The Summers Residence, Sunnydale; 2300 hours.
"Tara" said Willow as she sat back on the dining table chair, "I'm telling you that was really good."
"Th.. thanks" said Tara as she passed Willow a dish, "some more mash?"
"No…. No way" laughed Willow, "if I have anymore, I'm telling you that I'll never leave this house."
"Is that a bad thing?" replied Xander who was sitting next to a grinning Buffy.
"Unless you want a house guest who stays here just for the food" replied Willow.
"In other words" said Kennedy who sat next to Tara, "a free loader."
Faith: "Hey."
Willow: "Hey. What'cha up to?"
Faith: "Heading back to the apartment. Just talked to Big-G, he says that we need to be ready to go in four days. That would give us another three days to set up the weapons in Atlantis. Well, whatever weapons we have at least."
Willow: "Alright. I'm still waiting on Angel's answer. I gave him till tomorrow night, in the meantime I'll work with Dr. Lee, Felger and the others from here on the ZPM station."
Faith: "Cool. Too bad no snuggles from you tonight."
Willow: "I wish I was there too."
Faith: "Listen, Sam feels really bad Red. Cassie's real pissed off at her; Dawn picked up the phone when she called looking for you and she told her, don't worry she talked to her all nice, that you weren't in Colorado Springs and that you'll call her back.. Jon can't believe she said what she said but he knows how drunk she was. He said that she gets like that, but never realized that this would get as bad as it did. She's also been trying to call you, said that her calls went straight to voice mail."
Willow: "I must have forgotten to turn it back on."
"I'm not a free loader" said Willow as she took out her phone and turned it on, "I just appreciate good food, and this was really good."
"Tara's multitalented" said Buffy, "one of the best Witches, one of my best friends and one of the best cooks the whole of Sunnydale has to offer."
"I.. I.. don't know what you're talking about" said Tara as she started to blush.
Faith: "I'm off to Big-G's house for dinner. What you having?"
Willow: "Had some pot roast Tara cooked. Really good."
Faith: "Yea, she's really, really good at that. Be careful though, Kennedy's the jealous type."
Willow: "Yep, she's already giving me the evil eye."
Faith: "Good luck, I'll see you tomorrow then."
Willow: "Of Course."
"She's multitalented alright" said Kennedy as she kissed Tara's cheek, "in so many different ways."
"We're having dinner, Kennedy" said Buffy, "we really don't need to know about your sex life."
"Well" said Xander, "I don't….. you know… mind."
"Xander" said Buffy and Willow together.
"What?" grinned Xander as Tara laughed.
"You do realize you're surrounded by four women, right?" asked Buffy as she looked her husband.
"Yea" said Willow, "you have three really hot women, and Kennedy."
It was just then that Buffy spat out the wine she was drinking as she laughed hard at Kennedy's expression.
The Summers Residence, Sunnydale; 0300 hours.
Willow was sitting on the couch facing the staircase as she worked on her laptop with a headset on. She was looking at the equations and the simulations on the screen on one side of the laptop screen and a video feed directly to Science Lab One at the SGC on the other side.
"Captain" said Dr. Lee, "I'm afraid we've only managed to lower the power consumption by five percent."
"Damn" said Willow as she looked up.
"Everything alright?" asked Dr. Lee.
"Yea" said Willow, "thought I heard something, but I didn't sense anyone. Anyway, I'm sending some new calculations to you. Maybe you could simulate this and check the power usage."
"Got it" said Dr. Lee as he looked at another screen next to the one he was talking to Willow on, "Felger and the others have already started on it. But, to be completely honest, getting something that would take us two weeks done in four days would be…"
"Insane?" asked Willow.
"Yea" said Dr. Lee, "I know how important this is, I mean I our people in Atlantis needs us… but…."
"I know" said Wiloow as she ran her fingers through her hair, "we still have more time. The others are handling logistics while we get this done."
"I know" said Dr. Lee, "I talked to Faith after we had the briefing with the General following the reception and… well…. You do know that none of us here would ever... I guess what I'm trying to say is that all of us here like you as you are… you know what I mean."
"It's true" said Dr. Felger as he appeared next to Dr. Lee.
"Felger" said Dr. Lee, "get started on that thing."
"Thanks Doc" said Willow with a smile, "and let Dr. Felger know I said thanks too."
"He heard you" said Chloe who was Dr. Felger's girlfriend, "he's doing the dance he does when Colonel Carter compliments him."
"Yea" said Willow with a smile, "I really don't wanna see that dance…. I stll have nightmares the last time he did it."
"Captain" said another scientist, "we ran your equations but still no luck, although…."
"Although?" said Dr. Lee and Willow together.
"Well" said the scientist, "I'm uploading a proof based on your equations, and well….."
"Huh" said Willow as she got a message in her inbox, "what do you know…. You think you could get power consumption down by ten percent?"
"Not bad" said Dr. Lee as he turned to the scientist, "simulate that equation and report back."
"Give that man a beer will you" smiled Willow.
"Sorry Captain" said the scientist, "I don't drink…. Allergic."
"Sure" said Willow, "doc?"
"Willow? Are you still up?" said Xander as he walked down the stairs rubbing his eyes.
"Yea, Xan" said Willow as she looked up before looking at Dr. Lee again, "see if you can get the consumption down by another five percent. If you guys can do it by today, then we're all golden."
"Alright" said Dr. Lee as he closed the connection.
"Sorry" said Wilow as she looked up at Xander entering the living room in the dark of night, with only the light from the laptop screen and the backlight of the keyboard illuminating Willow's face, "did I wake you?"
"No" said Xander, "I was just going to the restroom when I heard you talking. Don't you ever get any sleep?"
"My team and I have a huge project due in four days" said Willow.
"Oh" said Xander as he turned on a light and sat down next to Willow, "important?"
"Oh you know" said Willow, "just trying to find out if we can do warp speed."
"Willow" said Xander as he held her hands, "all you have to do is say that it's all classified, you don't have to come up with a ridiculous reason like that."
"Yea" grinned Willow as she leaned forward, "it's funny as hell though, right?"
"It is" smiled Xander as he stood up and pulled Willow up, "how about some cookies and chocolate milk."
"You trying to spoil me, Xander?" said Willow as she followed him into the kitchen.
"Kinda" said Xander, "who knows when I'd see you again."
"Things seem to be going better between all of us now" said Willow, "so I guess, just maybe I'll try coming down more often. At least when I'm not busy or anything."
"You should" said Xander.
"And you should come visit me in Colorado Springs" said Willow, "I mean, if Oz and his family can come by next month… so can you and any of the others."
"Thanks, Will" said Xander, "so…."
"So?" asked Willow.
"I never got to ask you, but how are you doing with the whole Oz thing?" asked Xander.
"I'm happy for him" said Willow, "he looks like he's got a nice family. When I talked to him over the phone after the wedding, he said that he told Bay a lot of things about me and that he'd like for us to get to know each other more."
"That's dangerous" said Xander with a grin on his face, "his wife and his ex…. I can just imagine what the both of you will be talking about."
"Xander" smiled Willow as she gave him a punch on his arm.
"Ouch" said Xander, "you hit hard, Will."
"No I didn't" said Willow, "hey…. Can you do me a favour?"
"What?" asked Xander suspiciously.
"Do the Snoopy dance?" said Willow, "I miss it."
"Ok" said Xander as he put down the glass of chocolate milk, "but only on one condition."
"Which is?" asked Willow.
"You have to do it with me" said Xander as he grabbed her hands and pulled her to the living room.
"I don't know how" laughed Willow.
"Come on" said Xander, "you've seen me do it enough times."
"Xander" said Willow as he started dancing while holding her hands.
"I'm not letting you go until you start, Will" said Xander.
"Fine" said Willow as she started dancing as well.
While the both of them were dancing, they never noticed Buffy, Kennedy, Tara and Angel enter the house and look on in surprise at the two old friends dancing and laughing like they were kids.
"Oh" laughed Willow as she saw everyone staring at them.
"Ladies and gentlemen" said Buffy as she pointed at Xander and Willow, "my husband and my best friend, the oddest people I know."
"Hey" said Xander as he went to hug Buffy, "Spike's odder than me."
"Fine" said Buffy, "maybe… just a little more than the both of you."
"How was patrol?" asked Xander as he pulled Buffy to the kitchen.
"So" said Kennedy, "you really do dance like an oddball huh?"
"Look, Kennedy" said Willow, "I really am sorry about the crack I made about you at dinner, I really don't know what came over me. Just know that I didn't mean anything by it."
"How about you fight me?" asked Kennedy, "If you win I'll forgive you."
"Right" said Willow, "but….. no."
"Alright then" said Kennedy as she pulled Tara up the stairs, "come on Tara, you know what they say right? Slaying makes me…"
"Kennedy" said Tara as she glanced at Willow before being pulled up by Kennedy. It was a few seconds later that Willow heard a door close.
"Do I even want to know?" asked Willow as she looked at Angel.
"No" said Angel, "trust me."
"Right" said Willow.
"Want to go for a walk?" asked Angel, "just around the block?"
"Sure" said Willow as she grabbed her jacket and went over to the kitchen to let Buffy and Xander know they were going out for a little while, before immediately turning around and pulling Angel out the door, "ok, now I know what Kennedy meant."
"I talked to Cordy" said Angel as they walked down the street, "and we both decided that I should go."
"Phew" said Willow, "I was actually scared for a while that you'd say no."
"Give up this opportunity to help people in another galaxy?" whispered Angel, "are you kidding me?"
"It's dangerous though" said Willow, "the General has a cover story for the BPRI and the NID Committee. He'll call them and let them know about it later today."
"So" said Angel, "how are we going there?"
"Stargate" said Willow, "we leave in four days. The General's getting some weapons together and three SG teams. We'll be using an Ancient power source that was found in Egypt to connect the wormhole to Atlantis and then we'll use the Daedalus…."
"Daedalus?" asked Angel confused.
"I never mentioned her?" asked Willow grinning.
"No" said Angel.
"Daedalus is our newest battle cruiser" said Willow as she looked up at the sky, "equipped with every advanced tech you can think of, including an intergalactic hyper drive. Well… except for phasers… or something like that."
"Seriously?" said Angel.
"Dead serious" replied Willow, "with the power source, it should be able to reach Pegasus in four days. The Daedalus will take the power source, or ZPM to Atlantis where we will use it to power the defences… including the Atlantis shield. We'll leave the ZPM in Atlantis while we come back using the Daedalus. But without the ZPM, it's going to be about a two week journey."
"I'll be on a spaceship?" said Angel as he smiled to himself, "Cordy's going to kill me."
"Hah" laughed Willow, "so, you still sure about this?"
"Yea" said Angel, "when do we leave?"
"In a few hours alright?" asked Willow as Angel nodded, "the General can have a jet for us at the Army base in Sunnydale. We'll take it to Petersons where we'll park inside a hanger so that you don't get exposed to the sun."
"Sounds great" said Angel.
"Cool" said Willow.
"Any idea if Buffy and the others will ever know about this?" asked Angel as he changed the subject.
"I've just heard rumours along the base grapevine" said Willow, "since the President won another term, he's planning to start disclosure of the entire program… well maybe not everything.. but enough. I heard he'll start the ball rolling after his inauguration."
"Ah" said Angel, "but it's all just a rumour?"
"Yea" said Willow, "trust me, I wish I could tell everyone what I do, or at least Buffy, despite what happened. You've got no idea what it's even like to lie to people everyday about what I do. And I've been doing it since the Academy."
"Since then?" asked Angel.
"Yeah" said Willow, "during the breaks, I'd go on research projects with the scientists or Daniel…. Never on actual missions where we would be fired upon since I was just a cadet at the time."
"Oh" said Angel, "you've been doing this for a very long time, I had no idea."
"It's the lies, Angel" said Willow.
"Well" replied Angel, "I hope disclosure happens soon."
"Me too" said Willow as she smiled at Angel.
SGC, the same day; 1000 hours.
"Here we are Angel" said Willow as she got out of the Air Force sedan with its dark tinted windows that blocked out the sun from affecting its other passenger, the Vampire with a soul.
"So this is NORAD" said Angel as he grabbed his bags and followed Willow to the lobby.
"Yep" replied Angel as Willow opened the door leading to the lobby and waited sheepishly on the threshold, "ummm… Willow?"
"Angel?" asked Willow after she signed the both of their names in the log book.
"Invitation?" asked Angel.
"Not a private residence, Angel" said Willow as the desk sergeant looked on confused.
"But not open to the public, right?" asked Angel.
"Alright" smiled Willow, "Yes, you may come in dear sir."
"Thank you" said Angel as he nodded at the desk sergeant and Willow held the elevator doors open.
After Willow and Angel reached the tenth floor, the both of them changed elevators and proceeded on to the SGC.
"This place is deep underground huh?" said Angel.
"Yea" said Willow as the elevator doors opened to the twenty seventh floor, "come on, General O'Neill wants to debrief you and meet the team leaders who'll be going for the mission."
"You're not staying?" asked Angel as they almost reached the General's office.
"I'm not one of the team leaders" said Willow, "anyway, I need to help the scientists with the power source stuff, and then go through the schematics for Atlantis. After that, I'll be getting a debrief from the mission commander about what's already been discussed."
"A lot in only a few hours?" asked Angel.
"The Wraith will be attacking Atlantis in a week, Angel" said Willow, "and we have only four days to prepare before we leave for Atlantis. Most of the people have been up for the entire night thanks to the base fuel… coffee."
"I see" said Angel as they reached the General's door.
"Sir?" said Willow as she knocked on the door, "I'm here with Angel, Sir."
"Come in" said the General as the door opened and Willow walked into the room with Angel.
"General" said Angel as he nodded at the silver haired man, "I heard a lot of things from Willow, and well… I guess thanks is in order for letting me be a part of this?"
"Glad you said yes" said the General as he looked at Willow.
"Red" said the General, "You're needed at Science Lab One, those eggheads said something about power consumption and then I fell asleep a little… can you please check out what they're talking about?"
"Of course, Sir" said Willow, "umm… have you decided who'll be going to Atlantis, Sir?"
"Yep" said the General, "Colonel Dillon Everett will be in overall command of the mission. He'll take a Marine Task Force, together with SG's 25 and 26; and SG1."
"All of us, Sir?" asked Willow surprised, "I thought…"
"Sorry Red" said the General as he shook his head, "Teal'c left an hour ago, Daniel is going over the mission reports with Dawn, and Carter…. Well, she'll be leaving for her honeymoon later today. So SG1 consists of you and Faith."
"Right" said Willow.
"SG1?" asked Angel.
"Stargate Command's front line team" said the General.
"Oh" said Angel as he looked at Willow, "I didn't…"
"General O'Neill, sir" said another man who walked into the room and stood beside Angel as he saluted the General.
"Colonel" said the General as he returned the salute, "meet Captain Rosenberg of SG1. She and Faith, the one you met yesterday, will be joining your team to Atlantis."
"Sir" said Willow as she saluted the Colonel as Angel stepped back.
"Captain" said the Colonel, "I have heard some….. Interesting things about you. I don't know if they're just rumours or the ones telling me those stories just made them up to score some points in some sort of strange story telling game I'd never understand."
"Depends on what you heard, Sir" said Willow.
"A lot" said the Colonel, "but all that would have to wait, I'll need to debrief you later today on the planned course of action."
"Of course, Sir" said Willow.
"And this" said the General as he motioned towards Angel, "is Angel, he'll also be joining your team."
"A civilian, sir?" asked the Colonel, "with all due respect Sir, I already have one civilian on the mission. I really don't need two."
"He's…. well… let's just say he's a specialist…. Like Faith" said the General.
"I see" said the Colonel as he eyed Angel, "in that case, you should join the Captain as well during her debrief."
"Alright" said Angel.
"Alright, Red" said the General, "you're dismissed. Check in with Teal'c first though, and then the scientists. Following your debrief, go over the schematics for Atlantis."
"Yes, Sir" said Willow.
"Captain" said Colonel Everett, "I'm not planning on losing that city, I want it protected at all costs."
"Me too, sir" said Willow as she nodded at her superior officers and then at Angel.
"See you, Willow" said Angel.
"Red got you quarters on base" said the General after Willow had left, "and she left you some…. Well….. you know…. Food… in the fridge."
"Oh" said Angel, "that's great."
"Right" said the General,
Briefing Room, SGC, 2300 hours.
"Alright people" said the General as he stood next to the projector and faced Willow and SG1, minus Colonel Carter and Teal'c; Colonel Everett and his team; Riley and Sam Finn, "its time we get this briefing going. Remember, according to Dr. Weir, the wraith will reach Atlantis in seven days. We need to prepare everything we need in four days. This is the first, which means we've got three more days left."
"Sir" said Riley as he put his hand up.
"Colonel?" asked the General as everyone looked at him.
"Why is Angel coming along for the ride, sir?" asked Riley, "I mean you know…."
"I'm going because I was asked to help and because I know I can help" said Angel.
"Right" said Riley, "but you know what he is, right Sir?"
"Yes" said the General, "which is the primary reason why he's being asked along."
"Sir?" asked Colonel Everett, "is there something I should know about my newest specialist?"
"Yes" said the General, "I wanted to tell everyone at one go instead of one at a time."
"Angel?" continued the General, "you have the floor."
"You know how your mothers used to tell you to be good or the boogieman will get you?" asked Angel as he sat next to Willow.
"You're saying that you are the bogeyman?" asked the Colonel laughing.
"Well" said Angel in a serious tone of voice, "I'm one of them, I'm a vampire."
"General" said the Colonel, "this is ridiculous, you're ordering me to take an individual with serious mental issues on a mission."
"General" said Angel, "may I?"
"Go ahead" said the General as he saw the Colonel literally jump out of his seat after Angel 'vamped out'.
"Whoa!" said the Colonel as he tripped over his own chair while he was moving back. It took only a few seconds for the shock to fade from the Colonel and his men, before they could even move again to pick him up off the floor.
"Easy, Colonel" said Angel as he returned back to his normal face, "I'm friendly."
"Just don't lose your soul again" murmured Riley.
"Riley" said Sam as she nudged her elbow into him.
"Ummm… Sir?" said Willow, "I'm sorry but… time?"
"Right" said the General, "Colonel, you've got three individuals with special abilities in your team. They're going with you, that's an order."
"Sir" said the Colonel as he composed himself, "if he really is a vampire, and if all the legends are true. How do we know that he won't drink any of our blood. Or the blood of the residents in the city?"
Willow watched as the Colonel's Marines all had their hands covering their necks.
"Angel?" asked the General.
"When I was first sired" said Angel, "I died and lost my soul, which enabled a demon to take over my body."
"Demons?" said the Colonel, "Sir?"
"It's all true" said the General as he recalled Anya, "I've seen…. Stuff."
"Me too" said Willow, "I've been helping fight and research these things since high school. And so has Faith."
"I've done horrible things for a little over two hundred years" said Angel, "but after murdering a gypsy woman, her clan cursed me with my own soul."
"How.. how is that a curse, Sir" said one of the Marines.
"Imagine remembering everything evil you've ever done" said Angel, "and then imagine that feeling of guilt being multiplied by a factor of hundred or more."
"Oh"
"Yes" replied Angel, "anyway, none of you has to worry."
"Why?" asked the Colonel as he sat down across from Angel.
"I've procured a few bags of pigs blood from one of the local butchers" said Willow, "that will be put into a cooler and marked as 'private and confidential'. Once we get to Atlantis, the blood will be kept in the infirmary under Dr. Beckett's watch."
"I take it none of them know?" asked the Colonel.
"Only Dr. Weir, about vampires anyway" said the General as he turned towards Willow, "Red? Start us off please?"
"Of course, Sir" said Willow as she stood up and lowered the white screen. Once the screen was lowered, a schematic of Atlantis was projected.
"First of all" said Willow, "the scientists on base managed to lower power consumption from the ZPM in dialling Pegasus by fifteen percent. Its nowhere near the twenty five percent we were initially going for but, considering the time constraints, they still did one hell of a job. The ZPM, itself is still fully charged and…."
"It was never used?" asked Colonel Everett.
"No" said Daniel who sat next to the General, "Ra probably used it as a ceremonial piece. As far as we know, the Goa'uld at that period of time had no idea of what a ZPM was used for."
"I see" said the Colonel before looking at Willow again, "Captain?"
"Thank you, Sir…. Daniel" said Willow as she looked at the schematic again, "the General got us eight railguns which will go through the Gate disassembled, ten Surface to Air missile launchers, medical supplies, food and six Naquada enhanced nuclear weapons on a proximity fuse, basically space mines. We'll also be taking some Mark Two Naquada generators with us to power the Chair platform. In addition, we'll be taking along the three Kull Armour suits along with its under layers. This will be its first field test for human use. Faith has volunteered for one of the suits, if anyone is interested in volunteering to test out the suits... please talk to Dr. Brightman. She'll give you more information on what to expect as far as the drawbacks go."
"Willow" said Angel as he put up his hand.
"Angel?" asked Willow.
"What's this Naquada you keep talking about?" asked Angel.
"It's the element the Stargate is made of" said Willow, "it's a superconductor that can not only store massive amounts of energy, it can also be weaponised and made to amplify the effect of any weapons, such as nukes."
"Oh" said Angel.
"Don't worry" said the General, "you'll be able to check out the gate the day you guys leave."
"Its fine" said Angel as he nodded.
"That's not a lot of weapons, though" said Riley.
"We can't keep the gate open for too long, Sir" said Willow, "all of the equipment and supplies we're taking should be enough to keep the gate open for three minutes max. Remember, Sir, that the ZPM is required in Atlantis to power the shield and run the Daedalus so that it reaches Atlantis in four days. We've no idea how much power that would take, especially for the Ancient shield, under battle conditions until I talk to Dr. McKay. Besides, I'll be the primary weapon."
"Willow?" said Sam, "what are you talking about?"
"Faith?" said the General, "can you set up the video?"
"Sure" said Faith as she got up from the seat next to Willow and went down to the control room.
"Sir" said Willow as she looked at Colonel Everett, "most of the things you've heard about me, at least the ones that matter, are true. I have special abilities as well and…. well… I guess I have to show you."
"Go, Red" said the General as Willow ran.
"Sir?" asked Colonel Everett and Riley.
"Red set up an experiment in the blast range" said the General as a video popped that showed a thick blast door and two tubs of water next to it.
"Sir?" said Willow as she appeared on the video, "can you see and hear me?"
"Yep" replied the General, "you ready?"
"Yes, sir" said Willow.
The entire group in the briefing room looked on as Willow closed her eyes as the water from the tubs rose into the air.
"Sir?" said the Colonel, "what is….?"
"Red's a psionic" said the General, "at least thats the term Carter told me, she has the abilities of Telepathy and Telekinesis… among other things that she'll tell you about if you decide to ask her."
"Sir?" asked Willow as she mentally shaped the water into what looked like large bullets, "I'm ready when you are."
"Fire at will" said the General.
"Fire in the hole!" shouted Willow as she mentally fired the water bullets at the blast door.
"What the hell?" said Colonel Everett as he approached the screen and saw two large holes that went straight through the blast door, "that's not possible… how?"
"Red" said the General, "get back up here."
"Yes, Sir" said Willow as everyone saw the redhead turn around and run.
"Red calls it super dense water" said Faith, "she tightened her mental hold on the water until it became so dense, it becomes harder than steel. She then 'fired' it at the door at high speed."
"And with Atlantis surrounded by water" said Sam.
"She's got unlimited ammo" replied Colonel Everett in surprise.
"Amazing" said Angel, "I never realized that she came this far…"
"She's been gone for a long time" said Faith.
"Right" replied Angel.
"Sir?" said Willow as she ran into the briefing room.
"Captain" said the Colonel, "that was amazing, but what's the catch?"
"Colonel?" asked Riley as he looked at Colonel Everett.
"I can only do ten shots at a time" said Willow, "if you need more, it won't be as effective. Which is why the SAM's are coming with us and the rail guns, which will be located on the central tower and two of the outer buildings, are the secondary line of defence. And the final line would be the teams in the city to ward off any Wraith that make it inside."
"That's where Angel comes in" said Faith, "the both of us will be on separate teams but the both of us have the strength to deal with the Wraith in hand to hand combat. From what Dr. Beckett said in his video, they are extremely strong. One or two bullets won't do, maybe an entire clip but we'll also be taking some Zats with us. Those should be effective, hopefully. Plus more armour piercing ammunition for our P90's."
"Angel's biggest ace in the hole is that he's already dead and that the Wraith can't read his mind" said Willow, "they cant take his life force or mentally trick him. Their weapons shouldn't affect him as well, since they need living tissue to be effective on humans."
"Well, that's always good to know" said the Colonel as he grinned at Angel.
"So you can never die, Sir?" asked one of the Marines.
"In the interest of full disclosure" said Angel, "if they cut off my head or happen to have wood lying around that pierces my heart, then I'll die."
"I see" said Colonel Everett.
"Alright" said the General as he stood up, "most of the things we need should be here tomorrow. In the meantime, I want defence plans on my desk tomorrow morning from Colonel Everett."
"Yes Sir" said the Colonel as he got up, "I'll liaise with the Colonel Finns and come up with a plan that would use our resources efficiently. And tomorrow, I'd like Angel and Faith to join us in initial training so that they get used to our tactics."
"Alright" said the General, "dismissed."
"Sir" said Willow after everyone had left and Faith had taken Angel to show him to his quarters, "I…."
"Red" said the General, "I need you to see if you can increase the shots you can take. I realize it's a big ask, but…."
"I can try, Sir" said Willow, "but what about Major Sheppard? Won't he be better in the Chair?"
"You're just as natural at using it as he is" said the General, "plus, he'll be alright with it. You don't need to worry about hurting his feelings."
"And Dr. Weir, Sir?" asked Willow as she followed him into his office, "you know she won't be happy about this."
"I've given Colonel Everett a letter addressed to Dr. Weir" said the General, "I know that she's done an amazing job in looking after her people, her logs say as much… but you know this is completely different."
"I realize that, Sir" said Willow as she sat down after the General, "but I cant help but think what she'd feel we're freezing her out… I mean like how… umm…. How Colonel Carter must have felt when we agreed not to worry her."
"Carter's a big girl" said the General, "anyway, I talked to her about it on the phone and she understands why we did what we did.. but she feels horrible about outing you in public and by the choice of words she used."
"She called me" said Willow, "but I haven't returned her calls, I've been preoccupied with this"
"I told her that same thing" said the General, "and she understands if you don't answer her calls right back."
"Yes, Sir" said Willow.
"Get some sleep, Red" said the General, "we'll be having a long day tomorrow. I want you and Reynolds to inspect the first shipments once they come in."
"Yes, Sir" said Willow as she stood up, "if there's nothing else, Sir?"
"No" said the General.
"Then good night, Sir" said Willow.
"Night, Red" said the General.
Gateroom, SGC, four days later, 0900 hours.
"Walter?" said Willow as she sat next to the technician with her full tactical gear, "how are we for power?"
"Dr. Lee reports that the ZPM has sensed the connection to the Gate and is active" said Walter.
"Red?" said the General as he walked down the stairs.
"Sir" replied Willow, "we're set, we can dial Atlantis once you give the go ahead."
"Great" said the General.
"Sir" said Willow as she stood up and faced the General, "permission to join the others in the Gateroom."
"Be safe, Red" said the General, "look out for them."
"I'll try, Sir" said Willow.
"You have a go" said the General as Willow ran down the stairs and stood next to Angel and Faith.
"Walter" said the General, "dial Atlantis."
"Yes, sir" said Walter.
"What happens now?" asked Angel as he looked at Willow when suddenly the inner ring of the Stargate started to spin and stop when the chevron locked on the first symbol.
"Chevron one, engaged" said Walter.
"Most addresses are six symbols in space, which represent the destination" said Willow as she pointed to the symbols on the inner ring, "those symbols represent star constellations with a seventh symbol for the origin. But since we're dialling another galaxy, a eighth symbol is needed as a new distance calculation. Once the gate connects to the receiving gate, the wormhole will form."
"Oh" said Angel, "and these Ancients…. These aliens.. built these throughout this galaxy?"
"They were here in this galaxy first" said Willow as she looked at the gate as the fifth chevron engaged, "most died because of a plague while others ascended. The rest moved to Pegasus. Before leaving they, used a weapon to destroy all life since the plague ravaged everything and then they reseeded life in this galaxy. According to Dr. Weir's reports and from what Dawn read in some of the mission reports, when they went to Pegasus, eth Ancients seeded life there as well."
"What are you saying?" asked Angel.
"We are the second evolution of their form" said Willow, "I don't know how demons and Slayers play on this yet especially if the Ancients destroyed all life in the galaxy since it was affected by the plague; but I'm hoping that the database in Atlantis holds some hints. The Ancients came here more than fifty million years ago and I'm hoping that the Atlantis database covers all of that history. I need to know too, but I have a bad feeling that the Ancients may have had a hand in demons appearing on Earth."
"Chevron eight, Locked" said Walter as the Stargate 'kawooshed' to life and Angel and some of the Marines jumped back a little.
"Whoa" said Angel, "and you're sure that's not magic?"
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" said Faith with a smile.
"Arthur C. Clark" replied Angel, "it's just that…."
"Imagine how I felt when Red showed me this for the first time" said Faith as everyone got ready to leave, they were just waiting for the order.
"Send the IDC" said the General.
"Yes, Sir" replied Walter.
Stargate Operations, Atlantis.
"Incoming Wormhole!" said Rodney as he looked at his computer as all the alarms in the city were going off due to Dr. Weir's order to enable the self destruct mechanism.
"IDC?" asked Major Sheppard as he stood next to Rodney.
"It's…. can't be…" said Rodney.
"Who is it, Rodney?" said Dr. Weir.
"Stargate Command" replied Rodney in amazement.
"Are you sure?" asked Dr. Weir.
"Yes" replied Rodney, "It's them."
"Lower the shield" said Dr. Weir, "give them the green light."
"Yes, ma'am" said Chuck, the technician on duty.
Control Room, SGC.
"Sir" said Walter, "we have the green light."
"Colonel Everett" said the General into the microphone, "you have a go. Protect Atlantis at all costs."
"Yes, Sir" said the Colonel as he looked at the General before turning and looking at the gate, "move it, we have two minutes to get this through….. go, go, go."
"Its just like taking a step" said Faith once everyone else had stepped through the event horizon.
"But we'll have travelled millions of light years" said Willow.
"This is…." Said Angel as he, Willow and Faith walked up the ramp.
"Welcome to our world" said Willow as Faith walked through the event horizon first, and the redhead held Angel's hand as the both of them walked through just as the wormhole was deactivated.
"How much power does the ZPM have left?" asked the General once the wormhole was deactivated.
"They really lowered the power consumption, Sir" said Walter, "ninety percent left, approximately."
"Alright" said the General as he pressed a button on another console, "Daedalus, this is General Jack O'Neill, you have a go to transport the package to Atlantis."
"Colonel Caldwell reporting, Sir" said the Colonel, "we've beamed the package on board and are on our way now."
"Good hunting, Colonel" said the General as the Daedalus went into hyperspace.
"Sir?" said Walter as he looked back at the General, "you think they'll be alright?"
"I hope so, Walter" said the General, "I'll be in Daniel's lab, call me if anything comes up."
"Of course, sir" said Walter as the General walked slowly up the stairs, his thoughts going back to the people on Atlantis.
TBC.