News of the death of Colonel Samantha Carter spread quickly across the planet as a week of mourning was announced by the President, Doctor Daniel Jackson had slipped into a deep depression and disappeared through the Stargate, his last known whereabouts was in a Monastery on the planet known as Kheb, General Cameron Mitchell took over as head of the BC-304 Program as the go-ahead was given to build as many Battlecruisers as possible.
General John Sheppard found it difficult to walk with the aid of a walking stick due to injuries sustained while on the Genesis Planet. President Henry Hayes retired from public duties after resigning the Presidency, his whereabouts are unknown. Commander Jenna Cole was arrested and charged with stealing US Government property 'The Hybrid Jumper' yet the charges where dismissed by military hearing after her pardon was granted by Henry Hayes before he left office, she was given an honourable discharge from Naval service and returned to Atlantis as a Specialist Civilian Contractor and overseeing the refit of as many Lantean Gateships to the Hybrid Jumper configuration as possible. As a part of her many duties, she is now responsible for training pilots in the new hybrid configuration.
The USS Gen G. Hammond was returned to Earth by a Free Jaffa Nation vessel to undergo a full redesign and refit of all major systems, Colonel Samantha Carters body was recovered from the bridge at the weapons station and returned to Earth for a military burial with full honours and a posthumous promotion to the rank of Brigadier General, she was laid to rest along side the body of her father Jacob Carter.
Stargate Atlantis:
The Great Tau'ri War
Alliance Rising
In 2014...
The long terrible war was beginning to take it's toll on the loyal Tau'ri force, with the loss of the Sun Tzu and the heavily damaged USS Hammond, Earth's fleet was severely reduced to three active BC-304 Class Cruisers, The aging USS Daedalus, the USS Apollo and the flagship of the fleet the USS Odyssey. Although Earth operated a small number of captured Goa'uld designed ships they had little in the way of the abilities of the Tau'Ri's own fleet. Reports had flooded into the SGC and Atlantis stating attacks by the renegade vessel Achilles hitting worlds held by or allied to Earth, although the Human Alliance had abandoned it's war on Earth, with the help of it's deadly ally, the Lucian Alliance they had begun a campaign of terror across the galaxy not seen since the earliest days of the Goa'uld Empire's rise to power.
With specially designed satellites in orbit of the planet equipped with Lantean cloaks and a new generation of Transporter technology based on Asguard design, military personnel could get where ever needed quickly, it was a technology urgently desired by the Alliance and it's own dark needs. Yet unknown to the Alliance it was controlled by a heavily guarded central point within the Atlantis city for security reasons.
The tired and greying General Sheppard was slowly becoming a shadow of his former self as more and more lines appeared on his face almost at a daily basis as he felt the weight of the Galaxy resting on his shoulders while he read casualty reports, the lack of progress against the enemy was becoming more apparent as he finally put down the report and picked up yet another status report from the SGC.
"Damn it…" He sighed deeply.
Slowly he reached for the cane he had come to rely on as he cautiously stood and walked to the door leading to the lower deck and control centre of the entire city, as he staggered down stairs the Huge Stargate Activated as an IDC was read out.
"It's SG-1, Colonel Lorne and his team are coming in hot" McKay yelled.
"Defence teams, stand by" Sheppard replied.
Slowly the vital shield surrounding the gate lowered as Colonel Lorne and his team of three ran into the Gateroom firing their weapons through the Stargate until it shut off. Collapsing on the floor, he looked up at Sheppard as he sat up.
"Langara has fallen to the enemy advance sir… I'm sorry"
"Damn it" Sheppard Yelled. "That's five planets in two weeks, what the hell is going on?"
"Unknown sir, but I can tell you one thing, I've never seen that kind of firepower before, we're lucky we got to the gate this time" Lorne called out exhausted.
"Alright, briefing in one hour, get yourselves checked out with Beckett"
"Aye sir" He said with a sigh.
Slowly they stood and walked out of the control centre as Sheppard hobbled towards McKay.
"Rodney, please tell me you have something for me, what the hell is going on out there?"
"I wish I could say John" He said exhausted.
"FIND OUT, OR FIND YOURSELF A NEW JOB" He Yelled.
It had taken a long time for everyone to get used to his violent mood swings since he was shot and crippled, it was almost as if the atmosphere in the city had become toxic since he returned to duty. He had become increasingly abusive to those under his command to the point of many requesting transfers to other installations and even off world, yet only one-person win the ancient city had yet to bare the brunt of his anger, his old friend and former team member Ronan Dex.
Breathing deeply the General walked back towards his office as everyone watched him leave in silence, perhaps it was the weight of the Galaxy pressing down upon him or the loss of a close friend or everything that had happened in the many months since the war had heated up, no one could say. But he was not the same man they had come to know and respect; his happy go-lucky attitude had been replaced by a darkness that was eating away at his soul with every moment his heart would beat.
Daily briefings on Atlantis had become a sombre event as casualty lists had been posted for all too see, the leaders of every department where expected to attend each briefing, yet as time went on more of the department leaders found 'important work to attend too' until finally Sheppard was joined by Ronan Dex, Rodney McKay, Colonel Lorne and Doctor Beckett. Throwing his folder on the table with his usual anger, he looked around the almost empty room and grunted to himself as he sat in his chair.
"Best turn out in weeks. We'll forgo the usual casualty list and move onto Lorne's last trip off world. What the hell happened?"
"Well General, as we all know I was assigned by General Mitchell to check on the development of a more stable power source for the 304 Class, the Langarans had found a way to stabilise the volatile Naquadria to work with our current tech. The tests where perfect a safe reaction that would give a power boost between the Naquadah source we use and a Z.P.M"
"Amazing!" McKay scoffed.
"Yeah well it was pretty cool at the time Meredith…." Sheppard Laughed as Lorne replied. "… Anyway, I was about to sign it off with the President all hell broke loose. The first shot took out the city's power centres, then the military installations, gliders screamed down and attacked anything they could before they got feet on the ground. They are imitating the Goa'uld attacks to cause panic, they had just rebuilt after the Ori invasion…"
"How did you get to the gate?" Ronan asked.
"Jonas Quinn, he got us out and to a second gate they held in storage"
"Why didn't he come though with you?" Sheppard Yawned.
"He decided to lead the Alliance troops away from the second gate to give us time to escape. We should have gone back for him"
Slowly Sheppard leaned forward and spoke with a deep and almost whisper.
"Langara is now off limits to all personnel. And that includes any half-assed rescue attempts. Am I clear?"
"Yes Sir!" Lorne replied.
"No…" Ronan growled. "What of that weapon they used? Lorne, you said you have never seen that kind of power"
"Never" He said.
"Sheppard let me take a cloaked jumper to Langara. We have to find out…"
"No!" Sheppard growled.
"John… We have to find out what they have!"
"Everyone get out!"
Slowly the room began to empty as Ronan stayed sat in his seat with his arms folded and a powerful look in his eyes.
"What the hell is wrong with you Sheppard?"
"That's General to you Specialist Dex!" He Barked.
"I'm not in your military"
"Ohh but you are, you see the instant you signed on with Atlantis you fell under MY Command. You operate here at my leisure. The same goes for McKay and everyone else who is none Military personnel and that goes for your little 'Friend' as well"
Flames burned in his eyes as he stepped closer to Sheppard and growled.
"Leave her out of this"
"A little protective are we?" He laughed.
"My personal life is none of your concern GENERAL" He growled.
"What's the matter Ronan, Can't handle the little red head?"
Slowly Ronan turned and laughed as he looked out of the window.
"You really have no idea do you? I asked her, she turned me down Sheppard. She said she had her eye on someone else, not the first time it's happened, think about it. For three months, she stayed by your side while you worked through your injury, every time you need a pilot, guess who is around and free? Who is the one person around here who will stick by you even when you have alienated everyone else around you"
"Shut up; get the hell out of my office Ronan. Before I have you removed from this city… permanently"
"You know, I gave Atlantis and you everything, because I thought you and your people where the best hope of defeating the Wraith, now I am stuck here fighting YOUR war for YOU"
"Get OUT!" Sheppard screamed.
Decrypted Atlantis personnel files had found the way into the hands of the deadly enemy that was tearing apart the galaxy while destroying the Tau'ri with each attack. Now that Langara was under their control the landing parties begun to search once again, a long and tedious search that could take days even weeks to complete, quickly the lead scientist on the Naquadria project was brought before the Youngman named Jack, the leader of the attack upon the Langaran homeworld.
"Well, Well, Well it is a pleasure to see you again Jonas Quinn"
"I have no idea who you are mister, but you have the wrong person"
Smiling Jack walked around the battered and bruised former SGC member as he looked around the large room he and his men had taken.
"Ohh, but you do Jonas. Albeit I know you. Jonas Quinn, former scientist on the Naquadria project… Joined the SGC many years ago after the 'Death' Doctor Daniel Jackson. Returned here a year later… since then you have been working as advisor to you high council. How am I doing so far?"
"Who the hell are you?" Jonas yelled.
Slowly he looked down at the man on his knees before him as he spoke.
"Think of me as… A shadow of an old friend!"
"What?" His eyes searched the man before him until the opened wide. "What the hell are you?"
Quickly Jack gripped his jaw and squeezed as he smiled and poke aloud.
"To you and your people? Call me DEATH!"
Night time had fallen over the Atlantis as the Naval vessels continued their vital patrol of the waters surrounding the Ancient City, several Submarines has been called in to assist with the defence of the Ancient city since the last attack six months ago. Although eleven months ago a deadly attack on the city and the fleet had cost the lives of many sailors when renegade ships sank the USS Nimitz, now that debt had to be repaid. With the control centre manned by a skeleton crew, a large light appeared near the gate as a single woman materialised into the Gateroom as Zelenka walked towards her with a smile on his face.
"You pick your times to return Miss Cole"
Smiling she looked at him and nodded as she replied.
"I didn't want to walk…"
"How was your meeting with the President?"
"Good news, she's finally agreed on a few points we've laid out for her"
Since Henry Hayes left office almost nine months ago, a quick vote was taken in congress and with the allies of the United States, it was agreed that the best person to take over the post was a friend to all nations considering the problems that had taken over the entire planet and beyond. Juliet Marconi a former member of congress and opponent to the Human Alliance would take the converted role until the next elections would take place later in the year.
"What do you mean a few of our points?"
"Well, we've been given the all clear to go in hard this time… Assemble the command team in the briefing room in fifteen minutes"
The time passed quickly as once again the command staff had been gathered in the briefing room for yet another mid-night brief. Yawning McKay laid his head on the table as the briefing began.
"Alright, as you all know I've spent three days with the new president explaining… once again… the situation. She has finally given us the all clear"
"What all clear?" Ronan smiled.
"Well, as Dex knows… we're going in hard now. Apollo, Daedalus and Odyssey have been given orders to assemble at a secret location known only to myself and the president, General Sheppard you have the location in your file. In three hours, those vessels will set course for Langara. I will take a Hybrid Jumper to a gate near that world and jump into Hyperspace towards that planet, once cloaked and over the planet; I'll run a full scan of the surface and orbit of the planet to locate key areas. Once the all clear is given, the three ships will drop out of hyperspace and target any orbital objects… Ships and so on. While that is happening, Colonel Lorne will take as many Hybrid Jumpers as he can gather with pilots through the gate and knock out ground targets while I run interference against any enemy 302s or Gliders. Once the area around the gate is free, the 304s will beam down a heavily armed landing party while Dex and a large contingent of forces use the gate…"
Slowly Sheppard looked up from his file as he spoke.
"What? This is insane"
"Agreed sir, but we are all tired of sitting on our hands while this 'Jack' Character tears the galaxy apart. It is a Galaxy of our own making sir, we have a responsibility to the people we freed from the Goa'uld and Ori. Our main target is the Achilles; Jaffa Intel suggests it is in orbit with another Ha'tak class, with one on the surface"
"Why you? Why do you have to be the one that takes the first shots?" Sheppard called out.
Still dressed in the evening dress and jacket she wore after returning from her meeting with the President, she removed the jacket and placed it on the table in front of her as she spoke.
"General Mitchell agrees that I should be the first, I'm none military and expendable. Besides, who knows the Hybrids better then I do? I helped design them… and I was the first to test them sir. This has come down through the chain of command from the top sir, Lets just say I don't wanna do this… but I have to"
"You are a civilian Cole, you don't have to do it" McKay replied.
"Actually, that's no longer true. President Marconi and the leaders of Britain, France, China and Russia have agreed to form a kind of 'One World Army' other nations are expected to follow suit soon. Step one is effective as of three hours ago, all construction of Naval vessels in all countries has been stopped and resources diverted to the BC-304 Program. Step two: All military forces will be combined into two separate units. Airforce and Navy will operate under the same command structure. Army and Marines will combine under a separate force as"
"WHAT?" Sheppard Barked.
"It wasn't my idea sir. Local Commands are being informed in one week. I've been reactive effective two hours ago and with a transfer to the New Combined Airforce-Naval Command with the rank of full Colonel. There is some good news in all of this, Eight more BC 304 class cruisers will be ready to launch in one week with a further three two weeks later. The USS Hammond will make up the forth launched that week. The Stargate Program will be re-organised into two parts, the SGC Stargate will be moved to a classified location off-world with a new dialling computer completely off of the map yet close to Earth, Atlantis will run half of the program from Earth while the new SGC will run the other half. Congratulations Major General Sheppard… You've been promoted, once again!"
"What is step three?" McKay yawned.
Smiling she walked around the table and sat in an empty chair as she replied quickly.
"A new class of ship will begin construction, using lessons learned from Goa'uld, Ori and Asguard designs. It will be a fast attack vessel… basically the new ship codenamed '305' will be smaller then the 304 class yet with the same firepower. She'll get in behind enemy line, cause havoc and get out, I didn't know this but the research that McKay and Zelenka done on the Lantean cloak made it possible to build our own version. The 305s will be the first Human made ship built with a cloak, no name has been formally given to this new ship, but they are calling it the 'Carter' Class"
The meeting carried on as questions floated back and forward, yet one question made every other fall silent as McKay spoke.
"So what does this mean?"
"This means Rodney that a new Empire is in town. A name hasn't been officially given, but for now, they are calling it 'The United Tau'ri Federation' or U.T.F for short. Also that means that you McKay are drafted… it was Mitchell's idea not mine, Major Rodney McKay, Colonel Ronan Dex and Major Zelenka"
"WHAT?" McKay yelled.
For the first time since he was shot and crippled, Sheppard smiled as he looked around the table at the stunned faces only Ronan Dex sat taller somehow as his new rank was read out too him, still smiling Sheppard stood up as he rested his hands on the table and laughed.
"Well things are about to get more interesting around here, McKay… you have a mission to prep for…" His eyes widened as he mocked his old friend. "Get too it now MAJOR. Well this is going to be fun!"
The new military force left the briefing room quickly as the newly promoted Colonel Cole remained behind.
"General, this wasn't my idea sir…" She said slowly.
"It was worth it, seeing McKay piss his pants at being drafted like that"
"Yeah that was fun. How did you put up with that guy for so long without shooting him?"
"He grows on you…"
"…Like fungus?" She replied with a smile. "… How are you doing sir?"
"Me? I'm fine. I err… Spoke to Ronan"
Blushing slightly she stepped backwards nervously.
"Ohh crap! What did he say?"
"I…"
Her eyes widened as she looked into his and blushed again slightly.
"Ohh. Sir I"
"Let it go Cole, that's an order"
"Really? You are going to give ME an order?"
"That's right…Colonel!"
"Of course. Well I guess I'd better get ready for the mission" She said quietly.
"Do that. Good luck Colonel…"
Slowly she walked out of the briefing room as he called after her.
"Cole. Better change first, unless you want to fly your ship in that dress? As much as it looks good, I don't think it would be easy to reach the controls wearing almost nothing"
Laughing slightly she looked down at her dress and nodded as she walked away.
