STARGATE ATLANTIS: Nightfall by James Swallow

Author:James Swallow [Swallow, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction
Publisher: Fandemonium Books
Published: 2011-11-23T00:00:00+00:00

In the drive chamber of the Aegis, a ball of energy that looked like a piece of the sun roiled and spun inside a column of pure anti-protons. Around it orbited contra-rotating rings of systemry that turned about each other in mid-air; and beyond them were vanes made of crystalline circuits and conduits channeling enough raw power to punch a hole through the fabric of space-time.

‘Cool’ was the word that Samantha Carter would have used if someone had asked her to describe it. Under normal laws of physics, anyone standing where she was would have been instantly immolated by the catastrophic bombardment of exotic radiation, but inside the Asgard engine room, protected by force fields and quantum baffles, she felt nothing but the slightly-below-room-temperature ambience that the Asgard seemed to like aboard their ships.

She glanced at the data pad in her hand; confirming that the power train from the drive core was stable, she tugged on the fiber optic cable connecting it to the monitor station where she stood and detached the device. Carter stood silently for a moment, basking in the glow of a science she could only just begin to understand. From what the SGC’s best minds had been able to comprehend, Asgard ships used the energy differential states in captured remnants of neutron stars to power their vessels. Just the basic mechanics of making something like that work were beyond the ragged edge of humanity’s knowledge of quantum mechanics and cosmology, and Sam was enthused by the enormity of it.

“One day,” she said aloud, “one day when we’re not looking over our shoulders for the next invasion, I’m going to take one of you boys to bits and figure out what makes you tick.”

“But not today, ma’am, right?” Major Lorne had entered the chamber without her noticing. “I mean, not that I doubt your skills or anything, but I’d hate to be stuck on this tub with the lights out.”

“Not today,” she agreed. “Besides, there’s too much to do here. Sensors are still out, so are the weapons. We have sub-light engines and hyperdrive, though, which is a start.”

“That’s great, Clonel, because we might want to think about zapping out to another system for a drop-off.”

Carter frowned. “I don’t follow you, Major.”

“We have some, uh, cargo that you might want to dump. Sergeant Rush’s team were sweeping the ship and we came across some old friends in a holding chamber.”

“Wraith,” she said with a scowl. “Teyla mentioned that she’d encountered some in one of the cells. Are they secure?”

“I posted guards with shoot-to-kill orders outside the hatches.”

“Good work.”

Lorne cleared his throat. “What do you want me to do with them?”

Carter realized the question she was being asked. “We can’t release them here.”

“No ma’am. And from what I hear, the Asgard doesn’t seem to care what happens to them.” Lorne paused before continuing. “Which doesn’t leave a lot of choices.”

Sam’s expression hardened. “I’m not issuing orders for an execution detail, Major, if that’s what you’re suggesting.”

“I’m just outlining the options,” he replied.

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