Chapter 17: Course of Action
Team Sheppard stood poised and ready at the base of the staircase while Chuck dialed their destination. Dr. Weir stood up on the balcony looking out over the Gateroom when in an instant the Gate shut down and began dialing in. "What's going on," she asked calmly as she scurried over to join the Sergeant at the DHD.
Colonel Sheppard and his team also hurried up to the control room as the security teams fell into place around the Gateroom. "We've got an incoming wormhole," Chuck replied. No sooner did the wormhole connect and kawoosh, did the young Sergeant have the symbols run through the database, "It's from the Wraith Camp Ma'am."
John and Elizabeth exchanged worried stares, "They've only been gone a day. You don't think, the Wraith?"
"I doubt it," John tried to ease Weir's concern, "but we'll find out soon enough." The Colonel soon realized that more explanation was needed. "Since they couldn't take a GDO, Alex and I came up with a different, uh, doorbell. Just in case." A moment later two blasts hit the shield, one right after the other. "One, two, three." Simultaneously with when Sheppard said "three" another blast hit the shield. "Lower the shield," he ordered as he ran down to join the men information.
Elizabeth eyed the Puddle intently and as soon as Lexa and Lorne emerged she gave the order to raise the shield. As the two walked away from the Gate Lorne was finishing up their conversation from the other end, "Why didn't you tell me?"
Lexa sighed and rolled her eyes, "You didn't want me to use my powers, remember? Besides, don't look at me, it was his idea." She glanced over to John as the others joined them at the base of the staircase.
"So Ruby Diamond, your audition not go well," Rodney blurted out without even thinking as he took notice of Lexa's clothes, or lack there of.
"Oh, real sensitive McKay, you have no idea what I just went through," Lexa barked as she moved closer to him.
Marc stepped between Lexa and McKay before she could belt him. "What," Rodney shrugged.
"So, Major, I'm guessing things took a turn for the worse." Lorne nodded to Colonel Sheppard. "Well, as long as you've got some good intel, the mission won't have been for nothing."
"The mission isn't over."
Dr. Weir broke her silence at Lexa's outburst, "Excuse me?"
"I'm sorry Dr. Weir, but we need to go back. I won't leave those people there. And I kinda, sorta, left something behind." Lexa tried to avoid looking at Marc as she finished her statement.
"You're clothes," Ronan mumbled under his breath, which got him an elbow in the side from Teyla.
"Why don't we take this to the Conference room," Weir instructed. The group took to the stairs and then situated themselves around the Conference room. Elizabeth sighed, "Before we even discuss going back, what did you leave behind?"
Lexa shifted in her seat, stared down at the table, lifted her left hand in the air, and wiggled her fingers. She closed her eyes as the expected words came out of Lorne's mouth, "Lexa you didn't?" She opened her eyes to his agitated and uneasy expression.
"It's safe with Kaali, I needed someway to assure her I was coming back."
Teyla honed in on the girls name, "Kaali?"
Lexa turned to the Athosian leader, "Yes, she was taken the night you saved Orin's family." She took a deep breath and addressed the whole group, "When she told me this, I couldn't help but tell her everything. She's a sweet girl, and I intend to keep my promise, whether I go back alone, or with a strike team." Lexa was letting everyone know that her mind was made up and she was going to do this.
Teyla nodded to Lexa, "Well you will not have to go alone," and then turned to Dr. Weir. "Alexa is correct, we need to send a team back and liberate the Camp."
"And sooner rather than later, I'm sure their leader didn't appreciate getting stabbed through the hand. We need to get back there before they have time to relocate or receive reinforcements." Lorne backed up Lexa, not just because they were engaged, or because he knew there was no stopping her, it was the right thing to do.
Colonel Sheppard was thinking things over, but Weir's mind was already made up, "I'm sorry, I can't allow you to do this. If Colonel Caldwell were here…"
Lexa cut her off as she stood, "I'm sorry Elizabeth, but get on the train or get off the tracks. We're doing this. I thought you of all people would understand."
"I do understand, but I'm not sending you on a suicide mission. Saving a hand full of refugees, and losing any of you in the process, is not worth it." Weir stood her ground as she pleaded her case.
Lexa looked to Sheppard, hopeful he'd also back her up, "John?"
The Colonel was looking off yander, somewhat zoning out, but faintly picking up the imperative points to the argument. As Lexa looked to him for support he gave Elizabeth a glance and bit his lip. He crossed his arms, giving Weir's claim some support, but the words that were about to come out of his mouth were not what she was hoping for. "Um, can I reserve my decision 'till after I've heard the plan?"
Weir tilted her head in surprise of John's reply. She knew she was outnumbered, and decided to let them think she was giving in. She was hoping that whatever plan they could come up with would be so out there, that a few of them would join her on the other side of the line. Frustrated, she put her hands on her hips, and sarcastically answered, "Well of course you can."
"Dr. Weir, if you're thinking that the plan will be so outrageous that we won't be able to pull it off, you're sorely mistaken. This, is my thing." Lexa was confident that she'd be able to change Elizabeth's mind.
"Um, if you're talking about planning, correct me if I'm wrong, but you planned the undercover mission, and well, obviously, that didn't go so well." McKay was just upset because he knew what ever the plan would be, he wouldn't be apart of it, so he was already against it.
"Well, undercover isn't my thing, strategic strike is. I was Special Ops for two years before joining the SGC. I'm sure between John, Marc, and myself, that we'll be able to plan a strike that will get all the villagers out, and kill some Wraith in the process. Because I do so wanna kill me some Wraith."
"While that's very impressive Alexa, you no longer have the authority to lead an op." Weir was being a stick in the mud.
"Elizabeth," Sheppard had officially made up his mind, "if she was Special Ops, she's got this down pat. I'm confident that if we struck full force with Jumpers and men on the ground that we'd be able to extract the refugees and all return home safely. Besides if I remember correctly, you've felt this way about several missions, and in the end you gave the OK and we're all still standing."