With a rush of energy, the stargate activated, a column of psuedo-water rushing out from the surface before settling into a rippling pool within the circle of metal. For a moment, almost anti-climatically, nothing happened. And then one by one, SG-1 stepped out of the gate and onto the world that they had designated as P4F-117.
Well at least there arent any trees, Jack ONeill observed, looking around the rocky hollow that surrounded the stargate and its DHD. The set up was fairly typical for the many worlds that SG-1 had visited, the stargate standing on a dais with a few steps leading up to it and the DHD off to one side, placed so whoever operated it would be facing the stargate. However, the hollow was surrounded on three sides by steep slopes a dozen feet high and in the fourth direction, a paved road lead away from the gate.
This looks like Roman work, Daniel Jackson mused as he stepped onto the slabs. Someone made it to last.
Sure doesnt look like its been very thoroughly maintained, Jack pointed out, indicating one of the places where greenery was poking its way through the cracks between the slabs. So you think the people here could have been Romans?
I thought Rome post-dated the Goauld presence on Earth, Samantha Carter asked curiously.
Aw dont tell me youre joining the rocks and ruins crowd, Jack complained.
Sam rolled her eyes. Some of us stayed awake in history class, sir, she pointed out. If youd like I can start talking about the interesting astronomical date the MALP picked up.
Pass, the Colonel grumped. Alright Daniel, do you want to stop and dig this up or shall we go look at the other rocks that were reported?
The archeologist frowned and shook his head. Its an interesting anachronism youre right Sam, even the earliest estimates for when Roman roads were first made would put it hundreds of years after the Goauld left Earth, so its likely that this is just a parallel development -
Danny!
Daniel blinked. Jack?
Are we going? Jack gestured down the road. I know its not made of yellow bricks or anything but
Ah, right. Daniel joined the other three in walking along the road. A few hundred yards from the stargate, the road bore around to the right.
What would be the significance of a road made of yellow bricks, JackONeill? Tealc asked just before they were out of earshot of the Stargate.
.oOo.
In the end it took the team most of the day, marching steadily, to reach the ruins that had been spotted by the UAV. It wasnt hard to find the road lead directly to them, which was what had led Stargate Command to locate them in the first place. As far as that initial survey had revealed, the stargate was located on an large island, perhaps two hundred and fifty miles long at its longest, and the ruins were on the coast, not quite thirty miles away.
We really should have thought to bring bicycles, Daniel noted as the ruins finally came into sight. Its not like they wouldnt fit through the Stargate and this road would be perfect for them.
Its a thought, Jack conceded. Wed have to teach Tealc how to ride one though. A wicked look crossed his face. Ill see if I can talk General Hammond into shelling out for a bike when we get back all that paperwork has to be good for something and show him at the weekend.
What is this bicycle? Tealc asked. Is it similar to Sergeant Silers motorcycle?
Yeah, sort of, agreed Jack. Except lighter weight because theres no engine, and you have to pedal it.
Tealc frowned. I do not see the advantages of such a device.
Its about two, three times as fast as walking, Daniel explained. A road like this would be ideal for them and wed have saved hours.
And with no fuel there would be no logistical burden, said Tealc thoughtfully. This sounds very useful.
And here we are, Jack noted, pausing at extreme range for his P90 from the buildings. Anyone see any signs of inhabitants?
Sam lifted her binoculars and scanned the buildings carefully. Nothing moving, sir. None of the usual debris Id expect of anyones living there.
So either its empty or someones lying in wait, Jack sighed. Same old, same old. Youve got point, Tealc.
Understood, the big Jaffa agreed and advanced slowly towards the small building complex, staff weapon held ready in both hands. Behind him, the rest of SG-1 fanned out, P90s at the ready.
Nothing disturbed them as they approached but a small flock of birds exploded up from one of the side buildings as Tealc pushed open the crude door that still covered the entrance to the largest building with a creak. When nothing else happened, the team swept through the building thoroughly but found no inhabitants or signs that anyone had lived her for a number of years.
Looks safe to me, Jack observed. Probably because theres jack all here.
There were heiroglyphics around the walls of the main courtyard, Daniel observed, But someones been fairly thorough about defacing them.
It is possible that this was once the private retreat of a System Lord, Tealc theorised. Somewhere to rest when they desire privacy. It is rare and such sites are usually secret and well defended. Apophis maintained such a location where he could grow familiar with a new host body.
Sort of like Jacks cabin? Daniel asked innocently.
Hey! Jack protested the analogy.
The principle seems similar, Tealc confirmed with the slightest hint of amusement. However, since the buildings are in ruins, it is likely that their owner has abandoned them.
So hes an ex-Goauld? Jack asked.
It is possible, ONeill. However, he may have simply believed that the location had been determined, in which case he would have no further use for a place were he might be vulnerable to rival System Lords.
Ill have a look over the ruins, Daniel suggested. Whoever defaced the heiroglyphics may have missed some clues about whoever owned the place and itll give Sam a chance to check those astronomical anomalies that were picked up.
Right, Jack said, watching as the teams two scientists began to get their nerds on. Ill, um, set up camp then. Say Tealc, do you think there might be some fish in that sea?
It seems unlikely that there would be fish suitable for human consumption, ONeill, Tealc replied as he shrugged off his backpack and indicated one of the outbuildings that could be quickly weather-proofed using the tents that they had brought with them.
.oOo.
Sir, Sam called from outside, I think that you want to see this.
Jack and Tealc exchanged looks and picked up their weapons before leaving the building. Sam had set up an optical telescope in the middle of the courtyard and was crouched over it, looking through the eyepiece. What do you have Carter? Jack asked seriously.
Big bad mojo, she reported. Theres some serious hardware in orbit, sir.
Goauld? asked Jack, glancing up at the sky concernedly.
Nothing that I recognise, sir. A - Sam moved away from the telescope and shook her head before looking again. Huh. For a moment there something looked like that ship from Star Wars. But no, nothing thats obviously Goauld.
Uh, which Star Wars ship did you think it looked like? Jack asked. Death Star? Millenium Falcon?
That big one at the beginning, Sam clarified. The star destroyer. But its probably just something triangular that caught my eye theres a lot of different things up there.
Hmm. Jack ran his hand through his hair. Okay, let me have a look.
First Jack and then Tealc took a look, neither recognising anything up there as distinctively Goauld but two things were for sure. Firstly there was one hell of a lot of material in orbit, and not all of it was debris. Secondly, someone was active up there one of the objects visible was manuvering under power.
Jack rubbed his chin. Alright campers, time to pack up. Weve either hit the jack pot or were in a lot of trouble and I dont know which. Either way, wed better get back to the stargate and call it in. Did anyone see where Daniel was last?
DanielJackson was investigating the outbuildings behind the main structure, ONeill, Tealc replied. I will seek him out. The big Jaffa departed quickly towards the back of the complex, already familiar with the general layout, while Jack helped Sam break down the telescope.
He found Daniel examining the wall of a kitchen with a handheld torch. Oh, Tealc. Looks like whoever went after the hieroglyphics in the courtyard didnt care enough to check for the graffiti in the servants areas. Theres no writing of coruse but someones done this little set of carvings, looks like they were depicting Jaffa and the helmets of elite guards...
Tealc gave the carvings a quick glance. A serpent guard, a hawk guard and a I do not recognise the helmet of the last Jaffa, DanielJackson. Three Jaffa serving different Goauld is not uncommon in Jaffa jokes however.
It looks like the third Jaffa is getting the better of the other two, Daniel pointed out. That might mean whoever carved this was a servant of the same Goauld.
There is no time for further study, DanielJackson. A vessel has been detected in orbit of this world and ONeill has decided we will return to the stargate to report in.
Daniel blinked. A vessel? Is it, uh, is it the Goauld?
Unknown, Tealc replied, picking up Daniels backpack from where it was leant against the wall.
.oOo.
Weve got trouble, Jack reported as Tealc and Daniel arrived at the entrance to the compound. Hed been scanning the area with nightvision binoculars and he let them hang down against his chest as he heard the two of them. Someones out there between us and the Gate.
Tealc frowned. I can hear zat fire in the distance, he observed in surprise. I do not hear staff weapons however.
Yeah, Jack agreed. Thats what I can see. And it looks like theres one hell of a lot of fighting going on in the hills. Well have to go well around them if were going to get to the stargate.
Do you have any idea whos fighting? Daniel asked.
Jack shrugged. The only people we know who use Zats are the Goauld. Could be that theres some sort of internal dispute although I dont know why theyd not use their staff weapons if they are.
Or it could be someone else who uses the same technology, Daniel suggested. Jack, if thats the case then we have to make contact with them!
Report in first, Danny, Jack advised. We can make contact once General Hammond knows what the situation is, and by then maybe the fighting will have died down a little.
Sam came out of the nearest building, carrying her own pack. Do you have any ideas for a route back to the stargate, sir? she asked.
According to the UAV reports, the coastal plain narrows to the north of us, Jack explained. And theres some forest there that should give us some cover. So well head that way four or five miles and then swing east towards the stargate. Itll take longer than following the road, but the fighting seems to be moving south as far as I can tell.
.oOo.
Dawn found SG-1 trekking through the sparse pine forest that Jack had seen on the map. Even with nightvision goggles, it had been slow going and they had only managed to reach the first hills an hour or so before.
Colonel! Sam called from behind Jack. Is that
Jack groaned as he saw a familiar looking blue bolt of light slam into a tree trunk half a mile or so ahead. So much for avoiding the fight, he muttered. Okay, lets find some cover.
ONeill! Tealc exclaimed from where he was picking up the rear behind Daniel. There are motorised ground vehicles approaching from the west.
Great. Instead of avoiding the fight it looks like were going to be in the middle of this, Jack noted. At least whoevers using the vehicles its unlikely to be Jaffa, cause were not exactly packing for anti-tank work.
Carter tilted her head as the sound of engines reached her. That sounds more like an aircraft turbine, she observed, backing up against a tree. Not a piston set-up as in most diesel engines.
Less theorising and more hiding, Jack ordered as he flattened himself against a tree trunk, P90 at the ready.
A moment later, the first of at least a dozen small tracked vehicles roared through the trees. It was hard to get a good view from Jacks position but he saw at least one heavy weapon pintle-mounted and that the back of the vehicle was open, a towed field gun of some description bouncing along behind it. Two more of the vehicles went right past Jack and a fourth was almost parallel to him when a blue bolt too large to be from a zat gun slammed into it. The mini-tank skidded to a halt, acrid smoke pouring from the inside and crew bailing out in all directions. With typical SG-1 luck, one of them dived almost on top of Jack and froze as he locked eyes with the Air Force officer.
Without waiting, Jack brought his P90 around and butt-stroked the man, hoping to incapacitate him before he could draw any more attention. It was too late however and as the man, who was turbanned Jack noted absently, rather than wearing the helmet that he would have expected in an armoured crewman, flew backwards, face bloodied by the impact, he cried out in shock.
Immediately, the rest of the vehicles crew turned, bringing up sidearms Jack dived aside rather than shoot and blue bolts slashed through the air above him. Great, at least they were only using zats.
One of the crewmen went down as Daniel broke cover and opened up with his own zat gun, catching the three remaining soldiers in a cross fire. Another crewman fell to Daniel and then Sam screamed: Look out!
The archeologist turned to see a large, grenade-like object tumbling before him, obvious fired from two mini-tanks that had changed direction to support their fallen comrades. He saw one of the mini-tanks hit by a blue blast and start smoking and then there was a blue flash, followed by blackness.
Jack swore as he saw Daniel drop as the blue zat effect that the grenade had emitted hit him. He only hoped that it wasnt powerful enough to have had lethal effect. Probably not, he decided as he noticed that one of the two crewmen remaining had been caught in the fringe of the zat-grenades effect and was also out of action. It was the work of a moment to drop the last of them but more crewmen were spilling out of the other two minitanks. Another grenade cane flying in his direction and he ran forwards, hoping to get inside its trajectory. The crewman in the cupola seemed startled that the unconventional approach worked and tried to yank the muzzle of his grenade launcher down to fire directly but Tealc appeared, almost out of nowhere, and gave the mans turbanned head a whack with his staff weapon.
Jack fired twice, hitting another crewman as he ran up alongside the mini-tank. Another crewman went tumbling out of the rear of the vehicle and Tealc appeared at the back. ONeill!
See if you can get this thing moving! Jack ordered. Its our best bet for getting out of here.
Indeed, Tealc agreed and ducked out of sight inside.
Jack followed and saw his friend cramming himself into what was evidently the drivers seat. The colonel poked his head cautiously out of the cupola and almost crowned himself with the butt of the grenade launcher. Doesnt seem too complicated, he muttered and brought the weapon around to bear on the crew of the last vehicle, apparently out of action. Pulling the trigger, he saw the first grenade smack into the ground, yards ahead of the soldiers, forcing them to scramble backwards. He adjusted and a second grenade slammed into a tree trunk behind them, putting all four of them on the floor in a flurry of blue sparks.
Carter! he shouted, looking around for the rest of his team.
Here, sir! came the familiar voice of his second-in-command and he looked down to see Carter dragging a stunned Daniel into the back of the little tank.
Good going! Jack shouted. Tealc! Hit it!
There was a pregnant pause and then the tank jerked forwards, slowly at first and then with increasing speed.
Yes! Jack shouted. The fight was already falling behind them at the little tank accelerated away. Tealc wove it inbetween the trees with increasing speed, heading east towards the stargate. Carter, are you and Daniel okay?
Hes just stunned, sir, she replied. Janet will probably want to look at him but it doesnt look like its anything more than a standard case of getting zatted. She paused. Theres something wrong with getting zatted being considered standard though.
Just be glad he didnt hit his head on something for once, Jack pointed out. Maybe we should have got him one of those turbans for extra padding around his head.
Tealc veered to one side suddenly, throwing Jack against the side of the cupola. What the hell Jack snapped and then ducked as a zat shot almost picked him off. Dammit! Jaffa!
They were indeed Jaffa, dozens of them, ranged along the slopes of a hill, all aiming staff weapons in their general direction. Crackling blue bolts flew towards them and Tealc brought them around again, throwing Jack off as he tried to return fire with the grenade launcher.
What the hells going on! he demanded. Those are staff weapons but theyre shooting like Zats!
I do no known, ONeill, Tealc replied. I -
Whatever Teald had been about to say was lost as one of the shots managed to hit the vehicle and the engine cut out sharply. Smoke poured out of the interior, up around Jack, who instinctively ducked inside, groping for the helpless Daniel.
Despite the unfamiliar interior, Jack and Sam managed to bale out with Daniel and Tealc followed them out, halting as he saw the reception committee waiting for them.
Crap, Jack noted as he saw a pair of Jaffa boots in front of him, and several more behind them. Looking up, the Jaffa in front seemed more perplexed than angry as he eyed the four members of SG-1.
Jaffa, the man ordered sharply and Jack tensed for a last effort to defend his team.
Zats cracked out and the last thing Jack thought before he was swallowed before darkness swallowed him was No fair! He didnt say kree!D for Drakensis
You're only young once, but immaturity is forever.
D for Drakensis
You're only young once, but immaturity is forever.
Well at least there arent any trees, Jack ONeill observed, looking around the rocky hollow that surrounded the stargate and its DHD. The set up was fairly typical for the many worlds that SG-1 had visited, the stargate standing on a dais with a few steps leading up to it and the DHD off to one side, placed so whoever operated it would be facing the stargate. However, the hollow was surrounded on three sides by steep slopes a dozen feet high and in the fourth direction, a paved road lead away from the gate.
This looks like Roman work, Daniel Jackson mused as he stepped onto the slabs. Someone made it to last.
Sure doesnt look like its been very thoroughly maintained, Jack pointed out, indicating one of the places where greenery was poking its way through the cracks between the slabs. So you think the people here could have been Romans?
I thought Rome post-dated the Goauld presence on Earth, Samantha Carter asked curiously.
Aw dont tell me youre joining the rocks and ruins crowd, Jack complained.
Sam rolled her eyes. Some of us stayed awake in history class, sir, she pointed out. If youd like I can start talking about the interesting astronomical date the MALP picked up.
Pass, the Colonel grumped. Alright Daniel, do you want to stop and dig this up or shall we go look at the other rocks that were reported?
The archeologist frowned and shook his head. Its an interesting anachronism youre right Sam, even the earliest estimates for when Roman roads were first made would put it hundreds of years after the Goauld left Earth, so its likely that this is just a parallel development -
Danny!
Daniel blinked. Jack?
Are we going? Jack gestured down the road. I know its not made of yellow bricks or anything but
Ah, right. Daniel joined the other three in walking along the road. A few hundred yards from the stargate, the road bore around to the right.
What would be the significance of a road made of yellow bricks, JackONeill? Tealc asked just before they were out of earshot of the Stargate.
.oOo.
In the end it took the team most of the day, marching steadily, to reach the ruins that had been spotted by the UAV. It wasnt hard to find the road lead directly to them, which was what had led Stargate Command to locate them in the first place. As far as that initial survey had revealed, the stargate was located on an large island, perhaps two hundred and fifty miles long at its longest, and the ruins were on the coast, not quite thirty miles away.
We really should have thought to bring bicycles, Daniel noted as the ruins finally came into sight. Its not like they wouldnt fit through the Stargate and this road would be perfect for them.
Its a thought, Jack conceded. Wed have to teach Tealc how to ride one though. A wicked look crossed his face. Ill see if I can talk General Hammond into shelling out for a bike when we get back all that paperwork has to be good for something and show him at the weekend.
What is this bicycle? Tealc asked. Is it similar to Sergeant Silers motorcycle?
Yeah, sort of, agreed Jack. Except lighter weight because theres no engine, and you have to pedal it.
Tealc frowned. I do not see the advantages of such a device.
Its about two, three times as fast as walking, Daniel explained. A road like this would be ideal for them and wed have saved hours.
And with no fuel there would be no logistical burden, said Tealc thoughtfully. This sounds very useful.
And here we are, Jack noted, pausing at extreme range for his P90 from the buildings. Anyone see any signs of inhabitants?
Sam lifted her binoculars and scanned the buildings carefully. Nothing moving, sir. None of the usual debris Id expect of anyones living there.
So either its empty or someones lying in wait, Jack sighed. Same old, same old. Youve got point, Tealc.
Understood, the big Jaffa agreed and advanced slowly towards the small building complex, staff weapon held ready in both hands. Behind him, the rest of SG-1 fanned out, P90s at the ready.
Nothing disturbed them as they approached but a small flock of birds exploded up from one of the side buildings as Tealc pushed open the crude door that still covered the entrance to the largest building with a creak. When nothing else happened, the team swept through the building thoroughly but found no inhabitants or signs that anyone had lived her for a number of years.
Looks safe to me, Jack observed. Probably because theres jack all here.
There were heiroglyphics around the walls of the main courtyard, Daniel observed, But someones been fairly thorough about defacing them.
It is possible that this was once the private retreat of a System Lord, Tealc theorised. Somewhere to rest when they desire privacy. It is rare and such sites are usually secret and well defended. Apophis maintained such a location where he could grow familiar with a new host body.
Sort of like Jacks cabin? Daniel asked innocently.
Hey! Jack protested the analogy.
The principle seems similar, Tealc confirmed with the slightest hint of amusement. However, since the buildings are in ruins, it is likely that their owner has abandoned them.
So hes an ex-Goauld? Jack asked.
It is possible, ONeill. However, he may have simply believed that the location had been determined, in which case he would have no further use for a place were he might be vulnerable to rival System Lords.
Ill have a look over the ruins, Daniel suggested. Whoever defaced the heiroglyphics may have missed some clues about whoever owned the place and itll give Sam a chance to check those astronomical anomalies that were picked up.
Right, Jack said, watching as the teams two scientists began to get their nerds on. Ill, um, set up camp then. Say Tealc, do you think there might be some fish in that sea?
It seems unlikely that there would be fish suitable for human consumption, ONeill, Tealc replied as he shrugged off his backpack and indicated one of the outbuildings that could be quickly weather-proofed using the tents that they had brought with them.
.oOo.
Sir, Sam called from outside, I think that you want to see this.
Jack and Tealc exchanged looks and picked up their weapons before leaving the building. Sam had set up an optical telescope in the middle of the courtyard and was crouched over it, looking through the eyepiece. What do you have Carter? Jack asked seriously.
Big bad mojo, she reported. Theres some serious hardware in orbit, sir.
Goauld? asked Jack, glancing up at the sky concernedly.
Nothing that I recognise, sir. A - Sam moved away from the telescope and shook her head before looking again. Huh. For a moment there something looked like that ship from Star Wars. But no, nothing thats obviously Goauld.
Uh, which Star Wars ship did you think it looked like? Jack asked. Death Star? Millenium Falcon?
That big one at the beginning, Sam clarified. The star destroyer. But its probably just something triangular that caught my eye theres a lot of different things up there.
Hmm. Jack ran his hand through his hair. Okay, let me have a look.
First Jack and then Tealc took a look, neither recognising anything up there as distinctively Goauld but two things were for sure. Firstly there was one hell of a lot of material in orbit, and not all of it was debris. Secondly, someone was active up there one of the objects visible was manuvering under power.
Jack rubbed his chin. Alright campers, time to pack up. Weve either hit the jack pot or were in a lot of trouble and I dont know which. Either way, wed better get back to the stargate and call it in. Did anyone see where Daniel was last?
DanielJackson was investigating the outbuildings behind the main structure, ONeill, Tealc replied. I will seek him out. The big Jaffa departed quickly towards the back of the complex, already familiar with the general layout, while Jack helped Sam break down the telescope.
He found Daniel examining the wall of a kitchen with a handheld torch. Oh, Tealc. Looks like whoever went after the hieroglyphics in the courtyard didnt care enough to check for the graffiti in the servants areas. Theres no writing of coruse but someones done this little set of carvings, looks like they were depicting Jaffa and the helmets of elite guards...
Tealc gave the carvings a quick glance. A serpent guard, a hawk guard and a I do not recognise the helmet of the last Jaffa, DanielJackson. Three Jaffa serving different Goauld is not uncommon in Jaffa jokes however.
It looks like the third Jaffa is getting the better of the other two, Daniel pointed out. That might mean whoever carved this was a servant of the same Goauld.
There is no time for further study, DanielJackson. A vessel has been detected in orbit of this world and ONeill has decided we will return to the stargate to report in.
Daniel blinked. A vessel? Is it, uh, is it the Goauld?
Unknown, Tealc replied, picking up Daniels backpack from where it was leant against the wall.
.oOo.
Weve got trouble, Jack reported as Tealc and Daniel arrived at the entrance to the compound. Hed been scanning the area with nightvision binoculars and he let them hang down against his chest as he heard the two of them. Someones out there between us and the Gate.
Tealc frowned. I can hear zat fire in the distance, he observed in surprise. I do not hear staff weapons however.
Yeah, Jack agreed. Thats what I can see. And it looks like theres one hell of a lot of fighting going on in the hills. Well have to go well around them if were going to get to the stargate.
Do you have any idea whos fighting? Daniel asked.
Jack shrugged. The only people we know who use Zats are the Goauld. Could be that theres some sort of internal dispute although I dont know why theyd not use their staff weapons if they are.
Or it could be someone else who uses the same technology, Daniel suggested. Jack, if thats the case then we have to make contact with them!
Report in first, Danny, Jack advised. We can make contact once General Hammond knows what the situation is, and by then maybe the fighting will have died down a little.
Sam came out of the nearest building, carrying her own pack. Do you have any ideas for a route back to the stargate, sir? she asked.
According to the UAV reports, the coastal plain narrows to the north of us, Jack explained. And theres some forest there that should give us some cover. So well head that way four or five miles and then swing east towards the stargate. Itll take longer than following the road, but the fighting seems to be moving south as far as I can tell.
.oOo.
Dawn found SG-1 trekking through the sparse pine forest that Jack had seen on the map. Even with nightvision goggles, it had been slow going and they had only managed to reach the first hills an hour or so before.
Colonel! Sam called from behind Jack. Is that
Jack groaned as he saw a familiar looking blue bolt of light slam into a tree trunk half a mile or so ahead. So much for avoiding the fight, he muttered. Okay, lets find some cover.
ONeill! Tealc exclaimed from where he was picking up the rear behind Daniel. There are motorised ground vehicles approaching from the west.
Great. Instead of avoiding the fight it looks like were going to be in the middle of this, Jack noted. At least whoevers using the vehicles its unlikely to be Jaffa, cause were not exactly packing for anti-tank work.
Carter tilted her head as the sound of engines reached her. That sounds more like an aircraft turbine, she observed, backing up against a tree. Not a piston set-up as in most diesel engines.
Less theorising and more hiding, Jack ordered as he flattened himself against a tree trunk, P90 at the ready.
A moment later, the first of at least a dozen small tracked vehicles roared through the trees. It was hard to get a good view from Jacks position but he saw at least one heavy weapon pintle-mounted and that the back of the vehicle was open, a towed field gun of some description bouncing along behind it. Two more of the vehicles went right past Jack and a fourth was almost parallel to him when a blue bolt too large to be from a zat gun slammed into it. The mini-tank skidded to a halt, acrid smoke pouring from the inside and crew bailing out in all directions. With typical SG-1 luck, one of them dived almost on top of Jack and froze as he locked eyes with the Air Force officer.
Without waiting, Jack brought his P90 around and butt-stroked the man, hoping to incapacitate him before he could draw any more attention. It was too late however and as the man, who was turbanned Jack noted absently, rather than wearing the helmet that he would have expected in an armoured crewman, flew backwards, face bloodied by the impact, he cried out in shock.
Immediately, the rest of the vehicles crew turned, bringing up sidearms Jack dived aside rather than shoot and blue bolts slashed through the air above him. Great, at least they were only using zats.
One of the crewmen went down as Daniel broke cover and opened up with his own zat gun, catching the three remaining soldiers in a cross fire. Another crewman fell to Daniel and then Sam screamed: Look out!
The archeologist turned to see a large, grenade-like object tumbling before him, obvious fired from two mini-tanks that had changed direction to support their fallen comrades. He saw one of the mini-tanks hit by a blue blast and start smoking and then there was a blue flash, followed by blackness.
Jack swore as he saw Daniel drop as the blue zat effect that the grenade had emitted hit him. He only hoped that it wasnt powerful enough to have had lethal effect. Probably not, he decided as he noticed that one of the two crewmen remaining had been caught in the fringe of the zat-grenades effect and was also out of action. It was the work of a moment to drop the last of them but more crewmen were spilling out of the other two minitanks. Another grenade cane flying in his direction and he ran forwards, hoping to get inside its trajectory. The crewman in the cupola seemed startled that the unconventional approach worked and tried to yank the muzzle of his grenade launcher down to fire directly but Tealc appeared, almost out of nowhere, and gave the mans turbanned head a whack with his staff weapon.
Jack fired twice, hitting another crewman as he ran up alongside the mini-tank. Another crewman went tumbling out of the rear of the vehicle and Tealc appeared at the back. ONeill!
See if you can get this thing moving! Jack ordered. Its our best bet for getting out of here.
Indeed, Tealc agreed and ducked out of sight inside.
Jack followed and saw his friend cramming himself into what was evidently the drivers seat. The colonel poked his head cautiously out of the cupola and almost crowned himself with the butt of the grenade launcher. Doesnt seem too complicated, he muttered and brought the weapon around to bear on the crew of the last vehicle, apparently out of action. Pulling the trigger, he saw the first grenade smack into the ground, yards ahead of the soldiers, forcing them to scramble backwards. He adjusted and a second grenade slammed into a tree trunk behind them, putting all four of them on the floor in a flurry of blue sparks.
Carter! he shouted, looking around for the rest of his team.
Here, sir! came the familiar voice of his second-in-command and he looked down to see Carter dragging a stunned Daniel into the back of the little tank.
Good going! Jack shouted. Tealc! Hit it!
There was a pregnant pause and then the tank jerked forwards, slowly at first and then with increasing speed.
Yes! Jack shouted. The fight was already falling behind them at the little tank accelerated away. Tealc wove it inbetween the trees with increasing speed, heading east towards the stargate. Carter, are you and Daniel okay?
Hes just stunned, sir, she replied. Janet will probably want to look at him but it doesnt look like its anything more than a standard case of getting zatted. She paused. Theres something wrong with getting zatted being considered standard though.
Just be glad he didnt hit his head on something for once, Jack pointed out. Maybe we should have got him one of those turbans for extra padding around his head.
Tealc veered to one side suddenly, throwing Jack against the side of the cupola. What the hell Jack snapped and then ducked as a zat shot almost picked him off. Dammit! Jaffa!
They were indeed Jaffa, dozens of them, ranged along the slopes of a hill, all aiming staff weapons in their general direction. Crackling blue bolts flew towards them and Tealc brought them around again, throwing Jack off as he tried to return fire with the grenade launcher.
What the hells going on! he demanded. Those are staff weapons but theyre shooting like Zats!
I do no known, ONeill, Tealc replied. I -
Whatever Teald had been about to say was lost as one of the shots managed to hit the vehicle and the engine cut out sharply. Smoke poured out of the interior, up around Jack, who instinctively ducked inside, groping for the helpless Daniel.
Despite the unfamiliar interior, Jack and Sam managed to bale out with Daniel and Tealc followed them out, halting as he saw the reception committee waiting for them.
Crap, Jack noted as he saw a pair of Jaffa boots in front of him, and several more behind them. Looking up, the Jaffa in front seemed more perplexed than angry as he eyed the four members of SG-1.
Jaffa, the man ordered sharply and Jack tensed for a last effort to defend his team.
Zats cracked out and the last thing Jack thought before he was swallowed before darkness swallowed him was No fair! He didnt say kree!D for Drakensis
You're only young once, but immaturity is forever.
D for Drakensis
You're only young once, but immaturity is forever.