Southern Cross by Windstar

"An art she says, don't force it she says…"
There was something else that was an art form, and she felt her cheeks warm as she thought
about doing that with Emily. The low chuckle coming from the First Guardian's direction made
certain that she knew her line of thinking probably hadn't gone unnoticed. I swear, I'm going to
have to strap her down if I want to have some time alone with her like that. Hmm… that has
some possibilities.
"Relax Julie, ignore what's going on around your body. Remember, you have to be able to do this
even when you're under enemy fire. Block out what's happening on the Command Deck. Let
you're bond strengthen, and feel your ship self. Now let the generators spin up, and activate the
gravity emitters."
Julie McGrath spared a glare towards the First Guardian at that. It was easy for her to say, she'd
already mastered the art and science of opening a Warp Gate. She'd only spent the last three
hours or so trying to wrap her mind around what was needed. As always, the theory was different
than the actual application. Letting the bond between herself and her ship deepen she relaxed
against the acceleration couch.
I am not spending twelve hours learning how to open a Warp Gate. Three hours is already too
long, even if Emie thinks I'm doing a good job.
Well aware of the presence of the First Guardian nearby. As her human body faded out of her
consciousness, she became more and more aware of her ship self. Southern Cross was five
kilometers of battle steel, life support, weapons, shields, and fusion reactors, along with the
nearly four thousand crewmembers who now depended on her for life. As all Guardians did, she
felt a protective surge for these people who trusted her with their lives. She was responsible for
them, and their survival in the war against the Bak'ra that they were preparing for. The first time
she had realized that, the short red head had been more than a little shocked.
Her senses expanded and she felt the presence of the other Guardian ship a good hundred
thousand kilometers behind South Star. Clustered around the other Guardian Ship were three
other ships, the first in what would eventually become North Star's battle group. These smaller
ships would support the massive Guardian class ships, and provide specialized support during
battle. Much as an Aircraft Carrier never operated alone, but as the center of a Carrier group
composed of ships that would help defend the larger ship and extend its offensive capabilities.
Her voice, when she spoke, sounded odd to her, distant and emotionless. With care she began to
work her way through the checklist of things to do before a successful warp gate could be
formed.
"Prepare for zero-g. Lieutenant Sanders, shut down artificial gravity on my mark."
With a quick mental scan, she watched as stations across her ship self secured for zero-g
conditions. No active gravity generators could be taken through a warp gate. The chance of
causing the gate to implode in on itself, and a ship halfway through it, were simply too great.