Chapter 202

Pegasus Galaxy

As the hull of the Leonidas was shredded by enemy weapons fire, a failsafe system had engaged. Each vessel of the Tauri fleet was equipped with an Emergency Locator Transmitter. Activation occurred if onboard life signs dropped to zero, the hull lost eighty percent integrity, or life support went fully offline for a period of fifteen consecutive minutes. Once exposed to the harsh environment of space, the ELT began transmitting an encoded subspace burst to Tauri and allied fleets. The only grave marker for the destroyed vessel was this burst transmission.

Distress assistance and crew rescue were contingencies the allied fleet had rehearsed many times. On receipt of the burst, the six closest vessels immediately leaped into hyperspace at maximum speed for the coordinates provided by the ELT. In this instance, the nearest vessels to the scene were the Ares, Hermes, Athena, and three O'Neill class vessels. Onboard each vessel, stomachs knotted at what fate may have befallen the Leonidas.

First to arrive on scene, the three Athena class vessels exited hyperspace with shields up and weapons at the ready. A moment later, three O'Neill's arrived and joined their allies. The sight greeting the new arrivals was not one anyone ever wanted to see. Instead of signaling a need for assistance, the ELT had brought them here to witness the deaths of their compatriots. Friends and fellow service members had fallen. Sensors aboard the six vessels peered into the distance to find the threat that had brought such destruction upon the Leonidas.

Once sensors confirmed that no threat was present anywhere in the system, it was also confirmed that no life signs were present in the expanding debris field that had once been a vessel. Nothing recognizable was left of her. Keeping their emotion in check, the Tauri crews focused on what their training told them must happen next. While the Ares beamed aboard the ELT for analysis, the Athena beamed aboard the ZPM floating amongst the wreckage. Such a sensitive item must not be allowed to fall into enemy hands. During this process, Hermes beamed wreckage into one of her hanger bays, along with the hanger bays of the other two Tauri vessels in attendance.

Wreckage and body recovery would take some time. Standing guard in the distance, the three O'Neill's maintained a protective perimeter. ELT aboard, Ares leapt back into hyperspace at maximum speed towards Atlantis. As she sped away, the now nearly destroyed hyper drive engine of Leonidas found its way aboard Hermes. Caged fury and sorrow aside, recovery efforts would continue for several more hours.

Atlantis

Three hours before, the Ares at arrived after a max speed run across the Pegasus Galaxy. Having coordinated with other vessels while in route, Colonel Samantha Carter was standing by when Colonel Sheppard beamed directly into Zelenka's lab with the ELT beside him. As the designer of the original ELT, Carter was the logical choice to review the data it had recorded. In that data stream was internal video from the Leonidas for the hour leading to the attack, damage control readings, and sensor data with weapons performance readings.

Watching the internal video files, those present were witness to a hellish scene. Screaming, terror, panic, and even crewmembers turning on those around them was there for all too see. Absolute bedlam was how Zelenka summed it up. To Sheppard, it reminded him of a few horror movies he had seen on Earth years ago. The more he watched, the more his anger grew.

"I've never seen anything like this before." Sam whispered.

"I have. Once on a planet we encountered a Wraith device that made you hallucinate." Sheppard said through gritted teeth.

"I'll review the mission report. The sensor data shows an anomalous electromagnetic build up. It might be possible to find a way to counteract the effects. Until then, I suggest we have all sh.i.p.s steer well away from this ship." Carter suggested.

"Why didn't the plasma beam shots destroy the attacking ship?" Sheppard demanded.

"Sensor data shows that significant damage was done, but this Hive is far different from any we've come up against in the past. I am seeing a different internal configuration and much higher energy production within the vessel. Quick guess, the beams didn't damage enough critical systems." Carter offered.

"How did the weapons fire make it through the shield?" Sheppard asked.

"The system used looks similar to a culling beam. I hope I am wrong, but I do not think I am. The more powerful the shield, the more effective this device could be. Keep in mind that a shield is just an energized barrier of ionic discharge and excited particles. Let me run a few simulations, and talk this over with McKay on Borealis." Carter replied.

"Do we let this go unanswered?" Zelenka asked quietly.

"Your buddy having too much to drink and peeing on your houseplant goes unanswered. This does not!" Sheppard snarled.

"You have a plan." Zelenka stated.

"I'm working on that. I am tired of sending messages. Now we are going to hit them hard. If we had not wasted so much time kicking the front teeth out of the Genii, we could have had the Wraith gone by now. No, this time we're going to hit them, and keep hitting them until this is over." Sheppard promised threateningly.