In the Combat Information Center (CIC), Lt. Gaeta while leaning over his Dradis display was reporting to Admiral Adama about the incoming Cylon attack. "We have one, no two Basestars and at least six squadrons of incoming Raiders."
"Don't they ever give up?" Colonial Tigh said in his usual bitter tone as he entered the CIC.
Adama looked across the Dradis counsel at Tigh. He knew the question was rhetorical as well as sardonic, but deep down he asked the question seriously to himself. After all these years, he had finally realized that with the Cylons not only taking on humanities appearance they also took on the trait of humanities resilience. "No. They don't." he said flatly.
Tigh looked back at Adama with a puzzled look, as he was not expecting an answer. Adama was now looking up at the Dradis screen above his head. Adama seeing the screen blanketed with enemy fighters decided it was time to mimic the Cylons resilience with some of their own. "Scramble the fighters."
Gaeta took the order, picked up a nearby handset and notified the flight deck to begin launching the Vipers.
Down on the flight deck of the Galactica Viper pilots scrambled to their respectable fighter, the Mach II and Mach VII colonial Vipers. The Mach II Vipers, considered ancient history before the attack on the colonies was the saving grace of humanity. The obsolete programming aboard the fighters was what saved the neck of humanity. The Cylon virus that rendered all of Colonial fleet's fighters and Battlestars only worked on systems that operated on a network. The Mach II, not affected by the computer virus was able to defend what was left of humanity. The Mach VII Vipers that survived were in need of some major overhaul. Soon after the first attack, the fighter's computer systems programming was rewritten. With that, the Cylon Virus could affect none of the fighters.
The Alert Fighters were already prepared for launch and where heading towards the beehive that was the Cylon Raiders racing towards the fleet.
"Galactica, this is Apollo. Alert fighters are on intercept course." Commander Apollo said as the crew of the CIC could hear the static laced voice of Adama's son back on the Galactica.
"Roger that Apollo." Communication Officer Dana Cassia replied.
It had been seven years and he still had not been able to get use to not hearing Dee on the other line. There are a lot of things he missed about Dee. Her voice was the only constant he had in battle. Nevertheless, of course, it was battle with the Cylons that lead to her death. When she died aboard the Pegasus, Apollo did not know how to handle it. Starbuck tried relentlessly to get Apollo out from the shadows he had fallen into, but it was only Apollo that could save himself from falling any further. Eventually he adjusted and faced the fact that like his brother Zak, she was not coming back and still, life had to move forward. Even so, with every Cylon attack he still expected to hear Dee on the other line.
On Galactica in the CIC, Adama and Tigh weighed their options. The two, as they have many times before stared at the Dradis screen. The odds, however better then they have ever been, still worked against them.
"We can't just sit here. The fleet won't last when we're that outnumbered." Tigh said, admitting the obvious. "We need to plot a jump and fast."
Adama agreed. "Lt. Gaeta."
"Yes Admiral." Gaeta said, as he pealed himself away from his handset.
"Plot a jump outside of this system. Get us as far away from the Cylons as possible. It's time we get ourselves a little reprieve."
"Yes sir." The Lt. said as he finished up with his conversation with who ever was on the other line and began preparing his plot out of the current system.
"Apollo, this is Starbuck. We are right behind you." Starbuck said over the radio as they raced to the rest of the dispatched Vipers.
"Copy that Starbuck. People, we only need to give Galactica and the fleet enough time to plot a jump. Let's not get caught too far out. I expect to see you all on deck when the Galactica is set to jump"
With the last remnants of humanity only a few clicks away, the outnumbered Vipers intercepted the approaching Raiders. The clash resulted in a climatic firefight as the animalistic Raiders began their assault. In the beginning, the Vipers faired well as they inflicted their share of damage.
Off in the distance behind the attacking Raiders the two Basestars kept their ground as they portrayed themselves as only spectators to the attack.
"Those Basestars…They're just sitting there?" Starbuck said over the radio as she took on enemy fire.
"I don't have a problem…" Cat began to say as she paused to cut down a Cylon Raider. "…with that. Let them sit there."
"I'm not complaining. It just doesn't make sense. Normally they would be launching nukes at the fleet by now." Starbuck replied. To Starbuck it was almost more disturbing that they were not attacking. It was causing her to pay more attention to the Basestars with them not doing anything as oppose to their normal barrage of nukes.
Gaius and Six had now retreated from the deck of his home to the more comfortable furnishings of Baltar's bedroom. Six slithered onto his bed as Gaius clumsily tried to remove his clothes. Six positioned herself on her back with a hazy stare. Gaius now finished thumbing his way through his belt and pants lowered himself onto his bed and between Six's legs. The two began the one activity that both seemed to be in complete agreement on. As the two bodies worked together in unison, the murmurs of moans and sighs escalated with every steamy second that pasted. Gaius was feeling a sense of cockiness as he confidently felt that he was satisfying the sexy blonde-haired seductress's every desire. "Yes!" He screamed aloud. He did again, this time louder for good measure. "Yes!"
Just as Baltar came to realize that, he had full control of the situation as it quickly slipped away from him. In a blink of an eye, Six flipped Gaius onto his back. With Baltar's head hanging over the edge of the bed, he opened his eyes to see a figure upside down staring over him. With a frightened shake of his head, he awoke from his dream. As usual, he found himself in another awkward position as he lay upside down in his command chair aboard one of the two Basestars. The figure still stood there.
"Do you require my assistance, Master Baltar?" the figure said in a frustrated electronic tone.
Baltar quickly righted himself. "Ah, no thank you. I'll be quite all right. Did you have something to report?"
"I was not sure if your "Yes" was a confirmation to begin the full scale attack on the fleet?" The metal clad android asked. The android was one of three IL-Series of Cylon that emerged along with the Imperious Leader near the end of the Cylon Civil War. The IL series was one of the original Cylons that fought in the Cylon war over 50 years ago. As far as the current Cylon models, like Six the IL-Series was nothing but over programmed ass kissers. They took commands, nothing more and nothing less. Their purpose contrasted with everything the current models now stood for.
"The fleet, Are they near?" Baltar replied, as he was unaware of the current situation.
"We have dispatched Raiders and they are in combat with the humans as we speak. I am awaiting your further orders." The android responded as its narrow domed-head glowed a fiery red.
Six leaned over Gaius's command chair as she rubbed the tense shoulders of Baltar. "Here's our chance. We can finally rid ourselves of that fleet. We have them right where we want them."
Baltar took Six's words to heart. "Yes. Begin the attack."
"By your command." The android said as it bowed and turned to leave.
"But then," Six paused.
"But then, what?" Baltar's reply reeked of fear.
"If you destroy the rest of humanity, what use will us Cylons have for you? You might as well consider that order, an order for your own death. You are only alive due to your promise that you alone can find Earth. And, we both know that the only way you're going to find Earth is by keeping Adama alive."
Baltar hesitated a moment, but only a moment. "Haddad!" Baltar yelped, calling for the android.
Haddad turned back around, just before exiting. "What is it, Master Baltar?"
"Could you not do that?" He said with a crackle in his voice. "I mean, I have changed my mind. Yes, it would be best to keep tracking the fleet. Do not begin the assault. In fact, do fire your missiles, but make sure you never activate the warheads. We don't want it to look like we're letting them get away. Do we?"
"No sir, if that is your command?" the android replied. His own processors did not exactly see the logic in Baltar answer. Baltar himself claimed he knew the location of Earth. The fleet according to Baltar was lost without him and was sure to die before finding Earth. Now he has a chance at ridding himself of the ones who abandoned him and he decides to keep them alive. The androids logic chip he thought may be in need of repairs, as this decision did not compute.