The invitation to dinner had been surprising. He had been by the council chambers numerous times for various reasons, but had never lingered realizing his presence was disrupting to the process of the Copper Squadron finding their footing and developing some trust amongst those of the fleet. He had wished that his visits could be longer as he enjoyed the family atmosphere they were creating and the effects it was having on the rest of the Galactica, as many of his warriors were beginning to pair off and begin families of their own, a sign of healing after the destruction of their worlds. But since the last dinner celebration Adama had tried to hold, the members of Starbuck's new family had been avoiding him. He did not know if it was out of guilt or simply that they had others things on their mind. He had been assured that Rene was keeping her appointments with the doctors as required and that the others in the family were managing well, but Rene avoided him even more so than the others. Much like her friend Jake, she had begun to leave the room when he arrived.

When Starbuck made a point of inviting him, looking very solemn and not as jovial as a man should be when setting up a meal to announce his sealing, Adama could not help but ask if he was sure about the upcoming event. Adama had begun to feel a bit guilty about having forced the issue upon the young man. Starbuck had enough duties and responsibilities with his new position as Strike Wing as well as his self-imposed position of Dilmun ambassador. Added to that was the idea that Starbuck, the epitome of the rogue and lady's man, was facing the prospect of marriage and children. Starbuck certainly had more than enough to deal with. Thus far, Starbuck had faced all the ribbing and jibes about his past catching up to him and it was time he faced the music with a cheerful and confident smile. He had seemed more than sure of himself and the situation.

These last few sectons, Adama had less doubts of his own about the couple. While Starbuck was on report, Rene had proven to be loyal and supportive helping to make Starbuck's duties and details a bit easier and making a point of offering emotional support as well. Starbuck's influence on Rene had seemed to give the young woman the courage to face the demons of her past and to actively participate in the therapy that was needed. The two worked well together and while he may wonder about Rene's motives, he knew Starbuck's were true. He had settled into being a happy family man. Most days Starbuck was even more happy go lucky than he'd been as a bachelor.

But that was not the man that invited Adama to dinner. The man who offered the invitation looked disturbed and unsure. Adama could not let Starbuck issue the invitation and rush off without asking him how things were going and more importantly once again to ask if he was sure about his decision. Starbuck answered him almost offhanded with an, "Oh yeah, sure, we're getting sealed, just working out the details." Adama reminded him there was no pressure; it was not something to be rushed into lightly. Starbuck actually seemed a bit miffed at the comment, so Adama let it go and hoped that Starbuck knew what he was doing.

When Adama arrived at the appointed time, he found the Council chambers to be a bit more active than they usually were, with the children vainly trying to clean up their toys and to set the room to some semblance of the order it had when it was a council chambers. The meal was in the process of being prepared Starbuck said as he greeted him. Adama was pleased to see his son and grandson were there as well. As Adama handed over the bottle of ambrosia he had brought as a gift to Starbuck and Rene, he could not help asking, "Should I be expecting an announcement?"

Starbuck gave him a look as if the question was not what he was expecting, and another offhanded remark of "Oh, yeah, um, about that. I should probably talk to Rene." The comment left Adama wondering what the dinner was all about, but decided that he should not push the issue. His presence in the room was a sign of progress and, as his mother always said, don't look a gift equine in the mouth, you may not like the teeth.

It was obvious the family had developed a fairly consistent routine for dinners. Apollo had spoken of it to him once before, liking the casual nature of the full family gathering. Adama tried not to interrupt as he was asked to be the guest and begin. He deferred and his son helped him out as to how things should follow, dishing up their plates and finding their random places around the room. Out of habit, Adama headed to what would have been his usual seat when this room had been for the Council of Twelve, of which he was currently the presiding leader. As he took the seat at the head of the table, the newest member of the family, a young man from the fleet bearing the name of the infamous Commander Cain boldly approached Adama, standing before him militarily erect. The boy stated, "Sir, with all due respect, that's where dad sits."

It was not what Adama had been expecting from the young man who hoped to enter the newest class of cadets. "Dad?" came out of Adama's mouth before he realized whom the teen was referring to. He turned to look at Starbuck beside him, quirking his eyebrows in amusement. "Dad? Well by all means, you should have your chair."

Starbuck tried to wave off the awkward gesture as they all shifted a seat down the table to allow Starbuck to have the chair at the head of the table, but the smile on his face did not go unnoticed by Adama. The room seemed to relax into a gentle pattern of pleasant conversation once Starbuck was in his proper place. Rene finished getting the meal together and found her place beside Starbuck. Once seated Adama noticed that Rene's hand found Starbuck's by instinct. Adama had never witnessed before this gesture from Starbuck. He had been around the man enough times when he was dating his own daughter and later with Starbuck's other paramours to have seen how the man behaved with a woman. Adama had never noticed this gesture before. With Rene, Starbuck often had a hold of her hand. He reached to touch her often, and not just a touch. He held on to her as if she was going to just float away if he didn't. Adama found it sweet watching as the couple managed eating while still maintaining their physical connection.

The meal was nearing its end when Starbuck turned to Adama stating quietly, "We have a favor to ask of you."

Adama smiled knowing that now finally the announcement was coming. But he was shocked by what came next, but he should have expected it from Starbuck. The pilot had always been impulsive. Why should sealing be any different?

"Sir, we uh, were wondering if you would officiate our sealing."

Adama smiled. "Of course, son, I would be honored."

Rene coyly nodded for Starbuck to continue. He smiled before turning back to Adama. "Actually, sir, we were wondering if you would seal us tonight?"

"Tonight?" Adama glanced between the two wondering which one had come up with this idea, but their happy faces were mirror images. "Why the rush? Wouldn't you rather plan a celebration?"

It was Rene that answered. "Isn't this a celebration? I just don't know why we're waiting. We can have a party later I suppose, but we're all here now and…" she shrugged, not exactly the strongest of arguments, but Starbuck echoed the gesture.

"We figured why not. We were planning on it and it solves a lot of problems to just do it now. Everyone we care about is here."

Starbuck's argument was somewhat more persuasive, and Adama realized the wisdom of wanting to keep the actual nuptials a low-key affair. It would certainly frustrate the IFB who had been hounding the couple and even the Commander for information on the upcoming sealing. He agreed and watched as Rene set the room into motion with the news. The children hastily cleared the dishes, and the room was arranged so that the couple would stand at the viewport with the stars behind them. Rene's friend Jake had retrieved a guitar and was strumming old Fabulon Four songs. Adama thought to offer to walk Rene down the makeshift aisle, but her adopted son, Jason, took her arm. Apollo and Boomer jokingly fought over who would be the best man while Starbuck waited framed by the view of the stars, suddenly looking the very picture of the nervous groom. He told the two to shut up or they both would be losing the job to Crius.

That seemed to settle the argument as a new one broke out amongst the kids as to who would lead the procession as it seemed they all would be walking down the aisle. Rene merely laughed and smiled with the kids, but it was Starbuck that settled that discussion, reminding the kids that only Rene was getting sealed and they would have their turn when they were older. Rene reached for Lara and Lizbet for her maids and the procession finally got underway. It was a short procession and Rene was laughing the whole way in a pure unadulterated joy. Adama wondered briefly if she realized the significance of what she was doing, but she became a bit more serious with each of the steps up to her groom. Starbuck reached for her hands and they faced each other before the stars, before they turned to him to begin the ceremony.

Adama had not performed many sealings in his career as Commander, his own son's being one of the first, and he realized at that moment that he did not have a book of the word from which to read the words. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to seal this man and this woman. Sealing is a holy vow and," Adama paused trying to recall exactly how the vows went, and then confessed his ignorance, "well, I'm sorry Starbuck, I was not prepared for this. I know the general words, but, well much like how you fly, I'm going to take this by the seat of my pants."

Starbuck laughed and squeezed Rene's hands twice. "It's alright, Sir. I think I got you covered. There's some words about honor and obey and stuff, but I think none of that really matters, does it?"

Adama considered that for a moment. "The ceremony is just about making a vow to each other."

Starbuck met Rene's eyes. "We've already made that vow, haven't we? I love you and where you go, I go."

Rene repeated the words. "I love you, and where you go, I go. Where you stay, I stay."

Starbuck grinned, turning back to Adama. "Anything else we missed?"

Adama tried to contain a chuckle. Starbuck had cut through the felgercarb as usual. "Just a few more words, I believe. Do you, Rene, take this man as your husband?"

"I do," she said beaming.

"And do you, Starbuck, take this woman as your wife?"

There was no hesitation as Starbuck answered confidently, "I do."

"Oh wait!" Rene laughed as she pulled her hand from Starbuck's and reached in her pocket for a ring box, opening it and sliding the ring on Starbuck's finger.

Starbuck said, "I actually have one for you too." He grinned widely at Rene's surprise as he slid the gold band on her finger. "I melted down one of my gold clusters. Don't worry, I'll earn another one." Rene shook her head laughing.

It was the shortest sealing Adama thought he'd ever performed, or probably attended, but somehow that seemed right for Starbuck, as impulsive and impromptu as the man. "I now pronounce you man and wife."

"That's it?" Starbuck asked.

"Well, there's some paperwork, but we can handle that tomorrow. Oh…and you may kiss your bride."

"Ahh, the good part," Starbuck quipped and Rene grinned at him mischievously. Adama expected something dramatic, this was Starbuck after all. Instead Starbuck seemed to understand at that moment just what this all meant. His face became almost deadly serious as he leaned in. The kiss was sweet and slow and the stars lit up their eyes and it was just the two of them. Any doubts Adama had vanished in that moment and he felt the warmth of pride swell within his chest. The family's cheer broke the kiss. The happy couple was beaming, but Adama caught a hint of Rene's old smile, the one with the hint of victory when she won one of her coerced negotiations. It was but a fleeting glimpse directed his way, and then in a flash replaced by the sweet smile she often gave Starbuck. Adama was left to wonder what negotiations had occurred to bring about this sealing.

His thoughts were interrupted as Rene announced to the group, "I made a cake." The words were met with a cheer. Rene went to move away from Starbuck to serve up the cake, but Lizbet waved for her to stay. Adama placed his hand on Starbuck's shoulder guiding him and Rene back to the table. Adama sent Apollo to his quarters to get some more ambrosia, and glasses were poured around the table and cake distributed.

Apollo stood, clinking a fork against his glass to get everyone's attention. "I don't have correlating data yet, but, ladies and gentlemen, apparently Hades has frozen over." Those in the room laughed uproariously. Apollo knew that most in this room knew Starbuck a bit differently than he, Boomer and Adama did. In fact, he realized they were probably replacing Starbuck with Rene as the topic of that quip, which was apparently just as hilarious. "Starbuck, we've had a lot of good times over the yahrens, and …. well, while we will never be… you know …. the way we are …. I mean the way we were …" Apollo ignored the embarrassed awkward glances people were giving him and focussed on Starbuck, who by now was starting to laugh out loud, his shoulders shaking in his mirth. This was just for his buddy who had uttered similar, albeit slightly less awkward words to Apollo before a fateful mission not long before the strike captain was sealed. "More like we were yesterday ….and last secton ….and a few sectars ago….no, we'll never be like that again. That's for sure. Oh yeah. Maybe we'll be better than we were before."

Starbuck was wiping tears from his eyes, unable to make any coherent contribution, so Apollo helped him out. "Yes, I know….you're not dying." He grinned at his friend, finally acknowledging the rest of the crowd. "Sorry folks, it's a private joke that Starbuck will explain another time." Apollo waited a moment for his friend to recover, stringing a few other thoughts together. "Starbuck, I guess I saw you a certain way for yahrens … mostly because you had my vision blurred with that cloud of fumarello smoke." He paused as the room exploded in laughter once again. "Seriously though, there were always two Starbucks, the one you wanted the world to see, and the one that only the people you allowed to get close had the privilege to discover."

"Hear, hear!" Boomer acknowledged, raising his glass towards their friend.

"As most of us know," Apollo continued, "Starbuck would do anything for a friend, but would also do anything for someone who needed help. He loves an underdaggit, having been there himself a time or two." Several nodded their agreement as the groom began to squirm. "And Rene has made me see you differently too. The way you so naturally embraced her kith and kin as your own, you personify the idea that you don't need to share blood to be family. A lesson that probably most of the people in the room already knew, but you taught me that, buddy. A long time ago." Apollo smiled again at his friend, the warmth and affection in his voice clear to all. "You make this all look easy, Starbuck, and after all, that's what love and family should be. Rene, I think you know that you're a lucky lady. And Starbuck . . ." He paused dramatically. "It seems to me that you've won the pot, Buddy."

The crowd broke out in applause as they raised their glasses a moment later to drink to the couple. Starbuck ducked his head embarrassed and if Adama didn't know better, he thought he saw a tear in the man's eye as he looked from his friend to his wife.

When the cake was done and the ambrosia was gone, Rene turned to Starbuck, the smile slipping. His faded as well as he nodded. Starbuck called over Cain and Jason and informed them it was time for the older kids to get the younger ones to bed. Adama echoed the sentiment, that perhaps it was time to end the evening, but Starbuck asked if he could please stay for a bit longer. They had something they needed to discuss once the children were in bed. Adama's eyebrows went up wondering what more there could be to talk about than a sealing and a baby, but Starbuck was grim when he added, "It's important."

The happy couple had turned from festive to sober. Adama realized that something serious must have occurred, something that spurred the sealing forward. He hoped the news was not another setback to the Zakar pilot's integration into the fleet.

Starbuck waited until the room was cleared, all the children gone and anyone who didn't hold the rank of Lieutenant locked out. He had wanted to order everyone from the room except those who had been to Caprica and the Commander, but he'd been overruled by Jake and Rene. They'd threatened to tell everyone anyways, claiming it involved them too.

Starbuck saw that another round of ambrosia was poured. It was Crius who broke the silence trying to joke, "What is it twins?" But Starbuck waved a hand at him, the Rat's sign to back off and let it go. Crius fell silent at the motion.

Starbuck muttered to Rene. "I think it's your turn."

Rene turned towards the Commander, the mirth of the moments before gone from her eyes. "We have a gift for you."

Adama was puzzled as Starbuck pulled out a small box from under the table and handed it to Adama. The reverence that Starbuck seemed to give the box had him wondering at the contents.

"I should be getting you a gift. It is your sealing day."

Rene nodded to him solemnly to go ahead and open the gift. He obliged and lifted back the lid to find a few items in the box, the largest being a silver trophy cup. He took the silver cup in his hands, curious as to why the couple might gift him with such an item, but his youngest son's name on the bottom of his treasured trophy brought a new set of questions to his mind. Adama slowly studied the other items, pulling them from the box one by one to place on the table. One was a ring, Ila's ring, given to her by her grandmother. The medallions that had once belonged to Adama, from battlestars that now no longer existed, doused Adama's jovial mood. His features turned hard as steel at the shock of the contents of the box. It was in his stern Commander's voice that asked, "Where did you get these?"

Rene took a breath pulling up the courage to begin. "Sir, you know that thing I can do. Well, I've been going to Caprica. There are survivors there and they need our help."

Adama quickly looked to Starbuck who held up his hands in surrender, catching the laser bolt from Adama square in the chest. He understood a bit too late that he should have gone with his gut on this one and headed straight to the Commander's office once he'd found out. He'd let Rene play him like a dirty dealer in the Carillon chancery. Worse, she'd played Gage and Boomer as well. It left Starbuck wondering what information she had on the two that could have earned their silence for so long. They all argued Starbuck was too close and Rene kept him from seeing straight, so how close were the other two? They should have all known better.

"I just found out the other day. That's why we're here."

Boomer cleared his throat, bringing Adama's attention to himself. "Starbuck's right, sir. He didn't know anything about it. But I did."

Adama's gaze quickly shifted in surprise to the Lieutenant farther down the table as he barked, "Explain!"

"Sir, Rene should probably explain. I found out what Rene and Jake were up to. Rene has been jumping to Caprica. Sir, there are over forty survivors in need of a rescue."

"And you would know that how? You have joined them?" Boomer merely nodded, realizing the gravity of the Commander's tone. Adama was not fond of surprises.

The Commander's steely eyes turned to Rene. "Where did you get a viper?"

Rene was confused for a micron why the Commander was so angry. Adama spoke first to the officers he knew before speaking to her. She quickly recognized that despite all the words of reassurance from those around her, she was not on the same level as a regular warrior. She had seriously misjudged the Commander, and now regretted not just taking the shuttle and talking Jake and Boomer into accompanying her. Then she could have returned as the hero with survivors from the Colonies. Instead, by the angry look on the Commander's face, she realized, she was about to get a dressing down. She felt the rebel inside her rise up as she glared right back at the Commander.

"I own a viper," she stated boldly.

"Which you are not currently allowed to fly. So how did you launch in a viper?"

"Not hard to do. Push the right buttons," she said sarcastically as she shrugged. She nearly yelped in pain as Starbuck squeezed her hand hard.

"You have been there more than once?" Adama asked, his question more of a statement as he began to understand the situation.

She debated her story as she untangled her hand from Starbuck's, but his warning hiss of her name let her know there would be no cover for the lie. "A dozen times, sir. I have met the survivors. There are women and children that need rescuing."

Adama seemed to stutter asking out loud, "When? How?"

Rene looked to Starbuck, unsure if she should answer and how. Starbuck couldn't resist coming to her rescue. "She's uh….pretty good at getting what she wants."

"Ain't that the truth," Gage spoke up before anyone else had to. "I authorized the viper, Commander."

Starbuck picked the story back up. "She went back for things she knew she could find on Caprica, and in the process met the survivors. She would like us to ignore the fact that she went for all the wrong reasons, but we can't ignore what she found. There are several survivors, with women and children. I'm guessing Gage wanted to tell you, but Rene talked him out of it."

Adama looked around the table, quickly assessing who was aware of this information and who was not. Most looked just as shocked as he was.

Starbuck answered Adama's unasked question. "Rene, Gage, Jake, Boomer and today me. That is all that have gone through."

The Commander gathered up his anger and placed it squarely on who should have been responsible for Rene. Gage should have been the voice of reason, if not him, then Boomer. At least Starbuck should have been concerned about his pregnant girlfriend, now wife, flying a viper into parts unknown. "And you didn't think to inform me of this information? You thought of nothing of the safety of yourself and Lieutenant Rene, let alone the safety of the fleet, and you flew off through an unknown anomaly to a Cylon controlled world?"

The room was silent in the face of the Commander's rage. It was Starbuck that finally spoke up quietly, "Sir, that's not exactly how it happened." He wanted to say he'd been tricked, but he'd known this information for more than a few cycles, Boomer for far longer. It wasn't just the desire to not be on report that had kept them silent. Maybe it was the miraculous nature of the rift, or the shock of seeing their decimated home world. Starbuck couldn't really say what had kept them silent for so long.

Adama opened his mouth again to begin the lecture his two pilots and second in command deserved, when Rene interrupted. "Does it matter who and where and how? Why do we need to ascribe blame? I did it. I went back and found there are survivors. We need a shuttle and a squadron to go and get them and bring them here. We could go tomorrow and…"

"No!" Adama cut her off with the authority of his command.

"Sir, it won't take that long. I can get us right over the rendezvous point and the Cylons won't know what hit them. It's a lot safer than you think and we'd be in and out in a matter of centons, and…" Rene spoke quickly, not completely understanding why the commander would object.

"Absolutely not!"

She began to speak again, but the glare from Adama made her sit back in stunned silence.

Adama shifted his gaze from Starbuck to Boomer and back again, unsure where to begin. "What in the world were you thinking? You have put the fleet at risk, not to mention your own lives. We have come so far and have escaped so much for you to just…"

Boomer tried to interrupt the commander with a, "Sir?" but it was Rene that leapt head first into Adama's pause. "What do you mean 'no'? You can't leave those people there. I promised them we'd save them."

"By whose authority did you make that promise?" Adama settled his ire upon her.

"Mine. I was there, I went, I promised. And now we are going to go get them, if not with your permission, then without it," Rene replied. Starbuck's hand reached out, grabbing Rene's thigh under the table in an effort to warn her.

"No, Lieutenant, you mostly definitely are not. I will not have Count Iblis involved in our affairs."

Starbuck interjected. "Iblis's not involved. She can do this on her own."

"So you believe. I'm not so certain. Also, she should be discussing how she does this anomaly with Dr. Wilker. You should have been discussing this with me!"

"It's not his fault," Rene leapt to Starbuck's defense. "And I am discussing it with you. I didn't have to. I've already gone several times. I'll go alone. No one has to join me. I promised those people I would get them from Caprica."

"No, Lieutenant. You will not be flying a viper or a shuttle for a very long time." Adama issued the command that the Colonials in the room recognized by his tone alone there would be no negotiation.

Rene looked to Starbuck and he slowly shook his head no at her, but her eyes blazed. "You couldn't stop me before? How are you going to stop me now?"

Starbuck's voice called out in warning, "Rene, don't."

"I will lock you in the brig if I have to," Adama answered leaning forward. Starbuck knew he meant it.

"Oh good, I like a challenge." Rene smiled evilly.

Starbuck barked, "Rene!"

She leaned back, cussing without restraint. "Fracking senile old man, left us to fracking die before, leaving them to fracking die now..."

Starbuck was out of his chair before the curse finished leaving her lips. He grabbed Rene by the arm hauling her up and easily out of the chair. He dragged her towards the door as he scolded her. "You will not disrespect him at my table!"

Part of Adama cringed watching Starbuck manhandle his newly wedded wife, but another part of the Commander knew he could not tolerate Rene's disrespect and wilful disregard of rules and regulations. While Adama was not one who would ever physically discipline a warrior, and certainly not a female pilot, he did not stop Starbuck. Adama was not just a friend of the family who could excuse her profanity, he was the Commander of a fleet of over two hundred thousand people to protect. Her actions had been beyond reckless. This was not just her life that was in jeopardy, although that was reason enough for a reprimand. She had endangered two of his best pilots, and flouted the rules launching in a stolen viper and potentially exposing the whole fleet to danger. He had allowed far too much leeway with these warriors. Rene had abused the privileges given to her, and now Adama even wondered if the sealing this evening was just another of Rene's ploys to ameliorate a situation before the announcement.

He watched Rene and Starbuck argue in hushed tones, Starbuck admonishing her that this was not how you got things done in the fleet. That as Commander and their guest he was due some respect. Starbuck tried to calm the young woman down as she voiced her objections loudly, but Starbuck ended up raising his voice, shouting that she should show some respect and that an apology was due.

It was Boomer that drew Adama's attention away from the scene. "Sir, she is right. We have been through, Jake and I with Rene, at least half a dozen times. The Cylons have not been able to follow us back. Things on Caprica are quieter than you would expect from a Cylon controlled world. It seems, much like we thought, they just wanted our destruction, but not necessarily our worlds."

"Why did you not bring this to my attention sooner Lieutenant?" Adama tried to contain his anger. He understood that while Starbuck could be reckless and impulsive, Boomer was a more methodical and level headed.

"To be honest, sir, it was somewhat unbelievable. Not just going there and how she goes about it, but also how quiet Caprica is. The Cylon presence is quite minimal. But sir, the world is almost uninhabitable. The survivors are in desperate shape. How they have even made it is truly remarkable. It took us some time to gain their trust and it has taken them time to gather the rest of the survivors. We thought to wait until we had those issues resolved before we brought it to your attention. And frankly sir, we know if the civilians of the fleet knew what she could do, there might a call to push forward to earth or somewhere else. We thought it best to keep this quiet."

Adama shook his head as he sat back and pinched the bridge of his nose to ease the pain that was forming behind his eyes. Boomer was right. If the Council of Twelve alone knew, it would be a disastrous debate. They already had begun to speak of settling down on any number of worlds. Adama sighed. "You have landed and walked on the surface?"

"Yes, sir."

The argument by the door had risen in pitch with Starbuck shouting, "You will apologize!" and Rene stalking from the room. Adama watched Starbuck rake his hands through his hair while sighing heavily before he came back to the table.

"Sorry, sir. I swear, I just found out a few days ago, I would have told you then, but," Starbuck shrugged and shook his head. "We weren't totally sure you'd believe us, and we weren't sure how we could rescue the survivors without the whole fleet knowing and…" Starbuck flopped back into his chair defeated and dejected.

"And you knew I would say no," Adama said fixing a glare on Starbuck, but as he shifted his gaze to Boomer, Adama noticed the other faces around the table, those of Warriors who had little trust in him as a Commander and in the very system of the Colonial Service. Their faces told him they would have even less trust after this evening, or more accurately to say, they would trust that the system would let them down.

It was Crius who spoke for those at the table. "Sir, it's where we got the fuel that was in those tankers. Rene and Jake have been back to Caprica often before we joined the fleet."

Adama turned to Lieutenant Jake for confirmation, and the man nodded. "We go other places too. We can't seem to go forward to where we haven't been before, but we can go backwards to almost anywhere. Those people need us, sir. I will go with her."

Boomer added, "I volunteer as well."

Crius spoke, "I will go to," but Starbuck's voice objected. "No Crius, Lizbet needs you here. The kids need someone to stay behind in case something goes wrong. We can't all go."

Apollo looked to his friend, and then to his father, but Adama already knew what his son would say. When Starbuck jumped into trouble, Apollo was seldom far behind. "Father, they were able to get us fuel and the Cylons have not found us as of yet. We have already left too many people behind."

Adama took a deep breath, realizing that if he did not give his blessing to this mission, it might occur anyways, without the proper equipment or personnel. It could have already occurred if not for the inability for these Warriors to sneak enough vehicles off the Galactica.

"There are just too many problems, the first being that if the Cylons detect us, they'll start searching every vector between Caprica and our last known position, losing any advantage we have that we'd seemed to have just disappeared," Adama voiced his concerns. "I just don't know if I can authorize this."

It was Starbuck that put words to what Adama was thinking. "It doesn't have to be authorized, and maybe it's best if it isn't. They have done this under the scanner so far. One more trip shouldn't be noticed."

Adama began to nod in agreement, when Rene came back into the chambers carrying an oversized paper sketchbook. Starbuck recognized it as where she had been sketching her nightly dreams. She came around the table despite Starbuck's voice of concern calling her over. She shoved the dark and disturbing drawings in front of Adama.

"These are my dreams. I was in the sewers so my dreams are dark. There was no light down there and when my dreams have sunlight, there are fences and Cylons and that's it." She flipped the pages from scenes of dark tunnels and gleaming red eyes cutting through the black. There was one of fences and centurions dragging helpless people towards the fence. Then she flipped to a scene from the armistice celebration, the spires of the city center lit up against the night sky, a raider taking aim on the crowd. "These, these are not my dreams." She flipped the pages. One was of the city center and children being crushed by the falling spires. "This is Gage's dream. I dreamed it too and drew it."

She flipped the page to another that was of a hillside near Adama's home, the grass scorched and people filling the hill, arms upraised to the sky.

"I wasn't there that day, or any that followed. I was on the academy grounds when the attack happened, the safest place in twelve worlds, and then in the sewer. So, whose dream is that?"

Adama looked up to the woman, saw the somewhat fanatical gleam in her eye and wondered if this evening, what should be a celebration for Starbuck and Rene, might end with Rene in the Life Center in restraints and heavy medication. That was until Apollo spoke.

"That's my dream," Apollo gently took the pad from Rene, tracing a finger over the sketch. He flipped the page to another angle of the hillside with more people climbing the hill, being led by his now dead wife.

"How long have you been having the dream?" Rene asked, her voice sounding sane despite the insane topic.

"Over a secton, almost every night."

Rene locked eyes with Adama as she asked Apollo, "You mind telling Dr. Dixon. He thinks I'm a bit crazy." She looked back to Apollo gently taking the sketch pad from his hand as she flipped to another page. It was a face of a man in a white robe being engulfed by flames on the bridge of a ship that was coming apart. "Sir, with all due respect, but how many nights has this been your dream?"

Adama was amazed at the accuracy of Rene's drawing. She had captured nearly perfectly the look of betrayal and shame that had been in President Adar's eyes during the last transmission from the Atlantia. She flipped the pages to other scenes, ones that had haunted Adama's dreams of the refugees packed into derelict ships, and of those left behind.

"Sir, I didn't choose this. I didn't seek any of this out. My reasons for going to Caprica were partly selfish and partly to make the dreams and the voices stop. I know I am not okay, and I swear to you, Sir, I am doing what I am supposed to do to make myself better. Guess what I have learned from those therapy sessions?"

She waited for his gaze to turn away from the drawings to her eyes. "I was worth a rescue, and so are they. I think that's what the dreams are trying to tell all of us. We need to go back."

Adama had to look away from the young woman, unsure if he should be feeding into her delusions about voices and dreams, yet here was the proof before him that perhaps they weren't delusions, after all. His gaze fell upon the drawing before him, a drawing of his home, and a depiction of his worst fears that Ila had died, alone and in pain. He quickly drew away from that vision to see those around the table looking to him for a decision, hoping that he would prove himself to be better than the man who had rescued them from a dying world. Rene's words left him wondering about the young woman's abilities. Could she read minds as well? Or was Iblis still somehow behind all this? Was his history with her clouding his judgment? Clearly she had a gift, even if he couldn't understand it. But was the gift hers alone, or was it granted through the evil intentions of Count Iblis?

"It's not your decision, Sir. If we go, if it fails, if we don't go and they die, all of it, none of it, it's not your fault. You will be blameless. It is my decision. It is my life, and this is how I want to spend it." He'd been more convinced before she came back into the room, swayed by the dedication and the skills of the Warrior he knew. The intensity of her gaze was not encouraging, but the words she spoke next seemed to settle the concerns he was having.

"I'm sorry, sir. I should have come to you and told you the moment I found them, but I was afraid you would tell me no and leave them behind. I know the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. But I have made this decision. If you don't let me go now, I will find a way to go another time. Please, just look the other way for one more trip."

Adama looked across the table to Starbuck, hoping the man would object and demand that his new wife be kept here safe upon the Galactica and this whole business was just a silly folly. But Starbuck nodded, encouraging Adama to give his permission. He turned to Lieutenant Boomer, to find he also seemed confident in what should be the appropriate decision.

"Promise me it will be the last," he said.

Rene looked to Starbuck before turning back and answering, "Starbuck says I shouldn't lie. I can't promise that, sir. I will promise to talk with your engineers and scientists, to share all that I know, after you let us make this trip. Oh, and I won't go to Earth without you." He watched her struggle to keep the evil grin of a bad winner from her face.

He turned to his son. "It seems if I don't agree, I will have a mutiny on my hands. If we do this, it will need to be very quiet. No one out of this room is to learn any of the details, agreed? I need your solemn word."

There was a chorus of agreements with a grudging new respect for Adama that their word would be enough. Rene said softly, her eyes shining as if the weight of the world had been lifted from her, "Thank you, sir. You won't regret this."

"See that I don't. Once you return you will be on report. You will not be flying anything for a long time, do you understand?"

"Yes, sir." She smiled, and headed back to her seat beside Starbuck. He reached for her hand again shaking his head at her, half in admiration, half in admonishment.

"You have spoken to the survivors?" Adama asked, starting to begin to plan out the mission.

Boomer answered most of the Commander's questions, with Jake adding a few details here and there. Rene for the most part kept silent, simply smiling at Starbuck as she held his hand. It was decided they would leave in three cycles, a time previously set by Boomer, Jake and Rene on their last visit to the planet. They would be taking six vipers and a shuttle craft, and would be enlisting one other Warrior's help for piloting the shuttle. It was decided that Jolly might be the best candidate, having the most skill in piloting shuttles in combat. Despite Crius's very loud objections, a family vote was quickly taken, a unanimous decision that he would not be joining the rest. The evening ended with the warriors pulling out data pads and amending all of their lists so that Crius was in the first position, the one to take their children if they did not return, and that seemed to silence the man's complaints.

Rene finally spoke up, assuring those involved that it should be a simple matter, in and out in under a centaur. "We go in, we land, we leave. That simple. And we can come back to any point within range of the fleet, but not too close just in case we are followed. You can have a squadron waiting for us just in case, agreed?"

Adama nodded. "In the meantime, it is business as usual. Nothing to give this away. I will deal with the Council afterwards, but by then, you, Lieutenant Rene, will be helping our scientists, agreed?"

"Absolutely, sir. My boots are on the Galactica until you say otherwise."

"Yeah, just be sure to keep them on." It was Starbuck's no-nonsense words that reassured Adama. "I won't let her out of my sight after this. I will lock her in the brig myself each time I leave on patrol." Adama could tell by the look on Starbuck's face, and the tight hold he had on his new wife's hand, that he was words were literal. He truly would see she stayed put.

Adama sighed, and looked around the table. He preferred the hopeful faces he found. He wanted their trust, but more importantly he wanted to be able to trust them in return. "We will talk again tomorrow. Until then, no discussion, not even in this room. There have always been rumors this room is bugged by Uri and others. My office tomorrow and we will work out the details. In the meantime, I think we could all use some sleep."

Starbuck grinned as the Commander made to rise from the table. "Is that what you did on your sealing night, sir, sleep? So it is true, you did find Apollo under a rock."

Adama found himself suddenly blushing at the memory of his own sealing night, and more importantly of the news his own wife had for him a few sectons later that he would be a father. He issued a hasty good night before the teasing became inappropriate. Starbuck already had discovered what came from not sleeping in a bed, and in a few short sectars he would be the one passing out fumarellos with that thousand metron stare of a man who just realized he had no idea what he was doing.