[Steve Hamrick]

1000
Gate Room
Decommissioned Gate Operations Facility
Athenda

Steve had gone into the event horizon first and stepped out first. The MALP telemetry had been something of a fun house distortion of their own SGC back several millions of miles away. The Athendan gate room was smaller and colder and there were no windows in it, but there was one open blast door to his left. Intel on the Vedas Galaxy gr**evine said that the Athendans were a lot like them, explorers using their gate to reach out to other worlds, and advanced enough to be well worth trying to ally with.

But the gate room didn't look like there was an operational program at all, Steve turned to the rippling event horizon, that and dim yellow emergency lighting was the only light in the room as he clicked on the P-90's flashlight. The rest of his yet-again new team would be right behind him.

He stepped down the smooth wooden ramp that this world had set up with their gate to clear the area for Collins, Makes, and Andre. And if the Athendans proved to be how intel said they were, then he'd send for Cooper as a trade negotiator. Once he knew it was safe. No alarm was raised and Steve shone his flashlight at the open blast door. The concrete was different, he mused. It was a far darker gray.

He went to where a large white storage tarp was dr**ed over something, and he pulled it off to confirm what the MALP had shown. Of course, it was a Vedas Galaxy type DHD. As he heard the others come out of the gate, he gave orders. "Makes, watch the six; I'm on point. Andre, you catch the sides and, Doc, stay in the middle of us. No sign of the locals but we've got one ingress and egress point and I don't particularly like that architecture."

<<Tag Isabelle Cooper , Makes-Eternal-Everlasting , Vanessa Collins , Azalea 'De' Andre >>

[Makes-Eternal-Everlasting]

1000 hours
Gate Boom
Decomissioned Athendian Stargate Facility
Athenda

Makes arrived last, able to hear exactly what Steve spoke. She nodded. Sure she appeared human in every way, just taller than the others by a good head and half. But under that holo was a cat of sheer cultivated muscle and smarts. For this mission she packed her Diamane Battlerod, the weapon worked similar to a typical P90 only in this case instead of solid matter, hardlight was used. She also had her pistol like Diamane Rod and energy sword.

Her HUD activated upon arrival to the planet and she took a careful look around weapon ready as black and white nightvision activated. Taking in every detail. "There is no power" She murred in her native language, however her Ancilla, Madromas knew exactly the problem.

[/This place has been offline for several decades, I cannot pinpoint an exact date of power cutoff unless near a terminal of some form Madromas replied within the Fijitians mind.

"Fine, we have escape route management. I'll find a terminal"Makes took another look around and nodded again, watch the escape path, it helped having a native knowing the way out now didnt it ? "Madromas, sensors to fifty meters, friend of foe tags to fifteen, wireframe map within sensor range only" Makes said to her Ancilla"Good luck" she replied to Steve. Then right before his eyes she faded out of view entirely, not even a disortion in the air where she once stood.

Makes could cover their six easily. But first thing was first, getting power back. [/Find a terminal, even if depowered and I can work from there Madromas said, without a sound or even a draft of movement Makes went to work as the team headed towards the open blast door. The Fijitian had to smirk. Trust other planets to use Duracrete just like her homeworld. Most interesting.

[[Steve Hamrick , Azalea 'De' Andre , Isabelle Cooper , Vanessa Collins

[Avand Sadren]

1000
Outpost Commander's Office
Decommissioned Gate Operations Facility
Athenda

The young Athendan soldier stood ramrod straight in front of his Commander. Commander Sadren interlaced his fingers, his elbows propped on his desk. Resting back in its place after just been used on the disobedient under-soldier standing in front of him, the whip's leather was dark with twenty years of bloodstains.

Sweat borne of pain was beaded down the soldier's face and his lower lip was bruised where he'd bit it to keep from crying out and failing to take his punishment like a soldier. But he didn't move, not even to reach for his uniform top without his Commander's order.

Finally, Sadren nodded. "Pick up your uniform and head for the kitchen. The rest of your punishment is 24 hour duty to the kitchen for the next two weeks. You are under the full authority of Kitchen Master Rondan and any failure to obey any of her orders will result in a doubling of your punishment without credit. That would of course mean 40 lashes and four more weeks in the kitchen. You are dismissed, Under-soldier. I am privileged to correct you on your way to being a better subject."

The soldier did as told, exactly as told which didn't include putting the uniform undershirt and jacket back on, as he completed the military courtesy, "And I am honored to accept your correction, sir."

He turned to leave as Avand tapped his desk. "Go to the infirmary and get treated for the lashes before you report to Master Rondan. And bring a mop to clean up my floor after that, you're getting blood on it."

The next moment, the fluorescent lights in the ceiling dimmed dramatically. Avand stood up, already deciding who to punish for failing at maintaining their generator when one of his Senior Masters came in, looking terrified. "Commander, sir, I beg your pardon for my unrequested presence. There's been a sudden power drain on Level 12."

Avand went still, his hand moving to where the intricately-carved blackbuck horn hilt of his officer's knife sat on his belt. "Level 12, you're sure?"

The Senior Master nodded. "Yes, sir."

It was unprecedented, and Commander Avand Sadren, Athendan Ground Forces, did not like unprecedented things. "Then send someone down into the Pit and have a look. Make it someone disposable, Under-soldier Capan should be on his way to the infirmary, he'll do."

[Azalea 'De' Andre]

1000
Gate Room
Decommissioned Gate Operations Facility
Athenda

This was it. This was the moment Azalea had been waiting for since arriving in Vedas; the first mission with a team within the Expedition. A team that she was XO of. Okay this had to be some really sick twisted joke, because the last time this female as a XO of anything was back in the Academy. This wasn't a cadet team from the academy. This wasn't a drill. This was real. This was really happening. She didn't know whether to be excited, scared, or what. If someone asked her what the emotion she would be feeling right now was, it had to be any emotion you could think of. This was definitely above and beyond the simple emotions from that Inside Out movie. Taking that small step through the wormhole, the Lieutenant grinned awkwardly, following Hamrick through to the first world of this solar system. It really made her wonder just how many there were out there.

Stepping through the other side, Azalea glanced around, only to rest the hazel eyes on Hamrick, giving a small nod. "Roger that sir," replied coming up along side Dr. Collins. So this was the Dr. Collins that Destiny adored. The young woman gave a side glance, almost an uneasy glance. Of all the people that made up the team, it had to be her sisters shrink. Yeah there was the patient confidentiality thing, but that still make it any less unnerving in a way. This was the doctor that Des was constantly telling her, if you ever have the chance to meet Collins, make sure to get a session with her. Therapy was Destiny's thing, not hers. Sure it helped her, but that didn't mean Azalea wanted to bring up anything about the past. It was there for a reason. That's where it would also stay.

Looking over at rest of the team, the hazel eyes rested on Fijitian, Makes, which Azalea was learning was the main race of where the base as located. It was interesting, and cool, at the same time to have another species working among the expedition. Sure there was hearing about it, but seeing it was a whole other experience itself. Oh there was so many questions the Lieutenant wanted to ask especially since the Fijitian were cat people. Like, if there was a mouse near by, would Makes take off after it? Yes okay it was childish question in a way, but didn't make it any less of a question. One day she would get the answer. Shaking the head, Azalea refocused letting the eyes dart around taking in every little detail. "It seems like this room hasn't been used in while. If the Intel is that they are like us, when our wormhole goes off, there is usually a team surrounding it, waiting to see if the visitor is friend or foe. Shouldn't there be that kind of welcoming committee here too?" asked to no one really in particular. There was an odd feeling to this place, and hopefully she wasn't the only one feeling it too.

Tag:Steve Hamrick, Makes-Eternal-Everlasting, Vanessa Collins, Isabelle Cooper

[Steve Hamrick]

1001
Gate Room - Level 12
Decommissioned Gate Operations Facility

He watched the Fijitian woman utterly vanish. "Not a bad trick. We gotta talk tech sometime."

As Andre took her place, Steve covered the door with his P-90. "Looks like they mothballed their program. Pulled a storage tarp off the DHD, but it's online with the gate. We'll try to make contact but might have to search for them a bit, Andre. A lot of Vedas worlds are pretty isolationist because of the Asuras, but I've had good luck with making friends. Admittedly, I got my DNA stolen and mind probed, but I made us friends."

Steve scanned the corridor outside the blast door with the P-90, but still no sign of the Athendans. He gestured the team forward as he examined the walls on either side of the doorway. There was a keypad on the wall that seemed to have power still, but no numbers, just ten blank spots that were each a tiny LCD screen. "Huh, look at this. Scrambled keypad instead of a card swipe. Makes, can your AI confirm that's for the blast door?"

It reminded him of nothing so much as badging into a secure area on a base, and having to scan a badge and then key in a PIN on a scrambled display. These people were similar, it seemed.

Which train of thought was put aside when he heard an electrical motor start to hum down the hall and he covered the sound. In the beam of the flashlight, an elevator door's stainless steel gleamed and a orange floor display was showing the number '5.' And the numbers were getting smaller as the sound got farther away. "I got an elevator and it's moving."

Steve got closer to see a floor number plaque on the inside of the elevator's niche in the wall, that had the number '12' in raised black block lettering against white. He looked back at where the gate had powered down behind his team. If nothing else, there was no way they wouldn't notice the gate's power use to establish the wormhole on this side. He stepped away from the elevator, expecting someone would come in a few minutes. Letting the Athendan personnel come to SV-3 would be better than choosing a random floor and hoping for the best. And they were trying to make friends. But elevator call button was just a single button. "But I think we're at the bottom level of this place."

<<tag Makes-Eternal-Everlasting , Vanessa Collins , Azalea 'De' Andre , Isabelle Cooper >>

[Vanessa Collins]

1000
Outpost Commander's Office
Decommissioned Gate Operations Facility
Athenda

It had been eons since Vanessa had stepped through the gate on mission and with a team or so it felt that way. Her trips since her capture on Delta had become limited. And she suspected for a good reason. Garcia’s capture at the hands of Titans had even further made her trips through the gate rare ones. While it had been years ago, Vanessa had never forgiven herself for it. Not even after Pooja Garcia had returned to the safety of the Delta members and to her husband US Navy SEALs -then Commander- Jerry Garcia. Even today she carried that guilt inside. Travis was the only one here who knew and understood the guilt she felt. They both had seen what Titans had been capable of.

She had refused Matthew’s consistent requests to join a team for reasons she had not told the Admiral. However, it hadn’t been long before he had discovered them. She had expected him to ship her back, but he hadn’t. She suspected that few words from his youngest sibling had a role in it. But now when the man was short of members for teams, Vanessa had made a one-time deal with him. This was going to be one off time she accepted the team slot. One trip through the gate.

Her Team Commander was Steve Hamrick, whom she knew quite well. The man was good at what he did. Like her, even he was an experienced Vet in the gate travel and inner workings of SGC. Two old timers with a newly appointed XO Azalea Andre. The younger sister of Destiny Andre, a fighter pilot, Vanessa had a pleasure of working with. She knew Des had done a short tour with Vedic expedition in the first few months. She noted the young woman’s unease glance and had to smile, leaning a little to her side, “No matter what you hear,” she spoke to Az, “I don’t bite……much.”

She looked around at Hamrick’s words, “Or they stopped making contact with other worlds for reasons unknown. Or perhaps the other worlds stopped traveling here. There could be many things.” Being at the bottom of the whole place, “Sounds like SGC to me.”

Tag: Steve Hamrick , Azalea 'De' Andre , Isabelle Cooper

[Makes-Eternal-Everlasting]

1001
Elevator network system
Decomissioned stargate operations complex
level 5
Athenda

The elevator halted at seven levels up. Thankfully nobody was on it at the time, but her motion tracker picked up motion. Makes, though unseen didnt move as she stood in a corner, slient as the elevator started moving upwards. Time to hide! Quickly scanning the small moving room she spotted the overhead panel and sqiftly scampered up through it and right as the device dinged and began t oopen the oor she gently closed the panel under her.

Peeking through the airvent she saw a man get inside, he had cuts on his back and carried his shirt that he seemed to be putting gently onto his back. The medicine the man had been given made Makes smirk, nothing could heal the cuts like that so quickly, unless it was a healing crystal matrix.

The elevator started down, Makes stood up and without a sound lightly pushed off the frame of the device and grabed the top of the sixth floor doorframe. Forcing it open she dieappeared into the complex uinseen, Lookingfor a terminal of some form she finally found one and set her hand to its screen. [/Im in. Madromas said simply....

A moment passed [/You're not gonna like this

"Tell me something I dont know" Makes replied

[/This place has been without power in the lower levels for almost a hundred years. The last location dialed through the relic.... was Verbataen Prime. Well that explained the lack of welcoming comittee at the gateroom.

"Anything else ?"

[/Still scanning what information I can. But access to the network is not possible from here. You'll have to get me to a more secure terminal on a upper level or in a office complex. preferably near the main power rooms. A nav marker appeared on Makes HUD. Makes nodded and touched the terminal once more and Madromas went back into her system. [/ if we follow the elevator it will take us up to the surface levels, according to the layout this complex is within a hill instead of a mountain according to the Mortals information. Madromas always referred to humans as Mortals for an AI it made sense. [/POne of the upper levels above us will have access to fersh air and the power generation facility

Makes smirked and was on her way. Back to the elevator she went up the ladder within the shaft as she jheasrd voices above, an upset sounding male voice. Going into a vent she followed the sound and found herself peeking through the ceiling airvent through the duracrete wall at a rather upset Athendian.

Avand did not look too happy; Makes focused and her HUD came up with all sorts of information on the man, his vitails, his mood, and the fact he had blood on his office floor. She had to get past this man and his men to get to a secure terminal for Madromas to connect to.

Steve Hamrick , Vanessa Collins , Isabelle Cooper , Azalea 'De' Andre , Avand Sadren

[Steve Hamrick]

1003
Elevator Level 12
Decommissioned Gate Operations Facility
Athenda

Steve watched the numbers on the elevator shaft going back up and he tensed for action. The elevator, he thought, was coming down.

"Looks like they had full gate operations, why pull the plug on the access to the galaxy a stargate gives you?" Either possibility was likely, or both as a consequence one of the other. "If they stopped exploring, I suppose people might stop coming. Maybe they never got deep enough into the scene out in the galaxy to ever think that anybody would come through if they hung it up."

Collins mentioned what was on his own thoughts too and he gestured around. "It looks near exactly like SGC. They're like us, I think they do things some of the same ways even. What I'm seeing supports the intel, we can make allies."

But he was getting ahead of himself and gestured Collins to keep a little back as the elevator came all the way through the numbers and stopped at twelve. The door opened.

A young man stood there, only about eighteen, in a recognizably military uniform even if the details were different. A young man who, when sent by his Senior Master, had expected to just be checking the power connections to the disused ring, not be facing strangers.

His mouth opened and closed a couple of times. Steve tried to look harmless as he gave the local soldier space to step out of the elevator car.

Finally, he found his voice. "How, how'd you get in here? We're twelve floors underground!"

The soldier wasn't carrying a weapon, and Steve increased his estimate of how long the stargate had been mothballed on Athenda. "Easy, we didn't mean to show up uninvited but we heard about your planet from other people who know you. We're explorers looking for allies."

Steve gestured at each person as he introduced them. "I'm Colonel Steve Hamrick, this is Lieutenant Azalea Andre and Dr. Vanessa Collins."

As the soldier stared at the two women, since while they had females in the Athendan military, they didn't have any that looked like that.

But even if the rank systems were totally different and Capan was right out of his Discipline base training, he could recognize fellow military.

The man had the same air to him as the Commander and Capan stood up straight, while wondering if this would get him punishment or commendation from Commander Sadren for finding the strangers. "Under-soldier Raniel Capan, Athenda Ground Forces. And I'm sure this is above my pay-docket, sir. I just need to get to the old comms system behind you and I'll get somebody higher up than me to see you. Commander Sadren, the facility commander would be the right person."

It kind of figured, but there'd been no hostile gesture so far and Steve let the younger man, and he was totally sure that 'under-soldier' was the Athendan equivalent to a private, get to the intercom.

Sure, he wasn't relaxed at all, not yet, but cautiously optimistic that they could make a valuable ally, a people who did things a lot like they did. "So you're stationed here? It doesn't look like you use the stargate anymore though."

Capan looked at the open blast door. He knew some of the other under-soldiers came down here to hide for a bit and to break regs out from under the eyes of their masters. They had long ignored what the actual mission was. "Not as long as I can remember, they send you here when you mess up too many times. We guard it and that's the only thing we do. That and clean."

He looked at Andre. The similarities were strong and he felt pretty good about making allies.

Capan pushed the Talk button on the intercom and cleared his throat. "Senior Master Torbit, this is Under-soldier Capan. I have done as ordered and investigated the level 12 power drain. We have visitors from the stargate and I respectfully request your presence and that of Commander Sadren down in Gate Operations."

Capan let go and turned back to Steve. "My Senior Master and Commander will be down here in a moment, sir. None of us ever expected anyone to come through."

Considering there'd been no gate QRF like there would be at their own bases, Steve figured that one for himself.

A stunned response came back, clear enough on the intercom. "Capan, what the hell did you do now? Never mind, the Commander and I will be down. If this is a joke you'll get more stripes out of it, Under-soldier."

Capan gave the woman he thought was one of the subordinate members, Lieutenant Andre, a smile. "They're kind of mad at me right now, ma'am."

It was a slight wrong move that made him wince in pain as the elevator was heading back up.

<<tag Azalea 'De' Andre , Vanessa Collins , Isabelle Cooper , Makes-Eternal-Everlasting >>

[Azalea 'De' Andre]

1005
Elevator Level 12
Decommissioned Gate Operations Facility
Athenda


Azalea gave a small glance again at Dr. Collins while being address. Knowing her luck, it came off as there resting bitch face, or something that showed annoyance. God she hoped that wasn't the case. It was just the thought of walking around with Destiny's shrink was unnerving. Did the older sibling talk about her at all? If so what? They had overcome their issues, or did they? Well this was just great. If the nerves of being on a mission with a new team wasn't enough, there was now the subtle thoughts that maybe this Doctor knew all about her. All the brunette wanted to do was bang the head off the wall. Pull it together Az. This is your teammate. Not your sister's shrink. This is your sister in arms. That's how you need to see her. Now focus, thought to herself, giving a small shake of the head before refocusing on mission.

Watching the elevator, Azalea chuckled was the numbers started counting down. "This looks more used than the gate was. I know that some planets don't have the understanding of the stargate like we do, but if they are this advanced, why give up. Could there be something that happened we don't know about? Maybe a battle or something to get it shut down?" asked basically thinking out loud. That was the only thing that made sense. If they were so much like themselves, why give up advancing your race by learning about others? Again something seemed off, but the Lieutenant was going to keep it to herself because maybe it was all the nerves. That's what it had to be right? It couldn't be anything more.

When the door opened, the Linguist gave a small step back, quickly raising the gun only to freeze was Steve slowly introduced them all. With heart racing, Azalea slowly lowered the gun giving a small nod to the new male. She listened carefully to the Capan, raising a brow. "Do you know why it was shut down? If you guard it, why wasn't there anyone here when we stepped through? You would think you guys would have someone here all hours of the day if that was the case," asked curiously not understanding the thought process behind their math. The SGC was well protected from anything unwelcome coming through the wormhole. Heck, Destiny use to tell stories of how Delta's wormhole was super well protected being in a new galaxy that was so unknown - as well as other planets wormholes. So once again, why didn't they have their own welcoming committee if they guarded it as he claimed.

When Azalea heard the tone from said commander, another brow raised. "Do you usually get spoken to in that tone?" asked concerned glancing over at Hamrick uneasily, also noticing the wince from the Capan. The spidey sense was not settling down now. The uneasiness wasn't going away any time soon that was for sure. "He doesn't seem like the most cheerful guy," muttered watching the elevator,"What else can you tell us of your Commander?" Hopefully the Commander was just having a bad day. Hell, many generals had those back at the SGC. Seems like the higher rank you are, the more pissy you became. Maybe retiring at a earlier rank wasn't a bad idea.

Tag: Steve Hamrick, Vanessa Collins, Isabelle Cooper, Makes-Eternal-Everlasting, Avand Sadren

[Avand Sadren]

1005
Elevator Level 12
Decommissioned Gate Operations Facility
Athenda

Capan shrugged in the universal gesture of the private who knows absolutely nothing as he tried to not stare at Lieutenant Andre's assets. He'd already been punished for staring at a under-commander's assets two weeks ago and that whipping had been almost wholly healed before the one the Commander gave him today. At least the punishment had only been a whipping.

"Don't know. I think somebody's supposed to be down here, but the Masters can only watch so many troops at a time. Nobody expected anyone to come through it ever again I guess. We are the few, the unappreciated, and the unwanted of the ground forces, ma'am. Not exactly high-speed, low-drag troops here."

She asked about the Senior Master's tone and he shrugged. "Don't you? That's Senior Master Torbit, our top non-bonded officer. His bark's worse than his bite though."

Capan looked at where Colonel Hamrick stood, and swallowed. He knew a bonded officer was more to be feared than a non-bonded one, and wondered where the alien commander's whip was.

Or maybe the women under his command were so well-trained he didn't need to carry it with him in the field anymore, because they knew the whip was waiting back in his office if they were disrespectful or failed to submit to him?

His voice squeaked with his youth. "My commander? Commander Sadren is a war hero, a great, distinguished man, ma'am. I am honored to accept his correction."

Colonel Hamrick moved slightly, re-settling the weapon on the front of his armor. Capan went very still. Clearly the main weapon was for the enemy, so the pistol on his leg must be to maintain control of his troops. But they all carried the same weapons, so he wasn't sure. But with the sheer physical advantage the colonel had, Capan was sure it didn't matter, that neither woman would dare test him.

Capan feared any sign of impatience from a commander and swallowed. "I'm sure Commander Sadren will be present in a moment, sir."

Colonel Hamrick was looking at him closer now, and Capan knew getting a commander's attention was a bad thing. "You're hurt?"

"I was corrected by my commander earlier, sir. I was disrespectful to a Master and was corrected with twenty lashes."

1007
Elevator traveling Level 5 to 12
Decommissioned Gate Operations Facility
Athenda

It had seemed unbelievable when Capan, the most useless soldier under his command, had called in on the base intercom. But Avand, after momentarily considering bringing it, had left his whip on its stand on his wall. If it was needed, well, he could make Capan come up via the stairs to come to his office.

On his back through all seven levels. That should be just about enough to teach the useless pile of dung something about respecting his betters. The elevator opened at Level 12 and Avand stepped out, ready to verbally lay into Capan, until he saw the under-soldier was not alone.

He looked at the three people, a man obviously in charge and two women, all equally armed and clearly from a military like his own. He reached for his soldier's arm and pulled Capan behind him as a protective gesture.

The young man was useless, but Capan was still one of his soldiers. Avand gave a slight bow, the proper greeting between bonded officers of equal rank. The alien leader followed suit, if a little awkwardly. At least they were properly human, as opposed to a thing.

"I am Commander Avand Sadren, the bonded officer-in-charge of this facility. I wish to welcome you to Athenda, even if you were quite unexpected. It was the belief of the government that we had long been forgotten by the galaxy." Avand swept his eyes over their weapons and armor. Certainly their equals in technology and similar in structure.

The man pointed to himself and the two women in turn. "Colonel Steve Hamrick, Lieutenant Azalea Andre, and Dr. Vanessa Collins. Not that forgotten, we heard of your world from those you used to trade with and believed your people and ours could become friends. If we're not welcome, we'll go, no trouble."

"No, no, of course not." Avand wasn't going to let his chance to fix his own battered reputation get away. "Please, allow us to be hospitable, Colonel. Under-soldier Capan, report to Kitchen Master Rondan and let her know I need a meal worthy of important guests presented in my conference room. And no liquor of course, I believe we are all on duty?"

Avand was watching his opposite number closely. Colonel Hamrick seemed to relax, but still plenty alert. As Avand would be in the other man's shoes. "Yes, sad to say. We would be grateful to accept your hospitality, Commander. The liquor maybe another time."

"Well, I pretend to not know there's any liquor on base at all, but the men must be allowed the small comforts, yes? My conference room then and we can discuss our worlds, Colonel."

"I'm sure we can come to an amicable relationship, Commander." Avand recognized the hand signal that the colonel used to signal his subordinates to follow him. The similarities were striking and Avand was sure the other man noticed it too.

<<tag Isabelle Cooper , Azalea 'De' Andre , Vanessa Collins , Makes-Eternal-Everlasting>>

[Steve Hamrick]

1230
Command Conference Room Level 5
Decommissioned Gate Operations Facility
Athenda

Of course there were cultural differences. They'd found those over the past two hours in Sadren's command conference room.

Like the freaking flogger in Sadren's office. Steve couldn't imagine ever raising a hand to one of his Marines, much less hitting one of them twenty times with a whip. And he knew Andre and Collins hadn't liked it.

But he'd had an utterly thick-headed troop or two that smoke sessions and and butt chewing just didn't get through to, and maybe a little pain would have been better than the career-damaging Article 15s he'd been forced to write.

So he'd dealt with it as they negotiated and reached a point of details where he'd decided to bring Isabelle into the field, the situation was secure and Sadren was accommodating.

And Avand had graciously allowed him a few minutes with all three women alone in his conference room. "Okay, I will say I don't necessarily like how he 'corrected' that private of his we met but it's not anything we haven't done in the past. Making allies with them is virtually doubling our resources."

<<tag Isabelle Cooper, Makes-Eternal-Everlasting, Vanessa Collins, Azalea 'De' Andre>>

[Isabelle Cooper]

1230
Command Conference Room Level 5
Decommissioned Gate Operations Facility
Athenda


Ever since she had woken up that morning the peanut butter loving parasite had been fluttering around in her stomach, it was a new feeling, some days the kid spent the entire day swimming around while others were quiet. Isabelle knew that SV-3 had a mission lined up, she had spent the day before going over any information they had on the Athendians, so far what she read had her hopeful, now they just needed to meet the people in person and see where things would go. The main group of SV-3 departed through the Stargate, leaving Isabelle behind to wait for Hamricks word if he would allow her to join the rest of the team. While she was not a big fan of having to wait to do her job, she also knew that it was the only way she would be allowed to continue being part of a SV team and not just hanging around the base, watching everyone else step through the Stargate. 

A little over and hour and a half after SV-3 departed for Athenda, Colonel Hamrick sent word for her to join them after deeming it safe.  While the rest of her team was away and she waited for word, Isabelle had grabbed a chair and sat in the Gateroom and read over the same information she had spent the sat before going over, when she got bored with that she braided her hair. 

When she had finally step thru the Athenda Stargate the first thing she had noticed was the chill the room had, the second was that the room she had stepped into was not as alien as she had expected, the third thing that caught her eye was the rather tall man standing beside Hamrick, she later learned his name was Commander Sadren. 

After the usual formalities and introductions Sadren lead the team to a conference room so they could have a private talk before being discussions with the Athendaians. Even though the decor was rather spartan, the room reminded her of something they would see on Earth.

"Okay, I will say I don't necessarily like how he 'corrected' that private of his we met but it's not anything we haven't done in the past. Making allies with them is virtually doubling our resources."

Isabelle listened to Hamrick and nodded in agreement, looking at the rest of the team she realized that Makes Eternal was not with them, she swore she saw the alien feline leave with the team that morning...so where was she? "The intel said they are very interested in trade, so we might start off with that?" she added, still wondering where Makes was, "Colonel...do we have everyone?" she asked as she looked back to Steve. 


TAG: Steve Hamrick, Makes-Eternal-Everlasting, Avand Sadren, Azalea 'De' Andre, Vanessa Collins

[Azalea 'De' Andre]

1232
Command Conference Room Level 5
Decommissioned Gate Operations Facility
Athenda

This has to be the boring part of the job. Sitting here talking to each other, learning how the two can become allies wasn't Azalea's idea of a good time. Thankfully that's why Cooper was part of the team, but that still didn't make it much better. It was hard to concentrate on what was being said when a lot of it felt like something coming from Charlie Brown. It was hard not to hear the blah blah coming out of Sadren's mouth. There were a few times the brunette shook her head to clear that out of the mind. The times she was paying attention, the differences were slightly alarming. Flogging was still a thing? It was shocker because it was hard to think of a time that was accepted back in the US. Probably had to read up more, once again, on the US history about that, but if Hamrick ever did that to her? Yeah it would be the hardest thing to stand down and keep the mouth shut. Boot Camp probably was the closest the US military got to really undermining the soldiers, but that was because they broke you down to build you up to who they wanted you to be. If they flogged males, the female shuddered to think what the females got here.

"It would, but do we want allies who are this violent? I know the SGC has had some in the past, but how they discipline really worries me. I hate thinking what the females get. Do they get even worse?" asked giving a worried look, glancing back at the door where Sadren left. Glancing over at Cooper, Azalea had to chuckle. "Went into stealth mode. That's what I call her disappearing act. She's floating around here some where, I think. You can't keep cats in one place for very long. At least the ones back home you can't. Not sure how her kind works here." It was going to take getting use to a cat human, human cat, whatever you wanted to call her, was on the team. It was going to take getting use to they existed. Wonder what other human animal people are out there, thought with a small grin.

"Sounds good to me. What do you think we have to trade? This is all new to me so, bare with me Ms. Cooper," smiled gently, giving a quick glance down to the woman's growing belly. The Lieutenant admired Isabelle and the fact being pregnant wasn't stopping her from being on the field. There had been many women that once with child, they stepped off the field from it being too dangerous. This meant that Isabelle was a strong person and, it appeared, wouldn't let anything stop her. Definitely a plus having someone like her on the team. Hopefully they wouldn't be on any mission that would put her in too much danger. Only time would tell.

Tag: Isabelle Cooper, Steve Hamrick, Vanessa Collins, Avand Sadren

[Vanessa Collins]

1000-1005
Elevator Level 12
Decommissioned Gate Operations Facility
Athenda

She faced Steve as he spoke about making them allies, and nearly winced, “Let’s not jump the gun, Steve.” She knew what happened when one did just that. They ended up opening can of worms, that would come to bite them in the butt months later if not years, “Checking them out first might be an idea.” She did agree that to some level they had set like theirs back on earth. She did stepped back when Hamrick gestured as a small smile was on her lips.

But it was Andre who needed to relax around her. Whatever Des had told her about Azalea, was only a faction in their sessions. Now she did have a chance to get to know the young officer personally as well. “Others who come through the gate on Earth in few hundred years from now, would wonder the same. Lack of man power, funding, come to mind for them to shut their program down. Bio-chemical threats, is another. Too many possibilities, not enough answers. They might have better answers to our questions.”

She saw the newcomer into the room, pretty much stuttering and likely to be shocked by visitors through the gate. She would have spoken, but decided that her CO doing the talk about be a right course of action. When Steven introduced her, Vanessa simply nodded at the young man. He looked to be too young for military life. Not yet a man, but no longer a boy either. She quietly watched as the interaction was done over the comms. The Commander’s tone reminded her of Jerry when his was short on patience’s. “Drill Sergeants have spoken in worse tone than this.” Didn’t most have worst barks than bites? “There are other ways to correct a mistaken, Capan. That does not require use of physical or visible injuries.” She spoken when the Capan explained to them, “Sounds liked Guantánamo Bay to me, Steve. Might tread this carefully.”

1230
Command Conference Room Level 5
Decommissioned Gate Operations Facility
Athenda

Vanessa could finally sigh as it was only her team members with her. Given the capacities of their new, -she won’t even call them friends yet- alien race of the week they were visiting. She had doubts about wanting to turn them into allies. She looked at Steve, “Careful what you wish for,” she told him, “it might come back to bite.”

Looking at Cooper, she smiled. The young woman gave her reminders of how it felt to be pregnant, “You okay?” she asked, “Little one behaving?” Her own boys were grown men now. No longer children she could tend to. Oh, how she wished for tiny feet to keep her busy. She might start hinting grandkids to her sons, slowly.

She agreed with Azalea, “I’m aware of US history about the same treatments, but we have come a long way since then. On the other hand, I don’t think Admiral would agree. I, for one don’t think they would make great allies, perhaps okay-ish.” She did shudder to think what treatment women got. “If their females got the same treatment, we all know what the Oxford would say.” A big fat no.

What they had to trade with these people was tricky, she mused as an idea came to her, “What about knowledge? I mean think about it, their treatments of their men and woman happens to be this horrid, if not inhuman. What if we show them different? Garcia’s team went to a planet whose people had 1920’s or even earlier mindset. They actually didn’t accept McKinnon when she was still going by Ashwood as his XO. Took a while before they did change their mindsets.” It was a long shot, but it was better than nothing. “but your call.”

Tag: Steve Hamrick , Azalea 'De' Andre , Isabelle Cooper Makes-Eternal-Everlasting & Avand Sadren

[Makes-Eternal-Everlasting]

1230
Level 4 bathroom
Decommisioned Stargate facility
Athenda

Apparently only the bathroom had the exact thing Madromas needed, it was am ens room, and empty. Finding a sign written in her own langauge within the closet Makes hung it on the door then closed it, the big OUT OF ORDER DO NOT USE sign was quite useful, then using Madromas help, Makes then locked herself int he room electronically. "Ready when you are" Makes thought as she uploaded Madromas into the terminal

[/Im in. Full access. A few firewalls nothing I cant handle. Lets see here.... floor plans; personell, last dialed, historical facility commanders, System degration....

"System Degration, start there, upload it to my HUD. devote hologram desguise to cloak. I'll walk around in my fur, duracrete I am used to" Makes replied, information scrolled over her eyes as she observed everything. Keeping an eye on the clock.

With the info she had she bnegan scouting best possible routes to the outside, still four floors under ground Makes only had scant time to prepare and get what she needed. Cover their six. She needed a backup plan if Madromas couldnt get the power back tl full. "Madromas, get me a subspace connection, audio only."

[/Connection established Madromas replied a moment later.

Makes spoke a report, and sent a request for a ship to be on standby. sending her planet location and current grid coordenites of the power generators. Ever since the Fijitian Felines had attained space ability, their technology level increased and it rendered the Stargate network obsolete and in many cases useless. Having her carrier, Eternal Stars on standby to arrive with its flotilla of warships in the case the plan went sideways, which it sure was to do so at some point. Makes knew better then to go headlong without backup.

She wasnt Claw Wing commander for nothing. The transmission sent she let Madromas get further info, a map was uploaded, the optimal route to the generators. Makews then locked down Steve's life signal. Makes herself didnt have a beaming transport signal chip as the Humans had because of the bilogy and the fact her body reacted rather violently until Madromas had disabled it and it could propelry be removed.

[/Map data fully sync'ed with current power output, also locked down a power module to extende cloak battery life near to the generators. Lets get outside Madromas said, Makes smuirked and set her hand on the surface, Madromas withdrew from the terminal network and went back into Makes brain where she felt more at home. The two then left the bathroom without a sound.

Coming across the only soldier on duty at a guard post on the top floor leading outside Makes smirked, briefly revealing herself she snaked am assive handlike paw over the guards face, covering his mouth, preventing him from screaming in fear, then thanks to Madromas teranslation software, Makes spoke in perfect Athendian "Say hello" Lifted her hand the man said simply

"Hello" Her hand covered his mouth again

"How do I get out of here, I lost my way,... oh the controls, Alright, open the main door to allow me out." Makes said, the man nodded, scared for his life, it wasnt every day a SNOW LEOPARD snuck up and spoke like an Athendian native so well asking to be let outside. So the man did simply as told and then promptly soiled himself as Makes said "Say good bye..... Or soil yourself, either works" She knocked the man out before hitting the door controls. and swiftly left the complex, hiding out near the power generators after picking up the power module she required.

Taking a seat out of sight of everything that could try to spy on her, Makes then set up her HUD and listened in on the conversation between SV3 and the natives within the complex.

[[Steve Hamrick Vanessa Collins Azalea 'De' Andre Avand Sadren Isabelle Cooper