23 Years before cylon attack
William Adama age 42
Location: Picon – Fleet Headquarters

"Welcome back to the Colonial Fleet Captain Adama." Commander Corman stood up from behind his sleek artificial mahogany desk to shake William's hand. Corman gestured for Adama to have a seat and returned to his own. William settled into the blue cushioned chair and took a quick appraisal of the commander's office.

It was rather spare as far as offices went. There were no windows or shelves and not much clutter other than a small stack of navy folders on the corner of his desk. The only thing on the wall behind him was the seal of the battlestar Olympia and a plaque for a medal of distinction, for service above and beyond the call of duty. Brenik. Corman himself was only a few years older than Adama with a few streaks of grey beginning to show and watery blue eyes that betrayed nothing.

"It's good to be back," replied William. It was good. It was good to be back to the snug comfort of a Colonial uniform. It was good to feel sunlight and planetary gravity, breathe fresh air, see trees… It was good to have hope for a future again. But William knew that his recommissioning had come at a price. This meeting with Corman was likely just the beginning.

"How is the new addition to the family doing?"

An involuntary grin of pride spread across William's face.

"Zak's doing fine. Lee isn't too thrilled, but I'm sure he'll warm up to his little brother in no time." Zak had been born just two months ago, healthy and strong, but now Adama's paternity leave had expired and it was time to report for duty.

"That's good to hear," Corman replied offhandedly while he reviewed the open file in front of him. "Impressive service record you've got here. Commander Edington was right; we could use a man like you. Specifically we're looking for someone experienced, reliable."What you really mean, thought William, is you want someone who doesn't question orders. "And who isn't afraid of risks." Preferably a few steps away from suicidal I'd bet. "So if you want an assignment in the Special Operations Division you have one. But we realize that your family obligations may require something more, stable." Your family status is a liability.

William knew that the Colonial Fleet did not give mere captains a choice in assignments. Normally, they assigned you to a post, you received your orders and you reported for duty. "Special Operations" was a nice way of saying black ops. They probably wanted him because the most common adjective in his performance reviews was loyal and his stack of disciplinary reports from the Cylon War had in common one thing; personal risk—to a degree his COs had found objectionable, but, he had always managed to accomplish the mission.

"Sir, if I may," began William. "I joined the Fleet to defend the Colonies."Because my father wanted me to be a lawyer and I would have rather eaten a Raptor piece by piece. "I am under no illusions about what it means to be in the Fleet. My duties will come first." I'm a good soldier who does as he's told. For the most part. "If Spec Ops gets me back in a Viper, I'll do it." He knew that a "stable" assignment meant a desk job and he wasn't ready for that yet. I only have maybe ten good flying years left—I need this.

William Adama loved his wife and he adored his sons, but after fourteen years of being bounced from port to port on a beaten up tramp freighter, spending his leave drinking with Saul and then later in romancing Carolanne and dealing with his growing family, he needed to be back in a Viper. He needed to see the stars streak past and feel the wrenching tug of a seven G turn with a bandit hot on his six. He wanted to experience the rush of adrenaline that came from executing his signature one point three second end over end flip that pushed both pilot and Viper to the brink. He wanted to be the same cocky top gun that his squadron mates looked up to that he had been during the war.

"All right then," replied Corman. He closed the file in front of him and pulled out another. "You will have to be assessed for flight status and receive additional training before reassignment. Until that time you will be allowed to return to Caprica to get your affairs in order. After you've been assigned to your post, you and your family will be transferred for safety reasons. When the time comes your sons will be provided with the finest education possible. While you are deployed they will be taken care of and want for nothing. The only thing that you will have to think about from this point on is the mission at hand. We're glad to have you aboard. You're dismissed Captain."

William stood up, offered a crisp salute and left the commander's office with a sure step. He knew that he had made the right choice, even if he felt a little selfish for it. He was back in the Colonial Fleet and soon enough he would be back in a Viper. He would make sure of it. No matter what it took.