Episode 7- Cause & Effect (SM-3 + Sun Tzu)

[Ethan Collins]

1415
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu

The system they were traveling was about a third a galaxy away so it had taken them a few days to get there, mind you they weren't there yet right now, they were around half an hour to 40 minutes out depending on some very complicated math he wasn't sure even the Engineers understood. Making his way into the briefing room we was alone, at least for now. They all knew why they were going in the mission, and he'd discussed it with Colonel Riley, however after a few days of waiting around on the ship since there wasn't particularly much any of them could do, maybe Stevens, but even then the Sun Tzu's medical team would be more than able to cope with the routine.

They were one their way to a planet designated K3X-427. Why? Because the Meropis Database had indicated this planet held an Ancient research psot which had been working on shield tests and theory during the height of the Wraith-Ancient and the Etruscan-Ancient wars, that meant they could find prototypes or even specifications and research that could beat the already powerful Asgard shielding on the Daedalus class, maybe even a lead on some ZPMs.

They were about to drop out of hyperspace a few minutes away from the Planet in question, they didn't want to just jump into orbit of a planet that might be hostile, as the database also said there had been a human population on the planet and if their gate was buried as they believed, it was possible though highly unlikely their arrival could be detected.

The blue swirls of hyperspace flashed into a bright white before fading into the blackness of space pricked by light of the distant stars, and most importantly the few masses of planets and this systems star. "We've arrived Colonel, at max sublight we are about 10 minutes from beaming range to the target planet." Collins looked out the bridge window for a few seconds then turned Riley and the two officers than flanked him. "Anything out there to suggest an advanced civilization?" Any group capable of detecting them probably wasn't going to be the friendliest if they just beamed down to the planet, also it might help to have another group of people with decent military resources on your side.

<TAG:Paul Riley , Izzy Stevens , @adaloveheart , Ryan Decker , Ryan Sweeney ,  @the rest of the sun tzu crew >

[Deleted]

1415
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu

Alannah had spent the morning updating her note's, since been part of the mission she had spent every waking over going through Tau'ri history and was surprised how certain events in there history was seen. When her people were first enslaved and then defeat they had kept detailed records. Some of the records were from Romans who were also enslaved. Still she updated her note's.

Taken some Tau'ri notes on the Ancients Alannah made her way towards the bridge while walking in to a number of crew, managing to destroy one piece of equipment and it wasn't till she butted head with another crew member that she decided to put her work down for the time been.

Finally she reached the bridge. She remain quiet and just watched in amazement as the ship drop out of speed.


<Tag all>

[Ryan Decker]

1415
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Hyperspace/K3X-427

Their trip back to Earth had been interesting from more than point of views, there had been more than a few arguments running back and forth in the IOA about it's own leadership to the usual penny pinching BS that accompanies vast expenditures of money by governments, along with the recent change in his own government some had been worried about a change in stance however that hadn't come, the same group of the people pretty much was still running his country it was just a different face mostly.

He had however much enjoyed some of the more recent ops and missions they had been undertaking, getting work done was the most rewarding, along with the fact he got to control some of the most powerful weapons ever used by humans, he was pretty happy, all he needed now was a gene shot and to shoot some drone weapons and he'd pretty have finished of that list of most devastating weapons ever made.

Their current mission to K3X-427 was one he and he was sure everyone else understood in particular this Captain Collins, the commander of the team going to do most of the leg work on the planet, after all who didn't want better shielding even the off chance of more information of ZedPMs would be good, once they figured those out, militarily there were very few who could do particularly that much to them, other than them selves really, then again if humans were good at anything it was finding ways to kill each other more effectively.

As they approached the Target the members of SM-3 had begun to appear on the bridge. If there one one downside to constantly facing the front of the ship and the main windows/view screens it was the hyperspace exit flash, some timed window darkening would be spot on, but that was for another time. As they returned to normal space he begun an intensive scan, there were still a fair way from the planet in question as it was possible with a sealed gate they would be possibly dealing with a near analogue of themselves, nuclear armed and more than a little paranoid all you needed then were some aliens that looked exactly like you, with even more over the top destructive weapons and it doesn't take much at that point to tear a planet asunder.

"We've arrived Colonel, at max sublight we are about 10 minutes from beaming range to the target planet." The Yank team leader faced himself, Major Hunter and the Colonel, after the navigation officer spoke. "Anything out there to suggest an advanced civilization?"
 Studying the scans he was receiving from the many and varies sensors it was possible. "We have some traces of possible radio traffic and perhaps a slight increase in nuclear radiation, but if it's from our planet or not, we wont know until we get closer, since as we all know radio signals in space just go on until the they are incomprehensible via wavelength shift or interference. As for what the database said, its approximately 20,500 Kilometers in diameter, gravity a little more than Earth." Hopefully that would satiate the USAF officer for now.

<TAG: Paul Riley, Ethan Collins, Izzy Stevens, @adaloveheart, Ryan Sweeney, @remainder of sun tzu crew.>

[Shawn Booth]

1416
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu

It was nice being back on the Sun Tzu, Shawn hasn't realized how much he missed it until he was stuck on Meropis dealing with that awful hallucinating brain problem thing. Being back on the Sun Tzu in his green flight suit it was nice.

Shawn stood on the bridge as he usually did and looked out the window as they exited hyperspace and the newly found SM-3 arrived.

"Anything out there to suggest an advanced civilization?" Shawn didn't know so didn't answer.

"We have some traces of possible radio traffic and perhaps a slight increase in nuclear radiation, but if it's from our planet or not, we wont know until we get closer, since as we all know radio signals in space just go on until the they are incomprehensible via wavelength shift or interference. As for what the database said, its approximately 20,500 Kilometers in diameter, gravity a little more than Earth." The Flight Lieutenant replied and Shawn nodded, maybe they did have a somewhat advanced race here.

"Ah, nuclear radiation." Shawn noted. "If there is a race here, hopefully they aren't like the Pegasus version of the idiotic Genii." Shawn said as he shook his head, he didn't know much about them but knew he didn't like them. They were worse than the North Koreans even after the Coup...

<Tag: Ryan Decker, Paul Riley. Ethan Collins, @adaloveheart, Ryan Sweeney>

[Izzy Stevens]

1416
Infirmary-->Bridge
The Sun Tzu

The space ship's infirmary was AWESOME. WAAAYY better stocked than the one on Meropis, and BIGGER to boot. Granted, the CMO on the Sun Tzu was Kells, and she kept a skeleton crew, but still. Izzy could get USED to this. She was kind of geeking out, if she were honest. After a few moments of gawking, the Doc in charge yelled at her to get moving, and so she did.

She started packing medical kits for the off-site missions. Was it weird that she was ON an off-site mission, prepping for an off-site mission?! Whatever. It was space, things were WEIRD. She finished, and headed for the Bridge. Once there, she deposited the heavy box onto a nearby desk, and spoke up.

Commander Riley, Lt. Decker?! Your medic bags are ready. So is your medic...that'd be me, reporting, as ordered, Petty Officer 2nd Class Izzy Stevens.

Name, rank, rate. Same channel, same rhyme.

Tag: you're it, Jason Conway as paul riley, Ryan Decker and his alter, Ethan Collins, Shawn Booth and for Sweeney, too (yeah, imma call him Todd. As in Sweeney Todd), @adaloveheart,

[Paul Riley]

1415 - 1420
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Hyperspace/K3X-427 Orbit

Just another standard recon mission, thought Colonel Paul Riley, current commander of the BC-304 Sun Tzu Deep Space Carrier. It was, in his eyes, the finest Earth vessel in the fleet, and current guardian ship assigned to the Meropis expedition. Their recent refit trip back to Earth had seen them come away with even more control of the vessel, some sort of politics power struggle had caused China to ease off the funding pedal and the U.S, as they do best, to step in and take the wheel. It meant that besides the skilled and irreplaceable F-302 squadron, the Colonel now commanded a mostly American crew, along with a fair few Australians on their first home world command posting.

It never ceased to amaze him how grand space really was, there were on hyperdrive engines for most of the journey yet it had still taken the better part of three days to cross two thirds of the Triangulum Galaxy. Now that they were just under two hours out from their destination, it was time for briefing. All Paul really knew was SM-3 would take of the exploration, but that they were likely to find a distant ancient outpost and hopefully a few handy pieces of technology. Whether or not it was worth stressing the hyper drive engines for remained to be seen.

The commander had been given the nod a few minutes ago that they were due to drop out of the swirling blue mass that was hyperspace and enter the sector that K3X-427 lay in.
"We've arrived Colonel, at max sublight we are about 10 minutes from beaming range to the target planet."
Major Hunter announced as Paul Riley took his seat in the 'big chair'.
"Understood." He braced as the ship slowed dramatically and the view screen opened up an image of the swirling dark mass of space, dotted with hundreds of pin pricks of star light. It was a beautiful sight and it never got old.
"Anything out there to suggest an advanced civilization?"
Riley glanced to his side, it was Captain Collins, the leader of SM-3 and the man who would be leading all the ground work on this mission.
"Decker, run a scan." Riley ordered in response.
"We have some traces of possible radio traffic and perhaps a slight increase in nuclear radiation, but if it's from our planet or not, we won't know until we get closer, since as we all know radio signals in space just go on until the they are incomprehensible via wavelength shift or interference. As for what the database said, its approximately 20,500 Kilometers in diameter, gravity a little more than Earth."
Decker replied.
"Thank you Lieutenant." Said Riley, considering the implications of his findings and how that had already changed the game a little.
"Ah, nuclear radiation." Said Major Shawn Booth emphatically as he stepped on to the bridge, Riley was glad to have him back on board, "If there is a race here, hopefully they aren't like the Pegasus version of the idiotic Genii."

"It seems like there's a chance we might have some company when we check out this outpost. Collins, I trust your team is ready to beam shortly?" The Colonel looked to the man stood at his side questioningly.
"Commander Riley, Lt. Decker?! Your medic bags are ready. So is your medic... That'd be me, reporting, as ordered, Petty Officer 2nd Class Izzy Stevens." A young red-headed female corpsman had said as she reported to the bridge and stood near to Captain Collins. Riley recognized her by her uniform as one of the off-world team due to beam down.
"Excellent news. Alright, Decker and Hunter will see you beamed down safely in just over..." He looked at his watch, "ten minutes. We'll be using sub light engines to get us near and then it's up to you from there. I want SM-3 and anybody else who will be joining them planet side kitted up and ready to move by then. As always, we've got your six... Aaanndd your just about everything else..." He smiled to himself, "We are in a space ship after all."

<tag for the next part of the story Ethan Collins  Ryan Decker  Dylan Hawkins  @adaloveheart  Ryan Sweeney  Izzy Stevens  Jaya Bakshi  Blueberry Yagami  Shawn Booth  @adaofhearts >

[Dylan Hawkins]

1425
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Hyperspace/K3X-427 Orbit

Ahh, to be back aboard the ship felt good. Commander Hawkins had chosen to stay behind on Meropis when the ship returned to Earth for some routine maintenance and repairs. At least he was back with his precious aircraft now. As the Sun-Tzu entered the system, the Commander was working in the small office reserved for the Squadron's Commanding- and Executive Officer. He had a backlog of paperwork, and now had been as good a time as any. Anticipating the shock, he braced himself and held his coffee as the ship decelerated.

The man took his coffee and sent out the XO with second flight. They'd be flying a standard patrol, and the Commander trusted in his XO's ability to determine a suitable pattern. With that done, he took out his tablet and looked up a few things as he walked over to the bridge.

"Where d'ya need us, Captain?" the Commander asked. While the man wasn't actually a Captain, Hawkins was a Navy man trough and trough, and as such anyone commanding a ship -no matter if it was a spaceship or a surface ship- was a Captain to him. "We're not exactly suited for CAS, and as far as I have been able to determine there are no aerial or spatial threats at the moment. Having said that, Fraser took second flight out on CAP the moment we entered the system, and I'll keep first flight ready to scramble within three minutes of getting the call." the Commander continued. He had one final concern, but decided not to address it out loud right now, preferring to bring it up in private with the Captain later.

[Jaya Bakshi]

1426 ish
The Sun-Tzu
Somewhere in Outer Space

The young ATC was sitting at a console, trying VERY hard to not touch all the buttons like a little kid. However, she was fascinated; she WAS in the Air Force, after all, and flying things was awesome! The fact that she was on a deep-space cruiser was even awsomer! Yeah, she knew that wasn't a word, but she was a bit excited, hyped up from lack of sleep (the Indian woman had been pulling all-night fire watches to earn enough money to enroll in school the next semester), and was also a bit hungry. The combination was leaving her a bit jittery, but her training was taking over and she forced herself to focus. Now, what had that Decker guy said?! Oh, yeah, life.

We have some traces of possible radio traffic and perhaps a slight increase in nuclear radiation, but if it's from our planet or not, we won't know until we get closer, since as we all know radio signals in space just go on until the they are incomprehensible via wavelength shift or interference. As for what the database said, its approximately 20,500 Kilometers in diameter, gravity a little more than Earth. She looked to Collins; her system showed the same, but her team wasn't running this show. She also got a ping that something else was coming in, so she alerted the men gathered around the small Bridge.

Before I get ready to go...we have an SOS from Meropis. Someone might want to send a signal to SM-1 or 2. It's straight from the General. I can patch it through to you,  or Lt. Decker. She waited for permission; she was ready to hop into a shuttle and kick some butt, but she was also curious about this random SOS.

Tag:@sm-2 and Sun-Tzu.

[Ethan Collins]

1420-1425
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
K3X-247 Orbit

"We have some traces of possible radio traffic and perhaps a slight increase in nuclear radiation, but if it's from our planet or not, we wont know until we get closer, since as we all know radio signals in space just go on until the they are incomprehensible via wavelength shift or interference. As for what the database said, its approximately 20,500 Kilometers in diameter, gravity a little more than Earth." All they really needed was another enemy, however this one was more than containable not having a working gate which also probably meant they didn't know about life from other planets and almost certainly didn't have space vessels, they would have detected the vessels by now. 

"Ah, nuclear radiation." The Sun tzu's XO started "If there is a race here, hopefully they aren't like the Pegasus version of the idiotic Genii."He had to admit he wasn't one that liked the Genii from what he had read, however from a certain point of view they weren't that different from them, perhaps it was the idea of a mirror that spooked them all, another Nuclear armed and gate using race like themselves could be a deadly enemy or a powerful ally.

Colonel Riley finally took their minds of the Genii. "It seems like there's a chance we might have some company when we check out this outpost. Collins, I trust your team is ready to beam shortly?" He nodded As Sergeant Treaty quietly entered. "ready when you are Colonel." 

1432
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
K3X-247 Orbit

"Colonel," Flight Lieutenant Decker started. "Sir we should go to hyperspace once we have the beam down confirmed, there are quite a number of artificial satellites and a space station similar to the Mir or the ISS In orbit, they wont be able to detect us unless they pick us up visually," He paused. "However the Ancient lab, it seems to be in a largely secluded area with only a small concentration of other life signs." Collins Looked between the two men. "Well a tleast there aren't many people around. Beam us down we're ready." Not that they had a good record with similarly advanced civilizations to themselves. Once Decker got the Go ahead the team was beamed down to the planet as they disappeared in a covering of white light.

<Note: Joint post with Decker to save time>
<TAG:Izzy Stevens , @adaloveheart , William Treaty SM-3 members to continue here. Tag Sun tzu crew: Paul Riley , Ryan Decker , Shawn Booth , Jaya Bakshi , Dylan Hawkins >

[Paul Riley]

1432
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
K3X-247 Orbit

Paul Riley sat in the command chair watching proceedings with interest, so far the mission looked to be an easy one. Drop off the team, hang around a little and pick them up once their stealth recon mission was complete and they'd gathered whatever intel or technology they'd needed.
"Colonel," Flight Lieutenant Decker started, drawing the man's attention, "Sir, we should go to hyperspace once we have the beam down confirmed, there are quite a number of artificial satellites and a space station similar to the Mir or the ISS In orbit, they wont be able to detect us unless they pick us up visually."
Colonel Riley mulled it over, Decker had once again raised a very good point. He considered that whilst this civilization's censors probably weren't advanced enough to pick their ship up, that wasn't a risk they could take. Visual detection was also a potentially terrifying prospect for both sides. If they were anything like Earth, it could raise tensions leading to an awkward stand off that need not occur.
"Alright," he agreed, "once the team is beamed down take us just out of reach, but lets stay within comms range if we can please."

Colonel Riley stood to see SM-3 off as they were beamed down from the bridge to the planet surface, exchanging an informal salute and wishing them good luck. This was when the train began to fly off the tracks. The young air traffic controller, Jaya Bakshi pitched in urgently,
"We have an SOS from Meropis. Someone might want to send a signal to SM-1 or 2. It's straight from the General. I can patch it through to you, or Lt. Decker."
"Patch it through to me," Riley ordered showing just a hint of concern on his face. He listened privately to the message in his ear piece, holding up his best poker face. He gulped, betraying his stone cold expression. Riley knew full well what the protocols were for these kind of emergency subspace broadcasts, and this one was an alarming one.

He looked around the bridge, the crew were looking expectantly at the Colonel.
"Team." He composed himself to deliver the message, "That was Meropis. They have a critical situation and are currently under attack from the inside... The message states there was an explosion of some kind." He rubbed the back of his neck with his right hand, easing the tension headache that was beginning to build there.
"Trouble is we're four days out from Meropis, and we just sent an off-world team out into the field..." He was speaking out loud. The Colonel then pressed the comms link to SM-3.
"SM-3 this is Riley come in..." He awaited their acknowledgement, "We've an SOS from Meropis. Now I'm not about to abandon you on a planet with no visible Stargate so we'll hang fire here until you say otherwise. But we'll be out of comms reach for a few hours while we try to get a better sit-rep on whats happening back home. If we have to go, we'll grab you first." He listened to Ethan Collins response before signing off, "Agreed. Scheduled check in as normal Sun Tzu out."
The Colonel then turned his attention to the crew on the bridge,
"We'll get to a safe distance and then I want urgent comms with base plate. We need to know what the severity of this attack is. If need be we've got a Jumper on board, we can find a nearby Stargate and send some immediate back up. Let's move."
With a nod to Majors Hunter and Decker, the ship began to maneuver before bracing itself for the all too familiar hyperspace jump out of the star system.

<tag Jaya Bakshi Ryan Decker Shawn Booth Ethan Collins Ryan Sweeney @adaloveheart Dylan Hawkins Blueberry Yagami @adaofhearts>
feel free to take the story in any direction you want, or leave us waiting to hear further news 

[Ryan Decker]

1458
Corridors
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Hyperspace

They'd jumped to hyperspace immediately and hadn't stopped since then, he had been trying to formulate a plan to get people back to help and get a clearer picture but this part of the Galaxy wasn't full of gates, though they could send and receive text transmissions from Meropis they were sure the base was a little preoccupied right now. Finally able to get something straight he rounded a corner and saw Colonel Riley. He jogged a few paces to catch up. "Colonel," he began "I've got the only real solution to our needing to be in two places at the same time." He said. 

He awaited the Colonels acknowledgement. "It's pretty obvious, but still. As we have been since got those subspace messages, to head for the nearest 'Gate, drop whoever we can or need to off and get them to gate back to Meropis." He paused giving Riley a second "We also can't leave SM-3 out there, Sir you have the authority to scrub the mission, it should be a serious consideration, with the nearest gate a few hours away we've got time to think it over." Ryan looked over his shoulder he could feel something was up, it was probably just the news spreading around.

"Right now sir I'm considering myself more in the role I was originally brought on to fill." he looked away a second. "Caution, sir, we need to remain cautious, we've got numerous enemies both from the galaxy and two others, we can't just keep jumping feet first into it all, without a base of operations like Meropis we wouldn't be out here sir, and with what we and the expedition have started we now can't just leave..." He turned his head someone was approaching rapidly, too rapidly.

The other man raised his sidearm at them.

<TAG:Paul Riley, @other sun tzu crew, @zatarc)

[Paul Riley]

1500
Corridors
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Hyperspace

Now that the Sun Tzu was on course, Colonel Paul Riley had taken the opportunity to enjoy some coffee and a bathroom break. Once his 15 minutes were up, he'd decided to take a stroll back to the bridge and get a sit-rep from his team. On the way, Ryan Decker caught him up in the ship's corridors.
"Colonel, I've got the only real solution to our needing to be in two places at the same time." Decker said, falling into stride beside him.
"Decker, pleasure to see you as always. Go on, what's your idea," Riley replied coming to a halt at a turn in the corridor as Decker began to explain.
"It's pretty obvious, but still. As we have been since we got those subspace messages, to head for the nearest 'Gate, drop whoever we can or need to off and get them to gate back to Meropis." Riley frowned as he processed the idea, allowing Decker to continue, "We also can't leave SM-3 out there, Sir you have the authority to scrub the mission, it should be a serious consideration, with the nearest gate a few hours away we've got time to think it over."

"You're right," Colonel Riley admitted with a sigh, "I think given the circumstances, we ought to scrub the mission. Making contact with Meropis needs to remain our priority. At the next gate we'll see if we can open up a comms link with them. A distress beacon is pretty rare and something must have seriously gone to the wolves to warrant it. As per protocol I need you and Major Booth to initiate Operation Relapse... Ugh, who names those things." He said, referring to the ship's emergency statutory document for a distress beacon on either Earth or Meropis. A pre-selected contingent of the crew would be dropped off to 'gate back home, after a visit to the ship's armoury of course.

"Due consideration needs to be given to the value of SM-3's mission, however at this time I'm leaning toward a total mission abort. I don't know whats going on back at base plate but something's not been feeling right for weeks now. What's your take on it?" He asked.
"Right now Sir I'm considering myself more in the role I was originally brought on to fill. Caution, Sir, we need to remain cautious, we've got numerous enemies both from the galaxy and two others, we can't just keep jumping feet first into it all, without a base of operations like Meropis we wouldn't be out here sir, and with what we and the expedition have started we now can't just leave..." Decker said, his words trailed off as both Riley and Decker became aware of somebody walking up to them far too quickly.

The figure, whoever it was, had concealed their face with a cloth and their hair with a cap. The rest of their attire was black ops SGC uniform. It was definitely a male, Riley figured that much out by the posture and build. The man had raised a Zat gun at Colonel Riley and locked eyes with him. Riley's breath quickened and he slowly raised his hands,
"Now Son, be careful what you're doing here..." The Colonel pleaded in a calm and level voice, he moved his left hand across in front of Decker, preventing any sudden action. "There are some things you can't come back fro-"
"Shut up!" The male's voice interrupted, "Do you have any idea who I am!?" Riley and Decker said nothing, the Colonel's mind raced. This had to be connected to whatever was going on back at Meropis, to General Conway's death.
"You know you cannot stop the Etruscans. We are everywhere, we are everyTHING. You fools have started a war with the Gods themselves. And that is a war you cannot win. And this ship? THIS SHIP, IT BELONGS TO LARAN NOW!" Before Riley could respond the Zat gun fired, stopping him in his tracks. He crumpled to a heap on the floor, unconscious.

<tag Ryan Decker Shawn Booth Jaya Bakshi Dylan Hawkins @adaofhearts Blueberry Yagami SM-3>

[Dylan Hawkins]

1500
Corridors
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Hyperspace


Hawkins had left the bridge for a few minutes in order to visit the head in order to answer a call of nature. When he came back, there was a man holding a weapon. Dylan could not readily name it. He knew, though, that the weapon was of Goa'uld origin, and that it was used to stun people. He took his sidearm from its holster on his chest. Like a lot of other Aviators, he carried it with a round int he chamber, and with the safety off, so he could use it in an instant's notice.

After the man shot the Captain with the zatgun, Hawkins immediately fired his Browning Hi-Power. One round went into the man's leg. The next struck him in the shoulder. The third and last bullet missed, and ricocheted around the bridge, but fortunately hit no-one. After the man went down, Hawkins charged to the man and kicked the zat away. He looked around for a moment and said "Lieutenant, Sergeant, Airman. Go get weapons from the arms locker and secure the prisoner in the brig. Once there, get a Corpsman up there to make sure he doesn't bleed to death." Then he turned to another person, and said "Notify the Doctor that the Captain is being carried to sickbay"

Then Hawkins moved to the centre of the bridge, halting just in front of the chairs. "As senior officer present, I am hereby assuming command of the ship" Hawkins said before looking around, and sitting down in the Captain's chair. "I want a status report on all systems. And I want to prepare for mission scrub" he then said. This would be his first time in command of a ship, but he had had training to make sure that he could command it if the need arose. As it did today.

SPOILER: Click to show

Be advised: Steve gave me authorization to pursue this course via a number of private messages between the two of us

[Ryan Decker]

1500-1505
Corridors-Bridge-Sickbay
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Hyperspace
The ships CO greeted him "Decker, pleasure to see you as always. Go on, what's your idea,"

He had developed something of a rapport with Colonel Riley, more a respect of each other views and skills, it was something they had built since their mission here began and one he hoped in the near future might pay off in ways only the Colonel and General Conway had been privy to apart from himself and his superiors, they were jointly with the Canadians making a play for a 304 or a heavily modified 303, one outfitted like a lighter version of the refitted 304s, Asgard beams and all.

"You're right, I think given the circumstances, we ought to scrub the mission. Making contact with Meropis needs to remain our priority. At the next gate we'll see if we can open up a comms link with them. A distress beacon is pretty rare and something must have seriously gone to the wolves to warrant it. As per protocol I need you and Major Booth to initiate Operation Relapse... Ugh, who names those things." Riley seemed to agree with him, that was good, and it was true a distress beacon like that only meant serious trouble, the kind of trouble that might place him between his duties to his own Country, it relations to the US, China and more personally, between Colonel Riley and Captain Jones.

"Yes Sir, I believe it's people who have way to much time on their hands." The names of many of the operations were odd and very both confusing and equally not quite straight to the point, such was life working in a workplace that was beyond top secret. 

"Due consideration needs to be given to the value of SM-3's mission, however at this time I'm leaning toward a total mission abort. I don't know whats going on back at base plate but something's not been feeling right for weeks now. What's your take on it?"
 He was about to respond when both and and the Colonel turned around, only to confronted by a Zat toting assailant. Decker reached for his side arm gripping it but leaving it in it's thigh holster, he might not walk around with the safety off, but it was always chambered and ready to fire once he thumbed that switch, it wasn't a good idea to be standing in front of it.

"Now Son, be careful what you're doing here..."
 The Colonel warned. He was about to do what had come to mind and quickly draw his weapon on the man, but both Colonel Riley's arm in front of him and the man's first response stopped him. "Shut up! Do you have any idea who I am!?" With his face covered it was hard to tell, but he was familiar the accent, NO.. it was one of his men. Something was going on, this so  soon after the distress beacon from Meropis, it had to be some kind of coordinated attack, didn't it?

"You know you cannot stop the Etruscans. We are everywhere, we are everyTHING. You fools have started a war with the Gods themselves. And that is a war you cannot win. And this ship? THIS SHIP, IT BELONGS TO LARAN NOW!" The Flight Lieutenant was gripping his sidearm probably a tad to tightly, his training and common sense was screaming at him to at least draw his weapons and most mostly screaming to put a couple into the guy.

The black uniformed attacker squeezed the grip Decker took the tiniest shuffle back separating himself from direct contact with Colonel, he drew his weapon but wasn't the first to fire, he fired the second shot which caught the rambler in the chest before another one in his right shoulder. The assailant went down on the deck and the first shooter, Commander Hawkins moved in and kicked Zat away. Approaching him he pulled the cloth that had concealed the attackers face revealing it to be true, it was one of his men, Flying Officer Peters. The usually Calm and happy Australian Flight Lieutenants expression turned to a angry scowl.

Decker quickly safetyed and holstered his weapon as Hawkins spoke. "Lieutenant, Sergeant, Airman. Go get weapons from the arms locker and secure the prisoner in the brig. Once there, get a Corpsman up there to make sure he doesn't bleed to death." Then he turned to another person, and said "Notify the Doctor that the Captain is being carried to sickbay" the small group that had assembled after the commotion stood their motionless for a moment.

"Now!" he barked. As a group got together and began to take Peters to the sickbay. "I want him to live, but the first priority is the Colonel." He helped one of the other carry the Captain to the Sickbay. 

"Doc, he was hit by a Zat, but make sure it was just that." The acting CMO hurried to check out the Colonel.

---

1510
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Hyperspace

He'd made sure the Colonel wasn't in any immediate danger before leaving and only to get the orders for Operation Relapse and radio all personnel were to be on watch in quarters and only those of security or senior position were to have weapons he made his way to the bridge hand to whomever was in command of the ship until Riley was back on his feet. Walking into the Bridge he spotted Commander Hawkins. "Commander," He began. "The Colonel authorized this." He offered the small plain manila folder to Hawkins and gestured to the captains ready room just off the bridge. "We can't discuss it here, not yet, has Major Booth reported in?" He asked unsure of the status of the ships XO.

<TAG:Paul Riley , Dylan Hawkins , Shawn Booth , Jaya Bakshi , ect >

[Dylan Hawkins]

1510
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Hyperspace


"He hasn't" Hawkins said, pausing to take a breath. "And that worries me. For all we know, he's been targeted by another one of them a-holes" he then continued.The Commander led the Australian to the Captain's ready room, and after making sure the door was closed, he halted in front of the man.

"What's in the envelope, Flight Lieutenant?" Hawkins asked. He'd handled manila envelopes like that before -how could he not, being as highly ranked as he was-, but he never really liked them. In his experience, it almost always marked another barrier. He'd just have to deal with it, though. If he ever wanted a command like this of his own, he had no choice but to do otherwise.