"Twenty four contacts straight ahead Ma'am," an officer reported the moment the ship left hyperspace.
"I see them," Sam responded from her control chair.
"We're being hailed."
On one of the forward viewports a man appeared. "You are intruding into space controlled by the Supreme Earth Nobility, prepare to be boarded."
"By the authority of the Alterra this solar system is considered a combat zone and we will act accordingly."
"The authority of the Alterra is not recognised h..."
A quick thought from Sam cut the channel and ordered of her four Retributors forward. Eight of the hostile 305s moved away from the larger fleet, straight towards them. When they came within firing distance the Retributors raised their main weapons through the plating and unleashed a barrage of plasma, another barrage followed shortly after and another after that. Before any missiles had been deployed the barrage reached the 305s and pulverised two of the ships. Then the second and third arrived and the eight ships were all destroyed.
"All ships advance at full speed," Sam ordered. Immediately the rest of her fleet, two Auroras and five upgraded generation ships, rushed forward to catch up with the Retributors which were already heading for the remaining 305s.
"Dr. Zelenka I'm getting some strange readings over here," a technician said. He was sitting at one of the consoles in Atlantis control room and at a nearby console Zelenka was sitting.
"What is it?"
"One of the Retributors have detected a wraith fleet heading for the Traveler home fleet."
"Our sensors are showing five wraith fleets in the quadrant around the Traveler home fleet. If they don't come within the quarantine zone we don't act. It is just like normal."
"Doctor, our sensors do not detect this wraith fleet, it's well within our detection range."
"We have two more sensor anomalies reported in Doctor," another technician said.
"You and you make sure that the transfer from Destiny is kept online," Zelenka ordered, pointing at two of the men. "Everyone else check the sensor data and sensor protocols."
"Move," a man shouted and shoved a technician across the room.
"Sorry, excuse us," another slightly fatter man said, coming after the first man from the gate room below. He gently moved another technician out of the way and turned to Zelenka. "I'm Eli Wallace and this is Dr. Nicholas Rush, we're happy to help." Together the two begun to work the consoles.
"What moron configured this?" Rush shouted.
"Retributors are picking up an increasing number of wraith fleets heading towards the quarantine zone Doctor Zelenka."
At his console Zelenka watched as the information coming from the Retributors was added into their own sensor readings. More and more wraith fleets and predicted headings showed up. When he pressed his com badge fourteen new fleets had been tagged near Retributors. "Colonel Sheppard, we have some problems. I think you need to come back here."
Down in the gate room people were still arriving through the gate from Destiny. Without warning Sheppard staggered through the gate with a body in tow. He was covered in blood stains from head to toe and fresh blood was coming from cuts across his body. Behind Sheppard four men came backing through the gate with their weapons still firing.
"Close the gate," one of the men said, just as Sheppard collapsed on the floor. "We need a medic over here."
Through the crowd gathering around Sheppard Beckett elbowed his way. He observed the Colonel for a few seconds before shouting up to the control room "Radek beam us to the infirmary."
"We have not run all the tests yet Doctor, it could be very dangerous," Zelenka objected
"Aye, but moving the Colonel by hand could be deadly." A few seconds later a white flash transported away Beckett and Sheppard.
"Sensors are back online Doctor," a technician reported.
In the gate room bellow security was starting to escort the personnel from Destiny into the city.
"What do you see?" Radek asked. With one of his hands he motioned for a security team towards Eli and Rush.
"What's this? We just helped you fix the sensors and now you're pointing your guns at us?" Eli asked.
"We're a security risk Eli," Rush said. "I guess they'll check for brainwashing and Goa'ulds before we're allowed to interact with the rest of the staff."
"If would you come with me Sir." The man addressing them were almost two heads higher than Rush. Silently the two were escorted away.
"Send a message to General O'Neill, we need to have the gate dialled back from here to Destiny," Zelenka ordered. "How is the sensors?"
"We're still tweaking them, but we're picking up wraith activity throughout the galaxy," the tech reported. "I believe that we should ready the fleet."
A swirl of foreign curses passed Zelenka's lips when he saw the readings. "Contact Mokar."
"Doctor, he asked not to be disturbed until he was finished," a tech responded.
"Then disturb him either way."
"Yes Doctor."
"Pull back all ships to guard the traveler home fleet. Warn the traveler home fleet."
In a flash of white light Mokar appeared next to Zelenka. "What is happening? I asked specifically not to be disturbed."
"The sensors are acting up."
"Is that all? You are the chief scientist here on Atlantis, I expected you to solve such things," Mokar said.
"We have already fixed the sensors. When…See for yourself," Zelenka said, pointing at the screen.
"I only see five small wraith fleets well away from any of our outposts."
"Do prdele přísavková," Zelenka cursed. "Restart the sensors again."
After half a minute three dozen new contacts showed on the sensors close to the traveler home fleet.
"Get the fleet in place now and warn the traveler home fleet," Mokar ordered.
"I have already done so according to Doctor Zelenka's orders," a tech reported.
"Doctor Zelenka, I expect you to have sorted out our sensors by the time I return."
"Yes yes yes, we will find the problem and eliminate it," Zelenka replied while working on the console.
"Where's Colonel Sheppard? I will need his assistance."
"He was injured on Destiny, when Carson got him to the infirmary he was barely alive."
"Beam me down there now." In a quick flash of light his surroundings changed from the control room to the medical bay.
"You need to stay down Colonel, the medical equipment is all that is keeping you alive. If you move too much you will die in a matter of minutes," Beckett yelled while he and four nurses tried to hold down Sheppard on one of the Alterran medical beds.
"He's here in Atlantis. I followed him through the gate back here, dragging one of our men with me."
"Who followed you Sheppard?" Mokar asked. A wave of his hand pressed Sheppard down on the bed telekinetically.
"A Goa'uld. He was in charge of Destiny. He tried to kill me when I started the transfer. He tried to shoot me but the shield protected me, then he drew a knife. It glowed orange and felt hot like fire when it cut through the shield. I managed to grab the knife and fight back, he fled after I cut him a few times. I chased after him through the ship until we reached the gate room, he must have had an extra knife hidden because he cut one of the guards, the man I carried with me, and rushed through before anyone could stop him. I need to find him before he hurts someone."
"I will take care of it Colonel, do not worry. How long will it take before he is back on his feet Doctor?"
"It will take at least a few hours before I will allow him to leave this bed," Beckett replied.
Mokar turned away and pressed his collar to activate the com badge. "Daniel can you hear me?"
-Yea what's up? We could use your help to solve a few problems we're having here.-
"We have a Goa'uld in the city. Find it and take care of the problem."
-I'm sorry but I'm not really a soldier. Don't we have soldiers for that?-
"You're the most senior staff member Daniel, you know the city inside out and you know the Goa'uld."
-Alright I'll take some men and chase him down.-
"Bring both Alterran and Tau'ri weapons Daniel."
-I'll deal with it.-
"Take care of him Doctor," Mokar said after turning of his com badge. A quick thought from him sent an activation command through the Alterran systems built into the city to the newly installed transport system. A split second later he was beamed away.
When the white flash disappeared he was in front of the active gate. "Take care of the city Doctor Zelenka, I want those sensors working properly when I come back."
"We will do what we can," Zelenka replied just as Mokar walked through the gate.
"Ma'am enemy reinforcement have crossed the blockade line. They are heading our way," an officer reported.
"Any threat to us?" Sam asked. She was still sitting in the control chair of the Aurora which was sitting just outside Earth's atmosphere.
"No Ma'am. They are no threat to us at this time but with enough numbers they could take out a few of our ships."
"Keep me posted if things change," Sam said. She left her control chair and walked towards the back of the bridge. "Take us down to the surface."
"Yes Ma'am." Almost immediately the ship begun to descend into the atmosphere while Sam walked through the corridors towards the back of the ship to where her soldiers waited for her.
When she entered the room almost fifty soldiers snapped into attention. "Colonel we're standing by for orders," an officer said.
"You know what to do Major Rutherford. Secure the perimeter within the shield when we land and set up a base," Sam replied.
"Yes ma'am."
-General O'Neill there's been complications on board Destiny. They have evacuated the entire ship,- a voice was heard through Jack's com badge.
"Copy that," Jack said into his com badge. "Alright people, we're moving out."
"What about stragglers Sir?" a soldier asked.
"I've already locked the gate, they're not leaving this planet before it blows."
"Yes Sir," the soldier replied.
In rapid order the ships begun to beam them away in small groups, finally Jack was beamed up together with his guards to the bridge of his Aurora.
"You're the last ones to be beamed up Sir," a bridge officer reported.
"Alright people let's get this party started," Jack said as he sat down in the control chair.
With a thought he linked up his ship with the rest of the fleet and marked the base on the planet. As one the ships begun to fire into the surface of the planet with each shot digging deeper and deeper into the naquadria rich crust. After almost half a minute of continuous firing the crust fractured and the fleet jumped to a safe distance to watch the fireworks.
When Mokar arrived through the gate six Asurans stood ready for him. "A ship is standing ready to transport you."
"Thank you, set a course for the Traveler Home fleet. Jump away the moment I am on board the ship."
"It will be done." While Mokar's Alterran physiology allowed him to move faster and longer distances he had no chance to keep up with the Asurans when they begun to run towards the ship with Mokar himself following as fast as he could. By the time he arrived the ship's engines had already started and he had only set a foot on the ramp when it begun to retract into the ship, which rose quickly. It was a simple long distance scout but it would take him where he needed to go. Because of the ship's size the interior was a single large bridge filled with consoles to monitor the specialised sensory equipment the ship had installed. Along the sides of the bridge the Asurans were standing, their hands were melting through the walls so they could control the ship directly. As he walked towards the ship's controls in the front a clear thud was heard from behind when the hatch and ramp locked in place. On the forward screen a wireframe outline showed the supergate's position in front of them for a few seconds before the ship was hurled into hyperspace.