It was something of a change for James Watt to fly an aircraft. He hadn't done so since the infamous crash that had given him his powers, and now that he was behind the controls of a plane again, he remembered how good it was.
In the next compartment sat Daniel Reid and Donna Alessi. Dr. Alessi was amazed by what she saw.
"I've never seen anything like this before," she said. "Not even NORAD has anything like this."
"Most of the stuff here has just passed the experimental stage," said Reid. "Muir Industries is putting it on the open market in the next few months."
Suddenly, a puzzled look appeared on Reid's face.
"Odd. We checked the air logs before we left. Nothing is meant to be in this airspace at the moment."
Reid activated his communicator to the cockpit.
"Take a look at the radar, Jim. Something's coming in fast."
Watt did as he was told. The object on the screen moved so quickly the jet's sensors almost didn't pick it up.
"What the hell is it?" Watt asked.
"I don't know," Reid replied. "I've never seen anything like it before."
Then, suddenly, it was upon them. Moving faster than it had before, it suddenly flew over them. The downdraft from the craft sent the sky-jet spiraling out of control. The G-forces would have been way too much for any ordinary jet, but not for an Anglo-Force sky-jet. After a few moments, Watt managed to regain control.
"You two okay back there?" he asked.
"Sure," said Reid. "The stabilizers on this thing kicked in pretty well. We're okay."
"Is there any sign of that thing, whatever it was?"
Reid checked the computer.
"Not a dicky bird. Whatever it was, it's long gone."
As Watt looked out of the cockpit window, he saw a sight that he had only seen a few times before: the Statue of Liberty.
"We're coming up on New York," he called back. "We should be in New Mexico in the next thirty minutes."
"Thirty minutes?" said Alessi. "How come the U.S. Government hasn't got anything like this?"
"Ask Jock Muir that one."
New York State, 2000
Thrawn sat in the co-pilot's seat of the Imperial transport, about to give the pilot a severe tongue-lashing.
"We cannot let our presence here known," he said. "I want to be out of this time before this day is out."
"My apologies, Admiral. I didn't see that craft."
Then, the alarm sounded. The pilot looked concerned.
"What's wrong?" asked Thrawn.
"We're losing power from the impulse engines. The attack by the Scotsman did more damage than I thought. I'm going to have to down."
"Is there any way we can avoid that?"
"Not unless you want us to get to New Mexico in one piece, Admiral."
Checking the sensors, the pilot soon found a deserted beach. Using what power was left in the thrusters, he landed.
Thrawn was the first one to leave the transport. He was soon followed by the pilot.
"How long until the repairs are complete?" Thrawn asked.
"Two days at least," said the pilot. "We took more damage than I thought before we entered the wormhole. Going through the wormhole caused even more damage."
"Blast!" said Thrawn, pounding a clenched fist into his hand.
"You could use the two smaller transports," said the pilot.
"We could, but it would mean leaving half of the Jem'Hadar team back here with you."
Quickly, Thrawn began to think.
"I have no other choice. Make your repairs. You have one day. We will return by then."
Texas, 2000
Aboard the sky-jet, Alessi used the computer to gain access to the main communications network. Within moments she was linked to Project Quantum Leap. A familiar face then appeared on the screen before her. She was glad that Gushie was still a few hundred miles away, because she wouldn't have to put up with his breath.
"Is everything all right there?" she asked. "Have you managed to re-establish contact with Sam?"
"No," Gushie replied. "Ziggy has gone through every calculation she can think of, and she's come up blank every time."
"Keep trying," said Alessi. "Hopefully Doctor Reid will be able to help soon."
"Gushie, have you tried boosting Al's neuronic power?" Reid asked.
"Ziggy advised against it," Gushie replied. "She said it could cause Admiral Calevicchi brain damage."
"She's probably right."
Atlantic Ocean, 2000
There was a massive cloud burst thousands of feet above the Atlantic Ocean as a portal opened. As the rain came down a lone figure flew out of the portal. As soon as the portal closed the rain stopped, and bright sunlight filled the sky for miles around.
Magus had hoped to arrive right at Stallion's Gate in New Mexico, but somehow the portal had brought him here instead. Perhaps there was a reason for this. Hopefully he would soon find out.
Magus closed his eyes, and using his powers he reached out with his mind's eye, scanning the area all around. He scanned the air and the ocean, and soon found what he was looking for. On a beach on the east coast of America he found it. A craft, a flying craft that did not belong in this time. The metal was from the 24th century, and was used in Imperial spacecraft. He had found them.
Flying forward, he headed towards the coast of America, and began to wonder why the Imperial craft had stopped there. He would soon find out.
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