Ace In The Hole
Chapter 34
"Independence?" Sheppard can not believe what he is hearing even though Richard Woolsey has now said the same thing three times already.
"When the program is made public it will be hard enough justifying the expense involved in protecting Earth... bank rolling a war in another galaxy will be impossible to sell to the general public" Woolsey says calmly.
"So it all comes down to money... stuff the people in Pegasus... we have the knowledge and technology now so why waste tax payers dollars" Lorne says gruffly looking annoyed.
"On the contrary Colonel... Earth will still be playing a part here its just you will be expected to pay for that service... on paper that is" Woolsey smirks his best lawyers smirk.
"Paying for it?" Teyla asks hesitantly.
"Earth will come to an agreement with you to lease the second city ship from you once it is repaired, Atlantis or should I say Nautilus will supply Earth with weapons and such and in return Earth will provide fleet assistance until Atlantis has its own fleet of ships capable of taking over" Woolsey explains.
"But Earth is providing us with the raw materials that Nautilus is using to build those weapons in the first place" Sheppard says with a frown.
"True, but like I have explained this is all a big paper shuffle to make things cleaner and more pallet-able for the public upon disclosure... it was actually Dr Jackson's idea" Woolsey says.
"So just like that we are cut loose?" Sheppard's eyes are like saucers.
"Pretty much... Atlantis is probably the safest it has ever been... the remaining 7 Ancient weapons platforms coupled with the soon to be deployed Guardian network will mean you shouldn't ever have to worry about a head on attack from the Wraith" Woolsey says making to stand "Everything now hinges on getting that second city ship operational... I am counting on you Colonel" Woolsey smirks at Sheppard has he stands to leave "Or is that President Sheppard now?" Woolsey chuckles has he heads out leaving everyone speechless.
"Honey... I'm home" McKaye says with a huge grin has he steps through the stargate six weeks after Woolsey's bombshell cradling a fully charged ZPM in his arms like it were a new born baby.
"It's good to have you back Rodney" Teyla smiles warmly, but she is nudged playfully out of the way by Jennifer as she rushes forward takes the ZPM off him before handing it quickly to Ronon then throwing her arms around her husband.
"Don't ever do that again!"
"Hey... I only left 10 minutes ago" Rodney says whilst surreptitiously sliding his hand further and further down Jennifers back towards her bottom.
"Rodney I love you but if you pinch my ass in public I will..."
"Rodney..." Zalenka comes forward with a smile.
"Hey Radek... here to give me the Nobel?" McKaye gloats causing the Czech to roll his eyes
"How did it go?"
"Not as exciting as you would think... you push the button... there's is a loud rumble and a spark of light and poof ZPM is cooked and ready to go" McKaye almost looks bored. "Hey... where's Sheppard?"
"A lot has happened while you have been gone"
"What? he and Lorne trying for a daughter now?" Rodney grins whilst walking up towards the control room.
"I'm gone three months and when I get back everything's different?" Rodney and Jennifer are standing in the doorway of what is now Sheppard's office opposite the control room hand in hand.
"Rodney... its good to have you back safely... Sorry I wasn't there to meet you I have so much paperwork to get through"
"Doesn't Lorne do that for you?" Rodney grins causing Sheppard to smile an open honest beaming smile.
"Yeh the military kind but... Not this... stuff..." Sheppard sighs and waves his hand over the mountain of paperwork in front of him.
"So is it Colonel or President?" McKaye says jokingly as he plonks himself down on the sofa by the wall pulling Jennifer down on to his lap.
"It's Colonel for now but..."
"You don't sound to sure about that?"
"It's just..." Rodney looks at Sheppard waiting patiently for once for him too spit it out. "When we were part of Earth, I was fine being in charge but now... I feel like Castro or Gadaffi"
"You feel like a crack pot dictator?" McKaye frowns.
"Isn't that what it makes me... without a form of elected government doesn't It make me a dictator?" Sheppard sighs
"Please tell me you haven't spent weeks worrying about that" Rodney rolls his eyes "Look... John we are at war... and by we I mean ever last human in this galaxy... you have to think of it as... your our general... our Obi Wan... it ain't perfect but at the moment its what we need if we are going to beat the Wraith"
With a burst of energy the stargate activates, within seconds of the wormhole forming Lorne and his team step through and immediately begin a sweep of the area as the gate shuts down. Satisfied that there is no one near by they relax and take in the surroundings, the gate is in a small clearing in a dense forest.
"Those trees have been planted like that deliberately" Alex says pointing to their relative closeness.
"I'm guessing the Wraith wouldn't be able to get a dart through safely" Lorne says guessing correctly.
"Galdora was always full of clever folk" Alex chuckles
"Galdora?" Reed looks at Alex frowning
"The Galdoran's had just started to trade with the Lantians just before the start of the war, spices, cloth that kind of stuff... they were quite smart... for humans" Alex grins causing both Tim and Jake to laugh.
"Well the malp indicated a settlement 3 clicks east so lets go" Lorne starts heading off down the trail towards the East, with Reed by his side alert as ever.
"Relax Jake you are making me jumpy" Lorne chuckles.
"Sorry sir... I just feel like we are being watched" a few paces behind Coughlin turns to Alex
"So how's the excavation of the second city going?"
"Good... we are over half way done, the new ZPM has been installed and her Renatus drones have begun making repairs"
"Enough to get her up and running?"
"In time... with only one functional ZPM only a fraction of drones can be brought online... once we have more power it shouldn't take long to get her up and running"
"Cool... what's is she name anyway?"
"You don't wanna know" Lorne pipes up sounding amused.
"Her name in your language means Blinding Star... however in Lantian its pronounced Chitsonia" Evan starts laughing.
"Shit Sonia?" Jake asks looking over his shoulder at Alex.
"See... told you" Lorne grins glancing back briefly
"Yes I know she will have to be renamed" Alex glares "you were right... happy?" Lorne just nods smiling as they plod on.
An hour later the trees begin to thin out as the trail winds out across open fields of cultivated farmland towards a village in the distance.
"There are people working in the fields over there" Jake points to a small group tending to the crops to the right.
"Lets just head to the village" Lorne says heading off.
They realise that the village is more like a small town by the time they finally reach it, a huge heavy stone wall almost six foot high surrounds it and clearly stretches out both left and right as the trail leads to a huge set of heavy steel gates.
"Do we knock?"
A small door in the gate swings open and a young woman around mid twenties steps out to greet them "I am Lulara welcome to Galdora"
"Hello, It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am... I'm Evan Lorne and these are..."
"May I ask what brings you here?" Lulara says abruptly gaining Evans attention "Sorry I did not mean to seem rude it's just we sometimes get raiders..."
"I can assure you we are not raiders ma'am... we have come to get to know your people...open relations... possibly trade" Evan says honestly.
"Where are you from?" She asks curiously.
"Atlantis"
"Then you are from Earth" Lulara smiles relaxing completely.
"I'm sorry how could you?" Evan looks slightly dumbfounded.
"Because my husband is from Earth" She turns around and steps through the small gate and instantly the larger main gates swing open "Please follow me I will take you to him he is most likely in the town hall" She smiles and heads off at a quick pace leaving Evan and his team trailing behind in stunned silence.
The town is made up of stone and timber buildings the streets are paved with flat cobble stones and Evan notices the presence of what looks like a sewer system, they walk up a small hill lined either side with two story buildings, then turn right passing a small market area and busy Inn before they begin walking down hill curving to the right, people smile warmly offering pleasant greetings before they continue on their business. After less than ten minutes they find themselves in a large open square in front of a large official looking building people are sitting outside café's lining either side of the square and Evan smiles as he notices one particular café on the left its sign catching his eye instantly a blue oval with white writing spelling the owners name out boldly.
"Lulara?"
"Yes?"
"Do you own that Café" Evan points to a busy establishment across from them.
"My husband and I... yes" she frowns not knowing how he had guessed but the sharp intake of breath from Jake had meant he had caught on as well.
"I don't get it?" Coughlin says looking confused.
"You own a Focus you telling me you don't recognise that badge" Reed points to the blue and white ford badge hanging outside the café.
"Ford... you mean as in... Oh boy!"
Less than an hour later a Jumper is landing in the middle of the courtyard with a crowd of onlookers watching on in wonder, no soon as the ramp as lowered Sheppard comes bolting out and throws his arms around Aiden picking him up and spinning him around and around. Teyla and Lorne laugh out loud as they watch but the towns folk merely look on in mild amusement.
Sheppard finally lets go to take a good look at his former XO before grinning wildly, then slapping him around the head playfully.
"You idiot!... why the hell didn't you let us know where you were?... that you were alive?" Sheppard is scowling at Aiden's grin.
"I tried... a few times but couldn't get a lock"
"We had to move" Sheppard shrugs.
"Figured as much... its good to see everyone's OK" Aiden holds his hand out to Lulara who is holding a young girl in her arms "This is my wife Lulara and our daughter Lucy" Aiden takes the three year old into his arms from his wife with a warm loving smile "Lu this... is Sheppard" The little girls eyes go wide.
"Hey there" Sheppard says but it just causes her eyes to go even wider "What?... am I the bogey man or something"
Aiden just grins when Lucy reaches out to touch Sheppard timidly "Daddy... he's really real" she says a big grin forming on her face.
"I told you so... didn't I sweetie" Lucy reaches out to Sheppard with a determined look that clearly says hold me, to his right Evan and Teyla start laughing again.
"All the children of Galdora are taught not to fear the Wraith Colonel" Lulara says grabbing his attention with a smile and its only then when he glances at her that he realises that all the children in the whole town are staring at him with the same look of wonder and reverence "They are taught that it is the Wraith who are afraid... afraid on the one called Sheppard"