Before we start I felt I needed to clear something up: the UNIT in this story is not the U.N.I.T from Doctor Who. While writing the first chapter I was unaware of the U.N.I.T from Doctor Who even existing.
Also, sorry that this is out way later than I wanted it to be, but I had a great deal of trouble getting the second half to work properly, something I still don't feel I have accomplished.
Anyway, on with the show, hopefully the next chapter will turn out better.
Gate to the Past
Chapter 2: Blood Red Sky
"Commander!" The Lucian Alliance soldier turned back from his console aboard the Ha'tak bridge. "We have picked up an unidentified vessel leaving the planet's surface."
"Open a channel." The commander responded from the command chair where he sat, slouched over and without a care in the galaxy. His arrogance was bolstered by the fleet of Ha'tak warships and Al'kesh bombers currently under his command. The fleet consisted of the most powerful ships anywhere in the system, so it was understandable that the commander did not take the announcement of some unknown craft too seriously.
"Channel open sir, no response from the vessel."
"Ask them who dares trespass into Lucian Alliance space." The commander ordered, still apparently disinterested in the ship that had now stopped roughly one hundred kilometers away.
"Yes sir." The soldier replied, straining to keep the displeasure from his voice.
The soldier had heard that the Goa'uld remnants had been engaging in suicide runs against the Lucian Alliance, and knew full well that, while their current fleet was strong, it couldn't stop a ship from getting close enough to ram their flagship. It would most likely aim for the large window that marked the location of the bridge. The soldier looked up at the window not three feet in front of him. Yes, that's the window they would crash into, he thought to himself as he relayed the text message out on all frequencies.
Once the message was sent all he could do was wait, and hope the other ships could pick up if the target vessel started to move again. While he waited, he thought back to why he joined the Lucian Alliance. Well, joined was a strong word, implying that he had a choice in the matter. No, one day an Al'kesh just landed on the outskirts of his village and started rounding up young men, those who resisted were simply shot. Many fled into the forest and escaped, many more weren't so lucky and, like him, ended up being taken to some remote planet to be trained to serve in the Lucian Alliance.
The soldier jumped when the light on his console lit up, signifying an incoming message.
"Sir, there is a response from the unidentified craft, text only."
"Read it." The commander replied, picking some nonexistent dirt out of his fingers.
The soldier turned to the screen and began reading the text, his morale dropping with every word.
"Apologies for the intrusions, we had not known this land was claimed. Unfortunately, it has been requested of us to eliminate any unnecessary witnesses. Goodbye."
The Lucian Alliance commander nearly fell out of his chair laughing.
"Does… Does it really say that?" He choked out between chuckles.
"Oh that's rich." The commander continued, seemingly unable to control his amusement.
"Yes, quite sir." The soldier responded, desperately checking the scanners to make sure the ship had not begun to move towards them.
The commander flopped back onto his chair, raising a goblet of what could loosely be described as wine.
"Let the boys have some fun with that tin can. Blow it out of the sky, we wouldn't want any, unnecessary witnesses." He joked before laughing again.
"Yes sir." The soldier responded, turning to his console.
"All forward Al'kesh, attack the unidentified vessel." He ordered, spreading the message across the fleet.
Almost immediately four Al'kesh began moving into a loose semicircle around the unidentified craft. They waited for several seconds, hanging in the empty void before beginning their attack. The ships swiftly moved forward, closing the distance on their target to about forty kilometers before abruptly pulling up and releasing two energy charges from their underside. The charges raced towards the unidentified, silvery ship, sparkling like miniature stars as they went. One after another the charges impacted the hull of the vessel, shrouding it behind explosion after explosion.
"All charges impacted the target, moving around to survey damage." The pilot of the lead Al'kesh commented, looping his ship around for another pass. As the explosions faded the unidentified ship could once again be seen silhouetted against the bright blue planet below.
"Sir, the ship has suffered no da-" The pilot was suddenly cut off as the unidentified ship opened fire on the Al'kesh. A strange, warped beam emerged from one of the many pointed wings that curved around the ship's surface. It looked nothing like anything the Lucian Alliance had encountered before. Instead of glowing plasma or energy, the beam seemed to bend space itself, acting like a tear that now raced across the void between the ships to quite literally rip the Al'kesh in half. As the beam struck, it carved its way through the hull of the Al'kesh, completely ignoring the invisible energy shield surrounding the vessel. The tear raced up and down the hull of the Al'kesh, cleaving it in half as if cut by a blade. Within milliseconds the once fearsome ship was reduced to nothing more than a hunk of floating scrap.
The mystery ship began to move forward, quickly firing off three more energy bursts to eliminate the remaining Al'kesh. On the Ha'tak, the soldier began to grow nervous.
"S…sir, our Al'kesh were just destroyed. The enemy ship has suffered no damage from the attack"
The commander nearly choked on his wine, spitting it onto a nearby guard in panic.
"What?" He asked, visibly shaken by the news that three of his best Al'kesh were just destroyed by a single ship.
"Put me through to the entire fleet." He ordered, finally getting up from his chair.
The soldier at the command console made a few adjustments, and then turned and nodded at his commander to signify that the communications channel was open.
"Attention all crews. Target the enemy craft and open fire immediately. Don't stop until that ship is vaporized." The commander ordered, his voice calm despite the sweat pouring down his forehead. It was times like this that the soldier remembered why, despite his flippant and often childish attitude, the commander was put in charge of the fleet.
Across the fleet dozens of ships suddenly sprung to life as crews raced through the halls. Cannons were charged, shields were bolstered, and engines were power up. Aboard the Ha'taks, massive energy cannons were readied and aimed at the slowly approaching craft. One after another the ships opened fire, bursts of golden energy streaming from their weapons. The firepower in play was enough to level a major city and then some, all of it directed towards a single target.
Bolt after bolt impacted the ship's hull, sending vibrations across its skin. The energy arced and sparked between the blades on the ships exterior. Deep within the strange vessels interior a strange contraption started humming to life, charged by the energy the Lucian Alliance was so kindly feeding it. The vessel made no moves to evade or counter the onslaught of weapons fire, and simply continued to slowly move into the center of the fleet.
"What's going on out there?" The commander barked, now fully upright in his command chair. The environment on the bridge had changed rapidly, and the sleepy atmosphere that had been present but moments ago had morphed into a flurry of activity as soldiers rushed between stations trying to manage the battle outside.
Quickly the soldier on the Ha'tak worked to bring an image of the unidentified vessel on screen. He finally managed to pull a single still image off of one of the Al'kesh that had initiated the first attack, putting it up on the Ha'tak's main view screen.
In front of him now sat one of the strangest ships he had ever seen. It looked like a nightmarish flower made of sharp metal blades instead of petals. The ship was composed of a central ring of small metal spines, which in turn were surrounded by a ring of larger, curved blades. These in turn were surrounded by a final set of massive curved blades, roughly eight in total, which bent up from the midpoint of the ship. Behind these massive central blades were a second set, facing in the opposite direction. Unfortunately the angle of the image obscured anything beyond this observation.
"Sir, the ship seems to be absorbing everything we throw at it." One of the other soldiers on the bridge reported.
"How is that possible?"
"I… I can't be sure yet sir."
More voices joined the discussion as information was relayed from the other ships in the fleet.
"Sir, we just received word from the Allegiance!" Another soldier spoke up.
"Continue."
"The ship is... changing." The soldier replied, mildly perplexed.
Between the flashes and explosions impacting the hull of the enemy ship, glimpses of the vessel could be caught. The central row of spines had begun to fold back like some haunting flower, their tips glowing with concentrated energy. Occasionally, pulses of light could be seen racing up the inner curve of the blades, bolstering the intensity of the shining tips.
"I believe it is preparing to fire!" One of the deck hands observed, just now noticing the ship on the view screen.
The light on the tips of the enemy vessel flashed once to signify immediate attack.
"Brace for impa-"
On the planet below night turned to day as the sky ignited in a bright red flash. In an instant twenty two ships and over three thousand men were wiped from existence, leaving nothing behind, save for a single silver vessel that slowly drifted through the expansive black void.
Deep within the mass of the silver ship, between twisting pipes and humming contraptions rested a humanoid figure. Its form partly encased in the various machines that protruded from the walls and ceiling of the ship's inner chamber. The figure's arms were locked into two curving pylons that rose up from the floor, forming into cup like shapes that went up to the figure's elbows. Its head was locked into a large, curved visor, connected to the chair in which it rested. The visor wrapped around the figure's head, obscuring most of its face.
{All targets destroyed.} The figure spoke softly.
{Primary Ktri✧Irak emitters on standard 24 hour cool-down.}
{Shift array moving to standby position.}
With a pneumatic hiss the various contraptions connecting it to the ship released, sliding away to reveal a pale woman with short, silver hair. Her eyes flickered slightly as they adjusted to the analog inputs of the real world before returning to their normal grey-blue color. As she looked around the barren command center a shadow caught her eye. She glanced over and noticed a figure in a long trench coat and a wide brimmed hat standing next to the main view screen. With one fluid motion, the woman lifted herself out of the chair and walked over to the figure.
{Mission Status?} She asked in flat tones.
"They have been informed of the drive's location, now we have to hope that they follow our directions." The figure responded in a soft voice.
{They will.} She replied, her voice certain. {It is in their nature to seek answers.}
"Speaking of answers," The figure lowered its voice a whisper. "Do you know what ails Felicity?"
The woman gave a quizzical look.
{What?}
"Felicity, she has been acting rather aggressive, more so than usual."
{Due to the nature of her condition, the Shift will affect her more than any of us.}
"I am aware of that," The figure interrupted, a hint of concern in its voice. "however, it has been weeks since we underwent the transition and her behavior is only becoming more and more aggressive."
{As I said,} The woman continued, unfazed by the interruption. {her condition is drastically different from our own. The pocket dimension connected to her weapon is-}
The woman paused.
{Has she changed her weapon since we arrived?} She inquired. Despite the consistent tone of voice the figure could tell that something was different.
"Not that I can remember, why?"
{Get to her, now.} The woman responded, her formerly emotionless voice now subtly interlaced with a hint of urgency.
Without a word the figure rushed from the room to find Felicity. There were few times when Aiana showed any emotion, and when she did, things usually were not going well.
The figure raced through the twisting, turning passages of the ship. The first place Felicity would go is her room, so it made sense to check there first. The figure slid into the first bend, slamming it's heel into the far wall and immediately pressing off again down the corridor. Two more bends and a staircase later she finally skidded to a halt outside of Felicity's room. The figure spared itself two deep breaths before hesitantly opening the door to Felicity's room. The click of the doors sliding into their wall sockets combining with the sound of footsteps down below.
See, the great thing about Matter Translocation Drives is that you don't always have to move yourself out of danger.
Any feedback is welcome.
P.S. Writing this has made me realize just how fun it was to write O'Neill, and how much duller this seems without him. The next chapter will hopefully fix that.