Chapter 24: Shutdown

Pietor was getting frustrated and that was making Harvey nervous. "So what you are telling me is that the new provider gave us a huge boost in power?"

"Yes sir," Harvey answered rapidly "We were not projected to reach the resupply planet for several solar cycles yet but as you are aware we have now replenished out stores and are underway once more."

"So why are we not continuing at such a pace?" Pietor demanded. "you have replaced him with another provider from his planet have you not?"

"Yes" Harvey once more agreed steeling his breath to tell Pietor the next part; "but she did not provide as much power and we have had to initiate emergency cell change." The lights flickered above their heads.

"What process will be affected?" Pietor asked, his focus changing to the necessary arrangements he would have to make.

"Nothing that cannot be restarted immediately afterwards." Harvey admitted relief running through his body at that fact, he was not sure what would have happed to him had one of the important processes that the colony on the ship relied on such as food processing been disrupted. "We are replacing the current provider with one that shares a cell with the previous provider."

"Can you not just replace it with the previous provider?"

Harvey flinched at the depersonalisation of the woman currently providing power to the ship but answered non-the-less. "The technicians have said that we must wait at least one solar cycle between insertions or the providers burn out far too quickly."

Pietor huffed "Very well. Do what you have to do but tell chief scientist Vland that I want a live feed of the power levels and our progress patched straight through to my quarters."

Harvey smiled thinking of Vland's reaction to the information he was going to have his work and decisions scrutinised by Pietor. "Of course Pietor, I'll get on that straight away." Knowing that the demand had included a dismissal he contacted both Vland and his standard collection detail as he moved, the flickering of the lights a constant reminder that they needed to act sooner rather than later.

Mitchell was frustrated; they had just watched O'Neil being led out of sight but not before both he and Ronon had spotted him discreetly signing that they should gather as much information as possible and look for a way to get the cell doors open. "Did you see how nervous those guards got when the lights flickered?" He asked Ronon "I wonder what happens if the power goes down for any length of time..."

"I've never been on a ship where it has been a major problem, unless we were being attacked; then it was a problem." Ronon admitted "I also haven't seen how they open the cell doors, must be an external control that's not in the corridor..."

"That will make things more complicated it sounds like they might be operated in a similar manner to cell doors in prisons on earth, we need to find out more about these people, why don't they settle." He turned to include Lily and David in what he said next; "Whenever we get the chance to get out of this cell ask questions but be careful who you ask, we need to get as much information as possible but don't put yourselves at risk." Lily and David nodded, they had probably seen enough movies to understand what he meant and were scared enough to make sure they didn't get caught.

"Right I suggest that everyone rest and relax; conserve your energy. From what Ronon and David said we know that our food supply may be unreliable so you should all try and get some sleep, we'll ration what food we are given to make sure we have energy when we need it."

They all nodded their agreement but Lily looked wistfully over to her son who was happily playing with a toy of some sort, oblivious to the peril he was in. Seeing the look Mitchell said "This is going to sound harsh but you need to focus more on yourself; your son will be fed and provided for and I can guarantee you he is in the best hands, there is no way the O'Neils will let anything happen to him. Lily sighed a single tear rolling down he face but she nodded again and Mitchell was pretty sure he had gotten through to her. They all lay down as Mitchell and Ronon silently agreed that Cam would take the first watch. Just as they lay down the lights went off...

A/N: Im really trying to keep up with at least one update a week and this is mostly due to the fantastic reviews people have left, I have exams coming up for the next few weeks but I will try to post at least one short chapter a week anyway for now enjoy this little filler!