Chapter 04: State of the Union
Admiral Cutter watched as the acting senior staff, with the exception of major O'Neill who was out on patrol, filtered into the main observation lounge just off the bridge and sat down around the same table that Hudson had used only three days before.
While he wasn't exactly comfortable with an imperial officer being involved with the daily business for the ship but he trusted Hudson's judgement and understood it was required given their current situation.
"Alright let's get started." He said as he turned to face Hudson. "First, as of this date I am issuing a field promotion to commander Hudson to the rank of commodore. Once my time is up I have pre-set the computer to increase his security clearance to change from Alpha-Three to Alpha-One. This will allow him access to all the data that he will need to fully command a Macross Fleet battlefortress, including all of the classified files of a Macross Fleet admiral."
Hudson didn't look too happy to hear this, but he understood that it had to be done.
"As for how you have all handled things since the battle, I can only say that I can grateful to have such a brave and courageous crew." He paused taking a sip of water as he turned to look at sub-commander Dvorak, "and I'm sure that if Atriums was here, he would say the same, sub-commander."
Dvorak smiled slightly, although it was a sad smile brought on by the memories of her now dead commander and other ship mates from the Blood Haze.
"Now how are the repairs proceeding?"
"The reflex reactors and the sub-space drive core have been successfully reactivated, however we will only be able to travel at hyper four point nine for the moment. Without a complete level one dry dock overhaul I do not believe we can risk the ship going any faster." Said major Murdoch.
Cutter nodded at him. "Excellent major, you and your engineering teams have gone beyond the call, well done. Next, what's the situation in the local space?"
"Sir, the Lantea system and the three nearby star-systems have no real evidence of habitation," Stated ensign Campbell, who had taken over the duties of ship board operations at Hudson's request. "The very limited members of the ships science staff have managed to come up with an initial analysis of the 'stargate', as they have taken to calling the device found by one of the recon flights, along with one on the local's FTL. Those two reports have been forwarded to both you and commodore Hudson for your future review."
"Ok, defensive status?"
Hudson grunted as Welsh started to speak. "Or lack thereof. Shields are completely shot, pin-point is available for sector two Delta, basically the flight deck of armour two, we will be lucky if we can get either system back on-line without a twelve month dry-dock, as it stands we can't repair them to any real status."
"What about the structural integrity fields?" asked a very nervous Campbell.
"The SIF grids are on a separate system which, while damaged is working within acceptable parameters." Stated Murdoch as it was more of an engineering question then a tactical and security question.
"Ok, main shields and PPB's are out," Confirmed Cutter, "What about the armour, weapons, Destroid and Air wings?"
"Gottfried's came back on-line with the restoration of main power. We are basically out of torpedoes, we've maybe a dozen Korinthos missiles, Neidhart anti-battle station torpedoes and a handful of those new Trans-phasic drones. All the weapons for both the destroids and the air-wing are full but that's it for now. Given some time we could siphon off some anti-protons from the reserves to replace the used Korinthos missiles, since we would need a fleet station or a base of operations to replace the Neidhardt's and the Trans-phasic drones, but until we have an idea of how long we are going to be stuck here I would highly recommend against doing that, sir."
Cutter looked at Hudson and shared a brief look of concern. "Very well, but only once we are underway again then siphon of enough anti-protons to bring us back up to fifty percent status just to be safe."
"Aye sir. As for the armour system we should be able to fully deploy it right now, but given the damage to the outer hull, my engineering team and both major Sisko's MACO's and lieutenant Welsh's security teams suggest that we will have about sixty to seventy-five percent effectiveness."
"How soon could it be brought up to full-power?" Asked Dvorak.
Welsh shook her head. "Like I said sub-commander, without access to a dry-dock, I'd estimate a year maybe two and even then it would only be up to eighty percent at best."
"So we either need to find a safe harbour or a repair dock…" Cutter deliberately leaving the sentence open to see what these junior officers whom had been thrust into a situation that even he had no idea how to deal with it.
"The asteroid field." Said Campbell after a few moments which caused everyone in the room to look at her, which made her start to sink into her chair until she caught sight of Hudson to continue.
"Well the asteroid field in this system is loaded with enough Trinium and other key materials to rebuild the ship from scratch, plus several of them look large enough for us to, in theory at least, be able to mine out and convert into a small base and dry-dock."
Welsh smiled at the younger woman's suggestion. "Crafty, and the concept goes back to the early days of the Macross Fleet. By hollowing out one of the mid to large sized asteroids we gain a hidden base plus the field is far enough out from the planets that it would be highly unlikely that we would be spotted by any passing ships."
"Crafty indeed, ensign are you're sure you're not from Macross Fleet intelligence or something?" Asked Dvorak in a highly impressed and joking manor.
"Indeed," Stated Murdoch, trying hard not to look at the Imperial officer whom was sitting across from him. "If we are to be stranded her for any significant time frame, it would allow us the time too not only rebuild the ship but also replace our lost weapons, and if we are here for an extended time frame it would allow us to consider building a few additional support ships."
"Are you sure that's wise sir?" Asked ensign Cochrane, who had until now been totally silent. "We barely have enough crew to man the Archangel at the minute, and you are thinking about building support vessels!"
"Actually ensign, the type two SDF class battlefortress requires a minimum of 15,000 personal to operate at an acceptable level of efficiency. Given that, including our 'guests', we currently have 29,845 crew members on the ship, we could potentially field one or two smaller classes of vessels, say a Sabre tactical scout or a Charon class light assault ship, and suffer only a two percent loss in crew efficiency while expanding our own defensive abilities."
"Well that is something to consider at a later date," Stated Cutter in an attempt to get the conference back on track, "for now we will scan the asteroid field to find a suitable candidate for initial mining and later conversion into a base. For now we need to discuss the local ships and establish a set of rules relating to first contact."
"Will the SD-001 still be in effect?" Asked Welsh.
Cutter looked over at Hudson before answering. "I can't say if it should or not be applied, as I feel that it will need to be need to be discussed on a case by case basis by commodore Hudson and the rest of you. I will however state that it should be used as it was during the time of Admiral Maximilian Jenius in that it should only be used as a guide line."
Cutter watched as the others all looked over at Hudson who withered slightly under their gaze. Cutter knew that Hudson was completely un-ready and un-willing to be his new XO, as it was a big difference between a solo-command of an Izumo class mid-range battleship to solo-command of an SDF type two class battlefortress stranded in a totally different dimension.
He just hoped that he had the time left to try and prepare the young officer for the burden he would soon have to carry.
"Now let's have an overview of the local's."
Everyone turned to face the main display viewscreen at the back of the room as Welsh activated it with the analysis that she, Cochrane and major O'Neill had created.
"Most ships, which we have observed are while equal to or larger than the Great Pyramids of Giza they are extremely primitive. Energy readings from the largest are comparable to first or second generation ARMD class carriers at best."
"So they are not much of a threat to us then?" asked Dvorak.
Welsh shook her head. "Theoretically if they were able to catch us with shields, PPB's and armour down and could carry out an Alpha Strike with odds of ten to one. If we have the shields and PPB's active it would target practice at best, with the armour deployed a waste of their time at worse. Though, we have to assume that any of their military ships must rate a lot higher up the tech scale, though without a scan of any such vessels we can only make a series of educated guesses about any such craft."
"And the ship that Nemesis flight spotted?" Asked Campbell as she tried not to shiver as the video of the largest ship they had seen so far played on the screen.
"It's energy readings when it de-clocked and fired a shot that was equal to a first generation guided beam cannon, but we believe that was a low level shot as we would not use a full powered Gottfried shot in a similar situation."
"So what would you say that the upper range of its weapons could be?" Asked Cutter.
"Not good sir, it is comparable to our own Gottfried's at best."
"That's not good. So what else do we know about that ship?" Asked Dvorak.
Welsh nodded to Cochrane, to allow the young ensign to take over the briefing.
"Not much as Nemesis flight was only using their passive scanners, as per the sub-commanders orders. What we do know is that it was around the size of a Gorg Bodolzza type Nupetiet-Vergnitzs class fleet command ship and is just as well armed."
"The super visionary army?" Asked Hudson which caused everyone in the room to tense up.
"Similar sir, but different at the same time. Unfortunately we did determine two things which should have us concerned."
"Only two?" Muttered captain John 'Marauder' Andrews the commander of Phoenix Thunderbolt squadron and major O'Neill's air group executive officer.
"One, the ships main weapon appears to be identical to that of the robotic planet killer that was encountered by the ESMF Constellation just over a century ago. However if the readings were correct, then the second thing is more disturbing as both ships where crewed by humans."
There were a few gasps as the senior staff all tried to adjust and imagine humans crewing a ship the size of the Great Pyramid as everyone just stared at the screen in complete disbelief and shock.
"Great." Snarled executor Granger, who Dvorak had ordered to admit his true rank as an operative of the Imperial intelligence section. "Well isn't that just fracking great, we are in a dimension without Trojans, Zentradi, the Empire of Zodiac control but you Humans are her. Isn't this just Sanguinum Egregie!"
"So…"
"Battlestations! Battlestations set level two throughout the ship, admiral Cutter to the bridge, commander Hudson to the bridge. I say again Battlestations! Battlestations set level two throughout the ship. This is not a drill!"
Everyone scrambled out of their seats and filled out of the observation lounge, worried about the sounding of the alert and each hoping that it wasn't the ship that was spotted by Nemesis flight.
-{[]}-
Light-years away on board Earths very first and currently only interstellar capable space vessel, the united states air force X-303 Prometheus, the ships commanding officer colonel William Ronson exits a lift with the executive officer of the stargate programs flagship exploration team, SG1, major Samantha Carter while asking her a question about their next cool down location.
"So this star-system is different from others how?"
"Well sir that is what makes it so exciting." Responds Carter as the pair start walking down the corridor that leads to the ships bridge. "We don't know exactly."
"And this system just so happens to be the location of our next cool-down for the hyper-drive?"
"Yes sir, we will actually drop out on the outer edge of the system colonel. All I ask is two hours tops."
"If only to see the expression on your face first hand. The words 'kid' and 'candy store' spring to mind." Said Ronson with a smile on his face.
"I'll try to retain my composure sir." Says Carter doing her best impression of her SG1 team mate Daniel Jackson.
"Just keep in mind that our mission is to get this bird home in one piece." Says Ronson as the ships public-address system interrupts his conversation.
"Colonel Ronson, report to the bridge."
"Must be time." States Ronson as he allows Carter to pass, "After you major."
-{[]}-
"Report!" Cutter ordered as he sat down in his command chair and stared at the recently repaired main tactical screen.
"Sir, we've detected a hyperspace related event on the other side of the system." Stated the duty officer, captain Maria Hill, who was sitting at the flight operations station. "Ice Queen, Angel and Anime with Joker in an ESINT equipped 7B are moving to investigate with orders to hold at five light seconds from the event."
Cutter gave a subtle nod to the captain and turned to Hudson, who took a seat in the executive officers chair. "Good work Hill."
He turned to face lieutenant Welsh who was taking over the tactical station. "Activate the Gottfried cannons."
"Erm sir, only the main cannons are working. The ventral and ARMD cannons are still off-line, engineering reports that they should be back on-line by the end of tomorrow. I'd suggest that we move the destroids into their alcoves and bring the rest of the air wing to alert status."
"Make it so."
"I believe that I said that they should be on-line by eighteen hundred." Said Murdoch from the engineering sub-station.
Welsh pinched the bridge of her nose fighting the urge to reply.
Cutter and Hudson both shared a brief look of amusement, as Murdoch was well known to have railed up the late chief Brown with his typical Trojan completeness.
"Well one array will have to do then. Helm bring us out of orbit one quarter thrust."
"Aye sir, brake orbit one quarter trust." Said Newman from his post at the primary pilot's helm.
Slowly the fifteen hundred meter Archangel broke from orbit of the un-inhabitable dark side of Lantea Beta's sensor shadow and advanced towards the unknown contact that had just entered the system via FTL.
"Readings are starting to come in, sir."
"On screen." Ordered cutter as he took another sip of water from the canteen he had with him in the observation lounge.
The image that came in was fuzzy but it was clear that the ship was a warship.
"Sweet lord that things armed more than a Macross cannon!"
"It's length is one hundred ninety five meters, eighty meters high, and sixty-five meters high. Power readings are high but slowly dropping to similar levels to that of the other ships we've seen so far. Her crew compliment is one hundred fifty all human."
"Deploy the armour!" Ordered Hudson, causing Cutter to raise an eyebrow at the order. "Sir, if this is a typical example of the local humans military and they are this primitive then we can't let them see the ships name. I'd also recommend that we recall the C.A.P. and the drones at least until we can remove ESUN standard from all external surfaces."
Cutter nodded, it was a good idea and it would allow them to hide their true identity from the locals until they decided to become a larger part of the galactic community. "Make it so."
The unmistakable sound of the trans-phasic armour activating and covering the hull could be heard as it clunked into place.
"Sir, Angel and Anime's ESINT 7B have landed. The CAG will be landing within the next two minutes." Said Andrews from the flight operations station having relieved Hill from the post.
"Status of the unknown?" Asked Cutter.
"She's launched a small probe and is scanning the system. The probe is as primitive as the one sighted by Griffon flight and even without shields I doubt that it would be able to scan one of the Thunderbolts." Said Welsh from the tactical station.
"That ship that Nemesis flight sighted would wipe the floor with them." Muttered Campbell from the co-pilots post at the helm.
"Here's hoping that they don't know each other." Muttered Dvorak from the damage control station with Granger near-by.
Cutter coughed lightly which everyone present took as a sign to cut the chatter. "Alright people. Helm bring us towards them, but keep our acceleration below two hundred kph, even if it is really, really slow, it won't allow us to tip our hand just yet."
"Advance towards the contact, two hundred kph max, aye sir." Replied Newman.
Time crept along very slowly as the two ships inched towards each other, and although the Prometheus didn't know it but they were fast entering into a first contact situation.
"They've seen us admiral. She turning towards us very slowly." Stated Cochrane who stopped as his comm-scan console beeped to get his attention. "Incoming signal, I think."
"You think?" Asked Hudson raising an eyebrow in a fair approximation of Murdoch. "You mean that you're unsure ensign?"
"Yes sir, it would appear that the locals use a mix of tachyon particles and sub-space com-techniques, we are having a bit of trouble adapting the comm-system to accept the hybrid signal."
"Okay. Well then I think that it is time to play alien, using the forward running lights flash the first ten prime numbers. Then wait for a reply and transmit to them a standard first contact package on the on their frequency," Cutter said, "but for the love of god don't use standard use…" Started Cutter as he looked over at Hudson to answer, since he knew more about the current crew complaints make up than he did.
"Zentron sir, it'll be safe enough since all the crew can speak it if we are stuck here for any length of time, and if we need an ambassador as well."
Cutter nodded for Cochrane to do so and smiled at Hudson. The newly minted commodore was a solid tactician and strategist, and it seemed that he was beginning to apply that process to the command of an SDF class battlefortress. Now if only he could do it without fear of his Varauta heritage.
Cutter also wondered how the rest of the crew would react to him once they learnt about the commodores origins and what he had stored within hanger zeta one seven nine.
-{[]}-
"Sir, the hyper-drive engines are at maximum safe temperature." Said major Erin Grant from the navigation station just in front and to the right of colonel Ronson's command chair as both he and major Carter walked onto the bridge.
"Shut them down major Grant and begin cool down procedures."
"Yes sir. Dropping out of hyperspace and venting the drive compartment."
"Major Carter," Says Ronson as he turns to face SG1's resident scientist while the ship drops out of hyperspace. "What's our progress?"
"Well sir, we covered a little over fifty-one light-years in that last leg, and considering that the hyper-drive we're using was removed from a captured Alkesh, a ship which is one-tenth the size of this, I'd say that's actually pretty good going." Says Carter as she looks at the navigational log on her tablet, while she lunched the first of the recon drones that she, Siler and Walter had designed to explore any system that the SGC sent the Prometheus too.
"So only five more of these little pit-stops and where home." Said Ronson knowing full well that there was a small army of scientist and SGC technicians just waiting to get their hands on the ship and all the data that was in her navigational computers.
"Colonel, a bogey just appeared on our scanners. It's coming out of the sensor shadow of one of the twin planets." Stated Grant after examining the readings as they were displayed on her monitor.
"Can you identify the contact?"
"Negative sir." Said Grant as Carter moved to one of the forward scanner stations next to the view port. "It's closing on us quickly though."
"Sound general quarters!" Ordered Ronson deciding to err on the better side of curation.
All across the ship the combat klaxon sounded and the lighting dimmed as power was diverted to the defensive systems.
"Contact is now at two thousand kilometres."
"Raise shields and arm all weapons. How long until we can return to hyperspace." Asked Ronson after ordering the shields to be raised while catching sight of the ship approaching them.
"Contact is now at nine hundred kilometres and slowing down sir."
"The drive needs at minimum two hours to cool before we can even attempt another jump." Responded Carter without even needing to check the engineering displays. "If we attempt to use it before it has cooled down we run the very high risk of it overloading and destroying the ship."
"Colonel, I'm getting an unusual reading from the contact." Says the sensor operator at the station which Carter had moved next to.
"We're being scanned."
"Major Grant, activate the ship to ship communications on a wide frequency configuration, and transmit the first contact package I want to talk to them."
Nodding the major set about configuring the system for ship-to-ship communications on a wide frequency range. After about a minute or so she nodded to Ronson. "Go ahead sir."
"This is colonel William Ronson, commander of the Tau'ri battle cruiser Prometheus, please respond." Stated Ronson. "If you can hear me, we have sent you a data package containing peaceful greeting from the people of Earth."
"Contact is now at four hundred kilometres and holding sir."
"Sir visual sensors are showing a bright green light coming from the unknown ship sir." Stated Carter as she looked over the shoulder of the sensor technician. "It's the first ten prime numbers I think?"
"Well it's a response of sorts." Says Ronson as he released the small breath that he hadn't even realised that he had been holding. "Okay. It looks like they have received our message and data packet but might need some time to translate it into their language, so they have used the universal language in an attempt to open up a dialogue."
"Sir, we have an incoming signal." Reports Grant as she listens to the response from the unknown ship and looking at the communications screen in front of her. "They have transmitted a data packet of their own on the same frequency we used, it looks like our own first contact packet but I don't understand a word of it."
"Forward it to the language department and get them to work on it." Ordered Ronson as he looked out the viewport at the alien ship.
They had made first contact with another space faring species, and unlike the Goa'uld, this one had all the appearances of starting off on the right foot, and maybe they had found someone who was willing to help them to fight against the Goa'uld.
Now all they had to do was wait for one ship or the other to translate the others first contact package, that however could take hours and they still had to carry out the survey and search for the lost city that they were ordered to do whenever they had to drop-out of hyperspace to allow the hyper drive to cool down again.
Although due to the fact that they had yet to detect any signs of naquadah in the system so far it seemed very unlikely that the Ancients would build a city and not place a stargate for the to travel around the galaxy, but it might be a good place for an off-world base if they could get a gate to one of the planets in the system.
That is if these new comers didn't have a previous claim to the system that is, thought Ronson.
-{[]}-
"Commodore Hudson sir, long-range scans have detected something entering the system."
Hudson cursed slightly under his breath, why was it that something was always picked up on the long-range scanners whenever he was drinking his raktajino. Slowly he turned to face the MACO non-comm who was currently manning the main comm-scan station on the bridge.
"What kind of 'thing' corporal?"
The corporal shook his head. "I don't know sir. It appears that the scanner are having a hard time locking it down but it's big, I'd say it's about the size of a Thurvel-Salan class battleship, but due to the stealth field its putting out and the distance are making it tricky to detect, although it is closing but it is still well outside the sensor range for the Prometheus at present."
Hudson placed his cup of the high powered Zentron coffee down and activated the small view screen built into his chair and scrutinized the very limited sensor data they had on the battleship sized contact. It looked slightly smaller than the Thurvel-Salan class and wouldn't pose much of a threat, but the fact that it was attempting to remain undiscovered set it as an automatic threat and a concern. "Alright keep an eye on it."
"Understood sir. Designating the contact as bogey one and setting it as a level two threat at this time."
Hudson turned back to look at the Prometheus, it had launched a few more of their low powered recon drones, though what they were searching for eluded him, and even Cochrane's limited science team where stumped, but they had suggested that they were looking for the strange element used to power their hyper-drive and the stargate in any system which was unclaimed and showed potential for colonization or mining.
Several of the senior staff had suggested to Cutter and Hudson that they lay claim to the Lantean system since it had almost everything they needed, and it seemed to be unused by the local races of this galaxy.
Cutter had smiled and just said that it was up to commodore Hudson to make this decision and that he would only act as an advisor from now on.
The admiral had taken the sad news of his impending death gracefully and was grateful for the chance to be able to put as much of his personal affairs in order as possible and assist the newly minted commodore with his transition to the command of the Archangel, especially if they ended up being trapped in this universe for any great amount of time.
"Any response from the Prometheus?" Hudson asked as he stretched in the command chair.
"Negative sir. If I had to take a wild guess I'd bet that they are having a fair amount of trouble with Zentron." Hudson couldn't see sergeant Forge at the communication's station face, but he could tell from her voice the she was smiling. Since Zentron and Meltron were both a grammatical nightmare with six basic tense.
"I fell their pain. Well let's give them another two hours or so then send them a very basic message in standard text only saying that we've broken their language keys."
Hudson turned as he heard the entrance hatch opened to allow the delta shift access to the bridge being led by sub-commander Dvorak.
"I am here to relieve you." She said as she saluted Hudson as though she was still on board an Imperial cruiser.
Hudson stood up from the command chair before returning the salute, much to the confusion of the bridge crew and his own amusement. "I stand relieved sub-commander."
Dvorak smiled, thankful that he and some of the more senior staff where trying to help her and the rest of the survivors from the Blood Haze to adjust to Macross Fleet approaches, by allowing them to keep at least some of their own rules and traditions.
Hudson picked up his cup of raktajino and walked with the other bridge crew from gamma shift, and arrived at the hatch with the non-coms who had manned the tactical and flight operations stations.
"Why did you do that sir." Asked Forge.
"It's a long story Sasha. I'll tell you over a drink in the little white dragon."
"Aye sir." Hudson turned to face gunnery sergeant Sasha Forge, one of the MACO detachment that had been transferred over to ships security, when he noticed that Dvorak was walking over to the helms co-pilots station.
"Ensign Campbell, could I talk to you in private please."
Hudson never heard what the answer was as the hatch closed. "Deculture!" he muttered to himself, now worrying about just what they were going to share with each other. "This is not going to end well at all."
-{[]}-
Ronson looked at the display screen off to the left of his command chair on the bridge of the Prometheus, which was displaying an image of a standard Goa'uld Ha'tak next to that of the unknown ship once again. Neither ship had moved so much as an inch in the five hours since the initial contact, and some of the crew were starting to get a little nervous.
While the alien ship was by all appearances could with stand the Goa'uld inspired plasma cannons mounted to the Prometheus, the intermittent energy readings and the ease with which it carried out even the simplest of course corrections to match the Prometheus was a sign that it would be able to run rings around the Earth built starship.
"How are the techs coming?" Asked Ronson as he took a sip of his coffee, while looking over to the senior master sergeant Ambrose was who shook her head.
"Not good, they report that they are having real trouble and have actively been heard wishing that doctor Jackson was here. It would appear that these people use at least three basic grammatical tenses possibly even five."
"Five?" Muttered captain Jennings from a post at the plot table. "That's more than the Goa'uld use. This could take weeks to decode, even if doctor Jackson was here, why can't everyone do this the correct way."
Ronson looked at his executive officer, once again wondering how a man like that had made it through the SGC psych screening with his earth centric views were worrying and reminded him of that rouge element that had tried to discredit the SGC a few years ago, which was Ronson was seriously considering stepping down and taking that posting at Area 51 when they returned to Earth.
"We have however discovered that they use an atmosphere almost identical to ours." Said Ambrose, in an attempt to placate her superior officer. "Eighty one point nine percent oxygen, fourteen point eight five percent CO 2, I believe that it would be possible to visit their ship once we have sorted out the small problem of the language barriers."
"I'd bet that it stinks worse than the sewers under New York over there." Muttered Jennings as he walked away from the plot table towards the engineering station on the bridge.
"Well, while we are sitting here, our small recon probes have been carrying out the scans of this system." Ronson said as he moved to the science station to be joined by major Carter.
"The twin planets have both suffered an extinction level event at some time within the last one hundred million years, yet the contaminate matter within the their atmospheres would indicate that they should be suitable for colonization within the next ten thousand years or so, wouldn't you agree master sergeant?"
"Yes ma'am, maybe sooner if we were to use a dome like structure." Answered Ambrose. "There are a significant number of indicators for useful minerals in the system, so a future mining effort by the SGC might be worth undertaking, but the lack of a stargate might make it an unlikely venture at this time." She paused as she turned to face both Ronson and Carter. "However, if this is the edge of their space, it might make sense to harvest a stargate from another system and place it here and share the custody of it with this race, it would be a way for the SGC to, potentially, have open access to their culture and technology markets."
Ronson smiled, glad to see that at least some of his crew were still open to learning from the other races in the galaxy. He turned as the hatch opened and a small group of crew entered the bridge, "Shift change, alright alpha shift are to hand over their posts. All senior officers are to get some food and sleep, that includes you major." He said looking at Carter. "But stay prepared as we are still in a first contact situation."
As one all of the bridge crew, officers and NCO's alike, including major Carter, moved towards the hatchway, all that is except captain Jennings, glade that their shift was over.
As the hatch way sealed again Jennings walked over to the lieutenant who was now manning the defence and primary sensor station. "Franks, do you think that you might be able to get a clear scan of that other ship to get us a more detailed scan of the interior?" he asked quietly.
Lieutenant Franks look over the readings then tried unsuccessfully to hide a small smile. "I believe it could be done, if we focused all of the sensors onto a small section of their hull while firing the main gun at that same spot. Where that close that we wouldn't even need to use the targeting systems."
Jennings nodded and leaned into whisper quietly, so that none of the other crew could over hear him. "You should make it look like a 'malfunction', you know how 'uneducated' major Carter and the colonel are about other races."
"Understood."
