Lee walked into his father's quarters. He could tell by the look on his father's face and the glass in his hand that the meeting with Starbuck didn't go well.
"She didn't take it well I see."
"I'm not putting her life on the line for her own ego, so no it didn't go well."
"She's walking around mad at the world, but we finished the roaster. 'Jack in the box, is me, Wildcard, Mouse, Stepchild, Chops, Wiz, Ringer, Kat, Chuckles, Fury, blade, Freefall. Flipper is the alternate. I hope I don't need to move people around but if for some reason we do." Lee set the papers on the desk. We are meeting in an hour."
"Okay, and the defense force for Galactica?"
"Hotdog will have lead, with most of the usually suspects he has six rookies on the team including himself."
"Okay, you still need coordinate with Starbuck, she's running the war room with me."
"Will do, at least she won't be so crazy."
"It's hard to let go son."
"Yes, I'm sure it is." Lee placed a copy of the roaster down and turned to leave.
--
"Attention on Galactica Flight wing briefing in thirty minutes. I repeat the flight wing briefing will commence in thirty minutes."
Lauren Myers looked up from her bird. "And it will be the longest thirty minutes of my life."
"So say we all." Tyrol offered.
"Are you ready Chief?" Wildcard asked as she climbed down out of the cockpit.
"As we'll ever be Lieutenant."
"Good to hear." Lauren smiled. "Do me a favor Chief. "Help the nuggets as much as you can. It'll at least help to ease Starbuck's mind."
"Yes, Sir but I didn't think that was possible."
Lauren smiled back at the Chief as she walked toward Apollo "Only on certain days…but we can hope…can't we?"
"What do you hear Wildcard?"
"Nothing but the rain." Wildcard replied with a chuckle in her voice.
"Were you bribing the Chief again?"
"I was only doing it so I would survive the next twenty-four hours." Lee wrapped his arms around Lauren's waist. "I know the feeling but we'll make it."
--
"Okay boys and girls welcome to the big leagues." Starbuck began the briefing. Captain Adama and I will be handling today's briefing. "The Air wing was seated and quietly listening as Starbuck began. Are target is one Cylon Tylium base on the screen. It is a sticky situation but nothing we can't handle. The attack will comprise of two phases. Phase one or Strike Force one will be lead by Hotdog"—clapping was heard throughout the room—"doesn't look so scared Hotdog. Your primary objective is to defend the Galactica and splash as many cylons as possible. Fly smart; don't over think and you'll be fine. Phase two is a bit more complicated. Captain would you like to review the essentials." Starbuck stepped away from the podium and Apollo stepped up. "Thank you Starbuck. We have two freighters that will be used as decoys, at the beginning of phase two the Galactica will send all of the strike one pilots recall orders. We are hoping that this will draw the cylon fighter force away from the base. The strike two fighters will go through and destroy the cylon base defenses. We need you all to keep your heads during this mission, at times it will be sticky but I have ever confidence in all of you. If Starbuck or I have spoken to you before this briefing, please remain, the rest of you Good Hunting out there…dismissed.
The pilots filed out of the room leaving Apollo, Starbuck, Wildcard, Stepchild, Freefall, Blade, Chuckles, Mouse, Fury, Chops, Wiz, Ringer, Flipper and Kat all in the front rows.
"Wildcard, will you come up here please?"
"Yes, sir." Wildcard left her seat and joined Lee and Kara at the podium. "Ladies and Gentleman…we are strike force two. Starbuck has unfortunately not been cleared for this mission…she therefore will be our eyes on the ground. Wildcard will be second in command on this mission. Starbuck this is your plan lets review.
"Okay, you will all be housed inside the freighter…secured by maglocks.
"Like a jack in the box."
"Exactly Kat, you will all have to keep your eyes open and fly smart… I'm talking now to those of you who haven't flown combat before trust your lead and your wingman. Most of all trust yourselves. You will all be armed with guided misses to take out the defense systems. These… " Pictures appear on the screen… "are your main targets. The cylons have embedded missiles and countermeasures… you will have countermeasures of your own. Specifically, the main target we need to hit the staging tanks for the refined tylium precursor. It's a lot more unstable than the fuel itself. If we do that then the cylons defences will be completely crushed and the tylium is ours."
Apollo spoke up we will be hitting the target with flak suppression so that the tylium will still be usable.
"Are there any questions?" silence followed. The code name for you is Strike Two; you know why you've been picked for this section of the mission. You're the best of the best. Gods speed and Good Hunting…dismissed. Flipper, stay for a moment."
"Yes, Sir."
Apollo waited until all the pilots left "Flipper, first of al you're not in trouble I just wanted to let you know that you are an alternate on this leg of the mission. We need a total of Twelve Pilots you make thirteen; you will be on Strike Force One unless we have to move someone from this team. I wanted you here so you would be aware of what was happening.
"Yes, Sir. Thank you Sir."
"Dismissed."
Flipper saluted the officers and left.
"They all look Frakin' Scared, if you ask me." Wildcard said
"We all were on our first mission it works out."
"Yeah, I know… listen I'm going to go talk to some of them. I'll see you both later."
"Good idea Lauren we'll see you in a little bit."
"Okay shall we break this down now?"
"Yeah."
Starbuck and Lee turned back to the camera images. "Keep your ingress low and fast. Use the terrain to stay hidden 'til the last second. Make sure you give the flak suppression unit enough time so that they can weaken defences.
Apollo stared at her while she was talking and challenged her a bit. Frankly he was tired of her thinking she was the best pilot he had, even if it was the truth. "You don't think I'm up to this."
Starbuck look at him. "Of course I do, you'll be fine."
Apollo took a breath and spoke in a confident tone. "Look, you're worried that I'm not going to pull it out of the fire with some high-risk retina-detaching move, the way Starbuck would. Well, Kara, I'm sorry you're not suiting up. Because, believe me, everyone will feel so much better, me included, if you were riding along with us. But this isn't an ego trip, this is my job. And don't think for one moment that I will not get it done."
Starbuck felt suddenly annoyed. He always did this to her and it was time to spell it out and she didn't care if she crossed the invisible line. "I hope so, 'cause we've got one shot. Don't frak it up by over thinking."
"I won't. I have to go now Starbuck. Thanks for the pep talk." Apollo stepped off the podium and began to walk away but then turned around. "Look Kara, tensions are running high, but you should know this, it's one hell of a plan." He gave her a small smile.
"Thank you, Apollo. Good Hunting."