PEOPLE ARE MISSING. FRYING FISH AND FLAPPING SNAKES
~ ≡ Λ ∏ ω
Δ Σ Ψ γ Δ √ ∞ Ξ ζ
μ π ∀ ~
ℷ
"Still no sign of them?"
"No, nothing."
"I made them a promise."
"Sir we'll find them, we will."
"Excuse me? Carter right now I can't even find my shoes."
"Jack I'll get them."
"Leave them!! Daniel.."
"Its alright Jack. And we will find the missing people."
General O'Neill had just woken from a two hour sleep. On the screen
in the dinning room a live feed was streaming through from Major
Harper on the fifty fourth floor of the NID headquarters in Washington,
D.C.. The General had managed to feel his way to the dinning room
door.
"O'Neill they have not found anyone yet, they are continuing
to search the building. For the third time."
"Okay. Can he see me?"
"Major Harper? No Sir, the feeds downstream only."
"Okay."
Teal'c jumped up and guided the General to the dinning room table.
Teal'c, Daniel and Colonel Carter on audio, had been discussing
the images being sent through.
"Sir can you hear me?"
"I'm not deaf Carter!"
"No Sir you're not, of course not."
"Sorry, em, loud and clear. Whats up?"
"Sir we've got a list of the missing people."
"Lets have it."
"Our Captain Amerson. SGC. Major Davis, Esposeto and Avery
from Trans Global ET ~ I. We've got Smith and Veda from the Joint
Chiefs office. Hobbs from the Joint Chiefs Admin. Michaels from
the Oversight. We've got Carmel, pool staff Sir. And we have Mrs
Chin Tau from NID admin."
"And they're all missing?"
"All of them Sir."
"Who've we got in the mob?"
"Sir from your account one of the NID cells based at NID headquarters
has been infected. The cell assigned to compile a Report on The
SGC foothold saga. We have agents Peanna, Mates, Banks and agent
Colonel Kennedy, who as we all know is formerly of the Pentagon
staff.
Up to now two night shift and three day shift NID security guards
have been identified as possible infection cases. We know there
are more General but until the head counts completed and the absentees
tracked and accounted we're not able to come up with any more numbers."
"That's fine Colonel. So we've got a group of at least twenty
people, maybe more, roaming about in the NID HQ, and no one can
find them. Whats up with that?"
"O'Neill the Trans Global Teams have searched all of the building
many times, and they, along with SG-5, continue to do so."
"So this group of twenty odd hasn't left the building?"
"Not that we can see Sir, oh.. ..em, no."
"Get used to it Carter."
"No Sir."
"Good. So all exits including the underground passage and
the garage are covered by cameras. Have we considered the possibility
that they maybe able to, I don't know, deflect the light."
"Em.."
"Or even stop the cameras rolling."
"Well Sir we didn't consider they could deflect the light.
They could well do that, but I don't know if they could do that
in the.. ..infected shell state. In addition to that the ten missing
people wouldn't be able to deflect the light."
"Unless they'd all been infected Colonel Carter."
"I hope not Teal'c but.."
"What about stopping the cameras Sam?"
"No, General Hammond's people looked at that. They're carefully
time coded, even if the cameras were slowed or stopped the checksum
wouldn't tally.. ..and it does, so they ruled that out."
"Then they must still be in the building Colonel Carter."
"Well that's what we're looking at Teal'c."
"Infrared?"
"Sir they're scanning for that. I also issued two TERs to
Major Harper."
"Good thinking. Very, good, thinking Carter. I take it we're
not getting anything?
"Not as yet Sir."
"Jack we've seen the fifty fourth floor. The conference room.
I'm guessing you went through one of those glass walls. Is that
where you got all those little cuts all over your face and your
arms and hands?"
"Well em.. ..had to get out somehow Daniel."
"Yeah, this is bad, this is really bad."
"Colonel Carter what method of coloration have you treated
the video images with?"
"Whats that Teal'c?"
"T what have you got?"
"O'Neill we have been examining both the archive video footage
in The SGC's possession and also the live video feed currently being
delivered by Major Harper."
"Teal'c what is it?"
"Colonel Carter, as you will notice, in the NID foyer there
is a large circular emblem on the floor."
"Yeah T most buildings have those, they're em, em, what are
they Daniel?"
"It's a floor plaque Teal'c. You find most Government buildings
have them. It's the identification seal. You know, you could call
it the logo for the organisation."
"I see."
"What do you see T?"
"I see from a comparison of both video feeds that the colour
of the logo in the live feed is much different to the colour of
the logo in the archived footage."
"Carter?"
"Sir I'm just looking now, the err, just hold on a minute
please. Walter? What is this? Okay. No Teal'c, both these feeds
are RGB. They should be coming out the same.. ..actually that, yeah
that's err, unyet the reception area, the plants and the walls are
the same colour aren't they."
"Yes they are."
"Daniel can you see this?"
"Looking at it now Sam. There is quite a variation in the
colour. Can you ask Major Harper to go back down and film it again?"
"Okay. Standby."
~
≡ Λ ∏ ω Δ Σ Ψ γ Δ
√ ∞ Ξ ζ μ π ∀ ~
The lifts in the NID building were being controlled from the ground
floor. Major Harper had to wait for the lift to be sent up so that
he could return back to the ground floor. He went into the main
reception foyer and as ordered filmed the floor plaque. Everything
seemed usual. There was no indication of anything awry. Besides
the lockdown.
"Thanks Major. That'll be all for now. You've given us a good
shot of everything, including the roof. You must be quite exhausted.
Okay. Okay. Speak to you shortly. Watch your back. Over and out."
~
≡ Λ ∏ ω Δ Σ Ψ γ Δ
√ ∞ Ξ ζ μ π ∀ ~
"Jack theres definitely a difference here, its em.."
"Whats it caused by, is it something to do with the feed?"
"Sir I don't believe it is. They should be the same colour,
and they're not."
"Is anyone thinking what I'm thinking?"
"I don't know Jack are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Sir I think I'm thinking what you're thinking."
"We are all thinking alike."
"I'm taking a walk on the wild side here but could it be possible..?"
"Sir we need to do some tests. I need to get back on to Major
Harper. We're not going to be able to get any samples out but Trans
Global have set up a full field chemical analysis lab, they should
be able to do the basic checks we require."
"Okay, get on to that Colonel. Have Harper dig up a piece
of it, have it analysed. Pronto. And Carter, organise a watch on
that floor plaque."
"Yes Sir. As soon as Major Harper gets back to me with the
results I'll be coming over. The night staff are settled in here.
Sir I already reported to you that everythings in order here, so
I'm just going to, em, pop out for a while and come over."
"Nice Carter. Come on over."
~
≡ Λ ∏ ω Δ Σ Ψ γ Δ
√ ∞ Ξ ζ μ π ∀ ~
"Jack theres fish in here."
"Go for it Daniel. Frying fish, outdoors, I could go for that
right now."
"O'Neill I will prepare the barbecue."
"Splendid Teal'c, I don't know about you two but I'm hungry."
"Indeed I wish to eat."
"Me too. Jack do you want a beer?"
"No thanks."
"Are you sure?"
"Daniel lets not get comfortable eh."
"Yeah you're right, this is a situation non of us want to
get use to."
"I think people become blind to many things on a daily basis."
"How do you mean Jack?"
"Well theres so much around us. So much to appreciate. I think
people just become blind to it. I mean if we just wake up to that
fact. Take a look around you, theres everything one could ever need,
right there staring back at you."
Daniel was thinking about what his friend had just said. He agreed
but didn't comment. He wondered if Jack's condition was making him
see things not differently, but more clear.
"Wheres Teal'c?"
"Hes outside, frying fish."
"Okay look. I think it might be time to use that thing Nyam
brought back from Bedrosia. We're under attack Daniel, I really
don't have time to wait around. I need to get back to the Base and
take care of things."
"For a start Sam's taking care of things nicely. And Teal'c'
right about that. If you could just hang on, I don't know, couple
more hours. Just give your eyes time to get back to normal. Do you
want me to call out Doctor Brigham?"
"For petes sake Daniel, of course I don't. I don't want this
getting round the Base."
"No it won't. Yeah, no, it won't."
"Anyway Carter seemed to think they were healing so maybe
you're right, maybe I'll just hold off on that, for a while."
"Do you see.. ..any better, yeah?"
"Actually Daniel its not as dark. I can't see anything, but
its not as dark."
"This is great Jack, you see, your eyes are adjusting then!"
"Maybe, I hope so, lets see. A few more hours and then em,
we're gonna need to get that thing."
"Okay."
"Do you think it will work?"
"Jack I'm really sorry, I didn't realise you we're afraid.
I guarantee your sight will come back with or without that Bedrosian
instrument. And that Bedrosian device does definitely regenerate,
so if we have to use it, you've not suffered damage to the eyes,
so yeah it, will work."
"Thanks. I know it, but hearin' its better."
"We're all with you Jack."
Words like that produced a profound effect, in the heart. It was
a deuced good feeling to hear such things.
"Come on lets go outside. I could do with some fresh air anyway."
It was evening now, night was attending it's station. It was dark
with a full bright moon and there were plenty of stars.
"O'Neill are you ready to eat?"
"Ready for anything T."
General O'Neill, Daniel and Teal'c were sitting on the porch eating
fish and delicious veg. Even though he did have a tendency to over
do the herbs and species, Teal'c was an excellent cook.
"O'Neill Colonel Carter is here."
"Thanks T."
"Shes just getting out of the car now Jack."
"Thanks Daniel."
"General hi, how are you?"
"Fine thanks Carter. We're just eating, have some."
"I will thanks Sir. Did you catch this yourself?"
"Oh yeah, you betcha."
"There you go Sam, its really tasty. Very nice."
"Looks like your promoting our fishing trip there Daniel."
"Well, err ha ha.. ..err, fish.."
"General everythings fine at the Base. I didn't wait around
so as soon as Major Harper relays the results on the NID floor plaque,
Walters going to stream them over here to your house. Sir can I
have a look at your eyes?"
"Yes Colonel Carter please do."
"Sure Sam go ahead."
~
≡ Λ ∏ ω Δ Σ Ψ γ Δ
√ ∞ Ξ ζ μ π ∀ ~
"..Shadows, oh this is fantastic, thank g_d, thank g_d. Sir
by tomorrow.."
"Sweet Carter. Thanks."
~
≡ Λ ∏ ω Δ Σ Ψ γ Δ
√ ∞ Ξ ζ μ π ∀ ~
"Sir the results are coming in."
"Go on Colonel, I'll stay out here."
"I too will remain."
Colonel Carter and Daniel went in to the dinning room. They were
patched through to Major Harper via The SGC secure sat relay. Although
they could receive directly, duplex, two way Comms had to be routed
through the Base, through the Control Room.
~
≡ Λ ∏ ω Δ Σ Ψ γ Δ
√ ∞ Ξ ζ μ π ∀ ~
General O'Neill dropped his drinking glass, leapt over the porch
balcony and started running towards the oak tree at the bottom of
the garden. Teal'c was extremely taken aback and quite alarmed.
He followed the General. Suddenly O'Neill went flying. He must have
tripped over something, possibly his own feet, it sent him sprawling
down to the ground. He whacked his forehead as he rubbed across
the grass. Luckily the moist air damped the friction.
"Aaahh! Aahh! Jeezzz!!"
He counter balanced himself with a compensating roll up on to his
haunches.
"O'Neill! O'Neill are you hurt?"
"T I just saw some fall out of the tree, they landed, err
somewhere round here."
"O'Neill you're sight is recovered??"
"No not exactly, I don't know."
"Did you see the memory of your journey from the tree to the
ground?"
"No T it wasn't a memory. I swear I just saw someone fall
out of the tree, exactly like I did."
"There are no signs here O'Neill."
"I can't see. Erm, maybe.. ..something."
"The figure was not dressed in clothing, he was naked as you
yourself were when you fell out from this very tree?"
"No, he was dressed. He sort of looked like, I don't know,
like an aviator."
"An aviator of the olden days?"
"Yeah weird. Theres no signs T?"
"Perhaps one O'Neill."
"Can you see him?"
"No there is no sign."
"You just said there was."
"There is a sign O'Neill, but not of presence."
"What you sayin' T?"
"O'Neill from your description you have just witnessed your
avatar of Colonel Carter's visit to the spirit realm following the
exact same flight path you yourself journeyed only days ago. You
have just seen or perceived the Canopic g_d Cauac. He has become
your friend O'Neill."
"You sure theres no signs?"
"None."
"Hot pepper, damn it! Thought we'd be able to ask him a few
things."
"You are disappointed?"
"I don't know. I don't know whats going on. Thor."
"We must report this matter to him. He will help O'Neill.
I am sure of it."
"As am I. T lets leave that one for now. There must be some
special reason why hes not been in touch yet."
"We will wait then."
~
≡ Λ ∏ ω Δ Σ Ψ γ Δ
√ ∞ Ξ ζ μ π ∀ ~
"Just stay there Carter we're coming over."
"Sir you can see me??"
"No. Yeah. Nice sight."
"Sir you can see me??"
"Jack?"
"Shadows, outlines. Are you two about eight feet apart."
"Haa!! Sir, Jack, you can see!"
"Jack look how many fingers?"
"All of them Daniel."
"Wow great, great!!"
"No, I mean I can just about make out the shape of your hand,
vague outlines."
"Well it won't be long now Jack, that's for sure."
"Sir do you need anything?"
"Just a verbal Report on whats going on Carter."
"Okay Sir. Do you feel alright? Do you want me to check your
eyes again? If you want I can.."
"Report! And thanks, all of you, I really mean it."
The mood had completely lifted. Everyone felt very happy. They
had all been sure the General's sight would return but they had
all been subdued by the feeling of uncertainty as to when that would
be, and helplessness. This was better than they'd all hoped. General
O'Neill was quiet and exceedingly relieved.
"Sir Major Harpers just be on. The samples of the NID's main
foyer floor plate are obsidian and shceelite. The plaque itself
is sunken approximately ten inches into the ground. Its base has
a copper metal lining surround. The plaque is essentially made of
polished obsidian with decorative shceelite inlay. Sir the rest
of the floor is paved with marble slabs. At first glance the plaque
looks like its marble as well."
"So what about these tiny, what did you call them, messo,
the em meso phase, the moldo.. ..moldavite?"
"Sir they're not going to be able to test for that. You need
extremely sophisticated equipment which they absolutely do not have
on site. General we're going to have to send that over to Svi at
Groom Lake."
"Okay well as soon as its possible get a sample out of there
and send it over."
"Will do. I'll leave instructions for that now Sir."
"Okay."
"O'Neill you believe the Nebulium may have already taken advantage
of this floor plaque 'gateway'?"
"Err.. ..yeah, think so T. I was speaking to George's friend
Eamon Heslop before he left. I asked him about obsidian, you know
after you got yourself stung by that fragment Carter. Anyhow he
gave me a run down on that particular little rock. He told me that
obsidian doesn't form crystal. Apparently it doesn't have a crystal
form, so.. ..what we talking about. A crystal gateway in NID HQ,
in the reception area to boot, is it possible, Carter?"
"Sir its not the crystal alone."
"I thought it was."
"Well it is."
"I see."
"Do you Sir?"
"What do you think Carter?"
"If I can put it another way?"
"Essential. Please, thank you."
"Okay, as a transportation device the crystal alone has no
direct influence. It's the mesophasic content which acts as the
transportation unit. I think the mix of crystal and the included
mineral together are what allows the unit to work. It could be that
the included mineral alone determines the destination. Oh, the shape
of the crystal, a skull, a block as in this floor plaque, is purely
incidental."
"So it can be any shape?"
"Yes Sir."
"In any place?"
"Yes Sir."
"Sam obsidians volcanic glass. Silicon dioxide if I remember
correctly."
"To be truthful Daniel I don't know what its made of, well
now I know, but anyway I don't think the obsidian plays a part here.
I asked Walter to check the crystal structure of this mineral, shceelite,
its crystallo system. He'll call through when hes found something."
"Tell him to knock off when he calls."
"Already told him Sir. I think he gets a bit restless in his
quarters. He likes to be in the Control Room when hes on Base."
"Sam I didn't realise he was staying on Base."
"Daniel Jackson, all the Master Sergeants stay on Base in
times of alert."
"Oh."
"Okay people we have to move. We need to get back to the Base."
"Yes Sir. But can we just stay here for a while, besides I've
not had my fish."
"Yeah Jack, I'm still hungry so Teal'c can you.."
"Daniel Jackson I will fry more fish."
"Look you lot, I'm fine. I can see you moving about, I can
see the light inside, I can even see the big oak tree at the bottom
of the garden. I'm fine."
"More fish General?"
"Its tasty Jack."
"Delicious O'Neill."
"Frying Fish. Fantabulous!"
~
≡ Λ ∏ ω Δ Σ Ψ γ Δ
√ ∞ Ξ ζ μ π ∀ ~
They were all eating and relaxing under the stars. You could hear
a bleeping noise coming from the dining room.
"Sir I'll get that."
"Okay."
"That was Walter, erm.."
"Let me guess, it's the same as the, whats that.. ..Apophsis
stuff?"
"The Apophylite Sir."
"Okay, this ones the same as that one?"
"Its not the same mineral but it is the same sub-structure,
yeah Sir it's the same as Apophylite in that its dipyramidial."
"Whats that.. ..iridium?"
"Sir they haven't dug up the metal lining yet. I've asked
Major Harper to get me a sample of the ground beneath the whole
structure. We have iridium down as an ignition element. If this
plaque does turn out to be the crystallo transit unit the Nebulium
have used to get access to the NID then there should be iridium
somewhere in close proximity."
"Okay kids, come on finish up, we need to go back to the Base."
"Sir how are your eyes?"
"Well, Carter, I can em, I can see movement, I can see outlines,
shadows, really getting better thanks. Yep they really are getting
better!"
He insisted.
"That's such a relief Sir, Great."
"I know. Really do. We need to make tracks kids, lets go."
"O'Neill the equipment?"
"Yeah, we'll leave everything here, T can you stand someone
on it. Astronomically expensive and all that."
"I shall telephone logistics now."
"The lights in The SGC, they're gonna be a lot brighter than
here."
"Yeah?"
"What I was thinking, it's a bit unusual Jack but maybe you
should wear your sunglasses around the Base."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I think it will help your eyes adjust, you know, so
they're not being accosted by the stark brightness."
"Nice. Daniel that's a really great suggestion. I'll do that
thanks. Thanks the lot, I'll em, yeah. In fact I think I've got
some shades in my bedroom in the .. ..okay yeah, I'll do that thanks."
Colonel Carter shouted through, asking Daniel to take the incoming
call from the Base. He went back into the dining room. He was gone
for a while and came back.
"Jack, Sam, Teal'c, em, that was Walter, they've received
a coded communiqué from the Tok Ra. I told him not to relay
it, we can't open it here. Hes still on."
"Carter just get those shades for me."
She sprang up and hurried to his bedroom.
"Here Sir."
"Can he..?"
"No Sir, he can't see you."
"Sweet. Come on lets see whats up."
They all went into the dinning room. Logistics had set up a wide
angle plasma screen and receiver. They'd also installed an array
of boosters, satellite transceivers and protocol facilitators. The
SGC Control Room appeared quiet.
"Go on Walter what is it."
"Sir we have incoming audio from P4R 268. Goa'uld space Sir."
"Men'ka'ar!"
"Teal'c isn't that Zipacna's cradle?"
"It is Daniel Jackson. Part of the Seatam system controlled
by him."
"Teal'c is that the Cetus system?"
"I do not know Colonel Carter, however I will recognise the
coordinates if you wish to verify."
"Please Teal'c, when we get back."
"Yes."
"Message?"
"Err, I'll play it for you now Sir."
"I am Lord Zipacna, ruler of the Seatam system, Lord of Men'ka'ar,
Caytus, Lord of Fanex. I demand that the Tau'ri, um, ha'shak kree!
I request, an audience with the Tau'ri. Immediately."
"Holy mackerel. Short and, oh so pleasant. Walter can you
go ahead and decode the message from Jacob."
"Decoding. General its not actually from General Carter. Its
from the Tok Ra, regarding General Carter."
"Oh yeah?"
"Sir they've not flagged it."
"Nothing to worry about then. Right well we're on our way
now Walter so em, get on with that."
"And Zipacna Sir?"
"What to do. Roll out the red carpet, dust the lights, iron
your britches and buff ya boots."
"Of course Sir, state visit then."
"Yeah, state of alert Walter. Just err, just ignore him for
the time being. No contact until I get there. You know the drill,
full defence. They're not coming through unti.. .. I'll be there
in a few minutes. Don't respond till then. And as soon as they do
come through, show 'em to the brig."
"Brig Sir?"
"Yes the brig. Let them err, think about their manners for
a while."
"I make arrangements Sir."
"Okay, alright Walter. Out. So we're having guests."
General O'Neill and SG-1 left the General's home haven for The
SGC. A call came through on his secure cell.
"Go on. Okay then. Right, thanks. That was Walter with the
Tok Ra transmission. Apparently Jacob's coming for dinner."
"Sir?"
"It seems Jacob's managed to make contact with erm, oh what
was his name.. ..a Goa'uld. Anyway, he made contact with another
Goa'uld who made contact with another Goa'uld, yada yada, Zipacna.
So theres a little group of them on the way. They wanna to visit.
They want to chat."
"Sir is my father with them?"
"Big affirmative. Hes a minor Goa'uld Carter, of course hes
coming. Looks like hes directing the whole thing. Done a pretty
good job of it as well I'd say."
"So Jack do you think putting them in the brig is the best
way to deal with them?"
"Oh Daniel who cares, its the Goa'uld, really not bothered."
"Yeah but it means Jacob will have to go with them in there."
"Daniel Jackson, Jacob Carter is a General, he will only to
well appreciate.."
"Yeah he will T. Carter?"
"Yes Sir, my father, yeah, he'll be alright about that. He'll
probably find it amusing knowing him. I'm quite sure he hates the
Goa'uld just as much as you Sir."
"Ha, ha hahh, yeah."
~
≡ Λ ∏ ω Δ Σ Ψ γ Δ
√ ∞ Ξ ζ μ π ∀ ~
"Alright Walter lets err.."
"Sir Chevron two encoding. Chevron two locked."
"Alright Carter, elevate please. Code Nine."
"On it Sir."
"Chevron Seven encoding. Chevron Seven locked."
Whooosh!
"Walter wait for it. Wait for it."
"I am Lord Zipacna we dema, require, entry into your.. ..place."
"I am General Jack O'Neill of the United States Airforce and
I am happy to inform you, we are open for business. Step on through
guys."
The General lowered his voice.
"Walter, the brig."
"Yes Sir, we've laid a path for them."
"Good man. I'll be in the Briefing Room with SG-1. Let the
Goa'uld cool off for a while. Give them twenty minutes and then
down to Level twenty-six."
"Sir they'll be boiling in twenty minutes."
"Yeah they will won't they, ha ha. Okay say, give it, give
it twelve, twelve's good yeah, give it twelve minutes."
"Sir."
"Brig time Walter, not walking time."
"Got that Sir."
"Conference Room, have them shown through when they've done
their time."
~
≡ Λ ∏ ω Δ Σ Ψ γ Δ
√ ∞ Ξ ζ μ π ∀ ~
"Sir what do you think they want?"
"I think they want the Nebulium Colonel. Your father's with
them so that's a big give away. The Tok Ra were doing us a favour
on this one. Looks like hes found someone who knows the Nebulium."
"It couldn't hurt to have someone else up against them as
well. Oh Sir, the Goa'uld should know what fire power we're facing.
Or possibly not, especially with the fourteen hundred year abstention,
off the radar."
"Maybe we should just hand over the Ninth Chevron address
for P7X 377. Zipacna's not gonna be able to do much with that. He
may even use it himself to Gate to the pyramid, that really would
be an added bonus."
"Toast."
"Oh yeah., smoking."
"O'Neill only recently we saw Ba'al attempting to corrupt
the StarGate's destination location routing protocol."
"We saw that T."
"Our own scientist.."
"Felger!"
"Yes. Felger. He encountered an enormous amount of difficulty
in attempting to recover the initial uncorrupted code."
"True, but him and Carter did set everything back to rights.
Safe to travel an'all."
"Yes they did."
"T?"
"In providing Zipacna with the Ninth Chevron address for P7X
377 we may inadvertently provide him the access key to a great many
extra galactic worlds."
"Eh, come again?"
"O'Neill we may discover the Goa'uld are much better at mathematicals
than we estimate. With only two Nine and one Eight and some of the
Seven Chevron addresses, Colonel Carter has been able to discover
the formula to extend any Seven Chevron address to its Ninth Chevron
incorporation. From this she has found a method of locating new
Eight and Nine Chevron StarGate addresses."
"Yerss?"
"We may unhappily find that with only one Nine Chevron address
the Goa'uld may be able to discover these same details."
"You mean they're much better at sums than we are?"
"Much better O'Neill."
"Point taken. Give 'em nothing. Daniel get rid of them."
"Actually Jack what about bargaining with them?"
"It's the Goa'uld Daniel, what we gonna bargain with them
for?"
"A mothership. I don't know but it might be worth while seeing
how badly they want the address, there might be something we can
get off them."
"I like the sound of that Daniel, really I do. But nothings
worth the price of letting them get their hands on Eight and Nine
Chevron travel."
"I was thinking about the Seven Chevron address to P7X 377.
Theres no reason why that couldn't be up for grabs. Especially if
it means they're going to deal with the Nebulium."
"I don't know. The person we need to speak to is Nick. Hes
the only one who can tell us whats going on down there. Okay look,
maybe we can offer them the address. But for now we offer them nothing.
We don't know whats going on down there with those Nebulium, what
weapons.. ..technology and stuff they may have. And after listening
to Carter, we may have missing people down there. They could have
jetted there via the NID floor boards"
"Excuse me Sir, they're on the way."
"Okay Lieutenant, we'll follow you up."
~
≡ Λ ∏ ω Δ Σ Ψ γ Δ
√ ∞ Ξ ζ μ π ∀ ~
"General Sir, Colonel, Colonel, Colonel, Major, Major, Sergeant,
Doctor, Teal'c, we have lord Zipacna, lord Us' mar.."
"Us'ma'ak'ma!!"
"Yes, thank you madam. Lord Nema'tat, Lord Fa'an'tu and Lord
Bo'rad.
May I introduce General O'Neill, head of this facility. Sir they
are requesting an audience with you."
"Very good Lieutenant, granted, thank you, that will be all."
Four P90 armed SFs flanked the inside walls of the Conference Room.
A further six were taking up ground in the outside corridor. The
Gate Room defence Teams were cutting a path from the Conference
Room to the StarGate. The Tactical SG Units 16, 18 and 22 were on
geared-up standby.
General O'Neill politely rose to show each Goa'uld to their seat.
They approached the table and made to sit down, all except Zipacna,
who had started throwing a fit of indignation.
"Shak'ti'qua jad'ma bi'ar'nu'ir'ee!! Di dak'dida qua'renekam
noc!!"
"You dare to disrespect him."
"Got that bit Daniel. Yep, you're right, sorry about that.
Dib, dib, dib. Hows that?"
The General walked over to Zipacna and pulled the chair out for
him to sit down. He was the epitome of diplomacy.
"Dersh Bede'ish'kam!!"
"You will be taught a lesson O'Neill."
Waning diplomacy.
"Yeah, whatever. Okay we've met before, you made quite an
impact, literally, nice hat, lovely frock, now what do ya want?"
"The Tau'ri are weak!!"
"Hey. Cool it!"
"You need to learn we are the masters."
"Calm down!!"
"You! You will bow before me."
"Only in your fevered imagination pal."
"Hataaka, I will crush you!!"
"Decorum! Have some!!"
Wham!! Bull's-eye! Straight in the chest! General O'Neill slammed
Zipacna with a palm full of depleted diplomacy. He rammed his hand
hard into the Goa'uld's chest, almost bringing Zipacna's host's
heart to a standstill. Didn't seem to know the strength of his own
hand. But then, that particular hand, his left one, had been most
enlightening of late.
"Yes do. Have a seat!"
Zipacna, more than shocked and completely winded but not wanting
to seem effected, felt the force of the blow buckle his knees whilst
he speechlessly dropped down into the chair directly behind him.
Light waves in his eyes were pulsating wildly, bright then dim,
bright and then dim, as he was caught by the seat of the chair.
He didn't speak, which was exactly how General O'Neill liked it.
"Do I look as though I'm looking for trouble?? Well, do I
look as though I'm looking for trouble eh??"
Actually he did do. He looked rather menacing. Scary with his mirror
shades, a day and a half old beard and bucket load don't give a
damn. The passed thirteen hours worth of events had been more than
enough to try even the calmest of us all. The fact of the matter
was though, General O'Neill was feeling no calmness whatsoever,
added to which he had a serve dislike of the Goa'uld with all their
minky methods.
The General got straight to the heart of things.
"Now lets discuss this like civilised .. ..whatevers!"
Oops, look out, angry General in the house!
Zipacna, understandably, did acquired a modicum of decorum. Perhaps
today really wasn't the right day to exercise his all and mighty
greatness. He sat winded, and quiet like a mouse.
General Carter averted his eyes to the floor and smiled to himself.
He disliked the Goa'uld as much as General O'Neill.
General O'Neill leaned forward. The audience, including his own
people, seemed to cower back a little, all quiet and in order. All
slightly apprehensive and awaiting his next move.
"Now! Yes! Can I help you?"
Zipacna was about to start, but didn't.
"We are not prepared to hold a jal'shim in the presence of
this sholva."
Nema'tat waved her hand towards Teal'c but did not look upon him.
"I am also unwilling to discuss our affairs in front of this
shol'va. I demand you order him to leave us!"
Jacob Carter alias lord Borad was very aggressive in his manner.
"You know come to think of it, shol'va, sort of got a nice
ring to it hasn't it. Shooll.. ..va, sholva. I understand theres
a lot of prestige attached to that title these days, eh, guys? Nothing?
Alrighty then, shol'va leave the room."
"Indeed I will General O'Neill. As soon as these kresh'taa
leave The SGC."
"Kegalo sholva!! Cree tall!!"
Lord Fa'an'tu tried to threaten Teal'c. Teal'c snarled at him.
General O'Neill defused the situation.
"Right there you go. Whats next?"
"You know the whereabouts of the Mas'darr Knu'ha!"
"Bad cloud Jack, General."
"Oohhkay."
"You will provide us with that information."
"Okay."
General O'Neill extended a tacit glance across to Sergeant Harriman
who was on the side of the conference table nearest the door. General
O'Neill continued talking to his, visitors. After a few minutes
Sergeant Harriman spoke.
"Excuse me Sir I have to take this."
He produced a mobile phone from his waist belt.
"By all means Sergeant carry on."
"Hello? Yes. Yes. Thank you. General Sir, sorry to interrupt,
you're needed downstairs."
"Oh really?"
"Yes Sir, it em, it needs your immediate attention."
"Oh well in that case, thank you Sergeant. Excuse me, sure
I won't be long. Doctor Jackson, shall we."
Daniel and General O'Neill left the Conference Room. The Goa'uld
felt heavily slighted.
"Med bis bid'je qua?? Med bis bid'je qua!!"
Zipacna checked himself, and on second thoughts sat back down.
"The General won't be long, hes just attending to some.. ..thing.
I'm sure he'll be back shortly."
"Ha'shak!"
Nema' tat glared at Colonel Carter. Who in turn gave a strained
rendition of a smile.
"Tyger!!"
Teal'c quickly stood to the Colonel's defence.
"Hataaka shol'va!!"
Lord Borad wanted a piece too.
"Kree tall tyger!!"
There was a knock on the Conference Room door. Nice timing. It
opened and an SF walked into the room and addressed himself to Colonel
Carter.
"Ma'am you're needed downstairs."
Double yes and thank you. Colonel Carter wasted no time in getting
to the door.
"Thank you Sergeant, lead the way. Excuse me, shalt not be
long."
General Carter noticed things were rapidly building into a situation
the Goa'uld, in their arrogance, we're unable to cope with. In the
main, they we're used to subservience, begging and pleading, from
all those around them.
In an effort to bleed off the pressure he turned the Goa'uld's
focus to the method of acquiring the Gate address.
~
≡ Λ ∏ ω Δ Σ Ψ γ Δ
√ ∞ Ξ ζ μ π ∀ ~
Outside the Conference Room, a little ways down the corridor, General
O'Neill and Daniel were deep in conversation. Colonel Carter joined
her colleagues.
"..So let me get this straight. You're saying that Anubis
lost his, he became this.. ..smoky erm, what is it Carter, Anubis,
no body, floaty thing?"
"Oh Sir you mean hes lost his molecular integrity, cellular
structural integrity to maintain solid phase state."
"Yeah Daniel that. You're saying he became that by travelling
through the wormhole, the StarGate, using seven chevrons and you
think he started to phase shift mid Gate."
"Jack that's what I'm saying, and I think that's the kind
of result the Ancient's tried to avoid by incorporating the Ninth
Chevron."
"So that means he hadn't actually fully ascended, he was in
the process of learning how to do it. But he just didn't figure
on the mid.. ..mid gate crisis, ha."
"I'm pretty sure that's it. I knew it had something to do
with ascension. I first thought it was to do with when Anubis descended,
but now I believe that it was something to do with what happened
before he ascended. Jack if Anubis would have used all Nine Chevrons
when he used the StarGate, he probably wouldn't have ended up without
a body."
"Right fair enough, so the questions still the same, who did
he learn it from? This ascending ability, phase shifting, who did
he learn it from?"
"Sir what are you two talking about? The Goa'uld are getting
impatient."
"That's old Carter. We're trying to figure out who they are
and if they have any connection to our missing people."
"If they have Sir?"
"The brig, for now! So how did Anubis learn to ascend?"
"The Nebulium Jack."
"Carter, even odds?"
"Sir from what we've already discovered, theres only two races
he could learn that from. The Ancients would never teach it, not
to Anubis, Daniel?"
"No way, I'm sure of that."
"Which leaves.."
"An even oddish."
"Sir that ties Anubis to the Nebulium."
"Yes it does."
"Jack we can tie Zipacna in with Anubis."
"Yes we can. What about this Usmit?"
"Us'ma'ak'ma. That could very well be a distorted derivation
of em, the unpleasant voice, the Us, perse, the em, anyway the phone..
..se phone, the em ak'ma, the voice, the ma'ak'ma, its em.."
"Derivation super. So you're saying what?"
"This em, Goa'uld, Us'ma'ak'ma, she may actually be the em,
yeah okay, she may be Zeus's daughter."
"What??"
"If its her she was fabled to have been abducted by Hades."
"Fabled?"
"It was more like she was his willing consort. He didn't abduct
her. Do you want me to go and look it up?"
"No come on we've not got time. They're going to start throwing
chairs. Hades?"
"Yeah, Hadad, Hades, Cronus's son. Well one of them."
"What?? She could be Cronus's daughter in law? You're gonna
have to tell Teal'c."
"Okay, Hades was supposed to have dragged her off to the underworld,
but apparently she quickly became acclimatised to the underworld
after she ate a meal down there."
"The girls gotta eat, I'll give her that much."
"Legend has it is that every year she returns to Hades, to
the underworld."
"So Okay, Hades, what am I missing here? She returns to the
dark side on a regular basis, em yeah, but then she is a Goa'uld."
"Could Zipacna be Hadad.. ..Hades?"
"I don't think so Sam."
"Yeah but from the sound of it this Us'ma'ak'ma and Hades,
they were an item."
"Zipacna has been slithering all over her hasn't he. She does
seem to be consorting with this mental, mental zippy case, don't
you think so?"
"Sir are you thinking Anubis is the one who tried to forge
an alliance between the Goa'uld and the Nebulium?"
"Either him or the other one."
"Hades?"
"Well I would have said Anubis or Zipacna. And if Hades isn't
Anubis then hes gotta be Zipacna."
"Sir, making Us'ma'a.."
"Us'ma'ak'ma."
"Thanks Daniel. Making her either Zipacna's or Anubis's consort."
"Frightening isn't it."
"Well now that's interesting Jack."
"Ou yah."
"Daniel what about the rest of Jacob's friends, who are they?"
"I can't be exactly sure but a picture seems to be forming."
"Not for me Daniel, and I'm not talking about the fact that
I can only see dark shadows right now, I mean you're just not painting
a picture for me."
"Unless its abstract Sir."
"Ha ha very funny Sam."
"Okay here goes. If Us'ma'ak'ma is who I think she is then
the Goa'uld sitting next to her on the right, the left, em the righ.."
"Daniel, not Zipacna right."
Yeah, the one on the other side. I think hes Fa'an'tu."
"And he is who?"
"I'm not a hundred percent on this Jack, but if its him, hes
the g_d of death."
"Ohhkay!"
"Daniel I thought that was Hades."
"Sam hes the g_d of the underworld."
"Oh and Nema'tat."
"Oh shes really rude."
"Carter what is she?"
"I know Sir, shes a Goa'uld."
"A Goa'uld called Nemesis."
"Jezz..!"
"Well she.."
"She what?"
"The g_d that, well, she facilitates revenge shall we say."
"A trouble maker. Evil doer."
"Of the highest order Jack."
"Charming."
"Okay we're dealing with a real bad bunch here. Daniel you've
got some very interesting ideas there. Can you follow up on that."
"Right after this meeting."
"Lets just settle one thing before we go back in. Is there
any chance, no matter how slim, that this lot have got anything
to do with our missing people?"
"No Sir. By all accounts no."
"Jack that Goa'uld Nebulium connection is irrevocably severed."
"Okay. Common enemy. By the way who is Ingsa Vas?"
"Common enemy?"
"Don't think so Daniel, not ours anyway. Okay at least we
know who these lot are. Good one for Jacob, hes really come through.
Lets get back in there."
"Ah do we have to?"
"Ha ha I wish, come on."
"Sir how are you?"
"Don't worry Carter."
"Yeah Jack, your eyes."
"The glasses were a real good move Daniel. The outlines are
becoming more defined now. Everythings still quite dark though."
"Well don't forget your wearing dark glasses."
"Oh yeah, that'll make a difference. So what do ya think,
we throw them out?"
"I'd be inclined to leave an opening Jack, like Sam said,
maybe we can use them as a kind of back up, well not back up, but
they would be an extra force against the Nebulium, that can't be
a bad thing."
"Everything with this lots a bad thing, but I know what you
mean."
"That's because that was your original plan."
"Yeah I know, but that was before my five hundred and fifty
foot plunge down to earth, my flying visit at the NID. Todays not
a good day to be dealing with the Goa'uld. They sort of grate on
your nerves don't they."
"Cordial Sir."
"No thanks, but I could do with a coffee when we get rid of
this lot. Okay, I'll try. If only they didn't speak, that'd be nice."
~
≡ Λ ∏ ω Δ Σ Ψ γ Δ
√ ∞ Ξ ζ μ π ∀ ~
Colonel Carter, Doctor Jackson and General O'Neill returned to
the Conference Room and took up their places. It was easy to tell
that the Goa'uld were excessively irritated by the General's performance.
It was easy to see they very much wanted the location of the Nebulium.
"Right sorry about that folks. Where we up to?"
"You were arranging to provide us the details we seek."
"No. No that's not what I was doing actually. Something altogether
different. So where we up to?"
"O'Neill I believe the Goa'uld we're considering what they
had to offer in exchange for the details they seek."
"Yes Teal'c that's exactly where we're up to, thank you."
"Mid'cha Lord Zipacna. Cree tall cree! You will not permit
e'tar'sa from a'a'bead'ma'ad."
Us'ma'ak'ma sprayed Zipacna with spittle as she hissed at him.
Zipacna seemed a tad whimpish before her, perhaps indicating she
held a higher position in the lower ranks of harakash mania.
General O'Neill was just then considering that perhaps she was
after all Anubis's consort. And perhaps Anubis himself was Hadad.
Perhaps Hadad was not Hades. Or maybe..
"The Tau'ri are not slaves!"
"Shol'va!!"
"Kresh'taa!"
"We will speak between ourselves."
"Yeah sure go right ahead."
"Privately!"
"Privately.. .. em, I'm sorry we can't do privately right
now, but if you want to come back next week, em, Sergeant, Tuesday,
Wednesday?"
"Sir Wednesday afternoon. Up to now two thirty until three
forty five."
"Hows that sounding?"
"Haatack!!"
"So.. ..you're just gonna go ahead and chat amongst yourselves
then."
There was a disco of glowing Goa'uld. Light was oscillating from
one Goa'uld's pupil to the next. They were not amused. The Goa'uld
were crowded in a frenzied furry in the corner of the Conference
Room. After a few minutes General O'Neill stood up. His staff braced
themselves.
"Lord.. ..Teal'c, may I speak with you?"
"Yerrss. Indeed General O'Neill."
They left the Conference Room closing the door behind them.
"O'Neill are you well?"
"Extremely well and having a ball. We've got nothing at stake
here T."
"We have not."
"Every time I look at that, that.."
"Zipacna O'Neill?"
"Thanks, that one, 'cocky' little minky. Every time I look
at him T I have this image of countless lasers locking onto canons.
People, peaceful people, running and screaming and falling. You
know, you were there."
"Indeed O'Neill I was. It is impossible to separate a Goa'uld
from the atrocities he has committed."
"Ain't that the truth. T what have you got? And what does
Sheytar mean?"
"O'Neill Shes'ta. It is taken to mean payment. I too heard
this word spoken by the Goa'uld Nema'tat. She suggested they offer
to pay you for the StarGate address, P7X 377."
"But they're not doing that right?"
"Yes correct. Zipacna was of a mind that you would not accept
remuneration."
"Well usually not, but it depends how much. We're up for a
finance review. If we can get funding from elsewhere, it may be
worth considering, however, ethics dictate.."
"It is worth considering O'Neill. We are lacking a great many
equipment and technologies. Without special funding the project
at the Beta Site will not come to fruition."
"There you go you see, funding!"
"However.."
"However T. Did you catch anything else."
"Yes. From what I can gather they are indeed very concerned.
It seems all of them we're involved in an attempted alliance with
the Nebulium, an alliance encouraged by Hadad the Hylk' shak."
"Hadad, hes not in there right?"
"Correct O'Neill. He is a g_d of the underworld."
"Here we go? Hey, hey.. ..is that Hades?"
No. I do not know."
"Could Hadad be Zipacna?"
"No."
"Anubis?"
"No. perhaps."
"Can you give Daniel a hand on that?"
"I will O'Neill."
"Go on you were saying?"
"They did not discuss the issue further, though Nema'tat did
intimate it was the shame and dishonour of defeat and capture by
the Nebulium that has caused them to be outcasts."
"Outcasts?"
"Kresh'taa. Outcasts in the opinion of the lords supreme.
The highest ranking members of the hara kesh. The nine ruling members
of the Goa'uld. The Inner chamber."
"So these aren't the proper Goa'uld, lords?"
"They are minor lords."
"Minor Goa'uld?"
"Yes. They are thirteen in number. The lower system lords,
minor Goa'uld. The ones we have before us O'Neill have no chance
to gain entry into the upper ranks. They will not become hara kesh.
They are Goa'uld of the underworld. They are specifically demonic
in their actions. They lost their holdings after being defeated
by a more cunning adversary."
"The Nebulium, bad cloud?"
"Yes O'Neill, the Mas'darr Knu'ha. From their words their
only thoughts focus on tok'eem. Through revenge they intend to find
promotion within the hara kesh so they will again have the opportunity
to become full system lords. Being denied this revenge is to be
denied the opportunity to rise through the ranks of the Goa'uld
hierarchy."
"They sound pretty desperate to get their hands on this address
then T?"
"Indeed O'Neill, they are most desperate to obtain knowledge
of the whereabouts of the Nebulium."
"T what I don't understand is how come they don't already
know the address. I mean if they were there.. ..I don't know, if
they were there.. ..and then they left, how can they not know where
they were?"
"O'Neill they left via StarGate. They used a known StarGate
address to vacate the planet, P7X 377. It does not automatically
follow that they also knew the address with which to enter that
same world."
"Well how did they get there. I thought they we're out to
make a deal with the Nebulium?"
"Perhaps they did not get there by their own volition. Perhaps
they were brought there from the planet the Nebulium occupied before
arriving to P7X 377."
"Oh you mean the Asgard deal, the em, Nef.. ..Nifla?"
"Yes. Perhaps relations between the Nebulium and the Goa'uld
broke down on Nifla and it was on Nifla that the Nebulium were able
to overpower the Goa'uld and extract the symbiotes for transport
to P7X 377.
Were this to be the case, then the Goa'uld would have no way to
discover the StarGate address or stellar coordinates of P7X 377."
"Good case T. That makes a lot of sense actually. Come on
lets get back in there."
~
≡ Λ ∏ ω Δ Σ Ψ γ Δ
√ ∞ Ξ ζ μ π ∀ ~
"Sorry about that folks, em, sooo?"
"Sir the Goa'uld were discussing what they intend to offer
in exchange for the StarGate address of the location of the..?"
"Colonel Carter the Mas'darr Knu'ha."
"Thanks Teal'c. Sir the location of the Mas'darr Knu'ha."
"Lovely!"
They all sat in silence. Nobody spoke. Everybody was looking at
the Goa'uld. The Goa'uld was grimacing at everybody. No doubt they
were waiting to have their ego stroked. It seemed they intended
to remain silent until the Commanding Officer of the Base coaxed
the offer out of them. The Commanding Officer of the Base had absolutely
no intention of coaxing anything out of anyone.
For once it was oh so nice to have the upper hand with these lunatics
he thought. He sat relaxed in silence. His reflective sunshades
had done an excellent job, his eyes were well shielded from brightness.
What General O'Neill didn't realise, mores the pity, was that it
was actually the first time any of these Goa'uld had ever been spoken
to in such disrespectful tones, and by someone wearing a type of
ominous quick silver looking eye shields.
As the General spoke so dismissively to them, they saw reflections
of their greedy, demanding, grimacing effrontery peering back at
them. It was most off putting. They saw it as the absolute height
of disrespect. It's a real pity the General didn't know that, he
would have been chuffed.
If only the Goa'uld weren't so desperate for this StarGate address.
They broke their silence.
"We will offer you five hundred Jaffa warriors."
"What?? Colonels? Majors?"
"Five hundred Sir!!"
"Jaffa Sir!!"
"That's what I thought they said."
"This generous offer is not acceptable to you?"
"Err no."
"We will offer you one thousand Ja.."
"Look! Forget the Jaffa warriors okay. No warriors! We have
our own fighting force thank you very much. And extremely fine it
is too. But then I'm sure you all know that by now."
"We will offer you one Tel'jarash"
"Death Glider General O'Neill."
"Thank you Teal'c. Nothing less than a ha'tak."
"Cree tall hataaka! Your manner is unbefitting! Shel'.."
"Yah, I wouldn't either pal.."
General O'Neill had half stood up to met Zipacna's insult. He slowly
sat back down again.
"Shak'ti'qua? You attach more value to this location than
is reasonable."
"Is that so?"
"You are prepared to accept a Tel'jarash?"
"Um, I thought I just made it clear what I was not willing
to go below."
"You have a ha'tak. Vi'tos'mar!"
Us'ma'ak'ma snapped at Nema'tat.
"Mai'tac! You have more than three throughout your realm."
Fa'an'tu had been deliberately staring at General O'Neill since
he sat down. He was trying to intimidate him. Emitting hateful daggers
in the General's direction. General O'Neill completely ignored him.
In fact from that distance he probably couldn't even see Fa'an'tu's
face. Just a vague outline, an evil outcast.
"Make your demands known to us!"
"Okay. Colonels, Majors, Sergeant. Doctor, Teal'c, shield
Technology?"
"Yes Sir!!"
"Yeah we could go for a little bit of shield technology..
..err, yeah, that would be just the ticket."
"E'tar'sa!! E'tar'sa!!"
Us'ma'ak'ma jumped to her feet. She was spitting again. And hissing.
"Insolence Jack."
"Not the ticket?"
"Y'isid ma yas!! Zipacna khree tok'me'd!!"
"Kegalo!!"
Selmak made Jacobs eyes glow.
"We must first obtain b'ji Chaapa'ai!"
Of course Jacob already knew the StarGate address to P7X 377.
"Di'dak'dida Borad!"
Zipacna objected to the way lord Borad spoke to Us'ma'ak'ma. Looked
like he was sucking up to the boss.
"Renekam!!"
Jacob was a General. He had tactics. He had strategy. He had no
patience with Zipacna.
"Quell shake lord Borad."
So it seemed Fa'an'tu could do more than pull a nasty face.
"We leave to consider our options."
Jacob and Selmak had successfully infiltrated into the lower ranks
of the Goa'uld hierarchy.
"Shor' wai'e! Chaapa'ai a'bin?? Y'isid ma yas!!"
"They are leaving O'Neill."
"Flight!"
"Yes Sir. This way please."
Sergeant Harriman opened the door to let the Goa'uld out. General
O'Neill followed behind ensuring the path was cut nice and tight.
~
≡ Λ ∏ ω Δ Σ Ψ γ Δ
√ ∞ Ξ ζ μ π ∀ ~
"Teal'c can I have a word?"
"Yes."
The corridor outside the Conference Room was now clear. The SFs
were accompanying General O'Neill and the Goa'uld to the StarGate.
"Teal'c I'm sorry about my father having a go at you back
there."
"You should not be sorry Colonel Carter. General Carter was
aware that I would appreciate his efforts to maintain his subdefuge
amongst the Goa'uld. It was my pleasure to assist him."
"Oh, yeah, thanks Teal'c yeah, that's what he was doing. I'm
really pleased you understand."
"I understand that Jacob Carter is a good man. He fights extremely
well to further our cause."
"Thank you Teal'c."
"You are most welcome Colonel Carter."
~
≡ Λ ∏ ω Δ Σ Ψ γ Δ
√ ∞ Ξ ζ μ π ∀ ~
General O'Neill accompanied the Goa'uld, and General Jacob Carter,
Selmak, alias lord Borad, down to the Gate Room on Level twenty-eight.
The Gate had initialised to P4R 268. The General walked up onto
the StarGate grid ramp. Obviously he couldn't acknowledge General
Carter, but Jacob knew that in escorting them all to the StarGate
General O'Neill was discretely showing him a very friendly sign
of respect. Doubtless Zipacna and the other snake-rot believed the
gesture was in subservience to themselves.
"See ya now. Call again.. ..Anytime."
Zipacna was the last one to step up to the horizon. The precise
moment he stepped forward to enter the subspace everglade, General
O'Neill, who was close by but careful not to allow himself to be
pulled off world, shouted, 'Ingsa Vas'! Zipacna became maniacal.
To the sounder of many drawn weapons he lunged at General O'Neill.
He tried to grab at the General's throat. General O'Neill casually
leaned backwards out of arms length. Zipacna's eyes were fanatic.
He was screaming.. ..something. The scream grew louder and more
shrill but was neatly cut off as Zipacna was sucked sideways, still
shrieking, into the void.
The General found that sight most amusing, he'd timed it nicely.
Very enlightening too.
~
≡ Λ ∏ ω Δ Σ Ψ γ Δ
√ ∞ Ξ ζ μ π ∀ ~
General O'Neill returned to the Conference Room to speak with his
people.
"They've gone Sir?"
"All gone Carter. The Goa'uld have left the building. Call
the Code please Major."
"Seventeen Sir?"
"Unfortunately."
"Doing it now General."
Major Kim Green picked up the Conference Room internal phone to
speak to the Control Room.
"Sir shield technology?"
"Well that's the best of what they've got to offer Carter."
"Colonel if we can get our hands on their shield technology
it'll level the playing field."
"True, very true Major."
"You are correct Major Griff. And that is a fact of which
the Goa'uld are also aware."
"How badly do they want this address?"
"Extremely badly Colonel Reynolds. However should the System
Lords ever discover that the underworld kresh'taa have provided
the Tauri with Goa'uld shield technology, they would see to it that
the kresh'taa never have the chance to once again become System
Lords."
"Ah."
"Indeed O'Neill."
"So Teal'c are you saying they want the address so that they
can exact revenge against the Nebulium."
"Yes the Mas'darr Knu'ha."
"Yeah them. So they attack the Mas'darr Knu'ha, thereby redeeming
their honour with a shot at becoming system lords."
"Yes this is what they desire."
"But if they give us the technology so that we'll give them
the Gate address, so that they can then exact revenge, and the system
lords find out what they've done then they'll never get a chance
to become system lord anyway."
"Exactly so Daniel Jackson. And the system lords will eventually
discover the truth."
"Catch twenty two Teal'c."
"Colonel Carter?"
"Yeah it is T, it is."
"Very well."
"General do you think they'll return for another round of
talks?"
"Talks, um. Well after that débâcle, I reckon
they'll be back, just as soon as they find someone to put the blame
on for whatever they give us. Sure, they'll be back."
"What do you think Jack?"
"Flapping snakes."
~ Ҧ Σ ≡ µ Π
Ψ Ω ℜ ℜ Å ~
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