first, i took it apart and documented the process here on iFixit: https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/IBM+Thinkpad+700C+Battery+Pack+Teardown/176472
you can read through that if you want and come back. but basically that tells you how to remove the lid without making a huge mess.
i pulled the 2/3A cells out. they were stuck in with some adhesive, but eventually the assembly came out. i've noticed something interesting about how the metal strips tie the cells together...