It wasn't difficult to find Lorne and his men even though it was dark. The life-signs detector identified the five of them deployed off to one side. They were just separate enough to tell who they were. The Major dropped back to meet them. His men remained where they were, using the trees as shields against being seen by the people in the encampment.
Teyla and McKay hid behind trees within a few feet of Sheppard. She kept her hand on the astrophysicist's arm to keep him still. He was too anxious to resist her.
"Is it really a Wraith ship, Sir?" Lorne looked up, expecting the beam that would sweep them into captivity. "We barely heard it."
"It's landed in the clearing, but it is Wraith. Ronon's gone to check it out." Sheppard pulled out a pair of night vision goggles and studied the people they had tracked to this planet. "Do you know which ones are the ringleaders?"
"I think so, Sir. Looks like there's eight of them altogether. Those three standing at eleven o'clock, two more at four, one at seven and one each at…"
Before the Major could continue, two men singled out a young couple sitting at the edge of the camp near one of the many small fires in the camp. They were a man and woman that appeared to be no more than twenty years old. The conversation was brief but seemed amicable. The couple stood up and followed the men. They followed a trail that would take them to the newly arrived ship.
Ronon appeared next to Sheppard moments later. "It's definitely Wraith, but not like anything I've seen before. It's smaller that a cruiser."
"Probably a transport. This'd be a very easy way to fill the larder." Sheppard stared at the people in the encampment. "Garcia, listen up."
"All ears, Colonel." They all heard the Lieutenant's voice over their earpieces.
Sheppard turned to Lorne. "Okay. Major, I want you and your team to take out the ringleaders. Ronon, give them a hand. Then, get these people to the Gate as quickly and quietly as you can."
"Yes, Sir." Lorne tapped his comm. "Okay, guys, you heard the Colonel"
Ronon nodded and followed the Major. The figures of Lorne's team crept through the trees and quickly disappeared as they made for their targets.
Sheppard shrugged the M40A3 off his shoulder and walked over to Teyla and McKay. "I want you two to help herd these people back to the Gate. I'll make sure you're not followed on foot."
"Should we take them back to the City?" Teyla asked as both she and McKay glanced from the rifle to the encampment to Sheppard. There was just enough light to see the determination on his face.
"No, go to…" He thought for a moment. "Go to P3X-216. We can send them home from there."
Teyla immediately began to follow Lorne and Ronon. McKay hesitated, watching the Colonel perform his own silent disappearing trick in the shadows of the forest. Teyla turned back and grabbed his arm.
"Come, Rodney, we have little time." She whispered in his ear. "We need to convince these people that they are in grave danger and must leave with us. We need to hurry."
Within two minutes, the men guarding the camp silently disappeared without causing any concern to the tired souls huddled over the low fires. They were farmers and knew nothing of the fate that had been planned for them. Ronon, the Major and his team worked efficiently.
Teyla walked into the middle of a small group of fires. She spoke softly, but with urgency.
"We must leave this place now. Please get up and come with us to the Ring of the Ancestors."
"Why?" A young man looked up at her. "We have been promised work."
McKay stepped into the group. He tried to sound calm, but could not quite manage it. "The Wraith have landed…"
"Wraith?" Several people stood up, disbelief and panic in their voices.
"Please remain quiet." Teyla glared at McKay then looked around the group. "We believe the Wraith have landed some distance away. We are here to help you. If we move quickly and quietly, we will be able to escape them. Please, hurry."
She gently tugged on two of those who were standing, trying to coax them into movement. "We must hurry."
"Look, the men who brought you here were going to sell you to the Wraith. Didn't you hear the ship land a few minutes ago? You have to leave now." McKay pulled on a young woman's arm to get her to stand up. His naked fear broke through to several people, who started to move toward the trail back to the Gate.
A handful from other groups approached with one of Lorne's men in the lead. Looking around Teyla saw the urging from the team was working. More and more people were standing and moving to the trail. Low murmuring and shuffling feet were the only sounds. The need for quiet had been impressed well enough, it seemed. Only the occasional shushing was necessary, and, once they were moving, no-one argued or hesitated.
One of Lorne's team took point to lead everyone back to the Gate. The rest of the team spaced themselves at intervals along the column, with Lorne near the rear with Yoshiro. He was grateful that the refugees were all young and relatively strong. They could move fast. He checked his watch. It had been less than six minutes since Col. Sheppard left.
Ronon appeared next to Lorne. "Can you get them all back to the Gate?"
"Yeah. Where are you going?" Lorne whispered, knowing perfectly well what the answer would be and wanting to do it himself. "Go on. We'll get them through and hold the Gate for you."
Teyla spoke softly as she drew near. "Do not wait too long. If there is a problem, go through and shut it down."
She and Ronon turned to follow Sheppard. When McKay rushed to go with them, Teyla paused to talk to him.
"Rodney, you should go with Maj. Lorne."
He shook his head and started to move past Lorne. "I'm coming. No offense, Major."
"None taken." Lorne turned his attention to the refugees. He activated his comm and spoke quietly to the man on point. "Pick up the pace, Johnson. We don't have a lot of time."
He glanced in the direction Sheppard's team disappeared and swore under his breath before continuing to the Gate with his charges. He would see these people through and then do as he said for as long as he could. And, maybe a little longer.
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Sheppard found the best vantage point he could with the best line of fire. He was on one side of the narrow trail leading from the Gate. A slight bend in the path gave him the cover of trees on either side. The ship was a couple of hundred yards from him, and a curve in the edge of the forest partially obscured the entrance to the ship. The path from the camp must empty out near the ship.
He considered moving around to look for a better line of sight, but didn't. He needed to be between the ship and the Gate.
He made it there before the men with the young couple. There was just enough light coming from the ship for him to differentiate who was who. And, with the scope on the M40A3, Sheppard could target what he needed to, even with the trees. He lay on his stomach and settled the rifle on its bipod in front of him. His P-90 was on the ground near his right hand.
"Colonel?"
"Teyla?"
"They will all be at the Gate in less than five minutes."
"Let me know when you're ready to dial out. It's bound to attract attention."
"We will." She lied, hoping Lorne heard the exchange.
As he waited, he saw more than a dozen Wraith guards leave the ship and head for the camp.
"Listen up. About a dozen Wraith are headed toward the encampment. Get a move on."
"Yes, Sir." Lorne replied. Sheppard heard him urging speed.
Ronon found the Colonel with his usual unerring accuracy. He silently knelt next to the prone man. Two minutes later, Teyla and an out of breath McKay approached. Sheppard was mildly surprised by the minimal amount of noise made by the astrophysicist. They squatted on the other side of the Colonel.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Sheppard hissed at them even though he did not take his eyes off the Wraith that had come into view at the ship. "Rodney, you should know better. Get back to the Gate."
McKay just kept trying to catch his breath as he made himself as small as possible behind a tree. It suddenly struck him just how stupid he had been in coming here. He glanced around at the forest and crouched lower.
"No, I'm not going by myself. I could get lost."
"Teyla, take him back."
"Maj. Lorne and his team will have them all at the Gate in two or three minutes. You may need help here." She replied without moving.
Ronon shifted to a better position. "We need to give Lorne enough time to get those people off this world."
Sheppard continued to watch the ship. He spoke through clinched teeth. "Okay, okay. Rodney, keep your head down and be ready to run if I say to."
McKay nodded furiously as he whispered. "Yes, yes."
At that moment, the two men broke through the trees with the young couple. They were just a handful of yards from the ship. The woman tried to scream, but was restrained by the man holding her. Her companion was being held by the other, a large knife to his throat. Two Wraith guards moved in to help them.
Sheppard didn't take his eye from the scope. He was waiting for the call from Lorne. The longer the Wraith were unaware of what was happening to their dinner, the more time Lorne had to get them to the Gate.
One of the commanders appeared in the doorway. He took his time inspecting the samples brought to him. The woman stopped screaming but continued to squirm, as did her companion.
"Colonel?" Lorne's voice whispered in their ears.
"Yeah?"
"The head of the line is at the Gate clearing."
"Dial it. Garcia, take your team through first. Major, you're on their six. Go. Don't wait for us." Sheppard replied. He heard the dialing sequence and the wormhole open through his comm.
---------
McKay squinted through the binoculars. The dim twilight and trees made it difficult to see, so he shifted slightly for a better view. The Wraith commander spun around and looked at the path. He bellowed and turned back to the humans.
A small movement and strangled shriek told the story. McKay could only see the Wraith's arms and hands from this angle, but he had begun to feed. The young man was pinned against a tree trunk. He tore at his attacker's arm, but to no avail.
The two men held the woman as they watched the Wraith feed. She screamed and tried to break free, but was held too tightly. Several Wraith guards ran back into the clearing. McKay watched in horrified fascination, unable to look away. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion, with each brief second taking minutes.
"Damn." Sheppard muttered.
Even though the rifle shot was only a few feet away, it sounded muffled and distant to McKay. He glanced at Sheppard then looked back at the Wraith and his victim. The top part of the boy's head was gone. Released by the Wraith, his body fell to the ground. Three Wraith guards were searching for the source of the shot.
Sheppard aimed again. Two more shots from it dropped two of them. McKay knew it was unlikely they would be getting up again. This rifle and ammunition, and the man using them, were lethal.
McKay saw the Wraith commander move into view, grabbing the young woman from the nervous men. He held her in front of him like a shield. He placed his feeding hand over her chest from behind and held her head up with the other, displaying his new victim as he began to drain her life. McKay quickly glanced at the Colonel again, astonished to find the latter calmly taking aim. The slow squeeze of the trigger wasn't enough warning for the sound of the shot. The noise added to the ringing in McKay's ears. The muzzle flash made him blink.
He looked through the binoculars again. The Wraith reeled backward, letting the dead woman fall. She had a massive hole where her chest had been, and he was clutching his own chest. A second shot hit him in the face, killing him instantly. Several guards began to run towards them with their stun weapons ready to fire. Sheppard quickly reloaded and dropped the first one with a shot to the head then glanced at Teyla and McKay.
"Get back to the Gate and make sure they're all through. I'll be right behind you." He quickly nestled his cheek onto the rifle stock again, taking aim. When no-one moved, he whispered with harsh urgency in his voice. "Go!"
Teyla pulled at McKay's sleeve as she and Ronon inched backwards. The astrophysicist was in shock, unable to absorb what he witnessed in the last minute. His ears were ringing and he could feel his heart thudding in his chest. He felt like he was made of lead as he moved. The rifle fired again as he and Teyla left Ronon waiting a few yards behind Sheppard. The cold was forgotten as he started to run, the explosions and flashes of the gun spurring him on.
----------
The address Lt. Garcia dialed was to one of the uninhabited planets once considered for the Alpha site. It had been ruled out after it was found to have insufficient water near enough to the Gate to be of use. It wasn't even on the back-up list, but was handy as a stop-off point that would not give Atlantis, the Alpha site or any of the alternatives away. From there, they could route the refugees back to their own planets.
Teyla and McKay arrived at the Gate as the last of the refugees were going through. In the half mile or so they ran they heard ten more shots. Each crack made him move with greater alacrity. He always wanted to be as far as possible from the Wraith, but it was Sheppard who scared him more right now.
McKay turned to watch they way they had come, his breaths coming in ragged gulps. He doubled over then dropped to his knees. "Sheppard shot them! Did you see? He killed people…humans!"
Teyla bent over next to him. "Rodney!"
McKay's voice rose in pitch and volume with each word. "Did you see? He shot them!"
"Yes, Rodney, I saw." Teyla rested her hand on his shoulder. "Breath deep and stay calm. We can speak of this later."
Lorne approached as the last of the refugees disappeared through the Gate with Garcia's team. He scanned the trees and motioned to his team to watch closely. "What's going on? Where are Col. Sheppard and Ronon?"
"They were making sure the Wraith did not follow until all of the refugees were safe. They will be here soon." Teyla straightened to watch the trees as well. She did not want to elaborate on the events of the last few minutes.
As if on cue, Ronon emerged from the trees with Sheppard close behind. The Colonel's rifle was now slung over his shoulder and his P-90 was in his hands. He signaled everyone to get through the Gate. Teyla and Lorne hauled McKay up and half carried him. They all heard the whine of the Wraith ship rising in the distance and started to run. A single blast of weapons fire from the ship struck the edge of the forest behind them as Sheppard and Ronon plunged through the event horizon.