Adrift Among Foreign Stars Halo/SGA crossover (Commissioned)

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter 1

Date: June 4, 2009
Location: BC-304 Daedalus, en route to Pegasus galaxy

"So, remind me why we're doing this again," Rodney McKay commented through a mouthful of food. "Aren't we supposed to be taking a break or something?"

"Well, eventually, we're going to want to go back to the Pegasus, set up another base, not abandon our allies," Sheppard commented. "We're supposed to go check out a few worlds we had set up outposts on, make sure our allies know that we're going to be back, that we're not leaving them hanging."

"It is fortunate that we were able to get into contact with the Travelers," Teyla added. "Larrin seemed most interested in meeting with Jon again."

Ronan simply continued eating and shrugged. "Least we get to see what's happened while we were gone."

"Look, I'm not saying that we shouldn't go back," Rodney said, "I'm just questioning why it has to be us?"

"Would it not be because we are the ones with the most experience in exploring the Pegasus Galaxy?" Teyla asked.

"Maybe," Rodney sighed. "Look, I just have a bad feeling about all this. The IOA's trying to take over the city, and we're off into the Pegasus Galaxy."

"The man's got a point," Sheppard agreed, pointing towards the scientist. "I'm a bit worried about the IOA, too. The thing is, I don't see how we can be much more of a help down there. We're not exactly their favorites after everything we've pulled over the years. Hell, I'm not sure Woolsey's even on their good side after the events of the last year. So, we're toeing the line and making sure that there's still a Pegasus galaxy to return to. The Wraith are still out there, and there are a lot of people who need our help."

"Lot of people out there who don't know Atlantis is gone," Ronan shrugged. "We've been gone for a while, and the Wraith don't exactly wait around."

"Even if they have gone back into hibernation, it is still in the best interests of both Earth and the Pegasus Galaxy to ensure that they are kept at bay," Teyla shrugged. "I would be more concerned with what other threats are out there."

"Doctor McKay to the computer room, Doctor McKay to the computer room!"

"What do they need you for?" Sheppard asked.

"Well, the Daedalus was the last ship in line to get an Asgard computer core added. But due to the mission, they only grabbed part of it. Enough to give us a little bit of help with Asgard beaming and some small bits for us to peruse on the trip between galaxies, but not the full core that the Odyssey has aboard. I'm supposed to help make sure that everything's going smoothly and ensure that the core doesn't go… Hmm, haywire due to someone doing something wrong."

"Need any help?" Sheppard asked.

"No, but thanks for offering," McKay smiled. "Hopefully there won't be all that much to do and I can return for an excellent turkey sandwich."

"Well, we'll be here," Sheppard shook his head and dug back into his food.

AR-1 was headed back to the Pegasus galaxy, not knowing what they would find.

—
—

Four days later…

"This is an interesting system the Travelers have asked us to meet them in," Colonel Caldwell commented as Shepard and the rest of AR-1 entered the room. "Major Marks is telling me that there are some strange anomalies present."

"Really? Let me take a look at it." McKay offered. "It looks like the anomaly is originating from the gas Giant. If we have the time, I'd love to take a closer look before we leave."

"Later, Rodney," Sheppard said. "It looks like Laron's finally here."

A Traveler ship had come out of hyperspace and was waiting just within weapons range.

"Sir, Larrin is requesting permission to come aboard," Major Marks reported

"Ask if she's ready to be beamed and have them lower their shields for it," Colonel Caldwell replied. "We'll beam them aboard. Colonel Sheppard, can you and your team meet them? I'd like to get this done so we can return to Earth."

"Yeah, we'll get right on that," Sheppard nodded and headed out the door; Teyla, Ronan, and McKay in tow. "You guys will make sure she doesn't try anything, right?"

"We'll see," Ronan replied as the door to the bridge shut behind them.

"Sir, I've got a lock on four signatures within the other ship and they've drop shields over the section," Marks said, his hands moving across the controls.

"Beam them to the briefing room," Caldwell ordered.

"They're aboard, sir," Marks reported. "I'm seeing something odd on sensors, it's like they're distorted by the gas giant McKay mentioned."

"Can you make anything out?" Caldwell leaned over and glanced at the control.

"It kinda looks like a Wraith Cruiser. I'll try to clear it up. But I'll get weapons and shields ready, and tell the Travelers what we've detected."

"All hands, move to battle stations," Caldwell hit his intercom button. "We've got Wraith incoming," he lifted his hand off the button and turned. "Launch three-oh-twos, and get the Asgard beam weapons ready. We know they work on Hiveships, let's see how they perform with the upgrades. Also, prepare to beam our guests out when combat starts. I can't imagine they'd want to stay here."

"Yes, sir, relaying the message now."

Instead of the cruiser they were expecting, five hiveships and their escorts arrived. The group of ships filling the void.

"Sir, second wave is arriving," Marks commented. "Looks like another four hiveships."

"We're not staying to fight them," Caldwell said. "Alert the Travelers and give them the coordinates we're going to jump to."

"Sir, hyperdrive isn't responding, we can't lock onto any coordinates."

The Daedalus began to rock as the battle began, the void filled with alternative waves of Asgard beams and hiveship energy blasts.

The first pair of cruisers sacrificed themselves to guard a pair of hive ships.

A particularly hard hit rocked the Daedalus and sparks flew from one of the consoles, an airmen falling to the ground stunned as a result.

"Colonel, we need to leave, now!" Rodney entered the room, AR-1 and the Traveler party with him.

"Well, if you could find a way for that to happen, I'd love to take it, but right now hyperspace seems to be blocked. So, it looks like we're gonna have to fight our way out," Caldwell replied.

"No, you don't understand," McKay turned his tablet around, showing what he was talking about. "The gas giant's about to turn into a star. All of the extra energy in this system is feeding it. If we stay, we're going to end up fried, and I'm not a big on looking like KFC."

"Maximum sunlight," Caldwell ordered. "Marks, get us out of here, and tell the Travelers to stay on our tail, we'll absorb any hits we can."

The two ships moved quickly through the voice of space, trying to reach the edge of the system when the Gas Giant suddenly doubled in size, the beginnings of a fusion reaction taking place within the core when the extra energy began to ignite it. Right as the both the Daedalus and the Traveler ship entered hyperspace, there was a jolt, and both ships dropped out of hyperspace, their crews unconscious and unaware of what had taken place.

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter 2

Date: June 5, 2009
Location: Unknown

Aboard the Daedalus, the crew began to wake up, Major Marks being one of the first to shake off whatever fog had appeared off and moving from his station to wake up Colonel Caldwell, the bridge crew, and AR-1.

"What happened?" Caldwell asked.

"Sir, it looks like we triggered our hyperdrive at the same time the Gas giant began the fusion process," Marks said. "I couldn't tell you why, but both us and the Traveler ship are dead right now. I've got limited control of our systems unless we do a system restore. Life support is still active, as is maneuvering thrusters. But that's about it."

"I can help with that," McKay groaned. "Sheppard, Ronan, I'll need your help in engineering. Meet me there in five minutes. I want to take a look at what these readouts can give me."

"Is there any way for me to get back to my ship?" Larrin asked.

"Not until we've restored power to the beaming tech," Marks shook his head. "Our 302 bays doros aren't going to be able to open until we've restored power to those sections."

"Do we have any ideas as to what may have knocked out our power generation?" Teyla asked.

"Well, while we've blown up solar systems and stars, we haven't witnessed the birth of a new star yet," McKay replied. "Despite hardening our ships against EMP and other things, we still don't know enough about everything in the universe to protect ourselves and our ships against everything. It could have been some new sort of radiation that fried the shield emitters, or something that simply overloaded the core and forced it into a shutdown," McKay looked at his tablet before tapping a few controls. "Hmm, that's interesting. Marks, try a base level restart of the basic sensors. I think those are already coming back online. The Asgard ones aren't online yet, but we can at least get a picture of what's around us while we try to fix things. Anyway, as I was saying. Teyla, it could be any number of things. I won't have an answer until we've reviewed all of the sensor data. Sensor data that we might lose if I don't get the rest of the ship online."

With that, the scientist left the bridge and headed for engineering.

"Marks, do we have sensors yet?" Caldwell asked.

"Yes, sir," Marks replied. "We're not in the same system we were before. Looks like a four planet system with a binary star. Planet's in the goldilocks zone. I'll be able to tell you more information if we get closer to the planet."

"Do we have intercom yet?" Caldwell leaned over the armrest.

"One moment" the Major hit a few controls and then nodded. "Intercom's active now sir."

"Doctor McKay, do you have an update yet?"

"Full reset's going to take fifteen minutes," he replied. "Two crystals are fried and need to be replaced. I'm bypassing them and forcing the system restore."

"Sir, I'm seeing radiation spikes on the outskirts of the system," Marks said. "Looks like it's a ship moving in orbit of the planet. Without the Asgard Sensors we can't make it any clearer. It's not something in our warbook though."

"Doctor McKay, we've got company in the system," Caldwell said into the intercom.

"Working on it!" the irritated scientist replied and the lights went off in the ship entirely for what felt like an eternity. "Check it now."

"Sublight and Asgard systems are restored," Marks replied. "I've got full information on the Traveler ship now."

"Good, beam me back to it," Larrin said, startling the crew that had almost forgotten about her. "I need to make sure my people are alive."

"Allow me to go with you," Teyla stepped forward. "I may be able to render assistance."

"Fine," the blond rolled her eyes. "Tell Sheppard we're not leaving until we have this figured out."

"Beaming you now," Marks reported, the wave of light taking Larrin, her party, and Teyla to the other ship. "Colonel, I've got a better scan of the system now. Looks like it's not just that ship that's here. We've got other contacts closing in. Wait," the Major held his hand up to his earpiece. "We've got transmissions on a familiar frequency. I'm patching it through now."

"Unidentified vessel, this is Commander Keyes of the UNSC Iroquois, we've received reports of an incoming Covenant Fleet. Be advised, if you do not evacuate now, they will open fire on you."

"UNSC?" Sheppard asked, entering the bridge with McKay and Ronan. "United Nations Security Council? Since when did they get ships?"

"Open up a channel to them," Caldwell ordered. "Commander Keyes, this is Colonel Caldwell of the Earth Ship Daedalus. We're willing to provide assistance if you require it."

"Colonel, this isn't a fight you want to be here for," Keyes replied. "Evacuate while you still can. This war has enough dead heroes without getting more civilians involved."

"Sir, the channel was cut off," Marks reported. "And four more ships just appeared."

"Well, are we going to help them out, or not?" Sheppard asked.

"The Traveler ship is still dead in the water and showing minimal power," Marks replied. "If we leave them here, they'll be sitting ducks."

"Look, beam me over and I'll fix the Traveler ship," McKay offered. "You guys go help. I don't like the look of those other ships. They remind me of the Wraith."

"Very well," Caldwell replied. "Teyla, we're beaming Doctor McKay over to assist with repairs. Then we're going to go and assist the people in the system."

"Very well," Teyla replied. "There are quite a few wounded. May I suggest medical supplies be sent over as well?"

"Do it," Caldwell nodde at Marks. "Sending over what we can, Teyla. Caldwell, out."

"Take us into the system, maximum sunlight," Caldwell ordered after the supplies and scientist had been beamed off the ship. "Colonel Sheppard, we do have a pair of those new 302s if you'd like to join my pilots."

"Yes, sir," Sheppard headed for the hangar bay with Ronan in tow. "

"Ready the Asgard weapons and prepare to fire when we enter weapons range."

"Yes, sir," Marks replied. "All systems are green, and engineering is reporting they've replaced the damaged crystals. We're ready to go."

As the Daedalus got closer to the fight, they saw that the Iroqouis was doing something suicidal, some sort of blueish purple glob was following the UNSC ship around as it got extremely close to one of the Covenant ships.

Then the purple glob impacted the ship the Iroquois had gotten super close to and its shields flared and then died before boiling away armor. The UNSC ship moved away from the trio, a nuke detonating as it moved away, stripping two of the ship's shields and leaving them dead in the void.

"Standby, Iroquois," Colonel Caldwell said. "We've got the last straggler."