The Rookie:
As the Stargate’s iris slid open with a low metallic hum, Cate turned to glance up at the control room. She offered a quick smile and a salute of thanks to Walter and Sam, her acknowledgment precise and professional. She didn’t notice Vala standing further back, arms folded, and lips pursed in mock indignation.
“She just ignores me?” Vala muttered dramatically to Sam, who smirked but said nothing.
Cate hoisted her tote bags and strode forward. She barely registered the swirling event horizon ahead, her thoughts already fixed on the task awaiting her at the Alpha Site.
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The journey through the wormhole was as disorienting as she remembered. The kaleidoscopic whirl of light and energy enveloped her, each molecule of her being deconstructed, hurled across the cosmos, and reassembled in a heartbeat. When her boots touched the grated platform on the Alpha Site’s gate room floor, Cate steadied herself, forcing the nausea to subside. She glanced around; the once-modest facility had grown into a sprawling, fortified base. The Stargate now resided deep underground, protected by layers of reinforced concrete and steel.
The base commander, Colonel Michelle Bixby, greeted Cate just beyond the gate room. Bixby’s demeanour was crisp but welcoming. Cate remembered her from her prior visit to the Alpha Site: a no-nonsense officer with a reputation for keeping things running smoothly. She also knew Bixby was a former helicopter pilot, an army aviator who had earned her stripes flying Blackhawks and Apaches.
“Squadron Leader MacGregor,” Bixby said, offering a firm handshake. “Welcome back.”
Cate blinked, caught off guard by the rank. “Ma’am?”
Bixby’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Oh, didn’t they tell you? Congratulations, you’ve been promoted. The Australian Defence Attaché in Washington sent the confirmation through this morning. It’s official.”
Cate felt a swell of pride and a flicker of nervous energy. “Thank you, ma’am.” She snapped a salute, though it wasn’t strictly necessary. Bixby returned it with a small smile.
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After being shown her quarters—spartan but functional, situated conveniently near the pilot’s ready room—Cate settled in quickly. She took her evening meal there, savouring a moment of quiet, then hit the showers before turning in early. By 0500, she was seated at her desk, poring over the personnel files of her new squadron.
The 56th Attack Squadron was a multinational group of fourteen pilots, representing Stargate member nations. While she would get to know them all, six stood out for immediate focus:
* Lt. Commander Neville “Dusty” Dixon (USN): A seasoned pilot Cate had instructed at Top Gun. Offered the squadron command, he had turned it down, preferring to serve as her XO. Reliable and steady, he was her first choice for the role.
*
* 1st Lt. Juliette “Ghost” Ramirez (USAF): Formerly an A-10 pilot, Ramirez brought a talent for precision ground-attack manoeuvres. Cate expected her to excel in any combat situation requiring finesse.
*
* Lt. Anders “Viking” McClaren: With a background flying F/A-18s and Tornados, McClaren had proven himself in both American and RAF operations. He would eventually lead one of the squadron’s flights.
*
* Captain Mark “Batman” Kalowski (USMC): A Harrier veteran with multiple tours in Afghanistan, Kalowski was as dependable as he was humorous. Cate saw him as another future flight leader.
*
* Lt. Ariel “Angel” Speckman (USN): A skilled pilot with experience on both Hornets and Eagles, Speckman’s transfer to the Alpha Site followed a difficult period of harassment aboard the Daedalus. Cate respected her resilience and assigned her as McClaren’s wingman.
*
* Ensign Francis “Nugget” Bianchi (USN): The greenest pilot in the squadron, Bianchi’s record suggested potential marred by a lack of focus. Someone at Stargate Command believed Cate’s leadership could shape him into something more.
*
Cate’s own call sign, “Taipan,” reflected her precision and lethality in the cockpit.
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Over the next two weeks, Cate implemented her training regimen. Classroom sessions were met with groans from the more experienced pilots, but Cate insisted on laying a solid foundation. Beyond technical skills, she focused on team cohesion. She arranged bonding activities—some traditional, others not. A cricket match baffled many of her multinational crew but proved effective in building camaraderie.
Simulator training on the new F-302D—a clipped-wing, single-seater variant—consumed countless hours. Bianchi struggled with formation flying and complex manoeuvres, but Cate’s patient guidance and Dusty’s mentorship gradually brought him up to speed. By the end of the second week, the young ensign’s progress was evident.
The final phase of training involved combat simulations against the Alpha Site’s aggressor squadron, flying older F-302A models. The exercises tested the squadron’s mettle, sharpening their skills for real-world scenarios.
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Midweek, the Lucian Alliance launched a surprise attack. The Alpha Site’s sensors detected a Hat’ak-class mothership entering orbit, deploying waves of Death Gliders. Cate’s squadron scrambled to intercept. Dividing her pilots into three flights of four, she held one in reserve while two joined the Alpha Site’s defenders.
The ensuing battle erupted into a maelstrom of chaos. Gliders darted like angry hornets, diving and weaving in unpredictable patterns as they peppered the skies with lethal bursts of energy fire. Cate gripped her controls tightly, her voice calm but firm over the comms. "Buzzards, keep it tight! Viking, take Angel and push left to cut off their flank. Dusty, cover our six!"
A cacophony of acknowledgments followed. "On it, Taipan!" McClaren's clipped tone carried determination, while Angel's steadier voice chimed in, "Rolling to intercept."
Cate twisted her F-302D into a sharp climb, narrowly avoiding a burst of plasma fire. "Nugget! Watch your spacing! You're too close to Batman," she barked, eyes darting across her instruments.
"Sorry, ma'am! Adjusting now!" Bianchi’s panicked reply betrayed his inexperience, but Cate had no time to coddle him. Instead, she looped behind a pair of gliders targeting Ghost and unleashed a stream of railgun fire, shredding one and forcing the other into a hasty retreat.
Kalowski's voice cut through the chaos, a mix of adrenaline and humour. "Batman here—just took out two bogeys. Guess that makes me the Caped Crusader of the skies!"
"Focus, Batman!" Cate snapped, though a faint smile tugged at her lips.
The skirmish raged on, the defenders gradually gaining the upper hand through sheer coordination. The base’s AC-402 gunships swooped in low, their heavy cannons shredding any gliders that ventured too close to the ground. Viking’s calm voice provided updates. "Angel and I have cleared the left flank. Moving to regroup."
"Copy that," Cate replied, her gaze darting to the tactical display. "Buzzards, form up for a counterstrike. Let’s push them back!"
As the gliders began to falter, retreating toward the Hat’ak, Cate felt a surge of relief tempered by grim determination. They had held the line—for now. Cate’s leadership shone as the comms buzzed with rapid orders. "Buzzards, tighten up formation! Viking, take Angel and cut off their flank!" she commanded, her voice firm yet calm amidst the chaos. Acknowledgments followed swiftly, punctuated by the roar of engines and the crackle of energy fire. Cate rolled her F-302D into a sharp dive, chasing a glider as Dusty’s voice crackled, "On their tail, Taipan! Marking targets now!" Every move she made directed the battle, her split-second decisions turning potential disaster into tactical advantage. The base’s AC-402 gunships provided vital support, preventing the mothership from closing in.
Cate and Kalowski each achieved ace status, downing multiple enemy gliders. However, victory came at a steep cost. The loss of three Buzzards and four Alpha Site pilots hit the squadron hard. Cate felt each name like a punch to the gut as the reports came in. Dusty’s voice cracked over the comms as he confirmed Viking and Angel were safe, but the emptiness in his tone mirrored her own. In the debriefing room, silence reigned as the weight of their sacrifices settled over the surviving pilots. Cate clenched her fists, her voice steady but strained as she addressed them. "We lost good people today," she said, locking eyes with each pilot. "But they won’t be forgotten. They were part of this family, and we fight to honour them. For now, we grieve. Tomorrow, we rebuild."
As the battle ended, Colonel Bixby addressed the survivors. “This wasn’t a full assault. They were testing our defences. We’ll be ready when they come back.”
Cate’s squadron emerged bloodied but stronger. The loss weighed heavily, but they had proven themselves in their first true trial. For Cate, it was a sombre reminder of the stakes they faced. The Buzzards were ready for war—but at a cost none of them would ever forget.