Episode Fourteen: Know Thy Neighbour

[Troy Loveridge]

0912
Helios
Stargate Island

Stepping through the Gate, Troy was greeted with one of the nicest off-world views he'd experienced in his time with the SGC and Delian Expedition. On this particular water-locked world of Helios, the Stargate was located on a small sandy island, barely large enough for the gate and SD-1. Beyond them was an endless view of a wide open blue-green sea, seemingly untouched by man or pollution. In the very distance, small specks could be made out; some were groups of islands while other were seafaring vessels, both of which were home to the local Saulé people.

It was these people that brought SD-1 to this planet. A few months ago, a joint SD-4 and SD-6 operation had encountered the civilization, who'd shown some interest in becoming allies of the expedition. Now Troy and the team were here, to try and build relations with the people. But first, they needed to meet them, and that meant a short trip to their Government Island, an almost hour long boat ride across the wide open ocean.

Down by the waters edge, three US Navy sailors were preparing their means of transport; a rigid-hulled inflatable boat, which would carry them to their destination. The three men, all of which were Navy Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen, were finishing off final checks on the boat. Finishing their work, the men approached SD-1. "She's all ready to go," said the team leader, motioning to the waiting boat. "Petty Officer Murray here will be along as your driver for the mission." Troy and the team greeted Murray, and made their way down toward the waters edge of board the boat for their journey across the sea as the two SWCC's activated the Gate and made their way back to the Delta Site.

"Anyone get sea sick?"

< Tag SD-1 >

[John "Cutty" Cutter]

0912
Helios
Stargate Island

John stepped from the gate and took a position ahead for Troy. He scanned the little island and looked out over the clear blue waters. John watched as the 3 sailors prepared the boat for their transport.

She's all ready to go, Petty Officer Murray here will be along as your driver for the mission.

John looked to the sailor that waited with the boat, and walked over to look things over for himself.

Anyone get sea sick?

That question intrigued John since he had never been aboard a ship on open water. A canoe on the lake at home, just was not the same. He reached into his pack and found the Dramamine, the Doc had given him. He should probably take it but the effects would also affect his reflexes and could cause drowsiness. Sir, I cant be sure. I've never been on open water before.

<Tag Anyone>

[Troy Loveridge]

0913
Helios
Stargate Island

Moving down the beach, Troy looked the RHIB up and down from bow to stern, examining the vehicle that'd be to the Government Island, almost an hour away across the open Helios waters. During his time with special operations, Troy had used small runabouts such as this to infiltrate and exfiltrate from hostile areas, but it had been a while. The presence of the experienced and qualified SWCC drive relaxed him considerably. It things got rough and choppy out at sea, he'd hate to be at the wheel.



This particular model was about 11-metres in length, and from what he remember, capable of reaching 45 nautical knots in flat open waters. They were rugged and seaworthy, and in the hands of a capable operator such as Petty Officer Murray, capable of going anywhere there was water. The seas of Helios, while considerably quiet at the moment, could become stormy in an instant, and not all craft out on the water were friendly; SD-4 and SD-6 had encountered pirates during their initial scouting of the planet. The boats small and low profile combined with it's high speed should be enough to avoid such situations, and get them to their destination in one piece.

Cutty's concern of sea illness surprised Troy. "Sir, I cant be sure. I've never been on open water before."[/b] Odd, for a Marine, who's very armed service was no only born from the Navy, but still administered by it. Then again, Troy was an Air Force officer, and never in his career had he piloted a aerial vehicle. "One of the land lubbing Marines Cutty?" Troy joked, trying to keep the pirate jokes in check; there was a long time yet for them. Throwing his pack up into the boat, he climbed on board, and moved toward a seat at the front of the vessel.

< Tag SD-1 >

[John "Cutty" Cutter]

0913
Helios
Stargate Island

One of the land lubbing Marines Cutty?

Troy was trying to put him at ease by joking about it, and the fact was John had never been assigned to any Naval vessel. Coming from a landlocked state didn't help matters at all.

I guess so, sir. I was supposed to be assigned to the USS Eisenhower, when the call came to report to the SGC. He watched as Troy tossed his pack into the boat, climbed in and grabbed a seat. John figured he may as well do the same, so he took a seat behind Troy. If he got seasick, he'd rather not be by his CO as he hurled.

<Tag SD-1>

[Penthesilea]

0913
Helios
Stargate Island


Silea stepped out of the Stargate with anticipation. The clothes that she was wearing were interesting to say the least. The standard mission clothes were quite comfortable, and she liked the pockets. With a heavy heart Silea had come to terms with the fact that she had been outcaste by her people. They had left her to fend for herself, and she was gracious for the hospitality that the Delta Site people had shown her. She would defiantly do her best to be on her best behaviour, especially considering that this was a diplomatic mission.

Silea viewed the boat that they would be traveling in and heard the idle conversation between Troy and Cutter. ”It looks to be a very interesting ride. I didn’t know one could get sick by traveling over water.” she herself had not been on such a journey. She saw Troy and Cutter get in the boat, so she followed. One of the sailors handed her some sort of….well she didn’t know what it was, but it looked like the think he was wearing over his clothes. There were straps and closings on it, and she easily got confused as she tried to put it on, yet she was too stubborn to ask for help.

<tag urit>

[John "Cutty" Cutter]

0913
Helios
Stargate Island

It looks to be a very interesting ride. I didn’t know one could get sick by traveling over water.

John heard Silea's comments and turned to look in her direction. He had come to terms with her past, and since she was outcast, Delta took her in like a member of the family. You get sick while travelling over water because the motion of the water disrupts the inner ear causing nausea. he responded.

Silea was holding a May West, and looked totally confused on what to do with it. John slid over and offered, Let me help you. Your arms go through these holes and you fasten it tightly in the front. This will keep you afloat if you should end up in the water. Getting Silea into the vest and all buckle up, John sat and worried about the ride and getting sick.

<Tag SD-1>

[Will O'Malley]

0914
Helios
Stargate Island

With a step through the gate, Will's lungs filled with the very cool-tasting air, as he regained his composure. Even though he had been through the gate about a million times in the past year-and-some, he still got a little buzz whenever he witnessed that worm-hole action.

As they gathered themselves, O'Malley's dark eyes danced upon the water - a slightly crooked smile sliding across his features. He liked water. In high school he was known as a 'fish', since whenever there was a pool or any of body of water (including fountain...but he was normally pushed into those) was near - he was in it.

"Anyone get sea sick?"

The CMO automatically looked around - seeing if anyone raised their hands - Dramamine at the ready. He had already given some to Cutty - for he had earlier voiced that he had never been on open waters before.
"My brother does - but I doubt that counts," the XO smirked, remembering an incident with a ferry, Lee, his mom, his dad, and a big breakfast. They had made a load of new friends, that day...

"Sir, I cant be sure. I've never been on open water before."
"Don't worry - I've already got him covered," Will quickly informed Troy.
"One of the land lubbing Marines Cutty?"
Will chuckled at the CO's teasing, "Isn't that like a Doctor that's squeamish, or a tall guy that's afraid of heights?" O'Malley's lightly teased with a smirk, as Cutty replied, "I guess so, sir. I was supposed to be assigned to the USS Eisenhower, when the call came to report to the SGC."

They all headed for their 'ride', as Silea commented, ”It looks to be a very interesting ride. I didn’t know one could get sick by traveling over water.”
"You're very lucky to have never witnessed it, Silea," he smirked - feeling a little more at 'ease' around her then before. Part of his just accepted that she was here to stay, he guessed. He also hopped that Andy didn't end up drowning to impress the new team member.
I should tie a leash on that boy...

"You get sick while traveling over water because the motion of the water disrupts the inner ear causing nausea," Cutty responded, Will nodded to confirm, "Everyone gets it at some point - it's mostly a threshold issue. Everyone can take a certain amount of distortion in the world around them - before...well...getting sick to their stomach, and revealing what they had for breakfast," Will added, as they all secured their life-vests - Cutty helping Silea with her's.
Poor Andy, he couldn't help but think, as everything was set.

<Tag All>

[Andy Buchanan]

0914
Helios
Stargate Island

'Poor Andy' was, at this particular moment enjoying the sea air and looking forward with by-now expected boyish enthusiasm to a boat ride. He'd grown up not far from Cardiff Bay and had gone out sea fishing on more than one occasion, first with his father (when Harry Buchanan had been on one of his rare trips home) and later with his friends. He had, in fact, given great thought to joining the Royal Navy rather than the Army, but the pull of being an engineer had overridden his decision.

It was good to feel enthusiastic again: he'd spent the past couple of days in something of a dark mood that had seen him more or less shut himself away in his room and not even emerge for food. His appetite had gone decidedly erratic over a three-week period, but as he didn't appear to be displaying any other sort of symptom at this time, coupled with the fact that he hadn't lost any vast amount of weight, he'd been given the all clear by the physicians who had examined him on a weekly basis since the radiation episode. He had lost some weight, however, and his face showed it clearly: the sharp lines of his cheekbones were more defined than they had been previously.

He did indeed look faintly put out that Cutty had gotten to Silea to help her before he had. It was apparent that he had lost none of what he insisted was 'deep admiration' for their newest team mate, and the look he was giving her right now was practically puppy dog.

"Just for once," he said, sotto voce to Will, "I'd like something to go right for me, you know?" His eyes were wistful, but he tore them away from Silea and mooched his way down towards the boat, whistling cheerfully, his mood improved by the proximity of water.

<Tag: All>

[Troy Loveridge]

0914
Helios
Stargate Island

The team began to load their gear into the boat, and donned their life jackets. "It looks to be a very interesting ride," Silea commented, examining the boat and surrounding waters. "I didn’t know one could get sick by traveling over water." Coming from a tribe of women that lived hundreds of metres above the surface of their home planet in a series of intricate tree-top villagers, it wasn't too much of a surprise she wasn't overtly educated in the old 'laws of the sea'. This would be an eye opening experience.

"You get sick while traveling over water because the motion of the water disrupts the inner ear causing nausea." Explained Cutty. "Everyone gets it at some point - it's mostly a threshold issue," Will added. "Everyone can take a certain amount of distortion in the world around them - before...well...getting sick to their stomach, and revealing what they had for breakfast." Troy reflected on his own experiences with the illness; somewhat oddly he'd know men who could jump out of planes 50,000 feet above the Earth's surface, pull bullets out of their own bodies without pain killers, and endure hours of enemies torture - yet put them on a boat, even on a quiet lake, they they'd be throwing their guts up all day long. It was a strange illness indeed.

With all loaded on board, the RHIB cast away from the shoreline, and sped off on it's plotted course toward the government island. It would take them about half an hour to arrive at their destination, and Troy was thankful the vessel was large enough to allow for some measure of walking around. Having moved to a safe distance from the island, Petty Officer Murray gunned the boat's engines, speeding the boat through the open flat Helios waters.

< Tag SD-1 >

[Ian Wright]

0914
Helios
Stargate Island

Ian walked through the gate to the cooler planet of Helios as the wind blew across his face. Behind everyone else because he had arrived last to the gate room, he readjusted his pack to a more comfortable position and followed everyone to the boat that would take them to the government island. Wright still wasn't sure why he was here the last time he had gotten into any diplomatic discussions it hadn't ended to well for SD-2. Not to mention he was on a new team that he didn't know to well, truth be told they had worked together to stop the attack on the Delta Site but he didn't actually know them too well.

With a sigh Ian followed his new team to the boat and climbed in snatching a vest from one of the soldiers. In his head the scientist thought about what he knew about this particular planet Pirates, barely any landmasses and pirates and such. Turning his attention to the Colonel, Ian had been wondering about a certain question he wanted to ask the man since he heard about the transfer to SD-1, but that could wait as the boat pulled away from the gate island.

Sitting down next to the only member of SD-1 that he knew pretty well, which was the CMO. Waved at the doctor next to him he went on to say in a awkward tone "So umm ahh, how long do you think Cara'll be gone?"

<Tag Will>

Shaking his head in wonderment at the man as Ian responded to Will "You know I haven't said this, but I am happy for you two, your a great couple and all." With that said Ian's eyes went to the side in thought trying to remember and they went back to Will quicker then lightning back to Will, "You two are still dating right I didn't get something wrong did I?"

<Tag Will>

[Penthesilea]

0916
Helios
In transit to Government Island


"Thank you," she said to Cutter with honest politeness, "I'll be sure to save this device the trouble and not fall out of the boat." She then left him to his thoughts as he sat down and ventured towards the back where the others were conversing with each other. She saw Buchanan idly saying something to O'Malley, but she didn't hear it. As Wright had sat next to O'Malley, she sat next to Buchanan. The boat started on its journey.

Silea then head clearly, even over the noise of the engine of the boat, Wright talking to O'Malley about a woman, apparently. Since she had joined these people, Silea had been require to see their psychologist, who had said that she needed to be less of a recluse towards the unknown. She was also told she had anger issues, but that was to be expected. "Is this true O'Malley? Do you have yourself a woman? I was started to think the men on your planet procreated with themselves." yes, she made a joke. Silea wasn't a total stranger to humor, she only hoped that they would see it.

[taggers]

[Andy Buchanan]

0917
Helios
In transit to Government Island

Once upon a time, several years ago, a young man called Andrew Gareth Buchanan (at that time going by the unlikely moniker of 'Drew', as he attempted to set up a rock band with his friends) met a young woman by the name of Megan Davies. He had never seen anything so beautiful in all his young life and had immediately lost the ability to form coherent sentences, had developed raging blushes and worst of all, had been assailed by an attack of the hiccups so vicious that he'd not been able to breathe properly for half an hour.

That had been once, many years ago. Drew Buchanan had become Andy Buchanan and had grown and matured. He'd married Megan Davies (although that hadn't been so wise), and was now a man of the world, confident and capable.

But the moment Silea sat down next to him, he felt the blush start somewhere down at his toes and creep like wildfire up his chest until it burst into full splendour on his face. He ducked his head shyly as she sat beside him and mumbled a greeting.

Several moments later he began to hiccup.

When she passed her comment about Will and Cara, he couldn't suppress the giggle, which came out as a most peculiar noise, piggybacking as it were on the back of another bout of hiccups.

"m'sorry," Andy managed to get out. He pulled a packet of extra strong mints from his pocket and stuck one in his mouth hoping that it would settle his traitorous digestive system.

He fell quiet again, punctuated only occasionally by the sound of another hiccup.

<Tag: Normal people>

[Troy Loveridge]

0917
Helios
In transit to Government Island

As the RHIB sped across the open waters, Troy could hear Ian and Silea behind him engage Will in conversation about his love life, while Andy fought a seemingly losing battle with sea sickness. The team was certainly different with Chris and Honey off following brighter futures; nowadays Troy was the only 'original' member of the team. It had been good to watch Cutty, then Will, then Andy mold their way into the very fabric of the team, and he had no doubt Silea and Ian would soon be integral members of the squad.

Ahead of them, two dark objects appeared on the horizon - no, make it three objects. The objects seemed to be converging on the course SD-1 was plotted, with two swooping in from the right and one from the left, looking as though they were coming in on an intercept course. Tapping PO Murray on the shoulder and motioning to the objects, the Naval driver adjusted the boat's course to avoid the object, but the moment they altered course, the three objects followed suit, moving into a new intercept vector.

Something was very wrong about all this.

Taking his binoculars, Troy peered onto the horizon, closely examining the objects. They were, just as he suspected, ships. Their shape and profiles seemed to match the descriptions SD-4 and SD-6 had given the team of the pirate ships that roamed the high seas. This was bad, very bad. The distance between SD-1 and the enemy boats was closing rapidly, and something needed to be done.

"Anyone else seeing this?"

< Tag SD-1 >

OOC: Could we all report into the locker room so we can plan where this takes up

[Will O'Malley]

0917
Helios
In transit to Government Island

"I'd like something to go right for me, you know?" Andy whispered to Will, who simply shot him an apologetic frown.
"Just give it time," O'Malley assured his friend, "Plus obviously something went right, since you're on a super-top-secret-government-funded-out-of-the-Milky-Way-Galaxy-Space-Exploration-Team," he smirked, "Not many blokes back home could say that, eh?" he nudged Andy slightly to try to cheer him up.

As they took their seats, Will gave a nod to Ian as he walked over - placing himself next to the XO.
"So umm ahh, how long do you think Cara'll be gone?"

Will glanced up at Ian with a slightly raised brow, not really trying to think about the situation at all. He wasn't 'clingy' - but he surely missed her when she was away. He wasn't exactly pleased that she wasn't on Delta - but he was happy for her all the same. They were both important people on Delta, and it was expected that they wouldn't get to see each other on a regular basis...but still.

"I don't know...maybe a few weeks," he shrugged, "Or longer."

"You know I haven't said this, but I am happy for you two, your a great couple and all."

In general, O'Malley kept his private life more hidden then most. He never really talked about home that often - unless it was a random story that was appropriate for the moment - and normally kept quiet about his...love life. It wasn't that he was ashamed that he was with Cara - it was simply that he enjoyed not broadcasting these things. Sure - he wouldn't shy away from holding her hand in public, but he never really talked about it with anyone. Oh, how the shrink loved him for that.

"Uh, thanks..." he shyly replied, as the boat rocked a little faster then normal - Will instinctively steadying himself with his hands.

"You two are still dating right I didn't get something wrong did I?"

"Yeah."

He really wanted to change the subject - mostly off his love life. Some guys were all showy about their relationships - but not Will.

"Is this true O'Malley? Do you have yourself a woman? I was started to think the men on your planet procreated with themselves."

"Wow, Silea just cracked a homosexual joke. I'm not sure how to take this," Will smirked, honestly surprised.

Quiet hiccuping had been sounding off for a few moment, when Will finally spotted Andy as the source - his teammate quietly muttering, "m'sorry."

"Andy - hold your breath. A hiccup is just a spasm in the diaphragm that isn't helped by breathing...since that twitches it too. If ya hold your breath, then the diaphragm has more of a chance to gather itself..." he paused, "I just went off in medical babble, didn't I?" he snorted slightly, "I really need to get out more."

"Anyone else seeing this?"

Will raised his gaze to the horizon, where several dark...dots were coming at them.
"Mass hallucination?" Will quietly muttered, as the shapes gathered detail.

This can't be good...

<Tag All>

[John "Cutty" Cutter]

0917
Helios
In transit to Government Island

John was trying not to get seasick. He tried listening in the conversations around him. John really didn't wqant to hear about the Doc love life, since he's went down the toilet, so he tried looking about.

Anyone else seeing this?

John looked in the direction Troy was pointing and noticed 3 black objects converging on them. All John could think of was the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" the last movie he had seen before coming to the Delta site. Looks like trouble is coming our way sir. John had stated the obvious but he really didn't want to mention what was running through his mind, Captain Jack Sparrow played by Johnny Depp imitating Keith Richards. He pick up his P-90 and slipped the safety off. He also took the knife at his waist and slid it partly into hi boot and covered it with his pants.

<Tag SD-1>
'