Episode Twenty Eight: Sentient

[Kent McKillop]

1836
X-305 Shuttle
Approaching abandoned vessel

A few hours ago, Kent McKillop had been on the City of Akrotiri, an Ancient-built city-ship one quarter the size of Atlantis, hurtling through hyperspace. Being an archaeologist and expert in alien languages had landed Kent a seat in front of the computer monitoring hyperdrive output or something like that. He'd been told to look out for 'anything out of the ordinary', a concept that was hard to get one's head around when one was assigned to a thousand year old alien flying city that was moving faster than the speed of light.

Just over an hour ago he'd still been at said terminal when the city-ship had dropped out of hyperspace for a scheduled pit stop to avoid overtaxing their engines. They'd already made half a dozen or so, allowing the engines and reactor to cool before jumping to their next stop. Word was that they weren't too hard from 'home', the old Delta Site planet. For whatever reason those higher up had decided it was the best place to land the city-ship.

Some fifty minutes ago Kent had leaned back in his chair and cursed as word went around the control room that the engines had burned out, despite their best efforts to avoid such an occurrence. Whatever maths genius was in charge of timing their pit stops must have forgotten to carry a zero or something. Whoever's fault it was - and Kent would make it his mission to personally track them down - the end result was the same. The city-ship was drifting through space without propulsion.

Half an hour ago Doctor McKillop had still been in the control room - and still cursing - when a alien spaceship had been picked up on their long range sensors. Life sign scans registered no hits, and early sweeps suggested that the ship was advanced enough to have the technology they needed to fix their engines. As such a team would be put together to take a shuttle over to the mysterious ship, grab what they needed and save the day.

Ten minutes ago the archaeologist had been informed that he would be a member of said team. Under the leadership of Major Oxford, who Kent has served with previously on a mission to Charon, the group was tasked with exploring the drifting ship, hopefully not dying in the process. "I'd like to go on the record and say that I've got a bad feeling about this," Kent declared from the seat in the rear of the shuttle to which he was tightly strapped into. "It does seem awful convenient that we stumble across a ship exactly when we need it."

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[Travis Oxford]

1836
X-305 Shuttle
Approaching abandoned vessel

If there was such thing as deja vu, Travis would be the first to say it. Given it hadn’t been all that long ago he had been informed of the engine failures. But still all the precautions that had been under taken to avoid such situation had been futile at every single level. While he hadn’t expected for the burn out to be this fast; the gal was after all thousands of years old, if not a million. Not bad looking for her age either.

His ‘vu’ wasn’t about the engine dying on them, but what Kent was saying. But that fact that this mission was starting to look like the one he when Frank had been in charge of the Delta expedition. The AI had taken over the ship or at least it’s controls. If this was similar then the chances was having two identical missions in one lifetime was now of a less of a chance. Landing his eyes on Kent, and smirked, “You aren’t the only one to have a bad feeling,” he agreed with the archaeologist – a first for both of them.

Looking around the vessel, he noticed he had the former Lt Col, Ayden Sheppard. He remembered her from the time he first joined in, but hadn’t had much of a chance to get even an introduction out, before her departure from the Delta. Maybe she had resented him for taking over her late husband’s team, maybe she didn’t. While he had only had meant to be a temp, for a month or two, he ended up making impression and staying put. That was something to this day still surprised him. “Agent Sheppard, Welcome back to Delta.”

He had three new faces, first was the kid from the last mission, Tali if her recalled her name correctly. The girl had helped them out in the last mission. She was going to be a useful as much as anyone was who was in this shuttle, if given the right chances, yet he had to remember that she was still a child in human terms, over taxing wasn’t what was needed. Another two were John Valenti and Tabitha Cobb. The air force master sergeant, and the civilian were promising additions to the team. How well they gel was to be seen. Ayden already knew the ropes, and was a former military; she was one the people he wouldn’t have to worry about in a fire fight.

Facing Kent again as the man kept on rambling, “Last time we came across, she over took the ships controls.” He wasn’t trying to scare the daylights out McKillop, having that reaction was a bonus.

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[Tali]

1836
X-305 Shuttle
Approaching abandoned vessel

Tali adjusted within her seat silently - her light eyes scanning the faces of the people she hardly knew. While the girl had exchanged words with all of them, they all seemed...leery of her. Probably since she was some virtually unknown creature that they had found while investigating a lab that was previously ruled by what they called 'the Titans'. She was simply a lab experiment that they had defrosted. Yet they kept her, for some reason. She wasn't about to argue, but in her own mind, she was more trouble than she was worth. These people were the at the top of their respective fields, and Tali was good at...sometimes channeling the Titans.

But yet here she was, part of a 'team'. Apparently Kent's friends were part of some large 'organization' that was sent to explore the Universe via 'Stargate'. It was all somewhat confusing and new to the girl, so she just went with it. There was no point to question or argue - just absorb information and hope to eventually fit in. In the short time she had known these people, she had already started to 'slide into' their lives. She was no longer some half-naked native, only covered in Kent's jacket, that barely spoke English and was generally afraid of everyone.

Well...at least her language was stronger and she wasn't naked. That had to be considered an improvement. Dressed in a blank version of the uniforms that the rest were dressed in (meaning no country flag), Tali kept her arms resting atop her lap, as her tied back white-blond hair pressed against the seat back.

They were in the process of moving a ship that was also a city across a very great distance. But - like all things - it wasn't going smoothly.

"I'd like to go on the record and say that I've got a bad feeling about this," Kent stated, pulling Tali out of her absent-minded thoughts, "It does seem awful convenient that we stumble across a ship exactly when we need it."

"How could a trap be set up like this?" Tali asked, looking over at Kent - one of her brows raising, "While it's almost too convenient, I don't see how one would even start this plan to...umm...'mess with us,'" she continued, using terms she had learned over her short stay with these people.

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[Kent McKillop]

1837
X-305 Shuttle
Approaching abandoned vessel

From the front of the shuttle, Major Oxford confirmed that he too was having some concerns about the mission, and added an anecdote about a similar operation he'd been a part of. Kent gulped but tried to keep his fear buried. It was obvious that his new team leader was just trying to push his buttons... right? I mean, what sort of crazed lunatic would just make something like that up? Kent didn't even want to be here in the first place!

"Well it's good to know that my concerns are shared," the archaeologist replied, shifting nervously in his seat.

Was it just him or was it really hot in here? The doctor was used to his nice climate controlled office back on Akrotiri where he could attire himself in any way he so desired, rather than being stuffed into the back of a flying sardine can with a military issue uniform made back on Earth by the lowest bidder. At least he was didn't have to put his pack on yet. That thing seemed to weight a tonne, as if the sergeants loaded bricks into it when he was looking. It also carried his least favourite piece of equipment - his firearm. Under protest he was 'issued' with one every time he went off base, only to stuff it right down the bottom of his bag. He'd only fired the weapon a few times in the field, and was looking to keep it that way.

Tali asked out aloud how this could have possibly been a trap, a question Kent would have shared with her some years ago. But working with this lot had taught him one thing - when something seems to good to be true, it always is. Also, when you think things can't possibly get any worst, they can, and they will.

"My dear, you have so much to learn," Kent explained. "Things are never as they seem for us, and they will always turn sour." Preferring to use anything but a computer, Kent had brought along print outs of the scans they'd conducted on the abandoned vessel. "Tell me, do you recognize these ships?" he asked, handing Tali a copy of the images. "Their style or appearance? It's unlike anything on our databases."

Being a 'local' of sorts it was hoped that Tali would be able to contribute a knowledge to the team that they'd previously been lacking. Maybe even stop them from making the usual cultural faux-passes that plagued almost all of their missions. But then again, where would the fun be if someone didn't try to kill you every time you stepped through the Stargate?

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[Ayden Sheppard]

1837
X-305 Shuttle
Approaching abandoned vessel

Being back in this galaxy brought back bad memories for Ayden but she was doing her best to push all thoughts and anything that could pull her mind from the current mission out of her head. She would be of no use to anyone if she was focusing on things of the past and she knew it.

While no more than a half hour ago, Ayden had been on the City of Akrotiri, reading through some logs that she had found in attempt to help Kent, the Archaeologist of the site, shuffle through some things. She was a doctor in the field, just like he was, and in addition she was an Anthropologist and a Linguist - she often got very bored and felt the need to spend her life getting a few degrees - she thought she could be of good use instead of sitting around with nothing to do.

Now here she was, sitting in a X-305 Shuttle, flying it to the abandoned vessel the ancient city had picked up on her scanners after the engines had cut out. She wasn't saying much to the people around her, but she was listening. When Travis spoke up, Ayden glanced over at him and gave the younger man a smile. "Thank you, Major. It's good to be back." And that it was, despite the memories. She had nothing against Travis, never had, he was a good man and a good soldier.

Kent and her had never really been friends, but they put up with each other and respected each other so she was glad to have him on the team, but part of her felt as if she really wasn't going to have a place on the team. She wasn't in the military anymore, so she had no jurisdiction and Kent was the site's lead archaeologist so she wasn't much use there either. She was just an on-looker in so many ways and it made her feel slightly uncomfortable. She wanted to be back in the sky, wanted to fly again, and now that she was - granted it was only a shuttle, but it was something - she felt slightly better.

"We never have luck on missions like this, something always goes wrong. That doesn't mean we can't hope for the best this time around, right?" She asked with a small shrug of her shoulders. "Don't jinx us, Doctor." Ayden chuckled. "I don't feel like scraping you off the floor today if it's an ambush."

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[James Calmara]

1837
X-305 Shuttle
Approaching abandoned vessel


Sat about the middle of the shuttle Calmara was flicking down the list on his PDA. It was a list of probable parts that had gone wrong, that had been thrust at him in the organized chaos which followed the unscheduled stop-off. He’d only given it a cursory glance on accepting it, that’s all there was time to do at that point, as he assumed he would be passing it on.

It was shortly after that he was informed SD-2 would be heading across to the ship that had conveniently appeared. It was a case of grabbing mission gear and weapons and running off to the hanger board one of the X-305 shuttles.

Calmara had a keen sense of anticipation at this point, it was after all a brand new alien vessel, well brand new to them. It could well be some races leftovers, or cast offs left out here for a reason. Namely it did not work as advertised and was lugging round the usual things that could go wrong. As his fellow teammates were pointing out.

“On the plus side we do seem to have a good balance of brawn and brains this time around. We might just get through it in one piece.” Calmara piped up, glancing round the occupants of the shuttle and his teammates for this trip. Some of whom he’d worked with before, some were new to him, either way he was looking forward to working with them. In particular the civilian engineer, Tabitha Cobb, the prospect of having someone else on the team who actually knew what they were talking about when it came to technical stuff, was something he was looking forward to. “Ms Cobb did you get a list of what they think we’re going to need? It was compare notes time, so they could hit the deck running, so to speak.

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[Travis Oxford]

1837
X-305 Shuttle
Approaching abandoned vessel

He gave a chuckle when Kent had replied. He knew the man’s nerves were playing up, his tone of voice told him. One thing he knew when it came to Kent was that man was bad at telling lies even if he tried his best to tell one. He had to wonder if it was his words or the fact that there was a possibility of getting stuck in there with a crazy AI. Either way, nerves would keep Kent busy during the mission, “Your Welcome Doctor,” he called back, “Let’s keep those concerns to a mild level shall we?” There was no need to let the doctor know that, the chance of getting trapped were high, in Oxford’s book.

Trying to sweet talk this one into giving up was going to take work. Maybe that was something he could leave it to Kent to take care off. After all, Kent McKillop was a ladies man. Or was it that he was fan of alcohol. Sometime, Travis couldn’t remember the order the things went with Kent. But he knew it was one of the two or both.

Keeping an eye on everyone, he heard Adyen and gave her silent nod. He knew it would be hard coming back to a place that held memories of all kinds. But she had to deal with thing in her own way, so he let her be.

He gave a laugh, “You all can hope for the best,” he added, “but I got my doubts stacked against it like a brick wall. For you all, this hopefully isn’t one of them. Or I’m going hear, Mckillop bi**h in my ear till Christmas arrives.” Looking at the said doctor; “Ain’t I right?” And that was the last thing he wanted. Wife’s ranting/bi**hing he could handle, not when one added Mckillop into the mix of things.

Turing to James, “You got that right and we just might,” he replied. His team wasn’t his team unless someone came back injured.

And slowly they were inching towards the empty vessel floating in space.

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OOC: Crazed lunatic?? Oxford?? LMAO!!!!

[Kent McKillop]

1837
X-305 Shuttle
Approaching abandoned vessel

Having handed Tali a copy of the images they'd been able to capture with their long range sensors, Kent gave the local girl a moment to go over them. While they'd talked a little he still wasn't 100% sure of her history. There was a chance she'd seen the ship or something like it before and would be able to give them an insight into the people who operated or built it. There was an equal chance that just like them she'd never seen this type of vessel in her life. Worst case scenario she wouldn't be able to tell them anything, which was about exactly all they knew about the strange ship at this point in time.

Agent Sheppard, pilot, archaeologist, linguists and former officer, added to the stirring that McKillop was receiving from Major Oxford, asking that he not jinx the mission or need to be scraped off the floor. Ahh yes, it seemed as though Kent would be fending off jabs like that from all corners on this mission. He was starting to regret volunteering, than swiftly recalled that he hadn't volunteered so much as been co-opted for the job.

"Agent Sheppard, now would indeed be a fine time for our luck to change, and for this mission to go as planned."

He handed her a copy of a different set of images, these ones close ups of what had been identified as the vessel's airlock. "We've noted these markings on the ship's hull; they may be related to the operation of the vessel's airlock." Kent studied his own copy of the photos, glad to note that neither Olympian or Titan influences could be observed in the texts.

"I'm seeing some hints of Mayan script," he added. "Maybe a derivative." His specialty was Greece, Egypt and the near-East, though he wasn't about to admit to his own shortcomings when it came to the translation of the text.

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[Will Stoneham]

1837
X-305 Shuttle
Approaching abandoned vessel

William sat on the shuttle doing his now ritual during the start of a mission. Checking his equipment, that was when Dr McKillop spoke up.

"I'd like to go on the record and say that I've got a bad feeling about this,"

Will smiled and pulled out a small black note pad. He looked over at James and shook his head slightly. He of late had begun to note every time a Civilian had a bad feeling with a mission and James knew the book. Will then just focused out of the conversations all together until he was called upon to anwser something.

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[James Calmara]

1838
X-305
Approaching abandoned vessel

Catching a glance at Stoneham as he pulled out ‘the notebook’ Calmara returned the nod. He knew there was no need to press the Aussie Sergeant, his actions said it all, he’d taken on board what was said and had his eyes open and watching out for them just in case of trouble, a reassurance to say the least. He glanced across at the other USAF master sergeant, “Anything to add to the current threat assessment Master Sergeant Valenti?” he asked using the man’s full rank this time around, he’d fallback to using sergeant from here on, extending Maj. Oxfords good habit of getting input from the whole team, even if it was just a few words or a nod of agreement.

Hw turned back to comparing notes with Ms Cobb on items needed. It was curiously secondary connections and relays that had been damaged, not the more expected primary systems or the big important stuff that carried most of the power. This however was a point in their favour. As when the primary systems did go, it was usually with a big bang, taking everything and everyone with it. The things that had gone wrong presented an inconvenience in comparison, even though is did present a number of issues.

One of which was ancient technology and spare parts were not exactly in abundance in the galaxy, so they would more than likely have to make do with jury-riging another powers technology. At the moment he was flicking through preloaded examples of Olympian, Titan and Alcaran components of a similar function.

Although the ship they were approaching was unlikely to be from either ancient or of the three native powers. The diagrams did at least show there were both common elements and certain similarities in the design of the components to what they were after. It was these elements and similarities that the team would have to identify among the abandoned vessels systems and hopefully salvage the appropriate components.

Turing his seat so he could address Oxford, Calmara held out his PDA and suggested. “Sir, these are a few diagrams of the types of things we’re looking for, It might be helpful for you to take a look and maybe send this round the whole team for them to have a look.” Then throwing a glance round the cabin of the shuttle, he gave his reason “I know your not all engineers, but we’ll be able to find what were looking for a lot faster if everyone has a idea of the type of things were looking for.”

Without warning a disembodied, extremely sharp voice filled the cabin.

Statement: This is the Automated Docking Security System.

Demand: Unidentified craft transmit security code or state your intent.

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[John E. Valenti]

1838
X-305
Approaching abandoned vessel

“Anything to add to the current threat assessment Master Sergeant Valenti?”

Valenti hadn't been paying much attention to the conversations going on around him, he was simply inventorying his equipment, checking his ammo and getting ready for any unexpected surprises that might pop up on them at any given moment. After all they were heading into an alien ship, what else is new right, and looking for parts to fix their own ship.

"To be honest Senior, our threat assessment is unreliable at best."

He called him Senior instead of his full rank because frankly most Senior Master Sergeants he'd met over the years preferred to be called either Senior or by name, since he wasn't on a first name basis with James he went with the more formal of the informal addresses.

"I'm no engineer but I'll lay odds that whatever we find over there, none of us will recognize."

“I know your not all engineers, but we’ll be able to find what were looking for a lot faster if everyone has a idea of the type of things were looking for.”

"Makes since Sir, but..."

He was cut short as a voice filled the shuttle...

Statement: This is the Automated Docking Security System.

Demand: Unidentified craft transmit security code or state your intent.

"Well if that ain't just our luck. An automated docking security system, bet that ain't the only thing automated over there and I don't know about you but I'm not fond of talking computers."

He was not liking this mission very much at the moment, dealing with talking computers never seemed to go well as far as he knew and he wasn't in much of a hurry to find out if this thing was going to be friendly or not. He found himself hoping that someone on this team knew a thing or two about hacking computers because he had a sinking suspicion that skill might be useful in the near future...


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[Ayden Sheppard]

1838
X-305 Shuttle
Approaching abandoned vessel

When Ayden was handed the papers from Kent she took a moment to look them over. Her brow furrowed as she scanned over the images, trying to piece together the few things that she did understand of the writings. "It's very close to Mayan actually. A lot closer than I've seen in ages to be quite honest." As she spoke she reached into her pocket to pull out a pen and she jotted down a few things in the corner of the images.

"You were close, Doctor. This warns about a --" Ayden stopped speaking when the automated voice came on and she rubbed at her face. "That." She chuckled, keeping her gaze on the images before cursing under her breath. "Someone needs to figure out the security code or we may be in for an unpleasant surprise if I'm translating these writings correctly."

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[Kent McKillop]

1837
X-305 Shuttle
Docking Ring

Kent was handed a list of parts that they need to repair the damage Akrotiri had somehow suffered by Sergeant Calmara. With a half forced smile he took the list and folded it neatly before inserted it into one of the many pockets his uniform possessed, without so much as giving the sheet of paper a passing glance. He in no way mechanically minded, and doubted that he'd even know what the items on the list looked like, or what their function even was. Still, it was good that he was being involved in the mission by those in charge.

An ominous voice filled the cabin of the shuttle, demanding that they transmit a code or something. Panic immediately set in for the archaeologist, who was not made to feel any better by the confused looks being worn by his team mates. What the hell were they all doing here anyway? Was the shuttle about to be blown to pieces without so much as a chance to explain themselves?

The forementioned code may well lay in the Mayan text he was translating along with Agent Sheppard. Trying to use his fear rather than give into it, Doctor McKillop again poured over the high definition images they'd taken of the ship's exterior. With pen in hand he began to break the symbols down into letters and words, playing around with their order and looking for a pattern that would aid in his translation.

He discovered a series phrases relating to colours just as the shuttle rocked. He immediately panicked, imagined that some sort of automated space canon had started firing on them, only to realize the thud was the shuttle pulling up next to a docking collar. How was it that docking collars seemed to fit any and all spaceships that pulled up next to them, even when they were built in a different galaxy? A docking tube of sorts had extended out and coupled to the side of the their shuttle, with a thick looking door at the end other end.

"Green, red, red, blue," Kent declared, finishing his translation. "What that means though, I'm not sure."

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[James Calmara]

1840
X-305
Docking Ring

The fact that Agent Shepards warning message was cut off by the alert message that filled the shuttle seemed to put everyone on edge, Calmara included. He found himself falling into a knee jerk reaction, familiar to every soldier, he tightened his grip on his rifle. Even though he knew full well that using it would be worse than useless at this point.

Calmara heard Valtieni’s comments and couldn’t help but agree with him. Dicing with automated systems particularly automated defenses was a concern. But they had a job that needed doing. “Fair point Sergeant, but this could also be a safety measure for them. Act like there’s no one home and give any one that digs a little deeper the answer phone in the hopes they’ll go away. Besides we’ve got broken ship and this is the closet possibility to fixing it we need to chance it. Besides it might just give you something to do” He flashed a quick grin at Valtieni as he ended this statement. The very last thing the ‘ship’ said was rolling around in his mind. Would talking their way on to the ship possibly work for a change. There’s only one way to find out.

He moved so he could activate the ships external comms, saying as he did. “Sir I’ve an idea with your permission.” The engineer opened up a return channel, the ship kept a record of the last transmission frequency and stated clearly and calmly. “This is Sergeant James Calmara of the Delta expedition, we are on repair and salvage operation, we have no ill intentions toward you. we Would like to come aboard and discuss possible trade options.”

Although there was no verbal answer to this request initially, the ship did extend a docking arm toward the ship. A few moments later there was that thud that came with docking, something Calmara was finding he was getting used to after a few years out in this galaxy. When Dr McKillop spoke up after what, were no doubt a few furious minutes, with his head stuck in a book trying his best not to get blown up. Same old ‘Killop he thought to himself. “Could be the access code to get in this tin can. Or the systems that control it. Lets find out shall we, what do you think sir?” He responded and then turned to Oxford for permission to enter the ship, which was not long coming.

Hefting his weapon, Calmara did a quick check that there was actually atmosphere on the other side of the hatch, maintaining a certain level of caution he mouthed the sequence that McKillop had just spoken Green, red, red, blue. Then he opened the hatch and stepped out into the docking port. Making his way to the big heavy door that was a few meters away, the lack of laser or similar bolts flying at them on approach was a good enough sign. On one side of the door there was a dial like control that flashed through a sequence of colours, with a display like strip above it. “Looks like the code will becoming in handy. Shall we open up?”

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[John E. Valenti]

1841
X-305
Docking Ring

John wasn't to keen on what was happening here, but at least nothing was trying to kill them...yet...

"Besides it might just give you something to do”

"That's what I'm afraid of." John said quietly as he checked the ammo in his rifle, ran a hand over his sidearm and then shouldered his weapon before following Calmara into the docking ring, he wasn't about to let anyone go anywhere alone.

"It might be a good idea for everyone to either stay together as a group or at least use the buddy system, I don't think anyone should be wondering around alone over there."

It wasn't that he was scared of anything at the moment he was just being overly cautious, which was essentially his job, and wanted to make sure no one got lost or misplaced in the ship they were entering.

“Looks like the code will becoming in handy. Shall we open up?”

John looked at the device on the wall that Calmara thought the code would come in handy on and thought it reminded him of an old game he had played as a child.

"Looks kinda like that old Simon game from back in the late seventies, anyone else remember those things?" He looks around at his team mates and sees that one is not from Earth and he doubted anyone under thirty would know it anyway.
"At least that's what I think it looks like."

He looked back at Tali and gave her a quick once over, he had never worked with an alien before and figured this was going to be an interesting adventure to say the least. He stood by and waited for the Senior Master sergeant to 'play the game' or enter the code as they were no doubt going to refer to it...


TAG: SD-2