The usual disclamers.
Chapter summary: Captain Nethania Taylor is ready to begin the process of taking control of Hope Plaza. However when she goes to inform her father, tensions flare. Things just get worse when a young Deinonychus accidentally enrages a Baryonyx in the Hadrosaur Plateau and the only way to stop the rampaging nanosaur reject is for Captain Taylor to become her own rampaging dinosaur, Spinosaurus.
Trouble in Taylorville
Admiral Roland stepped through the portal. Nethania stood waiting by the door for him.
"Welcome back to Pangaea Admiral," Nethania said. She shook his hand and stepped out of the portal room. Ute closed the security doors on the portal and then followed. Stepping out of the portal room he and Nethania closed the double doors to the room and made sure the doors locks were set.
"It is good to be back in Pangaea, after the hard to breathe air of the future," Roland said.
"How goes things in the future?" Nethania asked. They walked towards her office. Roland did not speak until they were safe in her office and the door was closed.
"With the help of modern technology a good portion of Hope Plaza has been repaired. The catwalk has been replaced, the accelerators have been repaired. Hope Plaza is ready to send new colonists and supplies through to Terra Nova," Roland said.
"Excellent. My selected forces are ready to aid in the security of the Plaza. I assure you we will not have another mining corporation disaster," Nethania said.
"What species will we be contending with?" Roland asked.
"Deinonychus and Megaraptor," Nethania said.
"Then if you can send your forces through to Hope Plaza we can begin the process of taking control," Roland said.
"Will do sir, but before we begin I must inform Commander Taylor that my plan is going accordingly," Nethania said.
"How does your old man feel about this?" Roland said.
"After the battle for Terra Nova, he doesn't like it at all and who can blame him. My father is a powerful leader and a tough man. But let's face it; he's not exactly in his prime. He's not getting any younger. I don't mean him any disrespect. I think my brother may be right. He likes being on top and my presence and power frightens him," Nethania said.
"All who taste power usually like it and want more. Go and talk to him. If there's anyone who can ease his fears, it needs to be you," Roland said.
…^…^…
Nethania strode through the gates of Terra Nova. She walked up the steps to the command center. The room was empty, even Wash was out.
Nethania strode over to the Tyrannosaur Skull desk and sat down behind it. She was just getting comfortable when Jim Shannon walked in.
"Captain," Jim said greeting her pleasantly.
"How's it going sheriff?" Nethania asked.
"I've been worse," Jim said.
Nethania leaned back in the chair and had the nerve to put her feet on her father's desk. Jim grimaced slightly at that.
Nethania's ultra-sensitive hearing detected the heavy tread of the commander coming up the wooden steps. Nethania straightened up before he came in. Nathaniel gave her a dirty look when he saw her sitting behind his desk. He didn't like it when others sat there, even Wash and especially his kids.
Nethania stood and walked over to him.
"Hello father," Nethania said.
"What are you doing here?" Nathaniel asked.
"I've come to inform you that, we will be proceeding very shortly with the plans to reopen Hope Plaza," Nethania said.
"When," Nathaniel asked, his voice was rough.
"As soon as I hook up my portal to Hope Plaza and move my troops through and the Plaza is secured in my control," Nethania said.
"I don't like this Nethania," Nathaniel said.
"What are you really afraid of?" Nethania said.
"I don't want to see the greedy people of the future destroy this place," Nathaniel said.
"I don't think that's your problem," Nethania said.
Nathaniel glared at Shannon who left quickly. He wasn't about to get between a Taylor family dispute.
"And what do you think my problem is," Nathaniel said. He brushed past her roughly.
"I think you're afraid of my power. You're afraid that I'll try to take over the colony," Nethania said.
Nathaniel stood in his tracks, his shoulders were squared.
"Am I right?" Nethania asked.
Nathaniel turned to her. If looks could kill, Nethania would have been slaughtered. His eyes were like ice, his gaze sharp as steel, his expression was fire; the tension in the room was so thick you could have cut it with a dull knife.
"You're afraid I'll become Lucas," Nethania said.
"Yes I am," Nathaniel said. He hated to admit it. He preferred Nethania when she was his little girl that depended on him.
"I fear you, more than I fear Lucas. You have an entire dinosaur army at your disposal. It wouldn't take much for you to destroy Terra Nova and leave us crawling," Nathaniel said.
"I would never do that," Nethania said.
"What could possibly stop you?" Nathaniel said.
"You're my father. I will always depend on you for some things," Nethania said.
"Like what. Everything you need you get from your Nanosaurs. You said that yourself once. You don't need us for anything; you don't even need me for anything. In fact the way I see it, we need you, more than you need us," Nathaniel said.
"I wish there was a way for you to see how much I do need you," Nethania said.
"I'm sorry Nethania, but I just don't trust you with that kind of power," Nathaniel said.
Nethania sighed heavily and walked out.
…^…^…
Nethania headed up to the Hadrosaur Plateau. A rift was growing between her and her father and she didn't have a clue as to how to stop it or reverse it. It was a major problem.
Nethania got up to Diablo Falls and sat down on the rocks below the falls. The mist felt cool to her skin. Here she began brooding over her problem.
…^…^…
Down in the eastern portion of the Plateau, a group of Nano-Deinonychus were training. A young Deinonychus headed off by himself. He trotted through the forest. He stopped to look around and observe his surroundings. He sniffed the air. There was a heavy pungent smell of dead and rotting fish.
He looked around, then up at the trees around him. The first thing that stood out to him was the crocodile snout looking down at him. He looked at the creature. The animal growled lowly and the young Deinonychus yelped when he recognized the animal. He turned and ran, behind him followed the dinosaur.
The rest of the pack became alert the panicked cries of their comrade and the crashing sound in the trees. The young Deinonychus scrambled out of the woods. The others stood still. Behind the young Deinonychus came the terrible dinosaur.
"Baryonyx," yelled the pack leader. The Deinonychus scattered but the young Deinonychus was pursued by the Baryonyx.
"We've got a huge problem," called the pack leader.
…^…^…
Nethania heard the distress call over her radio.
"Talk to me Dixon. What's the problem?" Nethania asked.
"Razortooth, that's the problem," Dixon replied.
Razortooth was a Baryonyx that was a Nanosaur backfire.
"What's your 10-20?" Nethania asked.
"Razortooth is chasing Denis towards the colony," Dixon reported.
"NOT BACK TO THE COLONY," Nethania yelled.
Nethania got to her feet, nano-morphed into a Utahraptor and raced towards the colony. Soon as she was outside the Plateaus radio restriction zone she called for help.
"Hookclaw do you read me," Nethania called.
"Go ahead Captain?" Hookclaw replied.
"Denis is heading your way and he's got Razortooth on his six. I'm gonna try to intercept him, but in case I don't code red," Nethania said.
Nethania caught up to the Baryonyx and leapt onto his back. Razortooth roared, craning his neck around when she landed on his back. His crocodile snout snapped at her. Nethania was thrown from his back. She was just in the clearing outside Terra Nova's man gate. Hookclaw had assembled a crew of armed Nanosaurs. Arny Ankylosaurus stood ready with his back to the Baryonyx.
Nathaniel stood behind the fence watching, his tower guards had the sonic cannons aimed at the Baryonyx. Denis crawled under the fence and went to find a place to hide.
Nethania was thrown from the Baryonyx. The Baryonyx charged on the forces. The nanosaurian pulse cannons, Arny's club tail and the sonic cannons didn't faze him. He just kept coming.
"We can't stop that thing Captain," Hookclaw said. Nethania looked at the angry Baryonyx.
"Face it, Razortooth is incorrigible. Our weapons aren't even fazing him," Silvertalon said. Nethania watched the beast.
"We can deter that thing then we'll have to kill it," Nathaniel said.
A flashback played in Nethania's mind…
The rampaging Spinosaurus tore through New York.
"If we can stop that thing then we'll have to kill it," yelled an army general…
That was it, the answer to both problems.
"I know what I need to do," Nethania said.
"Captain no, its crazy," Hookclaw said.
"I have to, for everyone's sakes," Nethania said.
Razortooth roared with fury. He paced back and forth, preparing to charge the ranks again. Nethania walked towards him.
"Captain," Hookclaw called.
Nethania looked at Razortooth, then back at the others. She looked directly at her father.
'I'm counting on you,' Nethania told him silently.
She turned back to the Baryonyx and with a mighty roar, she nano-morphed into her ultimate form, the Spinosaurus.
Instantly her mind was clouded. She could barely comprehend things, but she saw the Baryonyx and all that crossed her mind was, 'you're trespassing on my turf'.
Nethania charged towards Razortooth and Razortooth engaged her. Like a pair of sumo wrestlers, they grappled with each other. Nethania ripped into his side with her meat hook claws. Razortooth stumbled back from her then charged forward. Nethania whipped her head at him, jaws open, she racked them across Razortooth.
Razortooth attacked back with a swipe of his claws over her snout. Nethania was given three deep scratches in the square middle of her snout. She head butt the Baryonyx who stumbled back again. She bit down on Razortooth's leg; she tore a chunk from it.
Razortooth took another swipe at her, giving her a nasty three gashes on her side. Nethania whacked him hard with her tail, the sound of her tail hitting his chest was like thunder crack. Finally Razortooth had enough and he turned and ran, heading back to the hadrosaur plateau.
Nethania roared loudly, declaring her victory. The Nanosaurs and Terra Novans cheered, catching her attention. Nethania turned to the colony and roared aggressively.
"Captain Taylor, its us," Hookclaw shouted. The crowd of onlookers became nervous.
Nethania advanced towards the colony, stomping with her fury. Her eyes were wild, not the calm eyes they were used to.
"Everyone back behind the gate," Hookclaw yelled.
Arny stood his ground as the others rushed behind the gate. He bellowed at Nethania who roared back at him.
"What are you doing Arny? She'll tear you to ribbons," Hookclaw yelled.
"What's wrong with her," Zoe cried.
"She's gone wild," Mark said.
"NO," Nathaniel yelled. He slipped through the fence and rushed towards her.
Nethania roared at him.
"Nathaniel, don't be crazy," Alicia yelled.
"Nethania," Nathaniel yelled.
Nethania roared at him.
"Oh god, she's going to eat him isn't she," Skye said.
"No, Nethania would never turn on her father," Zoe said.
"Nethania," Nathaniel said calmer. She snarled and roared at him.
"Come on sweetheart it's me," Nathaniel said in a soothing tone. Nethania looked at him, her eyes cut through him.
"I know you're in there, Nethania. I know you can hear me. Calm down sweetie. Come on, Nethania. You know me, I'm your dad," Nathaniel said.
Nethania's eyes fixed on him.
Nathaniel began to hush her.
"Everything's going to be alright now, there's nothing to fear now. Hush my sweet girl, daddy's here now," Nathaniel said. His words cut through the fog in her brain. Her facial features relaxed, her eyes closed and her mind settled down. She nano-morphed back into human form, involuntarily.
Nathaniel rushed towards her, catching her exhausted form in his arms. Her wounds were deep. Dr. Won rushed out from the crowd and began to analyze her wounds.
…^…^…
"Looks like Nethania's mended quickly," Wash said as she watched Nethania walk through the market.
"Yeah, her nano-technology never ceases to amaze me. Just two days ago she was a thread away from death, now she's back up and walking around like nothing ever happened," Nathaniel said. He stood next to Wash on the balcony.
Shannon came up the steps and turned to watch Nethania for a moment.
"Looks like Captain Taylor is doing better," Shannon said.
"She has pretty powerful medicine at her disposal," Nathaniel said.
"So are we going to let her go forward with her plans to take over Hope Plaza and let colonists come through again?" Shannon asked.
"Not like I have much a choice. I could tell her no and she'd still go ahead and do it. Remember, I'm not her commanding officer. I'm just her dad," Nathaniel said.
"It's certainly clear that you have power over her somewhat," Shannon said.
"Yeah, when she goes Spino on us," Nathaniel said.
"It would be nice to have some new colonists and we do need supplies," Wash said.
"Nethania," Nathaniel called. She looked up at him from the market.
"Come up here for a minute," Nathaniel said.
Nethania walked over to the Command Center and up the steps.
"Yes," Nethania said.
"You have my blessings to open the portal," Nathaniel said.
"I'm glad you approve," Nethania said.
"Are you well enough to travel Captain," Ute asked.
"Let's get back to Nanosauria," Nethania said.