Stargate Atlantis: S7—A Terrible Beauty
Pride.
It filled Colonel John Sheppard as he strode along the deck of the spaceship. His motions were more of a swagger, and his chest was puffed out with both satisfaction and smugness. He had been aboard spaceships many times, and even an Ancient ship or two, but this was different.
This was his ship.
He was in command of this ship instead of being just a passenger on the Daedalus or the Orion, just a lackey to the man in charge. This was his command and this baby was all his. Well, it belonged to Atlantis, of course but it was still his, under his authority and repaired and enhanced under his exacting specifications.
And Doctor Rodney McKay's, of course.
Still, he was in charge, and John could not help the feeling of hubris inflating his ego and his every step as he took in the full extent of this vessel. It was an Ancient warship, rescued from the void between the galaxies and hauled back to be placed into service once more. It was called the Tria but John was considering changing the name.
"Excelsior!"
John scowled and turned to see Rodney strolling towards him. If the physicist could ever be described as being radiant this would be the moment. Rodney was positively beaming as he grinned and swung his data pad under one arm like a bouquet of flowers. Confidence imbued his every step. "What?"
"Excelsior! The new name of the ship! I've decided. She's incredible, John!"
"No."
"She's incredible," Rodney continued, ignoring the ire of his friend. "We've got her powered with ZPMs and a state of the art hyperdrive, plus some Asgard technology that was a little touch and go at first but I got it working, of course! She's got a full arsenal of Drones and a Chair and missiles plus she can disengage sections if they get damaged but they better not get damaged considering all of the work I put into her!"
"Rodney!" John scolded, finally able to get a word in as the voluble scientist took a breath. John smiled. He could not be angry, not really. The ship was a marvel and both men knew it. As they both knew that this ship was their only hope against the Fugly fleet. "I told you, we can discuss names later, all right? Beaming technology?"
"Um…"
"Um?" John frowned again. He placed his hands on his hips.
Rodney shrugged. His data pad came to a halt at his side. "We're having some problems in that area. Look, it's a wonder she can fly at all! Let alone be able to take on the Fuglies and travel through hyperspace! I've taken the equivalent of a Volkswagen that was in a wreck and turned her into a Jaguar! No, into a Corvette! No...into a…anyway, you get the picture!"
"A classic Mustang and yes I get the picture. Shielding?"
"At one hundred percent now…and should hold."
"Should?" The ire was back in a flash.
Rodney merely shrugged. "Should. Look, she's untested, right? So it's about time we took her out on test drive, er, fly. I can't wait to—"
"You will have to wait." John began to walk along the deck again, heading for the command center. "We've discussed this, Rodney."
"No, Woolsey and you discussed this, not me!" Rodney followed after his friend. "John! I can at least be aboard for the test flight!"
"You've been aboard her for months fixing her up!"
"That's not the same thing as taking her out for a test fly! I should be here in case something goes wrong! Not that anything will go wrong but if for some unforeseeable reason it does you will need me here to fix it!"
"No. I'm taking her out for the meeting with Todd, and then I am swinging by Echo Base for all updated intel before venturing to the Fugly twenty and assessing the situation myself. From there we will be going directly into battle."
"You…oh. I…oh."
John paused, raising a brow as he turned to meet the gaze of his friend. "Excuse me?"
Rodney merely smiled. "I see."
John grunted a response as they reached the bridge. Both men paused, surveying the pristine consoles. The quiet hum of the engines purred under their feet. The air was cool, slightly stale but circulating. Colored lights blinked. The viewport beckoned. Its curved expanse gave a striking view of the vastness of space in which they were orbiting. Far, far below a blue green planet glinted. On that planet Atlantis floated.
She was a tiny dot amid the sapphire ocean. It was a gray city of elegant spires and power that spread out like the petals of a flower. It was a marvel and a nightmare and a spaceship all in one. It held the lives of the entire expedition team and their allies and friends.
It was home.
John nodded to the airpersons manning their stations. He slid into the command chair and rested his hands on the controls on each armrest. The ship seemed to respond to him, rumbling softly like a big cat. John smiled and let his fingers play along the armrests before he noticed Rodney watching him. "What?"
Rodney shook his head, amused. "Nothing. So…this meeting with Todd. Expecting trouble?"
"Always, but not this time. The weapons are online?"
"Of course. John," Rodney paused, growing serious, "you know you're taking a risk, letting the Wraith see this ship."
"I know. But I believe it's the only way to convince them to commit to this battle. We can match their firepower now. It should give them confidence…and some trepidation. We can keep them on their toes so they will stay in line, for now."
"And afterwards? What if the IOA wants to get hold of it to—"
"They won't. They won't be getting their grubby hands on her." The ship seemed to purr in response and John felt a smug satisfaction. "This baby is mine er, ours and she stays right here, protecting Atlantis."
"Colonel Sheppard? Receiving transmission."
"Acknowledged." John tapped a button. "This is Sheppard."
"Sheppard, this is Ellis. We're ready to beam McKay aboard. Good luck."
"What? What does he mean beam McKay aboard? I am not going on that vessel! I am not going to be beamed onto the Aegis! I'd rather take a Jumper than—"
"We can't spare one, just in case. Ellis, go ahead. Thanks, Rodney."
As Rodney began an outraged rant light enfolded him and he was gone, still talking. No doubt he would materialize onto the Aegis still talking. The thought made John smile. "Atlantis, this is Sheppard. McKay's on the Aegis. We're ready to head out."
"Acknowledged," came the voice of Richard Woolsey over the com. "Good luck, colonel. We'll be waiting to hear how the meeting transpired."
"Understood. Sheppard out." John settled back, staring at the immensity of space ahead of him. The burden of responsibility and command weighed upon him and he was silent for a moment, taking it all in and accepting it. "Take us out, major. Let's give her a spin round the planet before we jump to hyperspace."
"Acknowledged, sir."
John relaxed, settling back and letting the power of the machine at his command enfold him. Much like the little Puddle Jumpers the ship would respond to his ATA gene, but these systems were much more complex and required a full crew to be fully operational. Although he was connected to the ship it was not as intimate a relationship as he had with the city.
John's fingers played across the controls for a moment, assessing as the ship smoothly flew through space, circling the planet. The long-range scanners were filling a screen with information. Everything was working.
It felt good to be in the command chair.
"All right. Set course for M6H-987."
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"…not to mention the indignity of being beamed like some piece of luggage and then transported back to the city right after I upgraded their long-range scanners! And then Ellis says not even a thank you! I can't stand the arrogance of that man! And I should be aboard the Tria I don't care what Sheppard says! Why do these military types think they know everything? Can you believe it? Can you?"
"Huh? Sorry, I stopped listening five minutes ago."
Rodney huffed in exasperation, causing Radek Zelena to smile. The two scientists were in the cafeteria, comparing notes over their lunch. Power output was always a concern and the two men were trying to find other ways to utilize the limited number of ZPMs running the city.
First and foremost the shield and cloak had to be powered. After that came the Stargate and then everything else. The massive drain of power would someday seriously limit the city's capabilities.
"You can go on the next voyage…providing the Tria survives this voyage."
"She'll survive! She better! If Sheppard so much as gets a dent in her I will strangle him!" Rodney sighed, setting down his fork. "I should be on that ship."
"Atlantis needs you right here, Rodney. Just in case."
Rodney nodded. "I know. I don't like it…but I know."
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"I know." Carson Beckett frowned, shining the light into Amelia Banks-Dex's eyes again. She squinted in protest against the invasion of brightness. The doctor lowered the light. "There's nothing wrong with your optic nerve, and all scans came back clear."
Amelia shrugged. She was sitting on a bed in the infirmary. "I guess a headache is just a headache."
"Yes, but you've been having them for three days now. That's a concern, love. I will give you more pills but we need to find the source of these headaches and not just temporarily mask the symptoms."
"I need to get to work, doctor." She swung her legs over the side of the bed. "If the scans are clear what can it be? Maybe it's just stress."
"Maybe." Carson did not sound convinced, however. He handed the major a vial of pills. "Let me run a few more tests on the blood I took. How are you feeling otherwise?"
"Otherwise, fine." She considered a moment, auburn brows furrowing. "Except…"
"Except? You can tell me anything, love, in complete confidence," Carson assured. He waited. His blue eyes were full of concern and compassion.
Amelia hesitated. She ran a hand over her tightly bound auburn hair. She was loath to talk about it. She didn't want to sound as crazy as Moira had been. "Sometimes…I feel like I'm not…well, like someone else is looking through my-"
"Amelia? Are you all right?" Ronon Dex asked, hastening towards them. The Satedan towered over his wife but she was not at all intimidated.
Amelia smiled, moving to her feet. "Of course. Just another pesky headache but Beckett has taken care of me. Let's grab some late lunch."
"Wait, wait! What did you mean by—" Carson asked, seizing upon her words.
"Nothing, doc. I'm just tired and these damn headaches make me feel woozy sometimes, you know? I'll be fine. Let's go, Ronon." She took her husband's arm and led him out of the infirmary.
Carson stared after them as suspicions formed.