New Caprica
It was a painting; a still life. An older man with salt and pepper hair, a younger man with an air of desperate intensity and two blonds, identical in their sharp beauty all surrounding a body in a pool; a diminished echo of the blonds, her lack of animation halving and softening her beauty. Suddenly that changed. A wave of suffering crashed over and through her body. The two men exchanged significant glances while the women attempted to comfort their sister.
After a few moments, a new stillness came over the scene, the four surrounding the pool fixing their attention squarely on the newly awakened one, who was looking at her hands as if she had never seen them before. Finally she said:
"This then, is the price of immortality. God was merciful to the humans when he made them so that they die only once. More merciful than they deserve."
The three women left. Two of them guiding the third.
"Has there been any progress?" The older man asked the younger.
"There is no physical or testimonial evidence. We cross-referenced the visual memories of the centurions who were in proximity each time she has been killed. We have a five point match. One person was present,or very close, for five of the assassinations."
"Who?"
"Billy Keikeya. According to Colonial records he was a former aide to former President Roslin. He left her service before Baltar was elected, became Picon's representative in Quorum shortly before our arrival. Critical of Baltar, save for the issue of colonizing New Caprica, which was apparently the cause of his split from Roslin. Current residence unknown."
"A resistance member."
"Very high probability."
"Five times...too many to be a coincidence..."
"There is no such thing."
"Of course, how silly of me."
...
"I think Keikeya's losing it."
"Well, there's not much of 'it' left on this planet. So I'm glad he's not hoarding the meager supply."
"I'm serious Chief."
"So am I. We have bigger concerns Anders."
This didn't seem to sit well with Sam, by the set of his face. He glanced over at the other side of the tent where Billy was engrossed with one of his lists. He had been speaking quietly, but Sam thought it wouldn't have mattered. 'I could have been shouting, and he wouldn't have noticed.' he thought. The Chief nudged him to get his attention.
"Drop it." He insisted.
"Fine."
"Galactica and Pegasus are coming back in a week. We have bigger fish to fry."
"I said fine."
"Good. Now we need a solid plan, with backups, to deal with the anti-air batteries. I don't want those vipers to be hit by a barrage right as they're making an atmospheric launch. Not a lot of those pilots have very much, if any, atmospheric flight experience; we want to make it as easy as possible for them."
"Is it really that different?"
"About the same difference as there is between running and swimming."
"You're exaggerating, I hope."
"A little."
"The pilots from the Pegasus are mostly Academy trained. Why aren't they the ones doing the New Caprica air-support?"
"Because while Galactica is making an utterly insane jump, Pegasus will be busy holding off however many basestars happen to be up there. They're going to need their best to have even a ghost of a chance. Plus..." The chief hesitated but continued. "They're low on pilots in general because quite a few are down here. Apollo apparently resigned his command of Pegasus, and assumed command of the ground-support mission because there aren't enough of them."
'Of course he did.' Sam thought to himself.
"Kara's probably out there trying to build a viper out of rocks and twigs to get into this fight." He said. The Chief laughed but cut off abruptly as the tent flap rippled...and there she was; a very dirty and disheveled Kara Thrace.
"Yeah, the damn thing just wouldn't get off the ground. I think I'm going to have to settle for blowing stuff up." She said with a crooked smile.
...
Billy concentrated on the paper before him, ignoring the sounds of welcome and happiness. That wasn't important right now. He saw again in his mind Ellen Tigh's broken body. And remembers too, the sense of instant knowledge. 'She knows. She knows that I know. I know that she knows. She knows that I know that she knows... and on into infinity...' 'Ignore that for now' he told himself 'focus on what is certain... what is certain, is that I only have a week to find Tigh.'
Galactica, Adama's office
"Madame President." said Adama with a twinkle in his eye. He stepped aside to allow her to enter.
"Not you too. I can't get anyone to refer to me as anything but 'Madame President'. I agreed to head the civilian government-in-exile because I have the most experience and we couldn't exactly have an election. That doesn't make me President."
"Understood Madame President." She rolled her eyes, but decided it wasn't worth it to protest.
"The atmosphere here has improved a great deal since the last time I was here."
"It's the anticipation." Adama replied, sitting behind his desk and gesturing that she should make herself comfortable.
"I think it's more than that."
"Oh?"
"I think having Captain Apollo back on board has something to do with it."
"If you say so. I think he's being incredibly short-sighted."
"Is that why you demoted him all the way down to Captain? Rather than Major?"
"Yes."
"For spite?"
"You know who he recommended for his replacement on Pegasus? Kendra Shaw. He said that she would be the ideal candidate, except that when we've finished rescuing everyone he recommends that I immediately replace her with someone else."
"Why?"
"Because she's another Cain."
"Did you promote her?"
"I had no real choice. Kelly isn't ready...and there's no one else with sufficient command experience."
"Trust his judgement Bill." She said and Adama sighed.
"I do Laura. Shaw is an excellent soldier. She commanded the mission to that antiquated basestar, and if things had gone slightly differently, by all accounts it could have been a disaster. But she brought everyone back." said Adama, remembering. "Starbuck wanted to lead that mission, but Lee wanted to show his faith in Shaw, so he pulled Kara off of it entirely..." Bill trailed off, a somber expression descending on his features.
"I think if you're honest with yourself, you will admit that you're worried about him. If he were on Pegasus, he would be much safer, so you want him on Pegasus."
Adama looked thoughtful but didn't respond.
"I'm here to discuss the supply situation..." She said, interrupting his introspection.
"Of course."
"This particular issue is going to take some time."
"You're going to miss the last shuttle back."
"I planned to miss the last shuttle back."