As the Apollo exited hyperspace and became tangled in the same web that had caught the General Hammond just an hour before, Repairs were underwear on the General Hammond. Then Col Carter radioed Col. Ellis to check the status of his ship. "Col. Ellis this is Col Carter" she radioed.
"Col Carter, This is Col Ellis. We are dead in the water but still have life support, communications and weapons." Replied the dark figure on the view screen since almost all of the lights on the Apollo's bridge had gone out or were flickering.
"Abe our communications and our shields are down but we managed to restore sublight engines, however we have found that trying to blow your way through the mine field only draws mines towards the ship as a defensive response" Replied Sam.
"Sam before we broke orbit and entered hyperspace both us and Earth tried to contact you and when we didn't get any reply we assumed the worst. They are going to send the Daedalus as a backup plan just in case something happened. I have already begun to transmit a SOS signal along with a warning to drop out of hyperspace before our coordinates so they don't get stuck like we are. Do you have any ideas on how to get out of here?" asked Col. Ellis
"Well we have been trying to figure that out over here and haven't come up with much of anything. Were concentrating on getting repairs and our shields back up to 100% and have considered punching through but by my estimations we have 25 mines we'd have to get through and 8 of those almost destroyed us so that plan doesn't seem to work very well." Replied the Col.
"Well Sam we will do the same on our end and if you come up with anything let me know" replied Abraham Ellis.
"Col. Carter, would it be possible to take an F-302 and scout the planets for a stargate or perhaps a control station to deactivate the mines?" asked Teal'c. Sam then looked at Cam. "Cam do you think that the F-302's could make it through the minefield?" asked Col. Carter.
"It's worth a shot" He then looked at Teal'c "Me and Teal'c can take one and if we make it through we can have the remaining 15 and the Apollo's 16 follow us through and maybe use the missiles and rail guns to shoot a few of those mines and have the rest chase us and use a nuke as landmines of our own". Said Cam Mitchell
"Cam we need to outfit your F-302 with a sensor pod and external fuel tanks so you'll be able to reach all of the planets" replied Sam
"Aye Aye Captain" Mitchell said as he gave same a slight wink. "Teal'c what do you say we go for a ride"
"I'm right behind you Col Mitchell" exclaimed Teal'c. Cam and Teal'c leave the bridge and head towards the 302 bays. Daniel then looks at Carter and asks "Sam how far from Earth are we?"
"We're 18,750 light years from earth give or take a 100 light years." Replied Sam
"Are we even close to Lucian Alliance territory?" asked Jackson
"No last we knew they were staying to the outer rim of the galaxy" replied Sam.
Teal'c and Cam reach the 302 bay and the fighter is being fitted with the sensor pod and extra fuel tanks as they suit up and climb in. "Sam we are ready to go" said Cam.
"You are clear for launch" said Sam. With that the F-302 left the hanger and headed out into the mine field and weaved in and out between the mines using the sensor pod to locate the cloaked mines. "Sam we have made it through and are on route to the first planet" radioed Mitchell from the illuminated cockpit.
" Were getting ready to launch F-302's with nukes" responded Col. Carter but before she could finish her sentence Major Marks interrupted "Ma'am I'm detecting multiple hyperspace windows at our 12 and 9 o'clock. Then 15 Ha'taks exited hyperspace at 12 o'clock and 30 unknown ships appeared at the 9 o'clock.
"Ma'am I'm ready 15 Ha'taks directly in front of us and 30 ships to the 9 o'clock position" informed Maj. Marks.
"What are those ships at our 9 o'clock major?" responded carter as they stared at the screen on the bridge showing the 45 dots in their front and to their left.
"Ma'am it would appear to be that the fleet consists of two battleships, two carriers, 8 cruisers and 16 destroyers." Replied the Major sitting at his console.
"General Hammond this is Apollo, do you read 45 vessels on sensors?" asked the captain of the Apollo.
"Yes Abe we detect 15 Ha'tak class vessels and 30 unknown vessels which appear to be two battle groups" Replied Samantha Carter. She then turned to Major Marks and said "I want those 302's launched immediately to get us clear of this minefield."
" Yes Ma'am" replied Major Marks and with that 31 F-302's left the Hammond's and Apollo's hanger bays and exited the minefield and launched their nuke tipped missiles into the minefield and opened up a path for the larger ships to exit the minefield. Both ships fired up their engines and the General Hammond led the Apollo out of the minefield and as they exited the mines began to replicate and fill in the holes that the missiles had made. "Apollo you better contact the Daedalus and find out where they are. It looks like were going to need them" said Carter.
"Already Done Colonel" replied Col. Ellis. Then the lead Ha'tak opens a channel and hailed the 2 earth ships.
"Earth vessels you have entered Lucian Alliance Territory, Leave now or be destroyed" is all they heard on their channels.
"Col Ellis we need at least an hour before our hyperdrive is fixed and we are waiting on Teal'c and Col. Mitchell to return from scouting the planets" said Col. Carter
"Roger that Colonel, We should retrieve Colonel Mitchell and Teal'c and get the hell out of here" exclaimed Col. Ellis
"Contact the Daedelus and tell them to wait outside the range of the hyperspace inhibiter and we will meet them there unless things turn ugly." Replied Sam Then the unknown fleet vessels hailed them "You have entered Aschen Confederation Territory prepare to be boarded" is all that the message said. Then Colonel Mitchell radioed back "Same there are Al'kesh all over the place guarding the planets and were picking up massive amounts of kassa crop." The Aschen launched a wave of fighters and bombers towards the Earth battleships.
"Aschen Vessel's we are undergoing repairs and will defend ourselves if necessary" and then she sent a message to the Lucian Alliance Vessels. "Our hyperdrive is currently offline and undergoing repairs and will leave as soon as we have repaired it". The Lucian Alliance and Aschen seemed to form a wall in front of them and were closing in on them like wolves on their prey. The ships opened fire on the earth vessels and the ships shields began to glow as they took hits from the enemy ships. "We can't take this for very long" yelled Marks.
"I know major plot a retreat course and as soon as were out of range of the hyperspace inhibitor let me know" commanded Carter.
"Aye Aye Ma'am" replied the Major and the ship headed away from the enemy fleet alongside the Apollo. Teal'c and Mitchell return and flew into the hanger bay. The earth ships shields were under heavy strain as they were bombarded by enemy fire. Then the Daedalus exited hyperspace and fell behind the two other ships and headed away from the planets as the General Hammond conducted repairs on its hyperdrive.
