[identity profile] slybrarian.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] sga_flashfic
Title: Expert System
Author: [livejournal.com profile] slybrarian
Rating: PG-13 for language
Pairing: Gen
Words: about 750
Notes: Beta'd by [livejournal.com profile] archae_ology. This fic dedicated to the Linebarger Cats.
Summary: John finds a new way to fight the Wraith.



"Are you sure this thing isn't going to eat my brain?" John asked, sceptically looking over the chair-like machine.

"It is perfectly safe, Colonel, and if I'm right this could prove incredibly useful." Rodney said. "Now sit down and think 'on'."

With a sigh, John sat and closed his eyes. There was a buzzing, not unlike what he'd felt before with the control chair, and then something clicked.

upload complete / system start

When John opened his eyes again, he found himself in space, which was certainly different.

Oh, right. That was pretty much the point, wasn't it? John did a few experimental rolls and loops, getting a feel for flying, before getting back into what passed for an unruly formation among the swarm of interceptors streaming out from the carrier behind him. The ship handled pretty well, but it was ugly as hell - just a cylinder with a pair of stubby winglets. Maybe he could get it spruced up with some nose art or something, once he blew up all those darts heading straight for him and the planet below.

"I'm relaying the sensor data now," the scout floating far out where it could see the entire area squawked. Information flooded into John's mind, even as Rodney went on, "Wow. That's a lot of ships. Damn it, why do I only have a popgun?"

As John studied what the scans were showing (three hives, five cruisers, about seven hundred darts), he heard another him said, "Well, this should be interesting."

"Fun times." the John on the carrier told them. "All interceptor groups, engage the darts. I'll take that hive and cruisers to port. Stay clear of my fire pattern."

The cloud of strikecraft met the incoming darts and all semblance of order was lost as the battle turned into a furball of dogfighting ships. John danced his way through the mess, letting his superior speed and reflexes protect his fragile body from fire as he tore dart after dart apart. He was vaguely aware of the capital ships trading shots in the background, and when first one and then another hiveship vapourized, the darts finally started to pull back. John let them go, taking a few seconds to regroup and assess damage.

"We kicked their asses," he said to the rest. They'd lost two hundred and eighty fighters, almost half their number, but had taken down twice that many darts. It was even more in their favor proportionately, and not bad at all for their first time.

"Blue and Gold squadrons, engage flanking cruisers," ordered the carrier-John, "Red squadron, escort outbound bomber wing on their attack."

John peeled off to the side and met up with the quintet of Lornes making a torpedo run on the remaining hiveship, which had managed to put the planet's horizon between it and the carrier's guns. He snickered at the thought of how confused the bastards had to be at finding their meal had some unexpected friends.

"Afternoon, boss," one Lorne said, sounding amused. "Enjoying yourself?"

"Always," John replied as they blew through the remaining darts between them and the target, losing a few dozen interceptors and two bombers. The survivors let fly with their torpedoes, and moments later the naquadah-enhanced antimatter warheads shattered the hive into a million pieces.

"Scratch one flattop," Lorne whooped. John had already flipped end for end and was barreling back toward remaining Wraith ships, not about miss out on the remaining action. He was just entering range when a stray shot grazed him, slashing a gouge along his whole length.

Ow. Okay, getting shot still hurt like a bitch. As he fought to regain control of himself, John sent off an indignant message to the Rodney still hovering above the combat zone, asking exactly who's bright idea that was. He supposed it was a little late to worry about it, though, and fuck, he was still spiraling out of control, and the cruiser in front of him was getting larger and larger. As he tried to aim himself for the ship's main cannon, John wondered if perhaps he should have given a little more thought to the philosophical implications of mass-uploading yourself and -

(no subject)

Date: 2007-11-10 08:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kensieg.livejournal.com
good! but owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

(no subject)

Date: 2007-11-11 01:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kensieg.livejournal.com
but there still is a human john somewhere right?

(no subject)

Date: 2007-11-10 09:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lunamazes.livejournal.com
Not sure I understand it...

(no subject)

Date: 2007-11-11 01:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lunamazes.livejournal.com
I see. thanks for clearing it, I'm kind of thick. :P

(no subject)

Date: 2007-11-10 09:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gentle-edgar.livejournal.com
That's pretty cool! I can totally see John doing this without considering the implications.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-11-10 10:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] siegeofangels.livejournal.com
My reaction is equal parts AWESOME! and OH NOES! Very cool concept.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-11-10 11:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kriadydragon.livejournal.com
Oy. Poor John. Very cool concept.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-11-10 11:25 pm (UTC)
ext_1246: (Default)
From: [identity profile] dossier.livejournal.com
I Love You. This is awesome, and you get eleventy-billion gold stars for the classic SF reference.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-11-11 04:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] trystings.livejournal.com
oh, man .. This whole death fic challenge is an 'oh noes!' But excellent story nonetheless.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-11-12 09:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alanna-smithee.livejournal.com
Great story! I love the sci-fi-ness. There can never be enough space battles and ghosts in the machine.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-11-23 01:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] soapbox-solo38.livejournal.com
For some reason, the thought of six hundred or so Johns in a space fight is highly amusing; probably not the reaction you were aiming for. But-

Nicely done; Sheppard's devil-be-damned, carefree attitude really shines through, and reality doesn't hit (in this case, perhaps quite literally) until the very end. His indignation at being a stubby little ship was also funny. ^^ Good work!

(no subject)

Date: 2007-12-01 12:26 am (UTC)
amalthia: (Default)
From: [personal profile] amalthia
Loved your story. :)

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