PEACE BETRAYED--ANNIHILATION

          Adama started in surprise, now wondering to himself why he had not thought of that, as he seriously began to think of disobeying his orders to not act.

          "My little demon imp," he said proudly.  "This might, however," he began looking back to a stunned Colonel Tigh, "might be a perfect time to run a battle stations drill.  Sound the alert, Colonel."

          "Yes, Sir," he said, wondering why he himself had not thought of that.  "Nice job, Captain."

          He gave a brief shrug.  "It's my job..." a quick glance back at his suddenly grinning brother, "OUR job to be cunning.  To try to think of ways to get around problems, and out of tight spots.  Now..." a finger began to tap his lips, his eyes meeting Harry's.  "Could it work?"

          A considering look.  "We will never know unless we try."

          "Harry?  Roark?  What exactly are the two of you up to now?" Adama asked, knowing that look in their eyes.

          They both turned to look at him, a new, even MORE calculating look in his gaze.  "You'll see in a moment, Grandfather.  If that is, you will allow us to use the comm station.  I have an idea."

          "And if we can manage to convince enough of  the other Battlestar Commanders..." Harry spoke up. "We may JUST be able to circumvent some of what Dylan, Kili, and Rory have been seeing."

          "We may just have a chance to survive this," Roark said as the red battle station light came on and the alarm sounded.

          "Do whatever you feel you need to, Captain Roark, Captain Hadrian," came the immediate order.  "You both need to see if you can't get those messages out you were wanting to send despite the jamming."

          "Yes, Sir," they said together, Roark offering the first real smile since Baltar had taken his hand.  They turned together and moved to the comm's station to take the two seats quickly vacated for them.

          "Good luck, boys," Bill Weasley said as they sat, taking a position near the rail to watch them work.

          "We're going to need it, Bill," Roark said as he pulled on a headset and set to work, Harry doing the same beside him.  Reaching over to cover his hand, the rubies, and diamonds of his rings sparkling, he gave it a squeeze, before he too turned his attention to his work.

          "Commander," Omega moved quickly to his side, speaking softly with a glance at the two now completely occupied Peverell Potter brothers, seeing Bill Weasley's stunned look at how easily, and quickly they worked together, "our long-range scanners have picked up a large number of ships headed this way at a high rate of speed."

          A tensing of Roark's shoulders showed that he had heard him, but he continued talking to the Battlestar Commander he was currently talking to.  Athena turned in her chair at Viper Control, a single sheet of paper in her hand as she reported, "A single patrol craft is approaching, Commander."

          Adama looked at them, giving them both nods.  "Lt., get that pilot up here as soon as he lands," he ordered as he moved to place a hand on Roark's shoulder, who glanced up at him without breaking off his conversation with the man on the screen.  "Get me the President."

          He gave a nod, reaching out to flip a switch to patch him over to the Atlantia as he finished.  "That's great, Commander Stuart, thank you for listening to me."

          "It's a very good idea, Captain," glancing away briefly to issue the order for battle stations drill, "and if you're right about this, and if this idea of yours works, we may just be able to survive this.  Jacob, I've said it before and I'll say it again, you have two amazingly smart young men there.  Good luck."

          The screen went dark.  "The President on-screen one, Commander."

          "Commander?" Adar asked as he moved into view.

          "Mr. President, we have a wall of identified craft closing on the fleet."

          Baltar moved into view then, an oily, condescending smile on his lips.  "Ah yes, the Imperious Leader did say he may be sending a welcoming committee," he said.

          Roark sat forward, but a tight squeeze to his shoulder prevented him from saying what he had been preparing to as Adama spoke, "Sir, might I suggest we launch a welcoming committee of our own?"

          Adar opened his mouth as Baltar leaned close, "Mr President," he began, "there remain many hostile feelings amongst our warriors.  The likelihood of an unfortunate accident with all those pilots in the sky at once..."

          "Hum...yes, perhaps you are right, Balter.  Commander?" 

          "He can't actually be suggesting that our warriors--"

          "Sir," Adama began as he threw a silencing look at Roark, "did Councilor Baltar just suggest our forces sit here totally defenseless against the incoming body of ships?"

          "My friend, we are on a Peace mission.  The first Peace man has known in well over a thousand yahren."

          "There isn't going to be any--" Roark was unable to begin to snap, but was quickly interrupted by an urgent voice.

          "Blue flight two in trouble.  Requesting an emergency approach," Zac's not quite calm voice came over the speakers, making Roark turn in his chair, reaching out to flip a couple of switches, which brought up two other screens.

          "Oh...my...GODS!" he gasped when the screen lit to show them what was happening with his uncle.  He was still out in front, but the wall of craft behind him was closing very quickly on his position.