Atlantis held position just off the burned wreck of the Titan. SAR teams were exploring the wreckage looking for any survivors. Lt. Nichols stood on the bridge of the Atlantis listening to the reports from the SAR teams. Death's Hand kept close to the Atlantis, acting as her fighter screen. Terri was kept informed of Jon's status by Deatra and Andie. Sam refused to leave medical and as a result Kayla and Oojoung were also sitting in the outside waiting area.
Rick was in main engineering helping with the repairs to Atlantis. Ellie and Mike were adjusting some of the main control routines for the guns. They also refined some of the scanner routines. Atlantis stood silently next to Ellie watching as she rewrote some of the sub-routines. Everyone kept as busy as they could, trying to stay out of the way of Andie and her medical staff.
'Atlantis we have found survivors. They're behind some bulkheads in main engineering.' A voice said over the com on the bridge.
"What's their status?" Atlantis's com officer asked.
'Unknown Atlantis, we found them but haven't had any communication. We're attempting to close the secondary bulkheads, so we can move them to an airlock. We will need 30 minutes to set up here.'
"Roger that SAR Baker, keep us informed."
'SAR Baker isn't the only ones who have found survivors. We have survivors on the main bridge. But we have a problem, the secondary bulkheads in this area are severely damaged. We'll need another option for extraction.'
"Atlantis copies that SAR Zulu, we'll get with engineering on the problem."
Jon stood on the bridge on the Atlantis watching the massive battle unfold. Jupiter's Fortune was taking heavy damage from the barrage of fire for the enemy heavy carrier. He had ordered the Hellios into the battle to support the Jupiter's Fortune. Carla's face filled the main viewer on the bridge of the Atlantis.
"Sir, we're taking heavy damage. We've lost half of our fighter support and several systems are damaged. Repair crews are attempting to get the main engines back online. Our main targeting systems are offline." Carla said as her ship shook from another impact.
"Capt. I want you to stand your ground, the Hellios will be on station in one minute. I'm sending Death's Hand Squadron in to give you additional fighter support. I'm also dispatching the Independence to help you with repairs." Jon replied.
Carla nodded as her ship shook from another impact and several fires erupted behind her. "We will give them hell Sir." Carla's face faded.
"Sir, two ships exiting fold next to the Jupiter's Fortune. It's the Titanic and the Titan's Triumph." Tactical reported.
'We have your six Jupiter's Fortune, launching additional fighter support and SAR teams to help in your repairs. Com order the Triumph to target the Carrier. We'll take care of the smaller ships and fighters.' A voice said over the battle channel.
Terri listened to her orders from the Atlantis and acknowledged them. Terri turned her fighter towards the Jupiter's Fortune. "Ok boys here we go, we're ordered to lend any support we can to the Jupiter's Fortune."
"Copy that your highness."
"I told you stop calling me that while we're out here. It paints a large bull's-eye on my ass. My call sign is Sandpiper, use that."
"Sorry Sandpiper."
Terri spurred her engines to full and shot towards the hurt Jupiter's Fortune. Several small blips lit her console coming straight towards them. As she reached firing range she spun her guns up and cut her engines, turning her fighter to the side. The maneuver caught the other vessel off guard as her guns hammered into its side. She gunned her engine, shooting through the disintegrating fighter. Her squad split up into pairs to engage the enemy fighters. By the time the enemy recovered from the initial attack they had lost half of their fighters. Terri and her wingman had reached the Jupiter's Fortune with four enemy fighters on their tail. Terri weaved and dropped to the hull of the large ship. Her wingman didn't fare so well and took a hit, crashing into the Jupiter's Fortune. Terri hugged the large ship closer, pushing her engines past the top.
Jon's body flinched as he broke out in a sweat in medical. Andie watched his heart rate rise. She couldn't explain what was going on, nothing seemed wrong. He wasn't wounded, no head trauma. She looked up at Deatra, who had concern displayed on her face.
"Deatra I don't know what's going on with him. There's no medical reason that this should be happening." Andie said stepping around the bed where Jon was.
"He's fighting a battle of some sort."
"A battle?"
"Yes, I can sense it. He's fighting a battle in his mind."
"Dreaming?"
"In a way he is, but this battle is real for him."
"Will he recover?"
Deatra looked up into Andie's eyes, a small tear fell from one of her eyes. "I don't know, he might not."
Andie looked back down at Jon, suddenly very afraid. "What do you mean he might not?"
"I have never ran into this before, so I have no idea if he will recover from it."
"I know of this." A new voice said next to Deatra.
Deatra turned and standing next to her was Prasuh and two marines. Deatra took a couple steps back from the Invaru. Andie moved over to Prasuh and led him to a chair next to Jon's bed.
"I told you not to be walking around without assistance."
Prasuh smiled and nodded, "Sorry Doctor Andie, but I know what is happening to Captain Hunter."
"Oh?"
"Yes, it's what my people call the Hojuas."
"Hojuas? Sounds nasty."
"It is very very nasty. The Captain has closed himself off from the real world because of some major event or trauma. He is now at odds with himself and is fighting to save his very mind from its own destruction."
"The Titan was destroyed in a battle with the Black ships." Deatra explained.
"The Yarseeh are a very nasty species. My people have not been able to defeat them in a battle."
"Jon did. He took out four of their vessels and fighter support before he collapsed."
Astonishment crossed Prasuh face, "Please tell me of the battle."
Deatra began to tell him of the recent events.
Rick, Ellie and Mike stood around a table looking at a schematic of one of the assault shuttles. There were several spots marked on the schematic as well as a list of needed equipment.
"Here, here, and here." Mike said point to several spots.
Rick looked at the spots pointed out, "We can attach the additional life support units to those spots. If we remove the equipment in the aft cargo storage and then all non-essential equipment it should give room for about 50 more people."
Ellie pointed to one of the small compartments located in the rear of the shuttle. "This is where we should set up the medical units and supply storage. We can also add in floor storage for food and additional supplies."
Rick look up at Mike, "How long do we have?"
"SAR estimates their air time is about six hours and that was an hour ago. I'm going to pull all teams from repair duties and have them working on the refits to two of the troop shuttles."
"I don't understand why we can't just use unmodified troop shuttles to rescue the people." Ellie said as she glanced over the schematics.
"The troop shuttles are made to breech at an air lock. We have to put a new docking ring that will allow the shuttle to cut through the hull. Plus the need for the additional life support to help fill the breech and compartment beyond." Mike said pointing at the docking ring.
"Oh, yeah I see that now. I'm just not used to that kind of design, our units were multifunctional."
Mike smiled, "Stick with me kids I'll get you back into the Stone Age before I'm done."
Rick and Ellie both laughed.
The battle wasn't going well. Jon had lost the Independence and the Scythe. Atlantis was heavily damaged and pulling back to the fringes of the battlefield. Jupiter's Fortune had completed emergency repairs and was closing to engage the three smaller ships that were harassing the Hellios and Titanic. Terri's squad had fared well and had lost only three of their fighters, all pilots were recovered. The Death's Hand kills topped 150. The enemy had lost four smaller ships and two of the large carriers. Jon looked at the planning table watching the battle flow. The Chimera and Gallois were engaged by a heavy battleship and seemed to be holding their own. The Marudas and Earth's Revenge were being pounded by two light cruisers and a heavy battleship. The Haseik and Ohied lay in ruins between two heavy battleships. The Titan's Triumph had stopped its approach to the Ohied and was turning to assist the Hellios.
Jon turned his attention to the flight groups. He had 12 full squadrons and 24 at half strength or better. They had over 63 squadrons on the battlefield most at full strength. He could get another 13 squadrons in the air by combining what was left of decimated squadrons. As Jon was thinking about what to do Atlantis shook violently as lights dimmed and brightened back up.
"What the hell was that?" Jon yelled to no one.
"We've taken a torpedo hit on the port bow. Minor damage to the hull." Damage Control reported.
Jon turned back to the planning table looking for the ship that was attacking them. "I don't see a shi... SHIT!" Jon watched as torpedo appeared from nowhere and struck them. Atlantis bucked again as she was struck. Atlantis looked up at Jon from the other side of the table and smiled as she faded out.
"Heavy damage to Main Engineering, systems are shutting down." Damage Control reported.
Lights went out all over Atlantis as her systems failed. Crew members suddenly found themselves floating. Back up systems kicked in to keep life support running. Then the inevitable happened.
"Sir, we are being boarded, dispatching Marines."
Jon was at a loss, he was unsure of himself. How many people was he going to lose. They were doomed from the start. Jon curled up into a small ball as his mind began shutting down.
Andie and Deatra watched as Jon started crying and curled up into a ball in the middle of the bed. Prasuh watched in dismay, knowing there was nothing that could be done for the young man. This was a man who destroyed four of the Yarseeh vessels, which by itself speaks volumes. He might just be the last being alive able to push them back.
"What's happening?" Andie asked.
Deatra put her hand on Jon's forehead, trying to read what was going on. She found herself standing in the middle of a dark expanse. No wind blew, no sounds reached her ears. She started walking, searching for something, anything to give her hope. A flashing light caught her attention and she changed direction walking towards the light. Slowly the form of a fighter formed in the distance as she got closer. Dust covered the ship, hiding the occupant.
Deatra reached up and cleared the dust off the front of the cockpit. She cupped her hand and peered inside. The glow of the instrument panels gave just enough light to make out the skeleton in a flight suit. Long dead but still strapped into the fighter's seat. She could barely make out the words on the helmet just above the face shield. A gasp escaped her as she read the word 'Sandpiper'. Deatra moved to the nose of the fighter wiping the dust from where the squadron's embalm was usually painted. Tears came to her eyes as she uncovered the words 'Death's Hand'. She sat and put her face in her hands and started to cry.
Andie watched as Deatra started to cry. She looked up at Prasuh with a questioning look. Prasuh looked down and moved around next to Andie on the other side of Jon.
"She's connected to him now. This is extremely dangerous for both of them."
"How?"
"She can get lost in his delusions, pulled in and unable to tell the difference between reality and fiction. Everything she is seeing right now is real to her. But she is his last hope to escape the delusion he has made for himself."
Andie watched the two people locked in the battle of wills. She hoped Deatra knew what she was doing. Losing Jon was bad enough, but losing Jon and Deatra would be detrimental to their cause.
The rescue operations were almost complete, they had managed to save 73 lives including Captain Gilas. Once all operations were secured and all flights back aboard, Lieutenant Nichols ordered the jump back to Ghost Station. She then left the bridge and made her way down to Medical to check on Jon's condition.
When she got there what she saw caught her off guard. Terri was sitting with Sam and Kayla, still in her flight suit. Rick, Ellie and Mike were just entering the waiting area from Jon's room. Captain Gilas was sitting on the opposite wall away from everyone. There were several other people in various states of discussion spread through the halls leading up to medical and in the lounge itself.
Lieutenant Nichols sat down next to Captain Gilas, "How are you doing Sir?"
"I'm fine thanks to you and the Atlantis." Gilas smiled. "You can just call me Glias."
Nichols smiled back, "Thanks Gilas, I'm Laura. Any word on how Jon's doing?"
"Not good from what I have heard. Deatra is trying to help him."
Laura frowned, "Once you feel up to it I would like you to take command of the Atlantis. You're the most senior officer aboard and Jon had just begun my training. I'm not ready for full command yet. We're returning to Ghost Station to make final repairs. Then we have to decide what to do from there."
Gilas looked thoughtful for a moment, "I can assume command until Jon gets back on his feet. But I think we might have some problems at Ghost Station."
"Oh, what problems?"
"How about I brief the whole Atlantis Command Staff at 0800 tomorrow?"
"Sounds good Sir, I need to get back to the bridge. I just wanted to check on Jon and show my support to his family."
"See you in the morning Laura." Gilas replied returning the salute she gave him before she walked off towards Terri and her little group.
Quellis was still shaking as they exited hyperspace where the rest of his fleet was waiting. He had never seen them take any losses before and would never have imagined it happening on this scale. For a ship to do such massive damage, taking out three light cruisers and a heavy battle ship. Then there was the small jump it performed while taking out the battle ship. Never had he seen such a maneuver, this Capt. and his vessel were nothing to be toyed with.
Luckily they had the data from the engagement and maybe the techs could come up with some kind of defense to this new weapon. He would have to choose his battles carefully from now on or he could loose everything. He stood up, walked to the small window, and looked out at the fleet displayed in front of him. As he stood taking in the various ships his com beeped.
"Yes."
"We're in range to send the command codes to the fleet Sire." A voice said.
"I'll be there in a minute."
Quellis looked out the window once more and finished his count. His fleet numbered 38 ships, 12 Heavy Battle Ships, 3 Light Carriers, 1 Heavy Carrier, 20 Light Cruisers, and 2 support ships. Nice medium sized fleet, which he was sure would grow as he won various battles.
Deatra slowly stood as she realized that what she was seeing wasn't real. She had to remember she was in Jon's mind, she was here to help him. Deatra turned her back on the fighter and started walking off into the darkness. Slowly lights faded into view and she found herself in a dimly lit hallway. Debris was strewn all over the floor and signs of a recent battle marked the walls. Red lights flicked off and on as she made her way down the hall. As she turned a corner, she saw a woman in an ADF marine battle suit sitting on the floor leaning against the wall. Her gun laid across her legs, her head was slumped down with her chin resting on her chest. Deatra knelt down and looked at the marine, noticing the large wound in her chest.
Deatra read the nametag. 'Corporal Tellison' in bold letters was barely readable through the blood. Deatra reached down and lifted the marine's head, thumbing the visor release. The shield that formed the opaque visor dissolved revealing the young woman's face. Tellison's eyes fluttered open as the visor dissolved. Her eyes swept back and forth as though searching for something.
"Who's there?" Tellison asked in a weak voice.
"I'm Deatra, what happened here Corporal?"
"Deatra? You're not supposed to be here. What are you doing here?"
"I'm trying to find Captain Hunter, he needs my help. What happened here Corporal?"
"I can't see anything..."
"It's ok, I'm here with you."
"I... I know but you're not supposed to be here."
Deatra removed the helmet and helped the young woman lay down. "I know I'm not supposed to be here, but Jon needs my help. So I came as soon as I could."
Tellison coughed and flecks of blood dotted her lips. "The ship is overrun Princess, you really shouldn't be here. We tried to hold them off, but there were too many of them."
Deatra rested Tellison's head in her lap and stroked her hair, trying to calm the young woman. "It's ok, there's no one here but me and you. Can you tell me where Jon is?"
"I... I'm not sure, last report had him on the Bridge of Atlantis. But I don't think we were close to her. She had pulled from the battle zone due to damage. He left us to die and suffer for his mistakes."
Deatra choked back a tear, "Jon would never leave you to suffer. Deep in your heart you know this."
Tellison's sightless eyes blinked at the words as tears filled her eyes. "My daughter, did she make it off the ship?"
"I don't know, I just arrived. I'll look for her, what's her name?" A tear fell from Deatra's nose and landed on Tellison's forehead.
"Emily, her name is Emily. Please promise me you'll find her and make sure she's ok." Tellison reached up and gripped Deatra's arm. Bubbles formed at the hole in Tellison's chest as she tried to take a deep breath.
"I promise you I'll find Emily and make sure she's ok." Deatra whispered.
"So much death, so much destruction. Why? What's it all for?" Tellison asked Deatra with her last breath.
Deatra cradled Tellison's head and cried as she rocked back and forth, morning the passing of the young woman.
Gilas stood before Jon dressed in full battle armor. Gilas glared at Jon, his face emotionless. Jon was sitting on the floor of the Atlantis's bridge his back to a wall. Fires burned around him filling the room with a light smoke. Jon's Comm officer laid across her control station, a large piece of metal impaled the side of her head. The tactical officer was slumped in his chair, his sightless eyes stared at the ceiling. A large piece of metal impaled him through the chest. The con officer laid on the floor facing Jon, blood pouring from multiple wounds where rivets had sprung loose from the last impact and penetrated his body. Jon couldn't take any more as he realized all of his bridge crew was dead or dying.
Gilas took a stumbling step toward Jon reaching out a hand. Jon shrank back from the man. The armor covering Gilas shifted and blood started to run from underneath it. The hand that was reaching out to Jon was missing three fingers. Gilas groaned in pain from the multiple battle wounds that littered his body.
"Jon?" Gilas asked as his eyes searched. "What have you done to the fleet?"
"W-what do you mean?" Jon asked trying to pull away from the man before him.
"You have destroyed our hope and dreams! You led the fleet into a battle and cost thousands of our people their lives. You shouldn't have led us here. My people are doomed, all because of you. We were perfectly happy being left alone in our little section of the galaxy." Gilas hissed.
"That's not true. You know they would have come for you. I did what we all knew had to be done. Gilas you know not all battles are won. This is just a set back." Jon barely got this out before his voice broke.
"A SET BACK? You call this a set back? You know as well as I do you were unfit for command. You don't have the experience to lead anyone in battle. Your tactics are rudimentary at best, a child could figure you out in the first second of battle. You doomed us to defeat by leading us."
A deep laugh filled the room. Jon slowly turned his head towards the sound. Prasuh stood just in front of the mag-lift to the bridge leaning on the wall. Prasuh stood up straight and slowly walked towards Jon, laughing in his deep voice.
"You don't look so mighty now Captain Hunter. Cowering there against the wall, unable to deal with the responsibilities of commanding people." Prasuh laughed.
"You let me die Jon. Why would you let me die?" A new voice said.
Jon turned to look at the new comer. Atlantis walked slowly towards him, her body deformed by the degeneration of her core routines. Her face wasn't fully formed. Her beauty was gone, replaced by a twisted vision of her former self.
"I'm sorry Atlantis. I tried, really I did." Jon cried burying his head into his knees.
"You tried? Is that all you can tell us?" All three of them said at once.
"I would have done better than this." Prasuh declared. Leaning on the wall next to Jon. "How you ever managed to get away from me, much less defeat two of our heavy cruisers is beyond me."
"He was lucky, I reviewed every battle we have been in. All I can say is he was lucky, this time his luck ran out though." Atlantis snarled. "He's allowing me to die, because he can't hack it in battle. So now that he has disabled some of my routines to protect the ship everyone gets to pay the price."
"Atlantis, you know I did that to protect the people on you. I didn't disable all of your routines just a few of the more dangerous ones." Jon cried.
"Who are you to make those choices for me? Are you telling me that you know better than the people who built me and used my systems for thousands of years? How did you suddenly get smarter than everyone around you?" Atlantis screamed.
"That's pretty high and mighty, isn't it Jon. Thinking you know better than everyone?" Gilas snarled.
"We tried to tell you that the humans were a plague to the galaxy and would do nothing but destroy us. You will now have to face the consequences on following one so unworthy." Prasuh laughed.
"I won't follow him any more." Gilas stood up and walked into the darkness that now filled the bridge.
"He'll no longer have command of me, I'll not be led by one so useless." Atlantis turned and walked into the darkness.
"Please... don't leave me. I tried to do everything right. I need you, your support." Jon whispered in between sobs.
"Perhaps you should tell Sam, Deatra, and Terri that. Oh wait, you can't. You sent Terri to her death against the Super Carrier. Then doomed Deatra and Sam by getting boarded and failing to send the order to repel boarders. Sam and Deatra died in each others arms, disintegrated slowly and painfully. Your sister died in space as her ship broke apart and because there were no rescue units, suffocated slowly, alone in space. Hope you enjoy what's left of your pitiful life. To think I once thought you a great man capable of anything." Prasuh chuckled as he too walked into the darkness. "Good-bye Captain enjoy what's left of your life."
Jon slumped over on to his side and closed himself off from the world around him.
The bio monitors on Jon's bed suddenly flat-lined as his heart stopped. Deatra's motionless form gasped as her breathing went ragged. Deatra's face paled as she started to convulse. Andie jumped up and hit the medical emergency button on Jon's bed. Nurses came running as the hologram of Jon came to life above his prone form. Andie attached a small unit to Deatra's forehead, the reading showed her body shutting down.
"They're both dying," Andie said.
"This isn't a good sign, she's connected to him and this means he has given up on his internal struggle." Prasuh said standing.
"Terri." Deatra whispered between breaths.
Andie turned to one of the nurses, "Get Terri in here right now!"
The nurse turned and ran form the room. Andie started to try to restart Jon's heart.