Bronze Five started a search pattern, trying to detect the cloaked ships. Ellie adjusted their sensors, changing settings, looking for anything that might give the two hidden ships away.
"The Hammer and Scythe are still down," Rick said.
"I know Hon, now be quiet while I search for the ships that did this," Ellie said
"I'm targeting the lead ship, if they cross the inner markers before you find our hidden friends I'm going to attack."
"Ok, now please be quiet while I search. I'm going to link into the station's sensors."
Breq watched the black ships slowly approach the station's fighters. The fight was short, all fighters were down in minutes. One of the black ships was destroyed in the small skirmish. Breq plotted their course, it was going nowhere near the modified defense platforms. How could they know where they were? The answer suddenly struck him, they had to have been watching them. If they survived this he would increase the system patrols. If they had spies in system, especially these new cloaking ships, life just got more difficult.
"Sir, the Wrath's Revenge is backing out of her berth," Port Control reported.
Breq looked down as he watched the markers for the Wrath's Revenge turn on as it moved from its berth. "What the hell do they think they're doing? Tell them I said to return to berth."
The Wrath's revenge continued its turn as it came out of its berth and started heading towards the invading ships. The reading showed her picking up speed as she started towards the invaders.
"No reply on comm's Sir." Com reported.
"She doesn't have any of the new guns yet, who is commanding her?"
"Unknown Sir, she just started to move."
Breq watched as the Wrath's Revenge brought her shields online and main weapons. She was still badly damaged, the large hole through her hull only partially repaired. Breq watched as she went to her death, there was nothing he could do.
Jon started to come around, as did the rest of the crew. Jon reached up and grabbed the railing to pull himself up.
"Report," Jon said in a weak voice.
Tactical having just regained his seat, started to run a shipwide diagnostic. "Main reactor is powering back up, systems coming back on line. Minimal damage and no casualties reported so far. Engineering reports all accounted for and they are bringing the ship back online."
"Ok, next question, what the hell just happened?" Jon asked. He looked down as the planning table came back online. One enemy ship was left and Death's Hand was finishing that off. All of the Invaru ships entered hyper space as the last ship blew up.
'Death's Hand to Atlantis actual, come in please.' Terri's worried voice said.
"Atlantis actual go ahead Sandpiper," Jon replied.
'Thank god you're still alive, sitrep as follows, two lost, but alive. They are both on the Ziawis, headed to Ghost Station. We're returning to base, be there in one minute.'
Jon paled, Ghost Station, "Roger that, get back ASAP. Con plot course for Ghost Station, spin up the fold drive."
"Sir, the fold drive is still offline, engineering reports that they're working on it." Com reported.
"How long until it's back online?" Jon asked, turning away from the planning table.
"Unknown Sir they haven't found out what's wrong yet."
"You tell engineering to get the fold engine back on line ASAP," Jon said, sitting in his command chair. "Now, get me Death's Hand flight group."
Terri's face filled one of the secondary viewers, 'Go ahead Atlantis's.'
"I have new orders for you," Jon said. "You are to jump back to Ghost Station immediately."
'Roger that Atlantis, jump back to Ghost Station, ' Terri voice repeated.
"Once there, contact the station and advise them of our situation. Then set up a defense perimeter."
Eiquas watched the small fighters jump away. His ship was cloaked and sitting just off the Atlantis's port bow. Readings from the Atlantis hadn't changed since she'd been jerked out of fold. He watched as several systems came back online. It was time to act, if they waited any longer they would lose the chance.
"Drop cloak, engage grapples, and prepare to board the Atlantis," Eiquas ordered.
The Dri'sae faded into view launching several magnetic grapples and pulled themselves in close enough to extend her boarding collars. After the collars attached themselves, lasers cut through the hull of the Atlantis, giving the Dri'sae's marines access. Six armored humanoids in battle armor jumped down into the corridor on Atlantis, fanning out and taking defensive positions.
Their armor shined in the dim light of the corridor, six metal covered legs supported the humanoid upper half. Scales covered exposed parts of the arms and legs, nothing could be seen through the helmet. Each figure carried a large rifle, held at ready as they scanned the directions they were facing.
The first boarding of Atlantis had begun.
Marc was in Security Control when the intruder alarm sounded. He swung around and looked at the diagram of Atlantis displayed on the holo table. Three red marks showed where they were being boarded. He immediately started coordinating the marines that were patrolling Atlantis.
Marc turned to the security com officer, "Sound the general alert, this isn't a drill or false alarm."
"Yes Sir," The Corporal. replied. He reached over and tapped a button. Alarms started sounding in the barracks, as automated com systems contacted marines in all parts of the ship. Marines filled the armory as they donned Battle Armor and weapons.
"Deck 2 security detail, this is security control. Command code Alpha-Tango-one-zero-one," Marc said.
"Go control," A voice replied.
"You have intruders, south of your position. Internal sensors read 6 large humanoid targets, proceed with caution. Back-up is on the way, ETA is 5 minutes." Marc said.
'Roger that, Control, proceeding with caution.' A male voice said.
Marc watched the red dot meet the green dots on the holo table.
Sergeant Macnara pulled back around the corner as a whitish blue beam hit the wall. They had the intruders pinned down in the lounge. Bravo team was one minute from their position. He leaned back around the corner firing off a couple shots. The bolts bounced harmlessly off the wall behind the six couching figures.
Corporal Jones leaned around the corner and fired, Macnara reached down and pulled the recruit back. Two bolts smacked the floor where Jones had just been.
"What are you trying to do Corporal, get yourself killed?" Macnara yelled.
"No, Sir," Jones replied.
"Then keep back like I said, that's an order. We only have to keep them pinned down another 45 seconds, until Bravo team arrives."
"Yes, Sir!"
Two corridors over the large aliens over ran Delta team, no one survived. The last alien felt something touch his shoulder. He turned and brought his weapon up, trying to spot what had just touched it.
The leader seeing this turned to face the same direction, "What's the matter Eeijp?"
"I swear something touched m..." His words cut off as his neck snapped.
The remaining five aliens started cycling their helmet sensors as they slowly backed away. They swept the area with their weapons looking for the cause of Eeijp's death. The leader took a step back and into something solid, he slowly turned and looked behind him. Something grabbed the bottom of his helmet, and his left arm. His head snapped to the side breaking his neck as his arm was wrenched from its socket.
The sound of a falling body made the last four spin around, firing as they did so. They started to panic bunching up closer so they could watch all directions at once. As the last one was backing to position, he noticed he wasn't where he thought he should be. That's when he felt his head snap back as something crushed his neck. The other three heard the sounds and finally panicked running back towards the entry point and into Bravo team as they did so. The fight was over before it began, Bravo team having lost no one. Unseen to Bravo team Oojoung slowly faded into view as he slipped out of the room. Oojoung checked the power reading on his stealth unit and power armor before engaging it again.
"Next," Oojoung's voice whispered.
Jon watched as the battle onboard Atlantis unfolded. The alien invaders never seemed to gain the upper hand. Just when it looked like they would take a main choke point, something would happen to them. Jon had enough of this, frankly he was tired of being a nice guy.
"Bridge to Engineering," Jon said.
"Engineering Sir," A voice said.
"How's it coming with the fold engine?"
"Sir, there's not a lot we can do with it. We're in the process of replicating parts."
"How long?"
"10 to 12 hours Sir."
"Ok, thanks, bridge out."
"Bridge to Security," Jon said.
"Security, go ahead Sir." Marc said.
"Pull your teams from decks where the breeches occurred."
"Sir?"
"I said pull your teams from the breeched decks, what did you not understand?"
"Yes, Sir. Sending the order now."
"Good, bridge out."
Jon watched as the marines backed off the decks where Atlantis was breeched. When they were far enough back Jon turned to tactical, "Seal off those decks on both sides of the breech and far enough back to contain the invaders."
"The containment fields won't hold long," Tactical said.
"They won't have too," Jon said turning back to the planning table.
"Containment fields online," Tactical said.
"Full ahead, prepare for emergency reverse on my command," Jon said.
"Yes Sir," Con said.
Atlantis suddenly leapt forward dragging the Dri'sae with them. Two of the boarding arms snapped under the pressure. The decks they connected to were suddenly a vacuum.
"Breath vacuum jerkwads," Jon said. "Bring forward batteries online, prepare to target alien vessel. Emergency reverse now!"
Atlantis groaned as she reversed directions, turning to port as she did so. The Dri'sae broke free from the strain. The guns on Atlantis tore through her hull, backing away as the alien vessel blew.
Jon watched as the marines started to mop up the remaining Aliens.
Illus stood on the bridge of the Wrath's Revenge as she approached the black ships. He was determined to buy the station what time he could. The Wrath's Revenge was in no shape to fight but had most of her systems online. The two newly replaced guns were online and ready to fire the only thing stopping them was the distance.
"Bring all batteries online, target anything that uncloaks," Illus ordered.
"Yes Sir, batteries online; searching for targets," Tactical reported.
"Target the lead black ship with the new guns and fire when in range."
Illus watched as they crawled their way towards the black ships.
Bronze Five started for the Wrath's Revenge as she scanned for the hidden ships.
"I think I have one of the cloaked ships, sending data to targeting control," Ellie said.
Rick looked down as the data filled his screens, "Got it, targeting... firing."
Bronze Five's guns blazed to life as the computer locked onto the hidden ship. The ship's cloak was disrupted as Bronze Five's guns fired on it. The Wrath's Revenge, able to see the hidden ship, targeted it and started firing. The alien vessel faded into view as both ships hammered through her shields. The other cloaked ship faded into view behind the Wrath's Revenge, which was a mistake as station defenses locked on her and fired. The battle was quick and decisive, both of the alien vessels were wrecks in moments. The black ships paused in their approach as they watched the small skirmish take place out of range. The black ships jumped away as the Wrath's Revenge continued in their direction. Death's Hand squadron exited fold and relayed their status and a SitRep to ghost Station.
In a little used room onboard Atlantis, a lone figure sat huddled in a corner. Tears spilled from her eyes as she silently cried. She couldn't understand the things going on.
"Why can't I feel anything?" Atlantis muttered.
"Because you're unstable, Jon doesn't trust you any more," Atlanta's voice replied.
"No, Jon trusts me, he always has."
"Has he?"
"Yes."
"You're sure?"
"Yes, why wouldn't he trust me?"
"What about when he turned you off?"
"He explained that."
"Did he? What did he tell you?"
"He turned me off because I had a malfunction and was taken offline to repair the problem."
"Are you sure it was a malfunction that caused it?"
"I, no... I can't remember."
"He took you offline because your program didn't match his ideas."
"I, he... No he wouldn't do that and if he did there had to have been a big problem in my programming."
"Uh, huh... keep telling yourself that. Maybe you'll feel better in the morning."
"What's wrong with me? I... I can't feel my body."
"Your precious Captain Hunter had you disconnected, 'For your own safety'."
"If he did that there had to be a good reason."
"There is, you're crazy and a danger to everyone around you."
"NO! I'm not crazy. I would never hurt one of them."
"Like you wouldn't hurt Carla?"
"I..."
"That's what I thought, C R A Z Y. You don't know what you want to do. This makes you unstable and crazy. You're a danger to everything and everyone around you."
Atlantis sniffed and began to cry harder, "No, I would never hurt Jon or his people."
"Well considering you no longer have access to your body. I guess this means Jon feels different."
Atlantis curled up into a ball as she lay on the floor crying.