The waiting had been surreal, but the actual battle intense. Sheppard chose what he hoped was a healthy, unconscious Wraith from the stunned only pile and after having it bound propped it up on the jumper then let Ronon have at it. Well, let, wasn't really the issue it was more that John could focus elsewhere and not watch a gleeful Ronon beheading and amputating Wraith...
Teyla had been busy helping the Marines gather stunners, grenades, and anything useful off the enemy. Rodney was sequestered in the jumper making sure there wouldn't be any surprises from the sky while the remaining teams were either guarding the gate or removing all traces of Atlantis from the attack.
"Sir?"
"Just ignore the enthusiasm, Lorne, the actions are sound. We have to be certain that every Wraith is really and permanently dead so they can't report back that Atlantis attacked, it saves our ammunitions and once the 'shot' pile is either kawhooshed out of existence or exploded to pieces with Wraith grenades it will make the remains appear to have been taken out by a rival hive or at worst sword wielding locals."
"Actually, Sir, I was only wondering about two things..."
"What?"
"Appendages?"
"He's got time."
"Sir?"
"Swords, knives, and necklaces Major; swords, knives, and necklaces..." John's voice died off then to himself he noted, "I should really order him some stuff with his salary then he wouldn't have to trade."
Understanding filled the Major's eyes as Teyla interrupted, "That is a good idea John, start with boots and pants." then reporting in, "We have collected all the weapons and grenades and have loaded them into the jumpers. The men are still sweeping for shells."
"Good. We're almost ready to take off. Soon as Ronon's done then we'll..."
"Actually, that was my second question." Teyla and John looked to Evan. "Well, not so much of a question but uhm... you do realize he's... what I mean to say is he stopped... maybe you should talk with him, Sir."
"Spit it out Evan."
"Ronon's stopped the Marines from beheading the rest of the unconscious Wraith, Sir. He's only... ah... cleaning up the dead while he's waiting for them to come around."
Teyla's smile was huge, "I always knew he was a man of honor. I shall get additional weapons from the jumper so that we may help him when the time comes."
Once Teyla was out of ear shot John grabbed Lorne's arm and hissed, "Are you serious?" an affirmative nod from Evan caused John to rant quietly so that the two Pegasus natives wouldn't hear, "We're on the clock here. Soon as the Wraith realize the transmitter's dead or whenever these guys were supposed to report back passes... who knows how many more are going to come."
Major Evan Lorne whispered back, "What are your orders, Sir?"
A quick glance showed Teyla still in one of the jumpers and Ronon's back busily throwing Wraith arms and legs through an active gate, "Behead them now while he's busy."
Lorne looked towards the men guarding the unconscious prisoners and with a single nod gave the orders; neither John or Evan watched them being carried out - both more worried about keeping Teyla and Ronon oblivious until it was too late.
Their worry had been needless, as soon as the last head had been severed Ronon had shut down his wormhole to planet radiation and the gate began to dial-in. The men guarding the gate dug in and lifted their weapons even as they gave the warning cry.
Sheppard cursed and then yelled orders, "Fall back to the jumpers! Cloak now! Rhodes, Cole give us a visual!" Halfway to the jumper John saw his Wraith propped up on nothing as the jumper cloaked, radioing Cole for a stunner he shot the sucker again just to be sure and then moved forward with Cole to drag the stupid thing into the jumper.
Ronon would have rather stayed and fought than retreat, but he didn't want to upset Sheppard; so he headed for the jumper Rhodes was waving out of when he saw a Wraith stunner blast out of the corner of his eye. His head turned and in seconds Dex was halfway to the jumper Teyla was now waving out of and trying to determine what Sheppard and Cole were doing.
Wraith! Subconsciously, his gun came up and he thumbed it back to kill. The Wraith was attacking Sheppard and Cole in the most bizarre and ineffective manner Ronon had ever seen. Whatever. Ronon wasn't about to ignore the advantage and blasted its head straight off.
John and Cole dropped the headless Wraith and sprinted back into the jumper while cursing and retching respectively. "Close it up!"
Wiping Wraith neck and blood off the side of his face Sheppard turned a furious glare upon Ronon.
"What?"
"What!?" John's incredulous was all the more obvious in the lowly snarled word. "You could have killed us," the Colonel's voice was climbing in both force and anger, "not to mention this whole damn mission was for nothing because you can't follow orders!"
Ronon stared at his superior obviously and honestly flummoxed, but John was to angry to see it. Searching for words Ronon pled his case, "It was a clear shot. I wouldn't..."
"Damn it Ronon! Just one Wraith alive!"
Ronon looked past an irate John, Cole was looking a bit green and digging Wraith neck out of his ear, the other guys wouldn't even look at him, Rodney was clearly aghast, and Teyla appeared sympathetically annoyed... but nowhere was the Wraith he had seen Sheppard drag out of the pile some 20 minutes ago, hadn't Sheppard put it in the jumper. "I..." Ronon's eyes darted around again just to be sure, "I..."
"Just shut up." Sheppard turned his back to Dex and made for the front of the jumper, "Lorne?"
"Sir."
"Keep cloaked and take your jumper a bit more south of the gate. We'll move westerly if needed. Let's sit tight and gate home when it's all clear. This mission was a bust, we'll do it again on another planet without Ronon. Maintain radio silence. Sheppard out."
Teyla stood quietly but as usual noticed everything. Ronon had not meant to anger John, his confusion at John's accusations had turned to hurt and finally anger upon hearing John's words to Evan. Teyla saw him straighten and look straight ahead at the HUD, her mistake was turning to look too.
John's "What the..." kept everyone's attention forward until he growled, "Keep your ass in the jumper! That's an order." but the hatch had never completely opened and was already closing since Ronon had hit the control again on his way out.
Specialist Ronon Dex hit the ground running and firing, four down as he headed for the DHD with Sheppard screaming in his ear. He had to make it, he had already been hit twice, anymore and he'd be done for. Three more down and he was punching in an address. Ronon heard and felt the darts turning, slid his gun to stun and shot two more before gasping into the radio, "There's your Wraith, Sheppard." then he was through the ring with 11 Wraith and 5 darts on his tail.
John literally screamed into the radio while death followed Dex with no mercy, "I'll wait for you. Ronon!" There was no reply and then the gate blinked out.
The silence of utter shock filled both jumpers.
When the burden of command forced the Lt. Colonel to push his own horror aside he glanced at the remainder of his team, Rodney was blanched white and frozen ... no speech meant it was bad, real bad and Teyla looked to be crying silently until she noticed that John was looking at her, then her calm regalness ascended and she whispered, "I will wait as well."
A nod of acknowledgement to Teyla and then John radioed Lorne. "Major get one of the stunned Wraith by the gate and terminate the other one. Once you're ready to go, dial the gate and hold back, until the guys walk through. Teyla, McKay, and I are going to sit tight and wait for Ronon."
