Chapter 4

Sam and Steve got familiar with the computers aboard the Galactica while Roy and Johnny got familiar with the crew of the deep space vessel. They found the entertainment to be very similar to what was found on earth. Pyramid was similar to poker. The ale was very similar to beer found on earth. Food and drink were rationed along with medications which the two found alarming.

Roy and Johnny got familiar with the infirmary and the medical staff under the ship's doctor. They gathered a list of needed medications to be sent to the ship for the fleet along with food and water. With the wormhole attached to the vessel, the ship could not move and thus, a new rescue mission formed. But this rescue was in space. Back on the bridge of the vessel, Roy and Johnny gathered a list of supplies from Commander Adama for the fleet.

The older man thanked them as he confirmed the list of supplies. "I cannot thank you two enough for helping us." Adama stated.

"Just doing our job." Roy stated making the notes on a piece of paper.

Johnny added. "Even in space!"

"You two are a lifeline for the Galactica." he assured. "We are in dire need of those medications."

"Meds are the priority." Roy assured. He wasn't sure how he would get the meds. He would need to ask Dr. Brackett for help.

Adama wanted to go through the wormhole himself but his second in command was against it. If the wormhole was lost then the commander would be trapped on Earth. Thus, he decided he needed to stay with the ship.

Sam and Steve were sitting at the nearby engineering station. She managed to connect her computer to the ships computer after some rigging. She found the ships computers were not nearly as sophisticated as her little laptop.

Steve spoke up. "Roy! Johnny! I will be staying on the Galactica to help."

"You sure?" Roy asked him.

"They could use my help. Plus, I can fly one of those vipers and they need pilots." he added. "The Galactica cannot move as long as the wormhole is attached. If the Clyons show up. They are a sitting duck."

Neither Roy or Johnny were pilots. They really could not do much if they stayed. They respected his decision.

"We will let the Cap know." Roy told him.

Sam stated. "I got it!" She grinned. "I know where we are now. I used the energy signature to trace the wormhole back to Earth. We are in the Orion arm and we only twelve light years from Earth. We're not on the other side of the galaxy after all. We're actually pretty close."

Commander Adama leaned over Sam's shoulder and got a look at the star chart on her computer. He found the computer was far more advanced than the ships and that was a glimmer of hope that perhaps Earth could fight off a Cylon invasion after all. "I can have the Galactica there in one jump once the wormhole is dislodged. We are close. So close, we could have missed it." He stood back up. "I can give the coordinates to the civilian fleet. They can jump directly to earth."

Sam asked. "What do we do with them?"

Roy and Johnny traded glances. They had no answers.

Steve stated. "The government will take care of the civilians. Blend them into society. I doubt they will disclose it though."

Johnny asked. "Why not?"

"The world just would not be ready for it." he assumed.

"Bull!" Johnny stated. "Trust me…they would be ready. Heck, they would welcome the people."

"Just not the cylons." Roy added.

Sam smirked and muttered under her breath, "You sure about that?"

Steve stated. "Which is why the government will not tell anyone and keep a lid on it. The government would not want to people living in fear."

Sam chuckled. "Sure they would! Never let a crises go to waste. They would not want people to know about the technology in the ships so they can make a ton of money off it."

Johnny cheered. "Exactly!"

Steve sighed. "Even with the monetary aspect. The government will keep it a secret."

Roy stated. "Probably for the best. Some people would harass the refugees."

Sam suddenly paused and pondered out loud. "What if they really do have a secret space program with big battle ships and are not telling us?"

Johnny suggested. "When the Galactica shows up, we will find out."

"Long as it's not the Clyons." Roy soured as the thought.

Station 51

Roy, Johnny and Sam returned to the station through the wormhole. Chet and the Captain were on hand and waiting.

"Where is Steve?" Captain Stanley asked concerned.

Roy explained. "He's staying to help the Galactica. I got a list of supplies they need. Medications, food, water. Sam traced the wormhole on a star chart. They got coordinates now. There are about a dozen civilian ships that can come on their own. The Galactica cannot move as long as the wormhole is attached to it. If they try to jump, it will tear the ship apart killing everyone one onboard." He handed the Captain the list. "They are critically low on medications."

Chet asked. "How are we going to get the medications? We're a fire station."

Roy assumed. "Dr. Brackett will have to get the meds for us." He took the list back from the Captain. "They are in a real tight spot. It's like being lost at sea. All they got is what is on the ships."

Johnny added. "Imagine being lost at sea, limited supplies, one military ship and a bunch of civilian boats with women and kids all running from a fleet of….Terminators…who also have ships."

Sam smirked. "Maybe Hollywood should have made that last Terminator movie at sea. Would have been more interesting."

Johnny shook his head and spouted. "Nah, all those movies sucked."

Captain Stanley stated. "Alright, you two speak to Brackett about getting those meds. I'm not sure what to do about the food and water."

Roy suggested. "How about a food drive? We asked the community to drop off non perishable goods."

"Not a bad idea." Johnny agreed.

Sam asked. "What happens when the civilian fleet shows up?"

Johnny touched his chin in thought. "Not really our problem once the ships get here. I think that's NASA's problem."

Roy had to agree. "Kind of above our pay grade."

Captain Stanley stated. "You two get the meds and we can organize a food drive. We can send the food through the wormhole to the ship."

Roy agreed. "Sounds like a plan."

As soon as the plan was settled a call came in. The speaker's blared the call. "Engine 51, Rescue 51 to Wilfred High School for box fire alarm."

Captain Stanley got the details on the phone and handed each driver a piece of paper. The men jumped into their gear and then took up positions on the truck.

Sam stayed behind to watch the wormhole as the two apparatuses rolled out the door and down the road. She stood alone in the station knowing someone had to stay behind to watch the engine and the wormhole.

High School

The fire trucks soon arrived on scene. Students and staff lined the outside of the building as they evacuated. The Chief quickly established contact with the school principle.

The men soon made entry and found the source. In the one of the boys' bathrooms they found a water logged and burnt paper in a sprinkler head. A student had placed it there to purposely trip the alarm.

As Chet pulled out the burn paper he looked at his friends. "Just a burnt piece of paper. False alarm." he informed.

Roy rolled his eyes annoyed.

Johnny sighed. "I forgot how the kids thought it was cool to set off the fire alarms back then…meaning now."

The men soon emerged from the bathroom. Chet reported to the Chief. "False alarm. Some kid lit a piece of paper and put it in the sprinkler head."

Chief Stanley grumbled. "Kids." He looked to an older balding principle. "Looks like you got a joker on your hands."

"I'll find out who did it." The principle promised.

Roy and Johnny walked out of the building feeling disappointed as the alarm was a joke. As they walked Greg Brady approached. "Roy. Johnny." he called as he jogged up to them.

Roy greeted. "Hey Greg."

"Greg." Johnny gave a nod.

"There were some guys smoking in the bathroom. One of them trigged the alarm on purpose to get out of school." he reported.

"You know who triggered the alarm?" Roy asked.

"He's one of the heads." he nodded. He then asked. "Where is Sam?"

"She's back at the station." Roy told him.

"Oh, I see." he gave a slight sigh. "I didn't see her at the Explorer's meeting and now she's not on the call and I wondered what happened to her."

"She's been real busy." he told the boy. "I'll tell her that you said 'Hi'."

"I appreciate that." he then wondered. "You think she would go to the school dance with me?"

He shook his head with a painful and pathetic expression. "She's no longer in school." he reminded him.

"Oh." he felt foolish. He then recalled. "I signed up for the summer Junior Fireman's program. It's six weeks. Got Station 51."

Johnny gave him a warm smile. "That's great, Greg. You will make a great fireman."

Roy paused. "Six weeks in the station."

"Yeah." he nodded. "I can go on calls, right?"

"We will discuss that later, Greg." Roy stated concerned. "Get back to school now." He led Johnny back to the truck. He spoke candidly. "I forgot about the summer program. Four teens will be coming into Station 51."

Johnny stated. "Least it's not Cylons."

Roy winced. "Greg Brady will be right under foot. And right under Sam's nose."

Johnny paused. "We will figure something out."