Season Two Finale: Olympomachy

[Charlie Cordoy]

0123
Mountain Ranges

“ 'The Hippocrates' I like that. Feels better to have a name rather then just 'Puddle Jumper number 24'

"I was going for it for less savoury reasons, but yeah - let's stick with that," Charlie grinned.

“I’d say we’d better get over there. With a bunch of combat engineers digging holes in a mountain, you’d better be careful of what you wish for. One chopped of limb or a cranial fracture due to a misplaced shovel is easier accomplished then you or I want to know...”/“They’re not exactly known for their brain capacity you know…”

"So I hear," and so she had. It had probably been part of the reason for her hating military types before she'd found herself on the Iliad. Since then they'd grown on her, and thankfully in that 'they're not so bad' way rather than a 'eww, nasty mold' way. "But they get to blow crap up. I envy them that. I have a feeling blowing anything up in an infirmary would be frowned upon."

Then came Garrett announcing his theory to everyone. It was a pretty shiny one, too. Nanotechnology? Freakin' awesome. If she'd had any doubts about staying before, Charlie no longer had them after this mission. There was so much to learn about here. Though, granted, there was a decent chance they would all be dead by the end of this mission, which made it a moot point. Sod's law.

"So, how long have you been here in the Delian galaxy?"

A dry chuckle and a shrug of her shoulders was the only reply for a moment. She had taken to trying to forget and ignore, since the actual circumstances just brought confusion and a wicked headache. "I guess since that whole thing with the SD teams that we thought were dead but had just been kicked out of their bodies, not long ago. Not entirely sure, though. I was on Earth one moment and then whaddya know? I'm waking up on the Iliad." She forced a smile. "It's probably my most epic drunk yet. Usually I just wake up in an unknown bed, not an unknown galaxy."


<Tag: Tim, any>

[Paul Chapman]

0123
USS Iliad
Planetary Orbit

Through the forward view screen Paul watched the first Olympian vessel come the pieces and began to lose orbit, heating and burning up as it spun out of control through the upper orbit. "Looks like we got them with their pants down Colonel," joked the aptly named Lieutenant "Joker" Benteen. "Element of surprise Lieutenant," the Colonel replied. "Unfortunately we've now lost that; he's friends won't go down without a first." Taking the slight moment of peace the crew recollected themselves, preparing to go toe-to-toe with the next vessel. "Should I take us out of orbit? It will make this thing’s turn cycle like a brick... Sir" Benteen asked. "General's orders are to hold here," Chappy replied, shaking his head. "We're to provide cover to the ground elements from enemy bombardment."

The two remaining ships moved continued to move into range. The lead ship - 'Romeo Two' - pushed forward, weapons firing on the Iliad, while 'Romeo Three' was holding back. Paul didn't like this at all, he'd been hoping to take out both vessel before they had a chance to call for backup. The Earth cruiser shook under weapons fire. "Taking fire from Romeo Two Colonel," Benteen announced. "Take us up and out Lieutenant," Paul replied after a moment of thought. "We need to get in weapons range of the third cruiser before she can call for backup."

< Tag Joshua >



Earth Forces:
USS Iliad - Daedalus-class battle cruiser

Olympian Fleet:
Apollo the Daphnephorios - 'Romeo One' - Destroyed
Athena the Promachos - 'Romeo Two' - Engaging Iliad
Apollo the Hekebolos - 'Romeo Three' - Holding back out of weapons range

[Marah "Tonobi" Law]

0123
Mountain Ranges

Marah was near Pooja, Zara and Mack as they followed orders and begun to dig in to the ranges ready for thier attack. Then another light happened revealing Mack's toy. Marah smiled and loked between the women then back to Mack. "Big boy's and their toy's" Marah said chuckling to him as she began to dig again. Her weapon lying against the nearby rock with her jacket on. After all it was hard work. She looked over to Pooja. "Hey what are you doing. Oh no you don't Consider this a early wedding present to you now get up there" she said meaning that Pooja should stop digging and wait up there while they continued, that was before Mack began his digging. Marah Jumped out of the way as Mack came through. "Although maybe we should let Mack be a gentleman and dig it for us" she said smiling at Zara and Pooja

<Tag All>

OOC: Sorry guys about the short post. Muse is gone.

[Jahzara Jaarsveld]

0120
Mountain Ranges

Surrounded by bright light, Zara carefully opened her eyes to survey the surrounding area. Unfortunately she was not issued with night-vision goggles like the military members and could barely see her hand waving in front of her. As her eyes began to adjust to the darkness, she could just make out the outline of her limb and smiled. Those that could see using the military issued equipment probably thought she was crazy - oh well so be it she thought with a shrug.

She had not spent much time on the planet designated as D2X-374 before it was evacuated. Therefore she had not formed an attachment like others of the expedition had. Listening to the backend of the LTCOL’s conversation, she turned to where the voice had come from and spoke.

“Yes actually,” Zara paused before continuing. “What exactly is my mission on this…..mission?” she asked quickly trying to mask her confusion. “I am not an engineer, neither am I a military member. Are we looking for something in particular that I should be aware of?” she asked stopping for a breath waiting for a reply.

<Tag Anyone>

[Joshua "Joker" Benteen]

0123 - Onwards
USS Iliad
Planetary Orbit

“Taking fire from Romeo Two Colonel” Joker informed as he waited for the order to break orbit. The vessel shook from each impact, though the bright lights which were the side effect of the shield being hit by weapons fire was starting to annoy Joker. But then again, he preferred to do something than sit here being shot at. Being shot at wasn’t as fun as shooting at someone. “Take us up and out Lieutenant,"[/i]. “Confirmed, altering course to take us away from the planet. Turning to starboard, engaging sublight” Joker commented as he eased the Iliad out of orbit. He then heard the other order from the ship’s captain. Joker had been assigned this position as the previous helmsman was sick with the flu or something. Joker liked the feel of the Iliad, but he didn’t like it when someone shot at him. "We need to get in weapons range of the third cruiser before she can call for backup."[/i] Joker nodded as he thought of a brilliant idea, if he timed it right.

“Sir I got an idea, but we don’t have time to explain it. Sorry” he said as he saw the missiles starting to fly into the other ship. “Activating hyperspace engines. Standby for jump” he said using the hyperdrive as a tactical manoeuvre. A flash of green appeared and then space again, Jokers extreme piloting skills had now placed the Iliad right in front of Romeo Three. The Aft part of the ship was being pummelled by Romeo Two. But it seemed that the Colonel wanted three down before two. “Shields at 65%” Joker called out as he piloted the Daedalus class ship around like it was a drag racer. The Ship skidded to the left then right, trying to not get hit by the enemy. The ship shuddered for a moment as sparks flew, some residual energy from the weapons must have hit the hull and caused the power outages. “Sir? Should I alter course?” Joker asked with a massive grin. As the course was a direct collision with Romeo Three, one of them had to break. And this had to be the biggest game of chicken anyone had every played. The two ships were now at point blank range, it was a slugging match.

< Tag >

[Pooja Garcia]

0115
Mountain Ranges

She took stock of the area after getting beamed from the ship. Looking around the devastation that was caused she went into shock. Memories and feelings slammed into one another, every emotion she knew and could feel, rose and faded when a new one pushed its way into the heart. She had never felt so much anger towards one person in her whole life. But all now she wanted to do was take the shovel that was in her hand and beat Athena with it then remembered that Troy Loveridge had already done it for the whole expedition.

The only thing that made her sad was the fact she would no longer see ‘their’ spot and the stars from the base’s site anymore. It had until the blast it had become a routine that few times a week they both just go and sit there drinking in the view that was offered. It hurt to know that it was no longer possible to do it again. Sighing she held the shovel in the right way and directed her anger in the each of the slice she did in the earth.


0123
Mountain Ranges

Her head snapped when Marah spoke up and her green eyes moved to what she was talking about; Brown was happily playing away with his ‘toy’ as Law put it made her smile. The Warrant Officer seemed to be gleefully enjoying the earthmover. Leaning over, she shook her head, “He should have told us about it before we started digging,” Rai complained as the numbness in her hands could be felt and she was sure they were red.

Blinking her big green eyes innocently, “What early wedding gift?” she was trying to fight the blush that was rising on her cheeks. If Law didn’t keep her mouth shut, Pooja would bury the woman to her neck in the hole she was digging. Eying the earthmover again, “Maybe we should just sit and let him play,” she agreed as she wiggled her fingers to let the blood flow.

<<Tag Marah/All>>

[Vanessa Collins]

**Player Double post**

0115 -0123
Mountain range

She saw the expressions on few members of the expedition and it really made her want to crawl into the nearest hole and bury her head. She noted the anger on Garcia’s face, saw the shock and pain on his fiancé’s. Couldn’t and wouldn’t meet Troy and Robert’s eye. So instead she slowly backed away from the group and kept a low on everyone’s radar. When the digging began, she helped, from the corner of her eye she noted Rai angrily slamming the shovel into earth.

Forcing herself not to think, she kept on using the tool into ground even when SD6 stopped as Mack’s ‘toy’ arrived. She knew damn well that she had no control over what had happened. But it didn’t stop her from getting pi**y over the result. Her hands wanted to shake, but she kept them steady as well her wobbly legs that would give away at moment of notice if she looked at the view before her. They needed their psychologist sane, she wasn’t going let them down by breaking down – not that she wasn’t entitled to so do – but it wasn’t going to do any good over spilled milk. Nor they needed her regards.

Of course she knew all about everyone understanding, but it was harder to expect when she was the one to cause the hurt. The only sound for now that reached her ears was the sounds of shovels and Mack’s earthmover.

<<Tag All>>

[Gemma Colton]

0125
Mountain Range

It had barely been 10 minutes, but the crew was a making progress against the rock and soil on the side of the mountain. After showing up in one of the many flashes of lights from the Asgard beams, Gemma had immediately picked up one of the laser drills and set to work. This wasn't her usual line of work, but she did it without complaint. After all, being outside did her some good. The recycled oxygen on the Iliad was starting to get to her, or so she imagined. Gem had to stop herself from salivating whenever she saw Mack's toy, and she wondered to herself whether or not she would get a turn with it.

Taking a break, she removed her BDU jacket and tossed it to the side. She was feeling rather gross, but everybody else here probably felt the same. Wiping the sweat from her brow with her forearm, she unknowingly smeared a good amount of the soil across her face as well. Did it matter anyway? Nope, not really. All that mattered was that they reach whatever was under this heap of rock and dirt. And pray that is was something useful, instead of another wild goose chase.

Before picking up her laser drill again, she pulled the Ancient scanner from her cargo pocket and read it. They were getting closer to what they thought to be the "back door", as the officers called it. Right now, they stood at a healthy 50 yards or so. Now would be a good time to check the integrity of the semi-tunnel they were creating. It would also be helpful to have some folks check the area above where they were digging. After all, if they were going to use C-4 to get the last part of the mountain cleared away, they needed to make sure they wouldn't induce a rockslide or something. Those kinds of things always end in bad.

"Who wants to go on a little field trip?" she offered to some of the nearby workers. Some she knew would want to take a break from this, but she couldn't have them all volunteer at once. Otherwise, who would dig? "We can probably get the rest of the way in with C-4, but before we get all boom-happy, we need to make sure this old girl can take it. Anyone up for a little mountain climbing?"

<Tag Digging Crew>

[Troy Loveridge]

0125
Mountain Range

From the temporary command tent that was now fully up and running, troy continued to direct and action and work flow. "Colonel, it seems that scanners have picked up a change in the molecular structure of the mountain right in front of Warrant Officer Brown," Katrina reported from the converted medical Puddle Jumper. "But I advise caution as any blasts could cause an avalanche of mass proportions. But I think we may found our front door." The scanners on the small gate-ship were the most advanced on the surface, and if something was going on at a molecular level - whatever that actually meant! - it was best to exercise caution. "Copy that Major," he replied over the radio. "I'll inform the digging teams. Keeps me appraised of anything else the Jumper picks up, it might play a more important step in finding this outpost than we first imagined." Marcus was right - a Jumper had never been this close to this particular mountain before, and it was quite likely that the two were wirelessly communicating.

< Tag Kat >

The Colonel turned to find the newly commissioned Captain Kale. "Sir what about Security detail," Ash asked. "As I am a communications expert would you like me to do something to help with setting up a radio post, or would you like me to help with the Security of the team." Looking around the tent, Troy could see most of the equipment they'd brought down was now up and running. They had a direct and secure uplink to the Iliad as well a radio network with broadcast capabilities strong enough to reach all personnel on the ground. "Everything seems to be in working order down here, your boys work quickly," Loveridge replied. "We could you a set of eyes to make sure we are alone down here, top of the mountain might provide a good over-watch position. Lemme know if you seen any hostiles advancing."

< Tag Ash >

"What exactly is my mission on this..mission?" asked Doctor Jaarsveld. "I am not an engineer, neither am I a military member. Are we looking for something in particular that I should be aware of?" Stepping out of the tent, Troy pointed up the mountain to the numerous digging teams who were making quite work of the think rock. "From what I remember from the initial Atlantis reports, the outpost under those rocks could be full of all sorts of nasty surprises. I need someone up there who can speak and read Ancient or whatever languages we encounter. Think you're up to the challenge?"

< Tag Jahzara & Everyone! >

OOC: Medical personnel, if you get a chance please familiarize yourself with our brand new medical Jumper Hippocrates ;D

[Paul Chapman]

0125
USS Iliad
Planetary Orbit

Tearing out of the atmosphere, the Earth cruiser quickly covered the gap between itself and Romeo Three, while maintaining a constant stream of fire on Romeo Two. At the helm, Lieutenant Benteen was doing an excellent job at going evasion, though the Iliad was still taking a beating. "How long until weapons range for Romeo Three?" Paul called out across the bridge. "Two minutes sir," can the response form his gunnery officer. That was another two minutes of air time the third cruiser had to call in reinforcements. Sensing his displeasure, Benteen suggested a new course of action. "Sir I got an idea, but we don’t have time to explain it. Sorry."

Right now, Chappy didn't have any other tricks up his sleeve. And beside, in the short time he'd been at the helm Joshua had made quite impression. "Do it," the Colonel replied. "Activating hyperspace engines. Standby for jump," can the reply, which initially surprised Paul until the ship quickly entered and reverted, now within weapons range of both ships. "Fire all batteries," Paul declared, but his gunners were already one step ahead, pounding both enemy cruisers with rail gun and missile fire. "Shields at 65%," Benteen added as he continued to to weave the Daedalus-class cruiser while keeping clear fire solutions on both vessels. He brought the ship around for a head-on course with 'Romeo Three'.

"Hold course," Paul muttered, staring intensely out the forward view-port. The enemy ship continued to grow larger and larger as both ships came together. "Sir? Should I alter course?" Benteen asked. Paul didn't reply. The range between the two vessel grew smaller and smaller, both ships pounding away at the other in a desperate attempt to wear the other one down. "Sir?" asked another bridge officer, growing concerned as the range finder for the distance to collision continued to shrink. "Colonel!" yelled the weapons officer when the range dropped under half a kilometer, just over two ship lengths.

"All ahead flank, break hard right!" Paul yelled out from his chair when he was satisfied the enemy was intent on sacrificing themselves to take out the cruiser. While the enemy might have been ready for an early grave, he sure as hell wasn't.

< Tag Benteen >


Earth Forces:
USS Iliad - Daedalus-class battle cruiser

Olympian Fleet:
Apollo the Daphnephorios - 'Romeo One' - Destroyed
Athena the Promachos - 'Romeo Two' - Engaging Iliad
Apollo the Hekebolos - 'Romeo Three' - Engaging Iliad

[Jerry Garcia]

0125
Mountain Range

Jerry had set up security around the site and was now wandering around the area keeping a watchful eye on the events unfolding, as well as, what was happenning around the perimeter. He spotted Pooja with a shovel and gave her a small wave, before turning back to his duties. He worried about her since this planet may or not be a very safe locale right now.

Genreal Kepler, I have perimeter defenses set up. What else can I do?

<Tag Kepler>

[Hiaann Saeuri]

Jul 29, 2009 14:01:39 GMT 10 Gemma Colton said:

0125
Mountain Range

"Who wants to go on a little field trip?" she offered to some of the nearby workers. Some she knew would want to take a break from this, but she couldn't have them all volunteer at once. Otherwise, who would dig? "We can probably get the rest of the way in with C-4, but before we get all boom-happy, we need to make sure this old girl can take it. Anyone up for a little mountain climbing?"

<Tag Digging Crew>

0125
Mountain Range

Hiaann carefully stuck his shovel in a loose pile of dirt so no one would step on it in the dark and get hurt. He himself had absolutely no trouble seeing their surroundings but he knew the Tau'ri did.
The devastation of the area only raised a small sense of regret in him. The images from the briefing indicated that the area had been quite pleasent and he wondered if they would try to settle on this planet again.
Brushing the soil off his furry arms and out of his mane, he approached Colton.
"I would be, Dame. I'm good at climbing and can see in the dark quite well."
He sucked in a deep breath of the rather dusty air, "It's so good to smell soil and the distant rain."

< tag Gemma and digging crew >

[Jahzara Jaarsveld]

0125
Mountain Range

Raising her eyes to where Colonel Loveridge was pointing to, she smiled and nodded acknowledging his instructions.

“So you are expecting nasty surprises then Colonel? Do you know what kind by chance?” Zara asked eyebrow raised. “Okay then. To answer your question, I am most definitely ready to provide you with any assistance I can,” she responded clapping her hands with excitement.

Turning towards Marah and Pooja, she smiled as she heard Marah’s comment and Pooja’s reply regarding Mack. “I’m happy for him to do all the hard work for us that is for sure,” Zara replied with a chuckle and waved at Mack as he drove past them. “Well, I guess I should make my way over to where all the work is just in case they locate something of archaeological significance,” Zara said pulling the straps of her backpack for a closer fit. “Anyone want to come?” she asked turning to all the civilians gathered in the immediate area.

<Anyone>

[Mack Brown]

0125
Mountain Range

At the controls of his M9 Armored Combat Earthmover, Warrant Officer Brown had to admit he was quite enjoying himself. The piece of machinery was loud and noisy, and with his night-vision goggles on he was having a hard time seeing where he was going. And yet, he was doing alright. He thought. All things considering. He dropped the dozer blade back down into place and put the vehicle into first gear, lurking slowly up the side of the mountain, digging, pushing and scarping dirt and rocks out of the way as he meant.

"Six-Three, One-Six," came a voice over his headset - it was Colonel Loveridge. "Six-three here," Mack replied, putting the machine into reserver to drag away loose rubble with the dozer blade. "Scans by the Jumper suggest the dirt directly in front of you is changing... on a molecular level." Mack put the machine in neutral, hoping the idle gear would allow him to better hear the voices over his radio. "Interrogative One-Six, the dirt is changing on a molecular level?" Mack asked, unsure if he'd heard Loveridge correctly or not. "Say again, ground in your vicinity is changing on a molecular level."

Unsure what that actually meant, Mack shut down the engine on the earthmover and climbed out the crew hatch. He looked in front of the machine, and noticed the dirt did indeed look different, somehow lighter. "Copy that One-Six," he replied as he leap down from the vehicle. "I'll take a closer look." Stepping forward he noted the ground continued to grow 'lighter'. He'd heard over comms before that the presence of Ancient technology or the ATA gene might somehow interact with the outpost. Mack was a naturally strong carrier of the gene, so that may very well be the case. He continued to slowly step forward, feeling the Earth become unsteady under his feet.

"Can I get some help over here!?"

< Tag Anyone! >

[James Calmara]

0126
Mountain Ranges

While back drilling Calmara had been listening in to the radio chatter, that was the joys of laser drills and headset radios, you didn't have to stop what you were doing every few minutes to listen to radio transmitions, you just carried on and listened while you worked, and when you did have to reply it was one button that could be operated with one hand, simple.

While the talk of the ground changing on a molecular level did disturb him slightly, after all as Calmara well knew that was the stuff that made the mountain a mountain, he settled down after a quick scan from one of the engineers on site reveled the area undergoing change was still far beneath their feet, 50 yards to be exact, and that fact they had been drilling for more than ten minutes with out the face they were standing on showing the remotes sign of instability and they were drilling in a small area which reduced the chances of things going wrong. In fact the more Calmara thought about it he was coming to the conclusion that this was a good thing, at the very least lack of density would speed up the drilling, best-case scenario that area would become completely hollow while the surface remained stable, that way the chunks of rock they cut out would fall through and brake up making it easier to gain access to what was underneath.

While a small number of diggers followed Sgt Colton, the Air Force engineer who'd checked depth of the unstable area, to check on the mountains stability further up Calmara stayed put he'd found a certain amount of satisfaction with the ease of which the laser drills carved up the mountain, this was slightly surreal for Calmara in the past he'd always preferred mechanical over electronic, his time spent in the Delian galaxy had changed that slightly the electronics just seemed to fit in more and in some cases do a better job, having said that the M9 mechanical monster they had on-site was defiantly holding its own.

At this point Calmara took a quick glace down the slope to see the M9 at work, and saw it parked up with the drive climbing out, typical I'm singing its praises and it gets stuck he thought to himself turning back to the laser drill. Then several things happened at once turning in response to Warrant Officer Browns yell, in time to see both him and the massive piece of machinery disappear from view, then the drilling rig emitted an electronic beep Calmara moved over to see what had happened and to his surprise was informed that the drill had reached their programed depth and were starting the sideways cuts, even more surprising they had sliced through the last twenty meters in thirty seconds! a huge molecular change it was as if the last few meters were soil not rock.

Leaving the rig running Calmara climbed down, reaching a ridge that was not their before, he moved around it and reached the base of a circular cut in the mountain side, Warrant Officer Brown had clearly take a tumble when the ground gave way, he looked OK but better be safe than sorry. "Med jumper Hippocrates from Calmara, can you send some one to the base of the mountain Warrant Officer Brown's taken a bit of a tumble."

The shape, width and, depth of the cut struck Calmara as familiar, it look as though it would fit a jumper perfectly and the fact that it strched into the blackness of the mountain side it looked like their way in, something confirmed by a dim light flicking on some way down. "Calmara to all drilling/digging teams, down tools i think Warrant officer Brown has found the front door." The discovery came at the right time, a message came through that Olympian fighters had been sighted heading straight for their position. At least they had light at the end of the tunnel in more ways than one.

<tag anyone>