Time Immemorial
Chapter 26: Bad Idea
July 17th
0608 Hours
"Ford, I'm going to put you in charge of coordinating the Lacedami defenses. I'm leaving the logistics entirely up to you, but there's one thing I want to make clear: not a single one of them is to be left alone anywhere in this City. Use them, but don't trust them. Understood?"
"Yes, sir."
"Corporal Kirkland, since our short-range sensors are down, you're going to be this City's eyes. Take three other snipers and put yourselves on the rooftops, one of you on each cardinal direction. Act as our early warning system. As soon as you see the first Wraith ship break atmo, radio in, pack up your rifle, and get the hell out of there."
"Got it, mate."
"Teyla, can you sense anything?"
"Yes... they are close. I can feel their hunger."
"Okay. Do me a favor and find out if we have any weapons to spare. If we do, put one in the hand of each civilian. I want them to have a fighting chance if it comes to that."
"It will not, Major. The Wraith will be stopped long before that need arises."
"All the same, see that it gets done. And while you're at it, make sure all the civilians are holed up good in the cafeteria. We don't need any of them wandering around during the attack."
"It will be done."
Rodney took the cue depart the Control Room and join his fellow academics but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
"Not you, McKay," John said. "Sorry, but I need you."
The Canadian groaned and said, "I was afraid you'd say that. Sometimes I hate being the genius."
"Listen, once Antigonos and I retrieve the ZPM we're going to be high-tailing it to the Power Room. We'll meet you there. You're going to have to install the ZPM as fast as humanly possible in order to bring the shield online. I have a feeling we'll be cutting it close."
"Like we know how to do it any other way..." Rodney grumbled.
Cocking an eyebrow at the physicist, John prompted, "Rodney, I need to know you can do this."
Rodney swallowed. "As Fast As Humanly Possible is my middle name," he said with an apprehensive laugh.
John patted his colleague on the back. "That's the spirit. Make sure you grab a walkie. I'll see you in the Power Room."
"For the record, this is a bad idea."
"Well, it wouldn't be my first."
"I'm serious. I hope you know what you're doing."
John took a deep breath. "So do I."
"And I know this isn't your style, but: be careful, okay?"
For a moment, John was humbled. He was reminded that he had friends that cared whether he lived or died - friends worth risking his life for. "I will. Thanks, McKay."
"Good luck."
Inspecting the chamber on his Beretta M9 sidearm, Sheppard went through his standard mental checklist to make sure everything was prepared. Combat knife: sheathed. Sidearm: loaded and holstered. P-90: secured to vest. Extra ammo: stowed. NVGs: ready for use. Walkie-talkie: clipped on belt. Mind: completely lost.
As he finished inventorying, he locked eyes with Antigonos, performing his own similar ritual across the room with Straton and two more of his soldiers. Though they were denied their weapons, the Lacedami were allowed their confiscated armor. Each donned their breastplate, forearm and shin grieves, and shield. The sight was impressive. Suddenly John got the impression he would be marching into the arena of battle alongside gladiators. He wondered, though, if internally the commander was as nervous as he was.
"You ready?" John asked, approaching the group.
"Were we permitted access to our swords and firearms, I might say so," Antigonos grumbled.
"Tough. Once you're back at your posts, with the rest of your soldiers, you'll get your weapons, like the rest of your soldiers." And more to the point, I don't exactly like the idea of four of you against one of me unless I'm the only one armed.
Folding his arms, John then asked, "Now are you going to tell me which ship we're going to so we can leave?"
"We know the way," Straton replied, shouldering past. The three others followed.
Of course you do, the major thought wryly to himself. Hell, they probably know a shortcut.
After fifteen minutes of hustling, the group of five arrived at the door to Atlantis's eastern pier.
"Kirkland, we're just getting to the eastern pier now. Are you in position?" Sheppard radioed.
"Yes, sir," the Aussie sharpshooter answered. "I'm in one of the towers right above you. Got a clear view of the ships on the pier. I don't have any Wraith cruisers lighting up my scope yet, and my other snipers report all clear. You'll be the first to know once we see something."
"Roger that. Stay sharp."
With the electric door motors inoperable, John allowed two Lacedami to pry open the exterior door manually. The two panels parted revealing a haunting pre-dawn sky. The sun was minutes from rising, painting the eastern horizon in deep purple and pink hues, though the western sky still pulsed with the receding lightning storm. Stars still glowed in the inky black above. A cool, fresh air nipped at John's nose, reinvigorating his tired body and mind.
"I have a bad a feeling about this," Rodney voiced over the walkie.
"You have a bad feeling about everything, McKay. Plus you already said that."
"No, I already said 'this is a bad idea'. Now I'm telling you that I have a bad feeling."
"And I have a gun, so that should even things out. Now would you relax?"
Looking at the pier jutting straight out before him, John spotted two Lacedami spaceships parked along its length. Across the City's other five piers he knew there were eight more. Each's ebony fuselage glistened from the since passed rainstorm. The walkways were still slick.
On his left stood Straton. On his right, Antigonos. Ahead, within one of the two black behemoths, their salvation - and the only thing preventing John from ending the lives of the two monsters directly responsible for Elizabeth's death right then and there. It disgusted him that this collaboration, though born out of mutual necessity, was even transpiring.
John checked his watch. 0519 hours and t-minus nine until the dinner bell rings.
"Listen," the major informed Antigonos. "This is going to be close. If the cruisers show up while we're still out there, we run for it. And because I don't trust you, I fully intend to make it back to the City with the ZPM in my hands. If you can't keep up I'll leave your asses behind and I won't look back. Got it?"
"It would disappoint me greatly if you did anything but, Major Sheppard," the commander placated.
Stepping aside, John held out his arm patronizingly. "After you."
The five men jogged a quarter mile past the nearest Raven and stopped beside the second. Just as John had done earlier, one of the Lacedami crew pulled an almost invisible handle on the craft's port side. The hatch swung open and the soldier disappeared inside. Straton followed.
As they waited, John spotted once more the Ancient text adorning the spacecraft's skins. Sheppard recalled that the Ancients had initially bestowed the craft as tokens of cooperation with the Lacedami people. Generations later, John wondered if that same trust could be rekindled between each culture's progeny.
Anxiously tapping his fingers on his arm, the major didn't have to wait very long. Less than two minutes later, the first soldier to enter the ship popped his head out the hatch. He held his arm out, his hand cradling a hastily wrapped object. John peaked past the folds of the linen wrapping. It was the ZPM.
He breathed a sigh of relief. Until that moment, some part of his subconscious had doubted the device's existence, thinking the whole thing had been a sham. Maybe his theory had been wrong. But there it was. With the shield operational, they actually stood a fighting chance.
Then he caught Antigonos evaluating him, face devoid of emotion. He looked as though he knew something John didn't. John turned to confront him when a voice cut over the comms.
"Major," Kirkland suddenly called. The sharpshooter, often described as cool as a cucumber in the worst of situations, spoke in his usual blasé demeanor, only a hint of urgency tinging his voice. "I've got eyes on two bandits - they're early."
"Where at, Lieutenant?" John asked, instinctively looking skyward.
"One o'clock, high. Make that three bandits - check that, four, sir."
John scanned the darkness for the Wraith ships but only found a handful of remaining stars in the early morning sky.
Then a few of the stars began to move.
He watched as a constellation of four descended slowly toward the horizon then alter heading to bear straight at Atlantis. Following the group of four was another, and another behind that.
"I see them: Darts, inbound!" he announced over his radio to all teams, unable to remain quite as unflappable. "Looks like they're starting an attack run - Lieutenant, you and your team get back inside!"
"Roger. You and your diggers ought to think about doing the same," the Aussie cautioned.
"On our way!"
John turned to gather the group of Lacedami, ready to take make a run for the City, but was greeted by the barrel of a pistol aimed at the bridge of his nose. Straton glared at him sinisterly from behind the sight. His counterpart, still perched just within the spacecraft, still held the ZPM in one hand but now brandished an identical Lacedami pistol in the other. It, too, was aimed at Sheppard's head.
John indignantly raised his hands over his head. Son of a bitch! he screamed in his head. Of course they had weapons stashed in the ship!
More irate with himself than intimidated by the assailants, he paid no mind to the three other Lacedami and turned his attention on Antigonos. "What are you doing?" he demanded.
"You must already know the answer to that," the commander replied, taking the ZPM from his subordinate within the ship. He inspected it, verifying its intact state.
Sheppard's eyes flickered to the inbound Darts then back again. "Commander, listen to me," he attempted to reason, "the Wraith are here. Those Darts are less than one minute from being right on top of us."
"No, Major. Those Darts are less than one minute from being right on top of you. I do not intend to be here to welcome them."
Motioning to his own spacecraft, Antigonos ordered his men inside. Only he and Straton remained on the deck, the latter still wielding a Lacedami pistol. Both backed toward the ship's hatch as Antigonos spoke.
"You were correct, Major. I will stop at nothing to see this City destroyed. I do want the honor and glory of reducing it to rubble - and once the Wraith are through, I will get it. It matters not to me that I am not the one to pull the trigger, and that this," he said, hefting the ZPM in his hand, "was not used for its intended purpose. A salvo of Wraith plasma fire will work just the same."
"Well, I can't say I'm too surprised that you stabbed us in the back, though your timing really sucks," the major mused.
"Nor am I surprised at your naïveté, your willingness to trade reason for hope."
"Your precious ascension device is still in there," John reminded, nodding toward the City.
"Not to worry," Antigonos said with an evil smile, "the matter is being taken care of as we speak."
Oh, no... McKay, John thought, hands still above his head. He has it in his jacket pocket. His eyes once again found the incoming Wraith formations on the horizon, their ships now larger than he would have liked. He could now see the faint orange glow of the exhaust and hear the droning buzz of the engines. Thirty seconds, he estimated, a pit growing in his stomach.
The distant drone was then drowned out by a closer noise. A soft whine, the sound of the stealth ship's power plant spooling up, grew in intensity as one of the Lacedami crewmen manipulated the controls in the cockpit. John looked on in futility. The Wraith were seconds away from decimating everything he held dear, and he could do nothing but let those responsible escape. He was letting Elizabeth's murderers escape.
"Major John Sheppard of Earth," Antigonos called jovially, placing a hand on the ships's doorframe, "it has been an honor. Give my respects to Dr. Weir and do mind the Boatman."
Even above the rhythmic whirr of the Raven's engine and the buzz of the incoming Darts, John heard the distinctive click of Straton's pistol being cocked. The scarred face of the lieutenant contorted in the same satisfactory sneer he had displayed when he had locked the door of the flooding lab, sealing Elizabeth's fate. Now, John's own was about to be sealed.
Letting out a shaky breath, John thought dourly, So this is it, then. Better a bullet to the head than culled by the Wraith, I guess. He closed his eyes and waited for the end.
The sharp crack! of a bullet being released from the barrel of a gun echoed loudly across the open pier. But it wasn't the report John had expected to hear. It had the distinctive audible signature of a weapon much larger than a pistol.
He cracked open an eye. Before him he found Straton on the ground where he had stood only seconds ago. He clutched his side where a ragged wound had already begun to bleed copiously onto the deck. The large man wailed in agony. Slowly, the major lowered his hands, trying to make sense of the situation.
Antigonos wasn't burdened with such thoughts. Realizing that his mark was not dead as intended, his confidence melted into fury. He angrily grabbed the pistol from one of his remaining two subordinates and leveled it at John, ready to finish the job once and for all.
At the same time, the Darts came within firing range. It was a race between the commander and the Wraith as to who would shoot first.
The Wraith won.
The two lead Darts opened with a volley of plasma fire. Though their first shots fell short, the whoosh of the plasma rounds was enough to take Antigonos off his mark.
Neither he nor Sheppard needed to be told twice. They both extrapolated the trajectory of the ships' strafing run, saw that their present location would be overwhelmed with plasma fire within seconds, and ran for all they were worth toward the City.
The two other Lacedami still within the ship weren't so lucky. Each sequential Wraith blast inched closer and closer to the Raven until the fourth found its mark. The white-hot plasma ignited the combustible fuel. Immediately the jet exploded into a violent ball of flame. The fuselage was sent rocketing into the air twenty feet before it crashed back to the deck. It landed in a newly formed crater carved into the scorched deck. A black smoke column began to tower into the morning sky, lifting bright embers into the twilight.
The explosion's concussive wave hurled both Sheppard and Antigonos across the pier. They landed heavily on their sides, skidding to a stop next to one another, their altercation momentarily forgotten. They covered their heads from the raining debris as the first pair of Darts screamed overhead.
The force of the impact had knocked the ZPM from Antigonos' grasp and sent it tumbling along the ground before it came to rest several feet ahead.
Both John and the commander saw it. They locked eyes, each trying to determine if the other would make the move. Neither did, for at that moment the second pair of Darts each engaged their culling beam. Both men rolled aside just in time for the Darts to pass harmlessly overhead.
The second Lacedami ship faired no better than the first. It, too, erupted in a fireball 100 yards from its sister.
John's mind was racing. He had seen the tactic once before on Klaan before he and Elizabeth had been scooped up themselves: the initial attack disoriented and scattered the Wraith's human prey enough for the wingmen to sweep in and cherry pick their prizes. It was effective.
From his back, John looked back at the burning carcass of the first ship. It was completely obliterated. There, just outside the wall of flame, lied Straton. John surmised that he, too, had been thrown clear by the shockwave. The man still moaned in semi-conscious anguish. The corner of his tunic had caught fire, though he now lacked the strength to stomp it out. It didn't matter; from the well-placed gunshot wound, the soldier wouldn't live more than ten minutes, John knew. Those last ten minutes, though, would be the most excruciating of his life. Serves the prick right, John thought.
Remembering the reason that brought him the pier, John spun forward to find the ZPM. He spotted Antigonos, already on his feet and sprinting toward the device.
Shit! the major thought. He launched himself in pursuit, his feet fighting for traction on the slick deck. His pace quickened instinctively as he saw the commander scoop up the ZPM from the ground without even losing a step.
"Corporal Kirkland!" he radioed as he ran.
"Yes, sir," came the immediate reply.
"I thought I told you to get back inside!"
"Yes, sir."
"Then how do you explain an M40 sniper round to Straton's gut?"
"Can't, sir. That would imply I disobeyed a direct order."
"That would, indeed!" John affirmed. "Besides, I thought you guys were trained to aim for a clean headshot!"
There was a thoughtful pause. "Then I either had terrible training or I'm a terrible shot. Doesn't sound like me."
Despite himself, John grinned. "No, it doesn't. Now for the last time: get back inside! And Corporal? I owe you one!"
"Ah, no worries, mate - had I done anything, you just might. Good luck, Major."
John eyed the remaining half mile between himself and the City's entrance. He fully intended to make it back before before the second wave of four Darts rolled in. He could see the first squad wreaking havoc in the distance; the four Darts zigged and zagged over and between towers, their culling beams pulsing on and off. Occasionally one would fire a short burst at the exposed buildings, causing their facades to crumble and tumble below like a rockslide. Dear Lord...
They desperately needed that ZPM. Eyes wide with horror, John forced himself to focus only on the fleeing form of Antigonos ahead of him. He watched the commander duck into the nearest building. John was seconds behind.
"McKay!" John radioed in between breaths. "We have a couple of problems!"
"You mean other than a bunch of life-sucking aliens about to destroy us?" the scientist replied nervously.
"Yes, other than that!" Approaching the City, he lowered his voice and entered the darkened hallway, gun up. Antigonos was nowhere to be seen. "Your life's about to get a little more exciting, McKay. The Lacedami are going to try to reacquire the ascension device from you. Whatever you do, make sure they don't get it." He swallowed, realizing he was repeating the same plea Elizabeth had made to him minutes before she died.
"Oh, that's wonderful..."
"There's something else. The ZPM, I - I didn't get it."
"You what!"
"Antigonos double-crossed us and made off with it."
"Well where is he taking it?"
"Hell if I know!"
"Can't you tap into some of that shared ESP strategic mojo you two seem to have and guess?"
"My guess is that he'll be skipping town on his nearest intact jet, but he won't leave until one of his toads steals back your device."
"Yes, you already informed me of that terrifying development, thank you. What in the world does he want the ZPM for, anyway?"
"He wants us not to have it, not if we can use it to activate the shield and save the City. I'm tracking him now. I'll get the ZPM back and bring it to you." Where the hell are you, you asshole? John thought to himself, scanning the hallway through his P-90's sight.
"Okay, Major, listen to me. Send a team after this psychopath. Don't go it alone."
"There's no time; I'm right on his heels."
"This isn't smart! Let it go."
"I can't do that, McKay."
"Confound it, Major! You don't have to do this!"
"Yes I do!"
"Killing Antigonos won't bring her back!" Rodney yelled, seeing through his words. "You're in no condition to be playing commando and you're going to get yourself killed, either by him or the Wraith! Is that what you want?"
John paused, the question catching him off guard. He didn't have an answer.
"I'll see you in the Power Room," was all John said before signing off. He stalked down the corridor, balancing speed and caution, looking for signs of Antigonos' passing.
On the other side of Atlantis, Rodney threw his walkie down in disgust. He eyed the entrance to the Power Room - he was almost there - then looked toward the pier and back again. "Damn that man," he groused. He reluctantly stood and made his way timidly back down the hallway. "Yep, I'm a dead man. This is such a bad idea."
TBC