Chapter 4: Week One
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It was the first week in the run-up to the inevitable siege by the Wraith and it was also the first week of repairs for the Helios. Elizabeth had gathered AR-1 and a team of scientists in the Conference Room, as well as Loros, who remain stood near the doors.
"We have a total of three weeks before the Wraith arrive and despite the fact that we now have a ZPM, it isn't enough to hold off for a long time" Elizabeth began. "However, we do have another idea for our defense" she said and gestured for Loros.
"The planet that we are going to contains the Lantean warship, Helios. The outpost is a repair station but it can only repair external damages. We need you to repair all of the internal damages and have the whole ship battle ready in those three weeks" the Lantean explained briefly.
"How much damage are we looking at?" one of the scientists asked.
"I will be providing a diagnostics report once we arrive" Loros explained.
"And you're sure the outpost has all of the materials we need to repair it?" Rodney asked.
"We stockpiled repair resources when we started to lose the war. We were expecting plenty of damaged ships, however many of those are scattered across the galaxy" the Lantean explained. "Upon approach, the outpost will deactivate it's automated defenses" he finished.
"What about additional drones?" the Canadian asked.
"I am not exactly sure as to what was stored there, I am afraid" Loros answered with a sheepish smile.
"Well me and my team can search the base, see what we can find" Sheppard suggested.
"In that case, I will come with you. Schematics of the outpost are contained there and only there, so the schematics are not translated" he said and Sheppard grinned.
"Good, new company" he said.
"Well it's only temporary. Once you've mapped out the area, I want you to return. We'll be recording personal messages to Earth in case something happens and condolences need to be said for those we have lost" Elizabeth explained, and the others nodded.
"Well then we'd best get a move on" Sheppard said.
"Agreed, any questions?" Elizabeth asked.
No one raised their hands or said anything and they began to file out of the Conference Room, the team still staying in their with Loros at Elizabeth's request.
"The moment that something goes wrong, be it Wraith or otherwise, I want everyone back here. We've lost too many as it is" Elizabeth said and the others gave immediate agreements. "Check back in with us every two hours" she added.
"Yes, mother" Sheppard said sarcastically.
"Can we go now?" Rodney asked, ever his impatient self.
"Yes" Elizabeth said with a smile.
The Stargate was dialed and they walked down the main steps, all of them carrying an assortment of equipment to repair the ship. Loros took one last look at Elizabeth whom smiled at him, one that was returned, before stepping through the event horizon.
"Be safe" she whispered softly to herself.
(Planet)
Upon his stepping through the Stargate, the outpost appeared right in front of them, built into the side of a large mountain. A simple main window was in the front and a door was directly below it. As Loros described it, it was the standard outpost for dry docks and repair stations.
"Looks a little simple" Sheppard commented.
"That is because it is. The Control Room is built much like the one on Atlantis. By that I mean that the main area is overlooked by the room and all operations are conducted there" he explained to them.
The team walked up to the outpost, the doors opening automatically and the site amazed them as soon as they saw it. They were on a walkway which went around the whole hangar and connected to the main control room and smack bang in the middle was the ship.
"That is unbelievable" Sheppard commented.
"John Sheppard, meet Helios. She's a lovely ship, currently in need of repair" the Lantean introduced.
"Delighted" was the reply.
The team walked to the Control Room then, occasionally glancing at the colossal ship as the lights lit up, sensing Loros' presence. Five of the scientists linked up laptops to the consoles and began to access data whilst the Lantean began to run a thorough diagnostics report which was completed and translated in minutes.
"I've sent the diagnostics report to your tablets and I've activated primary repair robots to begin making repairs to the hull. As one of your people would likely say, have at it" he said. The scientists dispersed, leaving the Lantean with AR-1 in the Control Room.
"So, you up for a little exploration?" John asked.
"I am Lantean. It is what we do" Loros replied with a grin.
He tapped some more commands into a console and a holographic image of the base appeared in front of him, showing their current location, the ship and areas which they were able to explore. He tapped some more crystal panels and a room flashed.
"Where is that?" Rodney asked.
"Prior to our coming here, I did some research on the outpost as well as a manifest of supplies that my people brought here when we initially colonized it" he began to explain.
"Salvageable technology?" Rodney asked excitedly.
"Yes" was the simple reply.
"Well what is it?" Rodney asked.
"The supplies we brought, as you know were used for repairs. Before our final evacuation we created several small robots using the concept from the older technology of my people. These small robots are programmed to wander around and repair any damage that is incurred through either degradation or through battle" he explained and Rodney lit up with excitement.
"Automated repair drones? We could make use of those in the city" the physicist said.
"Exactly. I thought that they would be amongst some of the supplies that we bring back. Those and any drone weapons that may be here" he said, transferring the schematic to the physicists tablet.
"Where do they get the material?" Lieutenant Ford asked.
"Using highly advanced solar collectors which are built in, it collects small amounts of material which is just enough to create a small patch. However, when programmed with physical material, which is compressed into it's systems, it is capable of making all of the necessary repairs you want it to. The only thing that it can not repair is internal systems" he said.
"Well what are we waiting for?" Rodney asked, impatient.
"You have the schematics. Lead the way Dr. McKay" he said, not standing.
"Are you not coming with us?" Teyla asked.
"I'm going to oversee the repairs from an external viewpoint and I'm also going to monitor the sensors for any Wraith activity" Loros said and Sheppard moved next to him.
"Then in that case, I'll keep you company" the Major said.
"Are you certain, Major? You will be, as you would say, bored" Loros said with a smile.
"Nah we won't. We'll have a chance to talk and get to know one another" he said and he turned to Ford who nodded, knowing what Sheppard would ask him to do.
"Are all of the doors unlocked?" Rodney asked before they set off.
"The entire outpost is open to us" Loros said and the physicist nodded.
The rest of the team walked out of the Control Room, leaving the Lantean and Major alone in a serene silence, aside from the sound of machinery working. Loros turned to the thin glass screen, an image of the planet showing up.
"Just like Atlantis" Sheppard noted.
"Sensors are clear of any activity for the moment" the Lantean replied.
"Are you worried about them coming here?" Sheppard asked and the Lantean gave a nod.
"A Lantean repair station which holds one of the ships that can decimate a Wraith Hive. Would you not be worried if they had some sort of knowledge of this base?" he asked.
"Point taken" Sheppard said, sitting down on a small stool.
"What is Earth like now?"
"Quite advanced and populated, considering the plague that you and your people managed to escape from. Still, it has it's flaws" Sheppard said whilst the Lantean continued to tap commands into the console.
"Every civilization has it's flaws. In my people's case, that is a major understatement" he said.
"But you're trying to make up for those mistakes" Sheppard reassured.
"Ten thousand years too late. I look at the ship right in front of me and I used to think and I still hold this opinion, these ships weren't necessary. Our only enemy that we have ever had, we escaped millions of years ago" the Lantean said sadly.
"But the mistakes that were made are just that, mistakes" Sheppard said, a warm hand on his shoulder.
"Perhaps. But look at the repercussions it has had on the people of this galaxy" Loros turned to him.
"Which is why we must make the difference" John said finally.
Loros sat and considered everything he had said and then he remembered what Janus had told him and it was then that his sad gray eyes became resolute and he nodded. Sheppard grinned and they turned around to look back at the Helios.
"You are right John. We have to make a difference" he said.
"That's the spirit. Now, how long for the external repairs?" Sheppard asked.
"With all repair drones on the go, a couple of days" Loros said.
"Well that's not so bad. That means we'll have to come back once or twice" Sheppard said but Loros shook his head.
"That may not be possible. If the Wraith are able to detect active Stargates, then they will investigate the reason as to why an uninhabited planet seems to be getting more and more activity" Loros said and the Major sighed.
"So what do we do?" Sheppard asked.
"We take the ship back as well as automated repair drones and as much repair material as we can. There are some landing pads on one of the piers that we can make use of. We should be able to finish off all of the repairs then. We just need to get it operational"
(Two Hours Later)
Sheppard and Loros were stood by the DHD, a wormhole already active and they were awaiting the voice of Weir just after they sent the IDC. Soon the technician let them know that Elizabeth was on their way.
"Gentleman, how's it going?" she asked.
"Slowly but surely" Sheppard reported.
"Most of the external damage has been successfully repaired. Internal repairs will need to be carried out over a period of three days" Loros explained.
"Wraith activity?" she asked.
"Scopes are clear for the moment" Sheppard said.
"However, I believe that the Wraith will investigate this planet when they realize that the Stargate has been activated several times. A planet that was previously uninhabited will attract major attention from them" Loros explained.
"So you want to get it back to the city?"
"To conduct the rest of the repairs, yes" the Lantean explained.
"Is it still viable, for later use as a permanent outpost?" she asked and he considered it for a moment.
"There are living quarters here, enough for at least fifty people" Sheppard answered.
"And in terms of resources, there are a variety of fruits that grow in the trees on this planet and there is a massive pipeline which links to a large source of water, much like the desalinization tanks that are in the city. In short, yes, it is viable" he said.
"Very well. You have one final check in with me in that case, as we don't want to attract the attention of the Wraith" Elizabeth said and they said their goodbyes before the wormhole cut.
"So back to the grindstone?" Sheppard asked.
"It would seem so" he said and then their headsets buzzed.
"You may want to get back to the Control Room immediately" McKay said and they looked concerned as they began to walk back.
"Why, what's wrong?" Sheppard asked.
"We've picked up a Wraith cruiser about week out from the planet" McKay said and they began to jog back to the outpost.
"We need that ship operational. Elizabeth intends to use this as a permanent base of operations aside from the city. The sooner we leave, the less chance we have of the Wraith discovering the outpost" he said over the radio.
"So prioritize the hyperdrive?" Rodney asked.
"That and sublight" Sheppard said.
"Okay, I'll let the others know, hurry back" Rodney said before cutting the communications.
When Loros got back, he joined McKay and the other scientists in their work, doing their best to get the ship operational. They reported back to Elizabeth as planned and they were given a deadline of one day to get ship into a rudimentary working condition. A deadline that Rodney protested against quite vehemently.