PEACE BETRAYED--ANNIHILATION

          "Then do so, please.  We need to know how many are in that shelter with him, and what their status is?"

          Roark nodded.  : Chris? : he sent as they continued to move toward the city.

        : I'm here, little brother, : came his immediate response

        : The Docs of our family want to know your status.  The status of those that are with you.  We also need to know how many are with you. :

          : There are twenty-five in here, including Dad, Uncle Thorin, Raph, Schy, Rodolphus and Rabastan, and Admiral Jenkins, : he answered.  : Dacian and Gabe are in Shelter 3 with Admiral Maxwell, Admiral Malfoy, his wife and son, and approximately twenty-five others.  It's about the same for the rest of the shelters.  They've both said they're injured, but they keep telling me it's not bad and that I should stop worrying about them. :  A mental shrug followed those words.  : But you know how they are about telling us the truth about whatever injuries they may, or may not have. :

          : I do, : he said with a soft chuckle as he turned his head.  "He says there are twenty-five in the shelter with him, including Papa, Uncle Thorin, Raph, Schy, Dolph, and Bas.  Dacian and Gabe are in Shelter 3 with Admiral Jenkins, the Malfoy's, and twenty-five others.  Both have told him they're injured, but say it isn't bad. :

          Severus gave a snort at the same time Sebastien did.  : Which means the fools could be bleeding to death for all they'd tell Chris, : he said, his tone full of relief.  "He's not answering me, so he doesn't want me to know how bad it may be.  He knows that once the bond between us opens, I'd know his status in a micron.  Idiot.  When we get him out of there, he will be getting the sharp edge of my tongue."

          Laughter followed his words.  "Rory, ask Chris what his, Rodolphus' and Rabastan's conditions are, and he had better tell me the truth or I'll be kicking his ass."

           Roark gave a nod, his nerves tingling with worry as beside him, Harry tensed.  : Chris, Sebastien, and Severus want to know your, Rodolphus', and Rabastan's conditions.  And be advised, if you lie to me, Sebastien says he'll kick your ass, then there is what Severus will do to you once Sebastien is done with you. :

          Christopher's mental laughter came through the link.  : I have a deep gash on my left leg,  I'm pretty sure my arm and wrist are broken...probably a few ribs too, and I definitely have a concussion.  My ears are STILL ringing from the explosions.  Rodolphus, Rabastan, and I were still outside when those damn bombs the Cylons dropped hit the far left side of the main complex.

          : Rodolphus, as near as I can tell, likely has some broken ribs, I'm pretty sure his right leg is broken, and his arm and he'll definitely have a concussion.  Rabastan has broken BOTH his arms, his right shoulder, and likely a few ribs, and he too will have a concussion.  Both are still unconscious, though Dad woke up a short time ago.  He, Uncle Thorin, and Admiral Jenkins are discussing courses of action.   All three are demanding rather insistently to know what the situation is. :

          : Bad, Chris.  REALLY bad.  Total annihilation.  Besides the Galactica, the Solaria, and the Acropolis are the only surviving Battlestar's.  The Acropolis is very badly damaged.  The few surviving viper pilots that survived are aboard her, but we haven't yet received a full report because her communications array is badly damaged.  They're having a hard time remaining in contact.  Hold on Chris, we've just reached the outskirts of the City. :

          They climbed the last hill, and when they caught sight of the City, they all froze, looking down in horror at the devastation the Galactica and Solaria's view screens could never have given them.  

          : Is it really that bad, Rory? : Christopher asked softly as what he and the others were feeling filtered down the link to him.