Part Three - Legends

Battlestar Cerberus, Sagittarius Orbit

"Apollo - Apollo - Apollo!" the chant filled the rec-room in a chorus of anticipation as Lt. Apollo downed another shot of ambrosia, lit a cigar… and leaped from a seated position in a chair to a standing one atop the pyramid table in a flash. His balance held - barely, and he took a long drag in triumph. The pilots erupted in cheers. Stepping down, the daredevil returned to his seat and began to enjoy the fumes.

"You are one crazy son-of-a-daggit, Apollo," the pilot seated closest to him stated.

"Only in the battlefield of social life, my friend," he replied between a wide grin. "You're already something of a living legend in the cockpit for your antics, aren't you Cain?"

"About a base-ship worth of fried toasters would agree about that… if they weren't space-junk." The new voice brought the pilot's celebrations to idle as they stood at attention - all except Apollo and Cain. "C'mon guys, just because I made Captain doesn't mean I don't enjoy watching a drunken Apollo do the pyramid shot. Magus Squadron doesn't have another patrol for a cycle," the squadron leader assured everyone. The pilots let their emotions open again.

Apollo kicked a seat to his friend. "Sit down and get drunk, Captain Adama."

The warrior was about to do just that and join his best friends, when the ship lights flashed to red and a klaxon droned loudly. "Battle-stations, battle-stations, all pilots man your ships."

The message repeated as Adama set the full glass down and sprang to his feet. "Looks like it'll have to wait."

"Raider-check," joked Apollo as he began to pull his flight jacket back on. "I want to see a drunk Skipper when we get back… and you are not getting more kills this time Cain."

In moments Vipers began to pour from the Cerberus and her sisters into the void. Among the hundreds of Viper and Scorpion fighters a pilot couldn't help but feel invincible. The numerous human spaceships were fast, nimble and deadly, with pilots worthy of operating such advanced craft. Yet, as the Cylon task force came into view, hearts began to feel the cold of space close in.

Three Hades-class Basestar, escorted by six Tartarus Gunships loomed in deep orbit. A fleet of Raiders could be seen on scanners closing in ahead of the main fleet rapidly. Only the Battlestars Cerberus and Rycon, with their assorted support ships stood between them machines and billions of nearly defenseless people on the planet below. War had come.

"Hey, Adama!" called Apollo from his cockpit. "You know these Cylons won't save you from getting drunk? One shot for every toaster!"

Adama couldn't respond. Here they were at the precipice of the most intense battle any of them had ever taken part in, where a planet worth of people's lives hung in the balance… and he was thinking about partying. Apollo love for life seemed to know no end.

As the enemy fighters loomed into full view, Adama ignored his friend's bravado and set himself into combat mode. "Alright," he said over the comm. with as much strength as his voice could muster. "Stick to your squadron and don't get to cocky." That was for Cain as much as Apollo.

"Aye, Skipper!" came the reply from every fighter in Magus Squadron. Some of them were still slightly altered from their time in the rec room, but their adrenaline and training were overriding it with a much more natural high.

Seconds later, every Viper pulsars burst into turbo mode and shot into battle like shooting stars. Blue flames trailed them as they fought to take position on the Cylon Raiders. Human skill and experience took the robot pilots by surprise in the initial engagement.

Magus squadron left almost a dozen of the wing-shaped craft as space-dust on their first pass, pulling into a hard turn to come around for another. As they did this, the bulk of the enemy fleet came into view and blinding-white lights left them blinking the spots away. Only the Colonial automatic light shield saved their retinas from permanent damage.

Cylon mega-pulsar cannons traveled at the speed of light - because they were light, with enough energy to vaporize rock and ignite atmospheres. Vipers, defenders and cruisers unfortunate enough to be caught were cut apart as the terrible beams made their way to the battlestars. The great vessels absorbed the impact, but large sections of hull began to super-heat and melt… and that was only the first barrage.

Even before Magus Squadron could fully recover from the near-blinding, a massive formation of Raiders dove in from below, shattering the group. Adama could barely see his scanner, but knew he was in trouble. Alone - the Raiders had singled him out and five dove on him in a classic pin-wheel attack formation. Plasma exploding outside nearly rocked the craft as the machines closed for the kill. He couldn't maneuver without exposing his flank. Adama felt strangely at peace as…

"Yahoo!" Two Cylons fell before the battle-cry of Lt. Apollo did. "Sorry 'bout leaving you there Adama, won't happen again." Another Raider exploded, the remaining two turned to give chase and avenge their fallen brothers.

"Apollo!" Adama cried as his flipped his Viper around. He could see his friend and savior being chased by the pair, but could do nothing to stop it until he killed his forward momentum and close to weapons range. Cain's craft came into distant view, charging in at full-burn. Both would be too late.

The Viper slammed around hard, and the Cylons took their opportunity. The wing of the human craft melted as it finished and returned fire, striking both in response. One exploded beneath a direct hit, but the other charged through half-emolliated - straight at him. Nothing could stop it. "Frak, I'm done," the surprised voice of the doomed man stated over the wireless. "Adama, Cain, remember me."

The burning wreck collided with the crippled Viper and his friends had to look away. They felt Apollo die.

Battlestar Pegasus

Cain awoke with a terrible start, reactively reaching for the laser pistol always by the bed. Realizing there was no danger here; the aging warrior set the weapon down and grabbed his head. For years all he had dreamed about was going back on the offensive against the Empire and now that he was on the eve of achieving his dream… that came back up.

Realizing that the destination was still at-least an hour away and accepting that he wasn't getting back to sleep, Cain got up carefully and began to get dressed without a noise. The Legendary Commander gave the beautiful figure that remained still one last look; Renata could sleep until it was time.

After all, it's going to be a big day.