MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. HOME SAFE AND UNSOUND

~ μ π χ ψ Λ Ξ Φ Δ ψ ≈ ≡ ± ~

ℷ

"You do realise until those two are found we're practically back to square one. They could infect more people, maybe they can breed, we don't know. We have to account for them. The situations not contained until they're found."

"General, General Hammond was talking about shutting down the lockdown."

"Yeah, I think he was talking about that before the headcount. He can't shut it down until everythings accounted for. You should know that Carter, you're a stickler for tallying."

"Sir we're looking into the possibility that they may well have reinfected Colonel Kennedy and agent Mates. Reinfection of the same shell is a condition we've not been faced with. Their systems are already heavily overloaded with the toxic, err, waste, whatever, and em, anyway, we're not sure how to go about testing.

They do have inflammation to the nerve base, ocular cavity, right one, Doctor Brigham's informed me on that. The thing is we don't know if that was caused by the Nebulium ejecting out of them, so, you can see we don't actually know if theres a Nebulium in them or not."

"Electric shock?"

"Jack!! We're not in the dark ages!"

"Daniel I know you like all this be kind to animals, so do I, really do, but we're not dealing with animals here, they have much better character. We're dealing with infectious diseases who want to ship us all off to go build a new pyramid. They want to enslave us! They're invading us Daniel! Last time they enslaved humans to near extinction. You said yourself a lot of those Middle American ancient civilisations simply disappeared. Whats left of them.. ..well I think you met them in the tunnels! Come on, little bit of low current, I mean, you know, shake them out that's all."

"Sir the thing is, with the state the shells, Kennedy and Mates are in, we can't apply anything to them which isn't a hundred percent exceedingly necessary. They probably wouldn't be able to take it Sir."

"Oh, fair enough. Just.. ..err, X rays?"

"Doesn't show Sir. Agent Peanna's been X rayed. They don't show up, they're to well cloaked."

"So you think they might be in there but we don't know for sure? They're in Iso so if they pop out it should be alright?"

"Yes Sir contained."

"Okay. So in the meantime George has the headache of having to keep the NID HQ sealed."

"Yes Sir."

"So the sooner we can verify the status on those two agents.."

"Sir I'll speak to Barbara and Doctor Brigham."

"Whos Barbara Sam?"

"Barbara Howard, shes in charge of the quarantine facility on the Beta Site. She keeps it very tight. Shes doing a great job there."

"I don't think I've met her?"

"No Daniel you haven't."

"Okay."

"What happened with Teal'c?"

"Don't know Sir. He got down to the basement first, after the NID agents and em, by the time we got down there you could see he'd been fighting with them, three of them. I think they had been starting to get the upper hand.

When we reached Teal'c, agent Mates and Colonel Kennedy had ejected, they'd lost their Nebulium. Agent Peanna was about to lose hers. As you know we've got Peanna infection and all. That's about it General. We got down there as Teal'c was getting up off the floor. He'd managed to seal the air vents with a blast from his staff, preventing them from getting away, which was excellent."

"I understand two of them did get away?"

"Two of the raw Nebulium Sir. Apparently so."

"Whats actually wrong with Teal'c?"

"Sir I don't know."

"Jack he said he was alright. They did a spot check on him and hes got no signs of infection. He said.. ..well anyway he didn't look well, Sam did he, he didn't look well?"

"No. Sir he looked em, can't remember seeing him looking so bad. Drained. Hes in the infirmary right now. I sent him for a full check up."

"Okay. Whos doing the check up?"

"Jack Doctor Carmichael's doing it. He shouldn't be much longer."

"Okay. Em, Janet.. ..oh.. ..err.."

Oh err indeed.. ..dead right! Janet! Loosing a colleague was never an easy thing. But loosing a friend was a thing you never did get used to.

"..Err yeah. She err, yah.. ..she used to run a series of tests erm, on Teal'c. Carmichael needs to do the same tests."

"Sir what tests?"

"Jack?"

"I don't know. You'd need to ask her, err, damn, you'd need to ask em.. ..its okay, I'll em.. ..I'll sort it out. You never saw her doing those tests?"

Dear friend, gone to the future, at times forgotten, but always in heart.

"Never mind. Okay, em, right, where we up to? But he is alright isn't he?"

"Oh yes Sir, he is, hes definitely alright. Its, em.."

"Jack it was the equivalent of someone having a twenty four hour flu wrapped up into three or four minutes."

"Gotcha. Okay, alright."

"Whats the news from the Beta Site?"

"Well Daniel they're all there now. And the 51 have had their consignment too. You all did really well to recover the NID missing."

"I know Sir, it was timing."

"Certainly was timing Carter, good timing. So we have all the missing now, all in quarantine. A couple of them haven't made it. We'll get the names and a run down of how each persons doing in the quarantining Debrief. Some people are showing positive signs of pulling through."

"Sir Captain Amerson. Major Davis?"

"Well thankfully they're doing nicely. The ones that haven't been infected are suffering from pains, dehydration. Chest pains and blood, breathing thing, they need cleaning up a lot.. ..em, they're not good, but they're doing very well if you get my meaning."

"Yes Sir, they're improving."

"They're improving Carter and they'll be fine."

"Ah that's excellent Sir."

"Anyway see what Barbara Howard has to say. She'll be over first thing in the morning. Enter!

~ μ π χ ψ Λ Ξ Φ Δ ψ ≈ ≡ ± ~

A tired and drained Teal'c entered the General's office.

"Ah there you are big guy. How you doin'?"

"I am doing very well O'Neill."

"Oh really? Oddish T, I'd never have guessed. Have a seat."

"Thank you."

"Teal'c what did Doctor Carmichael Say?"

"Colonel Carter Doctor Carmichael said I am very well."

"Teal'c did he say anything else?"

"Yes he did Daniel Jackson."

"Well, what did he say?"

"He said I am in excellent health."

"Okay but did he say why you had that little, em, that.. ..did he say why you came over all weak in the NID basement?"

"I did not come over all weak Daniel Jackson! I came over all dizzy."

"Oh.. ..kay. Did he say why?"

"He did not! He only said I am now in excellent health."

"T how do you feel?"

"Unusual."

"Do you feel in excellent health?"

"..No. I do not."

"Did he do all the tests Janet used to do on you?"

"He did not."

"Do you think he should have?"

"O'Neill Doctor Fraiser was an excellent Doctor."

"That she was T."

"Here, here!"

"Yeah she was Teal'c. She really was."

"She was also a very good friend."

"Yes she was."

"She was Teal'c, very close friend. I miss her."

"Here, here! Yeah shes missed alright."

"Do you think he should do the tests?"

"It is extremely difficult to permit somebody to perform such invasive explorations of one's self."

"Yeah I'm with you. I'm with you T."

"Sir what are yous talking about?"

"Err.."

"Teal'c?"

"We are talking about the medical tests Doctor Fraiser used to carry out on me whenever she felt I had been exposed to possible medical danger. She would carry out extensive examination of the inside area of my Goa'u.."

"I understand! She examined inside your stomach pouch?"

"Yes."

"T, one of us could do it?"

"Perhaps."

"Daniel did say when they found you in the basement you had a pretty bad tummy ache."

"Yes. Yes I did. This is very true O'Neill. Extreme! Extreme tummy aching."

"So then what do you say Teal'c? You've got a couple of Doctors in here."

"Oh I'm quite sure we're all Doctors of one kind or another in here Sir."

"What??"

"Sir."

"Perhaps it would be wise."

"Okay T. I'll do it. And them two can assist me."

"Yes."

"Okay then. Em, surgery. You need to get in some good resting. Meditation. Take it easy. Sort yourself out T. We'll do it tomorrow evening after we knock off. Okay you two?"

"I think so Jack. What are we actually doing? We're not operating with scalpels and.. ..other things?"

"No blood and guts Daniel."

"Okay."

"Carter?"

"Absolutely Doctor O'Neill."

"Ha! Carter?"

"Sir?"

"Excellent job on the 377 Retrieval Mission Carter, SG-1. Excellent job. Mission accomplished. I've been through all the Reports and seen the head gear footage, its err.. ..good one. Nice work Carter."

"Thank you Sir. It was a good job?"

"It was an excellent job Carter, excellent job. I say so and other people are saying so as well."

"Oh this is em, thank you. Everybody really pulled together for that one Sir."

"Yeah I know. Look on that, you remember when I asked if you saw anything coming through the StarGate?"

"Yes Sir. We didn't see anything go through the Gate."

"Well I just want to make sure I didn't see anything either. I need you to work with Walter and go through the Gate Room security video for yesterday. Walter's had a look already, hes got it all there. Go through it. Very minute detail please."

"Sir Walter's not in."

"What? He was. He never said anything. He usually says something if hes going to knock off. Is he all right?"

"I don't know Sir, I can find out?"

"Do that. Speak to the Control Room. They've got the feed, so please, wide eyed and attentive Carter."

"On it Sir. I'll go through it before I knock off. Daniel?"

"Sure Sam, I'll help."

"Thank you."

"Okay thanks. By the way George told me you all got a little bit busy in Washington."

"Indeed O'Neill, very busy. Yes interesting. They have interesting things at the NID headquarters."

"Believe so T. Yeah they do. Did you get what you want?"

"Indeed. We have plans and designs."

"Excellent. Daniel?"

"Well Jack, I did get a few books and em, miles of microfiche and well.. ..just some back up copies of their archives."

"What part?"

"Well, their archives."

"Yeah, what part of their archives?"

"No part, just their archives."

"Ha ha, what, you copied all of it?"

"It seemed easier than the time consuming process of routing through it."

"Ha! Okay. Well Daniel as long as you've got the computer space, and you've got the time to go through it."

"We'll make time Jack, they've got very interesting stuff."

"Well if they've got anything on fishing let me know. Carter?"

"Sir we'll soon know a lot of what they know."

"Hope not Carter because whatever that lot at the NID do know, it seems to drive them insane."

"Jack I think that's probably just their recruiting policy."

"Yeah. So you got what you wanted?"

"General its going to keep us busy for a few years. I suppose like Daniel I didn't want to be a time waster, ha, ha."

"You copied it all?"

"Passwords, keys and tracking codes but our guys will crack it. Em, yeah, I think within a couple of months we'll start finding out what the NID really gets up to."

"Nice. Good work kids. Good work! Scenario. Some reason, who could ever know, we had to vacate The SGC.. ..leaving the NID or some other organisation with open access.."

"Jack you mean like what we've just done to the NID don't you. You mean if they ever got the chance to get into our computers?"

"That's what I'm meaning Daniel. A dark and dismal day but.. ..who'd have ever thought we'd have gotten into NID HQ with total autonomy."

"It is the strength of General Hammond's new Trans Global Extra Terrestrial Security ~ Inter Alia division which has enabled us to do so."

"Yes Teal'c that's precisely how we got in there. But a few days ago I would never in a million years think it possible. So the question remains, what if it happened to us?"

"Sir what are you suggesting?"

"I'm suggesting that we learn from this. I'm suggesting that we find a fail safe method of completely eradicating every single bit of data on this Base. Irretrievably! And that we find a safe method of reinstating that very same data, with little to no loss. The safety in the method will be that we can get to the data, but no one, and nobody else can touch it."

"That would definitely stop anyone getting into our systems Jack."

"Off world duplication O'Neill?"

"Carter?"

"It would be a big job, at first. Eradicate all but the Dial sequencer."

"That too Carter. I'm arranging with George, Trans Global, to store a back up copy of that program with them. Safe hands."

"General if what you're talking about is backup, we already have secure data backup Sir."

"Yes we do Carter, as do the NID, but now that really didn't stop you raiding the cookie jar did it?"

"I see what you mean. And I see what you mean too Teal'c. Sir you're suggesting if we were compromised, that we erase everything, including backups. So if we had off world storage it would mean erasing everything we have on this side of the StarGate. Except for what Trans Global hold for us."

"Well if we did have off world storage, it would be hidden in a safe place. A place where no unauthorised persons could get to it."

"Jack you're taking all this extremely seriously."

"Daniel you can not imagine just how serious the NID will take it if they ever find out someones copied their whole black book enchilada."

"You know you're right Jack, it is a serious matter. I'm like you, it never entered my mind that we could get to the heart of the NID. Safe data storage, maybe we should do a survey, look into it, the costs, the equipment, the feasibility.."

"Carter?"

"Sir I've never though about any of this before either. But now knowing it can happen, we do have to view it as a serious potential breach. A breach that should never happen but.."

"Teal'c?"

"O'Neill you often say it is better to be safe than sorry. Although the NID do not realise it, they are now exceedingly sorry. We have an opportunity to make ourselves safe from such a disaster."

"Yes safe! Good! Carter pick a Team. Keep it quiet. Treat the project as secret, top. Come up with something extra secure.. ..think about it for a while but it is something I'd like to see getting underway in the next month or two."

"Sir I'll explore the possibilities with my Team and then I'll present you with a feasibility study project members and time schedule."

"Splendid. I'll leave it with you. T, do you want a drink?"

"No."

"Okay. Put it another way, get some water down you. Now thanks."

"Yerss.. ..Doctor O'Neill."

"Ha!"

~ μ π χ ψ Λ Ξ Φ Δ ψ ≈ ≡ ± ~

"Jacob rang."

"Ou, good news?"

"Well he said to tell you hello Carter so that's good news, but the rest of what he had to say, um, news yes, good.. ..no good."

"O'Neill Thor?"

"Not yet T. Hes not come out of hiding yet. So if you're listening buddy..! Em, Jacob wants a meet. On Nifla actually."

"On Nifla?"

"Yeah, precautionary measures. Make sure hes not followed."

"Jack they could still follow him to Nifla."

"Well they could follow him to Nifla but once we're there whoever comes through the Gate after us will be shot on sight."

"Jack I know diplomacy's not your strong point but wouldn't you say thats sort of like waving a red rag."

"Tranquilliser shots Daniel."

"Oh yeah, sorry. That's a good idea."

"If these Kresh'taa Goa'uld notice hes taken off to Nifla hes got a damn good alibi. We've already sent memos saying off world conference only. If they question him about his visit there he can just say hes checking the place out."

"That's really good Sir. They don't suspect him do they?"

"Shouldn't do Carter, but Kresh'taa, what is it T, the worst of the worst?"

"Lowest of the underworld O'Neill."

"Who knows whats going through minds like those. No, its good that hes cautious. So we'll meet him there at 11 tomorrow."

"I'll be going along Sir?"

"Yeah you will. You'll be coming with me. Teal'c you'll be taking it easy here. Getting ready for your surgery tomorrow evening. Ha, ha."

"Yes indeed O'Neill."

"And Doctor Daniel will be looking after you."

"Course I will be. Yeah."

"Oh, em, Sir. I think we have a Debrief in the morning with Barbara Howard."

"Come on Carter. It's a covert Ops meet. We're talking Alpha Site time, 11 p.m."

"Oh yes, of course Sir. Wasn't thinking."

"Really? That's a first."

"So if any of them did get hold of the time of the meeting they'd think it was our local Earth time. They'd get the time wrong would they?"

"They would mistake the time by thirteen hours Daniel Jackson."

"Precisely. Which gives us that been and gone edge."

"So theres no negotiating tomorrow then?"

"No. You'll be on board for that anyway Daniel. As will you be Teal'c."

"Yes Indeed. Indeed O'Neill."

"What are they offering Jack?"

"We don't know. We haven't had any word since Jacob was here a couple of days ago. So things will still be the same. I mean we asked for an Ha'tak and then upped the anty to shields technology."

"Do you think the shields will be worth more than a ship?"

"Yeah. More than quite a few ships actually. In fact probably more than a fleet. If they work. If they do work its difficult to put a price on them."

"Yeah, no. I didn't mean it like that Jack. What I meant was do you think the shield will be worth.. ..worthy, up to date. Do you think the shields they've got will be more advanced than the ones we already know about?"

"Oookay. You think their technology might be out of date?"

"We've seen it before with Goa'uld who've been off the scene for hundreds of years."

"We've seen the opposite as well Daniel."

"Anubis. Yeah Sam, but that was a special case."

"Definitely a special case Daniel, dementy itis. T?"

"The Kersh'taa have been away for a long time. However Zipacna has not. We saw how he flourished from Apophis's demise. Perhaps the same is true in regard to the withdrawal of Anubis."

"Helped himself?"

"It is possible. The moment he discovered Anubis's fate he would have attempted to claim what he could."

"In which case Teal'c he would be able to pass any technology he got his hands on to the Kresh'taa Goa'uld."

"He would not freely pass on this technology Colonel Carter, but he would use the promise of it to influence the Kresh'taa."

"Sir do you think if they have it, they'll hand over the shield technology?"

"Don't know. They want the 377 address red hot. The Goa'uld are predictably irrational, impulsive as well, so.."

"Sir have you considered that they might not have up to date shielding?"

"Yep I've considered that Carter. That's why the shielding comes with the ship."

"Jack, wouldn't being involved with these Goa'uld, negotiating with them, wouldn't it make us targets, enemy. You know em, they might end up not feeling happy about the deal or whatever?"

"Daniel, it's the Goa'uld, negotiate with them or not. Fall out with them or not. It doesn't matter. It's the Goa'uld. Everybody's their natural enemy. They attack everybody. When and however."

"That's probably why they've got such a grievance with the Nebulium."

"Exactly, but only in that the Nebulium struck first, beat them to it. If this deal goes down I'm gonna make sure they understand they owe us one. If I'm right in thinking, this will put them back on the map with the other.. ..nutters."

"Is that a good thing Jack?"

"Hows that?"

"Well putting more Goa'uld out there."

"The Tok Ra have it that its better to have quite a few system lords squabbling with each other than to have the balance of power fall to one more than the others. Ba'al is doing his damnedest to, I don't know, pick up where Anubis left off. I'd say hes pretty much amassing as much power as he can. Maybe bringing the Kresh'taa back will just even the playing field.. ..well the power field at least."

"You are correct O'Neill. The system lords have an inner circle of nine and an other, lower circle of thirteen Goa'uld. Introducing more Goa'uld to the vie for the inner circle will mean there is less to go around. Less space to command. Less resources. All the things they do not like. As you say, they will become occupied with each other for some time to come."

"What do you think Daniel?"

"Like you said before Jack, the Goa'uld are the Goa'uld. Yeah, its probably a good idea. It can't do any harm to get the shield technology off them. And like you pointed out it certainly can't do any harm to level their power playing field."

"Okay. Okay, lets see."

~ μ π χ ψ Λ Ξ Φ Δ ψ ≈ ≡ ±

"Jacob."

"Jack. Hey Sam"

"Dad. Its good to see you. Is everything okay. Are you safe?"

"Don't worry Sam everythings fine. All minor issues. No problems to report."

"That's good dad. It will be nice if it stays that way."

"How long have you been here Jacob?"

"About twenty minutes. Been having a look round."

"What ya lookin' at?"

"Not sure Jack. I thought I saw something in the sky before."

"The sky??"

"Yeah the sky. "

"Here. What sky?"

"That. Up there."

"Oh. Sky?"

"Yeah Jack sky. What did you think it was?"

"Em.. ..I don't know. Hell that used to be heaven. Blanket of ejecta. A terrible record of the past. Em, anyway. I just never imagine sky without sunlight that's all. Or even moon light. This is just, murky. Okay if you like, sky. Murky sky."

"Dad is there anyway they could be tailing you?"

"Well in the first place Sam theres absolutely no reason for them to do that. As far as they're concerned I'm a minor Goa'uld, they know no different. As for tailing me, don't forget we're nowhere near Zipacna's space. We're way, way on the other side of the galaxy. For them to have followed me, they've not come by StarGate, we've been watching the Gate since we've been here, they would have to come by ship, which means they wouldn't be getting here for another few hundred years."

"Ha, ha, okay. So they've not followed you then?"

"No Sam, don't worry, they've not."

"Jacob.. ..I know who it is."

"In the sky, really?"

"Yeah, its err, it's the Asgard."

"Really Jack?"

"I'd definitely say so yes. Nothing to worry about. Friends."

"Sir did you see something?"

"Not a thing Carter. Jacob said he saw something, that's good enough for me."

"Yeah I know, I don't mean that. How do you know it's the Asgard if you didn't see anything."

"I can know things Carter. Trust me, it's the Asgard."

"Okay Sir."

"Any weak spots Jacob?"

"You've got that ridge over there. Thing is it's a good kilometre away. And we've got over there, looks like its a crater. Its not that big. Drops down about a meter and a half, two meters. A nice place for people to hide. If you come through first, before the Goa'uld, you can control the situation. There won't be any hidden surprises."

"Yeah Jacob. I like that. Good plan. Simple, workable, controllable. Right so em, where are we up to with your hellish friends?"

"Hadad's here. He arrived about five hours ago."

"What does he look like dad?"

"I don't know, haven't seen him.

Jack if it goes ahead, I was thinking you could set up more or less just there. Practically opposite the Gate but shielded from it as well. Its near to that crater, you could have a couple of extra units down there, hidden out of sight."

"Do you think we'll need a couple of extra units Jacob?"

"Jack, we're dealing with the Goa'uld. The only thing I can possibly give you is the fact that they won't have support from the air. They can't get here by ship in a hurry, so no air support."

"Good thing. How badly do they want the address?"

"They want it. This Goa'uld has flown across, I don't know, hes come very very far for this. They want it alright."

"And what about all this balance power thing that you lot, Selmak, em, like to monitor. The equal distribution I think you call it, of Goa'uld megalomania."

"§ It is true that the over throw of Anubis has greatly increased Ba'al's power so that he is now by far the stronger of all the system lords. Initially we believed this would serve to position the system lords to so occupy them in away that they would be concerned with divisions for a long time to come. However it seems to have been Ba'al's design long before Anubis fled, to take over Anubis's armies and to turn those armies against the other system lords. §"

"So what you're saying is, hes picking up where Anubis left off?"

"§ Yes he is General O'Neill. §"

"Our thinking too. And this Kresh'taa."

"§ We are now certain they were of the Ra pesdjet. This being so we can except that they were very strong Goa'uld lords and used to command great forces. §"

"And allowing them to return. To redeem themselves?"

"§ In the short term it will put a stop to Ba'al being in the position to coerce the other system lords to take up his causes. Be those causes eliminating the Tok Ra. Attacking the Tauri. Overthrowing other worlds. Allowing the Kresh'taa to reclaim their position as system lords will again equalise the power amongst the Hara Kash. §"

"Short Term?"

"§ General O'Neill in our experience, once stability has been achieved amongst the Hara Kash, their own nature has it that they will then proceed to collude and plot against each other in a bid to disrupt that balance and claim a big slice of the, pie, of the.. §"

"The cake?"

"§ Yes, Jacob has just informed me. The cake! Which is precisely how Goa'uld like Ra, Apophis and Anubis were able to achieve such strengths in the first place. §"

"I see. Em, I see. We're not actually doing any harm by parleying with this hell Hadad right now, but in the future he could turn out to be another major maniac, a nutter?"

"§ Yes. §"

"Whats the likelihood that he would attack Earth?"

"§ General O'Neill I can not make any conclusion. § Jack theres no reason for him to attack Earth. However we're dealing with Goa'uld. There is no reason for him to attack but then why wouldn't they?"

"Yeah Jacob, the Goa'uld. That's what they do right. Err.. ..so, em.."

"Dad if we don't hand the StarGate address over?"

"Well Sam like Selmak said the other day, they know they have a chance to redeem themselves now. A chance to deal with the enemy who turned against them, overthrew them, got them kicked out of the club."

"That's a chance they've never before been presented with?"

"Not for the last five thousand years Sam, no. I don't really see they'll stop at anything to seize that chance."

"Jacob you know what I asked for. What I'm laying down now is I want the shields! I want the Ha'tak!"

"I know they can give you a Ha'tak Jack. They even said as much at the meeting. The shields, that's a leverage that could be used against them in the future. Were the other system lords to find out about that little deal they really would turn on them. Goa'uld technology is jealously guarded."

"Tell me about it. But then that's a good thing for us, future leverage yes?"

"Yes! It will keep them at bay Jack."

"And that's a good thing. So that's what I'm asking for."

"Dad, em, Selmak, that's what we're wondering as well, do you think the Kresh'taa technology is up to date. What type of shields would they have? We're after the type Anubis had. This Kresh'taa, they've been out of the mix for along time."

"Yeah Sam they have been out of the mix, but don't forget they've got Zipacna batting for them. He grabs anything he can get. I suppose hes just lost his position as one of Anubis's lackeys. I'm sure he would have got hold of a fair amount of Anubis's technology."

"Yeah you're right there Jacob. That 'cocky' little hot fingers wouldn't pass by an opportunity like that. So that's the deal then. They meet our demands and we give them the address, end of story. Em, just do me a big favour, just make sure they understand if they make a move against us we'll take them down.. ..you know, send 'em straight back to hell."

"Its alright Jack I think you've got a good rap sheet in that respect."

"Dad you mean a good Ra sheet."

"Ha, ha, funny girl. They know about you, they get the idea. You've taken down more Goa'uld than anybody, anywhere, ever. I think it should be okay."

"Splendid. Shields, Ha'tak, nothing less. As for meeting with them, I've been thinking about that too, em, maybe not."

"What??"

"What Sir, I thought that was the whole idea?"

"That was the whole idea Carter, that is the whole idea. We will parley with them, we will negotiate. Theres one thing I know about these Goa'uld, you sit down with them and they start to eat you out of house and home.. ..without asking. If we had an intermediary, we could do it that way maybe. We don't have to deal with them all. We don't have to put up with their crap, and most importantly we don't have to fall out. Em, most importantly Jacob you understand?"

"Actually I do Jack. That's probably not a bad idea. That's not a bad idea at all. § Yes, General O'Neill. That seems quite a wise decision. To detach yourself from negotiations in this way. It also weakens their position. A thing they're not used to dealing with. It could work. §"

"Selmak providing they come up with what we want, it will work."

"§ Yes. It is in all our best interests to put a stop to Ba'al.§"

"Well there you go then.. ..lord Bo.. ..rad. there you go."

"Jack we can do this. Definitely. Okay what you're gonna have to do is send a communiqué to Zipacna. Let him know your em, well basically let him know you're intentions. Reiterate your demands. Put the stoppers on him contacting you. Demand an intermediary yeah, preferably me. Would you consider meeting with one of them, sort of get me off the hook a bit?"

"Err, yeah okay Jacob, if that's the case we're gonna have to meet back here. That's obviously no problem, reinforces your stance as well."

"It does Jack. Makes me, well lord Borad, look good."

"Good, I'm all for that. Okay then well bring the err, not that one.. ..not that maniac, not the err, not the insane one, not the unstable one, bring err, hang on, Carter which one of those seem the least threatening, the more sane?"

"Sir I would have said it was em, Ne, Nemes.."

"Nema'tat Sam?"

"Yeah although Daniel did say shes the g_d of revenge, getting even or whatever, which obviously makes her very vindictive, but she did seem a little more rational than the others. Of course including Zipacna. What do you think, what do you think dad?"

"I think you're right Sam. Shes very devious. Cunning, calculating, but she can get a full sentence out without making a threat, so, yeah. And that way she can sort of vouch for me as well when shes talking to Hadad. It serves to distance myself from you you see."

"Course I see Jacob. Course I do. Em, okey dokey, the calculating morbid minty, bring her along. We'll get that message out to Zipacna straight away and we'll take it from there. Jacob we'll be looking for a meet day after tomorrow okay?"

"Okay Jack. Leave it with me. Right then, I'll get going."

"Dad whos that?"

"Him Sam, hes my lotar Arvon."

"Hes not Tok Ra?"

"No. His two brothers are though. Don't worry Sam, hes with us right down the line. Jack?"

"Nothing. He looks right to me."

"See Sam, its fine."

"Okay. Just please be careful."

"I will Sam."

"Come on, we'll all get going now Sir?"

"Sure. Bye Chaps!"

"What? Who you talking to?"

"Oh hes talking to the Asgard dad."

"Oh, yeah, bye, thanks, bye."

"Dad who you talking to?"

"Talking to Jack's friends."

"Ha, ha okay, come on lets go. You go first dad."

"Thanks Sam."

~ μ π χ ψ Λ Ξ Φ Δ ψ ≈ ≡ ± ~

"Oh hey Sam, Jack hi. How did it go?"

"Hi Daniel. My dad sends his regards."

"That's nice thanks."

"It went fine Daniel. Jacob's on it. We're not meeting with Hadad."

"But I thought that was the whole idea?"

"As I told Carter, that was the whole idea. We're dealing with them but we're not meeting with them. Jacob, Borads gonna negotiate on behalf of the Goa'uld with the help of your mate Nenam, Nemit.."

"Oh em, Nema'tat."

"Yeah there you go, morbid minty, her. Erm, we're gonna meet with them and hopefully get what we want."

"Actually Jack I wasn't looking forward to meeting Hadad the Hylk' shak, yep. Okay. Sounds good."

"Hows Teal'c?"

"I don't know Jack. I was just gonna mention that. Hes not himself. He'll be back in a minute, hes just gone to see if Sergeant Harriman's in yet."

"Yet, it's the afternoon. Isn't Walter in?"

"Well he wasn't this morning, but anyway, we've been going through the footage you dropped off earlier Sam. There is something Jack, we wanted to speak to Walter to see if it's a flaw in the filming."

"Tell me what it is, I'll tell you if its a flaw."

"It may be nothing. We've been freeze framing, one at a time, examining the frames Sam marked out, theres only a couple of minutes worth Jack. We've been concentrating on when the Gate was open and Sam was discussing getting the Nebulium out of the recovered missing, that's the time you started to ask had something gone through the StarGate. We've now collected all the footage on that particular StarGate activation so.."

"So yeah..?"

"Well theres something but.. ..I don't know, its just a blur."

"Okay Daniel, lets see this blur."

"Hold on, there it is. Bottom side of the Gate. Bottom part of the StarGate, just there."

"Oh, that sort of a blur."

"Yes it is a blur Sir."

"Just a minute. Hello? Yes hes here with Colonel Carter. Sure. Jack, its your offices."

"Ta Daniel. Yeah? Really? Oh Really? Has General Carter been on? Oh. I see. I see. Sweet! No don't respond, leave it with me. No, thats fine Lieutenant, thank you."

General O'Neill's smile was over brimming with honey. He couldn't resist.

"Pack a bag kids we've got ourselves a big boat, and shield me outboard, don't I just feel a test drive coming on."

"Sir?"

"Jack they've come through on your demands?"

"Zippy's been on."

"How come you didn't talk to him Jack?"

"Oh that's what I was saying Daniel, we're no long dealing with him directly. Diplomacy Daniel, well, anyway, as soon as we got back from Nifla we sent out a communiqué to Zippy stressing our demands and saying we're prepared to meet only with lord Borad and morbid minty and only on Nifla, day after tomorrow."

"And he got back to you straight away saying they buy it?"

"Yeah I know. Sold as seen!"

"Daniel I think that's got something to do with the fact that Hadad is now on the scene."

"Guess so Sam. How come Jacob didn't get back to us?"

"Erm.."

"Its fine Carter. We've not long left Jacob. The reason hes not been back on is because they contacted us before they've contacted him. They're probably contacting him as we speak. Jacob will be in touch in the next hour or two. You see we've already agreed whats going on so he knows we won't contact Zippy to confirm. The only way its gonna work is for lord Borad to get in touch with us, et cetera yeah?

"Got it Jack. We don't know what type of shields?"

"No we don't, but they do know what type of shields we're expecting so.."

"Sir you don't feel a little suspicious?"

"No way. Carter theres only one thing on the mind of those Kresh'taa, and it doesn't include us."

"They just want to get on with claiming their seats back."

"Yes. That's all they want to do.. ..for now!"

"Well done Jack. Doctor Jack, really surgical. Very diplomatic.. ..in a strange and complicated way."

"Burnt kippers Daniel."

"Smoking Sir!"

"Ou yah. Okay come on, lets see whats with Daniel's blur."

"Jack the cameras in the Gate Room are very high spec, maximum resolution, hyper sensitive, they pick up everything, erm, and we've also got the ultra violet and infra red cameras working as well. So these images here, these frames of the Gate here are slightly different colours. They're showing different aspects of the detail. That's the infra red shots and they're the ultra violet shots. Em, and theres a blur on all of them."

"So it definitely is a blur?"

"Well yeah it is Jack but the thing is though if it was a genuine blur it would only be on one of the images, either optical.. ..visual, violet or red."

"These are all pictures of the same shot aren't they?"

"Yeah, that's my point."

"That's your point, well you're gonna have to point your point out to me then Daniel because I don't know what your point is at all here, you get my point."

"Sam?"

"Em, maybe, not sure?"

"Well, okay look, three different cameras here, they're all filming the same image."

"I got that point!"

"Yeah I got that as well Daniel."

"Okay image one here, optical, theres a little blur down at the bottom of the Gate."

"Yeah okay."

"Right that's the visual Image."

"Right okay, go on."

"If we move to the infra red image Jack, image number two, this cameras picking up the same blur."

"Right okay."

"Oh Yeah."

" Got it Sam. If it was just a blur it would just be a blur on that first camera. If both of these cameras have picked it up, then it becomes an occurrence rather than a blur."

"Go on."

"And look on this other image, taken by the ultra violet scope, its picked it up as well."

"Which makes it a fact Daniel?"

"A fact?"

"Yeah a fact."

"Yes Sir, it's a fact. Daniel what you're saying is that this blur is something that happened, that occurred, and all three cameras have picked it up?"

"Yeah."

"So its not a blur?"

"No Jack, no blur."

"It's a fact?"

"A quantum fact Jack."

"So the fact is something did come through the StarGate. The blur came through the Gate."

"Yes, something did come through the StarGate Sir. You did see something."

"A blur, em, a blur, let me think. Remember when we were blazing about at top revs with those dodgy armband thingys that ran us aground, we were just a blur going through the Gate.. ..yeah?"

"Yes we were Sir."

"I've never seen anything move that fast through a StarGate, ever."

"General the Nebulium that ran back into the pyramid after it ejected on the 377 concourse, that came a close second Sir. That got up a good speed didn't it Daniel?"

"Yep. I'm sorry to say Jack, it was almost at blur speed!"

"Jeez! Aw No!! Jeezzasss!!"

General O'Neill's chair flew back as he jumped up. He was in Daniel's cluttered office and rising so quickly caused a stack of books and papers to crash to the floor. Daniel would sort them out later.

"They've come through the StarGate haven't they!!"

"Sir you're aware I asked Doctor Brigham and Barbara to work on reconciling Major Fielding's readings taken on P7X 377. Remember at the Gate we had problems with Shell to Nebulium ratio. The readings on the missing, there was actually three missing, missing.."

"Oh Carter please not another point."

"Sorry Sir. There was em, well I told you they didn't tally up. We couldn't reconcile the fact that Major Fielding's readings first of all read there was six infected people. When he re did the tests it showed that there was only three infected people. To much of a discrepancy to be a mistake Sir."

"So while you were on the 377 concourse, three of the Nebulium jumped ship.. ..jumped shell and legged it through the Gate back to The SGC."

"Yes Sir."

"That's what these images are saying Jack. You did see something!"

"Oh gawd damn it!! Damn and double drat! Oye! Damn deuced smoky bother!! Jeezzasss!! Daniel get Teal'c here now! Is there any chance that Teal'c could be infected without knowing it?"

"Erm, without knowing it? Well even if he did know it Sir, if he was infected he wouldn't be communicating with us it would be the Nebulium. So effectively that would be sort of like not knowing it, only he would know it but.."

"Carter, head trauma, stop it!"

"Oh yeah.."

"Jack its showing up hes not infected. Hes had all the works."

"There is something wrong with him, I know it.. ..I don't know. Okay! Elevate to Code Nine immediately, immediately!"

"Elevating General."

"Daniel, Joe Begly's still onsite, can you see he's looked after. Where ever he is have someone get him back up to the VIP suites and err, get someone to baby-sit him."

"Okay Jack."

"Tell him I'll speak to him later."

"On that Jack. Won't be long."

"Daniel wait up. We'll be down in my offices so when you're done swing by with Teal'c. Don't be long please."

"Okay."

"Colonel we're talking forty eight hours."

"Yes Sir they came through the Gate two days ago."

"Jeezzas!!"

"Sir do you want me to inform General Hammond?"

"Hold off on that for a few minutes Carter, Right okay. Let me think. Just erm, right! Walter's been acting peculiar, wouldn't you say so?"

"Actually Sir when you think about it he has. Its very unlike him to not be at his station."

"Unless maybe he'd lost his voice Carter."

"Oh heavens Sir."

"Brief security now. Find me Walter. Get one of those helmets on him. Get him found quick. That eye test should still be working on him, swelling on the nerve wouldn't have gone down yet?"

"That's right Sir its not to late to run that on him."

"Get him tested. Carter everybody in goggles, we've not got enough!

"Sir I'll get everything we have left in stores."

"Yes. We have three of them Carter?"

"Three Sir."

"Shoot!! Wildfire!!"

"Wildfire Sir, elevating?"

"No Carter but ping George to his private sat phone. Do it off this dedicated server, only off this one Carter, that's important. The moment you've done that elevate to Code Five. Now please!"

"Done General!"

Colonel Carter flew down to the Control Room. She initiated the ping sequence to General Hammond's private satellite phone. The secure server's logical address, once authenticated, was sufficient verification to invoke the agreed private procedure which gave General O'Neill two clear hours to contact General Hammond. If contact was not established General Hammond would elevate The SGC to foothold condition. If contact was made, containment was achieved, and the severity of the situation would remain off the record, unless documentation was so desired.

General O'Neill woke 'the dogs of war'. Code Five cried throughout The SGC. Dead if you try to get in. Deader if you try to get out. Houndish! The Base charged into action!

~ Л Ѫ Γ μ ≈ µ Ω µ Π Φ Ψ χ ~

:: Mission Accounts ::

© Richard Dean Anderson all rights reserved June 2006