Chapter 86 (1/2)

Suspendisse Cursus

On command the jumper's communication system began transmitting a coded beacon signal to the ground below. The broad spectrum transmission pulsed into the atmosphere to the ground below. On the forth cycle of the broadcast data was transmitted to the jumper from a point three hundred miles to their east. On the heads up display the position of the signal being received was shown on the digital map.

”Ok I have target lock on the signal. Seems to be coming from a canyon” stated Major Grant.

”Estimate we'll be there in two minutes” replied Reynolds.

”Want to change that fifty percent prediction” asked Mackenzie.

”What you're saying is really bringing down the mood in here” replied Mead with a smile.

Slicing through the atmosphere the jumper quickly covered the distance to their destination. Quickly shedding altitude the jumper entered a massive canyon similar to the Grand Canyon on Earth, only much deeper. The deep red hue of the rock and soil on the canyon walls flashed by as the team navigated the jagged tear in the landscape.

”From what I'm seeing we're right on top of the transmitter boss” said Grant.

”And I am officially not flying” answered Reynolds as the jumper's automatic pilot routine kicked in.

At a constant pace the jumper nimbly maneuvered through the confines of the canyon. The four men aboard drew a sharp breath as the jumper instead of turning to follow the canyons bend continued straight towards the canyon wall rising before them. Instead of the horrific impact they all expected the jumper passed through the holographic canyon wall. At impressive speed the jumper followed the smoothly polished large tunnel they had entered, noting that the tunnel angled downwards to an incredible degree. One minute later the jumper stopped in what looked to be a jumper receiving bay. Coming to rest alongside several much older shuttles similar to those found aboard Destiny Reynolds opened the rear ramp.

Exiting the jumper the SG team fanned out. Doctor Mackenzie with an ancient hand scanner took readings of the large subterranean room around them. Judging by the size of the room it had to be at least eight hundred yards wide and five hundred feet tall. The walls, floors, and ceiling of the dome shaped room were all highly polished.

”I've got energy readings popping up all over the place. They seem to be coming from that direction” said Mackenzie pointing towards the set of large metallic doors one hundred feet away.

”Then that's the direction we're going” replied Reynolds.

”Big creepy hole in the ground, what secrets do you hold” Mead asked the air.

”Look at those doors! They are big enough the Yamato could fit through them” excitedly said Major Grant.

Coming to the large metallic doors the men were in awe of the sheer size of them. The engineering involved for such massive doors with almost no seam was staggering. Unfortunately no path through said doors was visible.

”Are you telling me we came all this way to find the ancients long lost world record metal door” asked Mead.

”Not the time Mead. Instead let's find a way around them” replied Grant.

”Over to the left. That looks like a transport platform like on Atlantis” suggested Reynolds.

Walking over to the platform the men all agreed it did in fact appear to be a transport platform. From their time on Atlantis the four men were sure of their discovery. Stepping inside the platform they noted that instead of a map to pick their transport destination like on a city ship instead they had a sole blue button. With a snicker Mead pushed the button and the four were quickly beamed to another location.

”Ok, the scanner is showing we're on the other side of the door” said Mackenzie.