Chapter 2
Sam sat up front with Randolph as the team took what Julia thought of as a joyride in the mile or so around the facility. This was certainly a better way to travel than hiking everywhere, she thought. The seats were more comfortable than a car and there was no friction or road noise —it was a hovercar, after all. She noticed Teal'c's attentiveness as Colonel Carter quizzed Randolph on the controls. Then Sam took a turn at the controls. The Colonel seemed to be doing fine, so Julia mostly tuned out and watched the passing scenery.
In no time at all, they were pulling back into the hanger and hopping out of the hovercraft.
"Thank you, Captain," Sam said. "Now, where can we get set up?
Randolph motioned to an airman who hurried over.
"Stevens, take the Colonel and her team to the map hut." He turned to Sam. "We're at your disposal. Let Stevens or me know if you need anything, ma'am."
"Ok. Let's get set up," Sam said to her team.
SGX SGX SGX
"How much farther, Monty?" asked Julia from the seat behind him. He was riding shotgun and acting as navigator while Sam piloted the hovercraft.
"About a click or so," he replied.
Their consultation in the map hut had confirmed the plan they had before leaving the SGC-that Daniel would check out the ruins while Julia took biological samples a few miles away.
Though regular SG teams still did initial planetary surveys, Sam's command, SGX, was responsible for evaluating potential sites for a whole network of offworld bases. This planet was up for designation as Delta—an offworld shipyard. Daniel's job included assessing archaeological impact and Dr. Wells specialty encompassed environmental impact.
The craft handled easily, requiring only a light touch on the yoke to steer. Sam felt the steady hum of the ship but very little vibration. This bird is shaping up as well in action as on paper, thought Sam. We definitely could use some more of these.
Sam found herself enjoying the scenery before her-meadowland with bright yellow and blue flowers dotting the landscape.
Meanwhile, Monty was enjoying watching the colonel enjoy herself. Ordinarily a full bird colonel would be the one being chauffeured around, not the one doing the chauffeuring. But he could tell Colonel Carter was getting a kick out of this and he wouldn't have dreamed of suggesting that she not drive.
"There," said Daniel, from his seat next to Julia, pointing to the left at what appeared to Julia to be a pile of rocks in the distance. "I think those are the ruins now."
"Ok," said Sam and made a gentle turn in that direction.
Daniel leaned forward diagonally across to Sam's seat. "Having fun?" he teased.
"Just testing it out for my report," she said, mock innocently. "Let's try it with the top down," Sam said. She touched the control and the roof folded down accordion-style. She leaned back and let the breeze blow through her short hair.
"It's sort of like riding in a convertible," Julia commented. "Great weather for a drive."
"I would not call it a sporty craft, but it appears to operate well," Teal'c added from his seat in the back.
"You can pilot on the way back," Sam called over her shoulder.
They arrived at the ruins and Daniel and Teal'c hopped out as the ship hovered a few inches off the ground.
"It shouldn't take us long to get to Julia's observation point near the stream," Sam said. "I'll plan to head back for you in four hours, but check in every hour."
"We will do so, Colonel Carter," Teal'c replied.
"Look at those symbols," Daniel was saying. "I should be able to get some great tracings…"
"And he called me giddy," Sam said and smiled. "Have fun." But the archeologist was already well on his way to the ruins.
When they were clear, Sam pressed the button to move out of the equivalent of "park," and headed out.