Atlantis followed a sleek vessel, a single pulsing beam connecting the two ships. Across the hull of Atlantis light flickered to life as power started to come back on line. Two more of the sleek vessels, one on each side, escorted Atlantis. The lead ships engine flared as it began to pick up speed.
On board Atlantis computers came to life as secondary power systems started to overload and attempted to burn off energy. Rick stepped up to the ensign sitting at the engineering station.
"Ensign dump the main computer cores into the secondary core. Seal it with triple lockouts, then once the main cores are cleared. Do a data dump of only the necessary routines needed to run the ship and reboot the cores," Rick said.
The ensign turned to look up at Rick as he spoke, "Sir, that will leave both AI's offline and leave us defenseless."
Rick nodded, "I know that, we can't afford to bring the AI's back online until we find out what caused the problem in the first place. As far as being defenseless, I seriously doubt our friends will allow us to come to harm."
The Ensign nodded, "30 minutes until main routines are back online and functioning. Secondary power systems running at 105% and hold steady."
"Com, get me High Admiral Nataleo," Rick said as he once again took a seat in the command chair. "Your highnesses if you would please." Rick said indicating the seats on either side of him.
"I have Admiral Nataleo on coms Sir," the com officer reported.
"Put her through please," Rick said as he stood up.
The Admirals face filled the main viewer as small grin on her face, "You have power back?"
"Temporarily, we're working to reboot our computers now. If you would be so kind as to hold this speed and adjust course to Ghost Station. I would very appreciative," Rick said as he bowed slightly.
The Admiral nodded slightly, "As you wish."
"One more thing, know that we're defenseless we can't bring the computer completely back online," Rick said as he watched the woman's face for any type of reaction.
"Understood, I don't think you will have to worry about that. We will cover you until we reach Ghost Station and have you safely tucked away," Nataleo replied with no change in her facial expression. "May I then be allowed to talk to Jonathan Hunter?"
Deatra stood, "Of course, I'll make arrangements for you. However, you'll have to understand his sister is very sick and might die."
Nataleo frowned at the news, "What has happened to the prophesied one's sibling?"
"She was shot in the back and has major internal damage. We were on our way to Ghost Station before our run in with you. Her life hinges on us getting there as soon as possible," Deatra said.
"Why do your nanites not repair the damage to her?" Nataleo asked.
"They're offline for some reason, we were attempting to fix the problem when the computer core crashed," Deatra said. "We think it might have been due to a rogue AI that briefly took control of Atlantis."
Nataleo nodded, "If you would like I can send some of my technical personnel to see if they can help."
Rick stood up, "Thank you Admiral I would appreciate it, our senior chiefs are not present at this time."
Nataleo nodded back, "No problem Commander, we're here to help. We will be entering warp in 5 minutes. My technicians will arrive before then."
"Thank you," Rick said as he bowed slightly.
"What where is that coming from?" Jon asked as he looked over Kayla's shoulder.
Kayla shook her head, "Terri is stable for now ... Oh, NO!"
Kayla spun around and ran from the room and up to the side of Oojoung's bed. She reached, grabbing one of the large wrists. After a few seconds of feeling around she grabbed a tiny mirror from the stand next to the bed and held it under one of Oojoung's nostrils. When the mirror didn't fog up she dropped it and tore the front of Oojoung's shirt open and started applying small transceivers to his chest.
Kayla reached over and tapped some keys on the holograph over Oojoung's bed. A hologram blinked to life above the prone man. She tapped the green pulsing circles on it and activated the transceivers. She noticed the problem right away, one of his ribs had been pushed through one of his lungs.
"Computer charge to 100 and pulse in 10 second intervals," Kayla said. "Establish secondary scan of all internal organs and prep patient for emergency surgery."
"What happened?" Jon asked.
Kayla looked over as the pulses started forcing Oojoung's heat to beat slowly, "A rib punctured one of his lungs. I have him on a type of life support right now. The computer is forcing his heart to beat and pulsing the muscles that control his breathing. I'm going to move him into surgery and try to repair the damage. Which I have to do quickly or he will just drown in his own blood. Computer monitor liquid levels in damaged lung and report when they're at dangerous levels, restrict all vessels in that lung to lowest levels."
"I don't understand," Jon said.
"The transceivers have a limited control over the nanites, even though they're off line it can still use them by direct control," Kayla said as she started directing nurses.
Jon frowned, "Then why not have the computer just control the nanites and do the repairs? Wait, I thought the computers were offline."
"They can't be controlled on that level and the main computers are offline. Medical back up computers are still functioning. Something I made sure was the first thing they did for the refit," Kayla said as she started moving Oojoung's bed towards one of the operating rooms.
"Kayla," Jon said in a hushed voice.
Kayla stopped for a second, "I know, I'll do my best."
Jon nodded as Kayla turned and walked into the operating room.
Jon stood there looking towards where Oojoung had been taken and then looking over at his sister laying there barely alive. Sam tugged at his pants to get his attention. When Jon looked down a tear dislodged from his eyes and fell to the floor at little Kayla's feet. All three children looked up at Jon and waited, tears filled all their eyes. The two dogs took up positions on either side of the doorway into the operating ward.
Jon knelt down and took the children in to a group hug. As he released them he leaned back and smiled, "Everything will be ok."
Unseen to most people in the room, Jon's guards had tears in their eyes, even his new female guards. Outside the Medical Ward, Terri's personal guards paced as they waited for news.
Three humans appeared on the bridge what seemed to be thin air. Around them were assorted cases and tool kits. Guns were immediately leveled in their direction and guards took up a protective stance around the Queens and Rick.
One of the Humans bowed, "My apologies, we forget you haven't been exposed to this type of technology." After an exchange of names and greetings, Rick had the technicians led to main engineering. A slight lurch signaled them entering hyperspace.
"How long until we reach Ghost Station?" Rick asked.
"At our current speed nine hours," Con reported.
"Huh? Check that again, when we got dragged out of fold we were over twenty hours away," Rick said.
"Yes sir, I have already checked it three times," Con reported.
"All I can say then is amazing," Rick replied as he relaxed back into his chair.
Deatra and Opellissa stood up from their chairs, "Commander, we must join Jon in Medical. Things are not going well and he needs us."
Rick stood up and bowed, "As you wish, please keep us informed if you would be so kind."
Deatra smiled, "We will. We will see you when we reach Ghost Station."
The two Queens left the bridge with their guards in tow.
Breq walked down the hallway towards the main council chambers on Eutharan, guards covered him on either side. Three Eutharans walked next to him rattling off reports about the status of projects.
One report caught his attention, "Do what?"
"I said we have the starship construction platform operating at 95%," A small pale Eutharan reported.
"And..." Breq said.
"And we have already started repairs on the vessels involved in the recent conflict," the man reported.
Breq nodded, "What about the mining outposts?"
"Operational, and we're already transporting personnel to them as we speak. We expect the first loads in about three days," another man said.
"The mills?" Breq asked as he shoved the door to the large chamber open.
"Online and already manned, they're processing what that had in storage," the same man reported.
Breq nodded, "Good, figure out a pay scale and get these people paid for their work. This government has declined way to far and it will be set back on track or else."
All three men said at once, "Yes Sire."
Breq sat in the center chair on a raised dais and the men following him stopped at the foot of it as the guards spread out, "What about the medical faculties?"
"They're currently being upgraded to be inline with current ADF technologies. Training programs are in place and we have required all medical personnel to be present," one of the men reported.
"Good, looks like things are rolling along quite well. Keep up the good work gentlemen, you're dismissed. I have other things to attend too." Breq said as he dismissed them.
Shortly after the three men left the room, a group of Eutharans was led in. All of them were in shackles and surrounded by guards. None of the Eutharans looked very menacing, but from the reports they had sent almost twelve marines to the hospital.
Breq stood up and walked down the dais taking a PDA from one of the guard escorting the prisoners in.
Breq looked it over as he spoke, "Broken leg, broken nose, sprained ankle, several cracked ribs..." Breq stopped as he heard a snicker from the group. He glanced up and looked each of them in the eyes. He chose the biggest one and stepped up in front of him.
"Each of you are in the Eutharan military?" Breq asked.
The large man looked into Breq's eyes, but said nothing.
"Answer me," Breq said quietly.
"I don't answer to you, I answer to my commanding officer and you're not him," the large man said.
Breq raised an eyebrow as he crossed his lower arms behind his back, "Oh, really?"
"Yup," the man repeated.
"You know who I am?" Breq asked.
The large man nodded, "Yeah, no one important. You're just playing house until the Queen and King return."
Breq smiled, "Oh really?"
"Yup," the man said.
"So it doesn't matter they put me in this position?" Breq asked.
The large man's eyes narrowed, "Says you, I didn't hear an official announcement. As a matter of fact no one did."
"I assume you know I'm second in command of the ADF. The King is the leader of the ADF, right?" Breq asked.
"Yeah so," the man said.
"Well, doesn't it stand to reason if the King is the Leader of the ADF that you all are now marines in the ADF?" Breq asked.
The large man looked confused for a second before he answered slowly, "Yeah, guess so."
"So, since you're an ADF marine and I'm second in command of the ADF..." Breq let the last hang.
Light turned on in the man's brain as he realized where this was leading, "So you say and so the rumors say that are spread around. Can you prove you're second in command or the King left you to run things?"
Breq sighed as several snickers came from the group. Several of Breq's guards we're getting upset by the stupidity of the man.
"Ok, we can do this the hard way," Breq said as he turned and walked back towards the chair. "Com Station One, get me the Atlantis."
A couple seconds later Rick's voice filled the hall as a screen lit up to show his face, "How are things back there Breq?"
"Tense, I need to speak to Jon," Breq said.
"I don't know if now would be a good time," Rick said.
"Well, he left in kind of a lurch with out announcing I was taking command here and I'm having problems," Breq said as he turned to look back the large man he had been speaking to.
"Hrm, ok let me see if I can get him or Deatra," Rick said.
"Thanks," Breq said.
Two hours later Kayla walked out of the Operating Ward and up to the small crowd gathered. She looked up into Jon's eyes and shook her head. Jon's face saddened as tears spilled down his face. Deatra and Opellissa, who we're playing with the children stopped and silently began to weep. The children clueless as to what was going on looked over to Kayla.
"Momma, what is wrong?" Little Kayla asked.
Jon had knelt down next to the children and his wives as Kayla knelt down in front of her daughter.
Tears began to fall from her eyes as she looked into her daughters eyes, "I couldn't save Oojoung dear."
Sam freaked, "WHAT?! NO, no no no no..." She took off running, tears streaming from her eyes.
Deatra stood and followed her out of Medical as she sent a message to Jon, 'Stay, I'll take care of Sam. This is going to be very hard for her. She had a very close connection with Oojoung.'
'Hard for her, wait until Terri is better... ' Jon sent back.
'I know, one thing at a time though, ' Deatra sent back.
"Jon I'm very sorry," Kayla started.
Jon reached over and pulled her into a hug, "Doc, it's ok. I know you did your best and I think you for that."
Kayla began to cry freely into Jon shoulder.
"Jon," Rick's voice said quietly through his com.
Jon released Kayla and stood up, moving away from the group, "Yes, Rick."
"Sir, I have Admiral Breq on coms, he seems to be having problems because of our sudden departure and he's requesting to speak to you," Rick said.
"Now really isn't the time..." Jon started.
"I wouldn't have bothered you if it wasn't important," Rick said.
Jon sighed, "Ok, let me get into Kayla's office. Just so you know Rick, Oojoung died on the operating table just a bit ago."
There was silence for a second, then softly Rick expressed his sadness to Jon.
"Alright, put me through," Jon said as he took a seat at Kayla's desk.