Chapter Nine: Gearing Up
Crais was at his familiar station up in Talyn's command area. Checking Talyn's sensors, they were already leaving the Colonial fleet far behind, and they were on course for the planet Tobin. Everything was normal.
No, better than normal. In fact, everything felt perfect.
For the first time, Crais felt like Talyn was a properly manned vessel. He had nearly two dozen Colonial warriors and support personnel from the Galactica preparing the four Vipers within Talyn's hangar bay.
So far the entire operation was going as planned. The Humans were very disciplined in their duties, although they might not show it in their outward behavior. For example, he'd overheard the one named Starbuck, apparently a masterful pilot and warrior, referring to Talyn's hangar area as having 'about as much room as his footlocker'.
For some reason, John Crichton found that remark rather amusing. He wondered if Crichton and this Starbuck were somehow related.
Humans! For the life of him, he may never fully understand their unusual behavior or humor.
Despite this, Crais noticed that Aeryn seemed completely at home amongst the Humans. Working side by side with Captain Apollo and the other Colonial warriors had apparently given her a sense of belonging. The military way of life was bred into her just as it was with him, and now she had found a new, yet familiar, environment in which to thrive.
As for Talyn, at first he was cautious about having so many people on board all at once, but now the Leviathan was enjoying the hive of activity within his decks. He was curious with his new passengers and was studying them closely.
Reaching out with his mind, Crais used his transponder to survey the hangar area again. There he saw the four Vipers nestled within the somewhat cramped bay. Several technicians from the Galactica were doing their final routine checks before refueling the fighters for their upcoming mission.
He spotted Aeryn walking amongst the quiescent group of fighters, watching the techs do their work before moving to one that was parked in the left, rear corner. It had to be the one that was assigned to her, Crais thought. She stood off to one side, staying out of the techs way and just stared at the Viper before walking about it in a circle.
Aeryn was studying and admiring it, like a precious jewel.
What was it that Crichton had called the Vipers? Crais thought. Ah, yes, oversized lawn darts with an attitude. What the frell does that mean??
"How are we doing?" A voice said from behind Crais.
Startled, he quickly drew back within his own senses and prepared to greet the new visitor in the command area. Crais gave a quick tug at his uniform, making sure it was straight and presentable before turning to face Athena. She was the Galactica's Bridge Operations Officer and a Viper reserve pilot, also daughter to Adama. Right now, she was assisting operations on Talyn by overseeing the Colonial personnel who were making sure that the fighters would be all ready to go.
"We're on course for Tobin and will be arriving at the launch point in 8 arns." Crais politely informed her.
"Excellent, we'll be ready to go before then." Athena said before glancing about the command area appreciatively. "This is a fascinating ship that you have here Captain. Where we came from, we have nothing that could compare to this. Talyn is quite beautiful."
The bridge area pulsed and rumbled gently. Crais' eyes were drawn upward for a moment, listening to the sounds that only he could understand. "Talyn said, thank you. If you'd like, I could give you a more thorough tour."
Crais winced inwardly, he hoped he didn't come across too eager with the young lady. Much as he hated to admit it he was finding himself attracted to the human females. He had once thought that his attraction to Sheba was an oversight on his part, to be drawn to a non-Sebacean, but his growing infatuation to Athena was proving it was no accident.
The raven haired Athena was a sight to behold. It was as if she had cast a spell over him the second they met, however Crais doubted that was the case. It was more logically due to the fact he was lonely for companionship, after spending so long in space on his own with Talyn. Although he enjoyed the Leviathan's company, it would unfortunately never be enough. He needed to be with other people like himself, if it was from a race he had once considered to be mentally deficient. The lady standing before him was anything, but that. Athena was as efficient as any Peacekeeper in her duties, yet she was also extremely warm and friendly.
Athena gave him a disarming smile. "I would love to."
Crais smiled gratefully, and half bowed to her. "Then it would be my honor."
***
"Hey, Sunshine."
Aeryn heard Crichton's voice just as his two strong arms slipped about her waist from behind.
"You know," he whispered, "if you stare any harder at that Viper, I might get jealous."
A tiny smile played across her lips as Crichton gently kissed the back of her neck. Aeryn sighed and leaned back against him. A second later, Crichton whispered in her ear again.
"We've got a small problem."
Aeryn's body instantly stiffened and she turned her head trying to look at Crichton out of the corner of her eye. "What type of problem?"
Crichton sighed before he released her, letting Aeryn turn to face him. He answered quietly. "Captain Apollo, Starbuck, and Sheba need to speak with you. They say that it's important."
"Did they say why?" Aeryn was starting to worry. Were they starting to have second thoughts of letting her fly with them?
Crichton shrugged. "I think that it would be better if they told you." He gestured towards the far corner of the hangar.
A million thoughts and worries went through her mind as Crichton lead her around the small line of parked Vipers where the techs continued to ready them for flight. As they came around the last Viper, she spotted the three Colonial warriors waiting for her. Aeryn scanned their faces to get an idea of what this was all about, but their faces betrayed little emotion.
Aeryn was feeling apprehensive as she arrived and stood before them, even with Crichton by her side.
Apollo looked at the Sebacean sternly with his hands behind his back. "Officer Aeryn Sun."
"Sir!" she rapped out. Out of habit and some worry, Aeryn snapped to an attention. "Crichton told me that there is a problem."
"Oh, yes. There is," Starbuck said seriously. "And it has to be dealt with now, without delay."
Apollo continued in a very official tone. "Lt. Sheba has addressed this concern with me and my father."
Aeryn glanced over to Sheba, wondering what was going on. Her friend stood there, looking back apologetically.
"I'm sorry Aeryn, I just couldn't allow this happen."
"What the frell are you all talking about?" Aeryn demanded, still wondering what she could have done, if anything, that was so wrong.
"What we are talking about," Apollo said before bringing his arms forward and presenting a large flat box to Aeryn, "is this."
Aeryn froze for a second, staring at the simple looking plain white package. She glanced around in confusion at everyone about her.
"Open it." Crichton gently urged her.
With nervous hands, Aeryn lifted the lid off the box to see a brown leather Colonial uniform jacket inside. Bewildered, her eyes shot up to Apollo.
"Are you..."
"It's yours, Aeryn," Apollo said warmly. "Congratulations. We need more people with your skills and courage on our side."
Starbuck smiled. "Welcome to the Colonial Warriors, Junior Lieutenant Aeryn Sun."
"Please say yes." Sheba said with a faint note of pleading.
Still shocked, Aeryn looked over to Crichton. "You were in on this too?"
"Sheba ran it by me first," Crichton confessed with a grin. "The only thing that had me worried was whether or not you'd actually be willing to wear brown leather."
***
[Planet PX4 154 - Tok'ra Secret Base.]
SG-1 stepped out of the active Stargate, and the first thing that greeted them was the bitter cold air and blowing snow. Even though they dressed in preparation for the planet's icy climate, O'Neill shivered as the wind almost stabbed through his winter clothing. No one would last long out here in the open without the proper gear.
He sighed with relief when he spotted the Tok'ra shuttle through the blizzard, parked not far from the stargate. He lead his four member team towards the shuttle airlock which opened as they approached it. They all gratefully and quickly filed inside to the much warmer interior of the craft.
Inside the shuttle's main compartment O'Neill dropped his bulky backpack and started to shed his parka. A second later, he spotted their assigned Tok'ra pilot stepping down from the pilot's station.
Oh, for crying out loud! O'Neill grumbled silently as he frowned at Anise who bowed her head slightly to greet them. She was just constantly turning up around him, like a persistent bad penny.
He managed to fake a smile. "Lovely weather you have here. What does it look like in the summer?"
"This IS the summer cycle for this planet, Colonel O'Neill." The symbiont Anise informed.
"Oh, I guess sunbathing is out of the question then," O'Neill said dryly. "You're flying this thing?"
"Yes, Colonel O'Neill. I am the most knowledgeable with the Peacekeepers and their technology. Hence, I am the most qualified to assist you."
Behind him, Daniel and Teal'c slipped out of their cold weather clothing too, and just off to one side of them their fourth new team member stepped forward, pulling her parka hood back.
"Anise!" Lt. Hailey smiled happily at the Tok'ra female. "You left before I had the chance to thank you for saving my life."
The host Freya took over to greet the young lieutenant. "Lt. Hailey, both Anise and myself are pleased that you are well. Are you going to be joining us on this mission?"
"Yes, after a lot of persuasion." Hailey grinned, glancing over to O'Neill.
"Oh, yes. She was very persuasive," O'Neill commented as he recalled the knock drag out argument he'd had with a borderline insubordinate Hailey. He stepped up next to the lieutenant and added half-jokingly. "By the way, you're looking at the SGC's new CO."
"I would like to hear more of it," Freya said. "However, that can be accomplished once we are underway. All of you can store your equipment and gear in the shuttle's rear compartment. I'll show you where."
Hailey watched Anise leading the way to show Teal'c and Daniel where to place their gear before whispering to O'Neill. "She does know that you were joking, right? About the CO thing?"
O'Neill shrugged. "The Tok'ra are not usually known for their sense of humor. My advice is, run with it."
