Ace In The Hole
Chapter 36
"Colonel Sheppard"
"Yes Colonel" Sheppard spins around with a smile then proceeds to slap his own forehead in frustration "Sorry Commander... that is going to take a bit of getting used to" Sheppard grin is matched by Grainger's
"Tell me about it" Grainger chuckles.
"What can I do for you?"
"I just wanted to let you know that we are set to head out in one hour from now..." Grainger smiles seeing Sheppard's shocked expression.
"Is it the 25th already?" Sheppard frowns wondering how he had lost those two weeks of his life without realising.
"All ships are ready and eager to go"
"Then I guess all I can say is good hunting... Commander" Grainger turns to walk away before Sheppard clicks his fingers drawing his attention... "Oh and commander... remember you're in Pegasus...please greet them accordingly" Sheppard grins and watches Grainger's frown become a smile as he understands Sheppard's unsaid request before he turns and heads off in the opposite direction.
[Control room to Colonel Sheppard] Sheppard sighs, when did he become a desk man he wonders to himself.
"Sheppard here"
[Sir... the Savarias delegation as arrived]
"That is the last of them right?"
[Yes Sir] Sheppard knows there's a forced smile on Chucks face, he knows like everyone that this is not the kind of role he had envisioned for himself.
"I'm on my way... oh and Chuck"
[Yes sir?]
"The fleet will be headed out in one hour... don't bother to disturb the meeting they have their orders" Sheppard sighs and heads for the main outpost tower meeting room.
"John is starting to hate his job" Lorne sighs taking a seat on the terrace outside the mess hall opposite Jennifer.
"Since when have you started calling him John?" Jen grins.
"Since I stopped getting paid by the US military..." Lorne grins back.
"They are still paying you Evan" Jennifer rolls her eyes at him then smiles at Teyla and Kanaan as they sit down beside them, "Hey guys"
"Should you not be in the big meeting?" Evan asks Teyla before she has time to say hello.
"No... Halling will represent our people... he is both wise and fair minded a good spokesman for the Athosians" Teyla says a hint of annoyance filtering through in her voice.
"The others believe Teyla is too close to your people to be completely objective" Kanaan says whilst smiling at her sympathetically.
"Too close?... are we not all on the same side?" Jen asks a frown forming on her brow.
"Our people merely wish to insure their voice is heard..." he explains taking Teyla's hand.
"As you say I am not bothered... Halling is a good leader"
"Not as good as you though" Evan smiles.
"No Alex today?... I thought you and he were inseparable of late..." Jen asks with a smirk.
"No... he's dumped me for a hot date" Evan smirks glancing at the ceiling and is almost sure he sees the lights flicker in annoyance "He's headed out with Dr Cairns on the Adaris... just in case"
"They are still proceeding with the operation then?" Kanaan says his voice thick with excitement and dread at the same time.
"Yep... the Wraith fleet is headed to P348 JP9 there's over thirty thousand people there... they are sure the ships are ready this time" Evan grins.
"Let us all hope so... for everyone's sake" Teyla says with a sigh.
"The Wraith fleet is exiting hyperspace directly ahead Commander" Lt. Wells says glancing up.
"Open a channel... lets make this official" Grainger grins at the young officer sat next to him.
"Channel open Sir"
"This is Commander Dominic Grainger of the Lantian Starship Adaris to the approaching Wraith fleet... this system is under our protection... leave immediately or we will be forced to engage your ships" Grainger grins once more at the Lieutenant on his left but it is the major to his right that grabs his attention.
"They are charging weapons sir" the major glances at the screen in front of him before "They've opened fire"
"Rail guns to defensive fire only... take us directly at the lead hive"
The Adaris' main engines roar into life speeding the 304 forward towards the monstrous hive ship, bolts of blue energy begin raining down upon the relatively small vessel in a futile attempt to slow its approach.
Inside the ship there is an unusual calm, the thud of weapons fire barely audible inside the ZPM infused almost city class shields now protecting them.
[Marks to Grainger]
"Yes Commander?"
[Are you going to return fire any time today Sir?] Grainger chuckles at the Lt. Commander's question.
"Just getting into range... if we want to send a signal to the Wraith... might as well make sure they hear it loud and clear Jason... Adaris out"
"Sir we are in range of the lead hive" The lieutenant raises his eyebrow expectantly.
"Then by all means Lieutenant... target the hive with the energy lance"
"Target locked"
"Fire"
A beam of raw energy comes streaking out of the Adaris prow turret cutting the hive in half instantly, for a couple of seconds the two halves of the ship hang in space almost as if they were frozen in time but the momentary pause is abruptly ended when the hive explodes completely, blasting debris into the surrounding Wraith fleet.
Dozens of darts and two cruisers are consumed in the hives fiery death and the remaining fleet begin to move further apart whilst continuing in vain to halt the Adaris' approach.
"Fire main batteries... take out the cruisers... don't wait for the order... helm put us on course for the next hive"
Blue beams of hot plasma begin to streak out and start to eviscerate any cruisers that are brave or fool enough to come into range as the Adaris turns sharply and accelerates once more towards the next hive.
"Darts have begun making suicide runs at our shields Sir"
"How are they holding up?"
"Shields holding steady at 97%" The major looks at Grainger the beginnings of a smile tugging at his lips.
"Don't get to over confident Simon..." the major nods and glances at the display again.
"You are right sir... its dropped to 96% should we call in the cavalry?" He dead pans to Grainger causing Lt Wells to laugh.
"No... but things are about to get interesting... 'Bridge to Engineering'"
[Go ahead...]
"Doc... Broken Wing is a go... But I'm warning you... wreak my ship again and I will not be happy David!... Grainger out"
Down in engineering Dr. David Cairns gulps nervously and nods to the Lieutenant accompanying him.
"Initiating power loss program alpha..." Alex says smiling at the scientist encouragingly.
Suddenly the ship is rocked by the vibrations of numerous explosions as the shield grid begins to struggle and adapt to the sudden loss of power.
"They sound like they are hitting the hull" Cairns says nervously, but Alex just continues to smile reassuringly.
"The shields are dialled back to the level they used to be before... its surprising how quickly you forget" Alex taps on the console bringing up a schematic of the shield system. "See... nothing is hitting the ship yet..."
"Under this amount of fire it won't be..." before he has time to continue the console beside him beeps.
"Cairns to Bridge"
[Go ahead Doc]
"It's worked... they have called in their reinforcements... Cairns out"
To the crew of the Adaris it seemed like an eternity, the shield grid had been pushed to the point of utter collapse and had almost failed three times already, the crew just managing too get them back online before taking any serious damage, they had weaved in and out of cruisers looping as close as possible to the hull of the two remaining hives in a vain attempt to limit their arcs of fire in a seemingly desperate endeavour to survive long enough to get the hyperdrive back online, the Wraith had been so determined to over power the Lantian vessel that they hadn't realised it had all been a ploy.
As they bulk of the Wraith re-enforcement fleet drops out of hyperspace the Adaris instead of running turns sharply to face them head on.
"Grainger to Cairns...David... you had better be right about this"
[Dom... have a little faith will you]
"Sir main power back online... Attero field is operating at 100%... the Wraith fleet is now trapped here with us" The major nods.
Outside the Adaris' shields flare brilliantly as the full power of the ZPM is once more restored to them as the huge Wraith fleet approach unawares.
"Grainger to attack fleet... break and attack!"
Suddenly four of the Wraith hives are torn in half as the four remaining 304's de-cloak and eviscerate them with single shots from their lances, the Wraith fleet begins to break apart as it desperately tries to face the new attackers but within minutes what had seemed like a guaranteed victory has become a deadly trap.
Cruisers try desperately to flee from the battle into hyperspace only to find they are unable to engage their drives, realising that escape is impossible their basic instincts to attack kick in... soon the very same cruisers so intent on fleeing only moments ago begin to charge head on suicidally into the Earth vessels mimicking the darts deadly yet futile tactics.
"Crazy bastards..."
"No sir that is what you call crazy" The lieutenant points to the hive approaching them at break neck speed ahead but slightly above the plain of battle.
"You don't think?" Grainger looks at the hive and then the lieutenant who just shrugs.
"Lets show these fuckers their time is up... Major... I want that hive gone!" Grainger points to the fast approaching hive that is intent on ramming his ship.
"Aye sir!" the major nods.
Two missile bay doors open on the Adaris' spine and waves of drones come racing out towards the approaching hive, the glowing squid like devices tear through the hive looping around in a tight arc before plunging back into its hull its speed begins to drop off as the hull explodes in flames.
On the opposite side of the battle the Odyssey and Arc Royal are playing tag team as they move through the Wraith fleet as one ship moves forward the other takes out any targets threatening its companion vessel, cruisers and darts are soon wiped out of existence as the ships all come in closer, tightening the net.
Like a pod of dolphins corralling a school of fish into a ball the wraith fleet gets smaller and smaller tighter and tighter any ship trying to bolt out is quickly destroyed until soon only a single cruiser remains.
"Channel open"
"Wraith cruiser... we are standing down... please pass on the following message to all Wraith" Dom grins "Your domination of this galaxy is at an end!"
The five 304's break off their attack abruptly swinging around into formation before jumping to hyperspace. On board the Wraith cruiser the bulk of the crew breath a sigh of relief, A lone drone leaves his station to hand the subordinate a message.
"What is it?" the commander hisses
"We picked up a transmission... very faint" he fears his masters wrath but hands the message to him nervously "It could be another trap"
"Or they have become sloppy in their over confidence..." the commander paces deciding the best course of action "We will report to the nearest queen... but send a scout ship to check the location... if it is a trap... no matter"
"And if it is the location of Atlantis?"
"We will shall devour them once and for all!"