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Stargate Atlantis
Chapter Four
Look whos coming to dinner
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(A Brief note I do not own Stargate or its associated products. Also please forgive any grammar and spelling errors I am Dyslexic and even with a spell checker it is difficult for me to see them.)
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There was a sort of emotional release as Captain Cutter finished his speech. It was a strange almost euphoric feeling that did a lot to chase away the malaise that had descended on the crew with the news that they had no way of returning home.
Earth was out there but it was not their Earth and there are things just as terrible and brutal as the Covenant out there in the black, looking at humanity as food or slaves and they couldn't allow that, they had shed too much blood and lost too many brothers and sisters for that to be allowed.
"I'll tractor your ship to the third planet in the system it has a stargate so I can contact the Expedition leader."
"there is nothing wrong with my engines." Said the feminine voice of the ships AI. "as soon as the reactors have had time to fully initiate, they'll work just fine."
"I can get us there in under five minutes." Responded Lt Davis "can your engines do that."
"Lt Davis we would be grateful for any help you can provide." He said diplomatically cutting off the barb that the AI was about to launch at him.
"would any of you care to join me?" he asked, "I could give a tour of my Nova." Cutter considered it for a moment before he declined polity.
"No, thank you." The captain replied his aged voice maintaining a gentle authority that command had ingrained into him "I have to make sure the crew is alright but one we've reached the planet I would be honoured."
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The journey was short, but the little ship handled its vast load with all the skill and deference of a tugboat, its blue glowing tractor beam easily moving the massive ship.
"are we sure this is a good idea?" asked Dr Grodin "we're not sure of their intensions."
"I think with the Wraith breathing down our necks we cannot afford to be too picky." Answered Dr Zelenka "though I think vetting these people might still be wise."
"agreed." Said Lt Davis "that's why I haven't fitted them with a Hyperdrive." He said as he turned his chair to face the two men "and Dr Wier can sus out any duplicity on their behalf as she has done before." He ruined his seat back to the main viewer activating the command chair he closed his eyes and concentrated.
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"are we sure of these people." asked Jerome the Spartan Commander. "They could have been either outright lying or omitting facts while telling the truth."
"the young Lieutenant seemed sincere and I'm sure that Serina could pick up any lies." Said Cutter as he took his chair, the Spartan towered over him even when standing but he was humble and very forthright he had no hint of arrogance that the ODST's had nor any of the unearned pomposity of most upper teer commanders he had met in officer schools and meetings.
"Yes, I could tell he was telling the truth." Said Serina her projection had its arms crossed petulantly she was deeply offended that anyone would think her engines were inferior to anyone's. "but I don't like him" she said with a huff.
"your upset he called your engines underpowered." Smirked the Captain.
"My Engines are a work of scientific art." She shouted with deep indignation "besides I don't like his attitude."
"he seemed OK to me" said the Spartan Commander, "I just don't trust he's told us everything."
"I trust that they are in a bad way and need help beyond that … we'll see." Said the Captain his eyes locked on the little ship and its impressive show of power in a small package.
"and his request?" asked the Spartan.
"I'm not fully confident in these gates yet." He replied, "and until the scientists have had a proper look at them, I will not step through one." He turned back to look at the small white ship as it pulled them along, he couldn't help but appreciate its lines. "it is a nice-looking ship isn't it."
"Glorified Tugboat." the AI muttered disdainfully.
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The Nova put the ship into a high elliptical orbit over the former Wraith planet. Using the operations console Lt Davis Activated the stargate and opened a wormhole to Atlantis. He had chosen the operation console over the communications console as he considered the use of the gate as more of a tactical operation rather than a communications one.
"Atlantis Control this is Lt Davis on the Nova." The view screen changed with a slight bell like chime from a view of the Wraith Planet and the stars to the command centre of the Atlantis Gate room and Dr Weir.
"Lt Davis this is Dr Weir did you locate the Wraith?" she was in her commanding stance and voice that she only used when she was stressed.
"No Ma'am." He replied, he saw her frown slightly her brows furled slightly. "we found some debris, so I ordered a sweep of the system." She nodded as he finished speaking then brought her hand up to her mouth before asking.
"Did you find anything?"
"We found something alright I'm sending the data to you now." She turned to the side her eyes locked on the computer for a moment before Major Shepherd joined her.
"how's the Dig going Major?" he asked the man who rolled his eyes slightly with practiced exasperation.
"Mackay thinks he can find the ZPM, but I came back for an update on the Wraith situation." He said still in his dirty mission gear and resting his hands on the FN-P90 as he all ways dose. "can you give me cliff notes Lieutenant?" he asked, "I've got to get back ASAP Mackay was throwing a tantrum and I may have to pull his fat out of the fire" Major Shepard said he didn't bother to look over Dr Weirs shoulder she was reading the data and he didn't want to break her concentration.
"Yes sir." He replied, "we found an extra dimensional ship filled with humans from a few centuries in the future with a Unified Earth Government and a large Colonial Empire."
"must be like coming Home Lieutenant." Said the Major with a cheeky grin.
"Oh, Indeed if not for the terrible blend of tea it would be just like home." He smiled playing along. "I've called for instructions."
"they've agreed to help us?" Asked Dr Weir as she finished reading and standing back into the centre of the screen.
"they have, but as you're the Expedition leader the ships commander wants to meet with you in person." He answered, he could see her considering for a moment or two she was lightly nodding her head before she answered.
"Very well." She said definitively "can you bring him through the gate."
"He doesn't trust the gate system." Replied Lt Davis "and to honest I don't blame him even after I had it explained to me, I didn't trust it either fully until I got the boost."
"can you bring him here?" she asked, frowning slightly compromises where her bread and butter so she was offering more options in an attempt to negotiate with the Spirit of Fire. "In the Nova I mean."
"he's reticent to leave the ship ma'am." He answered. "and I don't think it's a good idea for you to risk yourself coming to us as I'm not confidant that the Wraith have truly abandoned this system."
"can you get them here." She asked he could see Sheppard frowning slightly.
"I can but…"
Sheppard interrupted him.
"if we bring them here there could be issues" he said getting Weirs attention "like, oh I don't know, them turning on us with that big ship."
"tactically speaking sir" said Lt Davis, "I could destroy that ship in a single salvo of my quantum drones." There was silence for a moment.
"Quantum drones Lieutenant?" asked Dr Weir
"Yes Ma'am."
"Lieutenant, we really have to talk about your propensity to tinker with things that have the potential to go boom." Said Major Shepard.
"Aye Sir."
"Lieutenant, can you get them here." Asked Dr Weir again interrupting the byplay.
"as I was saying Ma'am, I can get them to Atlantis but the added stress of such a large ship will slow me down considerably and necessitate changing of the Hyperdrive core potentially upon arrival depending on the stresses not to mention the hull stresses that such a journey will incur."
"Is there potential risk to you and your crew." She asked with concern.
"limited Ma'am." He replied. "the stresses on the Hull and Struts as well as some of the internal components will necessitate some yard time but nothing fatal or life threatening."
"very well bring them here but keep them under guard." Said Major Sheppard as he once again placed both hands onto the butt of the P90.
"Sheppard, you should get back to Mackay before he does something Mackay." Ordered Dr Weir, the time that he had been away from Mackay was long enough for the good Doctor to cause some incident that either Sheppard would have to shoot him out of, or she would have to negotiate him out of.
"I will but keep me updated." The screen cut back to the view of the planet and the starfield.
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"we're being contacted by the Nova Sir." Said the Communications officer a young blond native of Reach.
"On my console Ensign." Ordered Captain Cutter, as he swivelled in his chair to face a screen. "This is Fire CnC Cutter here."
"Lt Davis here Sir." The image activated showing the inside of the Nova for the first time. The room was certainly more comfortable and spacious than his own command and control centre and looked very comfortable. Cutter Raised an eyebrow at the carpeted floors and very comfortable looking seats and chairs it looked more like a high-tech lounge rather than a command centre.
"was that gravimetric disturbance your Stargate Lt."
"not mine personally Sir but yes that was the Stargate."
"interesting."
"I contact Dr Weir the Expedition leader." The older commander nodded "I told her that you didn't want to leave your ship and I don't believe that this is a safe sector for her to come to, so I've been ordered to bring you to Atlantis."
"and how exactly are you going to do that?"
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It took three hours to get all the systems prepared. The way hyperspace worked was the more power you pump into the window when you initiate the jump means the more speed you have, SG1 found that out after an incident with a super nova, but to move two ships through hyperspace while toeing the other takes a lot of power.
Luckily power he had, the matter antimatter Warp Core could produce the same power output as a ZPM but for nowhere near as long or as consistently, the ZPM had a constant high-power flow, but the Warp Core's power is much closer to that of a Pulse-Jet engine.
Key was getting the Warp Core's reactor up to Warp 9 power output while synchronising the Naquadah Reactors at full power in normal space before opening the window. From their it takes less power to keep the tunnel open and with the Warp Nacelles and deflectors properly adjusted the small Nova could pull the vast Spirit of Fire along.
But the main issue with making the adjustments for the operation was the strain such actions would put on the hull and the struts so with the replicators Lt Davis crated more reactors and was planning to over charge the structural integrity fields to lessen the strain on the ship it wouldn't be perfect, but it was lower the chances of the strain shoring off one or both of the struts into the realm of the very unlikely.
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The much smaller ship moved to the bow of the Spirit with grace and speed that the crew were uncomfortable with, not even the Covenants ships moved that quickly and with that much grace, and to think that the ship was made by humans was both amazing and unnerving.
"Were receiving another communication form the Nova." Said Selina still annoyed at the young officer clearly, she was "not" holding a grudge. The Old commander nodded as he turned his chair back to the screen.
"put it on." Said Cutter again indicating to his screen. The image of the planet that had been on the screen suddenly changed to the face of the young Lieutenant his uniform was slightly dirty and he had some debris on his tunic, but he was mostly the same.
"Captain Cutter." The young officer smiled "I apologise for the delay I had to prepare my ship to toe yours to Atlantis."
"I take it you needed some time for adjustments?" he asked, the younger officer nodded.
"Indeed sir." He said, "I'll break down the operation, so you know what to expect."
"very well Lieutenant."
"fist I will attach a tractor beam to your ship." he said as the Captain nodded, he was taking mental notes as his AI companion and friend made notes in her impressive memory banks. "you will detect a very large power jump in my ship, do not be alarmed, I'm not blowing up I just need to push the reactors a bit to get us started."
"how large a power Jump." Asked the AI curious about the ships full power output.
"about 110% from what we are pumping out now."
"that is significant."
"indeed, from there I will open a Hyperspace window and move us into the event horizon" they nodded again. "then the gravimetric forces will accelerate us through the event horizon, and we'll be pulled into the hyperspace tunnel, from there it's an hour-long journey to Atlantis."
"and when we get there." Asked Serina as she crossed her arms and raising a perfectly sculpted eyebrow.
"I'll be using my impulse drive in tandem with your own deceleration equipment to stop us." He answered the AI. "we'll then move into high orbit, and we can begin proper negotiations then."
"when can you start?" asked Cutter he wanted to get going as soon as possible.
"I am already in position, but you may want to batten down the hatches."
"very well, Cutter out." He said as he killed the transmission. He turned to Serina "keep an eye out for anything this may not be like any slip pace jump we've done to it could be exactly like a slip space jump but be prepared." She nodded as the Captain pressed another button on his console that activated the PA system. "Now here this, Now here this, we're going to be pulled into a jump I want everyone at there action stations, Damage control teams be prepared for anything."
"Captain." Called the AI, he turned to her pedestal, "he's starting."
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"alright guys let's get cooking." As the channel closed, he clapped his hands together and rubbing them vigorously and excitedly as he took his seat in the command-and-control chair. "reactors to full power."
"full power Aye." Replied Sparkie its little horns lying flat as it concentrated.
"Warp core to maximum output."
"Maximum Aye." Said Sparkie "we'll be at max power for the jump in 3…2…1…dumping power in the projector now."
"Ahead full Engage." He ordered pointing dramatically imitating Patrick Stuarts Picard double finger point.
"Ahead full Aye." Said Sparkie he was growing used to some of his creator and friends antics.
"Event Horizon in 3…2…1…now." Said Dr Zelenka and in a flash, they were in the Hyperspace tunnel headed for home.
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Dr Weir paced her office as she waited, Col Shepard had returned with his team and no ZPM. Apparently, this was not Rodney's fault, this time, as they had to deal with an unforeseen complication in the Genii who were also after the ZPM only for both of them to be stymied by the locals and the ancient society that they represented.
She made her way into the main control room across from her office and stood at the position that Dr Peter Grodin usually sat now occupied by Dr McKay. He had been more upset after the mission than Sheppard but that was to be expected he had been physically abused by the Genii and emotionally by a young woman who he had grown close with.
She sat gently next to the Canadian scientist who was distracting himself with paperwork.
"I've almost finished the report, Elizabeth." He said with a tinge of sadness seeping into his tired voice. He rubbed his eyes slightly to focus his vision.
"how are you feeling." She asked, though she wasn't close to MacKay she was closer than most even with the distance he liked to keep from almost anyone.
"not great but I'll live." The dropped into a silence that dragged on uncomfortably before he continued "I really thought … it doesn't matter now I suppose."
"what is it, Rodney."
"I thought we… connected that… nothing." He sighed but his melancholic musings were cut off by the rapid warning beeping of an incoming ship.
"I'm detecting an oping hyperspace window." The scanners showed two ships pone vastly larger than the other. "It's the Nova"
"well, lets get ready we have gests" she said as she stood and made her way back to her office if she would have been told a year ago that she would be in another Galaxy and negotiating with a branch of humanity divorced from there own time and space she would have laughed.
But as things are she would change only one thing and the be perfect that being she would have taken more time to prepare…everything but that was in a perfect world. Now she had negotiations to prepare and hopefully a new ally to meet.
