The battlestars squared off with the base ships, launching their first fighter wings as well. Cain was suitably impressed, "Hoshi, instruct the LSO to launch Flight Two and inform Galactica to stand by for Flight Three's launch."
From his post at communications, the young officer keyed his mic and spoke, "Flight Deck, Flight Two is a go. Galactica/Pegasus; Flight Two under way, stand by for launch of Flight Three. Apollo/Combat; stand by for launch."
Cain watched the DRADIS screen waiting for something, the officer at Tactical spoke, "Target aspect changing, they're launching more raiders."
As red blips began to appear on DRADIS, Cain noticed a single friendly blip move towards the Resurrection, "Switch to salvo fire and concentrate of the base ship's launch mechanism, we'll cut their planes out of the equation."
ahead one third. Fire control; begin raking fire, let's bloody their nose."
Jack watched from his position as Adama and Tigh worked in perfect unison. Adama issuing firing orders while Tigh kept control of the flight deck and damage situations. He felt a line of icy sweat running down his spine. A part of him was hopeful that Galactica would be destroyed in the next few minutes and he wouldn't be forced to send his marines through the ship gunning down key officers until the crew was manageable.
He'd felt as though she's pulled the rug out from under him when she ordered him on this mission but after what she'd done to his predecessor, he didn't dare refuse. He remembered from his post at Tactical the look of the Admiral, face stained with her former XO's blood and ordering the attack.
He'd seen that resigned look in her eyes again on the raptor flight back from Galactica and he knew she believed her back was against the wall and she had no choice. She'd reminded him of a wounded dog both times, fighting to protect her pain from probing fingers with growls and snapping teeth.
Adama was a threat to her. Not a military threat, Jack was sure that the quest for Earth could be abandoned as Adama seemed to be a patriot first and foremost. He'd welcome the chance to return to the Colonies. No, Adama would eventually agree with Cain but he threatened to expose the Admiral to her own guilt and pain.
Then again, when the time came and Cain began to butt heads with Roslin, Adama would become a threat at least judging by what he'd seen of the relationship between Adama and Roslin. Cain would never be able to convince Roslin which meant she'd never convince Adama, which brought Jack to Galactica, waiting for Cain to call him and order him to kill Adama.
The Tactical officer's voice caught Jack's attention, "Resurrection is running; their FTL is powering up to jump away. The blackbird will overtake in fifteen seconds."
&&&&&&&&&
Lee cracked his knuckles in the cockpit while he waited for Showboat to take out the Resurrection's FTL. Finially his earpiece crackled to life with a familiar distorted voice, "Apollo/Showboat, FTL destroyed."
Lee nodded as he began to power up his viper's system, "Copy Showboat, clear out of there and leave the rest to us."
"Roger Apollo, spinning up FTL I'll see you at the rendezvous."
A moment later he heard Hoshi's voice replace Marcia's in his ear. "Blackbird has jumped away. Attack wings cleared for launch, good hunting Apollo."
Moments later he was away and racing towards the now crippled Resurrection ship. He glanced towards Galactica and noticed her remaining planes in the air, "Starbuck/Apollo, target is twelve o'clock low at fifteen."
"Copy Apollo, I'll see you there."
"Roger. Flight Three/Apollo, prepare for strafing runs on target, watch your intervals, time to target, twenty-six seconds." Out of the corner of his eye he watched one of the base ships venting ignited fuel and atmosphere before it came apart completely and the two battlestars turned their full attention on the remaining base ship.
As one the combined fighters from Galactica and Pegasus converged on the Cylon vessel and made passes on the ship, firing their weapons. Missiles and rounds struck the ship, shattering the hull and venting atmosphere into space along with equipment, debris and the bodies of Cylons. All were blown out into the black.
The fire persisted until the explosions began to erupt from within the ship and Lee knew the ship was going critical. He instructed the raptors to make a bombing run before ordering the vipers to clear out. "Pegasus/Apollo, I've sighted detonations from within target, Resurrection is going critical. Flight Three is pulling out."
The explosions came more quickly and at last the ship came apart completely. Moments later, the support ships and raiders jumped away leaving the remaining base ship burning in space. He heard a roar of triumph in his ear from both his pilots and the Pegasus' crew and Hoshi's voice was nearly drowned out, "Apollo/Pegasus, mission accomplished, clear out and come on home."
Lee smiled as he brought his viper around and he said, "Roger that Pegasus, we're coming home."
"Apollo/Starbuck; that was some nice shooting."
He laughed, "Roger that Starbuck. Nice shooting from your people too."
He noticed a Mark Two pull up along side of him and waggle their wings at him. He looked and found Kara smirking at him, she gave him a hand signal and he switched over to a private ship-to-ship frequency, "You can buy me dinner on Cloud Nine to thank me for my plan."
He grinned and waggled back at her, "Frak that! It was my plan, you buy me dinner!"
"If I buy dinner, I expect you to put out."
He nodded, "I'll hold you to that, Starbuck. Apollo out." He switched back to the fleet com channel and gave Kara a wave as he approached Pegasus.
As he received his clearance to land, the high of adrenaline was squashed by the sudden realization that with the operation a success, he was now charged with the assassination of the Admiral.
He touched down on the flight deck several minutes later and even before his boots touched the deck, he was speaking with the deck chief to get a head count. He'd lost two pilots from blue squadron and Shark had suffered a minor injury when shrapnel pierced her raptor. He signed off on his post-flight check list and left his helmet, gloves and collar in the cockpit before he left the flight deck.
A few minutes later, he approached CIC and found that he wished he was a more religious man. He pulled the snap off his holster and wished that he knew the proper prayer to save his soul, as it stood all he could do was mumble, "Lords of Kobol, hear my prayer. Please know that I'm doing this to save my friends and please protect Kara and my father when I'm gone." He sighed, he wasn't really sure there was anyone on Olympus listening anyway. He took a deep breath to calm himself and whispered, "I'm sorry, Kara."
He presented his id to the marine at the door and a moment later he was stepping into CIC behind Cain. She turned around and when she looked into his eyes he watched a look of such pride blossom on her face.
It was the look of someone whose faith had been validated. She believed he could pull this off and when he did it proved that she was right about him. It was a staggering sensation that went through when he realized how good it felt to see it, "I am so proud of you, so very proud."
As quickly as the warm feeling of pride came, it was swallowed by dread, he had to choke down the taste of bile and nod, "T-thank you, Admiral."
She turned towards Hoshi, "Get me Galactica Actual." Hoshi complied and a moment later informed her he had the commander on the speaker. She picked up the receiver and spoke, "Congratulations Commander."
Adama's voice came over the speaker, "Congratulations to you as well, Admiral."
"This was a significant victory today."
"I agree completely, sir. Is Apollo on deck?" Lee felt ice crystals form in his veins and a line of sweat dragged down his spine. This was it.
He suppressed a shiver as Cain gave him a look, "Yes, he is."
She gave him a nod and Lee picked up the other receiver, turning his body subtly to give himself a clear line of fire on Cain's head. The taste of bile assaulted him again and he swallowed it away before he spoke, "Apollo."
There was a tense moment and Lee pressed the receiver into his ear even harder as he waited with morbid anticipation, "I've been thinking about what we discussed the other day." Lee gripped his sidearm so hard the plastic creaked and his hand protested as the material bit into his fingers.
Each word could bring the end of two lives, "It's not merely enough to do what needs to be done, sometimes you need to do what's right."
Another pause and Lee felt like screaming, "Just get on with it!"
Adama spoke again, "That is all."
'That is all?' Did the Commander just change his mind? What happened? He took a stuttering breath, "That-that's wise sir. Thank you." He replaced the receiver and finally felt the tension escape his spine.
Cain spoke again, "Commander, I'd like to speak with my XO."
"Of course, Admiral."
A moment later it was Fisk's voice on the speaker, "Admiral?"
"Good work today, Colonel."
"Thank you, sir."
She paused and Lee watched her seemingly debating a decision for a moment. "Come on home Jack, you'll meet Apollo on the flight deck when you arrive. That is all." She replaced the receiver and turned back to Lee. "When you meet the Colonel, proceed down to the brig. Lieutenant Agathon and Chief Tyrol are to be released; I'm dropping the charges against them. You're dismissed, Major."
Lee left CIC quickly, when he was out of sight of the guard and around a corner he leaned against the wall and took a moment to finally relax and thank the Gods he didn't have to shoot the Admiral.
&&&&&&&&&
Gaius watched with horror as Gina easily dispatched the marine guard by snapping his neck. She yanked his sidearm and slapped it into his palm. He locked wide eyes on hers as she took the barrel of the gun and pressed it into the soft flesh under her chin. The shot would splatter her brain all over the ceiling, she gave him such a grateful look that for a moment he considered pulling the trigger before his own feelings took over. "No!" He stepped back and stuttered, "I-I can't do this!"
She looked at him pleadingly, "Suicide is a sin, Gaius." The silky way she spoke his name reminded him of the Six in his head and he feel in love with Gina all over again. "I need you to kill me."
He shook his head, he couldn't allowed the Gods to take another Six from him. "You need justice." He reached for her hand and slapped the pistol into her hand. "I know a place you can go, where you'll be safe."
Tears seemed to be eeking into the corners of her eyes as she whispered a single word, "Why?"
He smiled and caressed her cheek, "Because I love you." He took her hand and started to pull her towards the hatch, "Let's go."
They exited her cell and stepped into the corridor only to be confronted by two men coming their way. Gaius watched as though in slow motion as Colonel Fisk and Commander Adama's son looked up and saw Gina with him.
It seemed all three hesitated for just a moment before going into action. Gina's face twisted into a feral rage while Fisk fumbled with his sidearm long enough for Gina to raise her weapon and shoot him in the head and chest. Firing on Fisk first was a mistake however as Adama did not fumble with his weapon and as Gina trained her weapon on him, he fired.
Gaius felt gore spray across his face and he staggered back, thinking he was hit. He turned to see Gina crumple to the ground, her eyes staring at the ceiling, devoid of life. In the center of her forehead was a single bullet-hole, the exit wound at the back of her skull was pouring out blood, it was a perfect kill shot. As he turned back to Adama, his throat constricted and the back of his skull smashed against the wall. He realized the pilot's hand was gripping his throat like a vice and his skull was smashed against the bulkhead. Spittle struck Gaius' face as he screamed, "DON'T YOU FRAKKING MOVE!"
Gaius whimpered in pain, "I ccc… I can…"
Adama pressed the barrel of his gun into Baltar's left cheek, it was still warm from the bullet he just fired, "SHUT UP!" The pilot's eyes were wild, "You traitorous little frak! What have you done?"
"Shh-sh-she coerced me-"
The barrel pressed into his face so hard that it was biting through the skin and a line of blood slid down his cheek, "SHUT UP! Marines!"
Four marines appeared in Gaius' line of sight and Adama released him. Giles breathed easy… for only a moment. "Place this frak under arrest for treason and put him in the Cylon's cell. He helped the Cylon escape and murder Colonel Fisk." He turned back to Gaius with a cold expression, "I really hope the Admiral lets me airlock you myself, you little bastard! Get him out of here!"
As Gaius was dragged into the cell and left under guard he noticed that Six had returned. She scowled at him and bit out, "I warned you Gaius, I doubt even God can save you from them now."