3. Defence Preparations

The three Wraith Hive ships will arrive at the defence satellite within six days and then three to four days later at Atlantis.

Days 1 to 2

Shortly after Dr Jackson had transmitted there call for assistance to the Asgard, Dr Jackson beams back down to Atlantis to help prepare with the defence of Atlantis and to study as much as he can before the Wraith turned up.

The Prometheus then leaves for the last of the defence satellites.

After a short jump in hyperspace (a few minutes at the most), the Prometheus arrives at the now dead defence satellite.

Lantean Defence Satellite

A Lantean defence satellite is nearly as large as a Goa'uld Ha'tak these satellites have relatively little internal space, with only a control room accessible via an airlock (or by beaming in or out, in a space suit) capable of docking with a single gateship. Its power requirements are also low, to the point where its primary weapon can be powered by using a single naquadah generator or any other similar power generator.

Each satellite carries a beam weapon powerful enough to split a Wraith Hive Ship in half with a single shot, far exceeding the power of even the most potent Asgard weapons. The satellites beam weapon is more than capable of destroying at least three Wraith Hive ships when fully charged.

The charging rate of the weapon is rather slow due to the relatively weak amount of power produced by a naquadah generator, though this is still sufficient to take out the three Wraith Hive ships. However, it is likely that the capacitor would refill significantly faster if a more powerful energy source, such as a ZPM where attached to it.

After beaming over to the satellite and getting the station powered up, Dr McKay estimates that with the naquadah generator it will take several hours for the station capacitor to fully charge. While the capacitor is charging, Dr McKay takes a spacewalk to reroute that power conduits, this will bypass the damaged power conduits allowing the satellite to fire.

Within the next few hours the defence satellite should be fully operational and powered, then Dr McKay will return to Atlantis onboard the Prometheus, the defence satellite will be remotely operated from Atlantis.

It has taken the better part of nearly two days to get the defence satellite operational, with the Prometheus 'on station' nearby ready to beam Dr McKay team out at a moment's notice.

Meanwhile on Atlantis, Dr Zelenka finds a problem with the drone weapons.

Atlantis

Dr Zelenka, a Czech scientist and an expert on Ancient technology, second only to Dr McKay has discovered after powering up the control chair, that most of the drones have been expended, there are only a few dozen Drone Weapons left, presumably most of the drones had been used during the original siege.

Dr Zelenka says, "We only have a few dozen drones left, we only know this now as we never had the power of the Mark 2 Naquadah generators to power up this system available to find out how many we had left."

Sheppard states, "Well we could use them against the Wraith Hive ships if any get past the satellite."

General Hammond says, "Agreed, continue with your work Dr Zelenka, oh and well done."

Dr Zelenka smiles and replies, "Thank you General" and goes back to checking the control chair.

Within a few hours, the Prometheus will have returned to Atlantis.

Day 3

At the end of day 3, with the defence satellite operational, the Prometheus with Dr McKay and his team have returned to Atlantis to help with the defence of Atlantis.

Dr McKay has set it up so he can control the defence satellite from Atlantis.

On their return to Atlantis General Hammond says, "Well done Dr McKay and to your team."

Dr McKay smiles and replies, "Thank you, General"

General Hammond says, "Dr McKay I need to help with the preparations for the defence of Atlantis."

Dr McKay replies, "I am on it."

Days 4 to 6

As the defence preparations continue on both the Prometheus and Atlantis, with the last defence satellite operational they now seem to have a chance. If the defence satellite can take out one or even two Wraith hive ships, then they will have a fighting chance, as the Prometheus cannot deal with three Wraith hive ships and there escort cruisers on her own.

Meanwhile back on Earth, Stargate Command is about to get an unexpected visitor.

Stargate Command, Cheyenne Mountain Complex

Brigadier General Jack O'Neill, doing what seems like an unending amount of paperwork, when he is beamed out of his office on to Thor's ship in geostationary orbit over Stargate Command.

Jack says aloud to the empty room, "Hello, anyone there?"

A few moments later Thor beams into the room sitting in his chair and replies, "Greetings O'Neill."

Jack says, "Hi Thor, old buddy, how are things going?"

Thor replies, "'Things' are going well. I have news for you."

Jack asks, "What news is that?"

Thor replies, "I have a message from the Prometheus, they say that Atlantis is about to fall under attack from a hostile alien race, they request assistance."

Jack replies, "Wow that is a problem as we do not have the power to connect with Atlantis, as we used our last ZPM to get our team to Atlantis."

Thor replies, "That is a problem, I do have a question, what is a ZPM?"

Jack replies, "That is a good question and I wish I could answer it, you would need to talk to Carter, as you know that sort of thing is not my strong point."

Thor replies, "Indeed" Thor then moves a control crystal on the arm of his chair and Carter is beamed onboard Thor's ship.

Carter looks at Thor then O'Neill then says, "Err, Hello Thor, General, what is up?"

Thor asks, "I need to know what a ZPM is, O'Neill says that you know."

Jack says, "Carter, can you tell Thor what a ZPM is."

Carter replies, "Yes sir I can. Thor a ZPM or Zero Point Module is what we call a power source built by the Ancients. A Zero Point Module is a large, semi-transparent group of crystals about two feet tall with a circular base. The devices glows yellow when active a dark shade of red when inert. A ZPM houses a pocket of subspace-time known as the quantum foam. Zero-point energy is extracted from this pocket until it reaches maximum entropy, at which point the pocket collapses, leaving behind a useless shell."

Thor thinks for a few moments then moves a control crystal on the arm of his chair, a hologram of a ZPM appears in between Thor and O'Neill/Carter, Thor asks, "Is this what you are talking about?"

Carter replies, "Yes it is that is a ZPM."

Thor says, "I am afraid I cannot help you, the Asgard, do not know the location of any of these ZPMs as you call them we have also tried and failed to produce these devices."

Carter replies, "Well that is a problem."

Thor says, "Indeed it is"

Before Thor can go on Carter asks, "Thor, if one or more of these fully charged ZPMs where on a planet could you locate them?"

Thor's eyes open wide and he replies, "Yes it is possible do you know the possible location of one of these devices?"

Carter replies, "Yes here on Earth, there are reports that Ra had one as an ornament and it was buried when the rebellion against Ra happen on Earth several thousand years ago somewhere in Egypt."

Thor then moves a control crystal on the arm of his chair and says, "I have set my ships sensors to scan the area of the planet you call Egypt, if there is a power module my ships sensors should be able to detect it."

Jack says, "That is cool" then a few moments later looking at his watch Jack asks, "Do you know how long this will take?"

A transported beam appears in the middle of the room with a box with ancient Egyptian markings over the outside, Thor says, "My ship has only been able to detect one such power module, this should be enough for the short term. I have also sent the information on how to find one of these to Hermiod. He will be able to use the sensors onboard the Daedalus to locate any further power modules for you."

Jack says, "Thanks Thor, old buddy" as Jack is saying that Thor beams both Jack and Carter back to Stargate Command along with the box containing the ZPM.

In his office with Carter, Jack says, "Thor must have been in a rush" then looking at the box he says, "Well Carter looks like we have a way to send help to Atlantis, have Colonel Everett ready his team, tell him he goes in a five hours. Have Colonel Caldwell ready the Daedalus in geo stationary orbit above the SGC, his ship will leave as soon as Colonel Everett team has gone through the gate."

Carter replies, "Yes sir" and leaves with the box containing the ZPM.

Stargate Command

Five hours later...

As the last member of Colonel Everett team passes through the gate, General O'Neill says, "Get that ZPM up to the Daedalus ASAP, then as soon as the ZPM in onboard have the Daedalus jump into hyperspace."

Just over an hour later, the Daedalus jumps into hyperspace, with her hyperdrive now boosted by the power of the ZPM, it should only take a few days to travel to Atlantis, compared to the four weeks for the Prometheus.

Meanwhile the battle for Atlantis in the Pegasus Galaxy is in full swing...

To be continued.