Ch 9
"So how bad is it?" Nechayev asked.
"Warp drive is out of the question. How the hell we managed to warp out of there, is beyond me." Godfrey said.
"Alright. I'll see if the fleet has a spare FTL drive they can spare." Nechayev said.
"We do have some drives we can spare. Got a hold of two Cylon raiders, with fully intact jump drives. Hell, the raider's jump drive is far superior to anything we have in the fleet right now. It can go from Kobol to Caprica in one jump." Adama said.
"Good. I'll have my engineers start working on the conversion process." Nechayev said.
"Okay. There's one other matter I'd like to talk about." Adama said.
"What is it?" Nechayev asked.
"You know we have a Cylon prisoner aboard our ship, right?" Adama asked.
"Yes. I know. And I know she's pregnant." Nechayev said.
"Roslin wants to terminate the child. It's a human-Cylon hybrid. She thinks it poses a threat to the fleet." Adama said.
Nechayev scoffed in disbelief.
"I think your president is a few plasma coils short of a full warp drive. She wants to kill a baby, because she thinks it's a threat to the fleet? The Cylons don't possess transporter technology, and I doubt any agents in the fleet will get far. By the way, we've scanned the fleet and figured out the location of a few Cylon agents in the fleet, sans your prisoner." Nechayev said.
"You have them right now?" Adama asked.
"We've have transporter lock on them right now. Just say the word…" Nechayev said.
"Kill them." Adama said.
Nechayev pressed her comm badge and spoke.
"Graff Spee, you have the Cylon agents on transporter lock?" Nechayev asked.
"Sure do."
"Good. Beam them into space. They won't last long." Nechayev said.
Across the fleet, 3 Cylons disappeared from view and reappeared into the coldness of space, dying seconds later.
"Admiral, we're also reading a nuclear warhead inside one of the ships. It's not the Galactica or Pegasus." Price said.
"Beam it into our cargo hold and seal it off. Have engineering teams check it for bugs and booby-traps." Nechayev said.
"So, you mind telling me how a nuclear warhead ends up in the middle of the fleet?" Nechayev asked.
"You got me. But I'm guessing a Cylon agent smuggled it. Gods know how it was done." Adama said.
"Right. So about this baby." Nechayev said.
"I need your input, as an outsider." Adama said.
"Don't kill it. It's just a baby, not a cybernetic killing machine." Nechayev said.
"There are plenty in the fleet who would disagree with you." Adama said.
"I understand your fears, but back on earth, we have history of people who were so paranoid and fearful, they committed countless atrocities because of it. Stalin killing millions in his quest for the perfect utopia of communism. The middle east was destroyed by nuclear fire because many were afraid of extremism. The list goes on and on. It's time to break the cycle. If you're concerned about the safety of the fleet, put the baby on the Graff Spee. We'll keep it safe." Nechayev said.
"There's one other problem. The child's parents, Helo and Sharon. I wonder how they will react to it." Adama said.
"Tell them the truth. If they want, they can transfer to the Graff Spee. We got plenty of room." Nechayev said.
"Are you willing to take that risk?" Adama asked.
"Yes. Besides, if you thought she was a major threat, why didn't you kill her when you had the chance?" Nechayev asked.
Adama didn't respond.
"Okay, I can go with your idea. I wonder how the president will react to this." Adama finally said.
"You deal with the family, I'll deal with the president." Nechayev said.
…
Sighing heavily, Adama walked into the sickbay, where he saw Helo and Sharon looking at their new-born child in the incubator.
"Doc, I need to talk to them alone." Adama said.
Alone, Adama closed the blinds.
"There's no easy way to say it, so I'll say it. I'm transferring you three to the Graff Spee." Adama said.
"Admiral?" Helo asked.
"President believes that your daughter poses some kind of threat to the fleet, considering what she is." Adama said, when Helo angrily stood up.
"Admiral…" Helo growled.
"Stand down, Helo. Graff Spee is the toughest ship in the fleet right now. You'll be safe there, away from any prying eyes. Nechayev gave me her word." Adama said.
"Thank you, sir." Helo said.
"Pack your stuff right now. President doesn't know about this plan. She has her own agenda. Nechayev is talking to her now. I hope she can calm her down." Adama said.
"What?!" Roslin shouted.
"It was my idea. They'll safe on my ship. Nothing the Cylons have can break it. And Sharon's the only Cylon agent left in the fleet right now. She won't be able to do any damage." Nechayev said.
"Admiral, the Cylons are experts in manipulation. Sharon has an opportunity to do untold damage…" Roslin started.
"Are you a parent, President?" Nechayev asked.
"Never had kids. Why?" Roslin asked.
"As an Admiral, I am weary of Sharon and her child. They'll be under guard on my ship at all times. As a mother, I can say this. Sharon loves her child. That's not something she can fake. She turned on her own to save her own kid. As long as her child is next to her, you have nothing to fear from her." Nechayev said.
"I'm president of the fleet." Roslin said.
"More like fascist leader of the fleet. You're so damned paranoid and narrow minded, it's a miracle you guys are still alive. Hell, maybe Adama should declare martial law and led the fleet himself. He seems very qualified to do so." Nechayev said.
"He won't declare martial law." Roslin said.
"Then you'll have to get your head out of your ass if this fleet is to survive." Nechayev said.
"I can't persuade you to give them back?" Roslin asked.
"No. And here's something you need to know. I have a higher rank than you, President. Once we hit Federation space, you'll be in charge of your people on a planet of your own choosing, but you'll be part of the Federation, and I'm the lead Admiral. So get used to it." Nechayev said.