AFTERMATH : THE JOURNEY BEGINS

          "What were you THINKING?!" he demanded of them.  "We gave direct orders for all pilots to return to their respective Battlestars.  But YOU six didn't do that, did you?  NO!  YOU lot decided to disobey orders.  What have you to say for yourselves?!"

          "I don't know what the others were thinking, I only know Harry and I could...WOULDN'T leave that Basestar behind us.  We had an idea, and decided the risk was worth it."

          "You  DECIDED, Captain, to disobey a direct order?  To go after a Basestar you knew better than to go after ESPECIALLY ON YOUR OWN!?!!  You DECIDED it was worth the risk?!!"

          Roark met his father's eyes and held them. "Yes, Sir, I did, and you know damn well why we did what we did."

          "If we had left that Baseship alone...if we hadn't gone after it, it would have stayed behind us, following us, launching attacks."

          "And you can't tell us you wouldn't have done the exact same damn thing,"  Rodolphus said with an arched brow.

          "You're right, I would have, but this isn't about me, Lt. Colonel, it's about your actions.  Actions that nearly got the six if you killed."

          "And that is what has you the most upset, isn't it?  Not that we disobeyed orders, nor that we went after the Basestar.  It's that we scared you half to death."

          Roark Sr. went still, looking at his sons, Colten and  Roark, his nephew, Aiden, to Harry, and finally at Roark and Harry's husbands, Rodolphus and Rabastan.  Giving a deep sigh, he sat back in his chair, running a hand through his hair, over his face.

          "I swear," he began, his tone resigned, "you two are going to be the death of me."  He looked at Harry and Roark.  "And you four...you usually have better sense than that."

          They relaxed then, finally sinking down into chairs.  "You're right, Uncle Roark, but this time..." Aiden shook his head.  "This time, I agreed with him... with THEM wholeheartedly.  There was no way in hell we could let that Basestar go."

          "It had to be destroyed, Dad. And you know what's better?"

           "What's that?"

           A smile.  "Their Imperious Leader was aboard that Basestar," Roark told him.  "It was the primary reason I decided to go after it." 

          Roark Sr. sat forward, his green eyes intent.  "You're sure?"

          Roark tapped his temple.  "I'm sure."

          "Well, that is good news indeed.  However, you lot will still need to be disciplined.."

          Smiles all around.  "Of course we will.  And we expect to be."