Warning:Character death in this chapter (no main characters as of yet.) From here on out, I'm not going to warn you. If you get offended by character death, you shouldn't be reading this story.
"JT-1 has cleared the atmosphere. We're on our way to PG097." Elizabeth sat down in a nearby chair as the radio message played over the speakers.
"10-4, JT-1," she replied. Jumper team—JT. 'How creative,' she thought to herself wryly. Elizabeth looked around the room. As of the moment, it was only she, Grodin and McKay. Grodin and McKay were tinkering around with one of the computers, their arguing kept quiet. For her sake, Elizabeth guessed. She'd ordered the other scientists to move everyone into the mess hall, gate room and other areas close to the middle. It may take away only little of the power of the ZPMs to keep the lights on everywhere, but the more power they had, the more chance they had of surviving.
"This is JT-2 reporting," Major Sheppard's gruff voice was instantly recognizable. Elizabeth closed her eyes. Of course he would put himself on the team that had to engage the Wraith.
"Go ahead, John," she said.
"We've cleared the atmosphere," static passed through for a moment before the line cleared up again.
"How many of them are there?" Elizabeth asked. She stood, staring at the screen in front of her. The red dots were so close together she couldn't begin to decipher how many there were.
"A helluva lot," was John's reply. "There's four Hive Ships as well." Elizabeth frowned. Why had the Wraith brought four Hive Ships? One could easily contain everyone on the planet and the Alpha Site. Unless… Unless they thought that Atlantis would lead them to Earth. She was suddenly glad that she had burned the files on the Alpha Site, her relief increased by knowing the Atlantian safety measure for fire had kicked in a little after the fire had spread to the other documents. There were mission copies of everything she burned locked someone in Atlantis by the writer of the report, she knew. "Engaging the enemy."
Elizabeth held her stance as the quiet settled. Even Rodney and Peter had stopped bickering. Whatever was going on seemed a world away. "Elizabeth?" she turned, already knowing the speaker by his tell-tale accent.
"Carson," she greeted. He was standing at the doorway.
He nodded. "Everyone is out of the infirmary," he told her. "Is there anything I can do?" Beckett questioned.
"No," Elizabeth said softly. It seemed unfair that twenty-one people were risking their lives in this moment to save Atlantis while thirty-nine others could do nothing. She sighed, drawing her knees to her chest. Rodney looked over at her, concern in his eyes.
"The shields are at 110 percent," Peter announced proudly, drawing Rodney's attention back to their current task.
Carson walked over to the group, sitting next to Elizabeth. "Ay," he sighed, and looked over at her. It was painfully obvious how much this was affecting her. Every so often, her eyes misted over, tears threatening to fall. "It's alright to cry, you know," he said, looking at his hands.
"No, it's not," Elizabeth said, sniffling.
"Everyone cries at some point," Carson interjected, and Elizabeth smiled. Still, as she tried to focus on what was at hand, she tried to hold her hope in. Everything was going to plan. It was going to work.
They were going to save Atlantis.
John Sheppard swore softly to himself as he looked ahead into the screen that was displayed on the windshield. There were about eight Darts tight on his tail. "Crown," he addressed the Lieutenant to his right, "What are our statistics?" They had so far evaded the shots the Darts were sending their way, but a particularly nasty one had gotten them a few minutes ago as they'd begun to flee.
"90 original shield power, the beam shield is at 100, our weapons are at 100 and the hull is at 85," the reply came. John frowned and spoke into the radio.
"Jumper 5 this is Jumper 4, respond."
"This is Jumper 5."
"What is your status?"
"Just behind you, sir. Need help with your tail?"
"Wait until we get to the planet."
"Yes, sir."
John gripped the controls tightly, his eyes on the space ahead of him and the display. "JT-1 this is JT-2," he said, addressing the other three jumpers waiting for them by the planet. "Are you in position to receive?"
"10-4, JT-2. Anytime."
"Now's good," John announced, more to himself than anybody, as he led the other two jumpers around PG097. On the radar, he saw the other three jumpers drop their invisibility. He and the other two jumpers lurched forward with a burst of speed, leaving the thirty unsuspecting Darts to their teammates' mercy. The three ships of JT-2 moved ahead a little before turning around and joining the fray.
Author's Note: Another short chapter, but the next two are back to the length I like them at. Sorry about that! I hope you liked! Please review!
Disclaimer: I own nothing...
Distribution: WeirMcKayShip and here. If you want it (doubtful) just ask.
Reviewers: Thanks to Silent Cobra, Tholhidwen, soin2jesse, andPurpleYin (Yup, they count! But I'll throw you a boneit's none of them) for the reviews!
