Stargate: Discovery (Xandria & Baldur)
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Light =&gt; Light: Human Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: Baldur on 30-11-2010, 05:31:07</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>30-11-2010, 05:31:07</strong>
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				Scott was glad to finally be done with his trip. He had been flying for what seemed like two day straight. He had arrived in the states and then immediately boarded another plane for his final destination in Colorado. And as soon as he had landed and grabbed his bag, he was in a Humvee on his way to the Cheyenne Mountain base. He was actually kind of excited about it. He had always wanted to see the NORAD base he had heard so much about. A base built in a mountain; unreachable by enemy bombs. But more importantly he just wanted to get there, get his gear off and climb into an actual bed.<br><br>The hummer pulled up to a very large metal door and before he could even get out he was approached by an Air Force Sergeant.&nbsp; “Welcome to Cheyenne Mountain Captain Hunter. Follow me please sir; the general would like to brief you.” <br><br>Scott clambered off and followed the man through the vault like doors and into an elevator. Although he was only 34 he was highly decorated; Scott had spent the last five years of his 16 year career in various war zones around the world. He didn’t mind that part so much; he was a Marine Captain after all. And Special Forces at that! That was his job. He was dedicated to his job and he loved it. Unfortunately his wife did not. Ex-wife he reminded himself; she had grown tired of waiting for him to come home to start a family. She sent him the divorce papers less than a year ago and he missed her dearly. She had been the one thing that had remained stable in his life; but not more. She was a civilian, how could she ever understand anyway.<br><br>The elevator stopped and they walked down a hallway and got onto a different elevator. This one moved faster and continued down. They must be hundreds of feet below the surface by now. He had no idea how deep this base went! Finally it stopped and he followed the Sergeant down a hall into the generals’ office.<br><br>He dropped his bags and stood at attention. “Captain Hunter reporting as ordered sir!” The General nodded at him. “At ease Captain; I’m Major General Landry, Commanding Officer of Stargate. You come highly recommended.” The General paused and walked around from behind the desk to stand in front of Scott.<br><br>“I’m sorry to hear about your divorce. But that is one of the reasons you’ve been picked for this mission. You have no children, no wife, your parents are deceased. But most importantly you’re a damn good Marine!” The general stepped back and sat on his desk while Scott just looked at him trying to figure out where he was going. “Thank you sir.” Was all he could think of to say.<br><br>The general smiled and continued. “This mission is quite likely a one way trip. But we need someone of your caliber and experience to get the job done. We are going to send you halfway across the universe to an unknown and uncontrolled starship where you and your team will try to explore and gather technology to help us fight people who are trying to kill us.”<br><br>Scott wasn’t sure what the hell the general was talking about. At first he thought it was a joke but the general wasn’t smiling. “A starship sir?” He said rather meekly. Scott had heard rumors of military spaceships and although it wouldn’t surprise him he still felt it was unlikely.<br><br>“That’s right. A spaceship. On the other side of the universe. We already have a team there but they need reinforcements and we have finally found a way to get more people there. Your team will consist of hand picked military and civilian personnel and you will be bringing the newly assigned mission leader to the ship.” The general paused again and looked at him.<br><br>Scott stood calmly with his hands behind his back. It hadn’t hit him yet. To him it was just another mission briefing. Before he could ask any questions a women walked into the office. She was probably in her sixties but trim, fit and not bad looking at all. The general smiled tightly at her. “Captain Hunter, this is your operations leader. Dr. Janet Heath. Ms. Heath, I’d like to introduce you to Captain Hunter.”<br><br>Scott cringed…he said doctor without a rank… Scott reached for her extended hand and shook it. Her grip was firm and professional. They exchanged brief pleasantries and Scott turned to General Landry. “Did you say Dr. Heath was the operations leader sir?” He tried to hide his surprise but it was evident nonetheless. “I thought this was a military operation sir?” Scott hated working with civilians. Every mission he had been on with civilians had been a cluster fuck from the start. They had no discipline!<br><br>“Yes Captain. Dr. Heath is a civilian and she will be in overall command of this operation.” The general paused. “Will that be a problem Captain?” His tone implied that of course it would not be a problem and Scott should just shut the hell up.<br><br>“Of course not sir.” He lied. “That’s not a problem at all.”<br><br>“Good.” He said with an understanding smile. Then the general turned to Dr. Heath. “Dr. I know it’s late but Captain Hunter is the last to arrive. I’d like to introduce the two of you to the rest of your team.”<br><br><br><br>(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/EricArchives/Films/BlackHawkDown/Behind-The-Scenes/BHD-BTS-005.jpg)<br>Nathanial Scott Hunter<br>Captain, USMC
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				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>30-11-2010, 05:42:12</strong>
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				<br><br>(http://www.thecriticalcondition.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/milla.jpg)<br>Dr. Katherine Randall, PhD<br><br><br>Katherine stood in her dimly lit office, and looked around the tiny shell of a room, impatiently tapping her foot.&nbsp; Because it was several levels below ground there were no windows, and the grey concrete walls were bare except for a few framed diplomas, including her PhD in psychology, and other documents attesting to her primary area of expertise…Group Dynamics in Isolated and Extreme conditions.&nbsp; When she accepted a head research position with NORAD last year at only 32 years old, it was a dream come true, but tonight promised to make or break her career.&nbsp; Trying to calm her nerves, she sat down at her desk and inhaled the steam from her fourth cup of coffee, savouring the bittersweet aroma.&nbsp; Anxious about the meeting taking place in the conference room down the hall, even the simple click of her portable heater switching on, made her jump.&nbsp; Setting down her cup, she stood up again and checked her watch.&nbsp; It was 9:30 pm…anytime now. <br>&nbsp;<br>Pacing the length of her office, she impatiently ran her hands through her hair.&nbsp; Then the sound of shoes marching on the hallway’s concrete floor seemed to be getting closer, and her gaze flew to the door just as Stargate commanding officer, Major General Landry, came striding into her office. His expression was impassive, betraying nothing, causing her to tense even more.&nbsp; He stopped a few feet away from her and clasped his hands behind his back.&nbsp; “Dr. Randall, I have some good news.&nbsp; We have approved your civilian personnel recommendations for the Stargate mission, and let me be the first to congratulate you on your good work.”<br><br><em>Yes!</em>&nbsp; Relieved, she nodded her head and tried to suppress a grin at the pride she felt, and said, “Thank you sir. I am convinced that these people will work very well together.&nbsp; Each one is top notch in their respective fields...highly professional.”<br><br>“Yes well, as you know, I have selected the military contingent with the same goal in mind, and Dr. Heath now has their complete personnel files at her disposal.&nbsp; I would like you to spend the next few hours going over them to familiarize yourself with each member your new team.”<br><br>That stopped her short.&nbsp; “Excuse me sir…my team?&nbsp; I thought that Dr. Heath was elected to head this mission?”<br><br>He just stared at her unblinking and Katherine became wary. Finally he said, “She was and still is, however, the panel has agreed with her recommendation that you accompany and assist her.”<br><br>Katherine was incredulous.&nbsp; “What! Are you serious? I can’t go...”<br><br>“Why not?”&nbsp; His gaze narrowed on her, obviously not impressed by her outburst.&nbsp; “I’ve looked over your file Dr. Randall, and you have no family left alive, save some obscure cousin in Seattle,” he waived his had dismissively, “and you never married, so I don’t understand your objection.&nbsp; This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and if I may offer my advice…don’t even think about turning it down.”&nbsp; He turned on his heel and calmly walked out of her office, while she stood frozen with a stunned expression on her face.<br><br><em>What the hell did he just say? He must be mistaken!</em> It took less than a minute to run to the conference room, where she found Dr. Janet Heath standing over a long table, carefully perusing through several files.&nbsp; She looked up when Katherine rushed in and smiled. “So…I gather the General told you the good news?”<br><br>Katherine frowned. “Good news?&nbsp; So then, he was serious?&nbsp; But why?”<br><br>The older woman was practically beaming and it made her appear much younger than her sixty years. “Kat…I’m sorry I didn’t discuss it with you before, but I didn’t want to get your hopes up.&nbsp; Turns out, I didn’t have anything to worry about…the panel agreed on your placement unanimously.”<br><br>Katherine shook her head and leaned forward, resting her hands on the table. “But I have no relevant field experience!”<br><br>“That may be true, but once we are on board the ship, it will be a controlled environment don't you agree?&nbsp; Not so very different from your lab at all,” she said reassuringly. Allowing Katherine a few moments to absorb that, she grew serious and said, “I chose you because I will need help from someone who can deal with the personnel issues that are bound to arise. The success of this mission depends almost entirely on this group of strangers working well together, and you know more about how to make that happen than I do.” <br><br>She had to concede the woman was right about one thing…putting a small group of people together in an isolated, unpredictable, and possibly permanent, life threatening situation, so far away from anything familiar, was bound cause problems.&nbsp; No matter how intelligent or professional they might be, the challenges they would face were likely to bring out not only the best in everyone, but the worst as well.<br><br>Dr. Heath walked over and put her arm around Katherine’s shoulders. “It also says in your file that you obtained a degree in Cultural Anthropology before switching your focus to psychology, and that it remains a passion of yours.”&nbsp; Her voice became excited. “Just think of it!&nbsp; There are potentially thousands of new species and unique cultures we may encounter, and your knowledge could be a big asset.&nbsp; Imagine all the amazing things we will see and learn as we explore the ultimate new frontier!”<br><br>Katherine was taken aback by the woman’s enthusiasm because she always seemed so quiet and stoic, but the words hit home and her heart started racing with excitement.&nbsp; She vividly recalled the day, a few weeks ago, in the General’s office, when she learned about the existence of the Stargate program, and the new discoveries that made this mission possible.&nbsp; It had been too fantastic to be believed, and it wasn’t until she had gone through all the evidence presented to her, that she realized it was not only true, but incredible beyond her wildest dreams. <br>&nbsp;<br>The truth was, she envied the people who were lucky enough to be part of the program hands on, and her initial shock at the news she was going, was rapidly giving way to elation at having chance to prove herself in a way she never imagined.&nbsp; Besides, as the General had so coldly reminded her, she had no family.&nbsp; She was an only child whose parents had been killed in a car accident when she was 21, and she’d been too busy studying and furthering her career all these years to make many friends let alone get married.&nbsp; No, she sadly had nothing to lose by accepting what promised to be the opportunity of a lifetime.&nbsp; &nbsp; <br><br>Sensing a change in the younger woman’s demeanor, Dr. Heath grinned. “I knew you’d come around to the idea!&nbsp; Now!”&nbsp; She grabbed several folders from the table and handed them over.&nbsp; “Here are the files General Landry mentioned.&nbsp; Captain Scott Hunter is the last to arrive,” she looked at her watch and said, “actually, he should be here soon, and I better be there to greet him.&nbsp; Once the General briefs him, I will introduce him to everyone else.”<br><br>Grabbing his file first, Katherine began reading through it.&nbsp; <em>Impressive!&nbsp; Marine Captain…Special Forces…extensive combat experience</em>.&nbsp; She looked up smiling as Janet headed for the door and said, “Well it seems he’s a perfect fit, and should have no trouble blending in with the others.”<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>02-12-2010, 00:25:12</strong>
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				Scott turned and followed the general and Dr. Heath down a hallway and onto another elevator. General Landry and the doctor seemed to have been fairly well acquainted with each other since they chatted the whole way. The “operations leader” seemed to be particularly excited about yet another civilian “doctor”, this one named Randall, who had agreed to join the team. Finally they arrived at a large conference room filled with a mix of civilian and military personnel.<br><br>General Landry stood at the front of the room and motioned for Scott and Dr. Heath to stand beside him. Then the general introduced Dr. Heath to the group as the overall leader of the operation as he listed off her litany of degrees, certificates and accomplishments. And finally, he introduced Scott as the ranking military commander of the team. Scott sighed inwardly when the only thing the general had to say to describe him was “a highly decorated and experienced combat leader”. But then again, Scott realized, there really wasn’t much else that could be said of his accomplishments other than the fact that he was chosen for this mission for some reason.<br><br>The general spoke briefly about where the team was headed and what he hoped they would accomplish. They were headed to an alien built spaceship that was believed to be located on the other side of the Milky Way galaxy. It was believed that the ship was unoccupied and fully automated. The team was to set up a base of operations and proceed to try and unravel the technology and secrets of said ship. And lastly they were to attempt to link up with another ship named “Destiny” and assist the human crew of that ship who had become stranded aboard it.<br><br>Scott felt he should be more surprised or concerned; after all he had no idea how people wound up on the first spaceship or how he was getting to his. But the truth was that Scott was used to following orders, no matter how crazy they sounded. His job, his whole reason for being, was to accomplish whatever task was given to him. Period. Few questions were ever asked about how he completed his missions and he rarely cared about the politics behind them. He would accomplish this newest mission the same way.<br><br>The only thing that was bothering him was the fact that he only saw twelve military personnel in the room and there were only a few more civilians than military. He was being sent with just one squad of military personnel to accomplish the mission and he would also have to contend with the civilians who inevitably got in the way. Not the best start to what sounded like a very difficult operation.<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>02-12-2010, 22:15:05</strong>
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				<br>Katherine sat at the end of the conference table, idly listening to the chatter going on around her, when a hush descended, causing her to look up as General Landry, Dr. Heath and another uniformed officer entered the conference room and moved to stand together front and centre.&nbsp; Recognizing the second officer as Captain Hunter from the photo in his personnel file, she thought him more attractive in person and noted he definitely had presence.&nbsp; &nbsp;Then, General Landry started speaking and she quickly turned her attention to him.&nbsp; <br>&nbsp;<br>Once he dispensed with the introductions of the two at his side, he briefly outlined the scope and goals of the mission.&nbsp; He was very careful not to draw attention to the slim likelihood of anyone making it back, but it was a palpable truth, and one that was bound to cast a shadow over the proceedings.&nbsp; She carefully watched the reactions from people around her as the General spoke, and saw a mixture of trepidation, excitement, and worry, from everyone...everyone that is except the new Captain.&nbsp; Actually, she didn’t sense anything from him at all, and that was curious because she was usually very good at reading people.&nbsp; <em>Oh well, it’s probably just that military façade all the senior officers manage to pull off so well.</em><br><br>The General offered a few facts and insights, then motioned for Dr. Heath to speak, and she added her own perspective on what had just been said. “Ladies and gentlemen...allow me to congratulate you on being selected to join our elite team of experts.&nbsp; Each one of you brings a wealth of skills and knowledge that will be vital on this mission.&nbsp; As the General just told you, there is currently a crew stranded aboard a craft called “The Destiny”, and while one of our goals is to find and assist them in any way possible, it is more important that we learn as much as we can about our ship’s technology so we can control it and use it to our benefit.&nbsp; Our ability to do this could very well be the Destiny crew’s best chance of getting home.”&nbsp; She paused and smiled. “I know you all must have a million questions,” she held up her hands just as the man sitting next to Katherine began to speak and silenced him, “however, please understand that due to security considerations, there will be no further discussion until we reach our next destination tomorrow.”&nbsp; Turning her gaze on the General she said, “I believe we are leaving first thing at 0800?”&nbsp; He nodded.&nbsp; “Very well,” she said, “we’ll reconvene here tomorrow morning at 0700. Until then I suggest you all try to get some rest, and I promise you will have every opportunity to ask your questions once we arrive at the base. ”<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <br>As soon as she finished, heated discussion ensued among the civilians while the troops remained at attention and quiet, clearly under orders not to say anything.&nbsp; Rising from her chair Katherine walked over to Dr. Heath and said, “I think that went well.&nbsp; People seem to be comfortable with the information so far, and though some seemed impatient for more details, they’ll have more than they know what to do with once we reach Icarus Base.”&nbsp; Turning to Captain Hunter, she smiled. “Allow me to introduce myself…I’m Dr. Katherine Randall.” Extending her hand she said, “Welcome to the team.”<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>04-12-2010, 04:16:34</strong>
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				Scott listened carefully to what Dr. Heath had to say; not that she said much. And when he saw a few hands go up, Scott was relieved to see that he wasn’t the only one with questions; although he knew better than to ask any. Then he heard that they were leaving in less than ten hours! This is not the way he liked to work; there was planning to be done and he knew so little about what he was actually here to do. However, he also realized that there was probably a good reason they were rushing things. He also figured that Dr. Heath had spent quite some time preparing and really it was her show anyway so he kept his worries to himself.<br><br>After she finished talking Scott took a look at his troops. He spotted a few army guys, a couple of air force security guys and several pilots and only two other Marines! Damn the bad luck! He also noted that he was the only officer; everyone else was enlisted. As he mulled over the sorry situation he seemed to be in he watched as one of the civilians approached Dr. Heath. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t noticed her before; she was beautiful. She looked like she should be modeling lingerie in Victoria’s Secret and not half a mile underground with people like him.<br><br>Scott couldn’t take his eyes off of her as she chatted with Dr. Heath, then she suddenly turned to him and introduced herself. So this is the other doctor? Not at all what I expected. He thought to himself as he worked to cover his surprise and silently hoped she hadn’t noticed him staring at her. He smiled politely in return and shook her hand firmly. “Thank you Dr. Randall. It’s nice to meet you.” Scott had a million questions but he didn’t want to let on about how truly lost he was. Instead he just stared at her with a stupid grin on his face and asked the first question he could think of. “So what exactly are you a doctor of?”<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>04-12-2010, 20:18:26</strong>
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				<br>Katherine shook his hand and caught herself staring at the man because though she found him attractive at first glance; when he smiled, he was devastatingly so.&nbsp; <em>An officer and a gentleman?</em>&nbsp; She almost laughed out loud as that thought popped into her head, and while the movie had been a long time favourite of hers, she decided without a doubt that Richard Gere had nothing on this handsome Captain.<br><br>Her smile brightened and she said, “Actually I’m a Psychologist, and my specialty is Group Dynamics.”&nbsp; She nodded her head towards the group behind them. “I was elected to choose the members of the civilian team.&nbsp; They’re quite a diverse group of specialists.&nbsp; We have a doctor of Applied Astrophysics, an Aerospace Engineer and a Field Archaeologist among others.&nbsp; I’ve only just begun familiarizing myself with the military personnel files; though I did manage to read yours, and I must say I found it impressive...you’ve had quite a career Captain Hunter.”<br><br>Dr. Heath interjected. “Dr. Randall, since you still need to finish reviewing those files, why don’t you allow the Captain to accompany you.”&nbsp; She turned to address him. “I’m assuming you’d like to know as much as possible about the troops who will be under your command?&nbsp; At the same time, Dr. Randall can bring you up to speed on what’s been happening and give you more details on our trip tomorrow.”<br><br>Katherine was a bit surprised by that, only because the General and Dr. Heath had been so insistent on releasing minimal information up to this point, but she reasoned that as the senior military officer...no scratch that...as the <em>only</em> officer accompanying them, he should know as much as possible.&nbsp; Still it was puzzling that the task was falling on her.&nbsp; No matter, she wasn’t about to question it and so she replied. “Sure, I’d be happy to.”&nbsp; She smiled again and gestured towards the door. “You’re welcome to join me in my office...it’s just down the hall.”&nbsp; Then, realizing he might be tired from his trip, she added.&nbsp; “Or, if you prefer, we can meet back here tomorrow morning before we leave...say around 0500?” <br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>05-12-2010, 16:34:34</strong>
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				He didn’t even know there was a field of psychology that specialized in group dynamics…but he supposed there were as many specialties as there were people to specialize. As she listed off the various fields of expertise it started to hit him that this mission was really about the scientists. He and his fellow military personnel seemed more and more like glorified security guards.<br><br>When she complimented him on his career she seemed genuine enough but then again, as a psychologist he imagined she’d be pretty good at politics as well. However; her smile brightened and there was an unmistakable sparkle in her eye when she agreed to have him review personnel files with her. Quit analyzing everything and do what you were brought here to do! He scolded himself.<br><br>“No I think I’d rather go over everything tonight. I’ll sleep better if I know a bit more about what our mission.” He turned to Dr. Heath and General Landry and nodded to each in turn. “Dr. Heath, General Landry; if you’ll excuse me.” And at their acknowledgment he turned to the gorgeous doctor. “Lead on Dr. Randall.” He said with a friendly smile.<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>05-12-2010, 19:26:12</strong>
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				Smiling back, she walked into the hallway and led the dashing Captain into her office.&nbsp; Switching on the light, she turned serious, and grabbed several files off the desk, sorted them into two piles and put them back down. Then taking a key from her pocket, she opened a file cabinet and pulled out a thick file folder with “Top Secret” stamped across the front in red ink.&nbsp; Handing it to him she said, “This is an executive summary of the history of the Stargate program as it was given to me several weeks ago.&nbsp; It will explain everything better than I ever could.”<br><br>After giving him several moments to skim through it, she crossed her arms and sympathized with how he must be feeling because she knew how earth shattering it was. “It will take you some time to read all of it I know, but there are more pressing details that aren’t included there.”&nbsp; She took a deep breath. “Please bear with me; I realize none of this will make sense to you yet.” Sighing, she said, “Ok, here goes...shortly after the crew of the Destiny disappeared, a second Stargate was discovered on Icarus Base, where we are being taken tomorrow, and it is believed that it will send us to a second ship, very similar to the Destiny.&nbsp; More important for you to know though is that crew was stranded while evacuating the base during an attack by the Lucian Alliance,” pointing to the file in his hands she said, “details about the Alliance are in there.”&nbsp; <br><br>Watching him carefully for a response, she found none and continued.&nbsp; “If you were wondering why this is a joint military and civilian operation, this is the reason.&nbsp; You and your team will be our only defense against an attack, not to mention any hostile forces we may not even know about yet.&nbsp; Also, nobody else on the team is aware of this, and I have no idea how much the General intends to tell them tomorrow.”<br><br>Sitting down at her desk, she slid one of the personnel folder piles towards him. “We’ll have to take turns going through these, but I am confident the General has chosen your team well.&nbsp; You should also familiarize yourself with the civilian files, but you can do that at your leisure.”&nbsp; She gestured towards an empty chair. “You might as well sit down...I think we’re going to be here awhile.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>06-12-2010, 05:07:10</strong>
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				Scott followed the doctor down the hallway and he couldn’t help but notice that her back side was just as nice as her front. But once they got inside he went into business mode; as nice as she was to look at he had work to do and staring at her wouldn’t get him the answers he needed.<br><br>He started reading the thick file she handed him and after a few minutes he realized that it would take quite some time to put this all together. It just seemed like a movie script and not real life. He listened intently as she described the situation on Icarus base and the Destiny. It seems a military force may be very important. Now all he was trying to figure out is why his team was so small! It sounded like they needed an entire regiment to even have a chance but then again he supposed that since the whole operation and existence of the Stargate Program was secret, a larger force would only invite more questions.<br><br>He shrugged his shoulders and smiled tightly. “Yeah…. This is a lot to take in.” He said as he sat down and opened a new folder and started reading. “Maybe we should get some coffee…”<br><br>There was no time for flirting and small talk, he wasn’t in the mood for either anyway. There was just too much information for him to learn and review. It was way bigger than he had imagined and this mission would require more from him than he had given in a long time. Matt looked over folder after folder, he was only skimming over the basics and yet the hours were ticking by. Finally he could take no more. He was tired and hungry and there was still so much to be done before they left in a few hours. Scott closed the latest folder and sighed, breaking the silence. “I think I’ve got about as much as I’m going to get for now. I would like to get a few hours of sleep before we launch… or whatever.” He said the last part with an uncomfortable laugh. He still wasn’t clear on the getting there part…<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>06-12-2010, 21:12:52</strong>
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				Katherine nodded and stood up.&nbsp; She could clearly see by his body language that he was overwhelmed by it all, and she understood exactly how he felt. “Sure I’ll go grab some coffee; they have it on in the conference room kitchen 24/7.”&nbsp; She returned moments later with two cups, and placed one on the desk in front of him, along with some cream and sugar.&nbsp; Noticing he was thoroughly absorbed with his task, she kept quiet and returned to the seat at her desk, then picked up a folder and began reading while sipping her coffee.<br><br>They poured over the files in companionable silence for what seemed like hours, and every once in awhile she caught herself looking up to study the man sitting across from her, curious about what he was thinking.&nbsp; She’d never met anyone quite like him, and though he seemed friendly enough, she had the distinct impression he was very complex, and likely not easy to get to know.&nbsp; Still, she couldn’t deny she found him wildly attractive, and what woman wouldn’t?&nbsp; Tall, dark, handsome and probably a bit dangerous, he did have a way of commanding attention just by being in a room.&nbsp; She wondered what her female compatriots were going to think! Chuckling to herself, she realized she could wager a very good guess.&nbsp; <br><br>Pushing aside the frivolous thoughts, she was all business again as she refocused her attention on the task at hand.&nbsp; A couple of hours later, she closed the last of her files, and had to admit the General’s choices were brilliant.&nbsp; Each soldier was uniquely skilled, professional and had an impeccable military record.&nbsp; There was no doubt in her mind they would be able to rise to the occasion when needed, and she felt relieved. <br>&nbsp;<br>Now that she finished what she needed to do, fatigue set in, and she checked her watch...only a few hours left before they had to leave.&nbsp; He was the first to break the silence, and she had to smile when he tried to make light of the situation.&nbsp; She clasped her hands together and leaned forward on the desk with an expression of understanding and reassurance. “I know how you feel, but don’t worry...in a couple of days the shock will wear off and I can guarantee you’ll never look at life the same way ever again.”&nbsp; She sighed and leaned back.&nbsp; “I don’t know what tomorrow will bring either, and I’ll admit I’m nervous about it, but at the same time it’s exciting we’re going to the other end of the galaxy don’t you think?” <br>&nbsp;<br>Realizing this wasn’t the time or place for idle chit chat, she decided to remain courteous and professional.&nbsp; Pushing her chair back as she stood up, Katherine extended her hand and said, “Well it was a pleasure meeting you Captain Hunter, and I hope you’re able to get some rest because I think we’re going to need it.&nbsp; We can touch base again tomorrow once we know more, and if ever you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.&nbsp; I look forward to working with you.” <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>07-12-2010, 06:17:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As the doctor sympathized with him in his numbed shock of understanding he wasn’t sure if he felt better because of her skill as a psychologist or the fact that a beautiful girl was talking to him; after a moment he realized it was a probably both. “Yeah, it’s pretty exciting.” He said with a smile. And then in a rare moment of genuine emotion his smile grew as wide as his eyes. “Actually, it’s pretty fuckin’ amazing!” He said as he shook his head from side to side. However; just as quickly as his smile appeared he regained control and stood. “Sorry, apparently sleep deprivation makes me lose control of my language filter.”<br><br>“It was nice meeting you as well Doctor Randall. I’m sure we’ll see plenty of each other in the near future.” He said as he shook her hand warmly. He felt like he had been staring at her again and forced himself to release her hand and head for the door. Pausing as he opened the door he quickly turned around and picked up his files. “I should take these with me, they might come in handy.” He said with a laugh.<br><br>Scott had slept, not much but he had gotten a few hours of sleep at least and that was enough to hold him over for a while anyway. There was little preparation that needed to be done at the Cheyenne Mountain base; apparently everything they would need was at the Icarus base. Scott assembled and briefed his team and was a bit surprised to learn that only one other military subject had never been through a Stargate.<br><br>Once the wormhole stabilized and it was time to step through, he had to admit to himself how scared he actually was. He wanted to be the first to step through. He took pride in his leadership skills and as a leader he would never ask anyone in his command to do anything he himself was unwilling to do. It was part of the “first in, last out” mentality of Marines in general and of a good leader. That and he was anxious to try it; like being first in line for a roller coaster…<br><br>There was only the slightest bit of resistance as he stepped through the blue puddle of the event horizon, a cool breeze of air on his face and in his lungs and then…that was it. He took another step and he was standing on a planet other than the one he was born on. In just a few steps he had moved several hundred light-years across space and onto a whole new planet!<br><br>Scott stared in awe at the strange sky above him as he waited for everyone to arrive. Finally, after everyone came through, they were escorted to a military base that appeared to be mostly underground. There were still a few more meetings and he still had to review the equipment and weapons loadouts before they would get the green light to begin the most amazing mission of any of their lives.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>07-12-2010, 20:24:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				His enthusiasm surprised her, but she couldn’t help grinning at the display of excitement because he articulated her feelings exactly...lack of language filter notwithstanding.&nbsp; His mask of control returned just as quickly, replacing the boyish charm she found utterly intriguing, and so she didn’t say anything. Rather she shook his hand and watched as he grabbed his files and left the office, thinking they would indeed be seeing a lot of each other from now on.&nbsp; She smiled.&nbsp; Taking one last glance around what had been her second home for the past year, she pondered the path she was about to take and switched off the light, heading back to her room to try and get some rest.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br><br>It turned out sleep was impossible, and she woke after only a few hours of tossing and turning, too hyped up to stay in bed any longer.&nbsp; Dressing quickly in jeans, a black sweater and hiking boots, she grabbed the small bag of belongings she was allowed to take, and went to join the others.&nbsp; Everyone was milling about the conference room, the excitement and anticipation was palpable and it wasn’t long before the General and two other officers came to lead them to a room she’d never seen before, with the Stargate looming at the far end of it.&nbsp; Little was said, and she watched as two technicians set the sequence that would open the wormhole.<br><br>As the last chevron clicked into place there was a blinding flash and it opened.&nbsp; Once it stabilized, the event horizon rippled like a pool of shimmering water; it’s brilliant glow filling the room.&nbsp; Her heart began pounding, and she saw Captain Hunter make his way to stand in front, his troops following closely behind.&nbsp; Like a true leader, there was absolutely no fear or hesitation as he stepped through it, and as she watched him disappear, she let out the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.&nbsp; Once the troops were through, it was their turn.&nbsp; Standing beside Dr. Heath, she turned and saw nothing but excitement on the older woman’s face, in sharp contrast to the anxiety she herself felt.&nbsp; The General waived them forward, and she approached slowly, until there was only one step left between the world she knew and what awaited them on the other side.&nbsp; Stamping down her fear, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and stepped forward.&nbsp; <br><br>It was the oddest sensation, like walking through a silken force field of some kind, and as a cold wind brushed past her, she inhaled sharply.&nbsp; Opening her eyes to see what it looked like, she instead found herself on a foreign world, light years away.&nbsp; They had made it to Icarus Base in an instant.&nbsp; Feeling slightly disoriented, there wasn’t time to look around as several soldiers came to escort them deep inside the underground installation.&nbsp; She jumped when Dr. Heath grabbed her hand and said, “That wasn’t so bad was it?&nbsp; Oh Kat isn’t this exciting?&nbsp; Just wait until we get to our ship...I can’t wait to show you everything!”<br><br>There wasn’t time to say more because they were ushered into a briefing room, and instructed to find a seat.&nbsp; The lights dimmed and a giant glass screen flickered to life.&nbsp; Over the next hour, they were given a detailed presentation on everything that had been happening with the Destiny’s crew.&nbsp; When it was over, Katherine sat in stunned silence along with everyone else, and the air felt thick with a sense of foreboding.&nbsp; She had no idea how perilous the situation was, and now felt more than a little apprehension about their own mission.&nbsp; Would they face the same dire, unpredictable circumstances at the outset?&nbsp; Leaning towards Dr. Heath seated at her side, she whispered. “Did you know about all of this?&nbsp; I understood that our ship was fully functional, but now it seems that nobody can possibly know that!”<br><br>Dr. Heath patted Katherine’s hand and whispered back. “I’m under orders not to discuss the particulars, but trust me when I say that it will be ok.&nbsp; We wouldn’t be going if there was any doubt that our ship was operational.”<br><br>Katherine frowned, a million questions forming in her mind screaming for answers.&nbsp; However, when the lights came back on, it appeared the General’s promise yesterday of a question period was not going to materialize.&nbsp; Instead, it seemed Captain Hunter and his team were required elsewhere and Dr. Heath rose to address the remaining group.&nbsp; “Welcome to Icarus Base.”&nbsp; She was beaming. “We will be leaving for our ship in a few hours, just as soon as Captain Hunter receives the clearance.&nbsp; Until then, we’ll spend our time going over some of the technology you’ll soon be dealing with.”&nbsp; She began passing out folders and seemed oblivious to the puzzled and unhappy expressions on the faces of the people still seated, but Katherine’s frown deepened; she was concerned.&nbsp; This was not a good way to start things off...not at all.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>11-12-2010, 04:59:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Scott followed the rest of his team into a separate briefing room. This one was a bit farther down the hall where they had just left the civilians who were also going on this mission with them. At first he felt relieved to be separated from the non-military portion of his group. Finally, they were getting away from the watchful and judgmental eyes of their civilian counterparts. However, his relief quickly changed to worry; if they were all supposed to be working together why were they now being separated…<br><br>Once everyone was seated in this new room a colonel approached the podium at the front. He introduced himself as Colonel Miller, the new commanding officer of the off-world team on the Destiny and soon the Discovery. He would be Scott’s direct military supervisor. The colonel went into detail about a mutiny which had occurred among the crew of the Destiny. The civilians had apparently grown tired of military rule and took matters in their own hands. The problem was eventually solved however difficulties still lingered. The colonel explained that he hoped the new arrangement with civilian oversight would work to keep things under control however he fully expected Scott and his team to do their jobs as soldiers. The colonel also detailed encounters with hostile aliens that the Destiny crew had handled as well as another attack of the Lucian Alliance on the Destiny itself. These were all dangers which the civilians on the team were not being made aware of for various reasons, which sounded pretty much like political bullshit to Scott. And finally; the military personnel were instructed to obey their chain of command which did not include civilian personnel.<br><br>After just over 45 minutes, the rest of the troops were dismissed and told to begin the process of selecting equipment and weapons and to prepare for departure. Colonel Miller pulled Scott aside for what Scott had hoped would be his last meeting; at least until he got to his new home. <br><br>“Captain Hunter,” The colonel started once everyone had left the room. “I know we are asking quite a bit from you especially considering this is your first foray into the Stargate program. There are reasons you were chosen to lead this mission and not the least of them are your stellar accomplishments in your career thus far.” The colonel paused for a long moment almost daring Scott to speak up.<br><br>“You were also chosen because you’re an outsider so to speak. You’re new to the program. The Stargate program has become increasingly controlled by non-military personnel. Shit, we already have the damn IOA trying to run everything as it is and thanks to them, what should have been under the purview of the United States Military is instead under the control of a bunch of UN assholes!” The colonel paused as he took a large plug of chewing tobacco out of his gums and promptly inserted a fresh one.<br><br>“Captain, that damn Doctor Heath has a lot of pull with the IOA. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a smart lady and pretty damn good at her job but she seems to think she runs things around here. Anyway, what I’m getting at is I want you to do your job. Do what the doctor tells you to do but always remember that you’re a Marine and ultimately you answer to the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the President of the United States. And you also answer to me. You have a job to protect all those people…even if you have to protect them from themselves.” The colonel spit out a large amount of poison laced saliva all the while staring hard at his new Captain. “You got that Marine?”<br><br>Scott stared straight at the caricature of the man standing in front of him. He did not like this guy one bit. He was an Air Force Colonel which was the first strike against him but mostly he just seemed like an arrogant prick. But Scott's face didn’t betray his thoughts. He just returned a tight smile, nodded his head and answered: “Understood sir. You can count on me.”<br><br>The colonel smiled back, “I know we can Captain. Good Luck! Oh, and one more thing,” He said with a pregnant pause. “No matter what happens. We cannot allow that ship to fall into the hands of the enemy. You do whatever you have to do to keep that from happening.” And with that he promptly turned and walked away without as much as a handshake. Scott smiled to himself and went to work putting together his own list of essentials. He had plenty to do to keep his mind from going over everything he just heard. That could wait for later.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>11-12-2010, 16:25:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Once everyone had the tech files, there was a period of hushed silence while people tried to read and absorb as much as possible. Katherine flipped through it, but her mind kept drifting to her own tasks that needed to be completed.&nbsp; She signalled for Dr. Heath to come to her side. “I think I should be overseeing the supply chain and ensure nothing gets missed or left behind.” <br>&nbsp;<br>Her gaze fell on Dr. Nicholas Pike, the medical doctor who was also an expert in microbiology and viral mutations.&nbsp; In his early sixties, he had a warm and comforting air about him, like the grandfather everyone wished they had.&nbsp; He was going to be crucial to this mission, and Katherine had picked him based on his research for NASA.&nbsp; In particular, his study on the Reactivation of Latent Viruses in Isolation, which was outstanding, and clearly nobody would be better equipped to help them deal with any new illnesses they would surely encounter.&nbsp; “I think Dr. Pike should come with me,” she said. <br>&nbsp;<br>He heard her request to include him, and nodded enthusiastically.&nbsp; “Yes I’d appreciate that.”<br>&nbsp; <br>Dr. Heath nodded. “Fine, but there is someone I need to introduce both of you to first.”&nbsp; Waiving for them to follow her, they stepped into the hallway and she could see Captain Hunter and his team leaving another briefing room, behind a colonel who looked perpetually pissed off.&nbsp; The older woman stopped in front of him and reached out to shake his hand. “Colonel Miller…nice to see you again.”&nbsp; Gesturing to Katherine and Nicolas she said, “May I introduce Dr. Randall and Dr. Pike.&nbsp; They’re on their way to verify all the civilian supplies are in order and ready to be loaded on board.”<br><br>Katherine shook his hand, but didn’t miss the look of contempt shining in the Colonel’s eyes.&nbsp; He nodded and turned his attention back to the troops, a complete dismissal if she ever saw one.&nbsp; Dr. Heath motioned for them to keep following her, and Dr. Pike leaned into Katherine and whispered. “Did you get a load of that prick, what’s up his ass anyway?”<br><br>She chuckled and whispered back. “I believe he is suffering from cranio-rectal inversion, wouldn’t you agree doctor?”&nbsp; They both started laughing, but stopped when they reached their destination a moment later.<br>&nbsp; <br>Dr. Heath turned to them and said, “Don’t mind the Colonel, he’s a bit rough around the edges, but he’s not in charge of this mission, I am.&nbsp; Though all the military personnel will be ultimately reporting to him, they report to me first, and the IOA will back me up 100%.”&nbsp; Pointing to a uniformed officer standing in the middle of the room with a clipboard she said, “That’s Lieutenant Cooper, and he has all the checklists for you to approve.&nbsp; You’ll have to work fast, I’m sure the Colonel is anxious for us to be on our way, so I doubt you’ll have more than a couple of hours.” <br>&nbsp;<br>An hour later, Katherine let out a frustrated breath and walked over to Dr. Pike.&nbsp; “I thought you requested a backup hematology analyzer but I don’t see it here, and my Actillume monitors aren’t listed either.&nbsp; Other equipment also appears to be missing.”&nbsp; <br><br>She marched over to Lieutenant Cooper. “Excuse me Lieutenant, but we have a problem.&nbsp; Several items are not on these lists, but they were on the requisitions.&nbsp; I know I requested the Actillume myself.”<br><br>“Sorry Ma’am…Actillume?” He looked at her, puzzled.<br><br>She sighed. “Yes monitors that keep track of light and activity so we can monitor the circadian rhythms of the crew,” he was looking at her like she was nuts, “...never mind, they’re like electronic bracelets.”<br><br>He shook his head.&nbsp; “Sorry Ma’am can’t help you.&nbsp; You’ll need to speak to the Colonel about that.”<br><br>Waiving to Dr. Pike, she said, “Apparently I have to find the Colonel to sort this out.&nbsp; Keep going and let me know if anything else is missing.”<br><br>He nodded, “Will do.” <br><br>Katherine made her way into the hall, and tried to get a glimpse of the Colonel, and she found him standing next to Captain Hunter, the two appeared to be discussing something important.&nbsp; “Excuse me Colonel,” she interrupted, “but we have a problem.&nbsp; Some of the items we requested are not here but they’re crucial.”<br><br>“Are you sure they were on your requisitioins Dr. Randall?&nbsp; I’m confident my staff wouldn’t have made an error like that.”&nbsp; She didn’t miss his condescending tone. “What is it you’re missing?”<br><br>Her gaze narrowed and she forced herself to keep her temper in check.&nbsp; Handing him the lists she pointed out the first two items. He barely glanced at it but said, “No problem, I’ll call the medical lab and see to it you get your little monitors.&nbsp; Will that be all?”<br><br>“Yes Colonel that will be all, thank you.” She snapped.&nbsp; Nodding to the Captain politely, she stalked back to the supply bay. <em>What an asshole!&nbsp; Thank God he’s not coming with us!</em><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>13-12-2010, 03:42:57</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Scott headed to the armory but since speaking with the colonel he was feeling very unsure about the whole mission. What kind of goat-screw have I gotten myself into… Now he was in the middle of what seemed to be a political game and if there was one thing he truly hated it was politics.<br><br>It only took a few hours for his troops to gather their weapons and equipment and put it on standby in the gate room. However; they couldn’t leave quite yet as there was some hold up on the scientists end of things. Scott realized it must have been the monitors that the cute doctor mentioned. He chuckled to himself when he remembered the look on her face as she spoke to the colonel. She had no fear and she let the colonel know it! The girl had spunk. That or she just didn’t know any better than to piss off a colonel. Either way it gave him a laugh.<br><br>Scott interrupted the soldiers as they worked to pass the boredom and anxiety and instead sent them to Dr. Heath to help check equipment and pack it up. He had no idea what was taking so long but he figured it was important to make sure they had everything they needed. It’s not like there were going be any stores near by.<br><br>He grabbed one of two Marines that were going with him, a young sergeant named Walters and the two of them headed to where he had seen Dr. Randall working. He was hoping to offer her some assistance but as soon as they stepped into the large warehouse another member of the civilian team was struggling to load a couple of large and heavy boxes onto a forklift. Scott and the sergeant spent the next hour loading and unloading crates of food and ammunition.<br><br>Lunch came and went but everything was so hectic that Scott barely saw Dr. Randall as she seemed to be running this way and that getting things in order. Finally, it seemed that all was ready and they stood in the gateroom preparing to dial the Discovery. Scott lined his troops up and stood up front. The colonel gave the order to dial the gate and Scott turned to his team. “Lock and load!” He yelled just as the first chevron stopped on it’s target.<br><br>The lights dimmed in the room, some kind of power fluctuation but other than that everything seemed to be going smoothly. Finally the last chevron fell into place and the wormhole shot out from the center of the now opened gate. Scott’s heart pounded in his chest as adrenaline shot through his body. He reminded himself it wasn’t his first trip through a stargate but it didn’t help.<br><br>The colonel gave the order and the remote controlled probe drove up the ramp through the now familiar blue puddle. It seemed like everyone in the room was holding their breath and after what seemed like five minutes but was probably far less than that, the remote operator spoke up, “Atmosphere normal, no radiation. Ambient temperature is 30 degrees Fahrenheit and there does appear to be power to the ship. No hostiles in sight.” The colonel barely waited for the man to finish and then yelled, “Captain Scott! You are go!”<br><br>The plan was for Scotts' team to cross the wormhole secure the immediate area as quickly as possible and then signal for the rest of the group. He would have preferred a lot more time but the wormhole could only be kept open for 38 minutes and they only had enough power for this one shot. There were so many supplies that they would be rushing to get everything and everyone through.<br><br>As soon as the word “Go” entered his ears, Scott raised his P-90 into the ready and charged up the ramp and into puddle. In less than an instant he had crossed galaxies and found himself crossing a cold hard floor in a large empty chamber. His team followed closely behind and secured the room like clockwork. He keyed up his radio, “All Clear.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>14-12-2010, 20:11:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The entire gate room crackled with energy and intensity as the wormhole opened up, and Katherine stood transfixed, watching as Captain Hunter took the lead position in front of the Stargate.&nbsp; He was fearless, and his commanding presence gave her confidence a much needed boost.&nbsp; The probe disappeared through the event horizon and she held her breath, releasing it slowly when she heard the operator's voice reporting the conditions aboard were optimal.&nbsp; The air was thick with tension, and the Colonel’s booming voice ordering the troops through made her flinch, but the Captain and his team didn’t hesitate for a second, and her heart raced as she watched them disappear.&nbsp; <br><br>Moments later, Captain Hunter’s voice crackled over the radio signalling the All Clear, and her stomach twisted into knots when the Colonel impatiently waived the rest of the rest of them forward. Standing behind Dr. Heath, she took a steadying breath to calm her frazzled nerves, and stepped into the Stargate.&nbsp; As soon as she was through, the large cavernous chamber loomed empty except for several troops carefully inspecting every corner with guns ready.&nbsp; There wasn’t time to examine her new surroundings more closely because the supply crates started coming through the gate with alarming speed.&nbsp; Knowing they now had just over thirty minutes to collect everything, she grabbed a clip board and started checking off the items already sitting on the cold metallic floor, directing the others to group items together based on their function.<br><br>Once all the supplies were received and accounted for she checked her watch, only two minutes left.&nbsp; A crowd gathered in front of the Stargate, and everyone remained silent as Colonel Miller’s terse voice came over the radio. “Ladies and gentlemen, you are about to embark on an incredible journey, and will no doubt face many challenges, but no matter what happens, you can never lose sight of your objective. I don’t think I have to reiterate the importance of this mission, and I expect each one of you to perform like the professionals that you are.&nbsp; Many lives, and perhaps even the safety of our entire world, hinge on your success, and we here at Stargate command will be monitoring your progress at regular intervals.&nbsp; That’s it...good luck, and Godspeed.”&nbsp; An instant later, the event horizon flickered and disappeared.&nbsp; There was no going back now.<br><br>Feeling uncertain as the reality of her new life came crashing down, Katherine shook it off...there wasn’t time for petty sentiment.&nbsp; She saw Dr. Heath leading Astrophysicist Dr. Michael Tsonis and Aerospace Engineer Dr. Hassan Rahimi away, presumably to find the control interface room.&nbsp; Apparently, it was falling on her to coordinate the others.&nbsp; Sighing, she squared her shoulders, took on an air of authority, and addressed the remaining crew. “OK everyone, I know you must be feeling overwhelmed, but we need to stay focused and get organized as quickly as possible.&nbsp; The supplies have been sorted,” she gestured to the stacks of crates behind her, “and I will now select team leaders, delegating a location to each.&nbsp; These leaders will be given an inventory list and then we can start moving everything accordingly.”&nbsp; <br><br>Walking over to a stack of crates closest to the Stargate she placed her hand on one of them and said, “These contain our new uniforms and personal items, so we can leave them here for the time being.&nbsp; Once all the other equipment is moved and unpacked, we will regroup back here to distribute these provisions and designate the crew quarters.”<br><br>Pointing her pen towards the young botanist Dr. Carole Davis, she said, “Dr. Davis, I’m putting you in charge of the Hydroponics Lab.”&nbsp; Next she pointed to linguist Dr. Lisa Ning, “Dr. Ning, you can accompany Dr. Davis, and see about finding the garden.&nbsp; We might as well get that going as soon as possible.”&nbsp; Looking to Dr. Pike she said, “Dr. Pike, I’ll accompany you.&nbsp; We’ll start in the infirmary then move to the Research lab.”&nbsp; Tearing off several sheets from her clipboard, she began passing them out to the various team leaders. “The rest of you, please team up with one of the leaders and help them in any way you can. If you have any questions, you know where to find me.”<br>&nbsp; &nbsp;<br>Her gaze fell on Captain Hunter and she smiled recalling the amused look in his eyes during her altercation with Colonel Miller earlier, but now he looked deadly serious and every bit the fearsome marine his military record implied, causing her expression to change back to cool and professional.&nbsp; Still, so far she quite liked him, even though there was no doubt in her mind that he would be a formidable adversary.&nbsp; Thankfully, they seemed to be on friendly terms, so it was unlikely she'd ever have to tangle with him, and she reasoned that was a very good thing indeed! “Captain, I assume you’ll want to take care of the weapons and tactical equipment?&nbsp; I’ll leave you to coordinate your troops, but perhaps some of them can be assigned to help us move the rest of the supplies once that’s finished?&nbsp; Also," she offered the last inventory list to him, "can some of your team take charge of the food supplies and organize the mess hall?”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>18-12-2010, 05:57:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Boxes flew through the puddle on this side of the galaxy and began to pile up in front of the gate. Scott felt like he should order some of his troops to gather up the gear but he knew there were plenty of civilians who could do that. And right now his job and the job of his team was to secure the area surrounding the gate room. Dr. Heath had already walked off without an escort and he had sent two of his team after her as soon as he saw her disappear through the door.<br><br>All indications were that the ship was unoccupied but since they weren’t sure, Scott felt he had no other choice then to search it. He started delegating two man teams to search the immediate area. Scott paused in giving his orders as he watched Dr. Randall work. He was impressed. She seemed to be a natural leader and he doubted she even knew of that particular talent. Within a very short period of time she had arranged for boxes to be sorted, counted and moved. And she continued to send people on errands like a…well like a seasoned Captain.<br><br>He suddenly realized he had been staring at her again when she turned and approached him. Her face appeared stern and he thought she might be angry at him for staring at her but then she spoke up to tell him the real reason she had approached him. She was giving him orders! It was bad enough that he was going to be taking orders from one civilian but now he started to worry that every civilian might start to think they could order his troops around. That is something he would not stand for. There would be a very definite chain of command, even among the civilians…there had to be.<br><br>Scott formed a retort in his head, something about how he wasn’t going to let his warriors be ordered to and fro like dogs! But he quickly calmed himself; after all, there was a lot to be done in a very short time and his people needed to work at least as hard as the civilians; even harder. He smiled tightly at her, smiling more at her pretty face than her petty orders. “No problem. I’ll get my people on that right away; as soon as we finish securing the immediate area.” He said, in a tone of voice that only a psychologist would recognize as patronizing. He lowered rifle slowly and grabbed the clip board with his free hand.<br><br>When she finally turned to go back to her work his eyes lingered a little too long on her backside as his smile softened; she was definitely easy on the eyes. Scott quickly forced himself back to the serious task at hand. He sent one small patrol off in one direction and he led a second patrol in another. He hadn’t intended to search the whole ship as the ship was far too large for an undertaking of that sort; instead he had only wanted to clear the hallways and rooms which were immediately adjacent to the one they arrived in. Even this task took far longer than he had planned as each hallway led to a new hallway or a suite of rooms.<br><br>Finally however, Scott had to call a stop to the security check; there was just too much area to search. He recalled his team back to the gate room and went to work on the boxes which had been left behind. He ordered four of his team to stay at the ready while he and the rest of the team moved the boxes and bags of food supplies to the mess hall. The weapons and ammo would have to wait until they could find a secure area to store them and that would have to wait until they were able to finish searching the ship…and that would have to wait till…. Damn! There was so much work to be done!<br><br>Once all but the military gear was moved into the chow hall he headed to the makeshift control room, there he found Dr. Heath and several other civilians as well as the cute Dr. Randall, going over room arrangements and a million other problems. Scott walked in calmly and stood quietly until he was addressed. It was moments like this he was glad someone else was in charge.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>18-12-2010, 23:37:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As Katherine stood there holding out the clipboard to Captain Hunter, she once again caught herself staring and thinking how captivating he was, but when he spoke, she bristled at the tone of his voice. <em>Is he patronizing me?</em>&nbsp; Narrowing her gaze, her temper flared as she watched him slowly lower his weapon to illustrate his point, and snatch the list away from her.&nbsp; Tamping down the urge to tell him in colourful terms exactly what he could do with his attitude, she saw that despite his obvious disdain, he intended to do what she asked, so she flashed him a triumphant smirk instead and walked away. <br><br>Halfway back to her stack of supplies, she admitted that she probably overreacted and resolved to make an extra effort to remain calm and tolerant...even if the handsome man in question was being completely unreasonable!&nbsp; When she reached Dr. Pike, he was already pushing the dolly of crates towards the exit but she saw two soldiers coming up behind them and held out her hand to stop him. “No, wait...” she pointed behind her, “We need to let them go first.&nbsp; They haven’t had time to check all the areas yet, and I’d rather not step on any more toes today.”&nbsp; As soon as she said that, she felt a shuddering vibration, radiate through the ship’s floor, and knew it had to be the FTL engine powering up.&nbsp; It wouldn’t be long now until they were on their way. <br><br>Moving cautiously through the large, alien passageways, they followed behind the soldiers who had their guns drawn; their alert posture and swift movements making Katherine tense to the point she found herself checking around nervously.&nbsp; Then, as they passed one of the larger rooms, she caught a glimpse of small viewing window, and paused, sucking in her breath.&nbsp; They were moving!&nbsp; Bright fluorescent lights in shades of predominately green and blue rippled past in a blaze of colour, and knowing they were racing through the universe at faster than the speed of light was almost too much to take in.&nbsp; All four of them paused to take a look and after several minutes, one of the soldiers gestured impatiently to keep moving, and Katherine made a mental note to seek out the observation deck sooner rather than later.&nbsp; <br><br>Finally they reached the infirmary without incident, and she was able to relax somewhat.&nbsp; For the next few hours, she helped unpack and organize all the medical supplies and testing equipment before excusing herself. “Well I think that’s just about everything.&nbsp; If you don’t mind, I’ll leave you to finish up and go start on the research lab.”<br><br>“Sure, I can take it from here. Thanks for your help and if you need anything just let me know.”<br><br>Nodding, she checked her watch and decided there wasn’t time to visit the lab after all. Sighing she grabbed her clipboard and said, “Well it looks like the lab will have to wait.&nbsp; This took longer than I thought, and I need to get back and finish helping everyone get settled.&nbsp; Don’t worry about coming with me; I’ll have someone bring your room assignment and supplies later.” <br>&nbsp;<br>Making her way back to the Gate Room, she heard Dr. Heath’s voice coming from somewhere down an adjacent corridor.&nbsp; Curious, she changed direction and entered what had to be the control interface room where she saw the three experts crowded around a console, looking at a holographic image of a swirling galaxy hovering in the air.&nbsp; The older woman looked up and waived her over. “Oh there you are Kat.&nbsp; I trust everything is going smoothly?”&nbsp; <br><br>Tearing her gaze away from the fascinating image she said, “Yes, there is still a lot to do, but it seems to be going quite well.&nbsp; No hiccups so far which is better than I expected.” <br><br>“Excellent!” She beamed. “I’m happy to report that just as we thought, the ship is fully operational, and thanks to the data from Destiny, we’ve had no trouble figuring out the controls so far.&nbsp; The two ships appear identical, which is most fortunate.”<br><br>Katherine asked, “What about the power reserves?&nbsp; Is there anything that indicates we might have problems?<br><br>Dr. Heath smiled reassuringly. “No, the reserves are more than adequate.&nbsp; So far, everything is going exactly as planned, and we should expect to arrive at our first destination shortly.”<br>&nbsp;<br>Katherine wondered how the woman could be so certain of that, when suddenly, several civilians came rushing in, stopping to marvel at the sophisticated room, before launching into a discussion.&nbsp; It seemed the biggest concerns on everyone’s agenda were how to divvy up the research lab, what equipment could be shared and how they would organize themselves into teams once the ship made it’s first, and highly anticipated stop on a new world.&nbsp; Katherine shook her head and refocused her attention on work, feeling more than a little overwhelmed as she went over her checklist.&nbsp; Confident she had the crew quarters organized, that left passing out the provisions, finding the communications lab, figuring out the technology to contact Icarus Base, deciding how to assign stations, responsibilities and shifts to each group member, and then somehow in between all of that, find the time to set up her own equipment and research! <br>&nbsp;<br>Wondering how it would all get done, she felt rather than saw Captain Hunter enter the room, and when she looked up, there he was standing silent, and watching the proceedings with what appeared to be interest or amusement, she couldn’t be sure.&nbsp; Deciding smooth things over, she walked over to stand beside him and smiled warmly. “Well it seems we’re already on our way, and I hope you’ve had better luck making progress than I have.&nbsp; Dr. Heath also seems convinced that we will be arriving at our first destination soon.”&nbsp; Pausing for a moment, she said, “By the way, I never did thank you for agreeing to help me earlier, but I do appreciate it.” Watching for a reaction, she realized she was staring at the attractive Captain again a little too intently, and chastised herself, forcing her gaze back to the task at hand.&nbsp; <br>&nbsp;<br>Showing him the clipboard again, she flipped to the third page and pointed. “Ok, here is a list of the crew quarters and who they are assigned to.&nbsp; I took the liberty of giving you and Dr. Heath the largest suites because of rank and also because I assumed you’ll both need some kind of private workspace as well.”&nbsp; Turning to the last page, she looked up at him with a hopeful expression. “This is what’s left to do, and I need to come up with a better strategy, especially with respect to crew assignments.&nbsp; Since you have so much experience, I’m hoping you can assist me, and of course if you need help with anything, I’ll be happy to do what I can.”&nbsp; Pointing to the others she said, “Tomorrow morning we will get a progress report from the scientists, then perhaps you can spare a few moments and meet up with me to go over what we need to do in more detail?”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>20-12-2010, 04:51:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Scott could hear the various conversations, questions and complaints but he wasn’t really listening to them. He was afraid if he invested any real though into the problems he would start to work on them, and that wasn’t his job this time. The more he thought about it the more he kind of liked not being the head honcho of this trip. Although he was sure there would be time for taking charge and getting things done.<br><br>He immediately noticed Dr. Randall’s approach and most importantly her delightful smile. He smiled back and made sure to give her his undivided attention. When she mentioned arriving at a new destination his eyes lit up in minor surprise. “Already?! We just got here!” He said with a chuckle.<br><br>She was thanking him for his ‘help’. Ahhhhh…. she was the peacekeeper after all! He wasn’t sure but he thought he saw a bit of a flirty twinkle in her eye when she spoke to him.&nbsp; “No problem at all. And I will try to be a little more polite next time.” He said with a look that indicated he was being honest. “I’m sure we’re all a bit on edge.”<br><br>His smile grew wide when she told him of his big room. He truly didn’t care. It’s not that he didn’t want a big room, he just didn’t really NEED a big room; and he surely hadn’t expected deference from civilians. And then she did another unexpected thing and asked him for his help. “Absolutely, we can go over the details tomorrow when we know a little bit more about our situation here. And we should be done with our safety sweeps by then.” He said, more to explain why he wasn’t available to help right at this moment than any other reason. “I know we won’t be able to secure every nook and cranny on this ship but I would be remiss in my duties if I didn’t at least make sure the immediate area was safe.” He paused and looked at her perhaps a bit too long. “Tomorrow morning then; I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.” He added with a mischievous grin.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>20-12-2010, 22:38:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Pleasantly surprised by his willingness to smooth things over and his good humour, Katherine noted once again how quickly he transformed from serious and controlled to irresistibly charming.&nbsp; <em>Well, perhaps he’s not as formidable as I thought after all!</em>&nbsp; Her smile brightened considerably, and when he agreed to help her, she was pleased; everything would be so much easier if they worked together.&nbsp; Not to mention that he had all too easily managed to make her lose her temper when they clashed earlier, something that didn't sit well considering she usually had no trouble keeping her emotions under control. <br>&nbsp;<br>When he finished talking about his remaining duties, she noticed he was staring at her and smiled curiously, tipping her chin to meet his lingering gaze with one of her own. “No, I understand, tomorrow is fine.” She replied.&nbsp; “I didn’t realize how much time it would take for you and your troops to secure the ship, and I have to say that I think you’ve done an admirable job so far.” She added with sincerity.&nbsp; A moment later, she forced herself to look away towards the others. “Well, I better get back to work if I want to get any sleep tonight.”&nbsp; Then, upon hearing his offer to meet her in the morning, she looked up at him and grinned.&nbsp; “Coffee sounds great…I’ll meet you in the mess hall around 0800.” Turning to leave, she resisted the urge to glance over her shoulder, and headed down the corridor wondering how quickly she could finish up for the day, and…if she were being honest with herself, feeling more than a little thrilled by the way he looked at her when he promised to buy the coffee.<br><br>She awoke late the next morning feeling slightly disoriented until she remembered where she was, and then saw it was almost 7:30! Jumping up, she hurriedly changed in her new uniform.&nbsp; It was snug, though still allowing full freedom of movement, and she decided it would take a while to get used to wearing it.&nbsp; A few minutes later, she was ready, and after grabbing some files, set off to meet with Captain Hunter, a bit surprised to realize how much she looked forward to it.<br>&nbsp;<br>It wasn't quite 8:00 when she arrived, but he was already seated at one of the tables, and she thought he looked exceptionally striking in his new uniform.&nbsp; Walking over to join him, she smiled cheerfully, and sat down.&nbsp; “Good morning.&nbsp; I hope you slept well your first night on board?”&nbsp; Placing the files on the table she added, “By the way, I do have some reports from the scientists with me, but I have to admit I haven’t read them yet.&nbsp; Really though, my first concern is which tasks and responsibilities to assign everyone, including your troops.”&nbsp; <br><br>Glancing around the large room, she noticed they were alone, and surmised the others were already back to work, but...she didn’t see any evidence of coffee.&nbsp; Returning her attention to Captain Hunter, and feeling suddenly uncharacteristically flirtatious, she crossed her arms and chided him with a playful smile. “Hmmm...If I’m not mistaken Captain, you promised me a cup of coffee.”&nbsp; Then, her lips twitched with amusement, and she slowly leaned across the table, looking into his eyes with an expression of feigned seriousness.&nbsp; “You know…it’s never wise to tease a woman with something as important as her morning caffeine fix.”&nbsp; &nbsp;<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>22-12-2010, 20:13:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She was smiling at him as they sat and chatted in the chow hall and then the gorgeous Dr. leaned across the table and kissed him; she nibbled gently on his lips as her tongue probed deeper into his mouth. Scott’s heart pounded as his cock hardened with every touch. Katherine stood slowly, unbuttoned her shirt and dropped it on the floor at his feet. She smiled with lust in her eyes as she pulled off her bra to reveal gorgeous, perfect breasts. Scott stood up and leaned in for another kiss and his hands reached up to caress her naked flesh.<br><br>The beeping of his watch interrupted his wonderful dream and Scott quickly silenced it and sat up. “Shit it’s early.” He said as he jumped out of bed and shook the cobwebs loose. It was only 0520 but Scott was not one to ever arrive late for anything and he had to relieve the other two guards at 0600. Scott had decided to have two soldiers on guard duty in two hour shifts. At least until he was a little surer of their security situation. It also served to keep the troops polished and sharp. He had arranged to work his guard duty with Sgt. Walters; he liked the guy and they seemed to have quite a bit in common not to mention that he too was a Marine.<br><br>The two hours passed quickly as the two Marines swapped tall tales but they also had plenty of work to discuss as well. Finally Walters seemed to grow more serious, “So Captain; do you think they’ll send us some more people? It seems like a pretty damn big task for such a small group. And with so few troops I feel like we’ve been kinda left hanging.”<br><br>Scott furrowed his brow in thought for a moment. He did have to admit that everything had seemed rushed from the start. Less than a month ago he was told he was transferring back to the states for a special assignment. And now here he was, on a spaceship in another galaxy with almost no idea what the hell he was really supposed to be doing. But his job was to help reassure the people in his command, not stir them up. “Well, I’m sure they are well aware of our situation and have contingencies in place. I’m guessing, that for reasons they won’t reveal to peons like us, that the head honchos needed to get a team to this ship as quickly as possible. It’s been my experience lately that every time we have to bust our asses to get somewhere quickly…there is a political rather than a tactical reason for it.” He shrugged his shoulders and smiled sarcastically. “I wouldn’t be too worried about it.”<br><br>Sergeant Walters chuckled and nodded his head. “I suppose. But there was a lot of talk before they brought you on board. I think they’ve known about this ship for almost a year now and I understand getting here takes time but…I don’t know. I mean, the Alliance has never been a real threat to earth and we’ve whipped the Goa’uld, the Wraith and the damn Ori priests. What the hells the big hurry!” The Sergeant paused and shook his head. “I’m sorry sir; I’ve just got a bad feeling about this whole mess.” They stood quietly for a few moments and then Walters looked at his watch. “You’d better go; you don’t want to be late for your date with the pretty doctor.” He said with a grin. “Like I said, it’s a meeting. Not a date!” Scott retorted and then glancing at his own watch he added, “Just the same, I definitely don’t want to be late.” He said as he hurried off to the chow hall.<br><br>Scott watched as Dr. Randall walked into the chow hall and took a seat across from him. Her tight fitting uniform served to accentuate her curves and he found himself staring again trying to picture the shapes hidden underneath. “Good morning. I slept well enough I suppose.” He said, a sly smiling crossing his face as he remembered his dream. If only he’d had another hour of sleep…<br><br>Scott reached for the files thinking to distract his mind and get to work on the business at hand but before he could open the various folders, Dr. Randall asked him about the coffee. She seemed to be flirting with him. And when she mentioned him ‘teasing’ her with coffee he realized there was no mistake; she was definitely being more than friendly. Scott released the paperwork and smiled back calmly. “I assure you doctor, I would never tease a woman about anything, especially coffee.” He leaned a little closer and gave an exasperated look. “However; it seems that one of our most important supplies has been misplaced. You’ll have to take an IOU on the coffee for now.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>23-12-2010, 16:15:18</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				With an enigmatic smile, Katherine arched a brow and said, “Misplaced is it?&nbsp; Well then, I’ll have to see what I can do to remedy that.”&nbsp; Leaning back to widen the gap between them once again, she gave herself a mental shake and decided that was enough crossing of professional boundaries with the captivating Captain for one day. Turning serious, she tried to focus on the reason she was there by picking up one of the files and skimming through it.&nbsp; “Oh, this is good news.&nbsp; It seems the hydroponics lab is already set up and the garden is in good condition.&nbsp; So, it shouldn’t be long before we have things well under way on that score.” <br><br>Regarding him thoughtfully she said, “In general, I think it will be important to have a rotating schedule where everyone participates in taking care of the mundane tasks, or actually, any task that lends itself to collaboration.&nbsp; It will help alleviate boredom at the very least.”&nbsp; She paused briefly then asked, “So how is your team shaping up?&nbsp; Is there anything of particular concern to you or them?”&nbsp; A few moments later, a soldier she recognized as Sgt. Walters rushed in and nodded to Captain Hunter. “Sir, sorry to interrupt, but Dr. Heath is looking for you and says it’s urgent…I think they’ve found the bridge.&nbsp; She’s in the control room.&nbsp; Also, the medical doc wants Dr. Randall to meet him in the infirmary.”<br><br>Katherine sighed, looked at the Captain and shrugged. “I suppose we better not keep them waiting.&nbsp; &nbsp;Perhaps we can finish our discussion another time?”&nbsp; Standing up, she nodded politely to both men and went to find Dr. Pike.<br><br>Several hours later, she finally finished helping calibrate all the medical equipment and wanted nothing more than to get back to her room and change out of the uniform.&nbsp; Reaching up to rub the back of her neck, she tilted her head and watched the fatherly doctor put away the last of his tools.&nbsp; Then he turned to her and asked, “So, what do you think so far?&nbsp; How is this rag tag crew of wayward scientists doing anyway?” He grinned.<br><br>She laughed. “I haven’t heard any complaints so I’ll take that as proof all is well.&nbsp; However, I can’t help feeling that Dr. Heath knows more than she should or is letting on.”<br><br>He shook his head. “Ah I bet your just imagining things.&nbsp; She is probably just very good at what she does, and I can’t believe the powers at be would have put her in charge if they didn’t have complete confidence in her.”<br><br>“You’re probably right, and I’m sure I’ll feel better once I have a chance to touch base with her and find out more.”&nbsp; She replied and then he asked another question.&nbsp; “And how are you getting along with the Captain?” He chuckled.&nbsp; <br><br>Her eyes narrowed, and she looked at him curiously.&nbsp; “That’s a strange question from someone who’s been holed up in here since we arrived.” She teased.&nbsp; <br><br>Coughing he said, “I happened to see the two of you yesterday when I went to grab something from the Gate room, and...well…it looked rather heated.”<br><br>Katherine laughed.&nbsp; “Yes well, after a minor hiccup due to everyone being on edge, its fine.”&nbsp; Looking towards the door, she changed the subject.&nbsp; “Well, I’m dying to get out of this suit and maybe grab a shower if I’m lucky.”&nbsp; She waived while walking out.&nbsp; “See you tomorrow doc.”<br><br>Back in her room, she grabbed a change of clothes and set off to find the showers.&nbsp; Along the way, she saw one of the female soldiers, and thought her name was Peters.&nbsp; After getting the woman’s attention, she held out her hand.&nbsp; “Hi, I’m Dr. Randall.&nbsp; &nbsp;You’re Lieutenant Tara Peters right?”&nbsp; The woman nodded and shook her hand, and Katherine smiled. “Well, would you mind terribly if I asked you to stand watch for five minutes while I have a shower?&nbsp; I promise to return the favour whenever you need it.”&nbsp; &nbsp; <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>Lt. Peters nodded and said, “Sure, no problem.”<br><br>Seeing how open the room was, she hastily shed her uniform, and stepped into the shower with some trepidation.&nbsp; Closing her eyes, she held her breath, and then became pleasantly surprised when a warm mist lightly sprayed across her bare skin.&nbsp; Though not as invigorating as she hoped, there was luxuriousness about it, and she leaned her head back while gently massaging her tired shoulder muscles. Completely relaxed, and feeling deliciously dreamy, her thoughts drifted peacefully until they shifted to a vision of the sexy Captain Hunter.&nbsp; He came up behind her and grasped her about the waist, twisting her around in one swift movement until she faced him, locked in his powerful embrace.&nbsp; His heated gaze held her mesmerized as desire spread through her like wildfire, and when he lifted her up so her breasts raked across the rough fabric of his uniform, she wrapped her legs around his hips, and clutched his face between her hands to kiss him with a hunger she didn’t know she possessed.&nbsp; Breathless and staring into his eyes, she drew his lower lip between her teeth, and released it slowly…sensually, then gasped as he pushed her back against the wall and pressed her arms up against it.&nbsp; Holding her wrists as he trailed hot, seductive kisses down her neck, he gently grazed her skin with his teeth and nibbled her shoulder, sending electric shocks of pleasure rippling through her body until she trembled, thrusting her hips forward to press her throbbing core against the rock hard bulge straining against his pants.&nbsp; Shaken by the intensity of the image, her eyes flew open and she quickly stumbled out of the shower, dried herself off and threw on the black tank top and jeans she brought with her, almost forgetting to collect her things before leaving.&nbsp; &nbsp; <br><br>With a hurried thank you to Lt. Peters, she walked to the lab, finally feeling the effects of her daydream wearing off.&nbsp; Sitting down at the desk, she chuckled to herself.&nbsp; <em>Well that was interesting!</em> She had to admit that the Captain affected her more than anyone else had in a very long time.&nbsp; In one day, he’d managed to infuriate and charm the hell out of her, and she would have to be careful; a physical attraction was a complication she simply didn’t need.&nbsp; Not wanting to dwell on it, she looked around, and her gaze settled on a couple of unopened boxes, so she stood up and went to work, feeling more in control than she had moments ago.&nbsp; Hopefully later she’d have a chance to spend some time with Dr. Heath, to learn a bit more about the ship, and where they might be heading.&nbsp; Then thinking she might just catch her if she left now, she scooped up her belongings and rushed back to her room, but once in the corridor she almost ran smack into Captain Hunter.&nbsp; <em>Shit.</em>&nbsp; Her memory of the shower was still too vivid, and she laughed nervously.&nbsp; “Oops…sorry.&nbsp; Guess I wasn’t watching where I was going.” Keeping her expression neutral she asked, “Do you by chance know where I can find Dr. Heath?&nbsp; I haven’t checked in with her yet and I probably should.”<br><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>27-12-2010, 06:00:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Their casual flirtation took an unexpected turn when Dr. Randall suddenly switched gears back to the boring topic of work. For a moment he thought he had somehow turned her off but quickly figured it was much more likely that she realized, as he did, that there was actual work to be done. They weren’t sitting in a bar in Miami after all…<br><br>He nodded his head as she mentioned the garden and although he wasn’t exactly sure how he felt about his armed soldiers taking on mundane tasks that were probably better left to the civilians, he smiled and agreed with her again. At least for the time being.<br><br>“I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t really had a chance to get to know too many of ‘em yet. But so far they seem competent and far more accustomed to the craziness of our situation than I am.” He said with a grin. Then Scott turned to regard Sgt. Walters as he told them of their opposite destinations.<br><br>“I guess we will finish this meeting another time?” He said as he stood quickly. Before he left he turned and smiled at Dr. Randall. “Doc; I’ll keep my eyes out for that coffee.” He said with a wink.<br><br>Scott followed Walters into the control room and Dr. Heath quickly brought him up to speed. The ship had a bridge, a main control room. They were working on getting a bit more control of the ships systems but it would take time. Dr. Heath wanted Scott to familiarize himself with the ships weapon systems and shields as best he could. This took several hours as Scott had never operated anything bigger than a crew served weapon before. However, he learned as quickly as he could.<br><br>He had finally decided to take a break and grab some food when he was summoned back into the main bridge. The room was packed with people trying moving around excitedly. Dr. Heath regarded him coolly before speaking. “Captain Scott, we just dropped out of hyperspace, as I’m sure you noticed, and there is a planet in range. She paused as if preparing to tell someone bad news, “Captain; we are receiving a radio signal from that planet. It seems to be an automated distress call…in English.”<br><br>Scott regarded her intently; was she joking!? Finally he shook his head as if to say no. The idea that there was a radio message from a planet in a different galaxy was odd enough… “Are you sure?” was all he could muster.<br><br>“Yes, we have triple checked it. There is no other explanation.” She responded quickly. It seemed for a moment that she didn’t know what to do but the moment passed quickly. “Captain, prep three of your team and take them through the gate. I’m sending Mr. Albrecht and…” Dr. Heath’s eyes narrowed in thought. “…and take Dr. Randall as well. See if you can find the source of the signal.”<br><br>Scott frowned, he didn’t want to argue with her in front of everyone but he felt he had no choice. “Dr; I think we’d be better off with a recon team first and then…” She cut him off. “Captain Hunter, we have just six hours before this ship jumps again. This is our only chance. Let’s make it count.” Her voice was commanding but polite. Scott nodded quickly. “Yes, ma’am.” Then turning to Walters, “Sergeant; grab McCormack and Spence. Gear up and meet me in the gate room. Go.”<br><br>Scott walked quickly toward his room to grab his pack, his mind was swimming with lists of equipment he wanted to bring and questions he still had. As he turned a corner he ran into one of the crew and almost continued walking before realizing who it was. He smiled tightly as he took a quick breath. “Yeah I do…” He took a quick breath. “Actually, they’re looking for you. We’re going through the gate. Get your gear and meet me in the gate room ASAP.” He turned quickly and sprinted down the hall to find his room, within a few minutes he was geared and after a quick stop at the supply hall he headed to the gate room to assemble his team.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>28-12-2010, 01:33:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Katherine watched him dash off towards his room and thought he didn’t look at all pleased about her joining him on this excursion, not that she could blame him.&nbsp; If she were in his place, there was no doubt she would resent the idea of being rushed into a possibly dangerous situation and forced to take someone who was not only unproven under fire, but also lacked relevant training. However, regardless of what the Captain might prefer, nothing was going to stop her from going on this mission, and she was damned determined to prove her worth to the team, or at the very least, prove she wasn’t a liability.&nbsp; Wasting no time, she turned and ran in the opposite direction, but despite the urgency of the situation, her thoughts shifted to the memory of how Captain Hunter had grinned and winked at her when they said goodbye earlier that morning.&nbsp; Then in complete contrast to her misgivings mere moments ago in the lab, a tiny spark of excitement flared to life, and she shook her head. Once in her quarters, she closed the door completely on her emotions, quickly changed back into her uniform, put on the vest and grabbed what little gear she had.&nbsp; Her mind was reeling, a thousand questions demanding answers, but there simply wasn’t time; she’d find out the details soon enough. <br><br>Halfway to the gate room, Dr. Heath came rushing behind her.&nbsp; “Kat there you are, I was looking for you!&nbsp; We’ve arrived and…” she stopped mid-sentence noticing that Katherine was dressed and packed. “Oh excellent, you’re all ready to go.”<br><br>Katherine nodded but shot her a questioning glance and began talking as they walked together towards the Gate room. “I gather we have made it to our first stop?&nbsp; Do you know where we are?” She asked.&nbsp; Listening intently as the older woman filled her in on what she knew so far, Katherine’s brow furrowed. “A distress signal in English…but that should be impossible…shouldn’t it?"&nbsp; <br><br>Hesitating before replying, the doctor said, “Agreed, but I can offer no explanation.&nbsp; Either way it is vital you and the others determine exactly what the source of the signal is.” She said seriously.<br><br>“Yes but six hours doesn’t leave us much time to find the source let alone determine what it is or offer aid if needed.&nbsp; Do we know how far we need to travel once we get there or whether there are other life forms, intelligent or otherwise?” She asked with concern.<br><br>Dr. Heath shook her head and said, “Not yet, but we will be able to get at least the surface readings from the Kino before you step through the gate.”&nbsp; Gesturing towards to doorway at the end of the corridor, now bathed in flickering light, she said, “Come…we need to hurry, the Stargate is already open.”<br><br>Rushing inside, the bright event horizon rippled at the end of the space completely dominating it.&nbsp; Katherine looked around and her gaze immediately fell on Captain Hunter and lingered perhaps a moment too long.&nbsp; He was issuing orders to two other soldiers she recognized as McCormack and Spence from their files, and he appeared calm, unwavering and completely in control which was quite remarkable as far as she was concerned, especially considering the speed with which this dropped in his lap.&nbsp; To her left and just outside of the gate, she noticed the only other civilian in the group, Mr. Albrecht, and beside him, Sgt. Walters held the Kino remote.&nbsp; It was clear the probe was already through, and the planet’s atmosphere must be safe enough because now he and Mr. Albrecht were discussing the images being sent back from the surface.&nbsp; She leaned in for a closer look, nervous but refusing to let it show.<br><br>An alien world from across the universe filled the monitor and it looked surprisingly…normal.&nbsp; The image wasn’t perfectly clear however, so she looked to Sgt. Walters and asked, “The vegetation looks incredibly dense, what are the temperature readings?” Then, something else about the picture caught her eye and she tilted her head, pointing to a wall of trees. “Wait…look here, see this?&nbsp; Notice the water line etched halfway up the trunks and the root crowns exposed? And here…”&nbsp; she pointed to a depression in the ground, “this appears to be a dried up river or stream bed of some sort, but if this planet is subject to monsoons or torrential rainfall, then it may have been carved from run off or flash flooding.” Turning to gaze at the two men in front of her she added,&nbsp; “It’s just a theory, but is there any way to predict from the Kino what the odds are we might encounter a storm?”<br><br>“Not really. “ He replied.&nbsp; “The temperature is 86 F; humidity is 20%, slightly overcast skies, but stable barometric conditions.” He shrugged.&nbsp; “That’s as good as we’re going to get.”<br><br>She was about to ask him something about the possible location of the signal or anything else he might have uncovered, but Captain Hunter indicated it was time to go.&nbsp; There was no hesitation as the group of five fell in behind him and walked to the gate, but Katherine flinched slightly at the sound of shouted orders, and weapons loaded and readied.&nbsp; As the leader turned to the group, she nodded to him as he gave the signal.&nbsp; In the next moment, they all stepped through the shimming puddle and instantly transported to the alien planet.<br><br>Warm wind whipped around them as they walked away from the gate, and it was the only sound, lending an eerie silence to the otherwise lush surroundings.&nbsp; While the military team rushed to secure the immediate area, she squinted up to look at the sky which was a dull, grayish colour due to the cloud cover.&nbsp; The swirling clouds also served to obscure a giant, pale yellow orb that had to be a sun at least twice as large as Earth’s own.&nbsp; Crouching down, she noted the ground covered in tightly packed, glittering pure white sand, reminding her of silica.&nbsp; Scraping together a fistful, it was remarkably cool to the touch, and extremely dry; a sharp contrast to the abundant vegetation all around them.&nbsp; Now she was certain her theory was correct.&nbsp; These two extremes could only coexist if sufficient rain fell at regular and frequent intervals. <br><br>Standing up she motioned for her civilian counterpart to follow her and she walked over to examine the trees, scanning the brush for any sign of life.&nbsp; Finding none, she said, “That’s strange…I don’t see anything alive except the plants, not even an insect.&nbsp; Don’t you think it’s odd?”<br><br>He shrugged his shoulders and replied, “Who knows, it’s not like we can or should expect anything at this point.”<br><br>“Hmmm…perhaps.”&nbsp; Biting her lip, deep in thought, she moved back to the spot near the gate, waiting for the all clear to follow the others.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>29-12-2010, 17:49:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Scott checked with the troops and all appeared clear. There were no signs of habitation or large predators so he figured they were fairly safe for the time being. “Albrecht; I’m guessing you need high ground to help pinpoint the signal, correct?”<br><br>The 44 year old engineer dug through his pack for the equipment he would need and looked at Scott. “Yeah…” He said meekly; seemingly unsure. Then at the Marine Captain’s continued stare he straightened a little. “Yes sir. High ground.”<br><br>Scott nodded, “Good. There is a ridgeline up ahead to the left. Our compasses are useless so stay close. We’re gonna follow this riverbed as far as we can. I don’t like it but it’s the fastest way. Everyone keep your ears and eyes open.” Scott had heard the Dr’s theory back in the gate room and he knew well the dangers of a flash flood. He had no intention of getting caught in one again.<br><br>He quickly positioned the six of them into a column with the civilians toward the rear and then looked back to the two non-combatants: “If we move fast we can be there in about an hour.” He said in a voice just above a whisper and looked back and forth to each for a moment. “Please keep your voices down. We have no idea what’s out here.” He felt bad singling them out with his last comment but he would feel even worse if their lack of noise discipline brought out some dangerous beastie and got someone killed. No; he wouldn’t have that.<br><br>Scott looked the front and with a hand signal the column began to move.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>30-12-2010, 03:55:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The sound of the Captain’s voice grabbed her attention, and Catherine stepped closer, still feeling apprehensive about the strange extremes and curious lack of life on this world.&nbsp; Then when he asked Albrecht for some answers, she rolled her eyes at the older engineer’s hesitation, thinking he looked hopelessly inept. However, he was one of the top in his field, so she was relieved to finally see him looking more confident, but did smother a smirk at the way Captain Hunter had to glare the man into showing a little backbone.&nbsp; He certainly had a way of commanding people and she admired that, especially since she wasn’t on the receiving end of it.<br><br>Relieved to hear they would be heading for high ground, she looked at Captain Hunter curiously because of the way he talked about the riverbed, wondering if he had heard her theory and believed her, or if it was a coincidence.&nbsp; Either way it didn’t matter, she just wanted to get away from the area as soon as possible.&nbsp; As he moved them into position, with her and Albrecht in the rear, she tried not to take offense at the way he made a point of directing his instructions to be quiet at them, but it did rankle her a bit.&nbsp; Shaking it off, she realized it wasn’t personal, and focused on thinking like a soldier and just do what he asked.<br><br>Once they started moving, the only sound was from dry sand crunching beneath their boots, and Catherine kept her eyes on the wooded area beside them, continuously searching for signs of life.&nbsp; It just didn’t seem feasible to her that nothing lived here but plants, though certainly there was microscopic life of some kind, she unfortunately didn’t have a microscope to study it. <br><br>They were making good time and checking her watch, she figured they should reach the ridgeline within ten minutes, but the wind had picked up considerably, swirling tiny grains of sand all around them. Zipping up her jacket, she pulled the collar up to shield her neck, and checked the sky.&nbsp; The clouds were moving faster and seemed a bit thicker, but nothing else indicated the weather conditions were changing and she relaxed.&nbsp; Then a twinkling flash from the trees caught her eye, and her gaze snapped to the left.&nbsp; Above the thick forest canopy, something was reflecting light, almost like a prism.&nbsp; Grabbing her binoculars, she tried to get a better look but it suddenly moved and disappeared. <em>Shit! What could it possibly be?</em> Pulse racing, she quietly sped up to move beside Captain Hunter, and held up her hand indicating he needed to stop, then pointed to the trees.&nbsp; Whispering she said, “I saw something, like a prismatic reflection.” Her expression became urgent and she leaned closer so the others couldn’t hear. “There’s more…it moved. I’m positive, but it was so fast, I couldn’t get a good look at it.&nbsp; At this point I certainly don’t feel the need to go after it, but it’s clear we aren’t alone here after all.”<br><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>31-12-2010, 17:36:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Scott didn’t like the way the clouds looked, back on Earth he would have assumed a storm was in the distance and possibly headed this way but here on this strange world he couldn’t be sure. Still, he had to go with what he knew… He didn’t hear the roar of water so hoped they would be safe from a flood for at least the next ten minutes it took them to get to the ridge and climb out of this riverbed or whatever it was.<br><br>Dr. Randall ran up beside him and told him what she had seen. He studied her for a few seconds and could see in her eyes that she was sure she had seen something. Scott nodded at her and frowned a bit. Then he spoke in a loud whisper so all could hear. “It looks like we might not be alone. Keep your eyes open and check the sky as well.” He looked at everyone to make sure he had been heard and then back to the cute Dr. “If you see it again let me know.” He said with a respectful smile and then gave the signal to move out. <br><br>They moved quickly and quietly and it took less then ten minutes for them to climb out of the sandy ditch and reach the ridge line. He was very happy they were on higher ground because as soon as they started the ascent up the ridge Scott could feel a fine cold mist of rain sprinkling lightly down to be blown briskly in the wind against his face. They would have to avoid the riverbed on the return trip which would take considerably more time.<br><br>Once they reached the top, the engineer set up a small antenna, made a few pokes on an iPad type device and then pointed off to the right. “I’m guessing the signal is about four to six miles that way. It’s the same repeated signal: a mechanical voice saying ‘Please help us’ in English.” He said as he looked toward the signal and a moment latter added, “It’s kind of creepy if you ask me.”<br><br>Scott checked their target area with his binoculars. It was mostly small low lying trees and light scrub brush of some kind. It shouldn’t slow them down too much. His study of the terrain was interrupted by Spence as she yelled out a bit too loudly. “Just above the trees behind us!” Spence had dropped down into a crouch with her rifle aimed in the direction of her sighting. The party immediately turned toward the threat but there was nothing there. Scott looked to Spence.<br><br>The soldier scanned the horizon and then looked to Dr. Randall for support. “It was shiny…metallic I think. I swear it was just floating there then dropped into the trees. It couldn’t have been bigger than ten feet around or so…”<br><br>Scott checked the area with his binoculars but saw nothing. “It appears to be watching us then.” He said as much as a question as a statement. “Spence; take point. There’s a small hill with some trees on top. Head for that.” He looked around at his team who all appeared to be a bit shaken by the circumstances. “Let’s focus. Keep your eyes open and under no circumstances are you to fire unless I order it. Move out.” Scott knew they would have to cross the riverbed when they reached the bottom of the ridge and the sprinkling rain made that thought an uncomfortable one.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>01-01-2011, 02:40:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br>Katherine watched Captain Hunter intently, and when she saw he believed her, she nodded towards the trees and said, “It moves fast, so we’ll have to be alert but it does appear to reflect light.”&nbsp; Looking up at the sky, she realized the cloud cover was much thicker, significantly reducing the likelihood they would easily see whatever it was if it made another appearance.&nbsp; When he smiled, she glanced up at him, suddenly aware she was probably standing too close and stepped away. “Of course, you’ll be the first to know,” she said with an amiable smile, then at his signal, moved back beside Albrecht.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>They were moving much faster now, reaching the top of the ridge quickly, but she worried about the light mist drizzling down and hoped it wouldn’t turn to rain.&nbsp; Scanning the area, there was nothing unusual, except for the fact that there was still no sign of animal or insect life.&nbsp; While the engineer tried to get a fix on the signal, Katherine bent down because she saw the ground was no longer just sand, but coarser, and mixed with tiny metallic pebbles.&nbsp; Reaching out, she pinched some of the mixture between her fingertips and rolled it around in the palm of her hand, feeling the sharp edges on the rocks that appeared to be some kind of mineral.&nbsp; Grabbing a glass vial out of her pack, she scooped some of it inside for testing later back on the ship.&nbsp; She then listened as Albrecht gave the direction and confirmed the message was unchanged.&nbsp; Frowning, she tried to think of what could possibly account for that kind of distress call here, hoping that if there were people in trouble, they would be able to find them in time.<br><br>Then Spence yelled, aiming her rifle at the trees, and Katherine jerked around, scanning the forest, but there was nothing. However, the worried look on Spence’s face was evident to everyone.&nbsp; Crouching down beside the woman, she put her right hand on the top of the rifle.&nbsp; “I believe you, but there’s nothing there now,” she said gently.&nbsp; “Whatever it is doesn’t appear to be hostile,” she pressed harder with her hand to ease the rifle down, “so let’s not give it any reason to think we are, ok?”&nbsp; Spence nodded once and relaxed her grip on the weapon, her face once again calm and alert.&nbsp; Katherine smiled reassuringly, belying her growing concern, and stood up as Captain Hunter spoke and Albrecht cast furtive glances all around.&nbsp; She put her hand on the engineer’s arm and whispered, “Relax ok?&nbsp; If there were something here that intended to harm us, they would have done so by now.&nbsp; I’m confident everything will be fine.” She lied.&nbsp; Gesturing to the Captain she added, “Everything is under control for the moment, so let’s just do what he says and stay focused ok?”&nbsp; Albrecht nodded and they both fell in behind the others just as the rain started falling a little bit harder. <br><br>The group moved at a good pace in complete silence, picking their way carefully through the brush.&nbsp; Larger droplets of cool rain splashed on her face, and she blinked up at the now ominous clouds swirling in the sky as furiously as the wind around them.&nbsp; Anxiety coiled in the pit of her stomach.&nbsp; The eerie silence and knowledge that something out there was watching them, combined with the growing threat of a storm had her and everyone else on edge.&nbsp; It was evident that McCormack and Walters already respected the Captain though, and when he motioned for the group to stop, they did so instantly, standing at attention, eagerly awaiting instructions.&nbsp; Albrecht took out his data pad to get a fix on the signal again but grew frustrated. “I can’t seem to get a fix on it anymore.”&nbsp; He walked to Captain Hunter. “We are exactly where we should be based on my last calculations, but the signal is gone.”&nbsp; Scratching his head, his eyes then widened in surprise. “Oh wait…it’s back. That’s curious,” he looked at the Captain, “huh…maybe something is interfering with my equipment.&nbsp; So what do we do now?” <br><br>Moments later, a blinding flash of lighting streaked across the sky, and a loud crack of thunder signalled the impending storm.&nbsp; The wind began gusting faster and as it blew through the brush, it revealed a pathway lined with iridescent stones, which everyone seemed to notice it at the same time with a mixture of concern and curiosity.&nbsp; Holding up her arm to shield her eyes from the rain and sand the wind was now pelting against her face, she saw Captain Hunter moving to action, calmly issuing commands to the others and she tried to hear what he was saying.&nbsp; Once he gave orders to his troops, Walters shouted at McCormack to do something but she couldn’t make it out, the wind was just too loud.&nbsp; Time seemed to stand still until Albrecht started to panic and ran for the pathway.&nbsp; Shouting for him to stop, she froze when a large silver orb flew out from the trees and stopped in front the engineer as though warning him not to go that way.&nbsp; He skidded to a halt and stepped back, tripping as he tried to widen the gap between himself and the strange flying object.&nbsp; Katherine darted out, and helped him up, then they slowly walked back together to stand with the others.&nbsp; The orb disappeared as suddenly as it arrived and she looked up at Albrecht with irritation until Captain Hunter came up beside her.&nbsp; Releasing her hold on Albrecht, she looked at the Captain. “I think that was a pretty clear message to stay away from that path don’t you?”&nbsp; She said loudly enough so he could hear her over the howling wind.&nbsp; “I know we need to find that signal, but do you think there’s another way through the brush?”&nbsp; &nbsp;<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>02-01-2011, 04:17:04</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				He stared in disbelief at the silvery orb hovering just ten feet away and instinctively raised his rifle in defense. He watched as Albrecht fell back as if in slow motion from the pathway and the orb vanished back into the trees as if it were a ghost or mirage. He lowered his weapon and made a quick visual check of his team.<br><br>Struggling to calm his nerves, he approached the engineer and scanned the area for the orbs return. No one dared speak; except the doc of course… He nodded at her slowly in agreement. Scott stood in thought for a moment and dropped down to a crouch to get a better look at what was obviously an artificial pathway ahead of them. He checked his watch and noted they had been searching for just over two and a half hours; not much time to work with. Scott cautiously approached the much thicker brush along side the path and the orb did not reappear. Turning back to address the group he quit with the whispering and spoke loudly and plainly. “We’ll follow along the path through the thicker brush. Stay close.” Scott took a calming breath and headed into the bushes. “Follow me.” He called back. <br><br>They walked for almost thirty minutes with the artificial pathway still in sight and the orb had not reappeared. The weather had only grown worse; the wind was blowing large drops of cold rain and bits of sand and brush into their faces and the cloud cover made it appear as if the sun was setting. Albrecht caught up to him and explained that the signal was stronger and when he pointed in the direction of the signal; Scott saw a large hill covered in vegetation. Checking it with his binoculars he was surprised to see that what appeared to be a large hill was actually the remains of a crashed ship. It looked nothing like anything he had seen, not that he had a lot of experience with crashed spaceships.<br><br>Scott pointed it out to the rest of the team and immediately headed toward it. It took less than a half hour to reach the wrecked hull which by the looks of it had been here for many decades. Albrecht was sure that the ship was the source of the signal but the troubling part was the sandaled human sized foot prints that were all around. Scott pulled the team together and explained the situation as the strange yellowish lighting streaked across the sky nearby. “We have about forty-five minutes before we have to head for the gate, and that will be cutting it close. I’m open to suggestions.” He said as he looked around the assembled group his gaze lingering longer on Dr. Randall. And this time not because she was so nice to look at; he had seen her in action and was developing a decent amount of respect for her decision making skills. “Any ideas doc?”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>02-01-2011, 22:47:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br><br>The heated adrenaline rush from seeing the orb fly out in front of Albrecht wore off almost instantly, quickly replaced by disbelief and cold fear.&nbsp; Katherine’s mind was reeling from what just happened, and she fought for every ounce of control over her anxiety and racing thoughts. Clearly, that thing was watching their every move, but was it directing them to the right location, or steering them into a trap?&nbsp; Both scenarios seemed equally likely.&nbsp; Knowing the Captain was right and the only way forward was to forge their own path through the thick brush, she took a series of deep breaths and followed, noting the others looked cautious and alert. At least the soldiers and their commanding officer had the benefit of experience in situations like this.&nbsp; Nothing in her past could have prepared her for it; certainly not her years tucked away in the safety of academia and definitely not her time at the impenetrable NORAD base.&nbsp; Pushing aside the doubts about her decision to come along with renewed determination to succeed, she realized that a large part of her unwillingness to falter was due to Captain Hunter.&nbsp; Exactly when or why she felt the need to earn his respect eluded her, but she couldn’t deny it.&nbsp; In truth, it was perplexing and yet, from the first moment they met, there was something intriguing and compelling about him that went beyond his handsome appearance, and now, seeing his leadership skills in the heat of danger, bringing out the best in everyone, she was impressed.&nbsp; It was a heady combination, but she couldn’t let those thoughts linger, and focused instead on getting to their next destination, carefully scanning around for anything usual.<br><br>Everyone watched and waited for the orb’s return, but it remained hidden and they trudged onward, dodging the bushes and trees as best they could in the growing darkness.&nbsp; Cold from the rain and shivering, when they finally stopped so Albrecht could check the signal again, Katherine rubbed her arms for warmth.&nbsp; Moving closer to the others, she stood next to Spence and could tell by the Captain’s expression that he saw something as he scanned with his binoculars.&nbsp; He quickly explained what it was, and they now knew they were dealing with some kind of ship. They had a definitive target, and everyone seemed revitalized by that fact, picking up the pace considerably.<br><br>As they approached the derelict ship, it loomed above them and seemed completely devoid of life.&nbsp; Lightning cast eerie shadows on the broken and twisted hull, illuminating the deep charred scars of what Katherine guessed were from some kind of blast but it was impossible from their position to see what might have caused it to crash.&nbsp; It also appeared weathered and beaten in a way that only several decades of exposure to the harsh elements could accomplish.&nbsp; Not nearly as big as their ship, it was nonetheless large enough that there could have been dozens of people on board, and when she and the others followed the Captain’s troubled gaze, they too noticed the footprints on the ground.&nbsp; Bending down to get a closer look, the prints indeed appeared to be from several different people and likely recent since any recent rainfall would have washed them away.&nbsp; When the Captain asked for her opinion, she startled, and her gaze flew to his.&nbsp; A moment later, she said, “Well I’m confident we can all agree it appears there are humans who have been here recently, but I also think he ship crashed a long time ago, which means if there were survivors, there are likely descendants as well.&nbsp; It’s also possible that the orb we saw belongs to these people, but what bothers me is if they know we’re here and want our help, why haven’t they come to seek us out?” Gesturing to the ship and surrounding area, she added, “Clearly, there are more questions than answers and we have a lot of ground to cover, but we’re so short on time, is it possible to split up?” She asked, not convinced it was a good idea, but unable to see how they could possibly accomplish what they needed to in less than an hour otherwise.&nbsp; Communicating her concern and desire to hear his opinion with a glance, she said, “It’s your call though Captain.”&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>03-01-2011, 03:29:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He listened intently to what Dr. Randall had to say and nodded his agreement until she mentioned splitting up. He started to protest but then quickly saw the simple logic in it. The orb, or orbs, had so far not been hostile and if the beings that were here had so far made no attempt to harm them either. Time was of the essence and they had to find answers.<br><br>Scott addressed the team quickly. “Sergeant; take Spence and Albrecht and check out the ship. Photograph everything. If you find something useful and portable, take it. If they left it here this long they don’t want it. Dr. Randall, McCormack; your with me. We’re gonna try to follow these footprints and see if we can make contact with anyone.” He pointedly looked at his watch. “In forty minutes meet back here and not a minute later. I must stress that you do not fire on anything unless fired upon. They have been friendly so far, let’s keep it that way.” He motioned for Mack to take the lead and turned around to speak a final order. “Forty minutes. Wait here for ten more and if we don’t show…head for the gate.” He looked at Walters and his voice became even more serious. “That’s an order Sergeant.”<br><br>Sergeant Walters nodded his head and spoke grimly. “Yes sir.” Then he led his group straight toward the hull of the strange ship. His weapon raised in defense as he carefully picked his way up the hill.<br><br>Scott fell in behind Dr. Randall and they moved quickly down the hill following the very visible footprints. He analyzed his most recent action in his head even as he stole more than one glance of the cute backside of the doctor he followed. Scott was second guessing his decision to split the team but as a leader you had to make use of your resources to accomplish your objectives. Mission first; or at least that’s what they always brainwashed into your head. He always felt that one of his greatest assets as an officer was his decisiveness, however; ultimately decisiveness was only good when coupled with sound decision making ability. And only time would tell if his decision was a good one.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>04-01-2011, 01:28:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br>As soon as he made his decision, Captain Hunter swiftly organized the group into two teams, and delivered his orders to Walters with astonishing speed, a stark contrast to Katherine’s thoughts, which were swirling as tumultuously as the dark clouds above.&nbsp; They had forty minutes to search and get back to this point to regroup, or risk trying to reach the Stargate on their own.&nbsp; When Walters, Spence and Albrecht slowly climbed towards the ship, the engineer looked back over his shoulder with concern in his eyes, and she gave a reassuring smile.&nbsp; There was no point dwelling on the worst possible case scenario, instead she would focus on helping ensure they returned with time to spare.&nbsp; Besides, a burning curiosity about the people inhabiting this world made her anxious to get moving.&nbsp; McCormack stood beside her and seemed impatient to get underway, as did the Captain, but he also appeared deep in thought, and she knew it was due to the heavy burden of his decision weighing on his conscience, something that every good leader inevitably had to deal with.&nbsp; Even though it was the only logical decision he could have made under the circumstances, he likely wouldn’t be able to let it go until they were all safely through the Stargate, so she smiled at him to show her support and then started down the hill with the Captain and McCormack following close behind.&nbsp; On the way down, there were a couple of times she swore she felt the Captain’s gaze on her, and when she finally turned around, their eyes met in a way that made her flush with warmth despite the chilling wind and drizzle.&nbsp; She quickly returned her attention to the trail, but with a soft smile on her face.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br><br>It didn’t take them long to reach the bottom, but the rain was falling heavier now and Katherine became concerned it would wash away the footprints.&nbsp; They followed the impressions for another five minutes until they stood in front of a thick copse of trees, only to find the trail seemingly disappeared through the underbrush.&nbsp; With a choked cry of frustration, she glanced back at Captain Hunter to see if he was willing to keep going forward, but as soon as she did, two orbs, exactly like the one they saw before burst out of the forest in a blinding flash.&nbsp; Startled, she gasped and stepped backwards, heart pounding, until she collided with him. Keeping her eyes locked on the hovering silver orbs, this time, oddly enough, instead of pushing back, they hovered and slowly inched backwards as if beckoning them to follow.&nbsp; Then one flew behind McCormack effectively forcing them to keep moving, while the one in front continued to move back towards the trees.&nbsp; There was no way to go but forward, so the three of them followed silently, hoping the orb’s intentions were not malevolent, but alert and ready just&nbsp; in case.<br><br>Ten minutes later, they entered a clearing with a path stretching before them, much like the one they saw earlier lined with iridescent stones.&nbsp; The orbs stopped, and seemed to indicate they were to wait there, and then both objects disappeared into the canopy of trees above.&nbsp; Before anyone had time to speak, people began to appear until at least 50 human beings, staring at the trio with curiosity, surrounded them, but Katherine also detected a trace of apprehension in their expressions.&nbsp; Most were dressed in well-worn, slightly tattered clothing of indeterminate origin, but they looked reasonably healthy and robust, so life on this planet must be more hospitable than they first thought.&nbsp; After several moments of silence, a man and woman stepped forward; both looked to be in their seventies, with long white hair and were clearly the ones in charge.&nbsp; The man began to speak.&nbsp; With a guarded expression on his face, he said, “We never expected to see a rescue.&nbsp; I don’t know how you found us, but…” he gestured to the others, “we no longer want to leave.&nbsp; This is our home now and it’s best if you turn around and go back to wherever you came from.”&nbsp; He stepped closer to the trio standing in the clearing. “In fact I insist that you leave and return to your ship, if for no other reason than it’s not safe to be out once darkness falls.”<br><br>Katherine was tempted to ask what happened after dark, but didn’t speak because the man seemed suddenly agitated.&nbsp; There was also something in the eyes of the others that said the man was hiding something, and she shot a worried glance at her companions, hoping they saw it too. Regardless, it was clear the leader wanted them gone as soon as possible, and for reasons he wasn’t prepared to explain.&nbsp; She leaned towards Captain Hunter and McCormack and saw they were just as concerned as she was. “I guess we have our answer.” She whispered, too low for anyone else to hear.&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>07-01-2011, 03:09:46</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Scott was able to remain calm with the arrival of the orbs but when one of them circled behind the team and began to ‘push’ them forward his nerves started to get the better of him. He felt like he was being forced into an ambush and didn’t like it one bit. In fact the only thing that kept him from retreating and defending himself was the look on the doctor’s face. She seemed just as frightened as he was but she was determined to follow the orbs and solve the mystery. Scott had little choice but to follow along as well.<br><br>The orbs disappearance coupled with the sudden but deliberate appearance of other humans was almost what he expected. Both Scott and McCormack lowered their weapons slowly and put their hands to their sides. Scott looked to Dr. Randall to make first contact but for several moments no one spoke. Then the gathered refugees made the first move; with two of their number stepping forward and in perfect English explained they didn’t want help any longer and Scott and his team should leave. There was a vague threat behind his words as well.<br><br>Scott looked at Dr. Randall and nodded his head in agreement. He sized the assorted humans up and saw that not a one appeared to be armed with anything more than bare hands. They all appeared to be healthy although they also appeared to have had hard lives mostly outdoors in the elements. He stepped forward cautiously and addressed the two people before him. “We will leave as you wish. We are only here because we heard your call for help. We mean no harm.”<br><br>There were still so many unanswered questions and he felt that if they left now, the answers would never be found. He looked to the doctor for support as he continued in slow measured tones. “Is there any message that we could bring back to your people? And is there any thing you can tell us of the orbs which are here with you that may help others in a similar situation?”<br><br>His questions were obviously meant to gather intelligence on this unknown group of people, but he tried to phrase them in a way that seemed less intrusive and more about helping people. Which was truly just as valid a reason; if not necessarily the reason he wanted answers.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>07-01-2011, 21:49:34</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Katherine watched the leader's face as Captain Hunter addressed him in a calm reassuring way, relieved that he had done so, but saw undisguised annoyance shining in the older man's eyes, his body becoming rigid and unyielding as he crossed his arms tightly against his chest.&nbsp; Everyone else seemed to hold their breath as though anticipating something unpleasant, and Katherine stood closer to the Captain and McCormack.&nbsp; She knew the Captain expected her to be the one to initiate contact, but for some inexplicable reason, her intuition screamed at her not to, like an alarm shrieking out its dire warning before the fire consumes everything in its wake. There was no doubt he also saw the way the leader looked at the three of them, hinting at both anger and intolerance in a way she had never experienced before, and though she prided herself on being logical, she also trusted her instincts and rarely questioned them; they had never steered her wrong in the past.&nbsp; Besides, typically men like this one would only accept overtures from other leaders, and she assumed this was why he hadn't lost his temper when confronted with the Captain's questions.&nbsp; Regardless of the apparent calm however, all three remained on a heightened sense of alert. Nothing could have prepared them for such an unusual and hostile reception, and they were painfully aware of being significantly outnumbered should things take a turn for the worse.&nbsp; Then, the older woman, garbed in a simple gown of dark blue, stepped forward and gently put her arm around her companion's shoulder, comforting him somewhat, and the tension visibly drained from his face.&nbsp; With a kind smile, she began speaking with a soft melodic voice.&nbsp; “Please forgive Marsdon, he is obviously not used to strangers…actually none of us are, and your arrival is most unexpected, though not unwelcome despite what you must think.”&nbsp; Moving into the centre of the clearing, she exuded an air of confidence and mystery as she clasped her hands in front of her waist. “I am Alianne and we are all that is left of the craft you found, the last survivors of a doomed mission of arrogance.”<br><br>Katherine was enthralled and no longer aware of the rain and cold or danger she felt seconds ago.&nbsp; The woman's voice and manner of speaking seemed almost magical in nature, entrancing her audience with no effort, ensuring they hung on every word.&nbsp; Moving closer, she said, I'm Katherine Randall, and this is Captain Hunter and Sergeant McCormack.”&nbsp; She motioned to the two men beside her then asked, “May I ask where you are you from?” <br><br>Alianne seemed surprised by the question and looked right into Katherine's eyes with a piercing gaze that would make most people uncomfortable.&nbsp; “We are from Earth, is that not where you are from?”<br><br>That answer startled Katherine. “Yes, but we are here by accident, there is no Earth technology yet to allow for space travel, so how is it that you are here?”&nbsp; She asked, puzzled.<br><br>With a knowing smile, she said, “Ah yes, of course…I think I understand now.&nbsp; We are from your future then my dear, though technically, there is no past, present or future as your scientists will discover eventually.&nbsp; Everything exists simultaneously.&nbsp; It is only the physical, three dimensional nature of human existence that prevents you from seeing it that way.”&nbsp; Noting the look of astonishment on Katherine's face, her expression turned sympathetic. “I realize how extraordinary this must sound, however, like the flawed human concept of space and time, there are no accidents either Katherine, and if you are here despite what you knew was possible, then you have simply stumbled across something you once thought impossible and proven it does in fact exist have you not?&nbsp; Imagine if you will a string of lights,” she said patiently.&nbsp; “As a human you are able to see each light in the string as they exist simultaneously and do not question the validity of that.&nbsp; Now imagine you are a tiny insect floating in front of the string.&nbsp; Because your field of vision and concept of reality are limited, you are only capable of perceiving one light at a time, and it isn't until you move that the first disappears and you see the next, thus leading you to believe that only one can exist at any given point in time, and yet that is obviously not the case.”&nbsp; <br><br>The entire conversation was so unbelievably surreal that Katherine cast a sideways glance at her companions to see they looked just as surprised as she was.&nbsp; Where the hell was Dr. Tsonis when you needed him!&nbsp; She desperately wanted to learn more about the science behind what Alianne just said, and how their ship seemingly travelled back in time, but also knew they were rapidly running out of time to get back to the others and there were more pressing questions.&nbsp; “Physics isn't exactly my specialty, but yes, I suppose you are right.&nbsp; What was your mission then, and how did you end up here?” She asked Alianne in earnest.<br><br>A touch of bitterness swept over the woman's face the instant the question was asked.&nbsp; “We were explorers if you will, sent to discover new worlds and find minerals or anything else that could be used and exploited for profit.&nbsp; Unfortunately, those in charge of the project decided that weaponry was unnecessary since it would be a scientific mission only and we had instructions to stay away from inhabited worlds to avoid conflict, though I also suspect to guarantee exclusivity.&nbsp; No one but Marsdon knew the real reasons there would be no weapons were cost and weight.&nbsp; The extra mining equipment required made it impossible to have the ship outfitted with even one functional weapon.&nbsp; We had only been gone a few months and it was during our orbit around this planet that we were attacked.&nbsp; The assault was swift and brutal, and it is a miracle any of us survived.&nbsp; Therefore, it is exactly I said before…a doomed mission born of supreme arrogance and disdain for human life.”&nbsp; She said with disgust. “As to the orbs you saw, they are simply a surveying tool we were to use during our exploration, controlled by us.&nbsp; Fortunately, they have proven useful here in ways we never could have imagined.”&nbsp; Her tone was evasive, and then serene as she smiled warmly. “Now this world is our home, and we are unwilling to leave what we affectionately call our little Utopia.&nbsp; Though this may be difficult for you to understand, here we have the freedom to live the way we choose.&nbsp; We are a true democracy that holds the life of each individual sacred, and no matter how difficult our path may be, it is infinitely preferable to what we knew before.”<br><br>Katherine was stunned, but didn't miss the shifts in Alianne’s voice.&nbsp; Curious now and feeling emboldened by the momentum of conversation, she prodded for more information. “What did Marsdon mean about not being out after dark?&nbsp; I haven't seen any indigenous life here and I find that unusual to say the least.”<br><br>Alianne’s eyes flashed with apprehension and she frowned, but it quickly passed.&nbsp; She contemplated carefully before replying, but did so nonetheless. “There were life forms here at one point in this planet's history, and we know this because we have found remains and fossil evidence.&nbsp; From what we've been able to ascertain, this world was a hunting ground for an alien race, the very same race that attacked us so long ago.&nbsp; Sadly, it appears they hunted every species here to extinction and had all but abandoned this world.”&nbsp; Taking a deep breath, she continued. “However, we still somehow managed to cross their path in a disastrous whim of fate.&nbsp; Alas, now that they know we are here, they return from time to time, relentless in their pursuit of us. We are considered nothing more than prey, no different any other animal.&nbsp; Unfortunately, it did not take them long to discover our weaknesses, and this is why they only come at night when the moons are cresting full and illuminating every corner of the forest, descending from the sky by the hundreds. We never know when they will come, only that they always do and whenever it suits them.&nbsp; This is why the orbs have been so valuable.&nbsp; They are our eyes when we must hide, and alert us to the arrival of the hunters when we are unprepared.”<br><br>The idea that these people had taken a tragedy and turned it into an idyllic situation despite all their hardships was utterly intriguing to Katherine, and as she gazed on the faces of each survivor, incredibly, not one gave the slightest hint of wanting to leave with them.&nbsp; There was so much more she wanted to ask, but Alianne lowered her lids and nodded to Katherine in a gesture that conveyed the conversation had come to an end.&nbsp; Turning now to the Captain, Alianne walked towards him and stopped mere inches away.&nbsp; Regarding him silently for several seconds she then spoke with a voice of authority. “It is time for you to go Captain Hunter. Take your people and get back to your ship as quickly as you can. Do not waste a moment as there is little time left before darkness descends. Tonight the moons will be full and as such, the instant you return, I would advise you to get out of orbit immediately.&nbsp; The alien ships are more powerful than anything we've seen before. Even those of the Ancients,” she said ominously.&nbsp; <br><br><em>How does she know about the Ancients?&nbsp; Does she know that we came here on one of their ships?&nbsp; How can that be? </em> There were so many burning questions left in her mind fueled by a passionate curiosity to know more, but even though Katherine hated leaving a mystery unsolved, she quietly resigned herself to the fact this one would likely remain beyond her grasp.&nbsp; However, there was no mistaking the sense of urgency or foreboding from the way Alianne delivered her words to the Captain, and Katherine's thoughts spiralled out of control from the implications of it. She visibly tensed as icy tendrils of fear coiled around her heart like a vice, knowing there was no way to warn their ship and no way to tell if they had already encountered the aliens, or what they might find when they returned.&nbsp; Staring intently at Captain Hunter, she tried to communicate her concerns silently, while waiting to see if he would ask Alianne more or decide to leave, either way she had no doubt he would react quickly, and it seemed McCormack agreed because he shuffled into position behind him.&nbsp; It was difficult to think of abandoning all these people here, but there simply wasn't time to try and convince them leave nor would it be wise to interfere, and so she stepped in behind McCormack ready to go as soon as Captain Hunter gave the order.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>08-01-2011, 18:38:28</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Scott tensed up visibly in preparation for a fight when the older man began to respond; however, just as quickly his tension eased as the older woman stepped forward and introduced her self. Scott was instantly at ease and enthralled with the woman. He knew that they had nothing to fear from her and by extension of her leadership, nothing to fear from any of the people assembled. He suddenly felt safer than he had since they arrived on this strange world.<br><br>He listened intently and although he didn’t understand the mechanics that made time travel possible, he believed Alianne. He knew in his core that she was telling the truth about everything. Scott watched the conversation the two women were having, almost jealous of the connection they seemed to share. But he too felt a connection with this strange woman. Something he couldn’t place his finger on.<br><br>Her discussion with Dr. Randall at an end Alianne walked to stand in front of him as she spoke her warning. Scott looked into her eyes, almost mesmerized and for perhaps the first time in his life he understood the meaning of being lost in the eyes of a woman. In another time or place perhaps…<br><br>Her final words brought him back to the present and he glanced around at the assembled people genuinely concerned for their safety but before he could even offer any more assistance Alianne shook her head no. “Do not worry for us Scott.” She said sweetly as she took his hand in hers. “We have been here far longer than you can understand and our future here is a good one despite the dangers. Go now. Your people need you.”<br><br>Scott nodded his head slowly still gazing at the woman before him. Alianne smiled brightly and sweetly and released his hand. Scott wanted to stay for reasons he couldn’t explain but his mind quickly returned to his duties and he glanced at his two companions as if he just remembered them. “Let’s go.” He said as he turned and hurried back toward the ship. He dared not turn around and instead picked up his pace to a jog.<br><br>It seemed to take half as long to get back to the wreckage as it took to get to the clearing and although they had jogged the entire way they didn’t feel tired at all. It was obvious that all three of them were aware of their strange experiences but no one talked about it. The rest of the team were waiting for them, looking a little worried. Sgt. Walters spoke first: “We were about to leave when we heard you coming up the hill.” He said with a smile that quickly turned to a look of concern when he looked at the three of them. Before he could even ask if they were ok Scott spoke up. “I will try to explain on the way but we have to move now. McCormack; take the rear. We are gonna move fast people. Follow me.” He said as he started a fast paced jog back to the gate. He did not want to be here after dark.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>09-01-2011, 04:56:57</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong><em>Dr. Heath and Dr. Rahimi<br>During the away team’s mission<br>Discovery Control Room</em></strong><br><br>Janet was ecstatic; things had progressed much faster than she could have dreamed and with minimal problems, and now she had a team exploring their first new world!&nbsp; For years, she had secretly coveted a position of power in the Stargate program, and now after months of playing politics with the military with a Machiavellian brilliance, here she was in control of an Ancient star ship, unquestionably the most important discovery in human history, solely responsible for exploring the ultimate final frontier on behalf of all humankind.&nbsp; Reporting to no one but herself, she was without a doubt in a unique position of power and she relished it, refusing to accept anything less than glorious success. Yes, this was both a dream come true, and the opportunity of a lifetime, a chance to discover new technologies, species and worlds that would enrich her knowledge in ways she was impatient to discover.&nbsp; <br><br>A beep on the console interrupted her train of thought and she regarded the younger Aerospace Engineer standing across the room, smiling.&nbsp; He was a brilliant technician, and as soon as he came on board, seemed to have an almost intuitive understanding of the Ancient’s technology, and he had already read every detail given to them by the Colonel from Destiny and committed it to memory.&nbsp; It was impressive and more than she hoped for.&nbsp; Since the away team would be on the surface below for some time yet, her priority right now was making sure the weapon systems and shields were fully operational and ready.<br><br>She cleared her throat. “Dr. Rahimi, did you finish your analysis on the shields yet?”<br><br>He turned around and nodded. “Yes, they are fully functional, but I think we will need to run tests at some point with the weapon system.&nbsp; I’d feel better if we could estimate how much of a drain it will be depending on weapons usage.”<br><br>Dr. Heath smiled. “Excellent, I was thinking exactly that.&nbsp; Are you ready?”<br><br>“Yes.” He replied, startled that she wanted to do it now.<br><br>“Alright, I am going to activate each weapon in five second intervals, until they are all online, and then I will fire each in sequence.&nbsp; However, since this will be our control test, I don’t want to drain the shields or the power reserves more than five percent, understood?”&nbsp; She said gravely.&nbsp; “Then we can run a second, slightly longer test, just to make sure our first readings are correct.”<br><br>He nodded again, “Yes, no problem, I’ll let you know once we hit that.”&nbsp; Hesitating for a moment, he asked, <br>“One question Dr. Heath, we already know that everything is operational, so shouldn’t we wait until the team is back before doing this, just in case?”<br><br>Janet’s expression turned cool. “No I don’t,” she said sharply. “I am confident everything is under control, so if you would be so kind as to do as I asked, we’ll get started,” she said, glaring at the young man until he quickly turned around.&nbsp; Janet smiled and without a second thought, activated the first weapon system.<br><br><br>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br><strong><em>Dr. Randall and the Away Team, still on the planet's surface</em></strong><br><br>Katherine’s&nbsp; fear diminished a little bit and her expression softened as she watched the Captain and Alianne say their final goodbyes.&nbsp; It was evident he found the mysterious woman just as enthralling as she did, and she wondered if he felt the same inexplicable connection.&nbsp; There was no question in her mind this experience would change her life forever, and she wished there had been more time to spend with these extraordinary people.&nbsp; With one final wistful glance at Alianne, Katherine smiled compassionately and raised her hand slightly to say goodbye, then turned and took off behind the others.<br><br>The three of them jogged at a fast pace, which suited her just fine since running always helped clear her mind and that was something she desperately needed.&nbsp; They remained silent until they reached the others, who looked very relieved to see them, but Walters seemed to sense something was off, though he didn’t ask questions.&nbsp; Of course, Walters didn’t know why the Captain was so serious and forcing everyone to push their limits to make it back to the gate in record time, but she did.&nbsp; Albrecht also seemed concerned about what happened while they were away, and as they followed the Captain back to the gate, he ran beside Katherine and asked what happened.&nbsp; She didn’t look at him and kept her eyes focused in front, but said, “I’d rather talk about it when we’re back on the ship, but it was an enlightening experience.” He shrugged his shoulders and seemed to accept her refusal to elaborate, because he didn’t ask anything more. <br><br>By the time they reached the gate, the rain had stopped and the sun started its final descent, the cold gray sky already taking on a darker and more sinister tone.&nbsp; Katherine’s heart felt heavy and she cast her eyes upward, searching, but saw nothing beyond the tumultuous clouds swirling silently.&nbsp; With her face still turned towards the sky, she closed her eyes, hoping that they weren’t making a terrible mistake leaving the survivors here, and with a shuddering breath whispered ‘good luck’, before turning to step through the Stargate.<br><br>They made it back safely, with just under an hour before the jump and Katherine felt both enormous relief, and a lingering melancholy.&nbsp; As soon as they gathered in front of the gate, there was a flurry of activity as Dr. Heath and the others welcomed them back, congratulating them on a successful first mission with delight shining in her dark brown eyes. The doctor then ushered them all into the control room, demanding a full de-briefing, and Katherine gratefully shifted her focus to that.&nbsp; She stood beside Captain Hunter as they took turns explaining everything they witnessed, and what happened when they met the survivors, but when it came to the part about time travel, Michael Tsonis’ eyes snapped to hers and she smiled inwardly, knowing that he had more questions than she did.&nbsp; Everyone listened with rapt attention and the only person to show no surprise at anything they said, was Dr. Heath, and that struck Katherine as unusual, but perhaps she was simply putting on an air in front of the others.&nbsp; Yes, it had to be that.&nbsp; <br><br>While Dr. Heath asked Captain Hunter some specific questions about the survivors and alien species Alianne mentioned, Dr. Pike swiftly pulled Katherine aside, curiosity and concern etched on his face.&nbsp; “I’m glad to see you back, I was worried.&nbsp; It all happened so fast and we had no idea what was going on down there,” he said seriously.<br><br>Katherine shrugged.&nbsp; “Yes we didn’t have much warning, but I suspect that’s how it will be in future and I suppose we better get used to it,” she said simply.<br><br>His gaze narrowed on her and he asked, “Why do I get the feeling there is more.” He said quietly. “Is it true the survivors you found were from the future and refused to leave?&nbsp; I find that remarkable and more than a little unbelievable.” There was both wonder and disbelief in his voice as he searched her face for answers.<br><br>She frowned slightly and said, “Perhaps there is more, but just my own observations and feelings about it. And yes, they claimed to be from the future and refused to leave.&nbsp; Had you met Alianne, you would understand why we don’t doubt the truth of everything she told us.” Katherine didn’t like brushing off the kind doctor, but she truly didn’t feel like discussing more at that moment.&nbsp; What she needed was time to decompress and sort out her feelings about what had transpired on the planet’s surface.&nbsp; Then she would be able to explain it all to Dr. Pike in more detail.&nbsp; With that thought, she looked at Captain Hunter, wondering if he was suffering from the same niggling doubts and guilt she was over leaving people behind.&nbsp; <br><br>Thankfully, at that moment, Dr. Carole Davis interrupted them, clearly with questions of her own. “Did you get me some samples of the plants?” She asked enthusiastically. <br><br>Katherine’s eyes widened. “Oh no!&nbsp; I’m so sorry, but I didn’t.&nbsp; There simply wasn’t time.” She apologized again upon seeing the obvious disappointment on the woman’s face, and then remembered the soil sample. Smiling, she reached into her pocket. “Wait…here,” she handed the vial to the botanist, “I did manage to collect this, and it appears to have some sort of mineral compound mixed in with the sand.&nbsp; Surely there will be some microbes and if we’re lucky, some seeds or pollen.”&nbsp; <br><br>Dr. Davis grinned. “Well this is better than nothing, thanks Dr. Randall.&nbsp; I’ll get on it right away and let you know what I find.” <br><br>As soon as Dr. Davis left, Lt. Tara Peters came running in to the control room, out of breath and shouting at Captain Hunter. “Sir, there is an unknown vessel closing in fast, and another one already flanking us starboard side!” <br><br>Fear and dread sliced through her like an icy blade and Katherine’s gaze flew to the Captain’s and then to Dr. Heath when she ordered Dr. Rahimi to bring up the HUD, and then it seemed everyone spit in two factions.&nbsp; Most of the scientists were either yelling or scrambling to reach the observation deck to see for themselves, and the soldiers were jumping to follow orders.&nbsp; There was no question in her mind what those ships were, and as far as she knew, there was no way to jump until the sequence completed, but amidst the confusion and panic going on around her, she couldn’t remember how much time was left. Dammit! Turning to Dr. Pike with urgency, she said, “We have to keep everyone calm. Can you go to the observation deck and keep it under control there?&nbsp; I want to stay here and help if I can.”<br><br>He didn’t waste any time. “Yes, I’m on it,” he said, then dashed into the corridor.<br><br>Her heart was pounding.&nbsp; Not sure what to do next, she moved behind Dr. Heath and Captain Hunter and watched along with them as the first images of the alien craft came into focus on the HUD, alarmed by their size and what appeared to be huge cannon type weapons mounted all over the hull.&nbsp; Remembering what Alianne said about this race, she shivered and looked up at Captain Hunter.&nbsp; “How much time do we have before we can leave?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>11-01-2011, 04:12:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				On the run back to the gate Scott tried to explain what they had experienced, well the part about the survivors being attacked by a powerful enemy which was possibly on its way at that very moment to destroy their ship and everyone on it. How the hell was he supposed to explain Alianne… He couldn’t put words to it; so he didn’t bother to even try. <br><br>The return was uneventful for the most part and once they made it ‘safely’ through the gate and back to the ship he and Dr. Randall worked at explaining everything they had seen; most importantly the part about the unknown enemy. Dr. Heath took everything in stride but it was her response that struck him as most odd. When they described the attack the refugees had suffered and the fact that this enemy was likely on its way to attack them; it almost seemed as if the expedition leader brushed it off. As if it were not an issue she was worried about. But that wasn’t it, there was something else. Scott was sure she believed him but the doctor seemed nonplussed.<br><br>He had to let it go for now, Scott felt almost desperate to have the ship jump. But in the back of his mind he also worried about the people below, especially Alianne. It seemed Dr. Randall had the same thoughts as he because she too had a look of worry and it wasn’t just for their situation. McCormack too looked concerned but he stood quietly waiting for orders.<br><br>A chill ran across his spine and arms when Peters announced that unknown vessels had arrived and already flanked them. Scott had never commanded a vessel in battle, had never fought from a ship. All of his vast experience was geared toward frontline infantry tactics; this was all new to him. However, he was a combat leader and in the chaos of combat he knew a certain peace. Scott moved toward the view screen, “Shields up! Get to your guns!” Then he froze and turned to face Dr. Heath. “Sorry doctor; old habits.” He said softly.<br><br>Dr. Heath smiled at him and took a breath to calm her nerves. “Of course Captain. It’s ok. In fact I think that’s a good idea.” She added as her smile grew wider and she let out a nervous laugh. “Broadcast a signal in Ancient and English. We come in peace.”<br><br>The crew worked quickly to do as they were told and Scott’s nerves were firing at a hundred miles a minute. The actual fighting didn’t cause the adrenaline rush. During a battle the only thing on your mind was doing the right thing; killing the other person before they killed you. It was coldly simple. The hard part, the part that caused the true fear was the moment before the fight started, when you weren’t sure what to do next. In other words, moments like this one.<br><br>Scott looked to the jump clock at Dr. Randall’s question. “27 minutes.” He said, worry evident in his voice. But two minutes ticked by quietly although with no answer to their hails. A third ship jumped out then a fourth. And suddenly their hails were answered. Some kind of high energy blast erupted from all four ships and slammed into the shields with force enough to shake the ship and cause him to crash into Dr. Randall as she struggled to keep her feet.<br><br>Scott managed to find a wall to hold onto and pull Dr. Randall steady as well. He wanted to yell out to return fire or ask about the shields but he waited. That was someone else’s job and not his. Someone yelled out “Shields at 88% and falling!”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>12-01-2011, 01:59:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Twenty-seven minutes...it seemed like an eternity, and just when Katherine didn’t think things could get any worse, Dr. Rahimi shouted there were two more ships coming into view.&nbsp; The room fell silent as they waited for a response from the alien vessels now flanking them on all sides, and then without warning, they were hit with blast so powerful that everyone pitched forward.&nbsp; As she struggled to keep her balance, Captain Hunter collided into her, but before she could fall, he managed to reach out and hold her steady.&nbsp; She grasped his arm and whispered, “Thanks,” releasing him just as a panicked Dr. Rahimi belted out the shields were damaged and losing power.<br><br>Another two minutes passed while Dr. Heath appeared to be weighing her options, and Katherine held her breath, anticipating they would return fire.&nbsp; She felt completely out of her depth, and seeing the Captain tense and worried, but shackled by the authority of Dr. Heath, questions about the wisdom of placing the enigmatic scientist solely in charge crept into Katherine’s mind.&nbsp; Then, another hit blasted the shields, this time causing her to hurtle backwards into Captain Hunter, but thankfully, he held strong and kept her from falling once again, helping her stand as the lights flickered and sparks began flying from the wall across from them.&nbsp; “Shields are now at 72%!” Dr. Rahimi cried out as he braced himself against the console, turning to look at Dr. Heath. “If you’re going to fire back, you’ll have to do it now.&nbsp; Another couple of hits like that and there might not be enough power left for the weapons.” He said urgently.&nbsp; <br><br>Katherine’s heart pounded, and she watched Dr. Heath carefully, but the older woman’s face betrayed nothing, remaining unbelievably calm.&nbsp; It was impossible to know what she was thinking, and when she finally did speak, it was with a loud voice. “No, we aren’t going to return fire.&nbsp; I have a better idea.”&nbsp; Glancing at the jump clock, she said, “We have less than twenty minutes left, and I think we can hold them off.”&nbsp; Nodding, her decision made, she said, “Yes...Dr. Rahimi, send another hail.&nbsp; This time tell them we surrender, again in both English and Ancient.”<br><br>Shock didn’t begin to describe what Katherine felt, and she looked up at Captain Hunter in disbelief. “Did she just say we surrender?” Her voice was barely a whisper.&nbsp; <br><br>In fact, everyone else looked equally horrified at what Dr. Heath just said, but the woman smiled impatiently, and then addressed the room. “I have no intention of surrendering; it’s merely a stall tactic.&nbsp; If they accept, we will agree to meet them down on the surface, but tell them we need twenty minutes. That should stop their attack and hold them off until the ship jumps to FTL.&nbsp; Trust me.”&nbsp; She said with a broad grin, and then with a haughty voice, “Now,” inclining her head forward, “the hail Dr. Rahimi, if you please.” <br><br>The younger man hesitated for a second, before exhaling loudly and doing what Dr. Heath asked.&nbsp; Everyone fell silent; the raw tension in the room palpable, until one word flashed on the HUD in red. “Terms.”&nbsp; The alien attackers had apparently understood and accepted the surrender.<br><br>Smiling wider now, Dr. Heath nodded and said, “Go ahead…send the rest.&nbsp; Let’s see what they do.” She seemed overconfident.<br><br>He typed it in quickly, while wiping the sweat beading on his brow, and then pulled his shaking hands away. “OK, it’s done.” He looked around the room nervously. <br><br>This time, there was a longer gap in the alien’s response, and Katherine braced herself for another blast, but it didn’t come.&nbsp; Several seconds later, the reply flashed on the screen. “Accepted.”<br><br>“Excellent!” Dr. Heath beamed.&nbsp; “Now, all we have to do is wait for the countdown to complete and we’ll be safely on our way.”<br><br>People remained tense; doubtful that such a simple deception would work…it seemed too easy. The remaining minutes crawled by like hours, but without incident, until something flashed on the HUD. “Whoa!” Rahimi said, “Hey guys look at this!”&nbsp; His eyes grew wide as he pointed to the screen, where dozens of tiny red dots scattered from the larger vessels, smaller ships heading towards the planet’s surface, and a cold shiver ran down Katherine’s spine.&nbsp; She was frightened but not for herself or the crew, it was for the people stranded below whose faces were forever etched in her memory.&nbsp; Watching the impending swarm headed towards the planet, she leaned against Captain Hunter, feeling defeated, wanting desperately to help them but knowing they were powerless to do anything.&nbsp; Though she barely knew Scott Hunter, she sensed he of all people would understand how she felt at that moment. Ever since their shared experience with Alianne and the others, she glimpsed a different side to him, an emotional depth and compassion she didn’t expect, and she was certain he felt the same strong connection with Alianne, if not stronger.&nbsp; Taking a deep breath, she said. “I know Alianne told us not to worry, and I truly believe everything she said in a way that’s difficult to explain,” her voice was soft and just loud enough for him to hear, “but look how many of those things there are; how can they possibly withstand an invasion like that?”&nbsp; She shook her head.&nbsp; “Still…do you know what the strangest part is? In a way, despite all that I envy them, and now, everything else I thought was important, suddenly seems so superficial.”&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>15-01-2011, 15:58:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				A second wave of blasts slammed into the ship and Scott barely managed to keep his feet under him. Shields were already at 72%?! Damn these guys hit hard! Scott subtly shook his head no at the suggestion of returning fire; they were outgunned. That was a bad idea.<br><br>Scott stared hard at Dr. Heath; he was afraid she had frozen under the stress and he was just about to take command when she spoke up with her plan. Surrender. For a second he thought it was an example of the folly of allowing civilians to command a military engagement. But he could see the look on her face. He had seen the look of surrender before; it didn’t look like that. A smile crept across his face as he nodded his head in new found respect for this doctor in charge. He glanced at Dr. Randall with a small smile still on his face. “Yeah, it’s ok.” He whispered back without elaboration.<br><br>The ships had ceased firing upon them and then the word ‘Accept’ appeared on the com screen. His arms tingled and he took a deep breath as the adrenaline dumped into his system. However; the relief of knowing they were going to be able to jump to safety was quickly overtaken by another fear as he saw the smaller ships heading for the planet below them. Heading for Alianne and her people…<br><br>Without thinking, he put his arm around Dr. Randall in an effort to comfort her as well as calm his own fears. She started speaking and it was if he suddenly realized he had his arm around a beautiful co-worker; he released her and stepped back to create a small amount of space between them but his expression of shared fear did not change. He nodded in agreement with her. “I know.” He said quietly when she mentioned the invasion below. He tilted his head when she said she envied Alianne and the others. He really had trouble putting words to their experience on the planet, let alone wrapping his head around it. He knew how he felt and that was all. And he understood exactly what Dr. Randall was saying. Her eyes revealed a compassion he hadn’t expected to see for some reason.<br><br>Scott smiled at her, not a smile of joy but of shared pain and worry; and shared compassion. “I know.” He practically whispered to her. Scott was hardly a master of words.<br><br>They waited quietly, hardly anyone moved or spoke as the minutes ticked by at a snails pace. Finally, the clock showed two more minutes till the jump. Everyone seemed to jolt awake at the same time when a message flashed on the comm. “Exit now!” A demand. Dr. Heath shook her head before anyone even asked what to do. “Ignore it. All power to the shields.” Another minute crawled by and as everyone stared at the seconds vanishing on the clock the enemy ships opened fire again. This time their blasts hit empty space as the Discovery darted into the jump. They were safe.<br><br>Scott took a deep breath and looked at Dr. Randall. He wanted to hug her, in fact he started to, but he also wanted to kiss her and neither one of those was very professional. Instead he smiled warmly at her; this time a smile of relief. He glanced around the room at the faces of the crew and smiled. They had been through quite a bit but he was impressed at how well they worked together. His eyes met Dr. Heath’s and his smile brightened. He nodded his approval and his respect. He doubted she needed anything of the sort from him but he gave it nonetheless.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>16-01-2011, 02:52:10</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br>The remaining minutes continued to tick by while Katherine remained lost in the melancholy of her thoughts, but when Captain Hunter placed his arm around her, she instinctively relaxed against him, grateful for the gesture, and comforted by his warmth and strength.&nbsp; In that instant, inexplicably, she felt a silent communication pass between them, a shared understanding that made words unnecessary, but when he pulled away, she straightened, suddenly aware of the inappropriateness of her reaction.&nbsp; He was essentially still a stranger to her, and yet, his reply to what she said, simple words whispered gently, spoke volumes, and confirmed he felt the same worry, pain and admiration for the people below that she did.&nbsp; Looking up at him curiously, Katherine studied the handsome and compelling man for a moment as though seeing him for the first time, wanting to say more, but instead she merely blinked and returned his empathetic smile with one of her own.<br><br>Then, entire room seemed to jump to life when the deadline arrived and the alien demand flashed abruptly on the screen.&nbsp; Katherine’s heart started pounding again as her eyes flew to the countdown clock, and then to Dr. Heath as she shouted her orders, but in a flash, just as the enigmatic leader predicted, Discovery safely made the jump and they were finally out of harm’s way.&nbsp; Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief, some clapped, and Katherine trembled slightly, overwhelmed by intense relief, a sense of victory, and the release of pent up tension.&nbsp; Smiling now, she turned to Captain Hunter who also looked pleased and relieved, to the point he almost reached out to hug her, and then something else flashed across his face that made her think he might kiss her.&nbsp; Katherine held her breath, pulse quickening, but it disappeared just as quickly, and he simply smiled.&nbsp; &nbsp;She exhaled slowly, wondering if it was simply the intensity of the moment, her imagination, or something else.&nbsp; Giving herself a little mental shake, she continued smiling and followed Captain Hunter’s gaze as he looked out at the rest of the crew.&nbsp; He was undoubtedly satisfied with how everyone performed during the first real life-threatening situation, and she had to agree it was very encouraging; everybody stayed calm, cool and collected despite their heightened sense of panic. His newfound respect for Dr. Heath was also obvious, and not lost on the older scientist who began walking towards them.<br><br><em>Janet grinned at Captain Hunter.&nbsp; He was the only member of the crew to instantly comprehend what her intent was in surrendering, and there was no question he had been thinking exactly the same thing, it was evident on his face the moment she gave the order.&nbsp; The Marine Captain was shrewd indeed, and now she had little doubt about his ability to take command should the situation require it, which delighted her immensely.&nbsp; Besides, she was convinced he would now make a positive report to the Colonel, giving the man no reason to question her authority.&nbsp; Oh yes, everything was working out marvellously.</em><br><br>Dr. Heath stopped a few inches away from the Captain and Katherine, and crossed her arms, still grinning broadly. “I dare say we managed that rather well wouldn’t you agree Captain?&nbsp; Perhaps after your team has surveyed the ship for damage, you’ll be able to join me in the communications lab.&nbsp; I think it’s time I gave the Colonel a progress report, and I’m sure he’d like to hear your version of events.” She said enigmatically.<br><br>Dr. Heath didn’t look at Katherine or anyone else, and clearly had an agenda.&nbsp; Nobody but Katherine seemed to notice the frown on Dr. Rahimi’s face as he watched the conversation unfold, and though she toyed with the idea of waiting around to see how everything would play out, she remembered Dr. Pike and the others, and took the opportunity to excuse herself. “Congratulations Dr. Heath,” she said with respect, “you handled it perfectly for which we’re all thankful I’m sure, but if you’ll excuse me, I want to check on the others.”&nbsp; With a nod to the older woman, she regarded Captain Hunter silently for a couple of seconds, then smiled softly and quickly exited the room; feelings from both the strange encounter on the planet, and the unexpected connection with Captain Hunter moments ago, still lingering in awareness.<br><br>By the time she reached the observation deck, it was empty.&nbsp; Concerned, she turned back to the corridor, running until she reached the infirmary, where there was a flurry of activity and her focus shifted entirely.&nbsp; Several scientists were either lying or sitting on beds visibly injured, and Dr. Pike looked up with relief when he saw she arrived. “Oh good…come here!”&nbsp; He said while waiving her forward.<br><br>Katherine started to explain what happened, but he interrupted. “You can tell me all about it later, right now I’ve got four people with either head contusions or lacerations of varying severity, and I’m trying to figure out these damn Ancient systems!” He let out a disgusted breath, clearly frustrated and in full emergency doctor mode.&nbsp; “Dr. Ning was knocked around pretty bad during the first blast, and she hasn’t regained consciousness.&nbsp; Stay with her while I see to the others, and if you notice any change in her vitals, tell me immediately, yes?” He stared at Katherine intently before switching his attention to Dr. Tsonis who had a nasty looking gash on his arm.<br><br>Nodding mutely, she gazed down at the pale young woman, shrugging out of her uniform jacket before gently picking up Dr. Ning’s wrist to feel the pulse, making sure it was normal.&nbsp; It was, but head wounds could be so unpredictable, and Katherine watched carefully with concern in her eyes, gently placing the back of her hand against Dr. Ning’s cheek and waited.&nbsp; <br><br>How long she stood there she couldn’t say, but she began to feel the inevitable crash that always follows a harrowing event once the adrenaline wears off, and it was a struggle to keep her eyes open.&nbsp; Eventually Dr. Ning started to come around, and Katherine felt a renewed rush of energy, quickly calling Dr. Pike over.&nbsp; Shoving her aside, he checked the patient over and smiled, then turned to Katherine. “Ah, good, she’ll be fine, I’m sure of it…don’t worry.”&nbsp; He looked at her closely and then waived his hand dismissively.&nbsp; “Now…everything is under control here, so why don’t you go get some sleep?&nbsp; In fact…Doctor’s orders!”&nbsp; He grinned. “That goes for all the rest of the away team too, if you happen to see them on your way.&nbsp; I may not be in charge around here, but I can still give <em>some</em> orders.” He winked.<br><br>Katherine chuckled, and gave a mock salute. “Yes sir doctor.”&nbsp; Then more seriously, she said, “Are you sure? Everyone is fine?&nbsp; I didn’t even get a chance to tell you all the details.”&nbsp; She surveyed the room, but people were standing and chatting calmly, even the wounded. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling she ought to be doing something, even if it was just talking to people to ensure they weren’t traumatized by what just happened, but Dr. Pike was insistent and probably correct, she wasn’t at her best that was for sure.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>“Yes, yes,” he said impatiently, “nothing too serious after all.&nbsp; I’m going to find Dr. Heath and bring her up to speed, so I’ll find out what happened from her.&nbsp; Now go before this curious lot decides to subject you to their version of the Spanish Inquisition.” He joked.<br><br>“Very well, but promise you’ll come and find me if you need more help ok?” She smiled then grabbed her jacket, and quietly slipped out of the infirmary before anyone noticed her leaving.<br><br>Once in the corridor, she walked towards her quarters, but when she passed the observation deck, the empty space and breathtaking view beckoned with a promise of peaceful solitude, and Katherine stepped inside.&nbsp; Transfixed by the spectacular hues of brilliant colour rippling past the giant window, it allowed her to hold at bay the troubling thoughts that threatened to surface from the far reaches of her mind, if just for a moment, and she stood silently, hugging her arms around her chest, staring at the ribbons of light.&nbsp; It triggered a memory, and the strange conversation with Alianne crept into her mind.&nbsp; The implications of what the mysterious woman said about the nature of time travel fascinated her, but she sighed, quickly realizing that trying to analyze and make sense of it was nothing more than an exercise in vexation; she’d never truly understand it, so she let it go. <br><br>Determined to keep her thoughts neutral, she checked her watch, and was surprised to see two hours had passed since their escape from the alien vessels, but Katherine knew she wouldn't be able to sleep, not yet, so she decided to stay a little longer.&nbsp; Remembering what Dr. Heath said about reporting to the Colonel, she wondered if there was still time to sit in on the meeting, and perhaps see the stones in action after all.&nbsp; She doubted it, but was more than a little curious to find out what the brusque commander would think of the events since Discovery began its mission.&nbsp; Smirking, she remembered her run in with him back on Icarus Base, and had no doubt whatever the Colonel’s opinion, it would likely prove entertaining at the very least.&nbsp; Putting on her jacket, still enthralled as she continued to gaze at the awe inspiring beauty before her, she decided her curiosity just would have to wait a few more minutes.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>17-01-2011, 18:51:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Scott was still turning over the days events in his head when Dr. Heath quickly approached him. She didn’t seem to have anything to say to anyone else but him, which he thought was odd in itself considering the rest of the crew had done all the work to get them to safety while he stood silently by. Then she told him she wanted him to join her in reporting to the colonel. It made sense, she had seen his look of approval and surely she would want the colonel to know about it before he changed his mind. But what was she really playing at?<br><br>Scott snapped to attention and nodded crisply, “Yes Ma’am. I will meet you there as soon as I can.” Then he followed Dr. Randall’s lead in exiting the room. Scott rounded up the military personnel and aside from a few bumps and scrapes everyone is doing well. Checking the ship kept him from thinking about much else and that was just as well. It took just over an hour but in the end they had only sustained minor damage to the ships auxiliary systems and a few injuries. Amazingly they were much better off than he had anticipated. The surrender ploy had worked wonders to mitigate the damage. <br><br>He dismissed everyone and then made his way for the communication stones. The stones were still an unknown for him. On the one hand he had his doubts that they even worked. It just didn’t make sense. But on the other, he wanted to experience it for himself. Changing bodies with someone a thousand or hundreds of thousands of light years away! He would be using the body of another person on earth and they would be using his. And with that instant thought he changed directions for his room to take a shower and put on a clean uniform. It would not be good to have someone else using his body and being disgusted by the smell of his day of running around and sweating on an alien world.<br><br>In one moment he was sitting on a spaceship and in the next he was in a basement office of the Pentagon. A distant part of him screamed to return to his own body but once he got up and moved around things felt natural enough. Apparently the people here were fairly used to this so he was the only one who seemed out of sorts. He smiled at Dr. Heath who was now apparently in the body of a woman half her age and as she turned to report to the IOA, Scott was told that the colonel was waiting for him upstairs.<br><br>He sat across from Colonel Miller after confirming his identity; the colonel quickly dismissed all pleasantries and simply said “Report.” Scott had hoped for little give and take or maybe a hello but he had to remind himself that he may spend his time surrounded by civilians but he was a Marine. Scott quickly recounted their first few days on the ship providing only pertinent details of the encounter on the planet. He told about the attack by the unknown enemy. And he made specific mention of Dr. Heath’s apparent courage under fire and her brilliant surrender and escape. He made sure to mention that he agreed it was the best, and likely the only, option.<br><br>For the next fifteen minutes he was interrogated by the colonel. He had questions about Dr. Heath and more than a few questions about Dr. Randall’s limited experience in the field. But he also seemed to have questions about every single civilian on the mission. Scott did his best to deflect the questions and to provide politically correct answers. He truly didn’t have anything bad to say about anyone at this point it had only been a few days! And when he finally got around to mentioning that it seemed to calm the colonel a bit. “I understand Captain.” He said finally. “There is a large battle brewing right now for control of the Stargate Program. I’m afraid the eggheads at the IOA are winning and I can’t allow that. The program has always been in the hands of the military and it should remain so.” The colonel then launched into a speech about ‘damned politics’ and ‘civilians’ who don’t know how to wage war; it was becoming increasingly clear what the situation was and why he and Dr. Heath had been placed at odds from the start.<br><br>Finally upon his return to his own body and his new space bound home he trudged to his room, more mentally drained than he had been in a long time. It was late and all he wanted to do was go to his room and get some sleep. He reminded himself of the old military saying, ‘The only easy day was yesterday.’ which always seemed to bring a smile to his face and a simple resignation. He wasn’t sure why but he was feeling a bit out of place out here in the stars.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>20-01-2011, 03:04:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Still on the Observation deck, time quietly passed by until Katherine’s fatigue finally caught up with her.&nbsp; Giving up the notion of trying to sit in on the meeting with Colonel Miller, it was all she could do to make it back to her room and crawl into bed, succumbing almost instantly to a deep and blissful sleep, free of troubled thoughts and dreams.&nbsp; When she woke the next morning feeling more refreshed than she had in days, she quickly showered, dressing in blue jeans and white cotton blouse, before heading to grab some breakfast.&nbsp; As she made her way towards the mess hall, the events of yesterday slowly resurfaced, but she gently pushed them aside, and focused instead on planning her next research project.&nbsp; <br><br>The bittersweet aroma of coffee drifting down the corridor was a pleasant surprise, and Katherine grinned, picking up her pace.&nbsp; Once inside the hall, she wasted no time pouring a steaming cup of coffee, leaning down, breathing deeply and savouring the delicious scent.&nbsp; Looking around she grabbed a breakfast ration, and scanned the room until she saw Dr. Rahimi, Dr. Davis and Dr. Pike sitting together, deep in conversation.&nbsp; Walking towards them, she said good morning, sat down and began sipping her coffee, listening to the other three as they discussed the narrow escape with the alien vessels, and Dr. Heath’s leadership in particular.&nbsp; They all seemed quite positive about it, and there wasn’t so much a hint of concern or fear.&nbsp; Then Dr. Rahimi shared details of what happened in the communications lab, and Katherine’s interest piqued.&nbsp; The idea that a simple stone could allow the consciousness of two people to exchange bodies while light years apart was endlessly fascinating to her, and blew the commonly accepted psychological theories about the biological nature of the human psyche right out of the water.&nbsp; She made a mental note to ask Dr. Heath for a full account of her experience, and request the opportunity to participate during the next meeting so she could study the phenomenon first hand.&nbsp; Since Dr. Rahimi didn’t know the details of what transpired back at the Pentagon, she’d have to get that information from Dr. Heath as well, but there would be time for that later.&nbsp; Right now, she was curious about what had troubled the Aerospace Engineer yesterday while he watched Dr. Heath speak to Captain Hunter.<br><br>Keeping her expression casual, she turned to him and asked, “I couldn’t help but notice you seemed troubled by something yesterday in the control room, was it something Dr. Heath said?”<br><br>Dr. Rahimi shifted in his seat so that he faced her and said, “Well…actually it was what she didn’t say.”&nbsp; He then explained the weapons testing that took place while Katherine and the others were off ship, and his concerns about the risk should anything malfunction or drain the power reserves, putting the lives of the away team in jeopardy.&nbsp; “My take on it was that she didn’t care about you and the others as much as satisfying her own curiosity.&nbsp; She also didn’t tell the Captain about it, and I kinda felt like that was information he would have wanted to know.” He added.<br><br>The other two at the table began nodding; murmuring their agreement and Katherine frowned. “The tests were successful I assume?&nbsp; Nothing happened that I should know about?” She asked seriously.<br><br>He shook his head. “No, no…everything went as planned and we are confident now about what our limits are should, God forbid, we ever end up in a battle.” He looked down at the table.<br><br>Katherine tilted her head. “None of us want a battle Dr. Rahimi, but you know the odds are against us not finding ourselves in one, and it’s good we are prepared, especially in light of what happened yesterday.” She said soberly.&nbsp; “I can’t believe Dr. Heath would have put anyone’s life at risk.”&nbsp; She smiled and shook her head. “No, I refuse to believe that.&nbsp; From day one, the crew has been a priority for her, and in fact, that’s more or less, why I’m here, to see to everyone’s well-being at her insistence.&nbsp; I will mention it to Captain Hunter though if it makes you feel better.” She said soothingly.&nbsp; “In fact, why don’t you prepare a report for him?&nbsp; I’m sure he’ll appreciate knowing the ship’s capabilities and limitations.”<br><br>“Sure Dr. Randall, no problem.”<br><br>Katherine smiled and looked at her fellow scientists.&nbsp; “Listen, since we’re going to be working together for the foreseeable future, why don’t we dispense with the formalities and drop the pretentious titles.&nbsp; Please call me Katherine.”<br><br>All three smiled back and nodded. “Sounds good to me Katherine.&nbsp; It was beginning to sound like a faculty meeting around here.” Carole Davis chuckled.<br><br>“Perfect.” Hassan Rahimi smiled.<br><br>“Agreed.” David Pike grinned.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br>Deciding it was time to get to work, but realizing she hadn’t eaten yet Katherine grabbed her coffee and breakfast, excused herself and returned to the lab.&nbsp; Sitting down at her desk, she began eating absently while leafing through some files, the earlier conversation with her colleagues playing through her mind.&nbsp; She hoped she had successfully quelled the budding tide of discontent, and though it was normal for people to question authority at some point, she hadn’t expected it to come so soon.&nbsp; It would be one more thing to discuss with Dr. Heath as soon as she had a chance.&nbsp; <br><br>Shifting her attention to work, Katherine opened a sealed envelope that held the scope of her first research project, a study on Circadian Rhythms during long Space flights.&nbsp; NASA had pioneered study in this field, in preparation for a future manned space flight to Mars.&nbsp; Little did they know a team of non-astronauts would travel across the galaxy before the Mars mission craft had even been engineered, and so NASA wanted data they could only get from Discovery’s mission, which meant every member of the crew was expected to wear a monitoring device, called an Actillume bracelet.&nbsp; It was the size of a watch and designed to track sleep and wake cycles.&nbsp; Since the daylight cycles in space are nonexistent thus disrupting the neurobiological mechanisms of sleep, the hypothesis was that every crew member would slowly gravitate towards a 23 hour cycle and experience significant sleep disruptions, causing poor performance and irritability, unless properly managed. She should have administered the monitors on day one to get accurate baseline readings, but there hadn’t been time.&nbsp; Thankfully, it took more than a few days for the human body’s natural clock to shift, so the small delay shouldn’t skew the data at all.&nbsp; <br><br>The sound of footsteps caused her to look up as Dr. Heath entered the lab. “Good morning Kat, how is everything?”&nbsp; She smiled.<br><br>Katherine smiled back briefly, and then invited the doctor to sit down.&nbsp; “Oh, I can’t complain, at least there is coffee now.”&nbsp; Turning more serious she said, “So, what happened with Colonel Miller last night?”&nbsp; Leaning in closer with a look of curiosity, she added. “More importantly, how did it <em>feel</em>?”<br><br>Dr. Heath chuckled and gave a detailed perspective of what it felt like to switch bodies with someone else, and then before Katherine could ask any questions, she gave her overview of the meeting, elaborating on the growing contention between the IOA and Military as each struggled to wrest power from the other. Katherine let out a disgusted breath. “Typical.&nbsp; Petty politics once again, or should I say petty egos…as if we don’t have enough to deal with.&nbsp; If they put half as much effort into finding solutions to their differences as they do bickering like children, imagine what they could accomplish.”<br><br>The older woman smiled. “Too true, however, there isn’t anything to worry about.&nbsp; I have some powerful allies at the IOA, and even the Colonel can’t interfere.&nbsp; Besides, I managed to convince his superiors that I was the best qualified to lead this mission, and thanks to our alien friends, I’ve been able to prove them correct.&nbsp; Even Captain Hunter backed me up which seemed to hold much weight with our friend the Colonel.”<br><br>The odd way she phrased that point astonished Katherine, and her gaze narrowed on the woman seated across from her.&nbsp; “I’m not sure ‘thanks’ is appropriate under the circumstances.&nbsp; You do realize we were severely outgunned and Dr. Ning was seriously hurt as were others?&nbsp; Not to mention the invasion and attack on human lives stranded on the planet below?”&nbsp; She said heatedly.<br><br>Dr. Heath clucked her tongue. “Of course not, you should know that’s not what I meant.” Her hands waived dismissively.&nbsp; “Anyway, it matters little now, since I am here and they are light years away.&nbsp; It’s not like they can replace me.”<br><br>Katherine frowned. “No I suppose not.&nbsp; However, it would be a good idea for you to spend more time one on one with the others; build a rapport with the team.”&nbsp; She thought about explaining Hassan’s concerns but changed her mind at the last minute.&nbsp; Something in the older woman’s demeanour made her hold back, and though she couldn’t say exactly what, the last thing she wanted was to have Dr. Heath feel threatened by one of their crew.&nbsp; No, for now everything was fine, so she decided to leave it alone.<br><br>“Team building? Honestly Kat, that’s your job.”&nbsp; She said impatiently before standing up and walking to the door. “Why else do you think you’re here?”&nbsp; <br><br>That stung somewhat, but Katherine tried to brush it off and looked at Dr. Heath solemnly.&nbsp; “Of course, we won’t discuss it again then,” she said.<br><br>Dr. Heath smiled. “Oh before I forget, Dr. Davis is busy analyzing that soil sample you collected and asked if you could find someone to help her in the garden since Dr. Ning isn’t up to it.&nbsp; I told her I would take care of it.”&nbsp; On that note, she said goodbye and waltzed back into the hallway.<br><br>Katherine sat back in her chair, wondering what the hell just happened, and what could account for the aloofness in Dr. Heath’s behaviour.&nbsp; <em>Probably just having difficulty adjusting to it all as I am, either that, or I’m being too sensitive.</em> Sighing, she got up from the desk, and went to help the biologist, lamenting the fact that she never seemed to find a moment’s peace.&nbsp; <br><br>On her way, she saw Lt. Peters and Sgt. Walters walking towards her looking conveniently unoccupied.&nbsp; Grinning, she waived them over and quickly asked them to report to Dr. Davis, and help her in any way that they could.&nbsp; Both soldiers looked at each other, and Walters tried to protest, but Katherine held up her hands. “Unless you have specific orders to be somewhere else, then I expect you to do as I ask.”&nbsp; She said firmly and looked at the frowning Sgt. “Well, do you have orders?” She waited for a reply but Walters just shook his head. “Perfect, then I can count on you to get your hands ‘dirty’.”&nbsp; Smiling, she turned around and went back to the lab.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>23-01-2011, 05:02:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Scott woke with a sadness he was unused to feeling. He wasn’t sure where it was coming from but he strongly suspected it had something to do with his experience on the strange planet which was now lightyears behind them. He showered and dressed quickly, putting g on his best looking uniform. After a small but decent breakfast he made his way to the bridge. During the encounter with the hostile alien ships he realized how little he really knew about ship board operations and this spaceship in particular. He planned on correcting that shortcoming as soon as possible.<br><br>Scott spent the first part of his day on the bridge getting more familiar with the operations of the ship and most specifically its layout and defensive systems. He found that most of the civilian bridge crew were very helpful, especially Dr. Rahimi. Although at times the doctor seemed to be slightly condescending, he seemed to actually take pleasure in teaching Scott about the ships systems and was more than helpful. Scott realized that his distrust of civilians was probably getting the better of him; that was something he would have to work on.<br><br>Before he could head to the cafeteria and get some lunch he was informed that he was to attend a meeting with Dr. Heath and several other personnel. Scott arrived in the newly converted conference room to see Dr. Heath, Dr. Rahimi, Dr. Pike and two other doctors whose names escaped him. A smile spread across his face when he saw Dr. Randall sitting in a chair up front, and fortunately there was an empty chair next to her which he promptly sat in. He was only a little surprised to see that he was the only military person invited to this particular meeting.<br><br>“Captain Hunter, I’m glad you could make it.” Dr. Heath said as he sat down. “I thought it would be helpful if we could review our first few days on the ship and see where we stand and where we need to improve.” Dr. Heath spoke from the head of the table, obviously using every psychological advantage she could find.<br><br>“First I would like to commend the captain and his team, including our own Dr. Randall.” Scott didn’t miss the reference to “our own” as if separating his soldiers from her civilians. Or was he being influenced by the colonel’s words… “They did an excellent job on our first investigation of another world and I’m glad they all made it back safely. Also, I would like to thank Dr. Rahimi and his bridge crew for their perfect handling of our first combat encounter. Job well done to all of you.”<br><br>“And now on to less pleasant things: Captain Hunter, I have received a few complaints about some of your troops not following instructions or being rude to civilian personnel. I don’t think I need to tell you that this type of behavior will not be tolerated and I expect you will put a stop to it immediately.”<br><br>Scott was floored. She was talking to him as if she was a general! She could have told him in private, mentioned the specific incident and allowed him to address it. But instead she chose to chew his ass in front of her fellow doctors! What the fuck was she trying to accomplish. Scott’s face reddened in anger and he wanted to stand up and confront her, but his military discipline quickly gained control and he took a deep breath before speaking calmly, his voice barely betraying his anger.<br><br>“I understand Dr. Heath and I will address it with my troops. However, I would like to also add that I too have received a few complaints. The soldiers aboard this ship may not be well read doctors or engineers but they are highly trained and highly skilled professionals who have more than earned the right to be here. They are not children who can be ordered around on a whim. I agree that all military personnel should follow all reasonable instructions from any civilians who ask. However you must understand that we in the military have a definite chain of command and my people will follow MY orders first and foremost.”<br><br>Scott realized his voice had grown louder in anger and he leaned back in his chair to calm himself. “I will make sure my people are more respectful in the future but please understand this is a two way street.” Scott turned to look at the doctor seated next to him and smiled tightly. “Wouldn’t you agree, Dr. Randall?” He felt bad about putting her on the spot but he felt that she would agree with him…and besides, she was one of the civilians his team had complained about.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>25-01-2011, 04:57:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				It was almost lunchtime when Dr. Pike poked his head inside the lab, whistling to catch Katherine’s attention.&nbsp; Startled, she looked up and he said their presence was requested in the conference room by Dr. Heath…some kind of crew meeting.&nbsp; Sighing, she leaned back in her chair and rubbed the back of her neck.&nbsp; “Damn, I was hoping for no interruptions today.&nbsp; Very well, you go on ahead, I’ll be there shortly.”<br><br>He nodded and tapped his hand on the doorframe before turning around to leave.<br><br>Closing the files on her desk, she put the rest of her paperwork away, then set off for the meeting wondering what it could be about, and slightly worried too considering Dr. Heath’s strange behaviour earlier.&nbsp; When she finally entered the conference room, she was surprised to see none of the military crew present, though all of the scientists were. Not long after, Captain Hunter arrived, smiling as he walked towards her to settle in the empty chair at her side. Katherine’s mood brightened instantly, and she smiled back at him warmly until Dr. Heath began to speak, then she turned to give her attention to the woman at the head of the table.<br><br><em>Oh, accolades for everyone, so far so good!</em> Feeling uncomfortable at being praised simply because she didn’t die or screw up the mission, Katherine was nonetheless pleased to see Dr. Heath take the time to focus on the positives, but why wasn’t everyone present? Not a wise decision at all, and she frowned.&nbsp; However, Katherine’s ambivalence quickly gave way to shock and her mouth dropped open slightly at the doctor’s next words directed solely to Captain Hunter.&nbsp; Though she didn’t believe Dr. Heath intended to provoke him, Katherine had no doubt that was precisely what would happen.&nbsp; To confirm her suspicions, she glanced at the man seated beside her and winced slightly at the expression on his face.&nbsp; Fury clearly simmered beneath his controlled exterior, and when he finally did speak, she wasn’t sure what was more intimidating, the rage she sensed or his deliberate calmness.&nbsp; His terse reply was blunt, and rightly so in light of Dr. Heath’s lack of tact. What he said made sense, and she definitely agreed in principle, but as his voice grew louder she bristled at his tone, and then…he neatly dropped the ball right into her lap.&nbsp; <br><br>Katherine groaned inwardly but squared her shoulders, and looked at him calmly.&nbsp; “Of course I agree with you that everyone should be respectful at all times, however, I do take issue with the military chain of command taking precedence while on board, but I’ll come back to this,” she said.<br><br>Turning her attention to Dr. Heath now, she clasped her hands on the table, and kept her demeanour cool and professional.&nbsp; This entire meeting was an exercise in bad judgement and she harkened back to the good doctor’s words before this mission started, and decided now was the time to test the sincerity behind them, and the legitimacy of her position. “I have to be frank Dr. Heath that I’m very troubled by the way things are going.&nbsp; When we started this project, you made it perfectly clear to me that having the crew work together as a team was your number one priority, however, after today I have serious concerns.”&nbsp; She said firmly then gestured around the table. “First off, why are no other military personnel present? Certainly, this pertains to them, and they deserve to hear your praise in person, not through Captain Hunter.&nbsp; Surely you can see this will only reinforce that he is their leader, not you.”<br><br>Dr. Heath’s eyes grew stormy and her posture stiffened.&nbsp; &nbsp;“I think that’s quite enough Kat,” she said icily.<br><br>Katherine didn’t miss the thinly veiled warning carried in the woman’s voice or the intentional use of her nickname, but she pressed on, knowing she probably had only one chance to speak her mind. “No it’s not,” she said heatedly, leaning forward even more.&nbsp; “The only way this is going to work is if <em>all</em> of us are treated equally, and even though we each bring a certain expertise to the table, the soldiers included, at the end of the day that means nothing as far as interpersonal relations are concerned.&nbsp; We are simply individuals who have to coexist for the foreseeable future and as such, you Dr. Heath as the leader must go out of your way to treat everyone with the same consideration and level of respect.” Her voice had become stronger and she stared at Dr. Heath solemnly, hoping she would see the intent and genuine concern behind her statements.&nbsp; Judging from the expression on the doctor’s face, Katherine knew she’d probably gone too far, but was worried if things continued on the way they had been, everything would start unraveling and quickly end up damaged beyond repair.&nbsp; Convinced that the woman simply wasn't herself for whatever reason, she was confident Dr. Heath would appreciate the honesty upon reflection.&nbsp; She braced for a response but none came, so she looked around at every person seated. “As for the rest of us, until we get to know each other better and figure out how we’re going to work together, let’s try and be vigilant about not stepping on any toes unnecessarily. Agreed?” She asked firmly. <br><br>Satisfied when she saw the others slowly nodding their heads, she shifted in her seat so that she faced Captain Hunter.&nbsp; In a softer voice she said, “Now, about what you were saying, mutual respect is absolutely important and I agree with you, but on board, I don’t see how the military chain of command you mentioned can work, not if we have any hope of building a cohesive team.&nbsp; Once we leave the ship, then yes, it can and should, but otherwise, no.”&nbsp; She shook her head.&nbsp; “In addition, if there is work to be done and the soldiers are not otherwise occupied, it’s highly impractical for someone to try and find you to ask your permission every time we need help with something.&nbsp; The same holds true if you need help from one of the scientists, you shouldn’t have to ask Dr. Heath.&nbsp; We are after all, working towards the same goals.&nbsp; Wouldn’t you agree Captain?”&nbsp; <br><br>Realizing it was time to quit, she bit her lip, and watched him now to see his reaction, hopeful he would agree some compromise was necessary for the good of all concerned, and perhaps more than a little nervous she just added fuel to the fire.&nbsp; &nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>29-01-2011, 15:33:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As Dr. Randal spoke Scott calmed himself and felt vindicated with her seemingly on his side for a change. But then a dread came over him as Dr. Heath seemed to grow angrier; this was not what he had been hoping for. He had been happy to be away from the politics back on earth but now in just a few short days they were bringing the same politics and petty arguments here into the middle of nowhere.<br><br>Still; to have a civilian, especially that one, on his side sure felt good. He watched her as she continued even against the cold stare of Dr. Heath. The movement of her lips and the conviction with which she spoke gave him a fresh look at the beautiful woman beside him. So much so that he began to lose himself in the thought of kissing her, his hands on her hips, her hands touching his face… He nodded in agreement with the group when Dr. Randall asked for it. But then she turned to address him and he immediately became defensive, his wonderful daydream broken.<br><br>Listening carefully to her message instead of focusing on the feeling of being attacked he quickly became aware that he had been misunderstood. He had never meant to say that the military would follow his orders and no one else’s and he definitely didn’t mean that every request had to go through him. However he did disagree with her remark about the chain of command not working on the ship. It can and would work just fine. But as much as he wanted to argue with her on that point or even to clarify what he meant he couldn’t. He saw something in her eyes, she was sure of herself but she seemed rightfully, but only slightly, fearful of what she had just said to the two ‘leaders’ of the mission.<br><br>He looked from her eyes to her lips and the tight frown on his face was replaced by a soft and sincere smile as he nodded his head. “I do, Dr. Randall.” He wanted to look away from her lest she see the lust in his eyes or even worse have the rest of the group see it. But he couldn’t stop looking at her, “I agree with you Dr. Randall.” And finally he forced himself to turn from her and look around the room. “I think that is a very logical and reasonable request that all of us can get behind.” He slowly turned toward Dr. Heath as he continued. He did not like her, not one bit. And he may not like politics but he could play at them. “Dr. Heath I apologize for my tone earlier, I meant no disrespect to you or anyone here. I only brought up my complaint as a matter of respect for my troops but it’s obvious that there has been a lack of respect FROM them as well and it will be corrected.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>31-01-2011, 01:20:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Katherine stiffened at the frown on Captain Hunter’s face, convinced he was going to disagree with her, but his expression softened and he smiled in a way Katherine found irresistibly charming.&nbsp; The tension visibly drained from her body and she almost smiled back, but the desire in his eyes as his gaze remained fixed on her was unmistakable, and a complete surprise.&nbsp; Though unexpected, it affected her nonetheless, and she stilled, very aware of the sudden increased tempo of her heartbeat and tingling heat fluttering in her belly.&nbsp; Conscious of the others seated around the table, she was relieved when he finally turned away to address them, and pleased to hear he actually backed her up, but more importantly, grateful she could finally regain control of her senses. <br><br>In the next breath, he focused on Dr. Heath and apologized to the caustic leader with a conciliatory tone that made Katherine raise her eyebrows, and look at Dr. Heath to gauge her reaction. The older woman seemed delighted by his demeanour and sincerity, and relaxed in her chair, dangling her hands over the armrests, grinning.&nbsp; “Thank you Captain Hunter, I appreciate that.&nbsp; You obviously understand the issues and I’m confident <em>you’ll</em> do whatever is necessary to keep things running smoothly,” she said meaningfully, casting a quick derisive glance at Katherine, as if silently highlighting the sharp contrast of what she just said to her displeasure over Katherine’s earlier outburst.<br><br>An uncomfortable quiet descended, hanging like a pall over the room, at least, that was Katherine’s take on it as she glanced at her colleagues, most of whom were staring down at the table, unsure of what to say.&nbsp; Dr. Pike was the only one to look up and give her a small reassuring smile, but it only served to make her feel self-conscious.&nbsp; Heat flooded her cheeks as she fully realized her mistake in confronting Dr. Heath openly, no matter how well intended.&nbsp; Politics never was her strong point, and she clenched her fists wishing she’d never agreed to take on something so clearly outside her area of expertise.&nbsp; Staring at the table, frustrated at feeling like a chastised child yet forced to admit she should probably speak up and apologize to the woman, stubborn pride prevented her from actually doing it; instead, she would make amends later, in private.&nbsp; Hopefully, their relationship wouldn’t be damaged beyond repair.<br><br>Dr. Heath finally broke the silence, addressing the room, and snapping Katherine out of her reverie.&nbsp; “Well, I’m glad that’s all settled.&nbsp; I have more important things to discuss, specifically, the meeting with Colonel Miller.&nbsp; That is, unless anyone else has something to add?” She asked cheerfully, standing up and placing her hands on the table, waiting to see if anyone spoke up and allowing people to talk briefly amongst themselves before taking control of the room once again.&nbsp; <br><br>Katherine, still seated with her hands now clasped in her lap, turned to Captain Hunter while watching Dr. Heath, but not really listening since the woman’s focus was on the people who didn’t already know the details.&nbsp; “Why do I get the impression she’s got something up her sleeve,” she whispered absently.&nbsp; Giving him her full attention, and in a voice low enough that only he would hear, she said, “Anyway, thank you for backing me up earlier, I appreciate it and I meant what I said about agreeing with you, that mutual respect is important,” she said sincerely, and then with a wry smile added. “However, I think it’s safe to say I could have handled it better with Dr. Heath, but I will do my best to mitigate the damage.”&nbsp; Looking at him thoughtfully she paused for a brief moment before saying, “You on the other hand dealt with it very well.” She said it with approval, respect and a desire to keep things professional, but despite her intentions, quickly found her gaze lingering on his handsome features, captivated by the strong masculine lines of his face, and the dark unfathomable eyes she found so compelling.&nbsp; Acutely aware of his allure and her attraction, but unwilling to let it take control of her feelings again, she shifted in her chair and cast a glance at Dr. Heath to break the spell, needing to concentrate on something else.<br><br>“…The disagreements going on back home shouldn’t concern you, but you have a right to know about the situation.&nbsp; It is very important however, that we do not allow the opinions of Colonel Miller or his superiors to interfere with our goals, and since the IOA agrees with all of my decisions thus far, this should give us all the confidence to move forward as we see fit, without fear of reprisal from the Colonel.”&nbsp; Dr. Heath said firmly.&nbsp; “Of course, we will still continue to keep him updated and informed at all times.”&nbsp; She smiled.<br><br>The words stunned Katherine and she stared at Dr. Heath with open bewilderment.&nbsp; Did the woman really believe that?&nbsp; Was this even necessary only so early on?&nbsp; There was no question the doctor was smart and the only one on board qualified to head their mission, but this lack of diplomacy was troubling, regardless of how petty the politics were back home.&nbsp; She didn’t even have to look at Captain Hunter to know this wasn’t good, and wondered why Dr. Heath would assume he’d keep the Colonel in the dark about this.&nbsp; It didn’t make sense but confirmed she was now swimming in the unfamiliar waters of politics and power, and in danger of sinking.&nbsp; There was likely no more room for stupid mistakes...she’d have to learn how to tread water…and fast.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>03-02-2011, 00:19:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Scott was suddenly embarrassed by his behavior toward Dr. Randall. He wasn’t embarrassed at the way he felt, more for not keeping his feelings in check better. He was here on a mission and he was a professional. He needed to remember that if he hoped to maintain any semblance of his position as an officer and a Marine.<br><br>He could see how uncomfortable Dr. Randall was; her naiveté in politics of this sort had cost her some prestige with the leader of the operation. However, she had stood up to Dr. Heath which would likely prove beneficial to her in the future and she was very intelligent; getting back on Dr. Heaths good side should probably be fairly easy for her. And of course, those were also two of the main reasons he found himself so attracted to her. Although, her good looks didn’t hurt…<br><br>He responded to Dr. Randall in the same whisper, “Because politicians always do.” He said with a glance. Scott returned her smile and shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly when she mentioned his successful deflection of Dr. Heath’s ire. Her words were all business but her gaze was not, and Scott had to fight the urge to continue their conversation and instead quickly turned his attention back to Dr. Heath.<br><br>Scott wasn’t all that surprised at Dr. Heath’s pronouncement and he made sure to keep his face from revealing anything at all about how he felt about it. He was not planning on telling his troops, or anyone for that matter, about the petty political squabbles going on behind the scenes. As he sat listening to Dr. Heath basically planting the seeds for a future mutiny; he realized that he had no loyalty for either Dr. Heath or the Colonel. His loyalty was for the soldiers and civilians aboard this ship. Since the other big news he was told while in another body on Earth was that this mission would take a lot longer than previously expected. The power source that had been guaranteed to have enough power to open a gate back to earth was a failure. And there was no answer to the problem in sight.<br><br>He had taken the mission on the promise that he could return to Earth in a year, now he was being told that a return was not currently possible. And even though the colonel assured him they would find a solution, Scott could hear in the colonels voice that the possibility of that happening in the next few years was a slim one. And truthfully he wondered if the higher ups back on Earth had known that all along. He was sure that Dr. Heath had that information as well but not surprisingly she didn’t mention it. Not that he was in a hurry to tell anyone either, at least not yet.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>04-02-2011, 18:04:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As she listened to Dr. Heath finish up the meeting, Katherine tilted her head and watched Captain Hunter, both out of curiosity, and appreciation.&nbsp; Though he remained essentially impassive, she sensed him deep in thought and assumed it was concern over the meeting’s direction.&nbsp; She could understand that all too well, since it mirrored her own misgivings, and the realization they were on the same wavelength about this buoyed her confidence.&nbsp; It was so strange in a way, that he should be the one she felt was an ally, and not Dr. Heath, but the past couple of days had turned her almost all of her initial assumptions upside down.&nbsp; So much had happened in a relatively short period of time, and the profound experiences she and Captain Hunter shared, had quickly helped establish a mutual respect, or at least that’s how she felt.&nbsp; Their time on the planet, the brush with danger, and his strength and compassion throughout, had also deepened her growing attraction, but for now she felt it best not to dwell on that, convinced more than ever it was a complication neither of them needed.&nbsp; It was better to focus on simply working well together, and it pleased her to know that her very first impression of him that evening in her office back at NORAD was proving correct.&nbsp; However, his expertise was not the only thing that qualified him for this assignment in her opinion.&nbsp; No, he was also extremely smart, but even more importantly had common sense, something she considered highly underrated, and valuable beyond measure.&nbsp; <br><br>Finally, Dr. Heath stopped speaking and dismissed everyone, becoming the first to leave the table and head towards the door.&nbsp; Katherine watched her walk away and noticed Dr. Davis and Dr. Pike pull her aside, looking quite serious.&nbsp; The three spoke quietly for a few minutes, and then Dr. Heath nodded, following the other two out of the conference room.&nbsp; Katherine wondered what that was about, but assumed she’d find out eventually if it turned out to be something important.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>Glancing at her watch, she remembered she had missed lunch and was hungry.&nbsp; With the others now gone, she smiled at Captain Hunter. “I can’ t say I’m disappointed that’s over.”&nbsp; Not sure what else to say, she looked down at her lap for a moment, tempted to invite him to join her in the cafeteria, but it dawned on her she was shy to ask him for some reason, which wasn’t like her at all.&nbsp; It was silly really, since there was nothing unusual or wrong with wanting to get to know a colleague better, but she knew why she felt that way.&nbsp; She was afraid the wall of professional distance might come tumbling down and make it harder to stay detached.&nbsp; Still, <em>not</em> making an effort to be friendly would be unfair, and so she decided to take a chance.<br><br>Standing up, she smiled warmly, put her hands in her pockets and gave a little shrug.&nbsp; “Well, I’m starving.&nbsp; Since the meeting forced me to miss lunch, I think I’ll go grab something to eat.&nbsp; You’re welcome to join me if you like.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>*****************************************************************************************************************<br><br><em><strong>Dr. Pike, Dr. Davis and Dr. Heath<br>Conference Room – After the meeting</strong></em><br><br>The three scientists stood near the conference room door, and Carole Davis was the first to speak. “I’d like you to join us in the infirmary Dr. Heath, if you can. There is something I think you need to see.” She said imploringly.&nbsp; Dr. Pike nodded, and Janet saw something in his face that hinted this was important.<br><br>“Why, what’s going on?” Janet asked, frowning with concern and feeling a bit impatient.<br><br>Dr. Pike shook his head. “No, no, not here.&nbsp; It’s too complicated to explain,” he said firmly, inclining his head towards the others as though he didn’t want them to hear.<br><br>With a growing sense of alarm tinged with irritation, Janet gestured to the door, and followed the two scientists.&nbsp; They walked quickly, and once inside the infirmary, Dr. Davis stopped and turned around so she stood in facing Dr. Heath.&nbsp; With a deep breath, and her arms crossed in front of her chest, she said, “Right…well…remember that soil sample from the planet’s surface Dr. Randall gave me?”<br><br>Janet nodded. “Yes, I do.&nbsp; Did you find something in it?” She asked, not really interested.<br><br>Carole Davis looked at Dr. Pike before continuing. “Yes, it was positively teeming with microorganisms, and we’ve been examining and separating them, trying to determine their form and function.&nbsp; So far, they resemble earth bacteria, the similarities are quite remarkable,” she said excitedly, clearly thrilled with the discovery.&nbsp; <br><br>Dr. Pike coughed and then interrupted, his attention on Dr. Heath. “That isn’t why we asked you here,” he said hastily. “One strain is…how can I say this…highly specialized.&nbsp; Someone,” he shot a withering glance at Carole Davis who flinched, “placed one of these microorganisms in a contaminated petri dish, one I had already placed some influenza virus for testing.&nbsp; At that point, my experiment was ruined, but I was naturally curious, so I checked it several hours later, only to find the virus had mutated into one so complex, I’ve never seen the like.”&nbsp; He paused, running his hand through his hair in a gesture that indicated he was worried.&nbsp; “So, I ran another test, placing one of the organisms into a dish with a strain of Streptococcus B bacteria, and sure enough, within hours, it too had mutated into something I can only liken to a super bacteria, similar those we’ve seen on earth, but kicked up several notches.” <br><br>Janet raised her eyebrows and held out her hand questioningly. “And…what does that mean exactly?”<br><br>“It means that we <em>may</em> have unwittingly unleashed two superbugs on the ship, with no idea what the effect might be, and no idea if the medications we brought with us will have any effect,” he said sheepishly.<br><br>With growing annoyance Janet’s frown deepened. “So what now?&nbsp; You’re telling me that two top scientists just made an unconscionable error in judgement, and don’t have the first clue what the consequences will be?&nbsp; That these two so called experts have essentially taken the common cold and turned it into something dangerous and untreatable? Fantastic.”&nbsp; She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, while she glowered at them, clearly displeased.&nbsp; “How long until you know if anyone will be affected?” She asked, crossing her arms, impatient for an answer.<br><br>Dr. Pike shifted uncomfortably, and said, “Normally, the incubation period would be several days, and though I haven’t finished mapping the new structures yet, I’m confident in saying that we can expect these new strains to cause symptoms within hours.&nbsp; Of course we don’t know for sure that people will get infected, only that there is a risk.”&nbsp; He hesitated before asking, “So, when should we inform the others?” <br><br>Janet shook her head vehemently. “No, no...don’t say anything about this to anyone else.&nbsp; You don’t even know for sure if there will be an outbreak.”&nbsp; She eyed the two doctors to see if they objected, they didn’t, so she said, “Excellent...then there is no point setting off a panic is there?&nbsp; The last thing I need is half the crew coming down with a severe case of hypochondria.&nbsp; Just...keep me informed.”&nbsp; She said icily. Then Janet turned her back on them, and calmly walked out, completely uninterested in anything else they had to say. <br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>05-02-2011, 03:42:24</strong>
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				He had only half listened to the rest of Dr. Heath’s speech. She seemed to be more interested in talking than in hearing anything anyone else had to say. Scott was very disappointed in the direction that this trip had taken so far. He had acquired contempt for the civilian leader of this mission that he assumed was the same contempt that the colonel had for her. And that bothered him; he had no desire to be like the colonel. He also knew there was a certain strength and intelligence about her that made her right for the job…for now anyway.<br><br>Scott watched intently as the trio of doctors had a secret meeting, it was obvious they were hiding something from the rest of the room, which made him very unhappy although he did his best not to show it. He suddenly became aware that Dr. Randall was looking at him. Scott smiled at her, a warm and playful smile he usually reserved only for close friends. “I disagree; it looks like it’s just getting interesting.” He said as he nodded toward the smaller but separate meeting going on by the door.<br><br>He watched her as she seemingly searched for something to say and then stood up to place her hands in her pockets. Before he could say anything to relieve the tension that had built up during the meeting and was apparently still in the air, she asked him to dinner!? In a friend sort of way… He chided himself.<br><br>Scott started to say no and in fact he had made up three separate excuses as to why he couldn’t join her. But she looked so damn cute with her sweet but mysterious smile and her hands tucked in her pockets as if she just left the high school gym. He realized that he truly had no plans and no one else to talk to; so why not? “I’m actually pretty hungry myself, and if I remember right I still owe you some coffee.” He answered finally. Then he motioned for the door. “After you doctor.” He said with a playful smile.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>05-02-2011, 18:28:40</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Katherine’s smile brightened when she saw his playful one, and she was delighted that he accepted her invitation because she hadn't really believed he would.&nbsp; He looked so handsome and charming standing there gesturing for her to lead the way, she couldn’t help but feel a tremor of anticipation, that wonderful little sensation that holds the promise of something new, something exciting.&nbsp; “Great, and yes you do owe me a coffee Captain…I had high hopes you wouldn’t forget that earlier oversight,” she said teasingly, then walked into the corridor.<br><br>When they entered the cafeteria, it was empty, since it was long past lunch but still too early for dinner. Looking around she put her hands on her hips and gently bit her lower lip, an unconscious habit she had when uncertain about something. “Hmmm…I guess we’re on our own,” she said absently.&nbsp; She hadn’t expected they would be alone for some reason, and even though it shouldn’t matter, she was just so very <em>aware</em> of him, that it made her feel a bit nervous, yet exhilarated at the same time.&nbsp; Her heart beat a little bit faster, and a soft fluttering in her stomach made her feel a bit self-conscious, to the point she was careful not to look at him, afraid of betraying her feelings which were clearly inappropriate. <br><br>Admonishing herself for overreacting <em>again</em>, she mentally slipped back behind the wall of casual joviality, and pointed to the tables.&nbsp; “Why don’t you grab a seat?" Her voice was cheerful. "Since I invited you, I will be a good hostess and prepare dinner.&nbsp; However, I’ll expect <em>you</em> to make the coffee afterwards.”&nbsp; Smiling impishly, she turned towards the kitchen, but glanced over her shoulder and said, “I’ll only be a few minutes.”<br><br>She walked to the supplies, and began rummaging through the pre-packaged foods until she found what she wanted. <em>Ah, here we go. Not haute cuisine, but it’ll have to do.</em> Pulling out two pasta meals, she heated them up, then carefully tore open the steaming packages and placed the contents on two plates, thinking it actually smelled quite good.&nbsp; After grabbing the dishes, along with some utensils, she walked back to Captain Hunter and put everything on the table before sitting down across from him. “There…unfortunately, until we get more fresh food, this is the best I can do.”&nbsp; She flashed him a friendly smile before taking a bite of pasta, pleasantly surprised by the taste. “Mmm…actually, this isn’t bad, not bad at all.&nbsp; Either that or I’m just <em>really</em> hungry.” She laughed; feeling truly relaxed for the first time in days, and leaned forward a little bit with her fork poised above her plate.&nbsp; “So what’s the verdict?&nbsp; Is it delicious or merely edible?”&nbsp; She asked humorously, meeting his gaze, her eyes twinkling with laughter.<br><br>******************************************************************************************************************<br>&nbsp;<br><em><strong>Dr. Davis &amp; Dr. Pike - Infirmary</strong></em><br><br><br>The two doctors watched their leader coldly turn and leave the infirmary, and Nicholas let out an exasperated breath. “Jesus, she’s quite…umm…something isn’t she?” He asked, looking at Carole who wore an expression of discontent.<br><br>“No, I’ll tell you what she is…a total bitch,” she said heatedly.&nbsp; “How in the Hell did she get this assignment anyway?”&nbsp; She asked incredulously.<br><br>Nicholas chuckled at that, but shrugged.&nbsp; “No idea, but she’s in charge and we’ll have to find a way to co-exist, preferably amicably, but I’d settle for simply staying under her radar,” he said with a sigh.&nbsp; “She’s right though in a way, as much as I hate to admit it.&nbsp; We NEVER should have opened that vial outside of total quarantine, and I <em>knew</em> that!&nbsp; It was a mistake that I’d have fired an intern for instantly…go directly to unemployment, do not pass GO and do not collect $200,” he said it like a joke, but his voice was thick with self-recrimination.&nbsp; <br><br>Carole looked down at the floor, feeling uneasy. “It’s my fault entirely, I should have asked you before doing anything, I was just so excited about the discovery,” she said dejectedly.&nbsp; “So what do we do now, besides wait and see?”<br><br>“First off, there’s no point in playing the blame game, we’re both at fault, but I take full responsibility since this is my sandbox and area of expertise.”&nbsp; He held up his hands to silence her protest at what he just said. “So, now that’s settled, we need to set up a proper quarantine, and begin testing the new strain’s resistance to the medications we have,” he said firmly.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>Their conversation was interrupted by Lt. Peters.&nbsp; “Hi Dr. Pike, sorry to bother you, but I have a bit of a headache and was wondering if you had an aspirin or something.”<br><br>Nicholas and Carole looked at each other in alarm, and both had a sinking feeling, but quickly recovered.&nbsp; He smiled and gestured to an empty chair. “Of course Lieutenant, but first would you mind if I take a blood sample?&nbsp; I need one from every member of the crew, routine check-up and all that, but seeing as you’re here, you can be the first,” he lied, but smiled in that persuasive way doctors often do when something is non-negotiable.<br><br>Lt. Peters shrugged. “Sure, whatever.&nbsp; I understand.”<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>11-02-2011, 02:58:29</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				He smiled warmly as she teased him, “Of course not.” He replied. Cute and clever; he was finding it easier and easier to be around her. For a moment he thought of the complications any kind of relationship would present here on an isolated starship. But he reminded himself that relationships were her specialty… Besides, it’s only dinner. He thought with a laugh.<br><br>When she said she would make dinner he raised his eyebrows, “Well, if you’re gonna make dinner; the least I can do is make the coffee. It’s a deal.” He said as she disappeared into the supply room. Scott was a little surprised to see they appeared to be alone in the cafeteria. He hadn’t really thought of it but he had assumed there would be other people in the room to help him remain professionally polite. Being alone with the cute doctor was definitely a thought that put a smile on his face.<br><br>He watched as she confidently walked to the table and placed a large plate of pasta in front of him, “Yeah, we should be happy the Colonel remembered to send us any food at all.” He said with exasperation. Scott calmly took a bite of the meal before him and made a show of his chewing as if he were sampling a fine wine. Finally, he finished his bite and smiled. “It’s not bad at all. You know if this Doctor thing doesn’t work out for you, you could always open a restaurant.”<br><br>Scott was aware of her closeness and by the way she looked at him he couldn’t decide if she was being flirty or just plain friendly. Damn, he was so bad at that as he always preferred to think it was flirtation. His eyes danced across her face and his heart beat a bit faster. Finally he lowered his fork to pick up another bite and smiled politely. “So what made you decide to take on this mission anyway?” He asked, genuinely interested in her answer.<br><br>Before she even got a chance to speak one of his troops, Specialist Garber, interrupted their dinner. The soldier appeared stiff and unsure of himself as he smiled quickly at Doctor Randall and then stood at attention beside his commanding officer. “Sir! I just wanted you to know that I have relieved Sergeant Walters on patrol at his request.” The soldier seemed to have more to say but instead stood quietly. Scott nodded at him and glanced questioningly at Doctor Randall before looking back to the man still standing next to him. “At ease Garber, what’s the problem?”<br><br>Specialist Garber shifted from his position of attention and looked at Scott. “Sir…” He said hesitantly before finally shaking his head. “The Sergeant said it wasn’t a big deal but he didn’t look good at all. Said he was just tired and went to his room to lie down, but he looked pretty bad to me. I just thought I should let you know sir.”<br><br>“Good thinking Garber. I’ll check on him, go ahead and resume your patrol.” Garber stood at attention and saluted before quickly leaving the room and Scott turned back to Doctor Randall. “Well, looks like I’ll have to owe you a dinner to go with the coffee now.” He said with a tight smile. “I better check on him.” Suddenly Garber yelled out from the hallway, “Captain! I need some help!” <br><br>Rushing into the hallway Scott found Walters lying on the floor, apparently unconscious. A small pool of vomit flecked with blood was on the ground next to him. Scott got on the radio, “Emergency medical to the chow hall now!” and then dropped to the ground beside the sergeant and began to check his vitals. The sergeants’ breaths were labored, his face was sunken and his skin was pale white. “He’s burning up.” Scott rolled him onto his back and opened his shirt; looking to Garber he spoke calmly. “Garber, I need you to keep his head tilted back, keep his airway open.” Scott unhooked his radio and slid it across the floor to Doctor Randall. “Get on the radio and let them know where we are and what we’re doing.” His voice calm and controlled.<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>07-03-2011, 03:14:08</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Katherine watched Captain Hunter sample the pasta, but the lingering way he did so sent her pulse racing, and she let out a soft breath, unconsciously licking her lips before tearing her gaze away from him to look down at her plate.&nbsp; She had been flirting with him, something she rarely let her guard down long enough to do, and blushed slightly, wondering if he had noticed. It was frustratingly impossible for her to tell what he was thinking, and though she felt certain they were both growing more comfortable around each other, she sensed he was trying to keep a professional distance, which she admonished herself, is what she should be endeavouring to do.&nbsp; Still, she had to admit it did feel good to flirt with a man, especially one as handsome, strong and alluring as Scott Hunter, and she realized how many years she had denied herself that simple pleasure because she’d been too busy focusing only on her career.&nbsp; Despite knowing full well a relationship on board would be fraught with complications and she <em>should</em> be keeping him at arms-length, in that moment, she wasn’t Dr. Randall psychologist, but simply a woman attracted to a man, and a woman refusing to listen to the unwelcome voice of caution and restraint.&nbsp; Instead, she rebelled against it, smiled at him playfully, and laughed when he teased her about opening a restaurant.&nbsp; Then, in a small stretch of silence that passed between them, his gaze flickered across her face, and when she looked deeply into his dark eyes, it sent a rush of heat all the way down to her belly that was so distracting she almost didn’t hear what he said.<br><br>She did hear him though and had been about to answer his question about why she accepted the mission when Garber burst into the cafeteria.&nbsp; Disappointment swept across her face at the interruption, but she quickly recovered and looked up at the young soldier, remembering her priorities. Something in the younger man’s expression let on he was worried and her brow furrowed with concern.&nbsp; She met Captain Hunter’s questioning gaze, and waited to see if Garber would explain what it was. When he finally described the condition of Sgt. Walters, Katherine frowned deeply and decided she should find Dr. Pike.&nbsp; When Captain Hunter apologized for having to cut their dinner short, she smiled with understanding and waived her hand dismissively. “Yes of course, please don’t even think twice about it.&nbsp; This is significantly more important than dinner and a coffee.”&nbsp; Inclining her head towards the door she said, “I’ll go and let Dr. Pike know so he can check on Sgt. Walters and make sure he’s ok”.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>Rising from the chair, she jumped at Garber’s loud shout out for help, and then ran into the corridor behind the Captain, gasping when she saw Sgt. Walters lying on the floor, his condition obviously serious.&nbsp; Before she had time to think, Captain Hunter assessed the Sgt. and began first aid, while ordering her to inform the others of their location and details. Katherine didn’t hesitate and in the next second, snatched the radio off the floor, and pressed the button. “This is Dr. Randall, I’m with Captain Hunter just outside of the Cafeteria and we have a man down, I repeat, we have a man down.&nbsp; We need Dr. Pike here immediately!” She said it loudly, but managed to stay calm.<br><br>“Katherine?&nbsp; This is Dr. Heath…Dr. Pike is already on his way, but what the devil is going on?”&nbsp; The older doctor’s concerned voice crackled out over the radio.<br><br>“It’s Sgt. Walters…he is unconscious, with high fever, erratic pulse and difficulty breathing.&nbsp; Captain Hunter is administering first aid, but Walters is fading fast.&nbsp; We need Dr. Pike ASAP,” she said, the tone of her voice stressing the urgency she felt.&nbsp; <br><br>“Understood.&nbsp; I’m on my way to the infirmary and will meet you all there.”&nbsp; Dr. Heath said authoritatively.<br><br>Katherine continued to clutch the radio, and cast a worried glance at the fallen man, impressed and relieved to see how quickly the Captain had taken control with his obvious skill at emergency aid. Though she hated standing there feeling helpless, she knew it would be worse to interfere.&nbsp; Captain Hunter would no doubt ask her to help if he needed it, but for now, he was busy giving instructions to Garber, who looked very uneasy, but did everything he was told.&nbsp; However, despite their interventions, Walters did not look good.&nbsp; In fact, he had a worrying pallor and she tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for what seemed like an eternity for Dr. Pike.&nbsp; Thankfully, she soon heard footsteps running towards them and Dr. Pike appeared seconds later, with Dr. Davis at his side.<br><br>He rushed past her with eyes for no one except the patient, and crouched down, taking Walters wrist in his hand while barking questions at Captain Hunter and Garber until satisfied he had all the information. Finally, he looked up and said, “You did a good job of keeping him stable Captain, but we have to get this man to the infirmary as quickly as we can.&nbsp; I’ll need you both to help me carry him,” he said hurriedly, then shifted to a position behind Walters’ head, gently placing his hands under his neck to hold it so that his airway remained open. Nodding to the Captain and Garber to take their position he said, “Ok, let’s move.”<br><br>Dr. Davis stood wringing her hands beside Katherine and the two women stood back while the three men carried Walters away, then they fell in behind to follow.&nbsp; Noting how nervous Carol seemed, Katherine placed her hand on the woman’s shoulder and gave a reassuring squeeze. “I’m sure he’ll be ok, try to relax,” she said softly, but Carol didn’t acknowledge her because she was completely preoccupied by what was happening. <br><br>The two walked quickly behind the others in strained silence until they arrived at the infirmary where Dr. Heath was waiting.&nbsp; Once they placed Walters on a vacant bed, Katherine saw Lt. Peters lying on the neighbouring one, clearly suffering from the same illness. Carol Davis stopped just inside the doorway as though afraid to go further, causing Katherine to glance behind, puzzled.&nbsp; She was about to ask the woman what was going on when Dr. Pike spoke up. “Well Dr. Heath, it’s clearly no longer just a ‘risk’.&nbsp; Don’t you think you should tell them <em>now</em>?”&nbsp; He asked pointedly and raised his eyebrow while gesturing around at the people in the room.<br><br>With a tired expression, the older scientist sighed. “Yes of course.”&nbsp; Raising her head, she crossed her arms and explained the entirety of the situation, making a point of casting no small amount of blame on the two doctors who had made the errors in judgement.&nbsp; “…so, now that you all know what we’re dealing with, I expect you to keep it quiet as long as possible and not cause a panic among the others just yet.”<br><br>Furious at the realization this had been kept secret despite the reality of people’s lives hanging in the balance, Katherine clenched her fists and walked over to stand beside Lt. Peters, grimacing at how pale and fragile the young soldier looked.&nbsp; In a carefully restrained voice directed at Dr. Pike behind her, she said, “Tell us the truth Doctor...how bad is it?&nbsp; Are any of the medications we brought on board working?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>He shook his head.&nbsp; “It’s bad.&nbsp; I haven’t tried everything yet, but it doesn’t look promising I’m afraid,” he replied with a thread of regret and sorrow in his voice.&nbsp; <br><br>Katherine turned around and almost felt sorry for him, guilt was written all over his face and it was obvious he felt entirely responsible for what had befallen Walters and Peters.&nbsp; Her expression softened.&nbsp; "Is there anything the rest of us can do to help you?&nbsp; Do you have any ideas?" She asked gently, trying to ease the tension.&nbsp; <br><br>"Thanks but at this point it's simply trial and error.&nbsp; If nothing we have on board works, then short of beaming a fully stocked med lab on board, I don't see there is anything that will help," he replied, clearly frustrated.&nbsp; "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to do some more tests," he said before moving to the other end of the room to get some supplies.<br><br>Unwilling to accept that nothing could be done, Katherine looked to Dr. Heath and Dr. Davis who both stood near the door deep in conversation, one angry and the other terrified.&nbsp; Irritated by their lack of engagement, Katherine then turned to Captain Hunter believing he at least would share her desire to do something. "Perhaps we should at the very least check on the rest of the crew before we do anything else.&nbsp; If others have become infected, they may be incapacitated somewhere and need assistance.&nbsp; If not, then maybe we should assemble everyone in one place so nobody ends up that way.&nbsp; What do you think?"&nbsp; She asked him earnestly, hoping he'd agree and decide to help her coordinate it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>12-03-2011, 16:30:46</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Scott was glad to see the medical doctors, even though he had only spent a short time with them so far, it was clear that Doctors Pike and Davis were highly capable and if anyone would be able to help it would be them. However, his worry deepened when they carried Walters into the infirmary and he saw Lt. Peters lying nearby apparently in the same condition. He did what he could and then quickly stepped back to get out of the way so they could do their work.<br><br>He listened impatiently as Dr. Heath gave her explanation, or rather her excuse, as to why she had kept quiet about the possibility of a super virus being released on the ship. Scott was furious and the only thing holding back his anger was his concern for two of his best troops lying unconscious in front of him. Dr. Heath’s explanation seemed to be more about blaming someone other than herself; and Scott blamed no one but her.<br><br>After hearing Dr. Pikes worried assessment he was even angrier. Scott started to walk toward Dr. Heath, to let her have it, to tell finally tell her what he thought about her and her lack of ability to lead. He was going to order her restrained and assume control of the situation and the ship! A civilian was not capable of making the tough decisions and this proved it!<br><br>And then Dr. Randall appeared next to him. Her voice was calm even though she was obviously very scared and very worried about two of his soldiers. Something about her face gave him hope and calmed him immediately. And without even trying to she had reminded him of his job, she had reminded him of what a leader should do.<br><br>He took a deep breath to calm his nerves and get his mind right and nodded his silent thanks at Dr. Randall. “You’re right.” He said calmly. Then he grabbed his radio and keyed up. They had brought enough radios for everyone and protocols had been put in place which required at least half of them to be monitored at all times. Scott spoke calmly and completely ignored Dr. Heaths orders. #“Listen up. We have an emergency situation. I need everyone, military and civilian alike, to find a buddy, stay with them and stay put. There is an illness on board the ship and to keep it from spreading we need to stay in small groups. Stay calm and we will come to you.”#<br><br>Scott didn’t even look at Dr. Heath as he disobeyed her request for silence. He was only slightly worried about causing a panic. He had seen these people in action during the battle and knew they were capable of acting appropriately during an emergency. They were all adults, they were all chosen for this mission for a reason; they would do the right thing.<br><br>“Garber; your with us.” He said and then looked to Dr. Randall. “We should probably put on some protective gear huh?” He made sure not to order her and tried to convey that he wanted her with him; that the two of them were a team in this and they were going to be working together on it. After all it was her idea.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>15-03-2011, 19:56:31</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				She sighed with relief and felt a rush of admiration for Captain Hunter when he agreed to her plan and took control, but his disdain for their leader was not lost on Katherine, and neither was the absolute authority in his demeanour when he blatantly defied the order to keep silent.&nbsp; Strangely, Dr. Heath didn’t seem to notice the Captain’s defiance, or perhaps she didn’t care; either way, she remained standing with arms crossed, engrossed in whispered conversation with Dr. Davis.&nbsp; <br><br>Looking around the room it was obvious tensions were high among everyone who hovered quietly in the infirmary while Dr. Pike scurried between patients and his testing equipment, but so far people seemed able to keep it under control. Still, for Katherine, the way the Captain looked at Dr. Heath spelled disaster, especially if the older woman didn’t stop making so many damned errors in judgement, and as she looked from one to the other, once again the idea that perhaps Dr. Heath was no longer the best qualified to lead their mission crept into her mind, but she pushed it aside...this wasn’t the time or place.<br><br>The Captain’s voice aroused her attention and Katherine met his gaze, pleased that he seemed to want her to team up with him. "Hmmm? Protective gear? Oh yes, of course!” She said without missing a beat then turned towards Dr. Pike to ask about that, but the good doctor already anticipated the request and pulled out three red hazmat suits, handing them to her, Captain Hunter and Garber. <br><br>He cleared his throat, then spoke rapidly. "Though it is true you have all been exposed to the pathogens it does not mean you are infected, so let’s assume you are not shall we? These suits will eliminate further risk of contamination, therefore under no circumstances should you remove them,” he said emphatically before grabbing a fourth for himself, but also to demonstrate how they work.&nbsp; "Lucky for us, the Colonel saw fit to provide us with these suits designed by the Tau’ri, and they are easily the equivalent to a typical Level A Biohazard which means <em>nothing</em> is getting through them.”&nbsp; He turned the suit around and patted the compact box like structure on the back, which had a black hose rising to the top of the head gear. “This here is the SCBA or 'self contained breathing apparatus' which should give you approximately twenty four hours of purified air provided you breathe normally, but be very careful. A higher than normal rate of respiration will impact this estimate significantly and you won’t have a lot of warning before the unit expires." Next, he turned over the black head gear and pointed to the tiny communication devices embedded around the clear faceplate. "See here? There are two devices built in, one is a local channel only so you may speak openly with each other provided you’re within 25 feet or so, then there is a voice activated two way radio which will allow you to communicate with the rest of us.” He set the suit aside. “Now, one last thing...you may become uncomfortably hot despite the air flow, so I suggest you remove any unnecessary clothing before suiting up.”<br><br>It all seemed so surreal and ominously disquieting, and as Dr. Pike gently took the suit from her hands to help her into it, Katherine’s stomach clenched and she swallowed hard against the rising panic constricting within her body.&nbsp; With trembling fingers she hastily unbuttoned her blouse and shrugged out of it, leaving on only her black cotton tank top and jeans before stepping into the strange garment. Closing her eyes to fend off a momentary wave of claustrophobia as Dr. Pike lowered the head gear and sealed it, there was a split second of unnatural, muffled silence, punctuated only by the peculiar echoing sound of her own rapid breathing. Finally, the sensation of cool air washed over her skin as the doctor’s concerned voice came through the built in radio. “Are you ok Dr. Randall?” <br><br>She opened her eyes and fixed them on Captain Hunter, who stood a few feet away but exuded a sense of controlled strength and calm, and much like the very first day when she watched him be the first to enter the Stargate, his presence did much to assuage her fears and boost her confidence.&nbsp; Unwilling to appear nervous in front of him, she took a deep breath, smiled slightly and nodded at Dr. Pike. “Yes, I’m ready Doc.”&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>After a few moments where they tested the communication systems, she and Garber fell in behind the Captain, waiting for his orders while Dr. Pike gave him instructions along with some basic medical supplies. A moment later they were moving.&nbsp; Surprisingly, the suit was lightweight and comfortable. Each step required less effort than one might expect, but it was already somewhat warm and tiny beads of perspiration trickled down her neck as she struggled to relax and keep her breathing even. <br><br>The dimly lit corridors were eerily quiet and Katherine kept looking from side to side, hoping it wouldn't take long to find the others and that they would all be ok.&nbsp; However, upon passing the observation deck, she stopped short. Staring back at her from the viewing window was motionless, inky blackness, which was impossible unless...the ship was no longer moving. <br><br>"Sir! Are you seeing this?" Garber shouted to Captain Hunter. "We've dropped out of F.T.L.!" <br><br>Knowing in her gut something was very wrong and that Dr. Rahimi was likely alone, without thinking, Katherine instinctively rushed forward towards the control interface room, only vaguely aware of the radio conversation that ensued.<br><br>Dr. Ning's panicked voice first sounded over the radio. "I'm in the hydroponics lab with Dr. Vashon who is complaining of headache and nausea. Do we wait here or should we make our way to the infirmary?"<br><br>Dr. Pike replied with calm reassurance. "No stay put, we will have our team come and escort you as soon as they've cleared the rest of the ship.” He paused. “Did you copy that Captain?”<br><br>Katherine moved at a jogging pace and didn't look back, because she assumed the Captain and Garber were following. Breathing harder now, the circulating air inside her suit became even warmer, and the jostling motion made it difficult to hear the conversation coming over the radio, but her mind was racing from the thought the ship was no longer moving and a deep sense of foreboding that someone may be in trouble. As she rounded the corner near the control room, her foot tripped over something solid and she lurched forward, letting out a startled cry, but someone grabbed her from behind to keep her from falling, most likely the Captain or Garber, she wasn’t sure which.&nbsp; "Thanks," she said absently before looking down at her feet only to see Dr. Rahimi sprawled unconscious on the floor with a Kino remote clutched loosely in his right hand. The now familiar pallor of his skin left no doubt about his condition.<br><br>Glancing towards the now empty control interface room, she took a deep breath.&nbsp; "I think we need Dr. Heath down here ASAP," she said quietly.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>20-03-2011, 17:16:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Even though this wasn’t the first time Scott had had to wear protective gear, it was still disconcerting. Vision was always more limited, as well as range of motion and hearing; it was definitely not one of his favorite outfits to wear for work. Scott’s heart skipped a beat as Dr. Randall took off her shirt. For a moment he was expecting to see nothing but a bra underneath but it turned out he would have to wait a bit longer for even that simple pleasure. He forced his mind back to the task at hand as he too took off his first shirt leaving just a t-shirt underneath.<br><br>Within just a few minutes they were suited up and moving. It was easier to move than he thought it would be and they made good time as they worked to locate the crew. Scott saw the way the other two were staring into the observation deck but it wasn’t until Garber yelled that they had dropped out of FTL that he realized why. It hadn’t even crossed his mind. And it took even a few more seconds for him to realize the implications of that thought and why Dr. Randall was running.<br><br>He and Garber ran after the Doctor as Scott acknowledged the message from Dr. Pike. “We’re clear. Be aware we have dropped out of FTL. We are En-route to the command deck.” Scott turned the corner behind Dr. Randall and barely got a hold of her sleeve as she tripped over an unconscious Dr. Rahimi. Scott nodded silently at Dr. Randall’s comment as he grew more concerned for the rest of the crew. He had silently held onto the hope that everyone else was fine and he had overreacted to calling the quarantine. But now it seemed worse than he had feared.<br><br>Scott checked Dr. Rahimi’s vitals quickly then motioned for Garber to scoop him up. Keying up on the radio again he spoke slowly. “Pike; Garber is on his way to your location with Dr. Rahimi. He seems to have the same symptoms. We may need to suit up a few more teams to help search. Dr. Heath, the command deck is empty. We have dropped out of FTL. We are continuing our check of the ship.” Scott waited for a response from Dr. Heath. He wouldn’t have been surprised at anything she said next, if she spoke at all, and he was prepared to assume complete command if she stayed silent.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>24-03-2011, 01:44:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Dr. Heath’s voice rang out over the radio, loud and clear. “Understood. I’m on my way Captain and will meet you there.&nbsp; Please have all available troops report to Dr. Pike in the infirmary for hazmat suits,” she said calmly, then signed off.<br><br><em>Well at least she said please.</em> Katherine thought wryly, still uncertain about the woman's leadership skills, especially during this crisis.<br>&nbsp;<br>The radio went silent and Garber did as the Captain instructed; gently lifting Dr. Rahimi, then with a curt nod, he turned and quickly made his way down the corridor.&nbsp; Katherine watched them go with a heavy heart; she liked Hassan Rahimi and his easygoing personality, so it was difficult to accept the reality that he may not make it.&nbsp; With that thought she looked at Captain Hunter sympathetically, certain the tragic turn of events couldn’t be easy for him either, since two of his troops fought the same battle, but she said nothing. There is often little value in stating the obvious, and on those occasions it is therefore best to keep silent; this was one of those moments.&nbsp; <br><br>After bending down to pick up the Kino remote that Hassan had been clutching, she followed the Captain while glancing at the images playing back on the small screen, but wasn't sure what she was looking at.&nbsp; Once inside the control deck they immediately saw not only had they dropped out of F.T.L., there was a planet in range of the ship, and if the images on the Kino were current, then the ship had already dialed it with the Stargate; Katherine's gaze flew to the jump clock, and she swallowed hard.&nbsp; The countdown had indeed started…23 hours remaining.&nbsp; <br><br>Curious, she thought, once the initial surprise wore off. <em>Could the ship have chosen this planet for a reason?</em>&nbsp; Though familiar with the accounts from Destiny theorizing that these Ancient ships were equipped with an AI system that could sense problems and route the crew to planets for the necessary supplies, it was still somewhat unbelievable to think it was actually happening that way, and that a mechanical object could be capable of that kind of sentience.&nbsp; It wasn’t important however; the only thing that mattered was finding something that could help save the others, and if luck were with them, then this planet would hold the answer.<br><br>“Wait,” she reached out and grabbed Captain Hunter’s arm to urge him closer, “look at this.” She moved the remote between them and tried to expand the image by working the controls, just as Dr. Heath came rushing in, causing Katherine to look over her shoulder abruptly.&nbsp; <br><br>“Over here,” she inclined her head at the remote and looked down again, “there is a planet in range, and it appears Dr. Rahimi already sent a Kino through the Stargate,” she said hurriedly while pointing at the screen.<br><br>Images from a strange world appeared in the viewer, one that seemed to be completely barren.&nbsp; No matter which direction the Kino moved, all they could see was a vast wasteland of swirling red sand and craggy red brown rocks jutting skyward.&nbsp; Katherine frowned. “There’s nothing there.”&nbsp; She looked up confused, and then addressed Captain Hunter. “How can there possibly be anything among those rocks that will help us?” <br><br>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br><br><strong>In the Infirmary...</strong><br><br>A disheartening pall hung over the room where two crew members fought for their lives from the illness, and news just arrived that another scientist was likely infected and waiting for help in the Hydroponics lab.&nbsp; The only sound in the room came from the low murmuring voices of Janet Heath and Carole Davis as they donned the protective suits Dr. Pike had given out moments ago.&nbsp; Adjusting the gloves on his suit, he looked at the women, wondering what they had been talking about for so long, but he couldn’t be bothered to ask, especially since there were more important things to worry about. <br><br>Satisfied they were finished dressing, he said, “Carole?&nbsp; Excuse me but can you help me over here please?”&nbsp; He waived his colleague over, interrupting her conversation with Dr. Heath. “I need you to take the vital signs of our two patients if you don’t mind, and then compare them to the last entries,” he instructed, then handed her a clipboard with a medical log sheet, already partially filled out.<br><br>“Me?&nbsp; But I’m not a medical doctor,” Carole said, her doe like brown eyes widening with surprise. A flicker of apprehension flashed through them as she became squeamish at the thought of touching infected patients; the request made her heart beat faster.&nbsp; <br><br>Nicholas recognized the fear, but didn’t have time to deal with such silly behaviour, nor the patience to coddle the woman. “Yes, yes, however, since I have to examine the latest blood samples and cannot be in two places at once, consider yourself promoted,” he said it impatiently, then added, “You do realize that the suit you’re wearing means that, unlike our unfortunate colleagues here, you will not become infected if you are not already?”&nbsp; His tone of voice was mildly scornful and conveyed his irritation, but he quickly turned his back, abruptly ending the discussion.<br><br>Carole looked away; she couldn’t explain why she protested, and felt ashamed of the fear that had plagued her since Lt. Peters first appeared showing symptoms.&nbsp; “You are right, I’m sorry Nicholas.” Squaring her shoulders, and shaking it off, she set off to do as he asked, determined to care for these people to the best of her ability.&nbsp; <br><br>Janet followed, but stopped when she stood between the two beds where Lt. Peters and Sgt. Walters lay and gazed down at them with a pained expression on her face.&nbsp; Despite what some of the others assumed, she cared about their welfare and was not cold or callous.&nbsp; Neither was she ignorant, knowing full well what they thought of her demeanour.&nbsp; The Captain in particular, she knew did not approve of her style, which was disappointing because he was the only one she truly felt was a leadership equal.&nbsp; Despite so many of the problems they faced being beyond her control, the truth was she felt the full weight of her responsibility and this failure acutely. No question it was ultimately her job to keep the crew safe and the mission on track, and she meant to do so by any means at her disposal.&nbsp; Dammit! Couldn’t they see that? Hadn’t she made the mission and crew safety a priority from day one?&nbsp; The opinions of the crew were unfortunate, but she was ill equipped to change their perceptions.&nbsp; It was simply not in her nature to be nurturing or demonstrative because she believed that showed weakness, and it was more important in her eyes to remain unemotional and give the impression of strength and authority.&nbsp; Feeling out of control in any capacity did not sit well with her either, and if the crew did feel discontent and harbour misgivings or misperceptions, then perhaps Katherine was partly to blame.&nbsp; After all, wasn’t it her job to serve as liaison and prevent these situations from happening? Yes, she’d have to speak with Dr. Randall at the first opportunity.&nbsp; Dr. Pike’s loud voice interrupted her musings, and her attention shifted to the older man standing behind a large microscope.&nbsp; <br><br>“Now, <em>this</em> is fascinating,” Nicholas said aloud, breaking the silence and startling the two women.&nbsp; He looked up from the microscope he’d been studying.&nbsp; “The viral pathogen has a fatal flaw requiring a very specific PH range of 5.5-6.0.”&nbsp; He rubbed his hands and smiled.&nbsp; “It is also confirmed that both patients are positive for the bacteria but negative for the virus…yes, this is a very interesting development indeed!”&nbsp; He was excited, but seemed to be talking more to himself than anyone else.<br><br>Janet walked over and stood beside him. “Ok, you lost me.&nbsp; What does it mean?” She asked intently, bending down to look into the eyepiece, recognizing human red blood cells and a strange looking particle, presumably the virus.<br><br>“Well, since the virus requires a slightly acid environment to survive and the PH of human blood is usually slightly alkaline, around 7.3, it means we are incompatible hosts, and the virus cannot infect us.&nbsp; In other words, we don’t have to worry about it, and can focus our efforts on finding an effective anti-biotic to fight the bacteria,” he replied, grinning.<br><br>Unfortunately, there was no time to enjoy the welcome discovery. The report from Captain Hunter was not good news, and all three scientists fell silent.&nbsp; Janet inhaled sharply before replying with her orders, and then wasted no time running for the control deck.<br><br>“Hurry,” Nicholas said to Carole as he threw open one of the storage containers, “help me get the other suits ready!”<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>10-04-2011, 19:13:46</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Scott let out a sigh of relief when Dr. Heath answered him. He was glad the doctor seemed ready to take charge of the situation again. It wasn’t that he was afraid of making tough decisions or even that he was worried about being blamed when things went bad; those were feelings he’d long ago banished from his mind. And he was good at following orders; but he was just as good at giving them. He wasn’t exactly sure why he was glad to have someone else in charge and it bothered him. However, he would have to search for an answer to that question at a later time. He needed to focus on the task at hand.<br><br>He followed Randall’s gaze to the countdown clock; the ship had dialed a gate to a nearby planet, but why? And more importantly why did Dr. Randall seem so focused concerned about the planet? Scott turned to walk away and continue the search but Dr. Randall grabbed his arm with a firm grip and pulled him around to look at the Kino remote. Scott moved over a step so Dr. Heath could also view the scene of the planet below. He started to ask what the hell she was looking at when she asked what could be useful on the planet as if there was supposed to be something there.<br><br>Finally it dawned on him, “Wait, do you really believe the ship brought us here for a reason? That there may be something there that can help us?” Scott remembered the stories from the Destiny expedition; that the ship itself was intelligent and worked to help the humans on board. He didn’t believe it, but it was clear from her actions and the look on her face that Dr. Randall did. Or at least she wanted to. He studied her face for several seconds and then nodded his agreement with her before turning to Dr. Heath and giving her the chance to be the leader he knew she could be.<br><br>“With your permission I’d like to take a look at the planet. If there is the slightest chance there’s something there that can help us then we need to find it. I know we can’t spare too many people but there is a thin breathable atmosphere and no apparent hostiles…Dr. Randall and I can check it out.”<br><br>He had many reasons for choosing the cute doctor to join him and not the least of them was that they seemed to work well together and complement each other. A few more troops on the planet would probably be beneficial but it would also slow them down and truthfully, they would be needed on the ship. He also wanted to keep the medical doctors on board to treat the sick.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>16-04-2011, 22:23:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Katherine felt relief that Captain Hunter seemed to share, or at least understand her thoughts, but his request for her to accompany him to the surface alone made her stop short, and a thrilling quiver of anticipation rippled through her entire body. <em>Oh, stop it! Don't be ridiculous!&nbsp; There's no ulterior motive here, it makes perfect sense and there isn’t anyone else we can spare.&nbsp; This was a logical decision on his part and nothing else!</em> She chided herself, but refused to look at the handsome Captain, worried her eyes would betray her feelings.&nbsp; Instead, she focused intently on the Kino and waited to see what Dr. Heath would say.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br><br>After taking a few seconds to weigh the options, the older woman nodded. “Good thinking Captain.&nbsp; Since there is not much on the surface, you and Dr. Randall should have no problem gathering samples.&nbsp; However, I will keep your team on alert should you need assistance,” she said calmly.&nbsp; “You have a considerable amount of time, so I expect you should be able to cover quite a bit of ground if you move quickly, but please do not take any unnecessary risks and keep in contact at all times.&nbsp; Understood?”&nbsp; Her voice remained calm, but carried a hint of worry and concern.<br><br>Katherine nodded her consent to go and understanding of the conditions to Dr. Heath, but didn’t speak; instead, she followed the Captain as he gathered necessary supplies, grabbing a few of her own along the way. She tried to keep her thoughts focused on the mission, but the idea of being alone with him on a deserted planet made her uneasy and that bothered her because it meant she was thinking emotionally, not professionally, especially since she knew she wouldn’t feel this way if accompanying Dr. Pike.&nbsp; Thankfully, there wasn’t a lot of time to dwell on it because they worked quickly, and not more than twenty minutes later, were on the surface. <br><br>The instant she stepped through the gate, a violent wind whipped around her body, blasting tiny grains of dust against her suit, and even the solid headgear couldn’t dull the sounds from pelting sand and the howling squall ripping through the gorge that stretched before them.&nbsp; Two bright orange globes burned in the cloudless, sienna sky; a startling reminder of just how far away from earth they truly were.&nbsp; Wasting no time, they moved forward at a good pace, but swirling dust meant visibility was at a minimum, and Katherine hurried to keep up so as not to lose sight of the Captain.&nbsp; Every few yards they stopped to gather samples from the coarse, beige sand, hoping the key to finding an effective anti-biotic would be locked within the barren looking dust.&nbsp; However, it didn’t appear promising since there were no outward signs of biological life amidst the giant spires of wind-shorn, ochre coloured stone dominating the landscape and casting long shadows on the pebbled path they followed. Still, Katherine stayed optimistic, believing with almost complete certainty the ship brought them to this planet because it knew what they needed could be found here, and so she scraped and sampled every new surface she could find. <br><br>As they made their way inland, the wind died down to a light breeze and after a couple of hours they stopped on the crest of rocky outcropping, poised above an open ravine with a flat and sandy floor, sprinkled with several half buried boulders of various sizes. Grateful for the rest, Katherine quietly stood beside the Captain and scanned the landscape, focusing on a large series of cliffs that loomed some distance away on the other side of the valley, presenting the likeliest opportunity to find a source of water, and if they were lucky, some microorganisms or some kind of plant life. "It's quite beautiful isn't it?" She said softly, her voice filled with appreciation for the awesome scenery. "So rugged and wild, yet pure and untouched.&nbsp; I've never seen anything like it before.&nbsp; I wish there was more time to explore and enjoy it," she whispered longingly.<br><br>Sighing, she took out her binoculars to get a better look, but realized the suit presented a problem, and quickly removed the headgear, drawing a cautious breath.&nbsp; The air was pleasant.&nbsp; Hot and dry, it held the earthy scent of sun-baked clay, and Katherine took another breath as she set the headgear gently on the ground at her feet.&nbsp; The warm sunlight and soft breeze felt good against her skin as she stretched, fluffed her hair, and closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply and relishing the sense of freedom.&nbsp; It seemed ages since she'd had time like this to herself, and she refused to feel selfish for pausing a few seconds to take advantage of it.<br><br>Relaxed and smiling, she opened her eyes and turned to Captain Hunter.&nbsp; “It sure feels good to get that contraption off and breathe real air.&nbsp; You were right too; it is thin, but quite breathable; almost like a sauna, but lighter.”&nbsp; Perhaps it was this newfound sense of uninhibited, peaceful serenity after so many days of relentless stress and worry, but whatever the reason, suddenly Katherine felt very aware of the strong, alluring male presence beside her and felt inexplicably drawn to him in that moment.&nbsp; Flush with the first trembling of desire as memories and fantasies of him collided in her mind, she stood transfixed and staring at the handsome man, feeling breathless from the quickening of her pulse now beating wildly.&nbsp; It was only the unwelcome realization of how easy it would be for her to forget the reason they were there that startled her back to reality, and she unconsciously bit her lip, looking away, appalled with herself for allowing those feelings and inappropriate fantasies to shift her focus from the mission.&nbsp; Stepping closer to the edge, she raised the binoculars to look through them and tried to shake it off, praying he didn't think her crazy for the way she'd been staring at him so intently, or worse, that he'd read her mind.&nbsp; “I think we need to head for the other side of this ravine.&nbsp; There’s no shelter from the sun until we reach the cliffs, but the descent doesn’t look too bad, and the valley floor seems easy enough to traverse, so it shouldn’t take us too long to cross.&nbsp; Honestly, I don’t see any other areas or structures that look as promising for a source of water,” she said decisively, finally beginning to feel normal again, but not yet ready to meet his gaze.&nbsp; <br><br>Still looking through the binoculars, something caught her eye, and she pointed across the ravine. “Wait…there is some kind of trail cut into one of the cliff faces.”&nbsp; She frowned, puzzled. “Could be natural, but it looks too symmetrical.&nbsp; Still, even if someone or something carved it, it’s very primitive and could be thousands of years old at least.&nbsp; Based on what we’ve seen so far, I don’t think there is any intelligent life here but I’ll be able to tell more the closer we get to it.”&nbsp; Lowering the binoculars, she looked up at Captain Hunter again, but this time it was with excitement at a possible discovery. “I vote we head for that trail,” she said eagerly, and smiled brightly at him, her mind already refocused and racing with the possibilities of discovering the remains of an ancient civilization, or perhaps even one that still exists.&nbsp; "What do you think?&nbsp; Do we go for it?"&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>29-04-2011, 05:14:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				They readied themselves for their excursion for the planet below and he couldn’t help but notice that the doctor seemed preoccupied. Eventually, however, he quit worrying about it. Seeing as how stressed and worried he was about the people they would be leaving behind, he figured she probably felt the same. Even though she may have been preoccupied it didn’t slow her down one bit and he was again impressed with her work ethic. She would make a good soldier he thought to himself as he smiled wondering how she would feel if he put voice to his silent thoughts.<br><br>No time for poking fun though, as they were soon on the barren desert of a planet and moving quickly through the blowing sand. He watched carefully as she methodically stopped to sample the sand every few hundred feet and continue the march. He wanted to ask what she was looking for but figured she has as little idea as he did. Finally the wind died down and they took the opportunity to take a look around and rest up.<br><br>As they stood together searching the horizon his eyes were drawn to the shape she cut against the backdrop of the sand and sky. The protective gear she wore certainly didn’t accentuate her charms but there was no hiding the curves of a beautiful woman and the memories of what lay under that suit jumped to the forefront of his mind. His smile was concealed in his helmet as she spoke; she was talking about the beauty of their surroundings but he let out a breathy “yes” as he gazed at her.<br><br>Scott quickly refocused and looked away as she glanced in his direction. He tried to cover up his embarrassment by quickly removing his helmet and getting a long drink of water. He nodded his head slowly at the mention of a sauna. “Yeah, and hopefully it doesn’t get much hotter.”<br><br>He turned and looked in the direction indicated and could easily see the trail she spoke of. He thought it looked more artificial than natural but had to agree that it could be a hundred years old for all they knew. He could hear the excitement in her voice as she cast her vote for their next step. He looked at her sweetly; her optimism was as infectious as her smile. “Only a fool would say no to you.” He said with a playful smile. “Let’s go.”<br><br>He led the way as they moved quickly down into the ravine and back up to the trail. It was easily wide enough for the two of them to walk side by side, which they silently did as they made their way up the side of the cliff. The top of the other side of the ravine had been hidden from their view but they reached it within a few hours. As they stepped onto the plateau above their eyes were quickly drawn to a large patch of greenery, an oasis of sorts in the distance. They were both tired of walking but too excited to stop now that they were less than an hour away from plant life.<br><br>They walked quickly and almost ran the last hundred feet to get to the large patch of bright green and yellow carpet of grass. But just as they reached it Scott grabbed the doctor’s arm and pulled her downward in a crouch. He pointed between a patch of tan and yellow bushes and a small copse of gold colored trees. There they could easily see a four legged creature similar in shape but slightly larger in size to a cow. It was a dull yellow color with darker tans and browns and it had a shortened elephant’s trunk. From this distance it seemed harmless enough but they couldn’t be sure.<br><br>But then his eyes followed hers as she stared in disbelief at a broken stick on the ground in front of them. The stick itself wasn’t unusual but what was out of the ordinary is that the stick had a hook at the end of it which was separate and attached with what looked like a fibrous string. Someone or something had made that tool!<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>02-05-2011, 07:51:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Thrilled he agreed with her plan, Katherine blushed at his playful, flattering words, which caught her off guard.&nbsp; At a loss to find any of her own, she could only manage to flash him a radiant smile and nod with enthusiasm. “Yes, let’s go,” she breathed. <em>My God but he’s handsome!</em> She thought, while allowing her gaze to sweep from his face to his powerful, masculine physique. Every time those perfectly sculpted muscles moved, his entire body conveyed control, authority and confidence.&nbsp; That combined with the way he looked at her made her feel warm all over, and she studied him for brief moment before following, wondering if the electricity she felt whenever he was near, was only in her imagination. <em>I think I’m in big trouble.</em> She admitted with a sigh, and then hurried to catch up. <br><br>The walk up the cliff trail wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t long before the heat became oppressive, making Katherine long to tear away the bulky suit she wore.&nbsp; Her pace slowed a little bit, but she refused to be responsible for slowing them down and pushed herself harder.&nbsp; It was still impossible to say if the trail was natural, but she made an educated guess it was not.&nbsp; Along the way, she stopped briefly to run her hands over tiny groves in the stone. They were rough, but each seemed to be in perfect parallel to the others; definitely indicative of tool marks.&nbsp; Though she kept searching for other clues, nothing else on the path even hinted at intelligent life, which left her two theories; a lost civilization or alien visitors. <br><br>When they reached the top, she was about to tell the Captain her conclusions when the oasis came into view.&nbsp; Elated and impatient to get to it, she wasn’t paying close attention to their surroundings and gasped when he grabbed her and pulled her down in the thick scrub like grass beside him in one lightning quick motion.&nbsp; His grip was unbelievably strong and she felt a moment of panic, concerned about what had him on high alert.&nbsp; Searching the direction he pointed to, she saw the animal beside a tall tree with an umbrella like canopy of shimmery copper leaves, and sucked in a breath; afraid and fascinated at the same time.&nbsp; It was the most bizarre creature she’d ever seen.&nbsp; It blended into the surrounding trees fairly well, and moved slowly, almost lumbering.&nbsp; She leaned close to his ear, whispering. “Well I don’t see any fangs, but…”&nbsp; Her words died off, something on ground glinted in the sunlight and caught her attention.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br><br>Her face froze in shock at seeing something clearly man made. No, alien made, she mentally corrected herself.&nbsp; Reaching out, she let her fingers glide over it, almost reverently, and her heart pounded with excitement.&nbsp; Proof of a civilization, it had to be!&nbsp; Picking it up, she examined it thoroughly then looked at Captain Hunter. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but to me, this looks an awful lot like a crude fishing rod of some kind.&nbsp; If so, that means there must be water nearby.&nbsp; We have to keep going,” she said with resolve. Slipping her arm free of his grasp, she inclined her head towards a large tree about ten yards beside them on the right, perched on the edge of a grassy knoll. “I’ll go first and take cover.&nbsp; Can you aim your gun at that thing in case it decides I should be dinner?”&nbsp; She joked nervously, before darting off, still crouching, and so focused on her task that if he protested, she did not hear it.<br><br>It only took a couple of minutes to reach her goal, and she scurried behind the wide, golden trunk, pressing against it and noting that the bark was perfectly smooth. The tree provided ample shade and she was grateful for the cooler temperature.&nbsp; After giving the thumbs up signal to the Captain, she then did a quick survey of the rocky slope to her left.&nbsp; It was steeper than appeared at first glance.&nbsp; Kneeling, she crawled forward with slow deliberate movements, and peered over, her hand gripping patches of rough grass to keep from slipping. A familiar shimmer appeared several yards from the bottom and Katherine grinned.&nbsp; But, as she glanced over her shoulder believing Captain Hunter was now behind her, the ground began to tremble. There was no time to move, the entire slope side gave way and she went skidding downwards in an avalanche of dirt and rock.&nbsp; It was fortunate the stones were not large and couldn’t do much damage.&nbsp; Trying to shield her head with her arms, the suit also offered some protection, but something razor sharp sliced down her side as she fell. Though the slide lasted seconds, it felt like several long minutes before she hit the bottom with a bone-jarring thud.&nbsp; Dazed and a bit bruised, but otherwise unhurt, she struggled to stand and dust herself off.&nbsp; Likely experiencing a bit of shock, she couldn't seem to stop trembling.&nbsp; Squinting up at the now decimated hillside, she didn’t see the Captain the right away and grew worried, so she shouted. “Can you hear me? Are you ok? I'm fine! There’s water, if you can find a way down here! Be careful!” <br><br>Looking down at her now tattered suit, she peeled it off her body with care, stepping out of it and tossing it into a ball at her feet. Wincing a bit, she inspected the cut on her side through a jagged rip in her tank top; pressing her fingertips carefully around the wound. It wasn’t serious, but it hurt like hell, and she kicked the dirt with her boot in frustration. <em>Shit! Shit! Shit!</em> Wrapping her arm around her waist, she moved forward, wanting to find Captain Hunter and make sure he was ok, but a loud roar made her stop short. It seemed to be coming from the thick copse of trees to her left, and she crouched down, inching her hand towards her discarded suit to feel for the weapon she had on the utility belt, praying it was still attached. Another roar; her gaze flew to the trees. <em>Shit, this cannot be good.</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>14-05-2011, 17:02:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He smiled at her enthusiasm as she told him to take aim at the elephant-cow thing, “Ok, but try not to…” He stopped mid-sentence as her boundless enthusiasm had her up and moving before he could answer. He watched her run toward the tree for a few seconds and then turned his attention back to the native animals. A moment later he heard a low rumbling and turned to see she was nowhere in sight. Alarm quickly turned to panic as he scanned the area she should have been and saw nothing. <br><br>Scott jumped to his feet and sprinted with his rifle at the ready to the tree she should have been standing next to and saw the steep downward slope which had been invisible from their previous location. He could see dust in the air and the movement of small rocks as they settled on the slope. He keyed up his radio and spoke quietly, “Doctor Randall!”<br><br>Worried that the fall may have separated her from her radio he carefully leaned over the edge of the slope, “Doc!” He called in a loud whisper, trying not to startle anything that didn’t already know they were there.<br><br>“Randall!” He yelled loudly growing more concerned by the second that she was seriously hurt. The dust and scrub brushes clouded his view of the lower end of the slope and for a split second he thought about trying to slide down the slope after her as he started thinking the worst. He quickly regained his senses, dropped his pack and began to dig out some rope when he heard her calling out.<br><br>“I copy that.” He yelled down to her no longer worried about startling the wildlife and more concerned about reaching her. <br><br>Scott quickly tied off a secure line on the tree, hooked into his back carbineer and began a quick but secure run down the slope. The loud roar of an unseen beast sounded below him and he ran faster, scanning the tree line for any sign of the doctor or the angry sounding animal. Finally he saw her crouched down low as she obviously heard the same animal he had. He slowed his descent and then stopped as he brought his rifle up and sighted in on the shape which was moving slowly through the trees and brush toward Doctor Randall.<br><br>If the thing up top was an elephant-cow, then this new creature was a panther-spider…with large deadly spikes on its back. It was obviously a predator with four running legs and two extra arms with claws on its neck. It was perhaps one of the ugliest animals he had ever seen and it was easily big enough to eat a human or two for breakfast.<br><br>The creature moved slowly but assuredly toward Randall; Scott didn’t want to shoot it as he had no idea what effect his bullets would have but he was running out of options… “Hey! Over here!” He yelled out hoping to distract the creature; but when that seemed to have no effect he took careful aim and fired one shot into its back.<br><br>The animal was not bullet-proof and stopped in its tracks as it let out a higher pitched roar that could only be pain. The panther thing seemed to finally see him and turned to face him. He was about 200 feet from the bottom of the slope and the creature began to scurry up the slope after him. Scott took aim for the head of the beat and opened fire, this was now turning into a life or death situation and he had no plans to be eaten by the ugly thing.<br><br>His rounds hit their target and the animal turned around and headed back down the slope toward his first choice of food. It appeared to be seriously injured but it didn’t seem to be thinking about retreating.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>17-05-2011, 03:25:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Katherine’s hand stilled when she saw branches heave and sway from whatever it was that moved through the brush, and her heart began pounding even harder.&nbsp; Agonizing seconds passed by before the panther-spider finally burst through the trees to reveal itself, and she shuddered; her eyes filled with revulsion.&nbsp; A more hideous creature she could never have imagined, and with soulless black eyes as sinister as those of a Great White shark when it senses its prey, it crept forward while she remained crouched and frozen in terror.&nbsp; Though desperate to flee, her stubborn muscles refused to move, and she could only stare, transfixed by the predatory alien closing in fast.&nbsp; <br><br>Then, the sound of Captain Hunter’s voice gave her a much needed jolt, and relief from knowing he was safe and she wasn’t alone, washed over her, infusing her with new energy.&nbsp; Her gaze flew to the slope where she saw him trying to distract the predator’s attention, but it remained focused only on her. A loud shot from his rifle rang out and she flinched, covering her ears against the shrieking cry of fury that echoed through the air when the bullet pierced the creature’s flesh. With a hopeful expression, she looked up to see if the thing was dead.&nbsp; It was not.&nbsp; A chilling shiver of fear raced down her spine and wrapped around her entire body until she thought she might suffocate from the sensation, and then she saw it switch direction and focus on her companion. <em>NO!</em> <br><br>Frantic now, she knelt on the ground and grabbed her suit, pulling at it with impatience, searching for a weapon.&nbsp; Finally, she felt a cold plastic object, and her hands tore at the fabric to release it.&nbsp; A series of rifle shots rang out in rapid-fire succession just as Katherine grasped the red single shot flare gun tucked inside a utility pouch.&nbsp; As each round from the Captain hit its mark, the beast howled a blood-curdling screech.&nbsp; It was limping and bluish liquid oozed from the bullet wounds, but it did not die, instead it turned away to an easier target, and started towards her again with renewed ferocity.&nbsp; <br><br>It was less than ten feet from her now. The pincer like claws snapped and reached outwards, and then, one of the spikes on its back seemed to grow, extending and curling like a scorpion’s tail, lashing forward to strike.&nbsp; Katherine screamed, and scurried backwards on her haunches, while aiming the flare gun at its head with one hand.&nbsp; She hesitated only a split second before pulling the trigger. A ball of light hurled outwards, but missed its mark and hit one of the creature’s claw arms instead, severing it in a loud explosion and shower of white hot sparks.&nbsp; The beast roared and reared up on its hind legs, the tail like appendage slashing through the air as though out of control. “Scott, look out!” She yelled as the creature turned around. <br><br>Scrambling up, she darted around the flailing creature and started to run, but the tail whipped the back of her legs and sent her sprawling to the ground. The force knocked the wind out of her, and as she tried to roll over, gasping for breath, she thought she heard another loud shot.&nbsp; Seconds that felt like several minutes ticked by, and Katherine squeezed her eyes shut bracing for an attack, but then suddenly the creature gasped, shuddered and fell to the ground. Its head landed on her legs, and viscous blue blood dripped onto her jeans from its gaping jaw.&nbsp; Kicking furiously and squealing in disgust, she slapped it away. “Eww…eww…oh get it off…get it off!”&nbsp; Squirming free, she jumped up and staggered backwards.&nbsp; <br><br>Shaking and trying to catch her breath, she looked up and saw Captain Hunter just a few steps away.&nbsp; She ran to him, threw her arms around his neck and closed her eyes, overwhelmed by the entire ordeal, but relieved it was over and they were both alive. “I'm so glad you're ok.” She whispered, and then pulled away to look at the alien's lifeless body. <br><br>Wrapping one arm around her waist, she fought against the blur of tears that threatened to spill from the tension and emotion of facing her own mortality in such a terrifying way, and the realization her inexperience may have cost Scott his life as well.&nbsp; It was almost too much to bear.&nbsp; Swallowing hard, she recalled the way Scott Hunter never once flinched, but what affected her more was how he courageously and deliberately put himself in harm's way to protect her; suddenly words of thanks seemed so inadequate. <br><br>Taking a deep breath, but still not sure of how to tell him what she felt, she glanced at the sky and started rambling. “I think it’s getting darker, but we still have several hours left and I just don’t feel right about giving up and turning back, as much as I never want to see another one of those things again.”&nbsp; She shivered. “I can’t help feeling there is something here we haven’t found yet.&nbsp; Perhaps near the water…there is a small lake of sorts a few yards off and...no wait," she drew a shuddering breath, "that's not what I want to say." <br><br>She paused for a moment and then turned to face him.&nbsp; “Scott...Captain Hunter," she corrected, "I want...I...well, if you hadn’t been here…" Her voice wavered, and she blinked back new tears. "I…I’m sorry, it’s just I’ve never been through something like that before and…” Her words halted, and she looked into his eyes with all the gratitude and admiration she felt. “I don't know how I can thank you enough for what you did.&nbsp; I do believe you saved my life, and I...I just want you to know I will never forget that,” she said with deep sincerity.&nbsp; Giving him a soft smile, she placed her hand on his cheek. "Thank you."&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>&nbsp;<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>29-05-2011, 18:02:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Scott somehow managed to stay on his feet as he ran down the loose rock and sand of the slope and straight at the creature. A sudden burst of light struck the predator and a large black striped arm was blown off. However; even with the loss of an appendage the creature didn’t stop; instead it flailed wildly and let out a high pitched whine. He suddenly jerked back to avoid the tail of the creature but stumbled and lost his footing falling down onto his knees.<br><br>He watched as Randall ran around the creature toward him but the flailing tail of the creature struck her from behind and she went sprawling in a heap of dust beside him. The panther-spider, only steps away, seemed to sense victory and lunged at her. Scott squeezed the trigger but there was only silence; his rifle was empty. In one fluid, lightning motion he dropped his rifle as if it were a useless stick and drew his pistol firing at point blank range into the creatures open jaws.<br><br>One, two, three, four, five…he kept firing, round after round found its mark as the spider things face erupted in a spray of flesh, bone and blood. Finally the creature stopped; dropping lifeless onto the doctor. Randall scrambled to her feet pushing the creatures head off of her legs as he stood slowly still aiming at the things head.<br><br>Scott felt the adrenaline dump and began shaking as Dr. Randall hugged him. A wave a relief washed over him and he took several deep breaths trying to regulate the anxiety and tension from the fight. Katherine was safe, they were both safe and he was glad for that of course but there was something else… He thought back to the moment the creature struck her and she went down; for a split second he had feared the worse. And in that moment he had felt a powerful, heart-breaking loss.<br><br>He closed his eyes and shook his head as he holstered his pistol and fought back the anger and fear. He watched Katherine as she studied the creature and then looked to the sky. She was safe and he was… Damn. Whatever was bothering him he didn’t have time to analyze it. He stared at her blankly as she spoke at length about their next step. He started to interrupt her but she stopped herself and turned to face him.<br><br>She was close now; he could barely hear her voice as he looked into her eyes. Her words were unnecessary however; he could tell what she was saying just by looking at her. Scott felt her hand on his face as if he had never been touched by another human being; her soft fingertips tickling slowly across his jaw. He reached up and placed his hand on hers as his free arm wrapped around her to pull her closer. With his heart pounding in his chest, he leaned forward with parted lips to kiss hers.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>30-05-2011, 02:01:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Not another word was spoken as the two stood motionless, a soft breeze swirling around them, ruffling Katherine’s hair.&nbsp; All was silent as a golden twilight descended on the planet, as though every creature on this strange world held its breath, watching and waiting.&nbsp; Not far off, the pool of water sparkled in the waning light, and grains of dust glittered in the air, lending an almost magical atmosphere, such a startling contrast to the tense life and death struggle they faced just moments ago.&nbsp; An experience that could only strengthen the curious attachment that had been forming since the first day they met, and one that would stay with Katherine forever.&nbsp; His skill and unwavering courage had saved her life, and she finally understood the deep bond between soldiers, that sacred level of trust that came from placing your life in someone's hands and knowing they would sacrifice their own to keep it safe.&nbsp; It was both humbling and inspiring, and she would never be the same again. And now, seeing the way Scott responded to her gestures, she immediately sensed that things had changed for him, in a way she never imagined.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br><br>There was so much more she wanted to tell him, an ocean of feelings welling up inside as the shields Katherine had so carefully kept in place, shattered like a thousand crystal shards.&nbsp; Her own heart began pounding when Scott’s hand covered and wrapped around hers, and as she gazed into his dark eyes, a spark ignited in the space between them, but also something deeper…an elusive yet undeniable connection that touched her in a way she had never experienced.&nbsp; Utterly captivated, her lips parted and a soft breath escaped when he slipped his arm around her and pulled her to him, the heat of his body radiating into hers, as she melted into his strong embrace.&nbsp; The moment his lips claimed hers, the world ceased to exist; a dizzying sensation washed over her in waves, and she trembled.&nbsp; Pressing her body against his even more, she reached up with one hand while pulling the other free from his grasp, and then slid both around his neck, winding her fingers in his hair, and drawing him down to deepen the kiss. Breathing in his spicy masculine scent, she nibbled his lips gently at first, then with more urgency as tingling heat set her pulse racing, exhilarated by the rush of pleasurable sensations.<br><br>Breathless and in danger of being swept away by the intoxicating kiss, she pulled back just enough to break the spell, and then released her hold, but kept her eyes locked on his, willing him to know what she felt, letting her hands trail across his jaw before softly reaching up to caress his brow.&nbsp; Drifting down to his still moist lips, her fingertips traced around them as though memorizing every sensual detail, brushing across each curve.&nbsp; Every cell in her body vibrated with an intensity of passion and feeling for him that threatened to overwhelm, but she held it back, and closed her eyes, suddenly unsure.&nbsp; As her thumb brushed across his lower lip, she hesitated a moment before her other hand reached up to caress his cheek once again with soft, languid strokes.&nbsp; With a quivering breath she gazed into his eyes, her own filled with wonder and unspoken desire, and yet also a fleeting worry.&nbsp; Suddenly everything between them had changed in the most wonderful way, and for Katherine there was no going back, but their future was so uncertain...she was afraid to let go.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>30-05-2011, 19:56:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Her lips were soft. Softer than he’d first imagined. The smell of her hair, moist with sweat, filled his nostrils and only strengthened his resolve to hold her close and taste her lips. Katherine’s hands moved to the back of his neck and seemed to pull him in deeper, confirming for him the heat and mutual attraction between them. Scott followed suit and slid one hand to the back of her neck to tangle his fingers in her hair and his other hand, which had wrapped around her to pull her closer, slid slowly down her back to rest on her hip. The thin material of her t-shirt was suddenly an enemy to vanquish as it seemingly conspired with the whole of the world to keep his fingers from touching her flesh.<br><br>Her lips nibbled at his and pushed the pounding of his heart into overdrive. Blood rushed to his groin swelling his erection as if he were a schoolboy seeing his first centerfold. There were no sounds aside from her breathing, no smells other than her sweat, hair and sweet perfume. There was nothing except for that kiss. And that’s all that he had ever wanted. <br><br>Just as quickly as it had started, she suddenly pulled away. He stood motionless, holding her tightly as she traced her fingers across his face. There was desire in her eyes and he was sure she could see the passion and desire in his. But the world slowly materialized around them again and he felt the cooler breeze which had picked up. He could smell moisture in the air and sense a darkening sky, and out of the corner of his eye he could still see the body of the creature that had almost killed them both.<br><br>The absurdity of it all finally hit him. They were billions of light years from the familiar, nearly killed and eaten by a creature most people could never imagine. The safety of this beautiful woman before him, as well as everyone aboard the ship soaring through space above them, was his responsibility. And here he was acting as if the world was theirs and they had nothing but time to enjoy each others company.<br><br>Still, there was something between them. Something he had watched grow, just as he had seen their friendship grow. There was something connecting them that was bigger and deeper than he would have thought possible. He took a cautiously deep breath and though he wasn’t ready to let her go, to put distance between them, he knew he must. He stepped back, struggling to find words to put voice to the unfamiliar feelings swirling around in his head and his heart.<br><br>The sound of a rumbling thunder broke the silence and he felt a few drops of cold rain land on his hand. Scott smiled sweetly and shook his head slowly back and forth, his eyes full of compassion. It seemed even the planet itself mocked the way their relationship had changed.<br><br>“Looks like we’d better find shelter of some kind.” He said finally, as the wind blew harder and the sky grew even darker. “We have no idea what this storm will bring.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>31-05-2011, 04:29:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Their gazes remained locked, and Scott continued to hold her tight.&nbsp; With her body pressed against his, she felt the evidence of his arousal and it fueled her own, sending her thoughts drifting until she imagined the hand on her hip slipping beneath the fabric of her shirt…his warm touch on her bare skin, sliding around her waist and across her belly, his fingers teasing higher to trace the curve of her breast.&nbsp; A tiny tremor of delicious heat rippled through her body to her very core and she swallowed hard; the air around them hummed alive with simmering, unspoken passion, but also that powerful sense of something more profound, something just beyond reach that spoke to her heart.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>Breathing rapidly from the lingering sensations of their kiss and all her emotions swirling beneath the surface, she was so very aware of him that she knew the moment reality encroached, and the responsibilities of the mission weighed on his shoulders once more, but she also sensed he did not want to release her, and she didn’t want him to. Yet, her eyes filled with tenderness and she returned his smile with a soft knowing one, stepping back when he did, and feeling the loss of his closeness immediately as the first drops of rain splashed down on her cheeks and the cooler air rushed past.&nbsp; Remembering all of the people back on the ship depending on them, she felt a niggling of guilt because they should be, no needed to be, her priority.&nbsp; Whatever this special magic was now blossoming between her and Scott, she knew he was right and they needed to set it aside and focus on what they were here to do; and they would. Taking a deep breath, she glanced up at the sky to see the dark clouds churning, all but obliterating the two suns, and then a series of lightning flashes far in the distance, followed by a loud clap of thunder left no doubt the coming storm would be a big one.&nbsp; Katherine nodded her agreement, “Yes, let’s go.” <br><br>They moved fast to gather up the scattered supplies, and the nearby trees swayed and rustled from the sharp gusts of wind that now seemed much stronger.&nbsp; Trying to avoid the gory scene where the creature’s body lay in a heap, she thought of how Dr. Pike would have loved to examine the beast, and then her head snapped up.&nbsp; Reaching into a pouch to grab a small glass vial, she looked at Scott, pointed to the creature and said, “Just a minute, I need to get a sample from that thing.” Not that she wanted to, but she could only imagine Dr. Pike’s indignation if she came back with a story of an alien like this and no DNA.&nbsp; <br><br>Wrinkling her nose and coughing from the acrid smell of death already emanating from the hideous, broken carcass, she covered her face with her arm and crouched down near its jaws, seeing up close for the first time the damage done by Scott’s bullets, amazed at how many times he hit it.&nbsp; Rotating to glance at him over her shoulder, she raised a brow and regarded him with a whole new appreciation for his marksmanship; he hadn’t just killed the thing, he had destroyed it, and it reinforced just how lucky she was he had been there.&nbsp; Shaking off the memories of fear that were still too fresh, and thoughts of ‘what if’, she forced herself to focus on the task at hand and grimaced, but with a series of quick swipes she scooped some of the oozing blue fluid until the vial was full, then snapped the lid shut, returning to Scott’s side.&nbsp; “There, that’ll have to do.” <br><br>Jogging now at a good pace, they stayed in the open and Katherine didn’t complain because she had visions of the woods crawling with those panther-spiders and she never wanted to see one again as long as she lived.&nbsp; The storm was coming closer; the air crackled with electricity and the smell of fresh ozone as fork lightning struck in the distance, but still too close for Katherine’s comfort and she ran faster, ignoring the ache in her side.&nbsp; Though the rain held off despite the ominous clouds and rumbling thunder, it was so dark now and the wind so strong, that they had to yell in order to hear each other over the din.&nbsp; After about twenty minutes, the path veered to the left, around a thick copse of trees at the base of a cliff, and when they rounded it, Katherine skidded to a halt…a large cavern loomed before them, partially hidden by thick vegetation.&nbsp; It appeared to be abandoned judging by the overgrowth surrounding it, but they approached with cautious steps until they stood only a few feet away, trying to peer into the darkness.&nbsp; <br><br>Trying to decide whether to investigate, the angry sky decided for them and chose that moment to unleash its fury.&nbsp; Bolts of lightning exploded all around them, hitting the ground in a shower of sparks.&nbsp; Chilling rain came down in sheets, drenching them in an instant, followed by a clap of thunder so loud it reverberated through the earth beneath their feet.&nbsp; They dashed for the entrance, ducking under the thick vines draped in front until just a few feet inside. The roar of the raging storm outside was deafening, and Katherine blinked against the darkness, gasping and trying to get her bearings. "What kind of storm was that!"&nbsp; &nbsp; <br><br>Suddenly, the cave walls began glowing with a soft yellow light and she moved backwards, heart pounding as the light revealed the inner chamber. It was huge, with what appeared to be several exits along the far walls, each leading to a different pathway.&nbsp; It was barren except for the large stalactites descended from the ceiling, and stalagmites on the ground reached up to meet them, every surface covered with specs of glittering minerals.&nbsp; An eerie echo of water dripping from somewhere deeper in the cave filled the space, and Katherine rubbed her arms to ward off the chill. Looking at Scott, she said, "I hope the storm passes quickly, because I don't think I like this place."<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>05-06-2011, 20:08:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Scott waited patiently as Katherine collected a sample of the creature that had almost killed them, ‘Ever the scientist’ He thought and then suppressed a chuckle as she somehow kept herself from gagging at the sight and smell. “I’m glad you’re the one with the sample vials and not me!” He said with a smile to help break the silence that had formed around them. He seriously doubted he would have been able to do as well as she had.<br><br>He was impressed at how quickly Katherine was able to transition from nearly being eaten, to collecting samples for study and then turning into a solid soldier. Or rather an officer, he corrected himself, as she seemed less accustomed to taking orders than she was at giving them. Still; she had proven more than capable in the latter area as well. More importantly he took note of how she seemed to be favoring her side. She seemed fine when they started the hike around the winding trail and she hadn’t complained about it but he could tell there was something wrong.<br><br>They reached the base of a cliff and the opening of a cave revealed itself. Scott approached cautiously, his rifle pointed at the ready. It seemed even the roar of the wind had died down as they approached the entrance in silence. He didn’t like the idea of going into a darkened cave on a strange planet filled with man eating panther-spiders; but it didn’t look like there was a better choice of shelter nearby. After a few more moments of silence he turned to Katherine to suggest they move on; however, before he could voice his worry the air around them was lit by a dozen bolts of lightning. As one they rushed headlong into the cave just as a cold, heavy rain fell on them and thunder rumbled the ground at their feet.<br><br>He quickly checked the immediate area with the light on his weapon and started breathing again when he saw no new monsters to shoot at. He lowered his rifle and shook head in answer to her question, “I have no idea.” Surprisingly the walls began glowing as if the sound of their voices had awakened something in the cave. Scott scanned the cave for threats again, this time with the help of the light from the cave itself. Although there appeared to be no new animals to worry about, the cave itself was ominous and there were several exits around on the far side of the large open area.<br><br>He nodded his head in agreement at the hopes the storm was over soon, he didn’t want to stay in the cave any longer than they had to. He finally released his vice like grip on his rifle and took off his pack. “Doctor Randall,” He said just loudly enough to be heard over the increasingly violent storm. “You’re hurt; we should get you patched up before we start moving again.”<br><br>He dropped to a knee and dug through his pack for a first aid kit as he motioned her closer. “And don’t argue with me, I’m a captain remember!” He said sternly, however the now easily visible look on his face revealed a playful, joking smile.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>05-06-2011, 23:12:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br>Cold droplets of water trickled from her wet hair, down the bare skin of her shoulders and back, and Katherine shivered again while rubbing her arms vigorously to generate warmth.&nbsp; Her eyes followed Scott who seemed tense as he did a quick check of the immediate area inside the cave, and she couldn’t help smiling.&nbsp; Ever the confident Marine Captain, he definitely took control of every situation without hesitation and it gave her a warm feeling, to know that she was safe with him there.&nbsp; No, she admitted to herself, it was more than that, knowing in her heart that her feelings ran much deeper, and it was a cruel twist of fate that they were here and not able to explore their changing relationship, something she felt even now despite their precarious circumstances.&nbsp; Shaking her head, she felt silly and selfish for thinking of that again, and worried he would read her thoughts if their eyes met, she looked away and tried to focus on something else. <br><br>Relaxing her stance, she took a better look around, trying hard to pay attention to their surroundings and ignore the now throbbing pain in her side. The cave had a fresh damp smell, like wet earth rich in minerals, and though there didn’t appear to be any signs of animal activity, the glowing walls were a mystery and she still couldn't shake the eerie feeling this place wasn't somewhere they should linger too long.&nbsp; It was just her intuition, nothing she could explain, but the hair on the back of her neck bristled from the sensation.&nbsp; Admonishing herself for overreacting, she stepped closer to the wall, wondering what could be causing the light, and thinking perhaps bioluminescent creatures that lived inside the rock like the glow-worms back on earth, or something else entirely, not natural at all. Her hand reached tentatively to touch the stone.&nbsp; It was cold, so the light did not generate heat…curious she thought. Perhaps they should try to break off a piece and take it back to the ship.&nbsp; &nbsp; <br><br>Turning her attention back to Scott while he finished his perimeter check, her adrenaline rush faded fast and the lull now that they seemed out of danger for the moment brought her emotions rushing back to the surface.&nbsp; What she really wanted was a damn good cry and a spectacular breakdown.&nbsp; Blinking back tears, she didn’t know how she’d been able to set those emotions and fears aside earlier, and assumed it was simply the fight or flight response of the human psyche to a life or death situation.&nbsp; But as her mind raced with all that had happened, deep down she knew that wasn’t it, not entirely. And then it hit, the realization of what it truly was; an inexplicable need to earn Scott’s respect, to never be a burden, and prove to him that she could stand by his side no matter what they faced, no matter how terrified she was inside.&nbsp; Almost from the beginning when they first arrived on board, she wanted him to be proud of her, and it was that desire that spurred Katherine on to find the inner strength to keep going even in the face of death, something she never imagined she could do.&nbsp; It defied logic and she couldn’t explain it, but she knew it was the reason she’d been able to keep it together this long.&nbsp; <br><br>So consumed by her thoughts, she startled when he dropped his rifle and mentioned her injury.&nbsp; As he knelt down to search through the pack for first aid supplies, his playful demeanour was just what she needed to snap her out of her melancholy.&nbsp; She opened her mouth to protest that she was fine, but instead she shook her head and grinned.&nbsp; “Aye, Aye Captain,” she said, then laughed and gave a mock salute, feeling a much needed release of tension.&nbsp; <br><br>“I think there was something sharp when I fell down the slope,” she said softly, stepping forward.&nbsp; Kneeling down in front of him, she hesitated and took a deep breath before gingerly lifting her tank top, wincing and biting her lip as the damp fabric peeled away from the partly closed gash on her side.&nbsp; Holding the shirt against her ribs just at the band of her black lace bra, one of her indulgent personal luxuries, she met his gaze and exhaled, feeling a little self-conscious. One of the shirt straps slipped off her shoulder, and she absently moved it back in place.&nbsp; “I don’t think it’s serious, just a deep scratch.”&nbsp; She gave him a soft apologetic smile. “I probably should have mentioned it before, but things got a little crazy out there.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>18-06-2011, 06:45:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Scott silently chided himself for his actions after the fight with the creature. He had let emotion take control of his mind and that was the “fatal funnel”, the slippery slope of poor decision making which could lead to injury, death or even worse; failure. Scott was a warrior and he had always taken pride in knowing that his role in the universe was to do battle and lead others to do battle. The mindset of a good warrior was simple: stay in the moment. Think of the near and not the far. Where will you place your next step? What target should you concentrate on? Do not let your mind wander with thoughts of home, hopes of safety or dreams of love. These were thoughts which did not belong in the mind of a soldier.<br><br>He pulled a couple bandages and some sterile water from his pack as Katherine knelt before him. He could easily see the pain on her face as she lifted her shirt and with one look he could see it was a little more serious than she was letting on. He started to examine the injury and noticed her bra strap stretched tightly to her side. He could see the goose bumps appear as the cooler air hit her wet skin and his thoughts turned to a quieter, more intimate time. Scott raised his eyes to meet hers and his smile was tight but filled with empathy. He quickly turned away to pull out his poncho and laid it on the dirt covered floor.<br><br>“Here; why don’t you lie down.” He said with authority, hoping she wouldn’t protest too much. “I have seen some pretty tough Marines get evacced with smaller injuries!” Once she was down on her side he took a deep breath to help clear his mind of the lustful thoughts that had crept into his head at the sight of the beautiful woman who was now lying down beside him. He cleaned the scrape with some sterile water and antiseptic, she had a fairly large abrasion but what concerned him was the gash. It wasn’t very deep, but deep enough for stitches, and it stretched a couple inches down her side. He did his best to clean the wound and then stuck a large bandage on it. He also wrapped some gauze around her for good measure.<br><br>Once he was finished he helped her sit up. “You should know that I got a D in First Aid…you should probably have that looked at by a professional.” He said with a coy smile and a shrug of his shoulders. Before anything more could pass between them he scooped up his gear and readied his rifle. And then suddenly realized how dog tired he truly was. He felt like he could lie down on the dirt floor and fall straight to sleep. His eyelids felt like lead weights and his mind started to swim with thoughts of sleep and calm. The storm still raged outside and the energetic lightning continued to crash just outside of the cave entrance. <br><br>Scott looked around and shook his head. “I don’t think we can go anywhere just yet.” He said as if his mouth were filled with honey; his words sounding muffled and distant. Scott noticed that Katherine too seemed tired, no exhausted was more like it. What was it about their ordeal that had them so worn out? But then it hit him! What if it was an unnatural tiredness! What if it was induced! But it would be so nice to just lie down and rest for a bit. What could be wrong with that? A solid night’s sleep would do them both good. He checked his watch; they still had more than 17 hours till they had to be back aboard the ship. Plenty of time for a little nap… “Maybe we should get some sleep…” He said, his speech slurred as if he had been drinking. “I know I’m pretty tired.” He didn’t wait for a response and simply sat down on the floor of the strangely glowing cave.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>01-07-2011, 20:59:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Katherine waited while Scott searched for what he needed, but loud cracks of thunder reverberated through the air, and she flinched, clenching her jaw, wishing the storm would stop because the noise was grating on her already raw nerves.&nbsp; Scott however didn’t seem fazed by it, his facial expression was sympathetic yet he was clearly deep in thought, and Katherine would have given anything to know what he was thinking at that moment.&nbsp; Her eyes searched his, and then she knew. They had left so much unsaid, but it was time to focus on finishing their task and find their way back to the ship before time ran out, even though there was so much she needed to tell him…all of her feelings she wanted to share.&nbsp; With a mental shake, she pushed it all aside, once again well aware this wasn’t the time or place, but the gentle tugging in her heart each time their eyes met, didn't help keep those wistful thoughts at bay.&nbsp; Wishing they could have just a few precious moments away from reality and free of all their responsibilities, she resisted the urge to reach out and pull him closer by clutching the fabric of her shirt tight in her fists, and let out a soft sigh when a second later she saw whatever fleeting emotion in his eyes was gone as he pulled out the medical supplies.&nbsp; <br><br>Teeth chattering from the damp chill inside the cavern seeping through her jeans as she knelt on the ground, Katherine shifted her weight trying to find a comfortable position, but Scott lay out the poncho for her and she flashed him a grateful smile.&nbsp; “Thanks, I think that will help,” she said softly, but noticed the concern in his eyes. Though he teased her now, there was a tone in his voice belying his light-hearted banter, and as she lay down, she tilted her head to get a better look at her injury, suddenly worried it might be worse than she first thought, but it was impossible to see in the dimness.&nbsp; Sucking in her breath as the cool water and antiseptic he applied sent a stinging sensation rushing across her abdomen, she bit her lip and stared hard at the ceiling, seeing that it glowed with a pulsing frequency she hadn’t noticed before.&nbsp; Finally, the pain began to subside as Scott finished wrapping the bandage with soft gauze, and she took his offered hand, swaying as she sat up, feeling so tired she barely heard what he said and gave him a quizzical look.&nbsp; “That’s much better, thank you…but…I…,” she said as the words drifted off, suddenly unable to remember what she wanted to say.<br><br>He was still speaking, and yet, it was as though she was in a tunnel with his voice moving farther and farther away, and all she heard was the word ‘sleep’, the strange slurring and unnatural drowsiness to his speech didn’t even register.&nbsp; Yes, she thought nodding, sleep was exactly what the Captain needed…and then Katherine’s lips turned up into a dreamy smile as she watched him settle down on the ground beside her, already asleep before his head came to rest on the poncho.&nbsp; Succumbing to her own fatigue, she lay next to him, watching with blurred vision as the pulsing light above became brighter, seeming as though it was reaching down to envelop them both, and then her eyes closed and she was aware of nothing except darkness as she floated into unconsciousness.&nbsp; <br><br>Perhaps no more than an hour passed, when Katherine’s eyes flew open as though something had touched her, something cold that sent a chill across her skin, the hair on her arms rising with goose bumps despite the heat from Scott’s body now pressed against hers.&nbsp; Turning her head to look around, she saw nothing unusual except that the storm appeared to have calmed, the only sound now was of softly falling rain splashing on wet earth outside, the violent thunder and lightning had stopped.&nbsp; <em>There’s nothing to worry about here, this cavern is a safe shelter, a welcoming place for weary travellers and no need to fear.</em> <br><br>Sitting up, relaxed by such peaceful thoughts, she gazed at Scott, who was still asleep, and smiled, reaching out her hand to caress his brow, running her fingertips through his hair in a soothing gesture.&nbsp; Contented by the sound of his deep breathing, her attention drifted to the back of the cave, to the entrances leading to tunnels that were dark except one, the one in the centre was now glowing with the same pulsing light as the rest of the ceiling.&nbsp; <em>Perhaps what we seek is through that tunnel, yes…of course, we need only explore the path to discover the answer.</em><br><br>Staring at the light, she stood up, no longer aware of anything except the urge to obey the now overwhelming instinct to go deeper in to the cave. <em>No need to wake the Captain, I’ll just take a quick look.</em>&nbsp; <br><br>With slow, deliberate footsteps, she left Scott’s side without a second thought, and moved towards the tunnel, lulled by a sense of peace and well-being.&nbsp; Once inside, she followed the narrow winding trail that led downwards in a steady spiral, until she saw a series of stone steps leading to a darker chamber.&nbsp; Pressing her palms against the wall for balance, she descended the rough-hewn staircase, peering with curiosity as the room she now entered suddenly came to life, illuminated by a blinding beam of white light, but from where she couldn’t see.&nbsp; Shielding her eyes with her arm, the intensity dimmed immediately, as though adjusting to her needs, and she gasped in awe of her surroundings.&nbsp; Standing in a vestibule of sorts, carved completely out of glittering amethyst crystal that bathed everything in shimmering lavender light, before her stood a smooth onyx archway, beside two matching pillars etched with symbols she didn’t recognize.&nbsp; Beyond that, she could see the arch opened up to a simple onyx bridge that stretched across a deep canyon, to what could only be described as a docked vessel of some sort. <em>A spacecraft?</em>&nbsp; It was about the same size as the Stealth Bombers she often saw at NORAD, but this ship was oblong, and made of white, almost transparent metal, but with no discernable features or even grooves. <em>Perhaps if I touch a crystal prism.</em>&nbsp; <br><br>That thought popped into her mind at the same time she saw a large round diamond shaped amethyst embedded in one of the smooth black pillars, and the moment her hand touched it, the ship pulsed to life, transforming the shell from opaque white to a mirror like surface, bright and shiny, yet reflecting nothing. <em>There is nothing to fear, the ship holds the answers.</em> <br><br>Moving forward without hesitation, she crossed the bridge.&nbsp; The canyon below appeared infinite in its darkness, and she felt a shiver of dread, but a firm yet gentle nudge in her mind switched her focus back to the ship, and a renewed sense of peace washed over her in soft waves.&nbsp; Almost there…her boots made no sound on the smooth black stone, and as she approached the ship, she could feel and hear a faint hum of energy emanating from it.&nbsp; <em>Touch it, go ahead it is safe.</em><br><br>Two steps forward and she let her hand glide over the cool, mirrored surface, gasping with delight as it seemed to ripple like water from the touch of her fingertips, yet remained solid. The entire ship began vibrating with a stronger energy than she sensed before, and as she moved even closer, a tiny voice of warning from deep in her conscious mind screamed to be heard.&nbsp; But she ignored it, another voice even louder pushed her to explore until she found the key. <em>What key?</em>&nbsp; She frowned as confusion blurred her thoughts, and she shook her head, feeling very alone and isolated, such a sharp contrast to the tranquility a second ago.&nbsp; That sudden switch of awareness jolted her memory, and she remembered Captain Hunter.&nbsp; A rush of thoughts flooded her mind as she realized how far from him she had wandered, scared by the inability to recall why or how she was there. <em>Scott!</em> <br><br>Her hands flew to her chest and she panicked, staggering backwards, just as the ship shuddered and started to open.&nbsp; Turning to flee, a powerful pulling sensation wrapped around her body and left her paralyzed, almost hypnotized as she could do nothing but watch the entrance to the ship reveal itself.&nbsp; Unblinking, she stood silent as a veil closed around her conscious mind, calm and transfixed, her body went slack, and with a slight swaying motion, Katherine began walking towards the welcoming light inside the belly of the strange alien ship.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Baldur</strong> on <strong>14-07-2011, 04:22:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He was suddenly aware of the chill on his chest where before there had been warmth and he struggled to open his eyes. Scott reached up to adjust his pillow and pull the blankets more tightly around himself when he started to remember his dream; laying next to a beautiful woman, his arms wrapped around her body as his fingers caressed her bare shoulder. His eyes were still completely close but he could see her face, soft, round and beautiful with piercing pale blue eyes and the smile of an angel… Katherine!<br><br>His heart jumped as adrenaline coursed through his veins and the realization of his true surroundings exploded into his mind. Scott quickly sat up reaching for the woman who had been lying next to him. He reached outward and felt only emptiness. Scott managed to open his eyes but his vision was blurry, like he was trying to see through gauze and his head swam with thoughts of sleep. Scott tried to call out but could hear his own voice as a mumbling whisper. Every muscle in his body cried out to him to just lie back down a moment longer. Sleep.<br><br>Katherine’s face appeared before him and she smiled; where was she!? Scott reached around and felt only a plastic poncho as he forced his eyes to open. Panic started to build. Rifle! His hands raced around the poncho and dirt floor as he searched for something, anything to hold onto, to bring him back to the waking world. He rubbed his face to open his eyes more and was finally able to make out the glowing cave walls he remembered. <br><br>“Katherine!” He yelled, this time his voice was loud and clear but there was no answer. Scott jumped to his feet and found his rifle on the ground where he had left it. He checked his watch as he remembered the Discovery; he had no idea how long he had slept but his countdown timer showed less than 15 hours till the jump. His arms and legs were tingling as if he had pushed himself toward exhaustion and he immediately thought of getting some more rest. But deep down he knew that was not a good idea and instead he forced himself to stand.<br><br>He staggered as if he spent the night drinking but managed to raise his rifle at the ready and turn on the flashlight. The sound of shuffling footsteps in the back of the cavern caught his attention and he quickly turned to see what was moving. Nothing. He saw nothing. “Katherine!” He called out again, less clearly but still quite loud. He started to exit the cave but stopped when he realized that one of the tunnels at the back of the cave was glowing. Only one.<br><br>On instinct alone he turned decisively and marched toward the glowing tunnel. Scott moved quickly but at a stagger actually falling down twice before he reached the entrance. His thoughts moved at an annoyingly slow pace as he fought back the urge to sit down and rest. The only thing that kept him from doing so was the thought that Katherine, the doctor he was supposed to be protecting, was no where around.<br><br>He followed the tunnel as it seemed to slope downward in a spiral but stopped suddenly when he thought of the danger he was getting himself into. The glowing had subsided and he was faced with darkness except for his flashlight. Turn back! Not safe! Rest. Scott stopped and shook his head. He was afraid of nothing, why was he suddenly afraid of the dark? No matter. He could use a little rest. Scott dropped to a knee as his eyes started to close but the light from his weapon mounted flashlight fell on the ground where he could make out shoeprints. Apparently fresh prints. Katherine! <br><br>He shook his head and got back to his feet, more determined than ever to continue down the tunnel. He walked with purpose and came upon stairs which descended into more darkness. As he neared what he felt was the bottom of the steps he could see a bright light ahead and below him. Scott started skipping steps as he almost ran toward the light. As he reached the bottom of the stairs he entered a brightly lit cavern, shining with purple light. He scanned the room for Katherine and tripped over his own legs at the bottom of the stairs. He went down in a rolling tumble as his molasses covered brain told him to stay down. Somehow he managed to hold onto his rifle and quickly get back to his feet; he spotted an archway of some sort and a long black walkway beyond it.<br><br>His heart pounded a drum roll in his chest when he saw the giant black mirror at the end of the walkway. A ship of some kind! Or a floating building! And there was Katherine, walking straight toward an opening in the ship! “Katherine!” He screamed and then ran after her. When he reached the archway he realized that what he thought was a long hallway was actually a bridge over an endless cavern. Scott didn’t slow his pace as he crossed it and instead ran headlong toward Katherine and the ship. He was just a hundred feet from her when she vanished into the blackness of the ship. Scott stopped short as he reached the ship and kicked it. It was solid, as solid as a mountain. “Katherine!” He yelled as he stepped forward slamming the butt of his rifle into the now shimmering wall. Again and again he hit it as his hands stung from the impact. “Katherine!” Scott took a few steps back, took aim, and fired a burst of lead into the ship. Nothing. Not a scratch. <br><br>“Katherine!” He scanned for edges or seams or controls or something to access the ship. Nothing. <br><br>“Katherine!” He screamed; so loudly that his throat hurt. <br><br>“Katherine!”&nbsp; And the ship vanished…<br><br>Scott stepped back blinking away tears. His arms tingled and his heart pounded in his chest as he fought to catch his breath. He lowered his rifle and struggled to stay on his feet as his legs shook. “no” He said, his voice a hoarse whisper.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Stargate: Discovery (Xandria &amp; Baldur)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Xandria</strong> on <strong>17-08-2011, 06:45:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Katherine’s foot hesitated as she approached the now fully open entrance to the strange craft. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she thought she heard a familiar voice calling out, but instead of looking back, she shook her head and continued up the smooth metal walkway.&nbsp; White light filled the space making it impossible to see any details, and once she was well inside, the door shut behind her with a soft thud.&nbsp; Suddenly she could hear Scott yelling outside and her eyes grew wide with recognition.&nbsp; She screamed, “Scott!” and turned to flee but skidded to a halt before crashing into the door...it was too late.&nbsp; In the next instant, the floor started vibrating and she felt the unmistakable sensation of forward momentum, and her heart sank. <em>No!</em> Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized this strange vessel was whisking her far away from Scott Hunter, and a profound sadness swept over her entire being as she acknowledged she would likely never see him again.&nbsp; It was all too much, and now all she wanted to do was cry.&nbsp; <br><br>Dejected and lost in misery she barely noticed that the walls now shimmered with silver blue ribbons of light moving in one direction as if guiding her towards another compartment.&nbsp; There was no fear, she was too unhappy to care about her predicament anymore, so she shrugged with indifference and made her way through the belly of the ship and down a narrow corridor where a chamber to her left opened up, flooded with more blinding light.&nbsp; The corridor beyond remained dark and so she decided against continuing in that direction and instead entered the new space.&nbsp; As soon as she did, the light dimmed to a comfortable level, exactly as it had in the amethyst alcove moments before.&nbsp; In fact, she was beginning to believe that this ship was alive somehow, anticipating her needs and manipulating her actions, even that it was responsible for the phenomenon inside the cave. <em>That’s it, I must be losing it, how can a ship be alive and control my thoughts? It can’t Katherine, you’re being ridiculous!</em>&nbsp; <br><br>Forcing those ideas aside, she made a quick survey of the sparsely decorated room, searching for signs she might not be alone on board, and moved to a row of raised metal cots. Above each one was a kind of screen with strange symbols flashing beside several indicator lights. <em>This must be the infirmary,</em> she mused, noting that the entire room had an unmistakable clinical feel.&nbsp; &nbsp;Along the back wall was a metal table with a blue box perched in the centre.&nbsp; It was carved with the same kind of symbols as the monitors, and she felt another gentle nudge inside her mind. <em>Yes, this is why I’m here, this is what we need.</em> Smiling, Katherine moved closer to the box, which appeared to be made of opaque crystal.&nbsp; Her hand reached out to caress the smooth surface, and as soon as her fingertips touched it, the symbols began to glow and the lid popped open, revealing a small crystal vial filled with a thick white liquid. <em>Take it, this is what you seek.</em> The voice inside her mind urged.&nbsp; <br><br>Suddenly, a viewing screen behind the table flickered to life and a man’s image appeared. He looked human, rough featured with long dirty blond hair that hung to his shoulders and piercing green eyes, but spoke with a loud voice in a language she didn’t understand.&nbsp; A long scar ran from the corner of his left eye down to his chin, and Katherine thought he looked to be about forty years old and quite menacing. He was dressed in a black leather full body suit of some kind, standing on the bridge of another ship with several similarly dressed people gathering behind him as he shouted, and though she had no idea what he was saying, the tone was unmistakable...he was angry and speaking only to her.&nbsp; She tried to back away as the now familiar fog inside her mind intensified, but this time with a strange new sense of awareness and clarity.&nbsp; Images and thoughts flooded her senses with lightning speed, and they represented the entire history of this sentient spacecraft, which she now knew for certain had no biological basis, but nonetheless alive with emotions and intelligence, almost childlike in its purity and simplicity.&nbsp; <br><br>Katherine gripped the table to keep her balance as the overwhelming volume of information being forced into her mind sent her reeling, and she squeezed her eyes shut mentally fighting against the invasion, but it was futile...the images kept coming.&nbsp; Several seconds passed.&nbsp; Katherine’s knees buckled and she sank to the floor and beads of sweat broke out on her brow, and then in a flash it was over.&nbsp; After a moment of silence her eyes flew open and she knew…knew without a doubt this living machine, stolen from another world and manipulated by a team of mercenaries to use in their smuggling operations, had been unable to break free until she and Captain Hunter triggered some kind of launch mechanism by venturing into the caverns. Now the ones who stole it, wanted it back, and judging by their demeanor, would stop at nothing to get it.<br><br><em>I have to get out of here.</em>&nbsp; Katherine scrambled up and glanced at the view screen, the other ship’s commander looked even more furious as he shouted orders to his crew, and instinct told her he was tracking her ship to intercept it.&nbsp; Without a second thought, she snatched the vial of liquid from the box and dashed into the corridor, stopping to lean against the wall. “I have to go back, <em>please</em> take me back to the cave and Captain Hunter,” she said aloud.&nbsp; Her voice was pleading but full of newfound hope, and she prayed that the ship would do as she asked while waiting for a response.&nbsp; Instead, there was only a sense of stubborn unwillingness to let her go because she had been the one to set it free, even if by accident.&nbsp; “Please, there are people depending on me to get back with this,” she held up the vial, “you brought me here so I could find this to help them, and I can’t do that if you don’t let me return.”&nbsp; She caressed the cool wall with a gentle motion, and smiled when the light rippled beneath her hand...the ship was turning around.&nbsp; Katherine wondered if the ship was unable to defy the direct wishes of its passengers, which would explain how it had been enslaved so long.<br><br>There wasn’t time to test that theory because she felt the moment the ship stopped moving, and wasted no time running to the now open doorway.&nbsp; She sprinted down the walkway, scanning the dimly lit cavern for any sign of Captain Hunter until she saw him standing there with his head down deep in thought, as though he wasn’t even aware she had returned.&nbsp; Smiling and elated to see him, her heart soared as she vaulted into his arms and wrapped her own round his neck, almost knocking him over in her exuberance.&nbsp; “Oh Scott you’re still here! I’m so glad to see you!”&nbsp; Reluctant to release him, she knew they had to hurry so she pulled back quickly, and held out the vial while trying to explain everything that had happened, but her thoughts were racing so fast she could barely catch her breath as she spoke, and most of it sounded incoherent even to her.&nbsp; Finally she said, “Look please don’t ask me to prove any of this but that ship is alive and aware, and led me to this," she put the vial in her pocket, "whatever is inside should cure the others, but we have to hurry...the mercenaries who stole ‘it’,” she glanced back at the strange ship, “are dangerous and already on their way here.”&nbsp; She tugged his arm, “Quickly, please…we have to get back to the Stargate...now!&nbsp; I'm pretty sure we don’t have much time.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br><br>
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