Admiral Breq sat watching the doctors tend to Deatra. They had spent the past 48 hours scouring the Sol sector for any signs of the Atlantis' crew. Deatra was falling fast and to top it off Sam, Kayla and Oojoung were missing. These were all things he could do without. They were putting Deatra in a type of suspended animation; she had just about fallen apart when she found out that Sam was missing.
Breq sighed as he turned and headed for the door. It was time to get back to Ghost Station; they had spent all the time they could afford in the search. Now it was time to get back and try to salvage the ADF.
Geenis sat in his spacious room waiting for the return of Jon and company. He wasn't allowed to move freely around the station. His comm beeped signaling him that the Captain of the Braous had some news.
"Geenis here," He said. He stood up and moved to the large window to look at Braous in dock.
"Admiral, I have news," A voice said.
"Is this link secure?"
A moment of silence, "Yes Sir, it's secure."
"What news do you have?"
"Admiral, we have just intercepted a transmission form the Ge'daes to the station. It seems the Atlantis was destroyed in a place called the Sol sector."
"Ah, so the Atlantis survived its little battle here?"
"Yes, Sir. It seems a battle erupted in the Sol sector after most of the command staff had boarded Atlantis to check damage and make repairs. During the battle one of the attackers got close enough to Atlantis that its explosion enveloped the badly damaged ship. All that's left of the Atlantis is debris, no one survived."
"This Hunter was onboard Atlantis when it was destroyed?"
"Yes, Admiral Hunter and his sister were onboard her."
"What about the Princess?"
"Unknown Sir, we do know she's in medical. Reports are that they think it's the bond killing her."
Geenis rubbed his chin, "Then she must bond with someone else to survive or she'll die."
"They're on their way back right now; they should be back in the next 10 hours."
"All right, are we ready to move?"
"Yes Sir, infiltration teams are waiting for your orders. However, I want you to know I'm opposed to this action. We weren't sent here to..."
"Noted and logged, have the teams start infiltration of the station in 12 hours. I want everyone here for the party."
Captain Eafiq sighed when the comm went dead. He wasn't sure what to do, he had orders sure, but the King and Queen had said nothing about assaulting the station. Eafiq stood up from his desk and turned towards the window in his office. He looked out at the nearly completed ship that sat in the shipyard. These people had come very far in a short time. With the loss of their leader and the Princess incapacitated, life was about to get more interesting for the new comers.
Eafiq was sure that his people were dieing. The home world had become stale and unproductive. Gilas his brother had asked him to come and visit the station weeks ago; one of the reasons he had volunteered for this duty. Now he needed to decide what side he was going to side with.
Eafiq raised his hand and ran it through his thinning hair. He tilted his head, popping his neck as he started to massage the base of his skull. The headache had suddenly struck and it threatened him with severe pain and discomfort. Stress was something he could do with out, the Admiral wasn't helping his stress level. For now he would delay, he wanted to talk to his brother first before making any rash choices.
Gilas walked down to the docking ring where his brother's ship had docked. He had 14 marines as an escort. Jon had warned him before he left to take no chances. It was strange, his brother had been docked almost a week and just now decided to call him. He didn't know what he was up to but he was going to find out.
The fact the Royal Admiral was causing so many problems wasn't lost to him. His brother was knee deep in whatever plans the Admiral had. He hoped his brother wanted to talk to settle some of the disagreements. Gilas wasn't about to take any chances, he had left Captain Anders in charge of Ghost Station incase anything happened.
Gilas stepped up to the 10 marines guarding the entrance to the docking ring, "Summon Captain Eafiq, let him know that his brother is waiting for him at entry port three."
The commander of the marine detachment nodded, "Yes Sir, relaying information."
"Sergeant, I am right to assume no one has entered or left the Braous?"
"As ordered by Admiral Hunter, no one has been allowed entry or exit from the Braous, Sir."
Gilas nodded, "I want you to get another 30 men here. Station them through out this deck at all entry points."
The Sergeant raised an eyebrow, "Are you expecting trouble Sir?"
Gilas glanced back towards the other entry port, "Huh? I always expect trouble, especially when it concerns a Royal Admiral. Excuse me Sergeant."
The sergeant saluted as Gilas moved back towards his guards, "Gilas to Control."
"Control go ahead Sir," Marc's voice answered.
"Captain Anders I want you to station marines at all entry and egress points three decks in either direction of the main entry point for the Braous."
"We expecting company Sir?"
"I have that feeling Captain. Have Flight launch and extra flight to keep an eye on the Braous from the outside."
"Yes Sir, dispatching marines now, I'm also doubling the Admiral guards."
"Thank you Captain."
"Be careful Commander."
"I will, Gilas out."
Gilas turned back to the entry port just in time to see his brother walk through the airlock's outer door. They scanned him once he was through and then allowed him to pass. Gilas watched his brother walk towards him, he was trying to figure out what was going through his brother.
"Brother, how are you?" Eafiq asked.
"I'm fine; to what do I owe this sudden call?" Gilas asked.
Eafiq put a hurt look on his face, "Do I have to have a reason to call on my favorite brother?"
Gilas stared at his brother for a moment. Gilas turned from his brother and to the sergeant of his guards, "Take him into custody."
The marines surrounded Eafiq, "What's the meaning of this?"
Gilas started walking towards the main doors as the marines forced his brother to follow. Something was definitely wrong; his brother would never have answered that way unless he had something he needed to speak about in private. "Gilas to Command, set condition yellow. Have the Hammer and Scythe go to condition red and prepare for company."
The Ge'daes exited their last fold, approached the outer markers for the station, and was contacted immediately.
"Command, this is Admiral Breq give me a situation report," Breq said standing up from his chair.
"Admiral, this is Captain Anders. The station is set to condition yellow, all ship are ordered by Commander Gilas to go to condition red."
"What's the cause of the status change?"
"Unknown, the Commander ordered it and has been in a sealed conference since. He is waiting for you and I'm directed to have you to report as soon as possible."
"I'm on my way, I'll leave the Ge'daes under the command of my second and will be moving to the station via shuttle. I'll have Princess Deatra with me, could you have Andie standing by for my arrival?"
"Roger that Admiral, we await you arrival. Black Squadron will fly escort for you."
Thirty minutes later after seeing Deatra safely in the care of Andie, Breq walked towards the conference room where Gilas was. One thing he noticed was the station had more patrols than usual. Something was definitely brewing and Breq didn't like the smell of it. Breq turned and entered the door to the conference room, his guards taking up positions outside.
Seated at the table was Gilas and his brother, they seemed to be chatting about their family back on Eutharan. Both looked up at the large Invaru when he entered.
"Admiral," Gilas said as he stood up and saluted.
Eafiq surprised Breq when he also stood and saluted. Breq's eyes narrowed at Eafiq as he watched the Captain fidget. "What's going on here Gilas?" Breq asked as he motioned the two men to resume their seats.
Gilas glanced at his brother, "I'm not sure, all I know is my brother asked to see me. Then he used a code we had established a long time ago that let me know he wanted to speak in private. We have been talking of home while awaiting your arrival."
Breq took a seat and stared at Eafiq for a second, "I don't have time to be playing games. I haven't had sleep in over 72 hours. Jon's dead, the Atlantis lost and the Princess is dieing. So please forgive me if I'm short tempered but can we please get on with it?"
Eafiq glance briefly at his brother, "As you know Geenis was sent here to find out the status of Admiral Vors. The King and Queen had grown impatient because there were no reports coming back to them from the station."
"Why are they so interested in this station?" Gilas asked.
Eafiq looked at his brother, "You don't get it do you? This station represents the last hope of the Eutharan people. We have been corralled so long by the Invaru Collective that we have grown stagnant. Our technology hasn't advanced in over 200 years. The population is dieing out, reproduction is down almost 75%. The King and Queen are figureheads, nothing more. Something else controls them everyone knows this. You play along and do as you're asked or you disappear. Things have taken a drastic change since you have been gone Gilas. The Eutharan Empire is falling apart; Princess Deatra and Jon were the last hope. Now that Jon's dead..."
Breq's eyes got a deadly look in them, "How do you know that Jon's dead and what the situation of the Princess is?" Breq said.
"Uh... well that's rather complicated," Eafiq said in sudden discomfort.
"Well, uncomplicated it Captain; right now. Your crew and ship depend on you simplifying the situation," Breq said.
"Well, you haven't been exactly transmitting on secured communication signals. "Geenis has people that have hacked into your communications. You all should really change frequencies and a newer encryption algorithm. Everything you're using is old Eutharan transmission codes. Very simple to break and decode."
"Ghost, visual mode please," Breq said.
Ghost faded into view standing slightly behind the Admiral, "Reporting as ordered."
"I need you to change to new encryption algorithms and change the frequencies. Make them random and transmit the new frequencies top all ADF ships. Use tight beam priority alpha channel."
"Doing it now Admiral. I've been monitoring the conversation here as requested by Commander Gilas."
"Good, continue monitoring all communications in and around the station. Alert me if something is out of place."
"Yes Sir," Ghost said as she faded from view.
"Now you were saying..." Breq said as he turned his attention back to Eafiq.
"It's simple, haven't you been listening?" Eafiq sighed.
"Yes, I've been listening. Geenis and the King and Queen think this station is the key to bringing the Eutharan Empire back from the ashes it wallows in right now."
"Yes, they're going to try to capture the station intact."
Gilas stood up, "Then why the sudden change of heart brother? You're part of this plan aren't you?"
"I have never been a part of this plan. I don't even know all of it only pieces; mainly those dealing with the station right now. As for my sudden change of heart I've never agreed with what they were planning. I volunteered to come here so I could see you and this new ADF. I believe the ADF is our last chance for survival."
Outside of Geenis' room, sounds of a brief struggle caught his attention. Geenis stood up and straightened out his uniform as he walked towards the door. He stood waiting as the door opened and his four guards handed him a rifle.
"Status?" Geenis asked.
"Operations have started; team 3 should be reaching us in less than one minute."
"Good, and the Princess?"
"She's in stasis one deck up from here. Captain Eafiq is missing; his second in command gave the attack orders."
"Hrm... I'll deal with the traitor later. His brother is too strong of an influence on him to be counted on. Order all team to shoot to kill Eafiq on sight. Now, lead the way to where the Princess is. She is our primary concern right now."
"Yes Sir," The marine said.
Led by the four marines, Geenis thought about how the events were going to play out. He didn't become an Admiral because of failing his duty. The only thing that could have made this better is if that Terri woman was here. He wanted to watch her die by his hands. Too bad her time had come before he was allowed his right.
Sound of blasters came from around the corner shaking Geenis from his thoughts as he focused on the situation. He crouched next to his guards as the lead man peered around the corner. Team 3 was pinned down by station marines and taking heavy fire.
The sergeant leading Geenis' men motioned two of them across the hall. One was left back to cover Geenis. Once they were all in position, they caught the station's marines in a crossfire. The firefight was over in seconds. Six station marines lay dead on the deck and one of the other team's members had taken a serious injuries.
They merged and spread out as the medic worked at saving the young man. Geenis decided to leave two men behind to help the medic get the injured man back to their ship. The marines spread out and worked as one battle unit as they moved towards the medical deck. Geenis was already working out the details of what he would do to the Invaru prisoners, it wasn't pretty.
The young ensign sat at her tactical station in Command bored out of her mind. Watching freighters enter and leave was only so exciting. No one to talk to everything was automated. Suddenly alarms went off as the lights in Command dimmed and turned red.
Ghost's voice filled the air, 'Intruder alert decks 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17. Warning hyperspace event forming in alpha sector.'
Marc jumped up from the command chair, "On screen, Security dispatch marines to those decks. Have then secure all access and egress points for those decks."
The large Viewer switched to show the emerging ships.
"My god, it's an entire attack fleet. Bring defense platforms online. Recall the Hammer and Scythe from system patrol, have the Ge'daes hold position inside the inner markers. Get me Admiral Breq and Commander Gilas."
"Sir, I have Sergeant Aradella on the comm, she's asking for you," Comm reported.
"Put her through," Marc said as a 3d image of Ghost Station formed over the planning table.
"Captain," Aradella's voice said. Sounds of a firefight filled the background.
"Go ahead Sergeant," Marc said. The map zoomed into her position and showed her team.
"Sir, their trying to get to medical."
"Huh? Why would they be trying to get to medical and why would you think that?"
"Sir, they have been making a beeline in that direction. As for why, I have no idea. That's why I called you and was letting you know what I think they're doing."
"There's no reason for them to..." Marc's face paled. "Sergeant, I know what they're after. You can not let them get to Medical. Is that understood?"
Sound of intense fighting filled the connection. "Silly to use women to fight where men would be better suited." Geenis' voice filled the comm.
"I'm sorry Capt..." Ardella's hushed voice was drowned out by the sound of a rifle going off.
"Captain, we've lost the connection." Comm reported.
"Damn it, send additional teams to the Medical Ward and get me Captain Hawkins."
Marc watched as the enemy troops moved through the station on the map. The battle for Ghost Station has begun.