Battlestar Galactica

8 hours away from Caprica

Mission: Finding Kobol Day: 36

Commander Adama walked through the gray hallways of his Old Girl heading to the CIC. His mind was absorbed with the latest report from Raptor's mission; they were suppose to make short range jumps to check planetary systems nearby. So far, his teams made seven jumps and all seven system had nothing interesting to them. He was looking on today's schedule when he heard Galactica's CAG approached him. Bill closed the documents and looked at blond pilot, who was jogging next to him.

"Good morning, sir."

"Good morning, Starbuck. What do you hear?"

"Nothing but the rain, sir!"

"Grab your gun and bring in the cat!"

"Boom, boom, boom!" she answered with a grin and jogged away, as Bill continued his walk.

He got to the CIC, where Mr. Geata greeted him with new stack of reports. He took them all, intending to profoundly read them later.

"Com traffic from the midwatch." Geata explain.

"Hmm. Anything interesting?"

"Mostly housekeeping. Uh, there was one odd message we were copied on. The one from Fleet Headquarters there, sir. Courier officers overdue coming back from Armistice Station. They've asked for a full status report on all F.T.L. capable ships..." he said looking at his CO. "…just in case they need somebody to jump out there today. See if his ship has any mechanical problems, sir."

"I think we're a little bit busy today. Wouldn't you say so, Lieutenant?"

"Yes, sir."

"I'm glad we agree."

Adama stopped next to the DRADIS in the middle of his commanding center and looked at the consol, listening to the morning patrol and Raptor's pre mission tests, as he heard that his friend joined him.

"Are you ok, Saul?" he didn't get much of the answer, only grumpy sight. "The President is coming today."

"What's that frakker want from us?"

Bill gave him icy look, he also hated Adar's with all his heart. But the man was still their President and they had to respect, if not Adar's himself, than the office he was representing. Adama, who already had been at war with Laura's ex lover couldn't afford for more hate and anger from Adar directed not for him, but the Battlestar's crew; his family. Every men and women on his ship will show support and the respect for the President, including Commander himself and his EXO. After all he will be hear few hours most, and then they all will be back to normality.

"Sir, Colonial One is requesting permission for docking."

"Permission granted." He said. "It has begun. Come on Saul."

They made their way from CIC to the hangar deck, where Colonial One was making final approach. Few minutes later, when the ship was docked, passengers started to stepping out of the ships' hatch.

"Attention on deck!" EXO ordered as the President walked out of the Colonial One and put his feet on Galactica's hangar deck.

"At ease." Adar exchanged salutes with the Commander.

"President Adar, why do I own this pleasure, if I may ask."

"It's not a pleasure for me, Commander." He said looking around. "I'm here because I wanted to see you mission progress and also I have a business which we need to discuss."

"Of course, sir. Please follow me, we already prepared you a guest's quarters." He said and moved few steps forward, but when he realize that Adar is still standing where he was before, Adama stopped and turned around. "Mr. President?"

"Yes, yes, guest's quarters. Commander make sure someone will take my things there and in the meantime I would like to talk to you in private."

One of the women, who came with Adar on Colonial One, approached to the man and whispered something to his ear. The President nodded his head and looked at Commander who in was giving Saul order to take care of Adar's luggage. Then he leaded Richard to his quarters. Two marines by the hatch of Commander Adama's living space saluted, as one of them opened the hatch and let them in. Bill walked to the drinks cabinet and offer his guest something to drink, while Adar sat down at the table squinting around the room; he had to have at least small impression of what kind of person he is. Out of the corner of his eye, he notice living space; big brown leather couch which seems to be rather cozy with small coffee table in front of it. On the wall there was a big painting in the golden frame. He took a closer look at the painting; he had an eye for art and he defiantly could say that it was an original. One of the most expensive and prestige artist back on Twelve Colonies. There was also a music adapter; so old that they didn't even have something like that in the museum , and a lot of books; some of them weren't on the book shelves, instead they were lying in almost every free spots of the room.

Adama put two glasses with water on the table and sat down facing Adar. He knew the President was studying his quarters and probably him as well, but he didn't care. He wasn't going to make friends with Adar any time soon, or as a matter of fact never, so he didn't care what his superior was thinking about him. They only have to live through this meeting and Richard will be gone from his life; for some time.

"So Mister President what would you like to know about the mission's progress?" he asked very politely. "Yesterday I finished my weekly report…"

"Cut the chase Adama, you know very well why I am here. I don't care about this mission, as for me you could rot in Cylon's prison or die, whatever. As long as you are away from Laura I'm glad, because this woman is mine and as soon as her little crush over you is over, she will be back on her knees begging me to frak her."

Bill clenched his fist in anger; this prick who call himself the President didn't have right to abuse Laura. He had to defend woman he loved. Bill was about to say something to his guest, when the hatch opened and two men walked into the quarters; his XO Saul Tight and old friend dr Sherman Jack Cottle; Laura's doctor.

"Oh finally." Richard stood up. "There is a small change of your medical personnel, Commander. Dr Cottle will join you on Galactica. He has been reinstated to the position of major of Colonial Fleet and become Galactica's CMO. That would be all Commander. I assume my guest's quarters are ready. Please sent there your reports."

"Yes, sir." He hissed as Adar was leaving through the hatch. When they were sure he's gone, the three of them greeted. "So Jack once again in Colonial Fleet and once again serving on Galactica…"

"Yeah… reinstated my ass…" Cottle lighten up the cigarette which he earlier took out of his pocket. He didn't even ask if he can smoke. Galactica was his home for a long time before he finally retired from the service. He and Bill served for almost ten years together and had known each other more than that. "You do know that he wanted me to disappear because of what I know. Frraking moron!"

The day soon turned into another one; Adar and his staff gone back to Caprica leaving Bill with his paperwork. He was going through report but his mind was somewhere else. He put a pen on the desk and closed the report, reaching for a book. He opened it when the phone buzzed…

The way from his quarter to the CIC took him twice faster as usual, words of Mr. Geata ringing in his head. Cylon's attack. How it is possible, after what forty and so years they just came back? He got to the command center where Geata was already waiting for him with message they received from Head Quarters. Next events was like a blur for him, announcing Cylon's attack, giving orders to Saul and Geata to find some bullets and talk with Boomer and Helo about recon mission back to Caprica. He didn't even realize when the time had passed and he was trapped with Leoben in the Ragnar Station.

Tight was in CIC, standing under DRADIS' consol, he was waiting as Chief Tyrol and his crew solve problem with cutting through the hallway where their Commander was trapped. The upload of the weapons' cargo has been long complete and they were ready to fly out of her as soon as Bill will be rescue. Adama said they were find another way out, but he shouldn't only count on that, he had to have a plan B.

"Sir! We have multiple contacts through the storm towards the anchorage. Looks like more than fifty ships." Geata'

" Cut us loose from the station and preparer the launch the alert fighters. Set condition one throughout the ship. Commander will have to find a way out by himself." He ordered.

"Wait. I'm getting Colonial signals now."

"Confirm that." Tigh yelled walking toward the girl. "Don't just accept friendly lD."

" Sir, incoming ships are friendly." Dee said with the confidence in her voice. Tight mutter something under his nose and grabbed the table under the DRADIS' console.

"Well then, action station stand down. Are we cut loose from the station?"

"Negative, sir."

"Resume rescue mission then."

"Sir, the lead ship is requesting permission to come along side, sir. They say…" Dee hung up on her words; she tried to believe what she heard in the headphones. If it was true, maybe they still had a chance to survive. "They say they have the President of the Colonies aboard."

"Grant their request. Mr. Geata you have a deck. I'm going to throw a welcome party to that prick Adar." He muttered to himself.

He found the President Adar on the hangar deck surrounded by his staff and refuges from the ships. He wanted to came closer to him when he was pulled away by a hand. He turned around with anger but it passed away when he saw young Zack Adama. The two of them shake hands.

"Where is my dad?"

"The Old Man will be here soon, there was an accident…"

"Is he ok?" Tigh nodded. "Any word from Lee?"

"No, Zack. Your father will be so please to see you alive. Take your wife and report to Dee in CIC, she will find you quarters. I have a feeling that it's just the beginning."

"Yes, sir." They walked away with marines as their escort, leaving Colonel to deal with Adar.