Author's Note: I'd like to apologize for a significant blunder in the previous chapter. As I was rereading it, I noticed that Meredith went from calling it a ZedPM to calling it a ZPM. Oh, the horror! Meredith was supposed to be taught most of what she knew from her father, so it should have been ZedPM. If no one noticed, then carry on! Otherwise, I apologize. I also apologize, again, for any grammatical or spelling errors. I don't use a beta, but I noticed that I sometimes forget whole words.

Another Note: At one point, Westley signs off as S.O. Dex. In case you bloody brilliant people can't figure it out, it means Special Operative.

Thanks for not being rude about any mistakes everyone- I really appreciate it. I also, as always, appreciate you taking you time to read the stories of the Stargate Programs best children.

Tally ho! The end approaches!

*Araden*

Araden bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from groaning at the pain. After Tera had performed a complicated surgery and blood transfusion on her foot, she had woken to the most pain she had ever felt in her life- even more than when the Russian mob had chased her and Westley across Spain and she had sustained a knife to her thigh (Don't ask).

Though Araden's pride and ego would never let her admit it, she was secretly touched at Tera's role in the surgery, and her subsequent accompaniment of Araden onto the Kasaran Mothership. Tera had seemed gruff and angry at first, stalking around, not bothering to be quiet, but now that they had found the ZPMs, Tera was looking at them with near reverence, admiring the orange-gold glow.

"So, Araden, can we take them?" Westley came up next to her, almost startling her. She blinked a little before looking back at the tablet she held for reference. She had run several procedures and programs to determine the amount of power in the ZPMs, and it was fairly substantial. Should they take these ZPMs, the shield on Atlantis would be able to last for days, under fire.

She nodded, but was about to say something else when Lieutenant Brand reached forwards and pushed the buttons that ejected the several ZPMs. She gasped in horror as a laser beam immediately hit him between the eyes and he crumpled to the ground.

Tera ran to the Lieutenant, but her face fell and she closed her eyes. Westley blinked, but as a hissing sound started, and an alarm soon followed, he grabbed the three crystals and pulled Sergeants Tooley and Davidson towards the door. Tera began dragging Brand's body with the help of Lieutenant Burns, but Araden called for Tera over the wailing alarm.

"There's no time, Dr. Mal Doran! The door is closing!" Araden yanked up Tera and scrambled to the door, sliding under with her practiced ease. Tera was inching her way under, but Araden could see her coughing at the poisonous gas that had begun to fill the room. Araden dropped the tablet; sure it could sustain itself with the magnetic force, and used her strong arms to pull Tera through. Tera continued to cough, but motioned at the doorway. The door was almost closed, but Araden could see the slumped figure of Lieutenant Burns right inside to doorway. Tera dived for his hand and began to pull him to the doorway, but the door was almost shut. The door began to fall down on her arm, and Araden pulled her out as fast as she could, but not before she heard a crack.

When Araden's head finally cleared from the gas from the room, she felt Westley helping her up. Next to her, Tera was cradling what looked like a broken arm, eyes wide with shock. Sergeants Tooley and Davidson were leaning against the opposite wall, glaring at the door that had closed two of their team members off from them.

The alarm was still wailing, and as Westley seemed to be the only one moderately clear headed, he put the ZPMs into a large black sack, and motioned for them all to follow him, guns out.

Araden helped Tera down the hall, who was still cradling her broken arm, and a small tear slipped out of the corner of her eye, something she had not allowed herself to do since the age of ten.

*Jack*

"Dammit, Westley!" Jack pounded the nearest device near him- which again happened to be the DHD- and encoded three chevrons. Chet looked at him ruefully before disengaging the Gate.

The whole Control Room heard Westley sigh sadly. "We just can't go on, Major, sir. Tera had a broken arm and two of our men are dead. We thought taking the ZPMs would disable the ship, but they clearly have a back up energy supply. Araden thinks she can sabotage this ship, and then we're coming back. S.O. Dex out."

Jack groaned, then looked angrily around the Control Room, where the personnel were all awaiting his instructions. "Go on, then!" He grumbled, and they all returned to what they had been doing, avoiding his eyes.

"Major O'Neill, sir." Jack gave Chet a lazy glance. "The Orpheus is requesting a secure channel." Jack leaned over Chet as he engaged the channel and swiveled the screen o face Jack.

Jack blinked at the scene in front of him. Lt. Colonel Lincoln was surrounded by several fires and sparking gadgets. "Major O'Neill! The Orpheus' shield has collapsed and both our weapons and hyperdrive are offline. I'm beaming my crew onto The Firebird and The Swan Lake and then beaming myself down!" He batted away at a fire beginning to grow on his shirt sleeve."Fortunately, sir, we've managed to take out three more ships! Colonel Lincoln out."

Jack didn't even bother moving, just studying Chet's expression of sadness breeded with confusion before trying to copy it. He furrowed his brow and crossed his eyes, before screwing his nose up and opening his mouth in a typical what-is-going-on expression. He didn't know why he did it, but Chet happened to glance at him and now looked thoroughly confused.

"Um, Major, sir, are you alright?"

Jack straightened his face before standing up and brushing off his uniform. "Of course, Chet, I'm fine. What makes you think otherwise?"

Chet looked puzzled before copying the look that Jack had copied from him. "You made this face, sir."

Jack gave him an amused expression. "Did I?" He said, raising his eyebrow. Chet opened his mouth to say something else, but Jack turned around and walked to where Colonel Lincoln had beamed in.

"Thirteen, sir, thirteen." Was all the charred Reed Lincoln said. Jack nodded.

"How much longer do you think The Firebird and The Swan Lake can hold up?"

Lt. Colonel Lincoln took off his hat and brushed some ashes from it before looking nervously at Jack. "The Firebird, not all that long. Maybe a few hours at the most. Their hyperdrive is out. The Swan Lake is doing well, however. They still have their hyperdrive."

Jack looked confused. "Why are the Kasarans targeting your hyperdrives?"

Lincoln looked pained at having to say his next words. "Well, sir, it was Colonel… Archa's idea, really. Pretty good, too." He mumbled, not willing to speak highly of his adversary. Jack looked at him pointedly, and Lincoln continued on. "Yes, she had read a mission report… where a Traveler ship with General Sheppard on board had been faced with a ship that opened up a hyperdrive window, flew through it, and dropped back out of hyperspace only a few seconds later, virtually reappearing behind the Traveler ship. Colonel… Archa… um… decided to use the same idea on the Kasarans. They were not pleased."

Jack had to laugh at Kathryn Archa's creativity. That woman was something. If they ever made it out of this mess, he would have to arrange an… ahem… professional meeting between the two of them.

Jack nodded for the Colonel to go clean up, before walking onto the balcony. He arrived in time to see two more Kasaran ships explode, and throwing back his head, he laughed a long laugh, sure that the entire Control Room personnel must think he was nuts, something that only made him laugh harder.