T Minus 4 months and 16 days
Harry groaned as he rolled over and made it out of bed. He had gotten to bed late as he and Jack had spent most of the night talking and trying to work through Jack's memory problems from the botch up job the Asgard had done on him.
Getting dressed Harry promised himself if he ever met the Asgard, that had no business modifying a humans mind let alone one that was part or all Alteran, he would slap the being silly.
Making a quick decision to dress in full combat gear for the meeting Harry made quick work of getting dressed.
Entering the TS Harry activated it and set the coordinates to the old TS station down the hall from the Embarkation deck. If he was going to miss out on his morning exorcizes the least he could do was walk.
It was as strange feeling walking the halls towards the arrival room and to be passing so many people all in Alteran dress going about their duties.
The most surprising thing Harry noticed was how happy everyone seemed to be, even during the false peace during Harry's first few years re-introduced to the Magical world, he never came across people this joyful.
Answering yet another Morning to you Lord Commander Harry finally entered the embarkation room and noticed a buffet set up near his working platform, which seemed to have a full crowd sitting around eating.
Waiting his turn Harry loaded up his plate with his favorites and made his way up the steps and over to his empty seat.
Sitting his plate and glass down Harry started to eat before noticing laughter that sounded familiar.
Looking to his right Harry saw Jack eating and laughing with Ron. A Ron who ever since the death of Hermione had impeccable table manners.
"Jack." Harry called out. "Two questions. Who gave you the combat suit and where do you think you are going?"
Turning his head ever so slowly Jack noticed Harry was not upset with him so fired back acting all innocent. "Um, he did." Pointing to Ron.
"He needs some one to cover his skinny ass, seeing as he can't shoot worth a damn." Jack remarked.
"Oi, I too can shoot." Ron sputtered.
"Sure you keep telling yourself that freckles. And maybe someday if you eat all your vegetables and grow up big and strong, you might be able to hit what you are shooting at." Jack fired right back.
Harry joined in with every one else as they laughed at Ron's expense. "Fine, make sure you bring his freckled skinny ass home to his mum, she would miss him otherwise. Though his brothers on the other hand."
Charlie yelled out as he walked up the steps. "Hey leave the brothers out of it, we don't want to know about his freckled skinny ass."
Every one settled down to eating after the release of tension, though Harry was tempted when he heard Ron muttering about freckles and his ass was just the right size.
After a leisurely breakfast where Harry noticed the people rotated out so everyone had a chance to eat with him, it was time to start the briefing.
Harry rose and walked to the corner edge of the now empty platform. Looking around the crowd he noticed people had drifted into three groups depending on their mission objectives.
Addressing Ron's group first. "Jack, Ron all kidding aside I want all of you back safely and in one piece. No heroics folks." Harry told them.
Looking towards the middle group Harry noticed Professor Sprout in the group, and she was wearing a link, guess she is staying then. "Professor glad for your help."
"Neville in and out. Empty the Hogwarts greenhouses as quickly as you can. If it comes down to getting that last rare plant or the safety of your crews, the plant will wait for another day, or another way." Harry told him.
"Understood Harry." Neville told him, wondering how close he could cut it before Harry would get mad.
Looking towards the last and largest group. "Remus my old friend." Harry stated.
"Hey I am not old." Remus yelled back.
"Lets see you're old enough to be my father." Harry told him before. "Oh that's right you are as old as my father."
"Let me tell you Remus, compared to me, that's old." Harry smirked as everyone laughed at his little joke.
"Griphook is everything ready?" Harry asked.
"Stone Crusher has sent word that everything is prepared. Though some of the security for the council members are upset that they can not have access to the hall early." Griphook reported.
"To bad. My party, my rules." Harry replied.
"Those assigned to group Gryphon, I want you to portray the image of Alteran's at their finest. Your group along with the Goblin guards, are to be in charge of security outside the hall." Harry told them.
"If they start something finish it. If attacked take the attacker out permanently." Harry told them sternly.
"Remus, Sorry to do this to you but you are going to be a target for the council members venting until I show myself. Just make sure it is only a verbal target." Harry told him.
"The rest of you will mingle fully cloaked among the council members keeping alert for any treachery. If you need to take them out, hard and fast is the rule people." Harry said.
"Aloria will start transporting my group down now, Ron and Neville take your groups and leave thirty minutes after we do. I hope we will be a distraction for you, but no promises. If you see an opportunity to set a couple of the recon remotes after someone wearing a silver cloak do so." Harry told them as he walked down the steps to joining the rapidly departing group.
XXXX
Harry decided that he much rather preferred shifting under his own power as his mode of transportation, he did not like the feeling of not being in control over his journey.
Activating the cloaking feature of his combat suit while in the shadows, Harry walked around all the hangers on and security people for the council members, trying to get a feel for their leaders attitudes and feelings.
Sensing nothing of importance from the conversations around him, Harry moved off down the hall and slipped past the guards stationed at the door of the meeting hall.
Making his way over to stand behind Remus Harry sighed when will these people learn, when he heard the French council member sneering at Remus.
"I demand to know when your so called leader will be here werewolf." The French man sneered out in contempt.
Sighing, Remus thought he would have to find some suitable payback for this hell Harry had placed him in.
"As I said not more than five minutes ago, he will be here at the time the meeting is to start not a minute before." Remus told him trying to be calm.
"And for the record once again, I am no longer a werewolf. One would think that one of such a high station, like yourself would not be so insulting." Remus said slowly, showing how close he was to really letting loose on these idiots.
Letting his magical energy flare just enough for Remus to recognize him so as not to startle him, Harry whispered. "Remember you volunteered, so no paybacks."
Sitting down in defeat, Remus calmed himself knowing Harry was right.
Looking over to the American council member Remus was surprised to see that the American president of magic was sitting there himself.
Writing a note of his observations in such a way Remus knew Harry would be able to see it, Remus went around the room and made mention of everything he knew about each of the council members already there.
Seeing that all sixty eight members were present Harry decided not to wait the additional fifteen minutes until the start of the meeting and willed the doors to close and seal.
As shouts erupted from the members present wanting to know what was going on and others shouting about betrayal Harry deactivated the cloaking filed and became visible to all present.
Harry stared each of the council members down until they flinched and sat down quietly.
Leaving the French Representative to last Harry let some of the rage he felt for the mans attitude towards one of his people show.
"I would hope in the future, any dealing you would have with the ambassador for the Alteran people, you would show some respect." Harry then turned his back to the man knowing it was a sign of disrespect.
Standing up in a towering rage over the disrespect being shown to him by this upstart. "How dare you...How dare you show me disrespect you jumped up half blood with delusions of grandeur."
The American president was wincing at the scene the French man was making, unlike the other he had read the reports on the unstoppable magic the young man wielded.
Harry turned slowly as if not believing what he had heard. Staring hard at the man, he made a miniscule motion with his head and Vladik, one of the Alteran's who volunteered to be security this morning, appeared and stunned the man.
Levitating the annoying man onto the table he quickly bound him and placed a gag in his mouth.
Smirking At the reactions the whole scene was getting Harry broke into their thoughts. "Thank you Vladik, a job well done."
"An honor Lord Commander." Vladik said bowing his head and fading from sight.
Harry tilted his head sideways as he turned his attention back to the very nervous council members and asked. "Why am I here?"
Harry watched as the members looked between each other, none wanting to open their mouths and explain.
Rapidly loosing his patients. "Shall I tell you then." Harry told the frightened men and women.
"Let me tell you a story then. It starts shortly after Voldermort's downfall and my announcement that I am leaving the Wizarding world.
But not only did I announce that I was leaving, but I was taking as many with me as wished if they truly wanted a better life for themselves and their families." Harry told them, by this time captivating them though they were unwilling.
"Seeing the previous minister had died, betrayed by the Death Eaters he was bargaining my life and the lives of those like family to me.
Through maneuverings and backstabbing that I am not interested in, the Wizengamot elected a new ministry.
This new ministry instead of learning from the past decided to take it one step further and take total control of the people.
The people would now serve the ministry and be happy to do so or be silenced." Harry said as he looked around at each of the council members.
"Does any of this sound familiar to you?" Harry asked as he watched them fidget in their seats.
"Now, once again I ask, why am I here?" Harry said sternly.
Deciding he was safe as Harry's back was to him the German council member yelled out. "We're here to find out when you are going to do something about it."
How did he know it was me, Karl Schmidt the councilor for the German ministry, thought as Harry twirled around and zeroed in on him with fire in his eyes.
"What I am going to do about it?" Harry asked incredulously.
"I cut all ties with the Wizarding world, and the British when I moved into and took over Toria Ai Shas, the city the Ancients left behind." Harry informed them.
"So do tell me how it is my problem, and why I am supposed to fix it." Harry said sarcastically.
Letting his senses roam free, Harry started to glow slightly making the council members edgy. Sensing Bill was indeed standing behind one of the delegates Harry smiled knowing that soon he would be getting some answers.
The American President of Magic muttered under his breath about European pure blood bigots being as bad as those damn Kentuckians, before rising to his feet, if he was to speak he would do it like a man, not hide in the shadows.
Clearing his throat to gain every ones attention he began. "After reading my ambassadors report I am unsure one how to address you sir. Do I call you Lord Commander, Mr. Potter or his Majesty as Merlin's orb proclaimed you to rightfully be."
Stirrings of shock whispered throughout the hall upon hearing the American President of Magic's conformation of the rumors, of the true status of the Boy Who Lived.
Amazed that some one had a backbone, Harry turned to face the American. "Mr. Potter will do, as Lord Commander and Majesty could be considered interchangeable."
Walking over to stand in front of the only man so far that had an ounce of courage, Harry asked. " Why was I called here?"
Not able to tear his gaze away from Harry's face the American replied. "I can only answer on behalf of myself."
Seeing Harry nod his head he continued. "Mr. Potter I hoped to inform you of the happenings in your former home country and ask your advise on the best way to nip this in the bud."
"The world let the citizens of Great Britain down when we ignored the pleas from the former government over what amounts to school yard squabbles. I personally do not want to repeat that mistake." The American president told him.
Liking what he sensed coming from the man Harry told him. "An honest politician, I have never before experienced such a creature."
"Thank you for the honest answer." Harry told him as he shifted his gaze to see the others acting like the politicians he knew.
Walking back to the center desk Harry leaned up against it. "I am aware of what is happening in all parts of the Wizarding world, as those who have come to join us, freely share their knowledge of the goings on in the world.
We are able to have a pretty good idea of what is happening by piecing together all the separate reports."
Acting like the others did not exist Harry asked. "So why have you not gone in and taken care of the problem yourself?"
Walking around the front of his table the American President sat down on the edge before replying. "I needed to be sure you were not holding any claim to your old home country, and did not already have plans in motion that I would jeopardize by acting."
Still looking only at the American, Harry asked. "And if I have no plans?"
"Then as soon as I leave here I will order my forces to British soil, and soon I will have the answers needed to fix the problem and return the government to the people." The president told him.
Looking over the Presidents shoulder to where Bill was standing in his cloaking field, Harry told him. "Well I do have plans in motion that you are more than welcome to join."
Standing up and motioning for Bill to go ahead with the capture Harry stunned them by saying. "And as far as getting answers, why don't we ask the British official that has been listening in to every word."
Bill who had taken the time to master his connection of his magic and his mind released the cloak with a thought and willed his target to not move, thereby freezing him in mid motion.
Levitating him down the steps to where Harry was waiting Bill wondered why more of the council members were not making a fuss. So much so he asked when he got down to the floor level.
"I thought that lot would be putting up more of a fuss." Bill said pointing over his shoulder.
Glancing at the silent council members turned spectators Harry replied with a shrug of indifference. "They were annoying and getting in the way so I silenced them, made them sit still too."
The American President burst out in laughter. "I have so wanted to do that to congress on more than one occasion."
Noticing some of the furious faces of those he had made sit still, Harry spoke up." Yes well I want to make something very clear to all of you before I release you. As you have noticed you have no power here.
Second I want you to be all nice little observers and not interrupt the adults who are tying to get things done in an orderly fashion.
Which means for those of you who can not understand simple English, watch but don't speak."
Giving the agreed upon signal, the rest of the security forces deactivated their cloaking fields showing that they outnumbered those present two to one.
Rotating his prisoner so he was in somewhat of a sitting position as he was in mid air, Bill took a slender electronic collar out of his thigh pocket and fastened it to the prisoner's neck.
Making sure the man could move nothing but his face, Bill woke him up.
Trying to escape Hans found he could not move anything but his mouth. "It won't work I will not tell you anything, I am trained to fight torture and potions."
Hans grew fearful as he struggled to do the little bit of wandless magic he could and snap the poison vial inside his abdomen, and found he could not find his magic.
`Then it is a good thing I plan to do neither." Harry told him before nodding his head for Bill to turn on the control collar.
A sharp hum erupted from the man in front of them, or more exact from the collar around his neck, and most were stunned when the mans eyes turned white and glowed slightly.
"What is your name?" Bill asked making sure the setting were correct.
"Hans Dippet." The man responded in a strange echoing voice.
Bill nodded his head at the reading he was getting from the control and the echo of the prisoners voice as he responded to questions. "It is working Lord Commander."
"What is that thing...What is it doing to him..." A Shouted voice started to shout out before screaming out in pain.
"Observers do not open their mouths, hence the part of the word that means observe, meaning to watch. Open your mouth again and you will get more than a little pain." One of the security force told the whimpering man.
"Mr. Potter are you sure you can't lend me a few of your people for my next meeting with congress." The American asked.
"Only if you plan to replace half of the congress by the end of the meeting." An amused Harry told him.
"Decisions, Decisions." The American said tapping his chin with his finger.
Letting out a soft Chuckle Harry returned to the interrogation at hand.
"What part of the ministry do you work for?" Harry asked.
"The ruling council." The mans voice echoed.
"What were you before you were part of the ruling council?' Trying a different track, Harry asked.
"An unspeakable with the department of mysteries." He echoed
Raising an eyebrow. "How many people are on the ruling council?" Harry asked.
"Nine people." The voice echoed once more.
Leaning back once again against the table Harry had a thought. "Is everyone on the ruling council a former unspeakable?"
"Yes." Hans echoed.
"Ask him what they did to the ministry building in London." The President requested.
"What did you do to the old Ministry in London?' Harry asked also intrigued by the answer.
"We sealed the chamber where you brought Merlin's Orb, and then filled the rest of the building with stone so it would be solid rock." Han's answer echoed.
"Why?" Asked Harry.
"We could not control the power of the Orb. It was too dangerous to be left lying around, anyone could have used it by demand. We could not take the chance that it would ever be used for its purpose ever again." Hans answered.
If they were no longer based at the ministry then where were they thought Harry. "Where are you based at?"
"Hogwarts." Hans answered.
Deciding that he had two teams out there one in the line of fire and one near enough Harry wanted this over with quickly so he could get back to send reinforcements if needed.
"Are the people still alive you have taken?" Harry asked wondering how he would answer that.
"Yes." Hans answered.
Scowling Harry redirected his question. "Why did you take these people?"
"We needed them for our breeding program. With the amount of people wanting to flee and how the population was decimated from the war we decided we needed to increase our numbers quickly." Hans answered before being stunned by Harry.
"Bill take that...that monster and drain it dry of information." Harry spat out sick to his stomach at the answer he had just gotten.
As Bill dragged the prisoner out of the room none to gently Harry watched the council members and for the most part saw shock and disgust on the faces, though a couple held looks of guilt.
"I am leaving soon, but that does not mean I have not taken precautions, if I find out any other government has instituted so called breeding programs, there will be no place you can hide on this planet my people will not be able to find you." Harry spat with venom.
"Nor mine." The Japanese council member told them standing tall and joining the American President.
"Or mine." The American told them.
Facing the American Harry asked. "Still wan to be part of the solution?"
"Hell yes." The American drawled.
"We would be honored to help also." The Japanese man told Harry.
Looking back at Remus before answering them, Harry said. "Remus will pick you and your command teams up Monday morning at five a.m. local time from this location and take you to our staging area."
Motioning for his people to make their way out Harry said as he was leaving. "My people will take care of the problem, yours will make sure it does not happen again."
XXXX
Spotting Neville standing next to one of the large heavy lift shuttles, Pomona Sprout joined them quietly noticing the conversation going on between the pilots.
"Neville, I wanted to say how much you have come into your own, How proud I am of the strong Herbologist you have become. What you have done with the greenhouses and farms of this city is simply amazing." Pomona said from behind Neville.
Turning to face his former favorite professor, Neville still had a tinge of a blush to his checks at the praise. "Thank you for that professor."
Smiling up at the young man Pomona replied. "None of that now Neville I am not your professor anymore, actually I can learn quite a bit from you going by what I have seen so far."
Seeing she was starting to make Neville uncomfortable she changed the subject.
"Using this wonderful little device." Pomona said tapping the link on her temple. "I was able to go over the list of the magical species you have acquired so far. While it might be nice to get the contents of all three of the greenhouses, only the plants in greenhouse three are those you have not been able to lay your hands on."
Not noticing that everyone had stopped to listen in she added. "Unfortunately those in the third greenhouse are some of the more dangerous ones. And the ones we want are near the back."
Aware that all the pilots were now gathered around Neville asked." Paul how close do you think you all can set these big beasts down to the back of the greenhouses?"
"I think we could do it, if we use these we beasties side doors. Put one on the side on the end two and one at the back for the middle one, we could get you as close as several centimeters." Scratching his head in thought Paul answered.
"That close." Neville said out loud as he thought up a new plan.
"Right, here is what we are going to do then. Professor Sprout and I will go off with Paul and tackle greenhouse three.
You lot will set us down as close to the greenhouse walls as you can and we will use the remotes to cut our way in.
I can program the remotes to grab everything in the first two greenhouses, while we along with the remotes tackle the more difficult one." Neville told them pointing to himself and Pomona.
"That should work, less distance for the remotes to travel means less chance of them being spotted." Paul said happily grinning.
Nodding his head Neville looked over to the four pilots that would be giving them air support with the armed scouts.
"Harry asked me to set some of his damage survey remotes loose if we happen to come across one of those silver cloaked blokes. Unless one of them happens to be in one of the greenhouses at the time, I think the best thing is, for one of you lot to take a dozen or so of the remotes and drop them on top of Hogwarts, and set them to work their way into the castle and hunt out people to spy on." Neville told them.
"I can do that, a nice long slow pass over the towers and a brief hover over the astronomy tower should do the trick I think." One of the scouts told him.
"Sounds like we have a plan. Lets get on with it then." Neville told them noticing it was time for them to be off.
Taking off from the station docks it was a matter of a mere fifteen minutes or so to traverse the distance from their hidden location to high earth orbit.
Another thirty minutes was spent slowly lowering their ships into the Earths gravity well without loosing their cloaking ability and being seen by the muggle militaries.
At exactly one hour past the time they left the station the shuttles gently touched down next to their targets.
Opening the iris like doors Neville waited while the remotes from the other two ships cut a small opening in their targets, several of the smaller remotes swarmed through and started to send back images of completely deserted greenhouses.
Tapping a few commands into the keyboard Neville directed the remotes to fuse the entrances shut while several more enlarged the hole, thus gaining them a few extra moments if discovered.
Now that the holes were large enough Neville programmed the remotes to remove everything.
Making sure it was going smoothly before his attention turned elsewhere, Neville told the remotes on his shuttle to go ahead and start entering the greenhouse by making a small hole in the wall and soon a repeat of what had happened in the first two greenhouses was repeated.
Once the hole had been widened sufficiently both Neville and professor Sprout left the shuttle and directed the remotes personally.
Shifting the last of the man eating plants into the back of the shuttle, Neville felt a pang of remorse as he took one last look at the now desolate place, which gave him the greatest feeling of contentment during the seven years he was a student at Hogwarts.
As he waited for the shuttle to move backward exposing the forward air lock Neville thought only took half an hour not bad at all. Just as he entered behind Professor Sprout, Paul yelled back that Ron's team was reporting trouble.
Passing professor sprout quickly, Neville opened up communications with the scout ships "Scott, we are the last out, you and your lads go pull that git out of the trouble he went and got himself into."
"Harry won't mind a few holes in the landscape if it means our people are alright." Neville told him as the shuttle rapidly gained altitude
"Roger that." Scott replied as he directed his team to prepare for live fire.
XXXX
Ron was sprawled across the seat in the shuttles flight deck thinking about Fred and George as he waited for the time to take off.
Jack walked in holding his new bestest friend and stowed the rifle in the locker on the wall next to the door.
Walking the few steps over to the co-pilots seat Jack smirked as he swatted Ron's feet. "Hey freckles you mind."
Run grudgingly moved his feet as he pulled himself up in the pilots seat. "Oi, what's up with the freckles thing all the time?"
"Well you are a red head." Jack said waggling his eyebrows.
Ron started blushing remembering the conversations and subtle innuendos the past few days.
Pumping his fist as he sat down, Jack exclaimed. "Yes Jack ninety nine, Freckles one."
Face as red as his hair Ron muttered. "You do that on purpose."
Smirking Jack told him. "Ya think."
Noticing the time Ron mentally activated the controls and the holographic controls. Waving his hands in and out of the different gauges he notified the other shuttle it was time, and engaged the engines and shot out of the bay at top speed with a loud. "Wahoo."
Setting the coordinates into the navigation system, Ron sat back and let the computer take over.
"So how are you settling in?" Ron asked with a hint of concern in his voice.
Staring out through the view port Jack replied. "It's been tuff."
Smiling as he remembered last night as Harry and he had spent a good portion after super just talking through things. "It's getting better, though heaven help the Asgard if Harry gets a hold of the one that fooled around in my head."
Curious, as this is the first time Jack has started to open up with him about the details of what was done to him, Ron asked. "Fooled around with your head? What did they do?"
Getting lost in the memory Jack started to recite part of his life story. "After being set up with a new life, I started to have a lot of problems with having the full memories and experiences of being a forty something military officer in the body of a fifteen year old.
I wanted to do it all over, this time choosing things a little differently, and maybe having loads of fun as I was doing so.
Problem was as much as I tried, the memories of being so much older than every one else got in the way.
After the fifth spectacular disaster, a part of the government became aware of the fact that I was a clone of the older version of me and decided they wanted to study me.
They tried to tell me that even if I was only a teenager the older version of me had given oaths to serve my country and they were going to hold the younger version, me , to the same oaths.
So I should just accept going with them and letting them study me to their hearts content."
Closing his eyes and Jack fell back into the memories. "I used the older me's contacts to get me back in contact with the section of the air force he worked for and they in turned brought me to the Asgard.
The Asgard medical specialist then erased most of my memories, leaving enough so I could get by.
I know the older me was married and had a son who ended up killing him self in an accident when he was young."
Turning to face Ron so he saw how haunted his expression was, Jack finished as he tapped his head. "I know this up here, like I read it in a report, as if it happened to someone else. Everything else was taken away, so I have no idea what the older me experienced which turned him into the man he is today."
"They did this with every major memory I have." Jack told him as he closed his eyes and shivered.
If this had happened before Hermione and his sister had died Ron would have just sat there not sure what to do. But he had grown and matured since then.
Getting up from his seat he pulled the younger man into a hug and whispered in his ear. "Harry is not the only one who will curse that bloody fool."
Releasing Jack, Ron placed his hand over the young mans heart. "You will just have to make some new memories so you know what they feel like."
Jack sat there and pulled himself back together as they entered the atmosphere. These people more than any others he had met kept pulling him into their hearts, making him part of themselves. Once again he thanked his lucky stars he jumped at the chance to join them.
"Thanks Ron." Jack told the red head quietly.
Perking up a bit as they approached the Scottish coast from the Atlantic side. "Your still going to be Freckles to me." Jack said bouncing back.
"Merlin help us all when you meet up with the twins." Ron laughed out.
Hearing stories of the pranking twins, Jack just smiled evilly. "Can't wait."
Seeing they were almost there Jack activated the scanners from his side as Ron guided them in for a landing on a small clearing near the edge of a quaint village.
Looking around the clearing through the forward window Ron shook his head. "Well I remember it being somewhere around here."
Getting up and opening the weapons locker Jack moved through the flight deck towards the back of the shuttle. "Well let's open the door and send out a few of the remotes and find out for sure."
Following Jack to the back of the shuttle, Ron stopped at the panel beside the door and placed his hand on it. Sending a mental command to the shuttle to open the back door, Ron watched as the back of the shuttle melted into a ramp as it opened the back door.
Knowing Ron still was a little leery about how much the remotes resembled spiders, Jack went over to the lead two and trying to pool some magic in his hand tapped the top of the remote to activate the holographic keyboard interface.
After the fourth try Jack managed to pool enough magic in his hand to activate the interface and proceeded to type in the commands for the remotes to search out for a run down building in this clearing and to send back a continuous feed of what they were seeing.
Ron jumped out of the way as the two large remotes went past him and started down the ramp.
Moving over to the wall screen, Ron watched the progress of the two remotes as they started to circle the clearing, each pass getting closer to the center.
Jack was scanning back and forth around the clearing from the back of the shuttle when he noticed out of the corner of his eye one of the remotes stop.
Turning his head he watched as the second remote disappeared from sight. Looking over his shoulder towards the monitor screen Jack noticed the shear amount of trunks and artifacts on the ground floor, the remotes had not even made it to the second floor yet.
Worried Jack asked. "Are we going to have enough room?"
"I am not sure." Ron said slowly as he moved his hands to the controls and directed the remote around the room.
Finding the steps leading up Ron was relieved to see that they were empty. "Second floor is empty, so it might be a tight fit but I think we can get all of it in one trip, we can always come back for what ever does not fit."
Contacting Derek in the other Shuttle Ron asked him to open up the loading ramp and send out the remotes.
Taking control of the small army of remotes that were walking out of the second shuttle Ron programmed them to start removing the trunks and storing them on the two shuttles.
"Derek, if you would seal the flight deck. I am going to have the remotes stack you full up." Ron told him as he opened up a channel to the other shuttle.
Programming the remotes to leave a path to the flight deck of his own shuttle, Ron tried very hard to ignore the spider like mechanical creatures as they started to bring their loads past him onto his shuttle.
They were about three quarters of the way done when the first sign of trouble appeared.
Jack who had moved a couple of meters away from the shuttle saw movement coming from the tree line near the village, yelled back. "Ron how much longer?"
Ron turned to see where Jack had gotten too, called back. "Five more minutes ten tops, why?"
Dodging a red beam Jack flattened himself and sighted along his rifle preparing to return fire. "We have company, and they're not here to invite us to dinner."
"Bloody...Shit." Ron muttered starting to pick up some of the more colorful slang of the American pilots he had been training with.
Opening communication with Neville's group, Ron reported they had been discovered and they might want to watch out incase reinforcements came by their location.
Not worried about keeping a low profile anymore Ron told the remotes to increase their speed.
Having the remotes that were taking the last few objects to the second shuttle stay there, Ron contacted Derek and told him he was full and to seal up and get the hell out of there.
Seeing Jack lying on the ground Ron started to panic thinking he had been hit, relaxing a bit when he saw the explosion near the tree line, the results of the high powered anti matter rounds in Jacks rifle.
"Harry is going to kill me if Jack gets hurt." Ron muttered to himself.
"Ron, heads up we are coming in hot." The voice of the lead scout Scott came over the radio.
Moving to the edge of the ramp Ron yelled. "Get your sorry arse in here before Scott and his trigger happy lads blow it off."
"Harry is so going to kill me." Ron muttered as he called up his magic into several balls of energy coursing with the Reducto curse.
Throwing the balls of energy as fast as he could he covered Jack as he made his way back to the shuttle.
Seeing several more groups of people running towards their location Ron yelled out. "Scott, go ahead and make as many holes in the area as you want Harry won't mind."
Closing the rear door Ron told the shuttle to lift off as the two of them made their way to the flight deck.
"Roger that, MANY big holes coming right up." Scott's gleeful voice sounded over the radio.
Jumping into their seats they watched as the scout crews turned the clearing into on large future lake with several well aimed anti matter rounds.
A thousand feet up Ron chuckled and before closing the communication link with a well-aimed barb. "Scott, mate you really need to find another outlet for your pent up sexual frustration."
Kicking the engines into high output Ron rapidly put some distance between the scouts and his ship.
Forty-five minutes later Ron had landed the shuttle and it was being drawn into the outer shuttle bay when he heard Harry's laughter over the radio.
"The scouts made it back to the city before you Ron. Jack you might want to knock Ron over the head and throw him out first, I heard Scott muttering something about shrinking charms aimed at a certain place if you catch my drift. Something about showing you what frustration is." Harry laughed as he told them the news.
"Seriously guys, job well done, glad no one got hurt. Meet me in the dining room when you finally out run Scott." Harry told them before closing down the channel.
Scott has provided most excellent editing skills