CARGO SHIP BETA SITE TO ALTAIR

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All aboard. They rose high above the Beta Site compound and the planet, opened a hyperspace window and shot through. It was a relatively short journey of four hundred and sixty light years, an hour twenty there abouts. They exited into the outer limits of Altair's planetary orbit and immediately activated the long-range sensors.

"Colonel, entering orbit, engaging cloak. We've not been detected."

"Good work Carter*."

"Thank you Sir. Long range scanner readings of one small ship in orbit close to the planet's upper atmosphere."

"Go on?"

"It's a Midrange Attack Bomber Sir, Al'kesh class."

"All the way out here?"

"We've seen them in deep space before Sir."

"Yeah that's right, Al'keshes, hyper-jumpers aren't they. Well definitely not a considerable fighting force in terms of numbers. T, how many do you reckon?"

"I am unsure as to the precise number O'Neill, but I myself have never experienced more than eighteen Jaffa warriors as well as myself and a pilot and co-pilot and a single Goa'uld being transported together in an Al'kesh across the confines of local space. The lack of room inside the craft made the journey most uncomfortable."

"Um not exactly the big guns then is it T. I would have thought you could fit a lot more Jaffa in one of those things."

"Indeed, the outside structure of the Al'kesh does present that illusion, however much inner space is taken by a private Goa'uld chamber, warrior gear up quarters and a small medical facility."

"What Teal'c you mean like a mobile hospital?"

"I do not Major Carter*. The Goa'uld have little interest in saving the lives of injured Jaffa. The medical facility is merely a station where injured Jaffa, who may still be capable of fighting, are 'patched up' to be returned to the battlefield. And where those who may no longer fight can be given a bed in which to lie down, whilst they await the removal of their symbiote.

"Ope. I'm setting the controls to detect and alert Sir. Anything else emerging into orbit will be detected as it drops out of hyperspace, and we'll be notified down on the surface.. ..well, inside the plant."

"That should do it Carter*. Anything on the visiting front?"

"Yes Sir. I've located a set."

"I presume we're going to be detected the moment we uncloak to Ring down to the planet."

"Possibly Sir, if they are scanning for other ships, but they may not have configured to detect blip occurrence, the exposed fraction of time it takes to effect the Rings transportation. I'm only noting that because of their display of over confidence, they haven't bothered to remain cloaked Sir.

"What about us, can we remain cloaked after we Ring down?"

"Absolutely Sir. Our cloaking technology is standard in this type of upgraded Teltac Cargo vessel. It just hasn't been modified.. ..can't be modified, to transport whilst cloaked."

"Lets make it one trip down then, lessen the odds of detection."

"Yes Sir."

"Okay now listen up. We know the biosphere of this planet has been, for want of a better word, annihilated. The only way we're going to be able to get into this plant is to Ring down. Now I don't need to point out the dangers involved here. We may even come under fire straight away, so for this reason the moment we touch down I want you all going for cover.

As it's a Goa'uld we're up against its unlikely that they'll be expecting an offence to come from the Transport Rings. This will give us a slight advantage.

Now Major Carter* tells me shes located a set of Rings which we can jump into. Theres seven of us so we'll squeeze together and go as one surprise attack team.

We have no specific intel as to what we're up against. We're surmising it's a minor Goa'uld, with minor forces, in which case they won't be heavily armed.

Theres gonna be no time to start fixing our geographical bearings once we land so let me establish our lines of operations. From what we know of the plant theres four floors including the basement. I'll divide each floor into two zones, designated Northing and Southing. The northing zone will be divided into north-east, north-north, north-west and north-south. And the southing zone, south-east, south-north, south-west and south-south. Are you with me?"

"Yes Sir!" They we're all on the ball and with the program.

"I'm setting the StarGate as a fixed origin which we'll mark as southing zone, south-south sector. Once we've landed you keep line of sight with me and draw bearings from my right and up. I'll also give you a visual plot on the position of the StarGate. Have you all got that? Any questions?"

"That's clear Sir."

"Got it Sir."

"Colonel."

"Yes Sir."

"According to your co-ordinates Sir."

"Indeed." Teal'c bowed to O'Neill.

"I want open broadcast at all times.

Harper you team with Friez my left flank, and Allens you're with Jones, my right. Carter* six and Teal'c you're point with me. As I say as soon as those Rings are dropped I want you going for cover.

Determining the size of the force we're up against is top priority. Once we're down there spread out and take cover, locate and paint only, strictly recon unless we come under fire in which case I want direct neutralising counterfire. Any questions?"

"No Sir!"

"The StarGate is certainly covered, could be armed guards, could be explosives, we'll know soon enough. Our Objectives, neutralise the enemy, retake the StarGate and secure or destroy the synthesising technology. Okay weapons check!

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© Richard Dean Anderson all rights reserved June 2006