— Thor's Slayers —

Chapter Ten

Big Honkin' Space Guns

Author's Notes: I promised that I wouldn't forget this story and I meant it! It doesn't look like I'll finish the story on the timetable I'd originally set, but damn it, it will be finished. There are going to be a lot of departures between this chapter and the events portrayed in the TV show, some minor and some major, and I hope they meet your approval

On an unrelated note, I'd like to state that while I don't regret adding in the B/F pairing to the story, I do regret making it as prominent as it is. In truth, I kinda wish that I'd ended Thor's Slayers at the end of the second part, where it concluded with an acknowledgement of B/F's relationship without overdoing it (as I've done since that point), and had a hopeful ending that was left open to explore with your imagination. Oh well.

#

April 20th, 2006
Atlantis

"At ease, Major," Colonel Sumner ordered after returning the younger man's crisp salute. "Take a seat."

"Sir," Henry Boyd acknowledged, relaxing his stance and letting his hand drop from the salute. Taking a chair opposite Doctor Elizabeth Weir and Sumner in the office overlooking the Stargate, he ignored the mob of people and activity below and gave the Marine colonel his full attention.

"Major...how did the SGC manage this? I thought the Stargate couldn't be power—" Weir trailed off instantly, eyes rounding.

"You found a ZPM," Sumner surmised, sitting straighter as the import of that fact sank in. "Can we expect additional reinforcements in the immediate future?"

"We did find a ZPM, yes." Boyd smiled. "When we received those videos from y'all, well, General O'Neill was quite adamant that we send you some backup, despite some political reservations expressed vigorously by various governments. More reinforcements can be expected in four days when the USS Daedalus arrives."

"Four days?" Weir marveled, shaking her head in disbelief. Then, raising an eyebrow and cocking her head, she guessed, "The ZPM?"

Boyd nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

Sumner grimaced. "Unfortunately, Major Boyd, four days might as well be four centuries. We have less than a day until three Wraith Hive ships drop into the system and our ability to defend ourselves is extremely limited."

"That's the impression General O'Neill received," Boyd sighed. After a moment passed, he gave the older man a questioning look. "For confirmation, we are still operating on the assumption that their objective is to capture Atlantis rather than outright destroying it?"

"Correct," Dr. Weir confirmed. "One of the indigenous humans in Pegasus who has played a critical role in the success of this expedition has a...link to their telepathic network. She was able to discern a portion of their plan and that they intended to capture Atlantis for the purpose of using it to access the Milky Way."

"The only thing that's held me back from ordering a full scale evacuation is the hope that we might reactivate a defense satellite we recently discovered in this system. Several of the scientists well-versed in Ancient technology believe that it's capable of destroying a Wraith Hive ship," Sumner explained, "but even if that's the case, we're out of ideas for dealing with any ships that escape or bypass it. Without any other options, we were intending on using the satellite to destroy as many of their ships as possible before activating the self-destruct mechanism and evacuating to the Alpha site."

Boyd frowned, tapping the glass desk with a stylus he'd withdrawn to take notes. "What are our chances that the satellite will be operational by the time they arrive?"

Sumner turned to Weir, surrendering to her authority as the greater expert on this particular matter.

Weir gave him a faint smile before facing the Air Force officer. "Major Boyd, We have our best people on the job and they've all expressed confidence that they'll be finished by the time the Wraith arrive. As I understand it, the satellite is in excellent physical condition and it's merely a matter of providing sufficient power and bringing the systems back online."

"Merely?" Boyd echoed.

"Doctors McKay and Zelenka were able to install a Naquadah generator on board the defense satellite and have already begun the process of reactivating it. What remains to be seen is whether there will be any sort of incompatibility in the energy transfer process that's discovered only when the weapon is activated or if what little physical damage they did find will inhibit system functionality."

Pursing his lips, Boyd glanced through the office window at the crates of supplies and gear left near the Stargate. "Most of our heavy equipment," he began, "is intended for surface to air engagement, not for space operations. However, we do have eight 1200 megaton nuclear warheads that have been prepared for use as space mines."

Dr. Weir and Col. Sumner's identical expressions of disbelief drew a light chuckle from Boyd.

Weir recovered first, snapping her mouth shut and leaning forward with an intense expression. "That amount of firepower alone would be sufficient to destroy all three Hive ships."

"It would be," Sumner agreed more hesitantly. "Are these mines detonated by remote, timers or proximity?"

"They're currently set to detonate based on proximity. Setting them to detonate remotely would be problematic; because of the time constraints in delivering them to you, they weren't equipped to handle any advanced communications device. Doing so by radio signal would be impractical at best, ineffective at worse. Setting them to a timed detonation presents even greater risk; even the slightest decrease or increase of the Hive ships' speed might result in them detonating prematurely or belatedly," Boyd explained before giving them a weak smile. "Lieutenant Colonel Carter made me practice saying all that."

Weir smiled faintly. "In that case, our plan is largely unchanged, we should focus on utilizing the satellite first and deploy the mines only after we've determined the surviving Wraith ships' navigational course. If more than one Hive ship survives their encounter with the satellite, losing a ship to those mines might result in the others taking a more cautious approach to avoid any surprises," Weir pointed.

"Once they know that the mines are there, they'll almost certainly be able to avoid them. It's doubtful we'd manage to destroy more than one once they start moving a little more cautiously," Sumner paused, looking thoughtful. "Then again, even if we're unable to stop the Wraith after they pass the minefield, that caution will slow them down and give the Daedalus that much more time to get here in time."

With a shrug, Boyd waved a lazy hand at the equipment in the Gate room. "Operating space mines isn't exactly my specialty, I'm only reporting what Lt. Col. Carter advised me to. That being said, I can tell you a little more about the other resources that accompanied me through the Stargate. Along with the rest of SG-10, I brought you a half company of extremely well-equipped Marines, a large number of Stinger missiles and a full battery of railguns, the same model as those installed on board the Prometheus."

Sumner let out a low whistle. "I'm impressed, Major. You weren't exaggerating on surface-to-air defenses, were you? I look forward to seeing them deployed, though I'll admit that I'd rather not be forced to see them in action. I'll be overseeing operations from command and control, but both you and Major Sheppard will be charged with coordinating the initial defensive preparations on Atlantis. I'll be issuing our formal orders later, but I'd recommend that you meet with Sheppard at your earliest convenience. Decisions regarding the satellite and the deployment of the space mines will fall to both Dr. Weir and myself."

"Yes, sir," Henry Boyd acknowledged.

"If that's all, Major, go ahead and contact Sergeant Bates; he's in the C&C right now. He'll see to it that you and your people are given accommodations and any necessary equipment. I want to see you back in this office in three hours to continue discussing our options."

Knowing a dismissal when he heard one, Boyd stood up straight and saluted. "Yes, sir." Walking toward the now open door, he was just about to cross the threshold of the office when Colonel Sumner's voice called out from behind him.

"And Major? I believe there are two young women who would enjoy catching up with you. After your men are settled, of course."

Boyd grinned at the expectant faces of his team before he glanced over his shoulder to look at the ever-solemn colonel, unable to conceal his own delighted smile. "Of course, sir."

"So where are they?" Jessica McLeod whined.

And it was a whine, Boyd thought bemusedly, and it was even more evidence of how their lives had changed when Faith had fallen into SG-10's collective lap. The two brunettes were as different as night and day, one a scientist and the other a warrior, but both had somehow found enough common ground to become fast friends. So much so that Jessica McLeod, acclaimed scientist with a genius level IQ, would whine over Faith's nonappearance.

Captain Watts shrugged. "Sgt. Bates reported they were in the gym."

"And yet," Jessica growled, waving a hand at the empty gym, "they aren't."

"Honestly, you mouthbreathers would be dead meat if you were in the field. Hell, Jess ain't military but the rest of you don't have that excuse; you're acting like greenies fresh from boot!"

Boyd snorted in amusement, somehow unsurprised as the familiar voice echoed throughout the gym. Letting out a sigh of resignation, he ruefully craned his head upwards. Rookie mistake, indeed.

Hands and legs fully extended like an "X", Faith grinned down at them as she hung suspended from at least 25 feet above them. Wedged between two crossbeams running across the ceiling of the gym, it looked as if a mild breeze would've been enough to dislodge her from her precarious position, but she seemed as steady as a rock.

Henry sighed once again, in self-recrimination this time. He really should've looked up; more than a few of their paintball games had been won by Faith's ability to be where no person should be able to be.

Despite the smile blossoming on the scientist's face, Jessica still voiced Henry's musings aloud with an indignant huff. "How did you even get up there?"

Watts snorted as he, too, stared up at Faith. "More importantly, why would you even go up there?"

"She wanted to see how sloppy you became without her being there to keep you on your toes," a quiet voice breathed.

Boyd barely stopped himself from jumping about five feet in the air and squealing like a three year-old girl when that feminine voice whispered into his ear. Her mouth had been so close to his ear that the warmth of her breath had made his skin prickle and evinced just how deadly both of the unassuming girls truly were. Hell, he'd known that a long time before Bates had told him all the stories floating around Atlantis about their two lethal "civvies."

Roger, on the other hand, didn't possess the same sturdy constitution that he did. A noise that sounded suspiciously like an "eep" escaped the other man's mouth before he stumbled away and collided with Jessica, bringing the pair down onto the hard gym floor in a tangle of flailing limbs.

Buffy stepped back with a grin, giving Boyd some space as he turned around with a raised eyebrow. Aiming for a nonchalance he felt sure was transparent, he gave her a smile as he looked her over. "Miss Summers, you're looking rather well. I admit that I hadn't imagined the two of you scheming to concoct such a welcome party. Truthfully, now I'm just terrified of what else you have in store for us."

Standing up and hurriedly brushing his dark-green uniform off, Roger ignored Buffy's proffered hand and engulfed her in a massive hug. "Good to see you again, blondie! Keepin' Faith on the straight and narrow?"

"The 'straight' part is highly questionable," Faith shouted with a laugh.

Boyd and Jessica gave each other an amused smile at that and shook their heads up at the Bostonian girl.

Ignoring the peanut gallery, Buffy disengaged with the enthusiastic captain and glanced upward at the smiling brunette above them, Buffy smirked. "She's a regular old softy, you just need to know how to handle her properly."

Jessica grinned, following Buffy's gaze. "And I bet you know exactly how to handle her, am I right?" Like Roger, she went in for the hug, whispering in Buffy's ear, "Thanks for taking care of her."

Briefly tightening her hug, Buffy nodded against the brunette scientist's head. "It was all our pleasure," she whispered back.

Jessica snorted and stepped back. "Yes, I bet it was." Looking up, Jessica cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, "Hey, you gettin' your butt down here anytime soon or are we going to have to come get you?"

"Erm, should we bring a ladder—" Roger stopped mid-sentence, eyes widening as Faith pulled her limbs in and fell toward the ground as if she were swan diving into a pool.

Henry Boyd had seen her perform similar stunts before and just like then, his heart leaped into his throat as Faith's body fell victim to gravity. And, just like the previous times, wasn't entirely surprised when the small brunette managed to come out without so much as a wince. Landing at a crouch, she slowly drew herself up as she examined SG-10 with a critical eye. Looking them each up and down, she suddenly grinned and launched herself at Jessica, tackling the other woman and bringing her back down onto the floor with a laugh.

Scrambling to her feet, Faith hurriedly grabbed Henry and Roger and wrapped them both in a hug and giving them each a wet kiss on the cheek. "Welcome to Atlantis, guys, you came just in time to kill some bad guys!"

Buffy nudged her with an elbow.

"And it's good to see you," Faith added dutifully.

"Ditto," Buffy grinned, giving Boyd an overdue hug.

"Atlantis is pretty impressive so far, but I wish I could visit under different circumstances to take it all in," Boyd said softly.

Buffy made a face. "Ugh, the Wraith."

Boyd gave her a half-smile. "Yes, them."

"Hey, Hank, how did you convince Heather to let you out of the house? And for that matter, how did Lucy take it?" Faith asked.

Henry grimaced.

Faith winced. "That bad?"

Boyd nodded unhappily. "Being trapped for years in the event horizon of a black hole doesn't make me any less of a soldier and I still serve at Uncle Sam's pleasure. Also, you needed your butt rescued and I couldn't let the opportunity to hold this over you pass by."

"So, word on the street is that you brought a bunch of big guns and a whole bunch of marines...what now?" Buffy asked.

"Now," Jessica replied, "it's up to us geeks to even up the odds as best we can. Doctors McKay, Zelenka, Grodin and your friend, Winifred Burkle, are up there on that satellite. If we're lucky, they'll have that thing running and even up the odds by taking out some of those Hive ships."

"In the meantime, under the direction of Major Sheppard, our good major here," Roger indicated Boyd, "has us planning to fortify the place as best we can. The railguns are nearly in position and the emplacements themselves are being fortified like a pillbox. Knowing that if they make it pass the mines that their destination will ultimately be the Stargate itself, means that we can plan an effective layered defense without difficulty."

Glancing at the doorway to make sure they were alone, the captain stepped closer to the two girls and lowered his voice. "We've been told that you've seen quite a bit of action with the Wraith, that you were largely responsible for rescuing Colonel Sumner. Give it to me straight, about the Wraith, I mean."

"We can't win a straight-up fight," Buffy said flatly. "It doesn't matter if there's one Hive ship or 100 Hive ships out there because it'll only take one to take us all out. When we entered one of their smaller cruisers, we were able to confirm that had upwards of 1,000 Wraith on board. But those Hive ships? Try tens of thousands."

"Not to mention that they don't mind throwing themselves through a grinder to get what they want," Faith muttered. "A war of attrition don't mean shit to them when they use those drones of theirs as meat shields."

"Long story short, if just one Hive ship makes it through, then it's just a matter of how long we want to fight it out before we evacuate. And then there's the fact that if they decide we're too much trouble, they'll just blow us up from space," Buffy finished, crossing her arms with a decidedly unhappy expression.

"How lovely, so glad we came," Watts deadpanned. Looking to Henry, he asked plaintively, "Can we go home, now?"

Jessica huffed out a breath. "What about the Wraith themselves? We heard a bit about the drones, but...?"

"They get real handsy," Faith answered blandly, "except instead of feeling uncomfortable and possibly violated, you'll suffer a slow death as the Wraith drains your life away until you're nothing but a withered husk. Super strong, fast, a bitch and a half to kill and equipped with superior firepower and technology."

"Huh," Watts scowled, "don't they just sound like a whole bundle of fun."

"It gets better," Buffy promised. "The ones with masks are pretty simple: big, strong and with a dash of sadism. The ones that don't have masks have the creepy-scary thing going for them." Looking bemused, Buffy elaborated, "they're all horror movie, stalker-esque B movie villains, complete with filed teeth, excessive sneering and lame insults."

Boyd hummed. "Well, those "villains" of yours are going to be dropping out of hyperspace in less than ten hours and will be in firing range of the satellite in nine. We need to hold out for just under four days, ladies, and then the Daedalus will be here to save our collective keisters."

The best description of Buffy and Faith's expression could be summarized as dubious.

"Speaking of the satellite: you said she was smart, but I didn't know your girl Burkle was enough of a hotshot to be part of the team working on the satellite. Think she, McKay and...?" Jessica paused, giving Boyd a sidelong, pleading look.

"McKay, Grodin and Zelenka."

Jessica nodded firmly, gratefully patting her superior officer on the arm. "Yes. Them. Do you think they can do it?"

Faith and Buffy gave each other a look before turning to face SG-10.

The brown-haired Slayer gave a half-shrug with a tight-lipped smile. "Clock is tickin', but if anyone can—"

"—they can," Buffy finished with an affirming nod.

"Well, okay then. Sure hope you're right," Watts murmured. "Come on, ladies, we need your help to do some heavy lifting."

Jessica gave the two Slayers a smirk. "Yeah, those railguns won't move themselves."

Faith perked up. "I get to play with the railguns?"

Boyd felt slapping his face into his palm. "Faith, railguns are not to play with."

April 20th, 2006
Ancient Lagrange Point satellite

"Alright...I think this thing is...just...about..."

A shudder ran beneath McKay's feet as the Naquadah generator cycled on.

"Fantastický!" Zelenka shouted into the radio channel. "Jsme v podnikání!"

McKay rolled his eyes. "English!"

Clearing his throat, Radek said, "The power is successfully connecting to the satellite's system and the output is significantly higher than before. I do not believe it will be much time until critical systems can be brought online safely."

Grodin made a surprised, pleased sound. "Any estimate on when we can get artificial gravity?"

"Even more importantly," McKay interjected, "we need to know how quickly the weapon can be charged from a cold start and if there's excess power for defensive countermeasures?"

"Might be useful to know if that generator will be stable enough for more than one go round," a voice thick with a Texan drawl murmured, "don't want this thing blowing up in our faces, now do we?"

"That's a good point, Fred," Peter added. "Add it to the list of things we need to know yesterday."

"Yes, yes, I understand. We are pressed for time, hold on to your cattle," Radek huffed irritably.

"Horses," McKay corrected automatically.

"Drž hubu!"

"English!"

#

Dr. Peter Grodin bit his lip as their small group crowded around the display panel, reviewing the information that was streaming into view via a series of fluctuating graphs and numbers. "Definitely enough power."

"Charge rate leaves a bit to be desired," Fred observed. "If we have to keep the platform running cold and wait till the last minute to charge it up and fire, ain't no way we can take out all three ships before they tear this place apart."

Zelenka kicked off from the floor of the control room, floating to a separate access panel. "But if it is strong enough to destroy these Hive ships, which it appears to be, then taking down even one will have made this trip worth it, yes?"

"And the power fluctuations?" Grodin asked.

McKay swiveled in his spacesuit to face the other man. "A necessary risk."

"Alright, if you say so," Grodin murmured dubiously. Then, adjusting the channel of his radio with his suited hand, sent a new message out. "Lieutenant, go ahead and give Col. Sumner our report. Make sure he knows that, at this rate, we shouldn't have a problem getting the satellite online."

All four of the satellite's occupants resumed their work, sluggishly maneuvering themselves throughout the control room in an attempt to reanimate the weapon buried within the satellite's hull.

Meanwhile, inside the safety of the Puddle Jumper, Lou Miller activated the more advanced communication system. "Colonel Sumner, this is Lieutenant Miller, Dr. McKay and the others were able to bring the satellite online and were able to confirm that its weapon system is fully intact."

Two hours later

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have successfully developed a method of delaying and possibly defeating the incoming Wraith ships and we intend to take advantage of it. Every moment of peace we're given is another moment we have to obtain a ZPM, the power source that will help secure our safety in a way that will endure not just from crisis to crisis, but to a degree of permanence that we have not yet enjoyed in Pegasus," Elizabeth Weir announced to the crowd of people on the floor of the Gate room. "But that won't be possible if we lose Atlantis. It won't be possible for us to continue our mission here unless we survive to find that ZPM.

"Atlantis has become our home and I do not intend to sit idly by and watch it be destroyed. And if we find ourselves having to retreat, that is exactly what we'll be forced to do in order to safeguard Earth from the Wraith. The majority of our non-military population has already been evacuated to the Alpha site. Those of you remaining that don't possess either combat or medical training, will be sent to the Alpha site with enough supplies to ensure self-sufficiency if Atlantis should fall." Weir stepped back and nodded to Col. Sumner.

"In conjunction with Majors Boyd and Sheppard, we've created a list of the non-military personnel in this room that we request stay to assist in the defense of Atlantis. Make sure you understand, it is a request and no one will think any less of you should you decline. That list has been posted onto the wall next to the DHD." Standing straight with his hands clasped behind his back, Marshall Sumner continued, "To military personnel, you'll be contacted by your fireteam leader with duty assignments and rotations. The Wraith are expected to arrive in-system within a matter of hours, and the best we can do is to make sure we give them one hell of a welcome should they darken our doorstep."

The Marine unclasped his hands and placed them on the railing in front of him, leaning over to gaze over the assemblage. "We have four days until reinforcements arrive, four days until the USS Daedalus arrives, armed to the teeth and equipped with Asgard technology. If we cannot destroy them outright, then by god we'll outlast them and let our space forces clean up whatever's left over."

One of the Marines that had accompanied Boyd pumped a fist in the air, shouting "Oohrah!"

The call was quickly taken up by the other Marines, creating a veritable roar of battle cries.

Once the din had finally subsided into the quieter buzz of dozens of frenzied people going about their duties, Dr. Weir glanced aside at Sumner with a raised eyebrow and the ghost of a smile upon her face. "Well, you're no George C. Scott, but you look one helluva lot better in a uniform than he ever did."

Marshall smiled for a brief moment before his more customary frown stole its position back. "Are you sure you won't—"

"I'm staying here," Weir affirmed stubbornly. "I'll be staying in the C&C, but I refuse to leave unless we determine that activating the self-destruct system is absolutely necessary."

Sumner's lips thinned but no verbal protest was forthcoming; he knew better then to push her once her heels had dug in and those heels of hers were about as firmly planted as they could possibly be. "Alright, Elizabeth. I need to check on Dr. Kavanagh and Sheppard and Boyd to talk about those space mines and the city's defenses."

Weir nodded. "Lieutenant Miller is on his way back from the satellite with Dr. Zelenka. Radek will be working to adjust those new Naquadah generators to the control chair, see if we can't give enough juice to engage the weapon system, or possibly even the shield."

Sumner blew out a breath and spoke in a much quieter voice. "Illyria is staying on the platform with McKay and Grodin?"

"Yes. They reported that the satellite can be operated without supervision, but because they'll be operating from a 'cold boot' they'll need to be physically present until the systems are online. Illyria might be the most...capable of fighters, but her knowledge of the Ancients make her even more valuable above us on that satellite."

"I don't care what she is or what she can do so long as she can give us more time. Kavanagh is lamentably correct in his assessment about our prospects; we can only delay the Wraith and unless they are soundly defeated or the city is reequipped with a ZPM, we are essentially helpless. I fear that, even if we're able to destroy the three Hive ships with the satellite and the mines, we'll still have to destroy the city unless we're assigned permanent protection from the Daedalus," Col. Sumner admitted.

"Well," Weir said with a wan smile, "all we can do is hope."

"Hope isn't that effective of an armor against Wraith stun rounds or energy weapons, Elizabeth," Sumner returned dryly. "For now, I'll put my trust in things a little more tangible than that, like high-powered ballistic projectiles and nuclear fission; they are far more reliable in my experience."

Weir huffed and gave the older man a disgusted face. "Marines."

Five hours later
Ancient Lagrange Point satellite

"I've found the switch to initialize the gravity!"

McKay blinked and frowned. "Okay, just give me a sec—"

There was a thrum that he could feel vibrating through the metal beneath his glove before McKay felt his body falling in what used to be a zero-g environment. He let out a startled yelp, hands clawing upwards for something to hold onto but his thick gloves were unable to find any purchase. He knew he was about to hit the floor any moment and closed his eyes, hoping that the fall wouldn't be hard enough to injure his back. He never impacted against the floor, however, because he was jerked to a halt by a slim, gloved hand that had clamped around his bicep, leaving him dangling in the air with the faceplate of his helmet staring into Fred's.

Having heard McKay's startled shout, Peter swiveled around from the control panel as quickly as he could in the bulky spacesuit. "Dr. McKay! Rodney! Are you alright?!"

"I'm okay, I'm okay. You might've given me a bit more warning than that; I could've seriously been injured! It's only because of Fred here that I didn't land on my back!" Rodney snarled.

Peter looked down at his feet, letting out an audible breath. "I'm sorry, Rodney."

McKay opened his mouth to respond when his suit was nudged by Fred who was giving him a very Illyria-like glare. "Boys, I don't think this is the time to fight," she said softly, "I think we'd be much better off if we figured out how to turn on the environmental systems so we can take off these suits."

"That is a good idea," Peter hurriedly replied, glancing nervously at McKay. "I didn't see anything resembling life support systems on the main console; it's possible that one of the access panels on the upper levels might have that function, but we'll have to disable gravity every time we want to go up or down."

McKay nodded, the movement partially concealed by the bulky helmet. "Yes, get life support online and then we focus on making sure this satellite can fire more than once; I'm still worried about those damn power fluctuations. I would hate for it to overload or fail just when we need it."

"We might be able to rig some form of remote control system that would allow us to operate the satellite from the Jumper, but one or more of us will have to stay onboard for as long as possible to initialize the system," Peter murmured.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Focus, boys. Dr. McKay, why don't you look into making sure the Naquadah generator is as stable as it can possibly be and that the systems it's connected with can adequately handle the amount of energy that'll be running through the conduits. Dr. Grodin and I will find and enable life support."

Peter Grodin and McKay both nodded. "We don't have much time," Peter warned, "we only have about three hours."

"Then stop wasting it by talking," Fred snapped.

McKay turned away to hide his grimace. There'd definitely been just a little too much Illyria in that rebuke than he was comfortable with. Seeing the other man's crestfallen expression, McKay was pretty sure that, this time, Fred's sudden lack of accent had been overlooked. Oh well you gotta take what you can get, he inwardly grumbled.

Two hours later
Atlantis

"Energy readings indicate several ships are dropping out of hyperspace, sir!" Sergeant Chuck reported curtly, the Canadian's fingers dancing over the keys as he looked over the readings. "Three Wraith Hive ships exited hyperspace just past the second planet in the system on a direct course to Lantea. Their course should take them past the defense satellite in approximately 45 minutes. Estimated time until they reach Lantean orbit at current sublight speed approximately ten hours."

"Then they aren't taking any notice of the defense satellite or aren't bothering to avoid it," Sumner exhaled a long breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding. One obstacle avoided, a thousand more to go.

"Hive ships now accelerating, estimated time until they reach satellite now 45 minutes and Lantea in six hours," Chuck reported.

Sumner winced.

"If that defense satellite can take them by surprise and inflict some real damage, I'm willing to bet that they'll be much more cautious in their approach," Weir observed through pursed lips. "I doubt their caution will result in a prolonged delay, but every hour helps when we have the Wraith on our doorstep while the Daedalus is still about three days away."

Sumner glanced at the dark-haired woman. "Believe it or not, Dr. Weir, that is a fact that hasn't gone unnoticed by this particular Marine. If we're lucky the satellite will do our job for us, but if the Wraith aren't entirely destroyed that caution may inhibit the mines' effectiveness."

"About the mines, Marshall... You did hear Radek and McKay's warning about the mines right? We were both in the same room at the time, so I have to assume so, but—"

"Elizabeth," Col. Sumner sighed tiredly, resting a palm on the collar of her red shirt. "What would you have me do? I heard Dr. Zelenka's warning, yes, but if we can neutralize those Wraith ships then I'd happily sacrifice our long-range sensors to do so. I did, however, take your comments to heart and preserved several of the mines here for our own use if required. Sheppard's idea for a kamikaze attack was, if a little more theatrical than necessary, not unsound."

Weir scowled as she turned to face Sumner. "Let's just hope it doesn't come to that."

"There's that word again," Marshall Sumner observed with the slightest of smiles. His smile dimmed before he turned to Chuck. "Sergeant, what does our satellite team have to report?"

"Lieutenant Miller and Dr. McKay are on the Puddle Jumper, docked with the satellite for emergency extraction. Miss Burkle and Dr. Grodin are both inside the satellite performing last minute maintenance and adjusting the automatic targeting system. They'll have to remain aboard to initiate the reactor and power the weapon, but they both intend to leave with Miller once the satellite has engaged the Wraith."

"Cutting it a little close there," Weir murmured worriedly.

"Let's just hope that all goes according to plan," Sumner replied gravely.

Thirty minutes later
Ancient Lagrange Point satellite

"Why are we letting Fred stay on the satellite? Shouldn't she be up here?" Lt. Lou Miller asked for the umpteenth time.

McKay rolled his eyes and barely resisted the urge to scoff but made the mistake of glancing at the worried expression on the Air Force lieutenant's face. Rodney McKay lost his ability to resist and scoffed profusely, "I'm pretty sure Fred knows how to take care of herself, just make sure you can get us all out alive, got it?"

"Once they fire, they'll have to run like the devil himself were after them, are you sure there won't be a problem with the satellite?" Lou pressed.

McKay, sitting in the pilot's side of the Puddle Jumper, glared at Lou. "Oh, Lieutenant, of course I'm sure that this advanced weapons platform belonging to a technologically superior species that's been jury-rigged to accept our crude power source will operate perfectly without any complications at all. Ah, that's right, I forgot to mention that it was already damaged when we first set foot upon it. Nope, no worries at all."

"No need to get snappish...Meredith," Lou hissed back.

McKay folded his arms sullenly and stared at the scanner for a solid minute before stealing Miller's radio from the man's chest pocket. "Grodin, Burkle, how are we doing?"

#

Illyria glanced at the male working beside her, tapping furiously at the controls of the Alteran access console. It wouldn't be long now until the Wraith arrived, and while they might destroy one, even two of their ships, it was...improbable that they'd destroy all three. The muck had done an impressive job cobbling together their primitive machinery to the more advanced Alteran device but the attempt to destroy all three Wraith ships was an ill-fated venture.

McKay's voice suddenly blared through the ear piece and she barely withheld a derisive sneer as the Canadian expressed his worry yet again.

Why did I ever let that irritating buffoon coax me into coming here?

Perhaps the dark-haired Slayer had been correct; she had become far too malleable when given the praise and homage that befit a creature such as she. That the possibility of her being manipulated existed was a grave insult, but that was now an entirely irrelevant issue. Regardless of the reason for her standing on this fragile, ancient piece of technological ingenuity, she'd come to understand some time ago that the danger stalking toward her represented a threat more dire than any she'd yet faced in this galaxy. Were she to be placed in a room full of Wraith warriors, she would walk out of the room mere heartbeats later, wearing their intestines as human women wore their diamond necklaces. Were she to be stolen away and transported aboard their ships, she would tear every Wraith aboard, limb by limb until the sounds of their screams rang through the corridors in a harmonious symphony.

But such glorious carnage wasn't available to her now, unfortunately. Trapped as she was on this metal construct of the Alterans, she could do nothing but assist the humans as those massive behemoths prepared to unleash their weapons of such power that they posed a genuine threat to her.

Illyria had never been the sort of creature to experience fear; no being, place, or thing had ever induced the crippling emotion humans felt in such abundance. Indeed, for all of the humans' fear and morbid obsession with death, it was yet another petty, mortal concept that she'd never experienced. Such was the gift of immortality.

She did, however, loath the idea of being trapped as she'd been in the Deeper Well. Now, on this satellite, she found herself unable to fight and protect the shell she'd come to...value. Despite the glaring inadequacies of the human form, it was a far worse fate to be trapped in the vastness of space until a new form was available or she'd gained enough strength to create one on her own. That would be a scenario to be avoided at all costs; spending thousands of years trying to regain her strength in a human form would be bad enough, to spend even longer doing so as aimless energy would be...tedious.

Touching the irritating device attached to her ear, she plastered on a wide smile for the other human's benefit as she responded to McKay's inane query. Peter seemed to be disgustingly sensitive, even for one of the muck, and it was best to keep him content in his work rather than have him babble at her in an attempt to convey reassurance. "Don't worry, Rodney, we're just fine. Just give us a buzz when they're here and we'll give them a real Texas welcome!"

Peter stopped working and stared at her in fascination.

"Get back to work!" she snapped and was gratified when he leaped to obey. Even better, McKay had apparently been shocked into silence by her disgustingly overt display of human mannerisms.

Several more minutes of silence passed before Dr. Grodin suddenly slammed a fist into the console. "These power readings keep fluctuating! The weapon should discharge safely once, but after that it has as much of a chance of blowing us up as it does them.

Illyria stared at him before turning to the readings on her own console.

"Guys," McKay spoke softly into the radio channel, "they'll be right over you in about five minutes."

"McKay, we have a problem," Peter reported.

Five minutes later
Atlantis

"Colonel? What's going on?" Faith asked in a nearly breathless voice as she joined him in the C&C. "Il—Fred?"

A heartbeat passed before Buffy, Major Boyd and SG-10 all jogged into the Control room behind her, Buffy standing immediately by her side and the others standing at military attention on her flank.

Sumner waved away their salutes and focused on Faith. "Miss Burkle is currently on the defense satellite with Dr. Grodin. The current plan is for them to wait till the nearest Wraith ship passes them at sublight, then power up the satellite and discharge the weapon from its relative point of safety."

Faith frowned. "And? You called me here, Colonel, has something happened?"

The colonel gave her an irritated look. "No, Faith, not yet, at least," he stated just a little too calmly for it to be a genuine nonissue, "I just thought you should know that the Wraith Hive ship we've designated as the primary target is passing by the Hive ship as we speak."

Faith opened her mouth and snapped it shut. "Thanks for telling me," she offered meekly. "Would you mind if I stayed here to observe?"

"As you noted earlier, I did call you here. That goes for the rest of your entourage as well. In fact, why—"

"Sir!" a male voice cut off the colonel's comment as one of the Air Force technical sergeants monitoring the situation waved a hand at Sumner.

"Excuse me," Sumner stated politely, but had already departed to check on whatever the sergeant had found by the time Faith had opened her mouth to respond.

"Looks like shit's about to get real," Faith muttered to Buffy.

The other Slayer just nodded, eyes squinting at the nearest display.

"Don't worry, Faith, I'm sure Fred will be okay. She'll be back here in no time," Roger enthused, bumping her shoulder with his own.

Faith shared a discretely amused look with Buffy but otherwise remained silent as she, too, focused on the screen.

#

Ancient Lagrange Point satellite

"Initialize the Naquadah generator," McKay ordered.

Peter glanced at Illyria and offered a wordless expression she took to mean as yet another offer of reassurance. She ignored him and continued looking over the satellite's power grid; a system that had been giving them trouble ever since they'd enabled the satellite that first time.

"Generator powering on, estimate time until sufficient charge for weapon at...three minutes," Grodin announced.

"Then get yourselves ready to leave," Lt. Miller interjected. "The moment you activate that weapon, I want you on the Puddle Jumper. I don't fancy my chances in taking one of those Hive ships head to head, copy?"

"Don't you worry, Lou, we'll head back as soon as we make sure it's capable of firing again," Illyria added cheerfully.

"It won't take as long to power the second blast as it does the first, maybe 90-120 seconds if our earlier data was correct," McKay stated, "but they'll be able to detect the energy buildup maybe 30 seconds before you even fire. Those Hive ships might not be the most maneuverable, but they're fast once they get going. If they turn around to engage you, it won't take them more than two minutes to get within firing range."

"So no time for a third shot," Grodin finished.

Despite the fact that only Miller could see him in the Puddle Jumper, McKay couldn't stop himself rolling his eyes and waving his hands in agitation. "No, and don't forget about that power fluctuation that you've somehow been unable to fix!"

Illyria paused in her observation of the Alteran console and tapped her earpiece and spoke with a voice colder than either Miller or Grodin were used to. "McKay. Be quiet, Peter and I are working."

After a pause, a sulky, "Fine," echoed over the radio.

"He's not wrong about the power issue, Fred," Grodin said, glancing at the Old One.

"I assure you Peter, I haven't forgotten." Illyria shrugged, "but there's nothing to do about it now. How much longer until the weapon is charged?"

"45 seconds."

Illyria glanced out of the viewport and let herself stop thinking as she took in the odd beauty of the looming Hive ship. The Wraith themselves might be despicably weak but she found their ships oddly compelling. Perhaps it was the idea of being surrounded by something organic rather than trapped in the human world surrounded by artificial landscapes and concrete jungles. A pang of emotion that she'd rather not explore rang through her as she thought of Earth and shook it off, moving back a few steps to take a position by the weapons console. Tapping several keys, she examined the Wraith ship with a cocked head, readying herself to destroy it with the Alteran energy weapon.

"Hive ships are decelerating, looks like they've caught on!" Miller announced, his voice leaking tension through their radio channel.

Both Grodin and Illyria watched the plot, the former holding their breath and the latter, well, bored.

"Still decelerating, as long as they don't fully turn around before we fire, we should have enough time for a second shot," Peter whispered, more to himself than to anyone else.

"15 seconds," Miller counted.

"The nearest Hive ship is approximately 1.2 light seconds, targeting parameters are set for a lateral trajectory amidships."

"5 seconds, the Wraith ships are altering course!"

Illyria glanced up at Peter, who returned her look and nodded with a smile that was all teeth.

Fingers dancing over the console, she tapped the necessary key and called into the radio, "Firing."

A tremor ran through the platform upon which they stood as ancient mechanisms stirred to life for the first time in millennia. A surge of visible energy raced from the Naquadah generator and into the satellite's systems, starting a chain reaction that quickly coalesced into a bright emerald beam of light blasting out into space. The continuous beam of energy continued to beam out from the satellite, the power draw causing sparks to rain down upon Peter Grodin and Illyria. Neither of the two paid the sparks any mind, however, so caught up in the weapon's progress as they were.

"Estimated impact in 5 seconds," Grodin announced.

There was a silence that seemed to last for an eternity as the green beam shot out through the darkness of space until the beam of energy finally slammed into the Hive ship, boiling armor and hull away as the energy beam tore through the Hive ship like a hot knife through butter. The green beam finally emerged from the other side of the ship, having fully bisected the ship into two large sections that began to drift through space. The damage wasn't done there, howver, soon secondary explosions began ripping the two pieces apart, casting an even greater debris field as the ship gradually disintegrated.

"It's a hit" Peter crowed.

And then the control room of the satellite burst into a shower of sparks as the final pulse of the weapon overloaded the system, sending powerful energy fluctuations that threatened to destabilize the entire system and blast the platform apart. Girders and metallic plates rained into the satellite's control room and the showering sparks turned into a small fire.

#

"You got one!" McKay cheered and quickly reached for the longer-ranged Ancient communications system. "Atlantis, this is Dr. McKay, one Hive ship has been destroyed. I repeat, one Hive ship has been destroyed.

"Terrific news, Rodney. What's the status of Dr. Grodin and Miss Burkle?" Dr. Weir replied, speaking loudly over the cheers ringing in the Atlantis control room.

Before McKay could get or even respond, Sumner added, "How are the Wraith reacting? Will you have a second shot? Dr. Zelenka reports that the fallout from the destruction of the first ship has obscured our sensors for a small amount of time."

McKay glanced at the plot and winced, "The remaining two ships have completed their course alteration and are accelerating toward the platform. They'll be able to fire at extreme range in approximately 1 minute and 40 seconds if they continue to accelerate at their current rate."

While McKay spoke with Dr. Weir and Col. Sumner, Miller had tapped his earpiece and was looking out of the viewport at the now quiet Ancient weapon platform. "Dr. Grodin, are you there?" After a moment, he tried, "Miss Burkle?"

There was a burst of static before Fred Burkle's voice rang into his ear, sans Texan accent. "I'm here, Lieutenant, however I'm afraid Dr. Grodin has been seriously wounded and requires medical treatment."

"How about you, Miss. Burkle?" Miller asked, frowning as he snapped his fingers at McKay to catch the Canadian's attention.

"I've suffered no harm, however I'm afraid the damage inflicted by the power surge after our first energy discharge might be irreparable," Burkle replied in a too-calm voice. "How much time do we have until the Wraith arrive?"

"1 minute and 20 seconds. I'll have Dr. McKay come out there and give you a hand in getting Grodin stowed away," Miller announced, ignoring McKay's glare.

There was a sigh of...annoyance? that rang in his earpiece. "You need not worry about Dr. Grodin, Lieutenant. Open the rear hatch and I'll drop him off."

"What?" McKay squawked. "What does that mean?"

"There is a chance that I might be able to salvage this weapon for an additional attempt, but Grodin will be unable to offer me any assistance," Illyria answered.

"What the hell are you talking about, Fred? We need to get out of here!" McKay shouted.

"My kind is not as fragile as yours; the only danger posed to me is that to my shell. Do not forget what I am, Dr. McKay. It is possible that my attempt to power the weapon will be able to afford me a measure of protection. Open the Puddle Jumper's hatch now."

Miller jabbed at the console and stood, dashing toward the rear entry only to halt in his tracks as Illyria held Grodin's over her shoulder. Without taking any care of his body, she shrugged him off and let his body land with a heavy 'thud' onto the Jumper's deck.

McKay hurriedly strapped the burned but living body of Peter Grodin into a chair with Miller's aid before both men turned to Illyria.

Illyria, and it was Illyria, McKay realized, stared at them impassively through impossibly cold, blue eyes. "Go back to Atlantis and help the others. I will do what must be done. Advise Faith of my plan and advise her that if my shell survives the blast, I would rather not float in the vacuum of space for any longer than I have to."

Miller's nose wrinkled. "What does that mea—"

"Be quiet," Illyria snapped at the lieutenant. Her head turned back to McKay. "Go."

"Faith and Buffy wouldn't want you to sacrifice yourself for them, not for anybody," Rodney said quietly.

Illyria's face was impassive, but there was a look in her eye that seemed to suggest she wasn't as unaffected as her words indicated. "As I previously stated, I am in no real danger. The worst I will suffer is a setback that costs me time. Leave, I will be unable to rejoin the Jumper until after the weapon has fired again and I do not believe I will have such time available. As for Faith...no, she would not want this, but I think she would understand this better than most."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Miller cried out.

McKay stared at Illyria for a second longer before nodded curtly and engaged the hatch over Miller's protests. "She's not human, Lieutenant, now get over it. We have 30 seconds before that Wraith start tearing this place apart. Take us out of here and get us to Atlantis as quickly as you can, Grodin is going to need some burn treatment."

Lt. Lou Miller stared at McKay and then at the door for a second longer before glaring at McKay. Settling back into the pilot seat, he reactivated the Jumper's cloaking mechanism and released the clamps that had held the Jumper in place with the satellite.

#

Illyria walked back into the satellite's control room and took a glance at the weapons panel.

20 seconds.

Everything she'd told McKay was true, but she hadn't really informed him that the possibility of acting as a conduit to balance out the violent power fluctuations might do more than "afford a measure of protection." Indeed, the chance that they might imbue her with enough energy to not only protect herself but also emerge with an even greater reservoir of power than before was not an opportunity to be wasted.

Cocking her head, she studied the leading vessel of the two remaining Hive ships. Destroying one wouldn't be difficult for as powerful as a weapon as this one, but the destruction of one Hive ship did little good for Atlantis when the remaining ship would pose an insurmountable threat on its own. If she could not destroy both ships, she must pursue an alternative course that provided a better outcome for Faith and the others. Her finger stilled over the keyboard as she considered her own rationale.

Should she care enough about the humans to attempt to save them? No, of course not. Indeed, humans living in the old city of the Alterans, two Slayers among them? She should be satisfied with the thought that they might be destroyed by the Wraith. Her finger still hovered over the keys as she considered her conflict. A moral conflict, she thought disgustedly.

They are your friends, a small, unwelcome voice echoed in her mind.

She slammed the mental door shut. You are dead, Winifred Burkle, stay that way.

There was no mental response but she felt a warmth in her chest as images of she, Faith, and Buffy slaughtering the Wraith arose in her mind. This was followed by other images of Angel, Spike and...

Wes.

Illyria snapped her eyes open and straightened. She'd been infected by humanity but she hadn't thought it'd been so pervasive. She jabbed her finger down to discharge the weapon; it wasn't fully charged, but the surge of energy would come early enough that she was reasonably certain she could escape with her body intact.

Her finger remained immobile.

Though there was no air in her lungs to exhale, she let out a sigh. Another disgusting mortal habit she'd managed to acquire. One of many, it would appear. The finger that'd been ready to press the single ignition key moved away and Illyria began quickly tapping in a series of commands into the console. When the system acknowledged her entry, she smiled in cold satisfaction as the automated sequence began a countdown.

Stepping away from the console, she walked without concert as showers of sparks rained down upon her until she found the relay that'd been burned out. Despite the burnout, the weapon had still been charging but the surge of power that accompanied the last discharge would likely rip the entire satellite apart. It just needed a little...grounding.

Five seconds until the Wraith were in range, ten until the satellite's weapon was charged.

Ripping off the protective metal covering, she found the two sections that had burnt out and tore those out as well, exposing the delicate wiring beneath that was sparking and glowing with heat. Letting go of her human visage, she grasped the failed connections that had weakened over thousands of years of neglect. The buzz of energy immediately coursed through her, seeming to vibrate within her being as she allowed herself to ground the two ends of the connection.

She recalled a religious adage that the worm, Teal'c, had uttered during one of their few encounters. At the time, it'd seemed yet another example of mortal, fatalistic idiocy but now...

Though there were none to hear her words, as she stared at the screen displaying the approaching Hive ship, she finally understood the meaning in Teal'c's words. "If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine," Illyria declared in a voice that was cold, implacable and merciless.

In her mind's eye, she could see energy forming around the Wraith's mounted energy batteries thousands of kilometers away. Those batteries quickly spat out a series of blue-violet bursts of light that whisked past the satellite without any effect.

A small chime gave her just enough time to prepare herself as energy surged into the connection, blossoming into a veritable maelstrom of power that she let flow into the satellite's power system, while taking every bit of energy that threatened to overload the system into herself.

It burned.

It shouldn't have, but it did, it burned so much that she nearly cried out.

In the old days when she'd been at her most powerful state of existance, she could have been the target of one of the humans' nuclear blasts and shrugged it off, absorbing the energy and emerging even stronger than before. Now, she had to struggle not only to maintain the connection, but to stay unharmed while harnessing that energy for her own purpose. She gritted her teeth, a pointless human mannerism that she'd managed to adopt at some point, and concentrated on her task.

The satellite shuddered as a Wraith energy blast grazed the satellite's body.

She continued to let the power flow, more and more and more until...

Illyria felt as much as witnessed the green ray of energy lash out toward the advancing Hive ship. She could see the green beam lance into its engines, could practically taste the deaths of hundreds, maybe thousands of Wraith who'd perished by her actions. Though the ship had survived, her goal had been achieved and let the beam die down and accepted the rest of the residual energy into herself.

No sooner had she begun the process that the remaining, unharmed Hive ship rained down a flurry of violent energy blasts that tore off one wing of the satellite and soon another. A half-second later, a trio of blasts hit the main body of the platform, quickly followed by another half-dozen that resulted in a chain reaction of catastrophic explosions within the Alteran satellite.

Even from Lantea, the new star that soon blossomed into life could be seen, a white flare in the night sky that marked the destruction of the Alteran artifact at the hands of the Wraith.

Author's Notes: Hope everyone enjoyed. Once again, I apologize for the delay but I hope that what I posted made it worth it. It'll probably be at least another month until I release the next chapter, but that'll depend more on how progress with WotE is going. The next chapter is pretty much going to be all action, so there won't be much of a delay in struggling to come up with ideas.

Czech Translations:
As always, my translations come from google. I try to keep it short and simple (and therefore more accurate), but I can never guarantee the translation. If you know the language and see an error, let me know!

Fantastický! = Fantastic!
Jsme v podnikání! = We're in business!
Drž hubu! = Shut up!