Colorado Springs, Colorado
Stargate Command
Gate Room
Three Hours Later
SG-1, SG-M, SG-3, SG-7, SG-9, SG-22, and Jacob Carter were standing in the gate room. With them were four MALPS and three FREDs loaded with gear, including two of the fully charged ZPMs and one of the others. Even with the help of magic, the expedition was bringing a lot of gear.
"Sergeant, dial Atlantis." Hammond ordered.
"…Chevron Eight…Locked…Wormhole engaged." Walter Harriman said.
"Major O'Neill, send thru the MALP." Hammond ordered.
Sam took the controls and sent the MALP thru the wormhole. A few seconds later, video and sensor readings were being shown on the screens in the control room.
Daniel, who had been in the room watching looked at the images and spoke "It's not flooded yet; it looks like the stairs lead to a control area."
"Major, is it breathable?" Hammond asked.
"Sensors show oxygen levels are at decent levels. I would suggest bubblehead charms though. If no one has been there in ten thousand years, it might be a little stale." Sam said.
"Roc, can you establish a connection with the computers on the other side?"
"Trying now sir" Roc's voice said.
Though it had only been a week since Roc was activated, Hammond could not imagine the SGC without him. He was knowledgeable, kind, and could take notes and make reports better than anyone Hammond had ever known.
"Sir, I have accessed a computer on the other side of the wormhole. According to the identification code, my databanks list it as a small backup module on Atlantis. It is a standalone unit, though it's sensors are tied into many of the other systems for monitoring only. Power levels throughout the city are low, but it is safe for the time being."
"What about the main computers?" Sam asked.
"Unknown. It is possible that this unit was placed to give the Alterrans who returned to Earth a way to check on the city without the power drain of the main computer." Roc responded.
"Colonel O'Neill, Lord Gryffindor, you have a go." Hammond said.
Harry turned to Albus, who stayed to watch everyone off. "You have command of Hogwarts, Headmaster. We have alittle more than eight days until Anubis gets here. Alert the Queen and get everyone ready for a possible long fight. Make sure that if Anubis does show up, that you guys leave something of him for us."
"I make no promises. From what Charlie said in his last letter, Crenth is looking forward to the hunt." Albus said smiling.
Harry and Ginny hugged the Headmaster before stepping out of the Control Room. "I hate to see them go into the unknown." Albus said to George who was still standing behind Walter.
"I do it all the time Albus. Trust me, it doesn't get any easier. But remember this: that group is the best trained, best equipped, bravest, cleverest, smartest, most loyal, most sarcastic, and luckiest group of people I have ever seen. They'll be fine." George said.
"I hope so. If anything happens to them, Minerva will kill me." Albus said.
"And don't forget Molly and Poppy too." George said.
Pegasus Galaxy
Alterran City of Atlantis
Gate Room
As the groups stepped out of the gate, the first thing they noticed was that the systems seemed to be starting up by themselves. Sam, Daniel, Jacob, and Hermione were already heading up to the Command Center to find where the ZPMs were located.
"Colonel, Harry, keep everyone in the room. The power levels are so low that the city shield has shrunk in size in order to protect this tower. I do not want this shield to fail!" Sam said from one of the control panels.
"All teams, this is Sierra Gulf Alpha, do not proceed out of the gate room. SG-3 and 9 take inventory of our supplies, SG-7 perimeter search, SG-22 watch the gate, SG-M, do whatever you guys do with magic." Jack ordered thru his radio.
After getting affirmatives, Jack moved to the control center. "What have we got people?"
"The gate is still active, I would like to try and get Roc to connect with us." Sam said.
"How long do we have the gate for?"
"If the power holds, nineteen minutes."
"Do it."
"Sierra Gulf Central, this is Sierra Gulf Beta. We are thru the gate, but could use some help from Roc." Sam said thru her radio..
"Major O'Neill, General Hammond has authorized my help. I am connecting to your laptop now" Said Roc thru the radio.
"You're in Roc. Can you try to activate the main computer, or more importantly the schematics of the city?" Sam asked.
"City Schematics are up; we're looking for a route to the Power Distribution Center. The most direct way is already submerged." Roc said thru the speakers on the computer.
"Major, you should look at this." Hermione said from another station.
"Not only does the city run off of ZPM energy, there are various points where we can tie in Naquada Generators to power some systems as well as a bunch of solar panels and it looks like these towers can channel lightning straight into the power grid." Hermione said pointing to a number of spires that were spread throughout the city.
Sam nodded "Great anything else?"
"Yes. The city is clamped to the ocean floor by use of an electromagnetic magnet. If we can deactivate the clamping system, the power can be used to power the shields and give us more time to get the ZPMs put in." Hermione said.
"Any idea about what's on the surface?" Jack asked.
Harry and Ginny were already dropping into meditative states and expanding their awareness to check out the planet. After a few moments, Ginny spoke. "There are whales and other wildlife, but no humans and no technology on the planet or in orbit except for some Alterran Satellites that seem to be dead in space."
"Hermione, prepare to release the clamps." Jack ordered.
"Atlantis, gate time is at twenty five minutes thirty seconds. General Hammond ordered check in four hours." Roc said.
"Understood Roc; talk to you in four hours." Jack said as the gate powered down.
"Colonel, Major, we're ready to release the clamps. The shield is down to eight percent." Hermione said.
"Do it Hermione." Sam told the girl before jumping on her radio, "Everyone brace for sudden rise, grab hold of something solid."
"Ron, you need to use the third terminal and type in the code I give you." Hermione said.
"Ready dear" Ron said.
"Alpha, alpha, blue, seven, tango." Hermione said.
Ron entered the code and then waited for Hermione. "Confirmed, here we go." Hermione hit the release button and the city started to rise.
"Hermione, we are rising at one hundred feet a second." Ron said. "We should be breaking the surface in thirty seconds."
Harry took a few seconds to do the math and then it hit him. "We are over three thousand feet deep?"
"Yep. Hold tight, breaking the surface…now!" Ron said.
Suddenly the great city of Atlantis broke thru the surface of the water, light glistening off the shield and the tall spires.
"Automated systems are opening the solar panels; we have power entering the city." Hermione said as Sam watched the displays over her shoulder.
"Harry, can you flame to the PDC?" Jack asked.
"Hermione, do you have coordinates?" Harry asked.
"I have something better. At the end of the hallway below us is what looks like a closet. It is really a transport of some sort. It will take us to the Power Distribution Center." Sam said.
"Carter, guide us. SG-3, 7, and 22 deploy thru the city. Radio checks with Operations here every fifteen minutes. SG-9, you're with me and Phoenix Alpha." Jack said.
"Alright Sam, we've removed the old ZPMs and are ready to install the two new ones. Should we install one of the others too?" Remus asked.
"Yes." Sam replied.
Remus did as he was told and soon the three ZPMs were installed. "Operations, we're ready here." Remus said.
"Powering up Atlantis" Sam said. A moment later, the great city started to come to life.
"Carter, I'm sending Remus and Hermione back to you. I need answers about how to get this place moving. We're going to explore. Tell all teams to meet back at Stargate Operations in four hours." Jack ordered.
"Understood; Dad wants to know if you want to go to the Throne Chair. He found it." Sam said.
"Guide us."
"I can do you one better Jack." Jacob said "Look to your left. You should see a panel, open it, inside is an Alterran PDA. It will interface with Atlantis and give you all the info you need."
"Sweet."