"Sir, we have a message from Trang. He's found them!" Chuck called to MacGregor, who stood in the control room of Atlantis.
"Good! Has he got them?"
"No, sir. He reports numerous Wraith ships. He requests the support of any two other ships and wishes to return. The Major has kept station half way between here and there." Chuck replied.
"Very good. Sam, Atlantis is all yours. Chuck, tell Stewart and Caldwell to go and meet Nightcrawler. I will be following shortly, after making my report."
"Right away, sir!"
Carter looked at her uncle. "What do you need?"
"Well, we rescue first, then we think about an assault, so I don't need anything from here..."
"Incoming wormhole!" the cry went up.
"Damn it! I need to contact Earth and ask for help! This better be quick!"
"It's Major Macara's IDC, sir."
"Open the shield!" MacGregor barked.
A thoroughly tired and sweaty Macara stood with MacGregor, Carter and McKay as they dialed Earth and made their report.
"Will, don't fret. There was nothing you could have done about it. It's a big galaxy..."
"Actually, Pegasus is a dwarf galaxy, considerably smaller than the Milk..." McKay began.
"Is that the dulcet tones of Doctor Rodney McKay I hear?" O'neill asked. "Don't let him near the comms again, please? Now, I hear you Will. We have a leak here, not your fault. But the IOA will not authorise funds for this mission, and the SGC can't spare any personnel without IOA help. We can't give you any men."
"But Jack, how can I assault the Wraith base with what I have? Do you expect me to send fifty Marines to die...?"
"Your assistance should be there about, now..." Jack said dramatically.
Nothing happened, and everyone stared at each other.
"Fine. I will take as many jumpers as I can, and my own Company, and we'll affect a rescue and an assault." Macara spat angrily.
"No, just wait... " O'neill sighed.
"Sir, we have just received a communiqué," Chuck stated. "We have confirmation on the AAS Cuchulainn has just passed the system and is continuing out to Nightcrawler's position."
"About time they showed up. They were starting to make me sound…silly!" O'neill's disembodied voice said lightly. "There was something you were all forgetting, there is once operation the IOA doesn't have full control over; the UKGTF."
"But sir, the Cuchulainn must have left over a fortnight ago. They can possibly have the forces needed aboard..." Macara began.
"No, they don't. In fact, the cheeky devils at UKGTF didn't inform SGC they were sending the Cuchulainn out in the first place. She has her basic crew and carrier complement, with about half her vehicle capacity aboard, but no foot troops."
"Then how..." Sheppard began.
"Colonel, what are we talking through?" Jack waited for the realisation to hit.
"The gate...?" Sheppard struggled.
"Exactly. There are two hundred Royal Marines waiting in the Midway gateroom. They will come through to you and then from there gate to P5X-556. They will rescue the survivors, and then await the arrival of the fleet."
"I should have known you wouldn't let us down, Jack. I'm going to board Frasier and head out. Even with her advanced engines, it will take some time to meet the others."
"Very good, admiral. Oh, you may be interested to know that two CDT teams are heading over with the RMs. Thought you'd like to know. SGC out." Jack said, humming happily.
MacGregor had a fierce look in his eye.
"Major, prepare your company. They will go through with the newly arriving troops. The plan, then people, you will go through the gate, secure the injured and await the arrival of our ships. They will them beam you directly within range of the Wraith base and provide air cover with 401s, whilst the ships and 302's will engage the Wraith fleet and stop any reinforcements arriving. Get that beaming tech, and get our people back!" MacGregor said. He tapped his radio twice, then disappeared aboard the Frasier.
Macara ran from the room to gather his men. Sheppard and Ronon looked at each other.
"We're not missing this." Ronon said, following the major. Sheppard saluted Sam, then also went.
Fifty minutes passed as the troops arrived. Just fewer than two hundred and fifty Marines, twenty security staff including Valenski and Sheppard, stood ready to go through the gate.
"We have confirmation that the fleet will arrive over P5X-556 in thirty-five minutes." Chuck relayed.
"Very good. Dial the gate!" Sheppard called.
The shield went up to keep the 'kawoosh' from killing the personnel within range. With a hum and then a thud, the shield disappeared.
"Move it!" Macara called, plunging into the event horizon first. Sheppard and Ronon followed, with the RMC and CDTs close behind.
Three hours later, the Fraiser and Lorcan were in orbit behind the Wraith planet's minor moon, having rendezvoused with the Nightcrawler and Daedalus. Will conducted a tactical conference with Caldwell, Stewart, Trang and Johansen. Captain Connolly was still in medlab, being looked after. She would recover, but probably not before the attack.
"Damn!" The Admiral cursed. As he took the message from the medical orderly. And his wife wasn't overly helpful either, being transferred to Fraiser from Atlantis and taking over from Colonel Ngyuen in medlab. Tia Ngyuen was hard enough to deal with, getting personnel released from sickbay, but Anne was ten times worse. She had grounded 22 from the Fraiser and 18 from Lorcan, people, especially the ground troops he sorely needed.
"God, why do women have to be so picky over a few scratches." He mused.
Between the four ships though a sizeable air assault could be managed. The Daedalus now had 4 C401's courtesy of Britannia, whom she met en route. So they now had eleven 401's serviceable and thirty-eight 302's, not a lot, but maybe enough if Sam came through with the promised Puddlejumpers. The Fraiser herself will be emptied of all fighters and Tornado's and those split between the other three, she would take on the heavy attack duties before the smaller craft made their run. Only time would tell now.
Will was about to dismiss evryone when a thought occured to him. "We intercepted a message from her on our way in Admiral, Commander Fisher said he had some business to attend to on MXY447." Stephen Caldwell replied. "447? That's deep in the heart of Wraith territory isn't it?" "Yes Sir." Stewart answered "And I think I know what he's doing sir." "And that would be?" "Trying to draw some of thier forces away from here, the Cuchulainn, can make it look like a much bigger attack than it is, it's a good ploy I think sir" "Yes it might be, some other bloody time, but not now. Damned Irish, if he so much as scratches that ship, he'll be an able seaman be his feet touches the deck." Will went to the passageway and grabbed the first rating to pass by. "Lass, get a message to coms, recall the Cuchulainn, immediatley, or the captain will stand court marshall." The young girl almost quivered at MacGregors anger and ran to the coms room in seconds, the message was relayed, and Fisher, none too pleased withdrew, leaving some very angry Wraith behind.
"By the way people, where's the bloody Cuchulainn?"
The strike force was assembled and waiting transport. They were almost two hours over due. The Marines were restless, wanting to get into the fight.
To make things worse, Hailey's beacon hadn't been activated yet.
"Well, major?" Sheppard asked. "What's the word?"
Macara looked at Sheppard. "I would know how, exactly, sir?"
"It's you ship we are waiting on. I figured they would have told you what was going on."
"Do your superiors tell you everything, sir?" Macara asked in return.
"Calm, major, I'm just blowing off…steam" Sheppard said in his usual manner.
Macara kept looking off into the trees. He was getting worried. He fingered the safety on his rifle.
"Major?"
"Sir, I would like to take a team and try to pick up captain Hailey and the others."
"Major, we should hold here until…."
"Me, three men and Ronon. It's not much."
Sheppard thought for a moment. If the fleet came, then they could beam them from whatever location on the planet surface. It wouldn't matter if they were split up.
Or closer to the target.
"No, major. I have a better idea. How far would you put the Wraith base from here?"
"A little under twenty miles, sir. What are you thinking?" Macara was interested suddenly.
"Advance the strike force. Move on the target from here, maybe be able to scope out the area. And with three hundred personnel, we can't miss Hailey if she's still out there."
Macara grinned. "Permission to ready the men, sir?"
"Granted."
Macara gave a genuine smile, before wandering over to a group of NCOs. He muttered to them quietly, and they spread out to find the junior NCOs, who then began spreading the word from section to section.
Valenski readied the security forces, none of whom looked pleased at the twenty five mile trek.
Macara spoke to a group of Marines, Lieutenant Hardy at their fore. The men were all older than the average; veterans, no doubt. Hardy was the youngest there. Another man, an older major, nodded ascent then walked back to the main group of men. He wasn't happy at Macara's rank. He had been promoted in the same year as Nathan, but was older and had earned his promotion properly, not by being jumped up for competence. That wasn't meant to happen in the modern military.
The major and other officers led the Marines into the forest. The section with Macara, lieutenant Hardy and Ronon bounded off quicker than the pace of the rest.
An hour later
"Sir, Cuchulainn should be with us in a little over an hour." The officer called to MacGregor.
"About bloody time. Have the 401's all been loaded with ground-strike ordinance?"
"Aye, sir. We have thirteen battle ready Tornadoes. One was unable to be patched up in time. Also, the various squadron leaders would like to inform you we now have 43 302's, including those from Nightcrawler, Daedalus and Cuchulainn that are battle ready." The young officer replied.
"That's not too bad. We know we outclass the Dart, so that will be a godsend. Okay, give orders to the fleet. Beat to quarters, everyone to battle stations." The Admiral said. An alarm went off briefly, and the ship was abuzz with activity.
Hailey sat in the shelter. The broken rescue-beacon was on the ground – Hailey had activated it a while back, but had noticed only recently it wasn't working.
She could just here multiple footfalls – they were very quiet, almost silent apart from the odd snapping twig, the sound of metal sliding off something, the movement of fabric.
She wanted to go out of their shelter and look, but if it was the Wraith, she would give them away.
Simpson was sleeping again, and Fujiwara was breathing raggedly. She didn't know how much longer he would last with only one working lung.
A crack brought her head up, listening, she gently covered Fujiwara's mouth; enough to let him breathe, but enough to stifle the sound of his rasping breaths.
There were figures coming closer, but she could only make out silhouettes.
Drawing Macara's commando dagger, she braced herself.
Macara and his unit, at 5m spread, moved slowly through the forest, making barely any sound. They had lost sight of Ronon, but Macara had an idea of his whereabouts, like a feeling of presence nearby.
About ten minutes behind them, the rest of the force was moving up quickly.
"Captain!" Macara hissed as he drew near a bit he recognised. "Jen?"
His section came to a halt. Macara looked for the tree with the fern coverings.
Some fronds moved. Then Hailey stood up.
"You took your time," she replied.
Macara watched the USAF captain step out of the hollow, covered in dirt and fern-fronds, diminutive yet frowning madly.
The Ronon chuckled, followed by Macara laughing out loud.
"What? What's so funny?" she demanded, brandishing the dagger.
"Medic!" Macara called through the laughter.
McGregor stalked across the bridge. All they were waiting for now was the Cuchulainn.
"Send in the Nightcrawler under stealth, see if Trang can beam the wounded out. Then we will..."
"Sir, Cuchulainn has arrived." The Rating on the Comms called over.
"About bloody time. Right, orders to fleet, all ships to move at best speed to high orbit. Target the area of the landed Hive and base, and fire railguns before launching 401's with conventional payloads. The 401s will stay on station to provide air cover for the ground units. Daedalus, Fraiser, Lorcan and Nightcrawler will engage the Wraith ships whilst the Cuchulainn will take station and provide a base for the 401s to fuel and arm from. She can lend fire support to the fleet if necessary, but her role is to beam troops around, drop armoured units and beam up the wounded. Take the Hives first, ladies and gentlemen, followed by the Cruisers. Good hunting!" McGregor rapped out the commands, even as his own helmsman brought the Frasier round the side of the moon.
"Okay, stand to! Stand to!" Quincannon was bellowing. "C Coy will be first, followed by G and H Coy! Prepare for immediate action on the other side of beaming!"
The Marines were dropping their Bergens, taking only what they needed to fight with. They had reached an area only three miles from the combat area, where there were significantly more clearings. The Hive itself could be made out from a ridge-line where the tree-cover thinned right out.
"Commander Fisher, beam up Hailey and her wounded, please." Macara spoke quickly.
"No problem, Major. Stand by."
The other Major, Williamson, was issuing orders too.
"I want my support platoon to set up those Starstreaks here, here and here," he pointed to a digital map-tablet, three lieutenants overlooking his commands and nodding. "I want fire support from this ridge to help our fly-boys. Para platoon, set up your machineguns on that ridge," Williamson pointed to a parallel ridge, about 40m lower than the one they were behind and about a mile closer to the enemy.
"When we beam, get set up there. I want fields of fire down into the base area. I want my L115A3 snipers set up there, too. Get used to shooting and moving, because to stand still is inviting a culling beam!" Williamson bellowed as he walked the lines.
Macara watched his men ready themselves.
"WO Spence, I want your CDT teams to rig explosives inside the base once we have achieved retrieval. I know you are now seconded to the UK forces, but this is your area of expertise. Take your teams and get it done," the major said.
"Yes, sir," Wacca gave no arguments. He liked the idea of blowing stuff up.
"Thirty seconds 'til go!" Quincannon shouted.
The first railgun shots struck the ground, shaking it for miles. The Landed Hive took dozens of hits, its engines crippled in the opening moments.
Darts left the bays, numerous craft exploding from hits, and raced into orbit to engage the Earth ships.
"Prepare for beam!" the order came.
Macara took his safety off, and stood ready.
The Bays of the Cuchulainn were bereft of Marines, so there were a few more armoured units than normal. As soon as the go was given, Warrior IFVs, a trio of Scimitars and even two Challengers were beamed onto the planet below, crew already embarked.
Macara's lead companies went to cover as soon as they materialised. The first rounds were being fired as the Wraith guards, reeling from the bombardment, came out of the damage building and Hive.
Macara heard the hum of Asgard beaming tech, and a moment later, British armour lined the area.
Twelve Warriors, three Scimitars and two Challengers waited for orders. The next group of marines appeared too.
"H Company, mount up!" Macara called, and watched as almost one hundred Marines entered the Warriors. The Two challengers took point, and the Warriors followed behind.
The Last Marines and City forces appeared. Machinegun support was screaming in from the ridges, and the troops formed behind the Warriors and Scimitar scouts.
"We could really do with some LRRVs," Wacca said. Macara was inclined to agree.
"Macara to Cuchulainn, any SNATCH Land Rovers aboard?"
"Affirmative. How many required?"
"Three, WMIK mounted preferably" Macara replied.
"On their way." The operator replied.
The sounds of full on battle were beginning to become deafening. The Warriors' Rarden cannons pulped wraith drones, no amount of regenerative capability able to help them. The Challenger's cannon's roared every few moments, signalling the death of a Wraith strong point.
Every now and then, a Marine would go down under a stun blast, and was dragged to the rear. Several Wraith were using the larger blaster cannon seen more and more recently in combat; lethal weapons if the blast was taken full on.
The RM were spreading out behind the Warriors and other armour. Wacca's CDTs sat in the Land Rovers, following close behind.
Macara orchestrated the movements of the battle. It was full of confusion, noise, explosions. Macara snapped his head up as a wave of aircraft came roaring to the attack; 401's, bomb bays open.
This was only just starting.
