Unnamed Binary Star System
Battlestar Galactica
Deck Three, C-Corridor near Senior Pilots' Bunk

"I hate CAPs like that," grumbled Tucker "Duck" Clellan. They'd been in the binary star system for six days conducting Fleet-wide repairs and training operations. The system they were in had such a high level of stellar dust and high-iron debris that DRADIS had been nearly useless, which made the CAPs even more important than usual.

Unfortunately for the pilots, the sheer amount of crap in the air required the pilots to fly in a textbook fashion. Strict formations and a complete lack of stunts made for extremely tedious CAPs, and tediousness was the bane of a pilot's existence.

Brendan Costanza, better known to his friends and fellow pilots as "Hot Dog" nodded his agreement. "I hear that, man. There's nothing more boring than flying six feet off somebody's wing reporting speed and vector every forty-five seconds for six hours. We couldn't even travel at a decent speed with all the garbage in the air." He stifled a yawn and grinned tiredly, "It was so boring I need a nap."

The pilots made the final turn towards their bunk room and Duck nodded in agreement. "I hear that. All I want is a little- Frak!"

Both men stared in bewilderment and growing fury at the pair of boots that hung from the wheel of the hatch to the senior pilot's bunk.

Some time had passed since the Attacks, the fact that the crews of Pegasus and Galactica were all that remained of the Colonial Fleet was settling in and the pairing off was beginning. Very quietly, under Starbuck's nose, Flat Top and Racetrack came up with a signal to keep the others out for private time.

Which brought them to the boots currently hanging off the wheel of the hatch, Hot Dog sagged against the wall in defeat but Duck was more aggressive. His right hand curled into a fist and he banged hard on the hatch. "Come on! Finish up in there, we've got tired pilots out here!" There was no answer or signs of life inside so he banged again, "OPEN UP!" He continued banging on the hatch. "FLYBOY! I know it's you in there! OPEN THE FRAK-"

The angry roar that came through the hatch was enough for Hot Dog to snap to attention and Duck to leap away from it. "SHUT YOUR FRAKKING HOLE!" Starbuck's voice was husky and rough, and angry as hell. She clearly knew what the boots on the wheel were for. The CAG was in there and it had become a matter of common knowledge she spent her nights with the XO of Pegasus. He strained his ears and could hear Lee Adama's chuckle in there as well. "Go hit the showers and we'll be done by the time you get back!"

Faced with the prospect of both an angry CAG and an angry Adama the two viper pilots did the only thing they could, they ran like hell for the showers.

&&&&&&&&&

Kara threw the curtain open and her feet hit the deck with a slap, she turned a blistering scowl on her lover as he chuckled. "What's so funny?"

Lee folded his hands behind his head and grinned at her. "I told you Kara, this is so much easier on Pegasus. I mean, nobody goes banging on my hatch in the middle of a good frak. Well there's one person, but that's not the Commander's style. She'd just page me to her cabin."

Kara smirked at him a moment before she slipped back into the rack and reclined against his chest, enjoying the mix of the chilly air of the room against her naked back and Lee's body heat warming her chest, "True, I always enjoy my rides on the Beast..." Lee rolled his eyes, she could tell he was growing tired of her referring to his dick by the same nickname as his boat. That's why it gave her joy, "The problem is, if I keep slipping off Galactica to frak you, eventually the Old Man's gonna fire me... out the launch tube."

Lee nodded and gave her a solemn expression, "Well... I hate that it comes to this, especially since it'll mean the end of a brilliant pilot's military career but I guess I have to. I'll type up my resignation and deliver it to the Admiral in the morning and spend my days as your kept man."

She grinned at him and nodded, "Finally, a plan I can get behind."

Lee looked around, "But as your kept man, I can't stay here."

She chuckled, "I'll tellya what, I'll have the Chief convert the old gift shop from the museum in the starboard flight pod. I'll give you a bedroom, a nice big bed, with manacles." She punctuated that addendum with a wink then continued, "Maybe we can even run over to the Prometheus and scare us up a black market hot tub, make a really nice cage for you."

"You pamper me so well."

She gave him a smug grin, "I take care of my bitch."

He sat up slightly and left a sloppy, wet kiss on her cheek, "For that, I thank you."

She screwed up her face and made a show of wiping her cheek, "Gross, boy germs!"

Lee pushed her off, "As much fun as infecting you with cooties always is, I was only on Galactica to drop off the Commander's reports. We need to be dressed before Duck leads a mutiny and I need to be heading back."

Kara rolled off of him and sat up, crossing her bare legs with a flourish and giving him a mock-seductive pout before she said, "C'mon baby, let's make one more strafing run before we head back to work." When she was met only by his raised eyebrow she stood and crossed the room with a pronounced sway to her hips and called the flight deck to request a prepped raptor. She hung up the phone and turned back to him, "I'll fly you over." She then crossed the room and picked up her discarded briefs and began to dress. Lee followed her lead.

When she was down to her tunic, Lee intercepted the item and gestured to the collar, "Were you planning on telling me anytime soon?"

She shrugged, "It seems the XO on Pegasus is a real frak-up and the Old Man wants a command rank officer ready to take his place when he's finally drummed out of the Fleet." She threw him another wink.

Lee smirked and tossed her the item and finished buttoning his own tunic. With a grin and a nod he said, "Well, whatever your reason for promotion, congratulations Major Thrace."

"Thank you Major Adama." She stepped forward and leaned against the bunk they'd just vacated, "Though it may not be Major Adama much longer. The wireless is all over Cain to resign or take an extended leave until after the election. Scuttlebutt has you maybe just days from your own command." She crossed her arms and gave him an inquisitive look.

He sighed and sat down on the bunk to tie up his boots, "I've logged a lot of time in command of the Peggy since the President died. The Commander seems to be the only serious candidate, the Quorum rep from Aerelon is running and I think there's a couple of others but her campaign manager has her way out in front. I know we have to go through the process otherwise it's just ordaining a dictator but I am growing tired of it all being up in the air."

She looked down at him with a smirk, "Commander Lee Adama, Battlestar Pegasus..."

He answered her smirk, "Sounds a little pretentious, doesn't it?"

"Little bit, however you are a little pretentious so I'm used to it by now. Don't worry, I love you anyway." they chuckled for a moment before she pushed off the bunk and he rose to his feet. "Let's get you back to your boat, Skipper."

As she spun the wheel to open the hatch she felt Lee's hand on her shoulder, he turned her around. His face was serious and tense and he whispered, "You tried to slip that in." Suddenly, a bit of panic gripped Kara. She hadn't uttered the words since Zak died and there were several admittedly irrational fears linked to them in her mind. One of the most gripping was that he wouldn't feel the same so she had tried to slip in an "I love you" under Lee's DRADIS, she should have known better.

After a moment he leaned his forehead against hers. "I love you too."

She smiled and relaxed, the words weren't so scary anymore.

&&&&&&&&&

Lee had thought it strange when they requested a landing vector from Pegasus that Hoshi gave them one and instructions to report directly to the Commander in CIC. He immediately knew there was trouble when they were taxied onto the Flight Deck and the deck crew was on alert and preparing the SAR raptors. He turned to Kara and noticed her matching frown, "There wasn't a drill scheduled for today, something's happened."

She powered down then popped the hatch, Lee released his harness and stood, "I'm heading right up, come up to CIC."

"This might be an internal matter."

Lee shook his head, "No, I don't think so. I can't order a fellow Major, but..."

She chuckled, "I'll humor you."

He moved to the hatch and nodded his thanks before stepping out of the raptor. He was halfway across the Flight Deck when he saw Narcho. He didn't break stride as he barked out, "Allison, on my six." The viper pilot fell into step with him, "SitRep."

"We're at Condition One. Shark and Buster were leading a training flight, they jumped out of the soup to get a look around. There was a garbled distress call and we lost contact. SAR is on stand-by awaiting orders. Kat's in CIC with the CO, going over the transmission."

Lee digested the report then said, "Get back in there." Noel left him to return to the flight deck.

He arrived in CIC moments later and found the Commander, Hoshi and Kat at the Tac Table. Lee snapped to attention and saluted, Cain returned his salute and ushered him over. "I was briefed on the Flight Deck sir."

Cain nodded, "Good, Lieutenant you were saying?"

Hoshi cleared his throat and spoke, "It seems that the transmission interference increased after the raptors jumped out of the stellar cloud."

Kat frowned, "Which means one of three things; massive mechanical problems as they came out of the jump, they were jammed or they were fired upon."

Lee reached across the table and pulled Hoshi's hand written transcript to him. He read it over and pulled some word fragments out of it, "Being under fire or mechanical problems seem to be the two most likely options."

Cain nodded, "I agree."

At that moment Kara arrived in CIC, when Cain put her at ease she turned to Lee with a raised eyebrow. "I was unsure of the situation, but Major Thrace is one of Galactica's best officers..."

The commander nodded and turned to Kat as well as Galactica's CAG, "Send out the search flight, standard sweep on the edge of the stellar cloud for now. Major, you'll co-ordinate with Captain Katraine, go over the transmission word by word, find out what they were trying to tell us. This reeks of a trap. You're dismissed."

Kat and Starbuck saluted and left, Cain then turned to Hoshi. "You have the boards Lieutenant. Major, come with me."

The walk to Cain's cabin was silent, when they arrived she poured herself a cup of coffee and spoke as she prepared it, "Opinion Major?" She gestured to the nearby couch and Lee took a seat.

Lee sighed and shook his head, "Colonel Wilkins' Tactical History class." Cain smiled as she switched her display screens from the database to the DRADIS display and he continued, "During the opening days of the First Cylon war, they'd pick off scout ships and freighters like this. Maybe since the destruction of the Resurrection, they're reverting to older, more conservative tactics."

Cain sat down in her preferred chair and took a sip of her drink, "If that's true, then they're scrambling for new tactics this far out."

Lee smiled at the thought, "That suggests they're spread pretty damn thin trying to find us. We might have dealt them an even more serious blow than we thought when we scratched that ship."

She nodded, "My thoughts exactly, Major." They sat in companionable silence before she spoke again, "Lee, I want you to oversee this investigation personally. With the ranking officer being from Galactica, I feel it's the best course of action."

Lee nodded, "Of course sir."

"You've heard the rumors, I'm sure."

Lee feigned ignorance, "Beg your pardon, Commander?"

She shook her head, "The Quorum is pressuring the Admiral to have me step aside as CO until the election is over. They're calling it conflict of interest but really they're intimidated and worried that this is just an end-around run for Martial Law."

Lee sighed, "That's ridiculous-"

"True, but Bill and I are considering it." She set her coffee aside and leaned forward, "The Admiral wanted me to brief you on the situation should I decide to go through with it. Should I step aside, we will be giving you a field promotion to Commander and Colonel Tigh will stand as your XO, at least temporarily. Should I win the election, we will make the promotion official. If I do not win the election you will be reduced in rank to Colonel and continue to serve on Pegasus as my XO."

Lee nodded and rose to his feet, "I should head down to Ops Planning and get with Kat. By your leave, sir."

"There is one more thing, Major." She stood and picked up her mug, "I'd like you to contact Galactica, and then have the guest cabin on C-Deck prepped. I think we need to consult a civilian advisor."

&&&&&&&&&

Lee stepped onto the Flight Deck just as the raptor was taxied to a stop. He crossed the deck as the hatch popped and waited for the passenger and pilot to step out.

Not surprisingly, Helo stepped out of the raptor first with a wary eye and his right have hovering near his sidearm, waiting for the first sign of trouble. When his eyes settled on Lee, he gave the senior officer a tight expression, "Major Adama."

Lee nodded, "Lieutenant. Thank you for coming, both of you."

Karl stepped down, "She won't be out of my sight, even for a minute, clear?"

"Crystal."

They looked up in time to see Sharon step out of the raptor, several of the deck crew tensed and Lee ordered them to return to their duties. Sharon looked healthier than the last time he'd seen her, he held his hand out to help her as she stepped down. "How are you feeling Sharon?"

She gave him a cheerless smile, "Better Lee, thanks for the sentiment."

He shrugged, "Hey, I just want to make sure you're okay. Who will be around to wipe Helo's nose and make sure he's tucked in otherwise?"

She chuckled and shook her head, "I wouldn't want that. Let's get to work then."