"Okay, Doctor, what do you have for me?" Robbie asked after he stepped into the Asgard Core Room on the Aurora an hour after the ship first exited hyperspace over the planet below. The planet had no designation on any star chart or gate address database on the ships computer. And there was still no contact with Alayne. The only good thing – in actuality it was something that bordered on good news – was that there were no signs of any debris in orbit. The engine trails from the Sparrow Alayne was piloting only showed it heading towards the planet and then the trails just vanished. After passing through the outermost layer of the atmosphere.

Unable to do anything else other than to wait for the results from Dr. Fitzpatrick's scans of the energy field around the planet, all Robbie remained on the Bridge and updated both Homeworld Command and the SGC on the issue at hand. Both General O'Neill and Landry were on the screen on the port side of the bridge at the same time as they listened to what Robbie was telling them about the scans so far. After hearing everything - from the suspicion that the field around the planet involved the Furlings to losing any and all contact with Alayne despite no debris in orbit – they were notified of the fact that the sensors could not pierce through the field to scan the surface and determine if there was civilization down there.

By the time Robbie was done speaking with the two Generals, and after he had asked them to hold off telling his uncle that Alayne was missing, he was asked by Dr. Fitzgerald to meet him in the Core Room. After receiving that message, Robbie took off in a run after telling the officer at the Helm that she had the bridge. After running through the corridors, Robbie finally reached the Core Room and then walked in through the open entryway and towards the waist high circular pedestal in the middle of the room. The Core itself was installed to his left - the console and the Asgard symbols glowing white - while three other scientists in the room were manning other stations which were analysing the scans on the energy field.

Robbie turned his head back towards the pedestal and stared at the holographic representation of the planet with a pale orange layer around the hologram. He then turned his head towards Fitzgerald who was pointing at the pale orange layer as he said, "scans show that this Furling energy field covers the entire planet, but there is no way to know how deep it goes." Robbie was in disbelief as he stared at the orange layer before his eyes shifted towards the look of consternation on Fitzgerald's face. The scientist met his eyes and said, "our scans can't penetrate the field. It could extend all the way to the surface, or it could extend to the troposphere or the stratosphere."

"There's no way to know," Robbie whispered with worry. Fitzgerald nodded his head.

Robbie stared at the hologram while multiple questions swam in his mind. The primary worry he had was if the field posed a danger to the Sparrow Alayne had been flying. He also needed to know why the field was preventing the Aurora's sensors and scanners from peeking through and down to the surface. And that brought up another question, was there civilization on the surface?

For now though, Alayne's situation was paramount, "could the field have done anything to Captain Collins' Sparrow?"

"From what we can surmise based on sensor readings, the field doubles as a power disrupter. So it could have disabled her space-craft, Colonel," Fitzgerald said as he pointed at the outer edge of the exosphere, "she would have been dropping like a stone since the field would have deactivated all systems on the sparrow." Robbie's heart was racing as his eyes shifted from the orange glow around the planet while imagining Alayne's sparrow falling straight down towards the surface.

"So if the field goes down all the way to the surface..." Robbie asked before gulping, "then it's likely she wouldn't have been able to..." Robbie shook his head to clear the thought that Alayne, who he knew wouldn't give up trying to survive no matter what, would have crashed with her plane. No, that was a silly thought. "She would be able to eject and then drop safely to the surface. But the Sparrow could have crashed."

"Yes," Fitzgerald said, "the ejection system still uses old school methods, so it would not be affected by the field." He then crossed his arms over his chest and told Robbie, "and there is also the possibility that the field extends halfway or three quarters into the atmosphere."

Robbie's eyes turned to the hologram of the planet before saying, "even if main power couldn't be restored, all Sparrows have emergency power systems. So once she's out of the field, it is highly likely those would have kicked in."

Fitzgerald nodded his head. It was an act that Robbie noticed in the brightly lit room.

Robbie suddenly felt as if some weight – not all of it – was lifted off his shoulders. And he would feel much better if he had some kind of confirmation that his cousin was alive. But hearing the scientist across from him confirm that the Sparrows emergency systems could have reactivated gave him some hope. His thought that Alayne could have ejected in the worst case scenario doubled that feeling of hopefulness.

"Are you absolutely sure there's nothing we can do to scan the surface and find out if she's alive?" Robbie asked.

Fitzgerald then explained, "we can't scan the surface and it looks as if our communications are being blocked." He then continued while Robbie looked at the hologram, "it's possible that the field could prevent outgoing communications and scans from the Sparrow."

Robbie then nodded his head as he stared at the hologram before saying, "the Sparrow's sensors would have detected us." He then turned towards the scientist and continued, "and even if she could detect us, are you saying she couldn't fly through the field from the surface?"

"I'd think that her Sparrow would lose power again and start dropping back towards the surface, Colonel."

'Or she may not even have access to the Sparrow if it crashed,' Robbie thought to himself, 'and the field may have deactivated her radios.'

"Bloody hell," Robbie said running his hand through his black hair, "so taking the Aurora in atmosphere….?"

Robbie hoped for a different answer but he got the one he was expecting – and feared - when Fitzgerald said, "even shielded, we'll be affected by the disruption field. And until now, we have not been able to find the source." Fitzgerald then sighed before saying, "if she's alive she can't leave the planet using her Sparrow. The only thing we could hope for is that she finds a Stargate on the surface."

"Can we use the hyperdrive to get through?" Robbie asked after coming to a realization that the hyperdrive could very well be the lucky piece of this perplexing puzzle. However, he pressed is lips together and frowned when Fitzgerald said that the field seemed to be affecting subspace. He then turned towards the hologram of the planet zooming out before there were numbers being pointed towards the pale orange field. Staring at the numbers, Robbie suddenly came to realize what it was they represented.

'Subspace frequencies?' Robbie thought to himself before turning his head towards the scientist once again.

"Even hyperspace will be a problem?!" Robbie exclaimed as Fitzgerald nodded his head.

"Yes," was the response, "whatever the Furlings were doing on this world, they definitely wanted to keep anything on the surface away from the eyes of other races." The scientist then continued upon noticing the look on Robbie's face, "I know you're concerned, Colonel. But even if we could hyperspace into the atmosphere, the disruption field could harm the ship if it extends all the way to the surface."

"We'd crash," Robbie said.

Robbie then frowned while rubbing his chin. He wanted to continue on the assumption that the field did not extend all the way to the surface. It gave him a bit more hope of somehow reaching Alayne and so it meant the possibility of sending a message down to the planet, 'Alayne's a good pilot, she would have landed the Sparrow once emergency power was restored.' He closed his eyes and breathed in deep before opening them once again, 'she's alive. She has to be alive. And I need to let her know she's not alone.'

"Like I said, Colonel," the scientist repeated, thus breaking Robbie's train of thought, "in addition to preventing planetary scans, it affects – effectively shuts down – advanced technology. So if something does happen to go through the field, it could not get out."

"And it affects only advanced technology?" Robbie asked.

Fitzgerald nodded his head, "most likely."

"But if remnants of this same energy pattern was present after the explosion of the Brotherhood planet," Robbie pointed out, "then why didn't it affect the ship?" Robbie scowled when Fitzgerald replied by saying that the energy present around the debris of the planet wasn't concentrated enough to affect them. Robbie sighed before rubbing his forehead in frustration and saying, "and the energy around the planet is much more concentrated."

"Yes," Fitzgerald confirmed, "this energy must either be generated artificially by something really powerful or it could be something that is naturally occurring. But we can't confirm anything from here."

"So we would need to go to the surface," Robbie said while Fitzgerald nodded his head in agreement, "but anyone going down won't be able to leave."

Robbie then shook his head with an aggravated expression before saying, "or she would have to find a Stargate." After Fitzgerald nodded his head, Robbie said, "but if she did that, then we would have heard from the SGC or the Alpha Site by now."

"Which could mean Captain Collins has been unable to find a Stargate," the scientist said before showing a bit of hesitation before saying, "if the field extends to the surface, it could also affect any Stargate down there on the surface."

"Do we have any idea if this world has a Gate!?" Robbie barked as he looked around the room. He didn't like the thought of the field extending down to the surface. He definitely did not. "Let's assume the field does NOT extend all the way to the surface!"

A female officer stood up from the console in the far corner before saying, "this planet still doesn't show on any database, sir. Not even the Asgard Core database."

Robbie wanted to yell out. How was this even possible? He growled in frustration before thanking the officer and then turned towards the hologram once again. There had to be something they could do. At least there should be a way to send a message if it was too risky to take the ship or one of the Sparrows to the surface.

"Would something low tech go through the field without any problems?" Robbie asked while Fitzgerald arched an eyebrow in his direction. Robbie then continued, "can we get a message down to Captain Collins using some other way?" He could see that Fitzgerald was about to reply, but Robbie asked him to wait before saying anything. Before Fitzgerald could nod his head, Robbie continued, "is it possible that we could send a message down, along with a way for her to reply?"

Fitzgerald rubbed his chin with a thoughtful expression on his face before he came to a realization. Robbie waited for a few seconds before the scientist then said, "well, I do have an idea for sending her a message."

"Okay," Robbie spoke, "but you don't sound so sure."

"There won't be a way for her to send a message back unless we send her the parts for a way to respond, maybe through the use of an atmospheric balloon that could rise high enough over the energy field, for us to detect it." He then explained how they could place all the parts needed for the balloon in a heat shielded case that could be beamed high into the atmosphere. "A manual gauge would then deploy a parachute at a predetermine altitude and it would float down to the surface."

Robbie watched as Fitzgerald then looked back towards him and said, "but it would be impossible to do that." Robbie understood why as Fitzgerald said, "we would need to know her exact location to send her something like that."

"You do realize you rejected your own idea," the Colonel deadpanned.

Fitzgerald nodded his head while staring at the hologram. He then said, "the planet's about the same size as Earth." He then pointed at the blue oceans and continued, "we could use the Asgard beaming technology to blindly transport a communications hub somewhere around here without targeting a specific area." Fitzgerald then clarified, "we could be off in our estimates since we have no idea about the surface beyond the energy field. This is just a guess."

"So what you're saying is that..." Robbie said as he realized what Fitzgerald was saying, "the field could just stop at the surface? It may not extend past sea level?"

"Again, it's just a guess," Fitzgerald repeated, "all I know is that the communications buoy would have to be reinforced against water pressure of course especially since it would have to be sinking beneath the water."

"We can't have the locals coming across the technology no matter how unlikely," Robbie whispered.

Robbie sighed before saying that this was a small risk. He guessed that the reinforced communications buoy would be able to broadcast a message from deep within the ocean for several minutes before the water pressure destroyed the buoy and its casing.

"I'll go record a message," Robbie said as he started to turn around, "how long do you need to prepare everything?"

"A day?"

"Get to it," Robbie said before he walked out of the Core room. He had a message to record for his cousin.

Catelyn, a day and a half later.

Catelyn looked up at the dawn sky before turning her head towards the sleeping form of her youngest daughter lying on the soft grass. Next to Arya was Robb sleeping on his back with the glowing embers of a fire nearby. As for Catelyn, she was staring at her two children with a small sad smile at the thought that Sansa was still in Kings Landing.

'She is trapped with the lions and the stags,' Catelyn thought to herself as she stood up off the grass after having woken up – it was only two hours ago that she had woken up. After the escape from the Twins, Catelyn had time to come to terms with the woman known as Alayne not being her oldest daughter. However, she could not discount how eerie it was for Alayne and Sansa to resemble one another in looks. At least for the most part.

'The Alayne woman looks older, and her eye colouring does not match with Sansa,' Catelyn thought to herself as she slowly walked past a still mourning Dacy Mormont who had her head low and whispering a prayer to the Old Gods. Across from herself, the three members of the Stark family were also being guarded by the Hound who was staring at Catelyn before looking away after she nodded her thanks. She then turned her head to Roose Bolton who had woken up in the early morning with his hands and feet tied up. The man was now lying unconscious after trying to escape a few hours ago.

A moment later, Catelyn was about to kneel down and then gently wake both Arya and Robb. As she reached down and gently placed her hand on Robb's shoulder, Catelyn could hear the other Northmen who were sleeping around them start to slowly wake up. As she placed her hand on Robb's shoulder, Catelyn watched as he breathed in and out and she was still in awe of this miracle thanks to whatever it was that Alayne had done. Even after contacting Alayne through the communication device entrusted to Arya, all the former could say was that she would explain how Robb was healed when they reached the Neck.

'I can only hope that the Lord Umber and the others are making haste for the Neck,' Catelyn thought to herself. As she gently shook Robb, who groaned before his eyes stared to slowly open, Catelyn then immediately went onward to Arya. As she gently shook Arya while Robb rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, Catelyn reminded herself that Alayne already mentioned that she had seen the Great Jon and the group of sixty Northmen making their way to the Neck.

"Robb," Catelyn whispered. She glanced at Arya now sleeping on her side while her hands gripped the strange device given to her by Alayne. Catelyn returned her focus back to Robb who was starting to slowly sit up – much to their surprise. It was then that there was a loud ungodly screech that erupted from the device in Arya's hand.

TEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

The sound woke up nearly the entire camp and shocked both Dacey – who looked up and then stood up to her feet and turned towards the Starks. In addition, the Hound then moved towards Catelyn, Arya, and Robb. Catelyn froze while her eyes focused on the device just as Arya snapped her eyes open and then sat up and stared at the device in her hand through narrowed groggy eyes. At the same time, Robb turning his head towards Arya while winching at the noise as he continued to pushed himself up until he was resting on his elbows.

"Ahhhh," Robb winced slightly as he placed his hand gingerly over the bandage.

"Robb!" Catelyn barked as she placed a hand on his chest before saying, "you told me the pain has gone away, but we are still unsure about any damage caused by the arrows. Please rest."

Before Robb could say anything, there was another voice that began speaking from the device. It was a male voice that had some going "shhhh".

"Aurora Control to Falcon," a male voice spoke over the radio in Arya's hand. And then there was silence. A few moments later, the same male voice spoke, "Aurora Control to Falcon."

'What is Aurora Control? And Falcon?' Catelyn thought before she heard a male guard nearby growl at the sudden awakening of Roose Bolton. Catelyn looked at the deceptively calm head of House Bolton staring back at her whilst a Northerner, one of the Cerwyn household, dropped some food unceremoniously onto the grass in front of him. Looking away from the man who betrayed them, Catelyn turned her attention to the device.

"This is Colonel Robbie Collins for Captain Alayne Collins," the group was silent as the male voice continued on while, in the meantime, several kilometres away, Alayne was stirring awake soon after Robbie started speaking on the radio. She had landed her Sparrow earlier that morning after guarding the group of Northerners from the air for the entire night and making sure that they were not being followed. As Alayne slowly opened her eyes to the familiar voice that seemed so far away, Catelyn and the others were listening in as Robbie continued.

"Alayne, I really hope you can hear this message. It's being sent through all emergency frequencies through a buoy we beamed above the ocean North of the Southern continent. The Aurora is in orbit but our communications systems and scanners haven't been able to pierce the energy field around the planet. And if we try to take the ship in, then Fitzgerald thinks we'll lose all power. We have no idea if the disruption field extends all the way to the surface or part of the way down. Even if it extends partly down, Fitzgerald thinks the hyperspace window would be affected if we try to jump into the atmosphere.

Catelyn, Arya, and Robb looked at each other – there were so many questions going through their minds - before returning their attention to the device when Robbie spoke again, "I've talked to Homeworld Command and the SGC, they want us to stay on station for the next seven days while Fitzgerald gates back to Earth."

"By the gods," Dacey whispered as she narrowed her eyes at the device while the Hound's expression remained scowling.

"In the meantime, Alayne, search for a gate," Robbie spoke while Robb asked what it was the voice meant by 'a gate'. "We'll find a way through, Alayne. I know we will. Oh, and we agreed not to tell Uncle about you being missing, at least not yet. Anyway, if you can hear me Alayne, stay strong alright? Stay strong."

And then the message repeated itself while the group of Northerners could only listen once again in awe.

Alayne

The moment she heard Robbie's voice, Alayne snapped open her eyes. At first everything was blurry while she tried to remember where she was, especially since it wasn't her apartment. It would be a few seconds later that she reminded herself that she was stranded on another world before leaning forward in surprise at the continuation of Robbie's message. She listened carefully with hands over her mouth when he said that the Aurora was in orbit. She looked up through the glass canopy at the blue sky before looking back down at the speaker on the console in front of her.

'The Aurora's scanners can't find me and communications haven't been able to get through to me,' she thought to herself before closing her eyes and then leaning back on her seat with a frustrated expression, 'and if the energy field disrupts my Sparrow, there is no way I'm getting into space… even if I wanted to attract their attention by firing off a missile with the guidance system deactivated, it would never fly higher enough to…'

Alayne paused her thoughts as she leaned forward hurriedly and then pressed a few tabs on the screen in front of her. As her brain whirled, she continued tapping one tab after another before she got into the WEAPONS category. Alayne then began running calculations on another screen for a few minutes while the message repeated itself once again.

"Alayne?"

She paused for a few seconds when Arya's voice came through the speakers on top of Robbie's voice. It was then she recalled that the message was being broadcasted through every Tau'ri communications frequency. And that meant Arya and her group could hear the message as well.

"One moment, Arya."

Alayne winced at the curt tone of her voice before continuing, "I'm trying to calculate something."

Arya didn't answer while Alayne continued making her calculations before returning to the WEAPONS tab. Once she had prepared the energy weapons on the Sparrow to her specifications – specifications she hoped would get the attention of the Aurora's sensors - Alayne took off into the air. The engine was humming as she shot through the air and into the clouds above. She was moving as fast as possible with her eyes on the altitude; there wasn't much sense in flying past the stratosphere since there was the possibility she would lose all power.

No, she would fly until she just reached the approximate border of the Stratosphere before firing off one powerful beam of plasma into the air above. She would need to empty all of the capacitors, which would mean being unable to use the plasma weapons until they were recharged once again in a few days. Her eyes were locked onto the screen in front of her before she shifted her eyes towards the brilliant blue skies above. Once she reached the attitude at which she regained control of her Sparrow, Alayne fired the plasma beam.

WHOOOOOSH! The Sparrow trembled slightly before Alayne banked the air craft to port and flew away. She did see the beam continue up on its way towards the upper atmosphere as she circled around and her Sparrow hovered in the air. Her only hope was that the beam did not attenuate before zooming past the exosphere where she hoped the Aurora would be able to detect it.

It did bring a troubling suggestion to her mind. The technology creating this disruption field was so powerful that it could prevent even the Asgard sensors from the ship penetrating through. And Alayne still wasn't able to find the source of the field much less a power source.

For now though, Alayne thought to herself, 'I'm alive, Robbie.' She then sighed before staring at the sky above, 'I'll find something… a Stargate… or the source of this energy field. Either way, I'm going to come home.'

TBC