Chapter.3: - The New Divide
"At my signal, unleash hell."
Excerpt from Gladiator.
Athosian System
The Battle
"Wraith fighters, bearing one three seven, mark four! They've broken through the Sixteenth's aft flank. They're taking heavy damage!" A warrior said as he saw the sensor data coming in on one of the displays on the bridge. "Three Wraith cruisers, bearing one five seven, mark six! They're…"
"THOOM!"
Tural'talak; Romat'iklan's Tactical Officer was cut off as a shot from an enemy cruiser hit the attack ships port Nacelle. The Jem'Hadar First had ordered repair teams to begin bringing the ships weapons systems back online as they hung back while their fellow warriors fought on. It was… humiliating not being able to fight the enemy while all around you, your brothers, your… family were laying down their lives doing their duty.
"THOOM! THOOM!"
Romat'iklan's ship rocked again under the glancing impacts of Wraith weapons fire; as his crew worked diligently to get the ship back into the fight. The Wraith certainly weren't making it easy for them. "HULL BREACH, DECK THREE! WARP CORE AND HYPERDRIVE OFFLINE! WEAPONS ARE GONE!"
'Damn it.' The warrior now knew that their situation had gotten even direr as the fight for the system drew on. With no weapons left and their means of escape damaged, the First saw that he had no other choice. "IMPULSE?!"
The First's Helmsman answered. "SIR, IMPULSE STILL ONLINE!"
"THOOM!"
Mollified by that at least as his ship was rocked by enemy fire again, Romat'iklan ordered his Helmsman to set course for the enemy. "HELM, COME ABOUT! BEARING ONE FIVE SEVEN MARK ZERO THREE NINE, FULL IMPULSE!"
The Helmsman, stoic in his duty and in the knowledge of what his Commanding officer intended, inputted the commands into his console and immediately as the impulse engines flared and the ship turned on its axis moved towards its inevitable destination, the First turned to the Communications Officer. "Patch in internal communications."
"Yes, Sir." The young Officer of two years of age replied.
As he went about obeying his commander's order, Romat'iklan turned his gaze to all of the officers on the bridge. "I am proud to have served with you all."
"Comms. open, Sir." The Communications Officer said.
Romat'iklan turned towards him and nodded, taking a brief moment to compose himself. "Attention all hand's! Brace for impact…" Looking at the Helmsman, Romat'iklan issued his final order. "… GIVE ME RAMMING SPEED!"
"YES, SIR!" Replied the Helm Officer as he inputted the commands on his console. Romat'iklan grabbed onto the nearest console next to him as he waited for the inevitable.
Burning husks and fiery debris of what were once powerful attack ships, fighters and cruisers filled the void of space within the Athosian system as Romat'iklan's ship moved towards it targets with one final purpose. As the last remnants of the Jem'Hadar and Wraith fleets continued to destroy each other for control of the system; the three Wraith cruisers that had been targeting the lead vessel of the Fourth attack group moved to intercept the Jem'Hadar ship. They fired their weapons, attempting to destroy the vessel that they knew was intending to ram one of their ships and yet, each shot they fired had either missed or glanced against the hull of the vessel. They poured on their firing as their sensors showed the attack ship was trying to avoid their weapons while speeding ever closer.
"Distance to target?" Romat'iklan asked as he saw the Wraith cruisers trying to blast his ship through his head mounted display unit, he grinned at the futility of their action even as a few of their shots had hit.
"Distance… three hundred kilometres, Sir!" The Helm Officer replied as he monitored his navigational sensors. Like everyone else on board the ship, he too accepted what was about to occur.
"THOOM!"
Another hit. And still they sped on. The Helmsman spoke as the burning vessel neared the enemy that they were only two hundred and fifty kilometres from their target even as the Wraith ships were trying to move away from them. "Two hundred kilometres to target…"
"THOOM! THOOM! THOOM!"
Another hit and the ship rocked under the impact. On the bridge, panels and conduits exploded, the Tactical and Communications Officers were killed when their consoles blew, the force of the explosions throwing them back forcefully that they landed in twisted heaps. It was evident that their necks had been broken from the impacts. Romat'iklan was sent flying towards the Helm, he caught the console barely as he righted himself and stood.
The Helmsman looked towards his Commander and told him that they were a hundred kilometres away from the enemy, and then fifty, then twenty until…
"Collision in five….Four….Three….Two…." Replied the Helm Officer, as he read out the information on his Sensor display.
Romat'Iklan crowed out before the end. "VICTORY IS LI – – –"
Romat'iklan's attack ship collided with the lead Wraith cruiser in a massive explosion, their lives given in the defence of Athos and its inhabitants.
The two accompanying cruisers had tried to move out of way of the explosion, but even they were too late. The resulting explosion was big enough to catch them as well. The cruisers were sent spiralling out of control as their engines were damaged in the explosion and their hulls were caught fire. Hull breaches in various sections had exposed the crews to hard vacuum. The damage done was extensive and there wasn't enough time to seal the emergency bulkheads in time and within five seconds, all Wraith on board both vessels had perished.
Tritana Prime
Jem'Hadar Pegasus Defence Force Command and Control
Same Time
Xander had been watching the on – going battle for the last twenty minutes as the status of the battle had been relayed to the Tritana C&C via the subspace beacons within the system. He had seen the entire battle play out as his forces and the Wraith engaged each other for the second time in the Athosian System. When he saw the signal for Romat'iklan's attack ship indicate that the First had set a collision course towards three enemy cruisers, he knew what the First's plan was.
Kamikaze. Needless to say, the former human did not approve of the tactic, but he knew that Romat'iklan's ship must've been heavily damaged to fight back or retreat. It was a matter of contention to him; from his memories of the Jem'Hadar warrior he had become on Halloween eight years ago, he knew that all Jem'Hadar were bred with a religious fervour towards the Founders.
The genetically engineered warriors of the Dominion had been created to believe and fight thinking that the Changelings were indeed gods, and were taught to achieve victory for the Founders by any means necessary.
It was when they had begun creating and training their army that Xander and the others had talked about what they had remembered about their Jem'Hadar personas. The four knew that their personas would've done everything necessary for their… god's to achieve victory. And that included kamikaze runs.
Xander remembered Romat'iklan; he had fought with him at the battle for the Hoffan sector when his Battleship and Romat'iklan's attack ship had joined to take on a Hive ship. The warrior's actions at the battle had shown him to be a capable warrior and afterwards, when the battle was over, Xander had met and rewarded Romat'iklan for his actions during the battle by promoting him to First and giving him command of the Fourth attack group.
And now, he was gone and Xander mourned the loss of another warrior.
The Jem'Hadar were outnumbered almost three to one when the reinforcements had arrived and while they had been putting up a good fight, there were just too many Wraith ships and Xander didn't want to watch any more of his ships being destroyed and his soldiers being killed.
Nine attack ships were now nothing more than pieces of debris as their subspace signals winked out of existence and the remains of Jem'Hadar craft drifted through space and once again Xander had more reason to hate the Wraith than he already did. Watching the battle as it continued, he saw that the Wraith were pushing his forces towards Athos; wracking his brain for a possible answer as to why they would be doing that, the former human could only think of one thing that the Wraith wanted apart from reclaiming their… livestock and territory and that was the listening post.
He and the others knew that if the Wraith had ever captured one of their listening posts then they could break and trace the encrypted subspace carrier signal frequency they use to relay their Intel all the way back to Tritana.
And that would be all kinds of bad.
Then again, he wondered, did the Wraith actually know that there was a listening post on Athos? Was the reason for… no! He quickly clamped down on that train of thought, the absurdity of the notion making itself known to him. The Wraith had committed over two hundred ships to the battle in the system the first time. He and his forces had prior warning that there was a Wraith fleet heading towards the Athosian sector when the listening post had intercepted Wraith subspace communications two days previously and after the destruction of over fifty – nine percent of the enemy ships, including the two Hives and the majority of their cruisers during the battle they had retreated.
Xander knew from his ingrained knowledge and instincts from the Jem'Hadar persona he had become on Halloween eight years ago; a First called Ikat'ika; a soldier who ran an Dominion Internment Camp in the Gamma Quadrant that the Wraith weren't done with that system yet.
Xander could remember that night when the spell changed him and his friends into four soldiers of the Dominion, who suddenly found themselves on twentieth century Earth. He closed his eyes and shuddered. That night had not been fun. Neither had the aftermath.
His concentration on what happened years ago was suddenly broken when his Second spoke. "Commander, enemy ships have pushed our forces toward the planet."
Xander looked up at the display and glared hatefully at the display. His ships had all but been destroyed and only a few remained that were still valiantly fighting, but he knew a lost cause now when he saw one. Damned fucking Wraith… Athos was lost. "Order all remaining ships to retreat. They are to head to Tritana to regroup and undergo repairs!"
"Yes, Sir!" Tulak'tar replied; the Second went about relaying the order to the Starships at Athos, but he couldn't get through, the Wraith jamming field as it blanketed the entire system. Xander was becoming angry as he saw the remainder of his forces being destroyed.
He rounded on the Second. "WELL!?"
"I cannot raise the ships at Athos, Commander! The Wraith are jamming communications with a rotating EM pulse….I can't get through." Tulak'tar said sombrely.
'Fuck!' Xander thought. Tulak'tar watched as First Harris grimaced as he turned back towards the display, Xander's body was shaking with rage as he watched the final Jem'Hadar signal winked out on the display. He wanted to scream. He wanted to rage at them. Xander wanted to tear them apart and visit upon this enemy he has been fighting for the last eight years all the hate that they had bred inside of him and burn them all.
And on the many lives lost today at the hands of the Wraith, Xander promised that he would make them pay. He promised that he would unleash hell.
Tulak'tar spoke when the display saw what the Wraith was doing next. "Commander, the Wraith…"
Xander raised his hand to silence the officer; he knew what he was going to be told.
Athosian Settlement
Same Time
Halling had led the Atlantis team into the settlement and had made for one of the main tents; he turned towards Sumner and the others and gestured to them to wait a moment as the tall man called out. "It is Halling. I bring men from away."
He said as a woman's voice called out from inside the tent. "Enter."
He walked in and held the flap aside so that Col. Sumner and the others could enter. The woman who spoke stood and turned to look at them, she knew that there was something odd about them as she looked at their uniforms and weapons. She knew they were soldiers, but she didn't recognise their design or the strange looking emblems on their clothing. Halling had whispered in her ear and had told her thee strangers wished to trade and as she looked towards Shepherd, who had an easy going look about him, Teyla was intrigued by him.
"I am Teyla Emmagan, daughter of Tagan." She said as she nodded her head slightly.
"Colonel Marshall Sumner, Major Shepherd and Lieutenant Ford. We have…" Sumner trailed off as everyone in the tent suddenly heard screaming coming from outside as everyone heard a shrilling noise building up, it put everyone on alert. Teyla and Halling startled, as did the soldiers. The rest of the Athosian's inside the tent all startled and scrambled up and out of the tent running as suddenly there was a flash of light outside followed by an explosion and then more screaming followed by gunfire.
"What the hell?!" Sumner and the others ran outside and watched as three unknown craft with pointed tips flew over the settlement overhead firing on the settlement; it was chaos, it was pandemonium everywhere as weapons fire from the unknown craft rained down upon the Athosian's. Impacting the ground were there was a couple of people that were sent flying from the impact of numerous volleys, Shepherd, Ford and Sumner raced over to check on them and luckily enough they were alive, stunned but alive.
"FORD, GET THESE PEOPLE OUT OF HERE! SHEPHERD YOU'RE WITH ME!" Sumner shouted as Ford took charge of the stunned villagers and helped them stand and ran off into the forest; more Atlantis soldiers were running up to Shepherd and Sumner's position as more and more of the unknown craft appeared overhead.
Sumner's radio activated. "COLONEL SUMNER, THIS IS PARKER! THE STARGATE'S JUST ACTIVATED! WE'VE GOT UNKNOWN CRAFT COMING THROUGH! COLONEL?! COLONEL SUMNER?! RESPOND! THREE BANDITS HEADED YOUR WAY! COLONEL SUMNER – –"
Sumner watched as a couple of the craft flew overhead of a group of Athosian's that were running away from them, the Wraith fighter emitted it's culling beam as it neared the runners and when it was overhead, the villagers were overrun by the beam and disappeared. The Wraith fighter drew ever closer to Sumner and Shepherd's position, its beam still activated and as it was almost upon them they were pushed to the side by Teyla and the beam sailed past them.
"WHAT ARE THEY!?" Shepherd had shouted at Teyla, she looked at him as they all stood and began running towards a group of Atlantis soldiers that had begun firing on the unknown enemy craft.
"THEY ARE WRAITH! WE MUST GET AWAY FROM HERE!" Teyla led them past the soldiers that were firing on the approaching Wraith fighters; she glanced back and watched as the Atlantis soldiers fought to save her people and themselves.
A fighter had activated its culling beam and was nearing the soldiers firing position, they kept firing as it neared, but they could tell that their weapons weren't having much of an effect and just as the beam was almost upon them, there was a rustling sound coming from the trees near the soldiers and she stopped and drew Sumner's and Shepherd's attention.
"COLONEL, MAJOR! LOOK."
The two stopped and turned as one, they saw six shimmering alien figures appear out of the treeline and take up a firing position beside the Atlantis soldiers. Sumner and Shepherd both startled and raised their weapons at them, initially thinking that these were the Wraith that Teyla was talking about, but before the two soldiers took action to protect their people, the unknown warriors opened fire at the Wraith fighters.
Teyla looked on as the soldiers' weapons opened fire; they were just like they were described to her by their trading partners, tall with grey skinned features and wearing black and dark greying uniforms. She knew that these were them. She watched as their weapons had hit and damaged the fighter more effectively than the Atlantis soldiers P90's did, the fighter's culling beam ventral emitter was hit by one of the alien weapons making it cut out after a few well – placed shots.
The Dart flew overhead trailing smoke and fire as the weapons fire from the Jem'Hadar polaron rifles and the Atlantis soldiers P90's continued pelting the fighter until its exhaust was hit and the Dart exploded raining down debris over a nearby area.
Teyla was amazed; these were the beings that had been waging war against the Wraith and had been saving the humans of this Galaxy. These were the beings that had been making her hope.
The Atlantis soldiers turned and looked at the unknown aliens that had joined them firing on the enemy fighter. One of the soldiers, Sergeant Bates jumped back and raised his weapon at one of the aliens. Sumner, Teyla and Shepherd ran back towards the two groups before something even worse happened.
"IDENTIFY YOURSELVES!" Bates shouted at the alien soldier, the soldier turned towards Bates his weapon pointed at Bates which made him flinch slightly but the soldier held his nerve and tightened his grip on his weapon.
"Lower your weapon, human. We mean you no harm." The warrior said as he slowly replied with Bates' order, however Bates didn't reciprocate. As he still held his weapon towards the unknown warrior, Sumner spoke.
"Bates, lower your weapon." Bates registered his CO's order yet he still held P90 up at the warrior, thinking that the alien was a threat to him and the Atlantis team while everything around them went to hell in a hand basket.
Sumner ordered Bates again. "Bates, lower your weapon. That's an order, Sergeant!"
Sumner's order finally registered and begrudgingly he lowered the weapon as the Colonel turned his gaze to the warriors. The Colonel made a gesture to himself and then to Shepherd as he addressed the being. "I am Colonel Marshall Sumner, United States Marine Corps. Major Shepherd, Air Force. Earth. Who are you?"
The alien turned to look at Sumner; he assumed that the rank of Colonel was higher than the rank he had called Bates. "I am Third Omak'arai, Squad Commander, Second Platoon, Jem'Hadar Defence Force. What are you doing here on this planet?"
Sumner was about to answer when a Dart had made their position and began firing on them, realising that now was not the time for talking, Jem'Hadar and human alike made a run for it while a few of the Atlantis soldiers and Jem'Hadar provided covering fire. They all ran for the treeline, using the forest as cover from the alien looking Dart fighters; Shepherd saw Jinto and Wex cowering near a tree when they approached. "Major Shepherd!"
"Jinto, Where's your Father?"
The Boy looked saddened and Shepherd understood that something bad had happened.
Teyla spoke. "Jinto, was he taken?"
The Boys were crying now as Halling's son nodded; Teyla looked saddened by the news but she asked them if they had seen anyone else taken. They had told her that her friend Toran was taken with Halling and a few others but she quickly resolved herself.
"We cannot stay here. We must hurry, the Wraith are after us more than they are here for the Humans." Jinto and Wex startled when they heard Omak'arai talking, they had looked up at him and they were scared at having never seen anything like him before. He looked towards Teyla and Major Shepherd, but they reassured the boys that they meant no harm to them. "We have a Base of Operations in the old city, it is well defended. Come."
Omak'arai and the rest of the Jem'Hadar took the lead while Teyla looked shocked at the news that the aliens were in the old city. The Athosian's had firmly believed that the Wraith would come if anyone had ever gone there; evidently, it appeared that their belief was true after all.
Sumner and Shepherd looked at the rest of the Atlantis soldiers as they followed the Jem'Hadar, not yet trusting the aliens but giving them the benefit of the doubt for now, they followed taking the boys with them.
"Sir, should we follow them? Shouldn't we try to contact Atlantis?" Bates asked as he approached Sumner. He didn't trust the aliens and he showed his distrust which Sumner had picked up on, and while Sumner wasn't sure of them either, he decided to err on the side of caution considering their current circumstances. He looked up as he saw three more Darts flying overhead firing their weapons and activating their culling beams.
"It looks like we don't have a choice, Sergeant. We need answers and they have them. As for Atlantis, we'll have to wait until the Gate closes and we can dial." Bates nodded as he and the rest of the soldiers followed them, the Col. turned to Shepherd.
"Shepherd, radio Smitty and Parker. Tell them to head for the treelines; we'll meet up as we head to the city these Jem'Hadar are talking about."
"Yes, Sir." Shepherd replied as he followed Sumner's order.
Omak'arai waited for the Colonel as he approached the alien. "Colonel, we must go now. Our Base isn't far but I do not want to be out here for long while the Wraith are attacking."
Sumner nodded and he gestured for Omak'Arai to lead on, the alien briskly nodded and led him off in the direction his warriors had gone.
They had quickly caught up with the others, Shepherd told Sumner that he had radioed Parker and Smitty, but couldn't get a response and he looked grim from the news. Just what had they stepped into here? Sumner asked himself as he and the others walked on.
Fifteen minutes had passed as they kept walking on towards the old city, the Jem'Hadar still in the lead followed by Shepherd, Sumner and Teyla and the two boys while Bates and the rest took up the rear. The Darts were still overhead firing and culling the Athosian's. Teyla was saddened as her people were being taken, wanting to fight and save them, but she also wanted to know who these Jem'Hadar were and if they would help her save her people.
"We're almost there now, just a few more metres." Said Omak'Arai as he addressed Teyla and the others, she looked at him and noticed as he looked at her back, a questioning look in his eyes as he watched the woman, but Teyla turned away and focused on walking.
Eventually they had reached a large clearing and the city lay beyond, the Darts were flying overhead in what appeared to be a search pattern for something, Sumner and Shepherd noticed this and realised that the Wraith might be searching for stragglers or this base the Jem'Hadar mentioned.
Suddenly, Bates fired his P90, garnering the attention of the others, he looked spooked and transfixed as he frantically looked behind him.
"Bates!" Shouted Sumner as he, Omak'Arai and Teyla ran towards him.
"They're everywhere, Sir!" Teyla and Omak'Arai realised what was happening now as the Sergeant fired his weapon once more. Omak'Arai and Teyla approach the Sergeant; the Jem'Hadar forces the P90 out of Bates' hands, making the Atlantis soldiers raise their weapons at him.
"They are not there, Human. The Wraith can make you see things that are not there. Firing your weapon will alert them to our position."
Teyla looked at him and nodded. "Omak'arai is telling the truth. Do not trust your eyes."
The Jem'Hadar hands the P90 back to Bates and turns back towards Sumner. "Tell your men, not to fire. The Wraith…"
He was cut off as everyone heard the shrilling sound of Darts approaching; Sumner and Omak'arai looked up and saw five Darts heading their way. "… MOVE!" He shouted as he and the others raced from the forest and ran to the city. Omak'Arai reached for his communicator on his belt.
"This is Third Omak'Arai, Second Platoon. Wraith fighters approaching! Arm planetary defence batteries and raise the city shield. I am bringing in survivors from the human encampment." Without waiting for a response, Omak'arai placed his communicator back into the pouch he got it from and kept running, the five Darts had gotten closer and were firing on them now; Sumner had ordered Shepherd to get Teyla and the boys to the city while he and the rest provided defensive fire. They were about to open fire at the Darts when a bright light from one of the towers of the city had lit up in the distance and fired a large pulse of energy at the Darts.
The pulse shot straight for a Dart and hit, making the craft explode, the remaining Darts broke off their run towards the humans and quickly regrouped, but this time they headed towards the city defence batteries now as they opened fire targeting them.
"KEEP MOVING!" Sumner shouted as he and the rest caught up with Shepherd and the others however one of the Darts broke off and made another run at the humans and Jem'Hadar with its culling beam activated. The Dart flew as fast it could, dodging the weapons batteries fire as it neared the running group. Shepherd and Teyla looked back as they saw the Dart getting nearer and nearer.
"COLONEL!" Shepherd shouted as he stopped and turned, he saw the Dart fly overhead and cull Bates and the Atlantis soldiers and some of the Jem'Hadar. Sumner pushed Omak'arai out of the way of the beam causing the warrior to fall off to side and be missed by the beam, but Shepherd and the others watched as Sumner was taken. The Dart then flew off, not wanting to be destroyed while it carried its precious cargo back to the Gate. The other Darts had been destroyed by the batteries, but they had caught the attention of the rest of the Wraith fleet in orbit and everyone watched as three Wraith cruisers descended into the Atmosphere.
"COLONEL SUMNER, MAJOR SHEPHERD, THIS IS LIEUTENANT FORD, COME IN! COLONEL? MAJOR? RESPOND!"
"FORD, WHERE ARE YOU?!" Shepherd spoke into his radio as Omak'arai and Teyla approached him.
"Major, I managed to meet up with a few Athosian survivors. We're headed to the Gate. It's too hot here, Sir, recommend we dial Atlantis and head back." Ford replied.
Shepherd looked back at the descending cruisers; they had started firing upon the city shield. The defence batteries returned fire as more and more cruisers descended and added their fire to the others, there was even weapons fire coming directly from space and Omak'arai knew that the shield couldn't withstand that type of punishment for long. Unlike the Ancient shield of Atlantis, the city shield systems in the old city was too heavily damaged from the Ancients war with the Wraith ten thousand years ago and it couldn't be repaired along with most of the Ancient systems there.
The Jem'Hadar had used their technology to supplement the damaged systems and had installed a Jem'Hadar defence shield for protection. It was strong enough to provide moderate protection from weapons fire, but it couldn't withstand the punishment it was under for long. "Major, I agree with your Lieutenant. They must leave."
Shepherd looked at him before he responded. "Ford…"
"Major, there's a Bandit approaching the Gate. It's activating!" Shepherd took a chance that that Dart was the one that had taken Sumner and the others. His mind made up, he told Ford to let the Dart through and to take note of the Gate address. He had then told Ford that Sumner and Bates were taken by the Wraith.
Teyla, Jinto and Wex watched as the city shield began sputtering and fading, Omak'arai knew that it wouldn't hold for long. "You need to go now; the shield isn't going to hold much longer."
"What about you?" Teyla asked the warrior; Omak'Arai looked at her and spoke.
"We are evacuating the base then destroying it. This was a listening post for our forces in the sector. There is classified intelligence here that the Wraith must not acquire."
Teyla spoke again. The news that these Jem'Hadar having been here on Athos for so long without them knowing had perplexed her mind. "How long have you been here? We would have noticed if you arrived using the Ring of the Ancestors."
Omak'Arai told her. "We didn't come through the ring. We have been here for seven years. Your people's superstition that the Wraith would come if they ever ventured to the city allowed us to set up our base here without you finding out about us. It was our protection as well as yours until now."
Shepherd picked up on the implication Omak'arai was getting at. "You have a spaceship nearby, don't you?" Omak'Arai nodded.
Ford's voice spoke Shepherd's radio again. "Major Shepherd, Bandit's gone through the Gate, it's deactivated."
"Did you get the address?" He asked as he held his Radio.
"Yes, Sir."
"Then dial Atlantis and tell them we're coming in."
"Yes, Sir." Ford's voice cut off over the radio as the Lieutenant complied the Major's order. Shepherd turned back to the shield and saw that it had finally collapsed. Omak'arai was barking orders into his communicator, Shepherd heard him telling whoever he was speaking to delete their system files and to implement the 'Incursion Protocols.'
"You must go now." The Jem'Hadar stated as he looked back at Shepherd and the Athosian's. "You have to get them to safety."
Shepherd nodded as he looked back towards them, he glanced up at the cruisers as they kept firing at the city, many of the spires and towers had been destroyed and most of the buildings had been reduced to rubble, Wex and Jinto held onto Teyla as they watched the destruction of the old city, the last bastion of Ancient knowledge on Athos was soon to be no more.
There were more Wraith Darts flying overhead as the cruisers continued their assault, Shepherd turned to Omak'arai. "We won't make it with those fighters in the air. Can you help us get back to the Stargate?"
Omak'arai looked at Shepherd and after a brief moment he nodded. He activated his communicator and contacted the ship they had nearby the old city.
"This is Third Omak'arai of the Second Platoon. Lock on to the four human life signs near my position and beam them to the Stargate's co – ordinates. Then beam me aboard. Athos has been taken by the enemy." He spoke.
"Acknowledged. Standby." A voice replied through Omak'arai's radio.
Shepherd and Teyla thanked him as they and the two boys soon disappeared from sight a second later. Shepherd had a look of disbelief on his face as he felt himself being transported away; Teyla, Jinto and Wex had similar looks on their faces before they too disappeared. Omak'arai watched as the humans disappeared and then he too was transported aboard the attack ship the Jem'Hadar had hidden away inside an underground docking bay.
He appeared inside the attack ships transporter room and spoke to one of the warriors there. "Have the Incursion Protocols been implemented?"
"Yes, Sir." Omak'arai nodded as he stepped off the transporter pad; he exited the room and made his way to the bridge. Soon, the attack ship took off from the underground bay and shot into the sky avoiding weapons fire from the Wraith cruisers and Darts. The crew aboard the ship saw the debris of the attack ships that had valiantly defended the system.
Soon after having escaped from the Wraith ships they had entered Hyperspace and left the sector on course to Tritana.
Athos
Stargate Plateau
A Second Later
As Ford had finished dialling the Gate, Shepherd, Teyla and the two boys had reappeared just near the dialling device. Ford turned at the sound of Shepherds voice calling out to him. "Ford, report."
"Major, I've just sent through our IDC and radioed Atlantis. I sent the Athosian's through first. I was waiting for you. How'd…"
Shepherd cut him off as Teyla and the boys ran up to the Gate. "I'll tell you later, we need to go now."
As he finished, there was a huge explosion just gone off in the distance illuminating the night sky in an orange and yellow hue of colour. A big mushroom cloud quickly rose up and spread out across the sky; suddenly the ground had started to shake and cracks formed on the plateau, many more explosions went off as more and more clouds rose up. Shepherd and Ford couldn't take the chance.
"GET THROUGH THE GATE!" Teyla and the boys ran through first followed by Ford, Shepherd watched and waited until they were gone. He held onto the Stargate a moment as the ground around the DHD cracked and collapsed taking the device with it. The ground shook more and more and Shepherd found it difficult to keep his balance. Not wanting to take any chances, he dove through the Gate with one thing on his mind.
He knew that whatever was happening to the planet was the cause of the Jem'Hadar. Probably the last step of their 'Incursion Protocols'. He just didn't think that they would go as far as blowing up the planet.
Atlantis
Gate Room
Seconds Later
"Raise the Shield!" Dr. Weir's voice called out as she saw the diving figure of Major Shepherd come through the Gate.
Shepherd landed hard on the floor and groaned before he quickly stood and shouted. "CLOSE THE GATE, NOW!"
"Do it!" Elizabeth ordered.
The Gate shook as the vortex glowed brightly for a brief moment, Shepherd feared that the destruction of the planet was being translated through the Stargate, but luckily enough Grodin had shut down the Gate before the potential damage could over power the Gates Shield.
"Major Shepherd, who are all these people?" Weir's voice cuts through his disorientation, the Major notices the base is shaking and that Teyla and the other Athosian's are huddled around each other and holding each other for support.
"Survivors from the settlement we were at. We were attacked. Sumner and some of our men were taken, along with a few others. What's going on?" He asked as he made his way over to Jinto and Teyla and quickly asked if they were alright.
They quickly nodded at him and he turned back towards Weir. "Major, we are in no condition to help anyone right now."
"What the hell is going on here?" Shepherd asked her.
"We are about to abandon the city." He looked at her as the shaking in Atlantis had gotten worse.
"Well going back there is not an option."
"Why not?" Weir asked him.
"Because Dr. there isn't anything to go back to. Athos has been destroyed."
Author's Note: -
Surprise! I was trying to post Chapter two up on the site before and I couldn't sign in, so I decided to rewrite chapter three and correct some grammar on it and voila, another chapter posted. Enjoy. By the by, I should've mentioned this in the last post, but Tritana Prime is my OC. There was no planet in Atlantis by that name. TTFN
Peace