First off, I know this sticks pretty close to SGA Rising. So will the next chapter. After that, however, it is going to start diverging. Tell me how I did. This story has been banging around my head for a while and it was interfering with my other stories so I decided to write it out. For the very few of you who actually read this story, let's be honest Starship Troopers crossovers are few and far between; at the time of this writing there are about four different crossovers involving Starship Troopers and all are in a different category. I got off topic, anyway, please review and tell me what you think of it. I really do care how people see my writing.

Pantheon Station

Federal Fleet Headquarters

Location: Earth Orbit

"Colonel John Rico?" A Major in a Federation Fleet uniform asked of a man in a similar uniform sitting alone on a bench. A scar ran down his cheek and he had short brown hair. Colonel Rico looked up at the man and nodded.

"They ready for me?" He asked in a calm voice. The man nodded and motioned for Colonel Rico to proceed through a set of double doors. He pushed the doors apart and came into a large dark room. At the opposite side of the room from the Colonel there was a table with three people sitting behind it.

Colonel Rico came to attention and saluted when he recognized Sky Marshal Brook Hall. When she motioned for him to stand at ease he also saw to her right sat the Commandant of the Mobile Infantry Jurgen Yeltsin. On her opposite side was the Chief of Military Intelligence Juan Lawrence.

Sky Marshall Hall was the first to speak. "Colonel Rico, do you know why you're here today?" She asked. Colonel Rico shook his head.

"No Sir." A small smile appeared on the Sky Marshall's face at the Colonel's formality.

"Colonel Rico, I'm going to save us all some time and assume you haven't heard of Project Giza. That is why you've been called here today. Several decades ago, a device was discovered in an abandoned storage facility in the Old State of Virginia. It was made of an unknown element and had been sealed since before the Disorders. Since that time we have been researching the device. Recently we discovered its purpose."

With his curiosity peaked, Colonel Rico said nothing and waited for her to continue. Instead the Intelligence Chief took over speaking.

"The device, which we have begun calling a 'Stargate' is a transportation device. It works by demolecularizing matter and sending it via subspace to a similar device where it is remolecularized. The whole process is almost instantaneous." Before Chief Lawrence could continue he was interrupted as Colonel Rico asked a question with a very confused look on his face.

"Pardon me, sir, but how could that kind of technology have been created centuries ago?" Chief Lawrence stared back at him with the confident smile of the arrogant who enjoy lording their intelligence over others. Colonel Rico had met many people like him during his career. Fortunately, Commandant Yeltsin answered his question when he saw the look on the Colonel's face.

"Actually, Colonel, it wasn't. The Stargate is not a human creation. The writing found with the Stargate indicate it was created by a race of beings known as the 'Ancients'. Millions of years ago, the Ancients visited Earth. Thousands of years later they left for reasons we still don't know."

"Sirs, I mean no disrespect, but why are you telling me this?" He asked in his military voice. He was becoming more and more confused as they explained further. They were clearly leading up to something and Colonel Rico wanted to know what.

Sky Marshall Hall seemed pleased that he wished to get to the point. "Very well, Colonel. The reason we are telling you this is for a number of years we have been sending teams through the Stargate to explore the worlds on the other side. Many turned out to be Bug Planets but some were uninhabited. Others contained human life that we didn't previously know existed. Roughly a year ago we learned of an Ancient city that was the basis for the legend of Atlantis. We are going to send an expedition to Atlantis soon in the hope of meeting the Ancients and we want you to lead it."

"Why me?" Colonel Rico asked. His recent career hadn't exactly been commended. He'd been reprimanded enough times in the past ten years to reduce a dozen Generals back to private but somehow he kept getting called back.

"Because you're exactly the kind of commander the Expedition is going to need. You think unconventionally, you're flexible, and the people under you tend to respect you." She replied back. "Will you accept our offer?"

He thought for a moment and nodded. "Yes, sir." Sky Marshall Hall smiled as if she'd known exactly what he was going to say before he had even entered the room.

"Good. Your orders are to assemble and retrain a company of soldiers to join you. A number of science and medical staff has already been selected to accompany you." Uh oh. Scientists and Doctors? That meant liabilities. Before he could question it Commandant Yeltsin gave him the reason behind their decision.

"Colonel you may be on your own for a very long time. We're not sure where Atlantis is located but the Gate Address implies it is outside of this Galaxy. If you are unable to return, as we must assume to be the case, you're going to need Doctors and Scientists to help decipher the technology you're likely going to find." The tone of his voice implied that there was nothing the Colonel could do about it.

"Is there anything else sirs?" Colonel Rico asked. Sky Marshall Hall shook her head.

"No, Colonel. That's all for now. You are to immediately begin the selection and retraining process for your Expedition. Dismissed." Colonel Rico saluted the three Officers. When they returned the gesture he turned sharply on his heel and walked out of the room.

Three Months Later

"How close are we, Major Sheppard?" Colonel Rico asked of his second-in-command as they stood watching dozens of soldiers fired at targets on the firing range of Fort Hale. The young Major took a step towards the Colonel and looked down at his clipboard.

"This is the last group of Troopers to arrive. Out of the two hundred we picked, sixty-four failed the evaluation course. The rest are the best of the best. I think we're ready, Colonel."

Colonel Rico looked back at his second-in-command. The Major had spiked black hair and a large scar running down his right forearm was visible from an encounter with a Bug on a planet who's name he couldn't remember.

"Good. I want you to contact Sky Marshall Hall and tell her we're ready." Major Sheppard nodded and began to walk away before Colonel Rico spoke again. "Oh, and call Dr. McKay and ask if he's completed the ZPM interface." Major Sheppard smirked at the remark and saluted before leaving to make the calls.

Doctor Rodney McKay had been working on interfacing the ZPM they had discovered on a planet called New Asia with their Stargate for roughly three months. That would have been understandable, Dr. McKay was a busy man; he was in charge of the Naquadah Generator and Weapons Research Project after all, except for the fact that he constantly claimed he was only days away from interfacing the two technologies.

As he watched the soldiers on the range slowly stop firing he smiled. His troopers were ready. One hundred thirty four combat-tested Mobile Infantry Troopers that he had personnally handi-picked. These were the most elite soldiers in the Federation. He didn't know what they were going to face on the other side of the Gate, but he knew his soldiers were ready.

One Week Later

The Embarkation room at Fort Jackson was packed with the men and women of the Atlantis Expedition. Supplies were packed onto wheeled supply robots and people stood waiting for the Gate to activate. In the control room that overlooked the Stargate Colonel Rico and his Senior Staff were standing around a computer terminal awaiting Dr. Mckay.

Finally, after several minutes, McKay smiled and turned to Colonel Rico. "We're ready. All we need to do now is dial." Colonel Rico was the only one to not smile. Instead he ordered the dialing process to begin and the MALP loaded onto the ramp leading up to the Gate. As the tracked robot made its way to its position, Colonel Rico, Doctors Beckett and McKay, and Major Sheppard walked into the Gate room.

Immediately Rico moved to the base of the ramp and addressed his command.

"If this works the power requirements mean we might not have another shot. So, if we do make a connection, we'll send the MALP through and go. All at once. Right now I'm offering you all one last chance to back out." Colonel Rico looked around the room at the over-two hundred people gathered. No one moved.

"Good. First Squad will go through first and secure the other side. The rest of you will wait for my order before joining us. Clear?" Everyone nodded and the soldiers loaded their weapons. First Squad stepped forward to await the order to go.

Colonel Rico walked to Control Room and nodded to the Gate technician on duty. "Start dialing." Immediately the dialing alarm began to blare and the inner ring of the Stargate started to spin. McKay was standing next to Colonel Rico and was looking at the gate with indifference. Rico looked at him and smirked.

"Calm down, Doc, you're making a scene." Rico said sarcastically. Doctor McKay hesitated before turning his entire torso in the Colonel's direction.

"I've never been so excited in my entire life." His voice was flat but Colonel Rico could tell he actually was excited, even if it was only to see if this would work.

When the seventh chevron engaged, everyone held their collective breath. After the longest fraction of a second of their lives, the inner ring continued to spin before locking on an eighth symbol. When the vortex jumped from the Gate, everyone began clapping and cheering.

Immediately the MALP moved forward into the standing puddle and disappeared. Seconds later the screen in the Control Room that showed the probe's camera and sensor readings came alive.

"What are we looking at?" Colonel Rico asked to no one in particular. McKay sat in one of the empty seats and began going over the readings.

"Telemetry indicates a large room. Atmospheric sensors say there's oxygen, no measurable toxins. Its dark, but we have viable life support." Rodney stood and began walking out of the Control Room and back to the Gate before pausing in front of the Colonel.

"Looks like we're not getting out of this." He said, causing Rico to smirk. He then turned to General Jack O'Neill, the Director of the Stargate Program.

"You have a go, Colonel." He said with a nod. Colonel Rico saluted and ran to the Gate Room and stood on the ramp.

As soon as he secured his helmet he began barking orders. "Okay, First Squad will follow me through the Gate and secure the other side. After I radio its secure, Second and Third Squad will follow. After them the Science and Medical Staffs will go through followed by the rest of the Troopers."

All the soldiers present, Colonel Rico included, loaded their Morita rifles and carbines. Even the nonmilitary personnel loaded their pistols. They had no idea what they were going to find on the other side but the Mobile Infantry always assumed the worst.

The First Squad of soldiers walked up the ramp, rifles up, and stood beside Colonel Rico. Rico looked back one last time and stepped through. He didn't feel himself being pulled apart, atom by atom. Nor did he feel himself transported three million light years through subspace. He didn't feel himself being put back together on the other side either.

What he did feel was enough nausea to make weaker men cry. However, years of service in the Mobile Infantry had hardened him and he was able to maintain his composure. As soon as his sight returned to him he began to search the room he had arrived in for targets.

The room was very dark for a few moments until lights began to come on by themselves. It became apparent that they were standing on a small rise in a large room. On every side several steps led down to lower walkways that led to a number of doors exiting the room.

Directly in front of the Stargate a flight of stairs led to a second story in the large room. As the Colonel walked up them they lit up. At the top of the stairs Colonel Rico walked into what looked like a Control Room. It was filled with strange terminals covered in what he thought looked like Ancient writing.

"Clear!" he called. The rest of his squad who had fanned out in different directions replied with the their own calls of 'Clear'.

Colonel Rico reached his hand up to his helmet and activated his radio. "This is Colonel Rico. Major Sheppard, you are clear to proceed." Rico heard an acknowledgment from his Second. Moments later the rest of First Platoon walked through followed closely by Doctor McKay and his people. Doctor Beckett's group was next through and onto the platform that had become crowded with supplies.. 2nd and 3rd Platoons were the last to come through.

Just before the Gate deactivated a bottle rolled through and Colonel Rico walked down to pick it up. It read 'Les Terrasses 2106 Priorat'. A note was also taped to the bottle.

Good Luck Colonel Rico. Enjoy the Wine.

~Sky Marshall Brook Hall

Smiling internally, Colonel Rico looked up to watch the Gate deactivate.

"All nonmilitary personnel find an open space and park it until instructed otherwise!" He shouted to the civilians who had begun to get in the way. They obeyed, if somewhat begrudgingly. His troopers had begun to fan out along and explore the immediate area.

Minutes after the soldiers he had ordered to explore left the room his helmet-mounted radio crackled to life.

Looking around, Rico motioned over Dr. McKay and Major Shepperd. The Doctor walked over slowly, all the while looking around in amazement at the technology surrounding them while Sheppard hustled over. When he reached the Colonel and the Major he spoke.

"You called?" He asked.

"Follow me." Rico replied without explanation. Sheppard and McKay walked behind him. They all stopped when they reached their destination a short distance away. Half a dozen MI troopers were already looking up in awe at the sight in front of them.

Over a hundred meters above their heads water sat suspended in midair.

"I'm...Everyone else is seeing this right?" Major Sheppard asked. Rodney nodded and mumbled something incomprehensible. It wasn't until Rico's radio came alive with another voice that the Colonel Rico snapped them all out of their trance.

"Troopers! Move on, you've still got places to secure. Sheppard, McKay, with me." The soldiers saluted and walked away, grumbling too quiet for the Colonel to hear, or so they thought. John and Rodney followed Colonel Rico down several flights of stairs to where Doctor Beckett was standing on a podium surrounded by another MI team.

What appeared to be a hologram woman was speaking.

"Doctor? What is this?" Major Sheppard asked as he entered and the doors once again closed to darken the room.

"Oh, hello there. I just found this little deary. Watch. Its on a loop so you haven't missed much." The people turned their attention to the woman speaking.

"-in the hope of spreading new life in a galaxy where there appeared to be none. Soon, the new life grew and prospered. In time a thousand worlds bore the fruit of life in this form." As she said this a holographic map of the galaxy appeared over her head. What they assumed to represent human worlds, colored blue, covered the hologram.

"Then, one day, our people set foot upon a dark world where a terrible enemy slept. Never before had we encountered beings with powers that rivaled our own. In our overconfidence, we were unprepared and outnumbered. The enemy fed upon the defenseless human worlds like a great scourge until finally only Atlantis remained." The map changed once again as the colors changed to a blood red, indicating the enemy they faced.

"This city's great shield was powerful enough to resist their terrible weapons, but here we were besieged for many years. In an effort to save the last of our kind, we submerged the Great City beneath the ocean. The Atlantis Stargate was the one and only link back to Earth from this Galaxy, and those who remained used it to return to the world that was once Home. There, the last survivors of Atlantis lived out the remainder of their lives. This city was left to slumber in the hope that our kind would one day return." At that the hologram ended and Dr. Beckett stepped off the podium.

"Huh, so the story of Atlantis is true; a great city that sank beneath the ocean. The ancient Greeks must have heard it from one of the surviving Ancients." Rodney said to the group.

"I don't like the fact they got their asses kicked." Colonel Rico replied.

Carson nodded and got back up on the podium as one of the men from the Science Department rushed in and whispered into Rodney's ear.

"Let's see it from the beginning." Carson commanded of the hologram.

"Stop! Turn it off!" Rodney shouted at him in a panic. Everyone turned to Rodney in confusion as he rushed out of the room.

"Power levels throughout the city are dropping like a stone." he said. Stress and worry was becoming more and more clear in his voice.

"What does that mean?" Colonel Rico asked him. Rodney turned around to look him dead in the eye. They could see how serious it was just by his face.

"It means if we don't stop everything we're doing right now, we're dead." Without another word he quickly walked out of the room with the scientist, Peter Grodin, in cose pursuit. Everyone else followed shortly thereafter.

They all but sprinted to the Control room where Rodney immediately began working with the Science Staff on what was happening. Dr. Beckett slowly walked up to him.

"Please tell me this isn't my fault." Rodney sighed and walked to another terminal shaking his head.

"No, look; we've been able to ascertain the city runs on three Zero Point Modules. Two are already depleted and the third is approaching maximum entropy. When it does, it'll die too and there is nothing we can do about that."

"English, doc, English." Colonel Rico said. Major Sheppard nodded his agreement. Rodney sighed in frustration and typed at another console for a moment before turning back. The screen now showed what looked to be a schematic of the city.

"The forcefield holding back the ocean has collapsed to its minimum sustainable levels. As you can see here and here-" he said as he pointed to two illuminated sections of the outer arms, "-where the shield's already failed and the city flooded. It could have happened years ago. This section is likely more protected due to the Stargate but-"

"What happens if the shield fails completely?" Major Sheppard asked, interrupting the scientist.

"Its a matter of when, not if." Colonel Rico immediately ordered his troops back to the Gate room.

"Its not going to be good enough." McKay said.

"Okay, how much time do we have?" Major Sheppard asked. Rodney shook his head.

"Its impossible to say. Could be days, could be hours." Dr. Beckett perked up with an idea.

"What about our own power generators?" Rodney looked at the Doctor in annoyance.

"We're working on it, but even with out most powerful Naquadah generators the math is coming up short."

"So we need to find more ZPMs. How can we do that if we can't search the city?" Colonel Rico asked the scientist, looking for a simple answer.

"If they were here we'd be able to detect them." His annoyance was beginning to get on everyone's nerves.

"Can we use the Stargate?" Major Sheppard probed. McKay waved his hands in annoyance and almost glared at the Major.

"There's nowhere near enough power to open up a wormhole back to Earth."

"What about somewhere in this galaxy?" Major Sheppard suggested. McKay paused.

"Well that's relatively easy. Fortunately, some Ancient technology still uses good old fashion push buttons so we've been able to access the Stargate control system and a library of know addresses in the database."

Rico smirked and activated the radio on his helmet. "First and Second Squads report to the Stargate for immediate embarkation." Walking out of the Control Room, Colonel Rico motioned for Sheppard to follow. When he reached the space in front of the Stargate he looked up at McKay.

"Pick an address and dial." He ordered. Rodney hit a series of keys on the DHD and the stargate activated, much quicker than normal.

Immediately a MALP was launched through the Gate. After about ten seconds, Grodin called down to the almost two-dozen soldiers.

"MALP is reading full viability. There's no activity in the immediate area around the Gate but its completely dark." Without hesitation one of the Troopers walked over to a crate and popped the lid off. He handed each of the soldiers a set of Night-vision Goggles and the Troopers lined up and marched through.