Jon stood next to Deatra as they both looked over the Atlantis. Sam and Terri were holding a conversation as Oojoung watched over the pair. In the recent weeks Oojoung was never far from Terri or Sam, he insisted Sam come with them everywhere. Oojoung had become more protective of the Hunters and their closest friends. Oojoung had even assigned, unknown to any of them, select Black Ops personnel from the Scythe to keep an eye over them. He had used some questionable computer skills to get them their placements so they were never far from their assignment.
Oojoung had setup a training course for the Special Forces detachment at the request of Mark and Jon. Royal guards were required to take the course as were all command personnel. Training lasted six weeks and covered everything from hand to hand combat with advanced tactics to Zero Gee hand to hand and boarding tactics. It was a grueling course and in the first two days a class that started with one hundred and thirty applicants was down to ninety five.
Ten of those drop outs were in the infirmary with various injuries and two others would have their services held after the investigation was over. The rest were either drummed out or dropped from the course voluntarily. Every applicant was warned of the dangers of the course and had to sign a waiver stating they knew the dangers. Oojoung made sure that everything was done to limit the dangers of the course, even having medical staff on hand to get first hand experience on how to handle various situations.
Zero Gee training was done using the Titan and Scythe. They used a newly designed weapon that Mike and Brad had come up with. It would stun someone hit by it but not do any permanent damage to them beyond that. Jon and Mark were very pleased as they watched the simulated boarding runs.
At Jon's urging Oojoung had even taken the training to a higher level for a select few of the marines. This elite unit would form their first Black Ops team and Oojoung would be in charge of it. Oojoung hand selected the twenty personnel for this new team. Even though the base course was only half way through, the new course would continue the training and then expand on what they already knew. Oojoung had already selected several planets in the solar system for the environmental part of the new course. When the marines finished with this course they would be the highest trained unit in the ADF.
There had been a few snags when the training had been put into action; tensions between the different races ran high. Mark settled this by removing the offenders and stationing them elsewhere, usually to mining duty. It didn't take long for their tempers to even out and realize they all had to work together.
Guarding an empty mining barge that took a day to reach its destination and then docking at an empty outpost for two days while waiting for a full load, wasn't all it was cut out to be. Especially when the upper brass made sure the crew was mixed and that when the ship was idle the base was being repaired, by hand. This was actually a blessing in disguise, not only did it teach them to get along. It allowed the ADF to get ten mining bases fully operational and manned in two weeks, there were plenty of volunteers from the marines for this special duty.
With ten fully operational mining bases operational and fully crewed, including the ships and equipment. Ghost Station had all seven of her foundries online and running, three at full capacity and the rest at fifty percent or better. This allowed them to have a steady supply of replacement parts and decreased the time required for repairs and upgrading equipment.
Brad and his mixed crew had Ghost Station fully operational and were in the process of opening decks that had been shut down and restricted. This allowed the people occupying the station to spread out a bit more, which helped with tensions between the races living on the station.
Mike and half his team were installing the systems on the new cruiser that was forty percent complete. The other half of his team was busy tearing apart the Earth's Revenge and upgrading its systems.
Bill had been spending most of his time split between his new ship and helping out in the renovation of the new opened atrium. Jon grinned every time he saw him walking towards the atrium. Jon knew the real reason Bill had taken an interest in the project and her name was Kelly Martin. Kelly was the head botanist, appointed by Jon, and had caught Bill's eye at a meeting. Ever since then Bill had done everything he could to be involved where Kelly was concerned. Kelly on the other hand had done everything she could to make sure he was involved and vice versa. At Kelly's secret request Jon had been putting her through the training needed to be a second in command. Kelly wanted to surprise Bill once he officially took command of his ship. Jon had already appointed her as his second in command even though Gilas frowned when he was told. He assured Gilas it would be ok, besides he didn't have the heart to split them up, he hadn't seen Bill this happy since he had been shot.
Jon watched as a worker walking on the hull of the Atlantis closed an access panel. The Atlantis' repairs had taken a bit longer than expected as the engineering crews went over her unfinished sections and completed the work started ages ago.
Jon smiled as he pulled Deatra closer, in the past few weeks he had been drawn closer to her. It almost ached when he was away from her, he was sure he was in love and he knew she felt the same. She couldn't feel anything but love for Jon as the bond made sure of that. Jon also knew it was affecting him. However, it wouldn't have been difficult to love Deatra even without the bond.
Jon kissed Deatra and stepped back.
"Oh my god," Terri said. "You two need to go rent a room or something."
"Yeah, gross," Sam said. Oojoung chuckled in the back ground.
"Gross?" Jon said. Jon walked towards the pair as he spoke.
Sam nodded, "Yeah, totally gross."
Terri nodded her head agreeing with Sam, "Totally."
Deatra watched with interest as Jon leapt at them and bear hugged them then started showering them with kisses.
"EWWWW!" Sam screamed. "Stop!" She was giggling the whole time as she fought to get out of Jon's grasp.
"YUCK!" Terri said. "Now I'm going to have to go get a cootie shot."
Jon continued his assault as he ignored the half hearted protests.
"Eww, you're slobbering on me!" Sam whined.
Jon let Sam go and turned to his sister as he spoke, "I'll let you go for now as you have been duly punished for your transgressions."
"Thank You," Sam said. She scrambled away from Jon as she wiped the side of her face on her sleeve.
"You, on the other hand," Jon said as he gave his sister and evil grin. "Are to be punished for the 'cooties' comment!"
Terri let out a squeal as Jon started tickling her. She thrashed about trying to protect her sides from his assault. "Stop Jon," Terri managed to get out between fits of laughter. "Stop before I pee myself!"
"Thus is the punishment," Jon said. "I decree you shall be tickled until said peeing has started."
Terri gasped, "You wouldn't!"
Jon doubled his assault, "I can and will."
Oojoung was laughing as he watched Terri struggle. He knew if she really wanted away she could. It was interesting to watch her play helpless with her brother. Something the pair did regularly.
"Stop Jon, I can't hold off any longer and if you don't stop I will pee myself," Terri gasped.
'Commander, ' Mike's voice said.
Jon stopped his assault and let Terri up, "I declare this lowly servant duly punished."
Terri jumped up and ran for the bathroom as she spoke, "Lowly servant? I'll show you lowly servant when I get back."
Jon winked at Sam who started laughing.
"Go ahead Mike," Jon said out loud.
'Sir, ' Mike said. 'I think we're ready to bring Atlantis back online. I think we have all the sub routines removed that need to be removed.'
"Ok we'll be there momentarily," Jon said. He stood up and started for the door as Deatra joined him.
'Yes, sir, ' Mike said.
"Sam," Jon said as he stood in the doorway. "You and Oojoung stay here. Terri come on we have work to do."
Oojoung frowned.
Jon smiled, "Don't worry Oojoung we'll be ok, I just don't want Sam in the middle of all the technicians."
"I'm hurrying," Terri said as she came out of the bathroom.
Oojoung nodded as he turned and thumbed his com unit.
Jon stepped out of the doorway and into the hall as Terri caught up. "That Buranis is way too over protective," Jon said. "I'm sure we will be watched and probably be intercepted by a small Special Forces unit."
"He cares," Deatra said. "Your safety is very important to the people on this station and he knows this."
The royal guards formed up as they walked down the corridor towards one of the transport tubes that led to where Atlantis was.
"Oh, I don't think he is too worried about me," Jon said. "I have a feeling he is more worried about my sister."
"What?" Terri said as she finished adjusting her suit. "Oh yeah, Oojoung loves me, this I know. You should try to get a moment alone around him."
Deatra and Jon exchanged glances before they started laughing.
Terri frowned, "What? I'm serious about trying to get a moment alone."
Jon nodded, "We know you are that's what's so funny. I didn't ever think I would see my sister complain about something like that."
"Yeah, whatever," Terri said. "It just gets a bit annoying is all."
Jon stopped and looked at his sister. He stopped laughing and got serious, "I can have him reassigned or order him to back off it her bothers you."
"Nah," Terri said. "In a strange way I'm flattered by his attention and secretly love him back. Besides he knows when to back off." Terri winked at her brother.
Jon laughed, "I bet he does."
Then just as if on cue a small unit of Special Forces intercepted them and they began walking again. Jon looked at Terri as if to say 'I told you so'.
Terri snickered as the unit fell into place around them.
The commanding officer of the unit stepped up next to Jon and saluted. He was a Buranis dressed in combat armor and he carried his rifle at rest as he fell into step. "Sir, we've been ordered to escort you to your destination," he said. His unit was a mixed unit of all the races and Jon could tell they had been training together for a while. There was no hostility towards each other as they assumed their escort positions.
"I don't really see the need Captain," Jon said.
"Mr. Oojoung informed us this would be a good time to practice escort duties," the Captain said. Even though Oojoung held a rank he trained his personnel not to use ranks while on duty. None of the personnel from the Special Forces units wore rank insignia unless you knew where to look. It was to keep the commanding and higher ranking officers from being identified on a battle field.
"Did he now?" Terri said.
"Yes ma'am," the Captain said.
Jon just shrugged, "That's fine Captain, and we welcome the additional company."
Jon had put Oojoung in charge of the Special Forces training and couldn't really argue about how he did it.
"Captain," Terri said. "You see familiar to me, do I know you?"
The Captain nodded, "Yes, ma'am. You flew me and my unit out to mining base theta a while back. Then you stayed for a week and trained us on piloting the freighters."
"Oh, I remember," Terri said. "My god you have all changed. All I remember from that time was all the arguments and fights I had to break up between you guys. I'm impressed by how much you all have changed."
Several of the Special Forces chuckled.
"Funny how having to depend on each other to survive and having to live in tight quarters will change a person," the Captain said. "At first most of us didn't get it and we held on to our old way of thinking. We have been at war for so long and, if you'll excuse me for saying, oppressed. When we got our first taste of being actually free and able to choose what we wanted to do we didn't know how to react. We lashed out at the people we viewed as enemies, which seemed to include everyone but the humans."
It made no difference how much we got told we were on the same side and we need to get along and learn to work together. That's when Mr. Oojoung and Mr. Anders instituted the mining base duty requirement for anyone or any unit caught not getting along. To be honest it was the best thing that had happen to most of us. Every person under my command will tell you they're better for the experience. It teaches you very quickly to work together and how to trust each other. I for one am glad to be a part of the ADF and will do everything I can to live up to the ideal of the ADF."
"What do you think the ideal of the ADF is Captain?" Deatra said.
"Ma'am that's easy for me," the Captain said. "The ADF is about the various races in this galaxy working together for peace and harmony to build a better place for everyone. However, each person has a different view on what the ADF means for them."
"How so?" Jon said.
"For some it's about having freedom to do what they want. For others it's about being a part of something they want to fight for and not a part of something they just fight for," the Captain said. "People are starting to realize that there doesn't have to be constant war to live. They're starting to realize no everyone is the enemy and it is possible to live together."
"I'm afraid Captain, that the war has just started," Jon said. "We have a long road ahead of us and we will have to fight to get to the end of that road."
"That is a fight we're ready to fight," the Captain said. "Most of us want our kids to grow up in a world without conflict. Besides, how can we fail when we're following the Weaver of Worlds?"
Jon moaned and everyone chuckled at him.
"I think people put too much stock in me being this Weaver of Worlds," Jon said.
"And we think you put too little stock in it," the Captain said.
"Maybe," Jon muttered.
"I wouldn't worry too much about it," Deatra said.
"Well, I do," Jon said. "Everyone expects so much from me. I'm afraid I'm going to fail everyone when I can't live up to their expectations."
"See, that's your problem," Deatra said. "No one expect anything from you but to be yourself and to continue what you're doing. You're doing a good job don't worry about who people think you are. Just do what you think you should do."
"Every time I turn around people are staring or talking about me being the one the prophecies speak of," Jon said.
"That is because it gives people hope to believe in something," the Captain said. "It's like the glue that holds everything together. It makes a person work harder when they have something grasp and that happened to be you."
"Never thought about it that way," Jon said.
"That and well you have fulfilled some of the prophecies," the Captain said. He winked at Deatra who giggled as Jon moaned. "I'm just yanking your chain Sir. I would say relax and let things go as they do, you're doing a fine job and you should be proud of what you have accomplished here in this short time."
"I agree bro," Terri said. "You need to loosen up some and accept how some of the people are going to view you."
"I guess you all are right," Jon said. "I've just never thought about it that way. I was just afraid of letting people down."
"It's ok," Terri said. "The Weaver of Worlds should be relaxed and calm at all times. I mean we can't have an uptight Weaver of Worlds can we?" Terri fluttered her eyes at Jon as Jon glared back.
There was chuckles all around as Terri flashed Jon a big smile.
"Ass," Jon muttered.
"Is the Weaver of Worlds displeased?" Terri asked.
"Ok, you can stop," Jon said.
Terri fell to her knees, "M'Lord, please forgive me! Please don't have me thrown in the brig and lashed to death!" Terri grabbed one of Jon's boots and began sobbing as she continued on.
The traffic in the corridor had just about stopped as people stared at the spectacle as they whispered between each other. Jon's face by now was beet red in embarrassment as he tried to get his sister to stand up. Deatra and the rest of the small group were laughing as they watched.
"Terri," Jon said. He was nodding and smiling at a wide eyed Eutharan. "Please get up, you're scaring people."
"Please M'Lord," Terri cried. "Don't beat me. Think of my kids what will they do when mommy is dead?" She reached up and grasped his pants leg as she poured on a new round of crying.
"Terri please," Jon said desperately.
Terri looked up at Jon and whispered, "Are you sorry?"
"Huh?" Jon said.
"About tickling me like you did," Terri whispered.
"You're evil," Jon said.
"You know it," Terri said. She grinned at Jon.
"Fine, I'm sorry," Jon said.
Terri jumped up and grabbed his arm, "Ok, let go." She had a big grin on her face as she tugged Jon down the hall.
"Evil!" Jon said. This caused a renewal of laughter.
"Looks like the Weaver of Worlds is going to have a new rumor spread around," Deatra said.
Jon gave her an evil look as he spoke, "Hush you or you get no dinner tonight and go straight to bed!"
Several of the Eutharan gasped.
"Promises promises," Deatra said.
Jon blushed as the Captain laughed.
"I can't win," Jon said as he threw his hands up.
Both Deatra and Terri spoke at the same time, "Now you're learning."
Jon started muttering to himself about women and how evil they were.
"Just a little bit longer," Terri said.
"Yep," Deatra said. "We almost have him house broken."
This caused Jon to renew his muttering as both girls began to chuckle.
"I feel for you Sir," the Captain said.
Deatra looked at Terri and both of them looked at the Captain and raised an eyebrow.
"You're next Captain," Terri said.
Deatra nodded.
"Um," the Captain said. "I think one of my guys are calling me. I'll be back when I can; it was nice speaking with you all." With that the Captain quickly made his way up to the front of the group.
Even Jon chuckled as the Captain made a hasty retreat, "You both need to stop scaring people."
"But it's so fun," Terri said.
Deatra smiled as she leaned into Jon.
"Oh, I see how it is," Jon said as he wrapped his around Deatra. "Break me down and then build me back up."
Deatra nodded, "That's how training works M'Lord."
Jon moaned, "You are going to be the death of me."
"Hey, what about me?" Terri said.
"Nah, you're just going to give me an ulcer," Jon said.
Terri rolled her eyes, "Whatever."
Jon stood on the bridge of the Atlantis as he watched his crew take their positions for launch. Deatra sat in the chair to his right and Terri was down inspecting the launch bays before they launched. Mike stood next to the Engineering console and signaled he was ready.
"Ship wide," Jon said.
"Aye Sir," the Com officer said.
"We will be taking the Atlantis out for a small shakedown cruise as we Atlantis back online," Jon said. "All stations secure for departure and report ready." Jon made a motion across his neck for the channel to be closed. "Mike are you ready?"
"Yes Sir," Mike said.
"Alright," Jon said. "Do it up."
Mike reached down and touched a few buttons and moments later Atlantis appeared in front of Jon. She slowly opened her eyes as Mike walked up and stood next to Jon.
"Command authorization?" Atlantis said.
Mike and Jon both relayed their command codes.
"Accepted," Atlantis said. "Initializing memory and all subsystem routines."
"How long?" Jon asked.
"Shouldn't..." Mike started.
"Finished, all systems online," Atlantis said. "Orders?"
"Wow, that was fast," Jon said.
"We upgraded her memory and CPU to the newer designs the Buranis engineers had," Mike said.
"Orders," Atlantis said.
"Resume duties," Jon said.
"Thank you Captain," Atlantis said. "It's good to be back."
"Good to have you back," Jon said as he smiled.
"I can see there have been several upgrades to my systems," Atlantis said. "If you'll excuse me I'll get familiar with them and I need to run a diagnostics."
"You're excused," Jon said. Atlantis disappeared as Jon turned to face Mike. "What about her code?"
"We clean it up, it was a mess. We cleaned out all the things we didn't need or were redundant. Then went through and rewrote large chunks of it to be a bit more efficient," Mike said.
"How do we know?" Jon said.
"We don't," Mike said. "There's no way to query if we got it all but I think we did. We're doing the same to the other AI systems now. The Titan is almost finished and the Scythe is being done before we bring it online."
Jon nodded, "Good, keep me informed please.
"Sir," the Tactical officer said. "We're green across the board."
"Ok, take us out," Jon said. "When we pass the outer markers make our first fold."
The Atlantis slowly left her berth making her way towards the outer markers as she picked up speed.
"All systems green Sir," the Con officer said.
"Signal the station that we're making our first fold," Jon said.
"We've got the green light from the station," the Con officer said.
"Initiate fold," Jon said.
Several things happened all at once. Atlantis disappeared in a flash of light as the Con station exploded and a second explosion shook the ship. The officer at the Con station was thrown across the bridge as the lights on the bridge dimmed and turned red.
'Warning, fold drive offline. Hull breach on deck twenty, dispatching repair crews, ' Atlantis' voice echoed.
"Switching Con controls to Secondary Bridge," Mike said from the Engineering station.
"What the hell is going on?" Jon said.
"The fold engine is offline and we have major damage to that section. Medical and repair crews are responding," Mike said.
One of the crew men attending the downed Con officer looked up at Jon, "He's dead Sir."
"Damn it," Jon said. "I thought all systems checked green. Con, bring us about and head back to Ghost Station."
The holographic crew member turned towards Jon, "Sir, I'm not getting a response from the Con."
"Com, relay our situation to Ghost Station and request support," Jon said. Jon stood up and stepped down to the planning table. "Tactical bring up our position please."
"Sir," the Com officer said. "Something is interfering with our transmissions."
Jon sighed, "Tactical our position please."
"Sir," the Tactical officer said. "I can't get a fix."
"What the hell is going on?" Jon said. "Bring up the main viewer."
Blackness filled the screen.
"Is there something wrong with the main viewer?" Jon said.
Tactical turned back and checked a few things, "No Sir, it's operational."
"Well, where the hell are the stars?" Jon said.
Everyone on the bridge looked at the screen as a white faced Mike stood up and spoke, "We're stuck in fold."
"What?" Jon said. "I thought Folding was instantaneous."
"It should be," Mike said. "I'm still reading a fold event surrounding the ship."
"Atlantis, to the bridge," Jon said. She should have appeared when this happened it was protocol. Something was wrong when she didn't appear right after his request. "Mike where's Atlantis?" Jon said.
Mike reached down and touched a few keys, "She's, uh, what the hell?"
"What?" Jon said.
"She's offline," Mike said.
Something on beeped at Mike's station and he looked down to check it out.
"What was that?" Jon said.
"It seems we have a bit more trouble," Mike said.
Jon raised an eyebrow.
"The fold event is weakening," Mike said.
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Jon said.
"Bad," Deatra said.
Every eye on the bridge turned towards her.