Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate or Battlestar Galactica: 2003.
Another Road not Taken
Chapter16: Enemy at the Gate
July 20th 2008
Sol System
In orbit above Earth
EFS Orion
O'Neill's Cabin
"They knew when and where to hit us," Carter started. "The moment we dropped out of hyperspace they immediately opened fire before we could get our shields up."
"So it was a trap from the start," Jack nodded.
"They've adapted Goa'uld technology onto their ships too," Carter explained. "They're objective appeared to be to see if their new weapons could hurt us and I'm sorry to say they succeeded. The Apollo was destroyed and we lost two Artemis destroyers during the battle. Not to mention the Astrea needs to spend some time at Area 51 to conduct repairs...she was hit pretty hard."
"What of the Cylons?" Jack inquired.
"All of their Baseships were destroyed along with several squadrons of raiders but they've probably already been downloaded into new bodies. It's only a matter of time before the Cylons make up whatever losses they've sustained," Carter replied.
"I want every single one of our Artemis destroyers patrolling the border for any sign of Cylon vessels," Jack told her. "The last thing we need is the Cylons getting the idea that we'll take their blatant disregard for the treaty lying down."
"Yes sir," Carter nodded at the order. "But attacking our ships—not to mention a human world—was an act of war."
"That's why I want the Odyssey and the Korolev ready for deployment by the end of the day," Jack responded. "I was hoping they wouldn't bother us for awhile longer but it looks like they've forced our hand."
August 27th 2008
Cylon-controlled Space
In orbit above Cylon Factory World 14
EFS Korolev
Main Bridge
The Tok'ra had cloaked Tel'tak-class cargo ships scouting out various systems in Cylon-claimed territories and they had been relaying that information to the Tau'ri over the weeks since the restart of the war. So far the Cylons hadn't went on the offensive even as combined Tau'ri and Jaffa warships launched hit-and-run attacks against dozens of Cylon planets.
The latest target was a factory world located in the outermost part of the rim at the far side of Cylon-controlled space. The planet was a barren and frozen wasteland with no breathable atmosphere but an abundance of Naquadria. Dozens of Cylon production facilities covered the planet surface with eight Cylon Basestars hanging in orbit and their compliment of Raiders standing guard over five massive shipyards.
Suddenly and abruptly two Tau'ri battlecruisers along with three Ha'tak-class Jaffa motherships exited hyperspace above the planet. The Cylons were unable to get the shields up in time as the invaders opened fire with their railguns and plasma cannons, destroying five of the eight Basestars in the first few seconds of the battle.
"Five enemy ships destroyed," informed Major Daria Voronkova. "Remaining enemy Baseships are turning to engage."
"Launch all Vultures and have them execute bombing runs on the shipyards. We'll deal with the Baseships," Colonel Chekov ordered. "Bring the main weapons to bear on the lead vessel and fire."
The Korolev banked towards the starfish-shaped Basestars and blue beams of superheated plasma lanced out from its ventral cannon. The first two shots struck the lead Baseship amidships, gutting it and burning it into nothingness. The Odyssey and a Ha'tak quickly destroyed another Basestar with coordinated plasma fire.
The remaining two Ha'taks quickly closed in on the last surviving Basestar and started pounding its shields with plasma bolts. Missiles and plasma bolts from the Basestar were shot out as the Cylon vessel returned fire and managed to destroy one of the Ha'taks before succumbing to battle damage. The twelve orbital defence satellites fired orange plasma beams at the Odyssey however the battlecruiser's shields held even as the Vultures and Gliders swung in and destroyed the unshielded orbital weapons platforms.
Nuclear light shone as the Vultures from the Korolev delivered their combined twenty gigaton ordinance to the Cylon orbital shipyards. Five Basestars still under construction shattered as nuclear explosions consumed them and the shipyards they were docked with. With no more resistance in the area the remaining two Jaffa Ha'tak motherships settled into a stationary orbit above the factory world and rained down plasma fire on the planet below.
The Odyssey soon followed and launched its payload, a torpedo-shaped weapon of mass destruction. It was a Horizon Weapons Platform outfitted with six Mark-IX warheads. The Naquadria-enhanced thermonuclear missiles that separated from the Horizon torpedo quickly found their targets among the planet's large production facilities and detonated in maelstroms of fire and carnage.
"All targets are confirmed eliminated," Daria reported. "Registering all primary and most of the secondary targets have been neutralized."
"Let the Jaffa clean up the rest," Chekov ordered. "Signal the Odyssey that we need to move onto the next target."
"Sir, with respect the Odyssey needs to resupply," Daria spoke up.
"...Very well, tell Colonel Emerson that we will be heading to the nearest Stargate in route to the next target. We can get resupply from Earth then," Chekov nodded and gave the order.
Not long after both the Odyssey and the Korolev jumped back into hyperspace heading towards an uncharted system deep within Cylon territory and behind enemy lines. Battles like this had been raging across the outer rim with no end in sight...
January 9th 2009
Sol System
In orbit above Earth
EFS Orion
O'Neill's Cabin
Beep Beep
"O'Neill here," Jack said into the comm. "What is it?" he asked tiredly. Who would be up at this ungodly hour? He swore if one of those newbie's on deck seven had used the wrong control crystals again he was going to be very annoyed.
"Sorry to disturb sir but General Landry is trying to contact you from Stargate Command," Major Thompson responded. Clearly this was going to be worse than a simple misplaced control crystal from some newbie.
"Patch him through to my cabin," Jack ordered and the side panel screen flickered on, displaying the face of the man in charge of the SGC. "What can I do for you Hank and more importantly why are you calling at four in the morning?" Jack asked him.
"Sorry to wake you Jack but there's been a recent development in the Pegasus Galaxy concerning the Wraith known as Todd," Landry explained. "Apparently he stole more ZPMs from Asuras before the planet was destroyed than we thought...he's spent the last year trying to upgrade a Hive-ship with one of them."
"And we should care...why?" Jack asked.
"According to Todd this Hive-ship will be unstoppable," Landry continued. "It looks like one of his underlings usurped the project from him and has taken control of this Super-Hive."
"...Great," Jack muttered and let out a sigh. "Alright, the Daedalus should be there on a standard supply run in the morning so they can take care of it."
"I'll relay your orders when they next dial in," Landry nodded and the screen flickered off.
Jack just stared for a few long seconds before letting out a yawn and going back to sleep. He didn't care if it was the end of the world or if there was another alien invasion of his homeworld being planned...again...he only cared about getting a good night's sleep before dealing with the affairs of two galaxies. How Thor put up with this kind of thing for centuries he had no idea...
January 10th 2009
Sol System
In orbit above Earth
EFS Orion
O'Neill's Cabin
Beep Beep
"Go ahead," Jack sighed as he leaned back into his chair.
"Sir, General Landry is asking to speak with you," Susan stated through the comm.
"Patch him through," Jack sighed again as the side screen flickered on. "Hank, any word on the Wraith Super-Hive yet?"
"Atlantis just contacted us now," Landry replied. "The Daedalus failed to destroy the hive; it jumped out after disabling the Daedalus and intercepted a subspace message before entering hyperspace."
"They left the Daedalus alone?" Jack asked in surprise.
"Doctor McKay thinks the battle exhausted the energy they were using to power their weapons," Landry explained. "He's discovered the message that the Wraith picked up was from an alternate reality...Jack, the message contained the location of Earth."
"...They're coming here," Jack said finally.
"Yes they are," Landry answered. "According to Doctor McKay the Super-Hive will still have to drop out of hyperspace to 'heal' its hull so he wants to send our ships to intercept it in the void before the hive is fully integrated with its new ZPM."
"The Odyssey is currently deployed in Cylon-controlled space and the Artemis destroyers won't last long against a Hive-ship, especially if this one is as dangerous as everyone says it is. The only leaves the Korolev, Sun Tzu, Ouragan, Invincible and the Ontario. Will five of our battlecruisers be enough?" Jack asked him.
"It'll have to be," Landry responded.
"...Alright, I'll have the ships ready to launch within the hour," Jack nodded.
"I'll head up a taskforce in Washington just in case the Wraith break through the fleet," Landry stated.
"Colonel Carter will relieve you at the SGC as soon as she gets there," Jack told him."She's been a bit restless since she was relieved of Atlantis last year and she's scheduled to take command of our new battlecruiser."
"What about the drone chair?" Landry asked suddenly. "Sir, with respect only three people have actually fired a drone from a control chair and you are the only one of those three currently in the Sol System."
"When Atlantis next dials in I want Colonel Sheppard to return to Earth," Jack gave the order. "Doctor Beckett can operate the equipment on Atlantis just fine but for now we need everything ready if we're going to beat this thing."
"Understood sir," Landry acknowledged and the screen flickered off.
"It never ends," Jack sighed.
January 15th 2009
The Void
Deep Space
EFS Korolev
Main Bridge
Silently the five Tau'ri cruisers Korolev, Sun Tzu, Ouragan, Invincible and Ontario lay in wait for the approaching ZPM-powered Wraith Hive-ship. Their vipers were armed with nuclear payloads intent on ending this fight as soon as it starts hung back behind the space where the Hive-ship was calculated to drop into normal space.
"Ready all weapons for offensive fire only," Colonel Chekov ordered as he stared out at the viewport.
"Railguns are set to auto fire; missiles are ready to fire using the Caldwell Beta deployment pattern and Asgard beam weapons are charged," Daria informed.
"Are the vipers in position?" Chekov inquired.
"Yes sir," Daria confirmed. "I'm detecting a distortion forming...it's a hyperspace window," suddenly a massive disruption in subspace tore open the fabric of space itself and deposited the huge Wraith Hive-ship into the void between galaxies.
"Open fire," Chekov gave the order.
Almost immediately the vipers that had taken up position behind the massive Super-Hive let loose with a volley of nuclear missiles. The missiles streaked away as the five Tau'ri cruisers to the port side of Super-Hive launched their own nukes at the heart of the Wraith Hive-ship. The warheads hit their mark all over the Super-Hive, consuming the void in nuclear light.
"Report?" Chekov demanded.
"S-sir..." Daria stammered out as the light died down.
The Hive-ship was still there...
"Report?" Chekov demanded, this time louder.
"Enemy vessel has sustained heavy damage to its hull however its armour is repairing itself at an alarming rate. I detected an energy spike just before our nukes impact," Daria informed. "It would seem that they drew on more power from their ZPM to compensate for the stress of the detonations."
"Recall our vipers now!" Chekov ordered. "Tell all ships to open fire with the Asgard beam weapons and be ready to divert power from the beam weapons to the shields. Target their engines; at the very least we can slow them down after the beating we just gave them."
The Korolev, Sun Tzu, Ouragan, Invincible and Ontario quickly angled to bring their lower neck-mounted Asgard plasma beam cannons to bear and fired at the damaged Super-Hive. The beams slammed into the dense hull of the Hive-ship however the armour quickly healed itself in the targeted section as the beams hit.
"Minimal damage to enemy vessel," Daria reported. "I'm detecting an energy spike from the Wraith Hive-ship...they're returning fire."
"Tell all ships to divert power from the beam weapons to the shields now!" Chekov ordered.
The Super-Hive returned fire with a volley of condensed plasma bolts which slowly moved through space towards their targets. A few moments later the bolts struck the shields of the Tau'ri vessels and literally knocking them back.
"Damage report?" Chekov shouted sparks flew all around him.
"Shields are down and we've got hull breaches on decks three and seven," Daria responded. "The other ships are reporting heavy damage as well...your order sir?"
"...Signal the other ships...we're retreating," Chekov ordered. "Come about and set a course for home...we're done here."
"Yes sir," Daria nodded in understanding and carried out the order.
The Super-Hive fired again however the five Tau'ri battlecruisers quickly made the jump into hyperspace and fled the damaged Hive-ship. Once the last of the Tau'ri ships had escaped the Wraith Hive-ship sat unmoving in the void between galaxies waiting for their ship to 'heal' from the damage it had taken during the battle.
The message the Wraith had received from the alternate reality had said that the Atlanteans only had four ships at most and different fighters. Yet there were five Atlantean warships during the battle and another that they had disabled before starting on the journey towards the Human Homeworld. This was most troubling...if the message was wrong about that then what else could it be wrong about? It didn't matter...the Atlanteans would fall just like the Lanteans did ten thousand years ago.
January 16th 2009
Sol System
In orbit above Earth
EFS Orion
Main Bridge
"I'm sorry General but we just couldn't win against that monster," Chekov said clearly over the subspace comm.
"Don't worry about it Colonel," Jack nodded. "How long until you reach Earth?"
"A little under five days," Chekov replied. "Even with the damage the Wraith have sustained...it wouldn't surprise me if they reached Earth before us. The best we could do was damage its engines to slow it down."
"Understood...set down as soon as your back and effect repairs. We need every ship on the frontlines right now," Jack told him.
"God help us all," Chekov said finally before the channel closed.
"Well so much for that plan," Jack sighed.
"What now sir?" Major Thompson asked.
"...Get me Colonel Carter at Stargate Command," Jack ordered.
Author's Notes:
As you can see the Cylon war has been restarted and we are now moving onto the SGA finale. I've been itching to showcase the Korolev in this story and I think I pulled it off rather well in this chapter. The question you have to be asking yourself is why are the Cylons not going on the offensive and that will be explained once that ZPM-powered Hive-ship is destroyed and SGA canon finishes.
There is also the void battle which was never seen onscreen so I slipped that in there too. When it first aired I wondered to myself exactly how two prepared Tau'ri battlecruisers could lose against the ZPM-powered Hive-ship when they were laying in wait for that monster ship. I mean why not just spray the area with nukes as soon as the Hive-ship drops out of hyperspace? The answer I came up with was that it drew on more power from the ZPM in order to regenerate the armour even as the nukes vaporised it. It would then return fire and tax out their weapons again which explains how the Apollo and Sun Tzu surived their engagement against the Hive-ship in canon.
Please Read and Review.
See Ya Later…