ACT 1 – DISCOVERY
Chapter 8 – Strategy
Long Sleep stepped up to the massive central feeding conduit and reached up to lay his hand over the graft. Through the thick living wall of the conduit, he could feel the pulsing nutrients within, pushing through the central conduit, spreading nourishment and life to the entire Hive. The graft felt good under his hand, the altered flesh patch he'd developed and infused with supplements to strengthen the conduit system, seemingly secure and warm to the touch. To be sure, he ran his fingertips along the edge of the graft. Though the new patch of conduit flesh was still visible to the naked eye, his fingertips confirmed that it had been accepted, the edges healed into the conduit so that it was now a part of it.
Excellent.
He slid his palm further along the conduit to where it divided into large sub-conduits, both heading off in different directions to take their life-sustaining nutrients throughout the newly matured Hive. The alterations to the junction point of the conduits had already taken hold, but once again he inspected the spliced-in new elements that he, and this new Hive's Keepers, had added.
Everything was strong and healthy.
He had not seen this new Hive seed-line before, but he was deeply impressed. It was an excellent development of the Hive-line, albeit a somewhat smaller but thicker-hulled version of the great ships, but it had incredible innate strength to it even while it was still rooted on this planet where it had grown. He looked forward to seeing how it ran in hyperspace and how manoeuvrable it would be in battle, not that he and Mind Song intended to be in one any time soon. Yet, with times the way they where, and the knowledge he and Mind Song held of the Skerti…he wanted to provide everything he could to this new and impressive Hive.
That it's youthful Queen, New Breath, had given him the freedom to work with her Keepers to make any reinforcement changes to her new ship, confirmed that she saw many battles ahead. But then, that was normal for a new young Queen, eager and ambitious to stake her own feeding ground. Such ambitions had always been risky for her kind, but now, more than ever before, the threats and competition were far fiercer.
Hopefully this mighty young Hive would provide New Breath some edge over her competitors and enemies.
Just as long as he and Mind Song did not fall into those categories in her mind.
Long Sleep stood back from the conduit junction and turned to the gathered Keepers, all of them having been silently watching his inspection. It was something of a strange thrill to have such eagerness from other kin to learn from him. Perhaps it had been New Breath's orders that her young and relatively inexperienced Keepers drain as much knowledge from him as possible, but he had been impressed by their openness to his ideas and orders. Even the more mature Keepers, stationed here by New Breath's Mother Queen, had seemed very willing. He suspected it was born of boredom for them, for who knew how ago New Breath had been left on this relatively empty and dull planet.
That those here also seemed uncaring about his and Mind Song's mutations was also a welcome reprieve from the usual suspicion and disgust they often received from other Wraith. Perhaps part of that reaction was due to possible ignorance from the newly batched Warriors and Drones, who had met no other Hive's Wraith yet, but it was still refreshing for Long Sleep to have his knowledge appreciated. Here, only his and Mind Song's maturity and experience mattered, not subtle variations of their genetics and minds.
He considered the watching Keepers, slightly surprised they were so intent on his opinion. "Everything is functioning perfectly," he stated and he saw the younger Warriors visibly relax at the news that their work under his guidance had been successful. They had proven themselves to New Breath. "I suggest one further full assessment of the engine pods," Long Sleep recommended and the Keepers nodded as they turned away to start the work.
Long Sleep though moved back to the central feeding conduit and once again reached up to lay his palm against its pulsing healthy flesh.
It truly was an excellent Hive and would hopefully live for thousands of years to come. He had at least given it the best start it could have, adding reinforcements he had developed on his last, and unfortunately doomed, Hive. The Hive betrayed by its false Queen, poisoned from the radiation her hurtful technology had produced. He had tried his best to save that Hive, which had actually reached out directly to him to beg for help and to tell him of the true nature of the false Queen. He had never before known the basic consciousness of a Hive to reach out so directly, he hadn't even known it was possible. But ultimately, he had failed that poor Hive as it had been destroyed from the inside by the radiation and from the outside by the Armoured Herd.
But he had used all that he had learned and developed in trying to keep that poor Hive alive, to help reinforce and strengthen this new Hive from within. None of the Keepers who had helped him, or New Breath herself, knew his true motivation for many of the changes he'd made. For only he and Mind Song - perhaps out of all Wraith kin everywhere - knew of the returned threat of the Skerti and their deadly radiation.
It was vital knowledge that had to be delivered to the right ears. After all, he and Mind Song knew well that a Queen could very well choose to keep such information to herself, to give herself an edge. No, older ears needed to hear the warning, one who had lived in the era when the name Skerti might have meant more than just scared myth. Mind Song believed the best Queen to inform was Sharp Claw, the eldest Queen they knew who still lived, and who had been an occasional ally of their original Queen. She held a vast and powerful feeding ground, sustained for generations with multiple captured Hives and lying on the outer reaches of the galaxy's territory which had kept her away from the growing harm of the Armoured Herd and their Queen Killers.
If she would hear his and Mind Song's tale, would believe them, then she would hopefully be the best hope for a united response against the Skerti. For the threats to their kin were many. With feeding grounds reducing and the elder Queens almost all gone, the younger Queens were battling with each other as much as they did against the Armoured Herd, Atlantis, and now there was the Skerti hiding in the shadows…
It worried Long Sleep, but it seemed to plague Mind Song's thoughts. Despite Mind Song's focus on strategy and hope for their kin, Long Sleep could tell that his Brother's imprisonment by Human prey had changed him. The prey had not broken Mind Song – no one could – but gone was his former overflowing confidence and belief in the unending nature of Wraith-kind. Instead, doubt and concern itched in his Brother's mind.
But Sharp Claw was the hope that could help ease that itching worry.
As long as they could get to Sharp Claw and if Sharp Claw believed them… And if she used the information wisely…
Long Sleep sighed with faint frustration. Now that this new Hive was as strong as he could make it, there was nothing else to do but wait. The Hive had actually been ready for flight days ago, but New Breath had yet to give the order for the Hive to finally uproot itself and leave this planet. He had wondered, more than once, if she was using the delay to allow him to make the changes to her Hive and then have him and Mind Song killed. But, he also knew their worth to her. A youthful, highly inexperienced Queen needed their wisdom, especially Mind Song's expansive and gifted mind. The intelligence of his Brother's mind never ceased to amaze Long Sle-
New Breath's mind abruptly pushed at Long Sleep, demanding his instant attention. "Attend me, Keeper," she ordered with a flashing image of her Queen's Chamber.
Long Sleep sent back an instant agreement as her mind slid away.
Her mind was unfocused and barely controlled, but it too, like her Hive, held great powerful potential.
"I must attend our Great Queen," Long Sleep explained to the Keepers as he crossed the chamber. As he stepped out into the corridor outside, he worked on wrapping up his mind's inner fortifications. It was no doubt part of his mutation, but he had always had two layers to his mind and the inner one was so well concealed that he knew most Queens never knew it even existed. However, he had to hold that barrier sometimes when directly dealing with a Queen, to ensure no leaking of his innermost thoughts, and it helped him control what thoughts he wished her to see.
As he wrapped up his mind within, he took a moment to lift his consciousness up to the edge of the now rarely used network. Mind Song was already reaching out to him, having been summoned by the Queen himself. Interesting. Long Sleep sent his response of feelings and thoughts to his Brother and slid his mind quickly back from the network to ensure no others on the Hive sensed their exchange.
Moving into a transporter chamber, Long Sleep completed his mental preparations before he materialised several floors up.
Mind Song was already there waiting for him, and Long Sleep stepped out without comment, the two of them falling into synchronised strides down the corridor.
Despite the many long days on this world now, it still filled Long Sleep with delight to see his Brother. Too long had they been separated during Mind Song's incarceration and torture by the cruel evil prey, but now they were back together. No other was as easy to work with and understand as his Brother; no other kin so impressive.
"Do you know what this about?" Mind Song asked, his voice pitched perfectly so no others in the corridors could overhear.
"No," Long Sleep replied with the same tone and volume, "but the timing is interesting. I had just confirmed the Hive adaptations complete."
Mind Song murmured with interest.
"Though I did not feel her mind on me," Long Sleep continued, and New Breath's mind was still too uncontrolled a weapon not to notice. One would have to be near death and a great distance away not to feel her emotions flowing from her and her mind twisting with internal debates or concerns.
"One of the Keepers likely informed her," Mind Song suggested.
Long Sleep murmured his agreement; that would make sense. Probably one of the older Keepers.
"Perhaps it is then time for the Hive to depart," Mind Song considered.
Hopefully it was as simple as that, but the closer they got to the Queen's Chamber, the more Long Sleep could feel New Breath's fluctuating mind and emotions. She was full of anticipation and concern. Never a good combination in a Queen – they hated being unsure and it was often in their nature to take it out on others behind the guard of anger or mental dominance.
Mind Song grunted from Long Sleep's left, the sound confirming to Long Sleep that his Brother had sensed and concluded the same. Long Sleep nodded as they strode towards where two Drones stood guard outside the chamber.
Pausing outside the open entrance, Long Sleep bowed his head as they waited for their hostess Queen to order them into her Chamber.
"Enter," New Breath's voice echoed from within the Chamber.
Long Sleep lifted his head as he and Mind Song strode forward, entering into the nicely humid air of the Chamber.
New Breath was stood close to her throne, a Warrior adjusting the trailing caped-back of what was clearly a new battle-dress that New Breath had had designed.
It was then indeed time for the Hive to launch and New Breath was dressed for it.
She waved a pale hand and the Warrior stepped back, bowing his head as he slid away and headed out of the chamber.
New Breath turned away, heading the short distance to her throne grown of thick skeletal bone from the Hive's floor. Long Sleep idly noticed that the throne was larger than the last time he'd been in here. On her command or was her Hive embracing its new Queen more fully?
As she crossed to the throne, Long Sleep's eyes were drawn to the tall wide shape of her Primary who was watching him and Mind Song closely. The Warrior was mature in years, though still younger than he and Mind Song. A faint suspicious frown lingered continuously across the Primary's features, but that was expected from one in his position. It was the Primary's purpose to protect his Queen and ensure everything functioned to her desire.
"I have received news," New Breath reported as she moved up the three steps up to her throne. Anticipation pulsed within her mind, filling the chamber.
She paused on the second step and glanced at them over her pale bare shoulder exposed through an open hole in the battle dress's black fabric. As was common in her lineage, she was of a petite build and had long dark hair which was cascading freely down her back. Her eyes were a sharp deep yellow as she considered them over her shoulder, her expression full of the seductive manipulation of her Queenly kind. She indeed understood her power, her potential.
"What news, Great Queen?" Mind Song asked her after a bare moment's pause, playing the role she had demanded in her pointed pause.
One side of New Breath's dark lips lifted in pleasure and she continued up the last step to her throne. There she paused again, turning towards them as she lifted her hands outwards, the hanging long pieces of fabric from her shoulders stirring into place so as not to get in her way as she prepared to sit.
"Sharp Claw has fallen," New Breath stated and then sat.
Long Sleep felt a jolt of shock and looked round at Mind Song. Their plan broken in an instant…
"Is the news certain, Great Queen?" Mind Song asked calmly, though Long Sleep could see the frown of worry creeping in.
"Reported from more than one of my fellow Sisters," New Breath confirmed. Long Sleep could feel nothing in her fluctuating emotions that suggested she was lying, if anything he suspected she had known of Sharp Claw's fall days ago and had been waiting to use the knowledge at a time that suited her.
"How long ago?" Mind Song asked.
"Very recently," New Breath replied with barely restrained glee in her voice and mind. There was nothing that pleased an ambitious Queen more than newly available feeding ground to battle over. And Sharp Claw's territory had been vast.
"That is deeply unfortunate," Mind Song sighed, his head bowing, but Long Sleep felt his Brother's mind working, adjusting his plan with lightening fast thought. "I am not sure what we will do," he looked round at Long Sleep. To others watching, Mind Song looked lost, but he was far from it.
"Indeed," Long Sleep frowned, playing along while letting his shock still rattle in his outer mind for New Breath to observe. Sharp Claw had been their best hope. "We will need to find another."
But of course, New Breath's next step was obvious.
"As your 'vital' message is so important," she stated, her tone now seeming indifferent though her anticipation still choked the Chamber around them, "I did mention your cause to some of my fellow Sisters."
Ah.
Long Sleep looked to her. "Another coalition has formed?"
"Nothing like the foolish arrangement you told me about of your previous Queen, all of those 'matured' Queens," the description dripped with revulsion, "who simply gathered themselves up on a plate for the Armoured Herd to devour them more easily. No, I have been invited to a meeting, requested personally by one who should work well in place of Sharp Claw."
Long Sleep felt Mind Song's mind stir with some anticipation of his own. "An Elder Queen?"
"You will see when we arrive there," New Breath smiled, the tips of her teeth obvious against her dark lips. "Of course," she glanced aside, "without knowing this 'vital' message myself, I am unsure if I will be able to arrange you an audience with this powerful Queen. She is very…particular about those she keeps around her."
Long Sleep steadfastly did not react to her first reference to their mutation, and she had clearly waited to use it at a time that suited her.
Long Sleep looked to Mind Song, his Brother's eyes already on him. They had already discussed the likely possibility of having to tell New Breath about the Skerti, but her youth and ambition had held them back so far, but now it was clearly necessary if they were to be introduced to this new Queen who New Breath suggested had some power.
Long Sleep could see and sense the turning of his Brother's mind, and he nodded his agreement.
Mind Song looked back to New Breath. "Of course, Great Queen. After all, this information could change everything for the right Queen holding it."
New Breath angled her head, her anticipation tingeing with annoyance throughout the Chamber.
"As what we know," Mind Song continued in a deep sombre tone, "could very well spell the end of all Wraith kin."
Her former annoyance exploded into surprise and concern as New Breath leaned forward a fraction in her throne, all pretence of display and dominance vanished. "There is no such thing," she argued, but there was no venom in her voice.
"Unfortunately," Mind Song stepped forward a pace towards her, "I wish that were the case, but there is a new threat out among the stars that has even struck deep into the heart of the Armoured Herd's territory."
New Breath leaned further forward, her mind starting to focus on Mind Song with more skill, but in his thoughts, she would find nothing but honesty, though, perhaps, also the lingering fear he had been carrying since Long Sleep had shared with him the new threat.
"An ancient evil that killed every one of our kin who met them directly in battle," Mind Song uttered, "turning this enemy into fear-filled legend and myth, but now they have returned. We know this for certain, because my Brother encountered one and was the sole survivor of his Hive. Just one of the enemy onboard doomed that Hive and he will share with you, as he did with me, his memories of facing the creature's mind."
Long Sleep nodded to New Breath as her yellow eyes shifted to him before snapping back to Mind Song.
"But of this returned evil," Mind Song continued gravely, "nothing is actually known except their name…the Skerti."
0000
"Entering the ship now," Jobrill's voice echoed from the speakers as Halling watched the latest abandoned drifting Salvager ship filling Central Station's front view.
The seventh now in a long line of derelicts left empty of any life and any clues as to what had happened to them.
This drifter was intact, but its back hatch stood wide open, the large door standing out from the back of the short stout ship, exposing it's interior to vacuum. That hatch also made matters more complicated for the docking freight to attach and the 'step approach' had been required for the boarding team to get onboard. From here he could see the extended metal platform that protruded from the decompressed airlock on the docking freight, along which the boarding crew had had to walk to board the drifter.
He watched as the last member of the small boarding team disappeared inside the ship.
He turned back to the tactical display table, watching the data starting to flow in from the team's suit sensors.
"So far same as the others," Jobrill reported almost immediately. "There's only one inner hatch inside here, set between this back loading bay and the piloting station at the front; the inner hatch is open." Halling listened to her breathing increase as she moved around inside the ship. "Again wall-screens have been torn out of wall in this back section and," a faint shift of sound as she exhaled, "looks like part of the back hatch hydraulics have been removed."
"Explains the open hatch then," Si uttered from across the table.
"Again no signs of violence, no blood splatters," Jobrill added. "No personal items, no damage other than some deep scrapes along the deck of the back loading bay, looks like something heavy was dragged through here."
"Probably the computer core again," Nalla considered from Halling's right. On the last two drifters the Sythus had investigated they had seen the same, deep scratches in the floor decking where the torn out components and computer cores had been dragged out of the ships.
"Confirmed, the computer core is missing from piloting section," Jobrill reported. "Looks like they ripped out part of the decking to do it, the underside outer hull looks compromised from it." She grunted again. "Conduits and wall-screens all gone again. Other than the fact that one armrest of the piloting chair is broken," Jobrill reported with what sounded like frustration now, "There are no signs of violence. Though if there were, they made such a mess tearing everything out it probably covered it up."
"And definitely no blood?" Teyla asked from beside Halling.
Jobrill paused before she answered, no doubt directing her helmet and handheld lights around the inside of the small ship, inspecting floor, walls, ceiling and the chairs. Halling waited patiently, but he feared he knew what the answer would be, just as it had been for all the previous drifters.
"Nothing," Jobrill sighed. "We'll start taking images and collecting samples."
"Understood," Halling replied.
"Seven drifting dead ships," Si summarised the last frustrating day's worth of discovery. Or was it technically night now on the Sythus? Halling glanced at the time displayed, not that it really mattered right now.
"We have the metallic analysis from the hull sample of drifter #5," Teyla reported as she tapped a on a section of the display table. "Again evidence of old weapons damage, consistent with the Salvager's own weapons signatures. Indications of physical impacts..."
"Same as all the others," Halling wished it was more useful news. "Have they completed the biological swab samples from #5?" He asked Teyla.
"Yes, same as last time too" she confirmed, "nothing conclusive. The ship was exposed to vacuum for too long or was thoroughly wiped down."
"Honoured Elite, we have the Valse on audio link," a technical reported.
Halling reached out and opened up the link. "Sythus here, Valse."
"Honoured Elite," Commander Ara's voice replied, her tone already suggesting her half of the Hunt Fleet had found nothing new. "We have completed analysis of drifter #6. Nothing new to report. Same as the others."
"So far we are finding the same with #7," Halling replied to her, trying not to let his disappointment leak into his voice. "Only difference is the back hatch hydraulics were torn out."
"The Sensor Platform Ship have identified drifter #8 on sensors ahead; shall we jump there and continue with the same plan of action?"
Halling shifted his attention round the table.
"Eight abandoned ships, all damaged, all conveniently devoid of anything useful, all in a long line," Teyla summarised the situation.
"It feels like a waste of time," Si noted, frustration rare to hear in his voice. "If I wanted to keep an enemy occupied, this would be a good way. Little distractions leading my enemy away from where I want them."
"The asteroid field?" Teyla guessed their friend's point.
Si shrugged as he nodded, his dark arms crossed.
"If we project the line of drifters ahead," Nalla called up a chart displaying the line of drifters projected forward, "it would still cross close to the sector with the asteroid field. If distraction was the purpose, why not lead us further away?"
"Unless the target they do not want us to find is somewhere else in this region we do not know about?" Young Isen suggested.
"Possible," Nalla nodded. "Or it may be that these drifters are the remains of a battle, or even a stranded group of Salvagers who had to abandon each ship as it failed, taking what they could from each ship and continuing on?"
"Or each dumped out the back of a larger ship?" Isen repeated his earlier theory.
Halling nodded, that theory making some sense to him.
"It is possible that this has absolutely nothing to do with the Skerti," Nalla pointed out. "Perhaps this is the result of a Salvager battle; they are prone to their own wars over territory. So far, there is nothing to link these abandoned ships to the Skerti at all."
Halling had to admit that was true. "Then the question is, do we abandon searching these wrecks and instead start the hyperspace flight to the asteroid field?"
"Or split the Hunt Fleet?" Nalla suggested.
"The closest edge of the asteroid field is two days away in hyperspace," Teyla replied. "If we split the Fleet and the Skerti do appear out of nowhere using their advanced Drive tech that will leave only four ships to face an unknown number of Skerti. The other half of the Fleet could be days away from assisting."
Halling nodded. "I think we need to keep the Fleet close, but our primary target has always been the asteroid field and the Sensor Platform Ship needs to be far closer to it to action proper scans." He reached out and opened up an extra audio link, connecting to the Fleet Sensor Platform ship.
"Sensor Platform here, Honoured Elite," Commander Teije replied after a beat.
"What is the latest on your long-range readings of the asteroid field?" Halling asked the science vessel's Commander.
"We are still too far away for anything more than being able to detect its closest edge," Teije replied, "but we can confirm that there are absolutely no indications of a Hive Ship in this whole region."
"Can you detect other ships, perhaps in the asteroid field, using those same specialised sensors you use to detect Hives?" Teyla asked.
"Not in their current settings. They were specifically designed to detect the known signatures of Hive ships, even if weak and at a great distance. To be able to detect another type of ship, we'd first have to know what we are looking for and alter these specialised sensors to detect it."
Then it was a decision on whether to get on to the asteroid field or keep studying the drifters. Halling looked around the tactical display table, his eyes meeting Teyla's gaze.
"At the end of the day," she stated in response to his silent question, "these drifters were looted and left abandoned by someone or something, and we know Salvagers do not usually behave in that manner in leaving valuable ships behind. If it was the Salvagers themselves, then they were under such circumstances, such as fleeing for their lives, that they behaved so differently; then at the end of this line of derelicts, we may find the cause."
Namely, perhaps the Skerti.
"And just because these seven ships so far have provided no clues," she continued, "does not mean that #8, and any others after it, will not."
Halling nodded and turned to Nalla next.
"We know that the Skerti that attacked the Salvager Processing Ship used the Salvagers' own smaller ships to attack and board it," Nalla noted. "What if these derelicts are those ships? Abandoned after that incident, perhaps that is why only Salvager weapons signatures are showing on the hull samples."
"Or perhaps these drifters are from when the Skerti captured those Salvager ships in the first place to use for the attack on the Processing Ship?" Isen suggested. "And the removed components were taken to keep the Skerti-captured ships functioning for that attack?"
"A good theory," Si complimented Isen's thinking. "Whatever the reason these drifters are here, it doesn't feel right to me."
"Nothing feels right out here," Teyla muttered.
"You think we should disregard the drifters, Si?" Halling asked.
"I think these derelicts could simply be the results of a battle as much as they could be a distraction," Si replied. "But ultimately they have not told us anything so far, and the asteroid field – our main target – remains unexplored."
"Not that we know how far these drifting ships will continue," Nalla considered. "#8 may be the last. Or they could lead right back to a battlefield that will hold far more useful intel."
"Jobrill?" Halling asked into the air, knowing the open link was still running.
"Both avenues of direction have value," Jobrill replied. "We are finished on this drifter, so we are heading back into the docking freight."
"Understood, Jobrill," Halling confirmed. "Commander Ara, your thoughts?" He asked.
"These drifters are piecemeal crumbs for us to find," the Satedan Commander replied instantly. "I say we move on towards the asteroid field, which was our primary target in this region. We could return to study the drifters in the future."
Halling ultimately agreed with Jobrill's assessment, that both studying the drifters and moving on to the asteroid field had value, but he did not like the idea of splitting the eight-strong Hunt Fleet. Four ships alone in this unknown region with no immediate back-up would be at risk. As much as they were hunting the Skerti, the Skerti could also hunt them, and four ships would be far more vulnerable. Even with the two Fleet halves currently investigating separate drifters, they were minutes away in hyperspace, not days. Out in this empty region well outside the Alliance border, further help would not be forthcoming any time soon.
"If I may, Honoured Elite?" Commander Teije interjected from the Sensor Platform Ship.
"Of course, Commander," Halling invited his opinion.
"We have small satellites loaded with sensors that we can deploy from this ship, we could take a few of them onboard a Transport Craft to the closest edge of the asteroid field, two days hyperspace flight away. The Transport Craft would be small enough to move through the asteroid field and deploy several of the satellites in that closest area of the field, then that would allow us to start data collection and analysis. And in the time that takes, perhaps we will have completed studying the abandoned ships."
"Can the Sensor Platform ship pick up the satellite data from this far away once they are deployed?" Halling asked.
"Not all of it, no, but the Transport craft could be outfitted to capture as much data as possible and those onboard could relay it to us via link. Even jump back to us by hyperspace, leaving the satellites there. From what we can detect of the closest edge of the field, the asteroids are close enough to each other to provide cover for a small Transport Craft to go unseen."
Halling liked this idea and he saw the others around the table nodding in agreement already. "How many and how big are the satellites?" Halling asked Teije.
There was some barely audible discussion on the other end of the audio link. "We believe we can modify three to four to fit into the back of a Transport Craft, but there wouldn't be much space for many personnel. We'd need to send two of our ship's specialist technicians to oversee the satellites' deployment."
"Our Second Transport Craft," Si considered. "If we removed the weapons lockers and the back seats…." The Elite had done as much plenty of times before, the Sythus' Transport Craft specifically designed for such modifications. Plus they were outfitted with better weaponry and facilities onboard than other Fleet Transport Craft.
"It would allow us to investigate these drifters for useful data and start the analysis on the asteroid field at the same time," Halling agreed. "But there is the chance that the Transport Craft would come under attack, with no backup."
"Our Fighters are hyperspace capable at that distance," Nalla pointed out. "Two could accompany the Transport Craft. Then both the Fighters and the Transport Craft will be able to move through the asteroids for protection compared to the Sythus or a Fleet ship."
Halling liked the idea.
"And I could go," Nalla added. "If anyone else is in close proximity, I should be able to detect their emotional webs."
Halling had to admit that made sense, though he felt strangely uncomfortable about it as well. Nothing felt normal with her anymore. "We would need to limit the crew to six maximum I would say, including the two from the Sensor Platform, and yourself and a pilot."
"I suggest we send Inifee," Teyla recommended. "He is our most expert Pilot and the Transport Craft will likely need careful manoeuvring through the asteroid field."
Halling nodded, knowing no one else would object. He had not met anyone so skilled in piloting as Inifee, though Sheppard had been very close. "Are we agreed then?"
Everyone around the tactical display table nodded.
"Commander Teije," Halling stated, "begin your preparations of the satellites. We will prep one of our Transport Craft and deploy it to you as soon as possible."
"Understood, Honoured Elite," Commander Teije replied, already sounding like he was moving, no doubt ready to issues orders the second the link closed.
"In the meantime," Halling continued. "Commander Ara, we will continue following the piecemeal trail. See where it leads us, at least until we reach its end or the Transport Craft arrives at the asteroid field and contacts us."
"Understood, Honoured Elite," Commander Ara replied from the Valse. "We will jump our half of the Fleet to investigate the #8 drifter and report back on any possible #9 from there."
"Agreed, Valse," Halling replied before he shutdown the open link.
"I will prepare for the mission and oversee the Transport Craft's adaptations," Nalla stated as she started moving away. "Isen, would you like to join me in that task?" She offered, taking the opportunity, as they all did, to provide him with experience of all aspects of Elite work.
"Yes, Honoured Elite," Isen agreed eagerly as he followed Nalla quickly across Central Station and out the hatchway.
"While that is being done," Si noted from across the table, "I will go have something to eat."
"And sleep," Halling reminded him.
Si nodded, his dark eyes sliding to Teyla. "Teyla, belated Late Meal?" He invited, for she had seemingly also missed the meal.
"I will join you in the Canteen," she replied.
Si nodded and headed away, leaving Halling alone with Teyla at the tactical display table. He glanced at the displays in front of her, wondering what she was working on that delayed her eating in the seeming short window of inactivity for the Sythus while the Transport Craft was prepared and launched. He saw her tap on a glowing control, monitoring the docking freight's departure from the derelict. Waiting for Jobrill to return no doubt then.
"I can take Central Station alone," he assured her. "You have not eaten in hours."
"Have you?" She glanced round with a faint smile.
He angled his head. It was true enough. "I will order something brought up."
She nodded, her attention moving back to the screen. The freight was almost back.
He noticed that, like before, her free hand had a tight hold on the edge of the tactical display table, as if holding herself up. Or perhaps she was simply leaning, relaxing her weight against the table. After all they had been up here in Central Station for many long hours. And had nothing yet to show for it.
Teyla glanced round, sensing his attention. "Something is worrying you," she stated more than asked.
"I had hoped we would have found something useful by now," he sighed quietly.
She smiled as she turned her attention back to the display. "Not all missions can be like Econa."
He chuckled at the recalled mission as he reached out and opened up an update from Nalla, who had already selected two technicians with battle experience to join her and Inifee on the Transport Craft.
"Econa feels like a lifetime ago," he considered as he recorded the names of the technicians and their personal beacons on the mission update, and then acknowledged Nalla's message.
That mission on Econa, to hunt down Wraith supposedly hiding in a forest near a large settlement, had been one of the quickest missions he and Teyla had had together. They had landed their transport vessel in a tiny clearing in the forest and when Halling had opened the side hatch the Wraith had been there. A short fight of bare minutes and the two Wraith had been killed, and several hours of searching the rest of the forest had revealed there were no further Wraith. It had turned out that he and Teyla had landed their ship right beside where the Wraith had set up their makeshift base.
"We were both far younger that is for certain," Teyla chuckled herself now.
"Yet still remains our most successfully speedy mission," he continued as he considered Nalla's chart with the projected line of the drifters. "Let us hope that this line will lead us directly to where the Skerti have their makeshift nest."
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TBC