This story is set after Atlantis while Sam is the commander of the Hammond and Jack is running Homeworld Security. Enjoy!

Captain, fly the drone around the perimeter." Sam watched the footage. "Good, place the first marker on Colonel Vaselov." Sam heard a small gasp from somewhere on the bridge behind her. The drone flew closer to the frozen man, giving Sam a better view. It appeared he had died quickly, for which Sam was grateful. "Tag the DHD next and then the gate."

"All tags have been placed."

"Beam them up and make sure Colonel Vaselov's body is placed in stasis immediately."

Cam leaned over her shoulder. "You know you're a genius, right?"

Sam grinned, "It is a good idea."

"It's a damn brilliant idea."

"All cargo has been loaded and secured."

"Thank you, Captain. Set our course to P3F-246 and proceed to hyperspace as soon as you're ready."

Once they entered hyperspace Sam handed the bridge over to Major Barrigia. Cam followed her to the hold to look at the rescued gate and DHD. They were both still covered with ice, but puddles were forming as the melting started.

"So, we can just put the gate on a new planet, and it will work?"

"We will have to calibrate it, but I think the DHD will do the bulk of the work."

"Absolutely brilliant."

Sam shook her head and grinned. "Let's get some lunch."

"The seventh chevron is locked." Sam and Cameron both waited as the screen lit up. "Colonel Mitchell calling the SGC."

"SGC here. Good to hear from the Delta site. How do things look there?"

"The main facility is half constructed. We expect to be done by the end of next week. Our mineral samples have been even better than anticipated. It looks like we might have found a huge naquada deposit."

"That is good news indeed. We have supplies ready to send as soon as you have a place to put them."

"We can take a couple shipments today. None of us would mind a few fresh fruits and vegetables."

"Will do. It will take us about an hour to get it ready. We'll dial you back in a bit."

"Thank you, sir."

"Thanks, Sam. I appreciate you getting us here and helping us get everything built and settled."

"It was a good couple of weeks. My crew enjoyed getting off the ship, even if it was for a bit of hard labor. We're going to leave you a couple F 302s for defensive purposes and two alkesh to help you transport materials."

"Sounds good. Let me know when you get back to the Hammond." Cam gave her a quick good-bye hug before she left the hanger and went to the third alkesh, the one she was flying back to her ship.

Sam had cleared the base but was still in the atmosphere when three ships came over the horizon and opened fire on her.

"Delta base, I have three bogies on my six. They've opened fire. Attempting to evade and reach escape velocity."

"We see them on our sensors. I'm scrambling the F 302s to assist."

Sam was doing her best to evade all three ships, but they had more maneuverability than the alkesh.

"I'm hit. I've lost thrusters." Sam tried to regain altitude, but she had no ability to steer. "I'm going down about ten clicks northeast of the base."

"Sergeant, track her position." Cam toggled the radio. "The 302s are almost there Sam."

Her lack of a response hit him in the gut.

"Colonel, one unfriendly down. I can see Colonel Carter's crash site."

"Sir, one of the attacking ships is headed toward the base."

"Major Conner, we've got one headed this way."

"On it, sir." Both 302s headed back towards the base as one of the ships began to strife the base with fire. They engaged with it as it came back for a second run. The 302s were faster than the attacking ship but it had superior fire power. One of the 302s was hit but able to land just outside the base. The other followed the attacker on its third run past the base, finally hitting it. It was able to escape as the 302 circled back to check on the base.

"Major Connor?"

"I'm fine, sir but I can't say the same for my 302."

"Understood. Major Tyler, what's your situation?"

"I'm circling the base, sir."

"Our sensors don't show either of the other ships."

"I don't see them either, sir."

"Keep your eyes open as you go check on Colonel Carter."

"Yes, sir."

Cameron got people started putting out fires and assessing damage while he waited on Tyler's assessment. Staying in the control room was bothering him. He wanted to be in a 302 or fighting a fire, but being in command meant staying put for now.

Major Tyler radioed in as Cameron was getting sit reps from three department heads. He held up his hand and the room grew quiet. "Go ahead Major."

"The alkesh is demolished, sir." Cameron's chest tightened. "And it started a forest fire."

"Any sign of Colonel Carter?"

"No, sir and the fire's spreading quickly. I'm afraid it will get to the base."

"How long do we have?"

"I'm not sure, maybe fifteen or twenty minutes."

"Got it, get that 302 to the Hammond and let them know what's happened."

"Yes, sir."

Cameron looked at the Sergeant sitting at the gate controls, "Dial Earth. I'm ordering an evacuation." He turned to the department heads. "You have ten minutes to get all your people and as much of your stuff through the gate or up to the Hammond as possible." Alarms began to blare as Cameron radioed Earth and let them know to expect his people and equipment. He went to his office and gathered the few files that he knew couldn't be left behind. He checked on the progress of the evacuation three times before he felt sure he was the last person on base. The Hammond beamed him, the gate, and the DHD to the cargo hold.

Cameron was greeted by Major Bell, who informed Cameron that in Colonel Carter's absence he was now the ranking officer on board. He ordered them to direct their sensors to the crash site and the base. When he got to the bridge, he was dismayed the learn the fire had reached the base and there was still no sign of Colonel Carter. They had also lost the ships that had attacked Sam.

Cameron had no choice but wait out the fire. He sent three 302s out to look for their attackers and maintain a perimeter around the Hammond. It took two days for the fire to burn out. Once it was deemed safe Cameron and a small group took two alkesh down to the planet, one to the burned base and one to the crash site. Cameron surveyed the base, which was demolished but could be rebuilt in a few weeks, while Lieutenant Simmons examined the crash site.

"Lieutenant Simmons calling Colonel Mitchell."

"Mitchell here, what did you find?"

"Not much, sir. The alkesh is in small pieces."

"Due to the crash?"

"In part, but I suspect the damage was not all due to the crash. It looks like the ship was hit by weapons fire and then it exploded. It was probably the weapons fire that started the fire."

"Did you find Colonel Carter?"

"No, sir."

"No?"

"We didn't find her or any remains."

"What?"

"No remains are present, sir."

"Was the fire so hot they burned?"

"I don't think so. Even with an explosion and fire there should have been some bones, but we didn't find anything."

"So, she got out?"

"I hope so, sir, but I don't know. If she did, she would have been surrounded by fire fairly quickly."

"Right, fan out and look for signs she left the ship. We'll join you when we finish here."

"Yes, sir."

"I'm sorry, General. I wish I was calling with better news. We looked for two days but there's no sign of Colonel Carter."

Jack nodded. "Have the ships that attacked you returned?"

"No, sir. I'd like to start rebuilding as soon as possible."

"I wish I could give you the go ahead right now but he IOA is discussing it. I feel sure based on the preliminary naquada tests they'll approve construction soon, but they're dragging their feet for now. While they debate the obvious, I want you to look for where those ships originated."

"Yes, sir." Cameron twisted his lips and looked away from Jack.

"Just say it, Cameron."

"The crew of the Hammond would like to participate in Colonel Carter's memorial."

Jack tapped his pen on his desk. "Carter's listed as MIA, so there won't be a memorial, for now."

"Yes, sir."