience that I need all the help I can get."

Adama wasn't surprised that Shepard's idea echoed the thoughts he had been having. It was the easy solution, in many ways. "While that may seem the best solution to you," he said, "it means that we risk losing our identity as a people. Becoming a footnote to this Systems Alliance. We have come too far, fought too hard to have that happen. We have the right to choose our own future."

A wry smile crossed Shepard's face, as though Adama had made some kind of joke. Then her face returned to neutral. "I'm not asking you to do that, Admiral. To be frank, I'm going to be the one leading the charge against the Reapers because of everything I've done and seen in the past two years. If we survive - and that's a big if - I'll have enough clout to demand just about anything. A planet, for example, or at the very least a continent - a space for your people to settle and rebuild."

"That's quite a promise for one woman to make," Laura said. "As the Admiral said, we've come a long way in pursuit of our own destiny. I'm not sure that we can give that up now. Not for any price."

Shepard turned to look at Laura before shaking her head softly. "Destiny… that's one of those things I never put much stock in. I'm not a religious person. I tend to trust myself, my instincts, and the people around me. But you could look at it this way. You jumped to Earth just as I was leaving it. Any later and you'd have been simply Reaper fodder. You crossed paths with the one person in the Systems Alliance who has the clout and the will to try and help you. Perhaps your destiny was to find me."

The words were chilling ones. Adama still wasn't that fond of the idea of giving up everything they had fought for in trade for 'some continent somewhere', but it was hard to deny what Shepard was saying. He let the silence sit for a few minutes before saying, "It's something to consider."

"And what about the Cylons?" Athena asked suddenly. All eyes, including Shepard's, turned to look at her. Adama thought he saw a brief expression of fear on Athena's face, but then it was gone - perhaps he'd imagined it.

Shepard thought for a moment, and then lifted her head and looked at the ceiling. "EDI?"

"Yes, Shepard?"

The voice that emerged from the speakers was a disturbingly familiar one. Everyone in the Colonial delegation except for Kara jumped. "That's a Six," Athena said.

"I am not," the voice said. "It is an intriguing coincidence that my voice sounds similar to one of your fellow Cylons, Lieutenant Agathon. Further evidence that your people are connected with Shepard's."

"That's your answer," Shepard said with a nod. "EDI is an AI. An illegal AI. I'll have to deal with the consequences of that at some point. For now, I hope that EDI will serve as your guarantee that I will not act against the Cylons, or permit them to be acted against. You're my allies. All of you." She stepped forward and drummed her fingers against the table the holograms had emerged from. "Which means that you shouldn't go to the Citadel with us. An unknown starship that can easily be mistaken for a Reaper?" She shook her head. "It's exactly the sort of thing I'd like to prevent."

"So what will you do?" Karl asked.

"I'll need someplace to send Galactica and the - basestar?" Shepard paused and waited for their nods before continuing. "I think the Fifth Fleet is our best option. Which means I need to let Hackett know you're coming."

"Admiral Steven Hackett, one of the highest ranking members of the Systems Alliance Navy," Williams added. "Probably the closest damn thing we have to a commander-in-chief right now, with Arcturus Station having been hit by the Reapers." She looked at Shepard. "He's also believed Shepard from the start, and he's giving her full backing."

"He reached out to me for assistance, which should mean that he will accept your aid," T'Soni said.

Adama looked at the others. "It isn't my decision alone," he said.

"What about the civilians?" Laura asked. "What do you propose to do with them?"

"They'll blend in with the other refugees easily enough," Shepard replied. "I don't know what conditions are like there, but they'll have to be some provisions."

T'Soni stepped forward. "I can find a suitable planet for the civilians to be from. If you think that they will accept the deception."

Adama considered the idea, looking around at the others to see if he could read anything from their expressions. Finally he shook his head. "Too risky. That's too many people that would have to know and maintain a lie. Our ships are self-contained; they won't be a drain on the supplies of your fleet." Although he wouldn't turn down an offer of extra supplies if it was offered.

Shepard sighed. "I can't really argue with that assessment. The goal is to keep you all under wraps, after all." She nodded decisively. "All right. Everyone heads to the Fifth Fleet except the people onboard."

"And afterwards?" Adama asked. "My people won't serve under a foreign military authority."

"I wouldn't expect them to," Shepard said. "I'm sending you there because it's the best place for you to use as your base. Hackett won't try to put you under his command. I trust him." She flashed an impish grin at him, reminding him of Starbuck for a moment. "Besides, you're self-sufficient enough that you can just jump away again if things get bad."

Adama exchanged a glance with Laura. "I'm actually not sure we can," Adama said after a long moment. "Commander Shepard, I know that Kara told you some of what we've been through. The people of our Fleet have placed a great deal of importance on Earth and the Thirteenth Tribe. Leaving Earth temporarily is going to be a hard enough sell."

Shepard looked over at Kara, then back to Adama. "I'll help if I can, but I don't immediately see how," she said. "Aside from giving you a - an opportunity to do something to contribute to this war. Something that it's unlikely anyone else would be able to do."

"I'm listening," Adama said.

"There's a pro-human organization - "

"Terrorist organization," Williams interrupted. She and Shepard exchanged a strained glance for a moment, then Williams shook her head and looked away.

"Pro-human terrorist organization," Shepard said regretfully. "They're called Cerberus. In the interest of honesty and cooperation, I'll tell you that I did work with them for a time." She paused. "After they brought me back to life. So you can see why I owed them," she said over the startled exclamations of the Colonials. "I was brought back for a mission. I completed that mission. After that, we parted ways. Cerberus' leader accepted that."

"And the Alliance reinstated her," Williams said. "They believe that she's done with them."

"That's … rather a lot to take in," Adama said after a long moment of silence.

"On top of everything else we've been asked to take in," Lee added quietly.

Shepard grimaced. "Unavoidable, I'm afraid. I'm sure you're as tired of hearing promises as I am of making them to you. It's all I can give you, though. I'm hopeful that after we reach the Citadel I can find someone to give you as a liaison. Someone you can ask questions of at your leisure."

Adama wondered how she would find such a person and convince them to become a glorified encyclopedia. That was her problem, though. "So. This … Cerberus."

"Yes." Shepard drew herself up a little straighter. "Their leader, the Illusive Man - and yes, that's the only name I have for him - is trying to find a way to control the Reapers."

"Control them," Adama said. "Is that possible?"

"Even if it is, it's a complete waste of time," T'Soni said, shaking her head. "The only thing we can do is fight back. On Mars, I discovered plans for a device that might be able to wipe out the Reapers. We're going to convince the Council to throw its resources behind that plan."

Williams snorted. "We can try, at least."

"Not to mention that the Illusive Man's ultimate goal is to elevate the human race above others," Shepard said. "It all adds up to him, and Cerberus, being a distraction when we can least afford one."

"Shep - Commander Shepard suggested that we can hit them, sir," Kara said. "They don't know anything about us. Not to mention that we've gotten good at hit-and-run ambushes."

Adama raised an eyebrow at Kara's slip. She had gotten cozy with Shepard and the others on Mars, it seemed. Starbuck wasn't exactly known for making new friends easily. Then again, Starbuck did appreciate people with a flair for destruction - which it seemed Commander Artemis Shepard possessed.

"So you propose to have us hunt down the Cerberus forces and prevent them from … gaining control over the Reapers?" Adama said.

Shepard pursed her lips. "The Illusive Man is going to be tracking information on the Reapers. If you track him, then we can get to the information before he does. We learn more about the Reapers, and we stop Cerberus from destroying a chance for galactic peace."

"That sounds a fairly vague plan, Commander," Laura said.

"Yeah, well, given a week and a full analysis of your military capabilities, I could come up with a better one," Shepard replied with a sigh. "But that's about the best I can offer on the fly. Maybe Hackett will have a better idea when you get to Fifth Fleet."

"You're not coming with us?" Lee asked.

Shepard opened her mouth, then closed it, and exchanged glances with Williams and T'Soni. "We should inform the Council as soon as possible," T'Soni said hesitantly.

"But a detour to the Fifth Fleet won't take that long." Williams looked to be warming up to the idea. "I suspect Hackett is going to want to hear from us in person anyways."

"Okay, we go with you to Fifth Fleet," Shepard said, nodding decisively at Adama.

"Don't forget that Lieutenants Agathon and Gaeta will need to view your systems before heading back to the Galactica," Adama said, making an effort to keep his voice even. He needed to remember that Shepard was outside of his chain of command.

"Of course," Shepard replied. "I'll have Specialist Traynor give them the overview. She was part of the Normandy's retrofitting crew and knows how things are put together here. I assume they'll be taking one of your shuttles back to Galactica?"

Karl nodded. "Sharon and I can pilot it." He looked at Adama. "It'll make things a bit crowded when you head back to to Galactica."

"Actually - I'd like to propose that not all of you head back to Galactica after we get to Fifth Fleet," Shepard said. "Specifically - I'd like to offer you, Captain Thrace, a spot on my combat team."

Kara looked startled, turning her gaze over to Adama. He could tell that she was asking for his opinion - or his permission, perhaps? He didn't know how much Kara had said about her role in getting them here - that Kara was the one person who knew the most about Earth. He had approved her going once, and he wasn't about to take that permission back. Still, it warmed his heart to have her looking to him like that. "The choice is yours, Kara," he said quietly.

With a grateful nod, Kara turned her gaze back to Shepard. "If it means I'll get a shot at flying one of your fancy Alliance planes, I'm in."

"You might be able to convince Cortez to let you have a shot at the Kodiak," Shepard said, returning the grin. "As for the fighters - I might be able to pull some strings." She extended a hand, and Kara shook it firmly. "Welcome to the Normandy. When we're done here, Ashley can help get you squared away with some space." She turned and looked back at Laura. "I'd like a representative from the civilian side as well - someone authorized to make decisions for your civilians in case something comes up unexpectedly. Madam President, I understand from Kara that you're in ill health. If you stayed, I could try to pull some strings and get you seen by the doctors on the Citadel -"

"No, thank you," Laura said, shaking her head. Adama felt proud of her for that. "There is far too much to be done for me to waste time in a hospital. My place is on the fleet."

Shepard turned her gaze to Lee, and raised a critical eyebrow. "Should I take that to mean that you're staying, Mr. Vice President?"

Unlike Kara, Lee didn't look to Adama for approval. Or Laura. He did, however, look over at Kara once before speaking. "Yes, Commander. I'll stay and represent the civilian interests."

"You're the best one for the job," Adama said, his voice catching in the middle of that sentence. If anyone noticed, they didn't comment on it.

"Commander," a male voice said over the loudspeakers.

Shepard looked up. "What is it, Joker?"

"EDI's got Admiral Hackett for you."

"That's good news, Joker," Shepard replied. "I'll be right there."

"Roger that."

Shepard returned her attention to the Colonials. "I need to go speak with Admiral Hackett immediately so that we can get to wherever he is at the moment."

"Perhaps I should come with you," Adama said.

Shepard sighed. "No, Admiral. I expect there will be time for you to speak with Admiral Hackett at length later. Right now, time is of the essence and it's best if we keep things simple."

"I understand, Commander," Adama said after a moment. He realized a minute later that the unthinking platitude was actually the truth.

Shepard nodded, seeming to relax a bit. "Ash, Liara, would you mind sticking around with the Galactica crew for a bit?" She cast a glance at Adama and gave him a wry smile before he could open his mouth. "Everyone except for those getting the full tour."

"Of course, Shepard," Liara said. "We can take them to the observation lounge."

"Good. Let's get moving," Shepard said, and turned for the door.

Athena took one last look at the hologram projector in the middle of the pristine room before she followed her husband and the others out. She honestly didn't know how much she was going to learn in the short time she had, but the Old Man had insisted, and this Shepard had agreed. She had to admit that she was looking forward to getting the chance to look at this new technology. Technology of the Thirteenth Tribe.

Not only the Thirteenth tribe, she reminded herself. Lieutenant Vega had explained that the Normandy had been jointly designed by humans and turians. It made her wonder what parts of the ship were of turian design. Nothing seemed that obvious to her on first glance, but she wasn't an expert on ships like the Chief.

Athena glanced at him and felt the same soft nostalgic love she usually did. She remembered being Boomer, being with the Chief. But she had fallen in love with Helo - her, as a person, the first time that she had ever felt like an individual instead of just another Eight.

An unfamiliar voice jolted her thoughts back to the present. "I'm Specialist Traynor," the woman they had passed earlier at a duty station said. Her accent was smooth and cultured, reminiscent of Caprica's upper crust. "It's a - real pleasure to meet all of you. Uh, which ones of you are coming with me?"

"We are," Athena said, stepping forward a half-second ahead of Helo and Gaeta.

"Good. Good." Traynor cast one final look at Shepard before she headed for the elevator, with the three of them following close behind. Roslin, Adama, Apollo, Starbuck, and the Chief stayed off to the side with Williams and T'Soni.

"So, we're leaving Deck Two," Traynor said after the elevator doors closed behind them. "Shuttle bay is on Deck Five, where you came in, and we're heading to Engineering on Deck Four. Deck Three is the Crew's Quarters, and Deck One is the Captain's Cabin. It's … it's not a very big deck," she added hastily. "Just above the CIC, and smaller. You saw the outline of the ship as you flew up, right?"

Athena thought she knew which part Traynor was talking about and nodded.

Traynor's answering smile was still somewhat nervous, but she seemed more confident than she had a moment before. "So … you're really from outside the Milky Way?"

"About as unbelievable to you as the fact that you're from Earth is to us," Gaeta said, leaning heavily on his crutch.

"Oh, I was born on Horizon, one of the colonies, although my parents were from London," Traynor said. "Um. Capital city of the United Kingdom, one of the oldest countries on Earth. Also known as Great Britain…" she paused. "Going into all of that would take a lot more time than you have, and you're probably not interested." She finished with a nervous laugh.

"Trust me, it sounds very interesting," Helo said. "We've all been deathly curious about the Thirteenth Tribe for so long. Every little scrap of detail is going to filter back to our people and get discussed."

Traynor shook her head as the elevator doors opened and she gestured them forward. "That's so weird," she said. "That your people have legends about us." She drew herself up straighter as she walked out onto the deck and turned left, looking back over her shoulder to make sure they were following. "Anyway, as I said, more time for that later. Hopefully."

Two more left turns took them through two more doors that slid open at their approach, and then they were in what was quite obviously the engine room. Gaeta's crutch clicked against the metal floor, providing the only sound other than the hum of the engine. Athena took a moment to drink in the sight - a giant round structure that glowed with blue-white energy. She couldn't see how it would even work.

Athena shook her head, reminding herself that it obviously did work, or this ship wouldn't be functioning. How was she supposed to absorb all of this before they had to go back to Galactica? Shepard kept emphasizing the lack of time. She had thought that - being a Cylon - she might have a better chance of understanding the new technology better than the others.

Well, that might still be true - but the technology was a lot more new than she had been expecting.

"Traynor? What's all this?" A man in the same uniform as Traynor's walked over, puzzlement written all over his face.

"Lieutenant Adams!" Traynor said brightly. "Did you hear about the Commander's new allies?"

Adams' eyes went wide as he took a second look at the three of them. "They look normal," he said. A second later, his cheeks flushed red. "Sorry. That was incredibly rude. I thought I'd broken that habit."

"That's all right," Helo replied with a wry smile. "I'm used to being gawked at." He looked over at Athena, his expression softening, and she reached for his hand. It had been a rough road, but she was so happy now. She had her husband and her child, a place on the Galactica with her friends who were more like her family.

"Anyway, these are the three that are getting a look at the drive core and a short lecture on mass effect fields," Traynor said. "Enough for them to avoid completely flying blind during the relay transit."

Adams nodded. "Suppose that makes sense. Well… I hope you've got good pilots. That's the most important part of using a mass relay. Hitting that sweet spot that allows the relay to just whip you along to the destination, instead of shearing you in half."

The three Colonials exchanged nervous glances at that. "We don't have a pilot," Gaeta said. "The ship's too big for only one person to control. Navigation is done by DRADIS sensors. The CO or XO monitors the situation and gives commands."

"Bigger ships use the relays all the time," Traynor said. "I'm sure it's feasible."

"They probably know what they're looking for," Helo countered, still looking nervous.

"Look, the first human ships used a relay right after they'd found it, with no understanding of the physics involved," Adams said. "Scuttlebutt says that you've been through some real shit in the past few years. I'm sure that's made everyone involved very good at flying their ships. They just have to know what to look out for." He looked over his shoulder. "EDI, can you give them that data?"

"Certainly, Lieutenant Adams," the AI that sounded like a Six said. Athena shivered. She would never get used to that. The AI's voice was far flatter than any Six's had ever been, without the emotion or intonation that the tall, usually blonde Cylons always put behind their words. Every Six that Athena had ever known was passionate in some way - whether it was desire or anger, it didn't matter. They always had opinions and were unafraid to voice them.

This AI seemed more passive, not speaking unless spoken to. The way a Hybrid would be, if it wasn't for the constant senseless monologues that took up the rest of their time.

"I must clarify something," the AI said. "I am fully willing and able to give you the data. However, I am not sure what method I could use to transmit it to you. You made contact on a broad-band radio channel that transmits audio. From what scans I performed of your vessels, the only one that can accept the data directly is the Cylon basestar."

"Wait a second," Traynor cut in. "That's … way too sophisticated for a VI."

"I apologize for the deception, Specialist Traynor. Shepard and Joker requested that I be a simple VI during our time in Alliance drydock."

"Oh, I knew it!" Traynor whirled around, pacing angrily. "I knew you weren't just a VI." Her cheeks flushed hot with embarrassment, then she shook herself and made a visible effort to regain composure.

"And you, Engineer Adams?" the AI asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

Adams shrugged. "I had some pretty strong suspicions. You were too quick to respond for a VI."

"So," Helo said forcefully, steering the conversation back on topic, "the Cylons will be able to tell where to aim on the mass relay, but the others will just have to guess."

"It's not that hard," Adams insisted.

"The Admiral isn't going to like that level of uncertainty," Gaeta said. He cast an uncertain look at Adams and Traynor. "Is there anything else you can give us that might help?"

Athena looked back at the bright glowing ball of a drive core, turning an idea over in her head. "The Cylons," she said. "EDI. You think you can pass that information to the basestar?"

"I can do that now, if you wish."

"They won't know it's coming." There was an idea forming in Athena's head, but she needed a few more minutes to figure it out.

"If Engineer Adams or Specialist Traynor will give permission, I can set up a link between the basestar and one of their omni-tools," EDI said.

Adams lifted his left arm, tapping something invisible to activate the glowing orange interface that Athena had seen Shepard use earlier. "Go ahead."

"Connecting." A momentary pause. "The connection is live."

Athena exchanged a quick glance with Helo and Gaeta before stepping closer to Adams. "This is Athena. I'm onboard the Normandy."

"Athena?" Another Eight's voice. "What's going on?"

"I'm receiving a bit more information about what will needed to navigate the mass relays," Athena said. "Stand by to receive a transmission."

"Wait, that sounded … exactly like her," Traynor said, looking at Helo and Gaeta. "What's going on?"

"You must have missed the part where there are many copies of each Cylon," Helo said wryly.

Traynor looked at her with wide-eyed astonishment, and then back over at Helo. "How do you stand that?"

"Some people don't," Gaeta replied.

"You get used to it," Helo countered. Athena heard the defensive tone in his voice and wondered if there would ever be a time where he didn't feel like he had to protect her.

"Got it. What am I looking at?" the Eight on the basestar asked.

"Sensor data about the spot the ships will need to aim for when traversing the mass relays," Athena said. "Can the Hybrid make sense of it? Can she use it?"

There was a long pause on the other end of the open channel, and then a different voice spoke - a Six. "Yes. She says that's exactly what she needs. Although how she knew what she needed is beyond me."

"I'll be damned," Adams exclaimed softly. "That really does sound like EDI."

Athena ignored him, focused on the problem and the solution that had finally come together for her. "Do we have enough Heavy Raiders and pilots to escort the ships of the Fleet through the relays?"

The question was followed with another long silence. "The Admiral isn't going to like that any better," Gaeta said finally.

"I'm not seeing another option," Helo replied. "Besides, we can trust the Cylons."

Gaeta looked deeply skeptical about this idea, leaning more heavily on his crutch than before. Next to him, Traynor cleared her throat hesitantly. "I … thought you were allies."

"It's a recent alliance." Athena turned around to look at Traynor. "Besides… we look human, but we're like the geth." She shifted her gaze to Helo and Gaeta. "And they're the quarians."

"I can see where that would be a somewhat tenuous alliance," Adams murmured appreciatively. "Trusting the creations that tried to kill you."

"Yeah. There's a lot that the Cylons need to answer for," Athena said with a sigh. "This is a start. Guiding the Fleet through the relay to the start of a new life."

"If the Fleet will accept the help," Gaeta said. "How many ship's captains might balk at trusting their safety to the Heavy Raiders?"

Helo let out a long breath. "Probably more than a few. The President is going to have to do some fast talking."

"Then we'd better go update her and the Admiral so that they can get started," Athena said decisively.