A/N I had the idea to have a crossover with Star Trek: the Next Generation for a long time. I just didn't want it to be silly. I also, didn't want any of characters to suffer from either show. I like to pick on Sam so this is about her.
To all those dedicated fanfiction reader out there. This is for you. Please let me know what you'd like to see happen. I always open to suggestion and constructive criticism. Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy it!
Through Space and Time
Chapter 1
The newly promoted Colonel Samantha Carter sat on the mess decks of the Apollo caught up in her private thoughts. She was a regular visitor of the Apollo mess decks at this late hour. In her hands she held a very worn and faded olive green ball cap. Also near her hand sits a small open velvet box containing two shiny silver eagles. They were not regulation collar devices but a gift from her former commanding officer, General Jack O'Neill. Regulation or not she mentally planed to wear them the next time she was required to wear her dinner dress. Some regulations were meant to be broken.
She held a small amused smile as she stared aimlessly at the two eagles. Thinking of Jack made her smile and that was something she desperately needed in these dire times. If Jack left her mind she was left with the only other thought she could not escape. Tonight she needed to smile because tomorrow will bring uncertainty which comes with all unproven new leadership. And she was to become that new leadership.
She, Sam Carter, was on a path to the Pegasus Galaxy to lead the Atlantis Expedition. Under normal circumstances these would be happier times but not now. The loss of Dr. Elizabeth Weir, Dr. Carson Beckett, Lieutenant Aidan Quinn, Colonel Marshall Sumner, Major Leonard, Lieutenant Negley, Sergeants Bale, Barroso, Cole, Markham, Largent, Stevens, and Walker, Doctors Abrams, Collins, Dickenson, Dumias, Grayden, Grodin, Hays, Hewston, Johnson, Lindstrom, Peterson, and Wagner were the names that danced in her head. She had met them all personally before they crossed the event horizon to Atlantis. The death toll was high. How was she ever to replace such an icon? Dr. Elizabeth Weir was just that…an icon. She was a pioneer. She was the first leader of an extremely unpredictable mission. She went into the unknown willingly and conquered it soundly.
Sam knew full well that she had huge shoes to fill. She wasn't sure were to begin but felt slightly comforted by the knowledge she would have the best people in her command. Although, she would never dare admit it she also comforted knowing McKay would be at her disposal. He had never been one of her favorite people but he was different. He proved that when he conned Dr. Lee into getting access to the puddle jumper to rescue Atlantis from the human form replicators. Maybe they would become friends…"NA!!' she thought with a smile on her face however, anything is possible. The SGC had taught her that many times over.
A shudder rippled throughout the ship bringing Sam out of her thoughts. The ship shuddered again and a thrill of fear ran up her spin. Something was wrong. Gathering up her most prized possessions she made her way quickly to the bridge.
A sudden explosive force rocked the ship as if it were listing through water. Sam was thrown back bodily against the bulkhead ten feet away sending threads of pain through every nerve of her body. After a few stunned moments she carefully picked up her damaged body changing her course from the bridge to head toward engineering.
On the way she stopped at one the armories to don a weapons vest and holster. With a practiced ease she clipped a P90 semi-automatic rifle to front and slide a 9mm home against her thigh. Not knowing what she was walking into she needed to prepare for the worst.
Another explosion rocked the shipped. Just barely managing to brace for the impact she was able to keep her course to engineering. Over the Mass Communication System Sam heard Colonel Ellis' tense voice, "ALL HANDS ABANDONED SHIP! I REPEAT! ALL HANDS ABANDONED SHIP! THIS IS NOT A DRILL…Godspeed to us all!"
The ship was loosing power. It was tearing itself apart and there was no explanation for it. At least not yet it was the job of the resident astrophysicist, Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter of the United States Air Force to figure it all out. No pressure.
Down in engineering Sam worked tirelessly. There was no rest for the weary as control panel after control panel was yanked open. Why was this ship loosing its integrity? There was no immediate answer to be had but something was cause the hull to breach. Without cause the cold, dark, vacuum of space was closing in on them. If she didn't find the answer soon they would all surely parish being crushed to death by unseen forces.
"ALL HANDS ABANDONED SHIP! I REPEAT! ALL HANDS ABANDONED SHIP! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!" One of the most difficult decisions for a commander is that of abandon ship. Listening to the repeated 1MC announcement she made a conscious choice. She would not go. She would continue to search for the answer. The escape pods were only a temporary solution. They could not survive in the pods for the long term. They were meant for short trips to a planetary surface or to a rescue ship.
The weight of the world…of the galaxy was on her shoulders. She would be purposely left behind. She would stay endeavoring to save the ship. She would stay behind to give them all the fighting chance they deserve. No one else from Earth or Earth's allies knew they were in trouble.
One last explosion threw her against the far bulkhead with an almighty force. Her head connected with the solid surface creating a sickening thud. The last thing to pass through her line of sight before the world was engulfed by darkness was a vision of four people wearing yellow, blue, and red uniforms. Vaguely she thought of the Atlantis uniform and her command red.
Before the gray of unconscious over took her brain she her heard voices of people she didn't know. The ship was being boarded and she was helpless to do anything about it. On the very edge of passing out she heard some piece of alien equipment chirp followed by a confused conversation about her system being old and antiquated but the bases for what they currently used. 'What the hell were they talking about?' her ship was not old nor was it antiquated. She could not argue. She could only dream.