Episode Two: Labours

[Robert "Jackal" Walker]

<Continued from D3R-928>

0017
Byblos-class Cruiser Lentac
Orbit Above D2A-925

After working for a while on various systems, the crew believed they could operate the proper systems required for landing. Walker did not want to proceed unless they were absolutely positive that they wouldn't be screwing something up. Major Harrison confirmed that they were sure, and Walker had just given the order to begin re-entry.

Tapping the PA, Robert called, "Attention all personnel. We are beginning our descent. If you are not a member of the flight crew, please remain seated with your seatbelts fastened and your tables folded up."

<Tag Anyone>

The ship cruised easily through the atmosphere, just as the Prometheus, Daedalus, and F-302s were capable of, so that was definitely a good sign. "Altitude," he barked out, to which a reply came, "30,000 feet." Satisfied, Walker replied, "Begin landing procedures." Over the PA, he announced, "All personnel not essential to landing this bucket of bolts, prepare for landing."

<Tag Anyone>

[katrina]

0017
Byblos-class Cruiser Lentac
Orbit Above D2A-925

Kat just kept her eyes closed and just meditated on her parent's ranch back home. The fear was driving through her bones as the vessel shook slightly from the engagement of the hyperdrive systems. Before long they would be at their destination and hopefully she could just take a walk, a long quiet walk, before all hell would break loose.

"All personnel not essential to landing this bucket of bolts, prepare for landing."

Kat never took her hands of the armrests. They were almost permanently embedded to the chair. Taking deep breaths, she just meditated quietly, hoping the ship didn't decide to fall apart when it came out of hyperspace.

[Robert "Jackal" Walker]

OOC: I didn't say it, but if you notice the timestamps we are out of hyperspace already ... sorry for not specifying LOL

[katrina]

((OOC: She still holding on those armrests then ))

[Robert "Jackal" Walker]

0020
D2A-925

"5,000 feet and closing, sir," Major Harrison called out. It had become clear that not all systems were online, so Walker spoke over the PA, "All hands brace for impact." He gritted his teeth and hoped beyond hope they stayed in one piece.

"Sir, I have the stabilizers online!" a Lieutenant shouted. The ship began to slow from its intense dive, Walker's thoughts immediately turning to damage control.

<Tag Anyone>

0023

The ship closed to 500 feet and Walker gripped the arms of his chair. The shock when they hit the ground shook every bone in his body, and several people were flung from their stations.

When the shaking stopped, Robert raised himself from the ground ten feet in front of the command chair, where he had been hurled to. Seeing no major injuries on the bridge, he staggered to the command chair and ordered over the PA, "All leaders check your areas for damage and personnel injuries. Once completed, meet me on the bridge to give me your report. All other personnel exit the ship and get to the gate."

Turning to Lieutenant Logan, Walker indicated to his right leg which had a long gash in it from the corner of the navigation console. "Katrina, could I get a Band-aid?" he inquired as he sat back down gingerly in his chair.

<Tag Logan>

[katrina]

0020 - 0023
D2A-925

The jolt of the vessel pulled Kat's body hard against her seatbelt and she felt the burn of the fabric searing through her skin. She let out a yelp, but with all the noise surrounding them it wasn't heard. She opened her eyes to see bodies around her that weren't in their designated stations any longer. Some were on the floor wincing and gathering themselves with injuries and others quickly arose only stunned.

When the ship settled down, Kat looked around again and finally took her hands off the armrests. They were soar and her hands were imprinted with the insignia that was engraved into the chairs. Squeezing her hands softly, she looked around and noticed the major right away. Blood was already protruding through his ripped pant leg and she quickly unbuckled herself. There was a first aid kit on site for injuries and she grabbed it on her way to him as he spoke.

"Katrina, could I get a Band-aid?"

Walking over to him after he sat down, she knelt before him and gently pulled his pants off his leg and then ripped the material a little more. She only spoke when she needed to and took a good look at the cut. Opening the box, she brought out some cleaning pads and saline solution. "This might sting a little", she said in a gentle nurse tone. Then she squeezed the bottles contents on the wound washing it clean and patting it dry with the gentleness of a mother to a child's scraped knee.

"It's not as bad as it looks, but I still would like a doctor to look at it when we get back to base. You might need some stitches, but I think you'll be fine. I'll wrap it up, but take it easy.

She proceeded to gently wrap his leg in a bandage and secured it to him. Placing all the items in a bag, she stood up ready to dispose of the garbage and put the box back in its place.

[Gordon O'Neil]

0020 - 0023
D2A-925

Why did Gordy hate flying? This was exactly the reason, coming in at nearly three hundred miles an hour, even though the brakes were working. Hell, it wasn't that he was afraid of heights, after all he was a qualified military freefall jumper. However, when he was stuck in a seat, watching the ground grow closer and closer, O'Neil became a little edgy. He heard Walker call out for everyone to brace for impact, to which he responded to by grabbing the armrests and looking over at the major. "We're coming in a little hot don't you thi..." The sniper didn't even get the last part of his question out, as the ship hit the ground.

The restraints snapped as all of Gordon's weight was thrown against them, along with the positive g-forces that were a result of the crash. He went flying over a console he was sitting behind, hitting the floor hard, but managing to roll at the same time.

After what seemed like hours, the craft came to a stop, leaving Gordy on the ground, groaning slightly from the mild amount of pain that was shooting up his arm. He could move it thankfully, so it wasn't broken. The delta operator was still going to have a nice little contusion come the following morning. After another minute or so of laying on the deck, the master sergeant pushed his body up and walked over to the major. "Nice landing sir." A smile formed on his face at the tone of sarcasm that his words carried.

[Robert "Jackal" Walker]

0041

With most of the personnel off the ship and on their way to the gate, Major Walker continued receiving reports from the various personnel in charge of systems on the ship. Gordy and Logan were still on the bridge, insisting they stay together with Walker.

Robert walked over to Kat and took her away from the crowd. Speaking quietly, he said, "Katrina, I am going to leave the earlier incident out of my report. If I report it, best scenario would have you assigned to a different team. Worst case, General Kepler reprimands you and takes you away from off-world travel until he sees fit. I want you and O'Neil to be on my team. I respect you both. But first, promise me nothing like that will ever happen again."

<Tag Logan>

0055
Lower Corridors

Walker had just received the last section report, and the only remaining personnel onboard were SD-3, Major Harrison, and a security detachment sent through the gate to watch over the Lentac until a full science crew came from the Delta Site. Major Walker had just ordered the gate activated and personnel were beginning to file through as those onboard now exited the ship.

<Tag Anyone>

0109
Stargate
D2A-925

SD-3 stopped at the active gate and turned around to face the ship a mile off. Even at this distance, it seemed massive. "You both did excellent given the circumstances," Robert addressed Kat and Gordy. "General Kepler told me the memorial service will be held tomorrow. I don't know if anyone told you, but the Danaans self-destructed earlier today. Colonel Ryan and Master Sergeant Brown went back when the shield to confine the explosion failed, and were killed by the detonation." He paused solemnly.

<Tag Anyone>

"The memorial service is at 1200 the day after next, and General Connolly, Colonel Ryan, Master Sergeant Brown, and Staff Sergeant Jones' bodies will then be flown back to Earth on board the Prometheus," Walker continued.

<Tag Anyone>

Walker nodded slowly and said gravely, "Let's go home people." With that, he stepped through the gate with Kat and Gordy.

0112
Gate Room
Stargate Operations Building
Delta Site Command

Major Walker and his team emerged through gate, which was disengaged immediately following their arrival. Walker had his M-4 slung over his shoulder as he walked down the ramp.

Stopping at the bottom and turning to the other two, Robert said, "Get yourselves cleaned up, fed, and rested. I'll stave off the General for a few hours, but we'll have a long debriefing when he decides."

With nothing else to say, Walker walked off, leaving O'Neil and Logan standing there.

<Tag Anyone>

OOC: Reply to my post and we'll wrap this up guys

[Troy Loveridge]

OOC: If you guys are ending the ep now, please end it here and don't continue on to the Delta Site as all Ep #2 theads there have been closed. I'll have a side mission for you guys ready tomorrow

[katrina]

0041

A hand gently grabbed her arm and Katrina turned around. She was waiting for this and was ready to just give her resignation to the Major now. She could face formal charges, but she was in no mood to argue or even want to fight for her stay here on the base. She didn't feel as though she should be here or belonged. She felt like Lucille Ball in every episode of I Love Lucy where things went wrong with everything she touched or was involved in.

"Katrina, I am going to leave the earlier incident out of my report. If I report it, best scenario would have you assigned to a different team. Worst case, General Kepler reprimands you and takes you away from off-world travel until he sees fit. I want you and O'Neil to be on my team. I respect you both. But first, promise me nothing like that will ever happen again."

She couldn't understand why he wouldn't report it. This was her ticket out of here. Kat wanted her team safe, not in constant trouble with her around. Should she give it another try? At possibly the loss of another crew member or endangering them all again?

I.....I......Yes sir, it won't.

0109
Stargate
D2A-925

After leaving the ship, it was time to go back to base. Katrina didn't want to look back, nor did she want to move forward. This was going to be the hardest thing to do.

"You both did excellent given the circumstances,"

"General Kepler told me the memorial service will be held tomorrow. I don't know if anyone told you, but the Danaans self-destructed earlier today. Colonel Ryan and Master Sergeant Brown went back when the shield to confine the explosion failed, and were killed by the detonation."

Kat's eyes swelled a little, but she wouldn't express her sadness until she was alone. This wasn't the place for a soldier to cry over lost lives. She simply gave Gordy a sorrowful look and then back to the Major.

"The memorial service is at 1200 the day after next, and General Connolly, Colonel Ryan, Master Sergeant Brown, and Staff Sergeant Jones' bodies will then be flown back to Earth on board the Prometheus,"

"Let's go home people."

Home? Home is where your family is, the people you love. I don't know if I can every call this place home.

0112
Gate Room
Stargate Operations Building
Delta Site Command

Katrina hated walking through that gate. It made her nauseated every time. But, her emotions were so boggled up, the nausea wasn't even present. Her stomach must have been so tied up in knots that it couldn't possibly fit any more stress in it.

"Get yourselves cleaned up, fed, and rested. I'll stave off the General for a few hours, but we'll have a long debriefing when he decides."

Katrina didn't really know what to say to Gordy. She had enough going on in her head, but she was sure of one thing. Turning to him, she placed her hand on her arm and spoke before leaving to get a nice hot shower and some sleep.

I'm glad if there's anyone watching my back both strategically and medically, it's you.

[Gordon O'Neil]

0109
Stargate
D2A-925

"General Kepler told me the memorial service will be held tomorrow. I don't know if anyone told you, but the Danaans self-destructed earlier today. Colonel Ryan and Master Sergeant Brown went back when the shield to confine the explosion failed, and were killed by the detonation."

Gordy was walking with the other two Delta Site members when Walker told him about the two other deaths. It hit the sniper like a brick wall. While he did not know Colonel Ryan personally, Mack was another good friend from Delta. That was two deaths in the same day of people he knew very well. His stomach seemed to lurch, and his face formed a look of pain before he continued on down the hall.

He hoped that no one had seen that little response, though Kat was looking at him with a inquisitive glare. O'Neil couldn't hide the pain for much longer, he felt like he was going to throw up. Out of all the people he knew from his former Army unit, he was the only one left alive. The Gordy Factor was making a comeback. It seemed as though every person who he grew close to died. It was true with Schiefer, Gibson, Jones, and now Brown. God, when was it going to all end?

0112
Gate Room
Stargate Operations Building
Delta Site Command

I'm glad if there's anyone watching my back both strategically and medically, it's you.

Gordon nodded slightly, not even listening to the lieutenant though his mind processed the information. You don't want me watching your back LT. People who do want that have a nasty habit of turning up dead. He didn't need this, not now, not after getting over all the others. Frak, he had to straighten up and be strong. After all, there would be plenty of other deaths before their time was up. Gordy hoped that that wasn't the case though.