Episode Five - The Enemy Within

[Paul Riley]

1544
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

"I'm going to try the beams first... At normal full power settings... Firing Now." Flt. Lt. Decker stated as he pushed the switch, initiating the firing process. The blue streaks of power drove toward the fake asteroid and met it at an angle as their paths collided. A bright explosion followed, Riley winced and turned his head slightly away. A moment of silence followed. The Colonel's eyes glanced down to Major Hunter who was already plotting a course to track the asteroid and scanning it accordingly. It had survived. A few more moments passed and the results of the impact were displayed on their screens. The beam weapons had barely caused a dent, in fact, the results showed that around a ten meter impact crater had appeared as a result of the high powered Asgard weaponry and the object maintained it's direct course toward the Vanir. A sigh swept across the bridge, keep trying.
"What the hell is this damn thing mad of!?" Exclaimed the ship's commander, "Decker, get me a firing solution for a gate buster, it may seem nothing but use that impact crater as a point of weakness. Booth, get on to engineering and have them prep the warhead for launch, double time. No more than an hour if possible. Hunter, plot a course to intercept the asteroid once you get an E.T.A from Major Booth." He barked out the orders with a steely determination, then turned to their guest who had been silently watching the proceedings,
"Well, Njord. That was our first effort and no doubt you've tried the same. Got any bright ideas on how to stop this thing?"

<Tag Njord Shawn Booth and Njord - feel free to jump it on up to an hour to cover the time the nuke is prepped>

[Shawn Booth]

1545
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

Shawn listened to the Flight Lieutenant speak, "I'm going to try the beams first... At normal full power settings... Firing Now." Shawn was never so close to an explosion as massive as it was as well as how bright it was, Shawn lost sight for a minute or so and when he regained his sight he was shocked to see it still moving in, not even slowing down or blowing up like it should've. Nope, nothing, no cigar. First attempt was unsuccessful. For plasma beams they're quite powerful, but apparently not as powerful as that asteroid. Shawn read the file about the asteroid almost hitting Earth and killing all life as we know it but they had to use a hyperspace window to prevent utter and total destruction. Blowing it up may do more harm than good, like it was discovered with the Goa'uld.

"What the hell is this damn thing mad of!?" The Colonel said and Shawn shrugged not sure what to say.

"Decker, get me a firing solution for a gate buster, it may seem nothing but use that impact crater as a point of weakness. Booth, get on to engineering and have them prep the warhead for launch, double time. No more than an hour if possible. Hunter, plot a course to intercept the asteroid once you get an E.T.A from Major Booth." Shawn nodded and went to engineering as ordered.

Shawn reached the room pretty fast running, he did say on the double, after all. Shawn wasn't fond of the idea of having nukes on board since they can always be used against us or accidentally explode. Shawn reached engineering and wasn't sure of the Doctor's names but they were doing something. "Can we help you, sir?" Asked one of the Doctors, Shawn assumes. "Yeah we need a warhead to be prepped and launched to try and destroy that damn asteroid. The Colonel said on the double, so drop what you're doing and get it ready, do you have an ETA on it?" Shawn asked.

"We need more than an hour, I mean its a nuclear warhead." The Doctor said, reminding him of stories he's heard about other scientists who try and make themselves seem more brilliant or heroic than they actually were. "Well you have 45 minutes, I'd get on it, like yesterday..." Shawn said before tapping his earpiece, "Colonel, it'll be ready in 45 minutes." Shawn said as he leaned against the wall making sure the scientists got to work and got it done without killing everyone on board.


<Tag: Paul Riley>

[Ryan Decker]

1545
Bridge
BC-304 Sun tzu
Star System M1B

The beams hit home and Decker joined everyone as they looked away from the main bridge window, he however looked down at his screens, they showed something far worse that he had hoped. The asteroid showed very little damage from the slightly above full power beams, he watched as the weapons internal sensors idicated they were again ready to fire after only a couple of moments. The ten metre crater was, something if they had to they could try persisting and drill a hole through it, but the plan called for a normal nuke test then the drilling test.

"What the hell is this damn thing mad of!?" He doubted anyone would answer, maybe the Asgard.

"Decker, get me a firing solution for a gate buster, it may seem nothing but use that impact crater as a point of weakness. Booth, get on to engineering and have them prep the warhead for launch, double time. No more than an hour if possible. Hunter, plot a course to intercept the asteroid once you get an E.T.A from Major Booth." Riley ordered setting out the crews mission.

Decker looked up at the Colonel noded and said. "yes sir, I'll also get onto confining the beams, however I must warn you, we may burn the emitters out... but the power load could be prolonged and tightened, the drilling plan, but to overide all the safe guards it might take me while." It was then he heard and somewhat saw Major Booth literally run off to get the nukes ready, he also had somewhat of a nice idea. "Colonel we should tell them to prepare a second nuke, but maybe attach some of our power generation naquadah to the second weapon," He then turned to Major Hunter. "Major, is it possible to manually fly the nukes we have in the launch tubes... if we need too, and my drilling solution works, we could fly the nuke into it." He looked back at Riley then to the Vanir then back to the Colonel. "But sir... we could just make the rock miss the planet with a hyperspace window... if the generator could handle it... or move it with multile nuclear weapon detonations... if we see it move back on course we know its either piloted or guided artificially, Plan Zed we use a stargates unstable vortex to slowly deconstruct the object."

As he waited for a reply from those on the bridge he radio Major booth. "Major, its Decker, can you add a transpoder to the weapon it will speed up the beaming process. Decker out." He ended the radio trannsmission and listen for the forth coming replies, rebuttals or other ideas.

<TAG: Paul Riley, Shawn Booth, Njord, plot twist and the rest of the sun tzu crew.>

[Shawn Booth]

1546
Engineering
BC-304 Sun tzu
Star System M1B

Shawn watched the reluctant scientists get to work, but they definitely were not happy about it. Too bad, Shawn thought to himself, as he heard a radio transmission,

"Major, its Decker, can you add a transpoder to the weapon it will speed up the beaming process. Decker out." Shawn nods as he looks to the scientists.

"Hey doc's we need a transponder on the nuke when you're finished." Without waiting for an answer Shawn tapped his earpiece, "I copy, Flight Lieutenant... The doctors will add the transponder when the nuke is prepared for launch. Booth out." Shawn tapped his earpiece again as he sat around waiting making sure the scientists weren't trying to slack off.

Shawn liked being an XO however military personnel are easier to deal with, rank wise. The civilians always think they're above military personnel but that isn't the case, not now and not here. Shawn waited around for the nuke to be finished hoping it would do the trick.

<Tag: Ryan Decker Paul Riley>

[Paul Riley]

1603
Bridge
BC-304 Sun tzu
Star System M1B

T - 10 hours, 39 minutes to impact

Colonel Riley sat deep in thought as both the bridge and his ear-piece were a hive of activity. Njord seemed to just be staring out into deep space. Paul still felt uneasy about this, but they'd gone too far to turn back now.
"Colonel, it'll be ready in 45 minutes."
"But sir... we could just make the rock miss the planet with a hyperspace window... if the generator could handle it... or move it with multiple nuclear weapon detonations... if we see it move back on course we know its either piloted or guided artificially, Plan Zed we use a Stargate's unstable vortex to slowly deconstruct the object."
That caught the ship commander's attention. Decker was a smart, fast thinking man. Riley acknowledged the weapons officer and they set about constructing a plan. A little over 45 minutes later and they received confirmation via Major Booth down in engineering that the war head was good to go, he'd proverbially whipped the technicians up to speed. Major Hunter punched in the prepared commands and the ship jumped via hyperspace. Around 60 seconds later they exited they familiar blue and white warp to the next set of intercept co-ordinates.

The Colonel cricked his neck in anticipation. There it was, a small blip on the long range scanners showed the ethereal object heading toward them once again. Riley went over the plan once more with his team,
"Okay team, Phase Bravo begins. Let's just review our plan... Decker you'll lock on to target with the Asgard beams, the same impact site as before. Try to double the depth we created on this... Immovable object. Then fire our transponder equipped nuke right at the sweet spot. We'll pull back from the impact and see what damage she can do. Got it?" The Colonel nodded as he received confirmation from the team. He was certain this wouldn't destroy it if the Asgard beams didn't, but it would certainly give them more of an idea of what kind Etruscan made hell they were dealing with. It was bound to knock the thing off course, and if it did and the object corrected itself to aim back at the Vanir... Well, that put them in a tight spot. Riley glanced back over at Njord who looked quite pensive in anticipation of their second attempt. Riley radioed through a sub-space transmission back to the F-302s guarding the planet itself,
"Wolf Squadron this is base plate. First attempt negative. Now attempting second strike using warheads. Will return to co-ordinates in ten minutes. Riley out."
Major Hunter alerted Riley to the scanners, the object was 30 seconds away from targeting range.
"Decker, you're up."

<Tag Ryan Decker Njord Dylan Hawkins and Shawn Booth>

[Ryan Decker]

1604
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

Booth had acknowledged and presumably ordered the scientists to add the transponder, this would end up hopefully going better than the first time, but he kept himself busy tightenint the beams and increasing power while doing his best not to damage the weapons, it would seem about 1/3 the size and 110% power was about it for now. As Major hunter jumped the ship to the new set of coordinated via hyperspace for only abotu aminute they excited and began to keep pace with the object, he found the old impact coordinates and sent them to Major hunter who prompt got the ship in a very, very good firing position.

Colonel Riley then firmly set down their plan making sure everyone knew what they were to do.

"Okay team, Phase Bravo begins. Let's just review our plan... Decker you'll lock on to target with the Asgard beams, the same impact site as before. Try to double the depth we created on this... Immovable object. Then fire our transponder equipped nuke right at the sweet spot. We'll pull back from the impact and see what damage she can do. Got it?"
 He nodded. "Got it Colonel" He then locked the transporter onto the Nuke's transponder before locking the beams onto the deepest part of the crater as the object move closer and closer, he then got a tentative position lock on the current site with the transporter and bound the transport button to a button he could also use, if this beam attack activated some defences sheilds, weapons or both in the giant fauxterioid he hoped he would be able to beam the nuke in force, and if it raised sheilds it would only held redirect the bombs force back in at its hull.

It was then Major hunter Alerted them to beam weapons range, he was already quite aware, just concentrating, he was soon to become the first Australian to fire a nuke in offensivly and one of a still easily listable group of humans to do so. 

"Decker, you're up." Riley confirmed, he breathed in a little then at it entered almost perfect range, he waited untill it was just as close at it would get, then fired the slightly modified beams in the creater they had made eariler, again a light bright enough for everyone to shield their eyes sprang forth, as soon as that was finished he locked onto the surface in the crater and as Major hunter backed the sun Tzu away, beamed in then as he detoned the nuke said. "Nuke det in 3." Well now he was one of the few who had used the terrible power of the atom, mind you with a bit of naquadria enchancement to attempt to kill or destroy, then again given the same chance the Etruscians wouldn't even think about it.

<TAG: Paul Riley, Shawn Booth, Njord, faux-teroid/plot twist.> 

[Paul Riley]

1605
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

T - 10 hours, 37 minutes to impact

"Nuke det in 3." Decker stated... Two... One... The flash of light was just as blinding as the first attempt, causing the Colonel and the rest of the crew to link away temporarily. A few seconds of calm passed as the explosion cleared... Revealing a fully intact asteroid hurtling past their ship. Suddenly, the bridge burst into a cacophony of noise. Riley cursed and demanded a damage report. Major Hunter acknowledged,
"Still intact Sir, however the impact crater appears to have tripled in size."
"Barely a drop in the ocean." The Colonel said through gritted teeth, he was done looking for silver linings. They'd thrown tremendous power at the thing and it was still going. As the chaos began to calm, Riley ordered that they head back to the planet.


1610

They'd made a second, short hyperspace jump back to the planet. Hunter had signaled for Hawkins and the F-302 squadron to return to base following their protective patrol of the Vanir base. The word was all quiet from the planet side, no ambushes, no trickery... No excitement, well that was something positive at least. Colonel Riley glanced up at the monitor estimating the asteroid's intercept path.
T - 10 hours, 32 minutes to impact.
And counting. He looked to Njord who had so far merely watched proceedings. Njord had an 'I told you so' air about him now that Decker had thrown their most brutal weapons at the object.
"Alright, Njord. You've proved your point. The thing is damn near indestructible. I can fully believe the Etruscans created it, and I can fully believe that they did so in order to wipe you out." He glanced over at Major Booth, hoping for back up on his next point, "You need to consider evacuating your base. I don't care what kind of important work you guys are carrying out, we cannot stop this thing. Unless you have any bright, Vaniresque ideas?" He left the ball firmly in the park of their guest. The truth was there were one or two more things the team could do. Drill the object or attempt a to "jump" the object past the planet. Both plans were incredibly risky and the slightest mistake would result in immediate loss of life. This wasn't something Paul was prepared to do given that on their last encounter in Atlantis, they'd abducted two members of their expedition.

What was so important to the Vanir that they wouldn't just up and leave? What exactly could they do about this thing? More importantly, the thoughts ran through Riley's mind that if this worked and the Etruscans successfully destroyed the Vanir base, even if they evacuated before hand. Would they try it on Meropis? How long would it be until that happened. A part of the Colonel really wished they had a solution to this, in the political field it would prove the Etruscans wrong and hopefully dissuade them from ever trying it again.

<Tag Njord Shawn Booth and Ryan Decker>

[Njord]

1610
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

Njord was just sitting in his seat mostly being quiet and watching and listening to everything happening around him. Njord had no idea what to do in this situation but leaving the planet wasn't an option, they needed to find a solution or years of research would be down the drain.

"Colonel, we can not leave this world. We came to this planet for a reason out of all the habitable planets we found, this one was the one we needed. It is an enriched planet, if it is destroyed or abandoned we would've lost years of research. The only option I can of other than opening a hyperspace window would be to launch an asteroid to try and destroy the asteroid or at least throw it off course." Njord said staring at the Colonel while still sitting in his control chair.

Njord was out of ideas mostly other than what the blonde hair man suggested by opening a hyperspace window big enough for the asteroid and their ship. However the window may not open big enough or something can go wrong and it won't be good for anyone, especially not for the future of the Vanir and Asgard.

<Tag: Ryan Decker Shawn Booth Paul Riley>

[Paul Riley]

1612
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

T - 10 hours, 30 minutes to impact

The Colonel's eyes flicked up to the screen one more time, that clock wasn't getting any slower. Their alien guest finally broke his silence,
"Colonel, we can not leave this world. We came to this planet for a reason out of all the habitable planets we found, this one was the one we needed. It is an enriched planet, if it is destroyed or abandoned we would've lost years of research. The only option I can of other than opening a hyperspace window would be to launch an asteroid to try and destroy the asteroid or at least throw it off course."

Paul raised a slight eyebrow at the phrase 'enriched planet', that could mean any number of things but he dismissed the thought for now. That was something they'd need to look in to when this was all said and done. He considered his options. True, a hyperspace window had been done before by an Earth ship and it HAD worked, but it had been for a much smaller object. The potential margins for error raised a few questions in Riley's mind.

Turning to Major Booth he enacted plan B,
"Major, have the scientists work on some algorithms for the hyper drive engines immediately. I want to know if it is even possible to jump that rock through the planet, and most importantly what margin for error we've got."
He leaned forward toward Major Hunter sat to his right,
"Hunter, find me an object on the long range scanners, you may have to adjust the sensitivity settings. Something about a third of the size of the Etruscan weapon will do." Major Hunter nodded and set to work, Riley turned to his left,
"Decker, get me a plan for the F-302s. If we can use the grappling systems to latch on to an asteroid, can we launch it at the Etruscans vessel? See if you can get one of the science team to help you work out what speed we'd need to be travelling for that to work. Failing the F-302s..." He glanced at Njord, making deliberate eye contact, "Perhaps the Sun Tzu and the Vanir will be strong enough to work together and propel something into it. I'd rather that than risk the hyperdrive engines blowing us out of the sky."
Decker acknowledged the plan and the bridge set to work once again. Their first two attempts had failed and had unfortunately burned some time on the clock, if Plan B and Plan C failed, Riley didn't even want to consider the size of the explosion an 'enriched' planet could cause.

As the team set to work, the Colonel rose from his chair and approached Njord, sat near the front of the bridge. He knelt down to eye level with the alien and spoke softly and in a strict breach of protocol, he asked the difficult question,
"We could be putting our entire crew's lives on the line to save your people, and while I know our people's have not yet forged an alliance. I have to ask, what could be so important to you that risks so many lives?" At first, Njord merely blinked and looked away, Riley pushed further, "What could be so vital that the Etruscans would put a remarkable feat of effort into making such a monstrous object and directing it at you? Come on, Njord... Ya gotta tell me what we're fighting for here..." He sighed, not getting anywhere with the Vanir he stood. Placing his hands behind his back, Riley looked out of the window and on at the planet below them. What was it that somebody had once said about an enriched planet?

<Tags Njord Ryan Decker Shawn Booth>

[Shawn Booth]

1612
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B


"Colonel, we can not leave this world. We came to this planet for a reason out of all the habitable planets we found, this one was the one we needed. It is an enriched planet, if it is destroyed or abandoned we would've lost years of research. The only option I can of other than opening a hyperspace window would be to launch an asteroid to try and destroy the asteroid or at least throw it off course." Njord said not much to the Major's surprise, the planet was obviously chosen for some reason.

Major Booth just stood there thinking, Njord was on to something. The Etruscans can hurdle an asteroid at the Vanir, why not hurdle one at the asteroid? Maybe throw it off course or delay it to give them more time... But the hyperspace window option was more realistic but more time and power consuming especially if it doesn't work...

"Major, have the scientists work on some algorithms for the hyper drive engines immediately. I want to know if it is even possible to jump that rock through the planet, and most importantly what margin for error we've got." The Colonel said and the Major nodded, "on it, sir."

The Major loves to push the scientists around figuratively speaking... The scientists like to believe their more brilliant or smarter than they are and they like to think everyone in the military are stupid, or not as smart anyways, which most of the military are smarter than they let others think. They all have a job to do and the scientists job is broad ranging but SG-1 could pull this out of a little cargo ship with a naquada enhanced asteroid, why can't the Sun Tzu with all of the Asgard bells and whistles?

"Scientists, once again we need you. The Colonel wants you guys to work on some algorithms for the hyperspace engine so we can open a window large enough for us and the asteroid, don't give me any shenanigans here. You guys have a half hour, not get to it." The Major said and watched the scientists obvious misfits but the Major can take it, it wouldn't be the first time the team was up against a 1 in a million situation, even though this could be more like a 1 in ten million situation.

"Colonel, its Booth. They're working on it, we'll have an answer in 30 minutes." The Major said over the radio as he hung around with the PhD's to make sure they played nice and fast.

<Tag: Paul Riley Ryan Decker Njord>

[Ryan Decker]

1612
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

The Asteroid, it was practically indestructable, H'ed only increased the depth of the crater by a factor of three, it seemed they would have to try their other plans, but First the Colonel and Njord went between each other.

"Alright, Njord. You've proved your point. The thing is damn near indestructible. I can fully believe the Etruscans created it, and I can fully believe that they did so in order to wipe you out. You need to consider evacuating your base. I don't care what kind of important work you guys are carrying out, we cannot stop this thing. Unless you have any bright, Vaniresque ideas?"
 Decker just watched the asteroid waiting to see if it would respond to being attacked or just continue it's destructive course to the Vanir base planet.

"Colonel, we can not leave this world. We came to this planet for a reason out of all the habitable planets we found, this one was the one we needed. It is an enriched planet, if it is destroyed or abandoned we would've lost years of research. The only option I can of other than opening a hyperspace window would be to launch an asteroid to try and destroy the asteroid or at least throw it off course."
Decker Looked between them then back to his screens, those were the only options left besides a stargate event horison.

It was after a tense few moments the Colonel did what the Colonel was here to do, give direction. "Major, have the scientists work on some algorithms for the hyper drive engines immediately. I want to know if it is even possible to jump that rock through the planet, and most importantly what margin for error we've got."
 First giving Booth a task then Hunter.

"Hunter, find me an object on the long range scanners, you may have to adjust the sensitivity settings. Something about a third of the size of the Etruscan weapon will do."
 Now It was the weapons officer's turn.

"Decker, get me a plan for the F-302s. If we can use the grappling systems to latch on to an asteroid, can we launch it at the Etruscans vessel? See if you can get one of the science team to help you work out what speed we'd need to be travelling for that to work. Failing the F-302s..."
Decker Nodded. "I'll need the mass of the Asteroid before I can get anything, also we might not have enough power in the 302's to tow something that large, and if we do, the required speed could be too high. A few extra '302s would help, unless the Vanir ships have some sort of tractor beam?" He asked looking from the Colonel to Njord, but he was also working on who to ask in the civilian crew, while we waited for a response.

<TAG:Paul Riley, Njord, Shawn Booth>
click for a prize

[Paul Riley]

1722
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

T - 9 hours, 20 minutes to impact

Around and hour later, they'd located an asteroid. Major Hunter explained just after they'd dropped out of hyperspace at the identified co-ordinates,
"Sir, this is the best we can do." He said indicating an object on the scanners, "It's a small moon, smaller than a third of the size of the Etruscan object, but it should be enough to work with." Riley glanced at Decker as Hunter continued, "In the next ten to fifteen minutes we'll be in range to intercept and..." He typed a few more commands into the computer, "Shortly after that, say another five to ten minutes, we should be in a prime position to intercept the object."

The Colonel could tell that those calculations were no mean feat. There were several smaller bodies of rock or other material they could have harnessed but most were either too far off the path of the attacking object or wouldn't have been suitable for the F-302s to latch on to.
"Booth, Decker. You both heard the man. What have you got for me?" He waited for both of their replies, between the three senior office aboard the ship they were trying to come up with alternative options should this plan fail, and they were fast running out of ideas. "We'll have Hawkins and his squadron launch. This is worth a short at the very least. The technicians spent the last hour working on the 302's and equipping them with a grappling system as per procedure. Feel free to jump in and ride with Hawkins team if need be. Booth, as senior officer you'll take command of this exercise." Finally, there was only one more thing left to say as the Colonel rose from his chair, "God speed." He wished them luck, glancing at the clock one more time. nine hours and counting. This was a long mission for sure but, perhaps because they were up against the odds, the time seemed to be flying by. Another look at Njord who remained calm and stationary in his chair near the front of the bridge maintained Riley's suspicions. He was sure there were a few details the Vanir weren't sharing still.

<tags Dylan Hawkins Shawn Booth and Ryan Decker>

[Njord]

1722
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B


"I'll need the mass of the Asteroid before I can get anything, also we might not have enough power in the 302's to tow something that large, and if we do, the required speed could be too high. A few extra '302s would help, unless the Vanir ships have some sort of tractor beam?" Njord looked at him, just stared.

"We do. However we'll need to work with your small ships to send it on its course. The tractor beams aren't strong enough to move an asteroid, so with your ships it should be doable." Njord said waiting for a response before beaming back to his ship to prepare the action.

<Tag: Ryan Decker Paul Riley Dylan Hawkins Shawn Booth>

[Ryan Decker]

1612
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

It seemed the Vanir were willing to contribute to their own survival, that was certainly helpful. "We do. However we'll need to work with your small ships to send it on its course. The tractor beams aren't strong enough to move an asteroid, so with your ships it should be doable." Decker looked towards the small grey being in his chair. "I'll need the towing power of your tractor beam, also Colonel, I'll go grab one of the science team now." Once Njord as coughed them up Decker quickly got up out of the chair and and tapped a USAF secont Lieutenant on the shoulder, his assistant. "Your turn."

He then began to quickly move through the ship to grab the person he was thinking of.

---

1722
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star Ststem M1B

The calcuations had gone down reasonably well, a couple extra 302s would make it a lot safer and easier, but they only had what they had to work with. Major Hunter had located a moon. 

"Sir, this is the best we can do. It's a small moon, smaller than a third of the size of the Etruscan object, but it should be enough to work with." Riley glanced at Him as the navigator went on, he was already punching in commands into computer "In the next ten to fifteen minutes we'll be in range to intercept and...Shortly after that, say another five to ten minutes, we should be in a prime position to intercept the object."

"Booth, Decker. You both heard the man. What have you got for me?" Decker re run the claculations, it was right at the high end of the limit, it was getting the thing moving the way they wanted it to which was the problem, not getting it up to speed, conservation of momentum was not being their friend today. "Uh... It's inside the limits... it's not getting it up to speed that is the problem... its changing it's direction of travel, well mostly." He sighed. "Lets hope those tow cables were built on a very, very good day." He mumbled to himself. Now they waited for booth, lets hope this worked,

"We'll have Hawkins and his squadron launch. This is worth a short at the very least. The technicians spent the last hour working on the 302's and equipping them with a grappling system as per procedure. Feel free to jump in and ride with Hawkins team if need be. Booth, as senior officer you'll take command of this exercise." Riley went on after the Major. Decker looked back to his assistant, he was going to volunteer to fly one of those things, the USAF officer could sense it and moved away from his monitoring console.

Decker turned to the Colonel. "Colonel, Permission to Pilot one of the 302s I also suggest we leave second seaters at home, more weight on the 302s themselves wont help us." He had a strong expression on, he was prepared to risk his life on his, the ships computer and Dr Chalk's math, but he couldn't ask everyone too, though people weren't much, it would help the maths falls a little bakc to a much more comfortable range, besides a pilot in full gear weighed a reasonable ammount, it might also have been a good idea to ditch missles and ammo, but they might need them, besides they could always ditch them later.

Even without the Colonels Response he was up and out of his chair the second Lieutenant slipping into the spot. 

<TAG: Shawn Booth, Paul Riley, Njord, Dylan Hawkins, Plot Twist.>

[Njord]

1612
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

Njord watched as the blonde man started to speak, "I'll need the towing power of your tractor beam, also Colonel, I'll go grab one of the science team now." Njord did a little slight nod, as he moved the stone on his control chair.

"You shall have it when you are ready." Njord responded.

1722
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

Njord beamed back to his ship and activated the tractor beam waiting for the pilots of the small ships before sending it on its course.

<Tag: Paul Riley Ryan Decker Dylan Hawkins Shawn Booth Plot Twist>