Cate's heart pounded as the gate shut down. She immediately began dialing again, grateful for the new dial system installed by Professor Rodney McKay and her own science officer, Doctor Flynn Hart. The system was as quick as the one on Atlantis, a small comfort in the chaos.

  She expected Sister Helena and Squadron Leader Fairbairn to come through first. When they didn’t, she held her breath until Marcus Larkin emerged from the wormhole. Cate yelled over the cacophony of gunfire to a technician, “As soon as SG-8 and SG-24 are through, shut the gate and initiate the iris!”

  Marcus reached her side, and they exchanged quick greetings amidst the chaos. “Good to see you, Cate,” he said, firing at the advancing enemy.

  “Likewise, Marcus,” Cate replied, her voice strained. “We need to hold them off until everyone’s through."

  More of SG-24 appeared, and Cate spotted Sister Helena. “William!” she called to her XO. “Guard her and get her to the chair room!”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  William nodded, leading Helena away. “Major William Troy, you can call me Will,” he introduced himself as they moved.

  “Sister Helena of the Cross,” she replied, her voice calm despite the chaos.

  A burst of gunfire quickened their pace. “Stay close,” Will urged, his tone urgent.

  Back at the gate, Cate and Marcus were in the thick of it. “Introductions will have to wait,” Cate shouted over the noise. She leaned around some transport cases to return fire, her mind racing. Hallam’s people were pressing them hard, and she thanked God all the civilians and non-combatants had gotten through the gate in time.

  Marcus crouched beside her, making a quip. “Feels like old times, doesn’t it?”

  Cate

  managed a grim smile. “Yeah, except now we’re older and wiser.”

  “How did this all happen?” Marcus asked, firing off a few rounds.

  “We captured Hallam,” Cate explained quickly. “But it was too easy. He planned this. He wanted Zulu Station, or to destroy it.”

  Markus nodded, understanding dawning on his face. “We’ll stop him, Cate. We always do.”

  Cate’s resolve hardened. “Damn right we will.”