22 Hours to Zero Hour…
Deception, a terrible word that has appeared on the reports of many personnel from the Stargate Program of the Tau'ri, yet as the war continues it has almost become an everyday use in the reports. The war criminal known only as Jack is believed to be one of their own, yet the no one could have imagined how deeply his deception would tear apart the fragile balance the Tau'ri Alliance had created on Earth and with its growing list of allies. The almost timely arrival of Jerry and his three Zero Point Modules had created an uneasy feeling amongst the city's inhabitants as several highly classified areas of the ship had been heavily guarded.
Majors McKay and Zelenka stood over the large platform which contained three depleted power cores as they ran the final tests on the three given to them as a gesture of 'Good Faith' between two enemies on the planet Earth. Negotiations between Sheppard and Jerry had taken a turn for the better as he was granted limited access to the city whilst he and his men remained under heavy guard. However, with the clock ticking with news of the approaching enemy fleet they had little choice but to grant Jerry and his people some access within the city. As more of his men arrived by ocean vessels the security within the ancient city stepped up to a point of almost martial law as the former enemy soldiers made their way into secured barracks set aside in an isolated wing of the city for this reason.
As a gift from the Atlantis Command Staff, the newly 'Drafted' Captain Christoph Hilts and his wife Sarah had been given large 'Marital Quarters' formerly owned by the now deceased leader of the facility Richard Woolsey located on the South-East Pier. Although originally intended to be given to General Sheppard himself he rejected the idea many years ago, as he was happy in his quarters within the central tower, which would allow him greater access to the command centre if needed.
Slowly he awoke as the dawn light broke through the long curtains leading to a small balcony overlooking the large Fleet of Naval Vessels permanently stationed around the city, smiling slightly the new officer pulled a long white robe on as he saw his wife standing overlooking the city.
"Hey, when did you get up?"
"I would if I slept" She said darkly. "Do me a favour?"
"Anything…"
"I know a place on the mainland, a beautiful café overlooking the harbour. We're not due on duty today… lets go, Sheppard can give us a boat…"
"Why now? I thought we had a day planned?" He said with a soft voice.
"Ohh no reason, or we could go to my parent's place… granted it's in Iowa… You can fly a Jumper right?"
Quickly he turned her around to face him as concern grew within him.
"What are you talking about?"
"Come on, lets be spontaneous… come on, it'll be fun, it'll be fun, it'll be fun I promise. You know dad loves you, he's been asking for us to go over for a day since we got married"
"Sarah, you're beginning to freak me out. What's gotten into you?" He said with concern.
"What? Me? Nothing… how about Angel Falls?"
"Angel?… that's in Venezuela. Sarah what's going on with you?"
Turning away from him slightly she looked out onto the large fleet before her as she looked back with a dark look in her eyes.
"I'm sorry Chris; you know I love you right?"
"Yeah… Sarah what have you done?"
"Once again… I'm sorry. One day… forgive me?"
"Forgi… what?"
With her left hand she reached up to his shoulder and injected him with a small alien device, shock overcame him as he began to loose consciousness. As he fell, she grabbed him and kissed him softly before dragging him to the bed and throwing him down. Quickly she changed, as he lay unconscious; taking one last look at her husband, she placed a small letter on the bed next to him before leaving there quarters and disappeared into the transporters that lined the city.
20 Hours to Zero Hour…
His large fleet approached Earth as news of the Human Alliance's betrayal reached him, anger built up within him as he looked around the Pel'tak for anything to throw or hit, the crew that Jack had selected for his own personal Flagship was comprised of Jaffa loyal to his cause, mercenaries and members of the Lucian Alliance. Allowing the Tau'ri fleet to take the Space station was a gamble yet it would make a tempting target for the growing enemy fleet, however it seemed that his earthbound allies saw it as a betrayal on his part yet now they appear to have allied themselves with the Atlantis personnel. His agents on Atlantis had confirmed that Jerry had boarded the city with unknown intent, yet knowing Jerry as he did it could not have been to ask for surrender. Darkness came over his eyes as he looked at a Jaffa staffing the weapons platform.
"You, come here"
"Yes my lord" She said with respect.
Smiling slightly at the Jaffa before him, he pulled his gun out of his jacket and shot her four times in the chest. With a deep sigh, he stood and pushed her to the floor as she gargled her own blood, stepping over her he looked at the many Jaffa on the bridge and laughed like a mad man as he spoke.
"Damn that felt good. Who's next? You?" He pointed around the Pel'tak. "No… YOU!"
Laughing he walked towards the human and raised his gun to his head and pushed it between his eyes as he spoke calmly yet with a hint of madness in his voice.
"Clean that shit up… and get me a god damned coffee"
Shaking in his boots the man nodded as his whole body shook in fear, taking one-step back he moved around the unusual young man. As he bent down to grab the Jaffa a voice called out in the room that made him freeze to the spot as the sound of a gun being cocked caught his attention.
"Remove your jacket boy" Jack Yelled. "I like it, give it to me. Your boots too"
"Sir?" He asked nervously.
"Take off your fucking jacket and boots. I like them, give them to me"
"Y-Yes sir"
The frightened man removed his long black leather jacket and matching boots, slowly he threw them towards his commander before dragging the corpse of the Jaffa out of the Pel'tak as Jack pulled on the jack and sat down to remove his own shoes as he spoke.
"Together, we will all bring the Tau'ri to their knees. Something no System Lord has…EVER… been able to do. WE will establish an empire beyond anything the System Lords could have imagined"
"But the Tau'ri… have Atlantis" A Jaffa called out.
"Atlantis… ohh yes, Atlantis. The most POWERFULL weapon ever devised, the Asguard, the Ori not even the SYSTEM Lords themselves would dare take on Atlantis. But its weapons are depleted, its shields are useless and with every ship at the Tau'ri's disposal chasing sensor shadows and false readings… the city is defenceless but for a pitiful Naval fleet, shouldn't be a problem"
"So why do you wish to capture it?"
"Ahh yes… why indeed. What if I was to tell you…" Slowly he looked at his feet and laughed. "Don't fit… damn it. Kill the former owner of these shoes. Where was I? Ahh yes, why. Atlantis maybe defenceless but it does have have two things I want. Groden…"
"Yes my lord" A human called out.
"Assemble your men for transport; I have a few things I want you to pick up. Make them heavily armed, I believe one of them will not come with us quietly"
"Yes my Lord" He said with respect.
Smiling slightly Jack pulled on his own shoes as he walked towards a nearby computer console retrofitted to the inside of the Pel'tak. Pushing a few controls on the computer an image appeared as he smiled slightly.
"This is Colonel Jennifer Anne Cole, Call sign Raven. But she goes by Jenna"
"A woman?" A Jaffa said with respect.
"Yes, she possesses the strongest Ancient Gene on record and that is the key to my plan. My source reports she is currently in isolation for attempting to kill a nurse"
Slowly he ran his fingertips over the image as he smiled and continued, a smile that made a Jaffa next to him shiver slightly.
"Bring her to me, unharmed… I want her unharmed"
"And if she resists?"
"Unharmed moron… do you understand me? No bruises, no cuts… not even a Zat'nik'tel" He said with a darkness in his eyes.
"My lord, I have also seen the file on this woman. Expert in hand to hand combat, explosives, blade weapons, firearms… trained in many different forms of Tau'ri and Alien Martial arts as well as an expert pilot and co-designer of the Hybrid Jumpers currently used by the Tau'ri. She will not come easy"
Quickly he turned and placed his gun under the chin of the Jaffa at his side as he spoke.
"UN-harmed. Do I make myself clear, Jaffa?"
"Yes my lord. May I ask why?"
"You may ask…" He smiled.
"Umm… Why?"
The Jaffa's head exploded as Jack looked around from the side of his eyes and smiled as he wiped the blood off his face.
"Anymore stupid questions? Alrighty then. The rather attractive Colonel is the key to my next phase. I will use her D.N.A to complete a little project I am working on… imagine this, imagine a soldier with the armour of a Kull Warrior, yet the abilities of an Ascended being, she is the key to my plan… after all, I couldn't experiment on myself could I? Okay then. Wait one hour, then bring me the prisoner I want MASTER Bra'tac to witness my victory over the Tau'ri"
"Yes my lord" they all said in unison"
19.5 Hours to Zero Hour…
Nerves had almost begun to fray on Atlantis as more and more private security forces landed on the great city, in the control room the images of faces ran repeatedly on the screen at the rear as McKay worked his console, too his left stood a young man terrified to peer over his shoulder as he worked.
"Look if you're going to shiver in your boots, do it elsewhere, I'm busy"
"Yes sir… sorry sir. It's just…"
"Ohh Just what?"
"It's… a little amazing to see the master at work"
Turning slightly McKay smiled as he looked at the young man.
"Master? Well, yes I guess I am"
"I mean you single headedly defined our knowledge of Atlantis. I'm just in awe that I am this close to you"
"Get over it" A deep voice said from behind them. "He's just a man. Right Major?"
"Ahh Colonel Dex…" Rodney said with no respect.
"He's just pissed that I got a greater rank then him. I'm better paid"
"Ohh that's not it. You're paid more?"
Smiling Ronan looked down at his old friend as he worked his computer.
"Wait… what the hell? General Sheppard to the Control Room…"
"What is it McKay?" Ronan asked.
"Four vessels just appeared out of hyperspace…"
"Raise the shield" He said quickly.
"No, we're being hailed"
An image appeared on the screen behind them as they turned.
"Ronan Dex, it is good to see you again old friend"
"Come for a rematch?" He smirked.
"Indeed… however I have something you may greatly interest you at this time"
"What's that?" Sheppard said as he approached.
"General Sheppard, it is good to see you again"
"You too, what've you got Teal'c?"
"We picked up a distress call from an Al'kesh, once we arrived all we found was wreckage of a Ha'tak"
"Yeah, we know…"
"Indeed… My fleet followed the large ship responsible"
"What about your gift?" Ronan smiled.
Smiling Teal'c pulled a young woman towards him as four Jaffa stood guard around her.
"I believe you know who this is?"
"Teal'c you're a godsend… McKay beam her down. Ronan have some of your guys ready to take our… guest into custody"
"Indeed" He said mocking Teal'c.
"Teal'c, glad you are here, got a lil' job for you… condition of your fleet?"
"We are battle ready, however we have taken on many prisoners and our holding cells are full"
"I'll contact the Pentagon, they'll make space someplace"
"As you wish General Sheppard"