Authors Note: Just to let you know this story is now finished so I'm posting chapter 3 a day early. I'll probably post the rest throughout the weekend.

Once again thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed.

Please see chapter one for disclaimers.

Chapter 3

"So that's it then" Kara was the first to break the silence. "The thirteenth tribe really doesn't exist and we're going to spend the rest of our days on those Gods dammed ships running from the Cylons." She took a deep shaky breath "we may as well just surrender now."

Reaching behind Laura, Bill grasped her hand where it lay on the floor and squeezed it tightly.

"No, there has to be something, somewhere…"

Locking eyes with her commanding officer Sam waited for his permission before speaking "There is" the three Colonials looked up at her in shock. "There are many planets all through this Galaxy that are perfect, they're empty and one of them is yours if you want it, there's no one who would question you settling there. We can take you to them, pick any one of them and it's your's, we'll talk to our Superiors about helping you get settled in."

"We can't" Laura whispered, more to herself that anyone else, Bills head shot up and he looked at her incredulously, a moment later understanding crossed his features. "They'll find us, they always do." She pushed herself up to stand, taking a moment to get her balance "Thankyou for your offer and all the help you've already given us, but I think it's better for all concerned that we part ways now. I will not be responsible for putting another civilisation in danger from the Cylons. We'll head in the opposite direction of Earth, lead them away from you." She locked eyes with Jack begging for them to understand why she was doing this, the tears kept flowing down her cheeks as she moved her gaze over the rest of the team making eye contact with each of them. She hated herself for this but she knew it had to be done.

"You don't deserve to be dragged into our war, if we take you up on this generous offer then you will be."

On either side of her Bill and Kara stood, nodding their agreement.

"It's bad enough that they've destroyed us. Thank you for your hospitality Supreme Commander and everything you've done for us" his eyes flickered over to Laura standing under her own power for the first time in weeks "but I believe that it is best if we return to our ship now."

Thor looked at the three humans standing before him, and he was reminded of why he had been drawn to SG1, why he kept returning to Earth. Why they had become his friends. They were a proud and stubborn people, they would not just give in without a fight, they would fight until their last breaths to ensure those they loved and everything that they stood for remained safe and unharmed. He had seen it multiple times in SG1 and in a far distant memory he saw it in his own people before they had become so powerful that he feared their passion had been lost. Besides the Colonials had no planet and were not part of the Protected Planets treaty, he could help them as much as he wanted and interfere as much as he wanted.

He would not abandon the Colonials, they deserved more than this mere existence, the High Council would not agree, to this course of action but he wanted the passion back. Thor was well aware however that the Colonials would not accept his help willingly. With a nod he moved his hands over the control console and they disappeared in a flash of light.

When the light receded only Teal'c was standing there with SG1's gear at his feet.

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Bill blinked as CIC came into focus around him, automatically reaching out he steadied Laura who, despite her supposed cure, he could see her energy waning, he went to suggest she go and see Doc Cottle but Kara beat him to it. He watched as Starbuck dragged the President out of CIC and towards Life Station despite her protests that she felt fine.

Looking around he saw all of his staff staring at him waiting for an explanation of some sort, instead of indulging them he fixed his eyes on Lieutenant Gaeta.

"Jump the fleet to emergency co-ordinates Gamma."

Immediately CIC sprang into action going about fulfilling the Admirals orders.

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"Sir we can't just abandon them…" Sam hadn't moved her eyes from where the three Colonials had just been standing. Trying to comprehend the selfless act the three of them had just performed, but she knew what lengths she and her team had gone to in order to stop the Goa'uld and the Replicators, she could understand the Colonials actions in order to protect others from the Cylons, she didn't like it but she understood and respected them even more for their willingness to sacrifice themselves.

"Do not worry Major Carter; I will not abandon them to an unknown fate." Thor intoned as the Colonial Fleet started to wink out of existence. "From all accounts to allow the Cylons to gain a foothold in this Galaxy would be disastrous."

"And the best way to find the Cylons is to follow the Colonials." Daniel finished the thought. "I thought we weren't going to get involved" He threw a glare at Jack.

"We're not, Thor is and we just happen to be along for the ride." Jack looked around at his team "Right?"

"Indeed" Teal'c rumbled.

"Right, Sir" Sam agreed intoning just enough sarcasm to convince Jack that she'd known they were going to do this all along.

"So how do we track them?" Daniel grinned.

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General George Hammond should be used to SG1 being late by now, it seemed that if there was trouble in any part of the Galaxy they were the ones to end up neck deep in it, and if he didn't know better he would think that they actually enjoyed getting in and out of trouble as often as they did. He was certain that they would turn up sooner or later; he just hoped that it was sooner; because no matter how often it happened he still worried that there would be a day that they wouldn't come home.

When a bright flash pervaded his office and deposited Jack O'Neill in front of him the General wasn't all that surprised, and being deposited by an Asgard beam without the rest of his team meant that they had in fact been up to their necks in trouble and were probably about to go haring off to find more.

"You're late!" He looked up at the formerly astray team leader, knowing whatever he was about to be told would be good.

"Sorry about that Sir, we ended up meeting a race from another Galaxy who has what's left of their entire civilisation in spaceships on the run from psychotic robots who wiped out the majority of said civilisation. Ran into Thor, who wants us to come along while he goes to investigate said psychotic Robots and try to stop them before they get a foothold in this Galaxy."

Definitely up to their necks in trouble.

"Where are these people now?" The General asked.

"Somewhere…" Jack waved his hand vaguely towards the ceiling "Thor's tracking them, he figures that the Cylons, that's the psychotic Robots, will show up wherever the Colonials are eventually and he can get an idea as to how dangerous they are etc etc, because the last thing we want is these things teaming up with the Goa'uld or worse the Replicators."

The General nodded taking in what he had just been told, "Just how dangerous do you think they are Colonel?"

"Well Sir, they apparently wiped out 12 planets and 40 billion people in one afternoon and they can imitate humans at the cellular level. According to the Colonial President, nice lady by the way, they have no sure fire way of telling the difference a human and a Cylon."

Hiding a smirk General Hammond nodded "Colonel you and your team are ordered to accompany Thor and do a threat assessment on the Cylons, report back here when you are able."

"Sweet" Jack grinned as the transport beam reactivated and he was gone.

SG1 enjoyed their jobs way too much.

He bit back a chuckle as the red phone on his desk rang.

"Hammond"

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Bill collapsed down onto his couch with and audible grunt. Running a hand over his face he wondered if he would ever manage to start paying off the sleep debt he'd been accumulating over the past years. They had come so close only to be disappointed, again he wasn't sure how much more the people could take, how much more he could take. He blearily opened his eyes when a soft knock sounded at the hatch followed by the door creaking opened and then closing again. He watched as Laura wandered over to the couch and slipped her shoes and jacket off before settling down next to him.

"Cottle finally release you?" He queried, he hadn't seen her since Starbuck had dragged her to Life Station wanting to confirm what they had been told by Thor. Bill had to admit she looked better than he had seen her in months, she was still tired and quite weak but he figured that would change after a few good meals and a decent nights sleep.

"Only after taking a good chunk of blood, more scans than I want to think about and forcing several pounds of protein down my throat" She replied and wry smile on her face. "He was standing there looking at my scans and blood work when I left muttering under his breath. Something along the lines of 'Frakking luckiest woman I've ever met, why I keep treating her when she just goes and gets miracle cures any way' I like to think that he's happy that I'm not dead so he'll get over it eventually." Bill chuckled as she managed to produce a fairly accurate Cottle grumble.

After several minutes of comfortable silence Bill finally spoke.

"Did we do the right thing?"

"Yes" was the unequivocal answer "We've spent nearly five years trying to protect the last of our Civilisation, using Earth as a touchstone of hope. I was beginning to wonder if we we're the last of humanity now I know we're not, if everything that they've said is true then they have their own demons to vanquish and battles to fight, I won't let them take on ours. When we've lost the Cylons once and for all then we can come back and take them up on their offer, until then I won't put anyone else in danger from the Cylons."

Bill looked at her and nodded "And that's why you're the President."

"Duly elected President thank you."

Laura never failed to remind him that she was actually now the elected President; she wasn't taking over because everyone else was dead, nor was she cleaning up someone else's mess. She had won the election four months ago fair and square. Despite her failing health and the knowledge that she wouldn't live to see out the term people had still voted for her and now with Thor's help she would get to finish out this term, and maybe do another she hadn't decided yet. Laura would be close to 60 by the time the next election came around so she was almost tempted to retire from public life at the end of the term but she knew she would be bored within weeks, even if she went back to teaching. That and while Tom was a fantastic Vice President she still had her doubts about how he would go as President and there was no one else she trusted to keep the fleet going and together.

"Sorry, duly elected President." He chuckled before letting the seriousness of their actions take over him once again. "I would've jumped at their offer, it was a dream come true, but you're right it's only a matter of time before the Cylons find us again, its better that we keep moving for now. Question really is what are you going to tell the Civilians?"

They dropped back into silence, neither of the really knowing the answer to that question and neither wanting to answer it anyway.

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It was really no surprise that when SG1 and Thor caught up with the Colonial Fleet they were being attacked by one of the System Lords, it was immediately evident they were outgunned and the Galactica was doing it's best to buy some time for the Civilian fleet to get away but their pilots were being hammered.

It didn't help that two Basestars jumped into the fray just as they thought everyone was going to get out of this alive. As the last of the Civilian ships completed their FTL jump the Vipers turned to make their combat landings onto Galactica, there were two unlucky Vipers that everyone could see would not make it in time. Starbuck and Apollo had been trying to goad some Death Gliders into following them into Galactica's firing range unfortunately the Cylons appeared and that forced them to change tactics and attempt to get the Death gliders and Raiders to attack each other but they ended up at the opposite side of the battle from Galactica, there was no way they could make it back by the time they jumped. Going into battle both Kara and Lee had always known that any one of them could be their last, and if today was the day then they was going to take out as many of the Frakkers that they could. That was until Starbuck realised why one of the ships was so familiar.

"Starbuck to Thor? Is that you?" She opened up her comm to every channel she could hoping that it was a friendly ship she was about to try and land on, and that Lee would follow her in there.

"It is, how may I be of assistance Captain Thrace?" Kara released the breath she was holding.

"You got any room on that ship for me Apollo and our Raptors, Galactica's frakked if she waits for us to get there before jumping to the rest of the fleet."

"Most certainly, there is a hanger bay on the port side, you may land in there. I will send Major Carter to meet you."

"See you soon… Galactica – Starbuck?" she switched to a closed channel.

"Starbuck you and Apollo need to get your arses back here." The stress in Tigh's voice was palpable as it came through the speakers.

"Don't you worry about us, my buddy Thor'll get me and Apollo out safe and sound, get out of here and we'll see you on the other side. Starbuck out"

"Apollo follow me, I got us a ride"

Lee could hear the un-adulterated glee in her voice and could only pray to Gods that he wasn't sure existed that she wasn't going to get them killed, as he followed her around to the port side of the supposedly safe ship.

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In Galactica's CIC Bill's eyes widened as he heard Starbucks words, knowing he had to trust the pilot, if she said they were going to be ok, then they were going to be ok.

"Jump now" his order carried across the room.

He just didn't know how he would live with himself if he was wrong and had left them behind to die.

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Despite having been on Thor's ship previously Kara had never really appreciated it's mammoth size until it was just her and her Viper flying along side looking for the port side hanger bay, and unlike Lee she hadn't actually been flying CAP when it was previously with the fleet. She was so distracted by the size and the combat going on around them that if she hadn't caught the familiar blond head of Samantha Carter (it was shocking enough that the woman was standing unprotected in what by all appearances was an open airlock) she would have missed the hanger bay all together. Turning her Raptor into the bay she felt an almost buzzing electricity skitter over her body and couldn't contain the gasp of surprise as the air shimmered around her. Immediately she could feel the difference, the pull of gravity and the feeling of atmosphere returning to her Viper.

Pulling the cover back she disconnected her helmet before jumping out of the Viper, landing lightly on her feet in front of Sam.

"So is there any particular reason you guys are stalking us, or couldn't you survive without our brand of hotness in your lives?" Sam chuckled at the Colonial Pilot, glad to see she wasn't pissed off that they'd been followed despite the selfless gesture her President and Admiral had made the day before, although Apollo who she hadn't had much to do with while on Galactica looked a little peaked.

Smirking Sam lead them out into the main part of the ship and towards the control centre "Thor decided he wanted to do a threat assessment on the Cylons and we came along for the ride. Nothing like a space battle to see what you could be up against, we just didn't expect you to end up tangling with Baal otherwise you never would have known we we're there. President Roslin doesn't want your problems put on us and you shouldn't have to deal with the Goa'uld on top of everything else, they're our problems not yours."

Kara stopped short, going over the other women's words in her head, shrugging slightly she broke into a run to catch up "Fair call" Lee however didn't agree.

"Wait, Starbuck. We can't just… Starbuck" but she just laughed at him.

The three of them continued to walk in silence as they wove their way through the ship towards the bridge.

"Captain Thrace, welcome." Thor greeted her.

"Hey Thor, thanks for the ride, this is Commander Lee Adama, he's our CAG," she smirked over at Lee knowing he could quite easily kill her for her next comment "he laughs in the face of danger and then hides until it goes away!"

"Welcome Commander Adama, you will find it re-assuring that I do not anticipate any dangerous situations aboard my ship at this time, and it is no problem Captain Thrace. We will be joining your fleet soon; I would however like to observe the battle for a few more minutes. It is imperative that we have an idea as to the capabilities of the Cylons in the event that they gain a foothold in this Galaxy."

"We were just about to jump again when that mother frakker landed on top of us and started attacking. I assume they're your friends the Goa'uld?"

"You assume correctly." Jack piped up from his spot by the windows watching the battle. "We are curious about the weapons and defence systems of the Raiders and Basestars."

"Technologically they're superior to us," Kara started, more than happy to tell them what she could about the Cylons strengths and weaknesses, completely ignoring Lee's protests that this was classified information "their armour is top notch but they still use force propelled and nuclear weapons like us. The Raiders aren't just machines though, they're sentient, when you destroy one it downloads into a new body, it remembers and learns and passes on its information to the others. It's learning constantly, you can try the same trick twice but chances are it's not going to work the second time. You have to be smarter than it, think outside the box, it may learn faster and retain more knowledge than us but it doesn't have our capacity for imagination. Its logic will tell it that something is impossible, that it can't be done, but humans aren't logical and I don't believe in impossible, nothing's impossible until I've tried to do it and failed and even then I'll try again and again until it works. The Cylons aren't like that, they're too cerebral and limited in their ability to think laterally and take that sideways jump that your gut is telling you to take but everything logical says that it will never work, and that's why we've survived this long, we're unpredictable and no matter what, that is the one thing they can't counter."

"I see" Thor hadn't taken his eyes off the battle but they all knew he was listening intently. The more he learned about these Colonials the more he saw how alike they and the Tau'ri were, the sheer determination to survive and their sense of honour leading them to what some of the Asgard saw to be a futile fight against those stronger and more advanced. No matter how often they were knocked down they still got up again fighting harder and harder after every set back. Some days Thor despaired at their apparent foolishness but most he was astounded by their ability to continue on and win against the most horrible odds. Nor was he under any illusions as to their humanity, while he had never been told any specifics Thor was quite aware that the last few years had been hard, many tough decisions had been made and many of the Colonials would have been forced to make decisions and do things they never would have even considered under other circumstances.

Such was war.

"It looks like the Raiders have superior manoeuvrability but the Death Gliders weapons and armour are better." Sam had moved to the view port and was watching the battle.

When they had first appeared the Cylons had attempted to take on Thor's ship but had very quickly learned that nothing they had would touch it and it's weapons were far superior to their own, they had given up on that idea and moved in to engage Baal's forces, it seemed that of the small fighters neither was gaining an upper hand Sam suspected that it wouldn't be long until both either ran (which she knew was highly unlikely) or someone's reinforcements showed up.

Slowly the better weapons and armour triumphed over manoeuvrability and more and more Raiders disappeared off the screen. Finally a Death Glider managed to break through their lines and get hits on the Base Star; it wasn't long before more made it through to bolster the attack.

Lee and Kara gaped in shock as it exploded and the last of the Raiders were destroyed.

Thor quickly engaged the hyper drive lest the Goa'uld decide to take his chances and attack the Asgard vessel.

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Several hours and three jumps later Bill was worried, there was no sign of Thor's ship yet and he strongly suspected that he made the wrong call.

He was sitting opposite Laura in her office being stared at by the woman herself. From a Presidential point of view Bill knew he had made the only call that he could, two Pilots versus Galactica the fleet's only protection. The Admiral and the President were in complete agreement of that.

Bill and Laura however were devastated at the thought of loosing Lee and Kara.

"CIC to Admiral Adama, CIC to Admiral Adama" Echoed through the Galactica. Before either of them could move a familiar white light enveloped them and deposited them back on the bridge of Thor's ship. Looking around he saw Kara grinning impishly at them while Lee was in the background glaring exasperatedly at Kara.

In other words they were fine and things were fairly normal as far as they were concerned.

It did worry The Admiral a little that despite several jumps and close to 200 light years away from where they left Thor and SG1 they had been found so easily, he pushed that thought to the back of his mind for he was simply grateful that they had been here to save Lee and Kara.

Laura, it seemed recovered first from the unexpected beaming.

"Supreme Commander, it seems that once again we are in your debt, I'm just going to assume that you being there was a happy coincidence and be grateful to you for saving Starbuck and Apollo's lives." Despite her words there was an edge of steel in her voice that made it perfectly clear there had better be a good explanation for their appearance or she would be extremely put out.

End Chapter 3