Chapter Text
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Chapter One
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In the 302 fighter bay of the galactic starship U.S.S. Daedalus, Lt. Colonel John Sheppard was preparing to embark on a routine mission to extract Atlantis’ science team from the planet's surface. The planet was designated P24-907; known by its indigenous people, and anyone who maintained a trading alliance with the teeming culture there, as Ziya. However, Ziya itself posed an anything-but-routine hazard and Colonel Sheppard didn't relish taking this trip yet again. As much as he liked to fly he just didn’t like testing fate quite this much.
The weather was notoriously unpredictable especially in the mountainous regions. Rogue, hurricane force winds came up without warning and were frequently responsible for deaths and for downing many air and space craft. The planet also possessed a particularly infamous region for that sort of thing which bore a legend that strongly resembled the Earth lore of the Bermuda Triangle.
Ziya’s atmosphere was equivalent to Earth's with relative gravity and warmed by a single solar star. Their sun was much larger than the one inhabiting the Earth’s solar system and was the sole reason for the hot, humid environment on most of the planets in its solar system, including Ziya. The majority of the planet's climate ranged from sub-tropical to tropical with a few more temperate zones and the seasons tended to be cool and rainy or hot, humid, and rainy.
Ziya’s largest land masses had a varied range of topography consisting of treacherous mountain regions and vast arid deserts. These huge continents encircled the entire globe at the planet’s equator and proved to be extremely, and sometimes dangerously, unstable terrain with densely forested jungles and sub-tropical rainforests. Most of these areas were uninhabitable due to the extremes of weather or the geography itself, if not both. The primary habitable areas of these continents were the mountain valleys nestled deep within the Volga Mountain range itself, which afforded the people there a natural defense against the gale force winds. The mountains themselves appeared relatively young in the grand scale of universal evolution with very high and jagged ledges, caverns and peaks. To look upon them from the air, one would immediately think of the Himalayas or Colorado Rockies, only covered in forests and jungles instead of ice and snow.
During one of the first recon flyovers in separate Jumpers, both Lorne and Sheppard had noted that nearly every mountain was riddled with deep, almost bottomless, ravines and cave systems. These caves and ravines were the main reason for the team being here and were of greatest interest to the Atlantean scientists, for they contained large deposits of a mineral known as Zirite.
A naturally occurring mineral, Zirite was best known for giving off a potent electro-magnetic type of radiation. The radiation itself was a form non-lethal to humans and other organic life forms but its elements enabled it to act as a natural cloaking device. In its raw form, the mineral emitted enough energy to disturb and sometimes totally interrupt electronic, man-made and computerized navigational aids. It could blank out sensors and disrupt radio communications and therefore, while Ziya itself could be easily detected from space, once a ship had entered deep into its atmosphere, all shipboard systems were at risk of malfunctioning. Combined with the rogue winds, smaller vessels entering the atmosphere often crashed in the deep forests or would crash through the earth itself into the vast cave systems beneath the crust and were forever lost.
Besides the meteorological and planetary hazards, there were also several types of mega-fauna found in the deep forests. Many of those were creatures similar to those found on an Earth ten-plus thousand years ago; the likes of the Giant Sloth and Saber-toothed Cats, Dire Wolves and others. The flora also widely varied and, while not overtly hazardous, some of the larger varieties could easily house dangerous insect life forms; like the giant mosquito-looking thing that Sheppard had seen on his first foray to the jungle planet or the smaller reptilian creatures he saw sunning on rocks.
Because of the rough terrain, the Ziyan people relied mostly on a large four-hoofed creature for transportation. When he first saw one, the animal reminded Sheppard of a cross between a giant llama bred with an ox and a horse, which he quickly dubbed an Equinox; a blending of the names for an equine and an ox. Dr. Rodney McKay had huffed at the naming of the creature because he’d never been given a chance to christen anything. Colonel Samantha Carter had accompanied the science team per the SGC’s official request, specifically to study this new and potentially powerful mineral. She’d grinned with amusement at the name, for John Sheppard simply had a creative way of labeling things; whether they were ships or animals… or Wraith. McKay had responded to her smile with a slight roll of his eyes before heading off to begin his tasks and his reaction had made Sam chuckle softly at his back.
The Ziyan council had allocated a number of the Equinox for the science team’s use, along with experienced guides to accompany them during their excursions to the mountains. The animals were large, sturdy creatures with a crest of ridged cartilage running down the length of their necks rather than a true mane. They were also slightly more intelligent than the average horse, though not by much, and often exhibited a stubbornness to obey when they felt the trail or task was too dangerous. Over the centuries, the Ziyan people had learned to trust their animal's instincts, since they were more attuned to the ever-changing environment of the mountain ranges.
The people of Ziya had established their main settlements in broad, volcanic crater valleys which were a natural shelter from the extreme winds, protection afforded them by the vast height of the mountains around them. These valleys were lush, fertile, and quite beautiful with rivers or wide streams weaving through them and distant waterfalls that could be viewed cascading gloriously down the mountainsides. More than one Atlantean scientist murmured the word Hawaii as they looked up at the palm-like trees and the waters winding their way through the rocks to fall great distances to pools far below.
Even with all that information there was one thing that made Ziya a real pain in the ass for Lt. Colonel John Sheppard; Ziya didn't possess a Stargate. Due to the mineral's enormous effects on any type of electrical system and their power sources the Ancients, in their infinite wisdom, had chosen not to locate an Astria Porta within range of the debilitating effects of the Zirite mineral. So it was with that wonderful news that the Atlantean team had taken a journey aboard the U.S.S. Daedalus. With a small fleet of Puddle Jumpers they‘d ferried out aboard the battle cruiser, Sheppard and his small crew of gene-possessing pilots took turns shuttling teams and supplies back and forth between the galactic starship and the planet's surface. One team, led by Colonel Carter, had been exploring, researching and, testing exotic finds of all kinds on the newly discovered planet.
McKay’s main task on this mission was to focus on possible ways to establish a Stargate system on Ziya after harvesting one of the many portals in orbit around dying or dead planets throughout the Pegasus galaxy. This would not be an easy task, for even after re-locating an abandoned Stargate from another point in the galaxy onto the planet’s surface, the portal would need to be re-configured for its new location in the galactic grid and put online in reference to the other gates in the system.
The rest of the science team was focused on mining the mineral and testing its properties, which proved to be difficult at best because the mineral itself caused havoc with their equipment. Slowly but surely though, they were making progress and testing their theories for the mineral’s successful use in numerous applications. It would take painstaking refinement to achieve a controlled and workable compound from the mountains’ raw mineral, but it‘d been deemed possible.
Meanwhile, Sheppard and his flight crews spent two excruciating long weeks shuttling back and forth between the Daedalus and the planet's surface and, as much as he lived for the thrill of flying, Colonel Sheppard simply couldn't wait to get back to Atlantis. John couldn’t shake the feeling that every time he entered Ziya’s atmosphere he was testing fate. To make matters worse, the reports now coming in showed a weather system developing over the area he needed to fly through to pick up the team and their cargo. This new development caused him some concern, but John was sure that he could get in and load the equipment before the wind speeds reached dangerous velocity.
To make room for all the science gear, equipment, and samples the team would be bringing home with them, John had off loaded most of the Jumper's normal supplies. He refused, however, to remove some of the more important stocked items. He knew from experience that it didn't matter the distance or duration of the journey, you should never ever leave your basic survival equipment behind. With that thought, Sheppard tucked the medical pack and the food and water rations back into the overhead compartment where they usually remained forgotten and rarely needed. He liked it that way too. Once the crew members from Caldwell's team had off loaded the last of the optional equipment on board, he exited the rear hatch of Jumper One rubbing his hands together with a wide grin.
"Okay, boys and girls. Your assistance is most appreciated and won't be needed again until it's time to put all that stuff back in here in, oh, I'd say four hours, tops," he informed them with an obvious look at his watch. The weary men and women made unintelligible comments of complaint under their breath, but it was all in jest. "Right!" Sheppard exclaimed, disregarding their whines by ignoring them completely. "And if there's nothing else..." John trailed off before marching back up the ramp.
He strode through the rear cargo bay of his favorite ride toward the cockpit and Jumper One welcomed him aboard by powering up and turning on all onboard lighting when she sensed his presence in the command module. Dropping down in his left-side seat, he tapped his earpiece to announce his intentions to the bridge.
"Flight, this is Sheppard, Jumper One is ready to disembark on your Go. Colonel Caldwell? Is there anything you need, Sir, before we proceed back to the planet's surface?"
He was riding this flight solo and the inadvertent we was an unconscious reference to himself and Jumper One. It was not an uncommon thing for the Atlantean personnel to hear Sheppard speak of his interaction with the city or the city's systems as if she, Atlantis, was a living breathing partner. At first, the reference unnerved some of the expedition members, fearing that their military commander could be suffering from space dementia or some such illness, but over the years though they’d all witnessed Sheppard’s uncanny relationship with all things Ancient and it seemed to them now like a natural course for the unusual kinship.
"Nothing I needed other than you waiting for me to arrive..." Caldwell's non-modulated voice came from behind Sheppard as he walked up the ramp and through the cargo bay area of the Jumper. He was wearing his usual flight suit, but with his own black field vest, zipped up and secured. He carried no weapons save the field knife on his left hip and his sidearm in the holster secured along his right thigh. Caldwell slipped into the right hand seat and dropped into it with the ease of someone who had spent a lot of time in cockpits. "I'd say that just about covers it."
When Caldwell's voice came to him from over his right shoulder instead of his left ear, John's eyes went wide. Stiffly, he turned his head to see the Daedalus' commander strolling through the Jumper as if... as if he was coming along. Sheppard kept his hands on the controls as his eyes darted around the cockpit, wondering if he should ask... but then, nope, he didn't have to ask because the colonel simply dropped into the co-pilot's seat.
Caldwell tapped his earpiece, "Bridge this Caldwell. I am aboard and Jumper One is cleared for launch." He glanced over to Sheppard, waiting.
Wasn't there some rule about asking permission to board another man's ship before just commandeering it? John was certain there was, and he tried to recall if that was an actual law or just a show of good manners. His thoughts were preoccupied with that dilemma, unaware that he was looking at Caldwell with a narrowed gaze until the Colonel turned to him with an expression that clearly and silently demanded "Well?"
Sheppard turned to face forward sharply. ‘Okay, this is gonna be weird.’
"Umm… Flight, Jumper One is ready for launch," he finally reported to the bridge. Then he turned a hesitant grin to the man sitting beside him and offered officially, "Welcome aboard, Sir."
Sheppard prepped the ship for launch, initiating the inertial dampeners with a thought and the engines powered up at his command. Jumper One lifted evenly off the hangar floor and slowly spun its nose toward the hangar opening. On the other side of the great door was a black sea dotted with thousands of pinprick lights. He assumed the hangar had been cleared of personnel when the yellow strobes came on, accompanied by the audible alarm that signaled a danger area.
Sheppard tossed a glance to Caldwell as the large hangar doors separated to reveal the vacuum of space beyond. With a final word from the Flight controller on the bridge, Sheppard gripped the controls lightly and Jumper One moved swiftly forward, exiting the ship's fighter bay at speeds that rivaled the 302's. He immediately steered the tiny craft toward the planet's lower orbit, gaining re-entry without so much as a jolt to the passengers inside. He navigated the Jumper more by thought than the hand controls, most of the time not even realizing it.
As they neared the land mass where the science team had been holed up for the past two weeks, the Jumper was buffeted by a blast of wind. The small craft careened to the right and Sheppard's eyes widened and his expression turned serious. "We should never have felt that," he mentioned to Caldwell who dropped back into his seat as he rebounded from the right side of the cockpit. The dampeners should quell any movement of the ship, unless the outer force was truly more than the system could handle. John swallowed thickly and tightened his grip on the controls, setting his feet firmly on the floor.
As the ship descended toward the mountainous terrain and the thick canopy of the jungles that surrounded the area, the evidence of the gale force winds was unquestionable as the towering trees bent over each other and nearly in half. He had no clue at what speeds those winds were coming in, but he was fighting the Jumper’s responses to it with everything he had. Tossing a wild look to the other pilot beside him, John warned him, "Hold on."
Caldwell heard Sheppard's words and caught a hint of panic in his voice. Steven was like every other pilot who ever held a stick in his hand, which meant he would rather die than ever sound like he was not in total control of his aircraft, so if Sheppard was actually sounding a little worried, then they were probably well and truly screwed. Caldwell's eyes darted along the instrument panel out of reflex as he gripped the sides of the chair tightly.
"What the hell's the matter with this crate?" he managed to bite out amidst all the bucking and tossing about.
‘Crate? She's not a crate,’ Sheppard thought in the back of his mind as he suddenly found himself fighting the controls with all his might. The Jumper lurched wildly as a sudden wind shear smacked the backside of the ship, tipping its nose down. John threw a glance at Caldwell as the other man got thrown over the console in front of him but was able to lever himself in place with his hands on the edge of the console's shelf. John too was thrown forward but he held tight to the two control handles now pressed up against his ribs.
Sheppard concentrated on nothing but strengthening the dampeners if at all possible and sending more power to the engine pods. He was slammed to the back of his chair as the shear suddenly stopped; reducing the strong push from behind and the nose came up sharply. Now, with no resistance, the Jumper seemed to stand on its tail end for a second before John recovered control. He took a deep breath and blew it out, looking over to Caldwell with concern.
"You okay?" he asked. That was all he had a chance to say as another wall of hurricane-force wind slapped the side of the shuttle craft and rolled it over in mid-air. John was vaguely aware of the passenger to his right whose body that went flying onto the ceiling and then in an instant disappeared behind him… somewhere.
The Jumper was being pushed furiously toward the ground under an onslaught of crosswinds and downdrafts. The very speed of the Jumper caused them to lose altitude at an extraordinary rate and, before he knew it, the ship pitched off the top of a clump of trees. The impact sent Sheppard out of his seat and onto the console, slamming him into the angled window, then tossed him back into the chair like a rag doll. He scrambled for the seat, reaching for the controls as the ship skated off the tops of the trees and dropped into an opening in the canopy. The sun was suddenly blocked out by the surrounding jungle, blinding John as his pupils rapidly dilated and his vision tried to compensate for the abrupt change in lighting.
He had no clue which way was up from there. The solid impact with what he presumed had to be either a large tree trunk or the ground itself, had jarred his teeth together and flung him under the console like a beanbag. Crammed into the small space nicely, he was forced to ride out the rest of the uncontrolled landing from the floor then the ceiling and then something slammed into his mouth. He tasted blood and boot leather, so he took that as a sign that Caldwell hadn’t been thrown from the ship.
The Jumper plowed through small trees and underbrush, shattered a few fragile shale type boulders and actually landed on a steep incline before coming to a jarring stop. When the ship stopped moving, Sheppard took a moment to assess his surroundings from the floor and then slowly crawled out from under the console where he'd been pinned by gravitational forces. Getting to his knees he peered out the windshield, noting the very sharp incline the cylindrical ship was perched atop.
"Oh crap," he muttered and, as if on cue, the Jumper began to slide to its starboard side, downhill in the shifting gravel. It hit something solid that could’ve been a rock outcropping and the ship listed and tilted sharply and then began to roll to the downhill side. "Colonel, hold onto something!!" John shouted, not knowing if Steven was even conscious. He could only hope as he dove toward the back, into the cargo bay, and grabbed the storage netting with both hands. He got slammed around as the Jumper rolled down the slope, picking up speed, before the roll slowed a bit and John realized they were suspended in the air. Hovering?
No.
Dropping….
Crap!
The ship disappeared over the edge of a vast ravine and dropped six stories before clipping a rock ledge. Shattering the shale lip, the Jumper spun in mid-air like a rolling pin. With the inertial dampeners offline, the two passengers were tossed about inside, slamming into the hull and other objects inside the tiny ship. Sheppard wasn't aware of the final impact as the two men were rendered unconscious inside the shuttlecraft. Eighty feet below the surface the ship finally came to a halt on its side, but the cylindrical shape of the craft caused it to roll over onto its roof and the momentum pulled it all the way over to come to a final stop on its broad flat underbelly.