Notes: Here's a brand new chapter but first I will take a moment to answer some questions…
Ja Baker: I might go into the origins of the Peacekeepers but if I do, it will be different than what we saw in the mini.
JonnyG: Crais and Athena are still around and I do have plans for them. :-)
Aaron: You might get both of your wishes.
Darklight: Yes, colonial blasters do have stun settings but honestly what happened was that… Hey, look! It's Elvis! (Runs away)
Chapter Twenty-Two: The Cylons are coming
Day One…
"You've stolen my memories."
"I'm sorry to have taken this form, but I thought the best spy would be a father, as seen through his son's eyes."
"You stole my memories."
"We had no choice."
"Show me what you really look like."
The alien who took on the appearance of John Crichton's father nodded and started to walk around the room. Still cautious, Crichton kept his distance and the two men exchanged places before the lights dimmed throughout the chamber. The being looked upward and a bright, white light fell on him, bathing him in its brilliance. When the light finally faded, a creature resembling a red insect, barely four feet in height, now stood before Crichton.
The alien being spoke again. "Many of us hoped that Earth might be our welcoming place. If all people were like you, maybe it could be, but they're not. In your memory we saw millions of Wilsons and Cobbs. It also led us to a familiar conclusion."
"Which was?" Crichton asked, but he had already guessed the most likely answer.
"That the highest life form on the planet is also the most destructive. Your Humans would kill us."
"So what will you do now?"
"What we've done since before I was hatched, we'll continue searching for a home."
"So will I," Crichton acknowledged before turning to leave.
"Here." The alien held up his father's ring, returning it.
"Thanks."
"Maybe we'll meet again one day, John."
Crichton walked up the stairs and opened the door only to find an ocean on the other side. He stopped and turned. "Maybe."
On the bridge of his battlecruiser, Thor had seen enough and ceased his probing of Crichton's mind. Now free, Crichton rubbed his tired forehead and stared unhappily at the Asgard. He was dead set against letting another being take a free peek inside his mind, but O'Neill vouched for the little guy and Crichton couldn't deny that Thor had saved his life.
Kneeling before the Asgard, level with the being's eyes, Crichton muttered, "Are you satisfied now, Scotty?"
Thor tilted his head at the odd nickname that Crichton gave him. "Yes, and the Ancients were indeed very impressed to entrust you with their greatest secret."
"Wormholes…"
"Yes."
"What happens now?" Crichton glanced over at Aeryn, standing just a few feet away. "Aeryn mentioned you could remove it? The wormhole knowledge?"
"If it's your wish, but the Ancients clearly gave it to you as a gift."
Crichton laughed a little louder than he had intended. "What you call a gift has also been my curse from the get go."
"Then you wish to have it removed?"
Crichton rose shakily to his feet but his head still felt a little foggy after Thor's mind probe and he almost fell. Aeryn was there in an instant to help steady him. Crichton placed an arm around her shoulders for added support. Holding her close, he couldn't deny how good it felt just to touch her again.
"No, we might still need it," Crichton replied. "Let me ask you something. If they're in trouble and looking for a home, why didn't they approach you for help?"
"Pride, for one," Thor admitted. "And that they have grown tried of the politics of the universe, desiring a simpler existence. That's why they left. They also found our constant and heavy reliance on technology repugnant."
"I hate to say this, but they might have a point," Crichton said, looking at Thor's tiny, frail-seeming form. "You guys should put down the TV remote more and take up jogging or lifting weights."
Thor's large, dark eyes narrowed ever so slightly. This one's behaviour was even more peculiar than O'Neill's, the Asgard thought.
On the bridge of the Pegasus, there was another white flash from an Asgard transporter beam. The crew had quickly grown accustomed to it and they expected the new arrivals.
By the time Commander Cain turned, the brilliant glow from the transporter beam had already faded and in its place was the two most important women in his life.
"Father!"
"Sheba!" Cain cheered happily as his daughter hurried up to him to be swept up into his waiting arms. "Thank the Lords of Kobol!"
Sheba wrapped her arms about him tightly as she cried with joy, never dreaming that this moment would ever happen.
Standing not far off and waiting patiently, Cassiopeia smiled tearfully at the sight of the father and daughter reunion. Both she and Sheba were forever grateful for the Asgard for helping to bring the Pegasus and Cain back to them.
After several moments, Sheba and Cain pulled away and wiped the tears from their eyes. Then remembering, Sheba looked back towards Cassiopeia who still stood patiently waiting for her turn.
The Colonial warrior extended a hand, gesturing her forward.
"You don't have to wait for an invitation," Sheba laughed.
Cassiopeia didn't have to be told twice and she raced up to Cain and the two embraced. They exchanged a deep, passionate kiss before Cassiopeia said with a softly mischievous grin, "Hmmmm, glad to see that you still miss me, you old war daggit."
Crais remained outside the entrance leading into the command chamber as he watched Apollo break the sad news to Athena.
Crais didn't completely understand what had happened to Adama. He was gone but was not dead? It seemed that Apollo was unable to fully grasp what happened either, but it was certain that Adama, wherever he had gone, would not be returning.
How ironic that they should find Aeryn while losing another.
"No…"
The small, painful cry regained Crais' attention. He saw Apollo holding his sister by the shoulders as she shook her head fiercely. He couldn't hear what was being said, but the meaning was unmistakeable.
Athena kept shaking her head as the tears came. Then she collapsed to her knees but her brother was there to catch her. Apollo held her, softly stroking her hair as she cried into his shoulder.
Crais moved away, into the corridor, feeling torn. He should be doing something, but felt ill prepared. Long ago, he had been taken from his family as a child to serve the Peacekeepers. All sense of weakness, things like compassion, was drummed out of him while he was still young. Although he was relearning those seemingly simple emotions, he wasn't sure if could act on them. Unlike him, Aeryn had had cycles to rediscover these softer emotions.
Even Talyn didn't know what to do. He sensed Athena's distress, but the powerful gunship with all of his weaponry was powerless to help her with her pain.
Crais wasn't sure how much time had passed when Apollo exited from the command chamber and approached him. Crais could see fresh tears in his eyes. He cleared his throat, wishing to say something, anything to the Human.
"Captain Apollo, your father was a good officer… and friend. If there is anything I can do…"
"There is," Apollo said slowly. "I have to return to Thor's ship and finish what my father started. Just look after Athena." He turned his eyes upward to Talyn's armored ribs lining the corridor. "Both of you."
"You have our word."
Apollo looked relieved. "Thank you, captain."
After Apollo left, Crais re-entered the command chamber and found Athena staring out the forward view port. Talyn was sandwiched between the protective guns of Thor's battlecruiser and the Pegasus and for good reason. Six Scarran dreadnaughts had arrived to retake their base and right now, Apollo and the rest of them weren't ready to completely trust their new allies.
He moved closer to Athena, who had her arms wrapped tightly about herself, her beautiful face stained with still flowing tears.
"Athena…?" Crais whispered.
He watched her close her eyes, while still focusing straight ahead at the Scarran base, Katratzi.
"I want…" Her voice drifted off.
"Want?" He asked softly when she failed to continue.
Athena swallowed before saying quietly, as she opened her eyes to focus sharply on the Scarran base, "I want them to pay. They took him away from me and I wish Talyn had a gun big enough to waste them all."
He knew what Athena was feeling at this very moment. She wanted revenge. He knew that emotion quite well and felt he could help her with, that at least.
"Scarrans were not responsible for what happened," Crais answered. "And if you could, what would that accomplish? Besides removing their last stronghold against the Cylons and handing the machines another victory."
"Do we really need them?"
"Unfortunately, we do. This conflict will be long and costly, even with the Scarrans on our side. Your father realized that."
"And now, my brother is going back over there to meet with them. I lost so much because of the Cylons. My younger brother Zack, my mother, my home and now my father. At this rate, I'll be a lonely orphan soon."
"Athena, I wish I knew what to say to help you feel better, but I don't…"
He felt Athena's hand slipping into his as she turned to face him whispering, "Just hold me, please."
Crais wrapped his arms about Athena, hugging her close. This was one command he had no problem carrying out.
Day Two…
Standing on the bridge of the Asgard cruiser, Emperor Staleek scowled at the sight of the three-dimensional star map on the huge view screen before him. It showed in impossible detail all of Scarran space for a thousand light cycles in every direction. It not only displayed the various star systems and their orbiting planets and satellites, but all of his ships and their current headings.
It was so contemptible to Staleek that a race that looked so frail and pitiful could have such power. They even had molecular transporters! The Kalish had long theorized about the possibility of building one in the near future, but their most optimistic designs looked laughably primitive compared to what the Asgard had.
The transporter technology alone had unlimited uses. Not only could they beam troops anywhere on the battlefield, but also it could serve as a weapon delivery system to place bombs into fortifications or ships. What other wonders did they have?
It was then that Staleek realized that his hatred of Thor and the Asgard was based on jealously. He wanted this ship and its wondrous secrets, but now was not the time. He needed their help. He would use this time to build their trust and, when the moment was right, he would take what he wanted.
For now, the Cylons were his only concern. Staring at the map, it showed every basestar within their territory. He was alarmed at the actual number of those huge mobile fortresses. Scarran intelligence had greatly underestimated the strength of the Cylon fleets, but something else was wrong.
Staleek moved closer to the monitor. "The Cylon fleets are no longer advancing."
"That might have something to do with the supply fleet we intercepted and destroyed," Cain said, as he walked up next to the Emperor. "It threw off their plans when we eliminated their new supply of fuel, weapons and reinforcements. For a while, they'll have to scale back their operations until the next fleet is sent."
"It is unfortunate you don't have another Budong lurking about," Staleek observed.
Cain nodded. "From here on out, we'll be facing them on our own."
"So it appears," Staleek concurred.
"Then we are in agreement?"
Staleek turned back to look at Captain Apollo. By his side stood Commander Thor, Colonel O'Neill, and Dominar Rygel, who were riding high up on the shoulders of his Cylon guardian.
"Agreed," Staleek finally answered as he moved towards them and extended his hand to Captain Apollo. The two shook. "The Scarran Empire accepts your offer of an alliance against the Cylons."
With little else to say, Staleek left, returning to his ship. Once he was gone, Cain let out a loud whistle in disbelief. "You're prepared to trust him to back you in a fight?"
Apollo couldn't argue with Cain's assessment of their ally. "We can count on him just as long as the Cylons are a threat to his interests."
"And after that?"
Apollo had been thinking much about the grim possibilities and said, with great resolve, "If he does turn on us, then we'll give him something new to be afraid of."
From the far side of bridge, a clapping of hands gained their attention as Scorpius walked in. "Well said, Human, and betray you he shall. I believe that Dominar Rygel can vouch for me on that point." Scorpius looked up at Rygel.
For a moment, the Dominar considered deliberately giving the wrong command to Sparky and having the Cylon 'accidentally' impale Scorpius on his sword. Would anyone here truly care save Thor, and then only because of the mess it would create?
"Just who are you working for, Scorpius?" Rygel demanded. "You serve the Peacekeepers, but at the same time, Staleek claims you to be their spy."
"I serve my own interest."
O'Neill snorted. "Let me guess, you're a double agent?"
The Scarran hybrid answered with a vicious smile before strolling leisurely away.
Not far off, Starbuck and Sikozu watched the exchange, but the Colonial couldn't help but notice that the Kalish was staring at the group with much greater curiosity.
"He's amazing," she finally whispered in deep admiration.
"Who?" Starbuck asked, then looked horror-struck. "You're not talking about Scorpius!"
Sikozu laughed at the Colonial. "No, I was referring to Thor. I never encountered anyone with such a keen intellect as his."
The Colonial did a double take before stammering out loud, "You like… him! He's short, tiny, he has no… uh, no… He's short!"
"It's not his body that I'm attracted to," Sikozu declared before stepping toward the Asgard.
Daniel was waiting out in the corridor when he saw O'Neill leaving the bridge. "Any good news, Jack?"
"The Emperor didn't have much of a choice, Daniel. It was either accept help from us or face the Cylons on their own."
"You know he'll probably double cross us at the first opportunity."
"Not to worry, everyone here is on the same page." O'Neill glanced around. "Where's Zat Girl?"
"Oh, she's still around, probably still chasing after Thor's crew," Daniel laughed. "Chiana took one look at the Asgard, with their grey skin and big dark eyes and decided they're distant, if smaller, cousins."
"Good, and before she shows up again," O'Neill reached into one of his vest pouches to reveal a small silver metal box. He tossed it to Daniel. "Heads up, Danny! Just as you requested."
Daniel eagerly caught it. He opened the box to study the lone item inside, smiling happily. "Thor's people out did themselves. Thanks, Jack, and give my thanks to Thor, too."
"You're doing the right thing, you know."
Daniel nodded and looked back down at the silver ring inside the metal box. The ring's centrepiece, a single rainbow-colored jewel, shimmered brightly as he stared at it.
Jack watched for a moment before asking. "Scared?"
"Try terrified," Daniel confessed before saying sadly, "After this, I won't be going home, Jack. There's no place safe on Earth where I can take Chiana, especially with our child."
You are so right about that, O'Neill thought. Earth is far from the enlightened planet that science fiction shows liked to paint. Teal'c was able to get by because he looked human, but someone like Chiana would stick out like a nail that had popped up from a deck, definitely getting hammered down if caught. Most likely by folks such as the NID, who would love to get their greedy hands on Chiana and the baby.
"Well, she did knee Kinsey pretty good and you know how forgiving that man can be, but I bet Rygel can set you up with a nice place to raise a family."
Daniel smiled at the thought of him being a father. "A family. I never imagined myself as a dad."
"You'll be a great one. Have you decided when you'll have the big day?"
"I have to get her to say yes first, Jack."
"Well, if you need my help for anything, you know. Just ask away… Anything you need. I'll stand by you."
Daniel sensed that Jack was hinting at something. "Uh, would you like to be my best man?"
"You read my mind!" O'Neill beamed, grinning from ear to ear. "Oh, another thing. That Colonial doctor, Cassiopeia, has been calling, asking us to meet her over on Talyn."
"What for?"
"Don't know, but it has to be something important. She wants to see the two of us with D'Argo and Chiana."
Inside Talyn's medical chamber, four voices cried out in unison.
"What?"
"How?"
"That's not possible!"
"Frell…"
Cassiopeia stared calmly at O'Neill, Daniel, D'Argo, and Chiana. "Trust me, I rechecked everything and the tests are correct. You, Jack O'Neill, have traces of Luxan DNA and you, Daniel Jackson, have traces of Nebari DNA."
"But that means," Daniel looked at Chiana who stared intently back, as if they were seeing one another in a new light. "Our space-going ancestors brought at the very least D'Argo's and Chiana's people with them."
"That's my theory, too," Cassiopeia agreed. "Obviously, there must have been a very small number of aliens and they all eventually bred themselves into a much larger human population after reaching Earth."
O'Neill stared at D'Argo as the towering Luxan glared right back. Slowly reaching up, O'Neill touched his own nose. D'Argo narrowed his eyes and frowned.
"To my people, a strong nose is a source of pride," D'Argo stated firmly.
"Really," O'Neill replied. "Now that I think of it, large noses do run in my family. That and long, thick… err, beards."
D'Argo scowled and the two resumed their staring match. After a moment, O'Neill started feeling his own chin and running a hand through his hair.
"Are you expecting to have Luxan appendages sprouting from your body at any microt?" D'Argo grumbled.
"Oh, not really," O'Neill replied before walking away, still rubbing the back of his head, hoping not to find anything.
"This is incredible," Daniel whispered, as he and Chiana hovered even closer to each other. "This explains our child."
"Yes," Chiana purred. "This doesn't bother you?"
"No, in fact this feels right. I got a little of you in me."
A feline smile played across Chiana's lips. "Do you want me to help to find your inner Nebari?"
"Inner Nebari?" Daniel said before suddenly cluing in. "Oh!" He then answered with a quick nod.
Leaning in, Chiana breathed hotly in his ear. "Follow me."
Smiling, Cassiopeia watched Chiana sprint playfully from the medical chamber, Daniel hot on her heels.
"Doctor?"
The Colonial doctor turned to face a rather perturbed D'Argo.
"Tell me how this could happen?"
The Luxan looked over to see O'Neill holding up a mirror to check his reflection before sticking his tongue out for a closer inspection.
D'Argo shook his head. "And why?"
Day Three…
The Pegasus hangar bay was large enough to have a nice indoor game of football, Crichton observed. It was designed to hold and service fifty Vipers, but now it held only one, Aeryn's slightly battered fighter. Walking along side it, he could see the black scorch marks along the tail section and at the trailing edge of its tri-wings. The explosion had definitely licked at her heels right up to the last second before Zhaan intervened.
"This is the second time she saved me."
Crichton turned back to face Aeryn, who stood close behind him.
"And I'll be forever grateful that she did," he answered.
They stared at each other for a long moment until Crichton spoke. "I need to ask you something."
Aeryn held up a hand, stopping him. "Can I go first? There's something I need to tell you."
"Yah."
Aeryn sat down on a small metal crate next to her Viper. Crichton followed, but knelt down on one knee at her feet, to listen intently. She swallowed before she started.
"When the Pegasus found me, they were at first very suspicious as to who I was. Their doctors did some medical scans and soon found…that I was carrying a fetus. He determined that it's part human. It's yours."
Crichton froze, staring in disbelief before managing to say, "You're okay?"
Aeryn nodded her head.
"And the baby?"
"Understand, when Peacekeeper females become pregnant, they can hold the fetus in stasis for up to seven cycles. When I discovered I was pregnant, I decided to have their doctor release it from stasis. I hope this doesn't change anything between us." Aeryn now held her breath, waiting for his response.
Crichton looked away and Aeryn watched him as he tried to say something, but stopped again.
He tried for a third time, still struggling to find the words. "Umm… Well, it changes everything."
Crichton stood up and threw his arms into the air, shouting out for the entire universe to hear, "We're going to have a baby! Yah! Frell you! We are going to have a baby!"
High up on a service catwalk, two working Colonial technicians came running to investigate the sudden shouting.
"He sounds furious," the first technician said to the second one. "What's he shouting?"
"We're having a baby!" Crichton continued to yell, his voice echoing throughout the huge chamber.
Grinning, Aeryn stood up to try and calm him. She was relieved at his positive, if somewhat explosive, response. "John, you are drawing an audience."
Crichton looked up and saw the two Colonials watching from a distance, but he didn't care. He wouldn't be robbed of this jubilant moment as Aeryn pulled him down next to her.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
"Yah," Crichton chuckled. He was better than all right.
"Are you happy?" It was a ridiculous question but his behaviour was still a mystery to her, half the time.
"Yah," he answered, looking like he was about to jump up and start shouting again.
"What was your question?" Aeryn asked before he could start his wild cheering again.
"Oh, god. Umm…" He hopped off the crate and got down on one knee in front of Aeryn again. He reached out and took hold of her hands.
Their eyes met as he breathed out carefully, "Will you marry me?"
Aeryn wasn't sure if she was ready for something like this, but in her heart, she could only give him one answer. "Yes." She nodded.
Crichton laughed happily again and Aeryn came close to tears before they pulled each other closer. Aeryn wrapped her arms about him tightly and they kissed. Up high, the two Colonials continued to watch.
"Are they…?" the second Colonial asked aloud.
"Ya, I think they're kissing now," his friend agreed.
"That's nice. They made up. Uh? Is he slipping something on her finger?"
They broke their kiss and Aeryn sat back on the crate, while Crichton fished around inside his jacket pocket.
"Wait."
He took out his father's lucky ring. Zhaan had returned it to him for a reason and he couldn't think of a better one than this. It would do until he could find another, more suitable ring. Crichton slipped the ring onto the third finger of Aeryn's left hand, before he gently turned her hand over and planted a kiss to her palm.
Barely containing her own joy, Aeryn leaned down and they kissed again. After a moment, Crichton unexpectedly pulled away to look about as if expecting something to happen, but all he saw were their two curious Colonial spectators.
"Is something wrong?" Aeryn asked.
"Nothing," Crichton laughed to himself. "Just something that Harvey told me."
Harvey's words about no one truly living happily ever after still haunted him. Thinking back, nothing had seemed to work right for him and Aeryn, but everything felt right now, and he was waiting for the other shoe to drop. No, he had to stop worrying about things he couldn't control. Live the moment as if it would be their last. Besides, they were safely aboard the Pegasus, a battlestar with two-meter thick hull plating and bristling with cannons. Not to mention that they also had Talyn and Thor's battlecruiser parked alongside them.
It wasn't like they were sitting exposed in an open rowboat or something…
Day Four…
In their bunk, snuggled under warm blankets, Daniel lay quietly with Chiana cuddled up to him, using his chest as a pillow. He actually felt more like an oversized teddy bear, the way she held him close, but Daniel didn't mind in the least. He enjoyed this peaceful moment, feeling Chiana's soft warm skin against his as he tenderly stroked her white downy hair.
Slowly, a smile crept across Daniel's face as he began to chuckle to himself.
Half asleep, Chiana stirred slightly but refused to move from her comfortable position against him. "Hmmm… What's so funny?"
"Sorry," Daniel whispered softly, his fingers still gently playing through her hair. "Just thinking that I spend my life studying history by digging up, analysing, deciphering, and scrutinizing every piece of ancient artifact I've found, no matter how small, but I missed the big one. Our ancestors brought aliens to Earth and they eventually bred themselves into the Human population and the clues were inside us all the time."
Chiana lifted her head. "No one on your planet knew?"
"There was definitely nothing like this ever recorded in any ancient writings or legends."
"How will your people react?"
"I don't know. We still kill ourselves over different beliefs, ideals and skin pigments," Daniel whispered sadly. "But maybe it'll open people's eyes, stop them from only looking for things that make us different. Teach them to embrace what makes us all the same."
Chiana slid up the bed to rest her head next to his. "You're always so…so optimistic, seeing the best in others. I just wish more of your people were like you, or Crichton, even O'Neill."
Daniel smiled and gently kissed her. After they broke their kiss he pulled her in closer letting Chiana nuzzle her head against his shoulder. Daniel closed his eyes to sleep.
After a moment, the Nebari sighed contently and he felt her smiling against his shoulder. "Still can't believe that Crichton and Aeryn are going to get married."
"Yeah," a sleepy Daniel answered.
"And they have a narl on the way, just…just like us."
Daniel tried not to grin while keeping his eyes closed, thinking, Boy, she's about as subtle as a brick through a jeweller's window.
"Yeah, and they'll make great parents," he said.
Chiana lifted her head, glancing at him for a moment, hoping he would say something else. The one thing she was hoping to hear. When he didn't, she cautiously added, "I'm glad they're getting married. Are you?"
"Yeah, me too," Daniel faked a yawn. "Good night, Chiana."
Surprised, Chiana stared at him in disbelief as he went to sleep.
Hurt, she rolled away to the far side of the bunk, her back toward him, muttering, "Good night, Daniel."
Chiana couldn't believe it! She thought he truly loved her. She couldn't have put it any other way short of screaming her desire to him. Maybe his feelings about her weren't as strong as hers for him.
"Chiana?"
Almost in tears, Chiana didn't bother to look over at him. Her voice cold, she repeated, "Good night, Daniel!"
"I think you might want to see this first."
From behind, Daniel placed a small metal box on her pillow, inches from her face. Chiana's dark eyes focused keenly on it. She cautiously took it into her hands before rolling back to face Daniel again. He was resting on his side up on one elbow, watching her closely, trying not to look smug.
"Open it," he gently urged her.
Chiana sat up in their bunk before slowly opening the lid. What she saw inside nearly took her breath away. Now she wanted to shed new tears, this time of joy.
Daniel sat up next to her. "I was waiting for the right moment, but I'm grateful you forced the issue. I kept getting cold feet."
He slowly took the box from her and removed the ring as Chiana watched him. Now, Daniel took hold of her hand and slipped the ring over her third finger.
Still holding her hand in his, Daniel spoke to her with all his heart. "I fell in love with you the very moment I saw you. For a long time, I doubted I would ever know again what it was like to be in love. To know the feeling of having someone I wanted to share my life with. Someone who would see me through the good and even willing to stand by me through the bad, I want it to be you, my Wild Flower."
His words left Chiana's heart racing. "I take back every nasty thought I just had of you."
"No, I shouldn't have teased you like that."
She looked down at her wedding ring with its beautiful glowing jewel. "I only wish I had something I could give you."
Daniel shook his head and placed a hand on her stomach. "You're already giving me this wondrous gift. The other is when I win every new smile from you. What I am trying to ask is, will you marry… Hmmmffff!"
He was cut off when Chiana pounced on him, smothering Daniel with kisses. When they came up for air, Daniel muttered softly, "So, your answer is yes?"
"Yes!" Chiana purred as she covered his mouth with hers.
Day Five…
On the bridge of the Pegasus, a grim looking Colonel Dex handed Cain another report from Thor's ship. The battlestar commander took one look at it and felt the urge to crumple the piece of paper and toss it into the nearest reprocessing unit.
"More bad news?"
Yes," Cain answered Apollo's question. "The Cylons are on the move again. I was hoping we would have more time to prepare, but we don't. They're concentrating their current forces for a major offensive. I'll give you three guesses as to where they're heading."
Apollo held up his right hand and pointed down to the deck.
"Good guess," Cain answered. "We have maybe twenty-four baseships and perhaps twice that many in support ships bearing down on us."
"How's our side doing?"
"The Scarrans are gathering as many ships as they can, but it's the Peacekeepers that have me frustrated," Cain replied, handing Apollo the report.
Apollo read it over and shook his head angrily. "The Peacekeepers are the closest neighbouring power to the Scarrans, but they're sending fewer ships than the Hynerians and the Luxans."
"They're obviously holding back."
Apollo crumpled the paper in his hands and tossed it into the nearest reprocessing unit. "Can we stop them with the forces we have?"
"Do you want an honest answer to that question?"
"You think we're going to lose Katratzi?" Apollo asked incredulously. That didn't sound like the Commander Cain he remembered. That man didn't know the meaning of the word defeat.
"I didn't say that, but I feel we're going to lose a lot of ships and some of us may not survive this coming battle."
Apollo looked down at the deck and knew the fate of the galaxy would be determined here, in Scarran space. He wished they had some more ships, a dozen more dreadnaughts and command carriers, or three extra battlestars on their side. Even another Asgard cruiser could make all the difference.
No, there was no more time for wishing or second-guessing; they would do with what they had. He turned his gaze back up to Cain. "We're going to need your tactical wizardry more than ever, Commander."
"It will take all of us to win this," Cain said thoughtfully before reaching over and gripping Apollo by the shoulder, eyeing him in this new blue and silver trimmed uniform. "Now, we have less than a day before they arrive. You'd better return to your ship and get ready, Commander."
Apollo felt a bit overwhelmed. With his father's ascension and Colonel Tigh gone to Earth to officially open negotiations between their people and the Tau'ri, he was now in command of the Galactica. Apollo doubted the wisdom of pulling the Galactica from the fleet, leaving its protection to the Hynerians, but if the Cylons were not stopped here, there wouldn't be any place left to run. Where could they possibly flee to that the Cylons wouldn't be able to follow?
Apollo nodded and extended his hand, grateful that Cain was still here. "Good luck, Commander."
Cain shook his hand. "To us all."
"How much time did Cain say we had before they arrive?" Carter asked.
"Less than a day before the evil pong people get here," O'Neill said as he, Carter, Teal'c, Daniel, and Chiana all raced through Thor's ship towards the shuttle bay.
"Damn, I was hoping we'd have more time," Carter cursed as they entered the shuttle bay and the small Asgard ship waiting there for them.
When they reached the opened door to the shuttle, they stopped as O'Neill turned to face her. "Tell me, Sam, and be honest. Can the Tok'ra do anything to help us here?"
"I don't know, Jack. When the System Lords fell, our operatives captured a lot of Goa'uld equipment and ships, but we're spies, assassins, saboteurs, not warriors."
"Not the answer I wanted."
"The Tok'ra are doing all they can, but it's going to take time for them to get mobilized," Carter explained.
"We have less than a day, Sam," O'Neill reminded her. "Time is running out for us."
"And the Asgard cannot afford to send more ships," Teal'c said. "All other reinforcements are too far away to arrive in time, except for vessels with hyperspace capabilities."
"What's left if the Tok'ra can't help?" Daniel asked. "There has to be someone else who can assist us?"
Grimly, they all looked silently at one another. O'Neill stared at Chiana with a half amused grin. "Got a spare star destroyer laying around, Zat Girl?"
Chiana looked down at herself and patted her body, checking her pockets. "Sorry, Older Man, but I don't steal what I can't carry."
As they walked up the ramp to board the shuttle, O'Neill talked to Teal'c and Daniel "I know I'm no spring chicken, but I don't look that old, do I? Is it the greying hair?"
"If it is your hair that bothers you, O'Neill, you could always shave your head," Teal'c suggested.
"I don't know, Jack, the grey gives you kind of a Nebari look…" Daniel teased as he stepped onto the shuttle.
O'Neill frowned before calling after him, "Daniel, you better beware, I feel a Luxan hyper rage coming on." Then he walked in with Teal'c right behind him, who was suppressing a slight smile himself as he listened to his friends' bickering.
Carter and Chiana were the last ones up the ramp.
"I still can't believe it," Chiana whispered to her.
"Can't believe what," Carter asked. "That Daniel asked you to marry him?"
"Oh, not that. I still can't believe you let Scorpius kiss your hand."
"Are you going to tell me that I need shots now?"
"Too late for that," Chiana smirked, putting her arm around Carter's shoulders. "You might have to gnaw if off at the wrist."
Laughing, the two women entered the shuttle and the hatch closed and sealed behind them.
A minute later, the shuttle exited Thor's ship and immediately disappeared into hyperspace, on course for the Tok'ra base.
NEXT: The battle for the Uncharted Territories begins.