Chapter 6: The Captain.

0700.

Rebecca woke up still feeling the effects of the Morpha, and like a train had hit her. She proceeded getting ready for duty. She has never had any broken bones before, and she felt sorry for anyone else who shared her predicament, everything was harder to do. Finally clean and ready, she left her quarters expecting another day of disaster.

The crews morale was very low, the loss of their families and friends, their entire lives, was a mortal blow, she had to address her men.

She walked down the halls trying to look as confident as she could, letting her crew know she hasn't given up. She entered the CIC, then took her post.

"Good morning Commander, here are the status reports." Spoke Vash as she handed her the papers.

"Very good, thank you Major." Cain nodded to her.

She looked at the faces of her men, and she noticed a change in their behavior. They all avoided looking each other in the eyes as they worked half-heartedly. Cain looked at Ken, then motioned for him to come to her side. He came over from overlooking the weapons control.

"Sir?" He asked.

"Morale is bad… I could see it coming to the CIC and I see it here, they're wondering why they are still alive Ken, if surviving is worse then death." She said quietly so no one would overhear.

"Aye sir… it's hit all of us, we know what we've lost." Ken said wearily.

"Then I'll remind them what's at stake." She said with conviction.

Narrowing his eyes slightly, Ken began wondering what she had in mind.

Picking up the phone connected to the command operation console, she clicked a switch and three clear tones echoed through the ships speakers alerting the crew that the Commander was about to speak.

"This is the Commander, all non-essential personal are to report to Hanger bay A at 1700 for services of the dead. I say again, all non-essential personal report to Hanger bay A at 1700 for burial detail. Thank you."

She hung up the phone and looked at Ken.

"This has to be done now, we are not leaving until my men are given a proper ceremony. Besides, I've yet to announce our new mission."

"Yes sir." Nodded Ken.

"I need to take care of some things, you have the con." She nodded, leaving combat; she motioned for two marines to follow her, one of them being Sergeant Major Williams, the man in charge of marine non-coms aboard ship.

"Sergeant Major, don't let anyone inside unless it's an emergency, I need to think." She said as the marines followed her down to the wardroom.

"Yes sir, understood." He replied.

Rebecca has seen Military burials in the past, but this was completely different. She was going to speak on behalf of her people, and promise revenge. She needed a reference for a speech, from a book in the wardroom. The room was decorated with expensive works of art and ancient sculptures kept in glass shelves. Rebecca had an expensive taste for art. Browsing the bookshelves she found what she was looking for. The book described a story of how on Tauron, three hundred years ago, a seafaring frigate became separated with it's fleet. It found itself deep behind enemy lines and attacked many enemy ships in hit and run tactics. By the time it rejoined with its allies, it had decimated a quarter of the enemy's fleet single handedly winning honor and glory. She would use this as an example, and promise her men she would lead them to victory. She sat down on one of the black leather sofas and began to piece together a speech. Outside in the corridor Lieutenant Bonen approached the two marines guarding the entrance.

"Sergeant I was told the Commander may be in the wardroom, I need to speak to her." He announced.

"Sorry sir, can't let you in, the Commander doesn't want to be disturbed." Sergeant Major Williams answered. Jeff Williams was a massive man, six foot five and two hundred seventy pounds of fighting muscle, and fiercely loyal to Commander Cain. He made this clear by slightly raising his rifle and staring emotionless at the Lieutenant.

Smirking in slight amusement, he nodded. "Alright I get it, I'll wait out here then." Replied Bonen. He was a friend of the Sergeant personally, but he needed to talk to her when she was alone, he leaned against the bulkhead opposite to the marines and crossed his arms. After a few minutes Jeffry became annoyed.

"Bonen what the hell do you want?" He asked with resignation.

"To talk to her, it's important, there's some things I need to know."

Furrowing his brows Williams responded. "There's nothing you need to know unless you need to know it Lieutenant."

"Give me five minutes Jeff… I promise this isn't a waste of time."

Sighing, he looked at his fellow marine, who simply shrugged.

"If it's important…" He said.

"Fine, go on in. You have ten minutes." Replied Williams.

"Thank you, I'll buy you a drink later." He patted him on the shoulder, and Williams swiped his keycard on the panel and the door slid open.

Bonen walked into the room and the door slid shut behind him.

Rebecca had her eyes closed sitting deeply into one of the sofas; her uniform jacket was unbuttoned, and he could see a field dressing tightly wrapped around her chest.

He stood at attention and kept a steady salute and announced his presence.

"Sir, Lieutenant Bonen requests a moment of your time."

She breathed in slowly, then exhaled, and opened her eyes.

"If Jeff let you in here… you must have some something very important to say to me." She said, now opening her eyes. She tilted her head and looked at the Lieutenant.

"At ease… come forward." She added.

Bonen dropped his salute and came closer.

"You may as well take a seat." She said, watching him sit.

"So what brings you here?" She asked.

Bonen was still in his flight suit; and he just realized how bad this must look.

"Well uh, I just wanted to talk to you…"

"About what? Stop beating around the bush Lieutenant and just tell me what you came to ask." She said, now seemingly irritated.

"I wanted to talk about now, about what we'll do. I know this is inappropriate sir, but it seems given the circumstances, I'd like to know, from you personally." He said, crossing his arms.

"You have always been a bold one Bonen… refusing to take second place. I respect the fact you are brave enough to come hear and ask me without hesitation. And you want the truth?" She asked.

"That's all I have left." He said without emotion.

Those words stung Rebecca, she couldn't look him in the eye. She knew exactly what he meant.

"The truth is… everything we know has been destroyed. Everyone we love is dead. We are the last remaining Colonial force left. I'll use whatever means necessary to keep us alive. But, we can't run away, give up and die. What we'll do is fight back until we can't. I am preparing a speech for the burial ceremony this evening. It will be hard for everyone, but they will accept it. After all, we are soldiers Mathew, and our business is war."

He nodded slightly, looking down at the floor decking.

"Sir… I suppose I just, needed to hear someone say that, and mean it. I'm with you until the end, I'll fight the Cylons until I can't." He replied looking at her.

"Ironically, I planned on speaking to you after the burial. But… I may as well do this now." She replied sighing. "I know you're my best pilot, even Ryan told me once he thought you were the finest pilot he knew. And coming from him that's saying a lot. But since he is dead, I have no official CAG…" She leaned forward moaning slightly from the pain, she reached underneath the files spread across the oak table between them. She pulled out a small black box. Opening it revealed Captains Stars.

"Congratulations Captain, I'm promoting you to lead the Ulysses Airway." She extended her hand along with black velvet box.

Bonen couldn't smile, but forced himself to. He stood up and reached down to shake her hand firmly, and taking the case with his free hand.

"Thank you sir… this is the last thing I expected." He said.

Nodding she replied. "Just show me the man Ryan described you to be, and you'll make me proud. This ship and everyone in it, is the last defense against a Cylon victory. Every day of our existence proves they have not won completely."

Grasping the small box tightly, he thanked her again. "I will not let you down, I'll whip our squadrons into something the Cylons will fear."

"Good, now leave me alone, I have work to do."

"Aye sir." He saluted sharply, and left the wardroom. He nodded to Williams then turned the corner heading to the pilot's ready room.