Chapter 2
"Good Morning Gentlemen." Adama greeted his son and his XO. "I have spoken with the President and after tireless debate we have decided that we can't take the chance of another jump. We only have enough tylium left for one more jump and it will not be wasted on the hope that we may find something.
"Agreed." Tigh said as he and Lee sat down the Commander.
"I would like you both to work on a combat plan to take the asteroid."
"We do have one small problem Sirs. We have enough birds for sure but we will be short pilots. I for one do not want to leave the fleet defenseless while we are dealing with the cylons. Lee said.
"I'll talk to Kara about our class of nuggets."
"You're going to put them in a combat situation on their first mission?"
"What choice do we have Captain? We need the tylium." Tigh was quick to defend Adama.
"Yes, Colonel, I am aware of that. I don't see much else of choice. I'm just concerned."
"I'll talk to Kara and see what she thinks I'll meet you by the big board.
"Yes, sir."
--
All the players were on the board. Lee and Tigh had been staring at it for hours. They always hit a dead end. Jump Galactica in, in plain sight and have the Cylons cripple her in minutes. Jump in and immediately launch vipers at the surface and have Galactica defend the squadrons. All the scenarios were the same. It was a suicide mission.
"I can't see straight anymore."
"Stick with it."
"Colonel we've been pouring over this for hours…"
"And we'll pour over it some more Captain."
"How about blowing the base with a nuke."
"It would destroy the tylium."
"And the cylons…"
"That's it!" Apollo started moving the pieces around the board. He talked through every move with Tigh until they agreed on a plan.
--
Adama walked down the corridor deep in thought he knew Lee and Saul would come up with a plan but he had a feeling they needed more than your run of the mill plan. They were fighting the cylons they needed to think outside of the box. He quietly entered the pilot's ready room touching the picture of Arelion on the wall. He listened to Starbuck as she lectured the nuggets.
"When the missile gets close enough, you'll be pulling maybe seven "g"s but to catch you, the bastard's going to have to pile on 40 to 60. Its guidance system can't hack it, and it'll miss... most of the time."
Chuckles looked at the diagram with thought. "Exactly how often is most of the time."
" It depends on your judgment and how well you pray. Attention on deck! "
The nuggets jumped to
attention as Adama came toward the podium.
"As you were. Lt.
Thrace, can I have a word?"
"Of course. Take five, guys." Starbuck and Adama turned away and spoke in hushed tones. "What's up?"
"How they doing?"
Starbuck contemplated her answer. She knew she needed to be honest because at this moment she knew the rumor mill was right, but then again the rumor mill was always right. "Wobbly as newborn colts but, uh, they're getting stronger."
"That's good. I have a job for you."
Starbuck knew that look in his eye. She turned on her charm and started fishing for information. "Rumor mill has it that you're planning an op."
"Rumor mill's right, for a change.
"Rumor mill is always right, boss."
"Captain Adama and Colonel Tigh are working up a plan now and I need some serious out-of-the-box thinking."
"Out of the box is where I live."
"I know that. Come see me later when you're done."
"Yes Sir."