AFTERMATH : THE JOURNEY BEGINS

          "What the HELL?!" Rabastan demanded the instant they reached them, a laser bolt striking the wall between his and Harry's heads.  "What's with the gold one?" he asked as they turned to fire at them.

          "Command Centurion, I'd guess.  Let's get back up top.  We need to get out of here."

          "Right," he said as they provided cover, then once the woman with them was in.  "Major Rabastan Lestrange," he entered the elevator introducing himself.  "You would be?"

          "Cassiopeia.  It seems the Ovions are using us for a food source for their young."

          "They were WHAT?" Harry gasped.

          "From the room we ran into, I'd say it's been going on for some time.  Boxey, are you ok?"

          "I'm ok," he answered, "but what are the Cylons doing here?"

          "I think they've been here all along, and are now springing the trap they set for us."  The elevator doors opened just then and they ran out.  Roark lifted his arm, firing a single shot to get everyone's attention. "By order of Colonial Counter-Intelligence, we need everyone to start moving in a quick, but orderly manner toward the exits."

          As people began to get to their feet, Uri, who had been in the middle of his spiel about living in peace and destroying their arms, turned to shout.  "Stay where you are!  I'm in charge!"

          That was when the Cylons began to appear, opening fire into the room.  Screams sounded as people panicked, some falling beneath the laser fire, to begin running for the exits and Uri ducked, shouting, "Do as the man says!  He's in charge!"

          "Coward!"  Schyler sneered as he joined them, ducking a blast and turning to return fire.  "Trap sprung?"

          "Yes, and you are to get out of here.  Anything happens to you, OR the baby, Raphael will have all our heads!"

          "I'm going, just wanted to tell you, that there are land rams to get everyone to the landing sight.  Your vipers are also there."

           "Cassiopeia, Boxey, go with Schyler--" he broke off, all of them ducking back as the Cylons fired on them.  "Shit!  We need to get out of here!"

          "Schy, can you make sure Boxey gets back to his mother?" Roark asked as they ran, firing at the Cylons, clearing them a path to the exits.

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          "Surviving Cylon fighters are retreating, Commander, Admiral.  Pilots are asking for permission to pursue and destroy."

          Thorin looked over at Roark, but he was already shaking his head.  "No, Omega.  Tell them to come home.  It's best if we got out of here."

          "Yes Sir," he said, flipping a switch, ordering the pilots to return to their Battlestars.

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          The order to return to the Galactica came, but Roark and Harry were already turning the other way, Rodolphus and Rabastan immediately turning to follow.

          "Are we to assume you two have a plan?" Rabastan asked over their inner coms.

          "Of course, we have--"

           "Alright, just what are the four of you up to now?" came the interruption.

          "We're going after that Baseship."

          "After the--Damnit Roark, even you can't seriously think to take on a Baseship by yourself?"

           "Of course not, Colten.  We're just going to make them THINK we are."

           "Explain," Aiden demanded, "just how do you intend to make a Baseship think we're more than six fighters?"

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          "Commander, Admiral, we have six unaccounted-for pilots."

           "I'm afraid to ask...but I will.  Which ones?"

          "Captain's Roark, Hadrian, and Colten.  Major Rabastan, Lt. Colonel Rodolphus, and Colonel Aiden."

           "Commander, I'm receiving attack signals from six squadron Leader's, three of them from squadrons that don't even exist."

          "They're out of their minds," Thorin breathed, his eyes widening.  "They can't actually be thinking of taking out a Baseship by themselves?"

          "They aren't.  They're going to make them THINK they are, hence the six battle squadrons."

          A look of disbelief.  "Gods help them."

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          "Alright, guys, let's go.  Down on the deck so we're beneath their scanners."

          "Switching to Cylon frequency..." Harry reached out to change his radio frequency, "NOW!  Silver, Blue, Red, Yellow, and Green Leaders, this is Orange Leader.  Do you read?"

          "This is Silver Leader, reading you Orange," Rodolphus spoke immediately.

          "Blue Leader, reading you," Rabastan said.

          "This is Yellow Leader," Roark said finally, "go ahead, Orange"

          "Our orders are simple.  Search out and destroy that Baseship." 

          "Understood."