The Hour of The Wolf
Chapter Six

Adama was tempted to straighten his uniform. This was, for all intents and purposes, the first official face to face meeting between himself and Admiral Hanson. Both representatives of each others upper most command.

Hades, Adama himself was the President of the Council of Twelve and had been since the fall of the Colonies. 'Ready old friend?' He asked his second in command. Tigh chuckled, 'I never thought we would be here. I don't know.'

'Thank you, I'm glad I'm not alone.' Adama was tempted to look at the chronometer. 'Commander Benjamin, are you sure this transporter of yours is… reliable?'

'Yes Commander.' The dark skinned Federation officer assured him. 'We've been using it for nearly two hundred years.' As he spoke a shimmering blue light appeared on the command bridge. The light was filled with what looked to be three people and then vanished, just as quickly as it came.

The first man Adama recognised as Admiral Hanson. He was shorter in person but there was nothing surprising about that. Next to him was a bald man in a bright white uniform, there was something familiar to his dress but Adama couldn't place it right now.

The third man was large, barrel chested and obviously not human. He was close to a No-man in hight and obvious muscle He wore an auric coloured Federation uniform, but had a large metal baldric across his chest. Stepping forward Adama greeted the Admiral. 'Hanson. Welcome aboard the Galactica.'

'She's a fine ship Adama. I can't tell you how glad we are you stopped by.' Hanson grinned. 'This is Captain Picard, he's the commander of our flagship, the Enterprise, and this is his chief of security Lieutenant Worf.'

'Captain, Lieutenant.' Adama nodded to them respectively. 'This is Colonel Tigh, Ships officer. Omega, operations and control.'

'Honoured to meet you.' Tigh offered. He was obviously a bit shaken by this transporter technology. Adama had to admit it might take him some time to get used to it himself.

Benjamin stepped up as they agreed. 'Admiral, the Commander has asked we gather in his office to discuss matters.'

Hanson shrugged and glanced to the Captain who agreed. 'This way, please.' Adama invited them to follow. 'Tigh I'd like you to be there. Omega, you're in command. Hold position, if one of the Federation ships hail forward them to us there.'

'Yes Commander.' Omega nodded and turned to his controls.

Adama's office, as Benjamin had described it wasn't that far away. The six of them entered and Adama made sure to secure the door. 'Admiral would you join me for a drink. It's called ambrosia.' Adama pulled the bottle from the shelf behind his chair. 'It's not best vintage, good ambrosia should age a long time. The older the better.'

'Please.' Agreed the Admiral, taking the glass. After a sip it took him a moment to catch his breath.

The Captain was a bit braver and took a mouthful and grinned. 'You should try Andorian Ale Commander. You'd appreciate it.'

Taking a sip himself Adama sat down. 'Admiral, These next few Yarhen are going to be difficult for the both of us. My people and yours. I hope to do whatever I can now to make them easier. To do that I must be honest, my people are tired and desperate. We have been traveling the stars for decades searching for our lost brothers. Hoping you will welcome us as we would have welcomed you.'

'Thank you Commander. While I can't speak for our political leaders I can say saving my fleet made the right first impression.' Hanson smiled.

'I can only hope to continue to do so. My greatest concern though is not how you react to us, but to the dire warning we bring. The twelve colonies were not destroyed by some obscure natural disaster or our own folly. The truth is we flee an enemy that seeks not only our destruction, but that of all humanity and beyond.'

The Admiral looked at Adama for a long moment, trying to read his expression. Eventually he put his glass down on the armrest of the lounger. 'Let me see if I understand you. This ship is one of the most powerful ever seen in this sector of the galaxy. With the ability to easily destroy a Borg Cube, a single one of which was more than enough to defeat the Federation, and you're telling me you lost a war?'

'The Cylon Alliance.' Picard said carefully before taking another drink. 'Commander, I trust JP and Mr Worf implicitly, but I need your and your first officer's word what I'm about to reveal goes no further than this room.'

Glancing at the Admiral Adama caught his pushed look. 'You have it, within reason Captain.' Tigh agreed with a nod.

'Thank you. Commander Sisko, I have to ask the same.'

Benjamin looked a little more suspicious than the other Federation officers, but eventually agreed.

'Right. Commander Adama, during the battle I was…. held captive on board the Borg ship. The details aren't important, needless to say it was not a pleasant experience. To be honest I welcomed death when your ship arrived. I was, rescued, by a being we know as Q. My crew and I have had encounter with this being before, he has vast powers and the ability to reshape reality if he sees fit.'

'Adama you don't believe this do you?' Tigh burst out

He just lent back in his chair for a moment. 'The ancient texts speak of beings with such abilities. Powers and knowledge beyond what we would consider possible. Still you're correct Tigh, we can't afford to see miracles everywhere we look.'

'I can prove it to you, Commander. Q claimed, at first, he was saving me out of a debt and the feeling of responsibility for introducing us to the Borg in the first place. The truth was he'd been asked to by someone you already know. A being from what you call the Ship of Lights.'

That got Adama's attention. 'The Ship of… I see.' He looked to the other Federation officers. 'Years ago we encountered a large vessel. With speed and technology we couldn't conceive, commanded by a race of people that appeared to be highly evolved. Perhaps even beyond physical form. They helped us, even going so far as to provide a course. The very one that brought us here.'

Picard nodded. 'He, or rather they, called themselves John and told me about your warning and your enemies.' he turned to Hanson. 'JP, the Commander isn't exaggerating. The Cylon Empire controls an entire galaxy, those races that haven't been enslaved have been annihilated, but the danger is far greater.'

'What are these Cylons?' Hanson asked, 'And this ship of lights, you mentioned who, what do they want?'

Adama stood up and went on to describe the Cylons, or the machines that were left. He told how they were built as slaves and warriors, only to turn on their masters and slaughter them. From there they spread across the stars. Conquering and killing. He continued, telling them about the war with the Colonies and the betrayal of Baltar.

As he did he could see the tall non-human becoming more enraged. Eventually he roared out in rage. 'This betrayer, this coward, has he been tracked down and killed like the miserable Ha'DlbaH he is?'

Adama managed a smile. 'We did capture him, the council was still debating a fitting punishment when he… Bartered for his release. Giving us key strategic information in exchange for freedom'

'You didn't.' the tall alien looked aghast.

'Only in manner of speaking, we left him behind. Marooned on a deserted world with only a slim hope of rescue. If there is any compassion in this universe for someone like him Baltar is long dead.' Adama admitted. Being alone all this time, stranded with no one else on a deserted planet, clinging to one slim hope that was no chance at all. Death would be a release from that nightmare.

After a moment he nodded. 'A fitting punishment.'

'You'll have to forgive Mr Worf. His people have a strong sense of honour and duty.'

'Something our people have in common, I hope.' Adama agreed.

Sheba watched as, in the middle of the sickbay five columns of shimmering light appeared and left behind four people and a large container. 'By the Lords of Kolbol.' one of the med-techs cursed.

She had to agree. The people onboard the Enterprise had tried to explain but no words prepared her for what she'd just seen. There were three people in blue uniforms and one in gold. Sheba recognised the red haired woman that looked o be in charge. 'Doctor Crusher?' she asked

The Doctor nodded and cast a critical eye over her. Over her uniform she was wearing a matching blue lab coat. 'You must be Captain Sheba. Right, you better sit down.'

'I'm fine' Sheba waved off he concern. 'I'll introduce you to…'

'You'll do no such thing. You're in no condition to be standing around. Doctor Selar.'

Another Federation doctor, this one with dark hair and almost green skin stepped up. 'Yes Doctor.' She took another professional look. 'Madam, you will return to your bed immediately or I will sedate you.'

Sheba looked between the two of them. 'Frack.' She swore 'Two more Doc Salik's. Just what the fleet needs.' Reluctantly she headed over to her bed and sat down. Followed by the pair of them.

One of the Med-techs came with. 'Thank you.' He warned in a whisper Sheba wasn't supposed to catch. 'We've been trying to keep her in bed for nearly a secton.'

'I can hear you.' She snapped as Selar pulled a box from her hip and flipped it open.

Pulling a small device from the top she began to wave it over Sheba. 'You are overdue.' She announced, the box was obviously some sort of scanner. 'The child has yet to turn it's head. Why have you not induced labour?' She snapped at the med-tech and Sheba saw that her ears were pointed.

'We… ahh… we were concerned that inducing labour might harm the baby.' the tech stammered.

'Not inducing will harm the mother.' the non-human snapped again. Obviously she wasn't one to mess around. Moving the scanner up to Sheba's face she looked at the readout. 'You are in pain.'

'Of course I'm in pain, I'm pregnant' Sheba sighed.

'Higher pain than normal given the circumstances. Yet you are not producing excess endorphins to counter act it.'

Sheba didn't recognise what endorphins were, but could guess. 'I'm used to pain.' she replied.

'In this case it is preventing your child's birth.' Selar told her before turning to the med-tech. 'You are a nurse?'

'Y… yes.'

'This patient requires transport to the Enterprise. I would not advise teleporting her unless there's an emergency. Does this ship have any shuttles.'

'Yes, but I don't think there are any pilots available.'

Sheba sat up. 'I can fly.'

'You are the pataint, not the pilot. Lie back and rest.'

'Feldercarb.' Sheba shot back. 'I'm not going to do nothing while my baby's life could be at risk.' She pushed them both back. 'I'll take my Viper.'

'Catch her.' Selar said simply to the med-tech and touched Sheba's shoulder.

Beverly watched out of the corner of her eye as Selar used the neck pinch to sedate the Captain. 'So you're in charge here?'

'Of the Medical personnel, yes.' the doctor admitted. Beverly looked around, it didn't look much like a medical transport. At least not one she was familiar with.

'Well, it wasn't originally.' he told her when she mentioned it. 'I think it was a luxury transport at first. We had to convert it during the exodus. We didn't have much choice, most of the advanced medical equipment and doctors were stationed on the Galactica. We mostly just handle the overflow from there and any of the other medical facilities across the fleet.'

Beverly thought about the situation for moment while looking at the beds around them. She had expected a fully staffed and functional medical facility. Not something that had been thrown together on the fly and then made to work for god only knew how long. 'Chief.' She called over to O'Brian.

Geordi had agreed to send him over with her to get a report on the ships status while she dealt with the patients. Right now he was over by the walls, scanning them with his tricorder for something. 'Yes Doctor?' he looked up.

'We couldn't fit this ship in the main shuttle bay could we?'

'No. She's too big, but I did just get a scan of the airlock. Looks secure, we could dock her with the Enterprise.'

Beverly hadn't thought of that. 'Any complaints Doctor?'

'None from me Doctor, but you'll have to ask the pilot.' he told her. The plot turned out to be a very old man who practically lived in his cockpit. The look he gave both her and the Doctor was one of distrust, coupled with impatience.

'You want me to what?'

'Dock with our ship, there we can transfer the critical patients to the Enterprise and bring supplies on board.' she explained.

He looked out his window and pointed. 'You mean that thing? I don't know much about building ships, I just fly them but I'll tell you this; that thing looks to delicate from my liking. look at those glowing bits. I bet they'll fall off if you blink.'

'They haven't so far.' Beverly told him. Still grumbling the old man dropped into a well worn and battered leather seat. 'Let me guess, one of your best pilots.' she asked the young doctor in a whisper

'No, not really.' he admitted.

Resisting the urge to sigh she tapped her communicator. 'Crusher to Enterprise.'

After a moment she got an answer. 'Go ahead Doctor.' The voice from her comm-badge seemed to shock the two men.

'Data, the situation here is worse that I thought. We have several critical patients and very little facilities. I'm requesting permission to dock this ship with the Enterprise.'

'Please hold' the android responded and cut the transmission. After a couple of seconds he came back. 'Data here. Doctor, permission granted. However Commander Shelby wanted me to remind you of quarantine protocols.'

'I'm well aware of quarantine Mr Data.' She snapped. It had been a bad day and the last thing she needed was some upstart Commander telling her how to do her job.

'Understood.'

Picard waited until he was sure the Colonial Commander had finished. 'There are only two things I can add to the Commander's tale.'

'Truly.' Adama looked at him thoughtfully. 'As helpful as they have been in the past those on the Ship of Lights have made it quite clear they will only help those that help themselves.'

'In this case it's in their own interest. Even so, they don't want us to become reliant on them.' Picard told him. 'As far as I could understand their explanation, their realm exists on a different dimensional plain, just as ours exist on a different level than sub-space. However what happens there can effect here. The opposite is also true.'

'The battle between good and evil exists everywhere.' Adama agreed before tapping his chest. 'Out there and in here. It's one of the tenants of our faith.'

Picard found himself agreeing with that. 'The point is the actions of the Cylon's are having an effect on them. We they to succeed in conquering enough species here it could alter the delicate balance there.'

'Good lord.' Adama said with a remarkably level voice.

'Luckily you and your people did enough damage on your way here to slow them down.' Picard told him.

'What do you mean, slow them down?' the first officer, Tigh asked. 'We barely survived.'

'But you did survive, at Cimtar where the Cylons lured your fleet of Battlestars and destroyed it during the so called peace conference. You survived and so did many of your pilots. The Cylons wasted thousands of fighters on suicide runs. They won, but your fighters made sure it was a costly victory.' Picard told them what John and Q had showed him. 'Costly enough to mean that at Carillon the Cylons only had one ship they could spare. Their command ship, carrying their leader.'

'Apollo and Starbuck destroyed Carillon, taking the Basestar with it.'

'Exactly. Carillon was a major fuel reserve and one of the most important parts of their supply infrastructure. Without it and without a leader the Cylon Alliance was dealt a crippling blow.'

Adama stood up and walked to the porthole, Picard watched as he got a far away look in his eye. 'We were on Kolbol. Searching for some trace of you, our lost brothers, when Baltar ambushed us. He tried to convince me that the Cylon capitol was in chaos. I didn't trust him. Baltar's greatest skill was to lie with the truth. If only I'd have listened.'

'You couldn't have known Adama.' Tigh told him. 'Even if you did, the Galactica was in no shape to fight the entire Cylon empire. Not with the fleet to protect.'

'The Colonel is right Commander, besides you did far more damage escaping than you ever could otherwise. The Cylons, low on resources, couldn't devote too much in finding you. Instead they focused on finding more fuel. Eventually taking Gamoray. Where you encountered them again.'

'We lost a lot of good people that day.' Adama said sadly.

'True, but in a daring raid on their newly crowned outer capitol. Again taking out a key fuel reserve and another Cylon leader, not to mention two Basestars. Commander, in every major engagement since you took flight you have won. Time and again defeating them.' Picard told him. 'With their resources spread thin the Cylons needed time to find more. That's whats slowed them down.'

'And Q told you all this?' JP asked. 'No offence Jean-luc but your own reports hardly have him as trustworthy.'

'I agree, but it wasn't just Q there.'

Adama though still had that distant look on his face. 'No. Sorry Captain but this is just too good to be true. I can't believe that the Cylons are ever going to slow down. Not after everything I've seen.'

'If we can't trust this Q how can we trust his information?' Tigh asked

Picard blinked, he hadn't considered that. While Q could be a lying manipulative monster, this just wasn't him. 'Q likes games, likes playing them, but there was something about his tone that told me he wasn't playing this time. But you're right. It's possible I have been misled. It's also possible that I am nothing more than one of Q's fabrications and even I don't know it, but if we start second guessing reality now we'll never get anything done.'

JP looked at him. 'So what do we suggest?'

'That we prepare.' Adama looked back. 'If what the good Captain has told us is true we have time. If not we can't afford to waste any. We have to get back to my fleet, find a new home them. On Earth if possible, but only together can we face the Cylons. Colonials and Federation.' He turned to face Mr Worf. 'Humans and our allies.'

End Chapter Six