Part 6 Battlestar Galactica: Back To The Colonies,: War On The Mountain

Chapter 33

XXXIII

Admiral Kara Thrace-Bond was back in Command of the Battlestar Laura Roslin, and it felt good. She felt terrible for Caprica Baltar, who had done a splendid job in her stead, not complaining about being returned to the King. Kara would make it up to her friend and wanted Lee to put her in for more than one commendation for her selfless dedication under such trying circumstances.

She and Caprica had gone over a few housecleaning items before the latter returned to her DSE, then Starbuck had been back in CIC.

When she arrived, Chase Carrico made it official. "Ten-HUT! Admiral of The Fleet on deck!" CIC came to attention, everyone saluting their Admiral with a smile. Kara returned the salute. "As you were."

"Welcome home, Admiral", Chase said with a beaming smile of his own. The place erupted in applause and a few shouts and whistles. Kara actually blushed a little.

"OK, people, that will be quite enough of that", she said with mock severity, making everyone laugh. She became quieter. "Thank you very much, everyone, it's good to be home. I do hope", she added, "you were good boys and girls for Admiral Baltar?"

Everyone chuckled again. Chase went up to her. "Caprica was fantastic, Kara", he advised her, as CIC went back to work. "The crew loved her. But they missed you."

"I couldn't tell", Kara said with a smirk, making Chase guffaw. "I want to make sure Caprica is recognized for all the shit she's had to put up with since the war started."

"I do, too", Chase agreed. "For now it's back to business."

Nick had sent a message to her that he would be heading over to her ship when his rotation was done. Yet no more than forty-five minutes after she was back in CIC, signals had a message for her.

"Admiral", the Lieutenant currently manning Signals announced, "Admiral Adama has a message for you."

"I'll take it here, Lieutenant", she said calmly. She pulled up the message. She scanned it with a mixture of excitement and some personal concern.

Kara

Interrogation on the surface has apparently revealed the location of the remaining enemy artillery. I'm sending you the photos along with the coordinates. Commander Bond is leading a recon-and-attack party as I send this. He advises he will head to the Roslin after completing the mission and debrief.

Lee

Everyone in the entire fleet knew taking those guns out would probably win the war quickly. Without them, the enemy had absolutely nothing to slow them down but troops who didn't have the weaponry UED had.

Yet Cory Mathers, her protege, had died taking out some of the guns. Nick had already been taken down once by SAM fire, losing two crewmates. She didn't want that to happen again. Yet...she understood the importance of this mission. She would just have to say a silent prayer for her brother.

"Chase", she said, turning to the XO, "I need to head down to the ship hospital. I need to inform my mother that Nick won't be here for a while."

"Something wrong, Boss?"

"No", she said, turning the computer screen. "Could be the biggest break we've received in the war. I'll be back."

Commander Carrico looked at the message. "Goddamned right it could", he said sotto voce.

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Nick had summoned his Raptor squad to the Pilot Ready Room. They thought it was for debriefing. When he first told them they were going back out, there were lots of groans, which made Nick smile. He understood it and didn't begrudge it.