The War Room cleared quickly leaving, Apollo, Starbuck, Adama and Colonel Tigh behind.
"Now, Starbuck, let's discuss your Jack in the box."
"We need an element of surprise. Starbuck picked up the freighter from the big board and smiled at Lee."
"Kara what crazy ass thing are you planning?"
"We're going to be out numbered. We need a back door and we need a way through. This…" She held up the model is our way in. We need to put a squad of Vipers inside the freighter."
"That's is crazy!!" Tigh agreed with Apollo.
"It's just the kind of out of the box thinking we need. What do you think Apollo?"
Apollo studied the board and the positions. "It's definitely crazy but it might be crazy enough to work. We need to decide who gets assigned to which team. I'll talk to the Chief about the logistics. I assume this is need to know."
Adama looked at his son. "Yes, I have decided to withhold this information it is my prerogative."
"And given the climate around here I support it." Lee certainly didn't want to cause any more problems between his Dad and the President but given the information about human-cylons and the climate about the military and civilian government it was the smart course to take.
"All right Starbuck you have a go work with Lee on the assignments."
"Yes, sir." Kara picked up the information from the board and walked out. Lee turned to follow her.
"Captain, stay."
Lee turned back around and walked over toward his father. "Colonel, I will meet you in CIC."
"Yes, sir." Tigh gave his friend a puzzled look and left.
Bill waited until he heard the hatch close and turned to his son. "What do you think about Kara's plan?"
"You already know the answer to that question. That not why we're standing here."
"You're right. Do you think she's ready?"
"I'm not a doctor dad, but it won't matter she's pushed herself to be up on the roaster.
"Do you think she's ready?"
Lee took a deep breath. "No, I don't think she's had enough time to heal. She might be able to handle short, non-combat situations, but this isn't one."
"I'll talk to Cottle to be sure."
"I'll try to keep her mind off the subject but she's not going to like sitting out."
"I know. Who do you have in mind to lead the Galactica squad?' Adama asked as the walked toward the hatch.
"I need good sharp shooters on the jack in the box mission. I think I may go with a rookie; I like Hotdog's leadership."
"What about Wildcard?"
"I'm going to need her with me. Don't worry we'll come back alive."
"I'm not worried son."
--
Lee walked onto the flight deck shortly after meeting with his father. "Chief, Sit Rep."
Tyrol walked over to the CAG. "We're putting the finishing touches on this group of Vipers over here and I have Cally and a team working on the Raptors we need for the mission."
"They're our eyes Chief."
"Yes, Captain"
"I have a special assignment for you. Lee walked Tyrol away from the deckhands. We will need to have a group of eight vipers equipped with thermo-nuclear warheads. The authorizations are all in place." Lee handed him a folder. Also please check the mag-locks on the birds it is very important to this mission Chief. It could mean life or death for us all."
Tyrol took the information and nodded. "Yes, Captain."
"We will also be preparing birds for two different deployments the first very early on. I need you're best people on the deck when that happens. They all need to be the soul of digression. The information is on the back page share it only with the people that will be on the deck when we launch that part of the Op."
Tyrol opened the folder and glanced at the back page. "I understand, Sir."
"I knew you would Chief. I'll get you the roaster as soon as it's available."
--
"All of the nuggets are still pretty raw." Kara said looking over the files.
"Well we don't have much of a choice we've forty hours." Lee said. "Okay, Lauren goes with me, Mouse, and chuckles?"
"I can live with that. I'll be the fifth on your team you going to need a fancy flyer."
"We have the fancy flying covered Starbuck." Lauren said as she continued through the list of names.
"I'll be fine for the Op."
"Kara, you now you still need time. It's a combat mission the stakes are different." Lee was ready for this he knew Kara wouldn't stay out of this for long, but she wasn't ready to fly. He was going to put on this mission just to loser her.
"With all due respect, Captain. I'm the best pilot you have you need me on this mission." Kara stood up and looked at the roasters. "Put Kat on the asteroid team and Flipper as an alternate she can be on Strike One if we don't need her on Two. Let Hotdog be the lead on Galactica's defense. I'm going to the gym." Kara stormed out of the ready room.
Lauren cleaned up the folders "That went well."
"What do you expect?" Lee said as the both walked out the ready room.
"That was a lot tamer than what I expected." Lauren smiled as the walked back to Lee's office.
"It's scary the way you and I think sometimes. I thought the same thing."
--
It's like I told you a month ago. She isn't ready. The G-forces will crash her knee. At this point she would be undoing any healing and making the injury even worse. She can't fly yet.
Bill knew that before he went to see Jack but he wanted to be sure before he had to break her heart. He just hoped it wouldn't break her spirit. "Do you want to be the one to tell her that Doc?"
"That's your department Commander but if you need reinforcements you know where to find me." Cottle took a drag of his cigarette
"Thanks a lot Jack. You're all heart."
"What are friends for Bill?"
Bill Adama found Starbuck in the Gym later that day. She was working on her strengthening exercises but it was obvious she was going easy. She wasn't ready. He knew that she wasn't going to take the news well. He didn't when he finally stepped out of the cockpit. It wasn't easy to be on the outside looking in, but it was time for her to have new responsibilities. He would need her with him. This was her Op she would run it from the war room.
Bill stepped through the hatch and an officer immediately called everyone to attention.
Bill acknowledged the officers in the gym before walking towards Starbuck. "As you were. How's the knee, Starbuck?"
Starbuck looked up as she was finishing her set. "It'll be ready. I'm not missing this party."
It was now or never Adama looked at Starbuck. "Apollo's leading the strike force, you're going to have to sit this one out."
Starbuck began to
argue. Bill knew she would. "I'm the best pilot that you have."
Adama Kept an even temper. "Not right now, in combat, you got
to pull six or seven "g"S. Doc says your knee won't take
it."
Starbuck's confidence and trademark attitude was in full swing now. No way was the doc or the old man going to make her sit this out. "Well, then he's wrong."
Adama was up for her challenge. He knew Cottle was right and he wasn't going to put her in harms way to satisfy her ego. "Is he? A viper thruster pedal... requires this much force... to activate." Bill placed more weight onto Starbuck's exercise machine. He stepped away and Starbuck took his challenge. She pushed against the machine grunting. It was obviously hard. Bill felt for her but knew he was making his point. He walked to the weights and placed even more on the machine while Starbuck held the current weight half way up.
" Now you're on your attack run. You launch your missiles. So you got to jam that pedal... into the firewall and hold a six "g" turn..." He walked to the weights and placed even more on the machine while Starbuck held the current weight half way up. "…for ten seconds or you die. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six five, four—Starbuck couldn't hold the weight. Her knee was beginning to buckle, she was trying her best to make a point but her knee finally gave way and the weights fell to the ground. Adama didn't want to she her fail. He didn't take pleasure in any of this but his point was made. "This was only three "g's, Starbuck, not six. I'm sorry, it's a tough one but you're staying home."