PEACE BETRAYED--ANNIHILATION

          Several snorts sounded at once.  "Of COURSE we don't trust it," Alexei said as he got to his feet.  "That's why Dad pulled so many teams of their current assignments, and sent Sirius and Remus...well, where he sent them."

          "None of us in Counter-Intelligence believe this peace offer to be true--"

          "That's because you lot are just naturally suspicious of everything."

          "And a lot of the time with good reason,"  Aiden said.  "Look, for as long as I can remember, the Cylons have wanted only one thing.  To eradicate mankind.  Now, all of a sudden, they want peace.  They send an envoy to Councilor Baltar...an envoy who has yet to make an appearance; to be a go-between."

          "It's all out of context, Grandfather," came Roark's sudden voice.  "Why now?  Why this sudden change?  I've been looking into Baltar's movements since they approached him."

          That got arched brows from Adama and Tigh, Alexei turning to look at him.  "Have you found anything?"

          "A pattern, but it hasn't panned out yet.  For the most part, his movements, while some are more erratic than others, check out.  At least, the ones he made openly do.  We haven't been able to trace the others."

          "So he HAS made secret trips.?"

          "Several Aiden, and that's the pattern I spoke of. He'll make an official visit to speak to this mysterious Cylon envoy, then, almost immediately after he makes a trip he DOESN'T register, sometimes two.  I can't, however, tell you where he goes, what he may have been doing, or whom he saw.   Rodolphus, Rabastan, and Chris are working with Raph and Schy to try and track his movement from there, and I receive regular reports from Sirius and Remus. I'd guess they were on Cancer for a while, but I have no clue where they are right now."

          "Which means you may be looking for ghosts that aren't there, and that this Conference is true."

         Roark's head snapped around to look at him, silver eyes narrowed.  "No, Colonel.  What it MEANS is that Baltar has covered his tracks very well."

          "You are accusing a Councilor of the Twelve of High Treason!"

          "We aren't accusing him of anything, Colonel.  Not YET.  He meets with the Cylon envoy, then makes several secretive trips after, trips that I haven't been able to trace past certain intersecting points.  There is something there, we just haven't found the evidence we need to prove he is actually in collusion with the Cylons."

          "In COLLSI--Are you OUT of your MIND?!  Why would Baltar want to destroy his own Colony?"

          "He wouldn't," Roark said.  "Which would be why Papa and Uncle Thorin believe, and I agree with them, that Baltar would have battered to have Cancer spared.  What he has to barter WITH is still up in the air."

          Adama could only shake his head.  "I'm just not sure I can believe this," he finally said.  "That the Cylons would plan, then lead us into a trap to destroy the Colonies, and us, yes.  But that BALTAR is in collusion with them?  That is a stretch even for me to believe."

          Roark turned his head, murmuring to his brothers and cousin, which prompted them to release him, allowing him to get to his feet.  "It isn't as much of a stretch as you seem to think, Commander.  I have patrol in a few centons, so if you will excuse me..." he moved quickly to the door and exited.

          They watched him go, each with varying degrees of worry.  Harry got to his feet then.  "Commander, Colonel," he said, his voice tight with unhappiness.  The Durin' that remained behind, knowing just how thinly stretched the two REALLY were, not just mentally, but emotionally, looked at each other.

          "What is it?"  Adama asked, seeing the looks between them.

          "Something is going to have to be done," Colten stood.  "And SOON.  He's stretched too thin."

          "An Alpha blocker maybe?"

          Aiden shook his head.  "NO.  An Alpha blocker would shut him down completely, he'd be little more than a zombie.  Beta blocker would be better."

          "Can you all honestly say that you believe Councilor Baltar is in collusion with the Cylons to destroy this fleet and the Colonies?" 

           "Do we believe it, Adama?  Yes," Alexei said.  "Without question.  Can we PROVE it?  No.  We haven't been able to find definitive proof.  It's there, we just have to find where he buried it,"

          "All we can do is continue to look, and hope against all hope that we find what we're looking for before what Roark, Kili, and I are seeing every night comes true."