Here's a short excerpt from my novel Stargate Atlantis: Halcyon, as Sheppard and his team prepare for an off-world jaunt...

"So," said Sheppard, rubbing his thumb over his chin, "either of you two got an inkling about this place we're going to?"

Ronon Dex shook his head without looking up from unfolding his greatcoat. "Never been there."

The tawny-skinned woman standing across from Dex cocked her head. "I too have never visited the colony, but there were some of my people who did." Teyla Emmagan paused as she zipped up her uniform tunic. "As I recall, the planet has only a handful of settlements quite close to the Stargate. They trade furs and cured meats harvested from the local wildlife."

"So, kinda low-tech, then?"

"No more than Athos," she said, with a hint of a smile, "but if you are asking if they might have relics of the Ancients, then your question may be in vain."

Off to one side, the fourth member of Sheppard's core team made a comment under his breath about 'wild goose chases' and returned to lacing up his boots.

The colonel gave Dr McKay a sideways look. "Thanks for the input, Rodney." Sheppard turned his attention back to Teyla. "What about any, uh, hostiles?"

"The Wraith are active in that part of the galaxy, but I do not believe the settlement has experienced a culling in many years, certainly not since I was a child."

"Some good news, then. Maybe this place is too far off the beaten track for them to bother with."

Dex pulled on his coat. "Or maybe they're just overdue for a feeding frenzy."

Sheppard gave a tight, humorless smile. "That's what I like about you, Ronon, you're such a ray of sunshine." He crossed the prep room to where the other half of his unit was gathering themselves together. "Sergeant Mason, right?" he asked, picking out the most senior-looking man in the group.

"Staff Sergeant Mason, sir," said the soldier, his pug-face creasing.

"Oh yeah," nodded Sheppard, "different ranks for you guys, right?" The four men were relatively new to Atlantis, one of two squads of British Special Air Service troopers brought in to serve in areas of Stargate Command.

As part of a rotation that would put the men on front-line duty in the Pegasus Galaxy, it fell to the colonel to take them with him on a few missions, to show them the lay of the land. This was the first time he'd had to deal with the Brits face-to-face; until now he'd only seen them around and about in the city, laughing in rough humor or playing in animated poker games with the Marine Corps contingent. "You've been off world before, right?"

Mason nodded. "Did a tour at Cheyenne Mountain, sir. Dealt with some of them growlers while we were there."

"Growlers?"

"Goa'uld, sir," said one of the other men, a stocky guy with dirty blond hair, "that's what we call them, on account of the way they talk. Y'know, all that puny humans, you will die stuff-"

"Clarke, shut it," said Mason, with curt finality.

Sheppard gave a small smile. "Lance Corporal Clarke, right? And these two other gentlemen would be Privates Bishop and Hill?"

"Sir," chorused the men. Both the privates had the watchful look of career soldiers.

"Well, listen, I'm not expecting any trouble but you never can tell. The Wraith aren't like the Goa'uld, they don't waste time bragging, they just go straight for the jugular."

"Actually, it's the heart," McKay chipped in. "That's where they prefer to feed from."

"Whatever," Sheppard met Mason's gaze. "The point is, don't be stingy with your ammo. You got one in range, take it down."

Mason nodded. "That we can do."

The colonel patted him on the arm. "Welcome to the team. We don't have a secret handshake or anything…"

"We'll manage," said the soldier.

Sheppard left Mason's men to their preparations, catching a whispered comment from Clarke as he walked away. "He seems all right for a Rupert."

Rupert? John had a feeling serving with these Brits was going to be a whole new learning experience for him.

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© J.Swallow, 2006. All images © their original copyright holders.

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