Battlestar Galactica, unknown region of space, 1300 hours.

The CIC on the Galactica was a hive of activity since many were preparing for the elections due to be held the next day. There was one Presidential debate yesterday morning which, according to exit polls taken after the debate, Roslin had lost which put Zarek and Porter in the lead for the Presidency. Even today, there were many pundits on the Colonial wireless speculating on Roslin capitulating to the religious factions to cut off Zarek and Porter's power base. However, there were many others who were of the opinion that most of them were too ingrained with Zarek's ideology... that they should get to Earth at all cost.

While hearing the arguments on the CIC wireless band get to a fever pitch, Commander Adama ordered that the speakers be shut down.

"This ship is still technically at war" said the old man softly as he looked at Colonel Tigh who was standing across from him. The both of them knew what the stakes was if Roslin lost the election, it was simply a matter of how many ships left with the Galactica in order to return back to the refugee planet. The Commander wasn't happy about this, but he also knew that if what Apollo and his team found was true, then going to Earth would be suicide for their people.

"It's too quiet out there, Bill" said the Colonel as he walked up to the Commander and stood next to him. Sighing, the Executive Officer asked the Commander what he thought about what he would do if they returned to the world that the Earth officers offered them.

"I don't want to get too ahead of myself, but I was thinking about building a cabin" said the Commander, "but only after we return to the colonies and get as many survivors back as possible."

Unaware of what was going on back on the Colonies, the Colonel asked if the Commander was sure that there were still survivors; that many would have surely died from radiation sickness.

"We just have to hope that they have enough anti-radiation meds" replied the Commander as he looked at the DRADIS, and then at the Colonel, "how about you? Do you have any plans?"

"Ellen wants to settle on the planet" said the Colonel as he looked at the DRADIS and then turned around and looked at everyone at the CIC, "I think everyone on board wants to settle down."

"We haven't heard from the Cylons in months" said the Commander as he looked back at where the Colonel was looking, "I.. I think that everyone has hope that the Cylons are really on the back foot this time. That these Ori are eliminating them, but from what the Earthers have told us about the Ori; they may come after us soon enough. We've seen how advanced these civilizations are, Saul. It helps to be under the protection of one while we rebuild."

"There could be more out there we don't know about" said the Colonel as Commander Adama nodded his head, "and Cain?"

"She's a traitor to the Colonies" said the Commander as he turned around and put his glasses down on the center table, "I know a few of the Marines here are still loyal to her, but most of them are appalled by her rejecting the gods and swearing allegiance to the Ori. But then again, some of those are loyal to Zarek and Porter's rhetoric."

"We're keeping an eye on them" said the Colonel as the Commander looked at him, "can't have them try to spread discontent of what may, or may not, happen if Zarek wins the Presidency which seems more likely unless the gods can grant us a miracle. In the meantime, we'll need to put down the seeds of a mutiny.. just to be on the safe side."

"I know most of the crew on the Galactica will want to go back to the planet" said the Commander, "Roslin said that she'll reveal her plans for the aftermath of the election later tonight. After Apollo and the others return."

"Gods help those who decide to go on either way" said the Colonel as he walked around the table while Commander Adama looked on, and then nodded his head when something beeped at the DRADIS console as the Colonel and the Commander looked up at the screens.

"Sir" said Dee, the communications officer who gave a sigh and a wide grin, "it's Apollo."

"Have Starbuck and Kat escort them back in" said the Commander as he nodded his head at Dee. The old man could see that the young woman was tense, especially since she was one of the few who was worried that the Cylons could come back at any time for one final assault on the fleet. The Commander walked up to Dee and put his hand on the young woman's hand and squeezed, silently telling her that everything would be alright. Nodding her head at the man, Dee then relayed his orders to Starbuck and Kat, "have Apollo, Racetrack, Baltar and Dr. Cottle meet me in my quarters. Contact the President, and Vice President Hunt, inform them that the others have returned."

"Aye, sir" said Dee as she smiled at the crew member next to her while there was a sudden rise in the buzz throughout the CIC, now they would finally learn the truth. Dee had finished talking to the President when she looked up and told the Commander that the President would prefer that they all talk on Colonial One. Nodding his head, Dee then relayed the Commander's orders to head back to the Galactica and prepare any reports that were needed to be shown to the President in three hours. Then they would all go to Colonial One together.

"Starbuck to Galactica, we're on final approach."

"Starbuck" said the Commander into his headset, "I want you there as well."

"Yes, sir" replied the pilot as she, Kat and the Raptors flew into the Galactica's flight pod. The two Raptors then landed on the elevators, followed by Starbuck's viper after telling Kat that she had lead over the CAP, "don't go messing around Kat."

"Yeah, yeah" replied the other pilot as she flew out the other end of the flight pod and joined HotDog outside.

Willow and Faith's House, 1715 hours.

Willow, while hugging a teary Dawn tightly, could only look at Faith confused after what the young brunette just revealed. She continued to say that she saw Faith injured, and Willow remaining with the Apollo along with Colonel Carter and several others. Dawn then said, while holding tight to Willow, that the next thing she knew,she was back at Stargate Command. It was then that General Landry told her and Teal'c that they didn't know if the remaining crew of the Apollo made it out safe, or if a lifeboat left the ship because of the Naquadria explosion.

"Dawn" said Faith as she walked around Willow and looked at the brunette's red eyes, "it was just a dream."

"It was so real" said Dawn as she lay her chin on Willow's shoulder while looking at Faith while the redhead ran her hand through Dawn's hair, "I remember I used to have vision of the future, or alternate timelines, if I tried hard enough. But that was when I was ascended, mother and I were capable and we were able to tell that what we were looking at wasn't real. But now? Now I can't tell what it is. I hope it's just a dream but…"

"That's all it is" said Willow gently as she rubbed Dawns back before the brunette stepped back and wiped some tears from her eyes, "a dream. No way to tell if what we're looking at is the truth, part of the truth, or if the dream is the way things are supposed to happen."

"I know, but…"

"I can tell you that the Wraith aren't coming to this galaxy, Dawnie" said Willow, "Atlantis is too well guarded. They have a ZPM for the shield, the latest railgun models, and the Ancient energy weapons on the mainland. The only way to get here, is through Atlantis. And so far the Wraith, at least according to the latest reports, are in their own civil war. So look, you've got nothing to worry about."

"But you need to tell whoever's building the Apollo to put the lifeboats in" said Dawn as Willow nodded her head, "and you need to check on this deep space sensor net that General Landry told me about in my dream. Ok?"

"Ok" said Willow as Dawn gave her a small smile before tell the redhead and Faith that she was going to go for a shower.

"Sorry if there's no hot water available" said Faith as she winked at Dawn before she put her arm around Willow's waist, "we had a little too much fun."

"Yeah" said Dawn as she smiled at Faith before she disappeared into her room, and then rushed to the shower with a towel in her hand before closing the door behind her.

"So" said Faith softly as the both of them watched the door close after Dawn walked into the restroom, "I sensed you holding back something from her."

"Yeah" whispered Willow as she placed her head on the dark haired Slayer's shoulder, "Colonel Carter and I've redesigned the Apollo, and the newer 304's and 305's with lifeboats in case the ship is too damaged. It's supposed to take an extra three months before it's ready because of the redesign. They're supposed to have a short range Hyperdrive that would get the ship to a planet with a Stargate. It'll at least save some lives."

"I take it you've got some idea for the deep space satellite thingy?"

"Yea" said Willow, "when General O'Neill had the Ancient knowledge downloaded into his head the second time, I was psychically connected to him. So I started drawing some things, just like he did the first time it happened."

"The Ancient shield generator" said Faith as she looked at Willow as she stood up straight before the both of them turned and walked over to the glass windows. Willow nodded her head as she opened the window to the porch outside that faced the backyard. Walking onto the porch, the both of them walked over to a deckchair where Faith sat down and leaned back while Willow sat on her thighs and leaned back onto the Slayer's body. Faith then wrapped her arms around Willow's waist while the redhead snuggled closer to the Slayer and laid her head in the crook of Faith's neck.

"Yep" said Willow, "I drew a satellite, and a ZPM, too."

"You told me" said Faith softly.

"Well" said Willow, "at first I didn't know what it was. I mean I knew I drew a satellite, but I didn't know what type. But after getting my memories back, I found that the satellite I drew was one of thousands of Ancient satellites that are located all over the galaxy. Enough to actually provide real time telemetry to anyone who could access those satellites feeds. Well, to make a long story short. I'm using the designs for the satellite to create a new model so that the SGC and Home World can get those feeds anytime we want. Right now we can only access the Ancient satellites through the Control chairs in Death Valley, and Antarctica. SO these new models would be a way for Home World to get the same readings."

"We can't get the Ancient feeds using the equipment we have?" asked Faith.

"We tried" said Willow, "it just works with the chair. But these new satellites with be equipped with encrypted subspace frequencies that only Home World Security, and the SGC, will be able to read. We should have everything up in two years, max. The Daedalus is on its way back to deposit the first batch close to the current location of the satellites that the Ancients launches all those years ago."

"Neat" said Faith, "I suggest not telling Dawn though."

"Yeah" said Willow softly, "she'll be freaked out."

"Yep" replied Faith.

"I saw the Pegasus in a dream I had" said Willow softly as Faith looked at her in surprise. Willow then looked up at her and told her that that she saw the ship when she was dead, right before she was cloned. Faith reminded Willow that she told her the basics, but not that she had seen the Pegasus.

"It was the dream about you heading into the ship with the Puddle Jumper?" asked Faith as Willow nodded her head, "you should have told me that you saw the ship when we were there."

"I hid my emotions" said Willow, "when I saw the ship in my dream, I was on the Phoenix… Colonel Carter was a General and you were manning the weapons console. I remember that the ship was attacking us, and…"

"It did in real life" said Faith softly.

"Yeah, but it was different too" replied Willow as she shook her head, "that's the thing with dreams. It's never straight forward."

"That was the dream you told Sam about, right?" asked Faith, "the one that gave her the confidence to stay with the SGC after Debbie was born?"

"Yea" said Willow as she looked up at Faith, "don't tell her? I mean about the fact that it was the Pegasus I had to kill myself to destroy."

"I won't" said Faith as she kissed the top of Willow's head, "what do you think happened to the ship? I mean the one that was shooting at us."

"I don't know" said Willow, "it could be anywhere."

Faith rubbed Willow's back as she felt the redhead's warm breath on her neck. The dark haired Slayer then held on to Willow tight as she heard the shower door open before Dawn called out for them. Willow and Faith raised their hands to tell the brunette that they were outside as Dawn, clad in only a towel, walked out of the shower and into her room. Once the door to Dawn's room was closed, Faith ran her hand through Willow's hair as they both just lay out on the porch.

"Something else I gotta tell you" said Willow in a soft voice as she felt Faith nod her head, "when I was in that other reality. I was without any of my powers; so… so when you were the first Slayer I met. I thought that she was you and… well, I kissed her…. you… her."

"Huh" said Faith nonchalantly as Willow looked up at her with an eyebrow raised.

"That's it?" asked Willow as a small smile came to her face, "just 'huh'?"

"Yeah" said Faith, "you didn't know that it wasn't me. Not your fault."

"Yeah" said Willow as she lay her head back down in the crook of the Slayer's neck, "I was just glad to see you. I thought that maybe the SGC found me and beamed you over to Sunnydale and…. yeah."

"Hey, at least you kissed me" said Faith, "would have been cool though. Two Faith's, and one Willow. Neat, but kinda weird at the same time."

Willow then looked back up at Faith and held back a laugh as the Slayer looked back down at her and smirked. Willow then lay her head back down again as Faith asked if she figured out why she lost her powers.

"I don't think I lost them" said Willow softly, "I think they were always there but… but you know how my mother said that the psychic connection between us got stretched since I was sent to another reality?"

"Yea" said Faith nodding her head.

"I think that maybe my connection with you caused my body to go into some kind of a psychic shock" said Willow, "it was just so sudden and quick, that.. that my mind and body couldn't handle it? It's all a guess to me. But I did use my powers, just for a few seconds, when I got really, really mad at a warlock for invading my mind."

"Did you kill him?" asked Faith.

"Nah" said Willow, "did something much worse. Made him a vegetable. He'll never practise magic again. Kinda did it for my alternate too.. he's the one who got her deeply addicted into magic. But my point is that the power was there for a little while, and then my access to it was gone. Then when I opened the Stargate to get back here, I felt the connection with you strengthen, and I felt my powers come back to me."

"Neat" said Faith, "glad to know I still have an effect on you."

"You always do, genius" said Willow as she bit Faith's neck as the Slayer yelped before the redhead looked up, smiled and then kissed the area she bit.

"When I went to that reality to see you" said Faith as the redhead kept kissing her neck, "I went through different realities."

"Really?" asked Willow as she stopped kissing and looked up at Faith, "what did you see?"

"I saw me dying in a few" said Faith as Willow looked at her, the smile she had wiped from her face, "I saw Buffy feed me to Angel, I saw my mom and her boyfriend kill me. I saw one where me and Buffy killed you… I saw a lot."

"Faith" said Willow as she cupped the Slayer's face in her left hand.

"Made me realize how lucky I am to have you" said Faith as she looked at Willow who gave her a small smile, "than there was one reality I saw. Tara told me not to stop for too long at one reality, or let go of the line that connected us both, since there was the danger that I'd be stuck in that particular reality with no way of getting back home. But this one? Red, this one was…"

"What was it?" asked Willow as she got up and straddled Faith, "what did you see?"

"I saw a little boy" said Faith as she sat up and wrapped her arms around Willow's back while the redhead did the same, "our little boy."

"What?" asked Willow as she widened her eyes in surprise before she leaned in and kissed Faith before pulling back with a massive grin on her face, "we never discussed… I mean… he was ours? I mean… adopted or…"

"He had both of our features" said Faith as tears welled in her eyes, "he seemed happy. My childhood was a nightmare… I mean you saw my memories when we created this link between us… but this boy… he had none of that baggage. He seemed happy, Red. He's our son and he was so happy. I don't know how, but he's ours."

"You'll make a wonderful mother" said Willow as she leaned in and gave Faith a quick peck on her lips, "once we're.. I mean.. with the war with the Ori, with the Colonies out there.. not to mention the Wraith and the Lucien Alliance. Once we've settled down and are at war with just one enemy, you wanna…"

"Before I saw Jack…"

"Jack?" asked Willow.

"We… I mean the alternate us named him Jack" said Faith as Willow smiled, "before seeing him so happy with them, I.. I never thought I could be responsible with a kid; especially my own. But seeing him, I don't know… I suddenly feel empty when I think about him. You know what I mean?"

"I know" said Willow as she caressed Faith's cheeks, "if he had both of our features, then he's probably a clone created from both of our DNA. The only people advanced enough to do that would be…"

"The Asgard" said Faith as she moved her hands up Willow's back and rested her arms behind the redhead's neck, "so you want to… you know? I mean once everything settles down and we don't go off world as much, do you want to have a kid with me?"

"D'uh" said Willow as Faith laughed before pulling Willow in and kissing her. They continued kissing as Willow's senses went on overload which made her miss Dawn's arrival onto the porch as the brunette leaned on the wall and looked at both young women.

"Ahem" said Dawn as Willow and Faith quickly separated before looking at Dawn who was smirking, 'the both of you need to get a room. Seriously, your room is just there. Down the hall… you know? I mean it's right there."

"You mean you don't want us to come with you to dinner with your team?" asked Willow, "if you don't, then I could stay like this with Faith all night."

"Oh yeah" said Faith with a grin on her face, "I'll be violating your sister in so many ways that…"

"First of all, ewww" said Dawn as she brought her hand up with her eyebrows raised, "and second? The story of me being Hera is so fantastic that I'll need you to confirm everything".

"Hey" said Faith, "how do you feel about being an aunt?"

"Neat" grinned Dawn, "how do you feel like being aunts to my kid?"

"Are you pregnant?" asked both Willow and Faith together, horror written on their faces.

"No" said Dawn, "but I think in that dream I had… I may have been. I don't know."

"It's just a dream" said Willow as she looked at Faith before she stood up and helped the Slayer stand, "we'll get ready. So, O'Malley's then?"

"Colonel Ferretti's place" said Dawn, "I've got the address."

"Alright" said Willow as she nodded her head before she and Faith walked past Dawn, "we'll be right out."

"Thirty minutes" said Faith as she winked at Dawn.

"Yeah" said Dawn as the both of them walked into the hallway, "which means you'll take an hour."

"Good point" said Faith as she closed the door behind her while Willow waved at Dawn.

Cloud Nine, Quorum of Twelve Chamber, 2100 hours.

The stage was set for one final meeting of the Quorum before the Presidential elections that were to be held the flowing day. This session, as acknowledged by Roslin, was extremely unusual. But given that it concerned the safety of the entire fleet, President Roslin was given permission by ten out of the twelve members to address them on the findings.

By now, all delegates had taken their seats, and members of the press waited in the middle of the large room. Many of them had tape recorders and video cameras that were set to record what could be the most important address in Colonial history following the Fall of the Twelve Colonies. The setting was electric as the flags of the colonies, as well as that of Colonial One and the office of the President, were placed around the room. It was a few minutes later that one of the doors opened, and lights flashed from the cameras while the members of the press all started to speak at once as President Roslin walked into the room, followed by Vice-President Hunt, Dr. Baltar, and then Tory and Billy. The civilians were then followed by Commander Adama, Colonel Tigh, Apollo, Starbuck and Racetrack in their dress uniforms as they walked up to a table set up near the lectern that carried the Presidential seal. Of all the military personnel there, Racetrack was the most nervous while she stood next to Starbuck. She remembered being taken aside after the meeting with the President following the return from the Cylon Earth, that Commander Adama and President Roslin had asked her to talk to the Quorum about what Commander Melik had talked about on the Colonial Refugee planet.

"They'll want to know how the refugees are doing, if these people can be trusted" said the Commander as he continued to speak to Racetrack about questions that the Quorum members could ask her since she had the most contact with those people.

"Understood, sir" said Racetrack, "I.. I won't let you down."

Back on Cloud Nine, Racetrack took a seat alongside Starbuck and the other military, and civilian, personnel as President Roslin walked up to the lectern, fixed the microphone and then spoke into it. The President, even before she opened her mouth to speak, knew that her address was being sent by wireless to the entire fleet. From the deathly quiet CIC on the Galactica, to the CAP that was patrolling around the fleet. Every single man, woman and child was about to hear the President speak about what was found on the planet that they had been moving towards ever since the destruction of the Colonies; they were about to hear the President make her last minute pitch for re-election.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Quorum of Twelve" said the President as she looked up at the twelve men and women who were seated a few meters over her, "members of the press, my fellow citizens of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak before we make one of the greatest decisions of our lives, for the rest of our lives… and for our future, the future of our children and grandchildren."

The President continued to say that ever since the destruction of the Colonies, that they had been heading towards finding a new home.. a home that the Thirteenth Tribe had left Kobol for so many years ago; Earth. She told them that there had been many bumps in the road, but she had intended to lead them towards Earth.. towards a home.

"I was… am leading us towards a home that we could call our own" said the President as she looked at each member of the Quorum, "the Scrolls said that a dying leader will lead the caravan of the heavens to a new homeland. That's what it says, a new homeland. A homeland where we could settle down and rest. A homeland where we could finally stop running; a homeland that we could call our own."

"Madam President" said Zarek as Roslin looked at him and asked to hold all questions until she was done addressing them. She saw Zarek look at Porter before frowning and leaning back on his seat as he folded his arms over his chest.

"Earlier today we received news; some very important news that concerns the survival of this fleet" said the President as she closed her eyes, "two days ago, an expedition made up of two Raptors carrying scientists and doctors were sent to a planet whose coordinates given to us by those we have met from Earth."

"You mean the false Earth" said Porter flippantly, "but go on."

"That's you opinion, Sarah; but I have told this Quorum about the evidence that these Earthers had given us" said the President while she frowned at Porter, and the looked at all the others, "and this mission was approved by this body. Well, they returned with results that supported everything that the people from that other Earth had given us."

IT was then that the President looked around as some of the Quorum members stood up and started to speak over each other, everything directed towards the President as she looked on. At the same time, the light bulbs on the cameras started flashing as the members of the press started to ask questions all at once. Meanwhile, on the Galactica, the people in the CIC could only look at each other while Lt. Gaeta and Helo looked at each other. Lieutenant Gaeta was there when Apollo and the others had told the President and the others about the findings, and although the man was shocked.. he had come to accept the evidence. The Lieutenant could only nod at Helo before the man looked back up at the DRADIS screen.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" shouted the President and she hammered the gavel in front of her so that she could continue, "Ladies and Gentlemen!"

"This is blasphemy" shouted Porter as she stood up, "Roslin, what you are saying…"

"I have every shred of evidence to prove that everything they told us was the truth" said Roslin as she looked at Porter, and then at Zarek, "the soil and water are completely, and utterly, irradiated thank to an apocalyptic nuclear war. There is no way to drink, or eat, anything that grows on that world. If we continue on, we will die because we will have no way to grow food on that planet, and our stores will run out."

Roslin looked at a stunned press and the Quorum as she continued on to the data they had received from the bones discovered on the planet. She told them that they had gone to an area that was far away from the Earth expedition that was conducting their own survey of the planet. She told the Quorum that while one team collected the soil and water, and ran tests on those two; another team conducted tests on any remains that they could find. Roslin stunned the people in the room, the people on the other ships, everyone who had stopped working just to listen to the broadcast; to the CAP that was conducting its fly-by, that the bones they discovered were Cylon in origin. That the bones had been there for thousands of years, a timeline that fit with the exodus of the Thirteenth Tribe from Kobol.

"This is the world that the Thirteenth Tribe called Earth" said the President as she looked at everyone while giving a small smile at the discomfort being felt by both Porter, and Zarek, "from what we have been able to tell these Cylons didn't go through the traditional download process. The scientists who went to this planet found evidence that, despite the nanites… microscopic machines.. that were in their bones, these particular Cylons were as Human as anyone in this fleet."

Everyone started talking again before the President raised her voice, while the military personnel looked at each other, telling everyone to listen. She told them that they had found evidence that these Cylons on the planet gave birth to their young, instead of being grown by machines.. instead of being downloaded. She told the Quorum and the Press that they'll have access to those records as well so that they know that she's not lying.

"Some the scientists worked all day and night for this evidence" said Roslin, "they've found other artifacts that showed this civilization was at the same technological level as the Twelve Colonies before the fall. They even built their own version of Cylon Centurions, we can only assume that the Centurions rebelled and the two sides fought each other."

"Mutual destruction" said the representative from Leonis.

"Yes" replied the President, "what happened before, almost happened again with us. We still survive whereas the Thirteenth Tribe was eradicated."

"Basically you're saying that these Thirteenth.. they forgot that they were machines?" asked another representative.

"That's just an assumption" said the president, "but, if I win the election; I plan on returning a team to the planet to search for historical records on what happened. In the meantime, I'm now talking to the entire fleet as a whole. Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm talking to everyone as a fellow Colonial citizen. This journey we are on.. this journey is one of hope. Hope of a better life and we've found it."

"This journey has been to get to Earth" said Zarek.

"Earth is a dream" said Roslin as she looked at Zarek, "Earth was the thing that we were reaching for in the darkness. Something to give us the will to continue to fight on, so that we don't give up. It's the fight to search for a new homeland. And we've been offered one."

"Please" mumbled Porter as she leaned back on her seat before she gave a small smile and then leaned forward again, "how do we know that this so called evidence is in-fact, real?"

"I don't know what to tell you, Sarah" said the President, "I've told you about all the evidence we've collected. If you don't believe what we have, then.. then I'm sorry. You're putting your own personal agenda over the needs of this fleet."

"I'm protecting this fleet" said Sarah as Zarek looked on, "you've led us down a dark path, Roslin. The gods have tested your resolve for Earth, and you've been found wanting. Earth is more than just a dream, it is our birthright. She is our colony, and as such.. I say that we keep searching for it."

"Like I said, Sarah" replied Roslin, "I'm not speaking to you as a member of the Quorum, I'm speaking to you and the rest of the fleet as a fellow citizen who wants to settle down; eat real food, breath real air, I want to step on grass.. smell the air after rain has fallen. Those of you who've been to the planet these Earthers offered us know what I mean. And… and we have some of our own on that planet."

'Excuse me?" asked the representative from Tauron as everyone in the fleet looked at each other confused. The only thing that was going through their minds was how was it possible that Colonials made it to that planet.

"Major Lee Adama led the teams that left for the Cylon Earth" said the President as she looked at everyone, "once they arrived, they were contacted by the Earth team that had made camp on one side of the continent. They informed Major Adama's team that another race of humans…"

"Excuse me?" asked Zarek as everyone started to mumble, "did you just say what I think you just said?"

"These people are called the Tollan" said the President, "they happened upon a ship that was carrying over a hundred people. It was part of a fleet that… that the Pegasus left to die."

"Excuse me?" asked the representative from Tauron as he stood up, "if this is a means to smear Helena Cain's name then…."

"If I may finish?" asked the President as the man sat down reluctantly, "these Tollan rescued these people led by a Command Melik. The trip to the Tollan planet, I…. all I can say is that sixty souls survived. They were taken to the Colonial planet by the Tollan using the Gate to the Stars so that they could be looked after by these Earthers."

Roslin stopped talking to catch her breath, and not to break her voice when she recalled the video that Racetrack had been given by Colonel Carter and Willow. She and the others had seen the videos, and read the interviews of the survivors. Interviews which made her, and Commander Adama sick to their stomachs. The President then started to talk again, telling the fleet that the people from Earth had used one of their ships to rescue the survivors of the Pegasus fleet; the fleet that the President said had been stripped off everything they had, a fleet where the survivors said that Cain ordered her Marines to kill innocent civilians to force those that she considered to be useful for military purposes to be transferred to the Pegasus.

Back on the Galactica, Chief Tyrol and Cally could only look at each other before looking at Chief Laird who was sitting alone in one corner looking down at the floor. All the deck crew had heard rumours of what the Pegasus had done; that Marines had killed families needlessly, but to have it confirmed left everyone empty, as if they didn't know what to do. The Chief left Cally's side as he walked towards the other Chief, it was a few seconds later that Cally followed him as he placed a hand gently on Laird's shoulder. They saw the man wipe his eye and look up at them before he looked back down on the floor. While that was going on in the hanger deck, in other areas of the ship, the Pegasus Marines who were still on the Galactica faced accusing stares from the crew, and the Galactica Marines as they went about their duties.

Meanwhile, in the Quorum chamber, there was hysterics from the Quorum and the Press after that shocking revelation. The President told everyone that she had evidence, video evidence provided to them, as well as interviews from the survivors who could prove what happened. The President turned around and nodded her head as her Vice-president, and Baltar stood up and activated a large screen while the scientist brought in a projector. The President told the members of the press that this video evidence will be provided to them, as well as the interviews.

The Quorum watched in shocked silence as the video started. They saw Willow and the others going through the ships for survivors, they saw the dead bodies as the dubbed voices of the Earth Officers came over the speakers. It was nearly forty minutes later that the video stopped and the President looked back at the Quorum, who were still stunned.

"Lieutenant Margaret Edmondson" said the President as Racetrack stood up, "she was the one who went to the Colonial planet as a civilian. These people were so traumatised by what happened, they insisted on a civilian talking to them. But since we needed the civilians we had on the Cylon planet, it was agreed that Lt. Edmondson talk to the survivors while disguised as a scientist. Lieutenant? If you please."

The President then turned around as Racetrack walked towards her. Squeezing the pilot's arm reassuringly, Roslin stepped to one side as Racetrack stood at the lectern.

"Umm.. hi, my name is lt. Margaret Edmondson… ummm… I left for the Colonial planet with a Major Thompson of the Earth forces on the Cylon world we were on. He took me through the Gate to the Stars to the colonial world."

"How were the people treated?" asked a representative while the Press eagerly took notes.

"They were being given food, water, medicine, and shelter" said Racetrack, "I talked to Commander Melik, and he confirmed that while at first he was suspicious that these people could be Cylons, he later began to believe that they were just humans like us."

"How can you be sure that these aren't just actors playing their part in a con" said Zarek as he leaned forward, "maybe this video was a con, or…."

"Zarek" said the President as she stepped forward while the man smiled smugly.

"I'm just putting my opinion out there, Madam President"

"Lieutenant" said the President as she nodded her head at Racetrack who stepped back to the lectern.

"Sir" said Racetrack as she looked at Zarek, "I looked into Commander Melik's eyes as he told me what happened with the Pegasus. What he experienced? What he witnessed? It's all real. I saw the sheer rage in his eyes when he mentioned the military, I saw the hope in his eyes when I told him that more of our people were out in space. He's waiting for us, sir. There's no way to act that well unless it really happened."

Racetrack saw Zarek frown before he leaned back and looked at the young woman, and then at the President. Just then another Quorum member asked Racetrack what she would do if given the opportunity to go to the planet. Racetrack could only look back at the Commander who nodded his head at the young woman before she turned to look at the Quorum.

"If I had a choice to stay here or go to the planet that was offered to us so that I could live out my days there?" asked Racetrack as the Quorum delegate nodded her head, "then I'd go there."

"Thank you for your honesty" said another delegate as Racetrack stepped back as the President squeezed her shoulder before heading back to the table. As Racetrack was walking back, she saw Starbuck looking at her with an eyebrow raised while Racetrack looked away embarrassed.

"So" said Starbuck with a smirk, "you met a Major Thompson? And so eager to get back."

"I don't know what you're talking about, sir" said Racetrack as she sat down next to Starbuck.

"I'm gonna have so much fun" said the pilot, "tell me everything. Later."

"Fine" said the Raptor pilot as she gave a small smile after Starbuck looked away as the President tapped her hand on the microphone.

The President looked at all the Quorum delegates and sighed. Roslin knew that Sarah was fuming from while she glared at the redhead. The President then looked at Zarek and knew that the wheels in his head were turning; trying to figure out how to turn this into something that would benefit him. Roslin knew that the Press would be interviewing her and Vice-President Hunt who'll be on one ticket, as well as Zarek and Porter who'll be in the other ticket.

'Campaigning stops five hours before the polls open' thought the President to herself and as she looked at the delegates, before looking at the members of the press, "I'll take your questions now."

"Madam President" asked one of the reporters, "should you win the election, what would you say to those who want to continue searching for Earth?"

"I will ask them to rethink their decision" said Roslin as she glanced up at Zarek. She knew that the man would have something to say on this later on during his own time with the Press, so Roslin wanted to twist the knife into him as much as possible, "but… but if they continue to insist on leaving for Earth, then I will aske Commander Adama to give them the coordinates to the planet. And they are free to go there on their own."

"Madam President" said a blonde woman, one of the D'Anna's that was embedded by the other Cylons into the refugee fleet, "so you're willing to have the remaining people who don't dare go with you, die in the emptiness of space? Doesn't that make that action similar to what Admiral Cain did?"

"Miss Biers, right?" asked the President as the unrevealed humanoid Cylon nodded her head, "Admiral Cain stripped away everything of value from those ships. From their food and water, to their FTL drives. She took everything so that it could be co-opted for military purposes. She never gave those people a choice. I am giving everyone in the fleet a choice. Those who decide to continue on to Earth, at least the one that the Thirteenth Tribe used to occupy, they will be given the Tylium refinery ship for fuel; they will also be given the ships they require for food and water. However, for matter of security.. the ones who continue on will not receive the coordinates to the planet that the Earth people offered us. If the Earthers remain on the Thirteenth Tribe's planet, then those who wish to join the rest of us can come through the Gate to the Stars."

"How about the Galactica?" asked another reporter as everyone throughout the fleet leaned in towards their wireless.

"We have not been attacked by Cylons in a long time" said Roslin as she looked at everyone, "from what I was told during the first meeting with the Earthers on Colonial One, there are much more advanced civilizations of human out there in the galaxy. They have advanced weapons that the Galactica is just not equipped to handle."

"So you'll be abandoning your people" said another reporter while everyone in the fleet looked at each other in shock.

"I want the whole fleet to return to the planet" said Roslin, "I want everyone in this fleet to settle on that planet. I want to return to the Colonies and rescue the people we left behind, I want to bring them out of those radioactive wastelands and back to us. This planet offered by these Earthers gives us that chance. So no, I'm not abandoning my people… those who decide to go on to the Thirteenth Tribe's home are the ones who will be putting this fleet in danger if they force everyone to go. Commander Adama, and I; the Viper pilots who flew the day of the first meeting with the Earthers on Colonial One… we all remember the advanced weaponry of those Ori ships. We all remember the advanced weaponry of the Earthers ships. We need protection from an advanced civilization, and I believe that the Earthers can provide us with that."

The to and fro continued for twenty more minutes before the meeting was called to a close. Once the President and the others had left, the Press then asked Zarek and Porter some questions; and by that time.. the President knew that she did everything she could. The election was on, as she headed back to Colonial One for another interview.

TBC