Deatra pried into Geenis' mind, forcing her way into it's darkest recesses. She wanted to know what he knew; she had to know for everyone's sake. New life flowed in her when the link with Jon suddenly snapped back in place. When the link reestablished itself in undid all the damage Geenis had done. The anger that flowed through her body manifested itself as a white sparkling mist that leaked from her eyes and dissipated. She was aware of everything going on around her and through the whole station. It was as though she was everywhere and yet nowhere. She could sense her personal guards being held in one of the adjoining Biohazard confinement rooms.
Inside the room the guards felt their cuffs suddenly open and fall from their wrists. Several of them immediately jumped into action searching for a way out the room. The door suddenly slid open. A couple of the guards put their backs to the wall on either side of the door. When no one entered, one of the men poked his head out briefly and took stock of the situation. What he saw caused him to stumble out of the room and stare at his Princess in awe. He stood there staring at something no one in the room could see. The rest of the guards slowly exited the room and were stopped dead in their tracks at the site. Deatra floated a foot from the floor, her hair looks like it was being blown by and upward draft and she glowed in a pale light.
Three of the marines weren't so enraptured by the events going on that they missed the guards exiting the room. They pulled their rifles and took aim just before their weapons shattered into pieces no bigger than a grain of rice which rained down on the floor. One of the stupider marines pulled his hand weapon out and shot at the Princess. The blue blot slowed and then hung in mid air for a second before it disappeared. The sounds of bones breaking filled the room as the man screamed and fell to the floor withering in pain. Every marine in the room immediately dropped their weapons as if they all suddenly turned to snakes.
Deatra's voice filled the room, 'Captain Carex, please collect the guns from these marines and place them all under arrest for High Treason.'
Carex stammered, "Ye... Yes, Your Highness."
The Royal Guards immediately scrambled to get the weapons and collect the remaining men in the room.
'Captain if you would be so kind as to remove everyone from medical I still have some work left and would rather not be disturbed. The invading marines have been given a choice by me, surrender or die; you will find most have agreed to surrender. Collect them and have them detained in the holding cells until Jon can decide what to do with them.'
"Yes your Highness, but I fear you are mistaken Admiral Hunter is dead..."
'No... the link has been restored he is close.'
A smile broke Carex's face to replace the look of astonishment. Geenis' eyes opened as he once again heard of Jon's arrival, the fear on his face clear. Before his eyes closed from a spike of pain Geenis has only one thought, he hoped Deatra killed him before Jon could get a hold of him.
Geenis mind filled with Deatra's voice, 'You should hope Jon gets here quickly my dear Geenis. I will do far worse to you than he ever could and only he can stop me.'
"How will I tell who has agreed to surrender and who will resist?"
'Easy, the ones who will resist are already dead... '
The Atlantis came to a stop just under the Ge'daes, no one seen her on scanners or detected any kind of emissions. Had someone been watching out a window on her approach to the massive ship they might have caught a brief glimpse of her. It would have been more of a slight shifting effect. The new armor was doings it's job in hiding them from detection.
Jon stood next to Atlantis and Ghost as he looked over the positions of the ships on the planning table. He was still trying to figure out what exactly was going on. Had things spiraled out of control this quickly in his absence? He knew the answer even as he asked himself, the King and Queen. That would be solved soon enough, right now he had more pressing matters as he turned his attention back on the stand off.
"Sir I have the station on secure transmission," Comm reported.
"Put then through," Jon said as he turned towards on of the view screens.
Breq's face shortly filled the screen; he had a scowl on his face. It deepened when he saw Jon; he turned and whispered something to someone just off screen. Breq nodded as he turned his attention back to the screen.
Jon spoke first, "Admiral what is your situation?"
Breq's eyes narrowed, "Who are you?"
"Fleet Admiral Jonathan Hunter," Jon replied, he rattled off his clearance codes.
"I very seriously doubt that, you're an imposter. I seen the Atlantis and all hands destroyed. But I'm checking your codes as we speak."
"Did you now? That would be a good trick since I'm here and very much alive."
"Your codes check out, but I'm no convinced. Anyone can steal codes and create an illusion easily enough."
"I don't know how else to prove it to you Admiral..."
"We're in the middle of a conflict right now so if you don't mind, Fleet Admiral."
Jon sighed as the screen when dark, "Comm you get him back on the line, I don't care what it takes."
Breq turned to the three men around him, "What do you think? Is it possible?"
"Possible? Anything's possible, probable maybe but I don't know. It looked like Jon and his codes checked out." Anders said.
"A lot like him, felt like I was looking at a ghost," Gilas said, he was still looking at the screen where Jon's face was displayed.
Breq turned back too look out over the hologram of the current situation. Most of the marines had given up and he had received a report saying that the Princess was safe and Geenis being dealt with by her. He almost felt sorry for the man, almost. He had also learned of Andie's death, he was saddened by the loss and he was sure it would cost them in some way. Geenis had caused a lot of problems and now this new dilemma, fake Jon or not? Then there was the Eutharan fleet left to deal with, could it get any worse? Probably and the way their luck was it would.
"Any location on where that transmission came from?" Breq asked.
"No sir, I can seem to get a fix on it. It's almost like it came from no where. I'm also getting repeated requests for communication from the same frequency," The Comm officer reported.
"Oh?" Breq arched an eyebrow.
"Yes sir, same thing Admiral Hunter requesting to speak with you."
"Ignore it for now until we get some answers."
"Yes sir."
"What if it is Jon? Have you thought about that?" Anders asked.
Breq looked thoughtful, "I hope the hell it is and the Atlantis survived by some freak accident. But you have seen the video records I brought back, any doubt as to if she was destroyed?"
Gilas spoke up, "I don't know, we found no wreckage or life pods. If she was destroyed we should have found something."
"Unless it was some new type of weapon we don't know about. For all we know that Jon could be a Vejaas. We know that race can mimic almost anyone and the only way to know for sure is to test DNA." Breq replied.
"Vejaas?" Anders repeated.
"The Vejaas is a race of doppelgangers that hire their services out to the highest bidder and have been known to shift sides if it better suits them." Gilas explained.
"You think these Vejaas are working with our enemies?"
"It's possible, they're the scum of the universe. The only thing they worry about it furthering their own goals no matter the cost and their goals are usually financial." Breq said.
"It's said their waiting for something, nobody really knows what for sure. They're hard to contact as their nomadic. Moving from planet to planet and mimicking the known races of a planet. Completely secretive and untrustworthy as an ally, the Invaru never used them that I'm aware of." Gilas said.
"But you think the Eutharan would? I mean from what I understand they're basically broke and on their last breath," Anders said as he rewound the recording of the communication.
"Anything is possible," Breq said as he checked over the maps displayed of the station and surrounding space.
"One thing has been bothering as I watched the communication. I just put my finger on it, right here," Anders paused the recording and pointed at the screen.
Gilas and Breq both looked at the screen, but neither seen anything.
"What?" Gilas asked as he peered at the screen.
"Right here," Anders said. He touched a couple of the holographic control and the screen zoomed in.
"I don't..." Breq stopped in mid sentence.
"Atlantis..." Gilas whispered.
"Yes Atlantis and as far as I can tell I'm looking at the bridge of the Atlantis in the background, a few changes and a couple unknown faces..."
Breq leaned back up and waved his hand dismissively, "It could all be a clever deception."
"It could..." Anders drew out the last word, "but to what end? I mean what good would it do?"
"Allow them to gain access to the Station and get onboard with out any trouble," Gilas replied.
"Maybe..." Breq stopped speaking suddenly and fell silent.
Gilas and Anders looked at him in concern. Breq had his eyes closed as though he was concentrating on something. A few seconds later his eyes fluttered open and he grinned at Gilas and Anders. It reminded Anders of a cat who had just had a canary snack and a feather was still hanging out of it's mouth.
"Comm open up that channel and get me the Admiral," Breq ordered. With out missing a beat as though he knew the next question he said one word. "Deatra"
Captain Drig paced the bridge of his ship, waiting on word from the High Command. Somehow he knew that this was an unsanctioned event and if that was the case he would flay the skin off Geenis himself. Drig would stop occasionally and look at on the Ge'daes. Even that far away he felt dwarfed by her size, he also knew a fight with her would me this meager fleets doom. A Titan was no ship to be played around with. He also knew from his scans she carried unknown weaponry.
Drig looked over at his Comm officer, "Any word back yet?"
"No sir, but we should receive a transmission any time now."
Drig resumed his pacing, "Let me know when it comes through."
Just incase what he feared was true he had placed only people he trusted on the bridge and sealed it. He wasn't about to take any chances where Geenis was concerned. That man had too much ambition and just enough brains to make him dangerous.
"Sir, I have an incoming transmission..." Comm reported.
"Put the High Command through," Drig said. He stopped pacing and turned to face one of the view screens.
"Uh... Sir it isn't the High Command."
Drig raised an eyebrow, "Who is it?"
"An Admiral Hunter, it's being broadcast on all frequencies to all ships."
"Isn't this Hunter person supposed to be dead?"
"Yes Sir."
Drig look thoughtful, "Put him through."
Jon's face appeared on the screen before him, "Are all ships receiving?" He asked someone who was off the screen.
"Yes Sir, including ours."
"Good," Jon's face turn so he was looking at the screen. "Captain Drig?"
"Yes this is Captain Drig, Commander of the Eutharan Fleet. I'm sorry if I'm a little skeptical but aren't you supposed to be dead?"
Jon smiled, "Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated."
"I see, can I have a second Admiral?"
"As you wish Captain."
Drig made a motion with his hand to suspend the transmission. As the screen went blank Drig turned to his Comm officer, "Get me a fix on the source of that transmission and let me know when you get a lock."
The Comm officer nodded, "I'm already trying Sir, but it's like a ghost every time I seem to get close it shifts."
"Keep trying and put the Admiral back on."
Jon's face reappeared and he smiled.
Drig began to size this man up, was this the real Admiral Hunter or not? Why was he smiling? "Sorry about that Admiral."
"No problem, but if you're trying to locate the source of this transmission you will have little luck."
Drig didn't miss a beat, "So what can I do for you today?"
"Straight and to the point, I like that in an officer."
"Thank you Admiral, but I really don't have time to be pleasant. If there is nothing I can help you with then I must attend other duties."
Jon's grin spread, "Other duties as in Treason and rebellion?"
Drig started to say something then snapped his mouth closed. If this was the real Admiral Hunter and he said the wrong thing then he could be in a lot of trouble.
"Captain, as your Prince I'm ordering you to stand down your ships and prepare to be boarded. Then you and I will sit down and discuss the recent events that have transpired in my absence."
Drig paled a bit, "Sorry Admiral but I can't do that right now."
"Captain do you know my status?"
Time to sidestep Drig thought, "I know the status of Admiral Hunter, yes. But you can't be him, he died and was lost with all hands on the Atlantis."
Jon sighed, "Captain, I am Jonathan Hunter."
"It wouldn't matter if you were or weren't. My orders came from Geenis and his orders for the King and Queen. The King and Queen's orders override any Princess or Prince in times of war when those orders conflict with each other."
"Times of war? Are your people at war Captain?"
Drig thought very carefully about his next answer, "That would depend on how you look at the current situation." No need to give this person more ammo, especially if he is who he says he is.
Jon looked into the screen and said, "Which situation is that?"
Drig stared at the young man displayed on the screen. This Admiral, or whoever he was, was very cunning for someone so young looking. The Admiral had left it up to him to make the choice, were they here as friends or enemies? Does he know what is going on inside of the Station? Of course, he does, he would be stupid to not know and this man wasn't stupid by any means. Inside Drig beamed with pride, Deatra had chosen a wise man, someone who could breathe life into the Eutharan people. This Admiral had even made peace with the Invaru and Buranis, something no one had done in thousands of years. Sure, he had help from this rumored new enemy that flew crystal ships, but only a strong leader would be able to hold something like this together. Of course all that depended on if this man was who he said he was or not. The more Drig spoke to him the more he believed it. The choice was his friend or enemy.
Deatra pulled out of Geenis' mind, she had what she needed and he was of no use anymore. Geenis crumpled to the floor as he mind freed him. He laid there panting unable to move. Deatra's feet once again touched the floor as she turned to walk away. Thinking he was safe, he reached for his side arm while struggling to sit up. No sooner had the gun left it's holster did every bone in his hands and wrists shattered into a thousand pieces. Geenis howled as the gun tumbled from his lifeless hands.
Deatra stopped in front of the doorway leading out of medical. Andie's body slowly floated up from the ground and moved directly behind her. "Admiral Geenis, I warned you I would do far worse than my bonded would do."
Geenis stared to say something but it was cut short from another loud popping noise as the bones in his feet and ankles shattered. Deatra stepped through the doorway and in tow, when the door shut and ordered Ghosts to lock it down and to allow no one entrance. Once again Geenis' screams tore through the corridors of Ghost Station. Two marines took Andie's body to a secondary medical ward. Deatra started towards CIC, the glow surrounding her intensified.