Disclaimer: don't own Terra Nova or enough of anything really.

Title: Trust is Thicker Than Blood

Chapter One: Phoenix Arose

They were coming on a slow approach, like they were giving the watchtowers time to spot them and relies that the convoy creeping out of the jungle wasn't attacking. Taylor was watching the whole thing from command puzzled as to what the hell was going on, and he said as much when Shannon joined him after the alert had sounded. He handed over his binoculars to the sheriff. "What do you see?"

Jim zoomed in on the convoy and noticed the same thing that the Commander had. "They're new. All brand spanking new."

"And that can only mean one thing. They just came thru the portal." Taylor started moving down off his vantage point, talking the whole time he walked down the stairs. "I have a feeling that today isn't going to end well. Reynolds, you and your men on me."

The commander walked into the main plaza taking up what could be described as he 'are you sure you what to mess with me' stance. The convoy was made up of about fifteen vehicles ranging from light weight and full armored and were keeping pretty tight, making themselves an easy target. That and their speed had Taylor's interest. Something was up and with all the luck that Terra Nova was having lately he didn't want to jump the gun just yet.

"No one moves a finger until I give the signal, are we clear?" Taylor yelled loud enough for everyone around the gate to hear. Shannon reached his customary shot at the Commanders right side hand on his pistol. The lead vehicle was pulling to a stop outside the gate. The uniform of the man getting out of the rover was Phoenix Group, not a good sign. But rest weren't leaping out guns at the ready. Taylor slowly mirrored the guy on his way to the gate, with Reynolds and his unit coming up flanking out at the ready.

The man from the Phoenix Group walked right up the gate and leaned against looking Taylor in the eye between the timbers of the main gate. The commander sized the man up and down, but didn't let himself within arm's reach.

"I came to talk."

That made the commander chuckle a little at the irony, what the hell would they have to talk about. "Then I suggest you run back and hide under the rock you out from under, cause I got nothing to say to you."

"She said you would say that. We're not who you think we are. The phoenix group was just a means to an end."

"Who said?" Taylor could feel Jim hover closer as the words slipped out of the commander's lips. The sheriff was whispering something about a setup. With the sonics trained on the convoy and every gun he had at the ready Taylor felt he had a little wiggle room.

"The bright and shiny star that put this whole thing together." Phoenix man drew back slightly.

"Then why am I talking with someone not of the female persuasion."

"We had a run in with the local wildlife, big nasty things with blades on their tails. They got her as she was trying to get the rest of us out of there." The phoenix man reached slowly into his jacket, causing everyone on the Terra Nova side of the gate to tighten their grip on their weapons. He pulled out his jacket a fold letter made from what looked like real paper and held it out for Taylor to take. "she had a backup [plan if anything should happen to her."

Taylor took the paper from the man. He slowly unfolded it wonder what could possibly be inside. He recognized the handwriting right away and turned his back to gate as he read. Shannon kept his eyes on the other side of the gate, but still hovered at Taylor's side. All his time with the man gave Jim some insights into him, like when he didn't want anyone to know that he was upset. He almost didn't hear the commander whisper 'semper fi' under his breathe. He carefully folded the letter back and tucked it into his pocket.

'"Open the gate." There wasn't exactly a rush to fulfill his order.

"Sir, don't you think that…" Shannon started to question Taylor's state of mind.

"I said let them in." Even though the commander kept his voice low, there was no doubt that this was not one of those matters where Shannon's input was invited. He motioned Reynolds over however and pulled the young man in close enough that no one could overhear what was said next. "Tell your men if they anything suspense shoot first and ask questions later but do it quietly. Understood?"

"Yes sir." With that Reynolds began to slowly mingle through the troops.

"Taylor, what the hell is going on?" Shannon whispered, trying to see what was going. "the last these guys showed up on our doorstep they shelled the place and whole lot worse. Now, you just let them back in with open arms."

"They were sent by someone I trust from 2149."

"Trust like you trusted Lucas. Commander you could be opening us up for attack. You said it yourself you have no idea who you could trust in the future."

Taylor paused before he spoke again, weighting each word carefully as the first vehicle crept inside and followed the soldier waving where to go. When it came to a complete stop, the troops got out carefully like they were making an effort not to spook anyone and handed over their weapons to the nearest member of the security force. It fit with the letter, he had just received. "Trust like I trusted wash. I've known her for years and she proved herself several times over. She said she hand-picked every member for this unit out herself."

"Who?"

"Her name was Evelyn Price. A junior officer back before I left. Washington sponsored her thru the academy. Those two were thick as thieves."

"So you two go way back?"

"Yeah, you can say that." Taylor when back to what pensive thoughts were occupying him. Shannon chalked it up to losing yet another person he was close to in such a short time. And that he had lost yet another connection to Washington only added more weight to the blow. Still there wasn't much time for analyzing the commander as the leader of the phoenix group came up to Shannon and Taylor with his hand outstretched.

"Commander, I'm Captain Johnson. It's a pleasure to meet you. The LT spoke of you often. I'm eager to serve under you sir."

Taylor took the man's hand but his manner was anything but welcoming. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. You have supplies we need, but your employers didn't a lot of damage last time they were here."

"I understand completely sir. If there's anything we can do to make this transition any easier just let us know."

"I'll keep that in mind." Taylor said nodding slowly. "But for now we just take this nice and easy."

By now three more rovers had entered the compound, and a man in his late twenties caught Taylor's attention as he hopped out of the rover and shed the upper part of the Phoenix uniform leaving himself only in a t-shirt as he reached back into the rover to a grab a plex. He didn't carry himself like ex-military, more relaxed but he still noticed anything around him by the way he neatly dodged a couple Phoenix troops while still keeping his eyes on whatever he was reviewing. When he finally looked up, it was only to scan the crowd until he found the commander. Johnson also noticed him and waved him over. "Commander, this is Rick Striker. He's our internal security man, and his been in charge of all our personal and inventory files. I'll leave him to coronate with you while I see that my people get settled in somewhere."

"Commander." Rick just nodded as he spoke. There was a slight draw in his voice, most likely from a southern U.S. heritage. But Johnson didn't wait for anything else before dismissing. There something that he couldn't quite put his finger on about the guy, but Johnson had triggered Shannon's extra cop sense. Rick spoke again before Jim could get much further than that. "If you have someplace where we could go over these reports, I'm sure you would like to get this mess off your doorstep."

Taylor looked the younger man over again, he was unarmed unless you counted the plex. "Shannon keep an eye on things down for me. Radio if anything comes up"

"Will do sir." With that assurance and a 'well come on son' Taylor led striker up to the command tower. He didn't fail to notice that Striker paused halfway up the stairs and nodded to someone in the growing crowd below. Or that he moved to close the windows as soon as they were alone in his office.

"You have a problem on your hands, Commander." He placed the plex he had been carrying down on Taylor's desk.

"Do I now?" Taylor unsnapped the strap on his pistol never breaking eye contact with Striker.

"You have a whole mess load of strange folk who just rode into your colony and you have no idea who you can really trust."

"So you're telling me to trust you."

"I wouldn't dream of trying to tell what you should do. From what I've heard, you're a man who takes actions over words any day of week." The younger man just stood there with his arms crossed waiting for something. Then a small sound off to the side grabbed Taylor's full attention and pistol drawn at the ready. What emerged from the shadows in the back of his office was the last thing he expected.

Two hands smeared with dirt, grime and a few things Taylor could guess at from the smell came into the light. They were empty and the forearms that followed them were streaked with dried blood and general. Finally the intruder came into full view. A young woman who had seen better days, covered head to toe in dirt cuts and bruises. Her right side looked like it was bleeding from the way her shirt was soaked and dripping on the floor. Striker moved her side before Taylor could take everything in mumbling something about pulling stitches.

It was her face that was giving Taylor problems. It was older now and even with all the signs of wear displayed there, it was still one of the most beautiful he had ever laid his eyes on. A face that since he had come thru the portal he would never see again. A face that after the news Johnson had just given him in the plaza should be in his office.

"Evelyn?"

A/n: If there's any interest in this story let me know. I just had to get this out of my head.