"We paid a high price," she said as she worked to stop Tolen's bleeding. "Did we win?"
"Nobody ever wins," said Cain.
"It's taken you a long time to find that out."
"No. You were around me only for the parlor games. This is the real thing."
"You couldn't stand losing parlor games, either," Cassiopeia said. "It just wasn't as painful to the people around you."
"Cassi . . ." His voice was strained. "What would you have had me do?"
She never had a chance to answer him. Apollo and Starbuck rushed into the life station with a gurney accompanied by a med tech. Sheba was lying on the gurney.
"Sheba . . ." said Cassiopeia.
Cain rushed to his daughter's side. "Baby, are you all right?"
She smiled weakly. "Sorry, Father. I missed one."
Cain looked desperately at the tech. "What happened? How is she?"
"If you'll move out of the way, Commander," said Cassiopeia, "we'll see what we can do."
They quickly moved the gurney over to one of the support cylinders and placed Sheba inside.
"What happened?" Cain demanded of Starbuck and Apollo. "How was she hurt?"
"I wish I could tell you that everything's just fine," Apollo said, "but I just don't know. They were all over us. I'm a pilot, not a med tech. She's in their hands now."
"What about the Pegasus?" said Starbuck. "Half the ship seems to be on fire."
"The damage isn't that bad and there'll be no more fighter assaults if you carry out my orders. As soon as it's physically possible," said Cain, "I want all of the wounded and nonessential personnel shuttled off to the fleet. You'll fly a fighter escort."
"What about the rest of the people on the Pegasus?" Apollo said. "What about you? What are you up to, Commander?"
"I don't have time to explain that now. But if you want to see these people survive, you'll get going. I want them off this ship in twenty centons."
He moved toward Cassiopeia.
"Can she be moved?" he asked, indicating Sheba.
"Soon as I've got her out of triage," she replied. "But moved where?"
"Apollo and Starbuck will explain. The lives of all these people are in their hands. I've got work to do."
He pivoted and hurried out of the life station.
"Is he thinking of doing what I think he's thinking of doing?" said Starbuck, looking after him.
"Yeah," Apollo nodded. "And you know what bothers me the most? We're both starting to think like him."
"What is it?" said Cassiopeia. "What's going on?"
"Just get your wounded ready to travel," said Apollo. "And make it fast."
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Adama paced nervously on the bridge of the Galactica. At that very moment, he thought, Cain was flying into Hell. If he could only succeed in decoying the attack force away from them without getting caught himself . . .
"The ground crews report that fuel loading is almost complete," said Colonel Tigh, moving up to his side. "We've already taken on more fuel than we could have hoped for. That Cylon depot's going to be dry after this last run."
"Sir," said Athena, "scanners are picking up a large body of incoming ships, unmistakably Cylon fighters."
Tigh and Adama exchanged quick glances.
"It looks like Cain's plan didn't work," he said. "He wasn't able to lead them off. Or there were just too many of them and . . ."
"Sir, there are many possibilities," said Tigh.
"And probabilities?"
Tigh shook his head. "I don't know. But we can't leave those fuel tankers on the ground. Fully loaded, they're not going to be able to move very fast. They'll be sitting targets."
Adama nodded grimly. "Notify the ground teams to close down and make ready to launch. Get those fuel tankers airborne, then have the shuttles pull the troops in."
He turned to Athena.
"How long do we have until the Cylon fighters intercept us?"
"Twenty centons and closing," she said.
Adama shook his head. "We'll never make it. It finally looks like we've just plain run out of time. And luck. Lord help us. If Cain hasn't gotten himself killed, perhaps he can get back to us in time to—" Adama shook his head. In time to do what? Still, he was their only chance. If he was still alive. "Athena, see if you can get me a long-range scanner reading on the Pegasus." If it's still out there, he thought.
Athena switched to long-range scanners. Adama waited tensely. Finally she looked up with a puzzled expression.
"Telemetry coming through is confusing, sir. According to the readings, the Pegasus is on a direct course toward the Cylon base ships. But . . . that can't be."
Tigh checked her readings. "He must have resumed a course toward them when he was unsuccessful in leading their fighters away."
"If he ever attempted to lead them away," said Adama tersely.
"But that was the plan," said Tigh.
"No, Tigh," Adama replied, "that was our plan. It was never his. The fool. Athena, priority communication on scramble, get me Commander Cain."
"Yes, sir . . . coming through . . ."
Cain's face appeared on the monitor screen. He looked haggard.
"You're looking well, Adama," he said jauntily. "I trust the skies over Gomoray will remain clear for some time yet."
"Cain! What is your present course?"
Cain grinned. "You wouldn't be asking me that if you didn't already know."
Adama clenched his fists. "I order you to change course at once. We've got incoming Cylon fighters on our scanners and you're steering directly into those base ships. You'll kill every man and woman aboard the Pegasus!"
"Commander . . . I have already made arrangements to dispatch all wounded and nonessential personnel to the fleet. They should already be arriving as you get back from Gomoray."
"Cain, you and I had an agreement. You were not to jeopardize lives needlessly. I—"
"Adama, we see things differently," Cain interrupted him. "I think I can promise you that you won't have to shoot your way out of Gomoray's atmosphere. You and the fleet will be safe."
"And what about you and your crew?"
"If my plan works," said Cain, "those ships your scanners are picking up will shortly turn around and come back my way. By the time they get here, there may not be a place for them to land. They'll drift forever in fuelless coffins."
"Cain! By all that's holy, will you listen to me?" said Adama desperately. "You can accomplish the same thing by veering away from those base ships at the last micron. Don't attempt to take them on!"
The commander of the Pegasus shook his head.
"Then their fighters will be able to refuel and go after you and your fleet," he said. "No, Adama. There is no choice. At the very least, I have to get rid of one or two of their base ships to prevent them from overwhelming you."
"You realize that I could relieve you of your command," Adama said, playing his last card.
"Adama, I beg of you," said Cain, "don't make my last battle an act of mutiny. Send me in with your blessing."
Adama sighed. There was nothing he could do, nothing he could say. Cain was determined to live up to his nickname of the Juggernaut. He would not be deterred from his course.
"I cannot give you my blessing, Cain," Adama said. "But I send my prayers to you and to each member of your crew."
"Thank you, Adama." He smiled weakly. "And, perhaps for the final time, Cain out."
The screen went blank.
Baltar waited impatiently for reports from his attack squadrons. By this time they should have come within range of their target. Things could not have worked out better for him. He would catch them with forces on the ground, with their fleet undefended and nothing Adama could do would enable him to escape. A human victory, even a temporary one such as they had achieved the last time, was completely out of the question. Their pathetic ploy had not worked. He had not been fooled by their transparent attempt to decoy his forces away from Gomoray. Their g
ambit had failed and as a result their strength was halved. The humans had doomed themselves.
Baltar suddenly caught himself. A human victory was out of the question, he had thought. The humans had doomed themselves. But he was human, too. Was he already thinking of himself as being Cylon?
Baltar smiled. Well, after all, why not? Had they not destroyed the colonies with his help? Could they have so successfully managed to deceive the Council without his efforts on their behalf? And had he not been rescued from death when they recognized his true worth to them, to be given a force comprised of three base ships? Had not the responsibility of hunting down the Galactica and her fleet been entrusted to him? What else did that make him if not a Cylon? Imperious Leader had even given him Lucifer, the most sophisticated of the I.L. series, as his second-in-command. He had even allowed him to design a throne room aboard his ship just like the one Imperious Leader himself had on his flagship. Was not that ample proof of his standing with the Cylons?
This day, thought Baltar, will mark the end for Adama and for the Galactica. It will mark the end for the human fleet, for the Pegasus, and a new beginning for himself. He would be welcomed on the surface of Gomoray as a savior, no doubt by Imperious Leader himself. He could expect a richly deserved reward. What should he ask for from the most powerful race in all the universe? The governorship of a planet? A kingdom of his own, his own pocket empire? Perhaps they would give him Gomoray.
Yes, he would ask for Gomoray. Why should they refuse him, the man who had saved a world that was a center of Cylon culture, the man who saved the life of the supreme Cylon himself? Gomoray would be perfect. He would be able to rule from his seat in the capital, with its graceful crystalline architecture. He would be able to import whatever he desired to live in luxury for the rest of—
"I bring news," said Lucifer, gliding into the room.
Baltar had never been able to get used to the silence with which the I.L. series Cylon moved. If he hadn't seen his approach, the sound of his surreal voice beside him always made him jump a little. He suspected that Lucifer enjoyed it.
"Our forces should be just about to Gomoray, where they will annihilate Adama," Baltar said, annoyed at having had his reverie disturbed.
"It is the Pegasus I am concerned about," said Lucifer.
Baltar made a gesture of dismissal.
"The Pegasus was nothing but a decoy. A pathetic effort to lead us off across the stars while the fleet escaped."
"But the Pegasus did not head off across the stars," said Lucifer.
"Oh?" Baltar raised his eyebrows. "Ah, yes, of course. When they discovered that their plan failed, the Pegasus turned around in a vain attempt to get back to Gomoray in time to save the Galactica. As if there would be anything that they could do, even if they were to arrive in time. No matter. She will not be able to beat our fighters to Gomoray."
"No, sir," said Lucifer, "because the Pegasus did not head back toward Gomoray either."
"Lucifer, would you come to the point? If the Pegasus did not head back toward Gomoray or go off away from us, then where is she heading?"
"Directly toward us, sir."
Baltar stared at Lucifer in astonishment.
"Directly toward us? But . . . but that's absurd! He is allowing us to destroy the Galactica, to wipe out the fleet . . . Who in his right mind would do that?"
"May I suggest the legendary Commander Cain?" said Lucifer.
"Cain! Yes, Cain, of course. That would be just like him. The man's insane. Once the Juggernaut makes up his mind to do something . . . What does he care of the fleet or the Galactica? He wants . . ."
Baltar's voice dropped to a whisper.
"My God!" He turned pale. "He wants me! And he's just crazy enough to attack three base ships all by himself. But he must realize he has no chance. We outnumber him three to one, and our fighters . . . Our fighters! Lucifer, recall our fighter squadron at once!"
Panic-stricken, Baltar ordered the commanders of his two supporting base ships to take up position in front of him, while his own base ship fell back. Just in case the fighter squadrons didn't make it back in time before Cain intercepted him, he wanted as much firepower as possible between himself and the Juggernaut.
Colonel Tigh was amazed. "Sir, the incoming Cylon fighter squadrons have suddenly turned around and headed back the other way! It doesn't make any sense!"
"Yes, it makes perfect sense," Adama said. "Baltar has recalled them to save his own skin, just as Cain knew he would."
"You don't mean the Pegasus . . . You mean he's actually attacking those three base ships? All on his own?"
Adama gritted his teeth. "That's exactly what he's doing. He's saved our lives. And at the expense of his own. Damn you, Cain."
Apollo and Starbuck were about to climb aboard the Vipers when Cain approached them.
"Apollo . . . Starbuck . . ."
"Sir?"
"I just want you to know that I think you're two of the finest warriors I've ever met," said Cain. "I can't think of anyone else I'd sooner trust with the lives of so many of my people."
"Between your squadrons and ours," said Apollo, "we'll get them to safety."
"Sir," said Starbuck.
"Yes, Starbuck, what is it?"
Starbuck hesitated. "There are those of us who . . . don't have a lot of attachments . . . At least I don't . . . I wouldn't mind seeing this one through with you to the end."
Cain smiled and clapped the pilot on the shoulder.
"Starbuck, I appreciate your offer. But if I'm right, a lot of Baltar's fighters will be turning around and heading right back this way to save Baltar's hide for him. Apollo will need every one of you to protect the shuttles on their way back to the fleet."
"But what about you?" said Starbuck. "Without fighters—"
"The Cylon base ships don't have any fighters right now, either," Cain said.
"But they have weaponry," Apollo said.
Cain nodded. "So does the Pegasus. We may be a bit shot up, but we can still fight. Besides, there's only one base ship I'm really interested in. Baltar's."
Apollo offered him his hand. "Good luck."
"You, too."
"That goes double for me, sir," Starbuck said.
Cain shook both their hands and moved away, walking quickly without looking back.
"Why do I have the feeling I won't be seeing him again?" said Starbuck.
"I don't know, Starbuck," said Apollo. "I don't have that feeling. And I can't tell you why, because when you consider the odds, there's no way he can survive. But then, that's the story of his whole career, isn't it?"
They climbed aboard their ships.
Cain waited at the elevator, personally seeing off each of his wounded crew. Many of them were incapable of seeing him, but he was there to see them off, just the same. The nonessential personnel had already boarded the shuttles. Cassiopeia came out of the elevator with a med tech and a gurney bearing Sheba.
"Father," she said, reaching out a hand to him, "I don't want to go."
Cain gently stroked her hair, then bent down and kissed her.
"Better hurry with this one, Cassi," he said. "The other shuttles are all loaded and ready to launch."
"I guess you two would like a private moment to say goodbye," said Sheba.
Cassiopeia shook her head. "No, there's nothing I could or ever have said to your father that I wouldn't be proud to say in front of you, Sheba."
She moved up close to Cain and placed her fingertips lightly on his cheek.
"You're a very special man," she said. She smiled. "A hard man, but a special man. Whatever happens, I want you to know that I'm glad to have been a small part of your life. And I'll never forget you, you old wardaggit."
She kissed him. The final countdown to launch began. Cain glanced down at Sheba and smiled.
"Goodbye, baby."
"I'll see you soon," she said, but her voice caught.
"You bet."
Cain hurried to the bridge a
nd stopped the moment he entered, stunned. Tolen was propped up at his station behind the console. His chest was in a plastic support harness and his hands were bandaged.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Cain demanded. "All wounded personnel are supposed to be—"
"Forget it, Commander," Tolen said. "I'm sticking."
"You realize this is insubordination," Cain said.
"Yeah. So court-martial me." Tolen laughed, grimacing in pain.
Cain laughed with him. "Damn you, Tolen, if we get through this, I'll kick your butt up between your shoulders."
"If we get through this?" Tolen said. "You lunatic, what makes you think we've even got a chance?"
Both men were silent for a long moment.
"It's been a long haul, hasn't it?" said Cain.
Tolen nodded. "Yeah. And it's been a good one. Damn. Wish we had time for a drink."
"Tell me about it. When this is over, I'm buying."
Tolen shook his head and grinned ruefully. "Sure." He thumbed on his mike. "Launch shuttles. And fighter protection." He thumbed off the mike and shrugged. "What the hell, why take them with us?"
"Range to base ships?" said Cain.
"Thirty centons. And closing," said Tolen. He checked his console. "All ships launched and under way."
"Right," said Cain, "let's do it. We've got a very important appointment with a man named Baltar."
Baltar fidgeted on his throne, chewing on his lower lip.
"How long before our fighters can return to defend us?" he asked Lucifer nervously.
"I'm afraid the Pegasus will reach us first," Lucifer replied.
Baltar wrung his hands. "Drop back still further and order the support ships to intercept the Pegasus."
"I'm not sure the other base ship commanders will appreciate that," said Lucifer.
"Damn you, Lucifer, it isn't a request! It's an order!"
"As you command, sir."
Tolen shifted slightly in his chair, wincing with pain. He moistened his lips.
"Two base ships coming up on range," he said. "The third has fallen back behind them."
Battlestar Galactica 6 - The Living Legend Page 14