“Well, well, well, look who finally decided to show up,” Gabrielle Camargo said loudly, gaining everyone’s attention and turning a dozen heads in the direction she was talking. Conversations died, and the only sounds that could be heard was the faint whirring of electric motors on standby and the faint rustling of sand on whisper-soft winds.

The desert before dawn was cold, breath evident in the headlamps of the rovers that had been beamed down and trailers with supplies hitched up. But the Atlantis team had been told to halt, to wait before proceeding into the interference zone around Leytan III’s mysterious monolith. A few minutes had turned into nearly half an hour. The small camp replicator had been put to use as everyone stood around, waiting for whatever was to come their way, enjoying a warm drink or a small bite to eat.

“Fashionably late is better than not at all,” Matt Lake, Republic’s chief science officer, said, as he stepped away from his own team, taking Gabrielle’s hand in a polite and brief handshake. Behind him, another few rovers materialised, the bright blue lights of transporters illuminating the desert briefly before fading away, reborn shortly after as more trailers and supplies came down as well.

“Nice to meet you in person, Commander Lake,” Gabrielle greeted the taller man. Like her own people, he and Republic’s team had arrived with field jackets. Some already had hats on, others had glasses or goggles with them. One or two, hard to tell in the poor light, even wore scarves like she did.

“Please, call me Matt,” Matt said jovially, his smile illuminating even in the pre-dawn darkness.

“Gabs,” Gabrielle responded.

“Gabs,” Matt repeated. “Any reason why we couldn’t have delayed beaming down for another hour?” he asked, pulling his jacket closed and zipping it up, the chill finally making itself known to him.

“Because dawn is just around the corner and the spire is right in that direction,” Gabs answered, raising a hand to point towards a brightening horizon. And already standing out against the brightening sky, rising well above the horizon with such unnatural perfection, the monolith pierced upward.

They were far enough from the ruined city proper that the horizon was just a vaguely straight line across the desert. But the monolith was a dagger violently stabbing upwards, its height impossible for what had been seen of local civilisation and more on par with modern cosmopolitan Federation worlds. But there were no other fingers stretching upwards, just a solitary stiletto stabbing at the sky.

And with near prefect dramatic timing, the first bright gasp of daylight started to truly push back the night, brilliant warm orange hues filling the sky and offering a respite against the cold of the desert, though it would be a fight that would take a few hours yet.

“Alright, folks,” Gabrielle shouted, getting the attention of both teams. “For those who don’t know me, I’m Lieutenant Commander Gabrielle Camargo,” she said to the Republic team, “and this is Lieutenant Commander Matt Lake,” she said to her own people. “Few ground rules before we get started. If any of the archaeologists tell you to do or not do something, listen to them. When we get to the monolith, our priority is setting up the holoprojectors to shroud ourselves with a duck blind before we do anything else with setting up a base camp.”

There were a few nodding heads of understanding, at least one rolling of eyes that said ‘well duh’ rather obviously. And then there were four individuals who were off in a little knot by themselves, not looking like they were listening, but to which Gabrielle knew were. They were trying to project disinterest, but she’d seen them try it a few times to recognise it. They were watching the new people, the ones they weren’t familiar with.

“And this here is Silver Team,” she said, pointing at Gavin Mitchell and his team, still missing a third with the loss of Silver Three to Canopus. “If you see a threat or something suspicious, tell them. If they tell you to seek cover, do it. And whatever you do, do not get into a drinking contest with them because you will lose.” That got a few chuckles, breaking the tension that had started to ice over with her quick briefing.

“Not that we’re expecting any trouble,” Gavin said, stepping away from his team and looking the collected scientists over. “We’re just here as a precaution. But to add to Commander Camargo’s introduction, we also have Lieutenant Leckie.” He waved a hand at the purple-haired young woman in his team, the only one with a blue jacket compared to all the yellow of Silver Team. “She’s our nurse and will be available should anyone need first aid.”

“But that’s not going to happen, is it?” Gabrielle asked, a few murmurs of ‘yeah’ and ‘yes ma’am’ following. “Now, we’ve got a bit of a drive, folks. So, let’s get to it!”

As everyone started turning, looking for colleagues and rovers to mount up on, Gabrielle was glad to see at least a few from both ship’s teams offering to swap seats. Others got on with the job of hitching up the supply trailers for Republic’s rovers in quick order. It would only take a few more minutes for everyone to be ready.

“Got a spare seat?” Matt asked, with that same broad grin still on his face.

“Actually, I do,” Gabrielle answered, turning to one of the rovers and walking towards it. “Looking forward to this?”

“A chance to do some actual archaeology and investigate a clearly suspicious alien ruin?” Matt asked, looking towards the monolith. “Is it just me, or is it too black?”

“It’s backlit,” Gabrielle countered. “Silhouetted against the sun.” Gabrielle then sat herself down in the driver’s seat of the rover, a few key presses bringing the vehicle’s full systems to life in quick order. “So, hey, what’s this about a demigod on your ship?”

“Dammit,” Matt said as he climbed in opposite Gabrielle, the rear two seats suddenly filling up with two of the members of Silver Team almost instantly. “You couldn’t have waited an hour to ask that question?”

“Just lost a bet?” Gavin Mitchell asked from the rear seat.

“And then some,” Matt answered. “So, yes, we do…”