Episode Twenty Five: Enemy of My Enemy (Part One)

[Tim "Freefall" Shultz]

0816 - 0819
Eastern Quardrant
Lost City of Akrotiri

Timothy Shultz you said, so what's your story, what are you doing on my side of the Galaxy

Tim looked at the Robert as they scanned, "Officially I am a observer to the expedition for the IOA, but unoffiially I heard that they were kinda short of pilots and as I love to bring my flying abilities out and leave the IOA label behind I thought I might try and fit in here" he said in answer to the captians question but then added a later thought. "Oh and a Nolen Syaira says hi to you from the SGC" he added.

"What do we have gentlemen?"
"Copy that Colonel, ETA 5 mics." Cromin turned to Tim and said "I guess this flight can wait at the moment, the Colonel wants us back at the gateroom."

Tim nodded and awaited for the captian to land to get back to the gateroom.

"Not sure at the moment but so far what the science team have been able to figure out is that there is saome sort of upload and download going on between the crystals and the computer. As best as the science team can tell the computer is isolated and not connected to our computer network but all the cameras in that general AO has been acting up of late. Security told me earlier that they have not been able to get any feed from that area. It seems something might be jamming the signals and as of right now, that computer seems to be our only lead and by my count i would say that it is somehow connected to all that is going on. I have designated it a security threat and ordered the science team to look try and determine what information is being uploaded into the crytals and what information is being downloaded into the computer. If that is not possible then they might as well look for a way to seperate the crystals from the computer or shut it down somehow. Last resort might be a C4 but at that point that will be your call sir."

As they touched down, Troy was awaiting them and soon was in the cockpit with them.

"So what do we have out there gentlemen?"
"Well I had ordered a city wide search earlier and we were using everything at our disposal to do this, camera's, UAV's, people . . . well security reported to me that there was a camera in the eastern pier they weren't receiving any feed from. They have changed the camera several times but it just wasn't working. The problem wasn't resolved yet and it was on the to do list of the science team, I guess they just didn't get to it yet. Anyways I sent Lt Morellii over there, it was during his sweep that he found the computer. The science team checked it out and they gave me what I gave you during the last update I relayed to you earlier. "


Captain Cromin paused for a second obviously considering whether to make the next line of thought or not. He decided to proceed with his findings "Some new information just came about and Sir as you well know, I am not a scientist but from what I have heard and been able to piece together, it seems that there is something going on. We just might have a ghost in the machine. Check this out sir, the computer we found is supposed to be on our network but it is not on there and I am thinking whatever is going on did it on purpose because according to what I just found when I compared the current schematics we have on the city's network to the old printed one we had when we first got here, this lab seem to have been removed from the city schematics, why, I don't know and when Lt Morelli checked it out for me it showed that there was a hidden deleted file of that section of the city in the city wide system. Secondly I think whoever or whatever is behind this removed this area from the city schematics and this computer from the network in order to work in isolation, that is continue whatever it is doing undetected until it is willing to go city wide. Recent findings from the science team shows that all signals emanating from that area is being jammed by another signal that they have not zeroed in on yet but again it is local to the general eastern pier. The signal is almost like our radio wave so we wouldn't even have noticed it, if Lt Morelli had not found it by accident. The Crystals on the computer is a hardened version of the ones that just left, it is possible that they are behind it or not but one thing we do know is that the crystals is being used as a memory bank because a huge amount of data is flowing between the crystals and the computer. What we need to find out now is what data is being uploaded and downloaded, what kind of security threat it is, why all of this happening is here and who or what is behind all of this?"

"Those are my thoughts for now sir."

Tim stayed quiet as the captian and the colonel talked ad then had a thought. "As to who, would the Olympians or these Titans able to do this?" he asked remembering the files he read.

<tag all>

[Chris Hatfield]

0819
Gateroom
Lost City of Akrotiri



As soon as the briefing was over Chris stood up and returned to his lab, once inside he glanced once more at the artifact recovered from a dig a short distance outside the city, and his mind started thinking about it again, the symbols on the artifact just puzzled him beyond his own belief. It was one of the hardest languages to understand besides Ancient for him. He gathered his notepad, and several of his journals he kept since first arrving in the Delian over four years ago, he kept those journals as a reminder of the language of each of the cultures.

As he finished packing his gear his next stop was the infirmary. Just because they were still on the same planet, he would never be caught with his britches down, and ill prepared for any situation. So he checked out a P90 and a Beretta sidearm. He didnt think he'd use em, but, "Can't be too careful." he muttered to himself as he clipped the P90 to his vest.

The trip to the jumper was fairly quick Chris was too busy mentally going over the languages they've encountered, and similarities they had in common, racking his mind in attempt to find a root language, one that would allow them to easily decipher any new script. And yet through it all there was still the mystery of the newest artifact that was retrieved, the markings on it seemed so familiar, but yet, he just couldnt place them.

"What have we got Gentlemen?" The sound of the Colonel's voice snapped him back to reality out of his own deepening thoughts. He looked up from the ground in time to watch the jumper descend in front of the gate, as the door opened he began to hear the conversation between the two men in the jumper and Troy. As he listened he began to devise his own stragety, but he wouldnt verbally voice it until he could actually look at this mysterious computer with his own two eyes.

The last statement that Cromin and Shultz said seemed to spark something, and he spoke, "Anything is possible at this time, we cannot rule any culprit out, also there is another possibility, continuing on the same path as yours Captain, perhaps the crystal entity has hacked into our systems to learn about us. And the first thing it chose to do was learn to communicate. By means of a very basic method," Chris looked at Troy, "Morse code. And the three easiest letters to recognize in mosrse code is S and O, and the easiest short phrase is SOS."

He stepped onto the jumper and continued, "But I will be able to get a better idea of whats happening when we reach our destination." And he had a seat next to the door.

<TAG EVERYONE>

[Robert "Scarecrow" Cromin]

0820
Gateroom
Lost City of Akrotiri

Captain Cromin and Tim Shultz talked about why he was in the Delian Galaxy, He wanted to be a Pilot so bad, that he took an IOA job as an observer to unofficially fly whenever he could. Cromin laughed so hard because he didn't think much about the IOA and he told Tim that he must have pretty deperate to join the IOA . . . not long after they landed, The Colonel came and Cromin updated him with recent findings.

Dr Hartfield listening to the conversation joined in saying "Anything is possible at this time, we cannot rule any culprit out, also there is another possibility, continuing on the same path as yours Captain, perhaps the crystal entity has hacked into our systems to learn about us. And the first thing it chose to do was learn to communicate. By means of a very basic method." Chris looked at Troy, "Morse code. And the three easiest letters to recognize in morse code is S and O, and the easiest short phrase is SOS."

Captain Cromin listening to the Doctor's line of argument responded saying "Well you would have been right a couple of months ago, because infact that is how the crystal communicated with my team and I when we first found them in the cave systems. They got into the jumper's database and learnt about us and then communicated to us using morse code. So the problem with that argument is that they don't have to learn it again, they already know it, so that rules out what they are currently doing there."
Cromin watched as the Doctor got into the shuttle. Cromin waited for another line of reasoning. He hoped that somehow they will figure this out on time because this is not how he planned on spending his day. He wasn't even properly dressed yet, he still had civilian clothes on, except the accesories he had on them were nothing civilian in nature.

<Tag all>

[Troy Loveridge]

0820
Hanger
Lost City of Akrotiri

Troy continued to admire the new X-305 shuttle as Robert, Tim and Chris offered their opinions of what might be happening. So far it seemed as though some sort of crystal was hacking into their computer system, and had used its control of the console to delete the laboratory from their floor plans, and was now trying its hand at communicating with the expedition. "Well, so far it hasn't made any hostile moves," the Colonel replied. "That we know of. Hiding the lab might just be a self-defence response."

Try racked his mind for a moment, but couldn't think of any Olympian or Titan technology that matched the description Cromin had given him. He'd never been on board a Titan ship, but he did known the Olympians used crystal-based technology, along the same lines as the Asgard and Goa'uld. It was possible that this represented some sort of new advancement, but Troy was yet to encounter it.

With the power surge they were experiencing it was too dangerous to use the city transporters, so the shuttle would be their way of quickly getting out to the eastern pier and the lab in question. Troy checked his watch - there was still two more minutes until they departed, but he wanted to make sure they got away on time. "Let's warm her up," Troy added, climbing up into the shuttle. He left the pilot seat to Robert and the co-pilot seat to Tim, and took a bench seat in the rear of the craft as the warm up procedures were carried out.

< Tag Base Personnel >

[Cara Coyle]

0819
GateRoom
Lost City of Akrotiri

Cara rubbed the back of her neck, trying to rub away the startings of yet another headache. The headaches had been a little to frequent for her liking. She took a moment to think, remover herself from the situation and look at it from an outsider’s perspective. Perhaps she had been a little too irrational just then. Cara then did what Chris suggested and took a look at all the information they had on what was happening.

Brief lapse of judgment lead her to lash out at her superior, and that wasn’t good. She was tired and had other issues, but it was starting to affect her work and Cara couldn’t let that happen, not yet. She had to hold on for as long as possible. Cara turned to Pooja, ”Sorry, Pooja, but they could be on to something after all. I should go with them. You should come, if only to be with people you know. You shouldn’t be alone, especially with Garcia away.”

Cara quickly grabbed the gear or equipment she needed and hurried off in the direction the others went.

0821
Hanger
Lost City of Akrotiri

With her stuff in hand, Cara entered the hanger and looked around for the others. She quickly spotted them and went over. ”Sorry, I know I was a bit harsh back there. I blame the lack of sleep. You asked me to come and so I shall. And I’ll try to be a bit more open minded to this SOS theory. I think we’ve all learned a long time ago that anything’s possible.”

<tag you guys>

[Pooja Garcia]

0819
Gateroom
Lost City of Akrotiri

She didn’t jump when Cara spoke, but only stared at the woman at what she was saying. She had to be kidding, it just had to be a freaking joke. Pooja wanted to shout but had no courage to do so. Didn’t think she should. Last time she had shouted like, while captive, results hadn’t been pretty. While she knew it wasn’t going to happen here, but the fear and pain that she had experienced stopped her.

Another thing was she didn’t know anyone around here anymore than she thought she did. Loverigde had been someone she could have trusted in the past, but for the present she wasn’t sure anymore. Sighing she placed the clutches under her arms after getting to her feet and following Cara, the woman was right about one thing, she shouldn’t be alone.

She wouldn’t be if Law had been around, while Jerry wasn‘t. Her best friend seemed to have up and disappeared into thin air. No one really knew where Marah was. Alive or dead. In Delian Galaxy or back on Earth. Walking out of the control room, she saw Donna - of the nursed - holding a tray with water and her meds, along with a frown on her brows. Without a word Pooja dutifully took her meds as ordered by the new head doctor, then was on her way towards the hanger.

0822
Hanger Bay

With her brain fuzzy up for a short time due to meds, Pooja didn’t really get what was going on even as the ship was roared to life. But the conversation was something she followed clearly. So her Morse Code theory was being taken into consideration. That itself was start to something or so she hoped.

Yet that didn’t mean they all trusted her to be the real version of Pooja. Troy she was certain will have few doubts, after what happened with Kat. So she stood and watch the happening around her, pretty much on standby to see if she was needed.

<<Tag Base Personnel>>

[Tim "Freefall" Shultz]

0822
Hanger Bay

Tim listened to the others in the shuttle and took note of Dr Garcia, see seam to be looking for someone that seamed wasn't here. His job would have been to report this behaviour but he had read the mission report of her rescue and her files. No he didnt how she felt but he would not bring the IOA into it. Mind you Senior Agent Law was still listed as MIA something that was very unusal for a military trained IOA Agent. Actually in reality Tim was not here to spy for the IOA or fly for the expedition, although he did love the flying part, he was here to find a missing agent or what happened to her. Tim stopped gazing out the hatch and refocused on the start up of the shuttle. "Yes Sir" he said to Troy hitting a few buttons which pre started the engines.

<Tag All>

[Troy Loveridge]

0822
Hanger
Lost City of Akrotiri

The last of the base personnel hurried into the hanger and boarded the awaiting X-305, which was just about to finish her pre-flight checklist. In the cockpit, Captain Cromin and Mr Shultz were making the final preparations for launch and their quick trip to the city's eastern pier. Just as he was about to close the hatch, Doctor Coyle and Doctor Garcia made their way toward the shuttle, explaining that they now wished to joined the group as they examined the infected computer terminal firsthand. "Welcome aboard," he Colonel replied as he pulled closed the hatch and returned to his seat.

Within moments the shuttle had risen from the hanger deck and was rising toward the hanger doors overhead. Under the control of Robert and Tim the brand new vessel glided from the hanger and made an orbit of the control power before making its way out toward the tip of the eastern pier where the computer suite in question was located. From up here it was easy to spot - wile power was switching on and off all across the city, it was doing so at a much faster rate at the room in question.

The shuttle softly touched down at a small landing pad, where the crew disembarked and made their way through an external hatch and back into the city. It was only a short walk to the computer room from here.

0831
Eastern Pier
Lost City of Akrotiri

With Robert and Tim on point, the group made their way down the darkened hallways, illuminated only by torch light and the occasional flash of the overhead lights. At the end of the hallway an open door could easily be seen, a strong light inside flashing on and off in a sequence. There was no doubt that this was the computer room in question.

Unsure what to expect and wishing he'd brought his sidearm, the Colonel and his team entered the room, the centre of which was dominated by a large computer console of Ancient design, covered in some form of blue glowing crystals. They didn't look like the ones that had been on the energy slug they'd just evacuated, but they definitely weren't meant to be here. While everyone got to the work, Troy paused for a moment, looking at the glowing crystal in awe and wonder.

< Tag Base Personnel >

[Amelia Murdock]

0831
Eastern Pier
Lost City of Akrotiri

Amelia was staring at the computer console cover in weird crystals. She was on the science team that had been ordered to check out the station while everyone else was otherwise preoccupied with the translocation of the giant slug. She was very new to the whole Stargate program, so she was kind of at the bottom of the totem pole, especially when she was still wrapping her head around the entire concept. Understand theoretical concept in physics and especially in Astrophysics was one thing, but to actually be able to apply concepts was entirely different.

Thankfully, Amelia had someone like Cara around to help her out a bit, It was nice to know at least one person here and not look at her like she just dribbled on herself when she asked a question. Amelia heard from someone’s radio that the base commander and a team where coming in now that they were done with the translocation. She hadn’t met anyone with high authority yet, other than Cara.

The lights were flickering like mad, which was a bit distracting when trying to figure out what crystals were doing with the computer, some sort of upload/download thing going on. ”Maybe the slug creature made babies.” she suggested to one of the other scientist as the other group walked in. The military persons stood to attention, and Amelia couldn’t help but look in their direction. She eyed Cara and noted how tired she looked, and how irritated she had been. She had seen the look on the Englishwoman sometime when grading papers that were very dismal. ”Oy, you look shattered, burning the candle are we?” she called out to Cara in her distinct Irish accent,

<tag me and others>

[Chris Hatfield]

0831
Eastern Pier
Lost City of Akrotiri

Chris brought up the rear of the team from the jumper, he had his P90 already in his hand but not ready to fire, It was a habit of his since they first arrived in the delian. Bringing up the rear, on occasion Chris ran point, but he always preferred making sure everyone in front of him was covered from the back.

As they stepped into the seemingly misplaced lab he came to a stop next to the Colonel and stared, unsure of what to think about this slug. The power in the room was fluctuating more than the rest of the city, the lights continued to flicker on and off. He noticed the look of concern on Troy's face and handed the Colonel his sidearm, "Getting a little rusty Colonel?" He offered a kind smile and turned his attention to the computer terminal and the slug.

Chris heard the comment from the irish civilian in the room and caught a glimpse of the exhaustion in the Doctor's face, she had definetly been looking more worn down the last few months. And it concerned Chris, as normal, but they had something more pressing at hand.

Chris moved towards the terminal, and tried to examine the display console, but it was hard to determine what was occuring due to the fluctuations in the power. He looked at the team already there and asked, "What have you found out?" The slug on the console made Chris' gut churn, there was just something about it that didnt sit right with him, and the feeling was mutual around the room.

TAG BASE, AMELIA, TROY & EVERYONE ELSE

[Pooja Garcia]

0831
Eastern Pier
Lost City of Akrotiri

She had held on to her dear for dear life as the ships movements brought back recent old memories not long after she had woke up after capture and on the ship at had led to the unknown part of the universe. Forcing herself not to think of that Pooja tried to find a distraction, but failed. While everything was familiar and safe, yet it lack the comfort and the warmness, she currently needed, even from the people around her. These were the people she worked with, some she trusted, but right now neither mattered. Her own trust in her own people was at its lowest. But the question was that could she trust them to keep her safe and away from the preying hands of the Titans. To that she had no answer.

Seeing where they were headed, Pooja stood at the doorway of the shuttle supported by the clutches, pale and trembling with fear, as the past and the present blurred. The hallway was dark with dimly lit light for guidance. Somewhere it the back of her might she hear the loud thudding of a closing doors and the cold sharp end of the gun to the base of her neck, she croaked out in fear as her legs nearly gave away from under her. She didn’t even register Doctor Hatfield passing her with his weapon raised.

Hurdling back into the ship as the fear overpowered her, while she fought to keep it under wraps, trying to think clearly and sane as possible. Feeling the fear in the deep part of her stomach and a tension headache’s onslaught as well insight her temple. With the last of the control slipping from her, - not even much to call out for help - Garcia passed out. Near the door way of the empty ship.

<<Tag All>>


((You were warned!! You didn‘t really think she was going to walk down a dark hallway did you? ;D))

[Robert "Scarecrow" Cromin]

0832
Eastern Pier
Lost City of Akrotiri


Captain Cromin had landed the shuttle in an open space on the eastern pier. Lt Morelli was waiting for them with two sergeants at his side. Cromin was the last person to get out of the shuttle and he waived the Lt and the two sergeants towards the cargo area. He turned to the Colonel and said "This way sir" Th Colonel responded by allowing him take point. Crom moved through the sometimes dark corridors towards the lab where the computer was found. Once they were in the lab, CRomin told a yound sergeant to find a way to provide adequate lighting for the corridors leading towards the shuttle.

Setting eyes on the crystalized computer again gave cromin the chills. He hated it, there was just something quite eery about the whole thing. He shrugged it off and proceeded towards one of the scientists he had left there earlier "excuse me ms murdock, you know the colonel, pls tell me what do you have for us so far?" Cromin smiled as he asked her the question, day dreaming about her, he was a sucker for the irish accent and especially coming from a woman such as amelia, she was a sight for sore eyes like his, gorgeous beyond measure, beautiful by all account.

<Tag Amelia, Troy, base personel>

[Cara Coyle]

0832
Eastern Pier
Lost City of Akrotiri

Cara heard a familiar voice greet her as she walked into the room. Amelia Murdock was the science team’s newest addition, only arrived within the last few days, still trying to find her boundaries of the city. The Irish woman was here on Cara’s recommendation, seeing as the Expedition was losing her once again after only just returned. They needed a brilliant mind to replace a brilliant mind. ”Oy, you look shattered, burning the candle are we?”

”Give it a month Ami, and you’ll be looking the same.” Cara assured her. She then made her way over to where the other scientists had their equipment set up, so that she could set up her own stuff and find out what they have found out. Cara already didn’t like the look of things; it was like the beginnings of the slug creature all over again, just when she thought that it was all over. "Excuse me Ms. Murdock, you know the Colonel, please tell me what do you have for us so far?" Cara heard Captain Cromin say to her friend, she looked up to see that he was all smiles, and she wondered if she had remembered seeing him smile at all before this.

”Sorry, I forgot introductions. Ami, this is Colonel Troy Loveridge, our base commander, Dr. Chris Hatfield, our resident Anthropologist, Captian Cromin, a pilot I assume, and….where’s Pooja?” she didn’t see the She-Garcia in the room. Perhaps she was taking her time getting there, with the crutches and all, ”Anyway, she’ll probably be hobbling in any moment. Everyone, this is Dr. Amelia Murdock, a brilliant Astrophysicist whom I’ve had the pleasure of teaching along side of at Oxford. I brought her here, so that I can be at peace of mind that you lot won’t be blowing yourselves up when I’m gone. Although, knowing you Ami, you’ll be probably at the head of most the mischief.” Cara looked to Loveridge before he could react or say anything about her leaving again, she couldn’t tell if had read her memo, ”You did get the memo that I was leaving right?”

<taggggg>

[Amelia Murdock]

0833
Eastern Pier
Lost City of Akrotiri

Amelia smiles at the English Noble as she noted that given a month, she would start looking the same. It was probably true, but it didn’t mean that she couldn’t poke fun at Cara now. Several of the people that arrived were then asking, some specifically asking her, what was going on. Honestly, it wasn’t safe to assume anything. The crystals that had grown on the console could be doing pretty much anything. Amelia was very new to the computer systems, so it was taking her a bit long than the others to see what information was being uploaded and downloaded.

So far, none of the members of the team she was with had any real clue about what was happening. Before she could speculate, Cara introduced her to the base commander, Colonel Loveridge, as well as some of the others that had arrived with her. ”It’s nice to meet you, sir.” she said to the Colonel despite Cara’s musings of mischief. ”I’ve only heard the best about ya, well at least since I’ve been made privy to the big secret. It’s a lot to swallow.” she held out her hand for him to shake or stare at, whichever came first.

Amelia walked back over to where she had been working and grabbed a bottle of water that she had been drinking from all morning and took a long drink from it. You could never drink too much water. ”As for this thing, the best hypothesis I could come up with is that the slug creature you sent away this morning just left a bit of itself behind. Probably some sort of defensive mechanism, or it’s mating habit, This could be a baby crystal slug we’re dealing with and the upload/download…thing could be some sort of learning pattern. Of could I could just be a complete eijit and way off.” she explained as best as she could. She wondered if the others would think her crazy or something of the sort.

<taggy>

[Troy Loveridge]

0834
Eastern Pier
Lost City of Akrotiri

While he had initially been hesitant to carry a weapon around with him, the Colonel gladly took the sidearm that was offered to him by Chris. "Force of habit," he replied with a half chuckle, tucking the gun into his belt due to a lack of holster. Back in the day when he'd lead SD-1 in the field, walking around sans weapon would have been unheard of. Nowadays though, as a desk commander, he didn't get to see much action. Paperwork was his battle field now, bureaucracy his arch enemy.

Having said that, being the commander of an intergalactic expedition where everything and everyone seemed to have a deeply seeded desire to wipe out mankind did manage to keep his action quota topped up. If anything, when he'd been with SD-1 he'd been fighting bad guys on planets hundreds of light years away. Nowadays, whenever he got up close and personal with an enemy, they were right on his doorstep with no real margin for error.

In their haste to survey the computer suite, introductions had been skipped, and Cara now took a moment to introduce everyone, including the new scientists by the name of Doctor Amelia Murdock. "Pleased to meet you doctor," he said, offering her a handshake before looking to the crystal encrusted console. "Wish it was under better circumstances." As if on cue, a shower of sparks burst from the console, dimming the lights in the room before returning to normal.

The new scientist dove right in with her theory about the alien slug having laid babies, which had become the strange crystal growths they were looking at. With the alien in question having lived on base for a month or so, it would be a matter of some simple tests to determine if the two were related. The use of Morse code by both certainly indicated a connection, through the slug had been quick to promise that it would attempt no subterfuge if the expedition promised to deliver it a new home world. Having no scientific training, Troy stood in silence and waited for the others to weight in before they discussed their next course of action.

It then that he noticed they were a person short - Pooja didn't seem to have made out to the computer room, even though Troy swore that he'd seen her on the shuttle. He looked around the room, wondering where she could have possibly gotten to.

< Tag Base Personnel >