Cast between Worlds

A/N; This chapter contains scenes of a sexual nature between two men. These scenes are short but left in because they deepen the story line to the extent I need for this story.

Chapter 13; Old and new allies

Andrew Airforce Base; Colorado

“Right, I hope you’ve all said your goodbyes because who knows when you’ll next get a chance to come back to this world.” Harry stood at the front of the pilot’s waiting room. The chairs were filled with his own flight plus Adder and Cobra flights. It was time for them to set off. “Our first chance to really prove ourselves happens right now and as soon as you get out of this room I want eyes focused only on the task. Be professional, act like the teams you are and above all else I don’t want any goddamned gaps in our manoeuvres. The HMS Ocean picked up that there were holes in our offenses and this time we’re up against the Daedalus with all of its crew focused on us. They won’t be dodging us, they’ll be trying just to shoot us down. We can’t hide that well from their sensors so it’s up to us to confuse them and that means perfect manoeuvring. I want to see you two assessing the entire situation every second and then I want you to recognise where you need to change your plans and I want you do order your flight to do it and then I want it done.”

Harry addressed the last part to Commander Justin Knight, RN, and Captain Neil Brokewell USAF, the two Flight Commanders and he got a nod of agreement from Justin Knight even if Neil Brokewell didn’t look happy about being put on the spot. Harry continued. “I’ll be right in the thick of it as well doing the same thing.” Harry told them all. “And the channels stay open to all X-304s because this attack is for the twelve of us and not our three flights. If I notice a problem and a solution doesn’t happen before I have to intervene I won’t be most impressed. If I have to suggest something about another Flight that isn’t my own because you’ve gotten yourself tied down unnecessarily I’ll want an explanation why later. That said it’s not all on myself, Commander Knight and Captain Brokewell to fix everything up there. You’re all here because you’re the best and that includes having initiative and common sense so I want to see it used. Is that understood?”

“Yes Sir!” Most of the room called out even as Claire, Alex and Iain replied a little more subdued. They were used to Harry’s personality. They knew he had a nicer side but that he rarely showed it. With their short training schedule and with them redeploying the other eight pilots were getting Harry’s more ruthless side.

“Move out then.” Harry told them and they all stood and headed out. They were all already kitted out minus their helmets. Iain paused to wait for him but when he noticed that Knight, who as a Commander of a senior service actually outranked Iain and Brokewell very slightly, was waiting to have a word with him. Harry nodded to Iain who went out to get their Flight ready to leave. “You know we’re a little short on time, Commander.”

“Yes, Major.” Knight nodded unapologetically. “But I felt it right to bring something to your attention before we officially join the Daedalus and are deployed.”

“Make it quick then.” Harry nodded but his tone belied that he was taking the time.

“You know that Flight Lieutenant Izzy Maxwell was tagged during the attack simulation against the RNTG?” He prompted and Harry nodded. She wasn’t the only one but she was the only one that got tagged by Cobra flight even though Cobra flight had been attacking the ships, she’d been left out in the open by her wingman. Harry knew perfectly well that if her wingman hadn’t abandoned her to get a hit on Knight she would have had the cover to defend the RFA tanker like she was supposed to.

“What of it, Commander?” He asked when Knight didn’t instantly continue.

“Brokewell ripped into her about it in front of most everyone back on the Ronald Reagan while you were in England.” Knight told him. “I wasn’t around but I know she’s been to Claire Fields about it.”

“It’s Brokewell’s flight, Commander.” Harry pointed out. “What he debriefs isn’t up to you or I.”

“That’s bull, Sir.” Knight told him and Harry raised an eyebrow at him. “And you know it. What he did was out of order and borders on bullying and you know he’s doing it to put the blame on her instead of him. A member of his flight got taken out by the bombers. That shouldn’t have been a possibility except that Brokewell was more interested in getting a kill for himself than controlling his flights tactics properly.”

“That’s enough, Commander.” Harry said simply. “Brokewell is part of this program because of a recommendation from the Chief of the Airforce. His position isn’t negotiable and his actions are not up for critique by everyone in our Flights.”

“Sir.” Knight swallowed even though he was older than Harry. They all knew that Harry had a dangerous side and it hadn’t been long before they’d all found out about his Black Ops history.

“We can’t afford right now for this sort of squabbling to spread out of our three Flights or we’ll become the discussion of the week for the militaries of four countries.” Harry told him simply. “Now go get your Flight ready to go.”

Knight didn’t look happy but he nodded to Harry respectfully, braced for a moment before turning to leave. “And Commander?” Harry asked. “Trust that I will not tolerate Brokewell’s ill treatment of his Flight for long. I’m perfectly aware of what happens in this squadron.”

Knight glanced at his quick turnaround but knew better than to comment on it and knew that as far as anyone else was concerned it hadn’t happened. Officially Knight had just been told to keep his nose out of another Flight’s troubles but unofficially he’d been promised that Harry would deal with it one way or another.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The Vipers didn’t have any form of shields but their Trinium-ceramic armour plating deflected heat extremely well and the coldness of space quickly cooled them down as their view went from blurred and shrouded to the vast blackness of space. Their viewers automatically adjusted to give them a better view and all twelve of them reached to the side of their cockpits to alter them ever so slightly. The computer automatically saved such alterations so that if it ever detected the same range of light it would set the same settings.

They automatically formed up in their standard twelve-ship formation with Knight in the front with his flight around him, two on his wings and then one away on his right wingman’s other side. Knight, as his second was in command of navigation when in this sort of situation so that Harry could focus on everything else. Harry himself was set back on the left of the Cobra flight with Alex and then Claire on his left and Iain on the inside of the whole formation on his right wing. Then on Cobra flight’s own flank, set back just a bit further than Viper flight was Adder flight with Brokewell in front and his flight set up in a way opposite to Harry’s. That way they were in a V shape, almost like Geese formations with only two X-304s with their views obstructed.

By keeping the same formations everyone knew what to do for certain situations. If someone shouted break the three Flights would separate onto three different planes, confusing pursuers as much as possible.

“Cobra, Adder, this is Viper-one.” Harry spoke on the closed X-304 frequency. “We all know the drill. Target is bearing dead ahead, range four thousand miles. Attack sequence to be initiated at Cobra-ones mark when hitting two thousand miles. Adder flight, remember if you don’t score the hits on the starboard hanger bay in the first two minutes we’ll have X-302s to worry about too. Cobra remember your job is to distract the flak and draw it’s attention away from Adder flight and Viper flight. Viper flight have the big hits this time, priority Hyperdrive and sublight. All confirm copy.”

He listened to the other eleven all give their call signs before speaking again. “Alright guys, she’s a big one and the pride of the Planet Earth, she took out several Hive ships and saved Atlantis from certain destruction. Let’s not let the poor crew get complacent.”

He heard Alex, Claire and Iain laugh on their open Flight-only net and cut the transmission and let Knight take over the approach to the attack distance. It past within ten seconds of Harry finishing his speech and Knight came on the waves. “Mark, all Flights attack run.”

Cobra and Adder flight surged forwards following Harry’s attack scenarios and Harry angled his own Viper down towards his own Flight’s approach trajectory even as Adder Flight fell back and in behind Cobra Flight and quickly the two Flights closed in.

“There we go, Storm.” Iain announced. “She’s turning, her sterns moving out of aspect. Shields coming up.”

Her shields had been carefully configured to pick up the location and amount of ‘weapons fire’ that it was struck by. In return the twelve X-304s had had their own armaments replaced with tagging systems that sent out a beam specific in frequency for each of their weapons so that the Daedalus’ computers could work out exactly what damage was being done to her and where. The same had been done in reverse, her own rail guns had been retrofitted to emit a specific pulse that the Viper’s could pick up and tell their pilots if they’d been hit and would record the damage. It was a neat set up especially since with the right filters on their view screens all of these pulses of energy could be seen.

Cobra quickly closed with the Daedalus and Harry spared a small grin under his face shield as blue stabs of light flickered up from several places on her hull reaching out for the four closest X-304s. The Flight broke in two and flew to either side of the Daedalus and Harry saw exactly what he’d predicted. The rail gun crews had underestimated their passing speeds and their initial alterations of angle to follow the X-304s were too slow and Cobra flight was beam on to the ship and sliding past before they realised their mistake but they were still angled wrong when Adder flight, overlooked, broke into two pairs and their weapons came online, laying weapons fire and missiles right onto the shield over the hanger bay, one pair after another.

Harry knew those shields well just like he knew the abilities of every ship and aircraft. That was more concentrated weapons fire than one area of the Daedalus’ shields could take and within ten seconds of the dogfight the Daedalus had lost her X-302s. Viper Flight had gone mostly unnoticed as they dropped down below the ship while the other eight X-304s strafed the ship, dodging rail gun shots but their main purpose was to distract the Daedalus and if they got the chance take out her gun emplacements, communications and shield emitters.

The Daedalus powered up her engines just as Harry’s Flight reached their position. They’d past right under her at a thousand yards before spinning around to aim directly at her drive vents, where they could do some critical damage. The Daedalus probably wasn’t trying to dodge them but merely trying to make it harder for the eight it was already fighting to hassle it. The Daedalus was the fortress but as long as it was on the move the pilots attacking her had to make sure they stayed clear of as many of the weapons arcs as possible and that was no mean feat when the crew of the Daedalus could push her into any manoeuvre without warning.

“Viper Flight, lock on target, starboard inner vent. Long range.” Harry ordered even as he selected his own lock with the eight high explosive ship destroyers that they each held designed to do serious damage to the Wraith Cruisers. The F-302s didn’t have the power or the computer capacity to carry such weapons and they’d decided that the Daedalus couldn’t get close enough to Hive ships or cruisers to use them without them being intercepted by Darts as had been seen over Atlantis. This was what the X-304s had been designed for, to be heavy bombers and they excelled at that more than they excelled at short range dog fighting.

“Adder-three and four.” Knight’s voice cut in and Harry paused in his order to fire as the leader of Cobra flight addressed the other flight. “You’re going to get bogged down.”

Harry scanned his screens but Iain beat him to it. “Adder-one and two moved too close to Cobra flight, three and four are out on their own with half of the Daedalus’ weapons on them.”

“Let him fix the problem, Cobra-one.” Harry cut in sharply and with a ‘do what I say or I’ll bust your arse’ tone. He made sure that only his own flight and Knight heard it before opening the comms up again.

“The Daedalus is turning sharply.” Iain told him. It was his designated job in the Flight to monitor every movement that the target made and assess it for Harry. “Putting as many weapons on Adder-three and four as it could.”

“Viper flight, fire all load.” Harry ordered letting himself come back onto his own mission just as they came into range. Unluckily for the Daedalus the first warning they got was when thirty-two faked ZX-mk-9 missiles were picked up by their radar and only had about eight seconds to attempt to turn enough to shield her engines. The first fifteen missiles struck the shield which then dutifully told everyone that the rear shields had fallen. The last ones slammed into the back of the ship, taking with it the sublight and Hyperdrive systems. The computer informed the crew of the Daedalus that there was a high probability that they had probably lost all power as well.

“All vessels, this is Colonel Caldwell. End of exercise, end of exercise. Shield is being lowered now. Board in your designated hangers.” There was a pause. “Well done.”

Harry altered heading to take a loose circle around the Daedalus as Cobra and Adder regrouped and moved towards a hanger each. Harry started a slight spin and Alex, Claire and Iain copied the gesture rolling around his ship. It was a preventative manoeuvre which was very hard to do in manual but the ships could do it in automatic if you set it. Doing it like this, in manual, was good practice. It helped to prevent most types of targeting lock because most computer systems couldn’t target the ships individually with such a twisting motion. Most tried to lock onto them as a whole target which then vanished when they changed motion.

Harry altered course again and quickly his Flight landed in the same hanger as Cobra Flight. “All X-304 pilots this is Viper-one. Get to the safety brief and then get your gear and get yourself stowed. Mission debrief will take place in three hours time. Get something to eat and a shower and I’ll see you all there.”

He received a round of clicks before he powered down his Viper and popped the hatch. He quickly made his way down to the floor knowing that he’d have time to clean up his bird after all the de-briefing was done. He nodded to Claire, Alex and Iain before spotting Knight heading over to him. He waved his own flight on before pausing and turning to glance down the bay towards the hanger doors and then back along to the main internal airlocks. It was an impressive sight, far larger than any Aircraft carrier on earth. The far end was filled with eighteen X-302s and then facing towards each other were the eight larger X-304s with their switchblades closed. Cobra flight on the right and Viper flight on the left, all nearly perfectly lined up.

“Major Potter.” Knight greeted. “I suppose that could be called a success.”

“I’d call it a complete and utter fuck up.” Harry almost snapped. “And so would you so stop testing the waters.”

“I’m sorry, Sir.” Knight didn’t sound all that apologetic. “I don’t take losing two ships lightly either.”

“And what would you have ordered if I hadn’t ordered your mouth shut?” Harry asked.

“I would have ordered three and four to bail down under the Daedalus and for one and two to regroup with them and get the hell on their own sector of the assault.” Knight told him. “Adder one and two should never had closed on my formation, it allowed the Daedalus to concentrate all her port fire on only two ships and when the Daedalus realised that it turned to face them to bring all of its weapons on them.”

Harry clucked his tongue but didn’t say anything until they were inside the ship’s main corridors and walking towards the changing room where they could get rid of their equipment. Harry paused outside the door and grabbed Knight’s arm. “I’m ordering you not to stir up trouble with Brokewell. The officials that suggested his placement on the program have friends in high places, high places in Britain that could very well have you removed if you get on his wrong side. So I’m ordering you to back off, at least when around him. I like your instincts out there, Commander, so don’t waste them causing trouble where it’s not needed.”

“Understood, Sir.” Knight clearly appreciated the warning, especially from a British man like Harry was. Together they went into the changing room but Harry didn’t speak to anyone else and merely dropped off his equipment into the locker with his name on it. ‘Major H. Potter USAF’ and then headed back out again where he found an airman waiting for him.

The man braced and saluted and Harry saluted back as expected. “Colonel Caldwell sent me down in case you wished to go to the bridge.”

“Lead the way then, Airman.” Harry nodded and silently walked with the man up to the Bridge. Colonel Caldwell was sitting in his chair while his people ran through the pre-deployment checks and a team with Rodney ran through getting the weapons and shields back to normal before they left.

Harry braced and saluted the Colonel as the man spotted him and stood up. “Sir.” Harry greeted formally after the Colonel had returned his salute.

“Welcome onboard, Major Potter.” Caldwell nodded. “It will be interesting to see how the Daedalus suits the roll of a bomber delivery vessel.”

“Indeed, Sir.” Harry nodded before turning to the other two in the room that he could greet formally without insulting the Colonel by ignoring him. “Doctor Weir, Colonel Sheppard.” Harry braced for John but knew he could use Colonel instead of his full title of Lieutenant Colonel since he was addressing him and not listing his rank.

“Harry.” Elizabeth smiled while John just nodded with a small smile on his face clearly remembering the night before. And this morning for that matter. “That was definitely interesting.”

“Major.” Caldwell motioned to the front of the Bridge and led the three of them to the window screens and away from his crew. “What happened out there?”

“We completed the mission.” Harry told him. “We disabled if not destroyed the Daedalus as ordered.”

“And the rest of it?” Caldwell asked.

“Was a complete disaster, Sir.” Harry nodded.

“What?” Elizabeth gasped.

“The Daedalus shouldn’t have had the opportunity to pick out the two X-304s on the port side like it did.” John sighed knowing what had gone wrong.

“I compliment your crew on recognising the opportunity and reacting to take advantage of it.” Harry nodded to Caldwell.

“Why didn’t you order them out?” Caldwell asked.

“I made it clear that I expected the Flight Commanders to deal with any arising situation, Sir.” Harry told him. “Commander Knight of the other Flight recognised the problem as soon as it appeared but I ordered him to let Adder’s Flight commander deal with it.”

“Deal with a problem he created.” John pointed out. “Did he?”

“He did not react with a solution before your crew recognised the opportunity and took it.” Harry shook his head.

“That’s a rather severe oversight on his behalf.” Caldwell pointed out.

“I’m aware of that, Colonel.” Harry nodded.

“Even with that, Major. Your Flights did very well, especially with the first strike. We were not prepared for the first flight to draw our fire like that.” Caldwell complimented. “Nor the second to be able to hit so hard. And your own Flight got around us without us realising your intentions. I admit I did believe you were standing by to reinforce not to make the main strike.”

“Given time, Colonel, you and your crew will really understand and come to terms with the speed of the X-304s and that changes the way you have to look at strikes from us.” Harry nodded. “Currently we are using that to our advantage, we’ll have to look for different methods soon enough I believe.” Caldwell smiled at the veiled compliment and dismissed Harry with a nod.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Two days later

Harry sat with a cup of coffee in his hands in the early morning half staring at the table and half out of the window of the crew space at the purple and black of Hyperspace. It was strange to him and it was one of the first times he’d witnessed it. He felt claustrophobic and was having serious trouble keeping it together and he hoped nobody had noticed.

He wasn’t bad in his Viper because the sense of freedom he got overwhelmed the fear of small spaces he’d always suffered from after his childhood but out here on the Daedalus it was beginning to creep in on him. He’d spent the last two nights waking up in a panicked sweat, imagining that he was being yanked out of his bed by his Uncle and found himself cringing away from a slap or a beating only to find himself alone in his pitch black room.

The problem wasn’t space, his senses could detect trace particles in the air out in space, small charged particles floating around or moving slowly away from the sun. Space was a nothingness but it was filled with things, even if sparsely. Hyperspace on the other hand was a vast emptiness all around him with only the small island of atmosphere that was the Daedalus and he hated it with a vengeance. Even thinking about it made the walls start to close in on him and he made his eyes look out of the window and at the purple and black swirling mass but that only half helped since he knew it was nothingness but he could half imagine it was something solid. Perhaps even a storm but when he thought like that he wanted to touch the storm and bend it to his will which only had him grasping at nothing again.

He swore to himself and almost stood up to head to the only sanctuary he had, his Viper, but was surprised as somebody touched his shoulder gently making him bolt up to his feet and round on them only to find himself facing the amused face of John. “Bastard.” Harry hissed through his teeth which only made him laugh all the more. “Bastard.” Harry reiterated as he sat down.

“You look a little off, Harry.” John told him before sitting opposite him. “Can’t you sleep?”

Harry looked at him and saw the genuine concern there. “Not more than a couple of hours both nights we’ve been on board. And then I didn’t get much sleep the night before we left.” Harry had to add the last part just to cheer himself up again and half to prove to himself that it had happened when John’s smirk grew a little before vanishing off of his face.

“Why can’t you sleep?” John asked.

Harry started nervously tapping his fingers on the table top and tried to stop by crossing his arms and leaning forwards and he knew it made him seem like he was deranged but he didn’t have any other option. “Nightmares.” He muttered knowing that he could talk to John.

“About?” John asked.

“Family stuff.” Harry said simply.

“I thought you didn’t have any family left?” John asked.

“Not close family.” Harry shook his head and made fists with his hands to stall the motions of his fingers. “My mother’s sister has a husband and a son. I think my cousin has a wife and daughter now too but I’m not sure.”

“You don’t know?” John asked. Harry shook his head. “Wait, how do they give you nightmares?” Harry stilled completely and met John’s eyes with pained ones and John’s eyes widened in shock which turned to horror and then sympathy. “Oh....” John muttered.

“I was put with them when I was one after my parents were murdered.” Harry told him truthfully knowing that in a ‘relationship’ like theirs, hidden from everyone else, they’d have to be completely truthful to each other about their lives. Well except for the magic part because he didn’t want anyone to ever know that. Not ever, especially not anyone at Atlantis. Harry couldn’t let them find out no matter the cost. Harry rubbed at his head to soothe his sudden headache and distracted himself from his thoughts by turning back to John. “I suppose it doesn’t really matter now, it’s over with and they’ve been dealt with by the authorities for it. At least my Aunt and Uncle were. My cousin was just a kid, a brat of a whale but a kid none-the-less.”

“So what does this have to do with your sudden nightmares? I don’t remember you having any trouble in Atlantis.” John asked with a concerned frown.

“I’m claustrophobic.” Harry winced after admitting that.

John’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “A fighter pilot who gets claustrophobic?”

“I don’t get it when I’m in my jet, the freedom...” Harry trailed off, unable to really describe it but by the understanding light that came on in John’s eyes he knew the helicopter pilot understood.

“So what’s the problem on here?” John asked. “It’s not a small ship and you have your own cabin and everything.”

“But we’re basically on a little island in a vast nothingness.” Harry told him. “When I’m in orbit in my Viper I can feel small traces of things all around me in every direction and I can feel the Earth’s atmosphere. My range is massive in space. I’m surrounded and that’s okay but here in Hyperspace.” Harry shuddered and nervously looked around even as his fingers started tapping again. He hated feeling so weak but it was John. John wouldn’t care that he had a weakness and he didn’t mind John knowing because he knew John wouldn’t judge him.

“What do you feel in Hyperspace?” John asked.

“Nothing.” Harry told him. “I can feel the air in the Daedalus but then an absolute nothingness in every direction and it never changes. I wake up after a nightmare and I feel like I’m in a coffin buried under tons of dirt with no way out.”

“Right.” John stood up abruptly. “You’re not having any more coffee. It’s three am and you need sleep. You’re taking circuits in five hours and you need at least a couple of hours sleep.”

“John, if I sleep I’ll have another nightmare of being locked in a little cupboard under the stairs for days again.” Harry told him weakly.

“And if you do I’ll wake you up.” John told him simply and Harry watched as his hand reached out only to fall back when he realised he’d been about to grab Harry’s hand to pull him out. Even though the Daedalus was rather empty this time of the day it didn’t mean they could be cavalier with their relationship.

Harry stood up. “We can’t do something like that, John. We’ll be caught.”

“I’ll only let you sleep a couple of hours. You’ll be up long before anyone else and even if you’re seen leaving my rooms we can just say we were both up and were going over plans for our arrival in Atlantis.” John told him. “We spent enough time working like that in Atlantis and everyone already knows we’re good friends.”

Harry sighed but he knew he’d given in as soon as John had offered but that didn’t mean he wanted John to feel like he had to help. “You don’t have to you know.”

“Don’t start that, Harry.” John told him simply. “Come on.”

Harry walked with John through a couple of corridors and John unlocked his cabin and locked it securely behind them. As senior officers of the expedition both Harry and John had office/sitting rooms that led to their bedrooms and because of their jobs they had a lot of classified reports in their cabins so their doors were securely locked and other than themselves only the Captain’s passcode could unlock them.

John pushed Harry towards the bedroom and Harry sighed and went through. John, like everyone else on the ship, only had a single bed but both he and John were trim and while they didn’t have small frames they weren’t going to be that crowded on the bed, especially since they’d be lying close together. John’s light shut off in the other room and Harry pulled his shirt over his head and begun unbuttoning his combat trousers just as John surprised him and pulled him back against his chest, wrapping his arms around his body and folding them across his chest. John nuzzled the back of his neck.

“You don’t every have to worry about telling me about this sort of thing.” John told him. “I can see you’re badly hurt and not only about this. I saw you after what happened in Brazil, the way you were was horrible and that was before I knew who it was we tried to save. You don’t deserve any of the things that have happened to you and if I get anything from you it’s your undefeatable strength. I’m going to rely on that because I know it will never fail me.”

Harry sighed and turned in John’s arms and quickly pulled John’s shirt over his head. Harry imagined that if they got a chance like this, normally they’d use it for something more active than sleeping but Harry was just too tired and the mere thought of being able to simply curl up with John was dragging him further and further down and before he knew it John was guiding him down into his bed, naked, and sliding in next to him. The light died leaving them in complete darkness and Harry rolled over onto his left side and put his head on John’s chest and merely breathed in the air around his lover as they wrapped their arms around each other.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

A week later

“Major Potter, Colonel Caldwell requests that you meet him immediately. 3 deck, starboard side.” Harry confirmed he’d go before hanging up the phone in his cabin and after putting his radio on and pulling a t-shirt over his head he made his way out into the corridor. He hadn’t been able to sleep again and he knew that if it wasn’t for the odd night of peace when he snuck into John’s cabin down the corridor from his own he’d be showing the signs of lack of sleep. Elizabeth had still noticed his lack of sleep and so had Iain, Claire and Alex but they were all smart enough not to comment on it.

It didn’t take long for him to reach his destination and he found a few dozen people in the area including John, Elizabeth and Rodney as well as Colonel Caldwell. “Colonel, I got a message you wanted to see me.”

“As a senior member of the expedition and responsible for members of our crew I believe you should be kept informed.” Caldwell told him and Harry saw the seriousness of the situation in his eyes.

“What happened?” He asked.

“Doctor Monroe was killed.” Elizabeth told him. “It seems that there was a power surge and while trying to get out of the compartment he was killed.”

Harry finally looked inside the compartment seeing the body bag and techs running over the system. “Definitely an accident?” Harry asked.

“It seems that way.” John told him

“I still think we should drop out of Hyperspace and run a full diagnostic.” Rodney said and clearly this was an old argument.

“Doctor Mckay...” Caldwell sighed but simply trailed off as Rodney huffed in annoyance.

“As much as I know you are normally right, Rodney.” Harry placated. “I do agree with the Colonel. To drop out now, in the Pegasus Galaxy, far from help is not a brilliant idea. Unless you think this might happen with immediate effect it would be better to wait until we are in a safe place.”

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Later that day

Harry was sitting down with the seven senior officers of the three Flights in the planning room going over strategies when they all felt the familiar surge that told them that they’d fallen out of Hyperspace though it wasn’t clear if it was on purpose or not. Harry knew better than to be arrogant and ask for a report knowing that if they’d had to drop out for some kind of emergency they’d need the radio frequencies clear of interruptions.

The meeting fell into quiet for a time before Harry nodded. He felt much better now that he could feel the vastness of space all around him and part of him felt like running to John and kissing him, he was that pleased to be out of Hyperspace after such a long time. The others had turned to him with his nod. “We’d better end that for today then. We should be on deploy, alert and standby with such a exit so that might come at any moment. Viper is on deploy, Cobra on alert and Adder on standby. Make sure your birds are ready to fly. Captain Bennett, call Viper flight and start suiting up while I go to get a report.” Harry looked at everyone. “Go.” He almost chuckled and they cleared the room.

Harry was on his way up to the bridge when the ship’s tannoy system came to life. “X-304s go to DAS.” It was Major Fennel’s voice, the ship’s main pilot. DAS was what they’d come up with, the Deploy, Alert, Standby system for the three flights so that whenever they fell out of hyperspace the X-304s would go to DAS, one flight would deploy and take station around the ship in case of attack. Another flight would go to alert, get ready and be in or by their aircraft ready to go or relieve the deployed flight after six hours. The last team, on standby would go to alert as soon as the alert flight was deployed.

“Command, Major Potter. Viper Flight suiting up now.” Harry announced before turning and starting to run, something that wasn’t done on aircraft carriers because of the small corridors but that didn’t count up here when in an emergency. People dodged out of the way and he was in the changing room for Viper flight just as Iain, Claire and Alex were starting to get changed. There was no wasted time and no shyness with Claire in the room and in two minutes they were heading out together fully kitted out and across the hall and through into the Hanger bay and thirty seconds later Harry was requesting clearance to launch and powering up his Viper. Two minutes and fifty seconds after their order to go to DAS, Viper Flight was exiting the Daedalus and banking hard around and taking station.

“Daedalus this is Viper One.” Harry started. “Viper Flight is on Deploy. Cobra Flight due to relieve in six hours time.”

“Roger, Viper-One.” It was Caldwell’s voice. “Stand by and I’ll be back with you with an update on what is happening.”

“Roger, Command.” Harry accepted his order and focused back on his own Flight link. “Viper two and four, take outstation. One and three will take close in. Until we know what is happening just keep your eyes out, sensors and the mark one eyeball.”

“Roger One, two and four breaking left.” Iain responded and Harry glanced to his left to see both Vipers bank sharply to the left, the motion in space was far more dramatic than in atmosphere and one second they were with them and the next a dozen lengths away and disappearing fast. Viper were the fastest form of physical transport currently available to Earth and in space that didn’t change. They didn’t pick up speed as fast as the F-302s and their older cousins were ridiculously agile in space but the X-304s had a punch to them that could see them overtaking anything out there.

Harry banked to the right and Claire followed him and fell into station off his right wing at about three times the distance as normal which was a good idea in space because these planes reacted very fast and if Harry banked right she’d have to react fast to keep inside of him. They fell to looping the Daedalus’ stationary position in an elliptical pattern that changed angle on every loop to a completely random one out of Harry’s head while Iain and Alex circled the Daedalus in a similar pattern at hundreds of times the distance. Harry and Claire were only a mile outside of the shields if they were raised but Iain and Alex were over four hundred miles away.

“Viper-one, this is Caldwell.”

“Go ahead, Daedalus command.” Harry told him simply but so that it was clear he was talking to Caldwell rather than Elizabeth who was Harry’s actual Command.

“Doctor McKay has made a few interesting discoveries about the death of Doctor Monroe that warranted us dropping back into normal space. It seems highly likely that his death was not an accident.” Caldwell told him. “Until we have the situation dealt with we’ll remain here with DAS in effect.”

“Understood, Daedalus Command.” Harry confirmed. “We’ll maintain close and long range patrols. If you’re radar picks up anything we’ll check it out for you.”

“We’ll do that, Viper-one. Daedalus out.” Caldwell told him and Harry banked sharply, changing his patrol at a random point and Claire, listening to the previous conversation almost missed it. She grumbled at him over the closed link and he heard Iain laughing.

“Stay alert guys.” Harry told his Flight. “There are five hundred people on that ship that are relying on us to take the initial reaction. It’ll take time for them to recognise a threat and raise shields and more time again to manoeuvre and power weapons. We’re their instant response and let’s not forget that.”

“Roger one.” Iain told him. “I am confirming that all our long range scans are returning nothing but distant planets and a few rocks. No power signatures.”

Harry accepted that and selected another frequency as talk. The all X-304 link. “Cobra Flight, are you at Alert?”

“Confirmed, Viper one.” Knight told him using a portable flight link that he would carry around at all times while at DAS. “We are currently living it up in the waiting room watching a very bad horror film. Estimated time to launch is one minute.”

Well within the accepted three minutes. Harry spoke again. “Adder flight, what’s your plan?”

“It’s late enough that we can get our heads down, Viper one.” Brokewell told him. “We’ll be up on Alert in time for Cobra Flight to relieve you in six hours time.”

“Alright, Cobra and Adder, take it easy. By the sounds of it this might take a while to resolve.” Harry told them and turned the joint link to listen only.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Harry was taking a slow turn around the stern of the Daedalus almost an hour later and had just finished lining up with the side of the ship with Claire dead ahead of him ‘playing’ follow the leader when there was a burst of movement from the ship. An ejection of air from just under the upper crest of the ship. It flew out. “Viper three break right and up!” Harry ordered even as he broke sharply right the ejection flew past in front of Claire. For a split second as Harry turned he saw the flailing arms of a person.

“What the fuck!?” Claire gasped having obviously seen it as well. She automatically fell in on Harry’s right wing as Harry slowly brought them back to point at the ship before Harry’s Viper tracked the person and Harry altered his trajectory to intercept at a distance. There was nothing that Harry could do.

“Daedalus, this is Viper-one. You have an airlock blow out. Person in the black. I repeat person in the black!” Harry knew he sounded rather shocked but then again who wouldn’t after having a person thrown at him. When he didn’t instantly get an answer he called them again. “Daedalus, what is happening in there?”

“Viper-one, wait out.” It was Major Fennel. Harry sighed and gritted his teeth. Rightfully they had more important things to worry about if their airlocks were blasting people out into space and there was nothing they could do about the person already out in space. His body would have already torn itself apart internally. Harry slowed his Viper and settled it loosely about twenty metres away from the person at matching velocities.

“Daedalus, this is Viper-one. For information body is recognisable as Doctor Linstrum, Atlantis expedition.” Harry said almost quietly.

“Thank-you, Viper-one.” Major Fennel told him.

Harry silenced his radio and focused instead on his Flight link. “Two and four, close on one and three. Monitoring?”

“Roger one.” Iain told him sounding less than happy. “We have been monitoring.”

Harry switched to the tri-flight link. “Cobra Flight, this is Viper-one, have someone standby to retrieve loose cargo from space once I give permission.”

“Viper one, this is Cobra-one. We copy your order, two is moving to craft now. Once you get permission from Daedalus Command he’ll launch and collect precious cargo.” The tone of Knight’s voice told Harry that the man was well aware of what had happened five minutes ago. Since Harry didn’t know what was happening in there all he could do was affect things he knew about. They had a body slowly moving away from the Daedalus and Doctor Linstrum’s family would probably want something to bury.

“Viper-one, this is Daedalus, Colonel Caldwell for you.” Major Fennel announced to him and a moment later Caldwell came over the radio, clearly using a handset patched into the ship’s system.

“Viper-one, what’s the situation out there?” Caldwell asked.

“Radar and sensors clear.” Harry said simply. “Three and One were patrolling close down the starboard side when airlock ejected Doctor Linstrum. We are now keeping station off of him. Cobra-two is prepped to collect and return to ship.”

“Give Cobra-two the go ahead.” Caldwell told him. “Let’s get him back inside. Call me back once you have.”

“Understood, Daedalus Command.” Harry told him before switching back to the tri-flight link. “Cobra-two, you have a go for launch, request clearance from the bridge and then launch. Vector in on my position.”

“Copy that, Viper-one.” Knight’s second in command, another Royal Naval pilot confirmed.

Harry turned back to calling Caldwell even as Iain took station about twenty metres ahead of Harry while Alex fell in between Harry and Claire and directly behind Doctor Linstrum. It was basically as respectful as they could make it. “Daedalus Command, this is Viper-one. Cobra-two is launching as soon as cleared by the bridge.” Harry told him.

“Understood, Viper-one.” Caldwell responded. “It’s seems that we definitely have a saboteur onboard. Doctor McKay and Doctor Linstrum were working in the distribution centre when Doctor Linstrum found something. He was about to tell Doctor McKay when there was a coolant leak. Doctor McKay retreated to the corridor but Doctor Linstrum was forced into the airlock.” There was a horrible pause there. “Neither he nor Doctor McKay were able to override the ejection sequence in time.”

Harry glanced out of the side of his cockpit as a fifth X-304 approached and angled up over the top of them and slowly matched the speed of the body perfectly before slowly lowering towards him, as he approached to within only a foot he activated their heavy magnetic docking clamp in the hopes that Doctor Linstrum was wearing something made of metal. The docking clamp was designed so that the X-304s could clamp on to a metal ship and they were powerful. This was another use that they had been slated for, collecting cargo for emergencies. As Harry watched, ignoring Caldwell for a moment, Linstrum moved and hit the bottom of Cobra-two.

Harry spoke so that his words were sent through the tri-link and to the Daedalus. “Cobra-two, you have your cargo. Return to the Daedalus. Viper-two, escort.” Basically follow in case the docking clamp released the body. He cut the tri-flight link and spoke only to Caldwell. “Daedalus Command, that’s Cobra-two and Viper-two inbound with precious cargo, port hangar.”

“Thank you, Viper-one.” Caldwell told him. “Continue DAS as normal, we’ll keep you informed of developments.”

“Understood, Daedalus Command. Viper Flight returning to normal patrols.” Harry cut the connection before sighing.

“Major?” Claire spoke up as Harry, Claire and Alex formed up in line abreast to await Iain’s return. “That has to be amongst the most horrible sights I’ve ever seen.”

“Hold it together, three.” Harry told her reassuringly. Iain, Claire and Alex were all in the same boat such as they didn’t really get the side of war that Harry was so well versed in and whenever something happened that reminded them of the horrors of war they turned to Harry knowing exactly what his past missions had involved.

Iain returned to them as soon as Cobra-two was safely inside the Daedalus again with the body and for a while the four circled the stationary ship together until Harry sent Claire and Alex off together. Normally he’d send Iain with one of them and keep the other with him so that Iain could make the hard decisions but eventually they’d have to learn what those sort of decisions would involve and he had faith in them and it wasn’t like he was sending them out of contact range. At full speed they could get to Iain and Harry, or vice versa, in about twenty seconds.

Iain and Harry took to floating ahead of the Daedalus at low power and just had their sensors and radars running as lookout but it wasn’t until another hour that Doctor McKay called them from the Daedalus. “Major Potter?”

“Yes, Rodney.” Harry rolled his eyes ignoring the fact there was no military formality to the conversation and really no point trying to convince him otherwise.

“We’ve found out what’s doing this.” Rodney told him. “A Wraith computer virus. An AI.”

“Alright, Rodney, is there something we can help you with?” Harry asked.

“No, Major. Just keeping you informed.”

“Thank you, Rodney, Viper-one...” Harry trailed off as his automated scanners picked up an emergency distress beacon with the Daedalus’ IFF. Their automated distress beacon. “Daedalus, you are broadcasting a distress beacon on all channels!”

He was met by silence for a moment before a worried voice came over to him though it was distorted which confused Harry. His Viper was too advanced to have something like static at this range. “Viper-one, take out...” It cut off. “I say again... transmitter array.”

It was John’s voice this time but Harry couldn’t make anything of the words. “Viper Flight, compile transmission and send to me.” If any of the others had gotten other words the Vipers could put the transmission together and play them over each other. He didn’t get an answer.

“Daedalus, say again your last.” Harry ordered.

“Viper one, I say again, take out our transmitter array.” This time Harry got the whole signal and Harry moved to power up the Viper when everything shut down. His console went completely dark and the dull hum of his engines faded completely. Harry swore and looked up through his cockpit to see the lights on Iain’s Viper go out as well.

“Daedalus, this is Viper-one. Respond.” Harry ordered but got nothing in return so switched to the backup transmitter. “Daedalus and Viper Flight, this is Viper One, I have complete computer and power failure. I have zero manoeuvring capability. Received orders from Daedalus but have no available means to comply.”

“Viper-one, this is Daedalus. Colonel Sheppard is taking an F-302.” Caldwell told him. “What’s happening?”

“I have nothing.” Harry told him. “Communication was disrupted and then I lost everything. Now on emergency transmitter.”

“Daedalus and Viper-one, this is Viper two. I have the same sit rep as Viper-one.” Iain told him.

“Viper-one this is three, sitrep same.”

“This is Viper-four. I’m afraid the same but I know that whatever it was it came through the Flight link, from one.”

Harry sighed. “Sorry, Colonel, we can’t help right now.” Harry said as he watched an F-302 launch from the port hangar and spin around rapidly. He watched as it fired its rail guns and sliced through the transmitter array before angling away to take a slow turn back but it was then that Harry noticed it. The F-302 wasn’t turning again, only speeding up. He couldn’t hear anything going on between the Daedalus and the F-302.

“Viper-one. Sheppard’s F-302 isn’t responding to his commands, we’re about to beam him onboard. I suggest we do the same for you.” Caldwell said. “Wait one.”

Harry frowned wondering why there was a delay in rescuing them. Normally he’d want to stay and fix his Viper but with the current situation it was risky. Caldwell came back. “We can’t lock onto your radio signal with only the emergency.” Caldwell sounded sorry.

“Don’t worry, Colonel. We’re not going anywhere.” Harry told him. “Do you have a plan to get rid of the virus?”

“We’re going to do a reboot of the system.”

“Understood, Daedalus.” Harry nodded before biting his lip. “We’ll start reboots and try to rid ourselves of the virus but it’ll take time. It shouldn’t be able to spread back to the Daedalus without bringing back on the transmitters on our ships so we’ll knock out the breakers for them from our cockpits. We’ll let you know when we’re clean.”

“Understood, Viper-one.” Caldwell told him.

Harry turned his attention on his own Flight and the danger they were in. Their suits would keep them warm and alive for a few hours and their oxygen would last a few hours as well without being able to recycle and scrub it. Harry’s concern was clearing all of the computer cores to each of the ships. “How is everyone doing?” Harry asked.

“All good.” Alex told him. “I always wanted to drift around in space in a metal box.”

“All my emergency systems are working properly.” Claire told him.

“Sorry, Harry.” Iain sighed. “I hate to be the bearer of bad knew but when the virus took the ship it screwed with the air release system, all of the vents are shut and my air’s going to get really thin in here really soon.”

“Emergency supply?” Claire asked in concern.

“Easy enough to open with power but it’ll take some scrambling around to do it otherwise.” Harry said keeping his voice level, much as he would when talking about a mission that was going wrong. “Iain, get out of that seat and get to those bottles, if you can’t take your sidearm and put a hole in one of the vents. Just be careful.”

“That’s not on my Christmas list, Harry.” Iain told him worriedly. Firing off a bullet while inside a small cockpit in space wasn’t a nice idea to contemplate. If he missed or the bullet ricocheted it could shatter his cockpit, bullet proof or not, and expose him to space.

“Iain, you’ve got two minutes to get to that emergency supply bottle, if you can’t in two minutes you need to shoot one of those vents to get air. You’ll suffocate if you don’t.” Harry told him nervously looking up at Iain’s Viper. He could just about see movement inside the cockpit but it was dark.

“One, this is three, the Daedalus just went completely lights out.” Claire told him and Harry glanced at it.

“They’re rebooting.” Harry said sharply knowing they wouldn’t have their systems up in time to help Iain. Harry covered his microphone so that Iain wouldn’t hear his words. “Come on Iain, come on!”

He regretted that even with his powers there was nothing he could do. He couldn’t produce more air for him and he couldn’t filter it for him if there simply wasn’t enough air there. He could possibly give him a few extra seconds but that was it. The two minutes dragged out and Harry watched it on his clock but he’d been optimistic with the timings and Iain was really going to cut it fine.

“Iain, can you get it?” Harry asked.

“It’s just out of reach. I...” Iain was panting and Harry knew he was already running low of cockpit air.

“Iain, shoot the vent.” Harry ordered.

“Harry, that’s insane.” Iain gasped out and Harry couldn’t see any movement in his cockpit.

“Iain, get your gun and shoot the damned vent.” Harry snapped. “Do it!”

The Daedalus powered up with a flash of light that shone on Iain’s canopy but Harry knew that Iain would be dead long before they could get all their systems back on. “Viper one, this is...”

“Flash. Daedalus silence.” Harry cut over Caldwell. “Iain, shoot the fucking vent!” Harry swore at him. “Now, Iain!”

Harry saw a flash and that was the only sign that Harry got that Iain had done it, urged on by Harry’s shouted orders. For a moment Harry thought it would end with the cockpit shattering but as the seconds stretched on it was clear it hadn’t ricocheted but Iain wasn’t talking to him.

“Iain, answer me.” Harry ordered.

“The bullet’s in the vent casing, I’m prying at it.” Iain told him and over the radio there was a pop sound and a loud hiss. He heard Iain take a deep breath. “I’ve got air.” Iain told him and Harry breathed out in relief. “Oh crap.” Iain spoke again and Harry tensed up.

“Two, explain.” Harry ordered remembering a little protocol.

“Wait one.” Iain told him and Harry could see movement in his cockpit again.

“Viper one, this is Daedalus, what happened?” Caldwell asked him.

“When two lost his power it cut off his air. He couldn’t reach the emergency supply so he had to shoot one of the vents that closed on him.” Harry told him simply just as a flash of light announced that the Daedalus was moving.

“We’ll get into position to scoop you up.” Caldwell told him. “Start on your reboots.”

“Understood Daedalus.” Harry confirmed.

“One, this is two. I’ve got another problem. My recirculation system burst with the high pressure on the vents. It’s not starting again on manual, I can’t get more air, only what built up in the storage and ducts. Maybe thirty minutes, maybe not.” Iain told him and Harry covered his microphone so he could swear without them hearing.

“It’s alright, two. Start rebooting your system and then the Daedalus can pick...” Harry trailed off as he saw the Daedalus take a sharp turn and start heading away from them. “Daedalus, what’s happening?” Harry asked.

“Viper-one, we’ve lost control of navigation and sublight.” Caldwell told him. “We’re heading for the sun. Get rebooted as fast as you can.”

“Understood.” Harry paused thinking of their own situation. “Daedalus, the virus survived somewhere in there. Check the F-302 and other X-304s. Pull everything.”

“You’re Flights are starting on the port hangar. Colonel Sheppard and Doctor McKay are heading for the starboard hangar now.” Caldwell told him.

Harry focused back on their own problem leaving the Daedalus to sort itself out. “Two, three and four, you better be rebooting now.”

“On it, one.” Claire announced.

“Two?” Harry prompted worried for his friend.

“It’s going to start getting really shallow in here but I can do it.” Iain told him.

Harry threw off his harness and flipped around on his seat to get to the core computer behind his seat. There were fifteen modules to get out, reset, get back in and then once they were all reset, reboot the system and power it up. “Three and four, if one of you get back up and running, get to two and connect an air hose for him.”

“Understood.” Alex told him but he was clearly busy and so was Harry.

Harry tried to keep an eye out on what was happening to the Daedalus but he quickly lost sight of the ship amongst the brilliance of the sun and had to focus back on his own task. It took him ten minutes before he was sitting back in his seat and powering up the modules on backup power and rebooting the entire system, wiping it completely clean and loading it with the backups stored deep within the ship.

“One, this is four.” Alex announced. “I’m up and running, system coming online now. There’s no sign of the virus. I’m plotting a course for two.”

Harry looked up and saw a fast moving star heading towards them but put that aside while he finalised his own reboot and hit the start up for his ion core which shuddered into life with an internally audible hum that Harry welcomed immensely. He looked over and Alex was settling down under Iain and connecting a hard hose designed for just this sort of thing.

“Confirmed, four. I have fresh air.” Iain said and Harry audibly sighed out in relief before turning to his sensors to look for the Daedalus. It was still heading out towards the sun followed by a single F-302.

“Three, are you up and running?” Harry asked.

“Coming online now.” Claire announced.

“Two?” Harry prompted.

“It’s going to take a little longer. I think it froze a couple of my systems.” Iain told him. “I need five more minutes.”

“Understood. Four, stay with two. Three, set course for the Daedalus, full power. I’ll meet you. We’ve got some work to do.” Harry ordered as he spun his Viper to face the sun and threw the engines up shooting away from Iain and Alex and quickly accelerating. He angled slightly and Claire slid up to his left wing.

It took them ten minutes to start closing the distance and as they did Harry’s Viper reported a second F-302 launching from the Daedalus. “One, the first F-302 has the identification codes of the one that Colonel Sheppard was beamed out of earlier.” Claire told him and Harry confirmed it with a glance at his own screen.

“Don’t send an external signal.” Harry ordered. “Cut all external flight communications channels and block all incoming signals.”

“Confirmed, we are External Flight dead.” Claire told him. It was just in case the Virus tried to jump back to them. They were now completely isolated. “Two life signs in the front F-302.” Claire reported to him as they closed but Harry had already seen that and even as the human F-302 bled off speed in a jerking movement that turned the tables he knew they had to lend a hand. The two F-302s were getting far too close to the sun’s radiation. Harry’s Viper was already warning him even as they shot past the Daedalus. Harry didn’t know whether the Daedalus tried to communicate or not since he’d blocked them as well.

“If you get a clear shot at the unmanned F-302 take it.” Harry ordered even as his own Viper quickly got a lock but Harry had to bank hard to the right to open up the angle so that his missile would fly clear of the human occupied F-302. He started working hard on reprogramming the missile to fly a detoured course under the closer F-302 and fired as soon as he could. Claire was hard banking in the opposite direction but she couldn’t reprogram and fly at the same time like Harry could and she still didn’t have a clear angle. She fired her own missile ten seconds after Harry had just in case Harry’s missed.

Harry’s missile shot right around to the right, angling further and further out until it reached a point forty-five degrees off of the target’s right beam and then turned in slightly and shot in. It slammed into the lead F-302 out of nowhere and the F-302 with the two humans inside pulled up sharply rather than make the common mistake of banking right or left. Claire’s missile struck the fireball six seconds later having taken a more direct route and Harry banked inward sharply and he and Claire crossed each other where the explosion had originated before turning back towards the Daedalus which was dead in space again.

They stayed wing to wing as the other F-302 settled down on Harry’s wing tip and Harry looked to see two people waving at him, neither with proper gear on. Harry waved back at them but didn’t reinitiate communications just in case. The Daedalus powered up and almost instantly turned sharply and headed straight back along the course they’d been on and Harry finally opened his communications up again after telling Claire to do the same thing.

He called Iain first though and after finding out he was running again if not reliant on Alex’s air he selected the main frequency. “Daedalus, this is Viper-one. Happy to report all Viper’s running. Emergency scoop required of Viper two and assisting Viper four.”

“Viper-one, good to hear your voice.” John told him and Harry heard the truth in those exact words. “Nice timing. I couldn’t get a lock in all the radiation.”

“Viper one, we have Viper two and three on our sensors, what is the problem?” Caldwell asked.

“Viper-two suffered damage to his air recirculation when the virus swamped our systems. He had to shoot out a vent to get air but only got what was built up in the ducting.” Harry told him. “Four has rigged a rescue airline but they’ll need to remain attached until two can get into the Daedalus. They’ll need a zero-g entry.”

“Understood.” Caldwell told him. “We’re rigging for an emergency zero-g landing on the starboard hangar. Land in the port hangar as soon as they are safely inside.”

“Understood, Daedalus Command.” Harry told him. “Glad to see you’re all safe.”

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Four days later; Over Atlantis

As soon as the Daedalus fell out of Hyperspace they got clearance to launch and both Viper and Cobra flights launched from the starboard hangar and shot away from the ship, planning to do a circuit of the planet to run their engines for a while before they landed on the planet and also to work Iain’s system for a while. They practiced a few complicated manoeuvres on the ten minute round trip before seeing the Daedalus hovering in orbit once again. They did a flyby before requesting permission from Atlantis to land on the North Pier where there was a nice cargo hold perfect for the eight X-304s with large doors leading out to a good sized vertical landing area.

Harry took them down and the eight ships flew over the Athosian settlement on the mainland probably frightening them but he detected radio traffic on the surface so he knew there were people down there that could tell the Athosians who they were. Harry rolled his ship over the settlement and the other seven quickly copied him before Harry told Knight to take his ships around to a mile off his left wing.

“Atlantis, we’re coming in for landing. Viper first and then Cobra. Priority observation on Viper-two as he comes in. Red light if the flight crew see anything out of the normal.” Harry told Atlantis.

“Understood, Viper-one.” It was Grodin. “The guys are ready. Welcome back, Major Potter.”

Harry allowed himself a smile, feeling like he was returning home. Atlantis appeared over the horizon with its tall towers and beautiful architecture and as they approached he heard Claire whistle in appreciation. “Welcome to Atlantis, guys.” Harry told them on the flight link.

“It’s beautiful.” Claire told him. Harry turned sharply just before they could have entered through the buildings and instead skimmed around the floating city doing a complete lap so that the people in the city could see them before he angled for the north pier.

“Two, break off and set down. We’ll hover off of the pier to monitor.” They’d done a lot of work on the Viper but they didn’t have complete confidence in it just yet. Iain detached from the formation and dipped down passing around the edge of the pier and lining up on the pier ready to land. A team appeared out of the large hangar and out from underneath a metal canopy that was of human design that they’d put up for shelter out on the pier. Harry, Alex and Claire settled down over the water just off of the pier letting Iain slowly lower down to the pier as the man with the batons on the surface waved him down. He landed without trouble and his struts took the weight slowly until he powered down.

The man on the ground signalled to Harry, Claire and Alex with a particular signal which opened the pier up to them before his team backed away under the shelter. Harry moved forwards to hover on Iain’s right while Claire and Alex moved off to land on his left and slowly the three settled down to land. They were quite close to the buildings and there was enough room for Cobra flight to land behind them and still be safely on the ground.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

An hour later

Harry walked out of his room after showering and changing into a uniform that had been left behind when they shipped him back through the Stargate and he walked the short distance towards the control room where he knew most of the supplies were still being beamed down and cleared away by the expedition. As soon as he walked in the door to the gate room somebody spotted him, one of the original expedition members. They grinned and quickly people began to notice and before he realised what was going to happen everyone that he hadn’t seen since before the Wraith attack began cheering for him and heading towards him. Thanking him and shaking his hand. He had barely thought of the attack since it had happened but he realised that these people had really regretted what had happened to him. Especially the scientists who had looked to him for almost six months to protect them and finally they’d realised how far Harry would go to do that.

He finally got free and headed up and into the control room where he spotted Teyla who moved towards him before Harry could take in anyone else. “Major Potter.” She smiled brightly. “Harry.” She continued. “It’s great to see you back here. Everyone was very worried about you after you were sent back to Earth. There were some among us that feared you would not return and my people have been looking forward to you visiting ever since we received word of your recovery.”

Harry gave her a small smile and accepted her grip on his wrist with one of his own. “It’s great to be back home.” Harry told her with a sincere nod of his head. “And you can tell Halling and Jinto that I’ve brought some proper hunting gear and I look forward to showing them how to use it.”

She laughed and Harry finally turned to look at John, Elizabeth and Major Lorne, John’s new second in command. A Marine who had a knack of gaining the confidence of his men. He was level headed, didn’t freeze up when things went bad and was good at getting his men out of sticky situations alive. Just the sort of person they needed out here where any mission could go wrong and it could go wrong in a place you didn’t understand or know your way around.

“Colonel Sheppard, Elizabeth, I trust the short way down wasn’t boring?” Harry asked with a small smirk that surprised Lorne who knew Harry from years ago and knew him as a hard man, easy to get on the good side of but just as easy to get on the bad side of.

“At least we were down in time to see your landing.” John told him. “It makes me wish I’d gone for fixed wing and not rotary.”

“You said it, you can’t take it back.” Harry chuckled. “Peter, make sure that’s saved somewhere.” Harry turned to Major Lorne and offered his hand. “Major Lorne, it’s a pleasure to work with you again.”

“And you too, Major.” Lorne nodded. “It has been a few years.”

“You know each other then?” Elizabeth asked. “I know you suggested him, Harry, but I didn’t realise you’d met.”

“When I was stationed in Columbia for a time as Black Ops I occasionally got placed with Marine teams for cover and for operations.” Harry explained. “Major Lorne was stationed there at around the same time. As a Lieutenant I was under his command a few times.”

“Though I remember being told not to piss you off by my own General.” Lorne laughed. “I think his words were, order him to do something he doesn’t like only if you don’t like your balls attached.”

Harry laughed and so did John and Elizabeth which reminded Lorne of her presence. “Sorry, Ma’am.”

“Quite alright, Major.” She nodded.

“It’ll be an experience working as your equal this time, Major Potter.” Lorne told him. “And you know some of the men that I picked and they’re eager to see you at work again. They were a little disappointed to find out your main role is aircraft but I think we can cope with that.”

Harry nodded and turned to John. “How about we go rescue our gear?” He offered.

“How much gear did you bring?” John asked as they moved away, ignoring Elizabeth and Teyla’s laughing.

“A lot.” Harry told him. “You’ll like most of it I think.”

“After you then, Major.” John laughed.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Two hours later

He and John spent almost an hour moving their personal belongings to their rooms and also sorting through the equipment for things that were meant for their rooms like radio chargers, personal weapons and so on and they found themselves in Harry’s room late in the afternoon on Atlantis time which wasn’t too bad to adjust to since the Daedalus had been shifting clocks all throughout the three week journey in order for everyone to adapt, just like ships did at sea on Earth.

“What the hell are these?” John asked with a faked grunt of effort as he put two large black plastic boxes on top of the table in Harry’s room. Out of the two of them Harry definitely had more suspicious black boxes and John had more personal effects, even a guitar which amused Harry greatly. The two boxes were the same colour and material but one was long and thin while the other was more rectangular.

“Have a look if you want.” Harry offered even as he plugged in his radio charger and glanced around for the next box.

“Wow, this is cool.” John whistled eyeing the contents of the first box, the long thin one. “This a reflex bow?”

“Yeah.” Harry nodded. “It’s good for hunting. It’s top of the range when it comes to traditional designs.”

“It looks nothing like the Athosians’ bows.” John pointed out.

“I thought they’d like to try it and it’s rare that I get to use it properly on Earth. I just don’t like hunting for sport and there’s only so much time I can give to target practice with that on a range.” Harry explained.

“What about this other one?” John asked as he closed the box on the reflex bow which was stowed in its separate pieces and securely padded. John swapped the boxes over and opened the more rectangular one. “Now this I like.” He whistled. “A compound right?”

“That one’s got a power range of between twenty and thirty thousand newtons and I’ve fired from that at near on three hundred and fifty kilometres an hour.” Harry told him. “And I’ve got arrows in there that’ll punch through bullet proof glass at a range of nearly three hundred metres.”

“Bullet proof glass?” John raised an eyebrow and Harry knew what he wanted to know.

“Once.” Harry told him. “I assassinated a Somali Warlord in his jeep. I had to use that because the glass would protect him from a long range sniper shot and I had to be closer and that’s quieter than a sniper rifle and a hell of lot lighter.”

“Cool.” John nodded before shutting the box. “Can you show me how to shoot these?”

“You can come with me on one of the survival trips we have scheduled.” Harry promised before giving up on the boxes and turning to look at John’s back as he lifted a box up onto Harry’s bed. The door was locked and everyone of importance knew that John and Harry were getting settled in and they knew that John was helping Harry with his stuff. It wouldn’t matter if people noticed that the two disappeared into Harry’s room for an hour or so without being heard from.

“John, can you come here a minute please?” Harry asked. John turned to look at him but moved over wondering what Harry could need help with.

“What’s the matter?” John asked with a curious look but before he could react Harry moved forwards, caught the back of his neck with his right hand and pulled John towards him with his left hand on his hip and kissed him deeply, pushing his tongue into John’s mouth as soon as John got over his shock and returned the kiss.

(A/N; This gets a little high on the rating scheme of things so skip if you don’t want to read.)

John’s hands copied Harry’s and they grinded their hips together and Harry could feel John’s arousal against his own within a matter of seconds but they didn’t pull away until almost three minutes later. John chuckled and glanced at the door and Harry laughed. “You think to check that now?” Harry asked before dropping his right hand down to John’s other hip and pulling him closer, grinding their hardened cocks together once more. John groaned and turned back to him and leaned his head to the side to kiss the side of Harry’s neck before he bit down just under the collar. He didn’t bite hard until he had worked Harry’s shirt down away from his neck but then bit down hard where it wouldn’t show later on.

Harry groaned at the sensation and moved his hands between them and quickly undid John’s combat trousers and unzipped them and pushed down his boxers, uncaring about how fast he was taking this. John paused in his biting long enough to pull Harry’s shirt over his head before doing the same with his own just as Harry pulled his cock free and fisted it making John groan loudly. Harry tilted his head to the side to give John better access to his shoulder even as he used his left hand to undo his own combats and pulled his own cock out and before John realised what he was doing he put their cocks together and gripped them tightly, moving his left hand around to John’s arse, under his combats, to pull their hips together.

John began gyrating against him even as Harry starting sliding his hand up and down their cocks, letting the sensation flow through them, letting the heat of their chests spread between them as Harry bent down and nibbled at John’s exposed neck feeling John’s moist breath against his shoulder. Feeling John shivering with pleasure as his arse clenched as he fucked Harry’s hand as if he was helping Harry to double penetrate his fist.

John came first about five minutes later and Harry felt his cock jerk in his hand a moment before John bit down on his skin, drawing blood. Hot cum sprayed Harry’s hand, stomach and chest but Harry didn’t slow down even once he started using John’s cum to lubricate his own cock, sliding John’s cock up and down his own, stretching out John’s orgasm even as John laid his face into the side of Harry’s neck, catching his breath. Harry felt himself tighten up as he climaxed and he let go of John and his own cock as soon as he started and pulled John towards him, pinning them together and letting his cum spread between them.

(A/N; End of graphic scene.)

John pulled them back towards the bed and pulled them both down and Harry merely laid directly on top of him for a few minutes as they recovered. “That was aggressive.” John told him with a laugh.

“Well, if you’ve got something else in mind let’s hear it.” Harry smiled down at him before kissing him deeply.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

A week later

It had been a tough thing settling everyone back into Atlantis especially for John, Harry and Major Lorne who had had to cope with completely rearranging the security that they had, permanently placing patrols on certain key areas, placing better protected defences in case of attack and generally organising the forces they had at their disposal. As senior flight officer of the expedition the day to day security of the city didn’t actually fall into his lap but it was well understood that Harry was still an authority to contend with. Major Lorne was a brilliant officer and Harry respected him and enjoyed working with him but Harry had the undying respect of a large number of the expedition’s Marines from either the original group or the men that had come through the Stargate to help them against the Wraith under Colonel Everett. On top of that the scientists from the original expedition were quite simply in awe of both him and John so it helped them to see that the Marines were being organised under his watchful eye.

Any lack of faith that the new Marines had in their two air force senior officers quickly evaporated with the tales they were told by their brothers-in-arms, especially the rumours about their Black Ops days and the punch they held restrained until they really needed it. The favourite stories were easily the Genii occupation of the city where Harry and John had single handedly taken out their battalion and then John’s and his willingness to sacrifice themselves to protect the city against the Wraith more recently. Harry’s ability to create and control a massive storm was also something that the Marines were in awe of and they realised that not only was the senior flight officer a skilled Black Ops specialist but also was powerful with an ability that could wipe out entire invasions of Wraith.

They hadn’t been back for long but Harry had a lot of things planned. He’d agreed to take the role of Training Officer for the Expedition and he was responsible for upkeeping the level of training and efficiency that had become expected of the US Marines but also to bring the civilian members of the expedition up to the level where they could survive in dangerous situations which was why, after being back a week, he and twenty of the Marines were deep in the dense forest of the mainland, an area that the Athosians and he had scouted out before. It was too dense for effective hunting or agriculture and was diced up with valleys, mountains and rivers. Perfect for what he had planned.

He’d done a sweep with the Jumper plotting all of the land with the sensors and had had Radek translate that into a useable map, very basic but still enough to navigate through the area with. The same kind of map that a team would be handed on their data boards when going through a gate.

Eighteen of the Marines had split into three squads for this training exercise and their job was to travel from A to B. B was the Athosian settlement but A was three different start points and Harry had added a few different scenarios and obstacles on their three maps so that they had to take different routes and he’d tried to even up the difficulty for each one. They’d also been warned that a ‘local’ fanatic group were in the area and were hunting them.

That mean that Harry and the two Sergeants with him, Sergeant Markham and Sergeant Cooper, were setting up ambushes for them along the way, using the Jumper to stealthily jump between the groups. The scenario was simple and would be the same one they used later with the scientists. Their Jumper had been shot down on the way back to the gate and their task was to trek it on foot to reach the gate. This time was a trial run but eventually Harry would bring it to teams going through the Stargate and then anyone else in the expedition, always with a Marine in each team, just like the Gate teams were.

Harry was hiding on the top of a small cliff with Markham and Cooper on either side of him and they were watching through sniper scopes as team one, six marines, headed up through a dear trail. They’d soon come to the cliff on that route and would have to follow the track along the base of the cliff unless they decided to scale it which while quicker than walking around meant that they’d be more tired afterwards.

“This should be fun.” Harry smirked and wiggled back from the edge, leaving the other two to watch on their fronts. They were perfectly camouflaged where they were. Harry knelt on one knee and picked up his compound bow from the ground behind Markham and checked that it was still set on a low tension and that the sight was correct for the change in tension. Finally he lifted a blunted, rubber tipped arrow and fitted it to the string.

“Scientist on the far left.” Markham told him meaning the designated Marine who wore a red armband to denote him as the one the others had to be protecting.

“End game?” Cooper asked referring to the scenario where if they lost the ‘scientist’ they were out of the game.

“I’m not that mean, Sergeant.” Harry chuckled before standing up and taking aim. He was rather exposed and a moment after he took aim the Marine bringing up the rear looked his way. Harry released the arrow with a high pitched snick of sound and the arrow was mid flight before the Marine could yell out for them to get to cover. The arrow flew for a couple of seconds before slamming into the poor ‘scientists’ left lower leg.

“Ouch, that’ll bruise.” Markham winced. It wouldn’t do much more damage though, the front half of the arrow, though strong enough to maintain shape for flight would have completely shredded on impact, softening the blow before the stronger rubber part would have stopped it completely. Like he said though it’d bruise and by the speed that the Marine hit the deck he knew his leg was numb. One of the other Marine’s grabbed him and dragged him into cover behind a rock even as Harry loaded a real arrow while the Marines were still taking cover and he aimed and fired it. It flew hard even at a low tension and slammed two inches deep into a tree right beside the Marine leading them who’s rolled behind another of the trees and was trying to get a shot while Harry kept them pinned down.

Harry ducked down as he heard the small pops of the blanks in the guns. They’d all have a couple of magazines of real ammunition just in case but the bullets in the guns were harmless but he played the game and between the four firing at him he was effectively pinned down.

Harry pulled back from the edge, keeping low, as his radio came to life. The Marines on the ground had a single coded radio between them that they could access with the code and transmit or receive in the event of an emergency or Harry could initiate the radio in the same way but apart from that they couldn’t hear anything on the normal communications channels.

“Atlantis, this is Major Potter. Go ahead.” He responded as soon as he could straighten up and he began walking in the direction of the uncloaked Puddle Jumper as he talked. Markham and Cooper would keep an eye on the Marines until they broke cover and went about strapping up their casualty ready to continue their advance. Harry, Markham and Cooper would then move onto the other teams and cripple their scientists as well to slow the teams down. A three day nature hike wasn’t exactly challenging for Marines.

“Major, we’ve had a report from the off world team that Rodney McKay has been captured. Lorne was found stunned but he’s in good health.” It was Elizabeth’s voice. Harry frowned, John along with Teyla and Rodney and Lorne’s team of four Marines had gone through the Stargate to a planet where one of their scientists and his escort had found a dead Wraith, shot with Earth bullets. They’d gone through to search for who they thought must have been Ford. “To add to the situation Teyla and Colonel Sheppard were captured by someone on the planet. The Colonel is free and is requesting that Carson go through the Gate to carry out removal of a Wraith tracing device.”

“What do you want me to do?” Harry asked.

“Right now stay put.” She told him.

“I actually meant between rescuing Rodney or rescuing Teyla.” Harry pointed out.

“I offered.” She told him. “Colonel Sheppard thinks that he can befriend the guy that has Teyla.”

“And Rodney?” Harry prompted.

“If it’s Ford that has him then I don’t believe he is in any danger.” Elizabeth told him.

“I’d rather go through and find that out for myself.” Harry told her.

“I’m aware of that, Major.” She pointed out. “Don’t go far from your Jumper. I might have to call you in at short notice to go through the gate.”

Sitting here waiting didn’t sit well with him but he couldn’t really force his way through the Stargate to go get Rodney. Besides that, John was perfectly capable of rescuing people on his own and he had Lorne’s team with him as well and Elizabeth was right, Ford wouldn’t hurt Rodney too badly, maybe enough to shut him up but not much worse than that.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

That night

Harry, Markham and Cooper had just finished ‘crippling’ the other two ‘scientists’ two hours after the first when Harry had gotten another call from Atlantis telling him that the team had returned to Atlantis with both good and bad news, sans Ford but with the alien on the planet in his place. John had told him that he’d get cleaned up and then come out to help Harry with his exercise that night and bring out some hot food for him and the Sergeants.

Harry and the Sergeants watched as a Jumper de cloaked next to their own. Harry had warned Markham and Cooper where the Jumper was and had turned to look straight at it as he felt the air pushed around it. A few seconds later John exited the back wearing full tactical gear. It was already dark but the backs of the Jumpers were down giving them quite a bit of light. Markham and Cooper sketched salutes out of respect more than need since both John and Harry insisted on nothing of the kind while on operation. It was self preservation as much as anything else. If a sniper or scout was watching their camp then they were already clearly officers, why make themselves into even more obvious targets by having everyone salute them.

“Colonel.” Harry nodded in greeting.

John’s eyes swept to his right shoulder where his compound bow was snuggly placed in a sheath over his back that allowed him to crawl through jungles with it. It had to be snapped back together properly on its hinges to fire so it wasn’t a quick draw type of weapon but the P-90 clipped to his jacket, pistol at his right upper leg and the two Sai that John knew were hidden were very quick weapons to draw. “Major, have you been having fun with that thing?”

“I like this ‘thing’, Colonel.” Harry chuckled.

“He’s shot three Marines in the leg with it so far today, Sir.” Markham told John with a smirk.

“Well, unfortunately Marines have a tendency to know when they’re being watched and I’d rather they had actual bruises than faked ones.” Harry shrugged.

“Ouch.” Cooper muttered. “Remind me to never volunteer for you during a demonstration.”

Markham laughed. “Paul, I hope you realise you just did volunteer.” Cooper winced but that just made Harry laugh more.

“Right, well I think the groups have had enough rest this evening. Markham, Cooper, you two go spook teams 2 and 3. The Colonel and I will go spook team one. Watch them until they set up new camps and then report the new positions in before you two head off and find somewhere to cloak and get some rest. Sleep till four then we’ll spook them again just before dawn. The Major and I will get some shut eye from dawn.” Harry ordered. That way the Marines got enough sleep to keep going but not enough to go easy on them and it also meant that Markham, Cooper, Harry and John could get enough sleep as well. “We’ll meet at nine o’clock in the Athosian settlement and take it from there.”

“Understood, Sir.” Markham nodded and together he and Cooper headed back to the Jumper they’d been using. Harry grabbed his bag from the ground as well as his arrows and put them in the back of John’s Jumper before John followed him in. They watched as the other Jumper set off and Harry closed the back door before quickly pecking John on the lips in proper greeting.

John smiled at him before heading to the pilot’s seat and cloaking the Jumper and taking off. Harry took off his weapons and all but his normal clothing. He unzipped his vest and jacket and pulled them off and then relaxed in the co-pilots chair in just his boots, combat trousers and plain black t-shirt. He, Markham and Cooper had found a nice lake to bath in earlier in the evening so he was clean at least.

“Team one is about eighteen miles north of here.” Harry told him.

“What are we going to do?” John asked with a grin.

“I’m going to sneak in close. If they spot me I bail out and they should move on automatically. If they don’t spot me they’ve have a couple of smoke grenades and flash bangs right in the middle of them.” Harry shrugged. “Normal stuff. They’ll know they’ve been spooked and they’ll move.”

“Want to know what happened then?” John asked.

“Love to.” Harry nodded.

“Well, Ford was definitely there. He stunned Lorne and took Rodney hostage. Supposedly he was completely horrible to him but then again it’s Rodney so...” John trailed off as Harry laughed. “Meanwhile Teyla and I got ambushed by a Runner, a guy called Ronan Dex.”

“And let me guess you buttered him up into letting you help him?” Harry guessed. “Got Carson to come take out his tracking device?”

“Hey you make that sound easy!” John complained. “I convinced him to help us get Ford but it didn’t work very well. Wraith Darts showed up and Ford jumped into one of their beams rather than come with us.”

Harry straightened up in surprise, any amusement gone. “He...”

John sighed miserably. “I don’t know what to think, he can’t be that far gone and I won’t rest until we get him back and knock some sense into the kid.”

“You call him a kid but you realise he’s the same age as me and you’re fucking me?” Harry asked to try to get the subject off of depressing thoughts.

John rolled his eyes. “He’s not like us though, he’s naive.”

“I suppose.” Harry sighed. “So what happened with Ronan?”

“He’s recovering in Atlantis.” John told him. “He’s a brilliant shot and what I saw says he’s as good as you with hand to hand.”

“So you want to recruit him?”

“What’s wrong with that?” John frowned.

Harry laughed. “There’s nothing wrong with that, John.”

They stopped near to the small camp that the Marines had put up and within ten minutes Harry had snuck right up to the edge and lobbed six small flashers into the middle followed by a couple of non-toxic smoke grenades to make evacuating difficult. He’d only gotten in so close because the Marine sentry had been looking in the other direction because of a rogue deer but that was reality for you.

Harry was back onboard the Jumper before the group had fully come to terms with the fact they had to lug Corporal Keller for ten miles in the middle of a pitch black forest with only as much light as they needed to knowing that their overly skilled Major was watching their every move, assessing their skill and determination.

They watched from the air as the group hiked ten miles and finally reached their planned beta sight and set up camp. They’d be allowed to sleep now until four when they’d get spooked again and John set the Jumper to hover up in the air and set down on the top of a cliff, cloaked, overlooking the large valley where all three teams had been placed for the night. The other two teams had both been spooked and while the first had reached its new location the last team hadn’t yet finished and Harry knew that Markham and Cooper would follow them until they got settled and then land in order to sleep until just before sunrise, in time to spook them again.

Harry and John, while they wouldn’t monitor the three teams would stay awake to monitor everything just in case but that didn’t mean they couldn’t have a little time to themselves hidden within a cloaked Jumper that couldn’t be seen even by Atlantis.

(A/N; The following scene has been removed and can be found, in time, on my adultfanfiction site.)

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Two days later

Harry walked into the training room with John at his side early in the morning, a little later than normal but that was because Harry had wanted to go for a run first and although John had excused himself he’d waited for Harry to get back before they’d gone to meet up with Teyla in the training room.

What they found was a tall man with his hair pulled into dozens of plaits around his head wearing clothing very similar to the style that Teyla wore. Obviously the man, Ronan, that John had brought back with him. Harry had only gotten back from the mainland the day before so had yet to meet him.

“I thought we were on for sparring this morning?” John asked.

“We are, you were late so Ronan...” Teyla trailed off as Ronan, less inclined to let her have her conversation, lashed out at her shoulder with his hand. Teyla reacted but slightly too slow and got a jarring hit to her arm. Harry assessed Ronan’s fighting, he was extraordinarily good, better than anyone that Harry had seen in the military on Earth, perhaps good enough to compete. Harry was as well but he’d never seen the need. Ronan used both his arms and legs to block and defend himself but he only seemed to ever use his hands to attack but because of his sheer strength and size advantage he could pull his arms free of traps without too much effort. That wouldn’t last if he tired himself and Harry noted that he put raw passion into the fight which even though it made him highly effective in short fights he wouldn’t last as long as Harry in a long fight.

Ronan pinned Teyla down to the mat by her throat and John tensed up and was moving forward faster than Harry could stop him. “That’s enough.” John ordered and Ronan backed away.

“It’s fine, John.” Teyla promised him as she stood up rubbing at her throat.

“You have a good style, a little too aggressive for me.” Harry stepped in to stop John from saying anything else. “Was that an adaptation because of Teyla’s size and strength disadvantage?”

Ronan narrowed his eyes at Harry but didn’t seem inclined to talk to him. “I’m sorry.” Harry nodded. “My name is Major Harry Potter, any of the three is fine by me though. I’m the senior flight officer.”

“Harry was my second in command before Major Lorne arrived. He’s still in charge of the security of the base though.” John added in helpfully.

“So you’ve come to determine if I am a threat or not?” Ronan asked sharply.

“I’m happy to leave that up to John, he has good enough instincts to know worth when he sees it.” Harry complimented him rather vaguely. Harry didn’t think this man would accept open praise. “How about we see whether my statement was true or not?”

“Which statement?” Ronan grunted even as he watched Harry move onto the mats and pull off his boots and jacket.

“I want to see whether you adapt when facing a target closer to your strength.” Harry told him and ignored Ronan’s dubious glance.

“Do not take him lightly, Ronan Dex.” Teyla pointed out. “He’s the most skilled fighter I have ever thought, perhaps until you.”

Harry grinned at her and Ronan was clearly shocked by Harry’s reaction to Teyla basically saying that Ronan was better than him. Harry turned back. “This isn’t a competition for me, it’s an assessment of your strength.”

Ronan bent his knees and that was all the warning that Harry got but Harry was moving even before Ronan lashed out. Ronan’s punch sailed completely clear of him but he still put up an arm to block it out as he sidestepped and wasn’t taken by surprise when Ronan twisted to try to hit him on the side of the head. His sweep hit his arm and Harry ducked under it, spun and slammed his foot into Ronan’s side, under the arm he’d committed.

Harry backed away as Ronan did. “Finished taking it easy?” Harry asked him and barely got a nod before Ronan was attacking him again, with renewed vigour and passion. Harry deflected, blocked and ducked Ronan’s attacks for almost half a minute without making a strike himself but then instead of deflecting a double strike he knocked aside the first and grabbed Ronan’s wrist and almost twisted his whole body to put weight into his own movement and upset Ronan’s balance. Still keeping a hold of Ronan, Harry jumped up, pivoted onto his left leg and slammed his right leg into Ronan’s upper right leg even as his pivot pulled Ronan’s torso towards him. Harry let go even as Ronan hit the ground but the man rolled onto his back and flipped up to face Harry again.

Harry wasn’t surprised when Ronan came for him with his hands again and Harry deflected knowing that he didn’t need to keep his legs in constant motion because Ronan never used his legs to strike, only to sweep or lock which put him at a disadvantage because Harry could attack with his legs at any time and not have to give up his defence which Ronan was having to do to make strikes.

Ronan landed half a dozen hard hits but Harry landed exactly the same and Harry’s were all leg strikes. The one thing that told Harry that Ronan was on league with him or even slightly better was that Harry couldn’t get a hit in with his arms or hands no matter what tricks he used or how much he put into them. Ronan was just too fast with his hands and half the time Harry made a strike, Ronan pinned his arm with it and Harry had to use his legs to bail himself out.

Ronan got the upper hand after deadening Harry’s left hand and Harry backed off with a nod knowing that they had quite the audience of Marines. Ronan grunted to admit he’d had enough and Harry turned and grabbed a towel one of the Marines offered him.

“What are you exactly?” Ronan asked him after a moment. Harry turned with a raised eyebrow and Ronan elaborated. “Are you a soldier?”

Harry chuckled with a smile. “I’m a soldier, just like anyone else here but the difference is perhaps that they are trained to protect or kill in order to protect. I’m trained simply to kill when necessary.”

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

That night

Harry pressed the chime on the door and glanced around even as the door opened into John’s rooms and he quickly walked inside and shut the door. “Where have you been?” John asked where he was standing next to the door lock. Harry glanced at his exposed chest and a small smile spread across his face.

“Sorry I had some stuff I had to get done in the control room and I didn’t want to get in anyone’s way so I waited until most people headed off to bed.” Harry told him with a shrug though his eyes automatically scanned John’s expression to see if he believed him.

“Being sneaky are we?” John asked before closing the gap and wrapping his arms around Harry, pulling him in for a kiss. Harry ignored the question and was just glad that John had dropped it. John couldn’t know what Harry was doing. Harry pulled back from the kiss for a moment before diving back in, walking the two towards the bed, turning them around so that Harry could flop back onto the bed. This night he wanted John to do this hard.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

End Chapter