Chapter.2: - The Rising Tides of War
"Then one day, our people stepped forth upon a dark world where a terrible enemy slept. Never before had we encountered beings with powers that rivalled our own. In our over – confidence, we were unprepared and outnumbered. The enemy fell upon defenceless human worlds like a great scourge until finally only Atlantis remained. This city's great shield was powerful enough to withstand their terrible weapons but here, we were besieged for many years. In an effort to save the last of our kind, we submerged the great city into the ocean. The Atlantis Stargate was the one and only link back to Earth from this galaxy, and those who remained used it to return to that world that was once home. There, the last survivors of Atlantis lived out the remainder of their lives. This city was left to slumber, in the hope that our kind would one day return."
Excerpt from Stargate Atlantis 1x01 – Rising.
July 28th 2004
Xander's Battleship
Hyperspace
En route to the Tritana Prime Shipyards* – Jem'Hadar Territory
Fifty – seven ships. That's how many Starships there were in his fleet that had been beyond repair after the battle for the Athosian System that Xander had ordered to be scuttled and destroyed before he departed the sector. He had done as he has always done in the past to prevent the Wraith from capturing any of his ships and learning about their technology.
And he was getting sick of it.
Out of a fleet originally comprised of one hundred and eighty Starships, a further Fifty – seven ships were gone. And that was excluding the eighteen ships that made up the Fourth, Seventh and Ninth attack groups that Xander had currently patrolling the Athosian System, leaving him with one hundred and five ships that were en route to one of the main Shipyards he controlled.
It had been over three hours since that battle and Xander was pissed; as he stood in his Battleship's war room overlooking a real – time holographic representation of the Pegasus Galaxy overlooking the latest intelligence reports that were coming in from the various war fronts via the subspace beacons he and the other's had placed all over Pegasus years before the war had escalated, the hologram showed a snaking divide running through the display, on one side of the hologram, it was coloured red, signifying Wraith controlled systems whilst the other was white; it showed the current state of the war against the Wraith; the four former Sunnydalian's forces were currently holding twenty – eight percent of the Galaxy from the Wraith while the enemy were pushing their way forwards just as Xander's Jem'Hadar forces were also pushing back and further into Wraith territory in other parts of Pegasus.
'Wraith incursion near Satedan space, Wraith taking heavy losses at Karra; I ain't crying over that. Troops deployed on Jenev and Dalera. Wraith cruisers spotted in the Thenoran sector and near… Proculus…!' His thoughts trailed off as he saw the name of the Planet mentioned. Proculus was on the furthest edge of the border between the two territories; while there were still people living there, striving to survive the devastation that was wrought upon them during the opening days of the war.
Xander placed the PADD he was reading from down as he manipulated the console near the display to locate and highlight Proculus. The holograms image changed as the display magnified and immediately homed in on the planet. The display showed a world, once considered to be a paradise by its Inhabitants and their protector, Athar. Xander knew what the planet looked like now. Half of the planet was scarred and burning; a third of its people culled.
And he believed that it was his fault, all because he had taken Athar… Chaya away from them for two days, he had offered to show her their Starships and technology, as he sought permission to use the planet as a staging area for his forces to push into Wraith territory. Promising to provide protection for the inhabitants from the Wraith, during the negotiations with the beautiful woman, Xander could understand her reluctance at first to deny him access to the planet; Chaya didn't want her people to be harmed, nor did she want them to be affected by the changes technology such as theirs could've imposed.
She had told Xander that Athar would protect them… but only them and no one else.
Xander had at first thought that Athar was some kind of deity; his own experience with Janus and the hellmouth lending credence to his theory, but when the truth had been revealed to him that Chaya was actually Athar, the ascended Ancient punished by the others of her kind to protect Proculus from the Wraith for eternity, he was distraught to learn that he had taken their protector away.
So, while he had decided not to use the planet as a staging area for his forces, he did vow to keep the system secure from any further incursions as a way of penance for the damage he believes he had inflicted on the people during the opening days of the war.
He watched as the display pulled away from the planet and zoomed in on the Wraith cruisers in the system. There were three of them just on the outskirts of the sector probing along the border. Xander had two attack groups in that area but they were currently on the other side of the System.
Not for long he thought. "Order the Fifth attack group near Proculus to engage those cruisers. I want them destroyed immediately." Xander turned towards the warrior in charge of the intelligence gathering for that sector of space, the warrior turned towards his commander and acknowledged the order.
"Aye, sir."
'No more.' He thought to himself as he turned back towards the hologram. He stared at the display for a few moments longer, observing the ever changing reports coming in from various battlefronts before he registered his forces in the system moving to intercept and destroy the enemy cruisers.
Hoping to take his troubled mind off of Proculus, the Jem'Hadar commander turned to the PADD he had been perusing just moments ago. Once more reading intelligence reports coming in from the Front, he had just finished reading that Jem'Hadar forces under Jono's command had attacked a Wraith convoy and liberated over two thousand humans and was escorting them to the closest Sanctuary world they had secured from the Wraith.
Just as he was about to leave the war room, the ships internal communications sounded. "Commander Harris, we're approaching Tritana Prime."
"Good. Drop us out of Hyperspace and contact the automated orbital shipyards. Tell them to prepare for us. I want my ships fully repaired within seventy – two hours." Xander informed his Comms Officer as he exited the war room and made his way towards the turbo lift. "Bridge."
Stepping inside the turbo lift; and telling the computer his destination, Xander suddenly heard a beeping alert coming from his uniform. Frowning until he found the source of the noise and what it entailed, he grimaced. He needed a new phial of White.
This was something he hated doing and he cursed Janus for making him and his friend's no better than addicts so that the god could ensure their loyalty in fighting the Wraith. "You know, if I was a spiteful higher being, I could just withhold the White from you and your forces, Xander…"
Xander groaned as he changed the phials; this was what he really needed right now…
"You are a spiteful bastard Janus; you turn the four of us into Jem'Hadar; coerce me and my friends into fighting a war your people ran away from millions of years ago. You turn us into no better than drug addicts so you can ensure your control over us to fix your mistakes. You're no better than the Changeling's and the Vorta."
"That's harsh, Alexander. I gave you the tools with which to fight this war. I gave you everything you needed to defeat the Wraith; it's not easy piercing the walls of reality you know. I'm not like this Q being you think I am. I brought you and your friend's to Tritana so that you could build up your powerbase here in Pegasus… it was the last hidden outpost we had from the Wraith. Not even the Atlantis High Council knew of its existence since I hid it from them. You had everything you needed there." The being stated as he leant against the wall of the lift.
"I call it as I see it, Janus; if you want to prove you're not even remotely like Q; then free us from the White." Xander said to the sighing higher being, before he continued. "But you won't will you? You want your leash over us to hold so that we can be your good little attack dogs and sort out the mess you Lantean's made. What do you want?" The former Sunnydalian asked as he turned and glared at the higher being that had suddenly appeared inside the turbo lift with him.
Janus smirked at him. He was smirking at him! Xander wished that he could wipe that self – satisfied grin off of his face. "You're still going on about that!? Xander, do me a favour… get over it. It's been eight years already. I told you that I'd free you from the White as soon as all of the Wraith are destroyed. And look at what you've accomplished already; you've made the Wraith pause. They have never faced a race as tenacious and unyielding as the Jem'Hadar since my people. You're both similar in that regard."
Xander wanted to roar at the ascended ass, he hated him; he really did, even if Janus was looking out for the humans in Pegasus, he didn't have to be such a dick about it. And he didn't have to take four teenagers from the planet Earth, permanently transform them into Jem'Hadar and ask them to fight an alien species that used humans as food.
But what Xander hated most of all was himself for agreeing to fight the Wraith in the first place. His protective streak was such a burden to him sometimes, because he missed his friends. He missed her. "Easy. Easy there, Alex; I'm only here to deliver the new supplies of White and to keep you informed about your… family' as per our arrangement." Janus said, seeing the cloud of rage quickly forming in the boy's eyes.
At hearing that, Xander had calmed down, the stress of having to deal with the Ascended Douchebag lessening for the moment as he asked. "Buffy and the others! How are they doing? There's nothing wrong with them is there?"
Despite Janus's coercion of Xander and his friends, he truly did care for the people of Earth and Pegasus and he had indeed regretted forcing the Slayer's White Knight and his friends into this situation, but he needed them.
What happened that night on Halloween had presented an opportunity for the ascended Ancient to capitalise on. Tapping into the energy of the hellmouth, Janus had made the changes Xander and the others had gone through permanent as he drew on the power of the hellmouth to bring Jem'Hadar Starships and resources into being.
He had known that the Powers That Be were planning to get rid of the boy that had caused their plans to go off kilt since he had revived the Slayer but foreseeing Xander's usefulness, Janus had spirited them away before the Powers could make their move against him and the others. But that was another thing he regretted. Xander's friends and surrogate family had thought him dead after Halloween. "They're all fine, Xander. They have restarted the Watcher's Council and have begun training the new Slayer's that were activated during the battle with the First Evil. Buffy and Dawn are living in Rome while Giles is in England. Faith and Robin are in Cleveland overseeing the new Slayers there and the awakened hellmouth. They're fine."
Xander breathed a sigh of relief. Fearing the worst after what Janus had told him had happened to Cordelia and Deadboy in Los Angeles the last time the ascended ancient had dropped in for a visit, he frowned when Janus hadn't mentioned Willow and Tara. "What about Wills and Tara? How are they?"
Janus hesitated; he knew that Xander would ask about those two and he was reluctant to tell the boy about his surrogate sister. "Janus?"
"They… broke up four months ago. Again."
"What!?" Xander exclaimed as he fully rounded on the higher being.
"Willow cheated on her. With a Slayer called Kennedy. Tara found them in bed together in the Cleveland House. So she left for England; Willow has been trying to talk to her ever since it happened, but Ms. Maclay hasn't reciprocated. Willow and Kennedy went to Rio while Tara and Giles oversee the Council's operations from England."
"Damn it, Willow…" Xander muttered as he absorbed the information. While he was gratified to hear that his friends were alive and well, he couldn't help but think that Willow had just ruined the best thing she had ever had going for her.
Soon the turbo lift had arrived at the bridge and as Xander was about to get out, Janus spoke. "Oh, and by the way. Jono was right about help arriving from Lantea. Your People have found Atlantis… well your former people."
And with that before Xander could ask him, the ascended Douche disappeared. "I hate that guy."
The commander soon steeped onto the bridge of his battleship as his second in command, Taran'atar proceeded to tell him that the shipyards were standing by for them; Xander nodded and informed his crew that they had shore leave while their ships were being repaired. It didn't do to have a strung out crew after all.
Atlantis
"… In the hope of spreading new life in a galaxy where there appeared to be none. Soon the new life grew, prospered. Here…" As the Ancient Hologram Lady continued speaking, Dr's. Weir and McKay, Major Shepherd and Colonel Sumner, were still coming to grips over what they had just observed prior. The great city was underwater and everyone was just in awe of the sight. They had all entered the room where Doctor Beckett was standing on a podium listening intently. The others all stare at the hologram as they walk near towards Carson.
"It's a hologram. The recording loops. This is my second time through." Spoke the Scotsman.
Colonel Sumner spoke as he neared the podium. "What have we missed?"
The Scotsman told them that they hadn't missed much. Then they were all listening to the hologram as she continued to narrate the history of Pegasus. It was when the hologram had mentioned a powerful enemy that could rival the Ancients that they had become concerned.
Finally after another minute, the hologram had finished reiterating Atlantis's history shut down; Carson stepped down from the podium leaving everyone in the room to digest what they had heard.
McKay spoke as he looked contemplative. "Oh. So the story of Atlantis is true. A great city that sank in the ocean."
"It just didn't happen on Earth." Carson replied. He wanted to listen to the hologram again.
"Well, the Ancient Greeks must've heard it from one of the surviving Ancients." McKay stated just as a scientist hurried into the room and walked over to the Canadian.
He was observed by Weir and Shepherd for a moment before Col. Sumner spoke up. "I don't like the fact they got their asses kicked."
"Let's hear it again from the beginning." Carson said as he finally moved towards the podium again; he was clearly excited to hear about the Ancients a third time. He stepped back onto the podium and the hologram appeared once more, but before the hologram started to speak, McKay shouted after the scientist he was speaking to stepped off to his side. Worry marred the Canadian's face as he addressed Carson. "Stop! Turn it off."
Carson stepped off of the podium at McKay's insistence, completely ignoring the fact that the hologram had deactivated. McKay then told everyone that the city's power levels are dropping and that caused everyone in the room to start worrying.
"What does that mean?" Sumner asked.
McKay's response to the Colonel's question didn't exactly fill anyone with hope. "That if we don't stop everything we're doing right now, we are dead." He finished; then the scientist, Peter Grodin hurried out of the room as the others stared in shock for a moment and then followed the two scientists out of the room.
Athosian Space
Jem'Hadar Fourth Attack Group Patrol
Same Time
First Romat'iklan was a young Jem'Hadar warrior of three years of age; he was an accomplished fighter who had gone up against the Wraith on no less than thirty – seven ground sorties and has fought in over twenty ship – to – ship engagements since his 'birth'.
It was on his last engagement against the Wraith during an incursion into the Wraith controlled Hoffan sector seven months ago, a battle that had cost over five thousand Wraith their lives with the destruction of three Hives and over fifty cruisers as the Jem'Hadar fleet that had liberated the sector after a five hour battle consisted of over ninety attack ships and cruisers, it was after that battle when he had fought alongside with First Harris's attack ship when they had taken down the last Hive together that the rest of their forces had annihilated the remaining Wraith cruiser's that he had been made First and given command of the Fourth attack group personally by Commander Harris.
It was the proudest day of his life; he had brought honour and glory to his Gene Brothers who had fought with him that day, just as they had honoured him with their deeds during that battle and ever since, Romat'iklan had acquitted himself in the command role.
The six ships that made up the Fourth attack group were currently patrolling along the outermost reaches of the Athosian sector's border into Wraith territory as the Seventh and Ninth attack groups were patrolling the opposite ends of the sector as well. Ever since the battle for the system earlier and Commander Harris had ordered them to safeguard the system, they had observed no action from the Wraith since their defeat. But he was no fool; the Wraith had fought tooth and nail for this sector and despite their defeat, he knew that they would not just give up, and so he was patiently waiting for the enemy to make their move.
"Sir, long – range sensors show Wraith cruiser's inbound, they're dropping out of hyperspace and travelling at maximum sub light! They're currently eight hundred thousand kilometres out. ETA… twenty minutes!" Turns out he didn't have to wait long.
The First turned towards his Tactical Officer; the warrior who had given him the news.
"How many ships?" He asked as he stood by the console; the Tactical Officer proceeded to find out how many cruisers were inbound. It took a few moments for him to discern the information. "Sir, I'm reading forty – seven… make that fifty – five cruisers! Sir, I'm also reading… they are launching fighters! Reading a total of a hundred fighter's now acting as escorts, sir!"
Not showing an ounce of concern or fear over the amount of enemy forces that were returning to the system, Romat'iklan nodded and turned towards his Comms Officer. "Contact the Seventh and Ninth attack groups. Inform them of what's coming. Tell them to get ready for battle. Send a subspace message to Commander Harris at Tritana… inform him that the Wraith's… reprisal is imminent."
"Yes, sir!" Said the Comms Officer before he went about his duty. Romat'iklan went over to his Command Station and activated the ship's internal communications. "I am First Romat'iklan, and I am dead. As of this moment, we are all dead. We go into battle to reclaim our lives. This we do gladly, for we are Jem'Hadar. Remember: Victory is Life!"
Romat'iklan waited.
"Victory is life! Victory is life! Victory is life!" Was the reply from his crew on board the attack ship; just as was similar on the other attack ships in the group; he grinned a feral smile as he issued his next order.
"All hands! Battle stations!"
Tritana Prime
Jem'Hadar Pegasus Defence Force Command & Control
A Few Minutes Later
Xander had disembarked his Battleship as soon as it had docked at the orbital shipyard above the planet three hours earlier he had just finished his after – action report of the battle of Athos three hours previously after he had seen his crew off the ship; transporting down, the former Sunnydalian headed straight for Andrew's main research facility that had been set up on one of the islands to the south of one the planet's main continents.
Tritana was a planet similar to Earth in many ways, it had a moderate climate, its' surface was covered by sixty – four percent of water and had five main landmasses as well as Polar Regions to the north and south of the planet. When Janus had brought them there eight years ago, they had appeared amidst a deserted city surrounded by towering, gleaming structures that stretched out for miles around them.
Janus had left the four of them there all alone after he had taught them how to use the Ancient tech and had assisted as much as he could in setting up the resources they needed, he had explained to them that most Ancient technology needed a specific gene marker to be utilised; a gene that unfortunately none of the four had possessed, so the ascended being had reactivated the Ancient systems there, but there were still some systems that needed the gene marker for continued use.
Janus had taught Andrew and Warren to construct a device that simulated the specific frequency the gene marker gave off to activate the Ancient technology. Now, Tritana was home to over seven billion Jem'Hadar warriors who had been created to fight and liberate a galaxy from the Wraith and more were being 'born' every day. It was the main hub for the construction of Starships, battle cruisers and battleships that Xander, Jono and Warren led into battle against the Wraith.
But it wasn't home for Xander, it would never be home. He couldn't speak for the others, but his home was with his friends and family back on Earth. It was a home where the people that he cares about most have thought him dead for eight years. He couldn't help the pang of loneliness that hit him as soon as he arrived at Andrew's facility and he quickly entered. "Andrew?"
Andrew Wells was not having a good day. As he toiled over one of two prototypes of his latest creation, he cursed as he and his research team tried to correct the latest problem that had befallen his current project. "Ah c'mon…" He muttered as his computer's diagnostic equipment indicated that the latest test he was running had failed. "… work damn it!"
"Andrew?" Xander called out again as he approached closer to the prototype. He stopped and took a moment to admire the object that he stood in front of. When Andrew and Warren had approached him and Jonathan six years ago with an idea for a multi – role fighter craft that they could use as a counterpoint against the Wraith fighters, he and Jonathan were all for it. It would take the edge off of their main attack ships as the Wraith fighters used swarm tactics against their ships to overwhelm their forces.
"Maybe if I… yeah that might do it…" Andrew mumbled this time as he chewed on a loose piece of redundant opticable while he used a plasma infuser on the EPS systems. "… come on, come on work! Work…"
"Andrew!" Xander shouted, calling out his friends name for the third time.
"Ahhh…! oooowwww!" Andrew jerked and hit the back of his head on the underside of the prototype's ventral plating. "… ouch… ah…" He stopped what he was doing and pulled himself out from underneath the project; rubbing his head he looked up and saw Xander looking at him. "Uh, hey Xander…" He said sheepishly.
"Andrew. How's she coming along?" Xander asked as he turned to look at the prototype. Andrew stood and brushed himself off before he walked over and joined Xander's side.
"It's... she's coming along nicely, Xander. The prototype is almost finished…" Andrew began as Xander walked around the perimeter; Andrew quickly trailed behind him as his research team continued about their work. "The uh, the… she's a beauty."
Xander turned his head around and looked at the little scientist before he looked at the area around him. He looked and saw numerous remains of burnt out Wraith fighters with parts missing from them.
The Jem'Hadar had captured a number of fighters during the opening days of the conflict and after he had studied the fighters profusely, Andrew had discovered that some of the Wraith fighter systems were interesting enough to be incorporated into the prototypes design. He had initially decided to create a hybrid fighter using a cut down version of a Jem'Hadar attack ship. He had designed a single occupancy fighter, twelve metres in length by ten metres wide and seven metres high.
It was a cylindrical shape black and dark grey in colour and had two Impulse engines on the rear of the craft; its undercarriage was a standard tripod design but Xander couldn't see any wheels or skids that could support the fighter's bulk. Interesting. He couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to fly.
He could see a micro sized version of a standard torpedo launcher built in on the ventral plating of the fighter's hull near the bow of the fighter; it was just under the fighter's navigational deflector; there was one built in on the aft section as well.
He turned his attention towards the cockpit; it looked tight and compact, but he was fine with that, but what caught his attention was the absence of a drop down canopy. 'Huh.'
He inwardly thought as he turned his gaze towards the wings of the craft; two wings in total with what looked like modified class ten polaron beam emitters on each wing. It looked really familiar to him for some reason almost like he had seen something like it before…
He spun back around and saw that Andrew had come up behind him; he was going to chastise him for making him jump slightly but he thought better of it. Looking at Andrew, Xander could see that he looked rather proud of what he had accomplished so far.
"Yeah. I swear I've seen something similar to it before."
Andrew smirked at him. "You probably have. I did get the idea for the shape from an old TV Show after all. I'll give you a hint: The Twelve Colonies."
Xander looked at him as he worked his brain to figure out what Andrew was going on about. It took a minute for him to work out, which Andrew figured he had as Xander placed his arm on his shoulder and shook his friend in what looked to be an equal mixture of trepidation and excitement. "You built a goddamn Cylon Raider!?"
Andrew chuckled. "I built the shape of a Cylon Raider. The systems are a mix of Jem'Hadar and Wraith tech."
Xander made a face at the mention of Wraith tech being integrated with their technology. "Why Wraith Tech?"
Andrew began his explanation. "Well, their fighter's do have some interesting capabilities; for instance I saw you looking at the cockpit before; I take it you noticed the lack of a canopy? Well Wraith fighters use an opaque energy shield with an integrated HUD when flying. I've adapted that function for the Attack Raider… that's its name by the way. The energy shield and HUD will provide a clear view for the pilot instead of just relying on the HUD; the pilot will be able to see what he's shooting at. I've also adapted the culling beam and storage device for use as a delivery system."
That peaked Xander's attention and Andrew noticed so he continued. "The Raider's got stealth capability. As you know Xan, we've noticed in past engagements that Wraith sensors are able to detect our Hyperdrive emissions… It's something I've been working on fixing, but I haven't had much luck with yet, but anyway, they can't detect our ships in warp or our impulse emissions. From what I've been able to gather, our warp field disrupts subspace while in use making it impossible for their sensors to track us. Utilising an Ancient cloaking device; one Raider can warp behind enemy lines while cloaked, drop and retrieve an insertion team and leave without being detected."
"How fast can she go?" Xander asked as the idea of a fighter with stealth capabilities appealed to him.
"She's rated for warp five for short range stealth insertions. Impulse drive can match the speed of the Wraith fighter's easily."
Xander was in love it already; he couldn't wait for the craft to be deployed. "I saw the micro torpedo launchers and the polaron emitters; what else does it have?"
"The torpedoes are class ten polaron micro torpedoes; they have a variable yield of between fifty and eighty isotons. It can carry over a hundred of them, and the emitters have been modified to fire steady bursts of polaron weapons fire instead of a steady beam. It'll make it easier for combat. She's got a bite to her, Xand."
Xander nodded as he absorbed the information, he liked what he was learning about it.
"Defences?"
"She has the cloaking device and she has an ablative trinium based hull… and that's about it."
"That's it? No shields?" Xander indeed didn't look too pleased to hear that and Andrew could tell.
"No, the Wraith systems, the culling beam and storage device are too big to allow a shield generator… she'll be able to take her hits and still dish it out, Xander. I've made sure of that."
"Then how come she isn't flying yet?" Xander asked a little exasperated; Andrew sighed and let out a breath before he could respond. "Spit it out, Andrew."
Andrew sighed. "It's almost finished. The weapons system's completed; the cloaking system has been fitted and the life support system is up and running and the miniature warp core is fitted and the impulse drive is ready. The only problem I'm having is getting our systems to integrate with the Wraith systems. There not accepting the EPS power distribution and its causing problems with the flow rate to the other systems. I'm making headway with it but its taking time."
Xander digested what he had been told before he continued. "How long until its ready, Andrew?"
"Until I come up with a workaround… as it stands now? Three weeks. Give or take."
Xander groaned. Andrew just looked apologetic before he continued with an excited tone. "But the other project I've been working on is done."
"It is?" Xander asked surprised.
Andrew nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yeah. There are three currently ready with another three almost completed. Allow me to show you the second half of Project Basestar." Andrew turned and moved over towards a console gesturing for Xander to follow him before he accessed his system files and brought up the relevant data on screen. "Capable of operating as a mobile command and control centre and securing any liberated system from the Wraith. She's essentially the delivery method for the attack raiders seeing as they don't have Hyperdrive capability."
Xander looked up and took note of the technical specs of Andrew's second prototype. On screen, Xander observed that the design was similar to what his memories informed him of the original shape. The image displayed showed two saucer sections, each with a diameter of seventeen hundred and seventy metres that were connected together at the central axis of each saucer. As Andrew brought up each section of the image Xander looked over the prototype's technical specifications more thoroughly.
He saw mention of a reactionless drive. "What's a reactionless drive?" He asked his friend.
"A gravitic inertial propulsion engine used to travel at sublight speeds. The Ancients' technology is and was predominantly powered by Zero Point Energy Fields, using these fields project Basestar can achieve speeds of 0.35C." He asked reminding his friend of the Lantean power source. "The drives are the considered to be superior to other sublight engines because they leave no engine emissions that can be detected." He finished.
"Yeah?"
Andrew continued. "Well, a Zero Point Energy Field is essentially a leakage of energy on the quantum scale being translated to our reality." Andrew brought an image of a Lantean power source up on the screen as he continued with his explanation. "The Ancients were able to utilise these energy fields to power their technology…"
"But we know that depending on the power requirements and what they were used for; these power sources usually had a finite supply of power and didn't last long, right?" Xander asked as he remembered an explanation Andrew had given him over seven years ago.
"That's right. The more power that was required, the quicker the power drain on the energy field. Project Basestar utilises six Zero Point batteries for power and two Matter/Anti – Matter Fusion Reactors to supplement that power." Andrew finished.
"Weapons and defences?" Xander asked almost drooling. That amount of power… it was staggering. "I'm guessing Hyperdrive system for FTL?"
"Yes, she uses Hyperdrive to travel FTL. Standard weapons compliment are one hundred and fifty class twelve polaron emitters on both dorsal and ventral saucers with each emitter capable of generating over eight and a half thousand terawatts of firepower. Thanks to the Lantean batteries, they can generate a maximum of nine thousand terawatts if needed, Xander." Andrew stated. And he could already tell that his friend was impressed. "She also has one hundred class twelve torpedo launchers, with fifty on each saucer section and can carry a compliment of six thousand polaron torpedoes each with a variable yield of a hundred and one hundred and eighty isotons."
Andrew used the control console to bring up the image of a shield generator. "She's outfitted with three standard shield generators; each one has a capacity of two hundred and eighty thousand terajoules. Like all of our Starships, she's been outfitted with an ablative trinium based hull that strengthens the Variethiel double hull plating by fifteen percent; plus she's been outfitted with five metre thick armoured neutronium… she's a tank, Xander. And a deadly one."
"What's her fighter and crew compliment?" Xander asked.
"She'll be able to carry two hundred attack raiders when they're completed." Andrew said to him. "We estimated that a Wraith Hive ship carried a compliment of a hundred fighters when we first began engaging their ships given the size of them. And we know that the Wraith have been constructing more ships since we've shown that we're capable of destroying their forces. Her crew compliment is just over a thousand, pilots, warriors. Basestar command staff."
Andrew continued. "When Warren and I told you and Jonathan our idea six years ago, we knew that we were kind'a reaching high…"
"Reaching high!?" Xander breathed out as he looked over the screen. "Andy, when you mentioned this to me and Jono years ago… I didn't think these would be ready this soon. They're massive…" Massive didn't even begin to describe them, Xander quickly thought; they were huge and he already loved them. "I thought that it would've taken longer to construct these…"
"It would've if my teams and I didn't almost pull a truckload of late nights." Andrew replied with a chuckle. But thankfully, a lot of the construction systems are completely automated… it took a lot of the pressure off of us." He finished.
"Damn… you've outdone yourself, man." Xander said with praise. Andrew beamed, but he saw the frown that soon marred his friends' face. A second later, Xander spoke. "You said three weeks for the raider depending on you creating a workaround to the compatibility problem between the EPS systems and the Wraith tech, right? How long would they be ready if you removed the Wraith systems?"
"And put in a canopy and a standard HUD display?" Andrew asked, pre – empting his friend's question. "About a week. Warren and I contemplated doing that at the start of the project, but we wanted to test out the feasibility of the insertion system… and you're gonna ask me to do remove aren't you?"
"Sorry Andrew…" Xander started.
Andrew sighed. "No… it's fine I get it, I'm a victim of my own success with the Basestars. I'll do it and I'll put in a shield generator as well. Give our fighters that little bit extra protection."
"Thanks man…" Xander started as Andrew nodded and closed the files open on his console; he left Xander standing by the console as the scientist moved back over to his research team and gave out instructions to remove the Wraith components from the prototype fighter. Xander saw these two latest projects as getting one step closer to getting home and he was pretty sure that Andrew did as well.
A moment later, Xander beamed out of his friend's facility.
Five Minutes Later
Xander's Personal Quarter's
Thinking back on the Raider as he lied down on his bed, Xander had to admit that the Fighter would be a massive help to the Fleet, he just wished that it was ready now, but he was willing to wait a week for the promise that project Basestar appeared to be. He was about to rest for a few hours until his internal comm. unit went off.
"BEEP!"
He groaned; he knew that he wasn't gonna get some sleep now. Activating his comm. system, he responded. "Harris."
"Sir, this is Second Tulak'tar in Command & Control. We have just received a subspace communique from First Romat'iklan at Athos. He says that his sensors have detected a Wraith fleet heading into the system. ETA, fifteen minutes."
'Damn!' He thought. He knew that the Wraith wouldn't give up the system that easily, but with his ships stuck in dry – dock undergoing repairs that only left Warren's fleet or Jono's to engage the enemy. He decided after only a moment. "Contact First Levinson. His ship is on the way to the frontline at Karra. Inform him to despatch the Twelfth, Thirteenth and Sixteenth attack groups to Athos. I'll be at the C&C momentarily. Harris, out." Xander stated as he switched his comms off and left his quarters.
Athosian System
Twenty Minutes Later
The battle was already underway above Athos; with many Athosian's in their camp looking up at the night sky once again wondering if what they were witnessing was a sign from the Ancestors; beyond the planet's atmosphere great ships had engaged each other in furious combat, the eighteen Starships left to defend the system against a force of eighty plus Wraith ships. It had once again descended into Hell. And all without the Athosian's
knowledge.
"Sir, the Seventh attack group is taking heavy damage! They've lost two of their ships and their right flank is exposed!" Stated Romat'iklan's Tactical Officer as he targeted an enemy cruiser; he fired the ship's weapons, targeting the enemy vessel with a volley of torpedoes. After three hit the enemy vessel dead on, it exploded in a violent flash of fire and another was targeted.
"THOOM! THOOM!"
The ship rocked under fire from a squadron of eight enemy fighters for retaliation of the destroyed cruiser; Romat'iklan ordered the fighter's destroyed as the ship was being hammered, their shields were barely holding thanks to the damage his ship had already sustained. "Sir, shields down to sixteen percent! Enemy fighters coming around for another assault!"
"Target those fighter's; bearing zero five three, mark eight! I want them destroyed!" The First ordered as he grabbed onto his command console. His Tactical Officer targeted the fighter's and fired main weapons; his sensors soon registered the destruction of five of them while the remaining fighters had evaded fire. All around Romat'iklan's ship, Jem'Hadar Starships were tearing through space firing at the enemy. Phaser fire struck cruisers and fighters alike, striking critical and glancing shots on their enemy. Torpedoes struck enemy cruisers amid ships, breaking open the hulls and exposing the Wraith to hard vacuum; they destroyed their engines, targeted the bridge on some of the cruisers; their weapons and their life support systems. They only had twelve ships remaining as the Jem'Hadar valiantly defended the system to the best of their ability and made the Wraith pay for the destruction of their ships.
"Instruct the Ninth attack group to defend the Seventh's right flank. They're taking heavy fire!" Romat'iklan told his Comms. Officer; the warrior nodded as he went about following his orders, but he soon discovered that he couldn't send the message through. "Sir, the Wraith are jamming communications! I can't get through to the Ninth…"
"THOOM!"
"SIR! SHIELDS ARE DOWN!" Shouted the warrior at Tactical.
"EVASIVE MANOEVRES!" Everyone on the bridge was rocked as the attack vessel took a shot directly on the ships dorsal plating; a cruiser had taken advantage that the attack on Romat'iklan's ship had finally deprived it of its shields and was now pressing their attack. Sparks flew and consoles exploded from the heavy damage they were under. The First's command console was now a mess of smoking wires and conduits.
"HULL BREACH ON DECK FIVE! MAIN WEAPONS OFFLINE!"
"SIR! THE SEVENTH ATTACK GROUP'S BEEN DESTROYED! THE NINTH IS UNDER HEAVY FIRE…" As the Comms. Officer stated to his First at how dire the situation was; his sensors had registered a subspace distortion forming. "SIR, HYPERSPACE WINDOW FORMING; BEARING ONE FOUR EIGHT MARK ONE NINE… I'M READING… JEM'HADAR IFF's, REINFORCEMENTS APPROACHING!"
Romat'iklan grinned. The day was not yet lost. As ships of the Twelfth, Thirteenth and Sixteenth attack groups tore through the devastation and opened fire on the enemy; the remaining Jem'Hadar, bolstered by the arrival of friendly forces rallied and regrouped before they pushed the Wraith back once more. Romat'iklan's attack ship, being too badly damaged to remain fighting pulled back by behind the ships as he ordered the remaining attack ships in the Fourth attack group, three ships, excluding his own to continue to attack the enemy.
Athos
Gate Plateau
Same time
It was night when the Gate Team had emerged from the Stargate. The situation on Atlantis had rapidly deteriorated with the city shield losing power, and the ocean threatening to flood the city and kill everyone there. Dr. Weir had deemed it necessary to use the Stargate to look for more ZPM's for the city and Athos was one of the main addresses chosen by chance. What they didn't know was that there actually was a ZPM production facility there underground and under the control of the Jem'Hadar.
Four SG soldiers had already secured the Gate site next to the MALP as the rest of the team emerged from the event horizon. Major Shepherd and Lt. Ford checked the perimeter when they heard the Gate shut off as Col. Sumner closed in on them. "Anything?"
"No Sir. It's all quiet." Replied Ford as Shepherd kept his eyes peeled through his NVG.
Sumner looked at him for a moment. "Shepherd?"
"No contacts, sir." Sumner nodded; he ordered two soldiers to stay and guard the Gate before he ordered the rest of his team to go on ahead.
Their arrival had not gone unnoticed. There was an Ancient city nearby that was home to a garrison of Jem'Hadar who had set up a subspace listening post there in the city. They were there to protect the Athosian's while the Planet was a key strategic area for the Jem'Hadar Defence Force. The Jem'Hadar routinely patrolled the area around the Stargate in case the Wraith came to Athos through the Gate.
They already knew that the fleet of eighteen Starships patrolling the system were under attack from the Wraith and they knew from prior experience that one of the tactics used by the Wraith was to send in ground forces through the Stargate to attack and cut off any escape. There was a shrouded patrol of Jem'Hadar just beyond the treeline that had seen the Stargate activate and they prepared for the worst; but when the team of humans stepped through the event horizon armed, they were still cautious.
Soon, the humans started to move forward cautiously as the Jem'Hadar carried on observing them. From their movements and tactics, the Jem'Hadar knew that these humans were military trained; noticing how they moved in tight formation. One of the human's had moved close to the treeline, it was the one they observed had been called Shepherd and they watched him move slowly until he and they heard someone running through the trees nearby.
Shepherd stopped and raised his arm up to make the rest of his team hold position. After a few seconds he gestured again to make them continue slowly as he and Lt. Ford moved towards the treeline. As they moved closer, a small figure jumped out of the trees and then stopped at the sight of the soldiers. Ford and Shepherd raised their weapons, surprised by the sudden appearance.
The boy was afraid; he whimpered in terror before another figure wearing a mask burst out of the trees growling and snarling and quickly tackled the other boy to the ground.
Jinto, the first boy looks up at Ford. "Please don't hurt us!" He called out frightened.
As Col. Sumner ran up to join them, the second boy, Wex had taken his mask off and both of them looked at the rest of the soldiers in fear. Just then, an adult male raced out of the trees without realising that he had just past the shrouded Jem'Hadar who were watching the events unfold. "Wait!" The man shouted out.
Ford and Shepherd raised their weapons higher and in the man's direction. The man holds out his hands to the soldiers as he ran toward the boys and stood over them protectively. "Please! They're just playing."
The rest of the soldiers soon approached and gathered around as the man continued to hold out his hands at them before he looked down at the boys. "Everything Ok here, Shepherd?" Sumner asked.
"Yes, Sir. Just a couple of Kids." He replied, lifting his NVG up onto his head. The other soldiers soon lowered their weapons and the man quickly stood up showing the others that he is taller than everyone there.
He held his hands out to the boys and helped them to their feet then he turned to Shepherd, gesturing to himself. "Halling."
"I don't know what that means." Replied Shepherd nonplussed. Sumner exasperatingly told him that it is the man's name.
"Oh. Halling, it's nice to meet you." Shepherd replied.
"Are you here to trade?" Asked Halling as Jinto and Wex clung and hid behind the Athosian.
Shepherd looked at Sumner and then Ford before he decided to say that they are traders. Halling accepted the answer and then turned to his son and Wex. He knelt down in front of them. "I told you both not to play in the forest… especially with the Omens…" Jinto and Wex bow their heads at the chastisement. Shepherd, Sumner and Ford looked at each other as Halling mentioned the Omens. "…I'm just glad you're safe."
The tall Man finished as he touched his son's forehead to his own and then stood, he turned back towards Shepherd. "Teyla will wish to meet with you. Come."
He then led the boys away, expecting them to follow as Sumner called to his men. "Parker, Smitty. Dial Atlantis and let Weir know we've made contact with the indigenous people."
"Yes, Sir." The two soldiers replied at once, Sumner turned to follow with the rest of his team as Halling led them to his village.
The Jem'Hadar split into two patrols. As one remained at the Stargate, observing the humans that stayed behind to guard the ring, the other patrol followed the soldiers from the treeline toward the Athosian Camp. Shepherd then heard Ford ask Sumner what his problem is with him; he dismissed the Colonel's problems against him and walked on unbothered by his CO's concerns. A few moments later, Jinto walked up next to him as Wex joined his friend wearing his mask again.
Jinto spoke. "What was that mask you had on?"
Shepherd took his NVG's off and hands them to the boy. "Helps you to see in the dark. Check it out."
Jinto took them from him and looks through them; he is amazed that he can see everything through them, though his view in them had turned into a greenish tint as the NVG's illuminated the surrounding area. Wex took them off and had a look as well as like his friend, he was amazed as well. He asked if he can have a look through them also and Jinto passes them to his friend; he too is amazed and he asked Shepherd if he can have them.
"No." The soldier replied as he took them back off the boy and put them back on his head. "What's that mask you've got on?" He asks Wex.
"This? Wraith."
Shepherd asked him what a Wraith was and Wex and Jinto just stared at him. Amazed that he didn't know. They soon asked him if he didn't really know and what world did they all come from if they hadn't heard of the Wraith before. Without giving him time to answer, Jinto asked if he and Wex could go there. "Afraid not. I'm from a Galaxy far, far away."
Shepherd then asked Jinto about what Halling meant about the Omens. The boy and Wex looked at him before gesturing upwards toward the night sky; Shepherd followed their gazes and he looked up and saw numerous flashes of white light and streaks shooting across the sky. "… Whoa."
It was safe to say that he was impressed by the lightshow. Col. Sumner and Lt. Ford had asked Halling about the Omens as well and the man spoke looking up at the sky. Sumner and Ford looked up as well. "We do not know what they are. Just that they are there; they first appeared in the skies over eight hours ago then they were gone after five hours had passed. Then they returned recently after three hours. Many of my people believe them to be a sign from the Ancestors. Now, please follow. Teyla is waiting."
Halling walked on as Sumner and Ford kept on watching. Their attention was drawn to a series of five small flashes that they could make out before they blinked out of existence.
"Sir…" Ford spoke.
"I know, Lieutenant. I know." As he and Ford caught up to Halling, Sumner couldn't help but thinking what the hell had they walked into? He knew that those flashes and streaks were not natural phenomena; to him, even at this distance, they looked like explosions and weapons fire.
Author's Note: -
Hello everyone, as promised here's chapter two. If you've read this story before over on TTH, you'd know by now that this has been rewritten. I wasn't happy with the original writing I did the first time. The first time I mentioned the Attack Raider prototype that Andrew had built, I wasn't really happy with how it turned out and there were other factors as well, hopefully this rewrite of it is better.
If you don't know by now I am a fan of the classic BSG series and I wanted to honour that in this way, so project Basestar, as Andrew stated, is exactly what it sounds like: Classic Cylon Basestars with Jem'Hadar and Ancient technology incorporated into the designs. I like the modern designs for the Basestars as well, but I wanted to use the originals. Don't begrudge me...
Peace