The Summers Gallery, 1030hours.

It wasn't long after Dawn and Giles had left for the SGC, the both of them sharing a flight back to Colorado Springs from the Sunnydale Army base for the trip to Eden in seven hours, and Buffy and her team gone to Texas with Xander providing back-up from the BPRI; Tara had gone in to the BPRI to talk to Angel and Cordelia about a thought she had in using the aura's of all three activated Slayers to triangulate the Scythe that Willow was talking about. All of them knew that teams had already begun searching for the weapon discretely in Sunnydale and its surrounding areas, but if they could have the help of a powerful witch, then finding the weapon would be that much simpler. Once Tara had left, Joyce then dropped both Jay and Rose off at school before she drove to her gallery downtown. The older blonde knew that she had a showing at about six in the evening so she wanted to get in early and make sure that everything was going as smoothly as it should be. She trusted her assistants, but it always helped that the boss would be able to check everything out and make any last minute changes if needed.

As she walked out of her back office after talking to one of her assistants who was asking her about a shipping manifest for a showing next week. With the knowledge about the weird occurring in Sunnydale public knowledge, Joyce had gotten a request to show some artifacts that were supposedly mystical in origin; at least that was what the client had thought. The older blonde asked her assistant to contact Fred at the BPRI and ask her to go through the items in the manifest; to make sure that there was nothing dangerous. She remembered talking to the client who told her that he had chosen Sunnydale instead of the bigger galleries in Los Angeles due to the cozy feel of the small city.

Now, while she was picking out places where the pieces of the next exhibit would be placed, she was talking with the few customers who were in the gallery and just looking around. Joyce mixed around with them before she noticed a woman in a cream coloured top, with black trousers who was looking at a painting with her head, with straight red hair that went down to her shoulders, tilted to one side. As Joyce walked towards the woman, she saw that the woman straightened her head before she stepped back and slowly turned around. It was then that Joyce stopped midstride with a look of surprise on her face, as the woman gave her a small smile before walking towards the older blonde.

"Greetings" said the woman as she bowed her head, "I am.."

"Melina" said Joyce as Melina nodded her head. It was then that she noticed the very things that any mother would notice, the familiarity in features between the woman before her to both Willow and Dawn. It was then that she heard someone call out to her from behind; turning around after telling Melina to just hang on for a few minutes, Joyce rushed to the customer before she waved over one of her assistants. Joyce told the customer everything she needed to know about a certain African mask, before telling the customer that her assistant will be able to help her with any other questions she had. Joyce then nodded at her assistant who started talking to the customer about the history of the mask she was interested in before the older blonde rushed out to where Melina was standing, "sorry about that."

"It is quite alright" said Melina with a smile, "I do not wish to take a lot of your time."

"There's a new coffee place down the street" said Joyce, "I don't know if you've ever tried coffee or… I mean…"

"I have" replied Melina as the both of them walked towards the exit, "Hera and I would visit Athena when she was a child and… and she would have what you call chocolate shake, and I would have coffee."

"Oh" said Joyce as they walked down the street, "Dawn told me everything, about how you wanted to be the vessel for the key."

"That was my intent" said Melina as they got closer to the shop, "my eldest had already descended to this plane of existence. Her loss was hard on the both of us… and… and I couldn't lose Hera as well."

"But you would have lost her either way" said Joyce softly as she glanced over at Melina who nodded her head.

"Yes" said Melina who was now looking at the ground, "it took me some time to realize that. And while I had sincerely hoped that it was me to descended, I soon realized that if I had descended.. then Hera would be alone. At least that is what I tell myself."

"You're right" said Joyce as they entered the shop and took a seat in the far corner. Joyce then went to get them some coffee while Melina sat down and looked around at the shop that was half full of customers. It was a few minutes later that Joyce returned with two cups of coffee, and placed one in front of Melina before the older blonde took a seat and a sip of the black liquid. She then looked at Melina and asked her if she had been watching over Dawn.

"Yes" said Melina, "but.. but I was powerless to interfere since I used my powers in anger after she descended."

Melina then went on to tell Joyce what she did to Glory as the blonde just looked in shock at the redhead before she started to laugh. It didn't take too long for Melina to start laughing as well after she finished her story about how Glory had gone through the air, and then limped away in her torn clothes after she landed.

"The consequence of lashing out was that the Others sealed my powers for four years as punishment" said Melina as she stopped laughing while wiping the tears that welled up in her eyes. She then looked at Joyce as she took a sip of coffee and told her that she was forced to wander the Earth and check in on Willow and Dawn, but she was powerless to interfere in their lives, "because if I could, I would have changed some things."

"Such as?" asked Joyce, curious to know what she meant.

"I couldn't show myself to anyone" said Melina as she kept both her hands on the cup of coffee in front of her, "I could only travel from one place to another, but I was confined to Earth… forced to watch events unfold and exiled from the higher plains. I.. I was there the day you died…."

"Oh" said Joyce softly, "but…"

"I never knew that the body that died was a clone" said Melina, "if I had all my powers, I could have known….. and somehow alerted Athena or Thor. But I didn't have those abilities anymore. I only found out something was seriously wrong when I was watching over Athena while she attended the Air Force Academy, I sensed Hera's anguish and I immediately rushed to her side. I saw Buffy comforting her as she was on her knees on her school floor. I… I could not believe it.. Buffy told Hera that your body was already in the hospital.. and that she needed her. That this wasn't a time to be alone and that.. that everyone needed to be together. I immediately went to the hospital; I knew that they would have your body in one of the morgues so I looked in on all of them until I found your body. I could not believe it, you had passed and Hera had lost another mother. If I had my abilities.. I could have ascended you; and then you could have descended to be with your daughters once again."

"I'm glad you didn't have your powers" said Joyce softly as Melina looked at her with an odd look on her face, "if you did, then she'll be in their lives… and… and now there'd be two of us. I couldn't imagine what would have happened if I and the clone me had met."

"You would have shared the love of your daughters" said Melina as she looked at Joyce before the redhead looked down at the table, "my inability to ascend would come back to haunt me later on."

"Buffy?" said Joyce as Melina nodded her head.

"Yes" said Melina as she looked at Joyce, "you should be proud of her. She knew what she had to do to save Hera and the planet, which she did without hesitation. I was there when she jumped into the portal, the same portal which was creating interference in all plains of existence.. enough for the Powers that Be to pull her soul, or her consciousness, out of her body and ascend it into their plain of existence. I could feel their interference, but it was only fleeting.. I do not believe the Others were sure what was happening until the portal had been closed. It was then they realized that the Powers had interfered...and while the Powers had done many questionable things over millennia, I was thankful that they saved Buffy's soul."

"But Dawn still lost a sister and a mother" said Joyce as she looked at Melina after wiping her eyes, "it parallels with her losing both you and Willow. She couldn't remember either of you, when she descended."

"She did it to protect everyone" said Melina with a smile.

"Dawn told me about the time she died in the Pegasus galaxy" said Joyce softly.

"I ascended her the night she was buried" said Melina, "it took some time for her to recognize me, she had never seen me before other than in pictures that Moros and Athena had kept. But…. but it was good to finally hold her again."

"I know" said Joyce with a smile and she looked at the table, "I'm a bit jealous, actually. I never got to hold her. I mean yes I have the memories and…"

"You are mistaken" said Melina as she held on to the blonde's hand as she looked back up at the redhead, "I only held Hera for a few seconds before… before I passed, the last thing I saw was the nurse taking Hera away to another room and Moros taking Athena away under orders from the doctor. I remember being unable to breath as I reached out for them. Then I was surrounded by darkness before I found myself in the higher plains facing the one who had ascended me, her name was Oma Desala."

"I've heard of that name" said Joyce, "I think that's the word that some tribes in Africa use to describe Mother Nature."

"Yes" said Melina as she tightened her hold on Joyce's hands, "the truth is, that I am the one who is jealous of you."

"Me?" asked Joyce surprised, "but why?"

"When I was ascended" said Melina, "I was told to never interfere in the lower plains.. and I followed that rule to the letter. We had to leave all of our burdens.. no matter how great and move on. No matter how much I wanted to show myself to my family, I know I could not. So I just watched, unseen… I saw Hera say her first words when she was carried by Moros, I was there when she took her first steps, I was there when Athena was screaming because a Fereger got onto her head…. I was there.. but at the same time I was never there. I could not hold any of my daughters again, we could not be a family again.. and we would not be until Hera passed and she was ascended, then years later Moros ascended, and then in the last of her days.. Athena ascended. But before that… just watching.. and not being a part of their lives was torture. But you, Joyce… you have the memories as well as the feelings that come with those memories of holding onto Dawn as she lay in your arms, the feeling of waking up early to feed her, the ecstasy of Dawn taking her first steps… I'm sure it's the same as your feelings when Buffy took her first steps, and said her first word. You have all of that, I do not.. that is something I can never have."

"That's not true" said Joyce.

"It is" replied Melina, "and you know as such. I have known Hera after she ascended. That was when we have gotten to know each other well… that was a time when I could finally be a mother to her. But not being there for her childhood would always haunt me. It's the same with Athena… true we have spent longer together; I was there when she said her first words, and took her first steps… but I missed on her childhood as well."

"But things have changed now" said Joyce, "I mean you can visit them without using your powers.. I mean all of your powers."

"I learnt over thousands of years what I could and could not do; to avoid the ire of the Others" said Melina, "which is why I can make short visits to see Hera and Athena."

"I hope that you'll still visit them" said Joyce with a smile, "and I hope you should come by the house, I know Buffy would love to meet you too."

"I shall" said Melina as she nodded her head, "one day. I believe she is on a mission? Would you convey my gratitude in her being a wonderful sister to Hera?"

"I will" said Joyce.

"Thank you" replied Melina as the two women finished their coffee.

The Gateroom, SGC, 1530 hours.

Dawn and Giles had left the Summers house early at eight in the morning so that the both of them could catch the waiting flight out of the Sunnydale Army base to Petersons where the both of them were met by and Airman from Cheyenne Mountain. As they were driving, Dawn as looking at Giles in his tweed suit as he looked around while he was tapping his foot on the ground before he sense Dawn looking back at him, and smiling.

"Nervous?" asked Dawn as she nudged Giles' shoulder with her own.

"Well" said Giles as he fixed his glasses nervously, "this is the first time I will be stepping through the Stargate. And being on another planet for a month; It seems… a bit nerve wracking. I realize that you are used to this and, I mean I'll be meeting with aliens."

"Technically" said Dawn, "if you really think about it, demons and vampires are kind of like aliens. Yeah most of them are bad news and, well… you know… they drink your blood.. but they are aliens. And the people on Eden aren't technically even aliens. They're robots. Organic robots, and real metal chrome robots that tried to kill me and the others on Caprica.. but they're robots. And I've seen some of the female organic Cylons before when I was on Caprica, trust me when I say that they are hot. Xander would be in so much trouble if he came along."

"I suppose meeting a new culture is worth being nerve wrecked on a new planet" said Giles as Dawn gave him a grin, "I look forward to meeting Dr. Gardner as well, I believe she worked with Dr. Jackson?"

"Yea" said Dawn as they drove towards the mountain, "she has her own team on the planet too, but with the numbers of Cylons in the thousands.. we've had to rope in the Tok'ra for help in creating better accommodations with their crystal technology."

"I see" replied Giles, "I don't believe I asked but where will I be staying for the month while I'm there?"

"Oh" said Dawn with a serious look on her face, "you've been put into one of the units, along with a Number Six.. you know. The Victoria Secret type models."

"Huh?" said Giles as he coached nervously while looking at Dawn, whose face turned from serious to trying her best not to laugh at the look on Giles' face.

"Just kidding" said Dawn as she started to laugh, "you should really see the look on your face.. it's priceless."

"Very funny, Dawn" replied Giles as he fixed his glasses while Dawn's laughter petered out and the brunette told the former Watcher that he'll be staying in one of the above ground crystal units that the Tok'ra had set up.

"So how many different living units will there be?" asked Giles as they turned a corner and started to go up at road, "I mean…"

"Right" said Dawn as she sat back, "they have the regular living units from Earth, the Crystal technology ones from the Tok'ra.. and in the meantime, most of the Cylons elected to stay on their ships… which they've landed on the plant itself. In exchange, they're offering the SGC schematics on some of their technology… you know, to check if they're compatible."

"I see" said Giles.

"But most of them" said Dawn as she looked at Giles excitedly, "most of them are interested in myths, folklore, religion and history… particularly Ancient Greece after we told a few of them about that period of time on Earth. Others are interested in anything from technology to language. Dr. Gardner knows that you're an expert on myths and Ancient Greece, among other things which is why she was excited when General Landry relayed your acceptance of the offer to go to Eden."

"I brought along some books on that period" said Giles as he nodded at three cases that was behind him in the SUV, "plus some items on Earth Myths and Legends."

"Cool" said Dawn, "wonder what reaction they'll have to vampires."

"So what will happen once I reach the SGC?" asked Giles as they reached the front gates of Cheyenne Mountain. Dawn then told him that he and the others will be given a quick briefing by General Landry on what to reveal, and not to reveal, to the Cylons on Eden; as well as the assignments that Dr. Gardner had picked out for them. She also told Giles that while most of the Cylons seemed content with their situation, that didn't mean that they were comfortable around humans that well… particularly since they believed that the Earth human's were bidding their time before they killed the Cylons in revenge for what they had done to the Colonies.

"It's still a complicated situation" said Dawn, "at least from what I've heard. Colonel Feretti, Lewis, Karl and Lauren should be there already with Colonel Reynolds and SG-3; we'll be going through the Gate with another team… not sure which one yet, though."

It didn't take too long before the SUV drove into the parking lot and stopped at the lobby doors as two waiting Airmen walked out just as Giles and Dawn got out of the vehicle. They then placed Giles' cases on a trolley before rolling it back into the lobby, followed by Giles and Dawn. It had been an hour later that, while Dawn was gearing up to go through the gate and Giles was going through a briefing with General Landry, everyone was gathered in the Gateroom with Dawn and SG-35 and SG-36 standing in front of them. Dawn slowly made her way to Giles as the Stargate started to dial up Eden, and stood next to the man who looked on while the chevron's lit up. It was a few seconds later that the civilians unconsciously jumped back when the unstable vortex shot out before settling back down into the event horizon of the wormhole.

"Ready?" whispered Dawn as she looked at the elderly man who just stared at the blue puddle of water while the leader of SG-35 notified Colonel Feretti, the military commander of the Earth camp on Eden, that they were coming through.

"Yes" said Giles once Colonel Ferretti, from Eden, and General Landry gave the go ahead for the teams, and the civilians to go through the Stargate. The entire group waited as four MALP's went through the Stargate carrying supplies and the cases for the civilian's belongings before the rest of the people went through the event horizon. Giles and Dawn were some of the last to go through as Giles walked up the ramp, and reached out and ran his fingers through the event horizon. He then looked at Dawn and grinned before he jumped through the event horizon, leaving Dawn rolling her eyes as she stepped though.

Eden, 1645 hours.

Once through the Stargate, Giles found himself surrounded by green everywhere. Hearing a sound behind him, he turned in time to see the Stargate disengage before he turned to face Dawn who led him down the stairs of the Stargate's pedestal. Giles quietly looked around while the military members of the group picked up remote controls from each of the four MALP's and started them on a trail that led to a camp he, and the others could see, in the distance. Behind the human camp, stood dark crystalline buildings and seven giant star shaped ships that towered over every human, or Tok'ra, made structure in the immediate area.

"Those are big ships" said Giles as he adjusted his glasses and looked at the Cylon Baseships, and then at Dawn again as they continued to walk, "will all of them be able to be accommodated?"

"I'm guessing that most of them will be staying on the ships, for now at least" said Dawn, "some will be staying on in the Tok'ra units, and some will stay in the Earth ones the SGC sent over.. and like General Landry said, they'll be sending more of those tomorrow."

Giles and the others walked through the grass fields and soon reached the camp where the civilians were met by the scientists and translators, while the leader of SG-35 turned and told Dawn to report to Colonel Feretti. Dawn nodded her head before she got onto her radio and asked Colonel Feretti for his location, and then once she knew where to go… Dawn turned to Giles and squeezed his arm before she noticed movement from her left. Turning her head, she saw a smiling blonde woman who was rushing towards them.

"Miss Summers" said Sarah as she walked up to Dawn, "it's good to finally meet you."

"Dr. Gardner" said Dawn as she shook Sarah's hand before she turned and introduced Giles.

"Dr. Giles" said Sarah with a smile as she shook his hand, "it's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Dr. Gardner" said Giles as he nodded his head, "it's nice to be here, it's an unique experience for me."

Sarah then told Dawn that she was needed with SG-2. The young brunette then nodded her head and told Giles that she'll be on-planet for the next few days; and to call her if he needs anything. Giles then nodded his head before the young woman ran towards another tent while Sarah took Giles, and another woman in her mid-forties to another tent to brief them on what they were going to be doing, and to introduce them to the Cylon representatives.

While Giles was in the tent, Dawn ran into the Mess Tent where Colonel Ferretti, Airman Lewis, Major Grogan and Major Satterfield were seated on a table drinking coffee.

"So" said Dawn with a smirk on her face, "I take it that coffee's one of the important things that needs to be discussed?"

"Oh yeah" replied Colonel Ferretti as he looked at his cup, took a sip, and then looked up at Dawn who was taking a seat next to Satterfield, "the coffee's no good… we're trying to petition Homeword to send a generator and an all new machine that gives out mocha latte's."

"Yeah" said Dawn with a eye brow raised, "good luck with that."

"Hey" said the Colonel, "one can dream."

"How was your break, Dawn?" asked Grogan as he leaned forward on the table.

"It was… interesting" said Dawn. She had already talked to the General after the briefing he had with Giles and the others about what she should tell her team. All the General told her was that he'd leave it up to her on whether to tell SG-2 or not. And now, as she sat with her teammates, Dawn needed her team to know that she trusted them with her secrets so she leaned forward and whispered that she had something to tell them.. but it would have to wait until they returned to Earth.

"It's that important?" asked the Colonel as he looked at Dawn who nodded her head, "personal?"

Dawn nodded her head again before the Colonel agreed. He then told Satterfield to tell Dawn what she had told them after she talked with Sharon at the Beta site. Dawn looked on in surprise as Satterfield told them about what happened with Sharon, and the memories she received from absorbing the nanites that were on the bones of the humanoid Cylon from the other planet. Dawn had heard about the find of bones, and a ruined civilisation following a nuclear war… but hearing the information that Satterfield was relaying from Sharon made it seem all too surreal.

"So" said Dawn, "do the Cylons here know? That some of the Cylons from the Thirteenth Tribe could still be alive?"

"No" said Colonel Feretti, "it was decided by Homeworld not to tell them anything, yet. For one thing, they're on the Galactica… and having the Cylon ships go all back to searching for that fleet with that information would create even more problems. As far as we know, these could be the last Cylons out here…. especially if there are ten Ori ships searching for any remaining Cylon vessels to destroy them while the others convert more worlds to Origin."

"Makes sense, I guess" said Dawn.

"But if these scientists created what Sharon said could be their resurrection technology" said Lewis, "then.. I mean won't that be a good thing if it's true? They could get those people from the Galactica and then somehow get it out of them, I mean.. these people are on the verse of extinction unless they find a way to sexually reproduce. If they could have their resurrection technology back… then maybe they could thrive?"

"Or they could reach a point where they'd have enough clones to possibly have revenge on the Colonials" said Grogan as everyone looked at him, "I mean, I'm sure that there are some among them who would want to finish off the remaining colonials… just as I'm sure that there are some who would want revenge on us for bringing the Ori to this galaxy."

"And Sharon did say that she didn't want the other Cylons to know about what she found out" said Satterfield as she looked down at her coffee.

"If you think about it" said Dawn, "resurrection technology won't necessarily create more Cylons…. Just means that the ones who die, will get reborn in a new body… right?"

"That's what we understand" said the Colonel, "but maybe that's what made them go maniacal in the first place. When you know that you'll be resurrected, then you've got nothing to lose. But when you know that if you die, you really die… maybe that'll give them an incentive to find out a way to figure the key to live on… you know… through sex."

"Their scientists do have the bones from the other planet" said Grogan as Colonel Feretti nodded her head, "they have bones of adults and children, male and female.. as well as the blood samples from the Beta site Sharon. Homeworld's been trying to get in touch with the Asgard, but so far they've been unreachable. The thinking was that maybe they could be able to have some idea on how to help the Cylons, but like I said… no contact yet."

"That sucks" said Dawn, "we could sure use their help now."

"They've always had their reasons" said Colonel Feretti, "in the meantime, we've got these guys to deal with… while the Colonial planet has their own problems."

"Willow told me what happened" said Dawn softly, "I mean I haven't talked to her since she left my house, but…. I mean I think she's still there on the planet."

"Yes" said Colonel Ferretti, "last I was updated on the situation, Colonel Carter beamed back down to the SGC and then left for the Colonial planet to help out SG-1 and the other teams."

"So it's true?" asked Dawn as she leaned forward while the others moved in closer, "I mean what Willow said was true? That the Colonials really left their own people behind after taking everything they had?"

"Oh, that's cold" said Grogan as he looked at Satterfield, Lewis and then the Colonel, "very, very cold."

"It's much worse" said Colonel Feretti, "Reynolds and I talked to Colonel Dixon, who's on the planet, once the rest of the survivors had been beamed down… it's really bad."

The Colonel then went on to tell the small group, who were getting more shocked by the minute as the Air Force officer continued to speak and tell them about what they had found on the abandoned Colonial ships. Once he was done, all everyone could do was just stay silent; and look at each other as they thought about what the abandoned passengers must have gone through.

Planet designated P0G-619, AKA The Organic Furling Drone Planet, two days later; four days to Colonial election.

In the vastness of space lay the planet where Willow, when she was still Athena, sent the organic Furling drones all those thousands of years ago; a planet that they thought of as Earth… their original destination which was unknowingly changed so that the original Earth wouldn't gain such advanced technology at such an early time in the planet's history. The original Furling Drones had landed on the planet and claimed it as Earth, and it was thousands of years later that this particular planet was found by the people of the original Earth; however, it was found after what seemed to be a massive nuclear war that destroyed everything and everyone. The only things that existed were shattered buildings, buried bones and ghosts. Unknown to the scientists and military personnel currently on the planet, the Beta site Sharon had told Satterfield that it was entirely possible that at least three members of Galactica's crew could be form the Thirteenth Tribe. The people on '619 were not notified of this fact for security purposes in the event that people from the Galactica would come to the planet to gather their own evidence on what had been given to them earlier back on the Colonial planet, four days after the Colonial's meeting with the Earth delegation, in case someone made a slip and told the crew of the Galactica. Homeworld didn't want the three to be killed since they still weren't sure about the veracity of the vision that Sharon had, but however, they still wanted to be cautious. The thinking was that if these three were part of this civilisation, then they could also be the last of Furling drones in the galaxy.. and by extension, the last living Furlings. However, Homeworld did tell the scientists and the military personnel to inform any incoming Colonial ship to meet with them before conducting any experiments on the surface of the planet; that one of them needed to come with one of the Earth military personnel to the Colonial Refugee planet so that they could get briefed on what happened to the abandoned ships, and their passengers and crew.

The scientists have been covering a relatively small area which, according to some, seemed to be a large public square where they found hundreds of bones, as well as mechanical parts and numerous chrome helmets, much like the robotic Cylons they had seen pictures of back at the SGC. While the scientists were working, they were unaware of the two Colonial Raptors that just jumped into orbit over the planet.

The two raptors, one piloted by Racetrack and the second one by Skulls carried Dr. Cottle and his medical team in one raptor, with some scientists led by the recently conditionally released former Vice-President Balter in the other Raptor who was accompanied by both Major Lee 'Apollo' Adama, and two Marines. As they appeared over the planet, Apollo was aware that their examination of the evidence had taken a bit longer than they initially thought it would… but they had to run some tests twice. Particularly the test on the jawbone which was redone with Balter's help, and the results were just as astonishing.

"According to our own protocols" said Balter as he was surrounded in his old lab by the new Vice President Hunt, Roslin, Apollo, Dr. Cottle, and Commander Adama back on the Galactica, "this bone is at least two hundred thousand years old. If you forget the disparity of years, and the techniques used by the humans we met from the supposed Earth… this still falls far beyond what the Sacred Scrolls claims in regards to human evolution on Kobol. Even if I said that his bone was a hundred thousand years old, it still won't fit into the narrative of the Scrolls."

"My gods" said Roslin as she looked at Balter, who himself was looking down at the bone before he gingerly put it back into the metallic case, "is…. Is the thing organic? There's no way to know if it's been engineered or…"

"It is possible" said Balter, "if they are as advanced as we think, it could happen. But unlikely. To create something like that would take months.. perhaps years. What I mean is that you would have to take into account that they would know the exact time when they would need such a sample to show us."

Following the tests of the bone and the soil samples from the planet, the President gave a live announcement of the findings throughout the fleet during a Quorum session that was attended by Zarek and Porter. The aftermath of the announcements regarding what they found was toxic, vitriol was being thrown around in the chambers on Cloud Nine at the President and between the members of the quorum who wanted to stop running, and those led by Zarek and Porter who wanted to keep going to Earth under the protection of the gods. It was then that the President announced two Raptors from Galactica would be going to the planet that they were given coordinates to by the Earth humans so that they could gather independent evidence in regards to the bones on the video and the soil samples. While seven of the Quorum members agreed, the other five had their say in regards to Roslin's sanity; followed by another request for a vote of no-confidence led by Zarek which ultimately failed again. At the end of the session, the President promised that she would send two teams to the planet in two days to gather evidence while she continued her campaign for re-election around the fleet.

However, it was a few hours later that Roslin received the worst news that any leader could get; both Tory and Billy had come to her on Colonial One to tell her that based on news from their people in the fleet, support for the President was slowly eroding. She shook her head as both Billy and Tory told her that more than ninety percent of the Galactica supported her, however her popularity had gone down fleet wide to a new low that had never been even seen by President Adar when he was the President of the Colonies.

"You shouldn't have given the Quorum everything, Madam President" said Tory.

"Do you agree, Billy?" asked the President as she sat at a window seat and looked out into space, and at the ships that were flying around her vessel, "should I have hid it away from them?"

"I'm sorry, Madam President" said Billy, "I think we could have waited until we were sure."

"Maybe" said the President softly as she looked at her reflecting in the window, "but I'm sure that everything we told the Quorum today could have been leaked to the Press, and that would have been worse for all of us. It would have showed the people we had something to hide, and Zarek and Porter would have run with that on the way to getting elected. I don't know about you, but I still have faith in the gods that everything will turn out as it should."

The President knew that the worse things went; the more worse the news became, the more the fleet would look to the gods and turn to Zarek and Porter. She knew that the fleet, at least the majority of the fleet would be looking to their religion to sustain them through the difficult times.. just as she herself had been. But the President also knew that it was very possible that the Earth they were heading to, the home of the Thirteenth Tribe, could be a nuclear wasteland.

'We need evidence to show everyone that going on ward to Earth will be a suicide mission' thought the President as she continued to look out her window at the Galactica which she could see nearby, 'we need to make preparations to go to that planet. I pray to the gods that I'm wrong, but if I am.. I pray that they'll help the others see sense. That we already have a home that's been offered to us, and its there where our future lies.'

That was two days ago, which was when she and Commander Adama ordered an expedition to the planet. They had hoped that since Dr. Cottle and Balter had figured out the protocols to gather accurate information on the bone, and the soil samples, they could have two days once they reached the planet to gather as much information as possible. They were then to return to the Galactica with a report that would be submitted to the Quorum, and publically broadcast to the people.

Roslin, the Commander and the Vice-President agreed that if everything matched up with what Racetrack and Skulls had been given in regards to the planet of the Thirteenth Tribe; then they could hopefully convince a majority of the Quorum, and the people that the time line matched with the dates in the book of Phythia and the Sacred Scrolls of when the Thirteen Tribe were said to have left Kobol for Earth. They hoped that would cause the majority of people to see sense and then agree to settle on the planet that the humans from Earth had offered them. The President, of all people, knew that the election was really a referendum on a decision to settle on the other planet; the refugee Planet that she intended to call New Caprica.

In the present, as the two raptors flew through the clouds, there was a buzz on the radio as a male voice in their language came through asking for identification.

"Sir?" shouted Racetrack as she looked at Apollo who was sitting in the co-pilots seat.

"I'll talk to them" said the officer as he pressed a button on the console in front of him, "Major Thompson, my name is Major Lee Adama of the Battlestar Galactica. We are heading for an area in the far side of the continent to gather our own samples for independent verification of our results on the soil samples as well as the data on the bones that were given to us."

"Understood" said Major Thompson as he looked at the two Raptors flying overhead, "we haven't gotten to that part of the continent yet, so we wish you good luck. However, before you continue, I would like to ask that you have one representative come with me to the refugee planet that we set up for your people. Actually, we'd prefer if you sent someone who is not from your military."

"Not from the military?" asked the Major as he looked an equally confused Racetrack, before looking behind him to Baltar and the Marines who were guarding him. The Major then turned back to the wireless and told Major Thompson that it could not be done, that they needed all of their civilian scientists to examine the soil and any bones that were found, and that the military presence was needed to protect them.

"I have my orders, Major" said Major Thompson, "this concerns some refugees that my people received thanks to some allies who had originally brought them to our attention. We also have evidence that one of your Battlestars may have committed a war crime; at least in our laws we consider this a war crime… I am not certain about your laws."

"Major Thompson" said Apollo, "are you saying that the Colonial military did something that was illegal? Do you have evidence of this?"

"That's what I am saying" said Major Thompson over the wireless as the two Raptors turned around and started to just circle over the Earth encampment, "our ship just rescued some survivors, they're in pretty bad shape. But we'd like to show one of your people the pictures and video that was taken, as well as a dubbed copy of an interview made of a Commander Melik. These people are scared of the Colonial military, Major, right now they're calm but I have no idea what would happen if a military presence from the Colonies were in their immediate area at this moment in time."

"I understand" said Apollo as he rubbed his forehead before looking up, smiling and then turning towards Racetrack, who looked back at the man confused. Apollo then pressed the button again and told Major Thompson that he was needed on the planet to watch over Baltar, and the other Marines with them would be looking after the scientists. Instead, he'll be sending over Racetrack without her full Fleet uniform.

Racetrack looked at her superior officer confused as Major Thompson said that it could work, as long as the refugees didn't recognize her, and as long as she didn't have any military insignia on her. Apollo accepted that deal and then ordered the two Raptors to their previous coordinates where, upon landing, Racetrack and Apollo went up to one of the three female scientists and told her that they needed to switch clothes. It wasn't long before Racetrack and the Scientist went back into the Raptor where the Raptor pilot put on the scientists clothes while the dark skinned female wore the brown undershirt and placed the flight jacket on the pilots seat for when Racetrack got back. Opening the side hatch of the Raptor, Skulls and some of the male scientists whistled as Racetrack, with her hair tied back into a ponytail, jumped down onto the muddy ground and gave the finger to the ones who whistled at her.

"Alright people" shouted Apollo as he helped the scientist get down, "get going with what we need to do. Baltar, don't leave your escorts… Marines.. if he doesn't follow your orders, shoot him."

"But…." said the former vice-president while the Marines acknowledged the order.

"Doc Cottle" said Apollo, "I need you and your team to get us some bones. Go further inland if you have to, just notify the Marines that have been assigned to you."

"Alright" said Cottle as he lit up a cigarette and nodded to the other scientists, "come on.. this way. We'll set up there."

As Baltar followed Cottle to a nearby clearing, Apollo turned to Skulls and told him to keep a watch over them until he got back from dropping Racetrack off at the Earth encampment.

"Sir" said Skulls, "if this really is Earth… or at least the planet the Thirteenth Tribe settled on… then…."

"We still have a home to get to" said Apollo as he rested a hand on the man's shoulder, "that planet may not be Earth, but it's still a fresh start. And like they said, we'll get to see Earth one day."

Racetrack and Skulls had heard the President talk about the results of the experiments on the jawbone during the President's presentation to the Quorum; they remembered being in the pilots ready room which had been noisy for the past few minutes preceding the start of the President's presentation. When they heard the age of the jawbone, Racetrack and Skulls looked at each other and then at their fellow pilots with their mouths open. It was then that Racetrack knew that the humans they had met that day, the humans who had offered them a home were from Earth. The real Earth.

'Not this one' thought Racetrack to herself as she looked around at the desolate landscape with the sounds of waves hitting the shoreline from a fair distance away. Soon, Apollo walked towards her after telling Skulls and some of the other three Marines to start building tents in the immediate area so that they would have a place to spend the night, and work.

"Come on" said Apollo as he nodded at Racetrack who nodded her head, waved at Skulls before getting into the raptor. Apollo took the pilot's seat while Racetrack took the co-pilots seat and put on the restraints.

"Sir" said Racetrack as she looked at Apollo, "do you think it's true? That we could have done… you know.. what they said?"

"There was a rumour going around with the knuckledraggers" said Apollo as he lifted the ship off the ground and into the air. It was a few seconds later that the rear thrusters activated and the Raptor flew towards the Earth encampment, "I don't know if you've heard this but the rumour went that the Pegasus had a civilian fleet. You know the new deck chief? The guy who's sharing his duties with Tyrol?"

"Laird?" asked Racetrack as Apollo nodded his head.

"Cally heard that he used to have a family on a ship" said the Major, "and… and well, the Pegasus stripped that fleet of parts, resources and personnel. Cain put military needs first so…. The story goes that there were many who refused, including those like Laird who were on a list of personnel to be transferred to the Pegasus."

"My gods" said Racetrack in surprise as the ship neared the encampment.

"Those who didn't want to go were punished" said Apollo as he took the ship down to the coordinates that Major Thompson had supplied through the Raptor's wireless, "Cain ordered her Marines to shoot the families of those who refused."

"That's…."

"But like I said" said Apollo as he opened the side hatch while Racetrack took off her restraints and was standing up, "it's all stories and rumour. But if they have proof of what happened… get everything possible. We'll take it to the President and the Commander, no matter how disturbing."

"Understood, sir" said Racetrack, "I'll be back as soon as possible."

"Let them know that we'll be here for two days" said Apollo as Racetrack nodded her head, "we need to get back before the election so that the President can make a final pitch to the Quorum, and the fleet."

"Understood" said Racetrack as she headed back to the open hatch, "be careful, sir."

"You too" said Apollo as he closed the hatch after Racetrack stepped out. As he got off the ground, he turned the ship and saw Racetrack running with her head low with another man who Apollo presumed was Major Thompson. Once he was higher up, he saw Racetrack turn around and wave him off before Apollo activated his thrusters and sped off towards the Colonial camp, all the while hoping that Racetrack would be able to get at the truth.

"Good luck" said Apollo to himself as he flew off.

TBC.