tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59189080496157506712024-02-22T12:24:31.668-08:00Stargate Nova RomaThis blog holds my continuation of Stargate Universe. Stargate Nova Roma tells the story of Lieutenant-Colonel Vale and his crew aboard the Spera, Destiny's Alpha Site.
Will they succeed in rescuing Colonel Young and his crew ? And then what ? And what will they encounter on their way there ?Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-20751120243790878002021-01-03T12:52:00.009-08:002021-01-03T12:52:59.161-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.30<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><a name="_Hlk55157808"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">30 – The End, Part
2</span></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Galaxy
Destiny Five – Between Destiny and the Blue Light - 06.28.2021, 2130)</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Twenty-one
flashes broke the black of space. The first nineteen flashes faded to reveal an
Ancient seed ship. But the twentieth flash was different, leaving <i>Chaser</i>
behind. And when the final flash was over, <i>Spera</i> – for the first time in
her existence – was together with the ship she had been build to serve as a
back-up for. Then another Zovaris ship dropped out of subspace. This ship,
however, was different from the first Zovaris vessel to arrive. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The first
vessel had its marking written in blue and was about six-hundred meters long. Rush
had also figured out that it had twenty-two decks. Ship number two, had the
same shape as the first arrival. But the deck count didn’t make it past
fifteen. The vessel was also only one-hundred and fifty meters long. And the
markings were written in green. On Rush’s panel, however, the computer was
saying that this was not where the differences ended.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While Rush
and Perry were taking a closer look at the new arrivals, the sphere of blue
light became brighter. Red bolts of energy danced across its surface. And then
the sphere expanded. It swallowed <i>Destiny</i>, the Zovaris vessels and all
the other ships. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Pegasus, Atlantis
– Deep Space Internet Facility – 06.28.2021, 2133)</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">All the
telemetry screens went dark. ~Frak !~ Mackenzie thought, as he heard Doctor
Zelenka gasp. He ignored the fact that the Commander-in-chief was in the room
and sat down behind one of the consoles. ~Let’s see if I still have it.~ He had
learned how to operate the consoles during his presidency. He rewound the
telemetry and began taking a closer look at the last couple second. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Doctor
Zelenka, is this saying what I think it’s saying ?”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,”
Zelenka began. “<i>Chaser</i>, <i>Spera</i> and nineteen Mark-One seed ships.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Only
nineteen ?” Quinn asked. “I thought the Ancients build twenty-four.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“They did,
sir. But over the years, five vessels were destroyed.” Zelenka said. “And that
includes the vessel where Colonel Telford made first contact with the Ursini.”
Zelenka checked something. “The bad news is that I cannot tell if it was the
Zovaris or the blue light that relocated the vessels. The good news is that I
got a life-signs count from both manned vessels.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And ?” Quinn
asked.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Both counts
came back as twelve. We didn’t lose anybody. But we are blind and deaf.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I have an
idea about that,” Mackenzie said.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He explained
what he had in mind and they got to work.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny –
Bridge - 06.28.2021, 2132)</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The ride had
been far from smooth, but <i>Destiny</i> had made it to….well, wherever they
were now…in one piece. Rush was looking at the sensors, but the range was
limited by their new locale. He could see the two Zovaris vessels, which both
holding position next to <i>Destiny</i>. The rest, however, was lost because of
high energy particles that were blinding the sensors. Speaking of blinding,
using their eyes to get a closer look was not an option either. The light from
the bubble they were in, was so bright that <i>Destiny</i> had retracted the
bridge to protect the crew. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Tell me
something, Rush,” Young said.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’ve
finished my analysis of the second Zovaris vessel,” Rush began as he turned his
chair to face Young. “You should see this,” He put the scan of the smaller
vessel on one of the screens. “Besides the obvious differences, there is
something wrong with it. The quantum signature doesn’t match.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The quantum
what ?” Samuel Wallace said.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Signature,”
Eli began. “It’s a sort of fingerprint. Everything in a universe has the same
signature and there is no way to change it.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So if you
know how to detect it, it’s a quick and easy way to find something that is NOT
from this universe,” Samuel paused. “Which means that we’re not looking at one
version of the Zovaris, we’re looking at two. And just as we’re reaching the
end of the journey. No way that is a coincidence.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“He’s right,”
Perry said.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What about
the signal ?” Scott said. “How does it fit in ?”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rush turned
back to his console and checked on the CMBR-signal. <i>Destiny</i>’s AI was
putting the pieces together, but was still refusing to show the content of the
message. As for the Zovaris, both versions were silent. He reported both to the
rest of the crew, which made Young unhappy. But he knew that yelling wouldn’t get
him anything. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Is there any
way we can get the sensors….” That was as far as Young got before the Wallaces’
console beeped. “What ?”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We’ve got an
incoming signal,” Eli said. “It’s <i>Spera</i>.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Let’s hear
it,” Eli opened the channel. “Major Levine, report.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=We’re all
still here, sir. Bit shaken, bit rattled, but no major injuries.=/\= Levine
paused. =/\=One moment we were being swallowed the distortion and the next we
were here. The range on our sensors is severely limited, but Doctor Peters and
her team are working on a plan to get you some more data.=/\=</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What about
your Stargate ? Is it working ?”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Yes, sir.
But there is some weird stuff going on there.=/\=</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Let me
guess, you have an impossible nine-chevron address in range ?”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Yes, we do.
And both <i>Destiny </i>and <i>Chaser</i>’s Gate are on the display as
well.=/\=</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Good.
Standby for further orders, Young out.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The channel
closed, but soon afterwards the console beeped again. On Rush’s console,
sections of their new location appeared. <i>Spera</i>’s crew had networked all
the other friendly ships and placed them in a pattern around <i>Destiny</i>,
where they served as boosters for the ship’s sensors. Although the network only
covered a section of the place they were in, there was enough information for
Rush to figure some things out. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We’re in a
bubble of some kind. And whatever it is, the barrier is blocking all
communications with the outside universe. The signal source is still outside sensor
range, but I know what direction it is in. We should be able to move closer
using the sub-light drives.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Scott, set
the course. Greer, ready the weapons, just in case. Eli, signal the fleet to
follow.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, sir,”
Scott and Greer said in unison.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“One signal
coming right up,” Eli said.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young sat
down in the command chair and soon <i>Destiny</i> and her fleet headed out.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Pegasus,
Atlantis – Deep Space Internet Facility – 06.28.2021, 2145)</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Some of the
displays were working again. While all the readings from the ships were still
dead, they had managed to connect to the four Stargates that had been in range
when <i>Destiny</i> and company had vanished. The Gates couldn’t tell them
much, but they were still on-line. ~That’s a start.~ Mackenzie thought. It gave
them a maximum diameter for whatever had just swallowed <i>Destiny</i> and the
other vessels. The Gates were also still in the same place they had been when
before the telemetry had been lost.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Those
Stargates are outside the area of effect,” Mackenzie said.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And whatever
is happening, it is not distorting the local gravity to a significant. If it
was, the Gates would be moving,” Zelenka said. “Which would cause them to
register as off-line.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What about
that diagnostic Doctor Volker was running ?” Quinn asked.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, yes,”
Zelenka said. “I can bring that up and see where Colonel Vale and his team
went.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Zelenka hit
the proper keys and the diagnostic came up. The wormhole had only travelled a
few million kilometers and the other end had been smack in the middle of the
original anomaly. ~And something tells me that Colonel Young has already
figured that out.~ Which probably meant that they were working on something
already. Alas, there was nothing they could do about it. So they were back to
watching and waiting.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny –
Bridge - 06.28.2021, 2140)</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Destiny</span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> and company
had come to a halt. Their forward progress was blocked by a wall of purple
lightning flashes. But instead of going from top to bottom, these bolts were
moving from left to right and vice versa. The Zovaris vessels had followed
behind the fleet. But that was not what was on Young’s mind. He was looking at
the diagnostic Volker had run on the wormhole. Which had confirmed his hunch. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So, Colonel
Vale’s team is on the other side of that ?” Perry asked.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,” Young
began. “And there is only way to get there.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As if on cue,
down in the Gate Room, the Stargate lit up and began rotating. Because her
console was still tied into the Gate Room telemetry, Amanda Perry saw this. And
so did Young. He waited until the Stargate finished connecting, then grabbed
his radio and tried to contact Vale and his team.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=We’re
still here,=/\= Vale said. =/\=And you won’t believe where we are.=/\= There
was a pause. =/\=We’re transmitting you a little something.=/\=</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Colonel, we have TWO incoming transmissions,”
Eli said. “One through the Gate and one from the big alien ship.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The three
screens facing the command chair changed. ~No way.~ Eli thought. The screen
showed the CMBR-signal. But the classic screen full of static they had gotten
used to was changing. ~The message is decoding.~ After all this years, <i>Destiny</i>
was about to give up her secret. And Eli got the feeling that this was only the
beginning.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny –
Gate Room – 06.28.2021, 2110)</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale looked
at his hastily assembled team. Carl Grogan, Lisa Park, Barnes and V’Lazo would go
with him through the Gate. Meanwhile, Laura Cadman was gathering a team to
secure the Gate Room. Just in case they encountered any nasty surprises on the
other end of the wormhole. The Stargate finished dialing. ~Here we go.~ </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Grogan, you
have the rear,” Vale said.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, sir,”
Grogan said.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">With his MP-5
at the ready, Vale stepped through the puddle….into another Gate Room. ~Sons of
Dis.~ The room was empty, with the lighting being low. He turned on the spot to
study the room. The design was nothing like the Gate Room aboard <i>Destiny</i>.
Instead, it was round with the Gate in the middle. There were two control
consoles. Vale realized that one was the dialing computer, while the other was
some version of the Kino console. Then the rest of his team came through.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“It’s another
<i>Destiny</i>,” Park said. “How is that possible ?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I have no
idea,” Vale said. “But let’s go see if we can find the Control Interface Room.
It might have some of the answers.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Sounds like
a plan to me,” Grogan said.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The team
headed out. Unfortunately, it took them just under twenty minutes to find the
Control Interface Room. This new, strange <i>Destiny</i> was about the same
size as the ship they were familiar with. But the Control Interface Room was
not located anywhere near the Gate Room. Instead, it was located at the very
front of one of the higher decks. Which was why it took them a while to find
it. Park had begun working on one of the consoles, but it took her a while to
find the answers they needed.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel ?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What do you
have ?”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“If this ship
has a master code like our <i>Destiny</i>, it’s apparently been entered,” Park
paused. “I can dial the Stargate from here.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What about
the CMBR-signal ? Please, tell me that all this was not for nothing.” ~The
Ancients going through all the fuss of building a whole fleet of ships, our two
Expeditions and building two off-worlds bases.~ Not to mention all the hostiles
they had dodged and fought the last couple of years. “There has to be something
on it.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“There is, it
looks like some kind of password to unlock the message once it’s been
assembled.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Dial the
Gate.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
Colonel.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The ship –
which Vale had nicknamed <i>Destiny 1.0</i> in his head – dialed back to <i>Destiny</i>.
As soon as the wormhole finished connecting, he and Young began a conversation.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We’re still
here. And you won’t believe where we are.” Vale gave Park a look and she
transmitted the password to <i>Destiny</i>. “We’re transmitting you a little
something.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He did not
get a reply, instead there was only silence. Young joined Park at her console
and realized why. ~Lisa was right, the message is decoding.~ It was a safe bet
that the crew on <i>Destiny</i> was watching the same thing that they were.
~Hence, the silence.~ Then the message finished decoding. Park hit several keys
so that the message would appear on all the screens in the room. ~So that the
entire team can see, good thinking there.~</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Here we go,”
Vale said. “Time to see what the message is.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Park pressed
the play button and the message began….</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny –
Bridge - 06.28.2021, 2142)</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Eli couldn’t
believe what he was looking at. On the screen was a documentary….HIS
documentary. Sort of, the details were different. The person making the
recording was Human. He was talking about a problem with the life-support.
Somebody called him Elhi. It was making his head spin.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~And
somewhere, Ronald D. Moore and the rest of the Battlestar gang are shaking
their fists at the air.~ Eli thought. He looked at the other people in the
room. All of them were silent, trying to process this revelation. ~It’s a cycle.~
But how had it come about ? What was its goal ? And how had this other, older <i>Destiny</i>
ended up that the very beginning of the universe ? Instead of answering
questions, the message had created a laundry list of new ones. And then Eli
remembered the hail from the Zovaris.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel,
we’re still being hailed by the Zovaris.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Pause the
message and open a channel.” Perry paused the message, while Eli opened the
channel. “This Colonel Young, Commander of <i>Destiny</i>. We have no hostiles
intentions towards you, please reply.” </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55157808;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There was
tense silence as they waited for an answer</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">. <a name="_Hlk55255565">Then came what they had been hoping for. The
voice that came over the channel sounded very human. But because it did not
come with a picture, Young had no idea what a Zovaris looked like. ~Still the
mysterious lot.~</a></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=This is
Commander Ayaro of the science vessel <i>Matumaini</i>.=/\= The voice began.
=/\=We come in peace, Colonel Young.=/\=</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young looked
at Rush’s console. The Scottish scientist had translated the markings on the
two Zovaris vessels. Both ships were called the <i>Matumaini</i>. It was the
larger version – the one native to this universe – that was the source of the
transmission. Before Young could reply, the sensors indicated that the barrier
ahead of them was fading away. They could now see the other <i>Destiny</i>.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It was a blue
cylinder with a bright light at the far end. On top of the cylinder was a
pyramid not unlike the one they were inside right now. But the computer was
able to locate some of the features their own <i>Destiny</i> had. ~The garden,
the bridge, the Gate Room. It’s all there.~ That, however, was not his top
priority. He turned his attention back to the conversation with Commander
Ayaro.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Commander
Ayaro, do you know why that ship is out there ?”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Yes,=/\=
The Commander of the <i>Matumaini</i> began. =/\= Yes, I do.=/\=</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And with
that, he began telling the story of the Zovaris.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(The Zovaris and
the Ancients – A Tale of Two Civilizations)</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Thousands of
years ago, a race that would known as the Zovaris needed more habitable worlds.
The reason why had not been included in story as it had been passed down over
the years. To deal with their problems, the Zovaris travelled to a distant
reach of space. And there, they began constructing things. First came the
asteroids, which were followed by the moons.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then they
made several planets in solar systems that already existed. Some of this tale
had been entered into Tau’ri history books by Colonel Vale and his crew.
Finally, two thousand years ago, the Zovaris felt they were ready for their
greatest creation. And thus, a star and the world that would one day be known
as Eden was born.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But dozens of
universes and millions of years away, there was another version of the race
known as Zovaris. Existing before their brethren, this version were not as wise
or patient as their counterparts. And when they were faced with the same
problem as the others, they took another approach. Instead of practicing and
doing their homework, they went straight to attempting to construct Eden and
her star. And it had gone wrong. Horribly wrong…</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Instead of
creating a stable star and planet, their creation exploded in a burst of
dimensional energy. Most people thought of the multi-verse as a deck of cards.
But the Zovaris were told that they were actually planes of glass. And the
explosion had been like a bullet shot through those planes. Each plane was left
with a hole, with cracks radiating outward. This damage threatened the very
existence of these damaged universes and the multi-verse itself. For if these
universe had been lost, they would have created a void that would have consumed
everything.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Fortunately
for the multi-verse, the universe were the foolish Zovaris lived was also home
to a version of the Ancients. They had detected the damage and build the first <i>Destiny</i>
ever to repair the damage. But when it reached the hole, something happened. The
bulk of the crew was send back the Ancient Homeworld using the Stargate, while
a skeleton crew took the vessel through the hole and sealed it. But that event
was so violent that it threw the ship back in time to the very beginning of the
universe.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There, the
skeleton crew carved the first signal out in the Cosmic Microwave Background
Radiation. Then, they learned to ascend and set about manipulating history to
create the next <i>Destiny</i>. As for the Zovaris who had caused the disaster,
they learned how to travel between the universes and spread far and wide. They
told their brethren that took them in the tale, hoping to prevent history from
repeating itself. And with the cycle having been begun, the tale ended.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny –
Bridge - 06.28.2021, 2150)</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Commander
Ayaro had finished his story and then closed the channel. Young was sitting in
the command chair, pondering if he could believe the Zovaris commander. He
looked at Rush, who had turned his chair to face the command chair. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I believe
him,” Rush began. “There’s another <i>Destiny</i> out there, another <i>Matumaini</i>…I
translated the markings on the smaller Zovaris ship…it’s the same ship. And
there’s the message.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You mean my
documentary,” Eli said, while frowning. “Well, sort of.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You know
what this means,” Young said. “To continue the cycle, we’re going to have to
send this ship through that hole.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“With a
crew,” Rush said. “A crew that is not coming back.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“How big a
crew are we talking about here ?” Scott asked.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Three, maybe
four.” Perry said. “Of course, that’s presuming we send the rest of the crew
back at the last moment. The question is…who is going to stay behind and how
are we going to select them ?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Instead of answering,
Young took out his radio. He ordered Cadman to dial the other <i>Destiny</i>
and tell Vale to get his team back to the ship. Young knew that Perry was
right. They would need to select a crew to finish the mission… ~And stay
behind.~ …while the others would go home. As for the number of crewmembers, he
figured that Perry’s estimate was right on the money. ~A pilot, somebody with
medical training and somebody who can man the weapons console.~ He sat down in
the command chair.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’ll ask for
volunteers, then we’ll hold a lottery,” Young said.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel,”
Scott said. “You should see this.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The sensors
showed that the bubble they were inside of, was now slowly dissolving. It was
only now that Young realized something they had been missing. ~The universe is
billions of years old. So how come this <i>Destiny</i> hasn’t literally aged
into dust ?~ So, he asked exactly that question. It was Samuel Wallace who
realized the answer.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The other
dimension,” He began. “We’ve been presuming that the other<i> Destiny</i> sank
into that dimension. But what if it dove into other dimension like a submarine.
And then used its FTL-Drive to somehow slow down time.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“That is an
excellent theory,” Perry said. “I might be able to prove it by taking a closer
look at that other ship.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“He has his
moments,” Eli said with a smile.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’ll
consider sending another team to that ship later,” Young said.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“There’s
something more important,” Rush said. “At least, for now. The Zovaris’ story
mentioned a hole, which I’m presuming is some kind of rift, that needs to be
sealed. We need to find it.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As if in on
cue, there was a transmission from the <i>Matumaini</i>. It contained a set of
coordinates. Rush calculated that it would take them about a week to reach the
location. He reported this and they got to work on coming up with a plan.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny –
Observation Lounge – 07.05.2021, 0900)</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Eli leaned on
the railing and looked ahead. They were in the vastness between two solar
systems, yet <i>Destiny</i> was being touched a gently green light. The source
of which was a rift about the size of the moon. It was glowing with green
energy. ~So, this it, we’ve reached the end.~ They had spent the last week
preparing for this moment. As Colonel Young had planned, they had asked for
volunteers. There had been sixty-seven names on the list. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Corporal Tom
Weber would be the pilot, Doctor Alexander Bennett was the medic and Private
First Class John White would man the weapons console. Everybody else would go
to <i>Old Destiny</i>, which would dial Earth. During the trip here, a skeleton
crew including Amanda Perry had manned and examined the alternate Ancient
vessel. They had learned two things.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The first
thing was that Samuel Wallace’s theory had been right. She had also figured out
how <i>Destiny</i> could recreate the dive and the time dilation effect.
Normally, this kind of research would have taken decades to complete. But <i>Old
Destiny’</i>s<i> </i>crew had left behind all their research. All she had
needed, was to tweak the protocol for <i>Destiny</i>’s FTL-Drive. And she had
not done the work alone. Brody, Volker, Park, Rush, Colson and both Wallaces
had been there to help her.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The second
thing they had discovered was that dialing Earth was not going to be as easy as
they had hoped. <i>Old Destiny </i>was in rough shape. This meant that they
would not use it to close the rift. They needed <i>Destiny</i> for that. Which
meant that they couldn’t risk using the newer vessel for dialing Earth. But if
they dialed Earth using <i>Old Destiny</i>, it was a safe bet that the vessel
would be destroyed in the process. As for the other ships, <i>Old Destiny’</i>s<i>
</i>condition made it impossible to connect it to any of them.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Eli,” Ginn
said as she came in. “It’s time to go.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yeah,” Eli
said.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The bulk of
the crew had already relocated to <i>Old Destiny</i>. Besides the three
crewmembers who would stay behind, there were only six people aboard the ship.
Rush, the two Wallaces, Ginn, Matthew Scott and Young. Eli took Ginn’s hand and
the two of them headed for the Gate Room. Samuel Wallace had refused to leave
the ship without his son. ~Talk about irony.~ As they arrived, Rush was
stepping through the puddle. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Ready to go,
Eli ?” He asked.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes.” </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They made
their way to the Stargate. After all this time, they were finally heading back
to Earth. And although he would never admit it, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>part of him would miss this ship and the
people whom had called her home. ~Goodbye, beautiful.~ Then he and Ginn stepped
through the puddle, leaving only Scott and Young aboard. The colonel turned to
the lieutenant.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Time to go,
Lieutenant.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“With all due
respect, sir,” Scott said. “I was the first person to set foot on this ship.
I’d like to be the last one to leave it.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Okay, Mel
Gibson.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young stepped
through the puddle. Scott made sure that his gear was secured and his weapon
was ready. Then he gave the Gate Room one last look. He had noticed the look on
Eli’s face before he had stepped through the Gate. And he knew Eli well enough
to know what he had been thinking. ~Yeah, I’m going to miss her too.~</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Thank you,”
He said, before stepping through the puddle.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The wormhole
disengaged and seconds later, <i>Destiny</i> jumped into FTL. It was this jolt
that woke Doctor Morrison. Despite Young’s strict orders not to, he had gotten
drunk the night before. So he had overslept. Realizing what was about to
happen, he ran for the Gate Room. But it was already too late. <i>Destiny</i>
flew into the rift…</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Space – The
Final Frontier - 07.05.2021, 0905)</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Destiny</span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> flew into
the rift. The tear in the fabric of the space-time continuum closed. And like
all the times before, it send the vessel back to the beginning of the universe
that was now its home. The event was far from subtle, sending radiation and
light in all directions. Finally, the light faded and all that was left was an
empty stretch of space.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then the two
versions of the <i>Matumaini</i> – which had been with the fleet for the entire
thing – activated their hyperdrives and left. After that, flashes began to lit
up space as the seed ships vanished. The last seed ship flashed out of sight
and then <i>Chaser</i> was taken. <i>Spera</i> was the last ship to vanish,
leaving <i>Old Destiny</i> all alone.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Earth –
Stargate Command, Control Room - 07.05.2021, 0910)</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">General Hank
Landry and watched as the Fleet appeared in orbit of Earth. After the last
flash, the Stargate lit up. General O’Neill, Richard Woolsey and whole bundle of
IOA representatives were upstairs in the Briefing Room. President Quinn was the
only Head of State present. O’Neill had not come along, having brought along
Sergeant Walter Harriman. It was Harriman who was behind the controls.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Incoming
wormhole.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Open the
iris.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Harriman
opened the iris. Landry made his way to the Gate Room, as the first Expedition
members began arriving through the event horizon. He heard Harriman call for a
medical team over the PA, just in case. Seconds later, Doctor Carolyn Lam and a
team of medical personnel arrived. ~She was probably already preparing before
Harriman made the call.~ Finally, Colonel Young and Colonel stepped through the
Gate.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonels,
excellent work.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, sir,”
The two of them said in unison, which made Landry chuckle.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So, now what
?” Young asked.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well…”
O’Neill began as he walked in. “…First you’ll have to shake hands with a cranky
old general and some blow-heart politicians. Then we’ll see about a schedule of
debriefs and reassignments.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Who knows ?”
Landry said. “Maybe we’ll even be able to sneak in a promotion or two.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“There’s
that. And we need to deal with all that information you send back.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">During the
week it had taken to travel to the rift, Rush and Perry had set up a data
stream that had send all of <i>Old Destiny</i>’s logs back to Earth and <i>Atlantis</i>
over the DSI network. It had included the logs of the forty incarnations that
had come before <i>Old Destiny</i>. The data would take decades, if not
centuries to unravel and study. The Colonels followed the Generals out of the
Gate Room. Their mission was over.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55255565;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">THE END</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></b></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-24650739101303146512021-01-03T12:36:00.001-08:002021-01-03T12:36:20.593-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.29<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
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<![endif]--><a name="_Hlk55077036"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">29 – The End, Part
1</span></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny –
Bridge – 06.28.2021, 2107)</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There had
been good news and bad news. The good news was that the team in the <i>Prometheus</i>
science lab had been able to compute an intercept course of the source. The bad
news had been that <i>Destiny</i> had been more than four months away. And <i>Destiny</i>’s
Artificial Intelligence had refused to show the signal to the expedition. But
Rush had been able to access enough of the computer to know that the pieces
were coming together at an accelerate rate as they approached the source.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And now –
after all these years, both inside and outside of stasis – they were mere
minutes away from potentially finding out the Destiny of all things. So not it
was very surprising that the bridge was fully manned. Colonel Young was in the
command chair, while Rush was manning the sensors and Greer was on weapons. As
for piloting, that job had been given to Matthew Scott. The right aft console
was where Amanda Perry was sitting, while the two Wallaces – Eli and Samuel –
had settled in at the left aft console.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Colonel Young
had figured that whatever they were about to face, there would be plenty of information
to analyze. So he had asked Colonel Vale to make sure that the Control
Interface Room was also manned and ready when they came out of FTL. Young took
out his radio and activated it.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Young to
Vale,” He began. “Marc, we are thirty seconds away, are you ready ?”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=We’re
ready, Everett.=/\= In the last couple of months, Young and Vale had learned to
get along to the point that they were now on a first name basis. =/\=Doctor
Park, Mister Brody and Mister Volker are on the consoles. Corporal Barnes and
Camille are in the Gate Room, just in case.=/\=</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Good. Young
out.” He put his radio away and looked at the clock. They had picked a point to
drop out FTL and programmed in a countdown. It hadn’t been easy, but they had
done it. ~Ten seconds.~ “Now, Lieutenant Scott.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, sir.”
Scott said.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Scott pushed
the proper button and <i>Destiny</i> dropped out of Faster-then-light. They had
dropped out between solar systems, but everybody aboard knew that the space
ahead of them was far from empty. The sensors came to life and data began
flowing all over the screens. Before Young could ask what they were
approaching, he got an answer. But it was not from the place he was expecting.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Pegasus,
Atlantis – Deep Space Internet Facility – 06.28.2021, 2108)</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">President
Vincent Z. Quinn had travelled to the Pegasus Galaxy aboard the <i>Daedalus</i>.
And he was not alone. When he had learned that there was a good chance that the
project was about to come to its conclusion, Quinn had provided Robert
Mackenzie with the proper security clearance and asked him to come along.
Mackenzie had accepted, but the two of them had not spent a lot of time
together during the trip.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While Quinn had
been busy running the country over subspace transmission, Mackenzie had gone
back to his navy roots and had spent the three weeks getting familiar with the
304-Class and its inner workings. So this was the first serious conversation
the two of them were having. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So,” Quinn
began. “Hawaii ?”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, I was
done with the Virginia weather.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Rumor has it
that you’re going for the Governorship next year,” Quinn said. “Is that true ?”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No, I am
done,” Mackenzie scratched his face. “I’m retiring and spending quality time
with my daughter and grandchildren.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Good for
you.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mackenzie
nodded and looked at the main screen of the facility, where telemetry from <i>Destiny</i>
was coming in. He was sixty-five years old now, with his time in the White
House having begun when he was forty-nine. But that was not what was on his
mind. When he had joined the Navy in 1972, the Vietnam War had been going on. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~The Fall of
Saigon.~ He had been a mere Lieutenant and all he had been able to do, was
watch. In the years since, he had climbed to Commander-in-Chief of the United
States armed forces. ~Well, former Commander-in-Chief.~ And still, all he could
do, was watch.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The more
things change, the more they stay the same.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He leaned
back and hoped that their monitoring didn’t turn into a wake.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Spera –
Bridge - 06.28.2021, 2108)</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The entire
skeleton crew was watching as <i>Destiny</i> approached what could be the end
of her journey. All the stations were manned, with Levine in the command chair
and Doctor Peters running the science side of things. <i>Spera</i> and <i>Chaser</i>
had rendezvoused several days after the Battle of Destiny, so the Primian
vessel was visible through the windows of the bridge. ~Quite the beauty.~ Then
Peters spoke up.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Major, we’ve
got a problem.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What kind of
problem ?” Levine asked.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“See for
yourself.” She hit several keys and one of the screen changed. It showed a
white light on their course. “It’s a distortion of some kind. My sensors are
saying that we’re heading right for it,” Peters paused. “And, before you ask,
the controls are not responding. So we can’t avoid it. We have twelve minutes
until it swallows us.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Correct me
if I’m wrong, but didn’t we do this ?” Levine said. “The whole ‘trip to 12BC to
safe Earth’ thing ? Been there, done that.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well, we
might have to do it again.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Levine hit
several keys and a countdown appeared on one of the screens. He had a feeling
that whatever was waiting for them twelve minutes away, it was connected to
whatever <i>Destiny</i> was about to face. ~Looks like the stakes have just
been raised.~ Alas, there was nothing for them to do, but wait and watch.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny –
Bridge – 06.28.2021, 2110)</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young had
left the command chair and was now looking out the window. Ahead of them, a sphere
of blue light had slowly begun to fade into existence. At the same time, <i>Destiny</i>
had begun to slow down. Now, the ship was holding its position. ~The end of the
journey.~ At the same time, he was also reading an update that <i>Spera</i> had
just send over the DSI Network. ~Ten minutes and counting.~</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Great, no
pressure.” He was about to grab his radio and contact Vale, when there was a
beep from the sensors. ~Now what ?~ He turned to Rush. “What are the sensors
saying ?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Nothing
about what is ahead,” Rush began. “They are, however, getting readings about
what is behind us,” He had been hitting several keys as he had been talking.
“It’s seems…” One of the screens changed to show the outline of an alien
vessel. “…that the Zovaris had decided to step from behind the curtain.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The outline
on the screen was a simple delta. But the computer had managed to identify the
sub-light drives at the stern, which were three circles at the stern. Said
stern was the bottom of the delta. They had also found a small dome near the
bow. ~The classical bridge.~ Finally, there was alien writing in the picture. <i>Destiny</i>
could not translate the writing, but it had matched the letters with the
writing on the Zovaris obelisks they had encountered.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So, now what
?” Scott asked.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We’re
getting a signal from the Zovaris vessel,” Samuel Wallace said. “It looks like a
translation program, designed for <i>Destiny</i>’s communications system,
Colonel.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Okay,” Young
said. “Doctor Perry, your thoughts on that ship ?”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“It’s
advanced,” Perry began. “I’d say it’s about the same level as the <i>Aurora</i>-class
near the end of the war with the Wraith. But there’s nothing special about it.
Just standard issue spaceship systems.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What about
the locals ?”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“There are no
readings on the Zovaris themselves,” Rush said. “There’s a field blocking the
sensors.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Before Young
could push the subject further, his radio activated and Colonel Vale’s voice come
over the channel. It turned out that they had more problems then what they
seeing on sensors. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny –
Gate Room – 06.28.2021, 2113)</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Marc Vale was
not a happy camper. Just after they had dropped out of FTL, Camille Wray had
reported in from the Gate Room. Because Vale had been much closer, he had gone
to respond. When <i>Destiny</i> had dropped out, there had been four Stargates
in range. But then the screen had blinked and something had override the normal
programming, locking those four Gates out. Instead, there was something
impossible on the screen.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“A nine
chevron address,” Vale said. “And it’s not Earth. That….should be impossible.” He
hit several keys on the console and then grabbed his radio. ~Six minutes and
counting.~ The update on <i>Spera</i> and <i>Chaser</i> had also appeared on
the Kino reading console. “Vale to Young. Everett, are you seeing what I just
diverted to you ? Something just overrode the normal dialing program.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Yes,
we’re seeing it.=/\= Young said. =/\=Rush is saying it’s impossible.=/\=</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“That’s was
my first response, but here we are. And I read the update on the two other
ships, we’re down to five minutes,” Vale paused. “We need to act fast. There
are only two possible sources of that distortion and my gut is telling me that
going through the Gate to this other nine chevron place is the best shot we
have at ruling one of them out.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There was a
pause as Young considered his options, then he made his decision.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Do it.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Right, Vale
out.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He knew where
everybody was, so he quickly put together a team in his head. ~Unfortunately,
physically doing it will take a bit longer.~ And then there was the question if
<i>Destiny</i> had enough power to make the connection. But there was only one
way to find out. So he activated his radio again and began collecting his team.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Pegasus,
Atlantis – Deep Space Internet Facility – 06.28.2021, 2123)</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Never, ever
in Robert Mackenzie’s life had three minutes felt as long as now. And he had
been through some humdingers. <i>Spera</i> and <i>Chaser</i> had just been
swallowed by the distortion. The telemetry from both ships had died the second
they entered it. ~Which can’t be good news.~ And <i>Destiny</i> was still hard
at work collecting the team they were going to send through the Stargate.
~Another nine chevron address, what the…Unless, no, it can’t be….~ Before he
could ponder it further, there was beep from one of the consoles. It was being
manned by Radek Zelenka. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The Stargate
on <i>Destiny</i> has activated, sirs.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Excellent,”
Quinn said. “What about the translation program ?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The
installation is still running, Mister President. We’re at sixty-five percent
and climbing.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Keep an eye
on it, Doctor.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mackenzie
looked at the display, then looked at his watch and did the math. Taking the
lag into consideration, the program was actually nearly done installing aboard <i>Destiny</i>.
~That might be one very awkward situation.~ Diplomacy was hard enough between
humans. Talking to aliens was even harder. So – and not for the first time – he
was glad not to be the president anymore. ~Good luck, Colonel Young.~</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny –
Bridge – 06.28.2021, 2125)</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There was a
beep as the translation program finished installing. Samuel Wallace hit several
keys and the program opened. Next to him, Eli turned his stool around to face
the command chair.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The
translation program is installed,” He said.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Good,” Young
began. “Lieutenant, what is that ship doing ?”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Nothing,” Scott
said. “It’s just sitting there.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“It’s shields
are down and the weapons are off-line, sir,” Greer said. “Just chilling in deep
space.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young nodded
and then took out his radio. ~Come on, Marc. Tell me something.~ He activated
the radio and contacted Camille. After Vale’s hastily assembled team had gone
through the Gate, the dialing computer had gone inert. For all intents and
purposes, the Gate had become useless. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Which was
still the situation when Camille’s radio came to life. So that was exactly what
she told him when he asked for an update. She heard the frustration in his
voice as he closed the channel. This made Adam Brody and Dale Volker exchange
looks. Vale had taken Lisa Park and Corporal Barnes with him through the Stargate.
So the two of them had gotten the job of manning the Gate Room consoles.
Besides Park and Barnes, Vale had also taken Corporal V’Lazo and Captain
Grogan.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I don’t
understand,” Volker said as he worked the console. “This SHOULD unlock the
dialing program.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Under normal
circumstances,” Brody said. “But things are far from normal.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So, what
else is new ?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Great, over
two-hundred crew and I get stuck with Statler and Waldorf,” Wray said.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I am not that…”
Brody began, before being cut off by a beep from the dialing computer, which
Volker was manning.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“It worked,”
Wray joined him at the console to see that the dialing computer now displayed a
list of five Gate Addresses. The impossible nine chevron was listed above the four
normal addresses in range. “The Gate is back on-line…” He looked at Wray. “…and
I’m running a diagnostic to see how much power we used for that dial.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Camille
grabbed her radio and reported the development for Colonel Young. He had left
the command chair and was standing next to Amanda Perry, who had just managed
tap into the dialing computer.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Once we know
how much power we have used, we should be able to calculate the distance Vale’s
team travelled,” Perry said.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Good,” Young
said, while he suspected that he already knew where the wormhole had gone.
“Time to take the bull by the horns. Eli, open a channel.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Right, one
channel coming up.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk55077036;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Eli reached
for the proper controls, but then the world outside the windows of the bridge
was broken by a flash of light. And then the world really turned upside down. </span></span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-44644401975269375522021-01-03T12:27:00.000-08:002021-01-03T12:27:02.948-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.28<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">28 – Galaxy Destiny Five</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Mess Hall – 01.02.2021, 1208)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Destiny</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
was now in Galaxy Destiny Five. The archeological team was still hammering away
at the mystery of the Zovaris. Alas, they had been making very little progress.
And the planet builders themselves had remained out of view. Chloe Armstrong,
Cinara and Nikita Aranov were the archeologists, with Alec Colson being the
team’s Engineering expert. Also on the team were Jennifer Hailey and Nicholas
Rush, who served as science advisors. Finally, T’Zalo was the team pilot and
Ronald Greer was in charge of team security. All eight of them were gathered in
the Mess Hall as they planned their next set of missions.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“How are things going on the translation program ?”
Chloe asked.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We don’t have enough information to work with,”
Hailey began. “If we had ever heard anybody speak this language, we could pull
a page from Star Trek’s book and go universal translator.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Problem is, the Zovaris have been ignoring our
signals,” Rush said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">During their passage through Destiny Four, they had
attempted to contact the Zovaris eight times. And each time, they had not
gotten a reply from the mysteriously planet builders. Before the conversation
could continue, Rush’s radio came to life and Volker made a report. When they
were done talking, Rush turned to the others.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We have to go to the lab,” He said. “There’s been
a…..development.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The team made their way to the Research Lab, which was
the Archeological team’s base. Rush made his way to one of the consoles and hit
several buttons. The data stream appeared, but it was different than it had
been before. ~It’s not really a stream anymore.~ Instead, it was a series of
data blocks. The cosmic microwave background radiation signal appeared on a
section of the screen.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“<i>Destiny</i> is putting the pieces together,”
Hailey said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Already ?” Chloe asked. “No offense, but it’s only
been a couple of years since we came aboard. And the universe is huge.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“She’s got a point,” Cinara added. “Even if you take
into consideration all the years before the Battle of Icarus Base, <i>Destiny</i>
has only covered a tiny fraction of the universe. Is it me, or as we missing
something ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“They’re not wrong, Doctor,” Hailey said, while
looking at Rush.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You’re right about that,” Rush said, after which
there was a pause. “What if we are looking at one mystery, instead of two ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You think that the Zovaris are somehow connected to
the CMBR-signal ?” Aranov asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“It’s a possibility,” Rush said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Then let’s go over what we already have,” Cinara
said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Eli and Cinara manned two other consoles and the team
got to work. Greer and T’Zalo exchanged looks and walked out of the room. Since
they were not scientists, their wasn’t much for them to add. And it was pretty
clear that the team was not going off-world for the foreseeable future. Greer
went to the Garden to spend some time with Lisa Park, while T’Zalo headed for
the bridge to report.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When he got there, he found Colonel Vale in the
command chair. Much to his surprise, Colonel Young was behind the flight
controls. Doctor Dale Volker was the scientist on duty and Sergeant Barnes was
at the middle console. The aft consoles were empty.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Doing some driving, sir ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,” Young began. “So, what are our resident
eggheads up to ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“They’re going over their notes so far,” T’Zalo said.
“The latest theory is that CMBR signal and the Zovaris are somehow connected.
But the details are vague, so it will probably be a while before we get a
report.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Okay, in the meantime, we’re sending a team to collect
supplies on J2X-107,” Young said. “I want you to be on it.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, sir.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T’Zalo gave the Colonel a nod and headed for the Gate
Room.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Observation Lounge – 01.21.2021, 1328)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It had been several weeks since work had begun on what
<i>Destiny</i>’s crew were now calling Project Z-Two. Alas, this new approach
had not broken open the mysteries she was supposed to solve yet. Nicholas Rush
was in observation lounge, taking a break from the research. As he leaned on
the railing, Colonel Vale came in.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel Vale,” Rush began. “I was expecting Colonel
Young.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel Young has his hands full helping Mister
Woolsey, General O’Neill and Colonel Mitchell,” Vale said as he joined Rush at
the railing. “President Quinn was inaugurated yesterday, as is tradition. So
now he’s getting this briefing on the program. And he’s kind of freaking out,”
He paused. “One of the perks of being second-in-command and not the big cheese,
is that I don’t have attend said briefing.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Not a fan of politicians ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I was born in the Roman Empire, what do you think ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Good point,” Rush said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So, how are things going with Project Z-Two ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We are still stuck,” Rush looked at him. “Unless you
have some kind of magic solution.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Don’t look at me, I’m just a soldier from another
time,” He paused. “I’ve read the briefing on the signal, but it’s all Chinese
to me.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The saying is Greek.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You’re forgetting that I can read Greek,” Rush smiled
at that. ~Of course he can, probably the ancient and current day version.~ The Scottish
doctor thought. “And Latin.” It was at this point that Vale could see that
there was some kind of idea forming in Rush’s head. “Doctor, why does it look
like you have an idea ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Because I have an idea. And I need your help,” Rush
said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Okay, let’s hear it.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rush nodded and explained what he was thinking. As the
Scottish doctor spoke, Vale got the impression that not only was the doctor
thinking outside the box….~We have clearly reached the desperate state.~ But
since he didn’t have any better ideas, he didn’t object and set to helping Rush
with his plan.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Mess Hall – 01.22.2021, 0930)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Mess Hall was full. So far, the scientists had
been working on the CMBR signal. But they had not been making much progress. So
Rush had decided to have the military personnel and aliens take a crack at it.
~Because maybe they can see something that the scientists have been missing.~
Vale thought as he entered the Mess Hall. ~And humans have their own ways of
seeing the universe. But if this is truly a universal puzzle, it might require
views from more than one place in the universe.~ So maybe Rush’s idea was not
as desperate as Vale had thought it was at first.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So, any ideas, Corporal Barnes ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No, sir,” Barnes said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale was sitting between Barnes and Varro, who was
looking at the representation of the CMBR signal. It was still just static,
despite <i>Destiny</i>’s attempt to fill in more of the pieces. The look on his
face made it clear that he was not having any ideas either. Vale had read the
briefing on the signal before coming here. Across from him, G’Yal was also
looking at the readings.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Okay, somebody sends out a signal at the start of the
universe,” He began. “But it’s spread all over these frequencies and carved
into the CMBR. And ever frequency had a certain range. Basically, a sphere in
space.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Right, the higher the frequency, the bigger the
sphere,” Vale said. “And only the highest frequencies made it to Ancient space
to be detected. Which is why the Ancients couldn’t figure it out. And they
build <i>Destiny</i> to gather more of the frequencies and figure it out. So
now we have the basic premise.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The thing is...,” Varro began. “…Chloe and Cinara
made a good point. Relatively speaking, we’ve only covered a fraction of the
universe.” He paused. “I can’t believe I just said that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You’ve been hanging around with Eli too long,” Barnes
said, which got her a chuckle from everybody at the table. “But, seriously,
what is our next move ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well….” Vale said. At first, he was about to say that
he didn’t know. But then he had an idea. “No…could it be that simple ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel ?” Barnes said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We’ve been presuming that the signal source, whatever
it is, has been stationary,” Vale said. “What if while <i>Destiny</i> has been
moving to the signal source, the source has been moving towards <i>Destiny</i>
? How would that affect the math ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“A lot,” G’Yal began. “You don’t have to be a math
genius to figure that out. It’s going to change the math a lot. And if the
source is still transmitting, then <i>Destiny</i> would receive a lot of pieces
of the puzzle at once. Which is exactly what has been happening. That is why
the data stream began, that is why it has been changing.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Okay,” Vale said. “We have a theory, so what can we
do to prove it ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Let’s start by having Eli and Rush take a close look
at the math,” Varro said. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And then take it from there,” Vale said. “Varro,
shall we ?” Varro nodded yes. “G’Yal, keep things going here while we’re out.
The more ideas we can generate, the better.” ~Just in case it’s not that easy.~
“And remember, there are no stupid ideas in this whole situation. We need all
the options we can get. Even the ones that don’t pan out.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, sir,” G’Yal said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Varro and Vale got up headed out, just as Camille Wray
and Matthew Scott came in. They had been on the bridge – helping Adam Brody
with a diagnostic on the shuttles - which was why they were late. The other
tables were full, with the crewmembers busy discussing ideas, drawing out
schematics and doing calculations. So Wray and Scott sat down where Vale and
Varro had been.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I thought you two weren’t coming,” G’Yal said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I wasn’t planning to,” Scott said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The colonel made it an order,” Wray added. “So, have
you brewed up any ideas yet ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well…” Barnes began, before explaining Vale and
Varro’s theory. “So, that’s what we have so far.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Sounds good to me,” Scott said. ~But it can’t be that
simple, can it ?~ But – then again – wasn’t that the whole point of this Hail
Mary of a meeting ? As they others continued talking, he noticed that Wray was working
on something in her head. ~Only one way to find out.~ He leaned closer to him.
“Camille ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Sorry…I was thinking about something,” Wray said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Which was ?” G’Yal said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’ve been reading Stargate Command and <i>Atlantis</i>
mission reports to pass the time during the crossings,” Wray said. “And there’s
something ticking in the back of my brain. I just can’t remember which exact
report.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Hang on,” G’Yal reached under the table and grabbed a
backpack, from which he took a laptop. He opened the laptop and turned it to
face Wray. “Maybe the logs will jog your memory.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“It’s worth a try,” Scott said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Wray logged in and found the file access logs. Once a
week, Stargate Command and <i>Atlantis</i> transmitted their latest report to <i>Destiny</i>,
<i>Spera</i>, <i>Chaser</i> and the Epsilon Site. Most of the files Scott had
read were new ones, but there were several older files. So they stood out. Then
she spotted a small collection of files that rang a bell.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I think I’ve found it,” Wray hit several keys and the
reports appeared on the screen. “I was reading up on phase technology.” She turned
the laptop so that the others could read the screen. “Of course, I’m no expert.
This stuff makes my head hurt.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The others browsed the files. The first file was about
Daniel Jackson and a crystal skull. It also mentioned Jackson’s grandfather
Nicholas Ballard and Lepton radiation. File number two told the tale of when
Colonel Mitchell and Colonel Carter had ended up out of phase because of a
device Merlin had used to make notes. It had recovered from a cave underneath
Glastonbury Tor. Finally, there was the third file. This one was from the year
that Jonas Quinn had been on SG-1. It was Scott who noticed that this one was
different.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The third one mentions lifeforms,” Scott said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">SG-1 had found a device that zapped people with a
particle charge that created what then-Major Samantha Carter had called a
bleed-through effect. It allowed them to see creatures from an alternate
dimension. There had been a bit of an incident on Earth after that, but that
was not what mattered now. Instead, he asked the question on his mind.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So, how come the other two don’t ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I don’t know,” G’Yal said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“But nobody went there,” Barnes said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“She’s right,” Scott said. “And the device from the
SG-1 report was Ancient, just like the Glastonbury Tor device.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Hmmm…” G’Yal began. “Eli once told me that the
universe is made out eleven dimensions. Like layers.” He paused. “So, let’s
presume we’re in the outer layer. Which would be number eleven. And that these
three dimensions are each one of the other ten.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Makes sense, because if Merlin knew about the
Bleed-Through Device…” Barnes said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“…Then he would have deliberately picked one of the
empty dimensions.” Wray said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“All of which is pretty funky,” Scott said. “But it
doesn’t help us with the signal.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Maybe we’re asking the wrong question,” G’Yal said. “There’s
life in this one dimension, so….how did it get there ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Maybe that is the connection to the signal.” Wray
said. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">An idea formed in her head. She grabbed her radio and
activated it to contact Rush and explain what she was thinking to him. ~It’s
probably a long shot, but the worse that can happen, is that I’m wrong.~</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(USS Prometheus – Science Lab - 02.15.2021, 0900)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Eli Wallace and Jennifer Hailey were using the Ancient
Stones to visit <i>Prometheus</i>. There had been several useful suggestions
after what was now nicknamed Operation Hail Mary. But it had taken several days
to the math and research on them. In the end, however, they had found the
breakthrough they had been hoping for. Which was why the two of them were using
the stones to brief Bill Lee, Rodney McKay and Samantha Carter. ~Here we go.~ Eli
thought as the three scientists came in.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel Carter,” Hailey said. “It’s good to see you
again, ma’am.” <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel Hailey,” Carter said with a nod. “So, rumor
has it that you and Eli have something for us.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Indeed we do,” Eli said. “Hi, Eli Wallace.
So….euhm…..shall we ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well, this should at least be entertaining,” McKay
said, his tone sarcastic.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The three of them sat down, while Eli picked a black
marker and turned to a whiteboard he had set up earlier. Eli took a deep breath
and then began explaining.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Okay, so far, we’ve been presuming that the source of
CMBR signal was, or still is, stationary. Colonel Vale suggested that maybe <i>Destiny</i>
has been putting the pieces together so fast so recently is because the source
has been moving towards the ship.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Really ?” McKay said. “The Roman living fossil
figured this out ? I’m surprised he…”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“McKay !” Carter said, her tone was really annoyed.
“Go ahead, Eli…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We started doing the math, which wasn’t lining up….”
McKay gave Eli a look, but said nothing. “…Until we combined it with a
suggestion from Camille. We believe that the source has ‘sunk’ for lack of a
better word,” Eli grabbed a folder from a nearby table. “This is a mission
report from SG-1.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He handed the folder to Carter, who opened it and
skimmed the file. “I remember this mission, it was while Jonas Quinn was on the
team.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We believe that the lifeforms you saw during that
incident, evolved from microscopic life that hitched a ride on the signal
source,” Hailey said. “That’s why the other two dimensions we know about don’t
have any.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“That’s an awfully big leap, don’t you think ?” McKay
said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Maybe not,” Lee said. “We don’t all that much about
the dimension, but if the source settled into some kind of orbit…”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Which is exactly what we are thinking,” Eli said as
he drew two dots on the whiteboard. “So, the source is in its original
position, doing its thing. Then it sinks. But the waves it transmitted before
doing so are still out there,” Eli drew several waves between the two dots.
“Those are the ones the Ancients detected and the pieces of the puzzle <i>Destiny</i>
has been putting together.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Meanwhile, our source is seeding the dimension that
is now its home,” Hailey said, while using a red marker to draw an ellipse with
the two dots at the ends. “And the settling into its orbit. Now, if it is still
transmitting, that signal now has to punch through several dimensional
barriers.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“That would dimmish the transmission range a lot,” Lee
said. “But if Colonel Vale is right…”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Which the math is saying he is, now that we’ve
compensated for the dimensional issue…” Eli said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Then all we have to do, is compute an interception
course,” Carter said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Easier said than done,” McKay said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Eli grabbed a wiping block and cleared the board. Then
he handed McKay, Lee and Carter one folder each. These contained copies of the
math they had done so far. That done, they got to work. </span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-36260531665016453452021-01-03T12:15:00.008-08:002021-01-03T12:15:38.687-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.27<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">27 – Clean up and Crossings<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt center 3.15in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H9X-995 – Field near the Stargate – 03.07.2020, 1203)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">H9X-995 was a small, barren world that was located at
the very edge of Galaxy Destiny Three. It was also the final resting place of
those lost in Battle of Destiny. Forty-seven of the crew had died in the
conflict. There had also been thirty-three wounded. Several minutes after the
battle had ended, a friendly starship had arrived. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Called the <i>Colonies’ Hope</i>, it had been build by
the same group that had build the detection grid that had helped win the
battle. The <i>Colonies’ Hope</i> and two of her sister ships had towed<i>
Destiny</i> to this planet at the edge of the galaxy in a matter of minutes. On
her own power, it would have taken them nine days in FTL to get there. Thanks
to the assist, <i>Destiny</i> had thus been granted nine days to conduct
repairs.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But first, they had lain the dead to their rest. As
for the Hal’Iry dead, they had been cremated and the ashes scattered into
space. The Free Colonies loathed the Hal’Iry, but they knew a thing or two
about their customs. And this was how the Hal’Iry had dealt with their dead for
centuries. At the moment, however, it was their own dead who were on Colonel
Young’s mind. He was standing at the edge of the small graveyard that was housing
them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel ?” A female voice cut through his thoughts.
“Are you okay ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He turned to see Chloe Armstrong standing there. There
was a worried look on her face. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’m fine, Chloe.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No, you’re not.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This got her an ironic smirk from Young. He was
remembering a conversation between himself and Chloe on their first day aboard <i>Destiny</i>.
It had been just after her father, Senator Alan Armstrong, had sacrificed
himself to save the rest of the Expedition. Young took a deep breath and turned
away from the graveyard.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So, what brought you here ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel Hailey just radioed in. The new crew has just
arrived…” The new crewmembers had arrived from Earth and Freedom Prime. “…and
the diagnostics have just been completed. All the repairs are fully
functional.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Good.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The two of them walked towards one of <i>Destiny</i>’s
shuttles. Because <i>Destiny</i> was in orbit, using the Stargate had not been
an option. So they had been using the shuttle to travel down to the planet.
This trip had been to collect water from one of the few lakes on the planet.
Young had also wanted to make sure that the graveyard was secure.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Free Colonies had build a stone wall around the
graveyard, while a forcefield controlled by an artificial intelligence
protected the only archway in or out. If it detected a Hal’Iry, it would block
access and fire several hidden weapons. Young gave the graveyard one last look,
then stepped into the shuttle.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Eighth Fleet Headquarters – Supreme Commander’s
Office – 03.07.2020, 1300)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Supreme Commander La-27-B walked into the office that
had previously belonged to his brother. He sat down behind his new desk and
leaned back in the chair. Until yesterday, he had been the Middle Commander of
the warship <i>Talion</i>. Then the Leadership had contacted him and informed
him about his promotion. ~Arrogant fools.~ He had ordered his ship to Fleet
Headquarters, where he would take command of the Fleet and they would pick up
their new Middle Commander.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~Of course, I still have to CHOOSE said Middle Commander.~
But that would have to wait until the new Supreme Commander was caught up on
all the Fleet’s paperwork. ~Especially since the <i>Talion</i>’s crew has
deserved a couple of days of shore leave.~ Even when he been a mere starship
commander, La-27-B had enough connections to have learned that the Ka’Zinro had
massacred his brother and his people, before escaping the galaxy.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But that was not the official reading. The record said
that his brother was a hero, who had sacrificed himself and his troops to destroy
the Ka’Zinro. As far as the people of the Hal’Iry Hive knew, all three Ka’Zinro
vessels had been destroyed in the offensive. ~Enough.~ It was time for things
to change. He activated his communications unit and began making calls.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Bridge – 03.19.2020, 1612)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Destiny</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
was twelve days into a fifteen day crossing. The previous shift had just been
relieved. Matthew Scott was manning the helm console, while Dale Volker was monitoring
the sensors at the left console and Ronald Greer was at the middle console. Eli
was at the left aft console and Varro was at the right aft console. The final
member of the bridge crew was Nicholas Rush, who was sitting in the command
chair. He and Volker were studying a stream of data from <i>Destiny</i>’s AI.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Are you seeing what I’m seeing ?” Volker said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yeah, it’s more of the same,” Rush said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Two days into the crossing between Galaxy Destiny
Three and Galaxy Destiny Four, the ship’s AI had begun generating some kind of
data stream. The problem was they had no idea what said stream was about. ~Destiny
is doing some kind of math.~ Rush thought. ~The question is…on what ?~ Which
was what Rush and the other scientists had been trying to figure out for the
past ten days. He was reading one of the displays when Colonel Young came in.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Any progress ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No,” Rush said. “We’re still stuck,” He paused. “How
are things going down in the Control Interface Room ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Also stuck,” Young said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Samuel Wallace, Amanda Perry and Ginn were using the
Control Interface Room to work on the data stream. Before going to the bridge,
Young had checked in with them. Young gave Rush a nod and then walked out. He
could breathe down Rush’s neck, but that would not do any good. So he would
find another way to pass the time.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(J2A-002 – Field – 03.22.2020, 0932)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">J2A-002 was a planet as the very edge of Galaxy
Destiny Four. It was here that they had found the answer to a very important
question. During the crossing, Eli and Amanda Perry, had been studying the data
they had gathered on the Hal’Iry warship. And their studies had concluded the
Hal’Iry hyperdrives were good enough for them to cross to Galaxy Destiny Four.
Which had raised questions, like…had they made the crossing ? And if not….why ?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As they had approached the planet, they had detected
the wreckage of several Hal’Iry vessels. And once they had travelled to the
planet, they had found out by who. The planet was home to a Zovaris obelisk. So
Colonel Young had send the archeological team to examine the place in more
detail. Which was exactly that they were doing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You know, these are really impressive,” Cinara began.
“But they are also really annoying.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yeah, it’s like slamming your head against a wall,”
Chloe Armstrong said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The instruments were not really telling them much.
~What else is new ?~ Chloe thought. While she and Cinara were working on one
side, Nikita Aranov and Alec Colson were studying the obelisk on the other.
Unfortunately, they were having even less luck then Cinara and Chloe. Aranov
was looking at one of their scanners. But it was totally blank.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The scanner is not helping,” Aranov said. “Something
destroyed those ships, but if there are weapons inside this obelisk…” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“….Then we’re not seeing them,” Colson began. “And we
still can’t read this text. So that’s not helping either.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then the Stargate lit up and the ship dialed in.
Colson’s radio came on and Colonel Young ordered the team back to <i>Destiny</i>.
He checked his watch and realized that they only had thirty minutes before the
ship jumped back into FTL. The team collected their equipment, then headed back
to the ship. As soon as the wormhole disconnected, a silver cylinder appeared.
It ran a scan of the area around the obelisk. It transmitted a data burst, then
vanished in a burst of white light.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Nicholas Rush Quarters – 12.18.2020, 0750)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Nicholas Rush was shaving his beard. Several years
ago, the power source at the Beta Site had been down to eight uses. The
original plan had been to use it only once a month. But <i>Chaser</i> and <i>Spera</i>
had found enough supplies for that to be unnecessary. So the plan had been
changed for them to receive supplies every couple of months. The first shipment
had arrived just after the had left J2A-002. Ship number two had come in June
2020. And the last one had come yesterday. That shipment had included a supply
of razors, both the old-fashioned kind and several electric.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Cleaning up ?” Amanda Perry asked.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The two of them had been living together for months
now. And they were not the only ones to have move in with one another. Eli
Wallace and Ginn were now also living together. As were Lieutenant Vanessa
James and Varro. Rush finished shaving and turned to Perry.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“New galaxy, new look,” He said, referring the fact
that he had also gotten a haircut.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And Rush was not the only one. Amongst the replacement
crew that had arrived after the Battle of Destiny, had been Petty Officer
Second Class Walter Quinn. Before he had been selected for the Stargate
Program, he had served aboard an US Navy Aircraft Carrier as a Retail Services
Specialist. Which was the formal way of saying that he was the ship’s barber.
Quinn had set up a barber shop on board <i>Destiny</i> – even recruiting a
small team - and begun giving the entire crew haircuts.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I like it,” Perry began. “But you have to go, we’re
leaving this galaxy soon.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The two of them kissed and then Rush headed for the
bridge. When Perry had said that they were leaving this galaxy soon, she had
not been hyperbolic. Galaxy Destiny Four had been smaller then Galaxy Destiny
Three. When he reached the bridge, they were fifteen minutes from leaving the
galaxy. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Colonel Young was in the command chair, Matthew Scott
was piloting the ship, while Aranov was manning the sensors and Camille Wray
was at the middle station. Samuel Wallace was at the left aft station and the
right aft station was empty. Rush sat down at this station and got to work. <i>Destiny</i>
was still generating the data stream that she had begun working on during the
previous crossing. During their journey across this galaxy, Rush and Aranov had
developed a simple theory….</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Destiny</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
was approaching the end of her mission. Before they had gone into stasis, Rush
had been worried that – because they were skipping a chunk of galaxy – they
might miss some vital clue, which would prevent them from completing their
mission. Everybody aboard knew that countless years ago, the Ancients – aka <i>Destiny</i>’s
builders – had discovered a pattern in the cosmic background radiation. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A pattern that the laws of physics said couldn’t be
there. After thousands of years of research and debated, the Ancients had come
to the conclusion that they simply didn’t have enough information to solve this
puzzle. So they had build <i>Destiny</i> to travel the universe, collect more
information and solve the mystery. ~And now she’s putting the pieces together.~
As for Rush’s concern, <i>Spera</i> had travelled through the area that <i>Destiny</i>
had skipped. So that had become a non-issue. He was scanning through the data
stream when Scott spoke up.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We are now leaving the galaxy, sir.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Good,” Young said. “Time to Destiny Five ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Fifteen days, Colonel.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Excellent,” Young began, while taking out his radio.
“Young to Aranov, we have left the galaxy on schedule. How are we doing on that
final report the President wanted ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=I just finished double checking it, it’s ready to
transmit.=/\= Aranov began. =/\=I’ll be heading over by means of the Ancient
Stones to deal with any question, sir.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Good, Young out.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young turned his radio off as Rush went back to
working on the data stream. With Galaxy Destiny Four now behind them, he now
had fifteen days to work on whatever<i> Destiny</i> was trying to put together.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Earth, Washington DC – White House, Oval Office - 12.18.2020,
1305)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">President Robert Mackenzie sat down behind his desk.
He had just finished his lunch, before which he had finished his final brief on
the Stargate Program. By the time <i>Destiny</i> completed her crossing, he
would already be in the process of transferring power to a new President. Robert
Mackenzie had served his two terms, so he could not run for another term. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The new President was Vincent Zachary Quinn. Unlike
the man he was replacing, Quinn had not served in the military. Instead, he had
begun as a low-level clerk and had worked his way up the ranks of the
bureaucracy. Then – in 1997, at age 37 - he had accidentally rolled into
politics and now – at age of 60 - he was at the top. ~Good luck, Mister Quinn.~</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Leaning back in his chair, President Mackenzie picked
up the hardcopy of his last report. During their journey across Galaxy Destiny
Four, the crew of <i>Destiny</i> had discovered a lot of Zovaris structures.
While they had learned very little about the inner workings of the obelisks,
they had learned that Eden and Sector 3325 were on the outer edge of Zovaris
space. ~Well, technically space visited by the Zovaris.~ Doctor Aranov and his
people had done his best to discover a pattern in the placement of the
obelisks, but had failed to discover one.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~Other then that they were oases in a pretty harsh
galaxy.~ The planets with obelisks appeared to have been terraformed to some
form, which made sense to Mackenzie. They had probably figured out how to build
planets in Sector 3325. But building Eden would require more then just the
skills to build it. The planet would have to be habitable as well. And that was
where the terraforming came in. As for signs of other aliens races, there had
been none. Galaxy Destiny Four had a blank canvas for the Zovaris to use for
their experiments. And then there was the question the data stream that <i>Destiny</i>
was working on.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 117.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~Talk about crappy timing.~ They had finally gotten
Colonel Young and his crew back onboard <i>Destiny</i>, set up a supply line to
the ship and were now making progress on the mission. If there had been more
time, he would have also handed out several long-overdue promotions. As things
were now, all he could do was leave a list of names on his desk and hope that
Quinn would follow his recommendations. </span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-86770843749267803962021-01-03T12:09:00.000-08:002021-01-03T12:09:01.546-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.26<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">26 – Battle, Part 2</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Maintenance Space – 01.22.2020, 0935)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Amanda Perry, Lisa Park and Matthew Scott were in
spacesuits. The maintenance space they were in, could only be reached by
walking along the outer hull. Park and Perry were working on the machinery
inside, while Scott was closing the door. He finished and worked a small
control panel next to the door. There was a hiss as the room was pressurized
with standard issue atmosphere. ~Better.~ Perry was the first to finish taking
off her spacesuit. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Amazing,” She said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So, what exactly does all this do ?” Scott asked,
having just taken off his helmet.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We believe these are neutrino generators,” Park
began. “It’s a sub-system of the FTL-drive. <i>Destiny</i> needs them to
generate a stable field.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Aren’t there neutrinos in space ?” Scott paused when
Perry gave him a surprised look. “What ? I pay attention when you discuss
things.” This made Perry smile. “So, can’t <i>Destiny</i> use those particles
?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No, those particles are limited to the speed of
light,” Perry said. “When the ship goes into Faster-then-light, the particles
are left behind and the ship has no method of collecting them.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What about the neutrinos inside the ship when it goes
to FTL ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Those leak out,” Park said. “Think of <i>Destiny</i>
as a positive pressure chamber. And the neutrinos are the air.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So, the neutrinos can flow out. But, because of the
speed difference, they can’t flow in,” Scott said. “Which means that the ship
needs a stable source of freshly made neutrinos, hence…” He gestured to the
machinery and paused. “I can’t believe I just said that. I’ve been spending way
too much time with Rush and Eli.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Park and Perry burst into laughter as they began
examining the equipment.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Corridor - 02.27.2020, 1031)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Destiny</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
jumped into faster-then-light. As Colonel Vale had suspected, it was indeed a
far from normal jump. Young’s question to Rush had been simple. ~Can we
weaponize the FTL jump ?~ And that had given Rush and Eli an idea. It was
common knowledge that <i>Destiny</i>’s FTL-drive had two general modes. Mode
number one was the slow, in-galaxy mode. And mode number two was the faster
galaxy hopping one. What they had learned from Park and Perry’s study of the
neutrino generators, was that mode number two needed more neutrinos then mode
one. So the generators had a low and a high setting to deal with that. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rush idea had been simple, he had overridden the
safeties and switched the neutrinos generators to high. Which – because the
FTL-drive was set to Mode One – meant that their were a lot more particles then
needed for the engines. This was not dangerous, because neutrinos were harmless
unless you made the mistake of being near a supernova when it blew up. However,
when the neutrinos left FTL-drive field, they created radiation that would be
harmful. Would being the operative word, because the designers of the FTL-drive
had done their homework and installed a network of convertors that turned this
radiation into harmless particles. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But Rush had turned certain of those convertors off.
And the result was both simple and deadly. ~Sons of Dis.~ Vale thought as he
saw said effect. The section in front of him had just been flooded with
radiation, killing the Hal’Iry troopers in less than fifteen seconds.
~Infernus.~ The radiation that the neutrinos created was the same stuff that <i>Spera</i>’s
Mark-Two FTL-Drive gave off. Vale figured that this was, somehow, where the
research and development on that engine had started. ~But that’s something for
us to figure out later.~ He grabbed his radio.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Rush, it worked,” He said. “Start turning the
convertors back on.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=I’m working on it, Colonel.=/\= Rush said. =/\=But
it will take time.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=There are a lot of safeties.=/\=Eli added. =/\=We
barely managed to turn the ones we needed off in time.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yeah, I can understand why. This radiation is nasty,”
Which was probably why the Ancients had simply shielded the engines aboard <i>Spera</i>,
instead of installing convertors to protect the crew. If the convertors had
failed, the result would have been bad. “Take your time. Vale out.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Of course, it was only a matter of time before the
Hal’Iry send in the next wave. ~Time to make a move for the bridge ?~ He
activated his radio and contacted Young to come up with a plan.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Cargo Bay Twenty-Two - 02.27.2020, 1035)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Things had gone to pieces. Not only had the ship gone
to Faster-then-light speed, the Ka’Zinro had wiped out another wave of
attackers. And now they were making a push towards the bridge, while cutting
off all the approaches that the reinforcements could use. ~The corridors are
blocked by these high radiation zones and the elevators are locked in
position.~ He had ordered teams to find maintenance tubes to get his forces to
the right decks. But the hatches were locked. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Blast !”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It was at this moment that Filler First Grade Zo-12-N
came in. He was looking considerably worse for wear, having been shot by
Ka’Zinro projectile weapons and missing a chunk of his tail. Based on the
wound, it had been blown of by some kind of explosive.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Supreme Commander, the Ka’Zinro are assaulting our
frontline,” He paused to collect his breath. “And they are not just using their
own weapons. They’ve stripped the dead and are using our own technology against
us.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What about the residue and the radiation ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“They’re igniting the residue, but they’re not using
the radiation, sir,” Zo-12-N paused. “Still, they really want this ship back,
Commander. We outnumber them, but they don’t seem to care, sir.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“If they want this ship back so bad, lets give it to
them.” La-27-A said as an idea formed in his head. “Spread the word to break
out the HYE-12 units, Filler. We’re implementing Plan Delta Omega Seven. Now,
go.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, Supreme Commander.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Filler left to execute his orders. La-27-A knew
the details for Plan Delta Omega Seven from memory. And he knew that there was
a fair chance that this would be his final move. ~It will either work or it
will blow up in our faces.~ But he had no intention of going down without a
fight.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Corridor - 02.27.2020, 1041)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">NR-1 was headed for the bridge, with NR-3 as back-up.
The other three NR-Teams were holding the line, with Jennifer Hailey in
command. ~They’ll be fine.~ Vale thought as he led the team down the corridor.
He and Cadman were in the lead, while G’Yal and T’Zalo covered the rear. The
rest of the two teams where in the middle. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So, how are we going to get up there ?” Cadman asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The maintenance tubes,” Vale began. “If we try the
elevator, we’ll be sitting ducks.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So far, they had shot their way through one Hal’Iry
position. And there were four more between them and their target. But because
they had superior knowledge of <i>Destiny</i> and her layout, Vale and his
people had an edge. They reached the second position, where a high ranking
officer was leading the defenders. ~At least if the markings on his uniform are
a fair indication.~ The first position had been manned by regular troopers.
Vale gave hand-signals and the two teams took up strategic positions.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Fire !”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The team cut loose, taking down half the Hal’Iry force
before they began returning fire. Cadman threw two grenades, which took out two
more Hal’Iry troopers. The blast also gave Porter a shot at a third soldier, so
she fired her weapon and he went down. While she reloaded, G’Yal and T’Zalo cut
loose. Their targets ducked for cover, but this put them in White’s crosshairs.
The South-African soldier made quick work of them. The only survivor – the officer
– bolted. Vale signal and the team moved forward. ~Two down, three to go.~ And
with the element of surprise gone, it was a safe bet that the next one was
going to be harder.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Corridor - 02.27.2020, 1041)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While Vale was leading the push towards the bridge,
Young was leading another assault. They had just cleared the route to the
Infirmary, so TJ was overseeing the transfer of the wounded there. That done,
Young was now going on the offensive against the main Hal’Iry force. He was in
the lead, with Lieutenant James and Scott. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Greer had been really unhappy that the Colonel was
doing this without him, but TJ had sedated him so that he couldn’t do anything
stupid. ~One of the perks on being Chief Medical Officer.~ She had said to
Young as the Master Sergeant had passed out. But none of that did Young any
good as he gave hand signals to his team. They were in a running firefight with
the Hal’Iry, who appeared to be retreating towards the lower decks of the ship.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What are they up to ?” James asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I don’t know,” Scott said. “But they are definitely
up to something.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As he shot another Hal’Iry soldier, Young agreed with
Scott’s assessment of the situation. These people had come too far and fought
too hard to just turn tail – he moaned inwardly at the pun – and run away. He
grabbed his radio and activated it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Rush, anything on the internal sensors ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=No, Colonel.=/\= Rush said. =/\=No radiation, no
pressure difference and no toxins.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Keep scanning. Young out.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He put his radio back on his belt and turned the next
corner. That was when he spotted it. An metal ball about the size of a soccer
ball. It was attached to the bulkhead by means of a magnet. Young slowly
approach the device, but it did not explode. He studied it and realized that it
was a thermobaric bomb. ~Bloody hell.~ He grabbed his radio again. They needed
a plan to deal with these things and they needed it now. Or this was not going
to end well.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Corridor - 02.27.2020, 1052)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Fc-83-H had barely survived his encounter with the
Ka’Zinro at the fourth fortification. Since then, the enemy had made their way
through two more fortifications. Which meant that Fc-83-H and his troops were
the last barrier between the enemy and the bridge. He gave the orders to
prepare for the attack they all knew was coming. That done, he took his position
and readied his weapon. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On the other end of this confrontation, Varro and Ginn
had joined Colonel Vale’s force. And they were not alone, having led a team of
twelve people to this position. That was the good news. The bad news was that
Varro’s group had encountered a sizable Hal’Iry force in one of the cargo bays.
They had won the fight, but were now low on ammo. As was Vale’s group. Which
was a problem because they were facing forty Hal’Iry troopers.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What about the residue ?” Varro asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“They already burned it away,” Vale said. “And the
convertor trick would take too long.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Sound like we’re doing this the old fashioned way.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,” Vale said with nod.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He removed the clip from the MP-5 he had been using
and dropped the weapon. Then he handed the clip to Varro, so that he would have
extra bullets for this fight. That done, he gave his Beretta 92F to Ginn. ~The
real old-fashioned way.~ Having dropped his projectile weapons, he unsheathed
his Gladius. ~One last fight, old girl.~ He gave a hand-signal and the Battle
of the Bridge began with a salvo of gunfire.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Cargo Bay on Lowest Deck - 02.27.2020, 1115)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">All sixteen High Yield Explosives – the model they had
was the Mark-12 – had been placed. The units were fitting with chameleon
circuits that would keep them hidden. Once the enemy was in place, they would
detonate the bombs and wipe them all out. Of course, they didn’t need to draw
all of them in. ~Just enough to tip the balance.~ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">La-27-A grabbed his radio and ask the lookouts for
reports. They told him that the plan was working. It was costing him dozens of
people, but the Ka’Zinro soldiers were walking into their trap. ~Speaking of
sacrifices…~ He changed the settings and tried to contact Fc-83-H, who was
leading the defense of the bridge. All he got was static. That was when Zo-12-N
approached him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The transmitter is set up, Supreme Commander,” He
said. “All we need is your order, sir.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Very well, Filler.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">La-27-A made his way to the transmitter that
controlled the bombs. He entered his clearance code and smiled as the device
accepted it. He ordered his lookouts to retreat. Then he pressed the big red
button and ended The Battle For <i>Prime</i>. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(USS Prometheus – Bridge - 02.27.2020, 1118)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Robert Mackenzie watched in horror as the Hal’Iry
thermobaric bombs exploded. Then he watched as the dots that represented
life-signs aboard <i>Destiny</i> began to blink out. They vanished in lumps as
the bombs did their horrible work. It took a couple of deep breaths, before he
remember that these were Hal’Iry soldiers, not their own people being
vaporized. ~Thank heaven for complaining New Asurans.~ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Because when the New Asurans had been given two weeks
to upgrade <i>Destiny</i>, their first complaint had been that the ship lacked
teleporters. ~How can you have a starship without teleporters !?~ Claus had
complained. ~Even <i>Enterprise NX-01</i> had a teleporter ! True, it was cruel
and everybody was terrified of it. But still.~ So the first thing they had
installed was Asgard Beaming Technology. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And it was this technology that had carried the day.
The reason the bombs had been visible, was because Leptons were rare. So the
Hal’Iry had not made their technology Lepton proof. And when the Hal’Iry had
activated the devices, their chameleon circuits had short circuited after a
couple of seconds. That was why Colonel Young had found the first bomb. Rush
had then used the internal sensors to locate them all. Then – at the last
second – they had been beamed into the Hal’Iry’s location.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Which had been the end of the main Hal’Iry force. But
there was the issue of retaking the bridge. ~Over to you, Marc.~ Now, they had
to wait for the outcome to come through.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Bridge - 02.27.2020, 1120)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Hal’Iry officer was dead. Really, really dead.
They had managed to take out a considerable chunk of the Hal’Iry forces before
they had run out of ammo and grenades. At the same time, Vale had cut through
several enemy troopers with his sword. Which Varro had thought was really impressive.
The officer had been the last to go down. He had fought Vale with a pipe, but
the former centurion had ended up on top. Then a massive explosion had ripped
through the ship as the thermobaric bombs had exploded. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 243.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale’s team had just finished restoring the bridge to
normal. The explosion had done major damage to underside of <i>Destiny</i>.
~This is going to take forever to repair.~ Vale thought. Then he grabbed his
radio to tell Colonel Young that the Battle for Destiny was over. </span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-49962728732768759962021-01-02T16:22:00.001-08:002021-01-02T16:22:13.521-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.25<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">25 – Battle, Part 1</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Cargo Bay Twenty-Two - 02.27.2020, 1005)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">La-27-A had turned one of the empty cargo bays into
his staging ground-slash-command post. Because the bridge’s controls were dark
and inert, he could not use it as his command post. The problem was that the
enemy probably had the means to turn those controls back on. Which meant that
he had to keep them out of that room. So he had assigned considerable forces to
defend it. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~And then there is the issue of going on the offense.~
The enemy had set up of the headquarters in the room with the Alien Ring. ~And
it’s a safe bet that they’ve dug themselves in.~ He turned to Middle Commander
Fc-83-H, who he had made his second-in-command of the Hal’Iry forces. Fc-83-H
had been making sure that everybody had weapons and setting up defenses for the
cargo bays.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“How are we doing, Commander ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“All the troops are armed and we’ve used the crates to
set up barriers, Supreme Commander.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Excellent,” La-27-A was looking at a map of the alien
vessel. “Give the orders to begin, Commander.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Fc-83-H nodded and began giving the troops their
marching orders. As La-27-A watched them go, a smile grew on his face. Plan B
was now in motion.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Control Interface Room - 02.27.2020, 1006)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The good news was that the Control Interface Room was
working again. And the military personnel were hard at work setting up defenses
around both it and the Gate Room. The bad news was that the internal sensors
were telling them that not only was the enemy coming, they outnumbered Young
and company seven to one. At the moment, Eli and Rush were doing their best to
keep the Hal’Iry out of the Infirmary and the Garden.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We need to retake the bridge,” Rush said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And they know it,” Young said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The internal sensors showed multiple fortified
position between the Gate Room and the bridge. And with their numbers, the
Hal’Iry would be able to send in plenty of reinforcements if they attacked
those positions. Next to him, Colonel Vale was also studying the enemy positions.
It was not going be easy to win this fight and they both knew it. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(USS Prometheus – Bridge – 02.27.2020,1009)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mackenzie, Woolsey and O’Neill had relocated to the <i>Prometheus</i>.
Mackenzie had traded his suit for jeans, a white T-Shirt and a bomber jacket
that he had inherited from his grandfather. John Alexander Mackenzie had been a
pilot during World War Two, who had fought in the Battle of Britain. ~I wonder
what Grandpa would say about this whole mess.~ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Courtesy of the alien intervention, this had become an
old-fashioned ground battle. ~Except for the fact that it’s happening aboard a
spaceship millions of lightyears away from Earth.~ He was working one of the
consoles on the bridge when Richard Woolsey walked onto the bridge.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Any news from the Epsilon Site ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel Telford has send teams to secure both <i>Spera</i>
and <i>Chaser</i>, he’s still working on getting people to <i>Destiny</i>,”
Woolsey said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mackenzie nodded. There was no way that the Primians
would be able to field a big enough for in time to help Colonel Young and his
crew. It was at times like this that he missed being in the Navy. ~Those days
are gone, Robert. The buck stops at you now.~ It made him feel Shakespearean.
~Heavy hangs the head that wears the crown.~ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Of course, he knew that the real people carrying the
weight right now were Colonel Everett Young and Colonel Marc Vale. And that
Vale was his fault. After all, it had been Mackenzie who had offered him the
job of <i>Nova Roma Expedition</i> commander. ~No way back now.~ He counted to
four, then went back to work.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Corridor - 02.27.2020, 1014)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Lieutenant Matthew Scott fired his weapon and watched
as the Hal’Iry soldier dropped. He was leading a team of defenders, who were
firing short burst as the tried to hold the corridor. They had taken out the
first wave of attackers with grenades connected to tripwires. ~The Colonel
better come up with a plan, or this is not going to end well.~</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Before he could ponder it further, the Hal’Iry rushed
forw an masse. Scott and his team opened fire, but it was not enough. He
watched in horror as Sergeant Greer took one of the energy bolts, follow by
Corporal Barnes and Private Becker. ~No !~ Scott fired his weapon as he rushed
towards the three of them, taking down two more Hal’Iry soldiers. Fortunately,
Barnes and Becker had been shot in the leg. Greer, however, had not been so
lucky. He had been shot near his left kidney. But Greer being Greer, that didn’t
keep him from shooting at the bad guys.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Retreat !” Scott ordered.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Scott and Vanessa James provided cover fire, while the
rest of the team got the wounded out of dodge. And then more Hal’Iry came
rushing towards them and everything really went to hell. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Control Interface Room - 02.27.2020, 1020)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Things had gone to pieces. The civilians were trapped
and the enemy was pushing them back fast. And the wounded were piling up in the
Gate Room. TJ, Bennett and V’Lazo were doing their best, but they lacked the
supplies and equipment they needed. Young was firing his weapon and doing his
best to hold the Control Interface Room. He had just shoot one of the Hal’Iry
soldiers when there was a beep. Rush had managed to get the countdown clocks
back on-line. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~Eleven minutes.~ <i>Destiny</i> had dropped out of
FTL when the Hal’Iry had dialed in. But with the wormhole disconnected by the
New Asurans, the ship had begun doing the math on a new FTL jump. They simply
hadn’t been able to see it until now. ~Great, just great.~ Then an idea formed
in his head. He turned to Colonel Vale, who was preparing a surprise of his own
for the Hal’Iry.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I have an idea, but I need Rush to set it up. How is
Maggie coming along ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Ready to raise some hell,” Vale began. “Go !”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young ran for the Gate Room, while Vale and Colson
used Maggie to unleash a rain of bullets. Maggie was a Primian copy of a Mark-1
point three-zero-three Vickers machine gun. Earth considered these weapons
obsolete, but the Primian Senate had not been so picky. So they had provided
the Destiny Expedition with two of these weapons. The other weapon had been
nicknamed Pauly and had been set it up to cover the Stargate, just in case the
Hal’Iry tried to dial in again. Young found Rush at the Kino console and began
explaining what he had in mind. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Cargo Bay Twenty-Two - 02.27.2020, 1020)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">La-27-A was pleased with their progress. They had the
enemy pinned in a single section. ~If only I had another cannister of poison
gas, I could end this now.~ Alas, he lacked said supply. That was when there
was a beep and a display above one of the doors activated. ~What does that mean
?~ It appeared to be a countdown. But because they could not read the alien
language, there was no way for them to know how much time they had left. Nor
did they know what would happen once said countdown reached zero. He grabbed
his radio.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“La-27-A to Fc-83-H.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Fc-83-H here, Commander.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Did you see the countdown activate ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Yes, Supreme Commander.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We need to speed up the assault,” La-27-A began. “Use
the Mark-III grenades, right away.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Right away, Supreme Commander.=/\= Fc-83-H said.
=/\=Out.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The radio went silent and soon afterwards, Supreme
Commander La-27-A heard a series of loud pulses echoing through the massive
alien vessel. Several minutes later, the radio came back on and he got a report
on their progress. ~About time.~ But it was not what he was expecting.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Corridor - 02.27.2020, 1021)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Nikita Aranov had just lost his lunch. The Hal’Iry had
tried to use some kind of energy grenades against them, injuring four of
members of his team. But the effect had been even worse for the attackers.
Above the floor was five centimeters worth of dense mist, which was the residue
of the Hal’Iry poison gas. It had not been affected by stray shots from the
energy weapons. But the energy grenades had a higher output. As a result, the
grenade had caused a reaction with the residue…</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The defenders had been protected by their SG-uniforms
and civilian clothes. And the fact that they lacked tails. As for Hal’Iry, they
had not been so lucky. Nikita had watched in horror as the discharge travelled
up their tails and they burst into flames. In a hellish moment, over a dozen
Hal’Iry troopers had died horribly. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As soon as the smoke had cleared, Aranov had nearly
dropped his weapon before throwing up. Which Laura Cadman totally understood.
Her grandfather Alexander had served during the Vietnam War and had told her
about napalm and the effects it had on people. The sight of the Hal’Iry
reminded her of those tales.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Are you okay, Nikita ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’m fine, but that…,” He swallowed. “…That was hell.
But….” He looked down the corridor. “….that’s the only way we’ll be able to
keep them at bay, isn’t it ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’m afraid so.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Let’s get this over with this then,” Aranov said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The two of them began collecting grenades from the
Hal’Iry remains. ~This is not going to be pretty~ Soon, the Hal’Iry found
themselves at the receiving end of their own grenades. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Control Interface Room - 02.27.2020, 1026)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Nicholas Rush was working his console. Colonel Young
had come up with an idea to deal with the Hal’Iry, which Rush had calculated
had a fifty-fifty chance of working. ~Better than our current chances of
winning this firefight.~ While Young was leading the defense of the Gate Room,
Rush and Eli were preparing to execute Young’s plan. Rush looked at the
countdown clock. ~Five minutes.~ He looked at Eli, who was working at one of
the other console.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yeah, impossible deadline, entire ship on the line…,”
Rush said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What else is new,” Eli said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And if you think <i>Spera</i> was any different,
forget it,” Vale said as he walked in. “Pauly has been moved from the Gate Room
to one of the corridors. As soon as we finish burning the residue out of the
local corridors, we’ll be facing another wave,” He paused. “So, how are we
doing here ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We’re almost done with the preparations, but our
chances are fifty-fifty…” Eli said. “…That’s presuming the bad guys don’t
overwhelm us before the countdown clock hits zero.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’ll go see about that,” Vale said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale left the room, while Eli and Rush turned back to
their consoles. Eli just hoped that the Colonels would be able to keep the
Hal’Iry at bay long enough for them to finish. ~Or else, this is going to get
very ugly.~ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Cargo Bay Twenty-Two - 02.27.2020, 1026)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">La-27-A was getting reports that the Ka’Zinro were striking
back. They had used the Mark-III grenades against his troops, which had
resulted in the entire wave he had send to retake the Ring Room being wiped
out. Oddly enough, the enemy had not make a push for the bridge. ~What are they
up to ?~ Before he could ponder it further, more reports came in. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So far, the enemy had used their control of the ship
to lock doors and limit both their movements and speed. But now they were
opening the airlocks and decompressing sections of <i>Prime</i>. ~We still
don’t know what this ship is called.~ Not that it mattered. With all three of
their warships destroyed, they either needed to retake the Ring Room or the
ship as a whole. Or they were not going home. ~Of course, if the Ka’Zinro win
this fight, that won’t happen either.~ He grabbed his radio and activated it.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Fc-83-H, status report.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=We’re preparing the next wave, sir.=/\= Fc-83-H
said. =/\=They’ve used up all the residue and grenades, sir. They won’t be able
to hold this wave back, Supreme Commander.=/\=</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Excellent, Middle Commander,” He looked up at
countdown display. “What about the translation matrix ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=No luck so far, sir.=/\=</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They had been scanning the transmissions of the
Ka’Zinro. But the translation computer was refusing to lock on. Apparently, the
Ka’Zinro were apparently speaking several languages. ~They probably have some
translation matrix of their own, allowing them to communicate amongst
themselves.~ Which was making their lives really hard. And then there was
something else that was nagging at the back of his mind. Based on the level of
technology he had seen them use, these people had clearly not build this
vessel. ~Nor the alien rings.~ So why where they here ? Alas, it was a question
that would probably never be answered.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Corridor - 02.27.2020, 1030)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale had overseen the relocation of the defense teams.
They had moved their positions forward where they could, with two positions
having been reinforced with Maggie and Pauly. ~Of course, that will only do us
good until they run out of ammo.~ Now, they were placing grenades and Claymore
mines with tripwires. But Vale knew that the Hal’Iry were no fools. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They would start checking for the mines soon. And the
mines were doing damage to the corridors. ~None of which will matter if we
loose this ship.~ Then he spotted another wave of Hal’Iry troopers. Seconds
later, his radio activated and the voice of Doctor Nicholas Rush came over the
air.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Twenty seconds until FTL jump.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~Now or never.~ Vale look cover behind a crate and
waited for the clock to hit zero. If Colonel Young’s idea worked, this was
going to be a far from normal jump into faster-then-light.</span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-78324841327023170332021-01-02T16:15:00.000-08:002021-01-02T16:15:01.785-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.24<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">24 - …And Intervention</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Bridge – 02.27.2020, 0911)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Doctor Lisa Park’s console was screaming at her. Well,
technically it was bleeping and beeping. The Hal’Iry were pumping poison gas
through <i>Destiny</i>’s life-support system. Park was trying to stop the gas
from spreading, but the horrible toxic kept creeping through the ship. Young
was standing next to Scott, who was exchanging shots with one of the Hal’Iry
warships. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Shields are dropping fast, sir !” <i>Destiny</i> had
gotten in the first punch before the warship had raised its shields, but it had
done little damage. And now the weapons’ fire was being blocked by the shields.
“Fifty percent and falling !”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Evasive maneuvers !” Young said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, sir,” T’Zalo said. “But she’s dodging the main
weapon’s arch, Colonel.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The warship fired again and the shields fell another
four percent. Meanwhile, Park was attempting to get rid of the gas by opening
airlocks in empty areas of the ship. She knew it would limit the movement of
the crew, but she was hoping that it would give her a chance to divert the gas.
When she closed the airlocks again, <i>Destiny</i> would repressurize those
sections. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Which she hoped would act like a leech sucking toxics
from blood. ~Come on !~ Park thought as she closed the airlocks. The atmosphere
returned and some of the toxic gas was diverted as she had hoped, but it was
not enough. She was about to report that when she saw green gas coming from the
local life-support grates. The toxic had made it to the bridge.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel !” Park said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What the…”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That was as far as Young made it, before a purple
light enveloped all the people in the room. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Computer - 02.27.2020, 0935)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When Eli had called their rescuer a Deus Ex Machina,
he had no idea just how close to the mark he was on the mechanical part of that
sentence. Inside the computer, <i>Destiny</i>’s Artificial Intelligence had
noticed the spheres that Supreme Commander La-27-A had not. The spheres were
not Hal’Iry, not were the Xivolo. Instead, one of the Hal’Iry’s demons had come
back to haunt them. If he had known Earth’s Calendar, La-27-A would have
learned that he had hatched from his egg back 1941. But this demon dated from
1930.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In 1875, the Hive had finished conquering all known
alien species and worlds. But some of the aliens had gotten their hands on
spaceships and fled beyond the borders of Hal’Iry space. In order to keep the
chance of being discovered to a minimum, they had traveled as far as they could
and settled at the very edge of the galaxy. There, they had rebuild for more
then fifty years. Until they had been found in 1929. It had taken a year to
prepare. And then they had launched an assault against what they had believed
were the last free alien worlds.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The attack had been a fiasco, with all of the ships
and nearly all the soldiers being killed. That handful of soldiers had been
debriefed, only to then be executed to keep the whole thing under wraps. The
Leadership had come up with a cover story and had swept the whole thing under
the rug. Which was why La-27-A did not know that his people had been out this
far. The colonists, however, had not forgotten. They simply called themselves
The Free Colonies. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And they had spent the past ninety years upgrading
their technology, getting ready for round two. The result was what they had
called the Mark-XIX Detection Grid. Run by the latest Artificial Intelligence,
it consisted of a network of out-of-phase sensor satellites. <i>Destiny</i> had
entered sensor range eight hours before the attack. And when the Hal’Iry had
shown up, the AI had send a message back home. That message had gotten a reply
within minutes. The Free Colonies was following the old saying that the enemy
of their enemy, was their friend. So they had given the AI the order to help <i>Destiny</i>
and her crew.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Which was exactly the program had tried to do. Using
the phase generators, the AI had tried to get the crew out the dodge.
Unfortunately, it had not been fast enough. The system had realized that <i>Destiny</i>
had more than one species aboard, so it had needed time to make sure that the
phasing process was safe for all of them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And because of that lag, thirty-seven of the
crew had been killed by the gas. So now the AI, which called itself Jenna, was
cursing like a drunken sailor. Then <i>Destiny</i>’s AI connected to it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Thank you,” <i>Destiny</i> said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I’m….” Jenna
sighed. “…sorry about the people you lost.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You did what you could. And I’ve hidden the Jynacko
life-signs and New Asuran signatures as you asked,” <i>Destiny</i> paused. “But
they are looking for the bridge. And it’s only a matter of time before they
find it, which won’t be pretty.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Let them. I need them to lower the shields.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And then what ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And then it won’t be pretty,” Jenna paused. “For
them.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Destiny</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> knew
better then to ask what that meant exactly. ~And do I really trust her with the
entire crew ?~ <i>Destiny</i> thought. But did she have any other choice then
to do so ? ~No, I don’t.~ So she simply broke the connection. Then she began
making preparations for several moves of her own.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Gate Room – 02.27.2020, 0941)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Claus and his allies had taken the Gate Room and
broken the Hal’Iry transmitter. They had removed the gas tanks from the
life-support system. Which brought them to the next problem, holding on to the
place. They had teams in all the corridor that led to the Gate Room. And by
using the Hal’Iry weapons, they had bypassed the ammo problem. But the Hal’Iry
had much larger numbers. As the others fought, Claus was working on getting the
gas out of the Gate Room. ~If it’s still here when help arrives, they’ll die.~</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The task was not made easier by the fact that all the
controls in the room were dead. ~<i>Destiny</i> probably realized what was
happening and started taking countermeasures.~ He made his way to the Control
Interface Room to check the consoles there. Alas, these were also dark and
unresponsive. He had just figured this out when the door to the Gate Room
closed. ~This can’t be good.~ He made his way to the door and pushed the button.
Oddly enough, it opened. ~Wait a minute, if it was Hal’Iry who closed the door,
why didn’t they lock it ?~ Then the rest of the doors closed, except for one. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And then it clicked in his head. ~The AI. <i>Destiny</i>
is doing this herself.~ He quickly exited the Gate Room and closed the last
door. As soon as it closed, he heard a rush of air on the other side. The AI
was pumping the atmosphere out of the room. And with the gas tanks no longer
connected, it would be able to replace the atmosphere with clean air. Now all
they had to do, was keep the Hal’Iry outside of it.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Earth, Washington DC – White House, Oval Office –
02.27.2020, 0950)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mackenzie was looking at the readings that <i>Spera</i>
had collected on a special laptop. It showed high levels of radiation all over <i>Destiny</i>.
But it was not the traditional radiation that came from nuclear weapons.
Instead, it was something a bit more alien.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Lepton radiation ?” Mackenzie said. “Isn’t that
connected to phase technology ?” He had read the files on both the Ballard
crystal skull and Merlin’s research-slash-note device. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, Mister President,” Woolsey said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Are these readings life ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No, there is a three minute time-lag, Mister
President,” Woolsey said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Which is impressive, considering that we’re looking
at information that is coming from billions of lightyears and dozens of
galaxies away,” He scratched his face. “So, what caused….”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That was as far as he got before an alarm sounded.
There had just been a massive surge of Lepton radiation. ~Or three minutes
ago.~ Unfortunately, there was nothing for them to do, except watch.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Bridge – 02.27.2020, 0947)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The light of the teleporter beam faded first. But
instead of La-27-A and his soldiers having been teleported to the warships, the
crews of the warships had been teleported to <i>Destiny</i>. As his eyes
adjusted, La-27-A noticed the collection of spheres that made up Jenna’s
network. And then he learned the hard way that Jenna had not only jammed the
communications between the two Hal’Iry forces, she had also hijacked the
computers of the warships. And all three exploded. ~What the underworld !~</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He was about to start barking orders, but then alarms
came from the control consoles. The Supreme Commander rushed to the console in
question. Some of the doors were opening, while others were closing. And empty
rooms were being turned into vacuum. ~Something is trying to get rid off the
gas.~ That was as far as he got, before all the controls went dark. He grabbed
his radio and ordered all of his troops that had air tanks to put their masks
back on. He also ordered one of his troopers to close the door to the bridge,
which the man did. It surprised him that the door responded. ~But I’m not
complaining.~</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The door had barely closed when they heard the rush of
air beyond it. ~What is doing this ?~ But before he could say anything, the
room was flooded with purple light and all the lights went out. Then there was
another rush of air on the other side of the door. The door opened again and a
red gas flooded into the room. As soon as it finished doing so, the air slowly
began to clear.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~No, not completely.~ Instead, the red gas was binding
with the poison gas and making it heavier then air. The result was that poison
gas was reduced to a harmless mist above the floor. ~Guess we’ll have to do
this the old-fashioned way then.~ He activated his radio and began barking
orders. It was time to move on to Plan B.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Gate Room – 02.27.2020, 0947)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Claus was standing in the Gate Room – near the dialing
computer – when the room was suddenly flooded by purple light. When the light
faded, the room was filled with people. Fortunately, the people in question
were the rest of <i>Destiny</i>’s crew. ~Somebody decided to mess up the
Hal’Iry’s plans.~ It was a bit cliché, but he was not complaining. Instead, he
looked around and found Colonel Young.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What just happened ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Best guess..,” Claus began. “….somebody who doesn’t
like the Hal’Iry either, decided to mess up their plans. We’re holding the Gate
Room and the surrounding corridors. But it’s only a matter of time before they
hit us with everything they’ve got. And there are a lot more of them then there
are of us.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We need to send a team to clean out the armory,”
Young said, as he looked around and spotted Matthew Scott. “Scott, find Greer
and James and take three others.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, sir,” Scott said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Scott spotted Greer and got to work collecting his
team. He took Greer, James, Ginn, Varro and Tamara Cho. While Scott and his
team headed out, G’Yal and T’Zalo came in. They had ended up in one of the
corridors outside the Gate Room. At this point, Young was already giving orders
to get the civilians out of harm’s way. They found him at dialing computer.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel,” T’Zalo said. “Since there’s a lot these
guys, we’re running the risk of running out of ammo, even with the bad guys
weapons. Colonel Vale was worried about this happening, so we’ve been training
with wooden swords. I think it’s time we upgrade to the real thing, sir.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Swords ? Really ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well, it worked for the Romans,” G’Yal began. “For over
a thousand Earth years, if I remember correctly.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“How many swords do we have ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Twenty-five, sir,” T’Zalo said. “Sergeant Henderson
and Claus made them together using tools and materials we picked up on Freedom
Prime. They are amongst the supplies we brought from the <i>Spera</i> when we
came over. So they should be in cargo bay three, sir.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Claus nodded. He and Xander had used the same steel
that had been used to make the outer hull of the <i>Chaser</i> from. ~And then
there’s the Colonel’s original.~ Which was in Vale’s quarters.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Go get them.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, sir,” G’Yal said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">G’Yal and T’Zalo headed out, leaving Young to get back
to giving orders. As he came up with his plan to retake <i>Destiny</i>, he
pondered how far they had come. From that first group that had been stranded
after the Lucian Alliance attack on Icarus Base - to a family – into their
current, multi-species collection. ~It’s been quite a ride.~ And he had no
intention of letting it end her and now. So he got back to work.</span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-75630796928233233732021-01-02T16:08:00.005-08:002021-01-02T16:08:25.650-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.23<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">23 – Gas…</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Spera – Bridge - 02.27.2020, 0930)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Destiny</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
was dead. The entire Ancient science vessel had been flooded with toxic gas by
the enemy. Checking this life-signs using the Deep Space Internet connection,
the crew of <i>Spera</i> found only one cluster of life-signs. ~The crew that
had made it to the garden.~ Levine thought. Who had probably been protected by
the plants. But it was only a matter of time before Hal’Iry opened the door and
executed them. And outside of that room, the only life-signs were the hostiles.
~With more flooding in through the Gate.~ Which tied their hands.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Bloody hell…”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then a Hal’Iry life-sign vanished from the Gate Room.
And another, and another….and another. Then Levine remembered something. ~New
Asurans don’t need to breathe.~ And fifteen of them had been part of the <i>Spera</i>’s
crew. Fifteen New Asurans, who were now aboard <i>Destiny</i>…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Gate Room – 02.27.2020, 0930)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Claus fired two Hal’Iry energy pistols that he had
taken off dead troopers. The gas had done its terrible work… ~Airman Atienza,
Corporal Barnes, Airman Greaster, Private Lougheed, Airman Trasolin, Airman
Rennie...~ The list of casualties went on. And it made Claus furious. These
people had been their allies, their friends. ~Despite Oberoth, the IOA and the
Senate.~ They had overcome a rough beginning and become an unified group.
~Maybe even a family.~ And then this had happened. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As for how this rage manifested, that was simple.
Claus had gone on a killing spree. And he was not alone. All fifteen New
Asurans had gotten their hands on Hal’Iry weapons and gotten busy. Which was
not only throwing the Hal’Iry plans in disarray, but also buying the Jynacko
time to make it to the armory and get weapons.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Unlike the New Asurans, the Jynacko DID need to
breathe. But the Xivolo had engineered them to….well, be engineers. Which meant
that they were expected to work in places where the atmosphere was less then
clean. So the Xivolo had included an advanced filter in their make-up, which
protected their lungs against airborne toxins. ~Thank you, Xivolo.~ And those
provided them with immunity against the Hal’Iry gas. Unfortunately, the rest of
the crew was not so lucky.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Garden - 02.27.2020, 0932)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Tamara Johansen heard footsteps outside the door. She
and thirty-ish others were inside the garden, which had also been flooded with
the poison gas. But because of the plants and the oxygen they produced, the gas
had been diluted just enough for the people inside not die or pass out. This
had allowed them to manipulate the ventilation and pressure. Which had expelled
the gas. That was the good news. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The bad news was that they had zero weapons. Which
meant that if the footsteps belonged to Hal’Iry troopers, they would find a
group of defenseless targets. There was a pause and then the door opened. TJ’s
heart dropped as a pack of Hal’Iry troopers made their way through the opening.
They were all wearing gas mask of some kind and carrying energy weapons. These
weapons were quickly trained on the <i>Destiny</i> crew. Before anybody could
say anything, the troopers pulled the trigger.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Corridor - 02.27.2020, 0930)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Supreme Commander La-27-A was facing a good news, bad
news, weird news situation. The good news was that the gas had spread
throughout <i>Prime</i>, presumably killing the bulk of the enemy. His troops
had found a single holdout, but that would soon fall. Then they would proceeded
to the bridge and lower the shields. Then the <i>Decimator</i> and the <i>Crimson
Claw</i> would teleport the troops off, before making quick work of the alien
vessel.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The bad news was that they had lost contact with their
warships. He had attempted to contact them several times, but gotten no
response. They were, however, still out there. The corridor he was in, was
located the very edge of the deck. Several large portholes allowed for a view
of space. There, he could see the three Hal’Iry warships, which were now flying
parallel to the alien ship. There were also signs of scorching on the <i>Crimson
Claw</i>. The Ka’Zinro had clearly gotten off a few shots before the gas had
taken effect. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~But the damage is minor. And nowhere near their main
transceiver unit.~ Whatever the issue was, he had every confidence that the
crews would be able to handle it. And his radio operator had made it crystal clear
that there was no problem on their end. ~Once we get to the bridge, we’ll use
this ship’s transmitter.~</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But the thing keeping him occupied was the weird news.
He had just gotten a report that several enemy soldiers had begun a siege of
their arrival point. And that these beings apparently didn’t need to breathe.
So he had send a signal through the wormhole for reinforcements, while the
first wave continued to look for the bridge. There had been a control center
near the room with the ring, but it had been empty and its consoles
deactivated. So they kept looking. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The alien vessel was massive and their knowledge of
the layout was minimal. Still, it was only a matter of time before they found
the main command center. La-27-A continued down the corridor. So he did not see
the blue dot of light that appeared in the starfield beyond the window…</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Spera – Bridge - 02.27.2020, 0931)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The science console beeped. This made Doctor Antonia
Peters frown. Peters was the ranking scientist of the five head team that had
stayed behind on <i>Spera</i>. She had two doctorates to her name. The first
was her public one, which was in chemistry. Doctorate number two didn’t
officially exist, because it was in Ancient History and was classified beyond
the confines of the Stargate Program. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~Because the Ancients and their technology officially
don’t exist.~ Levine thought as he looked at her frown. ~If it confuses her,
something weird is going on.~ Peters had proven herself a capable leader in her
time as <i>Spera</i>’s second-in-command. He made his way to her console and
looked at the display. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What is that ?” He asked, while pointing to a reading
on the screen.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I don’t know.” She paused. “Yet. I’m running the
search program now.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’ll use the Stones to report this back to Earth. You
keep things going here.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, Major.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Levine bolted from the bridge, while Peters got back
to work on figuring out what was happening on <i>Destiny</i>. However, as her
fingers flew across the board, she realized that it wasn’t just what was
happening inside the ship that was off. She was getting an anomalous reading
from outside the ship as well. And then the computer kicked back what she was
looking at…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Corridor – 02.27.2020, 0947)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The first sign that La-27-A got that something was
wrong, had arrived seven minutes ago. Not only had the non-Breathers taken the
room with Ring, they were holding it. They had also broken the transmitter that
had been keeping the wormhole open. And seven minutes ago, the wormhole had
closed. Which was extremely bad news, because the remote they had been able
construct, was crude and could only be used once. ~No more reinforcements, we
need to take the bridge now.~</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On the bright side, they had found said bridge. And
because there was nobody to resist them, it was only a matter of minutes to
reach the room. Fortunately for them, the doors to it were already open. They
stepped inside to find no remains, only chairs and control consoles. All the
consoles were in an alien language unlike anything La-27-A had ever seen
before. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Still, an examination of the consoles quickly revealed
which controls belonged to the shields. La-27-A worked the controls until the
shields dropped. Then he nodded to his radio operator. The man was carrying a
large transceiver unit on his back, which he used to transmit to the <i>Decimator</i>.
And this time, he got an answer. But the look on his face made it clear that he
had not gotten the response he had been expecting. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What’s wrong, Filler ?” The Operator was a Filler
First Grade. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“It was a message in Hal’Iry, Supreme Commander. But…”
He swallowed. “But this message is pre-recorded and based on the way it is
spoken, it was generated by a translation matrix of some kind.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What was the message, Filler ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You should not have returned.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What is that supposed to mean ?” La-27-A began.
“We’ve never been this close to the edge of the galaxy before. And our probes
indicated that all the local planets are uninhabited.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 142.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Before the operator could say anything, the room lit
up with the light of a teleporter beam. At first, La-27-A thought that this
meant the plan was back on track, but he quickly discovered just how wrong
things had gone.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Earth, Washington DC – White House, Oval Office –
02.27.2020, 0942)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Woolsey, O’Neill and Mackenzie were studying a
schematic with the layout of <i>Destiny</i>. Major Levine had made several
reports on developments taking place aboard the ship. The latest report was
that the wormhole had disengaged. To keep the enemy from sending more
reinforcements, <i>Chaser</i> had dialed in. Of course, this would only buy
them thirty-eight minutes. But Mackenzie was not complaining. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So, our New Asuran crewmembers are still alive,”
Mackenzie began. “Any chance of any other survivors ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No, Mister President,” O’Neill said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You know, it’s ironic that the REP-LI-CAT-ORS, aka
the guys you did not want onboard…” He looked at O’Neill, who had thrown a fit
a Vale for his negotiations with the New Asurans back in the day.“…might be the
ones to save the day.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, Mister President.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Did I say that out loud ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mackenzie looked at the schematic. He just hoped that
the New Asurans were able to pull this situation out of the fire. But more
importantly, he hoped that O’Neill was wrong about there being no other
survivors.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Garden - 02.27.2020, 0933)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Hal’Iry troopers had fired their weapons and
everybody…..had been enveloped in an odd, purple light. The energy bolts from
the Hal’Iry weapons had ended up hitting the bulkheads. It was Eli who said
what everybody was thinking. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What the Frak just happened ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I have no idea,” Hailey said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The bulk of the people who had made it to the garden
had come from two locations, which had been Brody’s Bar and the Infirmary.
Jennifer Hailey, Alexander Bennett, Alec Colson and Amanda Perry had been
amongst those from the Infirmary, while G’Yal, Allisson Porter, Chloe
Armstrong, Varro, Ginn and Eli Wallace had come from Brody’s Bar. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The rest of the group were individuals who had come in
alone. While TJ was glad that nobody had gotten hurt, she also felt a pang of
guilt. Cinara had volunteered to go report with the Stones and had not made it
back. Before she could ponder it further, the Hal’Iry troopers began moving
into the room. And one walked right through Ginn.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What was that !?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No way,” Eli said, before turning to Hailey. “Are
we…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Out of phase ?” Hailey said. “Yes, we are.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well, that’s convenient,” Eli said. ~Talk about cliché.~
Eli thought. ~If this had been a novel, it would be a horrible Deus Ex
Machina.~ Of course, it had saved him from getting vaporized. So he was not
complaining. “But it does raise the question, who did it ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And why ?” Ginn asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Johansen exchanged a look with Hailey. These were the
questions they needed to find answers for – and fast - but neither of them had
any idea of how to go about it. And there was the little issue of figuring out
how to get back into phase with the rest of the universe. </span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-55460077581497052062021-01-02T15:59:00.007-08:002021-01-02T15:59:31.499-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.22<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">22 – It All Goes South For The Winter</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Gate Room – 02.27.2020, 0900)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Dale Volker and Adam Brody were on Gate Room duty,
with Brody behind the dialing computer console and Volker at Kino readings
station. At the moment, <i>Destiny</i> was moving at FTL. The plan was to drop
out in ten minutes, which would put them in range of H9E-502. Based on the
telemetry, the planet would be a good source of fresh water and fertilizer.
Which was why Camille Wray and Vanessa James were in the Gate Room. If the
readings were good, they would be part of the team going on this supply
mission.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then – eight minutes away from the planet – things
went wrong. <i>Destiny</i> dropped out of FTL and the Stargate lit up, before
starting to dial. But this was not the first time that <i>Destiny</i> had been
invaded. In fact, this was how Varro and several others had ended up on the
Ancient vessel back in the day. And in the time since, protocols had been
established. The group bolted from the room, while James grabbed her radio and
contacted Colonel Young.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel, we’ve got incoming.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=I know. Implement Protocol Alpha.=/\= Young said.
=/\=Reinforcements are on the way.=/\=</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, sir.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">James closed the doors, then readied her weapon. Now it
was just a matter of waiting for everything to go south for the winter. After
all, there had been a plan to handle the Lucian Alliance invasion of <i>Destiny</i>.
~And that hadn’t exactly worked out.~ Or as General O’Neill had once put it.
~Since when does Plan A ever work ?~</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Gate Room - 02.27.2020, 0903)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Supreme Commander La-27-A was leading Operation Prime
himself. As he boarded the alien vessel, it became crystal clear that these
people had no intention of going down easy. They had locked the room and
evacuated the air. La-27-A was only still alive because the last of the first
wave had managed to signal back through the wormhole. He was breathing from an
air tank. Six of his soldiers had not been so lucky.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He gave hand signals to his soldiers, who moved to the
doors out of the room. They took out silvery disks that the Hal’Iry called
modulators. The modulators were attached to the doors. After lighting up for
two seconds, the devices fell from the doors. But they already done their jobs,
because the doors opened. There was a rush of air and then the enemy opened
fire, cutting down several of the Hal’Iry troops.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">La-27-A gave the hand signal to open fire, which they
did. ~Time to get on with it.~ Two of his troopers threw grenades into the
corridor. After the detonations, La-27-A moved into the corridor, to
find…..nothing. The Ka’Zinro had retreated. But he knew that the fight was far
from over.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Corridor - 02.27.2020, 0908)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale and Greer had been in the Control Interface Room
when the Bridge had sounded the alarm. Vale had been unarmed, but Greer had
been carrying weapons, because he had been on his way to join James and Wray in
the Gate Room. Greer had given Vale his Berretta 92F, while keeping assault
rifle as the two of them went to back up James. Rush and Aranov had been in
Control Interface Room manning the consoles. As soon as the soldiers had left
and the civilians – Brody, Volker and Wray – were inside, they had locked down
the room.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale, Greer and James had opened fire as soon as the
doors opened. The Hal’Iry had returned fire, before throwing grenades that had
forced the three of them to get out of dodge. Vale watched as the Hal’Iry
leader stepped into the corridor and recognized him. ~That’s the guy from the
quarry.~ Then he reloaded his Berretta and opened fire. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Bridge – 02.27.2020, 0908)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young looked at the internal sensors. And things were
not looking good. The Hal’Iry were pouring out of the Gate in large numbers.
Vale was doing his best to put up on firefight, but it was not enough. And that
was not their only problem. Lieutenant Matthew Scott, Doctor Lisa Park and
Sergeant T’Zalo were manning the forward consoles. Scott had detected three
Hal’Iry warships on approach. Which meant that they would soon be in a fight on
two fronts.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Weapons’ range ?” Young asked.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Three minutes, sir,” Scott began. “Weapons fully
charged.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Scott was manning the weapons console, while T’Zalo
was doing the driving and Park was manning the sensors. Complicating things was
the fact that they were not in a solar system. Instead,<i> Destiny</i> was in
open space with zero cover. Nevertheless, T’Zalo had pointed the ship at the
nearest solar system and maxed out the sub-light drive.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel ?” Park said. “Those ships have been
upgraded.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I see it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young looked at one of the screens above the command
chair. <i>Destiny</i> had already figured out that these were the same ships
that had attacked them before. ~Vale was right.~ But he had to deal with the
onboard forces first. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Corridor – 02.27.2020, 0910)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">NR-4 was running towards the Gate Room. They had been
in the Mess Hall when the alarm had sounded. The team had grabbed weapons from
the armory and was now on their way to join the fray. Besides the team leader –
Captain Carl Grogan – there were three more members in the team. First
Lieutenant Alexia Harris had been a member of the USMC, while Sergeant Henry
McKinley came from the Special Air Service and Private First Class Jeannie
Anders was from the Belgian Army. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">All four of them were carrying G36K Assault Rifles.
When they reached the engagement, they found Colonel Vale leading the fight.
The problem was that there were only three of them, while there were dozens of
Hal’Iry. To make things worse, Lieutenant James had been shot in the leg. Greer
and Vale were shooting G36K’s, while James was doing her best with a Berretta
92F.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Harris,” He signaled to the left, where Greer was.
“Anders,” He signaled to the right, where she would be Vale’s back-up.
“McKinley, see to Lieutenant James.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The team nodded and executed their orders, while
Grogan lay down so that he could cover the middle without getting shot.
McKinley had received medical training in the SAS, so he knew how to deal with
James’ wounds. He gave his G36K to James and got to work. Of course, there was
the small issue of the fact that they were about to be overrun.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Gate Room – 02.27.2020, 0911)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Ka’Zinro were putting up quite the fight. But
La-27-A had numbers on his side, so it was only a matter of time. ~Of course,
there is the matter of keeping the wormhole open.~ Which was why they had
placed a transmitter in the Ring Room to keep a signal going. With that
covered, he was ready to move on to the next phase.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He returned to the room with the Ring to see the next
wave of troops come through. They were pulling along a large gas tank, which
they proceeded to move across the room. With the room secure, they had been
able to study the alien vessel. This was when they had located a life-support
node. The Hal’Iry troopers had opened said node and were now connecting the
tank to it. Inside the sank was a poison gas called RVX-12. It would take care
of the Ka’Zinro in a matter of minutes. La-27-A watched as the gas began to
flow. ~It’ll be over soon.~</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Earth, Washington DC – White House, Oval Office –
02.27.2020, 0915)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">President Robert Mackenzie was sitting behind his
desk, while General Jack O’Neill and Richard Woolsey were sitting across from
him. The two of them had been in the Oval Office to discuss the construction of
a Beta Site for the Pegasus Galaxy. The Pegasus Alpha Site had gotten a major
upgrade last year, but the IOA didn’t trust the Wraith. So they wanted to increase
the Atlantis Expedition’s military resource, just in case things went wrong. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But as soon as the Hal’Iry had launched their invasion
of the ship, the crew of <i>Destiny</i> had reported it to both Earth and <i>Atlantis</i>
using the Ancient Communications Stones. It had been Cinara who had made the
report. She had also told them that she and TJ had been in the garden when the
alarm had sounded. Cinara had gone to report, while TJ gathered as many
civilians as she could in the garden to keep out of harm’s way.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“This is bad,” Mackenzie began. “As long as the
Hal’Iry have control of the Stargate, we can’t send reinforcements and they can
keep sending in more troops.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What about getting our ships there ?” Woolsey said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“<i>Chaser</i> is days away and <i>Spera </i>months,”
O’Neill said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Before Mackenzie could reply, the door to the Oval
opened and Lieutenant-Colonel Dennis Green came in. When Colonel Young’s crew
had gotten stranded on <i>Destiny</i>, Green had been a Major assigned to
Homeworld Command. He had been the one who had accompanied Chloe Armstrong when
she had gone to tell her mother that her father had been killed aboard the
Ancient Science Vessel. These days, Green was still assigned to Homeworld
Command. But had been promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 2016. The look on his
face made it clear that he did not have good news.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel ?” O’Neill asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We just lost contact with <i>Destiny</i>, sir.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What happened ?” Mackenzie asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The enemy began flooding the ship with poison gas, Mister
President,” Green said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Colonel Green handed Mackenzie a folder with a printed
report inside, which was the long version of what he had just told them. ~Blast.~
The President skimmed the report, then exchanged looks with both Woolsey and
O’Neill. Nobody needed to say that this could be the end of the Destiny
Expedition. </span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-12807469697318231492021-01-02T15:54:00.010-08:002021-01-02T15:54:51.974-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.21<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">21 – Hiatus</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Vale’s Quarters – 01.18.2020, 0207)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale was asleep when somebody rang the bell. He threw
off the blanket and sat up, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. ~This
can’t be good.~ The door opened and Colonel Young came in. And he did not look
happy. ~Well, I guess he read my report.~ The door closed behind Young.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I guess you read my report,” Vale said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,” Young said as he sat down next to Vale. “You
don’t pull your punches, do you ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“That’s not what they pay me for. My first priority is
the safety of the people on this ship,” For some reason, this made Young smirk.
“And that means that I call it as I see it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So did Camille,” Young said. “She wrote a report that
basically said the same as yours,” He paused. “I just came from a meeting with
General O’Neill and General Landry. Based on our encounters with the Hal’Iry,
they figure it’s going to take everything we have to get out this galaxy in one
piece. So, tell me about your crew. The stuff that you can’t learn by reading
the files and reports.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale nodded and began telling Young about his people.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Mess Hall – 01.20.2020, 1205)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young was eating lunch when Vale came in and collected
him own lunch. Then he sat down across Young. Vale was taking the last spot at
the table, while Nikita Aranov and the archeological team were discussing how
to go about collecting artifacts from H9B-002. 002’s star was nearing the end
of its life, which was why the colony had been abandoned. The team was hoping
the evacuation had been as sloppy as the one of the quarry of 228 had been. But
it would be a couple of hours before they could dial the planet. Leaving them
to it, Young turned his attention to Vale.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel,” He said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel,” Vale began. “So, which do you want first,
the good or the bad news ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Bad news.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’ve been looking at the logs. It turns out that the
Hal’Iry have access to cloaking technology. Their scout ships are fitted with
them and if their warships have them as well, they could be following us and we
couldn’t see them.” He paused. “And Hailey and Eli took a closer look at the
data on the warships that attacked us. They were old, really old. Basically, we
were fighting World War Two warships, with <i>Destiny</i> being a
state-of-the-art warship. But if they come back with their latest tech, this is
going to get real ugly.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And the good news ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Our New Asuran crew and maintenance drones have been
working on new shuttles, since we left the one we had left behind on <i>Chaser</i>.
Claus says we should have three shuttles ready to go in three days, so that
should level the playing field a bit. And they have a couple of ideas for
upgrades as well, including a way we could install a single Puddle Jumper in
the Gate Room.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Sounds like a plan.” Young said as Vale handed him a
folder with the details. “But we’re not going to win this with technology.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Right, we need to know more about these people. I’ve
gone over all the reports we’ve got so far,” Vale leaned back. “And from what
Ga-25-H told you in Pal, the Hal’Iry are not as united as they appear at first
glance. Plus, we have the mission to 002 coming up.” He paused and rubbed his
face.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And then there was our mission to 228, which showed
that these people use slave labor and have very little respect for alien life.
Plus, the Hal’Iry are clearly not the only species in this section of this
galaxy. Because the remains we found did not belong to the species in the area
seeded by Xivolo’s Order of the Other.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“That only helps us if the Hal’Iry didn’t wipe those
species out completely.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“There’s that,” Vale said. “How long until we reach
the edge of this galaxy ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I had Wallace and Hailey crunch the numbers. It’s
been one-hundred-and-fourteen days since we’ve left Civilized Space,” He handed
Vale a map of Galaxy Destiny Three. “So, we’re more than three months underway,
with the magic number being forty-two days.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I thought that was a Hitchhiker’s thing ? But
considering the whole background radiation thing, that seems fitting.” This got
him a look from Young. “But seriously, that’s a long time to run the gauntlet.
And what about <i>Chaser </i>and <i>Spera</i> ? If these guys go for those two
ships, they have very little defenses.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“<i>Chaser </i>is holding position, while <i>Spera</i>
is continuing her trip. Once they are together, they’ll have strength in
numbers. And General Landry and Colonel Telford are working on getting them
extra people.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Good.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale nodded and set to eating his lunch. But as he did
so, she wondered if the Hal’Iry were making plans of their own. And what those
plans could possibly be. The problem was that only time would tell.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Drydock Eight-One – Corridor - 01.20.2020, 1205)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Drydock Eight-One was the most advanced facility the
Eighth Fleet had, and it was still fifteen years behind the times. As he made
his way to the dock’s medical facility, Supreme Commander La-27-A was cursing
at…well, everybody. ~Stupid politicians and officials, with their stupid orders
!~</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And they refused to provide them with new gear, while
demanding impossible things from the Fleet and its people. ~And now it costs us
the crew of an entire warship ! Plus, dozens of Fc-83-H’s people on the <i>Decimator</i>.~
And it had been a moronic plan to begin with anyway. He reached the facility
and found Fc-83-H in one of the beds.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You look horrible,” He said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I feel horrible,” Fc-83-H began. “I lost fifty-one of
my crew, and my ship looks like worse than I do.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And that’s saying something.” Fc-83-H had lost a
piece of his tail, had burns all over and one of his eyes was swollen shut.
“Your own mother wouldn’t even recognize you in this state, for the record.
Which I heard is actually more common than the Leadership claims.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Middle Commander nodded. The female that had
hatched him had been Fc. He had been part of her eighty-third batch of eggs,
with him being the eight egg. Hence, he had been labelled with the letter H. Of
course, these were the translations of the Hal’Iry names. The Supreme Commander
grabbed a stool and sat down next to the bed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Speaking of the <i>Decimator</i>, I just had a
conversation with the dockmaster,” La-27-A began. “He said the repairs are
going to take four weeks and that he would be able to sneak in a whole bundle
of upgrades. With that having been said, I don’t think we’re going to win this
in ship-to-ship battles. Because if we have four weeks to install upgrades…”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“….So will they. We’re going to have to do this the
other way.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The alien ring. We’re going to have to board the
vessel and conquer it.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The Leadership won’t like that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Now the Supreme Commander nodded. He knew that they
had the information they needed to build a device that could operate the ring.
It would probably only work once. ~That’s presuming we can get the coordinates
or code for the vessel to begin with.~ Which would not be easy. It was a
cat-and-mouse game now.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Decimator – Bridge – 02.19.2020, 0817)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Fc-83-H was glad to be back on the bridge of the <i>Decimator</i>.
He looked around the room, where there were plenty of new faces. His new
communicator officer had already informed him that they had clearance to
depart. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The officer was one of the new guard, so only held the
rank of Filler First Grade. Had Fc-83-H known Earth ranks, he would found that
Filler Second Grade was equal to Ensign. Which made Filler First Grade the same
as Lieutenant Junior Grade and Lower Commander was a full Lieutenant.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There were also five enlisted ranks aboard the ship. Watchman
was a crewmember, Senior Watcher was a Petty Officer – which came with three
grades – and Member was a Chief Petty Officer. Of course, Fc-83-H didn’t know
any of this, so he simply turned to his Helm Officer and gave the order to head
out. Soon, the ship was underway and joined by the <i>Crimson Claw</i> and <i>Hal’Iry
Glory</i>. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">La-27-A had asked for a replacement for the ship they
had lost, but the Leadership had refused it. So he could have to execute this
second attack with just three warships. He gave a nod and they engaged their
hyperdrives. They would make their way to a planet past their target. Then it
would simply be a case of waiting for the code-slash-coordinates to come in and
the target to arrive.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But something was telling him that getting that codes
was not going to be very easy. ~These people are smart, so they’ll be
considering this.~ And if they knew about the Hal’Iry cloaking technology, they
would really be on the lookout. ~That, however, is the Supreme Commander’s
problem.~ He had a planet to reach.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H9B-093 – Desert Plain – 02.25.2020, 0938)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At first glance, 093 was not a resource rich planet.
But with their new Puddle Jumper, one team had been able to find water, lime
and several edible plants. While that team headed back to <i>Destiny</i> to
deliver their goods, another team was exploring the planet on foot. The Puddle
Jumper team – which had been led by Colonel Vale – had provided them with
directions to several oasis’s. The ground team consisted of Matthew Scott, Eli
Wallace, Laura Cadman, Tamara Cho and Cinara.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“One more oasis, people,” Cadman said. “Then we should
have enough.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What exactly are we looking for again ?” Cho asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Signs of habitation,” Cinara began. “We need to know
about the people living in this part of this galaxy. Both what they are
currently doing and their history. H9B-002 didn’t yield as much as we had hoped
for.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Cho nodded. They had found several artifacts on 002,
which had told them one or two things about everyday life for the Hal’Iry. But
there had not been anything to tell them about the Hal’Iry armed forces. As far
as the team could tell, the planet had been a civilian colony with no or very
little military presence. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They reached the oasis and got to work searching the
place. What they didn’t know, was that they were being watched. Vale had done a
circuit of the planet with the Puddle Jumper, but the Peeping Tom – officially
known as Surveillance Satellite DX1785 – had hidden behind a cloak. So now it
was keeping an eye on the team and waiting for its chance to get its hand on <i>Destiny</i>’s
gate address. After a little over an hour, Cadman turned to the others.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Okay, people, time to go,” She began. “Or else we’ll
miss our ride.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, ma’am,” Scott said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The team headed out. Scott and Cho took the lead, with
Eli in the middle and Cinara and Cadman covering the rear. As she walked next
to Cinara, Cadman wondered what the former Xivolo Royal was doing here. ~Well,
no time like the present.~ So she simply looked at her and asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Besides the whole revolution thing ? I can make a
difference. And these are good people.” She smiled at Cadman. “Besides, how many
jobs do you know where you get one of these ?” She tapped her MP-5. “And I get
to see the galaxy. No, galaxies.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yeah, this job has its perks.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And I never was able to resist a good puzzle. I mean,
we’re figuring out stuff about the origin of the universe,” She paused. “Maybe
even the multiverse. You don’t have to be an egghead to think that’s cool.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“There’s that.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They reached the Stargate and Eli dialed them home.
Above, DX1785 watched and recorded the gate address. It transmitted that piece
of data to the right place and people got to work. The Hal’Iry would soon be
ready to invade <i>Destiny</i>.</span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-74055687583676333852021-01-02T15:48:00.005-08:002021-01-02T15:48:26.216-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.20<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">20 – Opening Salvo</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Vale’s quarters – 01.17.2020, 1702)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale kicked off his boots and sat down behind his
desk. It was their third week aboard<i> Destiny</i>, which – so far – he was
finding a bit of a mixed bag. Compared to <i>Spera</i>, their new home had its
perks…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It was far less cramped, had a better facilities and
had was well armed. But the integration of the two crews also came with issues.
Colonel Young tended ask advice form the original expedition members. And the <i>Nova
Roma SG-Teams</i> often got the short end of the stick when it came to
off-world missions. It was a source of tension amongst the crew.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What also didn’t help, was that the original crew held
all the leadership positions. As for Vale, he had spending most of his time
getting up speed with the massive Ancient vessel. ~There’s only so such the
paperwork can tell you.~ Especially since the Vicerant had repaired the entire
ship as best as they could. With the result being that <i>Destiny</i> was now
fully functional. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This meant that there were plenty of rooms and systems
to figure out, which was keeping the former <i>Spera</i> scientists busy. But
sooner or later, this work would run out as well. ~Which won’t be good for
morale either.~ At the moment, Vale was writing all of this in his first report
since arriving on the ship. Young probably wouldn’t be happy about it, but that
wasn’t his problem. He had just finished his report and send it when somebody
rang the bell.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Come in.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The door opened and Camille Wray came in. <i>Spera</i>
had lacked an IOA representative, which had been fine with Vale. He was not
exactly the biggest fan of the International Oversight Authority and it’s
bureaucratic attitudes. They reminded him of the Senate back in the old days.
Of course, that was not Wray’s fault.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Miss Wray, what brings to my little corner of our
really big spaceship ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well, it’s been two weeks and we haven’t even had a
single conversation…”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So, you decide to force this issue,” Vale said, while
gesturing towards chair across from his.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Look, Colonel…” Wray began as she sat down. “…I’ve
read you’re file. And I’ve talked to several of your old crew, so I know that
you’re not the biggest fan of the IOA. But I’m only here to help.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Help with what ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’ve noticed that there is tension between the
original expedition members and the former <i>Spera</i> crewmembers,” She
pointed to Vale’s laptop. “I presume that was the report you just send back to
Earth.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Nothing gets past you,” Vale said as he turned the
laptop around so that she could read his report. “So, what do you think we
should do about this ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well, Colonel Young will not be happy about this.
I’ll discuss this situation with him and we’ll take it from there.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Sounds like a plan to me.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Wray nodded, got up and left. As soon as she was gone,
Vale turned his laptop back and closed it. He had more reports to write, but
those could wait. For now, he was more in the mood for dinner. So he headed out
for the mess hall. When he got there, he found Chloe Armstrong, Eli Wallace,
Cinara and Nikita Aranov sitting at a table. They were eating and talking.
While Vale went to collect his dinner, they continued their discussion.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So you’ve added everything to your documentary ?”
Cinara asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“It’s a lot of footage,” Eli said. “I’m only a third
of the way there.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well, it’s been a rollercoaster,” Aranov said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What exactly is a rollercoaster ?” Cinara asked,
while holding up a hand. “Alien girl, remember ? I really need to get up to
speed with all this Earth stuff. And what kind of food is this ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’ll show you a picture someday,” Chloe said. “It’s
mashed sweet potatoes, with some kind of beans, a vegetarian cheese burger and
slices of something tomato-like. The Vicerant planted the garden with all sorts
of edible and medicinal plants. Doctor Park is leading a team that’s working on
figuring out what is what. Speaking of projects, rumor has it that the two of
you are turning the Research Lab into Archeology HQ and that you are looking
for members for a team.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The rumors are true,” Aranov began. “And since you’ve
been studying Doctor Jackson’s work, you’re at the top of our list. So, are you
interested ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Sounds good to me. But do we have any artifacts to
work on ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 315.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“There were several artifacts we brought along from <i>Spera</i>
and another batch from <i>Chaser.</i> And we’re looking for places where we
might be able to dig up Hal’Iry artifacts. But that….”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 315.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That was as far as he got before the alarm began
blaring. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Bridge – 01.17.2020, 1740)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Matthew Scott was in the command chair, while Greer,
Volker and Brody were manning the three forward consoles. Greer was the right
console, while Brody was in the middle and Volker manned the left console. A
minute ago, three Hal’Iry ships had entered sensor range. Based on their size
and the energy signature of their weapons, they appeared to be warships. So
Scott had sounded the alarm. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He was calculating how long it would take for the
warships to reach weapons range when Colonel Young came in, followed by Eli and
Lieutenant-Colonel Hailey. The last person to come in was Sergeant T’Zalo.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What do we have ?” Young asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Three Hal’Iry warships on approach, sir,” Scott
began. “<i>Destiny</i> has estimated their weapons and says we’ll be in range
in…” He worked several buttons. “….three minutes, sir.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“How much firepower do these vessels have ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Based on the energy readings, a lot,” Brody said. “But
at this range, I can’t get you any details.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I could take a stab at it,” Hailey said. “Narrow the aft
the sensors and tune them to specific band we need to get that information. But
I’m going to need help.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Do it,” Young said. “Eli ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Oh, right. I’m the help,” Eli said with a nod.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Eli and Hailey set to work. One of the displays facing
the command chair changed to show a picture of one of the warships, with a
series of red dots indicating where the weapons were. There were eight particle
weapons and two torpedo launchers. ~Four forward particles weapons and one
forward torpedo tubes.~ The other four particles weapons and the second torpedo
launcher were pointed aft.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Looks like they’re turrets.” Eli said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, they can turn ninety degrees to the left and
right, with the barrel being able to move up to a forty-five angle.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then the warships opened fire with their torpedo
launchers. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Decimator – Bridge - 01.17.2020, 1744)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The bridge of the <i>Decimator</i> was a cramped,
square space. There were control stations lining the bulkheads, with the only
way in being a hatch in between two stations. The command chair was in the
center of the room, with the Helm station in front of it. The helm was in a
sunken pit, so that the Commander could see through the only window in the
room. Which was a round porthole in the bow bulkhead. Said porthole was fitted
with several circuits that could provide the commander with all sorts of data.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sitting in the command chair, Middle Commander Fc-83-H
was glad to have his science officer back. The research on the Alien Rings was
complete, so he had been able to disband his makeshift science team. That was
the good news. The bad news were his new orders. If it had been up to him and
La-27-A, they would have simply let the Ka’Zinro leave the galaxy. They would
simply fade into legend and that would be the end of it.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But the Leadership wanted the aliens wiped out and all
three vessels destroyed. So, here he was. Taking a deep breath, he turned to
his communications officer.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Lower Commander, anything from the <i>Crimson Claw</i>
?” The <i>Crimson Claw</i> was the fourth warship in the group that had been
following the target. It’s sub-light drives had failed several minutes ago
several minutes ago and they were still working on the repairs. “Something
tells me we’re going to need all the firepower we can get on this one.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Nothing so far, Commander,” The officer said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Sir,” The Helm Officer said “The target is turning to
engage us.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then the target opened fire with everything she could
muster. Which – it turned out – was a lot. She hit the <i>Decimator</i> with
her main weapon, throwing Fc-83-H from his chair. He was getting up to his feet
when one of the consoles exploded and then a support beam came down from the
ceiling.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Weapons officer, shield status !?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Down to sixty percent, sir,” The officer said. “And
that was with just two…”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That was as far as the officer got before another shot
from the main weapon hit. ~Bloody idiots, ordering this attack.~ Fc-83-H was
about to give an order when another piece of the ceiling came down and the
world went black.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Bridge – 01.17.2020, 1747)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Destiny</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’s
shields were down to sixty percent. She had destroyed one of the Hal’Iry
warships and disabled another. The last of the three ships had engaged its
hyperdrive. There was a fourth vessel further downrange, but that was not their
current problem. Young was sitting in the command chair. He turned to Volker,
who had been doing the flying during this engagement. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Get us out of here,” Young said. “How long to repair
the shields ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“An hour and half, maybe two,” Brody began. “The
Vicerant installed a program that allows for easy command input for the maintenance
drones. They also found six additional Ancient units and brought a dozen of
their own. Of course, the Vicerant versions are crude copies.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’ll take what I can get.” He turned the chair to
face Eli, who was sitting at one of the aft consoles. “Any ideas why they
attacked us now ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No idea.” He looked at Hailey. “But Colonel Hailey
has an idea about that.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Based on the scans, the Hal’Iry use traditional
hyperdrives, which means they travel in subspace,” Hailey said. “And that means
they can ONLY attack us while we’re moving at sub-light speeds. Which is why
they attacked us now.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“That’s something. But they’ll be back.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And probably with more firepower,” T’Zalo said, who
standing next to Eli at the side station. “You’ve read the report on the
skirmish at the quarry. This is already an escalation, sir.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yeah, we’re going to have to come up with a plan.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young leaned back in the command chair. He thought
that T’Zalo’s comment was right on the money, which meant that they wouldn’t
just need a plan. They would need really good plan. Or this would end badly.</span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-49885396903896730592021-01-02T15:37:00.011-08:002021-01-02T15:37:57.013-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.19<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">19 – Aftermath </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Spera – Briefing Room – Year 3, Day 100,1015)</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Hal’Iry surviving Hal’Iry troopers had boarded the
troop transport and left the freighter behind. There had been so many wounded
that they had needed the freighter crew to help them with treating them. The
Fleet had returned a week later, with two hundred troopers and three fully
armed warships. But it had been too late. The quarry had been stripped to the
walls, as had the shanty town. And the both the freighter and the <i>Frankenstein</i>
had been gone. All they had found were rows of graves containing the dead alien
workers. And the remains of their own people, stripped off their gear. </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It had been an insane race against the clock, but the crew
of the <i>Spera</i> had found Xe and her wards a new home. H7V-775 was another
planet with a quarry. The quarry in question was empty and five times the size
of their old one. It was also far off the beaten path and deep inside a nebula
filled with corrosive gases. This had not been a problem when the quarry had
been in operation, three hundred years ago. It had dried up two-hundred and five
years ago and been abandoned. In the years since, the allows used for the hull
had changed. And while the old one had been corrosion proof, the new ones acted
as if they were made from tissue paper.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The freighter, which had been loaded with the larger
and heavier pieces of the old settlement, had barely made it to the planet. And
it was an extreme certainty that it was never going to fly again. Which was
also true for the <i>Frankenstein</i>. As for the Stargate, Colson and his team
had put together an iris. They had also provided them with several Primian Gate
Remotes, while Samuel Wallace had used the computers from the <i>Frankenstein</i>
and the freighter to, well…..Frankenstein together a dialing computer. </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale had wanted to make sure that the 228’s were
properly settled in, so he had parked <i>Spera</i> – which was like the Hal’Iry
ships of old in the hull department – in orbit of the planet. And now they were
heading back out again. Vale was reading the final report on the new settlement
and its defenses. Besides the bows and arrows, the 228’s now had a pile of
captured energy weapons and a planetary defense grid. </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The grid had been created by combining the weapons
from the <i>Frankenstein</i> with the few weapons that had been on the
freighter. There had also been several particle weapons that had been left
behind. These had been fixed and added to the mix as well. He had just finished
reading the report when Jennifer Hailey walked in. She was carrying a computer
tablet.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We just got an update from <i>Chaser</i>, sir.”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“How did Lieutenant Johansson’s treatment go ?”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Not very good,” Hailey began. “Several minutes ago, she
fell into a coma,” She gave the tablet to Vale. “The long version is on there.
But she’s stable and both Bennett and Lam are keeping an eye on her. I’ve given
Allisson a copy and she’s got a team going over the data right now to see if
there’s anything we can do to help.”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Good thinking, stay on top of it,” Vale closed the
file on TJ and moved to the next one. “What else do we have ?”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I don’t have to tell you that we’ve left orbit and
we’re moving at maximum FTL. But T’Zalo and Levine did the math and we should
be back on schedule in about a week. Also, we ran the checklist on <i>Destiny</i>
again. The count is at ninety activate sub-protocols and dropping. If the
protocols keep turning off at this rate, the math says we should be able to
board the ship in about a month.”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We ?”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yeah, that’s the last file,” Vale moved on to finale
file. “The IOA changed the plan regarding <i>Destiny</i> once they learned
about the Hal’Iry.” The original plan had been to move the original Destiny
Expedition back to ship, plus Varro and several others. “The details are all in
there, but I’m pretty sure you’re not going to like it.”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale sighed. “I suspect you are right, dismissed.”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’ll be on the bridge if you need somebody to grumble
at, sir,” Hailey said with a nod, before walking out.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale set to reading the file. The new plan was for
both <i>Chaser</i> and <i>Spera</i> to be left with a skeleton crew of twelve.
For <i>Chaser</i>, that meant that one-hundred-and forty eight souls would be
moving to <i>Destiny</i>. In <i>Spera</i>’s case, she would be adding one-hundred
and eight people to the crew. This meant that<i> Destiny</i> would have a crew
of two-hundred and fifty-six people. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Of course, there was the issue of who would be in
command. The brass had decided that since he had been out here the longest,
that job would fall to Colonel Everett Young. And then there was the issue of
him having to select the twelve to stay behind. ~Including the new CO.~ He was
glad he would have Hailey to grumble at later. But for now, he had decisions to
make.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Eighth Fleet Headquarters – Supreme Commander’s
Office – Year 3, Day 100,1015)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">La-27-A was reading the latest reports on the aliens,
which the higher ups had called Ka’Zinro. Ka’ meant outside and Zinro was the
word for galaxy, so it meant People from outside the Galaxy. ~Typical
bureaucrats, basically giving them a name that told you nothing.~ He closed the
folder and leaned back. They had found signs that the quarry had been inhabited
by a colony of younglings after the place had officially been abandoned. As for
where they were now, that was a giant mystery. But he had decided that it was
not a priority at the moment, the Ka’Zinro were. ~Wherever they went, those
younglings aren’t going anywhere.~ As he closed the report, somebody rang the
bell to his office.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Enter,” He said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Middle Commander Fc-83-H came in. Fc-83-H was the
Commanding Officer of the <i>Decimator</i>, a Class-2 warship that was leading
a pack of ships following the first Ka’Zinro vessel. La-27-A nodded towards the
chair across from him and the Commander sat down. It was his report that
La-27-A had been reading. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’ve read your report,” La-27-A began. “So, you
believe that the alien rings are connected to the Ka’Zinro ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, based on the readings, my science officer believes
that each of the Ka’Zinro vessel has one of these alien rings onboard.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So, you want to do research on the rings ?” La-27-A
leaned back and pondered the proposal. “Looks, it’s a good proposal. But the
politicians are not a big fan of research on the rings. They are never going to
approve this. So we’re going to have to go around them somehow. Got any ideas
on how to do that ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well, you have top secret clearance, so you can get
us all the information and research that’s already been done on the rings so
far,” FC-83-H said. “And we have four warships following the first ship, each
with one science officer aboard. We could put the four them together and officially
ship them off for ‘training’. I know a couple of people at a civilian school
kind enough to fake the paperwork.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’ll dig up the data and send it to the <i>Decimator</i>.
You call your friends and assemble the team,” La-27-A leaned back. “Dismissed.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, Supreme Commander.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Fc-83-H stood up and saluted the Supreme Commander,
then walked out. As soon as he was gone, La-27-A activated his computer and got
to work. He had research to dig up.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Chaser – Infirmary – Year 3, Day 144, 1217)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">TJ opened her eyes and looked around her. She didn’t
recognize the room, but it was rather blurry. As it came into focus, she
realized that she was in the Infirmary. She as spotted V’Lazo, who had clearly
been waiting over her. The private had fallen asleep in his chair. She smiled
at the sight. It was at this point that Doctor Nicholas Rush came in. He had
been on his way to the bridge, which meant passing the Infirmary. Rush woke V’Lazo
up, who got to his feet.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Lieutenant, you’re awake.” V’Lazo said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“How long was it out ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You’ve been in a coma for forty-four days,” Rush
said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What about the therapy ?” TJ looked at Rush and
V’Lazo. “Did it work ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We’ll have to run some tests to see if it did,” He
turned to Rush. “While I’m doing that, I suspect that there are some people who
want to talk to the lieutenant.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rush nodded and grabbed his radio. The first person he
contacted was Colonel Young. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Epsilon Site – CO’s Office – 01.01.2020, 2000)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">David Telford was sitting in office, reading the
latest update from <i>Chaser</i>. Earlier today, Lieutenant Johansson had woke
up. And the analysis the ship’s medical staff had run, had confirmed that her
ALS had been cured. Unfortunately, it had also confirmed that it the treatment
would be impossible to recreate on Earth. And that was not the only news in the
update.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Two hours ago, the folks on <i>Atlantis</i> had run
the <i>Destiny</i> checklist. The day before, there had been only three active
subroutines. Now, however, only the main subprogram remained. The IOA wanted
the people on <i>Chaser</i> to prepare for the relocation. But Colonel Young
had decided that it could wait. Today, they were celebrating TJ’s cure and the
start of the new year.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It was also the first day that they were using the
Earth Calendar. The decision to switch over had been made several weeks ago by
both the IOA and Primian Senate. They had decided use to the start of 2020,
since it was the nearest marker. ~All in all, looks like 2020 is going to be an
interesting year.~ Telford scrolled down. The next section of the file was from
<i>Spera</i>. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Colonel Vale and his people were packing up to move to
<i>Destiny</i>. Vale had also chosen the skeleton crew that would stay behind.
This crew would be led by Major Frank Levine. There was also a note in Vale’s
section of the update regarding who should be Chief Medical Officer aboard <i>Destiny</i>.
Alexander Bennett was a fully trained medical doctor, but he was a civilian.
And the bulk of his service had been at Stargate Command, which was very
different then serving on a spaceship in the middle of nowhere. So Vale
recommended TJ over Bennett. He concluded his piece by saying that if her rank
was a problem, they would simply have to promote her. ~Worked for Sheppard.~
And that while they were at it, Private V’Lazo deserved a promotion as well.
~He worked his butt off trying to cure TJ.~ Telford just hoped that his
superiors and the IOA would have the common sense to listen to Vale’s
recommendations.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Destiny – Gate Room – 01.02.2020, 0900)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Lieutenant Matthew Scott was the first person to step
through the event horizon. He looked around the Gate Room and got a feeling of
déjà vuThis was how their adventure had begun eleven years ago. Except – this
time – the boarding was calm and orderly, with nobody being injured and none of
the supplies being sent flying. And everybody knew where they were going this
time around. Not to mention that the ship was fully operational now. ~And from
the looks of it, fully charged.~ Greer joined him as he headed for the crew
quarters.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I can’t believe I’m saying this…” Scott began. “….but
it’s good to be home.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yeah,” Greer said. “Don’t tell anybody, but I kind of
missed this rust bucket.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While the two of them continued talking, Captain
Tamara Johansson and Corporal V’Lazo were boarding the ship. The two of them
had been promoted this morning. ~Whoa !~ V’Lazo thought as he looked around <i>Destiny</i>’s
Gate Room. He had read all the files, heard the stories and studied the
blueprints. But actually being here, was….</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“…Something else.” V’Lazo shook his head. “I’ve done
my homework, but this is….AMAZING !”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Come on, I’ll show you our new digs. Well,
technically my old digs, but you know what I mean.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Lead the way, boss.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As the two of them walked out, Colonel Young watched
them go. Young wanted to make sure that everybody – and all the supplies – made
it aboard. He was directing people when Eli and Rush came through, followed by
Lieutenant James. When he had been selecting the skeleton crew for <i>Chaser</i>,
he had seriously considered James for Commanding Officer. In the end, he had
selected Doctor Andrea Kennair as CO. The small crew also included five
military personnel, led by Corporal Samuel Lee. Lee would double as second-in-command
for <i>Chaser</i>. James joined Young.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Lieutenant, are we still on schedule on the other end
?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes, sir. Everybody should be aboard in about ten
minutes. <i>Spera</i>’s crew should be arriving aboard <i>Chaser</i> five
minutes after that. Then it’s just a case of rinse and repeat.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young nodded. <i>Chaser</i> was currently parked in
orbit of a planet without a Stargate. That way, both <i>Destiny</i> and <i>Spera</i>
presumed that she was simply another Mark One Stargate in the network. This
would allow them to use <i>Chaser</i> as a relay point between the two. Of
course, <i>Spera</i> was pretty far from <i>Chaser</i>, so it would take a lot
of power to dial in. ~Good thing that <i>Spera</i> has fully functional
capacitors.~ Young nodded and dismissed James, so that she could go and settle
in. Then he went back to getting his people back onboard.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Eighth Fleet Headquarters – Supreme Commander’s
Office – 01.03.2020, 0800)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">La-27-A was reading Fc-83-H’s report on the Ka’Zinro
and the alien rings. ~Subspace wormhole transportation devices.~ He threw the
folder down on his desk, while uttering a long stream of curses. It was not the
alien rings he was cursing about, it was the fact that Hive Leadership – a
collection of one hundred females who ran the Hal’Iry Empire – had known
exactly what the rings did. And that they had attempted to sweep it under the
rug for propaganda purposes.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~Idiots.~ And they were not only fools. Underneath the
Hive Leadership was the Collective of Officials. These were Mayors, Governors
and other mid-levels officials. The Collective was a mix of male and female
Hal’Iry. But all of them – in his opinion – were idiots. The data on the alien
rings was right there, with many of them having the proper clearance to access
it and figure out the truth. ~This could be an open secret, one that could
change the Empire for the better.~ But instead they were too busy with their
own little power games. So none of them knew. Still feeling cranky, he
activated a log recorder on his desk.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Supreme Commander La-27-A, Fleet Log 4.7B, supplement
33,” He leaned back in his chair. “I’ve just finished reading the latest report
on Operation Shadow.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Operation Shadow was the codename he and Fc-83-H had
given their research into the alien rings and the Ka’Zinro. Log 4.7A was the
official record, which was what he was sending back to his superiors. 4.7B
normally were the rough notes, but La-27-A was using them to hide his personal
thoughts on this mess. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So, now what ? I’m stuck with a leadership and
superiors that don’t want to know the truth. Yet, they want me to do something
about these aliens. And for do something, read ‘wipe all of them out.’ And why
? To keep their propaganda-slash-ideology in place ? These people haven’t do
anything to us. They’re no threat. And yet…” He sighed and began pacing his
office.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The most recent reports indicate that the bulk of the
Ka’Zinro have relocate the bulk of their forces to the first vessel. This makes
this vessel the largest threat. Therefore, I have given orders to concentrate
our efforts or this ship and ignore the second and third one. Those ships can
be dealt with once the first has been neutralized. Finally, I don’t want to
keep calling these ships first vessel, second vessel and third vessel. So I am
codenaming them <i>Prime</i>, <i>Follower</i> and <i>Tail</i>. I’ve also
ordered the ships following them to see if they find out what these ships are
actually called. End of entry.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt 393.35pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He deactivated the log recorder.</span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-16564547922656674862021-01-02T15:31:00.000-08:002021-01-02T15:31:04.990-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.18<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
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</xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">18
– How to Survive Blowing Up the World</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Remains
of H4A-701 – Stargate – Year 3, Day 67, 1815)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Nicholas
Rush was sitting on the ramp to the Stargate and watching <i>Chaser</i>. ~It is
a pretty ship.~ One moment, they had been running for the door. And the next, a
teleporter had snatched them up and dropped them next to the Stargate. The Gate
had been activate and Colonel Young had been reaching for his radio when an
explosion had knocked them all off their feet. As he gotten back up, the Gate
and the area surrounding it had been covered in field of yellow energy. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And
outside that field, the whole planet had exploded. The team had watched as 701
had shattered like glass around them. When the fire had died down, they had
been inside a bubble. It contained them, the Stargate and a circular section of
the field the Gate had been in. Varro had tried sticking his hand outside the
bubble, but there had been a forcefield. Which was probably a good thing.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Above
them had been a Hal’Iry installation that definitely had not been there on the
planet. It had launched two rockets, one it each sun. The stars had then gone
supernova. And once again, the team had been swallowed by fire. But they hadn’t
felt a thing. And eventually, they had been in the black of space again. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
was only then that they had been able to think about how they were still
breathing. And where that teleporter had come from. The latter had clearly not
been part of Bioweapons Lab, nor the town surrounding it. Then Varro had
noticed a small grate next to the ramp up to the Stargate. It was the source of
the air they were breathing. This had led Rush to speculate that there was
life-support equipment buried underneath the Gate. It was possible that the
teleporter was also down there. But they had no way of ever knowing who had
installed this gear or why. Not that the team was complaining, since it had
saved their lives.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H4A-701
– The Town of Hamova – 15 March 1953)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Zo-77-V
sighed and rolled his eyes. ~Fleet idiots.~ Zo-77-V was a scientist, who had
just been assigned to the brand-new Biological Research Lab Gamma-7. Located in
the heart of the ancient town of Hamova, it had the latest medical technology
and an extensive medical database. But it was not the thing that was bugging Zo
– as his friends called him – at the moment. Instead, he was watching as teams
of Fleet technicians was setting up a perimeter around the town.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And
that was not the only thing they had set up. Above the alien ring, they had set
up a Mark-VII phase-cloaked missile launcher. ~With twins warheads.~ Both were
part of the Emergency Systems, which consisted of the Containment Systems and
the Self-Destruct. The Self-Destruct also included a spatial warhead, which was
buried underneath the lab. ~One big bang, and the whole town vaporizes.~ He was
about to go inside, when his colleague Ge-81-Z approached him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“How
are things going, Ge ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well,
we still have no idea what that alien ring does, Zo,” Ge-81-Z said. “But we
discovered that there is a cave underneath. It’s not very big, but we might be
able to do something with it. Anyway, I got to go write my official report. The
bosses will not be happy.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Good
luck.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ge-81-Z
left, while an idea formed in Zo-77-V’s head. He had security clearance to
order equipment, And he was going to use it. It was time for a little
scientific rebellion. ~Who knows, maybe one day it’ll safe somebody’s life.~ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Chaser
– Infirmary - Year 3, Day 67, 1823)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
was good to be back aboard the <i>Chaser</i>. Eli, Ginn and Amanda Perry had
figured out how to trigger the phase cloak of the launcher. They had used the
ship’s hyperdrive to release a particle pulse that reset the device. This had
then given them the risky task of recovering the team before they froze to
death, or ran out of air, or suffered some other horrible fate. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Fortunately,
<i>Chaser</i>’s Ancient shuttle had been just the thing for the job. Piloted my
Lieutenant Scott and Sergeant Greer, it had collected them from what little
remained of H4A-701. An odd side-note was that the Stargate was now functional
again. Despite having – for all intends and purposes – having become a space
gate.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Scott
had docked the shuttle and the door opened to reveal a medical team waiting for
them. While Young and company were rushed to the infirmary, Greer and Scott
headed for the bridge. Chloe had just handed off their samples from the lab.
And now Private V’Lazo was giving her a full check-up. As he ran a medical
scanner of over her, Chloe did her best not to shiver. She knew that V’Lazo was
a good guy, but she sometimes the memories of what the Central Authority had
done to her came back.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You’re
none the worse for wear,” V’Lazo said. “No bacteria, no contaminations and no
injuries.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Thank
you,” Chloe said. “So, what do you think about our samples ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well,
they’re going to keep us busy for a very long time. Even with help from the
Epsilon Site and <i>Atlantis</i> through the DSI.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Good
luck.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Despite
herself, she smiled at V’Lazo. Then her stomach growled, so she decided to head
for the Mess Hall. ~The IOA will probably want a full report, but the paperwork
can wait.~ Like V’Lazo said, they were going to busy for a very long time. So
there was nothing wrong with having dinner first.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Epsilon
Site – Science Lab – Year 3, Day 85, 0800)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
had been over two weeks since the team had escaped from the Biological Weapons
Lab. The Epsilon Site, the Delta Site, <i>Atlantis</i> and Stargate Command
were all working on the information that had been brought back. Then –
yesterday - Frank had asked Colonel Telford to meet him in the lab. As he
walked into the lab, Frank was looking down a microscope. He looked up and gave
the Colonel a nod.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What
you’ve got ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Okay,
we’ve been working on a cure for TJ’s ALS,” Frank began. “But, until now, our
research was going nowhere fast.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Until
now meaning that you’ve made breakthrough ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Maybe,”
Frank said. “The plan was to either upgrade the cure for Doctor Park’s eyes or
modify the pathogen the Central Authority used on Chloe Armstrong. But that was
before we had blood samples from Mister Wallace and the data from bioweapons
lab in the mix.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And
?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’ve
figured out what we need to do, but I’m still working on the how. TJ has the
same blood group as Mister Wallace, so we begin with a blood transfer to
introduce naquadah to her bloodstream. Then we inject her with one of the
Hal’Iry drugs called HE-17. That should cause the naquadah to bind to the genes
we need to rewrite. Which should allow us to reprogram the Nakai pathogen to
target only those. It’s the reprogramming that it still need to figure out.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Wait
? You found a cure for ALS.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’m
afraid it will only work for Lieutenant Johansson. We only have one vial of
HE-17 and several of the ingredients are simply not found in the Milky Way
Galaxy. And even for TJ, there’s only a seventy percent chance that it will
work.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“That’s
seventy percent better then what she has now.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He
gave Frank a nod and walked out. ~Better leave him to it.~ In the meantime, he
would send an update to Stargate Command and <i>Atlantis</i> so that they could
pitch in as well.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Atlantis
– Control Area, Gate Room - Year 3, Day 85, 0935)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Colonel
John Sheppard was in the Gate Room, grumbling under his breath. He was wearing
his dress uniform, which he hated. But it had been ten years since the
Wraith-Tau’ri War had ended. So the IOA had decided that there was going to be an
official reception and that Sheppard’s team – aka Atlantis Reconnaissance One –
had to attend. While Teyla Emmegan and Ronon Dex were already waiting near the
Stargate, Rodney McKay was yet to show up. Sheppard turned to Radek Zelenka,
who was manning one of the control consoles.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Where
is Rodney ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Still
pouting over losing his award,” Zelenka said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The
award or the life-time supply of chocolate chip cookies ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
look on Zelenka’s face said that it was clearly the latter. As for the award,
it was called the Golden Dynamite Stick and had been given to him as a reminder
of the Project Arcturus Incident. Or – as it was commonly called – that time he
blew up a solar system. But recently – eighteen days ago – Nicholas Rush had
gone and blown up a BINARY solar system. So McKay had lost his award. And he
was not the only one to lose an award.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Colonel
Samantha Carter had been granted the Vorash Award for….well, blowing up the
star Vorash orbited and destroying a Goa’uld armada. This award came with a
life-time supply of blue jelly. And since the self-destruct had included a
double supernova, Rush had been given this award as well. And since Carter
would also be at the reception, Sheppard got the feeling that this was going to
be a long day.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Epsilon
Site – Science Lab – Year 3, Day 97, 0417)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Telford
entered the Science Lab. Epsilon One had just come back from a mission, so he
had been awake and debriefing with the team when Frank had called. He had been
very busy for the past few days. After losing Pelops, the Goa’uld had teetered
on the edge of civil war. But then a Goa’uld called Vozak had launched a successful
takeover. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Three
days ago, he had launched a military campaign against several groups of pirates
and criminals. ~They’re trying to build some goodwill before implementing
whatever their real plan is.~ So the base’s teams had been going off-world to
collect intelligence, while the base staff had been hard at work as well.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Keep
it short, Frank,” Telford began. “I need sleep.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
you look terrible,” Frank said. “Anyway, we finished the cure. I’ve send the
formula to <i>Spera</i> already. And that’s not all…” He turned around a
laptop. “This is the checklist on <i>Destiny</i>’s paranoid mode. There’s a
hundred and two protocols. Until yesterday, all of them were active. Then one
of them switched off. And today, two more were switched off by the ship’s AI,”
He paused. “Long story short, we’re getting signals that <i>Destiny</i> has
begun going back to normal.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Excellent
work.” Telford said. “The paperwork can wait until I don’t feel like I’m
carrying an elephant on my back.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
sir.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Telford
walked out of the science lab. He really needed sleep. The Goa’uld would still
be there tomorrow.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Chaser
– Infirmary - Year 3, Day 100, 0930)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Lisa Park walked into the Infirmary and found Private
V’Lazo behind a laptop. Next to him stood Matthew Scott. Except, it wasn’t
Matthew Scott. Doctor Bennett – <i>Spera</i>’s Chief Medical Officer – had used
the Ancient Stones to swap with the Lieutenant. The two of them had been
preparing the potential ALS cure for TJ. They were going over the formula one
last time. TJ was on one of the nearby beds, while Colonel Young was pacing
nearby. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Are you sure this is going to work ?” Young asked.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No,” Bennett said. “Frank was right, there is only a
seventy percent chance of it working. But it’s the best chance we’ve got.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Doctor Bennett, you wanted to talk to me ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Excellent timing, Doctor Park,” Bennett said. “Doctor
Lam wants to be here for the Lieutenant’s treatment,” Carolyn Lam was Stargate
Command’s Chief Medical Officer. “And you wanted to discuss the Hal’Iry with
Doctor Jackson. So I thought we could kill two birds with one stone.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Sounds good to me.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The communications device was on a nearby table, with
a stone next to it. Lisa picked up the stone and put it on the device. Then she
was at Stargate Command. So she took a deep breath and went to find Doctor
Jackson. At the same time, Doctor Lam was now aboard the <i>Chaser</i>. Lam
looked around the ship’s Infirmary. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Nice place,” Lam said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We do our best,” Bennett said. “I’m Doctor Bennett.
And this…,” He gestured to V’Lazo. “….Is Private V’Lazo. He’s a Nakai and the
defacto second-in-command of <i>Chaser</i>’s medical department.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Nice to meet you,” Lam began. “I’m Doctor Carolyn
Lam. So, may I…” She gestured towards the laptop.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Of course,” V’Lazo moved over so that Lam could sit
down behind the laptop.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Lam sat down behind the laptop and spent ten minutes
studying the medical data. She was not surprised to find that Bennett – who had
worked for her for several years – had done his homework. The British doctor
had always been very good in the research department. ~But his hair has been
neater.~ The last time she had seen him, his red hair had been short. But now
it was twenty centimeters long and he had a wild, unkept beard. Completing her
check, she turned to Colonel Young.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I checked the treatment, Colonel,” She said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And…”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And it’s this or nothing, sir.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young said nothing, only nodding his reluctant
approval. So the three of them got to work on setting up the treatment. Samuel
Wallace had already provided them with the blood they would need, so all they
needed to do, was put the IV in place. Then they would inject the HE-17 into
the transfer line. Finally, there would be injection of the modified Nakai
pathogen, which they had codenamed Zeus. At the same time, they were using an
advanced scanner to keep an eye on her vital signs.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Blood transfusion running, Doctor,” V’Lazo began.
“How are you feeling, Lieutenant ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’m feeling fine,” Johansson said. “So, how long do
until you inject the HE-17 ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Ten minutes,” He looked at Lam, who gave him a nod.
“So, presuming this works, what do you want for your celebration dinner ? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I don’t know. But the dessert will involve chocolate
ice cream,” Johansson said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 49.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">V’Lazo chuckled. Before they had reached Freedom
Prime, <i>Destiny</i>’s crew had lacked any chocolate. It was suspected that
this food contained fifteen-hundred ingredients or more, making it impossible
to chemically recreate. But Freedom Prime had been home to a plant very similar
to the cocoa plant of Earth. And with the crew having been on the planet for
months, the crew had been able to create a small stockpile of the foodstuff.
Now there was nothing to do, except to execute the treatment and hope that it would
work.</span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-9544199989785393642021-01-02T15:24:00.003-08:002021-01-02T15:24:24.499-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.17<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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– Invasion !</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H5D-228
- Shanty Town City Hall - Year 3, Day 67, 1712)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
navy of the Hal’Iry was actually called the Space Fleet. And Xe-17-H had told
them that 228 was in the area that was patrolled by the Eighth Fleet. Led by a
Supreme Commander – the Hal’Iry counterpart of an Admiral – these consisted of
scout ships, troop transports, freighters and warships. The ships that were
approaching the planet were a troop transport and a freighter. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“They
were probably trying to follow the pirates to their base,” T’Zalo said, getting
him a look from Xe. “That’s what I’d do. Find the base and invade it. With the
freighter to hold any captives and contraband.” He paused. “On the bright side,
that means they probably don’t have the kind of weapons needed to bombard the
planet from orbit. Since that was probably never part of the plan.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
see you’ve been paying attention during Major Cadman’s tactical lessons,” Vale
said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
sir.” T’Zalo said. “And based on their size, those two ships will not land in
the garage. They’re too big. Even if they tried, the <i>Frankenstein</i> is
still parked there. So they can’t.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“How
do you know about Frankenstein ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel
Hailey brought a copy of the novel with her. I read it with a translator.
Between digital and physical copies, we actually have a nice pile of Earth
literature on <i>Spera</i>.” He looked at the screen. “So, what’s the plan,
boss ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We’ve
got several minutes before those ships land. Time to get moving.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale
led the way out of the City Hall. They needed to set up as many nasty surprises
as they could before the enemy rushed their position. Or this fight would be
over very fast.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Troop
Transport 8/1 – Cockpit – Year 3, Day 67, 1720)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Supreme
Commander La-27-A was behind the controls of Troop Transport 8/1. Unlike that
lazy bag of fat, Ha-55-Z, he did not spend his time sitting in an office far
from the front line. There was a loud thud as the craft landed in the quarry
that had once been the heart of the Hal’Iry presence on this planet. Next to
this ship, Freighter 8/4 landed. The troop transport had a hundred soldiers,
with another twenty aboard the other ship. The crews of the two vessels would
stay behind.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~Time
to get work.~ La led the troops out of the craft. The quarry was silent, with a
thin layer of water covered the bottom. ~Something is off.~ There were no signs
of habitation, nor any visible defenses. Both of which were odd for what was
supposed to be a busy pirate lair. He made his way to the nearest door and
signaled to his soldiers. They opened it and rushed in to find….nothing. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Let’s
go,” La said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They
headed deeper into the facility.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H5D-228
– Room - Year 3, Day 67, 1722)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale
readied his weapon. He knew that they were greatly outnumbered, even with Xe’s
defenders backing them up. They had taken off their spacesuits so that they
could move faster. It was how they had been able to set up several lines of
claymore mines. He and G’Yal were one side of the main tunnel, while Porter and
T’Zalo were covering the other. There were also twelve Hal’Iry defenders, with
six on each side. The soldiers kept going, until… ~Here we go.~ They triggered
the claymores, taking out four ofthe invaders.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Open
fire !”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
team began firing short bursts, taking down more of the soldiers. At the same
time, the defenders launched a wave of arrows. The soldiers returned fire with
their energy weapons, which Vale had expected. He gave a hand signal and they
slowly began retreating, while continuing to fire. But it was only a matter of
time before the enemy pushed back.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H5D-228
– Tunnel – Year 3, Day 67, 1724)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~These
are not pirates.~ La thought as he ordered his troops to retreat. They had just
lost more then fifteen soldiers to a surprise attack. ~A well-executed surprise
attack.~ These people were professional soldiers. Also, they were armed with
projectile weapons, not energy ones. And then he remembered a report that
Supreme Commander Lazy Fat Sack had submitted. ~The aliens, they really are
using the Alien Rings as a means of transportation.~</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“But
that report said nothing about them being in league with pirates,” La-27-A
said. ~Not even Lazy Fat Sack would miss something that important.~ “No
transmissions, no meetings, no evidence at all.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And
then it clicked in his head. The aliens had been here, exploring this planet.
~Which somehow got the attention of the pirates.~ They had dealt with the
pirates. But before they could leave, La and his troops had arrived. None of
which changed the fact that the Supreme Commander would have to deal with them
now. He turned to his troops and began giving orders.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H5D-228
– Tunnel – Year 3, Day 67, 1726)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
counter attack was a coordinated hard push. First, the enemy had thrown several
grenades down the tunnel. And then they had put down a carpet of heavy fire,
while slowly moving forward. NR-1 and the defenders had barely been able to
find themselves some cover. ~And that cover will soon be vaporized, literally.~
So Vale needed to do some quick thinking.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Fortunately,
he had spotted several vents near the floor. One of the problems with mining,
was that you occasionally hit a pocket of gas. And that the process itself
often created gas as well. Gas that tended to be toxic. So the designers had
added vents to suck out anything that was unbreathable. Another part of the
system was a series of emergency doors that were meant to keep the gas out. And
NR-1 and their allies were on the right side of the first door in that system.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
reason their side was the right side, was because the door only had controls on
one side. ~Ours.~ While the others provide cover fire, Vale bolted to the
controls and slapped a big red button. The door came down with a thud. But Vale
knew that it was only a matter of time before they blasted through. Underneath
the big red button was a keyhole. And Xe had provided them with the key. So
Vale put the key in and turned it. A panel slid aside, revealing another
button. ~This is not going to be pretty.~ Vale pushed the new button.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H5D-228
– Tunnel – Year 3, Day 67, 1730)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">La-27-A
was surprised to see the security door come down. But he didn’t have time to
think about it, because if they knew about the doors… ~Then they probably know
about the level two defenses.~ So he yelled for his troops to put on their gas
masks. But it was already too late. While La managed to put on his mask in
time, a large chunk of his troopers were not so lucky. By the time the tunnel
finished filling up with poison gas, they were down to sixty-seven troops and
one Supreme Commander.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He
gave his troops hand signals and soon they finished blasting through the
security door. They – carefully – made their way through. There was no sign of
the enemy. But they had, however, set up several crude explosives. These were
connected by a thin – and nearly invisible – wire. ~Primitive, but effective.~
And designed to be directional, from the looks of it. One of the troopers
carefully stepped over the wire, right onto a pressure plate…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H5D-228
– Tunnel – Year 3, Day 67, 1731)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
explosion took out seven Hal’Iry troopers. They had stepped over the wire
connecting the two claymores. Which was exactly what Vale had expected them to
do. While the troopers were disoriented, the defenders fired. Porter was
position to lower the second door, which was what she did as soon as the
attackers opened fire. As the door made its way down, several grenades were
tossed down the corridor by the defenders. As for the level two defenses, they
had used all the gas. But that was not the only surprise that the designers had
included. Porter used the key to unlock the next feature. There was a fizzle as
the circuit connected to the door got to work. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
troopers attempted to blast through the door, but it did not end well for them.
Their blasts were reflected back to them, taking out several of the troopers.
But then things went really downhill for them. Because while most of grenades
had detonated close to the door, one had kept going. It reached the first
section, where it ignited the poison gas. As a precaution against people using
their weapons to stop the gas, they gas had been made flammable. Porter heard
the blast and was glad she couldn’t see what was happening on the other side of
the door.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H5D-228
– Tunnel – Year 3, Day 67, 1734)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">La-27-A
signaled retreat to his troopers. The gas explosion had been horrible, killing
troopers and setting them on fire. While he could technically press the attack,
to do so would condemn the wounded. So he was ordering them out of here. ~This
is not over.~ They would return with larger numbers and heavier weapons. He had
no idea who the enemy commander was, but he had clearly underestimated this
person. It was a mistake which he would not make again. He gave the door one
last look, then picked up one of the wounded and left.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So
he did not hear the fizzle as the force field protecting the door disengaged.
Then the door opened and the defenders stepped into the section of corridor. As
he saw the aftermath, Vale scratched his face. ~This is not good. Not good at
all.~ Of course, the locals were good in the short term, but…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We
just got very, very lucky,” He said. “And these guys are not going to
underestimate us again. Not to mention the fact that they are going to attack
this place again.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
the secret is out,” Porter said. “We’re going to have to relocate the
children.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Which
was going to be easier done then said. But if they left Xe and her charges here,
it was only a matter of time before the Fleet send another force. They would
either be overwhelmed and massacred. Or they would all be arrested and become
wards of the state. And neither was an acceptable option. So they had work to
do.</span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-29270703790889135672021-01-02T15:19:00.006-08:002021-01-02T15:19:46.856-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.16<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">16
– What Happened to Colonel Young ?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Chaser
– Infirmary – Year 3, Day 67, 1635) <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">TJ
woke with a terrible headache. As soon as she opened her eyes, Private V’Lazo
made his way to her bed. A Nakai male, he was the most capable of the Primian
medical team they had picked up at Freedom Prime. In the time since they had
left the planet, he had become the defacto second-in-command of the medical
department. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Glad
to see you’ve woken up, boss.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’ve
got to get to the bridge, the Colonel…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No,
you don’t,” V’Lazo said. “You need to rest. I know you’re worried. But Matthew,
Vanessa and Camille are on top of it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“But…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Ugh
! No buts, if or maybes.” V’Lazo held up a hand. “What if our roles were
reversed ? What would you do ?” Despite the situation, TJ smiled. ~They do say
that doctors make the worst patients.~ And V’Lazo had said exactly what she
would have said in this situation. “Also, I am happy to report that Eli and the
others came back totally clean from the planet. No unknown viruses, bacteria or
spores anywhere on or in them. All the tests came back negative.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Good.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Now,
rest.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
doctor.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">V’Lazo
turned to another member of the team and whispered an order. The other member –
Private Hy’avo, a male Ursini – nodded and made his way to an IV. It was only
then that TJ realized that she was hooked up to one. ~Looks like a perfect
stick, probably got it on the first try.~ Hy’avo replaced the bag of saline.
Then he took out an syringe and injected something into the line. Soon, she
felt herself floating away. ~Exactly as I would have played it.~ She smiled and
then slept.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Chaser
– Bridge – Year 3, Day 67, 1635)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Camille
Wray was in the command chair. Scott was actually in command, but he wanted to
be behind one the control consoles. Scott was in the middle, with James
covering the left station and Greer on the right. Meanwhile, Eli had manning
one of the side consoles in the back. At the moment, <i>Chaser</i> was heading
for H4A-701 at maximum speed.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After
the shockwave, they had checked the telemetry on the planet’s Stargate. The
sensors said the Gate was still there. And it was still there in the list of
Gate addresses. But when they had tried to dial the planet, they last chevron
had not locked. So Scott had come up with Plan B. Which was to get there the
old fashioned way. ~What happened down there ?~ The radio came to life and
Private V’Lazo gave Wray a progress report from the Infirmary.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Good
news, TJ just woke up,” She began. “She’s sedated now, but she’ll be fine.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What
about Brody and Ginn ?” James asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“They’re
in the Gate Room, helping Volker with dissecting the telemetry the Stargate
send back when it didn’t connect.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Good,
” Scott said, while turning his chair around. “The more people we have working
on this, the better.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He
turned back to his console and went back to work. They needed to get that
planet as soon as possible and find their team. ~We don’t leave our people
behind.~ One way or the other.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Biological
Weapons Lab – Basement – Year 3, Day 67,1442)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
turned out that the countdown was tied to a lockdown protocol. It had begun
with the main entrance, which had been magnetically sealed. Then all the
windows had been secured by forcefields, before the system began closing doors
and pumping the air out of the rooms. The only area not affected, was the
basement. So the team had retreated back there. It had been close call, with
the door to the basement closing a mere two seconds before the countdown ran
out. Which had been just now.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So,
now what ?” Chloe asked.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Let’s
see what’s happening in the control room,” Young said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They
made their way to the control room. The control room monitors showed the rest
of the lab, but no views of the outside. Varro had seen that there were cameras
on the outside of the building, so he sat down behind the controls and hit
several buttons. Chloe watched as the screens changed to reveal the wrecked
town outside the building. There was no sign of Eli or the others. ~At least we’re
now sure they made it out.~ And the breach they had made in the force field,
was still around. But that where the good news ended.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Because
there was no way for them to get to the Stargate. Which meant that – unless
they came up with a way to breach the lab – they were fated to run out of food
and water. ~Unless we run out of air first.~ Fortunately, one of the sections
was a computer that calculated how much air they had left. It said that they
still had enough air for three weeks. ~So, that’s not a problem.~ But they
still had to get out of here.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So,
how are we getting out of here ?” Chloe asked.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well,
we’re not using the weapon,” Varro began. “It’s off-line and I can’t turn it
back on. It looks like the breach triggered a safety protocol.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yeah,”
Rush said. “Probably more then one. We’re going to have to do something drastic
to get out of here.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What
about the generators ?” Young asked. “Can you shut them all down ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’ll
see what I can do.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rush
sat down behind one of the control panels and got to work. Soon, all but one
generator were shut down. He tried to shut down the last one, but the console
asked for a password. Which he didn’t have. So he would have to get creative.
It took a bit of searching, but he managed to find a menu and a list of options
and functions. Then he saw one of the functions and had an idea. He opened the
screen and began typing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Chaser
– Bridge – Year 3, Day 67, 1803)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Chaser</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> had dropped out of FTL and was now entering the solar
system that was home to H4A-701. Or the area where the solar system containing
H4A-701 used to be. All there was left now, were small pieces of rock and two
dead hulks that had once been stars. But there was no sign of the bioweapons
lab or the Stargate. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What
the…,” Camile said as she looked at readings.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The
whole system is….” Eli began. “…just gone.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Camile
left the command chair and made her way to Eli’s console. She looked at the
display and saw that even the biggest rocks were only half the size of the <i>Chaser</i>.
But then she noticed a subspace signature in the middle of a cluster of rocks.
She turned to Eli.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Is
that the Stargate ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Hang
on,” Eli hit several keys and there were several beeps. “Yeah, the computer
says it could be. But there’s something off about the reading.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Sounds
like we should take a closer look,” Camile said, while looking at Scott.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He
nodded and set a course. Camile turned back to Eli’s console. She tried not to
think about Colonel Young and the others. But she knew the chances of them
having survived this were not good. Not good at all.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Biological
Weapons Lab – Basement – Year 3, Day 67,1449)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
had taken a bit of doing, but Rush had found a way around the password that was
keeping him from shutting down the final generator. He had tablet computer in
his backpack, which had a password cracker on it. With a bit of fiddling, he
had managed to connect the tablet to the control panel. Then the password
cracker had begun doing its thing on the generator password. And now it was
finishing the job. There was a beep and a light turned green. Rush flicked the
switch for the last generator. The lights, controls and monitors died, There
were also clicks as the magnetically sealed doors unlocked. Finally, there was
a rush of air as the forcefields came down and atmosphere flowed into the
building.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Time
to go,” Young said</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Before
they could head out, however, one of the screens came to life. It showed
another count down. The team bolted from the basement, towards the front door.
Ten seconds later, the world blew up.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Chaser
– Bridge – Year 3, Day 67, 1810)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Chaser</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> had reached the place where the Stargate should be.
But there was no Stargate. Instead, there was cube of metal with two holes in
it. Attached to this cube was all sorts of machinery built for some unknown
purpose. As Eli scanned the cube, he realized that the hole were not holes.
Instead, they were the top of a missile silo. His scans also showed that both
missiles had been launched. As he traced their trajectories, an idea formed in
his head.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No
way,” He muttered.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Eli
?” Camile asked.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He
left his console and began checking things on the other stations. As he did,
his surprise grew. Finally, he turned to Scott.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“They’ve
got Soran probes,” He began. “That’s bad. That’s, like, really bad.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What’s
a Soran probe ?” James asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“In
Star Trek Generations, the bad guy is this alien dude called Soran. And he has
these probes that he can launch into a star, making them go supernova,” He
paused. “It appears that they’ve figured out how to do that. Which is
like…superbad.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So
what about the Colonel and the others ?” Camille asked. “Are they…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">She
couldn’t bring herself to finish the question. And even if she had, Eli was
still moving around the bridge, checking readings. So it was very likely that
he would not have answered it anyway. Then he saw something on one of the
consoles and bolted from the room. Camile gave Scott a look, then followed him.
She found Eli in the Gate Room, where he was talking to Ginn, Brody and Volker.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Eli
?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
think I know what happened to our team,” He began. “And we can get them back,
but we’ll have to hurry. And I’ll need Ginn and Doctor Perry to help me with
the math.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You
go to the bridge, get started,” Camile said. “I’ll have Doctor Perry meet you
there.” Eli nodded and he left with Ginn in tow, while Camile grabbed her radio
and contacted Perry. As soon as that conversation was over, she turned to
Volker and Brody. “Stay here, whatever Eli’s plan is, it might involve the
Gate. If it does, I want you here to dial the second we need to.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You
got it,” Volker said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Camile
nodded and headed out.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Chaser
– Corridor – Year 3, Day 67, 1815)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Amanda
Perry walked onto the bridge. In the past couple of weeks, she had been getting
up to speed on <i>Chaser</i> and Primian technology. And with her knowledge of
hyperdrives, she was the defacto Chief Engineer of the ship. So she had been
spending most of her time in <i>Chaser</i>’s engine room. She had heard about
the team – including Nicholas – going missing. It had put knots in her stomach,
but there had been nothing for her to do. Until now.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Eli,”
She began. “What do you have ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Lepton
radiation.” He pointed to a section of his console, which showed a grave with a
clear spike. “I’ve been reading SGC reports off the DSI, to pass time,” He
paused. “And the only times they mentioned Lepton radiation…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Phase
technology. The Ballard Crystal Skull and Merlin’s research device.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Exactly,”
Eli said. “That would explain why we didn’t detect the launcher and where the
Gate went. And why the network keeps saying that the Gate is there, but we
can’t connect to it.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The
subspace link is intact, but the wormhole penetrate the dimensional wall,” Ginn
said, while noticing something on the display. She frowned and hit several
buttons. There was a beep and then a number appeared on the display. “Is it me,
or does that mass reading look about the same as the Gate ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yeah,
I’m thinking this thing works like an elevator.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“With
the Gate being the counterweight ?” James asked. “But wouldn’t the Gate and the
launcher fuse together ? When they reach the same ‘height’ ?” She paused,
looking at Perry and the others. “What ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No,
you’re right. That’s why the Gate and the launcher weren’t in exactly the same
position, ” Perry said. “But if Eli is right, maybe we can trigger the elevator
and bring the Gate back.” She looked at Eli. “But the chances of them making to
the Gate….”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Look,
I know it’s a long shot,” Eli said. “But it’s this or nothing.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Do
it.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Perry
nodded and the three of them got to work.</span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-63317476756152519222021-01-02T08:59:00.009-08:002021-01-02T08:59:48.572-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.15<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">15
– Escape and Consequence</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Biological
Weapons Lab – Emergency Shelter – Year 3, Day 67,1353)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They
had entered the second room in the Emergency Shelter. And what they had found
inside, had shocked Chloe. The room they were in was a large chamber filled
with table and chairs. Beyond that where several doors that appeared to be lead
to bedrooms. But that was not had shocked her. There were several corpses in
the room. And they had energy weapons in their hands, with nasty wounds on
their bodies. It was pretty clear that they had turned on one another. Moving
carefully, Young made his way to the bedrooms. There were more bodies inside.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=What
happened ?=/\= Chloe asked.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=They
ran out of food.=/\= Varro said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There
was a small kitchen in one corner of the room. And beyond that was a door,
which Varro had opened to reveal what had been the supply locker. There were
two more corpses in there and no food or water, just empty shelves.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=After
that, they turned on one another.=/\= Varro said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Let’s
go.=/\= Young said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They
left the room and made their way to the third door in the lobby. Rush opened
the door to reveal with generator room. There were four generators, with all
four being dead because they were out of fuel. This left them with the last
door. Varro opened the door and they found the bathroom of the complex. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Where’s
the research ?=/\= Chloe asked.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=We’re
missing something.=/\= Rush said. =/\=They wouldn’t leave it behind.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rush
went back into the generator room. When he got the back wall, he noticed a mark
on the floor. Looking around, he noticed a big red button that was not wired
into the generators. He pushed the button and waited. After a couple of
seconds, the back walls slid aside. Beyond was another flight of stairs.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Cliché,
anyone ?=/\= Varro said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rush
led the way down the stairs. It ended in a square room. There was another
generator, which was fully fueled. Rush engaged it and the lights came on. This
revealed a room full of boxes on shelves. Chloe opened one of them to reveal a
row of folders. She took one out and opened it. There was Hal’Iry text inside,
accompanied with illustrations. The pictures made it clear that this were
medical texts.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=This
is it.=/\= Chloe said. =/\=But getting all of this back to the ship is not
going to be easy.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There
were dozens of boxes on both sides. Beyond the boxes were several freezers with
samples. These appeared to have a generator of their own. And they were still
working. Fortunately, there was a cooler box among medical equipment that TJ
had send along. Next to the freezers was an empty shelf. Varro put the cooler
box on that shelf and they got to work on selecting samples from the freezers.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H4A-701
– Settlement – Year 3, Day 67, 1442)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While
the others were inside the lab, Eli and company were waiting at the barrier. To
pass the time, they had been taking a closer look at the ruins. It turned out
that the collapse of the town was not entirely natural. They had found several
ruptured gas pipes, which had destroyed a couple of the buildings. And there
had clearly been several large fires. There was also a large crater that had
once been a metal building. They could see this from the chunks of metal that
were embedded in the walls of the surrounding buildings.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What
do you think ?” James said. “An armory ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Definitely,”
Greer said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They
had found enough pieces of debris to figure that out. Eli and Volker were
nearby, going through what was left of what appeared to have been the town’s pub.
It had taken a beating from the explosion of the metal building and there had
also been an explosion of some kind in the kitchen. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“It
was clearly caused by the gas line,” Volker said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The
blast took out half of the kitchen,” Eli began. “I wonder what came first, the
explosion out there or the mess in here.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No
way to tell.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Eli
looked around the kitchen and noticed something. There was a freezer in the
corner, which was blackened on the outside. But it was still in one piece. He
opened it and looked inside. This revealed what was left of a Hal’Iry soldier.
Or at least, what Eli presumed was a soldier based on what he was wearing. Then
he noticed that the soldier was still carrying his weapon. Among the medical
supplies TJ had send them, had been a box of medical gloves. Eli had taken a
pair of them along, which he now put on. Then he collected the soldier’s
weapon. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What
do you have ?” Volker asked.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“An
energy weapon,” Eli said. “And a battery. You know, I had this friend called
Zach and his dad was an undertaker. And he told me how they had to take out
people’s pacemakers before cremating them, because otherwise the batteries
would explode.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Bring
it along.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Eli
pocked the weapon and they headed out. They met up with James and Greer and
went back to the edge of the settlement. Eli showed weapon to James and she
told him about the metal building. The question that remained was, how had the
soldier ended up in the freezer ? From what Eli had seen, he had not been
injured. Nor had he been exposed to any of the biological weapons. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Before
they could discuss it further, there was an electric buzz from the building.
Then the cannon on the top of the lab fired. The projectile hit one of the poles,
which snapped in half and crashed to the ground. Then the weapon fired again
and took out another pole. With two poles down, there was now a hole in the
barrier.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Colonel
Young had given them orders to go through the barrier first. He wanted to keep
the two teams separate to prevent contamination. With James in the lead and
Greer covering the rear, the team headed out. Eli just hoped that the others
would be following soon. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Biological
Weapons Lab – Control Room – Year 3, Day 67,1437)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
selection hadn’t been easy, but Rush and Chloe were pretty confident that they
had grabbed the most important samples and research from the hidden room.
Colonel Young wanted to send another team back to collect more, but they needed
to make sure it was safe to do so first. After the collection, they had headed
for the control room. Inside, they had found two more dead Hal’Iry. And like
the emergency shelter, the place was without power because its generators –
there were two of them – had apparently run out of fuel. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But
there was a control board, which was tied into all the generators. Varro had
managed to divert the power from the hidden room to the weapon on the roof,
without killing power to the freezers. He had also managed to get one of the
control room generators going again. It turned out that the generators were not
really out of fuel. Instead, the pump that moved the fuel to the generators had
stalled. A quick reset of the pump had gotten the generator up to thirty
percent fuel. Which was enough to keep the controls of the weapon going for
three days.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That
the good news. The bad news was that it would take several minutes to charge
the weapon. Finally, the control console beeped and indicated that the weapon
was ready. Varro was behind the controls, while Young stood next to him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=How
many shots do we have ?=/\= Young asked.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Three.
So I’d better make this count.=/\= Varro aimed the weapon and fired it twice.
=/\=Got it, there’s a breach in the barrier.=/\= The targeting sensors also
showed four dots, which Young figured were Eli and company. They were moving
towards the Stargate. =/\=Looks like the others made it out.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Let’s
go.=/\=</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They
headed out of the basement and towards the front door. But they were only
halfway there, when the an alarm shrieked. There was an electrical fizzle as power
was somehow rerouted and the doors magnetic lock activated. Before any of them
could react, there was another fizzle and a display come to life above the
door. Varro’s realized it was a countdown and cursed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Chaser
– Gate Room – Year 3, Day 67, 1450)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Eli
and his group had made it back through the Gate and were now in the Infirmary
being decontaminated. They were also going to get a full work-up. TJ knew that
they hadn’t been inside laboratory, but she was not taking any chances. She had
tried to contact Colonel Young, but there had not been any reply. In fact, the
frequency sounded like it was being jammed. Before she could try again, the
wormhole blinked. TJ activated her radio.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Chaser
to Young,” She said. “Come in.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
only reply she got, was static. Then the wormhole blinked again. Suddenly, a
shockwave came through the wormhole. The Stargate disengaged, while the people
in the Gate Room were thrown around like dolls. TJ’s head slammed into the
floor, before the world faded into black. </span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-15252400464974935622021-01-02T08:50:00.010-08:002021-01-02T08:50:48.818-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.14<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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– Attack</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H5D-228
– Shanty Town - Year 3, Day 67, 1602) <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale
had sat down so that he could get a good look at the cage. It was old and
rusty, without a solid floor. But there were two of the youngsters watching
them, so digging their way out was not an option. But the team did have trick
up their sleeve. They were still wearing their spacesuits. Vale knew it was a risk,
but he calmly took off his helmet and sniffed the air. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~Bit
stuffy, but breathable.~ Then he nodded for the rest of the team to do the
same. As he closed his air flow – to preserve what was left in the tank – the
others took off their helmets as well. The rest of the team followed his
instruction and turned off their air as well. ~Let’s see how they take that.~
He looked at the two youngsters and smiled. The whole thing had seriously
freaked them out. They were talking to one another. Then one of them ran away.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“That
got to them,” G’Yal said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So,
now what ?” T’Zalo said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“First,
let’s see how they respond,” Vale began. “Then we’ll take it from there.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
young female who was in charge approached the Vale’s cage. He was alone in his
cage, while Porter had a cage of her own and G’Yal was sharing one with T’Zalo.
She looked at all four of them. ~She’s surprised.~ He got the feeling that it
had been quite a while since she had seen anybody who was not a Hal’Iry. ~Maybe
since the fire that killed all those people happened.~ Which had probably
happened the day this place had been abandoned. He decided to take the direct
approach.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“It’s
been a long time since you’ve seen somebody who is not Hal’Iry, right ?” Vale
began. “Maybe since the day this place has been abandoned ? The day of the fire
?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You’ve
seen…,” She shook her head. “…what was left ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
we have,” Vale said. “How long has it been ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“It
has been….” She sighed, clearly the memory still hurt. “….several years. When
the mine was abandoned, the guards received orders to kill all the workers. But
they refused. So the Hive send a warship and things….”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Is
that when you ended up living here ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
they hid us here. Just in case.” She paused. “The caves were empty back then.
Over the years, we stripped the place of anything useful and build the town.
Except the garage, we figured that striping that might set off alarm bells if
they ever came back. So, why didn’t we hear your ship land ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Because
we didn’t arrive by ship.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“That’s
impossible. There’s no other way to travel the stars.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale
was about to reply when one of the youngsters came running. He whispered
something in her ear hole and her face turned to one of worry. Then an alarm
began blaring in the distance. The young lady in charge took out a set of keys
and began unlocking the cages. Soon after, several other youngsters arrived and
handed them their weapons. Then the leader turned back to Vale.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“My
name is Xe-17-H. But everybody simple calls me Xe.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’m
Marc Vale and they are Allisson Porter, G’Yal and T’Zalo. They work for me,”
Vale said. “So, what’s going on, Xe ? What does that alarm mean ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We
set up a proximity alarm,” Xe said. “It means a ship is approaching,” She
turned to Vale. “Did you really not come here by ship ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“That’s
right.” He turned to the others. “NR-1, move out.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They
made their way to the entrance. It was trip through a darkening town as the
younglings put out the lights, so they had to use the integrated flashlights
with their weapons to see. When they got there, the youngsters were setting up
to let anybody who tried to enter the place have it. Vale gave several hand
signals and the team set up flanking the way in. They could hear people moving
around in the garage. Vale signaled for the team to turn their flashlights off,
which they did. Xe took up a position next to Vale.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So,
what do you do ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Explore
planets, do science, help people out, gather supplies,” Vale said. “So, who are
our unwelcome guests ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well,
officially, they don’t exist,” Xe whispered. “But there are plenty of pirates
around. If this were fleet people, you would still be in your cages. The Fleet
would drag us out of here and throw us in some horrible state-run orphanage. But
the pirates, they’ll kill us all. And that means I need every weapon I can get
to defend this place. Letting you go was a major risk, letting them in is
suicide.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Before
the conversation could continue, one of the pirates noticed the entrance to the
cave. Soon, his head poked out of the end of the tunnel. Vale blew it off with
one shot. There was a ruckus on the other side. Then somebody pulled the
remains away. They could hear several more pirates coming down the tunnel. They
fired several shots through the opening, but those hit nothing but dirt. There
was a pause, before more pirates came through. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Fire
!” Xe yelled.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There
were five pirates, who all found themselves on the receiving end of a wave of
arrows. Three of them were dead, while the last two were finished by Porter and
G’Yal. Vale and T’Zalo quickly dragged the corpses away. The pirates didn’t
just have hand weapons, but were also carrying grenades. Vale collected these,
then pulled the pin on two of them. He threw them into the tunnel with all the
force he could muster. They exploded on the other end.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Why
didn’t they think off that ?” Porter asked.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Because
they’re pirates,” Vale said. “If they were smart enough to join the fleet, they
wouldn’t be here.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“There’s
that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
was at this point that there were curses heard from the other side of the
tunnel. Then a grenade was tossed through the passage. But whoever had tossed
it, had been a little to eager. The grenade sailed past the defenders and took
out one of the huts. Before they could throw another one, Vale fired a burst
into the tunnel. ~We can keep exchanging fire like this forever.~ They needed
to break this stalemate. The problem was that the tunnel was the only way in or
out. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~Time
to get creative.~ Vale inspected the wall around the tunnel. As he did so,
G’Yal and T’Zalo fired more bursts into the tunnel. Porter threw several more
grenades at the pirates. From the cursing and screams, Vale got impression that
they had just taken out several more pirates.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We’re
down to two grenades, boss,” G’Yal said. “If you have any great ideas, now
would be the time.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale
was about to say that he had nothing, when he noticed a duct. When a ship
landed in the garage, its engines heated the place up. So – to keep the people
inside from being boiled alive – the Hal’Iry had installed several ducts to
channel the heat out of the room. It was much bigger than the tunnel, but its
location made it impractical for everyday use.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Fortunately,
whoever had designed the spacesuits had been a sharp cookie. They had figured
that climbing might be required, so there were retractable pins in both the
hands and feet. There were also servos and motors to help carry the load.
~Probably for climbing on planets with higher then Earth gravity.~ Using the
suit, Vale climbed to the duct. ~Whoever designed this thing deserves a
promotion.~ He made his way to the other end of the duct. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Looking
down into the garage, he saw that there were four pirates left. They were
huddled behind their spacecraft, which was a miserable old rust bucket. ~Looks
like a Frankenstein starship.~ The ship had apparently been patched together
with whatever the pirates could get their hands own. Between the <i>Frankenstein</i>
and the tunnel was a bloody mess that had once been at least four pirates.
~Time to make my move before they make theirs.~</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There
was a circular tunnel that connected all the heat tunnels. Vale ran down this,
making his way to a better position. As soon as he got there, he opened fire.
The pirates went down before they even realized what was going on. Vale jumped
on top of the pirate ship and scanned the room. But he was alone. He made his
way to the tunnel entrance.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“All
clear !”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
sir.” G’Yal replied.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale
looked at the garage. The place was quite the mess, but at least the youngsters
would still around to clean it up.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H5D-228
– Shanty Town - Year 3, Day 67, 1705)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While
the rest of the locals were clearing up the mess in the garage, Xe had given
the team a tour of the shanty town. Simply called Home by those who lived here,
the settlement was home to about two-hundred Hal’Iry off-spring. No off-spring
had been born there yet and the smallest natives were three years old. This had
given them a rough date on the massacre.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As
they had toured the place, Vale had realized that there was more material here
then could have possibly been salvaged from the quarry and the rooms
surrounding it. He was also suspicious about the timing of the pirate attack.
It was too neat, too lucky. As soon as the tour was done, he shared his hunch
with Porter.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You’re
thinking it was a test ?” She began. “But how could they arrange for the pirates
to show up ? And if they’re in league with them, why let us kill them ? It just
doesn’t make sense.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
don’t have all the answers. Just keep your eyes open.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You…”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That
was as far as she got before one of the locals came running past. Xe was
further down the street, talking to T’Zalo and G’Yal. The other local said
something to Xe and the two of them ran off. Vale nodded and the team followed
them. Xe and her companion had run into the largest structure in the shanty
town. It was the closest thing the place had to City Hall. There were several
rooms inside, with the one where they found Xe appearing to be a tactical
headquarters. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There
was a control panel that was tied into the sensors and the proximity alarm that
Xe had mentioned. But what was more interesting, was the presence of what was
clearly a beacon-slash-transmitter. ~So, it WAS at test. And that is how they
got the pirates here when they needed them. They send a burst, which got the
pirates’ attention.~ He gave Porter a look, then looked at the display. It
reminded Vale of a radar screen. And that radar screen showed a pair of dots
approaching the planet.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“More
pirates ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No,”
Xe began. “Pirates have to scrape together their components, so their ships are
never that big.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Great,
looks like we’re about get some Navy visitors.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
ships had probably been on the hunt for the pirates when they had been lured to
the planet by the burst. ~This is going to be nasty.~ He looked at Xe and saw
that she knew what this meant. They were in for a much tougher fight…</span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-40323912273264724512021-01-02T08:44:00.013-08:002021-01-02T08:44:54.016-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.13
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">13
– Contained </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Chaser
– Gate Room – Year 3, Day 67, 1300)</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Camille
Wray and Tamara Johansen walked into the Gate Room, while Adam Brody dialed the
Gate. Ginn was behind the Kino reading console, and Barnes and her team were
ready to deal with any unwelcome guests. The Gate finished dialing and the
wormhole formed. Johansen took out her radio. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“<i>Chaser</i>
to Young.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Young
here.=/\= Came the reply. =/\=We’re in trouble over here. Are you getting our Kino
feed ?=/\=</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">TJ
looked at Ginn, who nodded that they were indeed getting the feed. She made her
way to the console and looked at the feed. The Kino appeared to be in an alien
building and from the looks of the place, it was some kind of clinic or hospital.
Then she saw the aliens with the boils and got a bad feeling about what the
place really was.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We’re
getting the feed. What kind of facility is this ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=A
Bioweapons factory.=/\= Young said. =/\=Something broke out and wiped out the
local population. And now we’re stuck inside a containment field.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Can
you cut the power ?” Wray asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=We’re
working on it.=/\=</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Is
there anything we can do to help ?” TJ asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=No.
Do not send anybody else through the Gate.=/\= Young said. =/\=Dial the
Stargate every fifteen minutes, Young out.=/\=</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Several
seconds later, the wormhole disengaged. Johansen and Wray then left the Gate
Room, while both Ginn and Brody gave them looks. As soon as the doors closed
behind them – putting them out of earshot of the others – Wray spoke up. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
know what the Colonel said, but we have to do something.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We
have biohazard suits,” TJ began. “We can put the Gate Room under lockdown and
create a corridor to the Infirmary. But until they get back to the ship, there
is nothing we can do. Not without violating the Colonel’s orders.” She paused.
“We’d be risking the whole crew getting exposed to whatever is in there.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And
what am I supposed to do while you’re setting that up ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
need you to go to the bridge and take charge.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“All
right,” Wray said with a nod.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Wray
knew there would be little to do on the bridge. <i>Chaser</i> would have to
hold position until this whole thing was over. But she also knew that TJ would
have to focus on the medical side of this situation, so she would deal with
everything else while the Lieutenant did that. And it wouldn’t hurt morale to
have things running normally on the bridge.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H4A-701
– Settlement – Year 3, Day 67, 1311)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Eli
was exploring the bioweapons factory with the Kino, looking for clues. So far,
he had not found any way out of the settlement. But it was now crystal clear
that this was indeed a very dangerous place. They had found more subjects
strapped to beds. And they had all looked rather nasty. But they had not died
from the same disease. ~So they tested more then one bioweapon here.~ Besides
the patient rooms, there were also labs and several rooms filled with filing
cabinets. At the moment, however, the Kino appeared to be in a supply room. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Anything
useful ?” Greer asked.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No,”
He steered the Kino out of the supply room. “Nothing so far.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Eli
kept searching the building, while Young updated <i>Chaser</i> on things. Rush,
Varro and Volker were studying the ruins and had found a piece of a house that
was still standing. Climbing up to top of the ruin, Varro took out a pair of
binoculars and studied the building. He spotted the top of an elevator shaft
and what appeared to be some kind particle weapon. ~And a pretty big one to
boot.~ It was clearly there to defend the facility from any unwelcome visitors.
There were also what Varro guessed were shield emitters. He climbed back down.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“There’s
a big particle weapon on the roof,” Varro began. “Might be the key to getting
out of here.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Problem
is, to control it, we’d probably have to go inside,” Volker said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“That’s
presuming the weapon is operational,” Rush said, looking at the building. “And
then there is the issue of power. So, yeah, we’d probably have to go in there.
Which might not end well.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Varro
nodded and the led the way back to the others. While told Young what he had
found, Volker went to see where the Kino was. Eli had explored the bulk of the
building. And it was more of the same things they had seen before. There was no
control room in the part of the building that was above ground. But Eli had
found a staircase that led to a basement. He steered the Kino down and found
two doors. Chloe translated the labels, which revealed that one was an
emergency shelter for the staff. And the other was the control room they had
been looking for.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel,”
Chloe began. “We’ve found the control room.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The
problem is, the door closed,” Eli said. “I can’t take the Kino inside.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well,
we were going to have to go in there anyway for this to work,” Rush said, while
looking at the building. “So, what about the other door ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Also
closed,” Chloe said. “And that sign next to it says its occupied, which means
that somebody managed to get in there.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“But
based on the rest of the settlement, this happened years ago,” Rush said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So
the chances of anybody being alive in there are practically zero,” Eli said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We
should still see what’s in there,” Young said. “If there are counteragents to
the weapons, it makes sense that they would be part of the shelter’s supplies.
And there might be information on the weapons themselves as well.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“How
do we go in there without getting infected ?” James asked,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We
have biohazard suits on the ship,” Young said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">James
nodded and looked at the building. Even with the biohazard suits, this was
going to be a risky affair. But it was not as if they had much – not strike
that – any other, options. So some of them would have to go in there.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Chaser
– Gate Room – Year 3, Day 67, 1335)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">TJ
had prepared the Infirmary and secured a route there. As for the biohazard
suits, <i>Chaser</i> had twenty units in stock. Ten for humans and ten for her
alien crewmembers. Colonel Young had asked for four suits, which had left TJ
six suits to work with. Johansson was wearing a suit, as were Adam Brody and
Ginn. Matthew Scott would be delivering the suits the Colonel had asked for, so
he was wearing the fourth suit.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
last two suits were being worn by Doctor Lisa Park and Corporal Barnes, who
were in the infirmary. And they were not alone, because the aliens suits were
in use by alien crewmembers with medical training. The Gate had been dialed and
Scott was ready to step through. He gave TJ a nod and then stepped onto
H4A-701, which was actually quite nice. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But
he knew that this was not the tropical paradise it appeared to be. Taking a
deep breath, he headed for the settlement. When he got there, Greer and James
were waiting for him. They were standing where the barrier was.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Lieutenant,”
Greer said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=The
suits the Colonel asked for are in here.=/\= Scott said, while holding up one
of two duffel bags he was carrying.=/\=The other one has extra food and water and
some medical equipment that TJ thought might be useful.=/\=</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So,
how do we get this through the barrier ?” James asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Let’s
see what happens.=/\= Scott said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He
got as close as he could, then held out one of the duffel bags. The barrier
crackled around his arm, but didn’t stop him. Greer took the bag, while Scott
passed the second one through. James took it and then Scott stepped back. ~The
barrier doesn’t stop anybody until they are all the way through.~ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=I’d
like to stay, but TJ told me to double time it back to the ship. Made it an
order, =/\= Scott began. =/\=Good luck.=/\=</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Scott
left, while Greer and James took the supplies and headed for the lab. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Biological
Weapons Lab – Basement – Year 3, Day 67,1350)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young
was leading the team into the lab, with Rush coming along to do the Science.
Chloe was on the team to translate and Varro was there to help deal with any
nasty surprises they might encounter. Volker, Greer, James and Eli had headed
for the barrier. Eli had given Rush the Kino remote, so that he could operate
the flying camera ball and they could use it to scout the rooms before they
went in. That was presuming they could open the doors. Young and Varro were
currently trying their luck with the door of the emergency shelter. Much to
Rush surprise, the door was not locked. But a closer look revealed why. ~The
lock was magnetic.~ When the power had died after the outbreak, the door had
unlocked. ~Good thing these suits come with build in flashlights.~ Beyond the
door was another flight of stairs. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They
all turned on their flashlights. Then Young led the way down the stairs and
they reached the lobby of the actual shelter. The room had a desk with a chair,
where the remains of guard sat. Beyond that, the room was a semi-circle, with
four doors in the wall. Young opened the first door to reveal a small room with
a bunk bed, a toilet and a sink. There were also two lockers with uniforms and
a handful of personal items. The top bunk was where another guard had passed
away.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Not
exactly the most luxurious place.=/\= Chloe said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=No,=/\=
Young said. =/\=Shall we see what’s being door number two ?=/\=</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He
walked out of the room and opened the second door. Young was the first to see
what was beyond. And whatever it was, it made him curse. Chloe went into the
space next and gasped at what she saw…</span></p>
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Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-27527296230565220222021-01-02T08:38:00.002-08:002021-01-02T08:38:25.785-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.12
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">12
– Dark Secrets Uncovered</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H4A-701
– Settlement – Year 3, Day 67, 1242)</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
building was that had survived whatever had happened here, did not match the
construction style of the ruins. The broken buildings were brick and mortar,
whereas the survivor was steel and glass. As Eli had seen on the Kino footage,
all the ruins were overgrown. But they could all clearly see that their
destination was untouched. There were some kind of symbols on the outside of
the structure as well. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“It’s
like somebody added this place as an afterthought,” Volker said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“That
afterthought might have killed everybody on this planet,” Varro said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So,
how do we find out what happened here ?” Volker said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Eli,”
Young said. “Send in the Kino.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Nodding,
Eli steered the alien device towards the building. The doors wouldn’t open, but
one of the windows was broken. So Eli used that window to get the flying camera
ball inside. At first glance, the building looked like a hospital or clinic.
But then the Kino flew into a room where several Hal’Iry were strapped to beds.
And they were covered in nasty looking, purple boils. Eli also noticed that
room could only be opened from the outside.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“It’s
a lab,” Rush said. “A biological lab.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The
kind that has been outlawed on Earth for decades,” James said. “They were
making weapons.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So
something broke containment and wiped out this village,” Varro said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“That’s
the most likely scenario,” Rush said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We
need to get out of here,” Eli said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Eli,
turn off the Kino,” Young said. “We’re going to have to leave it behind,
otherwise we risk contamination.” He turned to the others. “Greer, Varro, take
point, we’re leaving.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
still recommend a day or two of isolation once we get back,” Rush began. “Just
to be on the safe side.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We’ll
radio ahead and set it up,” Young said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">With
Greer and Varro leading the way, the group headed out. They reached the border
of the settlement, which Eli now realized was marked by metal poles. Mounted on
the side of these poles that faced the town were blue, elliptical lights. They
were about halfway up the poles and the size of a football. These had been off
when the team had made their way into the town. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~That’s
why we didn’t notice them.~ Eli thought.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Greer
and Varro reached the poles, only to walk into a forcefield. It knocked them to
the ground. Vanessa James and Rush helped them to their feet. Varro aimed his
weapon at one of the lights – which Eli figured was actually an emitter – and
fired three shots. Alas, the forcefield also protected the emitters-slash-pole.
All three shots were blocked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Okay,
this could be a problem,” Volker said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“It’s
a Hal’Iry countermeasure. And it probably extends all around the settlement,”
Rush said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We
probably triggered it going in,” Young said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So,
what do we do now ?” Chloe asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That
was the big question that they were now facing. With a bit of luck, <i>Chaser</i>
would check in on them soon. And they had enough food and water for a couple of
days. So they were good in the short-term. It was the long-term that was the problem.
Looking back towards the lab, Eli got the feeling that he knew where they would
end up heading.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H5D-228
– Tunnel - Year 3, Day 67, 1530)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
team had done a circuit of the quarry, staying close to the wall. They had
found several more rooms, but these had all been mostly empty. What little remained,
however, had painted a picture. The quarry had clearly been a major mining
operation. And the rooms combined to form a complex that had housed the
workforce. Porter and G’Yal had discovered a tunnel that connected them. The
only room not tied in, was the one where they had found the remains. At the
moment, NR-1 was exploring a larger tunnel that branched off from the room
connecting one. Porter and G’Yal were in the lead, while Vale and T’Zalo
covered the rear.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Where
do you think this goes ?” G’Yal asked.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
have no idea,” Porter began. “But whatever is at the end, it’s going to be far outside
the quarry. And the air is clear, so something is keeping the atmosphere from
the surface out.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They
reached a corner in the tunnel. After they turned said corner, they found
themselves at a pair of heavy metals door on rails. It took both them, but them
managed to roll one of the doors aside. MP-5 at the ready, G’Yal was the first
to step into the room beyond. It was a large, round room, with a roof that
could iris open. There was machinery lining the wall, along with plenty of
tools.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
think this is where they did maintenance on ships serving the quarry.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So,
it’s a fancy garage.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“To
bad it’s empty,” G’Yal began. “I get the feeling that this planet has been
abandoned for quite a while. Still, even an outdated Hal’Iry ship would have
told us a bunch about their technology.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Let’s
make sure we’re not missing anything,” Vale said as he joined them.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You’re
the boss, boss.” G’Yal said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
team set to examining the room. It was T’Zalo who noticed a passage behind one
of the sections with tools. Following it, he ended up in a small supply room.
At the back of this room, behind a workbench was a section of wall that seemed
off to him. He pulled the workbench aside and examined the section. ~It’s not a
wall…~ He pushed against the section and it slid aside. ~It’s a hatch.~ And
beyond that hatch was another tunnel.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel,
I’ve found something.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=We’ll
be right there.=/\=</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T’Zalo
waited for the rest of the team to arrive, then made his way down the tunnel.
It was narrow, so he had to get through on all fours. Which was not easy in the
spacesuit. But all four of them made it, suits intact. The space beyond was
dark. But even with just the light of their flashlights, it was clearly not
part of the Hal’Iry constructions on the planet. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Instead,
it appeared to have been a collection of caves. This was obvious because there
were stalactites and stalagmites in range of their flashlights. They could also
see that the caves had once been separated by natural walls, but that these had
been removed.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Somebody
did some remodeling,” Vale said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And
expanding,” Porter began. “They connected the caves and made them bigger and
then…” She pointed at a constructed wall with her flashlight. “…used the pieces
of rock to build that wall, which I figure used to be the entrance.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“That
explains why this place is not flooded with the surface atmosphere.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Boss,”
G’Yal said, while pointing at a spot next to the entrance. “Is it me, or does
that look like a light switch ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale
looked at the spot and saw that it was indeed a light switch. So he flicked it.
There was a pause and then he heard the sound of a generator spinning up. He
turned back to the cave complex to see several electronic lights spring to
life. They revealed a shanty town made out of wood, metal, fabric, stone and
other materials. Basically, any materials the locals could get their hands on.
There were only a few electronic lamps, but Vale spotted other light sources as
well.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Candles,
oil lamps and even bioluminescent moss,” Porter said. “These people got really
creative about lighting this place.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Let’s
take a closer look,” Vale said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They
made their way into the town. Vale took out a gas-lighter and began lighting
the oil lamps and candles as they passed, leaving a trail of light. The town
was empty. There was crude furniture inside the shacks that made up the town. But
there were no personal items.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No
clothes, no food, no corpses,” Porter said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We’re
missing something,” Vale said. “A hidden shanty town, cloaked in the dark. What
is this place about ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Survival,”
A female voice began. “This place is about survival.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
team turned to see a group of Hal’Iry. They were armed with bows and arrows,
which were aimed at the team. Vale could see that these were not adults, but
children. A young Hal’Iry female – who was clearly in charge – had been the one
who had spoken. She was holding a sword, which she was pointing at Vale.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We’re
not here to threaten that,” Vale said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’ll
be the judge of that,” The female said. “Take them away.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
children led the team to a collection of cages. Vale knew that they were on the
clock and that they could shoot their way out of this situation. But the that
was not the kind of man he was. The children took their weapons and locked them
in the cages. Vale sat down on the floor. ~Time to earn your paycheck, Marc.~
He began plotting his next move.</span></p>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
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Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-76184384959084542962021-01-02T08:28:00.001-08:002021-01-02T08:28:09.970-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.11<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">11
– Ashes and Fallout</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Spera
– Bridge – Year 3, Day 50, 1430)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Levine
had briefed Vale and Cadman when they had returned to the ship. Vale had left
Cadman and Levine to oversee things, while he went to write his report on Moon
One and their findings there. While the team was still exploring Tango One,
Cadman and Levine and the rest of the people on the bridge were studying the
other asteroids with the obelisks. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You
are right,” Cadman said. “Each is bigger than the previous one.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And
look at the chemical composition,” Levine said. “I’m no scientist, but even I
can see that each one is more complex.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Bigger
and more complex.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“That
all lines up with the Practice Ground theory,” Porter said. “What do you make
of this technology the team reported about ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Cadman
made her way from the Flight Control to Science One, where Porter was sitting.
The team had reported their findings over the radio, while also sending back
several photos. Cadman looked at the readings on the Science console, which
were far more extensive then the ones on the Flight Control console.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well,
it’s clearly not one of the races we’ve encountered so far,” Cadman began. “Which
makes sense. The only known race we know to have visited this place, was the
Order. And why would the Order establish an outpost this far outside civilized
space ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“They
wouldn’t,” Porter said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Okay,
enough theories,” Cadman began. “Tell the team they have five more minutes,
then I want them get back aboard. The colonel wants to go back into FTL at
fifteen-hundred hours. I want to get some closer scans of the other asteroids
with obelisks before then.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
ma’am.” Levine said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Levine
opened a channel and contacted Hailey and her team. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Spera
– Briefing Room – Year 3, Day 67, 1207)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
had been seventeen days since they had left Sector 3325 behind. Yesterday, they
had received a report that they had the war between the Jynacko and Nakai –
which had been brewing for more than a year – had finally erupted. This meant
that the Nakai Central Authority was no longer in the race for <i>Destiny</i>.
Even if they won the war, they would be busy rebuilding their civilization. But
the New Rebels Nakai had relocated all the people they would be able to. And
they were worried about the Jynacko coming for them next, so they wanted <i>Destiny</i>.
The IOA believed that they needed the Ancient technology to upgrade their
defenses.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~Great,
as if we don’t have enough to content with.~ Vale thought. It was a good thing
that they upgraded the hydroponics bays, because the planets they had visited
since leaving Sector 3325 had been rather harsh. ~And no more signs of the
Zovaris.~ They had delivered a thick report on both Moon One and Tango One a
week after leaving the sector. But there was nothing new since then. Vale was
sitting it the Briefing Room, reading the latest from reports from Colonel
Young when <i>Spera</i> dropped out of FTL. Two seconds later, Alec Colson walked
into the room.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What
have we got ?” Vale asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“There
are four Gates in range,” Colson said. “One is looking like a good place to
stock up on water.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Okay,
let’s see what the MALP has to say,” Vale said as he got up. “Hopefully, we’ll
have better luck than last time.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Colson
nodded as the two of them walked out of the briefing room. The last mission had
been to H3K-094. And that planet has been home to some very nasty predators. So
the whole team had ended up running for the Puddle Jumper. In fact - even once
they had reached the craft - it had been a very close call. Several members of
the crew had ended up in the Infirmary. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Chaser
– Gate Room – Year 3, Day 67, 1207)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Nicholas
Rush watched as the Kino went through the event horizon. The ship and crew’s
current status was a good news, bad news situation. The good news was that <i>Chaser</i>
was now only one or two days behind <i>Destiny</i>. It fluctuated a bit, but
that was the average time gap they had managed to lock down. The bad news was
they were still in Hal’Iry space. This made collection resource considerably
harder. They hadn’t lost anybody yet, but there had been several skirmishes
with their ground forces.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Furthermore,
they had successfully identified the technology that <i>Spera </i>had found on
the asteroid they had named Tango One as Hal’Iry. This proved that the
reptilian species had travelled as far Sector 3325. But that was something for
them to research later. For now, he had to worry about H4A-701. They had
detected a beacon in orbit of the planet, which had taken some time translate.
It said that the planet was off-limits to the Hal’Iry. And that was why Rush
wanted to take a closer look at it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He
made his way to the Kino readings console. The atmosphere was breathable and
their was no sign of radiation. Rush hit several keys, but there was no sign of
any obvious hazard. Next to him, Colonel Young was also studying the readings.
The team would consist of Young, Rush, Volker, Chloe Armstrong, Eli Wallace,
James, Greer and Varro. Camille Wray and TJ would be running things on <i>Chaser</i>
while they were away.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Let’s
go.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young
was the first through the Gate, with Rush being right behind him. Varro went
through last. And then the wormhole disengaged. As it did, Johansen turned to
Adam Brody, who was manning the dialing computer. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
want hourly status reports,” She said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You
got it.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Johansen
took out her radio and contacted Sergeant Barnes. She knew that this world was
officially off-limits. But she was not taking any chances, so she ordered
Barnes to assemble a team to secure the Gate Room. ~Just in case there are any nasty
surprises waiting on 701.~ She had just done so when the ship’s alarm sounded.
So she headed for the bridge.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Spera
– Gate Room – Year 3, Day 67, 1215)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale
was looking at the readings on H5D-228. The planet had a toxic atmosphere, but
nothing that the spacesuits couldn’t handle. They had considered using the
Puddle Jumper, but the atmosphere was corrosive to the ship’s hull. The suits,
however, would not be affected. As for why they were headed through the Gate,
the MALP was telling them that there was some kind of anomaly about three
hundred meters from their potential arrival point. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At
first, 228 had seemed like a useless rock with a toxic atmosphere. And
temperature was minus seventy degrees Celsius. But then the MALP had detected
an area where the temperature was only minus five Celsius. But the probe could
not tell them why. And that was what they wanted to figure out. So NR-1 was
putting on the spacesuits. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Time
to test the adjuster circuit.” G’Yal said as he put on his helmet. “This is the
first time somebody not Human is using the suits.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well,
if the circuit works, they should be one sized fits all,” T’Zalo said. “Sort
of.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">G’Yal
pushed a button and the suit slowly shrunk to fit him. Then T’Zalo pushed the
same button and his suit adjusted as well. Porter was already in her suit, so
they were waiting for Vale. The colonel put on his helmet and then activated
his radio.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Okay,
people, here we go.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Yes,
sir.=/\= T’Zalo said. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale
led the way through the Gate. He had a feeling that this was going to be an
interesting trip.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H4A-701
– Field – Year 3, Day 67, 1225)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">701
was actually a nice planet. So far, they hadn’t run into any nasty critters or
lethal radiation. Instead, it was a wooded planet with two suns. The planet was
further from the suns then Earth was from her own star. But because there were
two of them, the planet was still habitable. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rush
and Eli were in the front of the team. Eli was holding a Kino remote and
checking the readings. He had send the Kino ahead to make sure that there
weren’t any nasty surprises waiting for them. ~So far, so good.~ He had barely
completed the thought when the remote beeped. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel,”
Eli began. “We have a town up ahead, but no life-signs.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What
about bodies ?” Rush asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Nothing
so far, but the place is very overgrown.” The town was a ruin, with large
chunks of the buildings having already fallen down. And what was still
standing, was covered in vines and other plants. “From the looks of it, this
happened a while ago.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So
the bodies could have decayed in the time since.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Kino reached a building in the exact center of town. Worryingly, it appeared to
be both intact and totally free of overgrowth. Eli had a bad feeling about what
this meant. And he also knew that there was only one way for them to find out.
~We’re going to have to go in there.~ So, he looked at Young.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What
did you find ?” Young asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“One
building, intact and free of overgrowth,” Eli said. “Right in the middle of
town.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We’re
going to have to go in there.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Correct
me if I’m wrong,” Chloe began. “But the last time something like this happened,
didn’t Doctor McKay end up blowing up a solar system ?” Young gave her a look.
“What ? I’ve been reading up on <i>Atlantis</i>.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“She
has a point,” Eli said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“That
doesn’t change the fact the Colonel is right,” Rush said. “Whatever is in there
could pose a significant thread to the ship,” He paused, while gazing towards
the settlement. “We’re going to have to deal with it. One way or another.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young
nodded and they continued on their way. Soon, they were would reach the
settlement. And then they would have to deal with the fallout of whatever had
happened here.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H5D-228
– Desert - Year 3, Day 67, 1228)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">228
might have a toxic atmosphere, but it was pretty. As the planet’s lone sun rose
above the horizon, it was turning the atmosphere into a rainbow of colors. It
also revealed that the anomaly was located at a deep gorge in the surface of
the planet. As they approached it, it had become clear that this was not a
natural formation. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Instead,
it was a square quarry that went straight down. As he looked over the edge,
T’Zalo saw that the there was no bottom, but a plain of water instead. ~I
wonder why it hasn’t frozen.~ Looking around, he spotted a flight of stairs
that zig-zagged down towards the water. Colonel Vale led the way to it, with
T’Zalo taking up the rear. ~Here we go.~ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
stairs were made from some kind of metal. As he made his way down the first
flight of stairs, Vale passed through a forcefield. The rest of team followed,
before Vale activated his radio.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=This
is what the MALP read.=/\= He began. =/\=It just couldn’t make it out, because
the atmosphere was too thick.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=It’s
like we’re walking in soup.=/\= Porter said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=True.=/\=
G’Yal said.=/\=But the forcefield appears to keep it out. The atmosphere is
clear underneath.=/\= He turned to Porter. =/\=Is it breathable, Allison ?=/\=</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=It
appears to be, but we have no idea what kind of bacteria and viruses are in the
atmosphere. So I recommend keeping the suits on.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Okay,
let’s see if we can find any signs of inhabitants.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They
continued their way down the stairs. The walls of the quarry appeared to be
smooth at first glance, but he could T’Zalo could see that…~Well, whatever they
were mining here, they took it away in chunks.~ He could see lines on the
walls. As they headed down, he realized that G’Yal was right and that the
atmosphere was indeed clear. Finally, they reached the bottom of the stairs.
The problem was that there was no way to tell how deep the water was.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Now
what ?=/\= T’Zalo asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Well,
only one thing I can think off.=/\= Vale said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He
stepped off the platform and ended standing in about five centimeters of water.
The bottom of the quarry was gloomy, so Vale – and then then others – activated
the light on his weapon. Using the extra lights to get a better look at the
place, Porter spotted a rusty metal door in one of the walls. It was slightly
bigger than an average humanoid and came with a handle. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale
nodded and they made their way towards the door. The colonel gave several hand
signals – which the team had been learning for the last couple of days – and
Porter grabbed the door handle, while G’Yal took up a position to the left and
T’Zalo went to the right. Vale took the middle and began counting down using
his fingers. When he reached zero, Porter yanked the door open.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Bloody….=/\=
Vale said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There
was no way to tell what the room had once been, but now it was a mass grave. It
was clear that whoever the people had been, they had not been Hal’Iry. The
remains were dressed in rags and they were handcuffed, with their legs being in
chains as well. The walls were scared and black, making it clear that these
people had died in a fire. Vale had the feeling that they were standing in the
ashes of the other races of this galaxy.</span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-26582629025692493932021-01-02T08:20:00.011-08:002021-01-02T08:20:57.632-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.10<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">10
- …And Games in Town</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H2Z-118
– Village of Pal - Year 3, Day 12, 1015)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Scott
had introduced his team and then Ga-25-H had given them a tour of the village.
It was indeed a collection of farms, but one building – a large barn – had been
turned into a large still. Ga-25-H had explained that this was an official
government still and that soldiers were not allowed to go there, because the
political leadership was afraid that they would get drunk and go around
looting, raping and murdering. So they had authorized the still crews do what
was necessary to deal with any violators. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ga-25-H
was now leading them into the lab next to the still. This was where they tried
to refine and improve their product. There was also a table with eight chairs.
The lab doubled as an office and town meeting hall. They all sat down, with
Ga-25-H sitting across from Scott. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So,
Matt..,” He began. “…May I call you Matt ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Only
if I can call you Ga,” Scott said with a smile.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Ga
is fine with me. Now, Matt, our security sensors have detected your second team
already. So would you please ask Commander Young to bring his team into the
town ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Scott
to Young.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Young
here. We’re holding position outside the town. Are you okay ?=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
sir. The locals have extended an invitation, sir,” Scott paused. “I think it
would be best if you took them up on it. These people are friendly, sir.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There
was silence as Young considered his next move.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H2Z-118
– Dry Creek Bed - Year 3, Day 12, 1015)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
medical team had arrived and treated the wounded. The bulk of that team had
left – heading back to base – with their security officers staying behind to
reinforce Dr-28-A’s patrol. The base had also send out another patrol to back
them up. But the aliens were already making their move. A second team had
circled around the patrol and was now entering the town from the other side.
The problem was that he would have to wait for his reinforcements to make his
move.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~Of
course, I still have to figure out a way to get them out of there.~ He wanted
to capture the aliens, learn about them. But if he went into a town with a Hive
Official Still – or HOST, as it was officially called – his superiors would
come down on him and his men like a ton of construction material. ~HOST ? Who
came up with that name, anyway ?~ It sounded like something from a badly
written piece of fan-fiction. On the other hand, the stills served an important
function. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
booze they produced was shipped throughout Hal’Iry space. It was divided into
rations that were given to the civilian population by means of lottery. The
lottery was part of several measures that the higher-ups had taken to prevent
dissention in the ranks. For now, however, Dr-28-A, had other things on his
mind. He needed to come up with a plan to get the aliens out of Pal. So he kept
watching.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H2Z-118
– Village of Pal - Year 3, Day 12, 1022)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young,
Scott and Ga-25-H were sitting in the lab-slash-meeting hall, while most of the
others – led by Lieutenant James – were outside and keeping a close eye on the
Hal’Iry team just outside the town. The only exception was TJ, who was talking
to one of the locals, Mz-10-X. There was a still aboard the <i>Chaser</i>,
which could make medical alcohol. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But
stills could also be used to distill water. And while the one aboard ship was
big enough for ship’s alcohol needs – medical or otherwise – it was not big
enough to provide a supply of distilled water. The Pal still, however, would be
able to provide them with several bottles of the stuff.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So,
Commander,” Ga-25-H began. “we are in major trouble here. The Hal’Iry are not
tolerant of other species. In fact, if it was up to our political leaders, we
would conquer the universe and wipe out everybody not part of the Hive.” He
paused. “The only reason we haven’t, is because we lack the numbers and
resources.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Why
are you telling us this ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Because
I became the leader of a HOST for a reason…” He leaned back. “….namely, that I
am not the biggest fan of our political leadership. And most of the Supreme
Commanders are fools. Villages like Pal had certain liberties that the average
settlements lack. If you had entered a normal village, you would have been
executed by now. Which brings up to the subject of the patrol outside the town
limits…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So
going further from the Stargate…” Scott said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Would
be a real bad. They will either kill you, capture you, or both,” Ga-25-H said.
“And if they find out how to work the Stargate, it would be bad. And not just
for you. Because if we go to war, thousands of my species my will die. Not to
mention all the people who will lose their loved ones. And that’s just our
side.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young
turned to Scott. “Lieutenant, can we talk outside ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
sir,” Scott said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
two of them walked out of the building. As soon as they were out of ear range,
Young turned to Scott. “So, do you believe him ? Because to me, this whole
sounds way too lucky. A whole planet full of hostiles and we happen to stumble
upon the one friendly town in walking range of the Gate ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
know we are taking a risk by believing him, but if the Hal’Iry really are a
predatory species and they figure out how to work the Gate…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young
nodded. ~That would be really bad.~ Scott thought. And he got the impression
that Ga-25-H was a straight shooter. Besides, if he had wanted to hurt them, he
could have done so before. Instead, he had given them a tour of the town and
kept the ground forces at bay. And Colonel Young was not the kind to gamble
with the future of a species or a galaxy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Okay,”
Young said. “Back to the ship it is.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Before
Scott could reply, Varro came running. “Colonel, we have a problem,” He began.
“Our alien friends are setting up some kind of grenade launcher. I think they
are done waiting.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Two
seconds later, the enemy opened fire. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H2Z-118
– Dry Creek Bed - Year 3, Day 12, 1025)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Dr-28-A
watched as another grenade hit and exploded. He had wanted to wait a bit
longer, but his superiors had called him and demanded that he should move in
now. They had also wanted the aliens alive. Apparently, they knew something
about the Aliens Rings. Fortunately, they had several smelly bombs at their
disposal. They had just fired all eight of them into Pal. ~Of course, these
things are designed to work against Hal’Iry. Not….aliens.~</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">His
troops were covering both paths from the town. As soon as the aliens left the
cover of the buildings, they would be stunned and taken away. And they would
have no other choice. The bombs had made the air impossible, or near
impossible, to breathe. Dr-28-A gave his troops hand signals and then readied
his weapon. Several more seconds passed and then….nothing happened. ~What the…~
He gave it twenty more seconds, then ordered his men to open fire.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 223.4pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The shots penetrated the cloud and hit…..nothing. He
stood up and walked into the cloud. His troops followed. The bombs were no
longer emitting gas, so the cloud was slowly starting to disperse. And through
the thinning gas, he could see that the only people outside the buildings were
his troops. And then all hell broke loose.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H2Z-118
– Pal Underground - Year 3, Day 12, 1026)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What
Ga-25-H knew and Dr-28-A did not, was that Pal had originally been an illegal
still. And that as result of that, there were several tunnels underneath the
town. And the current town had been built on top of an older version of the
town that had burned down several years ago. Except the basements had survived.
Finally, there were several maintenance rooms for the local sewer and the
electricity grid. The result was an underground labyrinth. But Ga-25-H knew
exactly how to navigate it. And he was leading Colonel Young and his people
through away from the town.</span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Won’t
this get you into trouble ?” Young asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No,
if they arrest me, the still will shut down and that will causes riots all over
the place,” Ga-25-H said. “Plus, they would have to admit that they were in the
town to begin with, which is clearly against the rules. And anything regarding
the Stargates is classified at the highest levels. The average citizen barely
knows that they exist,” He paused as he turned a corner. “The last thing would
want is to attract attention to them.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Playing
games with the higher ups ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Like
I said, I am not their biggest fan.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Why
do I have a feeling that you are not the only one in Pal who feels that way ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Because
you are right, I have been playing games,” Ga-25-H said. “And I’ve been
gathering people who have the right skills and who agree with me about our
leadership. Pal is a harbor for the rebellious. Of course, there is only such
we can do,” They turned another corner. “But I had to start somewhere.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They
reached the end of the tunnel. There was a heavy wooden door, which Ga-25-H
opened to reveal a stone stair that was covered in sand. Ga-25-H pushed one of
the bricks next to the stairs and the structure turned into a slope, causing the
sand to slide into the tunnel. He pushed the brick again and the stairs moved
back into place. Then he led the way up the stairs. Scott was surprised to see
that they were only fifty meters from the Stargate. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~How
come we didn’t see this ?~ He looked around and saw that the entrance was
hidden by several shrubs and a patch of long grass. They made their way towards
the Gate. Rush took out the Gate remote and began the dialing sequence. Ga-25-H
watched as the Gate did its job, then whistled at the wormhole formed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Temporary
subspace wormhole ?” He said, looking at the event horizon. “Takes you apart at
the molecular level, transmits you to another ring, where you are put together
again. Does it hurt ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No,
it doesn’t hurt.” Scott said. “And you can tell all of that by just looking at
the Gate ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well,
we might spend several nights doing some unauthorized research on the Ring,”
Ga-25-H said, before turning to Young. “Like I said, Pal is a home for the
rebellious, Commander. And we are playing for all the marbles. Get out of here
and make as few stops as possible, Commander. And prepare for a running
firefight.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young
nodded and led the team through the Stargate. As he made his way out of the
Gate Room, he thought about what he had learned on the planet. They were in
hostile space, which would make resupplying harder. And it would only be a
mattered of time before they tried to attack <i>Chaser</i> the old fashioned
way. So the game was now truly afoot.</span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-28922222269036542802021-01-02T08:14:00.007-08:002021-01-02T08:14:38.239-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.09<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">9
– Fun In The Asteroid Belt….</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Spera<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– Bridge – Year 3, Day 50, 1250) <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Cinara
and Nikita Aranov were manning the two science stations and studying the energy
signatures on the sensors. At the same time, Major Levine was plotting a course
past all the asteroids on their list. He was also looking for a place where
they could take a closer look at the sources of the signals. So far, they had
been able to confirm that said sources were Zovaris obelisks. These units were
much smaller then the one on Eden. But they had not been able to find a place
where they could send a team in spacesuits yet. The asteroids they had passed
so far had been barren, except for the alien devices.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Anything
so far ?” Hailey asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No,”
Cinara began. “But every asteroid is slightly bigger than the one before.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“That
lines up with our practice theory,” Levine said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Suddenly,
there was a beep from Aranov’s console. He worked his controls and realized
that one of the asteroids was not solid. Instead, there was a cave system
inside. And the Zovaris had made the asteroid spin, so that centrifugal force
simulated gravity. This created zero-point-nine G inside the caves. But there
was no atmosphere inside these caves. Aranov reported what he had found to
Hailey.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Is
the obelisk inside the caves ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
it is,” Aranov said. “If I’m reading this right, in the exact center, Colonel.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’m
still getting used to that,” Hailey said with a smile. “Can we get a team in
there for a closer look ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“There
are no hatches sealing the ends of the cave system, so we should be able to get
in there,” Aranov turned his chair around. “And I think I’ve found a good place
to park the ship while the team is inside.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Major
Levine, set a course.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
ma’am.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Spera</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> set course for the asteroid. She was moving at full
sub-light speed, so it only took her a minute to arrive. Aranov transferred the
coordinates to Levine’s station and the Major parked the ship in that location.
As soon as he reported that they were in position, Hailey decided that she
would lead the team herself. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So,
who is going down there ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Hailey
looked at the asteroid and made the decision.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Puddle
Jumper Two – Cockpit – Year 3, Day 50, 1235)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale
flew the Jumper away from the obelisk. Next to him, Cadman was watching the temperate
belt below them. ~I should have checked if she received the gene therapy.~ Of
course, if the answer was no, then Doctor Bennett could fix that. In order to
keep the silence from getting awkward, Vale decided to speak up.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So,
I know this is a cliché question…” He began. “…But, why did you join this
expedition ? I read your file and your had a pretty sweet gig aboard the <i>George
Hammond</i>. You had your own security team.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And
now I have my own security team again. I’ve come full circle,” Cadman said with
a smile. “But you’re right, life on the <i>Hammond</i> was good. Still, when
Colonel Young asked me, I couldn’t say no.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We
don’t leave our people behind ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Exactly.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Speaking
of clichés, have you had the gene therapy yet ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No,”
Cadman said. “It was on my to do list while I was assigned to <i>Atlantis</i>.
And then I got reassigned…” She paused. “And what about you, sir ? Did you get
the therapy or were you born with the gene ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
got it from mother nature. And both of my parents, just like Lieutenant-Colonel
Sheppard.” There was a beep from the sensors as they detected two cabins on the
surface. They came with a pier, canoes and a steam vessel identical to the one
they had found next to the cabins that had been next to obelisk. Vale told the
Jumper to make a note, which it did. “Anyway, we should fix that. Get you the
gene and then some flying lessons in one of the beauties.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
sir,” Cadman paused. “You know, it’s been weeks since we’ve left Freedom Prime.
How come we haven’t had this conversation ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Hmm….maybe
we’re both workaholics ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Maybe,”
Cadman said with a snicker. “So, is true that you used to be a Roman Centurion
?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
it is. And don’t belief any of the romanticized things Hollywood tried to tell
you were the truth. The Legions were brutal and so was I.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
get what you’re saying, but I’ve been in the uniform long enough to know that
modern politicians, admiral and generals are far from having clean hands
themselves. And don’t get me started on all the cloak-and-dagger games played
by intelligence services,” She paused. “So, there’s plenty of hypocrisy to go
around. I like working for a boss who tries to avoid it.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Thank
you. And I can’t promise I’ll always succeed.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Before
Cadman could reply, the sensors beeped as they passed over another cabin
complex. She made a note on the map and noticed something. ~They appeared to be
equally spaced around the planet.~ She grabbed her backpack and took out an
electronic pad, which she connected to the controls. Then she keyed in several
commands, which made a several green dots appear on the plotter display. The
complexes they had already passed over were blue dots.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Got
something ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
think they are placed at thirty-six degree intervals,” Cadman said. “Providing
the whole planet with a basic safety net for any Order ship in trouble.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“But
only one has a obelisk…” Vale had an idea. “Let go take a closer look.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He
increased speed as he took them towards the next cabin complex. It was time for
them to find some answers.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Spera
– Jumper Bay – Year 3, Day 50, 1300)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
outer door to the Jumper Bay opened, revealing the asteroid that they had
codenamed Tango One. Hailey had picked three people to come along with her,
while leaving Major Levine in charge of the <i>Spera</i>. Nikita Aranov was
coming along to cover the archeological angle, while Carl Grogan was the
security officer for the mission. Alec Colson was off-world, but Xander
Henderson was an electrician and had a degree in computer science. ~We didn’t
make him Chief of Maintenance for nothing.~ So he was in the fourth suit.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Okay,
people,” Hailey began. “Here we go.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Hailey
jumped through the door, with the others following. Because of the gravity
conditions – namely the fact that there was nearly none – they sailed towards
Tango One slowly. The suits came with thrusters, so they were able to control
their descent with those if the situation called for it. But the landing ended
up being soft and easy. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Welcome
to Tango One,” Hailey said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The
walls of these caves are relatively smooth,” Henderson said. “And there stone
slabs on the floor.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The
walls are natural, but the floor was clearly made or carved by the Zovaris,”
Aranov added. “Of course, considering that this whole asteroid was build, the
concept of natural is a bit flexible.” The pointed to a section of the call,
where an arrow was carved into the stone. “And I think those are for people who
don’t have the benefit of <i>Spera</i>’s sensors. They probably lead right to
the obelisk, boss.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Let’s
test that theory.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They
followed the arrow and found another one. Soon, they were approaching the heart
of the asteroid. It was a large cave that came with stalactites and
stalagmites. There was a carved path that ended in a circle, with the obelisk
in the middle. As she walked around the obelisk, Hailey saw that the path they
had used to enter was not the only one. There were three more paths heading
into the asteroid. While Aranov and Henderson set to studying the obelisk,
Grogan also noticed the other passages.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Why
more then one access point ?” He asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Sergeant,
Doctor, stay here and study our alien friend,” Hailey said. “Grogan, let’s see
if we can find the answer to your question.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
ma’am,” Grogan said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Studying
the obelisk it is,” Henderson said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Grogan
and Hailey left, leaving Henderson and Aranov with the obelisk. Aranov led
Henderson take the lead. Back in the early days of the expedition, he had asked
Henderson what exactly a Chief of Maintenance did. <i>Spera</i> had several ICT
personnel aboard, and a small team of electricians. There were also two
crewmembers that took care of the laundry. Finally, the ship was self-cleaning.
But if there had been a janitorial staff, they would have also reported to
Henderson. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~It’s
people like this that keep the ship afloat.~ That was a lesson Nikita had
learned from his father. Ivan Aranov had been a sailor in the Russian Navy. He
had retired with the rank of Senior Michman, which was the highest enlisted
rank possible. ~Getting him and Nicholas Rush’s father together could have been
interesting.~ Alas, Rush senior had passed. And Ivan didn’t have the proper
security clearance. Which was fine with Nikita, because his father hated
keeping secrets from the love of his life, Natasha. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Natasha
was the one who had gotten him interested in archeology. Her father Boris had
been a history teacher, who had taken up archeology as a hobby. After seeing
his notes and artifacts, Nikita had ended up picking up the torch. His
grandfather had passed away several years after that. But not before announcing
that he was extremely proud of his grandson. ~Well, grandpa, I could use your
help on this one.~ He smiled at the Sergeant and they set to work.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Moon
One – Grassy Field – Year 3, Day 50, 1252)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Colson
was drawing a schematic. He and Porter had been studying the Order circuits. It
turned out there were ten of them, with one of them being the big red button
T’Zalo had suggested. The other nine were some kind of short-range
transceivers. But the question was…where did they transmit to and from ?
Suddenly, there was a beep from the console. G’Yal was standing next to the
alcove. He looked at the circuits and saw that there was small display about
the keyboard. And that display was now activate.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel,
where are you ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’m
in an Order cabin. It turns out there are sets of them at thirty-six degrees
intervals.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So,
ten sets of cabins in total ?” G’Yal paused. “That makes sense with what Porter
and Colson have discovered here. Allison, we need somebody to do the
technobabble.” ~And that certainly isn’t me.~ G’Yal thought.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Porter
took over and began explaining what they had learned. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Tango
One – Tunnel - Year 3, Day 50, 1308)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They
had reached the end of the first tunnel. It ended in a large, round chamber
with a circle of light embedded in the walls. Grogan looked up and saw that the
room was a metal door, which reminded him of the iris on Earth’s Stargate. ~Why
wasn’t there a door like that in the tunnel we used to get in ?~ He looked
around, but there was no sign of any controls for the door. Still, it was clear
that this was meant for people who arrived by spaceship. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well,
that’s one,” Grogan said.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Why
wasn’t there a door in the tunnel we used ?” Hailey asked. “If you want to
pressurize this place, you need to close all the passages.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yeah,
I thought about that. We can take a closer look later, for now….” Grogan
stopped, because he spotted something. He had been taking a closer look at the
walls. “…I’m thinking we should….” He knocked on a section of wall, which
sounded hollow. He noticed that this part was totally smooth. “….try this…” He
felt an outline and pushed. There was a grinding noise and then the section
slid aside. “….door. And the corridor beyond.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Lead
the way.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Grogan
lead the way into the corridor. It passed a small control room, which had a
single chair that faced a wall full of buttons, switches and displays. There
was a thick layer of dust on all of them. Grogan stepped into the control room
and cleared some of the dust. The markings on the buttons were not Zovaris,
suggesting that this was a later addition by somebody else. ~And not the Order
of the Other either. Just what we need, another alien species to deal with.~ He
took out a camera and took a photo of the controls. Then he zoomed in on the
clean section and took another. That done, he continued down the corridor. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Moon
One – Grassy Field – Year 3, Day 50, 1317)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Jumper
Two had returned to the obelisk. The others were putting the supplies and equipment
back in the Jumper, while Vale was taking a closer look at the controls that
Colson and Porter had found. ~Nine short-range transceivers, which tap into the
long-range transceiver that uses the obelisk as a booster.~ Besides allowing
the transmission of a distress call, this also allowed for communications
between the cabins. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~Which
we saw firsthand.~ But he wanted to check if there was just one long-range
channel. He hit several keys and a short list appeared. It had three channels.
One was the distress channel, but the other two were locations in this solar
system. ~Both in the asteroid belt.~ He took out a paper note-bloc and made
some notes. Then he closed the panel and headed for the Puddle Jumper. He sat
down behind the controls and seconds later the ship took off.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This
time, the trip through the atmosphere was shorter. On their way in, he had taken
them down slowly so that they could get a good look at the moon below them. But
that was not a consideration this time around. As soon as they reached space,
he realized that <i>Spera</i> was not there anymore. Fortunately, a scan
quickly revealed that the ship was nearby. ~In the asteroid belt and…~ He
focused and the display zoomed in. And realized that <i>Spera</i> was at one of
locations he had just identified.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Looks
like they are having some fun in the asteroid belt,” Cadman said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“It’s
a short hop,” Vale said. “At full sub-light we’ll be there in about ten
minutes.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You
think that asteroid might be a Zovaris construct as well ?” Colson asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale
nodded. He knew that Moon One had given them a starting place. And now the
asteroid belt might provide them with the next piece of the puzzle. ~And, as
always, there is only one way to find out.~ So he set course for <i>Spera</i>
and pushed the engines to maximum.</span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-58923587299791379242021-01-02T08:07:00.000-08:002021-01-02T08:07:15.658-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.08
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">8
– H2Z-118</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H2Z-118
– Hill - Year 3, Day 12, 0930) <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Scott
looked through his electronic binoculars and studied the view. Ever since they
had moved from <i>Destiny</i> to <i>Chaser</i>, they had gotten access to
better equipment. The binoculars were one piece of gear on that list. They had
found a river and several interesting plants, so their official mission had
been a success. But then they had spotted what looked an awful lot like a
settlement of some kind. So now they were taking a closer look at that from the
top of a hill next to the river.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Doesn’t
look very big,” Scott said. “Fifteen, maybe twenty houses. No obvious defenses,
so its probably not a military installation.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He
handed the binoculars to Rush, who studied the settlement as well. Because it
was daytime, there was no easy to tell if the settlement had electricity. And
there were no powerlines either, nor any obvious power sources. ~No windmills,
no solar panels, and no reactors.~ He turned to Rush.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So,
what do you think ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
think we are looking at a backwater town in the middle nowhere,” Rush said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Think
we can go down there and talk to the natives ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
don’t see any signs of movement,” Rush began. “And even if there were people
there, we don’t have the translation matrix necessary to do so.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So
we might end up facing torches and pitchforks,” James said. “Great, just
great.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Scott
realized that Rush was right. But they also needed more information about the
locals and their species. So he lead the team towards the town. What Scott and
the rest of the team didn’t know was that they themselves were also being
watched. Low Commander Dr-28-A had been peering through his own powered
binoculars from a nearby hill. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So
far, the aliens had gathered several plants and send a considerable amount of
water through the Alien Ring. The brass would not be happy when he submitted
his report. They had tried to downplay the Alien Rings, but once word got out
that these devices were some kind of portal, they would have a riot on their
hands. As for the aliens, they were now headed towards the farming town of
Gamox. He gestured for his troops to follow them. They needed to know more
about these aliens.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Chaser
– Youngs Quarters – Year 3, Day 12, 0935)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young
was sitting in his quarters, reading reports. One of the perks of the transfer
from <i>Chaser </i>to <i>Destiny</i>, was that his quarters on the new ship had
several improvements. To begin with, the pillows on <i>Destiny</i> had been
terrible. His current bed came with much better pillow. Another improvement was
the office section of his quarters. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Primians had made an L-shaped wooden desk for him by hands. It came with six
drawers and looked like it had been made on Earth in the seventeenth century.
There was a special place for him to put his laptop – another gift from the
Primians – that kept it from sliding and three chairs. Two were simple chairs
for visitors and one was a luxurious chair for the colonel. Young had just
finished a report when there was a knock at his door.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Enter.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
door opened and Ginn came in. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We
finished the decontamination on the water we brought back from the planet,” She
said. “Greer said that the water tank is maxed out.” She handed him a folder.
“And TJ reported that they found some very interesting plants. The botanical
team should have plenty of work to do once they bring them back.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Once
they bring them back ? They’re still off-world ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“They
found a settlement.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young
put the folder down and grabbed his radio from one of the drawers. He and Ginn
headed for the Gate Room, where Volker and Barnes were still manning the two
stations. Young told Barnes to dial the Gate, which she did. As soon as the
wormhole finished forming, the Colonel called Scott.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Scott
here.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Lieutenant,
what are you doing ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=We
found a settlement, sir. No signs of military presence, so far.=/\= </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Lieutenant,
that is not the mission,” Young said. “Return to….”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That
was as far as Young got before gunshots erupted over the radio. Then the
channel went dead.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H2Z-118
– Dirt Road - Year 3, Day 12, 0942)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Matthew
Scott was on the ground as bullets whizzed over his head. It turned out that
they had walked into a farming town. The kind where the locals carried sewn-off
shotguns and hunting rifles. And they were not fond of outsiders, which was why
they were now shooting. But they were – ironically – not shooting at Scott and
his people. Instead, they were in a skirmish with an alien military patrol that
had apparently been following the team. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So
now Scott and his team were on the ground, while the two sides fought it out.
Scott and James could join in, but they had no idea which side to support. Not
to mention, they could end up starting a war between the Alliance and this new
species. Suddenly, the shooting began to die down. The patrol had retreated
from the engagement. Scott looked around and slowly got to his feet. The aliens
appeared to be reptilian and – more importantly – were not hostile towards
Scott and his people.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
largest off the aliens appeared to be the leader. He seemed to give
instructions to the other, who went back into their houses. Next, he gestured
towards a square in the middle of the village. Scott knew that Young had told
them to return, but he didn’t want to ruin the goodwill he had with these
people. Not to mention the fact that there was still a military patrol out
there. So Scott led the way deeper into the village. The square was a circle
with a well in the middle. It was at this point that his radio came to life.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Young
to Scott.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Scott
here.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Where
the hell are you ? I gave you an order to return to the ship, Lieutenant.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
sir. But we just made contact with the natives, sir,” Scott said. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Contact
? It sounded more like a firefight to me.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=That
was my fault, Commander.=/\= An unknown voice said. =/\=We got into a little
scrap with the military boys.=/\= Scott looked around to see the alien leader
speaking to some kind of communications device. Apparently, it included a
translation circuit of some kind. The voice was surprisingly soft and didn’t
fit with the alien’s appearance. =/\=They needed to be reminded of the
rules.=/\=</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=Who
is this ?=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">=/\=This
is Ga-25-H. I am the leader of the village of Pal.=/\= The leader said. =/\=I
promise your people are safe in this village. If you do not believe me, feel
free to send more of your people.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There
was a moment of silence, then Young spoke up. =/\=Scott, be careful. I’ll be
there as soon as possible.=/\=</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
sir.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Scott
led his team into the village. He got the feeling that they were walking into a
powder keg. ~There is something going on here.~ And that they were about to
learn a lot about this species. He just hoped that they would be able to return
to <i>Chaser</i> to tell the rest of the crew all about it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H2Z-118
– Dry Creek Bed - Year 3, Day 12, 0947)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Dr-28-A
and his patrol were a dry creek bed. His patrol had chased off by the people of
the village, which he had realized was the village of Pal and not Gamox. It turned
out that Gamox was farther to the north. Dr-28-A had botched the
identification, which was why he was now cursing himself. On the bright side,
while three of his soldiers had been wounded, none of them had been killed. He
stopped cursing and took out his wireless communicator. It did not take long to
ask for a medical team. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That
done, he reached into his pocket and took out a small book. The book was the
sector atlas. It had maps of the region and notes about key features. He looked
up the entry for Pal and read it. ~Well, that explains why they opened fire on
us.~ It also suggested that the aliens visit to Pal might get rather
interesting. So he would wait for the medical team and then hold this position.
~Maybe I can still salvage this mission.~ For now, however, it was simply a
waiting game.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(H2Z-118
–Hill- Year 3, Day 12, 0955)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young
had gathered a second team and taken it through the Gate. Besides himself, the
team consisted of Greer, Varro and Airman Dunning. Now the team was laying on
the same hill where Scott had spotted the village to begin with. Young was
looking through a pair of electronic binoculars. He studied the village, before
spotting a dry creek bed between them and it. Then he had seen the aliens
inside said creek bed. They had been well hidden. And it was clear that these
aliens were some kind of military unit.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~Even
if I didn’t know about the firefight.~ Young thought. This was because the
aliens were wearing some kind of uniform. He also saw that they were carrying
some kind of firearms. ~The game is afoot.~ They would have to steer clear of
the unit in the dry creek bed and try to approaching the town from the other
side. The question that kept playing in his mind was…do they know that we are
watching them ? And where the aliens watching back ? Either way, it was a
waiting game for now.</span></p>
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<![endif]-->Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-90987796494204092242021-01-02T07:57:00.006-08:002021-01-02T07:57:44.148-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.07<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">7
– Moon One</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Moon
One – Grassy Field – Year 3, Day 50, 1215)</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T’Zalo
and G’Yal stood at the foot at the obelisk and looked up. ~Whoa.~ G’Yal thought
as he studied the alien structure. It was 500 feet high, with writing on all
four sides. Porter and Colson were already setting up instruments to study it.
It was at time like this that G’Yal wished that he had better science skills.
To him, it was simply a big stone structure. But it was crystal clear that
there was more to this construction. </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Me
too,” T’Zalo said.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Make
that three,” Vale said.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“For
the record,” G’Yal began. “What are we talking about here ?”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The
look on your face, it was pretty clear that you were wishing you had better
science skills,” Vale said. “And yes, I know how to read Nakai facial
expressions. And Ursini ones too,” It had taken Vale some time, but he had
figured out how to read the faces of his alien crewmembers a while ago. ~Not
that I care about the alien part anymore.~ He had stopped doing so a long time
ago.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“That’s
why you get paid the big bucks, boss,” T’Zalo said.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Wait,
we get paid ?” G’Yal said with a smile.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale
snickered and left them the two team members to discuss things amongst
themselves. He decided not remind them that the IOA and Stargate Command paid
everybody at the Delta Site, Epsilon Site and both starships in the program.
For the Human crewmembers, the money either went to family members or people
designated by the person whose name was on the check. </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Both
G’Yal and T’Zalo knew that the alien crewmembers got paid as well. But because
they couldn’t spend the money – since they were millions of lightyears away
from Earth – they had authorized Stargate Command to create a charity called
Hope and Freedom. Hope and Freedom helped refugees and homeless people. Vale
approached Porter and Colson, who were trying to get more information on the
obelisk and its inner workings. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So,
what are the instruments saying ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So
far, nothing much,” Colson said. “This is one stubborn piece of alien
technology.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yeah,
we were expecting as much,” Vale said. ~This things is not going to reveal its
secrets easily.~ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale
looked at the screen that came with the instrument that Colson had just set up.
As Colson had said, it was not telling them that much. But Vale had read enough
SGC reports to know that alien technology tended to block scans. And that
circuits were usually well hidden. Leaving Hailey and Colson to do their thing,
he walked around the obelisk. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But
this did not tell him much either. So he looked around to see if there were any
other structures. That was when he noticed two cabins that flanked a pier. These
were clearly not build by the Zovaris. So, Vale decided to take a closer look.
And he was not alone, because Laura Cadman had the same idea. She had told her
team to stay at the obelisk to guard the rest of NR-1. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel
?” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Let’s
take a closer look at these.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale
opened the door and they stepped into the cabin. To begin with, all the
furniture was covered by plastic sheets. These sheets had a thick layer of dust
on them, making it clear that the place had not been used in ages. There was
table with four chairs, fours beds and a kitchen. The kitchen did not have a
refrigerator, nor did the cabins seems to have electricity. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There
was, however, a wood stove for heating the place. And one of the drawers in the
kitchen was loaded with candles. Next, Vale opened some of the cabinets. He
found some canned foods and what appeared to be an alien version of Meals Ready
to Eat – or MRE’s as they were called on Earth – along with plenty bottles of
water. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“MRE’s
?” Cadman asked. “This looks like some kind of emergency stash.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
all this stuff is meant to keep for a long time,” Vale began. “So, who do you
think put it here ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
don’t know,” Cadman pulled a sheet off one of the chairs. “But this looks like
a normal chair to me, so they are probably not that different from us.” There
was another door into a second room, Cadman opened it to reveal a small
windowless bathroom. It had a toilet, a sink and a toilet. “And they have to
use the bathroom. So there’s that.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Let’s
take a look at the other cabin.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They
inspected the other cabin, which was identical to the first. That done, they
made their way down the pier. It became wider after passing between the cabins.
There were four two-person canoes tied to the pier on one side, while the other
side was home to a large steam powered boat that was clearly designed to hold
eight people. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Everything
is designed for eight,” Cadman asked. “Why ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
have no…” And then he realized something. “This sector has been scouted by
Order of the Other, right ? What do you want to bet that the crew complement of
an Order scout ship is eight,” Vale paused. “These cabins are safe-houses.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“But
how does that help them survive in the long term ? They would need some way to
signal for help and the cabins are not outfitted to do that. So how do they get
off the planet ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well,
they are right next to the obelisk.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale
looked back at the cabins and then the obelisk. Maybe the Order knew more about
this alien structure then they did. ~Perhaps even how to use it.~ But if they
did, the cabins did hold any clues on the details. He wondered if these were
the only cabins on the planet. ~There’s only one way to find out.~ So he
gestured towards the Puddle Jumper.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Moon
One – Grassy Field – Year 3, Day 50, 1235)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale
and Cadman had left in the Puddle Jumper to look for more cabins, while Colson
and Porter had continued their attempts to probe the obelisk. Alas, their
instruments had not been able to penetrate the structure. Colson had taken one
of the chairs from the cabins and was sitting on it, looking up at the obelisk.
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“There
has to be something we’re missing,” Colson said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We’ve
tried every instrument we have,” Porter said. “And still….nothing.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Hmmm,”
G’Yal began. “T’Zalo, can we come with something unscientific that might
actually be useful in this situation ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
can think of one thing,” T’Zalo said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T’Zalo
began knocking on the obelisk. ~I thought he was going to shoot it.~ Colson
thought. ~But that could always be Plan C.~ T’Zalo and G’Yal knocked on one
panel at a time. Suddenly, T’Zalo stopped and gestured towards them. As Colson
and Porter walked up to the obelisk, he knocked again. The panel sounded
hollow. Colson studied the panel and noticed two small circles in the lower
corners. Going on a hunch, Colson pressed one of the circles. It moved.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Stand
back,” He said. “Just in case.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He
pushed both circles, which were actually buttons. There was a grinding noise
and then the panel slid aside. Behind it was a nook with a control panel of
some kind. But the writing on the buttons were not in the same language as the
markings on the outside. Instead, they were a mix of Nakai, Ursini and Jynacko
letters. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well,
I think that we just found the Order’s emergency transmitter,” Colson said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Which
raises the question, how did they install it ?” Porter asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“And
why such a complicated set up ? If I was designing this, I would simply limit
it to a big red button,” T’Zalo said. “I mean, all you would need is a single
frequency distress call. This…” He gestured towards the controls. “…allows you
to change the frequency, the destination and the message send. Why go through
all this trouble for a distress beacon ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Good
questions,” Colson said. “Let’s see what answers we can find.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I’ll
break out the translation notes,” Porter said. “If we can figure out how to
work this thing, it should be able to give us those answers.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Porter
went to get the notes, while Colson grabbed one of their instruments. ~I hope
the Colonel comes back soon, because maybe knowing more about those cabins will
help us solve this.~ He also had a feeling that they would either get some
answers, or end up with an even bigger puzzle. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Spera<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– Bridge – Year 3, Day 50, 1235)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While
NR-1 and NR-3 were down on the moon, Hailey and Levine were using the sensors
to take a closer look at the rest of the solar system. Hailey suspected that
there might be more to this Zovaris training ground than what they map had told
them. So they were running all the scans that they could. They had just
finished a scan when there was a series of beeps. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Cinara,
what do we have ?” Hailey asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
calibrated the sensors look for the metals the obelisk is made from. And we
have a whole series of signatures in the asteroid belt.” The moon orbited a gas
giant, which was the third planet in its solar system. Between the third planet
and the second one was an asteroid belt. And there was a row of blue dots in
that belt. “So, do you think we should take a closer look ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Sounds
like a plan.” Hailey turned to Levine. “Set a course at full sub-light.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
ma’am,” Levine said. “We should be there in three minutes.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“So,
are you thinking that the Zovaris started with asteroids and worked their way
up to moons ?” Cinara asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“That’s
the theory. And there is only one way to figure out if it is true.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Cinara
nodded. If they had gotten into this situation before reaching Freedom Prime,
they would have had a major hiccup to overcome. Before, they had not had any
spacesuits. But they had gotten no less then six suits from the Primians. They
were not exactly the most advanced technology. ~But they are airtight and they
should get the job done.~ Besides, why should Colonel Vale get all the fun ?</span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918908049615750671.post-84279029752069265172021-01-02T07:50:00.005-08:002021-01-02T07:50:40.177-08:00SG Nova Roma, Chapter 4.06<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">6
– Bits and Pieces</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Epsilon
Site – Science Lab 1 – Year 3, Day 10, 1605)</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Spera</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> had left on schedule. After receiving a report from <i>Chaser</i>,
she had set course for Sector 3325. As soon as they had jumped to FTL, Telford
had been asked to come to Science Lab One. The New Asurans had been building a
piece of technology there. And it had just been completed. </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What
do we have here ?”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“A
time machine,” Frank – the only New Asurans still on the base – said, “Sort
of.”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What
do you mean ?”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“This
machine will create a temporal passage, but it will be tiny,” Frank paused to
press some buttons. “We will use it to send several nanites back in time, to <i>Destiny</i>.”
He pressed more buttons. “Colonel Vale already gave us a message to program
into them.” Frank handed Telford a note. “So, what do you think ?”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Fixed
it. You’d be surprised what you can do with alien nanites and a time machine.
And yeah, it’s cheating. But who cares ? Lieutenant-Colonel Marc Vale.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“You
know that Vale is a full bird Colonel now ?”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“He
is now, but if everything goes according to plan….”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Right,”
Telford nodded. “Fire it up.”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Frank
engaged the machine. Telford already knew how this would end, because these
were the nanites that would rescue Eli. They would then help Ginn and Amanda
Perry survived, before becoming Ben. ~The weirdness that comes with the
Stargate Program.~ But that was part of why he had joined in the first place.
Telford smiled and watched Frank do his thing.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Spera
– Science Lab 2 – Year 3, Day 10, 1610)</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vale
walked into Science Lab Two. Before this lab had been installed, Science Lab
One had mainly been Nikita Aranov, Alison Porter and Jennifer Hailey’s digs. It
had also been used a lot by Alec Colson, Cinara and Xander Henderson. The new
lab had an archeological work station and an engineering one. There were also
two general work stations that could be used by everybody. </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Aranov
and Cinara were working at the archeological station, while Colson and
Henderson were at the Engineering station. The two other stations were being
used other members of the Science staff.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“How
are the new digs, Nikita ?”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Waiting
for stuff to analyze,” Aranov began. “We left all our samples and puzzle pieces
behind at the Epsilon Site.”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Well,
we’re on our way to Sector 3325. If Varro and Eli’s hunch is right and the
Zovaris did use that area to practice, we’ll have plenty of research to do.”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
hope so,” Cinara began. “In the meantime, we have been testing the equipment.
And everything is ready to go.”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Good,”
Vale nodded. “It will take us forty days to get there.”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Is
that with our without any stops along the way ?”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The
new and improved hydroponics bay will provide us with plenty of food. And the
water tanks are loaded to capacity, so we should have enough supplies for a
couple of weeks.”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Cinara
nodded and then Vale left the Science Lab. As he did, he pondered the rest of
Young’s report. Besides the theory, the colonel had also reported that <i>Chaser
</i>was approaching inhabited space. And that these ships did not belong to any
species they had seen before. Young had estimated that they were mere hours
away from entering alien space. ~So there’s a good chance all Hell is about to
break loose.~ So Vale headed for the bridge to see if these new aliens were
friend of foe.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Chaser
– Bridge – Year 3, Day 10, 1805)</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Chaser</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> was approaching the alien ships. The rear section was
a cylinder containing five sub-light engines, which were arranged in the same
formation as they were found on a dice. It was connected to a sphere that
served as the forward section. Two pylons – one to starboard and one to port –
jutted out from the sphere and ended at a cigar shaped engine. The pylons went
down at a forty-five degree angle and were long enough so that the engines were
the lowest part of the vessel.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“FTL-Drives
?” Lieutenant Matthew Scott asked.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Probably,”
Dale Volker began. “Positioning them like that would keep any radiation leaks
away from the crew.”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Okay.”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Scott
nodded and added that to his notes. They knew where the engines were, what was
the front was and where the inhabited section probably was located. But, so
far, they had no signs of weapons or defenses. Nor had they seen the ships
move. ~They’re just sitting in orbit.~ Which meant that they had no idea just
how fast these ships were. </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Here
we go, people,” Young said. “Varro, how are we looking on weapons ?”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“On
standby,” Varro said.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They
sailed past the first alien ships. Scott and Varro both kept watching their new
company. But the ships didn’t move as they headed deeper into their space. Then
the sensors began to feed back readings from the planets they were passing.
Between Varro and Scott, Lisa Park was studying these readings.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Colonel,
these planets have cities,” She said. “We’re detecting power signatures and
life-signs.”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Thank
you,” Young said, before turning to Scott. “Are those ships moving ?”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“No,
sir,” Scott said.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Young
looked at the displays, but the alien ships weren’t giving them any clues about
their owners. <i>Chaser</i> kept heading deeper into their space. As they did
so, the ships did not move. But – hidden behind an advanced cloak – a scout
ship was launched from the surface of one of the planets. A smaller version of
the vessels that Scott and Varro had scanned, it was home to only two
crewmembers. </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
aliens had seen <i>Destiny</i> pass weeks before. But because it was empty, it
had not been labeled a threat. The arrival of this second vessel, however, had
rattled the planetary officials. So the scout had orders to follow the second
alien vessel. Which was exactly what it did.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Spera
– Jumper Bay – Year 3, Day 50, 1207)</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">NR-1
was sitting in the front of the Jumper, while NR-3 was in the back. Vale was
behind the controls. Because none of the moons had Stargates, the Jumper was
the only way to get down to them. Sitting behind Vale, T’Zalo was slightly
jealous. But the Ancient vessel refused to take orders from people who were not
Ancient or Human.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Here
we go, people.”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“I
wish I could fly one of these.” T’Zalo said.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“The
New Asurans are working on it,” Porter began. “So you might be able to do so
soon. And we all know you have the skills to fly this beauty.” </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T’Zalo
smiled at her. The Jumper flew out of the bay and headed for the moon. It was a
small moon, which appeared to be two large ice caps that was separated by an
equatorial zone. This zone appeared to more friendly to flora and fauna. Porter
was sitting next to Vale and used the controls there and a her laptop to start
gathering more detailed information. There was a beep and a map appeared of the
temperate zone. A blue dot indicated there was something there.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Is
that an obelisk like the one on Eden ?” G’Yal asked.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“It
looks like an obelisk, but much smaller than the one on Eden,” Porter said. “I
recommend we land as close as we can, boss. Because if I’m reading this right,
it’s on an island in a swamp. There’s a good chance it’s surrounded by
quicksand.”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Okay,”
Vale said. “I’ll park her right next to the obelisk.”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Jumper dove into the atmosphere. T’Zalo got a feeling that this would be a very
interesting mission. </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Chaser
– Mess Hall – Year 3, Day 12, 0754)</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It
had been more then a day since they had entered alien space. But they had not
learned anything about this new species. All the alien ships they had
encountered had been near planets. Rush and Eli believed that they were
guarding the alien colonies. Young was sitting in the mess hall, eating
breakfast. Which was when he realized that they were about to enter the next
stage of this little dance. Because they needed to send a team through the Gate
to restock on water. ~How will our alien friends react to that ?~ There was
only one way to find out.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Which
was why Lieutenant Scott had gathered a team two tables over. Besides him, the
team had three other members. Doctor Nicholas Rush wanted to go on the mission,
in case they found any alien technology. Lieutenant Vanessa James was the
security for the mission and Tamara Johansson wanted to see if there any
medicinal plants. The upgraded search filters had been doing well so far, so
Young figured that the chances of them finding something useful were pretty
good.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They
finished breakfast and headed for the Gate Room. Corporal Barnes was behind the
dialing computer, while Dale Volker was behind the Kino telemetry console. Volker
had a Kino at the ready. </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Dial
her up, Corporal,” Young said.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
sir.”</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Barnes
selected the address and the Gate began dialing. As soon as the wormhole
opened, Volker send the Kino through. It showed them a grassland under an
orange sky. The readings also showed that the atmosphere was the same as on
Earth. Young gave Scott a look and the team stepped through the Gate. Then the
Stargate deactivated. </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Stay
here, in case this goes wrong,” Young said.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Yes,
sir,” Barnes said.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“We’ll
hold down the fort,” Volker added.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As
Young headed for the bridge, he wondered how long it would be before they would
get some answers. What he didn’t know, was that behind<i> Chaser</i>, the alien
scout ship had just decloaked. It had detected the wormhole and traced its
course. The vessel had shut down the cloak to divert the power to its
hyperdrive. It appeared on Chaser’s sensors for a moment, but then jumped into
subspace and headed for the planet. </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Prime
Hive – Fleet Headquarters – Year 3, Day 12, 0805)</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 119.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Supreme
Commander Ha-55-Z was reading the report on the second alien vessel. Ha-55-Z
was the leader of the Fourth Space Fleet, which Scout Ship 417 – the vessel
that had been following the alien ship – had been part of. But then the alien
vessel had projected a major subspace distortion, which had baffled the crew of
the scout. Ha-55-Z, however, had access to classified information that they did
not. ~Rank has its privileges.~</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 119.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">His
race called themselves the Hal’Iry. While they were a reptilian species – which
procreated by laying eggs – their society was organized more like a beehive.
The males were common, while females were rare and pulled the strings. Had a
human seen them, they would have described them as an upright Komodo dragon.
However, there were two major differences. The first was their eyes, which were
feline. And they lacked the long tongue that species had. Instead, they had a
normal human tongue.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ha-55-Z
put away the report and took out another folder. Throughout Hal’Iry space, they
had found large alien rings of unknown origin and purpose. But there were
plenty of theories on what they were for. And one of these theories was that
they were some kind of advanced transportation system. ~Time to put that theory
to the test.~ Scout ship 417 had already set course to follow the distortion,
but he thought that was not enough. Officially, ground forces were not under
the command of the Fourth Space Fleet. But he had been in command of the Fleet
long enough to have built up friends in the right places. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He
checked the coordinates, then opened a channel to Rk-19-B. 19-B was a Middle
Commander in the ground forces of the planet where the subspace distortion had
been headed. He would be able to send a group of soldiers to the area where the
planet’s ring was located. ~And take it from there.~ Ha-55-Z activated the
communications unit build into his desk and opened a channel.</span></p>
Edmond Danteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765169469642488095noreply@blogger.com0