[no, I am still working on this story.]
"How do I keep getting roped into these things?" Starbuck asked from the copilot's seat.
"Because you can never say no to a beautiful woman," Apollo said from the pilot's seat.
Behind them, in the command chair, Buck Rogers said, "Yeah, she does have that effect on people, but this is one of the few times it's actually for our benefit."
"And hers," Apollo said. "Princess Ardala seems too self centered to do anything out of the goodness of her heart."
"You've summed her up very nicely, Apollo," Buck said.
"Okay," Apollo said, looking out through the front cockpit window, "just like last time."
"You guys have done this before?" Buck asked.
"Yep," Starbuck said, as he and Apollo merged their stolen Cylon Raider in with a patrol returning to the Base Star.
"Of course last time it was to destroy the Base Star, a prisoner rescue will be much harder. I just hope she was right about it being this ship."
Beyond them, the scanner showed that there were more than just the single Base Ship. In fact, there were more Base Ships than they had ever seen in one place before, and it only took three of them to wipe out the Colonies.
"The Draconians control most of this galaxy," Buck said, "taken by force of arms, and ruled by an iron fist. Their forces are on the other side of that moon."
"Very few civilizations are able to hold their own against the Cylons. We held out for a thousand yharens. Whatever we may think of how the Draconians do things, that they can hold off a Cylon fleet of this size is an accomplishment worthy of respect," Apollo said.
The Doors to the Base ship's landing pods opened, the human's in their stolen Cylon Raider flew in and landed with the rest of the returning patrol.
"Now, we wait for them to clear off, and in we go," Apollo said.
"I know I shouldnt be the one to say this," Starbuck said, "and I know it's too late, but what is so important about this guy that we are sticking our necks out to rescue him?"
"He was born on Earth," Buck said, "He could tell them where to find you, and us."
"If he hasn't already" Apollo said.
"Kane may be a traitor to Earth," Buck said, "but he has his own sense of honor. He won't give us up easily. Not unless Ardala tells him to."
"Torture can be very persuasive."
"All clear," Starbuck said, "lets go."
The three made their way across the hanger bay to the central core of the base ship.
"I may not have known where the control center was, but the brig is up a few levels," Starbuck said.
"So do we take the lift, or climb the ladder?" Buck asked.
"Last time we used the ladder," Apollo said. "Only one guard outside of it in the control room."
"But it was not a good place for a shootout," Starbuck said.
"And an elevator is?" Apollo countered.
"As the tiebreaker, I say we take the elevator," Buck pressed the call button and the door slid open.
Thankfully, the elevator was empty. The three went inside, despite claiming a fuzzy memory, Starbuck pressed the level button with certainty.
"Where do you think most of the centurions are?" Starbuck asked.
"Hopefully not on the prison level," Buck said. He and the others pulled their guns, and waited for the doors to open.
As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, three Cylon guards stepped into view.
There was a rapid series of flashes, and the Cylons fell in a shower of sparks and exploding circuits.
"Let's split up," Apollo said.
"I got this way," Starbuck pointed to the nearest corridor.
"Ill go that way," Buck pointed directly ahead.
"I guess Ill go that way then," Apollo said. "Meet back here in a few milicentons, and for Frack's sake, be discrete."
Most of the cells that Buck passed were empty. He guessed that the Cylons didn't have many reasons to keep prisoners alive. That at least explained why there were so few guards on the prison level.
Buck found only one occupied cell, inhabited by a human. He was thin and malnourished, wearing a mostly black outfit with a touch of white below his neck. Whoever it was, it was not Kane.
He was about to move on when the figure spoke, "Wait! You are from Galactica aren't you? Take me with you!"
If the Cylons were out to exterminate all of human kind, then Buck figured any human prisoner ought to be rescued. He opened the door.
"I thought I knew all of Galactica's pilots" the man said, "but I don't recognize you. Still, it has been some time."
"Yeah, Im part of the exchange program," Buck said. "This way."
"I figured if I saw anyone again, it would be Starbuck and Apollo."
"Yeah, they are around here somewhere."
"Excellent," the man said dryly. "You are here for Kane, aren't you?"
"Yeah," Buck said, "You know where he is?"
"They took him for another session with the interrogators. He ought to be back soon, but since he will have an escort, I wouldn't want to wait for him."
"Maybe we could stage a little ambush for his escort."
"It's true then, isn't it? You have found Earth. By the Lords of Kobol, after all this time, Adama was right."
"Get back." Buck pushed the emaciated man against the side of the wall. The distinctive sound of laser fire echoed down the corridors.
Peeking around the last corner, he saw Starbuck and Apollo on one side, having a shootout with a set of four Centurions on the other side. The weakened form of Kane was being held up by the rear two centurions while the front two held the Galactica Warriors at bay.
"If they have time to call for help, this will all be for nothing," Buck said.
"Come with me, I know a way we can sneak up behind them." The other man hurried back the way they came, nearly vanishing into the darkness. Buck had to hurry to keep up.
He was led down a passage he hadn't even noticed the first time he passed it, and it led to another. Before he knew it, they were standing at another intersection behind the Centurions who had their entire attention focused on trying to hit the Galactica's warriors.
Buck leveled his laser at the nearest Cylon.
"Don't miss," the other man said.
One of the Cylons fell, the other three turned to see where the shot had come from. Starbuck and Apollo took advantage of the confusion to charge forward. Three short blasts later, all the Cylons were on the floor, and Apollo was trying to help Kane to his feet.
"Im from the Galactica, we are here to get you out," Apollo said.
"Do we have room for this guy too?" Buck gestured to the man he had freed.
"Baltar," Starbuck leveled his weapon at his fellow human.
"No, please!" Baltar said. "I've been a prisoner since they picked me up after you marooned me. I actually miss the Prison Barge!"
"You cant just kill him," Buck protested.
"No," Apollo agreed, "But it is sorely tempting."
"Wait, this is the guy who sold the colonies out? This is THAT Baltar?"
"Im sorry friend," Baltar said, "but I do have something of an infamous reputation."
"On the plus side, he might be more cooperative with is now," Starbuck said.
"Yeah, I just wonder what Father is going to say," Apollo said.
"Oh, I will be helpful, yes. An open book," Baltar soothed, "every secret I know about the Cylons will be yours to know."
Apollo seemed dubious. "Lets get them back to the ship, and get out of here."
O0o0O
Back aboard the Searcher, both the former prisoners were given food and time to recover.
"I hope you don't mind," Dr. Huer said to Adama as they walked along to the hanger bay, "but I, and the Council would like the chance to interview this Baltar."
Adama thought. "Very well, but I warn you in all seriousness, the man is not to be trusted."
"I understand, but you do agree that his knowledge of the Cylon could be invaluable," Huer said.
"Yes, but he will look out only for his own self interests."
"I believe we can use that."
The two men stopped in the landing bay where Kane was offering a brief thank you to his rescuers.
"I have just one question for you," Buck said. "Ive always wondered. You have a strong sense of honor… so why did you betray Earth?"
"Betray Earth, Captain Rogers?" Kane sneered. "It was the Council that betrayed ME. If I have to lead a foreign army to conquer Earth in order to free the planet, then that is exactly what I will do… Now, if you will excuse me, I believe—"
"KANE," Princess Ardala shouted from across the hanger. "Your paperwork has been building up, and there is much to do. Get aboard the ship this instant."
"Yes, Princess," Kane calmly boarded the Princess' transport.
"I wonder how she would act if she didn't like him," Starbuck wondered aloud.
"One day, he is going to snap, and take her over his knee," Buck said, "and on that day, I bet they send me a wedding invitation."