Chapter 19
Team AR-3's Jumper dropped from the upper atmosphere and down to sixty feet above the ground. As it leveled out, they heard a clunking noise from the left side of the Jumper, prompting Teldy to ask for a systems check. She cloaked the Jumper and headed in the direction of Central City, flew over the crashed alien ship and, out of curiosity, hovered there for a while.
"We're not to engage," Stackhouse reminded her over the comm.
"I'm aware of that, Major. I just want to see these creatures up close, maybe learn a little about them before any chance of engagement."
The team had a good look at the ship and the creatures around it. Even Caran Muro, the team's scientist, stopped her system check to have a quick look before returning to what she was doing.
"Wow. Do you see the size of those things?" Mehra asked, leaning over Teldy's shoulder. She was chewing gum and blew a large bubble before she said, "they could take the Hulk down."
"Yes, Dusty, I can see them."
"Don't you think it's strange that they are so careful with those tanks?" Nara asked from the copilot seat. "Like, as if they were filled with explosives or bombs."
Teldy watched the working creatures, hauling tanks from the ship's interior on the floating platforms. From the rear of the Jumper came the quiet voice of Caran.
"I think it's more strange they are taking the tanks from the ship."
Teldy turned in her seat to look at Caran. "Why?"
Caran put her tablet down and made her way back to the cockpit. "They are repairing the ship, yet removing these tanks which they handle so carefully, even reverently. Why?"
"Enlighten us," Teldy said.
"I don't know, do I? But I think it's strange." Caran replied then went back to the rear of the ship.
Teldy looked to Mehra who just shrugged and returned to her position behind the pilot seat.
Having seen enough, Teldy activated her comm as she moved the Jumper over the forest. "Colonel Sheppard, Major Lorne, please respond."
There was no reply.
"Nara, do you see anything we can follow down there?"
The short blond peered out the cockpit window, searching the ground passing below for any sign. After a while, she pointed to the far left. "There, over in the clearing. That looks like a landing site to me."
Indeed, the area she pointed to was flat enough to land a Jumper and there were a few indentations in the ground that might be from just such a ship. Teldy took the Jumper closer and hovered over the spot, seeing three dead creatures with what appeared to be P90 bullet holes.
"Yeah, that looks like the work of Sheppard's team," Mehra snorted and chewed harder on her gum.
Teldy surveyed the ground searching for any clue as to which direction the team had taken. She noted a dark, muddy mark on the ground next to the apparent landing site.
"Is that blood?" she asked, pointing it out to Nara.
"Looks like it. And there are trails leaving this area," Nara pointed, "one looks as if someone was dragged. I'd say one of the team was injured and the others pulled them from here after an ambush."
Teldy activated her comm again. "Colonel Sheppard, Major Lorne, this is Teldy. Please respond."
Still no reply.
"Ok, I'll take the Jumper higher, Nara, keep an eye on those trails."
The Jumper glided almost silently above the forest canopy. Even from there, they could see the odd enormous insect moving within the trees or the giant beast native to Caronaa. Wherever AR-1 was, Teldy was sure the forest hadn't made their trek easy.
They followed the trail to the radically transformed Lake Parnak. It was disturbing to see such a place of beauty reduced to the festering sight before them. There were creatures by the lake, the same ones from the downed ship, though not as robust as the others they'd seen.
"They must be sick ones," Nara said as one creature folded over itself and dropped to the ground. "Maybe this is how they die, far away from the healthy."
Teldy didn't know or really care, as she spotted footprints leading back into the forest. She followed this trail until it was hidden by the trees then flew onwards towards the first village. She could see it on the horizon, a bright, mass of white structures against the skyline. As they approached, Teldy tried to hail the other teams again. This time, her hails were answered.
"Major Teldy, Lorne here."
"Good to hear from you major. How are they?"
"Not good. I'll fill you in shortly. Who is in the other Jumper?"
"Major Stackhouse and his team. He's waiting near the gate to relay information to Atlantis."
"Go back out of the dampening field and message him. I need you all here in the village. Get back to me, pronto."
"Roger that," Teldy signed off and turned the Jumper around.
As they flew back along the path they had taken, Teldy saw an increased movement of the creatures in the forest. It looked like a small army, all heading in one direction at a steady pace. As soon as was possible, she hailed Stackhouse and relayed Lorne's message. It appeared that their mission was a success. The missing team was found and the teams were coordinated. They could relax a little.
Right on cue, the creatures on the ground began firing on Teldy's Jumper. Three hits in rapid succession threw the Jumper into a nosedive.
"Are we uncloaked?!" yelled Teldy.
"Crap! I'm on it!" Caran shouted. The scientist cursed as she tried to get the ship under control. She ripped out crystals and pushed in cables, her hands working in a blur as she fought to keep the ship airborne. The Jumper leveled out and Teldy regained control.
The creatures continued to fire and a blast hit the viewport and smeared black goop down it.
"What the hell are they firing?!" Mehra shouted.
"I don't know, but we're getting the hell out of here, cloak or not."
"It's stuff from the tanks!" Nara said. "Look!"
Teldy watched as one creature forced the rear of its weapon into a port in the tank, withdrawing it after a few seconds then continued firing upon them.
"And by the looks of it, they're heading towards the village," Mehra commented.
Teldy took the Jumper to the upper atmosphere and activated her comm. "Major Lorne, respond!"
"He won't get it because of the dampening field, we need to go back," Caran said pulling cables out and replacing the crystals she'd removed from the system.
"Stackhouse, we are under attack and it looks as if Lorne and the others will be in trouble soon. We need backup to the southern village."
"On our way!"
Teldy pushed the Jumper's limits and flew with haste towards the village.
"Cloak is up," Caran informed her.
Taking a deep scan of the forest, Teldy could see more creatures within the trees below, working their way towards the village. Though she wasn't sure what their weapons actually did, she could see they were well armed. Behind the forward scouts, other creatures pushed one of the tanks on a floating platform, flanked by yet other armed guards.
"Wonder why they are headed to the village," Nara mused.
"Caran, can you do anything about communications? Clear up and boost the signal or something?" Teldy asked.
"Working on it now."
The creatures were moving swiftly. They would reach the village not long after the Jumper did, leaving little time to warn anyone.
"Try, now!" Caran called from the rear.
"Major Lorne, please respond."
"Lorne here, where are you?"
"We're on our way to the village. We detected movement in the forest, creatures from the crashed ship. They're heading your way and look like they mean business."
"Shit. I'll inform the village leader, get some extra warriors to the forest line."
"That won't do, Major. Multiple enemies, fully loaded. They have a tank of... ammunition."
"Whatever you do, do not engage. Go nowhere near the tanks. Get to the village for a full report."
"Roger that. We will be with you in a few minutes."
The forest fell behind as the Jumper flew towards the village. The village warriors were mere yards from the treeline, their bio-suits fully armed and ready. From the village, more warriors were hurrying out to bolster the defense. Teldy spotted AR-2's Jumper and landed close by. Lorne was heading their way. He looked pissed and agitated when the bulkhead door lowered.
"The village leader says they're coming for their ships and our Jumpers," he informed them. "We need to be airborne before they get here."
"Then why did you tell me to come back here?!" Teldy shouted.
"Because you're now officially on another mission."
"What? Stackhouse is on his way here, too!"
"I'll be heading up soon enough and will warn him, I need his help anyway. Look, this situation is no longer your concern," Lorne said as he showed Teldy and her team into the barn.
The place was bedlam. Too many people in such a small space and all too busy to acknowledge the newcomers. Rodney and Teyla were squeezing themselves into bio-suits with the help of already suited up warriors. Others were busy with a tank of water and tubing, welding it into a metal frame. Still others were moving a sleek, white pod towards a spot to the rear of the barn which looked like a bed. Carson Beckett was there, shouting orders at those around him. Teldy moved closer and saw Ronon Dex hunched over and staring at a tablet on the floor which appeared to be hooked up to—
Teldy's blood ran cold when she caught sight of John Sheppard.
"He's now your concern," Lorne said quietly beside her. "I don't have time to explain, the village will be hit soon and we need to be out of here when it is."
"Surely you need my—"
"You won't be here to help, Anne." His use of her first name brought her attention fully back to Lorne and away from the chaos around her. "You need to get the Colonel off-world and through the gate once Doctor Beckett has finished."
"But —"
"The Colonel's life now depends on your famed piloting skills. Ronon has the gate coordinates, just be ready to head out when they are."
Outside an alarm began to sound, almost like an old air raid siren from Earth, only much louder and piercing. Everyone within the barn momentarily stopped what they were doing to look towards the sound.
"Time's up," Rodney shouted. "Get him in the stasis chamber!"
to be continued...