Chapter 58

Hermes

Upon receiving flash orders Hermes had broken off from her normal patrol schedule and leaped through hyperspace to the area of space that was home to the super gate. Dropping out of hyperspace the cloak was engaged. Elsewhere in the surrounding systems the combined might of the Tauri in the Milky Way patrolled under cloak sniffing out any possible signs of trouble.

Cam Mitchell had always considered himself as someone who believed in his gut. In this instance his gut told him that trouble was coming. The fighter pilot in him sought out the battle he believed was coming. The logical side of him hoped for nothing more than another peaceful day in the neighborhood.

"Helm, set course for the first waypoint at full sub light. Each waypoint gets eight simulators. I want all four waypoints completed within the hour" ordered Mitchell.

The simulators he was speaking of were a new addition. Each of the fire hydrant sized canisters was inert until activated by a subspace message on a very discreet frequency. When activated each simulator powered up its ion powered core. The energy emissions given off simulated the opening of a hyperspace window's energy signature. After exhaustive testing it was found that in seventy percent of tests even the Asgard sensors could be fooled with this device.

Cam really wasn't sure of why he had been ordered to lay these devices in the pattern he was given, but these orders had originated with General O'Neill. Clearly he knew what was going on and Cam knew better than to question the General's logic.

Pluto

Arkos Station was a blizzard of activity on the best of days. Since the arrival of Borealis that level of activity had increased tenfold. To speed the process of repairs Earth's newly built cargo carriers were bringing in untold amounts of raw materials. The construction process as it was set up by the ancients could be performed using raw energy to create the necessary materials. This took time though. The addition of raw materials greatly increased the processes speed.

Aboard Borealis several new additions were being installed. Asgard neutrino Ion generators, subspace capacitors, cloaking capability, and the Asgard computer core were all on the docket. Each pier of the ancient city ship would also be fitted with two batteries of the Asgard beam weapons. Once repaired it was also intended that upon reaching its new home planet Borealis would work in conjunction with a submersible drilling platform much as Atlantis had on Lantea.

Deep within the bowels of the city ship sat Rodney McKay. With repairs progressing at an acceptable clip he had opted to pour through the database aboard to discover what wonders it might hold. To his surprise several things jumped out at him. After he had poured over everything he could find relating to his new discovery he had every intention of passing the knowledge along. Before that could happen Daniel Jackson entered the room.

"Hello Rodney" said Jackson.

"Ah, hey" was Rodney's reply.

"I figured I would find you here" stated Jackson.

"Oh yes, I've just been going over the database and I've found some interesting information so far" hinted McKay.

"Care to share it" asked Jackson.

"Well the Atlantis database was full of some amazing information about almost any subject. Borealis had a different focus so it seems" replied McKay smiling his normal smug smile.

"McKay, will you just tell me what it is already" demanded Jackson.

"I thought you'd never ask! Borealis was home to a much more tightly defined field of studies. Project Arcturus was conceived here, which we later found, and I later had a minor problem with" stated Rodney.

"By minor problem don't you mean destroyed a solar system with" asked Jackson.

"Five sixths but who's counting" countered McKay sheepishly.

"Ok, moving on. So you've found where this project originated" continued Jackson.

"Not only that but with it I've found all of the original data, design schematics, notes, everything! If I had this when we tried making it work I would have pulled it off! Borealis was apparently home to the study of high energy physics and weapons research in their war against the Wraith. Sure we've got a lot of things from before the war, but this is the really good stuff" said an animatedly excited McKay.

"I'm sure the future head of my science team here will make good use of it" grinned Jackson.

"I actually wanted to talk to you about that" said McKay.

"I wanted to talk to you about that also. I thought it best to ask you for a potential list of candidates" stated Jackson.

"Lee is good. Not great mind you but good. I can put together a list in a day or two if you would like" said a suddenly downcast McKay.

"McKay, I know you want to ask for the posting. Not to concede anything to you at all but I came down here to ask what your thoughts would be on joining this expedition" asked Jackson.

"Really? I thought you didn't like me" said a visibly surprised McKay.

"Rodney, you're very good at what you do as much as it pains me to admit that. I can't think of a better qualified person to lead the science department. Also high energy physics isn't exactly my cup of tea" conceded Daniel.

"Then you've got yourself a lead scientist! Hey, wanna go grab a hot dog or something" asked McKay.