The New Recruit-Chapter 2-Journey to M3X-179

Disclaimer: I forgot to mention this, but I don't own any of the original Stargate: Atlantis characters; only those I created from my heat-frazzled mind.


"According to the MALP telemetry, M3X-179 might contain an unidentified energy source-"

"What do you mean, 'might'?" Sheppard interrupted Kavanaugh as the scientist fidgeted under the watchful gaze of his superiors and Airman Ballard.

"I mean that we haven't been able to ascertain whether or not there is an actual energy source on the planet-"

"Which is why the eight of you, yes, Kavanaugh, you too, will be doing reconnaissance and possibly bringing back Ancient technology. You leave at 1000 tomorrow. Dismissed."

The eight expedition members grudgingly left their leader's office and headed towards their respective areas.


The next day, Sheppard, Teyla, McKay, Ronon, Zelenka, Ballard, Lorne, and Kavanaugh, accompanied by six Marines, walked through the Stargate to the planet that had been designated M3X-179. Two of the Marines stayed at the Gate in case something happened in either part of the mission while the rest of the team took up positions with McKay, Zelenka, and Kavanaugh in the center of their group with Sheppard and Teyla in front, Lorne and Ronon in the back, and Ballard and each of the Marines in teams of two at each side.

Ten minutes later, everyone was fed up with the bickering that was coming from Kavanaugh and McKay. "If you two don't want to be left behind, I suggest you both shut-up, unless there's an actual reason for either of you to talk, and get along," Airman Ballard snapped at the scientists. Surprised by their subordinate's outburst, the two men stopped arguing and just stared at the young woman on their left, who immediately looked away, "Sorry, but you're getting really annoying, sirs."

"Thank-you, Airman. I was just about to say the same thing-" Sheppard began.

"With much more colorful language, right, Colonel?"

He stared at the young woman on his left and nodded. "Yeah, with a lot more colorful language."

The group fell into a companionable silence with the occasional mention of where the energy signature was emanating from one of the scientists, whereupon they would change their course.

An hour later, Sheppard stopped the group for a water break. The system's sun had fully risen and the planet's surface was heating up quickly.

"How can you two stand this heat, Colonel?" Maj. Lorne asked his superior and subordinate as the two surveyed the area and waited for their comrades to cool down.

"Summer in Afghanistan, Major," was Sheppard's only reply.

"My dad was always being stationed in desert areas, sir," Ballard added her history.

"So, I take it you're both used to temperatures that can reach into the 40's?" McKay asked, still disbelieving that his friend and his assistant could be so used to such high temperatures and hardly break a sweat.

"Pretty much."

"Yep."

"I see."

Standing up, Ronon questioned the three scientists as to the location of where the mysterious energy signature was coming from.

"It appears to be about two kilometres that way," Zelenka spoke up.

"So, it looks like we're continuing westward," one of the Marines, Corporal Jenkins, said as he stared in the direction the Czech was pointing in.

"It looks like there are trees in that direction," another Marine, Corporal Hernandez, said as he stared off in the direction that they would soon be headed in.

"Shade will be nice," Zelenka added as he hefted the pack he had been carrying back onto his back.

"As long as we don't run into anything resembling that last planet's inhabitants," McKay said as he strained to see the tress that Hernandez had mentioned.

Everyone nodded, remembering either the actual ursine creatures or the report that had mentioned them.

"Alright, let's continue on," Sheppard said as he left the group and continued on. Soon, everyone was back in their original formation and the group trudged on in the ever increasing heat.

Almost two hours later, they reached the trees and what appeared to be a temple dedicated to the Ancients. "The energy signature is coming from in there," McKay said as he pointed into the stone entrance. Zelenka and Kavanaugh nodded their agreement and soon they had formulated a plan.

"Marines, I want you to stay out here and watch for any sign of hostiles. It looks like the corridor separates in two different directions. McKay, Teyla, Zelenka, and I will go left. Ronon, Lorne, Ballard, and Kavanaugh, you go right. If neither group is out in two hours, Lin and Hernandez, I want you to go in for us while Jenkins and Kensey call for back-up, agreed?" Sheppard looked at his team who all nodded their agreement to this plan, though Ronon's team were annoyed that they would have to deal with Kavanaugh who seemed to be still wary of Ballard, and they soon parted ways; the Marines staying outside the temple to warn those inside of any impending danger, Sheppard's group going left once they entered the building and Ronon's group going right.


All right! I've gotten another chapter up! Yay me! So, what do you think? Please review! This is my first Stargate: Atlantis fanfic. Also, I was told that some might not know what McKay means by "40's;" it means 40 degrees Celsius. Also, thank you to CFlat for catching a mistake that Lili and I both missed.