Ace In The Hole

Chapter 6

As the stations blast doors finally slide open all six men stand there eyes wide and jaws hanging at what they see… a wall of drones floor to ceiling high in there hexagonal honeycomb containers packed so tightly that every inch of space beyond the door looks full… Rodney was the first to speak.

"Oh god!... I mean…. I hoped….prayed we were right…. with our luck you never know…. but…. Holy shit!" Sheppard immediately tap's his radio once he has snapped out of his daze.

"Sheppard to Woolsey"

"Go ahead Colonel… I hope you have good news?"

"Oh you could say that…. We've managed to get the station's system unlocked and we are facing a solid wall of drones" Sheppard hears a cheer go up over the radio "McKaye is going to take the platforms dampening field off line so that you can begin beaming the Drones up to Atlantis and the new gate and personnel down"

"Ok please let us know when you are ready … Oh and Colonel we have managed to contact New Athos…. Teyla and Ronon will be gateing into you as soon as you get the gate down there online"

"Copy that…. Nautilus base out" Sheppard grins as McKaye offers him a scowl.

"Nautilus? Are you serious?" Rodney hates that Sheppard always picks the names of everything they find, even though this time he secretly agrees with this one he's never gonna give Sheppard the satisfaction of knowing that. "Ok I've lowered the stations dampening field we should be good to go"

"Sheppard to Atlantis, we have lowered the field can you lock on to our location now?"

"Copy that sir, we have a lock" Chucks voice comes over the radio.

"Then let's get this started"

The first thing Sheppard had requested on their return to Earth was that Atlantis be fitted with the Asgard beaming technology, he had seen time and time again how the technology had been instrumental in saving lives and he knew that it would make their lives a little safer, as Rodney and his team had installed each emitter they soon discovered something they had not expected, because the cities sensors were far more powerful than those on board Earths battle cruisers it was soon realised that the Wraith would not be able to jam the city from beaming things onto their ship's.

Sheppard had been over the moon initially but the discovery had meant that the IOA had another reason to delay Atlantis's return they wished to examine the cities sensors in detail, this had been the last straw for Teyla and Ronon and they had left a few days later feeling Earth was abandoning their home.

Less than an hour later ninety percent of the Drones had been beamed up to Atlantis, the new Nautilus gate had been beamed down into an appropriate room and installed, its gate shield was now tied into the station and a temporary DHD had been put together made from a damaged jumpers DHD, a team of twelve scientists led by Dr Zelenka and twelve marines led by Captain Cadman and all their supplies had been beamed down they had begun making the place their home away from home for the next 60 days.

"Captain… I want you to check this place top to bottom and help Radek get it ready I have a feeling this could be one of our most important bases…. Keep it safe!"

"I will sir…. There is going to be no way we loose this place on my watch" Laura offers Sheppard a grin she knows he has a sense of humour and is not your regular uptight CO, Sheppard is just about to come back at her with something witty when the newly installed Nautilus gate starts dialling in.

The new Nautilus gate room is small the gate is fixed to the wall at the far end of the room, a temporary walk way as been fitted so that anyone stepping though will not stumble as most gates are imbedded 2 feet into the floor to provide a flat rather than curved entrance and exit. Looking out from the gate there is a small door on the right at the end of the room leading on to the corridor and station beyond but on the left towards the end of the room there is a ten foot deep by twelve foot wide recessed section that is to be the stations gate control area.

"Raising shield" Rodney states as Sheppard and Cadman enter the room, "Its Teyla's IDC"

"Let them in" Sheppard can't help but grin as Teyla, Ronon Kanaan and Torren step through the gate, he let's out a slow long breathe of air as he realises that his team is whole once more, Teyla immediately walks up to John and places her hands on his shoulders gently bowing her head to meet his.

"Welcome home Colonel" She smiles sweetly to her friend and steps back as Ronon grabs him in a bear hug, Ronon sighs as he feels Sheppard laugh rather than hears him.

"Missed you too chewie" Sheppard smiles at his team mates as Rodney offers a wave from the corner control room then continues working.

"Hey little guy… how you doing" John smiles at the toddler who is holding onto his father warily.

"Come on Torren say hello" Kanaan smile warmly to his son.

"He's gone all shy" Sheppard grins as the toddler smiles shyly.

"So… Mr Woolsey says you have a lot to tell us about this place Colonel… but he was rather cryptic…" Teyla smiles warmly.

"Oh…. this place…. I'm sure you all recognise it… well it maybe as important as Atlantis herself" Sheppard smiles "Rodney I'm sure will fill you in later on the details … but lets just give you an idea what I'm talking about" Sheppard leads them out the new gate room up a level and into a storage room, sitting in their hexagonal storage units are rows and rows of drones.

Sheppard can't hide his amusement as he sees the look on their collective faces "This is about ten percent of what we found the rest are on Atlantis"

"How?...When Mr Woolsey contacted us he said you had only arrived an hour earlier" Teyla was frowning questioningly.

"Easy…. Sheppard to Atlantis… we need a lift" Teyla's frown turns to a smile as she feels the warm embrace of the Asgard transporter and in an instant she's home.

Two hours later McKaye as returned to the city and Atlantis is preparing to head off to its new home on PX31-7AJ open a channel to Nautilus please.

"Channel open…" Chuck smiles as Captain Cadman and Dr Zelenka's image appears on the screen.

"Captain… Doctor I hope you have everything you need… we will be out of contact until we reach 7AJ and calibrate the gate"

"I have reactivated the stations dampening field making us undetectable…. life support is at 100 percent…. the stations desalinisation system is already producing fresh water and we have ample food supplies…" Radek reels off trying to assure Mr Woolsey.

"And the gate is online and secure" Cadman adds with a smile.

"Good luck …. We will be in touch as soon as possible Atlantis out"

Woolsey can't help stare at the blank screen, they had been in the Pegasus galaxy less than five hours and in that time they had secured and populated their first off world base in this galaxy.

"Woolsey to Sheppard…. Colonel…take us to our new home" Sheppard was already in the control chair waiting for the order and as soon as it came through he wasted no time jumping the city to hyper space.

As he sat in the chair not really thinking about anything important he wondered what his team were up to and instantly he saw an image of them in the mess hall, Ronon was in the corner of the room holding hands with Amelia he knew they had both been upset when Ronon had decided to return to Pegasus with Teyla but she had accepted and agreed with his reasoning and had loved him a little more for his loyalty to his home galaxy, Rodney, Teyla, Jennifer, Carson and Lorne were all sat around a table in the middle of the room they were all happy and smiling and he could tell by Lorne's animated motions he was telling them one of his numerous funny tales.

As he watched his friends through Atlantis he felt the city gently caress his mind he had long ago accepted that he might never meet someone of his own, he had never been close to his family his mom had died when he was young and his dad well… that was not worth thinking about… he had never understood his own inability to open up and let people in contrary to what Rodney might imply he was no Kirk that was for sure… Kirk was all confidence and attitude, where he felt lost, confused and unsure…. His mind starts to wonder once more and he begins to relax and listen to the gentle rhythm of the city as she gently reassures him that he is not alone.

In the mess hall Carson and Rodney excuse themselves leaving Teyla, Jennifer and Lorne to catch up, the three have become good close friends over the past few years and Teyla had known from the first moment she had seen him that Evan was upset.

"Evan… you spoil our son you do realise?" Teyla smiles warmly as Torren goes scooting past in a child's battery powered 4x4 truck with Kanaan following two steps behind apologising to everyone he has bumped into and trying to help his son steer around the room.

"Come on Teyla, Its just a birthday present besides it's not like I'm gonna be able to spoil a kid of my own" Lorne smiles warmly.

"How is Jason?" Teyla asks knowing full well from warning look she has just received from Jennifer what the answer is going to be.

"We split up…" Evan's smile falters a little "He couldn't handle the months apart any longer and I….. well I couldn't just walk away from Atlantis"

"I am sorry Evan… you will find happiness soon I am sure of it"

"Yeh… well never mind…. Least I have someone around to distract me" Evan wiggles his eye brows at Kanaan who has sat down next to his wife letting Jennifer take over watching Torren for a few minutes.

"Evan I have told you before if you wish to take me to bed you must wine and dine me first" Kanaan grins playfully.

"Oh please stop teasing me… you know what I would give to get you in the sack?" Evan flushes honestly, Teyla laughs gently at her friend and husbands playful banter, the athosians like most cultures in Pegasus have no hang ups regarding a persons sexuality to them its part of what makes them alive and under the constant threat of the Wraith all life and its experiences are precious, she could never understand her friends hang ups… when Evan had finally come out to Teyla she realised there and then the risk he had taken in telling her.

"Tell you what Evan… wine and dine me and you can you're your wicked way with me..." Kanaan smiles warmly "So long as my wife agrees" Kanaan's smile changes to a smirk…. Teyla turns lovingly to her husband and with a tender smile says,

"I must admit… I am tempted to say yes…. just too see you squirm" Kanaan stops smirking instantly and both Lorne and Teyla burst out laughing.

"Not funny guys…." Kanaan grins as he goes to relieve Jennifer who returns to sit next to Evan.

"What I miss? What's so funny?"

"Just my husband trying to wind Evan up as usual" Teyla smiles.

"I'm still gonna have my wicked way with him one of these days…." Evan smirks.

"Dream on" Teyla and Jennifer say together, all three burst out laughing once more when they see Kanaan glance over and blush deeply knowing they are still talking about him.

"Oh….. Deep breaths Ev… Sol's here" All three glance up as Colonel Sheppard enters the room.

"You know I almost called him that last week in a meeting.… its not funny Jen" Evan frowns.

"Sol?...what have I missed?... do I wish to know?" Teyla grins.

"Sol …. Sex on Legs.…" Jen chuckles at Lorne's obvious embarrassment, she knows full well he as been besotted with Colonel Sheppard for the past six years.

"Oh god…. please don't let him come over…. It's been weeks since I had any action…. I'll get excited if he so much as smiles at me" Evan whines as he watches Sheppard gather a plate of food and glance around the room.

"I can not believe you have not told him…. He would probably take it as a compliment like Kanaan" Teyla can't help defend John she knows he is open minded and would never be anything but supportive to his friends.

"He's my CO…. even though the rules have changed…. I'm not ready…. its just hard Teyla" Evan sighs.

"No…. not hard…. might be in a bit though…." Jen smirks as she nods to show Sheppard's approaching.

"Hey guys… everyone ok?" Sheppard asks with a friendly but slightly awkward smile.

"Of course… Torren is enjoying his new toy that Evan as brought him" Teyla nods in the direction of Torren and Kanaan.

"Cool …. I'm guessing she thinks that you spoil him to much?" Sheppard smiles warmly at Evan.

"Yep" … Evan breathes deeply smiling at his CO.

"What?"… Sheppard senses he's missing something as Teyla, Lorne and Jennifer exchange a quick knowing glance between each other then all three burst out laughing again, slowly Sheppard reaches over and smells the contents of Lorne's glass.

"Just checking…"

Thirty minutes later Sheppard enters Rodney's lab after a rather strange and confusing lunch he knows people are excited and nervous hey who wouldn't be when they are thundering through the stars in an alien city sized spaceship but he senses that there is something he is missing. He knows that his XO is close to Teyla and Jennifer and he is still trying to figure that one out, but he also seems equally at ease with Kanaan the whole thing is a puzzle to him.

Sighing as he enters the lab Rodney looks up from his laptop,

"About time… I'll make this quick promise…. Take a look at this…." Rodney points to a schematic on his laptop excitedly.

"What am I looking at?"

"That is a control interface unit for the Atlantis control chair… or more specifically it's a drone control interface"

"And?... you are showing me this because?" John sighs.

"Because of this… you idiot" A few tap's of the keypad and a much more recognisable schematic of a Daedalus class battle cruiser appears, the forward front section where the ships vertical missile bays are become high lighted "I thought we might wanna reconfigure these so they could carry drones I figure we could fit between 100 to 120 drones into the space one of our missiles take that's 2400 to 2880 per ship"

"You're kidding?" Sheppard knows he should know better but he never thought this would even be an option.

"If I can get the interface working that is… and by if you know I really mean when I get it working….." Rodney trails off with a smile.

"If you can… the SGC will defiantly put them on all 304's … our missiles are too easily taken down before they can hit anything"

"Yes well… I have also gone over the materials we are going to need mostly heavier stuff like Naquadah and Trinium… it will be tough…. at the moment all Earths off world resources are going on building more 302 and 304's…. but I'm guessing they will divert what we need once we start shipping them drones by the dozen" Rodney can't help grin as Sheppard nods in agreement.

"Any way much as I enjoy your scintillating company I gotta go relieve Dr Kusanagi I said I was only grabbing lunch… she hates sitting in the chair" Sheppard rolls his eyes how anyone could not like sitting in the Atlantis chair was beyond him.

"Oh…. That reminds me….. 7AJ?"

"What about it?" Sheppard asks with a slight frown.

"Why did you pick it?... I know I signed off on it an all its just…. I mean…. I re-read up on it in the data base and to be honest…. not a lot there…. not that there usually is but still?"

"Not sure ….just kinda came to me I guess" Sheppard replies rubbing his hand through his hair trying to remember as he leaves the room.