Midway Station - Milky Way-Pegasus Galactic Bridge

T-Minus Six Weeks to Geodesic Jump

The Midway Station or Midway as it is called by the Star Forces is one of the Greatest Achievements of the Three Great Races. Designed by Lanteans, taking the form of the Cityship Atlantis, powered by both Asgard and Lantean technologies giving it the teeth to defend not only itself but an entire fleet of ships that could be docked with it and built by the Tua'ri making it one of the biggest projects the people of Earth have ever undertaken.

Midway is not your run of mill space station, as its name suggests it is located at the midway point between to galactic bodies. The galactic bodies are the Milky Way and Pegasus Galaxies, putting the station itself in the void outside of the Galactic Rim. This location was chosen for three primary reasons, the first being defense of Territories in all explored space. Midway's position allows them to monitor nearly one third of each galaxy within range of the galactic void, Midway's sensor range for standard resolution being point five seven GUs 'Galactic Units' or simply put a little over two and a half million light years. Working in tandem with Atlantis in the Pegasus Galaxy, Earth in the Orion Spiral Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy and the Ark located ten thousand light years out side of the Orion Spiral Arm allow the Star Forces a near complete view of Milky Way, Ida and Pegasus Galaxies.

The Second reason just happens to be reason for the Aurora's current mission, the testing of new and unknown technologies, varying from weapons and shields to engines and communications. Any and all new technologies are tested at Midway to allow for larger margins of error in design and functionality than would be considered unsafe inside of a star system. With Midway there is an available void of space where at most only man made bodies exist for thousands of light years in any direction, allowing for far more destructive results to occur with testing new technologies.

The Third and in certain aspects the most important reason for Midway's placement is once again suggested within the name of the station, Milky Way-Pegasus Galactic Bridge. The Station acts as the jump off point for ships and Gate travelers between the two galaxies, by utilizing a series of Gate Repeaters spread out every thousand light years travelers can transit between the Pegasus and Milky Way Stargate Networks with the normal energy usage of standard Interstellar Gate travel. This method allows for travels from worlds that are unable to meet the energy generation requirements for Intergalactic Gate travel, to be able to travel between Galactic Gate Networks as if they were traveling to the neighboring star system.

Because the Midway Station's importance in the Transgalactic theater of operations for both Civilian and Military sectors, the station is equipped with an extensive defense perimeter in which includes the Hyperspace Window Jammer or HWJ system. The HWJ creates a chaotic energy field that forces any ship traveling via hyperspace to drop back to normal space when within a distance of thirty light minutes. Since the majority of space fairing races within the known universe are currently unable to bypass the light speed barrier inside of normal space without succumbing to the affects of temporal dilation this gives Midway over an hour under normal conditions to prepare defenses against threats.

Currently the only known forces within the known universe that are not bound by the light speed barrier laws for normal space, just happens to be the forces that constructed Midway. That still does not mean that ships of the Star Forces can come and go as they please, Midway is used by more than just the Three Great Races, but by any and all whom abide by the rules and regulations of the Midway Station may use Midway itself for exploration and peaceful contact between peoples. Midway at times acts out a Fourth and most vital role in the Transgalactic theme, and that role is the Third Party or Neutral Force that acts to help resolve differences, conflicts and other incidents between star nations. This is why even ships of the Star Forces must drop out of hyperspace no less then thirty light minutes out from the station. Normally ships drop out closer to one light hour out and then contact Midway Traffic Control for permission to enter Midway controlled space, only under emergency conditions will the MTC allow ships to drop out closer to the station than one light hour without lighting them up with the Midway Defense Network targeting systems.

In-fact that is why I am now finding myself returning to the bridge, we will be dropping out of hyperspace at one hour and five light minutes out. For the past week I have been going over the proposed overhaul and refit designs for the Aurora, and so far I am impressed with the improvements that they are going to make. The Aurora is and always will be a warship first and foremost, so the ability to fight on fleet level battles is a must for her. Officially I can not agree to any installation until we have docked at the Midway Construction Yards, but I am more than certain that the Senior Staff will be chomping at the bit to look at the new systems that will be installed into the old girl.

"Colonel, what is our current status?" asking as I sit down in my command chair.

First looking at Charlie, then back to me, "We are approaching the drop-out point, and will arrive within the next fifteen minutes Sir."

"Yep, I heard that they have a new generation engine system for the Aurora, should allow us to hit three five light speed at full military thrust." Charlie says drooling over his controls.

"Mister Polk, did we ask for your opinion or give you permission to speak?" the Colonel not looking to happy with him. I have to admit it is because of Charlie that I have been through seven XOs in the past five years; Christina seems to be the only XO in the entire fleet that can stand Charlie without succumbing to the urge to throw him out an Airlock. I snicker at the look on the Colonel's face, during the first year that the ship served to protect Earth, the entire crew including myself were nothing more than a bunch of civilians playing soldier.

"Leave it be Colonel, you are one of the few whom did not serve aboard ship from day one. We have this understanding that military protocol has its place but only when it is truly called for. Now is not that time, when we are in combat yes, during first contact or diplomatic functions yes, hell docking and leaving dock and yards yes, but not when there is practically nothing going on outside of normal ship operations. How do you think that this ship has made the long haul with her current crew?"

"Commander, Sir; ships in the Star Forces are military vessels and as thus are crewed by military personnel, you yourself hold a military rank, are you telling me we should ignore years of military tradition. Just because the crew has worked together for the past few years?" the Colonel's face is priceless as her asks her question. Of course she knows better, but still this is something that we have been trying to get her to understand for the past eighteen months, ever since she and Keith had gotten married. Her official tour of duty on the Aurora did not start until just last year, the fact that she has lasted as long as she has definitely makes her the primary candidate for a semi-permanent XO.

"Colonel, you already know the answer to that, but let us get back to the matter at hand and that is the overhaul and refit. Yes Charlie, they have a new sublight engine system that will be installed on Aurora. The drive will allow us to reach warp one at full thrust and warp one five at burnout speeds." Even thou the use of Warp drive systems are possible through one of the earlier successful FTL Projects from the Science Council, it was decided that Warp Drive is to slow and to power hungry for wide spread usage.

Some of the species that we have encountered used warp drive as their primary and in a way only means of FTL travel, such as the Vulcans and Klingons. The Asgard had noted the existence of these species but due to the war with the bug-form replicators the Asgard were not able to return to that isolated section of the Milky Way until four years ago. Nearly three thousand years, allowed both worlds to develop their own methods of space flight and FTL.

It was actually a month after the Asgard had managed to get the Charlie Polk into the nebula that isolated this region of space did they detect a ship moving at FTL speeds towards Earth space. The Aurora and her Task Force at the time were ordered to intercept the unknown vessel and initiate First Contact Protocols, imagine the surprise that the alien crew had experienced when a Fleet of Ships easily as big if not bigger than their own version of a warship appeared before them. Even more so, when they learned that the majority of said fleet was built and crewed by a species that they had studied from orbit a little over eighty years ago.

It was classic, the looks they had at the time; trying to understand how a world that they themselves had classified as primitive and thick headed 'at the time' had developed into a space fairing civilization that could easily match them in terms of technology and power. Unlike the Vulcans, the Klingons and other races within the Delphic Nebula had been more accepting of our presence and level of technology, and after the revelation of the Stargate Network would allow those without Warp Drive to be able to reach other star systems and galaxies within their lifetimes, we had to rewrite the Vulcan definition of the word impossible.

"Wow, warp speeds with the sublight drive. The Vulcan Science Directorate must be having a fit over the fact we can reach such speeds so easily." Charlie's smile was a big as his face. Yes, I can see the Vulcans practically ready to scream that this level of technology is impossible, hell they said the hyperspace does not exist and yet we proved them wrong on that from day one.

"Be that as it may, we will have the entire next week to go over the new system designs and interfaces they want to install on the ship. Until then how about we return to normal space and dock at the MCY, Colonel this part I am sure that you will love. Return us to normal space and contact MCY Control." Looking at her, I immediately notice the smile forming on her face; this is where military tradition takes the wheel to dictate our actions.

"Yes Sir; Mister Polk, drop us out of hyperspace and come to full stop. Ensign Corman contact Midway Construction Yards Control and request approach path and docking clearance." Yep, Colonel Hunter is definitely happier right now since we are back to military protocol.

"Yes Sir, dropping out of Hyperspace and coming to full stop." Charlie responds while the normal hyperspace tunnel dissolves back to a view of normal space. As far as the eye can see nothing the only thing within sight is the Midway Station itself with a back drop of the Pegasus galaxy. Even with it being a Dwarf Galaxy Pegasus is still large enough that at seventeen thousand light years away, it still takes up the entire view port on the bridge.

"Uh Sirs, Midway has just ordered us to, um well I think you better hear this yourselves. Putting it up on Main Holo-Screen now." For some reason I get the feeling that Ensign Corman wants to bury her head in the sand.

This is Midway Station to Aurora; you are to shutdown all engines and prepare for immediate towing to dry-dock. Initiate complete shutdown of you hyper-drives and have all weapons and shields on standby, repeat have all weapons and shields on standby.

"Midway this is Aurora, we confirm recent of message and request clarification of orders." even as Colonel Hunter said that, I could tell that she is nervous about something. I can't blame her, to my knowledge no ship has been ordered to shutdown the engines but have the weapons at the ready. It has always been stand-down weapons and have engines at the ready at all times; this is definitely something outside of the norms.

Aurora, Midway Actual here, I request to speak with Aurora Actual on secured scrambled line.

I look to Ensign Corman, confirming for her to transfer it to my office as I leave the bridge to Colonel Hunter. Perhaps Midway Actual has some news that will explain what is going on here. Luckily my office is right next to the bridge and as I enter, "Computer, active Priority Scramble Line set to secure mode and open to Midway link in use."

"Midway Actual, Aurora Actual here go head"

Aurora Actual, can you confirm line is secured?

"Line is secured go head Midway Actual."

Phoenix, something odd is going on, and I don't mean the sudden change in the Aurora's time table for refit.

"What's going on, why have us shutdown engines, but have weapons at the ready?

Doesn't make much sense considering our current position in the galactic void."

The damn thing just showed up a few minutes ago, appeared right off of the stations shield perimeter without any warning. Strange SOB just puffed in without issue, bypassing the HWJ like it doesn't exist. It scared the hell out of everyone and that's not the worse of it, damn thing looks like something from the old TV series… what was it, oh yeah Battlestar Galactica from the late seventies.

"Will, are you talking about a ship? One that was imagined over forty years ago for story telling isn't that a little odd if not insane. Admitted the ability to bypass the HWJ is disturbing but still, to pop up just outside of the shields and then just sit there. No shooting, no contact, no leaving just sit there?"

I know and then there is this.

As he said that a new image appeared on the Holo-Screen, if I didn't know any better I would claim that we had just had first contact with the Cylons from the old Battlestar Galactica Series. There was just one thing that seems off about the whole thing, and that was the writing on the ship itself, it conformed to Standard English. Suddenly a thought hit me, for years people on Earth were certain that Klingons and Vulcans were fictional species, hell to an extent people Earth side thought that all aliens were fictional.

"Will, can you get someone out here to bring us in to the station. I would feel better if we can use the Aurora incase that thing tries shooting at anyone."

I already have, they should be in place to tracker you in momentarily. But still these guys have everyone here on edge, I just don't like it. They could at least say something to us, anything including "Now you Die", but this silence is worst than anything I can think of.

"Will, have you heard about the Geodesic Fold Drive?"

Yes, Aurora was going to test the thing out right? What about it, something to do with this?

"Possible Will, very possible; Contact Professor Willings and General Ronson, looks like Willings is going to get a major upgrade to his project and Ronson a major headache."

Phoenix, what is this? What in all of the Hells of the Universe is going on here, and why will Willings and Ronson need to be involved beyond the normal reports?

"Because Will, I think we have a First Contact Situation here."

First Contact, that I understand, but first contact with whom?

"Will, depending on what we find in that ship, we could end up entering into a whole new war."

War, war with who Phoenix?

"Will, that ship could very possibly belong to a race of sentient machines."

Who Phoenix?

"The Cylons"