II

Galen Tyrol, Charlie Connor, and a few others were waiting by a small creek in Breeders Canyon. They were to meet Lieutenant Sharon "Athena" Agathon, who had jumped in on a Raptor. His job was to get Athena close enough to the Cylon prison, so that she could search for the launch keys of the civilian ships currently on the surface.

They hadn't been waiting long-although it felt like an eternity.

From a short distance, a familiar voice rang out.

"Go Panthers!"

Galen answered with the password. "C-Bucks rule!"

From the tree he saw Athena Agathon step out from the thickets, a smile on his face. It was always awkward for the Chief to see a Sharon, especially one smiling at him. He had gone through a torrid affair with Sharon "Boomer" Valarii years ago. Boomer had shot and almost killed Bill Adama after her Cylon programming kicked in. He had seen Boomer more than once here on New Caprica. His anger was still mixed with a begrudging love for the woman, even if she was a Cylon.

The Chief walked toward Athena, who gripped him in a hug. "Hey, Chief, it's been a while."

Galen wanted to smile, but he couldn't. "Funny, I feel like I see you every day."

Sharon looked down a little. Galen knew he shouldn't take it out on her.

"Come on", he said to her, relaxing a little. "We don't want to hang around here."

Admiral William Adama, commander of the Battlestar Galactica, was escorting his son, Commander Lee Adama, commander of the Battlestar Pegasus, into the hangar aboard the former's ship. Lee was preparing to lead his ship, and the civilian fleet that had made it off of New Caprica, out into deep space, as Galactica would jump in for the attack on The Cylons at New Caprica, and to attempt a rescue of their people.

The elder Adama noticed his son kept looking at his watch.

"That's the third time you've taken a look at your watch. Got dinner plans?"

Lee chuckled loudly. "No I was just thinking...just thinking that Sharon is probably on the ground by now." Sharon had led a team in a Raptor to New Caprica to grab the launch keys for the ships that were on the surface.

"I know", his father said. "These are your orders. You'll find the rendezvous point there. Take the civilian fleet, and wait for me for eighteen hours. If I'm not back in eighteen hours, find Earth."

Lee was close to breaking down, but he held it together. "Yeah, right."

"I'll see you in eighteen hours."

Lee stabbed the orders toward his father's chest. "Eighteen hours", he said firmly. "Try not to be late?"

"I'm getting old", his dad quipped. "I'm a little slow, but I'll be there."

"Gods, I wish I could talk you out of this", Lee said with a measure of desperation.

"You can't", Bill Adama reminded him. "You tried."

Lee was almost losing it again. "You know, dad..."

Bill Adama looked down and away from his son, the emotion getting to him as well. "Don't", he said softly. "Don't make me cry in my own hanger deck."

Lee's face broke at that moment, unable to look at his father. He didn't let the tears fall, but his emotions were getting the better of him. He settled for a brief shake of the hand, and a short, emotional hug. Right now, it wasn't Admiral and Commander in a military chain. It was father and son, the latter wondering if he was seeing his dad for the last time.

"I'll see you there", the Admiral said one last time.

"Permission to leave your ship, Admiral."

Bill nodded. "Permission granted, Commander."

Lee began to climb the deck of his Raptor.

"Attention", Bill Adama bellowed firmly, everyone on deck turning toward Lee Adama. "Commander Pegasus, departing." The Admiral and the hanger crew saluted crisply.

Lee Adama turned, pulled himself up to his full height, and gave a slow, respectful salute to his father, even as his face quivered in remorse. He began to turn away, but spoke before he did.

"Eighteen hours", he said, with a nod, heading back to Pegasus.

Five Hours Later

Back in his office that evening, Admiral Adama was going over some of the details of their plans. They were taking a long risk, as Lee had pointed out. But by his thinking, Bill thought the math was on his side. How long could only two thousand Humans hold on against an unknown number of Cylons? Two thousand, which included children and the elderly, wasn't enough to build up a population fast enough to survive as a race. Hell, he thought, the almost forty thousand that existed, give or take, might not be enough. They had a better chance if they got everyone off of New Caprica.

He was startled with footsteps approaching. It was Helo.

"Sir", his XO said, looking down at his clipboard. "Listening Raptor just jumped back."

There was a short pause, Adama looking expectantly at the younger man.

A small smile that Helo was known for, spread across his face. "Sharon's got the launch keys."

Bill glanced down at his desk, as Helo's smile broadened as he turned to leave.

When Karl Agathon was gone, Bill Adama slammed his right fist down on his desk.

It was time.

The Bunker, Below Tigh's Quarters

"H-hour will be 1400 tomorrow. That's when we set off the explosions around the city, which will signal the beginning of the uprising." Saul Tigh was reading from notes. This was too important to leave to memory.

"When the explosions occur", Tory Foster said next, "the block leaders will begin rounding people up in their areas, and begin getting people to the ships."

Galen Tyrol followed. "When the explosion hits the auxiliary generator near the prison, that will be the signal for the numerous groups to head for the arms depots, and secure our automatic weapons and ammunition."

"Around that time", Tigh continued, "whatever Bill is planning to get the Vipers on the surface should take place, and with their help, we should be able to blow the gates toward the prison, and the other Cylon parts of the settlement, and move on those facilities.

Everyone glanced at Laura Roslin. At the moment, Kacey was with Cally Tyrol. "I have a request to make, Colonel Tigh."

Tigh knew what it was just by looking at her. "Oh, no, Madam President, you are not going to the prison."

"Try and stop me, Colonel." She looked around, challenging everyone else. "My wife is in there, and I'll be damned if I leave this planet without having her with me."

Laura turned toward Tom Zarek before Tigh could respond. "Mr. Zarek, I trust that you have some sharp-shooters that can be made available?"

"I do, Laura. Why?"

"Would you assign three of them to escort Kacey to Colonial One, once I head toward the prison. Her safety is more important than mine."

Laura looked at her political rival, who had become an awkward ally since the occupation. Zarek knew he'd probably have more differences with Roslin in the future, but now was not the time for such games. He knew it.

"I can put three of my most trusted men on it. I can talk to them later today, and, with your permission, I will bring them by your tent, and have you talk to them with Kacey present. Is that acceptable?"

"Quite, thank you, Tom."

"The first people who will move to the ships will be those that will pilot them. They will be escorted by two armed guards, and a third person, carrying with them the coordinates for the jump away from New Caprica. After that jump, and when the fleet is assembled, we will all jump together to where Pegasus and the other civilian vessels are." Tigh sat back, trying to bleed the tension out of his voice.

"We will meet again one more time in the morning", Roslin declared, "to go over any last minute details. This is our time, people, let's make this work."

As the meeting broke up, Laura turned away from everyone, and said a silent prayer to herself.

Kara, we're coming for you, baby. Just hold on.

Felix Gaeta was in Colonial One right on schedule, at 0700. Of course, President Baltar wouldn't waken until at least 0900. He would be...occupied with Caprica in the bedroom that Gaius had built, with soundproofing, on the lower level of the Presidential ship. At least that kept Colonial One much quieter than it used to be.

Felix was a man in purgatory: he was not trusted by his Cylon masters, and was hated by his Human brothers and sisters, for being Baltar's Chief of Staff. The only saving grace in his life, which no one else knew about, was that it was he who had been feeding information about The Cylons to the Insurrection for eighteen months. It was his information that led to the suicide bombing at the graduation ceremony of the first New Caprica Police force. The carnage had appalled him, but he knew it was necessary.

No one else knew it was him. He received the cold shoulder from everyone he used to associate with, from Tigh and Tyrol, down to those who used to work for him in the hangars. He was the ultimate persona non grata. Yet he also took satisfaction that it was partly his work that helped Cally get free a year ago, when prisoners were rounded up.

He knew the hateful looks from his people was the price he had to pay for staying anonymous in his role as a spy. He was willing to accept it. At one time in his life, he had admired Gaius Baltar. Gaeta himself was interested in the sciences, much as Gaius was. Gaeta was even willing to give him a chance, once they landed on New Caprica, to become a president worthy of the title.

Instead, Baltar had allowed a revolving door of floozies access to his former bedroom in the back ofColonial One. At least he had stopped that practice. But he constantly drank to excess. In one sense, Felix didn't blame him. He was merely a puppet for The Cylons, but had the man shown any backbone, Gaeta would have respected him. Yet he caved to their jailers at every turn.

He looked out a window on the former space liner, that used to be one of the many civilian transports between The Colonies. Now, it was a symbol of Humanity's subjugation to those which they had created.

He prayed that, some day, he would be delivered form this hell, and have a chance to let his story be heard.

1000 Hours, Tigh's Tent

This was the final meeting before the uprising was set to begin in four hours. All the key players were in attendance. Surprisingly, there was little in the way of any glitches that had been noticed so far. Tory Foster had indicated she had obtained another eight Block Leaders. Tom Zarek and Laura Roslin recounted the meeting the night before at Laura's quarters. The three men tasked to protect and take Kacey to Colonial One had met the little girl, and, even though they were obviously knuckle-draggers for Zarek, they had been charmed by the little girl, and promised to lay down their lives for her.

Charlie Connor and Diana Seelix would lead the group into the prison compound. They weren't thrilled that Laura Roslin would be with them, but they understood it, and didn't object. Saul and Galen would lead the groups going for the automatic weapons, and be the ones to lead the ground assault against the skin jobs and the Centurions once Galactica made her presence known.

Athena had been brought in to brief the group. There was still suspicion of the Cylon woman, even though she had taken an oath in the Colonial Services. So had Boomer, they all remembered. She advised them that Tory had quietly taken her to everyone that was going to fly the ships over the last nine hours, and each Captain had the launch keys. The ships were in Insurgent hands.

Doc Cottle, who had never had anything to do with the Insurgency, even though he knew of it, was brought in to give an update on the Epidemic. He indicated that they were seeing it flatline, and cases were quickly going down. Tigh had talked to him the night before, to brief him on the upcoming uprising, and Cottle had made arrangements to get all the vaccines multiple ships, so they all wouldn't go down with one ship. He warned them that those on The Fleet still in space, would need the vaccine as well.

With that, the Insurrection leadership disbanded for the last time, hoping they would reconvene in celebration in space in the next few days.

1300, Laura Roslin's Tent

Laura was giving Kacey her lunch-their last meal one way or another on this gods-forsaken rock. It was a grilled cheese sandwich. With them were the three men who would escort Kacey to Colonial One, along with Tom Zarek. She made them grilled cheese sandwiches as well, which amused the hell out of the four tough-looking men.

"I haven't had a grilled cheese in probably twenty years, Madam President", one of them said with a satisfied smile. "These are damn good-you get my vote next election." The others exploded in laughter.

"You've got mommy issues", Zarek said to the man, still laughing.

Laura hadn't heard what Tom was going to do when the uprising began.

"I'm gonna go to Colonial One", he said. When he saw the suspicion on Laura's face, he quickly amended his statement, laughing as he did so. "I'm not staying, I promise. I want to simply go with these guys to make sure Kacey gets their safely, then I'll be going to the ship I'm assigned to."

Laura couldn't help but give a wry grin. "Just remember, Zarek", she said with a smirk, "I'm the one that will throw Gaius Baltar out on his ass today."

Tom laughed, holding up his hands in surrender. "Someone at least has to take a picture of that for me." That broke any lingering tension.

After lunch, they sat in the living room, everyone but Kacey starting to tense up.

"When do you want us to take Kacey away?"

Laura wanted to say "never", but she understood the game. She hand Kacey had talked the night before, and that morning about what was going to happen. Kacey was nervous that she would not be with her Mom, but Laura promised her that once Colonial One took off, her Momma would also be with her. That made the youngster relax.

It was currently 1320. In about twenty-five minutes, gentlemen. You can understand that I want to spend as much time as I can with my daughter before all this starts."

"Completely understandable", Zarek assured her. "We will get Kacey to that ship."

"Thank you, Tom. Kacey is the future, she must make it."

They became silent as the minutes slowly drew down to H-Hour.

Every ship that Galactica could handle for a landing had left both Galactica and Pegasus thirty minutes earlier, and were rendezvousing at the staging point for their jump to a bank of space dust, where they would hide until the operation began. Shortly after their jump, Galactica would jump into an even thicker area of space soup.

Fifteen minutes after the ships from Pegasus that would take part in the attack had left her, Lee's ship, and the civilian fleet jumped away. When Pegasus reached the jump coordinates, Lee turned to Dee.

"Lieutenant Dualla, start the clock on an eighteen hour countdown on my mark."

Dee stared at him.

"Mark."