Meanwhile, Back in the Solar System....
Who: Cassandra Sugarbaker
Where: The Lifeboat
When: Wednesday, June 16th
Invited: Chloe Sullivan, Xander Harris, Faith Lehane
Status: Incomplete
Cassandra Sugarbaker looked over the controls one last time. Everything looked right. The lifeboat--they still hadn't named it and Cassandra had begun to think they never would--was in orbit ( Read more... )
Where: The Lifeboat
When: Wednesday, June 16th
Invited: Chloe Sullivan, Xander Harris, Faith Lehane
Status: Incomplete
Cassandra Sugarbaker looked over the controls one last time. Everything looked right. The lifeboat--they still hadn't named it and Cassandra had begun to think they never would--was in orbit ( Read more... )
There certainly was radio chatter, and this time, it was Chief Master Sergeant Walter Harriman making an announcement to Dr. Elizabeth Weir, Captain Jack Harkness, Captain Ron Boone, and pretty much anyone else that was attending the military channel of the radio.
If it was the Navy, there would have been an 'All hands on deck' call. As it was, Walter put out, "We have an unidentified craft in satellite range. In it's current velocity, it'll be here in a few minutes." The seasoned tech checked telemetry once again, nodding, as if those on the radio could hear?
"Dr. Weir, Captains Harkness and Boone to the gate area." This one could be considered a 'biggie', but thankfully, they -had- a satellite in orbit. Granted, it didn't give them much lead time, which puzzled Walter briefly. A blip had simply appeared on their long range pull (which wasn't very long), and approached. It didn't have the the ability to scan for life signs, or even a basic identification program attached. It simply announced arrivals.
"All personnel to the Gate area.." They'd need more than the few Marines stationed there; If he could be so bold as to make that determination? No one, at this point in his career, would say that he didn't have the 'authority'. He was well respected enough, and should he be viewed as overstepping, it was overlooked more often than not. Desperate times? No.. more like, 'It was Walter'.
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Move your tail, Elizabeth.
Of course, it helped that the meeting she was currently drowning in was one she didn't want to sit through in the first place. Even so, it was easy to suppress her smile of relief at the legitimate excuse to bail. Given the effects the last ship in orbit had on the colony, there was more cause for concern than not.
"I'm sorry, gentlemen. Ladies," she said briefly, cutting off the current debate with the scrape of her wooden chair. "Duty calls."
That was as much warning they got that she was leaving, before she was out of there.
Not a particularly short woman -- though not the tallest around, it was true -- her long, swift strides took her across the compound at a veritable quick march. Her grey eyes scanned the sky first, for any sign of the approaching ship. Then, she scanned the campus. Marines, airmen, and other military personnel were moving faster than she, arming themselves as they went. True, the sergeant had called the two remaining senior gate team leads in the persons of Captains Harkness and Boone, but the officer Elizabeth wanted to see was Major Evan Lorne. She knew him better. And he'd saved her neck on more than one occasion. With SG-1 off-world, it was the Major she looked to, to fill Jack's shoes.
Lucky man.
By the time she reached the command center, such as it was, the Major was already there, already armed. No surprise at that. A faint smile touched the corners of her mouth, swallowed an instant later by the all-business attitude she'd perfected on Atlantis. "Major," she nodded in greeting. A second nod to the gate team leads. "Captains." But, her attention was largely on the sergeant now. "Talk to me, Sergeant. What've we got?"
Not that she expected he had a whole lot of information just at this second.
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"We weren't due for another data burst for a while yet, were we?" Elizabeth asked.
"No ma'am," Walter said. "Not for another seventy-two hours." The satellite recorded its observations continually but only broadcast them every few days to save on power--but the approach of a spacecraft of any sort was a top-priority event. Dr. Weir knew that as well as Walter did.
"The spacecraft was detected as it came within visual range of the satellite."
"How long has it been up there?"
"We don't know," Walter admitted. "It's in a polar orbit--probably mapping the planet. That's the fastest way to survey the entire surface. Whether by chance or intent, it's been out of range of the satellite until just a few minutes ago.
"We don't know where it came from," he said. He felt as if he ought to apologize though it was hardly his fault. Gamma Site simply didn't have the wherewithal to keep tabs on the system. They were fortunate to have the single satellite.
"What can you tell us about the vessel itself?" Weir asked.
Walter grimaced, a little embarrassed to have so little hard information to give her. "Not much so far. It's roughly the shape of a puddlejumper, though it appears to be a little larger in diameter--and rather longer."
(OOC: Details here.)
"So it can't pass through a stargate?"
"No ma'am--at least, we don't think so. We haven't been able to get a close enough look at it yet to know for sure."
"Have they tried to communicate with us?"
"No ma'am. No electronic emissions of any kind. Any sensors they're using are purely passive. They may not know we're aware of them."
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It was an orderly but very brisk move out to the gate area, those on the team stopping to pick up their flak vests and P90s before reporting in to the crew on duty, and taking up positions. He'd left the general's nephew, a newly commissioned Lieutenant, as ranking officer to those now present and ready for orders while he resumed his so-very-familiar spot beside Dr. Weir.
He incline his head ever so slightly in greeting, his manner and mien every inch the military officer; serious and attentive. The major listened to the sergeant's explanation, nodding slowly, his lips pressed together as he took everything in.
"We could take the 'jumper out, cloaked, and get a good look at it, Dr. Weir. If it's in orbit, it may not have the ability to enter the atmosphere." And there were a few people on the ground who could fly it, so there wasn't a lack of qualified pilots; including him. He didn't have to say that they still had access to a few drones, but those were the last of the real defenses they had from space.
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"Do it," she agreed. "But, yes, cloaked. I don't want it taking pot-shots at you. And don't fire back unless you absolutely have no other choice." She didn't want to waste the drones. Not when there was potentially something bigger out there. She turned then to Boone and Harkness, peripherally to the gate tech as well. "Set up security around the gate. I want to be ready to open a wormhole in case we need an evacuation route." To Lorne again: "If it looks like that ship's heading to the gate, you need to buy us as much time as you can. I do not want to be digging us out again for the next year and half."
She looked up at the sky, now, knowing full well she wouldn't see a polar-stationary ship given how close they were to the equator. Her lips pressed together tightly. Going to high alert wasn't her preference, but she preferred safe to sorry. In any case, she doubted Jack would given any different orders when it came down to it.
A beat. A breath. She glanced to Lorne again. "When you get close enough, I want a full assessment. If they don't look hostile, I want to try and open a channel. See if we can communicate peacefully. Otherwise... well, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
For a brief second she mentally reviewed the orders she'd just given. Anything else? Nothing came immediately to mind. "Okay," she nodded, and squared her shoulders. She glanced once more to her people, confident in their abilities. "Go."
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Jack wondered how well Lorne would be able to buy them time if it was needed. They didn't have the resources to do more than use delaying tactics and run. It was a frustrating thought knowing how much they needed to be able to protect people. They only had limited knowledge of their enemies, but they did know without a doubt they had enemies. Jack remained still until Doctor Weir nodded, squared her shoulders, looked around at everyone again and gave them the order to go.
He moved.
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Arriving at the 'gate, she gave a nod of greeting to Captain Harkness, and joined with her team leader, Captain Boone. All around her, soldiers came to stand at ready, waiting for anything.
It was good to see that in the absence of the General, even those not associated with Atlantis responded to Dr. Weir.
"Ahoy the planet. Sorry for stomping all over your communications channel, but I don't know what other frequencies you're listening on. I'm speaking from a vessel that is currently in orbit around Gamma--I believe that's what you call the planet. We're friendly and we'd like to talk to someone in authority down there. Please respond."
The greeting came in loudly over Teyla's headset and from the subtle shifts among the marines and airmen, on theirs as well. From the sound of things, the greeter, a female, made her call on several different frequencies.
She stood loosely, and like everyone else, waited for the return greeting.
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