Authors Note: Sorry about the huge gap since I last updatedI was busy failing my exams and generally having no fun at all, but here it is chapter 5 hope you enjoy it, thanks for all your kind reviews so far.
Chapter 5
When O'Neill returned to Thor's ship, Carter still looked a very worrying shade of pink and abruptly stopped talking as he arrived.
"Hi, well that was a experience, " he declared trying to sound cheerful.
Thor opened his eyes a little wider watching O'Neill. "I still do not understand what the problem has been."
"Carter hasn't explained it yet?" O'Neill glanced in her direction and noticed she seemed to have become suddenly fascinated by her own feet and didn't look him in the eye as she replied.
"Ah, I was trying, Sir"
"OK. Never mind now." He turned back to look at the confused little grey alien, " Thor next time only beam us to offices or corridors and Carter we'll sort it out when we get back cause I have us a go, so lets get…going."
"That is good news O'Neill, I will organize your ships to be modifications." Thor flicked a few controls on a panel near him.
"Can we be of assistance with that?" Carter tried, keen to see the Asgard and their technology at work.
"This ship's crew is more than capable of handling this task."
"OK, how long till we are ready?" O'Neill asked keen to get underway.
"Approximately 10 minutes, O'Neill."
"Wow, you guys are fast. Siler's got competition." O'Neill smiled imagining the little grey aliens with Siler's favourite wrench in hand.
"We need to discuss the flight route you will take," Thor continued, unaware that O'Neill's mind had already wandered.
"Sure fly, scan, drop," O'Neill summarized.
"I'm afraid it will not be that simple, O'Neill."
"OK, I've told you I don't like surprises, right?"
"I will endeavour to ensure you have none."
"So what is the plan?"
Thor explained that the atmosphere was not only impossible to scan but it would also appear that they were flying through thick fog until they dropped into the lower atmosphere. When Carter pushed for more exact information, she discovered that the Asgard definition of lower atmosphere was only about 200 m of air space and it would still appear misty for some of that. She counted this as a surprise and understood why the Colonel objected to them so much.
Thor went on to explain why the atmospheric concentration decreased with altitude but O'Neill stopped listening deciding he didn't really need to know.
"Who will be piloting?" Thor asked, after he finished explaining the topography of the area they would be flying.
"Carter will" O'Neill answered quickly and confidently.
"Sir that's not necessary. This isn't just a test run," Carter deferred to him as she always had before in combat situations.
He just looked at her and asked casually, "How many hours have you clocked now?"
"Um…," She looked at her feet again before answering, it was becoming something of a habit, "I'm not really sure, Sir."
"Right, but you make time to do this, so you enjoy it. I know you don't really enjoy doing things that you're not well beyond good at," he paused remembering the one or two things he knew she couldn't do and how annoyed it her. "Next time we have to save the world by the art of fishing, just leave it to me."
"If you're sure, Sir, but Teal'c said you didn't actually catch any fish," she smiled sweetly at him and he glared back before grinning.
"That's why it's an art, Carter. Now are you flying?"
"If you're certain."
"Well think of it this way. If we crash, at least one of us will have been having fun before we go."
"I guess you're right, Sir. Thank you."
"You're most welcome. Now Thor, how often do we have to pop up for air?"
"If you are referring to recharging the shield, every 15 mins for at least 7 minutes. We would normally use an onboard power source but your craft's propulsion system can't handle the additional weight."
"OK, solar power it is then."
"I will explain the controls before you depart. Once you are in the lower atmosphere you should be able to contact the scientists and tell them of your plan."
"Sweet, so no signs of bugs yet?"
"Not at present but nothing is certain."
"OK, lets get flying, we're ready when you are buddy"
As if on cue, the control panel in front of Thor beeped and a single crystal flashed. Thor moved it one place left and as well as the desired result it set Carters mind ideally speculating how complicated the control panel was and why the Asgard would use such a complex system, she'd learnt some of the basics form previous missions but had understood only a fraction of the patterns needed to communicate with the ship, she came to the conclusion it was like the Stargate you could stand at the DHD indefinitely and you were exceptionally unlikely to get a lock and it was almost statistically impossible you get the place you wanted without the address.
Pulling Carter from her contemplation an Asgard voice announced they were ready.
Thor beamed them all directly to the cargo hold
O'Neills mouth opened to speak but he instantly forgot what he was going to say as he gazed at the 302.
Another Asgard approached and informed them the modifications were complete and it was ready to fly.
"Well its definitely shinny" O'Neill managed after a long pause. In fact the 302 positively gleamed, every surface sparkled like a huge plane shaped glitter ball, it looked in fact like a special effect joke.
"The highly reflective surface facilitates the energy conversion" Thor informed him, observing his confused look.
O'Neill turned expecting a response or question from Carter but her jaw still hung open and she looked, well, almost disgusted.
"Ah Carter, you OK?" he gave her a small wave, she was still starring at the ship it reminded him of the rather disturbing addiction to he light.
"Its so bright" She said eventually.
"Yes Thor was telling us why" O'Neill said slowly as if speaking to a rather stupid child.
"Yes Sir, you ready" She gave herself a mental shrug, it was going to be like flying a Christmas decoration.
"Don't panic Major, I'm sure they can paint it pink latter" O'Neill smiled at her but quickly saw the look in her eyes and stopped. Anyone not on SG1 would have risked a broken jaw with that comment but Carter smiled and ignored him. She knew he was only teasing, it annoyed her but she put it to one side, 95 of the time he was very funny so she put the occasional stupid comment to one side.
Not understanding the interaction but putting it down to an earth custom that was currently unimportant Thor informed them that they needed to depart.
"Which missiles are modified Thor" Carter asked
"All of them Major Carter. We felt it best to maximize your chances of success." Thor also explained the controls for their launch once they were both seated in the cockpit of the 302.
The Asgard then sealed them both in and they both looked around, but there was no obvious sign of a door. O'Neill touched his communication device.
"Thor how will we be leaving?"
"Are you prepared?" came a calm, unfamiliar Asgard voice.
"Yes, but…," he was cut off by a bright flash.
They found themselves in space, they could see the planet and it was getting bigger.
"Carter, I think we launched" O'Neill said unnecessarily.
"I know Sir, I'm trying to start it" her response had just a hint of stress in it as she adjusted the necessary controls.
"No hurry, um…just out of interest, are we falling?" He tried to sound casual
"Yes and we're not circulating air." The hint of stress was a little more apparent.
"Oh, you…"
"I'm working on it, Sir." The stress was now fully apparent and O'Neill got the hint and kept his reply short.
"That's good." Then there was silence and O'Neill's mind wandered to all the reports he hadn't finished, before being interrupted by Carter voice.
"Got it" she relaxed again. They shot forward, then up until they were in a more stable orbit. O'Neill mentally promised himself he'd do the reports when he got back, just so they wouldn't be on his mind in life and death situations. He was sure he should be having more profound thoughts at moments like that. He refocused on the now and activated the Asgard communicator.
"OK, Thor back in 15."
"Understood O'Neill. We will remain here."
The X-302 dove into the atmosphere of the planet.
OK thats it for now, more soon, please review they make me smile!
(Also if you are a random person who review under the name blackfire can you explain what you meant because I'm being thick and don't understand - thanks)