A/N: My fiction really needs to be read in order, so I suggest you have a look at my profile to see the others that came before this one.
I've Been Here Before…
R.T. (Rodney Time) A.T. (Atlantis Time) 9:00
Rodney glanced around the lab, gently massaging muscles that didn't agree with the training John and Teyla had been giving him. It was, apparently, doing him some good, but being consistently battered and bruised by Teyla, and run to the ground by John was not quite his idea of fun. The pair, however, seemed to be highly enjoying it, typical.
The lab, which an exploration team had only recently found, was pretty much like the others. There were a couple of computers connected to the mainframe, and a device in the middle that had obviously been the subject of the research. What it actually did was beyond him, as he hadn't got around to translating the lab notes.
Looking at it, Rodney decided the device didn't look that dangerous, and so he picked it up. At his touch, lights on the surface of the strangely light device appeared and began to flash, seemingly at random. Deciding that his gene had probably activated it, he put it back down on its stand and turned to decipher the notes.
His studies were disrupted by the unscheduled arrival alarm, and so he moved off to the gate room to investigate.
R.T. A.T. 9:45
John and his team came rushing out of the gate, and the shield rose immediately behind them. A few small impacts followed them through, making the shield flash and crash.
As Rodney arrived from one of the transporters, Cadman, Ford's replacement, handed him a dark metal box. Rodney looked at it, slightly bemused.
"What am I supposed to do with this? What is this?" He asked.
"We think it's a Genii data drive." Said John. "We need to find out what's on it."
"That shouldn't be too hard. Where did you get it?"
"All will be revealed in the debriefing."
"You know, for once it would be nice to be told things when I ask for them." Rodney said, exasperated. John just grinned, and headed off to get changed. Rodney, grumbling his annoyance, set off to his lab.
R.T. A.T. 10:00
"We ran across a Genii team. As they didn't seem to see us, we decided to follow them. At first, we thought they were just scouting out the planet, but a few klicks from the gate we found a Genii research lab. We managed to infiltrate it, and…liberated that data drive."
John, who was giving the briefing, indicated the one lying on the table, numerous cables connecting it to the Atlantis computer system. Rodney had a slightly possessive hand on it, and a more than slightly worried frown on his face.
"Rodney? Did you have any luck accessing the drive?" Asked Elizabeth, worried by his obvious concern.
"Yes, though I half wish it was empty." Waving over the control to dim the lights as he passed, Rodney made his way to the front of the briefing room. "Part of the outpost must have been a research base. The drive contains lab notes, designs, et cetera, but it wasn't the Genii's normal project." He tapped in a command into the control panel at the head of the room, and a hologram appeared over the centre of the table.
"This is based on a blueprint that was in the data drive." It was a space ship, reminiscent of the Wraith's cruisers, but looking far more streamlined and sterile. "It appears the Genii found' a Wraith hyperdrive, and, looking at the design, most of the rest of a cruiser as well, and that's not the worst of it.Another command changed the hologram into an image of a weapon.
"Uh oh! That looks familiar." Put in John.
"It should do. It's an Ancient design, similar to the energy weapon that was mounted on their defence satellites."
Even Elizabeth cursed as the implications settled in.
"My thoughts exactly. And, to make matters worse, they appeared to have adapted both Ancient stealth technology and shields to hide and protect their ship."
"When will this ship be launched?" Asked Elizabeth, hoping they had time to do a little sabotage, but dreading the answer.
"That's another problem. It was slated for launch about a week ago. As the target is more than likely Atlantis, and we won't see them coming until they drop out of hyperspace, and then not properly until they open fire. We can expect them any time now."
"What can we do to prepare?" Asked Caldwell.
"Launch the Daedalus, raise the shield, and then pray that the cruiser is as well designed as the Genii nukes, which if that information is any indicator, is unlikely."
"I recommend we evacuate all non-essential personnel to Earth."
"Err, not a good idea. We need to save the ZPM for the Chair and the Shield."
"Besides, I think we all are essential, even if just as extra hands for the defence teams. Looking at that thing, I'd say we need all the help we can get." Added Elizabeth.
Caldwell, seeing he was outvoted, backed down.
"Right, commander, ready the Daedalus, get her in orbit. Rodney, ready Atlantis for battle. John, arrange the military forces as you see fit. Dismissed."
The meeting broke up, and everyone headed for their jobs.
A.T. R.T. 11:30
Rodney, who had been getting the shield ready, was the first to notice the large energy signature detected on the sensors. He fiddled with the visual scanners, and brought up an image. He recognised it instantly as a hyperspace window.
He touched the comms. "McKay to Dr Weir and the Daedalus. Sensor's have picked up a hyperspace window."
"Acknowledged Rodney," replied Elizabeth, "Daedalus, intercept that ship."
"Aye Doctor." Replied Caldwell and Rodney heard the rumble as the Daedalus launched from its pier. He finished off setting up the shield controls, and headed off to the chair room.
A.T. R.T. 12:15
Caldwell looked out through the bridge windows, trying to spot something that would reveal the ship. "Anything?" He asked.
"Not yet." Replied the sensors officer.
The entire ship was at battle stations, shields were raised and every '302 was manned and fully armed. Now all they needed was a target.
"Wait." She said, as a blip appeared on her screen. "I have a contact. Energy signature matches the Genii's."
"Right you are. Launch all fighters. Bring us to bear. Target all weapons and fire at will." Caldwell ordered.
The battle cruiser turned around and faced the ghostly image of the Genii cruiser, which gradually became more visible. The Daedalus easily got the first shots, coloured streamers of rail gun bullets piercing the night and being absorbed by the Genii shields.
The Daedalus's contingents of F302s launched, and added their missiles to the barrage of weapons fire.
Caldwell watched, externally impassive, as their shots had almost no effect on their target. The shield was completely decloaked, and he could see what looked like gun emplacements on the hull of the cruiser, and they were beginning to move.
The first shots were aimed at the '302s. Though it was slow firing, each shot was easily capable of taking out a fighter on its own. Fighter after fighter was lost, until, just half an hour into the battle, the last one was gone.
Then, the weapons turned on the Daedalus. Streams of weapon fire from both ships impacted on glistening shields.
"Sir, our shields are down to 37 strength."
"How long will the hull armour last unshielded?"
"Twenty, maybe thirty minutes before we get a breach. After that…" The engineer trailed off, but Caldwell got the message.
"Divert all non-essential power to shields, artificial gravity, main lighting, anything that isn't keeping us alive."
"Aye." The engineer's hands flew across his controls, and Caldwell felt his weight lesson. "Shields are up to 50, but that will only give us a few more minutes."
"Concentrate fire on one area of the shields, perhaps we can punch a hole somewhere in them." He watched the steams of rail gun fire converge onto a point, to no effect.
"Put me through to Atlantis." The Communications Officer arranged her controls, and then nodded at the Commander. "This is the Daedalus. We have encountered the enemy, but our weapons have had no effect. Be advised that it is unlikely we can stop this ship." Caldwell hated admitting failure, but this time is seemed inevitable. "I want it recorded that my crew acted with honour and valour."
"We haven't lost you yet," replied Elizabeth, who until now had chosen to remain silent. "We can send in a few jumpers, give you some support."
"No ma'am. Use the jumpers to defend Atlantis. They'll not get here in time."
There was silence over the radio for a moment, then, "You will be remembered," said Elizabeth, her voice thick with emotion.
"We'd better be," replied Caldwell gruffly, and signalled to the Communications Officer to cut off the connection.
"The shields have failed." Reported the engineer.
Caldwell nodded, and felt the ship rattle as the shots hit the hull. He could have sworn he could hear armour plates being torn off of the hull by the shots.
"Sir, we have a hull breach forming on B deck."
"Evacuate the section and seal it off."
"Aye." A minute later, the breach alarm sounded. "Breach on deck B. Section is sealed as was successfully evacuated. It is now open to space, but there were no casualties."
'Yet' Caldwell mentally added.
An explosion rocked him in his seat, and the breach alarm sounded again.
"Explosive decompression. Engineering's open to space." Reported one officer.
"The main reactor's overheating." Said another.
Caldwell hesitated for a moment, and then gave the order he never dreamt he would have to give. "Abandon ship. Everyone man the escape craft." He looked around him, expecting people to be leaving.
Nobody had moved. "Go on, get off this sinking ship."
"No sir!" Someone replied. "You're not going down alone, sir."
For a moment Caldwell couldn't speak. Then, once he had reclaimed his composure, he said. "Well, if that's what you want, well go down in style. Divert all power to the engines. Let's ram the bastards."
A cheer set up around the bridge, and they felt the engines roar into life.
For a moment, the Genii ship ceased firing. They seemed unsure, caught off balance by the unexpected manoeuvre. Then, they pulled themselves together, and the shooting restarted. Not the generalised shooting of before, destined to destroy the ship with the least effort, but concentrated on the bow if the ship.
Piece by piece the Daedalus was being blown apart, but she was accelerating faster. A couple of seconds later, the remaining hull of the battle cruiser collided with the Genii shields. Metal crumpled as it met the impenetrable shield as the Daedalus was crushed like a car hitting a wall.
When the main reactor was forced against the shield, it exploded, vaporising the rest of the ship and pouring millions of watts of power into the shield. It barely flickered.
Having achieved its first victory, and with barely a scratch, the Genii cruiser carried on to its target.
TBC
A/N2: This will be finished, as I've already got the rest of the story written. However, I'min need ofa beta, for the majority of itso if there is anybody willing, have a look at the note in my profile.