[AJMarks]

Starbuck heard the announcement by Rigel that they might be receiving some reinforcements. He was not sure that he heard what she said correctly.

"Apollo, did I hear correctly or did she say reinforcements," Starbuck asked.

"That's what I though she said," Boomer said piping up from his viper.

"What are they doing, making new vipers as we speak," Starbuck said.

"I don't know," Apollo said. "Just concentrate on your job right now."

Starbuck zeroed in on another Cylon raider and blew destroyed it. It would not be much longer before they were really outnumbered.

"Incoming fighter, their vipers," Boomer said.

"More vipers, from where," Starbuck asked his voice having a bit of hesitation in it.

The incoming ships attacked the Cylon raiders with the same zeal as the Galactica pilots. The tide began to turn against the Cylons.



"Report centurion," the basestar commander said.

"The battle does not go well for us,” the centurion replied.

"Explain," the commander said.

"New Colonial warriors have engaged the battle," the centurion said.

"Impossible," the commander said.

"Scanners have also detected an incoming Colonial fleet," the centurion said.

"Engage and destroy then," the commander said.

"By your command," the centurion said then turned and left the room.



"Cylon basestars are heading in out direction commander," the scanner operator said.

"Away from the Galactica then," the commander said.

"Yes sir," was his answer.

"Good, prepare to engage," the commander said. "We'll be better able to survive than those civilian ships. Tell all ships to fire at will."

The moment that the Cylons basestars were in range the ships opened fire on each other.

On board the Galactica the bridge crew was watching what was going on with interest. But they also had several Cylon raiders to worry about as well.

"Incoming raider," Omega said. The Galactica's batteries opened up on the raider but it managed to avoid the fire and crashed on the alpha landing bay causing damage to the bay.

"Fire control to Alpha landing bay," Tigh said as the crew raced to begin damage control.

"We won't be able to maintain our fighters effectively with only one landing bay commander," Omega said to Adama.

"I know," Adama said. He was wondering if the newcomers would house a few of their fighters for a while. He would ask once the fighting was over. It might also be a good way to find out what was going on.



"Commander, the last basestar has been destroyed," the report came.

"Good, any news from the Galactica," the commander said. It still felt strange to him to be saying that name.

"Incoming message now," the man replied. "The Galactica also has damage to its landing bays."

"This is Atlantia, what assistance can we provide you with," the commander said.

"Our landing bays are damaged, could you take some of our fighters," the voice from the Galactica asked.

"Not a problem," the commander said.

"Good," the reply came. "I look forward to meeting with you then at a later date then."

"Agreed," the commander replied.

"Sir, the Galactica is housing twice the normal complement," the scanner operator said.

"That's interesting then, perhaps we'll get our answers soon," the commander said.



Starbuck, Apollo and Boomer were the first ones to touch down on board the Atlantia which had helped them out in the battle. It seemed a bit strange to be landing on board a ship that you knew had been destroyed.

Apollo jumped out and waited for Starbuck to climb out of his viper as well. Once Boomer had landed as well they began to look around. Apollo froze as he looked across the way at another person who was staring right back at them.

"What's wrong," Starbuck asked seeing Apollo's face then turned to see what he was sure was a ghost.

"Zac," Apollo said swallowing hard at what he was seeing.

"Apollo, Starbuck," the man said also in disbelief.

"It can't be, you were killed at the peace conference at Cimtar," Apollo said.

"No, you were," Zac said. "You and Starbuck ran into trouble on the patrol."

"I didn't go on the patrol, you took my place," Starbuck said.

"You didn't let me," Zac said to Starbuck.

"Well this is getting confusing," Boomer said.

"And fast," Zac said. "Perhaps you should meet with the commander and talk some more. He'll be down in just a moment."

The door to the elevator opened and a man dressed in the officer's uniform walked out of the elevator.

Zac watched as the men in front o him went to anger.

"Baltar," Apollo said.



The commander walked down to the hanger area of the battlestar to meet with the pilots who had landed on the hanger. Perhaps from them he could figure out what was going on. Questions from where did the Cylons come from to how did the Galactica survive?

The doors to the elevator opened and he walked out not expecting to see what he saw. Three pilots were standing there along with one Zac, one of his squadron leaders. That's when he heard one of them speak.

"Baltar," the man said almost as if it was a curse word. He then recognized the men. One was Captain Apollo, and the other as Lieutenant Starbuck. That confused him even more.

"Captain, Lieutenant," Baltar said his brow furrowing in confusion as to why they were hostile to him.

"What's the ruse this time Baltar," Apollo said.

"Ruse, what ruse, we're trying to figure out how it is the heroes of Cimtar are alive," Baltar said. He had seen the scanner display when their fighters had been destroyed.

"Heroes of Cimtar, you're the one who betrayed us there Baltar," Starbuck said.

"That allowed the Cylons to destroy the colonies," Apollo said.

By this time others were beginning to stop and listen. Many had surprised looks on their faces.

"We were the ones to surprise the Cylons at Cimtar," Zac said finally speaking up. "Baltar came to father after the Cylons came to him. The military worked out a surprise for the Cylons and we crushed them so badly they never recovered."

"What," Apollo said confused.

"Perhaps we should retreat to a more comfortable place," Baltar said. "Is your father commanding the Galactica?"

"Yes, but you know that," Apollo said still not sure what was going on. It was something that was very strange to him and he was not about to let his guard down just yet.

The group walked into the room and sat down while they tried to figure out what happened. To each side there was confusion in their words which made no sense.

"Why don't you tell us what happened," Apollo said watching Baltar carefully.

"When the Cylons approached me I was skeptical. I talked with your father about it one day. He was the one who convinced me that they would not be suing for peace. They had made me a deal that if I helped them I would control my home world completely," Baltar said. "Complete power like that is not something one easily walks away from."

The three looked at each other as they listened to what Baltar had to say. Starbuck wondered how many would be able to walk away from such an offering of power.

"With you're father's help we planned an ambush for the Cylons at Cimtar. The fleet was there, all five battlestars. But instead of having out defenses down they were up and we were waiting for the attack. You two were on patrol near the moon," Baltar said pointing to Apollo and Starbuck. "You spotted the attack fleet and were on you're way back to warn us. They jammed your transmissions. It was only because we saw your ships fighting the Cylons at such a long distance that we knew where the Cylons were coming from. They destroyed your fighters before the rest of the fleet could get to you."

Baltar wondered what was going though their minds as he was telling his story. There was something that was going on for sure. He would have to wait to see what it was.

"During the fighting we lost the Galactica and Commander Adama. Once the fighters had been destroyed the remaining ships headed into the Colonies to attack baseships that now were without fighter protection. They lost seven baseships that day," Baltar said.

"Then in a bold move the Pegasus came back with Commander Cain. The loss of so many baseships allowed him a free passage back. He took command of the fleet and we ran straight to the Cylon home world destroying the Cylons for good," Baltar said finishing up his tale. "It seems that you remember the events differently though?"

"Just a bit, you never came to Commander Adama," Apollo said. "And the fleet was destroyed. The Atlantia was the first to go. The defenses of the Colonies had been disabled and our worlds were leveled."

"And the fleet that the Galactica leads," Baltar said.

"They are all that's left of our people," Starbuck said.

There was a bit of silence in the room as they heard what Starbuck had just said. It was not what they were expecting to hear.

"I’d like to talk to my father now," Apollo said.

"OF course, we finally have the bugs out of the communications between our ships," Baltar said.

"Bugs," Boomer said.

"Yes we were having trouble with the audio, some sort of phase shift that needed to be accounted for," Baltar said.

"I see," Boomer said thinking about what he had just been told.