Chapter thirteen

The Zeus was now on it's way to the Pegasus galaxy for it's third time during the active service of the ship. It's been a full of three months since earth gave a 303 to the Genii. After they had left the 303 there, the Zeus helped setting up a base on a planet in Pegasus. It was now on it's way back, loaded with supplies. The base had just helped an advanced society battling a wraith fleet that came to cull. The Atlantica base had lost two jumpers, a 304 and half their military personnel in that attack. The IOA had not been happy. With the growing Wraith threat in Pegasus, the base required at least one ship in orbit at all times. The ship was always a 304, and often had a 303 as back up.. During the defence of the the planet in question, Belar, the 304 had been dispatched to Belar and the 303 had remained in orbit around Atlantica. The Zeus had also been assigned to tow a highly experimental new battle cruiser. It looked just like the 303 class, but with a lot more 'meat on the bones' so to speak. It was about three times larger then the 303 and had four times as much armaments. It had taken the better part of a year, it had been classified so that even ship commanders wouldn't know about it.

The Zeus and the new warship in tow had just dropped out of hyperspace over Atlantica. Atlantica base opened a channel.

"Colonel Hagberg, this is Doctor Talbot, commander of the expedition. What's that thing you have in tow?" Talbot asked.

"Hello to you to doctor. What we have in tow is a highly experimental warship. Called the X-305, also known as "Ares". The ships name is the USAF Ares. It's holding more then half of the equipment that you asked for, Doctor" Hagberg said.

"Indeed it does. I guess that my suggestion about having four of our ships in orbit at all times was denied?"

"It was denied, yes. We only have ten ships. We can't put that much money into this base. We're already spread thin, dr."

"Okey.. When are you leaving, Colonel?" Talbot asked.

"We're just here to send down personnel and supplies. The Ares isn't even finished. Half of the asgard systems aren't finished and the rest hasn't even been installed. You will have to do that on your own, until then, you're stuck with the Freyr as main defence. I know she's just a 303 with out a ZPM, but it's still good." Hagberg said.

"Okey.. But Colonel, why don't you send one of your nations 304s out here? Or 303? All of your ships has ZPMs. Hell, this base only have one." Talbot said.

"I'm sorry, but all of our ships are either guarding our outpost, guarding earth or are on missions. Colonel Chung's the SAF(SwedishAirForce) Gothia is currently with the Odyssey and the Apollo in the Ori galaxy, checking up on them after we really destroyed every single resistance. And we really need to get going, we have a joint mission with the Danish ship Christian. So, we'll se you later" Hagberg said as the Zeus beamed down the last of the supplies. Just before the Zeus entered hyperspace, Atlantica called for them.

"Colonel Hagberg, I have some bad news. Earth just dialled in, it seems like your son has been lost in battle in Afghanistan. I'm sorry." Talbot said.

Colonel Hagberg's face sank, and lost it's colour. He beamed down and ordered the gate dialled to earth. He stepped through the gate. Left in command on the Zeus was Major Anna Lund. Little did she know what was going to happen.

The Zeus entered hyperspace for earth.

Major Lund took the captains chair, and Major Lundwall took the helm.

"Major, we're receiving a message from the government.. Co..Col.." Lundwall started.

"Read what it says major!" Lund ordered.

"Colonel Hagberg has killed him self. He shot himself yesterday.. He couldn't stand to live with out his son." Lundwall said, almost bursting into tears.

"Does it say anything more, major?" Lund asked as she almost started crying.

"Yes, sir. They say that you are promoted to Lt. Colonel, and given command of the Zeus." Lundwall said, solemnly.

"O.. Okey. Tell them that we have received word."

Colonel Lund flipped one of the buttons on the arm rest and she tapped into the intercom.

"Attention all hands this is Colonel Lund." She started. People that wasn't on the bridge stiffened, when they heard 'colonel'.

"I'm the bearer of bad news, I'm afraid. As you all know, Colonel Hagberg's son was killed two days ago. A few moments ago, we received an encoded message from the government. It said that.. That.. That.." She stammered. Many people knew what she was going to say.

"That Colonel Hagberg killed himself yesterday. He couldn't stand the thought of living with out his son. I was also appointed commander of this ship. I just wanted you to know, that if you want to just go and rest in your quarters, you're free to do that.

Lund out." Colonel Anna Lund said and she cut the intercom.

A few hours later, the Zeus dropped out over earth. The Zeus was just about to land when they received news, they had to come with the Danish vessel. The Lucian Alliance was messing things up with earths trading worlds. They had also just made contact with the Genii. The Danish vessel DAF Christian and the SAF Zeus entered hyperspace for the Genii homeworld.

After a few hours, the Zeus dropped out. The Christian will arrive a few hours later due to the fact that it does not have a ZPM.

Lund ordered a communications channel opened with the Genii 303 the Koyla.

"This is Colonel Lund commander of the Zeus calling the Koyla. Do you read?" Lund said.

"We read you Colonel. What happened with Hagberg?" Radim, the vessels commander asked. A few weeks after their arrival in the Milky Way, Radim had resigned as chief of state and was put in command of the Koyla.

"I'm sorry, Radim but he's dead. His son got killed in action and Hagberg couldn't live with out him, so he killed himself." Lund said over the com.

Radim got sad. But he continued. "We have met with an alliance called the 'Lucian Alliance'. They had a most interesting offers"

"Don't get involved with them. They are nothing but bad. When they come here the next time, tell them to leave. They will most likely open fire, but rest assured, their ship will have been destroyed long before your shields are even under twenty percent." Lund said.

"We will Colonel. The crew of the Mjolnir taught us some very good things. They set up Naquadah generators for power generation instead of nuclear reactors. We've made our own Naquadah enhanced warheads, we've even built a city. I had no idea that your race could be this kind."

"Not to worry. The Mjolnir should be returning soon with some 'gifts'. We must get going again. Lund out" The com cut.

The crew of the Mjolnir had grown found with the Genii people during their two month station there. They actually even wanted to go back. The Swedish government are planning on having the Mjolnir stationed there.

"Colonel, we have an incoming transmission from Atlantica" Lundwall said.

"Open a channel" Lund ordered.

"…lantica! Wrai… Evacua…alpha site. He…." Talbot's voice yelled, and suddenly the transmission ended.

"Lay in a course for Atlantica, top speed. Divert all power to the hyperdrive. Send a message to earth; Received emergency distress call from Atlantica. Moving to Pegasus at maximum speed. Request back up as soon as possible." Lund ordered.

"Message sent. Sir, what do you think happened to them?" Lundwall asks.

"It sounded like she yelled Wraith. If they where able to shut down the auto destruct, then they have the coordinates to earth and a new ZPM. How long will it take us to get there?" Lund asks

"A little under three days at full speed. The hyperdrive could burn it self up before we're even in Pegasus. We could be stuck between galaxies."

"I know. But this is serious we need to.."

"Colonel, we're getting a message from Earth. The Daedalus and the Odyssey are joining us. Atlantica did not just have one ZPM it also says. Earlier today they got a shipment of three ZPMs. Another two for the outpost and one for the 303 in orbit.

If every thing's been lost, then we only have five ZPMs left in the Swedish fleet..." Lundwall says.

"DAMMIT! Can we push the engines a bit more?" Lund asked.

"Sorry sir. If we push them any more, it will burn out."