Chapter 48
Evacuation.
- We sent fighters toward the Midsummer base - Nightstorm said with typical to the Wraith Queens haughtiness, looking at the face of human male, shown on the main screen on the bridge her ship. - They have to protect our and your vehicles at any price... But if the evacuation will be dragged, I shall have to give the order to fire from orbit - she added more calmly, and as with note of aversion, Caldwell noted.
- I understand - said the soldier.
He wanted to add something when interrupted him Wraith Second Navigator.
- My Queen... we detected hyperspace window opening - he announced.
Nightstorm looked at him, and Caldwell through the large window of his sternum. Major Marks just introduced to him the same report. The colonel watched as the greenish hyperspace window is opening near the planet, releasing from its interior one hiveship and several accompanying him cruisers. Moments later there were two more, with a similar escorted. However, the biggest surprise was for them to detect in the small fleet a one, in full metal construction.
Colonel leaned forward.
- Is it Asgard ship? - he finally asked incredulously.
- Yes, sir - said the major. - Sensors confirm the presence of the vessel class Bilskirnir... He raise the shield and load the weapon - he added.
- Red alert... Full battle readiness - instructed Colonel and looked at the screen, on which was the face of the Queen. - We take care of those little traitors. The rest is left to you.
- I understood... But do not send your fighters to fight. We do not know exactly what weapon has a Midsummer fleet, so we may be forced at any time to evacuate - she explained.
- All right - said Caldwell and looked back at his mate. - All power to shields... fill all the battle cannons... Marks, at any time be ready to take us away.
He did not answer. He nodded his head in agreement, and only returned once again to analyze the data on his computer screen.
The image on the monitor on the Nemesis bridges change, and Nightstorm by moment looked research at the new fleet come.
- Tell the rest, so they sent to the battle all the fighters - she recommended, not even glancing at her Commander. - It's smaller loss, than the loss one with our ships - she said and looked at the First Navigator. - Coldsun, try to contact with the jumper on the planet. If it necessary, let they evacuate through the gate.
- Yes, My Queen - said Wraith and immediately set about performing her commands.
Nightstorm looked again at the main screen. Fighters from ships of both fleets just fly out with hangars, filling the space like a huge swarms of insects. The first missiles flashed on their carapace, turning, for a moment, a few of them in a cloud of fire.
- If you still had some good ideas... I'm open to suggestions... Colonel Carter - she said at last, and glanced over her shoulder at the woman standing at the back.
- At the moment I only have one: we do not let foolish to killed - Sam replied, stepping closer and also carefully watching the course of the battle on the screen.
When half an hour ago Nightstorm sent for her the freighter on Alabaster hive, no one had any idea what one of the Queens of the Grey Council could want from a human female. Therefore Sam with mixed feelings crossed the threshold of her throne room. The Queen stood together with several officers in front of one of the large screens on the side, discussing issues attack on the Midsummer base. Once the woman come closer, the Queen looked at her and smiled slightly.
Samantha already talked to her once, a few months ago, when together with the Wraith they tried to bring back the three forced inter-dimensional travelers. It was the first time when she met up with so many Wraith Queens... and in one place. And as one of the first she met a Nightstorm, but then, no one of them do not even have assumed, as important person she is in the Wraith society. Also, her behavior was no indication that she was someone special. She always calmly listened to the proposals of people... and to their great surprise, to many of them she was agree... Even when it seemed to be crazy by the standards of the Wraith.
But now her question was even more surprising to Carter:
- Do you have any suggestions on what strategy we should take in this situation, colonel Carter? - asked calmly the Queen.
The woman stuttered at first, looking uncertainly at those all faces, staring on her, Wraith.
- I'm sorry... but I do not understand why you're asking me - she said at last, uncertain situation.
- Previously, your suggestions proved to be very accurate - explained Nightstorm. - You were trying to find a solution, which will satisfy both sides. So now, I'm curious of your proposal.
Sam again silent for a moment, trying to shake off with this small shock. So far, she had not heard about the case, that the Wraith Queen asked human for advice.
- Well... First, I would tried to increase chances our people for escape ... before you start to the final plan: firing to the base from the orbit - she responded, starting a half-hour debate.
Only she and five Wraith, who listened intently all her suggestions, as if she were one of them. And now, standing at the side of the Queen on the Nemesis bridge, she watched with her, as Technicians hiveships set sideways to the opponent, to be able to start a fire with deck guns. Pale blue balls of energy flew out from the holes in the hull.
Fighting raged for good, both here on the orbit of the planet, as well as on its surface.
Moonlight and Teyla first rushed on board jumper.
Sitting behind the wheel man with Asian features, looked at them.
- The rest will be soon - informed him a young Wraith female, and before he could say anything, on the jumper hatch appeared another person.
McKay fell to the seat, gasping for air.
- Why they could not persuade me, that I have a excellent physical condition - he gasped finally.
Teyla sat beside him, slightly amused by his words.
- How do you feel? - she asked with concern.
- Besides, that I just spat my lungs? Even well - he said with irony.
Mo smiled and looked outside. Several soldiers from the Lorne's team, just ran to the deck of the second jumper. The rest still lead the exchange of fire with the Grey Soldiers, the number of which seemed to increase, not decrease. Midsummer had to send follow them all the troops, she thought.
Somewhere at the end she saw Tracker and Teal'c, standing on the first line of fire.
- For what are they waiting for - she said, upset.
"Hurry up" - she said in thoughts to the Oldest. - "The most is already in jumpers" - she informed him.
"I understand" - he replied briefly and glanced at Jaffa.
- Back off - he nodded his head to the side.
Teal'c did not answer. Both immediately turned on his heel and began to run away, shielded by the other. Here, among the trees growing on the island, they had more opportunities on shelter and a chance to avoid the shot, than before, near the base, in the open space. Therefore, each of them made full use of this opportunity, maneuvering between vegetation or hiding behind a massive tree trunks.
And suddenly, like the touch of a button the pause, the old Wraith stopped abruptly at the site.
Jaffa slowed, watching as Tracker listening, clearly looking for something in the distance his gaze... And then, as suddenly as he stopped, he jumped up and raced ahead. But not in the direction of waiting for them jumpers, but to located, behind the dense forest, lake.
Teal'c had never seen, that any Wraith sped as fast as this Officer.
- Tracker! - he shouted after him, stopping and staring in disbelief at what does Wraith. - Tracker! - he repeated loudly, paying attention others.
Sheppard looked to the right and swore under his breath.
- What the hell, he is doing? - he snapped, irritably.
"What happened?" - asked in his thoughts Skyfall, concerned about his behavior.
"There is a Raptor... I can feel him" - said shortly Wraith before he disappeared in the thicket of large ferns.
- He found Raptor - said to the other Commander, and before colonel could say anything, also sprang up to the run.
- Go back to the jumpers... I'll go for them - said Mitchell.
Crouching down along with Ronon behind great, a fallen trunk, he was at the position closest to the lake. He glanced quickly at flashing between trees Greys Soldiers and jumped up out of place.
- I'm going with them! - added unexpectedly Dex and ran for an officer.
- Sure... you dispersed across the island - growled Sheppard. - Anyone else? - he added, glancing at Sunblaze.
- It would not be too reasonable - said calmly. - We should go back to jumpers and shield them during their return - he added, and moved on.
- At least one sober-minded - muttered John, and followed after him, with Jaffa.
Located a bit further Lorne people, still shelling the upcoming Technicians soldiers, allowing the last group moving closer to the rendezvous point.
Tracker stopped abruptly, clinging his claws into a tree trunk. The road ended abruptly, changing in steep stone slope, from which was a view of the vast, blue lake water.
He looked down. Between the rocks was moving black shape.
"Rapy?" - he asked incredulously.
Shape stopped and leaned out from between the rocks... and then Wraith bared his sharp teeth in a grin to his brother.
"I was sure you were dead" - he added with evident relief. - "I felt like you walking away..."
"Because it was so" - he said, moving on.
"So, what miracle...?"
"Apparently, this is not my time" - he said mysterious.
Tracker frowned, wondering on the words of his brother.
"She helped you?" - he said finally.
"Yes."
"And the others let her do this?"
"Well... I do not think... But she did not break the rules. She did not do anything, what she would not have been able to before, so they had no right to cling to."
"Theoretically yes" - he admitted, and smiled corner of his mouth. - "Good to see you again, brother".
Raptor stopped for a moment and then looked up.
"You too."
Tracker wanted to say something, when his attention caught the rustle of leaves behind his back. He turned sharply, raising his weapon. Skyfall stopped abruptly at this sight.
- It's just us - he said, and glanced at him. - You found him? - he asked, stepping closer.
- Yes... He climbs up - he explained, glancing down.
The two men also moved closer, leaning forward and looking down.
- And let me - said Mitchell. - Hard of you bastards - he snorted.
- Like with them - Ronon said, glancing toward the forest.
The others turned. Between the trees, moved the Technicians soldiers, fast decreasing distance between them and the escapees.
Tracker glanced down. Raptor was already just a few meters below.
- Hurry up! We've got company! - he cried and hid behind the trunk of a tree, ready to defend.
- Easy for you to say! - summed Wraith, grabbing rocks violently, when one of his foot slipped off from the small ledge.
Greys Soldiers stopped, hiding behind trees and opened fire with their rifles. Whistle of energy bolts and shot with a machine gun, rang out around the neighborhood, startling a flock of numerous, small bird-like creatures.
But not only there was an exchange of fire. The last group ran on board two jumpers, shielded by those, who were already there.
- Where's the rest? - Lorne asked, standing on an abandoned hatch.
- They went to the Raptor - explained John and went inside.
- He's not dead? - Teyla asked incredulously.
- According to the Tracker, no - he said and looked at Mo.
Her face was the focus. She seemed to look somewhere ahead blankly.
- He live - she said after a moment of clear relief and smiled. - He climbing up the slope... The rest is waiting for him. They are attacked by the Grey Soldiers - she added and looked at the colonel. - I have an idea how to get out them of there...We fly to the slope masked jumpers.
- Agree... It's better, than waiting here - he said, and sat in the copilot's seat. - Let's get out, before this a bunch hunt down us here.
- We'll be right behind you - said Lorne and quickly ran to the second jumper. - Let's get out of here, boys! - he said, running to the cockpit.
Two machines were raised slightly above the surface, before the hatches were closed, just in time, to avoid a meeting with approaching soldiers. In truth the whole squad opened fire to departing machines, but the power of stun guns was too small to even this massive attack was able inflict the jumpers any damage. Energy shots just crashed into the hull, like on force field. And when only machines soared high enough, have launched their stealth field, disappearing into thin air like camphor, and leaving Technicians soldiers behind.
- Mo, lead - told John.
A young female came closer, standing behind his chair.
- More to the left, on the edge of the island - she said.
Jumper pilot directed machine in the indicated direction, and sitting next to Sheppard, pulled his radio.
- Mitchell? You live there yet? - he asked jokingly.
- Temporarily even so - said from the speaker a male voice.
- Keep it up. We're going after you.
- Roger - he replied briefly and hung up.
He do not have time for a chat. Number of attacking them soldiers significantly increased, and several of them broke even dangerously close.
- How was our undoing? - he asked, glancing at the Tracker.
- I'm almost there! - said a familiar voice from below.
- That's good, because it gets here really hot! - he said. - Where do they come from? They breed like rabbits - he growled and looked around quickly.
He tried to find a way, to quickly get rid of the least of these soldiers, who were closest to them, but as the anger no one took with him a grenade, which he could use, he thought irritable, and suddenly his eyes stuck on the mid damaged, sizeable trunk of the tree. If he could knock down it to the end, would have fallen directly on a group of Greys Soldiers.
- Cover me - he cried suddenly, and glancing at the attacking soldiers, quickly moved more to the left, closer to the tree.
Several energy missiles flashed next to him, but on his happiness, he in time hid behind a big stump. After a moment he looked behind him. The other three took the Gray in fight, so he shot from his rifle into the trunk.
- What's he doing? - asked Raptor, giving dive under felled trunk, next to his brother.
- I'd like to know - muttered Tracker.
Quick series from Mitchell weapons, severely damaged and so already broken tree, which leaned harder down. Only then others understand what plans the colonel. The man repeated gunshots, and soon after the whole neighborhood come the sound of broken wood, and then a tree with a bang collapsed to the ground, crushing its thick boughs of a group of Midsummer soldiers.
Raptor grinned.
- I told you, that Voca: Gambler, perfectly fits to him - said carelessly.
- But do I objected? - he said calmly between successive shots.
- Him you also give your name? - said slightly disgusted Ronon.
- And what? You are envy? - snorted Raptor.
- If I had what - muttered Dex.
- It's good... Hardplayer - he said, still amused.
Satedan looked at him in surprise... and then furiously furrowed brows.
- I do not need your name - he growled.
Tracker wanted to say something, when suddenly behind them flew several Lanteans drone, flying over them and hitting straight into numerous branch of the Grey Soldiers. They stopped firing, turning away. At the edge of the slop, floated two jumpers: one inverted front to them, and second the back, ending lowering the hatch.
- You need a ride somewhere, boys? - Sheppard said cheerfully.
- In the right time! - exclaim Mitchell, rising from a place with a clear relief.
- Hurry up... Technicians just released their fighters - hasten them John.
All five quickly ran to the machine, to go on the board. Both jumpers again launched a stealth field, and speed over the lake, quickly away from the ground station Queen Midsummer. Ruined, tilted to one side of structure, looked like the wreck of the ship, thrown up on the shore of the sea. But despite it, from the inside still were able to fly out the fighters, surrounding a small freighter like a swarm of intrusive insects their host.
- Midsummer escapes? - said Sheppard.
- Or it is the lure to reveal our position - said calmly Raptor. - We do not risk... It's not worth our death.
- I agree - he said and looked at the readings from the screen. - In our direction flying a lot group of darts.
- Have been sent from our hiveships - Moonlight announced. - They allow us to escape...
She paused for a moment, when a squadron of fighters opened fire on the enemy, passing masked jumpers just a few dozen meters. By the lake began regular exchange of fire the energy missiles, when one of the parties sought to reach the second.
- In orbit also is battle - she added. - Came Midsummer hiveships... If this is necessary, we have to evacuate through the gate.
- How do you know? - he asked surprised, but then he added. - Never mind... I keep forgetting about this your telepathy - he said.
Mo smiled slightly, amused.
- Since we and so flying towards the plains, it's see, if we can get out of here by stargate - she proposed. - On the orbit is quite a bloodbath.
Sheppard looked at her, frowning.
- A bloodbath? - he repeated. - And give Wraith access to earth terminology.
- Yes... In this I agree with you - muttered from the back with disapproval Skyfall.
The others looked at him.
- I like their slang - replay carefree young female.
- I noticed - muttered Commander.
- Leaving aside the issues of naming, the fight is a fight - interjected calmly Tracker. - And Midsummer have a very good strategists... And she is not stupid. Probably they already staked out the gate by fighters - he noted.
- But and so we will be there faster than in orbit - said from behind Teyla.
The Wraith looked at her over his shoulder.
- Yes.
- In that case, we do not have much choice: fight here or avoiding hits in orbit... even with camouflage.
- Good point - he admitted.
- I propose to fire to them as many drones as possible, before we get to the gate - added Cameron. - It will increase our chances to slip through.
Pilot a jumper soldier looked at him a little bit scared.
- I do not have too much practice in the fight a jumper - he said cautiously, and the others looked at him. - Until now, I was always the second pilot - he explained.
- Get out - he said calmly Sheppard, getting up from his chair. - Mitchell, sit down here - ordered, taking the place of a young pilot.
Colonel without a word took his seat.
The mighty lake was ended, and its place replaced by a dense forest, cover the big hill, and part of the vast plains, in the middle of which was their goal: the stargate.
John has launched a long-range sensors. On the holographic screen appeared a topographic image of the area... and a dozen small red dots.
- They are - he said. - It is probably of twenty.
- Twenty-three - corrected him Raptor.
Sheppard glanced at him over his shoulder, but said nothing. He started the connectivity of the second jumper.
- Lorne... How many drones you have? - he asked.
- Wait a minute - said a male voice from the speaker. - Eight ... we used two already - he added.
- Total eighteen... I guess it's not bad - he said. - The plan is: the gate guarding twenty three darts... We hit them with everything what we have, we activate the gate and we bounce.
- Makes sense - the voice said. - Where are we going?... I ask to know, what to get ready.
In the jumper fell momentary silence.
- Planet of the Grey Council - called Mo unexpectedly, causing dismay others. - Gates are in orbit... just like orbital repair station and at least a few hiveships, that will give us shelter. So we'll be able to fly one by one... And if some fighters will fly for us, take care of them ours - she explained. - I will inform my grandmother about our plan.
- As for me may be - said John. - So, let's rock 'n' roll - he added, and speeded the flight.
In the distance already been seen guarding the gates a squadron of fighters, which tightly surrounds the metal circle rises up from the ground.
- Just do not fired the gate - he muttered to the communicator, preparing to release the drones.
- I will try - said from the speaker Lorne.
- Mo, start select address - he instructed, and young female without a word walked over to the console.
The first drones left their depots on both sides of the jumper, and sped towards Technicians fighters. Sitting in them pilots, responded almost immediately, opening fire with their guns. However, in contrast to the single-track flight energy missiles, drones could change their position before they hit on goal. As a result, the first machines quickly turned into a cloud of fire.
However, this what does not necessarily have to harm a small, agile drones, become a far bigger problem for a much longer jumpers. In truth, both pilots earnestly trying to avoid getting hit, however, and so few bolts brushed against the hulls of machines. There was, therefore, no longer make sense to keep the cloaking field. Much more useful it was for them, at the moment, the force field, that could protect them from even part of hits.
Moonlight chose the last symbol on the DHD console, and focused on the moment to send her grandmother one short message.
Standing on the bridge of her hive Queen opened her eyes widened for a moment, then looked up at the First Navigator.
Another explosion shook the whole ship again.
- Tell the rest of the fly away - she ordered. - They came to the gate.
- Yes, My Queen - dutifully replied the officer and started to sends a suitable command.
This time it Nightstorm focused thoughts on her granddaughter, answering her.
Mo smiled corner of her mouth, and looked out the window again jumper.
They approached to the opened gate, although still under fire the last two fighters of Technicians. In truth Sheppard tried to use the same maneuver, as he used during their first encounter with the Wraith, but now, when the jumpers turned back, they could not have much maneuvering to avoid getting hit. They were too close to the gate, and John had to keep the machine in a straight line, to be able to safely get to the other side.
Lorne fired his last drone in one of the attackers, damaged his fighter, throwing him for accidentally in the second dart. Two machines collided, creating together a large cloud of fire. But and so, among the last sent volleys, one from the bolts hit straight into the jumper, arousing in its interior a series of discharges from damaged systems.
- Hold on! - cried the colonel, when from the two engines shot out a thick cloud of smoke.
However, he had to hide them, to be able fly through the gates.
In the entire cockpit was the sound of the alarm. Apparently it was not a good idea, he thought, praying, that they only managed to fly through the gates.
Both jumpers, one after the other, knock out into the water surface of the gate, and disappeared inside.
After a while, the device switch off, and on the vast plain again was come peace.