Chapter 4 (1/2)

Athena - sixty days later

With her shakedown cruise complete, Athena was provisioning for her first official mission. During her shakedown it was decided to push the ship hard to find any potential fault. She and her crew were sent into the galactic void between Pegasus and the Milky Way to tow home the abandoned ancient warship Tria for repairs. Athena performed without fault and was declared operationally fit and ready for service.

Her commander was Colonel Aaron Eckhart. He was a legend in the F-302 community from the Battle of Antarctica and as one of the few survivors of the Ori incursion that resulted in the destruction of the Korolev. He oozed fighter pilot machismo. For the last seventy two hours he had watched the Athena's loading of supplies and provisions for this mission carefully. Everything but the kitchen sink was going along for this ride. The reason was everything but a sink was needed at the destination. He checked and rechecked. Of course he was nervous about this one. He and his crew were going farther out than any earth vessel had gone before. This truly was one for the record books.

Her crew was an odd mix of combat troops from the SGC, scientists, engineers, and technicians. With the size of the vessel and the fact she had a matter creator onboard as standard equipment she was not without her luxuries compared to the Prometheus. Even with her once unimaginable speed this would still be a long mission. One month to the destination, two months on site, and one month on the return leg. That's why he made the big bucks the Colonel laughed acidly to himself.

Looking out at the shipyard he saw the Athena's sister sh.i.p.s taking shape. Colonel Sheppard and Colonel Mitchell were both present overseeing minor details during the construction process. Tria was also visible in dock being repaired after being damaged thousands of years ago in the Ancient Wraith War.

On the dock Colonel Sheppard approached the Athena's commanding officer, handing him an orange. ”In case Rodney acts up, just show it to him and he'll behave” chuckled Sheppard.

”Between McKay, Dr. Lee, and the egomaniac where we're going I might switch from oranges to buckshot in all honesty” said Col. Eckhart.

Both men laughed and turned on their heals for the observation deck to have a drink. In the morning Athena would leave, and it had become custom for commanders to have a drink above the shipyard for luck.

”Just come back in one piece Ecky” suggested Sheppard.

Andromeda Galaxy

With pride Thor looked over the nearly completed Asgard fleet. With the fleet now composed of only O'Neill class sh.i.p.s instead of older Bilskirnir class vessels it was a vastly more powerful fleet. Monitoring sensors scattered throughout the Milky Way informed Thor that the Tauri fleet was vastly increased as well. How would they react when contacted? What would change? These are the questions that troubled the Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet. Would the Tauri be able to handle the change in the order of things that Thor knew to be coming very soon? No one knew the answer to that, least of all the Asgard.

Atlantis