Author's Note: Hello there everyone. I know its been an awfully long time (almost 2 years!) but a couple of your kind comments got me interested in the story again and after re-reading some of it I felt inspired to continue it. I've got a number of my own fiction projects on the go at the moment so this wan't be my focus, but I hope to put up a couple more chapters over the summer when I've got a little more time on my hands now. I realise this is very out of the blue, but thanks to each and every one of you that reads this. I hope you enjoy!

- SamsterHam

Chapter 8:

Naxos Cruise Liner, Draconis Star Cluster

Day 1, 09:49 PFT

It had been almost 10 hours since news first broke to the crew of the Cylon assault, and since the Admiral had changed all the clocks on the ship to reflect that number, Emily had no idea what time it was – or would be – back home in the Colonies. As the first 6 hours after the initial attack had been filled with stress, death and destruction all around them, the crew had only just had the last couple of hours to really take in what had really just happened.

At first, the grief felt all across the Fleet had manifested itself in pure tiredness, with many in the crew not having slept for Gods know how long. As time had passed however, the missing evening calls from loved ones or the complete radio silence outside of the last few military ships the made some crewmembers break down into tears or fall into a deathly silence as they sat outside their posts.

Since the attack, the Admiral had put restrictions on all unessential telecommunications between not only the civilian ships but the military craft as well, and those that were made on official business had been carefully monitored by either Hyperion's communications officers or by those on the Battlestar Themis.

Three hours after the Fleet's arrival in the Draconis Star Cluster, Admiral Jenkins – after leaving enough time to ensure that there was no imminent threat to the Fleet – downgraded the Fleet's readiness level to Condition 3 and allowed the whole crew to be allowed a few hours of rest on a rota that allowed for 3 hours each during their planned 12 hour stay in the Star Cluster.

Emily had found herself on the first 3-hour break and, after taking an hour-and-a-half for a sleep, caught a ride with a number of other crewmembers aboard a Raptor bound for the lead ship of the civilian fleet – a ringed cruise-liner called the Naxos.

Upon docking at one of the liner's free airlocks, Emily followed crewmen and women from all across the Hyperion that had a joined her on Crow's Raptor, off of the craft and into the dimly lit corridors of the civilian ship. The once bright white corridor walls were now illuminated only by a row of small lights along the top of the walls and the large lights that lined the ceiling that had once been used to create a light similar to that of a summer day had been indefinitely deactivated to save power for the ship's journey ahead.

Not only that along the walls themselves were tired and terrified families, all of whom had barely any idea what had happened just hours earlier. As the Hyperion's crew walked past looking just as weary as the men, women and children that had been jammed onto the ship, scared mothers drew their children away from the soldiers, deckhands and technical staff as they walked by.

One child though, was not drawn away from the military personnel who passed by her and her mother. As Emily passed the girl – who could've been no older than 6 or 7 – her hand reached out and grabbed onto Emily's leg. Emily didn't feel the girl's hand initially and only noticed it as she started to raise her leg to step forward and something pulled it back.

Emily stopped and looked down to the child holding her leg as her crewmembers pushed past her through what becoming a very overcrowded corridor. "Hi there," Emily said softly, crouching down to the girl's height. The girl, whose curly black hair hid her face from Emily, pulled back her hand quickly and took a shy step away from Emily. "It's okay," Emily held out her hands and showed the girl her palms. "I'm not here to hurt you."

Pushing her hair away from her face, the girl slowly reached her own hand towards Emily's, but immediately pulled it away when voice called from behind them. "Lieutenant," Boomed a deep voice over Emily's shoulder. Spinning around, Emily was confronted with the imposing figure of Sergeant Doyle, who stood above her with a slight smile on his face. "Who's this?"

Sergeant Doyle lowered his large frame down onto his knees and knelt face to face with the girl, who stared uncertainly back at him. "This is my new friend," Emily told him, still crouching down just beside him. "What's your name?"

The girl was silent for a few more seconds and just stared at Emily and Sergeant Doyle with her big dark eyes before offering up a whisper that neither of them could interpret. "What was that sweetie?" Emily asked the girl softly.

"Jessica…" The girl said, only just louder than the first time. Emily gave the girl a big smile and glanced over at Sergeant Doyle to get him to do the same. The Sergeant complied and gave the girl as big a smile as he could muster, something that reduced Emily – and by extension, Jessica – into giggles.

"What? What's the matter with you?" Sergeant Doyle cried out, trying to cover his embarrassment.

"Sorry, I just…" Emily replied as she struggled to find the right words through her giggles. "I've just never seen you smile before!"

"Well it'll be the last time to if you're going to react like that," Doyle said, standing up and looking offended.

"Alright grumpy-chops," Emily told him sarcastically, looking back to Jessica, who seemed suddenly more at ease. "I wouldn't see a smile like that anyway!" Doyle rolled his and turned away as behind him, Emily reached over to Jessica and the little girl let Emily pull her up into her arms. "Let's go find your parents, then shall we?" Emily said to Jessica with a little wink to Sergeant Doyle. With a sly smile, Sergeant Doyle led them forward through the bustle of Hyperion crewmembers heading to and from the Raptor that was docked only a short distance behind them.

Viper 535, En Route to Battlestar Hyperion, Draconis Star Cluster

Day 1, 10:03 PFT

Spinner had flown many missions in more planetary and solar systems than he could remember over his 6-year career in the Colonial Fleet. However, through none of those missions could he ever remember a view quite like this.

Spinner had been out on a patrol around the fleet to inspect all the civilian ships with Red Squadron for about an hour when they began to head back to Hyperion to log the ships passenger manifests and physical specifications with CIC. It had been a relatively routine operation for the pilots, as logging ships in and out of system was a job they were all trained for and had carried numerous times before the Cylon attack, but on that particular flight Spinner couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Not only were Spinner and his pilots having to ensure that there wasn't any potential Cylon tampering with any of those craft, but they also couldn't shake the thought that every person on these ships were now the last survivors of not just an enemy assault, but the ultimate assault from humanity's greatest and most ruthless enemy.

Despite the dark thoughts that silently clouded each and every one of their minds, the backdrop in front of which the fleet hung was a majestic sight unlike anything any of them had ever seen before. A whole half of the sky around them was made up of nothing but stars and glowing stellar dust, creating a wall of light so bright it almost seemed as if they were in low orbit over a gas giant.

Spinner sat back in the cockpit and took in the sight around him as they flew back towards Hyperion, whose previously almost pristine hull was now marked by a few dark scars left by Cylon missile fire. Hyperion was itself situated just on the perimeter of the civilian ships of the fleet and behind it hung the other last ships from the proud Colonial Fleet. The Hyperion was still the largest of the whole fleet, but the aging Themis was a close second, with its hull being stripped of some of its armour plating and weapons as it neared retirement, though not as much as some of its sister ships like the museum that was the Galactica. In total, the fleet was now supported by 8 military vessels, 5 of which were Battlestars.

While these ships together presented an impressive sight, Spinner again couldn't shake the notion that this was all humanity had left. Just then, the skies became almost completely obscured as the squadron entered the Hyperion's port flight pod and magnetically locked themselves to the deck around the motorised platform the dragged the ships down into Hyperion's hangar.

Battlestar Hyperion, Hangar Deck, Draconis Star Cluster

Day 1, 10:08 PFT

Spinner's eyes adjusted quickly to the pale light of Hyperion's busy hangar deck as the doors to the airlock opened and his Viper was dragged back for service. As Spinner removed his helmet and pushed open his cockpit window, his ears were bombarded by the sound of welders crackling, metal being scraped and dragged and loud chatter of differing volumes coming from mechanics all around him. As his Viper was pulled into its free slot along the wall to his right, Chief Jace Walker – the grey-haired and crusty Master Chief Petty Officer of Hyperion's mechanical crew – came marching over towards Spinner as he began to clamber out of his cockpit.

"I thought this was a patrol mission Major," The Chief shouted through the hubbub of the hangar.

"It was Chief, why?" Spinner replied as he stepped of the ladder and eyed over his plain grey fighter craft.

"The what the hell's this?" The Chief asked, marching past Spinner and heading to the other side of the ship before pointing and the port wing. Spinner quickly followed him round and saw where the Chief was pointing was a massive hole cut through the over a foot-thick titanium that the ship's hull was made out of.

"I don't know. It didn't show up on sensors, and no-one told me about it," Spinner replied in a surprised tone. As he spoke he glanced around at his fellow pilots to see if any of them might know something they hadn't at first let on. "Must've been a round from a toaster from before we jumped,"

The Chief nodded silently as he took in Spinner's comments and deliberated a response. "Next time tell me straight away, who knows what you broken in there," the Chief told Spinner sternly.

"Of course Chief, don't worry about it," Spinner said solemnly.

"Thank you, sir. I'd better get to fixing it then. Good to see you," The Chief said, holding out his hand for Spinner. Spinner took it and gave it a firm shake, before picking his helmet back out of his cockpit and heading back to the officer's mess for a drink; the stiffer the better.

With a heave, Spinner pushed open the bulkhead and stepped into his quarters, his flight-suit already un-done. He headed to his locker first, and pulled his flight suit off his shoulders and down over his legs before unceremoniously chucking it inside. Grabbing his blues off of their hangers, Spinner flumped down on his bunk and began getting himself dressed again when he heard a voice from the bunk above. "So, you didn't find anything then Sid?" Came the voice of Jr Lieutenant Frasier Button, called 'Squirt' by the other pilots both because of his age and his size. Squirt was the newest of the crew, having only just passed Viper training aged 18, not the blond lad looked it.

"And how much have you found, sat up there counting sheep?" Spinner retorted as he started buttoning up his uniform top. Squirt gave a chuckle as he swung his legs over the side of the bunk and dropped down to face Spinner. "Aren't you out there in a minute anyway?"

"Been and done. Green was the first squad out," Squirt replied, offering Spinner a hand up. "I was just heading to mess. Coming?"

"Great minds think alike," Spinner said with a smile as he stood back up. Spinner reached behind him and slammed his locker shut before following Squirt out into the gloomy corridor.

"Do they never light the place up properly?" Squirt asked as they walked the well-trodden path down to the officer's mess.

"Most of the time. Standard power saving rules, but the Admiral does brighten them up occasionally," Spinner replied as they clattered down a short set of steps and rounded the final corner. Spinner always noted that you could tell you'd reached the officer's mess long before you rounded the last corner, as loud rock music and raucous shouting could be heard from what felt like the other end of the ship. For the first time though, such joyous shouting and laughter was not arising, and no music of any kind could be heard.

As Spinner and Squirt stepped through the open door, they were faced with just a quiet muttering coming from the three full tables of crewmembers, two of which had a game of triad going between drinks and the last sat in silence as they passed around a couple of liquor bottles.

Spinner headed straight for the triad game being helmed by Hera and Twinkle-toe, who were clearly trying to galvanise the worn-down men and women who had not only gone countless hours without sleep but had no idea of where their civilian families and friend were or what had happened to them. Many of them seemed completely devoid of hope, many seemed to be experiencing nothing but anger and many seemed just to be in fear.

Pulling up a chair, Spinner sat himself down and took hold of a bottle of scotch sitting in front one of the newer pilots from Twinkle-toe's Blue Squadron. "Alright if I take this?" Spinner asked, after hesitating from the empty look given to him by the pilot he had taken the liquor from. "Cody, isn't it? Josh Cody?" The pilot gave him and slight nod. "Eye-roll's what they call you, right?" The pilot looked away and rolled his eyes. "I'll take that as a yes. Deal me in Hera,"

Hera, who gave Spinner a dispirited look of her own, slid her cards down onto the table. "I think we should call it," She said, her voice cracking slightly behind her positive outward demeanour. Next to her, Twinkle-toe sighed, pushed his own cards back into the centre of the table and reached for a second bottle on the table. Pulling off the cap on his own drink, Spinner stood up all of a sudden and looked down at his fellow pilots as he took a long, hard swig from the bottle.

"Fine then, I'll go for a walk," Spinner said, his mood suddenly swinging from one of tired optimism to one of anger. Reaching into his pocket, Spinner fumbled around for a couple of spare coins he had left in there and chucked them onto the table while taking another long drink. As he swallowed, he turned away towards the door and stomped off, staggering slightly as he left the mess in a huff.

Battlestar Hyperion, Admiral's Quarters, Draconis Star Cluster

Day 1, 10:33 PFT

Admiral Jenkins and Colonel Virgon sat silently opposite each other as each regarded the rather spartan room around them. John was sat back in his chair at his desk, looking over at the model version of the original Jupiter-class Atlantia from the first war he had mounted in a display cabinet to his right when he and the Colonel heard a knock at the door.

"Come in!" John shouted as he hurriedly stood up and straightened both himself and his uniform. Colonel Virgon mirrored John and looked over his shoulder at Hermes Yo as he walked in behind them.

"You called me sir?" Hermes said, standing to attention.

"At ease Mr Yo," John told Hermes as he pointed at an unoccupied chair behind the Colonel. "I asked for Lieutenant Jartell too, is she on her way?"

"Off-duty sir. On the Naxos along with Sergeant Doyle and Captain Maka," The young Petty Officer replied, rigidly sitting down next to Colonel Virgon.

"Alright, that's no problem." John said, pulling his chair back up to his desk. "You'll just have to give it to her for me,"

"Give, sir?" Hermes asked, slightly confused.

"Yes. About 12 hours ago, when I was last back in here, I was reviewing these," John picked up two files from his desk while he spoke and handed them to Hermes. Hermes took them in both hands and opened up the top one to reveal his own request for a commission he had given the Admiral before their shore leave on Canceron.

"What about them sir?" Hermes asked as he checked through Emily's own promotion request below his.

"Well on top of your already outstanding service, what we've been through today has really made me think about your contribution to this ship and this crew, the both of you." John reached down to one of his draws and pulling something out carefully. "And after careful consideration I believe you should be rewarded, not only in recognition of your past service, but also to aid you in our future together, as it seems unlikely that any kind of transfer will be coming your way soon!" Hermes and the Colonel gave a chuckle as John placed three small square black boxes onto the table in front of him.

As John finished speaking he stood up from his seat and was mirrored immediately by Hermes. "Think of this as a token of my appreciation, Captain Yo," Picking up the box furthest to the left, John cracked it open and turned it to face Hermes, revealing a pair of Captain's rank badges lying inside. Stunned, Hermes' jaw dropped as he took the box in his hands. After taking a moment to take in the badges in his hands, Hermes looked up at John and saluted the Admiral. John saluted back and offered Hermes a hand that the new Captain enthusiastically shook.

"Thank you so much sir. This is more than I could have asked for!" Hermes said, his voice slightly cracking with excitement and relief.

"That's no problem Captain. I thought Lieutenant didn't suit you or your contribution. As for Miss Jartell, I'd like you to give her these when she gets back," John handed Hermes a second box, which Hermes himself cracked open. Hermes looked at the pins for a minute before his mind caught up and he again looked surprised.

"Lieutenant Colonel, sir? That's jumping… how many ranks?" Hermes asked after a few seconds pondering.

"Two Captain, and a ship like this needs a Lieutenant Colonel on Tactical. I hope you're not jealous," John replied.

"Of course not, sir," Hermes said quickly with a smile. "She's been here longer than me and she certainly deserves it,"

"Good, I'm glad. Just one final thing," John said with a nod as he picked up the third box. "Colonel can you come here?"

Startled, Colonel Virgon jumped to his feet and walked around the desk to face the Admiral. "Sir?" He asked as John handed him the third and final box.

"I hope you didn't think I'd forgotten Matt?" John said with a grin. "An Admiral can't go around with a Colonel as XO now can he? Congratulations Commander Virgon,"

At first, John's XO stared at John blankly. Then, as reailty hit him, he looked down at the Commander's pins in John's hand. "You didn't have to sir,"

"Nonsense, I did." John told Commander Virgon sternly. "I need my XO on par with the other Commanders if he's going to relay with them effectively. Besides, this is long coming my friend,"

Commander Virgon took the box from John and – mirroring Hermes' response – saluted John before shaking his hand. The Colonel – now Commander – had only just returned to service with John for less than a year before the Cylon attack after John's previous XO, Commander Jen Polis retired. "I'll make up it to you John," The new Commander said.

"You'd better. Rank pins are easy to come by anymore, so don't go dying on me," John joked. The three men laughed together briefly before John checked the watch on his wrist. "Right, we'd better get back to CIC before someone misses us,"

"Of course sir," Hermes said automatically as he headed for the exit.

"Oh, and before you leave," John called after Hermes as he began to leave the Admiral's quarters. "You'd better get into something more fitting of your rank, wouldn't you say Captain.

"Aye sir," Hermes replied, a big smile on his face.

"That goes for you two Commander," John said to Commander Virgon. "Your uniforms will be waiting for you in your quarters. Make sure Colonel Jartell is aware please Captain," Hermes gave John a quick salute as he rushed through the door. The Commander stood on the threshold and gave John a quick mock-salute with his fingers as he left the room, which John returned in the form of a wink.