Daedalus drops out of hyperspace at the location of Midway Station.
Col. Caldwell, "How far behind is the Apollo?"
Airmen respond, "Scanners show the Apollo should be arriving momentarily sir!" as the Apollo drops out of Hyperspace.
Col. Caldwell, "Open a channel to Apollo."
Col. Ellis appears on the viewscreen, "Looks like I owe you $10, Colonel."
"I'll collect it later. Everything good on the Apollo?" asked Caldwell.
"We are a go and I have some engineers who are cooped up and ready to start building," replied Ellis.
Caldwell nodded, "Understand Dr. Simpson will lead the coordination of the building of the station."
"I think my engineers are already in contact and they waiting on a green light," Ellis stated.
"Dr. Simpson you have a green light, Col. Ellis inform your engineers of the same," Caldwell order.
Dr. Simpson went off to the lab with the Asgard computer core. She would be using the Asgard transport beams to convert raw resources into completed forms for building the station. The trickiest part would be the frames that would hold the two stargates. It was far more efficient to carry a cargo hold full of Trinium and other materials than to carry all of the forms. The Asgard core had the designs already in place, and the steps necessary to create the station. Her role was basically to monitor it's progress and make any adjustments necessary.
Her first step was to synchronize the Apollo and Daedalus Asgard Computer Cores, so they could work in conjunction. Once she had this setup the process was ready. She and her counterpart on the Apollo made quick work on this. She watched on her monitor as the pieces began to form and beam into position. All the wait to get here and now all she had to do was wait to again.
Two days later and the main frame for the station had been created. The two gates were in position in the frame and the interconnecting frame had been established. This station would be grander than the previous version. A command and control center that would be shielded from the gate area, crew quarters, and the gates would be shielded separately. Dividing the area between the two gates into 3 separate sections, each capable of holding a puddle jumper. Anyone moving between the gates would have to pass through each shielded area at a time before moving on. Each section had a hatch that could be used to vent the atmosphere for that area.
Dr. Simpson was in the Officer's Mess admiring the form of the station when Col. Caldwell entered.
"Good morning Dr.", Col. Caldwell greeted her.
"Morning Colonel," Simpson replied back.
"How is everything going?" Caldwell asked.
"So far very well, the frame of the station is coming together nicely. Col. Carter's idea to bring raw material and use the Asgard Core to make the forms is working out very well. We are barely tapping into our power systems. I do believe we will be doing a lot more building this way.", Simpson answered.
"Yes I've been thinking about that, maybe we should have a construction ship. One that has multiple Asgard Core's that can be used simultaneously with a massive cargo hold for containing the raw materials. Think I will put together a formal plan for that and send it back to Homeworld Command. Maybe you would like to review it before I send it off, I'll be sure to add your name to it?" Caldwell asked as he got his coffee.
Simpson was very flattered he cared about her opinion, "That would be wonderful, with Rodney McKay and Col. Carter always getting the attention it would be nice to see my name on something."
"Doctor your name is all over the plans for this station. Gen. O'Neill even commented about your ideas on the design for the station making it significantly better than what we had before," explained Caldwell.
Simpson could only blush at the praise.
A week later Caldwell had beamed over to the Apollo to have dinner with Col. Ellis, sitting together in the officer's mess.
"So Colonel how bored are you? Myself I've exercised myself to death in the gym here. With the Asgard Core doing all the work, there is nothing for me to do but sit here. My crew is getting restless." Ellis asked.
Col. Caldwell grinned, "Certainly not like last time is it? Having to direct all of the EVA's to see the station built by hand."
Ellis smiled, "Just as long as the Asgard Core doesn't replace my crew. It can do a lot but I still like to see a human at the control."
"I don't think you have to worry about that as long as Gen. O'Neill is in charge. He's never really trusted computers.", Caldwell explained.
Time was passing very slowly for the crews of the Daedalus and Apollo. Col. Caldwell and Ellis had run their crews through every drill they could think of multiple times. The precision that was required kept the Asgard Cores from moving any faster. Finally, after a month of time, the exterior of the structure was complete. The oxygen scrubbers had been installed, now it was time to test the structure for any leaks.
"Signal the Apollo to beam in their canisters of air and trigger the remote release. Dr. Simpson, please monitor the pressure of station as the air is released," ordered Col. Caldwell.
Dr. Simpson monitored the air pressure as it was released watching it increase, "Pressure is rising steadily as expected."
"Excellent! Beam in our canisters and trigger their release." order Col. Caldwell.
"Sir canisters are on board and being released." replied an airman.
"Pressure is rising steadily, no sign of a leak at this time, but we will need to monitor it for 24 hours to be sure.", replied Dr. Simpson.
"Sir we receiving a video burst from Homeworld Command.", the airmen stated.
"On screen," ordered Caldwell.
Gen. O'Neill appeared on the screen, "Col. Ellis will be beaming over to the Daedalus after this message is received. He will be presenting you with a gold star General Caldwell. Congratulations Stephen you have earned it. I wish I could be there to pin it on myself, but Col. Ellis will have to do. General when you return you will be in charge of the newly designated Earth Force, you will oversee the missions of all of our ships. You will report to me directly and will have to coordinate with Gen. Landry who will be in charge of all Stargate teams. Congratulations again Stephen. O'Neill out."
The crew on the bridge began to clap.
"Congratulations Colonel, I mean General!" Dr. Simpson congratulated.
"Sir Col. Ellis is requesting permission to beam over?", asked the airmen.
"Permission granted!" exclaimed Gen. Caldwell.
A beam of light appears on the bridge, and a grinning Col. Ellis materializes.
"How long did you know?" asked. Gen. Caldwell.
"About a week before we left. Gen. O'Neill was trying to push it through before we left, but you know the red tape. He asked if I would carry these in secret and present to you when it was time." explained Col. Ellis as he pinned the gold stars on Gen. Caldwell.
That night Gen. Caldwell found himself alone in the officer's mess. Wondering where everyone was at he had been looking for a bit celebration and couldn't understand where his crew was at.
"Congratulation General!" a grinning Dr. Simpson said from the doorway.
"Dr. Simpson where is everyone?" asked Gen. Caldwell.
"My guess is they were giving you some space tonight. Knowing I'd be here to have dinner with you.", grinned Dr. Simpson, "by the way my name is Jennifer, I go by Jenny to my friends."
"Remind me to thank my crew." Gen. Caldwell replied.
Jenny walked up to the General and gave him a quick kiss. Caldwell pulled out a chair for her to sit down. Apparently Gen. O'Neill had thought of everything and had the chef pack a special meal for Gen. Caldwell for the night. Caldwell and Simpson talked the night away.
Now that the station had passed the pressure test it was time to get busy. The crew finally had something to do. Dr. Simpson was on the Station directing all the engineers on installing various pieces. The Asgard Core's would continue to create the pieces, but engineers would be installing them now. Gen. Caldwell and Col. Ellis was thankful for this stage as it meant their crew had something to do. Over the next week, Command and Control were assembled and tested and retested. Crew quarters were next, followed by a medical bay. Dr. Simpson was seen having dinner with Gen. Caldwell every night. Even an observatory was installed on the station, something several astrophysicists had asked about.
Seven weeks into the project and they were ready to give it a test run. Col. Sheppard would be flying a Puddle Jumper from the Milky Way to the Pegasus.
Dr. Simpson in charge of the Command and Control Center on Midway station.
"Send a sub-space message to Homeworld Command to commence with the test," ordered Dr. Simpson.
Thirty minutes later, an incoming wormhole from the Milky Way opens up. A puddle jumper exits.
"Welcome to Midway Station Col. Sheppard." Dr. Simpson announced. Proceeding to lower one shield at a time so the Puddle Jumper could move forward until it was ready to enter the Pegasus side.
"Permission to dial Pegasus?" asked Col. Sheppard.
"Permission granted." Dr. Simpson replied.
Sheppard's Puddle Jumper disappears into the Pegasus Stargate. Two hours later it returns and proceeds to Earth. The station performed admirably.
Over the next week, a number of supplies from Earth are brought on board the Daedalus and Apollo to arm them for taking on the wraith. Each ship is receiving six of the Mark IX Hyperspace Missiles, which were being developed at Area 51. Additional food and water were brought on board as well. A number of the engineers were being sent home. Dr. Simpson would remain behind on Midway Station to monitor its systems. Major Marks arrived to take command of Midway Station.
"Sir! Reporting for command of Midway Station.", stated Maj. Marks.
"Stand down Soldier. Midway Station is now under your command. Congratulations Major!" exclaimed Gen. Caldwell.
Major Todd Marks would be in charge of an additional 8 airmen stationed there, and the contingent of scientists would come and go, for now, that was Dr. Simpson. While supplies were being loaded onto Daedalus and Apollo, a sub-space message from the Hammond came in: "Midway Station this is Col. Carter on the Hammond, telemetry should begin to be received for Hyperspace activity around the Pegasus galaxy. Over and out."
Shortly thereafter a number of sub-space bursts were received, the satellites were tracking the Hammond around Pegasus as they deposited the satellites. Last but not least were a fleet of F-302's that started arriving from Earth. The ships had to be beamed aboard their perspective ships and then assembled. The pilots were overseeing each step of the assembly, additional technicians had traveled to Midway Station to assist in assembling the F-302's. After a week of constant gate activity, the Daedalus and Apollo were ready for action in the Pegasus galaxy.
On the last night, the Daedalus was at Midway Station, Gen. Caldwell managed to have dinner with Dr. Simpson, as they were wrapping up.
"Jenny when I'm back in a few months from Pegasus, I'd like to take you out on a proper date if you would like?" Gen. Caldwell asked.
"Stephen I would very much like that." she answered, then gave him a passionate kiss, "Now you come back to me safely."
The following morning after everything was on board, the Daedalus and Apollo jumped to hyperspace, disappearing from view at Midway Station. Dr. Jenny Simpson peered from the observation deck as they left.