Stargate Atlantis: Nature's Bounty3
"It all fits. See?" Rodney pointed at a map on the projection screen in the control room. He highlighted the planets as he spoke. "M17TQ9 is gone. I don't mean missing. I mean gone as in obliterated. And here…the next one…we don't even have a name for this one but it was there before we left…a small moon, I believe but it did have an active Stargate. I've compared the charts to before we left and this moon is no longer extant. These events are taking place on the edge of the galaxy but they are still in the Stargate system. This one…P1R249, I can't even get a lock on it but it's in the path of, of …whatever."
"You tried dialing it?" Richard asked.
"Yes, just to be sure I tried several times. This one is unresponsive."
"If they keep on this approximate trajectory they will pass close to Atlantis, in time," Radek Zelenka warned. The Czech appeared more worried than usual.
"But who are they?" Richard asked, although he knew the answer was at yet elusive. "And you are certain these are not natural events?"
"Positive," Rodney stated, glancing at John, but so far the military commander had been silent. "It is definitely a weapon of some kind as I have proven by finding the exact same isotopic signature in each event."
"More powerful than anything we have yet encountered," Radek added.
"What's the next projected target?" Evan asked, staring at the star chart.
"If they keep moving along this route and follow a routine hyperspace route…this one." Rodney tapped the screen. "M1R298."
"Crap. That's where Teldy's team was. Damn it! Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" John snapped, finally speaking.
"I didn't know until now!" Rodney flared back. "Have they discovered something?"
"Someone," John corrected dourly. "Ford."
"What? Ford? Are you serious?" Rodney exclaimed, staring in shock. "Do you think he has something to do with any of this? Is that even possible? Do you think he somehow discovered this lost technology and has been putting it to use? But that doesn't make any sense. Do you think he has had contact with whomever or whatever does have this kind of technology?"
John ignored him, turning to Richard. "I am taking my team and Lorne's to affect a rescue. Teldy's in the infirmary recovering. Rodney, get me a full projection of their path and the planets in it. We're about to find out who these guys are and exactly what we are up against. Radek, keep trying to locate Todd because I am sure he is with the Wraith by now. The last thing we need is to be caught in a pincer between those two. Chuck, be ready to dial it up once we are in the Jumper Bay. Lorne, heavy armaments and two fully loaded Jumpers, in ten, orders to follow once we're on our way."
"Yes, sir," Evan agreed, quickly moving to gather the men.
"Are you sure about this, John?"
"We don't leave anyone behind," John said tersely to Richard's question.
"I know that. I meant are you sure about this? Teldy couldn't tell you much as she is suffering from a concussion. You really don't know what you are walking into out there, and if there's a new player on the board-"
"Now's as good a time to meet them," John interrupted. "Ford's out there. I think you understand the ramifications of that, right?"
"Yes, of course. I understand he is a rogue element, a very dangerous rogue element and a constant threat to the safety of Atlantis as long as he is out there. I know that we cannot be certain what side he is on, but this could be a trap for you, John."
"I am aware of that," John agreed with a shrug.
"And what if those new players are there? And what of the Wraith? There are too many unknown variables and Major Teldy may be able to supply more information in a few—"
"Teldy told me all I needed to know. We can't wait a few days. Our people are still out there and we will bring them home."
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Ann opened her eyes, blinked to see a blurry man standing over her. She blinked again, trying to see past the dull pounding in her head. Her vision cleared to reveal John staring down at her, his expression unreadable, aloof but handsome as ever. She struggled to a seated position. "Sir? Colonel Sheppard, we have to go back!"
"Easy, major," he gently pushed her back into the bed, strong hands on her shoulders. She felt frail under his touch, but he knew she was strong, was trained and conditioned. "We are going back. What do I need to know?"
Ann relaxed a little, reassured by her commanding officer's serious demeanor. She rested her head on the pillow, turning her face to him and easing the pressure of the goose egg on her temple. "There were Wraith there, sir, I remember that now but they didn't go after us. And, and a ragtag group of men with the one called Ford. Six or eight of them. They were unbelievably strong and fast and very well-armed. They were attacking the Wraith. They, they killed one of us but then Ford went ballistic and said that no one from Atlantis was to be harmed." She frowned, trying to remember, but the images were fuzzy, indistinct in her brain. "That didn't stop them from roughing us up a little…a lot…" She touched her temple. Disjointed images of screams and cries and blood filled her mind.
"Who was killed?" John asked. His voice was very quiet. He had gone very still. Carson had joined them and he was waiting for the answer as well, his breath trapped in his throat as dread filled him.
"I…I can't quite remember…everything is blurred and out of sequence. It was so fast and then I got hit and we…" Tears filled her eyes but she forced them aside. The time to mourn was later.
"Who was with you, major?" John asked, trying another tactic.
"Beckner, Porter, Gardener and O'Meara…it's all a blur, sir…" She blinked back tears of frustration and worry. Carson moved to quietly increase the morphine dosage as the young woman was in physical pain as well. His hand shook slightly as he thought of Alison, but he quelled the worry.
"Wait, Porter? The doctor?" At her nod John scowled. "Didn't I give you a direct order to not include civilian personnel unless I decided it was requisite for the mission?"
"John, now is hardly the time to berate her for-" Carson broke off as John raised his hand, silencing the protest.
Ann met his gaze, upset but defiant. "Yes, sir, but as you allowed O'Meara to tag along because of her particular expertise I decided that I needed Porter because of hers."
"You felt the need to include a civilian even though it was against my express orders?" John asked, voice low, gaze intimidating but Ann was not so easily cowed. She struggled to a seated position again. The white scrubs made her appear even paler.
"Yes, sir. Our first recon revealed very dangerous terrain and as you added a civilian to our ranks I felt the addition of a highly qualified doctor was necessary. There was a ruined village and we believed there could have been survivors there. We saw signs of recent habitation."
"We will discuss your blatant disregard of my orders later. Is there anything else you can tell me? Anything else I need to know?"
Ann considered, blond brows furrowing. "No, sir…I can't recall anything else. The animals!" she suddenly exclaimed, blue eyes widening. She ignored the pain in her head. "There were large animals, sir, and very dangerous! Things I have never seen before and hope I never do again! They were like monsters out of some book or horror movie but O'Meara was quite excited." She frowned, trying to remember. She grabbed his arm. "John! Get them back! Please get them back safely! I should go with you!"
"You are in no condition to go with me, Ann. You rest now. I will bring them home."
"John! You must save them! You must save them!" she insisted, tears shining in her blue eyes as her emotions rose to the surface.
John knew the pain in her gaze all too well. The burden of responsibility for the team, the guilt over failing them was in her eyes. It was always in the dark recesses of his mind, and the possibility of finally retrieving Ford, of finally saving him was a dim light in a very dark tunnel. He touched her hand on his arm, patted it. "I will, Ann. I will. You rest now. I will save them." He freed his arm, exchanged a grim look with Carson before leaving.
For one of the team it was too late to be saved.
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John gripped the controls of the Jumper, but forced himself to relax. He licked his lips, buried his emotions to focus on the task at hand. "Dial it up, sergeant. Lorne, copy? We go in cloaked and park near the ruined village. We find our people and get them to safety. This is a search and rescue op. Shoot to kill."
"John?" Teyla Emmagan asked. She exchanged a glance with Rodney, who appeared equally surprised, then with Ronon Dex who did not. The Satedan was nodding in agreement. Even the normally placid Carson was nodding in agreement, startling the Athosian woman. "John?" she repeated, unsettled.
John ignored her. "Shoot to kill, except for Ford. Capture him, alive or wounded. If we can get any intel on these Wraith or on these new guys, do it, but take no unnecessary risks. Our priority is to get our people home. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," Evan's answer came over the radio as the two Jumpers lifted off the floor. Seamlessly the Ancient vehicles lowered towards the opening that would take them to the Stargate and across the galaxy.
"Does that include Ford?" Rodney asked.
John glanced at him. "Yeah."
"What if he doesn't want to come back with us?" Carson asked. "I fear he may be adversely affected by the altered enzyme," he warned.
There was a silence in the Jumper. The vehicle lowered and hovered in front of the shimmering Stargate. With a simple thought John eased the machine towards the wormhole.
"John?" Rodney prompted.
"We'll make him come back with us, one way or another," John noted.
His grip on the controls tightened.