text:
Pleasant Studio Louvre / Montorgueil
Size25 m²
Floor No.4(with elevator)
- Kitchen
- Washer/dryer
- Elevator in building
- Family/child friendly
- Pets allowed
- Internet/WiFi
Accommodation summary
|Rue d'Aboukir, 75002 Paris, France
|Property type
|Property ID
|Acceptance rate
|Response time
|A few hours
|Calendar updated
The 4th and last floor, equipped with a lift, it offers all the comfort to 2 persons with sofa bed 1.40 m and a brand new mattress upon travelers request !
Baby equipment on request: cot, high chair, bath (15 € / stay)
The apartment is ideally located along the pedestrian area of Montorgueil and 10 minutes walk from the Louvre and the Seine.
Very central, near the Marais, the Opera Garnier, Saint Germain ...
Many cafes and restaurants with outdoor terraces, bakery, fresh produce store and shopping "mode", all amenities necessary for a comfortable stay!
Metro stations:
"Path", line 3, "Les Halles", line 4 and "Châtelet-Les Halles" line 1
RER B and A "Les Halles"
Direct access airports CoG / Orly and Disneyland
House rulesBed linen and towels are provided
Cleaning € 30 to be paid on arrival
Security deposit payable by Paypal € 200 before arrival
Arrival and departure time flexible between 10:00 and 19:00
Late arrival is possible after 19.00: 10 € per additional late hour
If next travelers check-in is immediate, departure must be done at 10:00 (storage of luggage possible)
|Check-in after
|Check-in before
|On arrangement
|Check-out before
|On arrangement
|Cancellation Policy
Reviews of this property
it was a super studio and a super service. the location is perfect, super central and one is surrounded by restaurants, attractions, shopping etc. the only thing I and my husband have as a recommendation to the host ....;-) is a new mattress, it is not very good. in some places you can feel the springs, and other places you feel that you are lying directly on the metal. it will be the ONLY sku deter us not to come again. otherwise SUPERT place
Perfect location,
Super clean,
Studio has the perfect size for couple
Owner is very obliging,
The apartment is really well located and cosy. We felt like home. Everything needed to cook was present and we had awesome holidays 'chez Marika'. I would book or again if I needed!
Lovely little flat at a perfect location (metro, bars, bakery, shopping), perfect conditions, clean, well equipped. Bit noisy on workday mornings. Definitely would stay here again.
Very nice place, clean, good location, easily reachable all attractions by metro, supermarket, restaurants, bakery a so on really close.
Highly recommended.
5 star rating for location, apartment etc. Marika was a great and very kind host. Perfect!
Sorry, no evaluation possible because we have not lived in this apartment. We were allocated a different apartment and on the last day we have once again changed the apartment.
Leider keine Bewertung möglich, da wir nicht in dieser Wohnung gewohnt haben. Uns wurde eine andere Wohnung zugeteilt und am letzten Tag haben wir noch einmal die Wohnung gewechselt.
Marika I was not allowed to meet in person, but the cleaner on arrival for key collection was there. Without itself laboriously nachzubohren little more information would be for the far ends of arrival of advantage! Until recently, we were unsure what to expect and if anyone is to surrender there. The apartment, except for the mattress is gigantic beautiful, very tastefully decorated and with love. The apartment is well maintained and enjoys a wonderful central location. Marika, your apartment I can recommend!
Marika habe ich nicht bei der Übergabe kennen lernen dürfen, jedoch war die Reinigungkraft bei der Ankunft für die Schlüsselübergabe da. Etwas mehr Informationen ohne selber erst mühselig nachzubohren, wäre für die weit Anreisenden von Vorteil! Bis zuletzt waren wir uns unsicher,was uns erwartet und ob überhaupt jemand zur Übergabe da ist. Die Wohnung, bis auf die Matratze, ist gigantisch schön, sehr geschmackvoll und mit Liebe eingerichtet. Das Appartment ist sehr gepflegt und liegt traumhaft zentral. Marika, Dein Appartement kann ich weiterempfehlen!
pleasant stay, apartment very clean and very well appointed, nice neighborhood to short again!!
très agréable séjour, appartement très propre et très bien agencé, quartier sympa bref à refaire!!!!
- Quality assured accommodation
- Every host is verified by telephone
- Secure payment via SSL encryption


text:
MLR Apartamentos Paseo del Prado, Madrid
Size56 m²
Floor No.1
- Kitchen
- Air conditioning
- Washer/dryer
- Family/child friendly
- Pets allowed
- Smoking allowed
- Balcony/terrace
Accommodation summary
|Calle de Almadén, 28014 Madrid, Spain
|Property type
|Property ID
|Acceptance rate
|Response time
|A few hours
|Calendar updated
|5 days ago
Next to the Paseo del Prado and the Prado, Thyssen, Reina Sofia and the Retiro Park, Plaza Santa Ana Barrio de las Letras.
Two blocks from Calle Huertas, where you will find excellent restaurants, tapas bars and cafes.
Only a stone's throw away from Madrid's historical and cultural attractions.
Centrally located, this well proportioned one bedroom apartment offers ample interior and modern decoration with the benefit of a secure entrance.
This spacious apartment is wonderfully arranged to offer bright, modern interiors and high-quality fixtures.
The property comprises generous living room, kitchen, fitted wardrobes, fitted storage cupboard and a contemporary bathroom.
The apartment is completely renovated with brand new appliances.
It boasts with separate bedroom, fully equipped kitchen with open access from the living room, tv, dvd and internet connection ADSL.
The apartment is set in in very quiet area.
House rulesEnergy fees not included for reservations of 1 month stay
No parties
Cleaning fee
Check- in after 22:00 20€.
No cleaning fee
|Weekly rate for up to 2 guests
|Monthly rate for up to 2 guests
|Price for > 2 guests
|$ 16 CA per guest/night extra
|Check-in after
|On arrangement
|Check-in before
|On arrangement
|Check-out before
|On arrangement
|Cancellation Policy
Reviews for this host's other properties
a very nice and homely flat with a great location, slightly noisy because of the proximity of the neighbours but other than that perfect for a short stay.
This apartment is lovely, good size for two people, and right I. The centre of Madrid without all the noise of the city! It's so conscientious situated close to anton Martin station that getting anywhere is so easy! Loved it, would return in a second! X
Very well located. Very well equipped. Phenomenal.
Muy bien ubicado. Muy bien equipado. Fenomenal.
Welcoming and kind upon arrival. Well situated, clean and comfortable. Great stay!
The cozy apartment, very good attention. Highly recommended!
El apartamento muy acogedor, la atención muy buena. Altamente recomendable!
There was a problem with the apartament we had booked so martha lucia gave us the possibility of staying in another near the original one. It was quite a nice apartement, small but quite comfortable, in a very good location, pretty much silent. The bedroom was a little bit too small, a little bit claustrophobic but it didn't matter much. The kitchen and the bath were both modern and in very good conditions. There was some confusions about our arrival as martha lucia wasn't in town at the moment. we received various mails with contrasting instructions and when we arrived it was a little diffucult to understand the man that spoke only spanish but we managed to understand each other and we had a pleasant stay. Near the apartement there are a lot of pubs, and bars, that are all pretty good, especially the tavern right across the street. I do recommend it for coples, especiallyfor smoking ones.
Apartment ultramodern, clean and well located in Chueca. The bed is very comfortable .... proprietary and charming and nice. Highly Recommended!
Apartamento supermoderno, limpio y bien ubicado en Chueca. La cama es muy confortable .... y la proprietaria encantadora y simpatica. Muy recomendable !
Great stay in Madrid!
Super séjour à Madrid !
Perfect apartment for a weekend in the center of Madrid. Highly Recommended
Apartamento perfecto para un fin de semana en el centro de Madrid. Muy recomendable
As always with Wimdu, a very cool story and very well located in Chueca.
Como siempre con Wimdu, un piso muy chulo y muy bien situado en Chueca.
- Quality assured accommodation
- Every host is verified by telephone
- Secure payment via SSL encryption

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Barbara Wasson
Barbara Wasson, 61, formerly of Deer River, Minn., passed away Thursday, March 7, 2013, in Pequot Lakes, Minn., after a courageous battle with cancer. A Celebration of her Life will be held this summer, and will be announced at that time.
Barbara Jean Wasson, was born to Russell and Beverly (Anderson) Gibbons on April 16, 1951 in Minneapolis. She grew up in Minneapolis. In her early teens, Barbara's family moved to Brainerd. She graduated from Brainerd High School, with the class of 1969. Barbara was a hair dresser for over 30 years, and had recently worked at River Salon, in Deer River. She enjoyed long walks around Butternut Point, spending time with friends and family, and trips to Mexico.
Barbara is survived by her son, Warren R. (Jessica) Wasson of Deer River, Minn.; daughter Nicole Wasson of Hartford, Wis.; and their father, Warren C. Wasson; mother, Beverly Gibbons, of Pequot Lakes, Minn.; sister Linda (Larry) Horn of Moorpark, Calif.; brothers Jerry (Diane), Sherman, and Rusty (Jenn), all of Pequot Lakes, Rodger of Breezy Point, Minn., Jon of Becker, Minn., and Sam (Amanda Schwarzkopf) of Brainerd, Minn.; and grandchildren Jade Anderson, Warren N. Wasson, and Priscilla June Wasson.
She was preceded in death by her father.
Please visit www.brenny.com to leave a message for Barbara's family.
Arrangements entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel of Pequot Lakes.


text:
Active filters
Chelsea logo and team facebook cover photo is a special one for your timeline selected from the best available "Chelsea logo and team" FB cover photos all over the web. It is one among the hundreds of awesome Sports Facebook covers in our collection and is linked to tags - football, chelsea.
You may also like
More football facebook cover photos
More chelsea facebook cover photos


text:
Redmond hit-and-run leads to chase, crash, arrest
Police:: Speeds hit 85 mph before pursuit called off
REDMOND, Ore. - A woman sought in a Redmond hit-and-run crash led police on a chase through town Sunday afternoon at up to 85 mph, despite a flat tire, before police terminated it for safety reasons. The SUV soon was found crashed into a field in Terrebonne and the 36-year-old Bend woman at the wheel was arrested on more than 20 charges.
Redmond police, Deschutes County sheriff's deputies and Oregon State police were involved in the felony pursuit, which began around 1 p.m. after officers learned of a hit-and-run crash at Highway 97 and Odem Medo Road, said Redmond police Lt. Mike Kidwell.
The suspect vehicle in the non-injury hit-and-run crash was reported to be a white Dodge Durango, heading north on Southwest Fifth Street with a flat tire, Kidwell said.
Redmond police found the Durango on the north end of town and tried to pull it over, but the driver, later identified as Brandy Michelle Carmack, did not stop, instead turning west onto Northwest Maple Avenue, and the chase was on.
The SUV turned north onto Northwest Way, and police discontinued the pursuit at NW Almeter Way and Sedgewick Avenue in Terrebonne due to the danger, noting speeds up to 85 mph and the SUV going into oncoming lanes on curves and other unsafe moves.
Several minutes later, a Redmond officer found the Durango and driver crashed into a field at NW Odem Avenue and 19th Street in Terrebonne, Kidwell said. Carmack, who was unhurt and alone in the Durango, was taken into custody without incident by Redmond police and OSP troopers, he added.
Carmack was booked into jail on 21 charges, including DUII, reckless driving, seven counts of recklessly endangering, three counts of attempting to elude police, three counts of hit-and-run, two counts of first-degree criminal mischief, one count of interfering with a police officer and three drug charges. Her bail totaled more than $130,000.
Kidwell offered the police department's appreciation to the OSP and sheriff's office, as well as citizens who provided vehicle information and direction of travel.
"Their assistance allowed this incident to be brought to a safe and successful conclusion," the lieutenant said in a news release.


text: Just bought a 2000 Silverado... very clean truck, low milage.... all is well except that the fuel guage does not seem to work consistently. When I start the truck, the guage shows empty, the "Low Fuel" indicator lights up in the dash and as I'm driving down the road, the guage starts working on and off... Anyone have this problem? Is it the sending unit in the tank? or an electrical issue under the dash? Any thoughts would be appreciated!!!


text:
Black Rock
Split/Second 2 assets are likely its first and last showing
Today's episode of What Might Have Been comes courtesy of Split/Second 2, almost certainly lost forever in the closure of developer Black Rock Studios.
Black Rock headlines
Confirmed - Split/Second dev Black Rock to close
Brighton-based Split/Second and Pure developer Black Rock Studios is set to close, with 40 people made redundant, Disney's confirmed to VG247.
Black Rock hiring for game director with "understanding of free-to-play gaming"
A job listing posted by Black Rock Studios has the firm looking to hire a game director for a possible free-to-play title.
Ex-Black Rock staff form Roundcube Entertainment
Two ex-Black Rock staffers have founded a new studio, Roundcube Entertainment, in the wake of dramatic lay-offs at the Disney-owned developer.
Disney confirms lay-offs at Black Rock
Disney Interactive has confirmed to VG247 that it has laid off an unspecified number of employees at Black Rock.
Disney to "probably" invest less in console games
Disney CEO Bob Iger has said the company is to "probably" invest less in its console gaming efforts in future.
Split/Second DLC hitting later this month
Black Rock has announced over on the official Facebook page for Split/Second three DLC packs for the racer.
Develop Awards intro features Mark Rein in a bubble bath
Mark Rein. In a bubble bath. Playing with Halo and Gears of War dolls. Enough said.
May NPD: Alan Wake sells 145,000, beats Blur's 31,000
Oh dear. Gama's posted up NPD figures for Alan Wake, Blur, Split/Second and Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sand for the month of May. It's grim reading, quite frankly.
Split/Second footage blows up the boat
Disney's put out some more footage of Black Rock racer Split/Second before its release next month. Three words: Boom, boom, pow! After the break.
Split/Second goes Downtown in new trailer
Disney's released a brand new trailer of OTT Black Rock racer Split/Second. Go give it a watch after the break.
Split/Second gets screen explosion
Disney's sent out nearly 40 new screens for Black Rock's Split/Second. Get them after the break.
List of GDC Europe speakers starts to thicken up
Initial speakers for GDC Europe 2009 were announced this morning for the August event in Cologne, Germany. Taking place August 17-19 at the Cologne Congress East Center in Germany, the first set of speakers and their subject matter are as follows: Flower – Design Postmortem by ThatGameCompany's Kellee Santiago. Surviving Project Cancellation in the Economic […]
New Black Rock racer titled Split Second
According to this IGN report, Black Rock's soon-to-be-revealed racer is titled Split Second. It's PC, PS3 and 360, apparently. The game was teased in the middle of February, and will be shown next week.
Black Rock teases new racer
Disney's Black Rock studio has released a teaser for a new racing project, as you can see after the break. More info's promised in March. Black Rock was the outfit behind ATV racer Pure.
Pure boss: Colour difference between 360 and PS3 is comparable to a "good LCD from a Plasma"
Speaking to VG247 today, Pure director Jason Avent said that the differences between PS3 and 360 were comparable to the differences between LCD and Plasma TVs. "Their final render hardware seems to produce slightly different results in terms of how colours are represented and one is often softer than the other but it's really only […]
Pure 360-PS3 comparison movie posted
Eurogamer.pt's posted up a comparison video of the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of Pure. Not much in it, obviously, apart from the colour pallete, maybe. Differences aside, the ATV racer looks excellent, and we're starting to get nudges that this may very well be one to watch. You can get demos on both PSN […]
Pure demos for Live and PSN this Thursday
According to this Eurogamer piece, demos of Disney's Pure will be up on Live and PSN this Thursday. The quad-bike racer certainly looks the business, so it'll be good to see whether or not it can do the do. More through the link.
New Pure shots posted
SI could be bothered to download and post more than 250Mb of Pure screenshots. More flying quad bikes than you could ever need. Take a look.
New Pure movie shows big CG
A new movie here of Disney quad racer Pure, hitting PC, PS3 and 360 this autumn. There's some new CG in there that gives a good idea that this may well be competition-free at the end of year. We certainly haven't seen much else like it planned for 2008. Take a look.
Page 1
Black Rock latest
Black Rock hiring for game director with "understanding of free-to-play gaming"
Pure boss: Colour difference between 360 and PS3 is comparable to a "good LCD from a Plasma"


text: They're all good pistols. I'm pretty sure most of what anyone could really tell you was covered in your other thread (G26 or MP9??). Considering you stated that you already own an XD, then you know how they point for you, and I'm assuming you like it. Also, your trigger time on one XD translates to the other, as mentioned to me by Mike Barham before purchasing my XDSC. I would recommend trying to get your hands on an XDSC before making your decision. Just my .02


text:
At my in-laws and they have a swarm in the wall. It is a two story house and there is normal brick around the first floor. It is cedar type panel above that and the bees are entering where the panel meets the brick.
About two weeks ago I looked, and the bees were entering only in one place. There is now a second location about 10 feet down the wall. He is a good carpenter and I cannot figure out how they moved across something like 6 or 7 studs and now exiting in a new site.
Does this sound like a new hive or is this thing that big?
Second. with standard house building bricks, will bee make comb in those small 1 or so diameter holes in the middle.
We have some other major repairs planned for September, and between now and then I don't think I have time to tear into the wall and repair it. Like I said he is a great carpenter but 75 and just cannot do the repairs himself.
And these are some bees with attitude, walked across the yard towards the edge of the house and at about 6 feet, bang one loved me to death without as much as a head butt hello. But it was thundering and very cloudy, so I expect them to be grumpy. Hauling in pollen like crazy. I put on my suit and veil to get a closer look.
Any ideas how to see if I am going to need to have two hives ready.


text:
Prices of dairy products surged to a record in Fonterra's latest GlobalDairyTrade auction as traders competed for a shrinking volume of milk powder in the face of the continuing impact of drought.
The GDT-TWI Price Index rose 14.2 per cent compared to the last sale two weeks ago, the eighth straight gain. The average winning price rose to US$4,966 a tonne, the highest on record on the GDT platform that began in July 2008, from US$4,683 a tonne two weeks ago. Whole milk powder, the biggest product by volume, rose 7.7 per cent to US$5,100 a tonne.
The total volume of dairy products sold at the latest auction was 13,912 tonnes, down from 15,994 tonnes a fortnight ago and the smallest since the May 17, 2011, sale. Fonterra last month cut its forecast for milk production this season, saying there would be no increase from last year as farmers dry off their herds.
Westpac Bank economist Nathan Penny pointed out this morning that dairy prices had now increased nearly 50 per cent in the last four auctions and have doubled since May 2012.
"We have revised up our 2012/13 season farmgate milk price forecast from $5.65/kg to $6.10/kg as drought coupled with strong Chinese demand continues to push GlobalDairyTrade prices skyward. This equates to a total payout before retentions for a fully-shared up farmer of $6.60 (previously $6.10)," he said.
"The price jumps in recent GlobalDairyTrade auctions have surprised (even shocked) us. Yet, prices for this season's products could still go higher over the next few auctions," said Penny. "Accordingly, our $6.10/kg estimate is conservative. If prices stay at current levels, the farmgate milk price could go as high as $6.40/kg."
Penny said the Westpac forecast is 30 cents higher than Fonterra's current forecasts, but this difference reflected the dramatic price movements over the last two auctions which may not have been fully incorporated into Fonterra's forecasts.
"With prices moving so fast a wide range of final results are possible. We will be watching the GlobalDairyTrade auctions over the next 3 months or so - they will be critical in determining the final farmgate milk price."
"We have also increased our forecast farmgate milk price for the 2013/14 season by 30 cents to $6.20. While we expect dairy prices to eventually settle at a lower level, underlying demand, from China in particular, remains strong. Global supply also remains constrained this year. Overall, the outlook for farmgate milk prices next season looks positive."
Whole milk powder has been leading gains in New Zealand commodity prices, which surged 7.4 per cent in March, the third-biggest gain since at least 1986, according to the ANZ Commodity Price Index.
The price of anhydrous milk fat rose 6.7 per cent to US$4,695 a tonne and butter milk powder rose 0.8 per cent to US$4,595 a tonne. Butter fell 2.7 per cent to US$4,425 a tonne and cheddar gained 6.6 per cent to US$4,622 a tonne.
See more details of the overnight auction here.
Lactose and milk protein concentrate weren't offered. Rennet casein rose 4.4 per cent to US$9,489 a tonne and skim milk powder soared 27.8 per cent to US$5,142 a tonne.
There were 78 winning bidders over 18 rounds. There were 171 participating bidders out of a total number of qualified bidders of 793.


text: |While providing a protective covering for soil, water, and the atmosphere, forests are also renewable sources of an endless variety of products. In a healthy ecosystem, policies and programs must balance economic and conservation needs. This section highlights cases where communities have developed land use practices and businesses that both conserve ecosystems and enhance local economies.


text:
"My husband is a lifelong Red Sox fan and I booked our Red Sox DestiNations as a gift for his 40th birthday. He thanked me all weekend long! We were both impressed with how well everything was run, from the booking process to the actual weekend. No stone was left unturned! Our entire family went and it was so exciting to walk on the field and to go inside the Green Monster. We loved meeting Jarrod Saltalamacchia and the autograph/pictures/Q&A was run so efficiently but without us feeling rushed at all. I love that you take pictures of the group throughout the tour and reception, too, and we can't wait to see them. The whole trip was such a great experience and one that we will all remember forever. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!"
- Cyndi Beal
"We cannot say enough good things about the wonderful trip to Arlington for Opening Day! This terrific package was put together and superbly executed by the RED SOX DestiNATIONs staff. As die-hard Red Sox fans whose mantra was 'We Believe' through the final four games of the 2004 ALCS, we couldn't have imagined such an intimate Red Sox experience, complete with having our photo taken with a Red Sox player. It was our 1st Opening Day ever and surpassed any expectations we might have held. Even though words cannot express our delight and satisfaction, I will throw out a few as examples: Wonderful! Unique! Terrific! Superb! Intimate! Fun! Complete! Professional! Perfect! Excellent! Delightful! However, instead of trying to include the entire Thesaurus for all things too good to be true, we will just say 'Thank You from the bottom of our true-blue Red Sox hearts.' We hope to travel with RED SOX DestiNATIONs again really soon."
- Lew & Eleanor Miller
"I went on the Atlanta trip. And I must say I can't believe that one of my best Red Sox experiences didn't happen at Fenway. The hotel was great, the VIP tour of Turner Field was very cool, the reception, and the food at the reception was delicious. The fireworks Friday night after the game were awesome. My seats were great, and the Red Sox Destinations staff is always willing to go the extra mile to make sure your fun is maximized."
- Rick Howland
"We went on our first Red Sox Destinations trip to Baltimore. It was awesome! Everything was just as advertised and we really appreciated all the extra work that the staff did to secure us the accessible seating for the games and the room at the hotel. The tour of Oriole Park at Camden Yards was very informative and the pregame reception was great. Getting a chance to meet Dustin Pedroia was really an honor - he was so funny! The Red Sox should be very proud to have him as a member of their organization. Thank you again for putting together such a wonderful weekend of pure baseball joy and we are looking forward to seeing next year's schedule of trips."
- Sharon Hoffman and David Montmeny
"I signed up for a Red Sox Destinations package in order to be able to obtain tickets for an entire series between the Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds. I would have been happy with just that much, but this package gave me far more than I ever imagined it would. I was able to spend 3 days rooting for my favorite team with other Red Sox fans, I was able to wear the colors thanks to the wonderful jersey that is part of the package and I was able to meet JD Drew, our featured player for the Cincinnati package. The hard working team who puts these packages together begins with over delivering and improves from there!"
- Susan Sawyer
"This was our first Red Sox Destinations trip and it definitely will not be our last. The Rooftop seats were among the best. The tour of Wrigley Park, touching the famed IVY, sitting in the dugout, what more could a Red Sox fan want. Hotel was first class and Chicago is a first rate city. Lunch with "Salty", autographs and photos. WOW! this trip exceeded all our expectations. I booked this trip for our 34th anniversary and my husband gets to check "touching the Ivy at Wrigley" off his bucket list. Kudos to all the staff. Can't wait till next year to see where we want to go! THANK YOU!"
- Doreen and Greg
"My Red Sox Destinations trip to Chicago was excellent. To me, the key to the trip's excellence was due to the very courteous personalities of the Staff. The great relationships that they had with the Chicago White Sox staff led to excellent seats for the games (grandstand seats near behind the plate for visiting fans -- unbelievable!), a well organized reception and tour, and access to batting practice from the field level seats before the gate opening time. The Staff's friendliness was also quite evident in their sincerity and thoroughness in answering questions. Kudos also to Marco Scutaro for being an entertaining and very accommodating guest at the reception."
- Steve Nishino
"A trip of a life time for my 10 year old son (and husband)! Meeting Terry Francona was a dream for my son. The question and answer part was fantastic as Mr. Francona gave the best answer to my son's question, "How to be a great ball player?" Francona said, "Get a good education!" The Rockies ball park was breath taking, seats were fantastic! We loved every part of Red Sox Destinations. Can't wait to book one for next year."
- Jill Raithel
"The Red Sox provided a trip that I was able to spend with just my father. It's been awhile since we got to hang out just the two of us. Going on this trip provided us with memories that we will never forgot. Thanks again Red Sox Destinations."
- Richard McKinnon
"We looked forward to our third trip with Red Sox Destinations. They make it easy to plan and go on vacation with our favorite Baseball team, the Red Sox, anywhere in the country. The trip is all planned ahead of time all we need to do is arrive at our destination. It is so well organized, and the staff is always professional, friendly staff and welcoming to all."
- Paul & Joy Curdo
"Red Sox Destination is for the true Red Sox fan. As a family trip we registered to attend, we were simply blown away. The hotel, the BBQ, the Q & A, the tour and the games were exciting and built family memories for a lifetime. Our 14 & 18 year old had the time of their lives. We met other families and had a wonderful time. The Staff was very friendly and professional. We will make this a family ball park tradition. Loved every minute of it, thanks Red Sox Destinations!"
- Rosemarie Dugi
"As a Red Sox fan I never imagined looking forward to a trip to Yankee Stadium. Our participation in the Red Sox Destination did just that. I, along with my husband and two boys couldn't wait for our Red Sox Destination vacation. This is our second time booking the Red Sox Destination package and we're already planning on doing it again next year. This is a first class vacation from start to finish. This offer isn't something that every team offers and we couldn't be happier that the Red Sox provide this for their die-hard fans. Green Monster here we come!"
- Meridith Haskins
"I have gone on trips with tour groups to see Red Sox games, but Red Sox Destinations exceeded all of the other game' trips by far. The fact that we got to attend all three games instead of the usual one offered by other tour groups was the main reason we booked through Red Sox Destinations. We were also surprised by the little extras that were thrown in, like getting a chance to try on the World Series rings. Daniel Bard was both gracious and entertaining. The whole staff did a wonderful job. Can't wait to see which trips are planned for 2011."
- Anonymous
"We attended our first Red Sox Destination trip and quite honestly debated as to whether the experience would be a value for the money. We both travel for work and are comfortable arranging travel and attend spring training and away games every year. Our expectations were not only far exceeded but we are already planning on making this an annual best friend's trip and are anxious for next year's schedule. We hope to attend both the spring training and a regular season destination. Thank you for making this an experience of a lifetime and far exceeded expectations for those that have very high ones!"
- Janelle Fairbrother
"My wife and I have been to PNC Park in Pittsburgh several times but the way we experienced it with Red Sox Destinations just blew us away! The guys put together such a first class weekend from the great location of the tickets to the pregame luncheon with Clay Buchholz! We have already decided to do the spring training trip with DestiNations next year! Let's go SOX!!!!!!!"
- Steve Hose
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and the Red Sox Destinations crew for a great time in San Diego. I took my 13 year old nephew with me and we both had a fantastic time. He was thrilled because he was able to see his favorite American League team and his favorite National League team play each other. In addition to seeing three Red Sox games, meeting Kevin Youkilis and touring PETCO Park were two very big highlights for both of us. We will definitely consider traveling again with Red Sox Destinations. The trip was everything it was advertised to be and more. Thanks again."
- Jeanine Hickey
"Our Red Sox trip to San Francisco was amazing. Our hotel was wonderful; proximity to the park was great, as were our seats. What a great feeling to be part of Red Sox Nation in another city, not only at the ball park, but also as we toured the city. We shared and traded stories with fans from all over, who had travelled to San Francisco for one or more of the games. Red Sox fans are the best!!The hospitality we enjoyed at AT&T Park was second to none, both at the games and also on our tour of the facility. Giants' personnel were terrific - we enjoyed a very warm welcome. There were many hi-lights on our trip, but the tour, private lunch, meet and greet and the World Series rings, is one of our favorites! Thank you to the Red Sox Destinations staff! We look forward to another Red Sox destination in the future. Go Sox!"
- Lee Reed
"If you're looking for the BEST Red Sox experience possible, STOP! Your search is over! Absolutely everything, from your hotel to the meet-and-greet with an active player, are included in this package and I guarantee you will not be disappointed. We took this trip to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, our oldest daughter's 21st birthday and our youngest daughter's 18th birthday and the Red Sox crew took fantastic care to ensure this trip would be THE vacation to remember!"
- Jim and Debbie Williams
"My son and I had a blast on our trip to Seattle to see the Red Sox battle the Mariners. The trip was very well organized; we got a fabulous tour of Safeco field, (a terrific venue), we had great seats for the games and we got a chance to meet with Salty for autographs and a good Q&A and; one of the highlights was a chance to actually put the World Series rings on our fingers for some unparalleled photo opportunities. The events schedule and the games kept us on the go but we had a chance to so some sightseeing in Seattle. Overall a great trip and bonding experience doing the thing we like to do together: watching The Sox."
- Jerry Wolosenko
"My husband and I took this trip for our Honeymoon, and we enjoyed ourselves immensely!! The games were GREAT, and our seats were perfect!! The hotel was wonderful, and the other activities that Red Sox Destinations planned for us went beyond our expectations!! We had the time of our lives from the moment we arrived at the hotel, and until we had to enter the cab to drive back to the airport!"
- Claire Wallace
"I have traveled to different baseball parks to see the Red Sox play with my son for the past eight years. This was the first time I let Red Sox Destinations plan my trip and I will definitely do it again. What a great trip and wonderful memories!"
- Theresa Cleveland


text:
Forgot Password? | Not a User? Sign up
Interested in Home Schooling and want to find out more about the Classical Model of education? CC communities offer a friendly, GOD-centered, Christian environment where strong academics are valued for ages 4 through 18.
Meeting is at the First Baptist Church of Evergreen
contact Julie at 303-659-6770


text:
Nicolette and I absolutely love Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a thrill for us as winemakers to bring in perfectly ripe fruit and use it to create our vision of a beautiful wine.
Quality Cabernet Sauvignon starts in the vineyard and our wines start with vines that are farmed by some of the most talented vineyard managers in the Napa Valley. Then we employ time-honored winemaking techniques that can only be used on a very small, personal scale - hand sorting, punching down by hand, extremely gentle wine movements and meticulous caretaking - to produce a rich, balanced, lush Cabernet that we are sure you will enjoy.


text:
By Joe Brewin
Arsène Wenger is confident he can keep his stars at Emirates Stadium and wants to arrange new contracts for them as soon as the season ends.
Negotiations are expected to begin with a number of players after Arsenal's Premier League campaign and Wenger is keen to persuade the likes of Robin van Persie that his future lies with Arsenal.
"[We will try to arrange new contracts] very early," he said. "Yes I am [confident that these players will commit]. To say that I am always confident, yes I am. Of course we want to keep our best players.
"These players want to win things and they want to be in a team that has a chance. Our end of season will help that to help me convince them that they can [here]. It depends now how well we finish.
"Newspapers open talks now. They should inform me how much they offer and for how long because I would like to know!"
Theo Walcott in particular has impressed over the last month and Wenger believes the England winger is developing at a healthy rate.
"We are in the situation [with him] as we are in with Van Persie - it will be sorted out at the end of the season," he said.
"He is playing very well. I think he has improved his technical level a lot, his links with other players and his calmness in front of goal. For me he is developing very well."Copyright 2017 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source


text:
New trainer Bruce Wallace says he will claim only part of a group one victory if stable newcomer Mufhasa pulls off a shock win in the CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Mufhasa, who races in Australia as King Mufhasa, will be having his first start for Wallace since controversially being taken off career-long trainer Stephen McKee two weeks ago.
The fact that he is heading to Melbourne so early is the second shock, with McKee originally intending to start Mufhasa at Te Rapa this Saturday.
However, owner David Archer has instructed Wallace he prefers the A$400,000 CF Orr Stakes, in which Mufhasa could clash with glamour colt All Too Hard, back fresh-up from his Cox Plate second last October.
Mufhasa will leave for Melbourne tonight and the plan is to also contest the Futurity Stakes on February 23.
He will be ridden this time by Melbourne jockey Michael Rodd, as Nash Rawiller, who won the 2011 Toorak Hcp and last year's Futurity aboard the gelding, is injured.
The wrenching of Mufhasa off McKee was an enormous surprise to anybody in racing and one Wallace is adamant he tried to talk Archer out of.
"I was sitting talking with David about some horses coming here and Mufhasa came up and I told him I thought he should try and work things out so he stayed at McKee's," Wallace told the Herald.
"But he told me he had already tried that and by that stage I could see the horse was leaving regardless.
"I felt a bit funny about taking him, of course, but if it wasn't here it was going to be somewhere else."
So has Wallace spoken to McKee about the high-profile change?
"Sticks [Stephen McKee] saw me at the Karaka Million meeting and said, 'G'day Brucey,' and gave me on a pat on the back.
"With guys like him and Trevor [McKee] there is no need to explain anything. They have been around racing long enough to know how these things work sometimes."
But Wallace is adamant any glory garnered on Saturday will be shared with McKee, whether he wants it that way or not.
"As I have told anybody who has asked, the horse came here in magnificent shape and I am not going to be claiming a group one win next to my name if he gets the job done on Saturday.
"As far as I am concerned, we have done our best to look after him and carry on the good work."
Wallace knows that in the eyes of some cynics he is on a hiding to nothing taking on a 10-time group one hero, but says he can't let that bother him.
"We now have a job to do and that is to get him to these next two races in the best shape we can."
And he can see the funny side of the predicament. "Well, we haven't had him long enough to ruin him yet and we haven't done enough with him to improve him."
Taking over the two-time Horse of the Year has come with some other surprises.
"He is hardly the greatest track worker we have ever had," said Wallace.
"He seems happy in himself but on the track you wouldn't think he is who he is."
While Te Rapa officials would have loved to see Mufhasa head there, the Melbourne move has merit.
Outside of All Too Hard, the CF Orr lacks genuine group one depth and the weight-for-age races at the start of carnivals are usually easier to crack than later when the best Australians will be fitter.
"I have no doubts the Futurity in a couple of weeks will be stronger so while Te Rapa would have been easier, we are happy to be taking him to Caulfield on Saturday.
"And the weather reports are good so we will hope for the best."
And a partial group one training credit.
Shock debut for Wallace newcomer
*King Mufhasa will make his debut from his new stables on Saturday.
*He heads to Melbourne for the A$400,000 CF Orr Stakes.
*That means taking on super colt All Too Hard.
*Trainer Bruce Wallace says the veteran superstar is as well as he can be.


text:
Now that's a good thing about sweden... When the first snow comes, rather many stuff shuts down.. Or well, just some buses and a few trains... every thing else works at top noch
Now that's a good thing about sweden... When the first snow comes, rather many stuff shuts down.. Or well, just some buses and a few trains... every thing else works at top noch
((And now, the season premiere of Stargate: Atlantis!))
6x01 "Crossroads, Part 1" (Part 1 of 2)
Synopsis: The Atlantis Expedition struggles to find its place in the Milky Way two months after their return from Pegasus, unsure of what the future holds for the Ancient cityship now adrift in the Pacific Ocean.
Spoiler:((30 second recap of "Enemy at the Gate"))
The sun rises on the Pacific Ocean in mid-spring, illuminating the shimmering spires of the city of Atlantis floating midway between North America and Asia. Numerous naval vessels from the major world powers have formed a blockade around the flying metropolis, and puddle jumpers circle the area. The entire quadrant of the Pacific has been put under quarantine since the battle two months before ("Enemy at the Gate"), as no one wants to chance some radical xenophobes trying to blow up the outpost now that it's back on Earth.
Inside the control tower, Richard Woolsey is fiddling with a Rubik's Cube, looking extraordinarily bored as UN scientists buzz about analyzing every piece of Ancient technology they can get their hands on. After a moment there's a knock on the door, and Woolsey jumps, looking up to see a middle-aged gentleman standing there wearing a drab business suit and carrying a large briefcase. Stepping inside, he introduces himself as Charles Chabot, a Frenchman appointed by the United Nations to oversee the final stages of Atlantis's handover from the Expedition members to an Earth-based task force. Smiling joylessly, Woolsey shakes Chabot's hand and tells him to have a seat so they can go over some details, gazing longingly into the gate room and wondering if this is really going to be his last act as leader of this incredible place. Instead, things will be managed by the International Oversight Advisory, now the Stargate Program watchdog arm of the UN.
On one of the other piers, McKay is in his lab packing up the rest of his equipment. Most of his gear has already been shipped to his new lab at the ISGC, but he wanted to come and pick up the final few instruments himself. Sitting in a chair across the room from him, Sheppard bites into an apple and frowns, muttering that he let himself get used to Pegasus fruits too much; apples actually tastes a bit gross to him now. Tossing it into a nearby waste basket, he stands and walks over to the window, asking Rodney how long he thinks they'll keep up the blockade. Scoffing humorlessly, McKay guesses it'll be there forever, keeping the city from the people it was nearly destroyed trying to defend. The world powers will never let potential rivals get a glimpse of its secrets, and so it will stay sequestered away like this, hidden out of sight and out of mind. Unplugging his laptop from the database, McKay lowers it into a crate marked with US Air Force stickers and shakes his head absently, muttering that that's the last of his stuff. Sighing, Sheppard radios Major Lorne to tell the heavy lifters to head on down to the science labs to collect the remaining equipment and puts his arm around Rodney's shoulder and guides him from the room.
They're only halfway to the control room when they run into Teyla coming back from her own quarters, a bag full of Athosian trinkets slung over her shoulder. Cracking a smile upon seeing them, she says she and Kanaan are all done boxing up their things, although she's not sure how well her family will be acclimated to life on Earth. So much of their history is rooted in another galaxy, and being forced to leave the last part of that life behind is difficult. Sheppard says that they've found a nice place for them in the American Midwest, where they can live off the land just like they did on Athos if they want to. Teyla, however, doesn't sound enthusiastic about the prospect in the least, pointing out that while she may get this chance at happiness, billions of humans in her home galaxy will continue to suffer under the Wraith. It simply doesn't seem fair.
Frowning, Rodney tries to convince her that the United Nations will come around and send a few ships back to continue the war against the Wraith, but even he can't hide the hollowness in his words. They all know that with Atlantis here, the governments of the world have lost all interest in protecting the primitive cultures of Pegasus. And with this new alien race called the Der'kal causing trouble on the fringes of the Milky Way, Earth's efforts are being focused there. Hopefully, the combined might of the galaxy's inhabitants will crush this threat before it gets out of hand, and the war machine can be retooled for intergalactic warfare. But the Wraith will have all this time to rebuild in peace, the last group capable of destroying their stranglehold seemingly vanished into the void. If and when they return, they may just not have the strength to finish the job.
Telling the others to go on ahead, Sheppard says he'll see them and Ronon in the gate room when they leave with the rest of the senior staff. Rodney asks him where he's going, but John just repeats his request for them to continue without him. Turning a corner, he heads into a transporter and taps a button for the far end of the eastern pier.
In the gate room itself, Teyla and McKay arrive to see Ronon waiting with what few personal items he collected over the years in a bag on the floor. Chuck and Amelia are coming down from the control room with suitcases of their own, chatting about how they really don't know anything about what's going on in the world today. Laughing as they pass by, Lorne remarks that he actually had to ask his dad who won the Super Bowl this year, something that has eternally shamed him in his sports-enthusiast family. He and the gate technicians laugh together for a moment, then glance up to the balcony where their replacements are already hard at work at their jobs, running system diagnostics and prepping for offworld duty. It seems they aren't nearly as irreplaceable in the eyes of the United Nations as everyone seems to think.
On the other end of the city, also wondering if he'll ever see his life return to "normal," Todd looks up to see the energy bars of his cell deactivating. Sheppard enters, nodding to the SFs on guard duty, and tells them that they can wait outside. One of them starts to protest that the prisoner is a dangerous alien capable of draining a human's lifeforce, but John just holds up a hand, pointing out that he's well-aware of what a Wraith can do. Shrugging in a "it's your funeral" kind of way, the guards leave he and the alien alone.
Chuckling, Todd commends Sheppard for telling the soldier off, and asks if he'll miss dealing with such wonderful creatures as Wraith on a daily basis. The Colonel shrugs, admitting that escorting newbie scientists offworld doesn't sound nearly as interesting as blasting hive ships out of the sky, but he supposes he'll get used to it. Pegasus was just full of so much more wonder than the Milky Way, though, and it's almost boring to consider an entire galaxy that's already been discovered, every little fascinating nook claimed by someone else long ago. But then his radio crackles with a request for him to report to the gate room for debarkation, and Sheppard wishes Todd farewell for the last time. The Wraith, on the other hand, merely smiles.
Sheppard arrives back in the control tower soon after, and joins the rest of the senior staff in front of the stargate. Extending a hand to him, Woolsey thanks John for giving him a chance to prove he wasn't just another bureaucrat, and to his credit, Sheppard thanks his former commander for proving just that. Their pleasantries completed, an Asgard beam engulfs the group, and the last of the original Atlantis Expedition is whisked away from the city they have for so long called home.
Two weeks later, Dr. Danielle Talbot is standing at the foot of the stargate ramp deep within Cheyenne Mountain, welcoming Colonel Sheppard's new offworld team back from a successful mission to a System Lord-era Goa'uld ruin. The scientist of the unit begins babbling about an interesting alien trinket he found within the caved-in temple complex at once, but Talbot waves the explanation off and tells him to save it for the debriefing. She dismisses the team to go freshen up, but asks John to stay behind for a moment to talk. Eying her curiously but agreeing to walk with her, he follows her out of the gate room and up to her office above the control room, where he finds McKay already waiting, having been summoned after he completed his latest round of experiments.
Talbot motions for the two men to be seated and then slides into her own chair, clasping her hands together on her desk. Speaking plainly, she says that she and a number of other high-ranking members of the Stargate Program are concerned about the threat the Wraith continue to pose, even with Earth's resources being reallocated to assist the galaxy's denizens in dealing with the threat of the Der'kal on the edge of inhabited space. She, along with SG-1 and Jack O'Neill, are afraid that the United Nations is underestimating the resolve the Wraith have to reach their portion of the universe and enact a culling unlike anything they've seen in ten-thousand years.
In light of that, she wants Sheppard and McKay to testify before the UN General Assembly alongside several other Atlantis personnel to petition for, at the very least, a scouting party to head to Pegasus and survey the situation there. Given the Wraith's technological capabilities, leaving an enemy like that alone to amass more forces and try again is more than negligent, and she believes that the world's willingness to turn a blind eye to their neighbor galaxy simply because the Lost City is back in the Milky Way is, honestly, moronic.
Rolling his eyes, Rodney points out that the UN has made up its mind, and that it would just be a waste of their time to fly to New York and back for nothing. Nodding in agreement, Sheppard says that while it's a noble effort, their outlining the threat yet again would likely get nothing accomplished. They tried two months ago and got brushed aside, and he's seen nothing to indicate anyone's opinion back in the Assembly has changed. If having a Wraith armada show up on their doorstep didn't convince them of the gravity of the situation, it's unlikely that anything will short of a second fleet dropping out of hyperspace around them, and he doesn't think that's going to happen anytime in the near-future without the Zero-Point Modules needed to build a superhive. But that said, Sheppard admits that he guesses trying one last time wouldn't hurt, and he agrees to testify at Talbot's hearing if she can convince enough Expedition members to go along, as well.
Meanwhile, on Atlantis itself, Todd is still sitting in his cell, looking surprisingly content with his situation. He even smiles at the SF lowering the energy barrier of his cell to wheel in a cart of barely-edible-looking human food, and thanks him for this "feast" he is so kindly providing. The soldier turns to the other guard and mouths his confusion at the prisoner's pleasant demeanor, but doesn't have time to do anything else before Todd lunches forward and impales him with fingernails, having gone untrimmed for several months and hardened into small, deadly claws. The second SF raises his weapon and thumbs at his radio, but he is likewise dispatched before he can inform the control room of what's happening.
(First part of "Crossroads, Part 1," see next two posts for more.)
Last edited by s09119; June 25th, 2011 at 07:38 PM.
Click the banner or episode links to visit the virtual continuations of Stargate!Previous Episode: 11x03 "Shore Leave" | Previous Episode: 6x04 "Nightfall" | Now Airing: 3x06 "Eldest"The Continuing Stargate Wiki | Stargate: Avalon l The New "Ark of Truth" | Stargate: Universe Reviews | Banner designs by Alx
(More of "Crossroads, Part 1," see previous post for beginning and next post for end.)
Spoiler:Smiling at his handiwork, he glances up at where a camera used to sit in the corner of the room, removed a few weeks before when the new commander of Atlantis decided a single starved Wraith couldn't possibly warrant all the security that Richard Woolsey had heaped on him. But he also knows he can't hesitate now that he's free, and he moves quickly. Extending his left arm, he uses his nails to rip into the skin and dig out a short organic-looking rod that was buried inside. He does the same to his right arm, and soon he has in his hands a pair of the "stunner sticks" he used to incapacitate the crew of the Daedalus the previous year ("First Contact"). He allows himself a laugh at the incompetence of his human captors, trusting that he had no escape plan when he let them take him into custody. They had their purpose in eliminating the superhive, and he was sincere in acknowledging the threat it posed to them, but now that purpose has been served, and it is time he left.
Grabbing one of the fallen SF's pistols, Todd makes his way out of the cell and to the closest transporter, careful to stay out of sight of any security guards or cameras. Slipping inside one of the transport booths, he overrides the simple lockdown measures designed to keep intruders from using them and hits the button for the central tower, disappearing a moment later as the teleportation subroutine activates.
He emerges from another transporter a floor down from the control room and sets out again at once, daring himself to get as close to the stargate as he can without incident. He makes it as far as one hallway away before a passing marine crosses his path and goes for his radio, but Todd is more than prepared, having been waiting months for this moment. Informing the soldier that it's too little, too late, he slams the stunner sticks together, letting out a massive pulse of blue energy that sweeps through the control tower, knocking out everyone in the immediate area. Now allowing himself a full bout of victory laughter, Todd strolls into the control room unopposed, passing the unconscious Charles Chabot with a smirk. He makes his way to the DHD and dials up an eight-symbol address from memory, knowing he has more than enough time before any security forces reach him.
In orbit, Col. Steven Caldwell is sitting in his command chair on the DSC-304 Daedalus when a sensor console beeps urgently. He asks his helmsman what's going on, and the officer replies that they're picking up a disturbance on Earth's surface, emanating from Atlantis. Immediately concerned, Caldwell asks to be patched through to the city, but doesn't get a response. Eyes widening as he stares at the readout of just what kind of "disturbance" they're dealing with, he turns and shouts for a detachment of marines to be beamed to the control tower that instant, before its too late. And in the control room, Todd strides confidently to the now-active stargate, savoring the knowledge that freedom is just a few inches away. He looks back just in time to see a group of human soldiers materializing behind him, but once again, it's too little, too late. He takes the final step into the event horizon, and the portal shuts down before the marines can even get their weapons trained. He's gone.
A few days later, Sheppard and McKay are back on Atlantis, sitting in the conference room alongside Jack O'Neill and Richard Woolsey and listening to Mr. Chabot try and explain that they were "overwhelmed" by Todd's "sneak attack." But O'Neill has read the reports of the incident and knows that all evidence points to their prisoner simply breaking out of his cell and overriding a transporter, something that could have been avoided had cameras simply been kept in the cell block. But no, they just had to be removed, and now a Wraith who has seen Earth and its defenses is loose in the Pegasus Galaxy again, this time without their having a local presence to bring him in. Chabot sighs, admitting that it was an oversight, but insists that they have nothing to fear from an outcast commander that has had his entire power base destroyed.
Woolsey, though, has a different take on things, and reveals that he has received authorization from the President to dispatch the Daedalus to the Pegasus Galaxy to gather intelligence on whether or not Todd's escape has jeopardized them at all and, if at all possible, to apprehend their prisoner once more. Glancing at Sheppard and McKay, he adds that Danielle Talbot has given her consent for them to join Colonel Caldwell on the mission, should they desire, as well as their former teammates Teyla Emmagan and Ronon Dex. John thanks him for the opportunity and answers for himself and Rodney that they'd be honored to take part, and gives a "told you so" grin to Chabot before standing to leave.
While the others adjourn, O'Neill grabs Woolsey's sleeve and says that there's one more thing to cover. In light of the UN-appointed lackey's failure to handle something like this, Jack had the President pull some strings to get Woolsey reinstated as commander of Atlantis pending a full review of Todd's escape. Overjoyed at the prospect of having his old job back, Richard takes his hand and thanks him for doing this, and O'Neill smiles back awkwardly before making his way out into the control room, wondering if he ever thought he'd be going to bat for a one-time member of the IOA a few years ago.
A short montage of brief clips highlights the events of the next few days; Rodney arriving at Teyla and Kanaan's house in Utah to ask her to join them on one more mission, Sheppard finding Ronon at a shooting range and recruiting him for the job, Colonel Caldwell overseeing his crew load up on supplies for the trek to Pegasus, Woolsey settling back into his office in Atlantis and unpacking his belongings, and Talbot supervising the beaming up of critical equipment from the ISGC to the orbiting Daedalus. After a long week of work, though, everything is finally set.
Staring down at Earth from the bridge of the original DSC-304 herself, Sheppard turns to see McKay, Teyla, and Ronon standing in their Expedition offworld uniforms like nothing had ever changed. Glancing at Caldwell, he tells the Colonel that they're ready to go, and the ship's captain turns to his pilot and gives the order to set out. The ship breaks orbit and maneuvers through the Asgard defense grid, then opens a hyperspace window and vanishes.
The three week journey passes uneventfully, and it isn't long before the Daedalus is hovering above New Athos, where Sheppard has decided to begin their search. He and his team will get what intelligence they can from the Athosians and then head out through the stargate to some of their allies to gather what everyone knows and see if it adds up to one big truth. Caldwell, meanwhile, will scout the areas they know major Wraith factions employ as staging grounds and try and get an accurate figure on the number of ships they have remaining. Before transporting the team down to the planet, though, Caldwell reminds Sheppard that they've been away from Pegasus for over three months now, and there's no telling what may have transpired in their absence. John promises to be careful and nods to the helmsman, saying that he and the others are ready to depart.
Shortly after, the foursome can be seen approaching the main Athosians settlement on foot, Teyla expressing just how good it is to see the trademark tents of her people still standing. Ronon grudgingly admits it's nice to breathe some Pegasus Galaxy air again, but then freezes when he hears a rustle from the underbrush ahead. He draws his pistol, the others quickly following suit, and waits patiently, scanning the dirt path for signs of danger. But Sheppard doesn't want to play the waiting game, and instead calls out that he's from Atlantis and comes in peace, not wanting to startle anyone.
After a long, tense moment, Halling and a small group of Athosian men emerge from the trees, some gingerly carrying Earth-made guns and others armed with their own bows or knives. Approaching with some measure of caution, Halling asks if his eyes are deceiving him, or if this really is the Colonel Sheppard they know from Atlantis. Confused as to why he would ask that, John says that of course it's him, and explains that they didn't intend to frighten the villagers. One of the other Athosians nods, glancing around warily, and tells Sheppard and his team to come into the settlement itself, where they can speak in peace. No one wants to be out in the forest this late at night, and they'd all feel much safer surrounded by the others. McKay starts to ask what has them all so spooked, but Teyla grabs his shoulder and shakes her head, muttering that there will doubtless be time for his questions later. They all lower their weapons and follow the villagers toward the encampment, trying to figure out what could cause their oldest friends to be so afraid.
When they're inside one of the larger tents, with a few armed men standing guard outside, Halling apologizes for the rather rude welcome, but goes on to say that times have changed since they last spoke. A rumor has swept Pegasus that the Wraith have destroyed Atlantis and made their way to the Atlantean homeworld, and before anything else, he must know if that is true. They have spent many weeks attempting to contact the Ancestral city, but having all their tries meet with failure only seemed to confirm the stories, at least until now. McKay gladly puts the rumor to rest, though, pointing out that they weren't able to reach them because they had to fly the city to Earth to fend off the Wraith attack, which was thankfully halted before a culling could begin.
Reaching over to her old friend, Teyla asks what has happened here since they've been gone, and Halling's face goes dark at once. He begins by setting the time frame, as all this began shortly after they lost contact with Atlantis, and begins; the Wraith Civil War seems to be growing more violent than ever, but something has changed. From what their more-advanced trading partners tell them, the smaller factions are merging together in an effort to combat the strength of one group rising above the rest. Where there were once a hundred tiny factions, there are now only a handful of incredibly powerful ones, and the devastation being wrought is unprecedented since the last Great Holocaust. In fact, the enormity of the cullings being carried out these past few months has prompted many to deem this era the next Holocaust itself, and Halling doesn't see much reason why they would be wrong.
The Wraith descended on New Athos a few weeks ago, but the long-standing Athosian alliance with Atlantis proved to be their salvation. Their Earth-built weaponry was enough to drive off the attack, as the Wraith had not expected heavy resistance from a society of hunter-gatherers, but both sides took heavy losses. Two villages to the east were destroyed by darts, and one of the settlements to the west had to be evacuated to the main camp here. Things haven't seemed this bleak in many generations, and without a major power to fight for the human worlds, it looks as though the Civil War will soon end, giving the Wraith a united force with which to obliterate all the progress the galaxy has made since the Atlanteans arrived.
Last edited by s09119; June 24th, 2011 at 08:37 PM.
Click the banner or episode links to visit the virtual continuations of Stargate!Previous Episode: 11x03 "Shore Leave" | Previous Episode: 6x04 "Nightfall" | Now Airing: 3x06 "Eldest"The Continuing Stargate Wiki | Stargate: Avalon l The New "Ark of Truth" | Stargate: Universe Reviews | Banner designs by Alx
(End of "Crossroads, Part 1," see previous two posts for beginning.)
Spoiler:Sheppard and his team stay for a few more hours, learning that if they want more-detailed information on the situation, they should try contacting the Genii, seeing as they are now the foremost group fighting the Wraith. Sheppard thanks him for the information and promises to see what they can do, and Teyla wishes Halling and her people the best of luck until they can speak again. The team gets up to leave, gathering their belongings and stretching their legs, but McKay notices Teyla has suddenly been overcome by the strangest look. He asks her what's wrong, and his face drains of all color when she whispers that she can sense the Wraith.
Grabbing their guns, Sheppard and Ronon rush outside and look to the skies just in time to see darts streaming down from orbit and the shadow of two Wraith cruisers descending toward the settlement. Swearing, John takes aim at the closest fighter and fires, guessing that they got here just in time for the aliens' second try at culling the planet. Coming out of the tent himself, McKay says that they have enough time to get to the stargate and dial out before things get too bad, but Sheppard has already decided that he's not going to just abandon these people again. Turning to Teyla, he tells her to get her people organized, then grabs Rodney and Ronon and runs for the watchtower erected in the center of the village, hoping to set up an anti-air post to knock down the darts as they get closer.
On the other side of the settlement, Teyla is sprinting for the makeshift armory the Athosians have set up, crying out as blue plasma begins ripping into the tents around her. One dart in particular swoops down from behind her and flips on its culling beam, making straight for her position. Teyla brings up her gun, but trips over a gnarled root and falls, her mouth open in horror as the alien craft comes closer. Just before she would be captured, though, a group of Athosian warriors come around the corner armed with P90s and M4s and blast the front of the dart, causing it to spin out of control and careen off into the forest. Breathing heavily, Teyla thanks them for the assistance, then gets back on her feet and tells the men to get the rest of the villagers armed so they have a fighting chance at surviving this.
Further away, Sheppard is leading Rodney and Ronon up the side of the village watchtower, getting off a few shots at passing darts as he goes. They're almost at the top when one of the fighters comes in low and fast and culls the top of the tower itself, whisking away the two Athosians that had been posted there. McKay shouts out in despair, but Sheppard pushes on, knowing that there will be time to mourn those lost later. He reaches the platform at the apex and pulls the other two up after him, running to the edge and laying down suppressive fire at the darts, trying to keep them on the edges of the settlement for as long as possible.
Landing a hit on one of them and sending it crashing into the outskirts, Ronon shouts that this is useless, since even if they can keep the fighters away, the cruisers will eventually just blast them from higher up and be done with it. McKay agrees, suggesting they radio Teyla to get the stargate dialed out to somewhere and begin evacuating the Athosians. That option goes out the window when the portal begins dialing on its own, though, likely from the dialing device inside one of the darts, and the gate activates a moment later, trapping them here. Taking a moment to pause and think, Sheppard looks down at the village below, watching as darts fire from afar and set tent after tent to flames. Then he notices one dart in particular breaking with the others and curving around... coming in right at the watchtower!
He alerts Ronon and McKay to the inbound hostile and the three of them focus everything they have on it. After a few seconds, they manage to blow its cockpit apart, but that only succeeds in causing the dart to lose control, and it plows headlong into the base of the tower, snapping the support poles and sending the raised platform tumbling down. Watching from the other side of the settlement, Teyla screams, looking on helplessly as her friends plummet to the ground below.
Among the wreckage of the sentry post, Sheppard slowly pulls himself to his feet, battered and bruised but otherwise unharmed, and checks to make sure the others are likewise alright. He turns, hearing an odd buzzing in the air, and sees yet another dart headed for his position, but realizes that his P90 must have been knocked out of his hands in the fall. Grabbing the pistol out of his holster, he keeps it trained on the fighter, but it doesn't move to cull them. Instead, it loops around and materializes a group of Wraith stored in its buffer just in front of the three Atlantis personnel, all of which are armed with stunners.
While the Wraith forces continue their decimation of New Athos, the leader of the group steps forward, smacking his hands together and grinning at Sheppard, McKay, and Ronon. Pointing his stunner pistol at them, Todd says that it's so good to see them again so soon, leaving John to wonder what he just got himself and his team into...
((To Be Continued))
Last edited by s09119; June 24th, 2011 at 08:40 PM.
Click the banner or episode links to visit the virtual continuations of Stargate!Previous Episode: 11x03 "Shore Leave" | Previous Episode: 6x04 "Nightfall" | Now Airing: 3x06 "Eldest"The Continuing Stargate Wiki | Stargate: Avalon l The New "Ark of Truth" | Stargate: Universe Reviews | Banner designs by Alx
*rubs hands together* I like , I like...
It's an interesting start to Season 6, and I wonder what Todd is really up to.
It's also great to see an episode again, after so much time without one. But I understand if you've been busy with other stuff.
Great episode! I say like EvilSpaceAlien, I wounder what Tod's going at...
WOW that is great!!!!
aye that was good! s6 seems to be quite intresting.
Haha! He's alive. *rubs hands together* But I have to say, the suspense of waiting for The Forerunners is killing me.
That was really good. I have no idea where you're going with this, and that's a good thing. Hope we get the next one soon!
Proud supporter of His holy BAGness!
I liked that you showed the Wraith using misinformation by spreading rumors of destroying the Atlantean home world. To destroy the hope of the people in Pegasus.
6x02 "Crossroads, Part 2" (Part 2 of 2)
Synopsis: Cut off and under fire, Sheppard and his team find that times have changed in the Pegasus Galaxy while the Daedalus investigates the sudden renewed ferocity of the Wraith.
Spoiler:((45 second recap of "Enemy at the Gate" and "Crossroads, Part 1"))
On Earth, Richard Woolsey is in the Atlantis control room going over a star chart of the region of Pegasus that the Daedalus was dispatched to. Taking off his glasses, he rubs at his eyes and checks his watch, seeing that it's already past midnight. One of the passing gate technicians suggests he get some rest, but Woolsey waves the man off, saying that he still has some paperwork to do anyway. He turns off the monitor he was working at and heads across to his office, shutting the door and sinking heavily into his chair. It's been nearly a month since the ship left for the galactic void, and as much as he hates to admit it, he's worried. With no reinforcements remotely close at hand, if something were to go wrong, Sheppard and his team will be completely on their own...
...just as they are on New Athos, where Sheppard, Ronon, and McKay stand in the debris pile that is all that remains of the Athosian settlement's watchtower. Todd stands across from them, his cadre of Wraith warriors making sure to keep their stunners trained on the humans, and remarks that he knew it would only be a matter of time before the nosy Atlanteans would send a ship back to this galaxy. He wasn't entirely sure where they'd go first, but he sees now that they were fated to meet up again. They choose the day he returns to finish culling this pathetic planet to visit, and if that isn't proof that destiny is bringing them together, he doesn't know what is.
Keeping his finger on his pistol's trigger, Sheppard replies that he doesn't subscribe to the theory of predestination, and even if he did, the only reason they came here was to bring Todd in anyway. He's only helping them do their job by conveniently showing up like this. McKay adds that the Daedalus is probably already on its way back, so it would be in Todd's best interest to let them go and get out of here before it shows up and blasts his ships into dust, but the Wraith doesn't buy it. He knows enough about Atlantis's primary offworld team to know when they're bluffing, and this is just another example. The Daedalus won't be back for days, giving him all the time he needs to remove the people who have been a perpetual thorn in his side. He shoots off a stunner bolt that knocks Sheppard's pistol out of his hand, and prepares to deliver the final blow to his most-persistent adversaries.
Suddenly, however, the sky lights up behind them, and a massive explosion rips through the air. Todd turns to see one of his two cruisers exploding as dozens of newly-arrived darts swarm down through the clouds and begin shooting down his own fighters with frightening accuracy. Sheppard and the others look up, watching a Wraith cruiser obviously not under Todd's control target his second ship and begin ripping into its hull. Watching Todd's mouth hang open in shock, Ronon asks if everything's still going according to plan, grinning happily as more and more darts are blown apart mid-flight.
Unsure as to who this new arrival is but glad they showed up when they did, Sheppard tells Todd he'll see him around and pulls McKay and Ronon behind a pile of wreckage, the Wraith warriors taking notice and firing at them too late to land a hit. Enraged, Todd roars that this isn't over, then steps back with his men and lets a passing dart beam them into its buffer before it pulls out of the dogfighting and makes straight for orbit. Ronon watches it go and mutters that of course the Wraith run like cowards, but John reminds him that this isn't the time to sit around. They spot Teyla across the settlement and rush over, joining the Athosians in fending off the last few remaining darts now that the two rival squadrons have bled each other dry.
In space, meanwhile, Todd's dart emerges from the atmosphere in time to see a massive battle raging, with four hive ships allied with Todd taking heavy fire from two others. Despite the numerical advantage, Todd's faction doesn't seem to be doing very well at all, and their adversaries' weaponry appears to be far superior to their own. Whatever the reason, his dart manages to avoid being destroyed just long enough to slip inside the hanger bay of his least-damaged hive, and it and two of its escorts open a hyperspace window and escape. The fourth vessel, however, is unable to get its hyperdrive online in time, and is utterly obliterated within seconds.
Back on the surface of New Athos, Sheppard and his team watch as the surviving darts suddenly break off their assault, despite their vulnerability to a massed attack, and head for orbit. They dock with their carrier hives and, like Todd's forces, retreat into hyperspace. But watching the sudden withdrawal from the planet itself, McKay can only question why another faction of Wraith would arrive, engage Todd, achieve complete control of the region, and then just pack up and go when there's a whole settlement of humans ripe for culling. Teyla admits it is very suspicious, but she's not going to question their good luck. In any case, the newcomers must have destroyed whatever ship dialed the stargate, since she points to where the portal now sits inactive and suggests they gather the inhabitants of the surrounding villages and evacuate. The planet is clearly no longer a secure place for the Athosians, but there are several other worlds that will take in her people temporarily until they locate a suitable replacement. In agreement, Sheppard agrees to postpone their mission for a few hours, and the group gets to work.
Quite a few thousand light-years away, the Daedalus is cruising through hyperspace approaching its next pit-stop. Sitting in his command chair, Colonel Steven Caldwell is leafing through technical readouts of scans they took of three previous locations, all having once been hangouts for the Wraith but apparently now abandoned. Something has definitely changed the landscape of Pegasus while Earth's attention was focused elsewhere, and he doesn't like it. Their next destination is the Hoffan system, where, after decimating the Hoffans themselves ("Poisoning the Well"), the Wraith set up a command outpost to act as a rear guard on their march to siege Atlantis five years ago ("The Siege"). Its fate after the outbreak of the Wraith Civil War is unknown, but Caldwell wants to investigate anyway, seeing how it had such a pivotal role to play in supplying the armada that attacked Lantea half a decade before.
Checking his instruments, the sensor technician reports that they're coming up on the star system now, and Caldwell asks for all weapons and shields primed the second they exit hyperspace. Nodding at Major Marks, he gives the order to drop out, and prepares to see what's left of the Hoffans and their world. The ship barely gets out of its subspace window, however, before blue bursts of plasma begin flying at them from all directions, and the shields flicker up just in time to catch the barrage. Shouting to target everything in sight and fire, Caldwell stands and goes over to the forward window, realizing after a moment that they emerged directly in the middle of a massive Wraith shipyard teeming with orbital cannons they've never seen before. This place was built for defense, and the Daedalus barrel-rolls under an in-construction hive ship close enough for a quick scan of the superstructure.
A hive ship sitting just a little ways away from the shipyard opens fire the second they're in the open, and the craft rocks noticeably. Marks reports that they're taking far more damage than normal Wraith weaponry would deal, thought the shields aren't anywhere near danger of collapse yet. That said, he's cutting their estimated time until they need to pull out against a single hive from the usual few minutes to one at max to be safe. Caldwell confirms the change and orders the hyperdrive primed for when they need to and directs the gunners to target the still-exposed reactor of the closest vessel being built. It erupts into a fireball an instant later, and the crew cheers in success.
Watching his Asgard beam weapons tear through a pair of cruisers in drydock, Caldwell decides he's had enough of this. He knows that one ship can't take down all the defenses alone, and so he gets one more flyby to scan the turrets themselves and then orders a jump back into hyperspace, headed for their predetermined rendezvous. Once back in the safety of faster-than-light travel, the Colonel asks to see what they got from their probing. The sensors officer brings up the results on his terminal and motions for Caldwell to take a look; interestingly, the ships being built don't appear entirely organic, which would explain why they're constructed in drydock instead of grown on the ground. In fact, these models have naquadah being infused throughout the hull, possibly to speed power along to vital systems, a trick introduced by the Goa'uld and followed up on by the later ships of the Asgard and eventually by Earth.
But as fascinating as that is, considering the Wraith have never employed naquadah in their ships before, that isn't the most-striking thing gleaned by the scan. A closer look at the orbital turrets they encountered reveals that they have an incredible similarity to the turrets that make up the Asgard defense grid orbiting Earth, right down to the basic shape. The weaponry inside them is still distinctly Wraith in origin, but the design of the casing is unmistakable. Somehow, whatever faction controls that shipyard has access to at least a visual log of Earth's defenses, and that may be the most-frightening thing of all.
Across the galactic void, Woolsey is going over the list of United Nations personnel at work within Atlantis when someone knocks at his office door. Glancing up, he sees Dr. Radek Zelenka standing there, a duffel bag in hand, having been requested by Woolsey to return from his assignment helping to repair the Ancient outpost in Antarctica. Zelenka thanks him for getting him out of there, as trying to put the place back together after the Wraith caved the complex in during their attack ("Enemy at the Gate") was both tedious and dull. But the work is almost complete anyway, and the weapons platform should be ready for use again within the month.
That's not why Woolsey had him transferred back, however; with Dr. McKay indisposed in the Pegasus Galaxy, Samantha Carter leading SG-1, and Dr. Nicholas Rush missing in action (SGU: "Air, Part 1"), the three arguably greatest minds Earth has are all incapable of getting Atlantis back in order, and so that leaves Radek. Somewhat insulted, Zelenka begins to argue that he was instrumental in the city's survival thus far, but Woolsey cuts in to explain that he meant no offense, but was simply speaking plainly. He mutters that he guesses he still has some insensitive bureaucrat tendencies to get rid of, but that's for another time. The city's been shackled by the UN's scientific team, and he wants Zelenka to see who among them is worth being kept on. He's decided that Elizabeth Weir put together her Expedition team the way she did for a reason, and if he's going to supervise Atlantis, regardless of what galaxy it's in, those are the people he wants working under him.
(Beginning of "Crossroads, Part 2," see next two posts for more.)
Last edited by s09119; June 24th, 2011 at 08:52 PM.
Click the banner or episode links to visit the virtual continuations of Stargate!Previous Episode: 11x03 "Shore Leave" | Previous Episode: 6x04 "Nightfall" | Now Airing: 3x06 "Eldest"The Continuing Stargate Wiki | Stargate: Avalon l The New "Ark of Truth" | Stargate: Universe Reviews | Banner designs by Alx
(More of "Crossroads, Part 2," see previous post for beginning and next post for end.)
Spoiler:Finding this viewpoint refreshing after years of increasing IOA, and later United Nations, interference on Atlantis, Zelenka says that he'll do it on one condition; he wants to have a science department that receives equal equipment, allotted offworld time, and funding to McKay's, something Woolsey is happy to grant. Jubilant that he at long last gets what he wants, Zelenka picks up his bags and heads off for his old quarters, leaving Woolsey to return to his ever-growing stack of paperwork.
Meanwhile, it's midday on New Athos, and evacuations to Manaria are going smoothly. Despite the planet's betrayal of Atlantis to the Genii years ago ("The Storm"), it has since joined the Coalition of Planets ("Inquisition"), bringing its relationship with the Atlanteans and Athosians back to reputable status. Shepherding a few farmer families from another settlement toward the stargate, Teyla shouts to McKay that she thinks the last few groups are arriving now, and that they should be done very soon. A short distance away, Sheppard and Ronon are helping Halling dismantle the last tent that wasn't destroyed in the Wraith attack for transit. The aging Athosian thanks John for his timely arrival, inclining his head gratefully, before he and a few other remaining villagers pick up their belongings and head through the event horizon.
Wiping some sweat from his brow, Sheppard says that they should probably get going now if they want to talk to the Genii before they're supposed to meet with the Daedalus. Rodney starts dialing up the stargate, but before they leave, Teyla makes a point to come over and thank John for staying to defend her people. He points out that he would do the same for anyone, but the Athosians were the first ones to show them kindness when the Expedition arrived from Earth. He could no more abandon them to the Wraith than he could his own people. Smiling at him and murmuring that she knows, Teyla leads the team through the gate, not looking back at the scarred wasteland that New Athos has become.
A wormhole transition later, the four of them emerge on the Genii homeworld to be greeted by the muzzles of several rifles. Sora and a group of Genii soldiers stand there, their clothes worn and tattered and looking incredibly tired. Raising his arms, Sheppard asks what's up with the less-than-warm welcome, and Sora lowers her gun apologetically. Despite their differences in the past, she knows their people are allies now, but that has nothing to do with this; the Wraith have been sending squads of warriors through for days now, trying to scout their weaknesses for the inevitable culling, and they were just making sure it wasn't them again this time. She takes their presence as evidence that the widespread rumor of Atlantis's destruction (again) is wrong, and she's never been so happy to hear that. Ever since contact with the Atlanteans was lost, the Wraith seem to be more driven than ever in devastating human worlds, and the Genii are no exception.
Speaking of that, Sheppard says that the Athosians said Sora and her people knew something more about the current Wraith activity than any other race of humans and asks if they're willing to share. Laughing, Sora informs him that the Athosians give them too much credit, and any edge they had in gathering intelligence in long gone. Almost three months ago now, the Wraith began hitting their spying outposts one by one, knocking out their eyes and ears in critical locations. She has no idea how they've organized so well when just a few months ago they looked to be on the verge of destroying themselves, but it's honestly scaring her more than anything else in her life. The Coalition pretends that it has a chance of fighting against the Wraith if they were to ever unite again, but most people know just how outmatched they really are.
Sora leads the team to the above ground Genii village that they use to fool visitors into thinking they are a primitive people, but it looks nothing like it did before. Many of the buildings have been reduced to rubble, and soldiers stand at the ready everywhere. Apparently, they used to use the village to house refugees from other Coalition planets until they could find safe havens to send them, but a Wraith culling came at exactly the wrong time, and over a thousand of the displaced were taken in a battle that left dozens of Genii dead. That short-lived experiment in trying to get rid of the Genii stereotype of being cold and uncharitable failed horribly, and they've militarized the surface settlements ever since.
Sitting inside the tavern, Ladon Radim stands to greet the team, apologizing that they don't have the resources to spare to give them a proper welcome. But regardless, he offers to tell them whatever they want to know. Weakened though they may be, the Genii remain the best-informed race in twelve galaxies, and if it means returning an ally thought to be gone for good, he'll share what he has. Surprised to see the Genii so willing to talk, but guessing that the changed state of the galaxy will do that to a people, Sheppard agrees and sits down to parley.
Several hours later, Sheppard's team arrives via stargate at the old Pegasus Alpha Site, still set up but its personnel and equipment having been evacuated to Atlantis before it lifted off for Earth. At once, they're beamed to the Daedalus, waiting in orbit, and they go on to exchange what they learned; Caldwell is surprised to hear that the Wraith just attacked New Athos and then fled, and Sheppard is likewise shocked to hear that hive ships are being built with Milky Way technology in mind. But one thing seems certain, above all else, and that's that a new faction of Wraith is quickly rising above the rest, using new techniques and new strategies to dominate the playing field.
Leaning back in his chair, Caldwell tells McKay that he had his men go over the readings from when they engaged a significantly more-powerful hive ship at the Hoffan shipyards, and they determined that its weapons' power signature is similar, though not identical, to that of their Asgard plasma beams. That explains why it was draining their shields at a far faster rate than any ship has since the superhive, and although this craft is still a far cry from that mammoth ship that attacked Earth, it's certainly a big step up. Nodding, McKay adds that it may also explain why Todd's cruisers were shredded so quickly, provided this is the same faction of Wraith in both scenarios. And hopefully it is, because if these advancements are being shared amongst many groups, fighting the enemy as a whole just got a lot more difficult. But given the nature of the civil war, Ronon doesn't think that's likely. These new weapons and enhancements will stay with one group until another one knocks them off their pedestal. Assuming, of course, that one can... and that thought sobers everyone.
Just then a sensors terminal beeps, and Marks looks down to see the radar reporting a fleet of Wraith ships dropping out of hyperspace directly on top of them. Caldwell orders the vessel to battle readiness as the first plasma blasts slam into the rear shields, and the craft comes about to engage the enemy head on. There look to be five hive ships and three cruisers flying in formation, and their concentrating their fire on one specific point in an effort to punch through the DSC-304's defenses as soon as possible. The Daedalus launches a salvo of nukes, but they're shot down kilometers away from their targets, only succeeding in wiping out a few squadrons of incoming darts.
Grabbing onto a console as the ship is rocked by impacts, Sheppard asks how in the world the Wraith tracked them here. Offering the first thing that comes to mind, McKay guesses they stumbled upon the Alpha Site while they were away and were watching it, or perhaps Michael Kenmore managed to extrapolate its position from his brief stay there ("Michael") and passed it on to others before his demise. Whatever the case, it doesn't matter now, but they need to get out of here before they end up as little more than dust.
Spinning between two hives, the ship lances out with its Asgard weapons and lands a direct hit on one of them, but it only achieves minimal damage. A system failure alarm begins blaring as the shields start to buckle under so much combined fire, and Caldwell reluctantly gives the order to punch the hyperdrive. A window opens and the ship shoots into it, departing the last Atlantean outpost in Pegasus and setting in a direct course for home. They've done all they can, and apparently the Wraith are now wise to their presence. It's time to head back to Earth and report in.
And a few weeks later, the sun is again rising on Atlantis, a sparkling jewel all alone on the Pacific aside from its accompanying naval ships. In the conference room, Sheppard, McKay, and Caldwell are finishing up being debriefed by Woolsey, giving their last thoughts on what the situation seems like in the Pegasus Galaxy. Watching via monitor are Danielle Talbot and Jack O'Neill, representing the interests of the ISGC and Pentagon, respectively. A lone United Nations representative sits on the opposite side of the table from the Expedition members, looking on with no expression whatsoever.
In summary, Caldwell admits that he never expected to see the incredible changes he did when they departed a month and a half ago, but the evidence is irrefutable; the Wraith Civil War is winding down, and he wouldn't be surprised if one faction finally united the others in only a few years. If the UN was planning on them to simply destroy themselves and stay busy with it for decades, they were wrong. Eventually, they'll be done fighting, and then they'll set their sights back on locating and culling Earth and the rest of their galaxy. If they want to keep that from happening, they'll need to move now, while the factions are still at war, because what he saw proved without a doubt that they're quickly becoming more powerful than ever, with new weapons and tactics to back up the claim. For once in agreement with Caldwell, McKay reminds the superiors that all their Pegasus contacts confirmed that this only began once they abandoned the region, and perhaps that alone says something about what may have emboldened the Wraith in the first place.
Last edited by s09119; June 24th, 2011 at 09:03 PM.
Click the banner or episode links to visit the virtual continuations of Stargate!Previous Episode: 11x03 "Shore Leave" | Previous Episode: 6x04 "Nightfall" | Now Airing: 3x06 "Eldest"The Continuing Stargate Wiki | Stargate: Avalon l The New "Ark of Truth" | Stargate: Universe Reviews | Banner designs by Alx
(End of "Crossroads, Part 2," see previous two posts for beginning.)
Spoiler:After sitting in silence for a few moments to take it all in, both Talbot and O'Neill give their recommendations to reinstate the Atlantis Expedition immediately and send the city back to Pegasus to engage the Wraith. Earth can use he majority of its resources to assist its allies in fighting their enemies here, but the Expedition has proven uniquely suited to the threats of that neighboring galaxy, and they need the tools they're most-familiar with to do their job. Those tools are contained within Atlantis, and it would be in the UN's best interest to give them what they need. Grudgingly, the UN representative admits that he thinks they are correct, but he warns that his superiors will not be happy hearing that they want to send the most-valuable piece of technology Earth has yet encountered back to a warzone. Nevertheless, he promises to plead their case, picks up his briefcase, and walks out.
Smiling from her monitor, Talbot thanks Sheppard and McKay, then winks out as someone at the ISGC cuts the link. O'Neill also has some congratulatory words for them, but asks John to try and not get the city destroyed if the mission is re-approved before leaving himself. Stepping in from the corridor, Teyla and Ronon ask what the United Nations decided, but Woolsey explains to them that it will be a few days before they get a final answer. That said, the odds seem to be in their favor...
...and a trip across the intergalactic void later, Atlantis emerges from hyperspace over M35-117, John Sheppard expertly guiding the cityship down through the atmosphere to land just a kilometer or two away from where it sat less than half a year before. As he arrives back in the control tower from the chair room, he sees McKay, Teyla, Ronon, and Woolsey standing around the main monitor, looking over the diagram of their new location. Chuck and Amelia Banks are again at their terminals, hard at work, and Zelenka can be seen on the other side of the control room arguing with a few colleagues in Czech. Major Lorne, standing nearby, just shakes his head, chuckling.
Clapping his hands together, thrilled to be back, McKay says he's going to go help Jennifer Keller get situated in the infirmary again and runs off. Teyla remarks that she should probably see about how Kanaan's doing, as she's left him alone with Torren for some time now, and she departs. Feeling awkward, Ronon mutters that he's sure there's something he should be doing, and he says goodnight to Sheppard and heads toward the stairs.
Sheppard himself starts to go, but Woolsey grabs his arm, asking him to join him on the walkway leading to his office for a moment. John follows him to the appointed place and asks what's wrong, to which Woolsey replies that he's been going over his and Colonel Caldwell's reports from their scouting mission, and he's realized something. All these advances some Wraith are making are distinctly Milky Way in origin, particularly from Earth in regards to the orbital turrets the Daedalus engaged. And after thinking through it all, he's realized that there's only one logical explanation.
Grimacing, John nods, having hoped he was the only one thinking it. But Woolsey's right, and only one Wraith has ever that in-depth look at Earth's defenses, though they had not believed he would live to tell the tale. Whoever was behind the assault on Earth a few months ago did not die on the superhive, as they had believed, and he seems to have returned to Pegasus with a vengeance.
And light-years away, standing on the bridge of his personal hive ship, Khan stares at a hologram of the Pegasus Galaxy and smiles. For he is well-aware that the war has only just begun.
Click the banner or episode links to visit the virtual continuations of Stargate!Previous Episode: 11x03 "Shore Leave" | Previous Episode: 6x04 "Nightfall" | Now Airing: 3x06 "Eldest"The Continuing Stargate Wiki | Stargate: Avalon l The New "Ark of Truth" | Stargate: Universe Reviews | Banner designs by Alx
Wow, this is great!!!
Very nice s09.
I'm finding it so much easier to write Atlantis episodes than SG-1 ones now... probably because Atlantis's story is still untold whereas SG-1's is just about done.
Click the banner or episode links to visit the virtual continuations of Stargate!Previous Episode: 11x03 "Shore Leave" | Previous Episode: 6x04 "Nightfall" | Now Airing: 3x06 "Eldest"The Continuing Stargate Wiki | Stargate: Avalon l The New "Ark of Truth" | Stargate: Universe Reviews | Banner designs by Alx
ooh more i must say i like it!
nice to get spoiled by somewhat frequent updates aswell
reading 'Crossroads, Part 2' i found this and was a bit confused;
"Weakened though they may be, the Genii remain the best-informed race in twelve galaxies."
just wondering cos the only galaxies i can think of that have been seen/mentioned in stargate are: Milky Way, Pegasus, Ida, Othala, the Alteran Home Galaxy, that Unnamed galaxy from 'Enemies', the Kaliem galaxy mentioned in the film (but retconned to the Milky Way) and the galaxy SGU is set in...
have i missed any because that's only eight
SG Vennix
(Executive Producer/Creator)
- Coming Soon -
Star Chronicles: Dark Frontier
(Executive Producer/Creator)