Agent Fox Mulder (i_want_2) wrote in multi_fiction, @ 2008-09-16 15:05:00 |
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Entry tags: | au, het, rated: adult, sg-1, slash |
Fic: Integrated Circuit 3/? StarGate SG-1
Integrated Circuit
By: Lopaka Tanu
Disclaimer: I do not own SG-1 or anything there in.
Category: Adult Slash Het.
Warning: Character Death, Violence, Language, Sexual Situations, Battle Scenes.
Archive: RSD, Area 52. Anyone else ask.
Feed Back: lopaka_tanu @ yahoo.com
Spoilers: Season's 2 & 3.
Pairing: Jolinar/Aldwin, Martouf/Sha're Daniel/Martouf.
Series: Daniel of Malksur trilogy, 3/3.
Summary: Pain and sorrow have marred the once hopeful staff of the SGC. With recent changes in the staff, people are questioning the security of their positions. The Tok'ra, faced with problems of their own, depend more on their allies than ever before. Fighting among the Goa'uld has them fearing it is something more. Caught in the middle, can the allies survive an all out war?
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Pain filled his head as he awoke. Blinking away the spots in his vision, Graham tried sitting up only to find himself falling on the floor. Above him he could see the ceiling, the bed, and the tray table he had served Saroush pizza on. His vision doubled then blurred before he could blink it away.
Feeling extremely dizzy, he rolled over to his hands and knees. It took him several false starts before he could climb up the side of the bed and use it to launch himself in to a standing position. After that, he lurched for the door and nearly missed it when his legs refused to move.
He fell against the wall next to the door, hand on the knob. Swallowing down his bile, he forced his shaking hand to turn the knob and open the door. It slowly slid open under his guidance. Once it was open enough for him to slip through side ways, he let go and slid out. There was no one in the hall way as he once again crashed to the floor.
This time he didn't wait for the pain to pass before climbing up. It was slow going as the walls were smooth under his touch. Eventually he made it up enough to use the walls for a balance. When he was steady on his feet, he started walking towards the infirmary.
Graham made it ten paces before he had to grip the wall again or pass out. His thoughts racing, he tried to focus on something long enough to figure out what was wrong. His mind started to list the symptoms but they refused to diagnose the problem. Shaking his head, he moved again.
This time he wasn't alone. Two nurses were coming his way, talking to each other and not noticing him. When he tried to speak to them, his voice failed him. Instead his entire body just shut down and he collapsed in the middle of the cooridor.
The sound of his body hitting the floor caught the women's attention. Rita rushed to Graham's side as Leona turned back for the call box up the hall from which they came. Checking Graham's vitals, she felt his pulse thready and his body temperature dangerously hot. "Leona, tell them to bring a crash cart with them, he's going in to defib!"
"Bring the shock machine! Hurry you idiot!" Hanging up on Lieutenant Castleman, the base switch board operator and boyfriend, Leona ran back to Rita's side. "What's his pulse?"
"I can't find one! His heart has stopped!" Already leaning over him, Rita crossed her hands and began chest compressions.
Leona tilted his head back waiting until Rita was through before blowing in two breaths down his throat. After the second breath she pulled back and spit out the blood that came out of his mouth. "He's swallowed blood, Rita."
"Turn him over and start reverse compressions." Helping the younger woman turn Graham over, she began to thump his back.
Graham's body convulsed and he spit out a wad of blood. Coughing, he began to gag up the blood in his throat and laranyx. When all that remained was a slow slobbery trickle from the side of his mouth, he collapsed back in their arms and promptly passed out.
Leona slid her fingers around his neck to check for a pulse. When the skin under her thumb twitched and moved, she jumped back with a scream. Skidding back across the floor, she didn't stop until her back hit the wall. Even then, she started to scream from her panic. "Goa'uld! There's a god damned snake inside him!"
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"Release me this instant! I am your god, you will do as I command!" Bound hand, neck, and foot in chains, Cronus struggled to free himself from five Jaffa holding the metal ties that his chains were secured to. Each jerk only made the chains around his other appendages pull as they were one large loop. The humilliation alone was almost enough to kill him.
Together they led the struggling Goa'uld System Lord in to the throne room of the mother ship Ganges. The room was purposely darkened and lit only by three wall sconces. They forced the goa'uld to stand in a circle of risen stone between five stone bases in which the ties were secured.
Held in place, it took all his strength not to give in to the tremor of fear. The System Lord sitting in the darkness shrowded throne across from him, had decimated his forces at every turn, was enough to put fear even in his heart. Still he put on his worst sneer and glared down upon the seated figure.
Uncrossing his legs, Daniel sat up and leaned forward so that the torches behind him would cause the golden highlight of his hair to glow. "You are pathetic."
"You sit in the shadows. Are you so afraid to face that which your Jaffa have brought you? Cowardly spawn of that bitch Nirrti, you are..." was all he got out before he screamed in agony, his bindings growing red hot from the electricity flowing through them.
"Do you like them? I gathered the idea from the Tau'ri cooking equipment." Sitting up straight, he allowed the braids to fall around his face and down his back. The Egyptian style woven in and secured with ankhs were done especially for this confrontation. Daniel wore nothing more than a loin cloth and his ankle bracelet. Standing up, he released the control and the heating elements slowly cooled.
Cronus blinked through his pain and tears to try and glare at his captur. The sight that greeted him made his heart stop. "You are dead."
"I see you recognize me even with a new host. Pity, I had hoped to taunt you with more knowledge of our past before telling you." Stepping forward, he grabbed Cronus by the jaw in a crushing grip. Bending down, he snarled at the Goa'uld. "You are nothing. I beat you two thousand years ago, I beat you a year ago, I have beaten you now. Even when I had nothing, I was still greater than you. It was only the power of your allies that has stopped me from ever killing you before. But where are they now?"
"You will pay for this, Jolinar. The System Lords will..."
"Do nothing!" Releasing the goa'uld, Daniel back handed him away. "I have waited a long time for this moment, Cronus." Turning back, he strutted to his throne and sat down. Legs crossing, he leaned back and smiled. "Set course for home, fastest speed."
Cronus watched the First Prime nod and exit the throne room. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw two priests enter with pain sticks. This time he did not stop the shudder. Summoning false bravado, he made his eyes glow as he glared at Jolinar. "Kill me while you have the chance, Jolinar, I won't be so merciful on you when I am free."
Snorting, Daniel pressed the element control again. "I am not stupid, Cronus. You have information on your allies that I missed during our last encounter and I want it." Smirking as his enemy cooked in the circle across from him, Daniel bared his teeth. "Besides, I owe you a week of excruciating agony the likes of which you have only seen, but never experienced. After the first day, you will be more than ready to give up the information. By the end of the second, you will truly understand the meaning of hell. And after the third..." Cocking his head to the side, Daniel's eyes glowed. "Well, you'll understand soon enough." Gesturing to his priests, he snapped his fingers. "Let it begin."
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Teal'c sat amongst the twelve team leaders of his new units. Each of them represented a group of five men and women. Most of the teams were comprised of men as they could handle the physical strain of using the large staff weapons better than the shorter women. Height had been the number one factor in his decision of who to train. Short people could be taught, but not with the staff weapon.
He would have been hard pressed to accept Major Carter on his team, if she had been interested and completely healed before. Though she was an excellent warrior in his opinion, she was just on the short side of a Jaffa.
Most of the team members now mimicked him in style and life. They cropt their hair short or shaved it off completely, a practice he found asthetically pleasing. They wore the tight uniforms of the SGC, but in a fashion that allowed easy removal and weapon's access. Most wore combat boots outside the practice room, and remained barefoot in.
Several ate meals together in the work out room, choosing to avoid contact with most personnel. On the off chance that Teal'c might go to the cafeteria, he was joined by an army of sixty men and women. It pleased him greatly that these people, his people, were taking their rolls as guardians seriously.
It was with some satisfaction that he thought on how it was he who molded them for the last six months. They were his warriors, his people, his honored few. It had been long since he had a battalion under his command, it was almost a forgotten feeling how good it was to watch them work in unison.
Which brought him back to the present. His teams were acting out a training course through the gym. They would be facing their first major battle tomorrow for the mission to Cimmera. SG-4 had reported back that the System Lord Heru'ur had enslaved the entire populace and slaughtered what few people who tried to fight back. The SGC was now their only hope of regaining their freedom.
As the teams wound up their routine, they formed six field squads. Each squad rushed to the opposite sides of the arena, grabbed a ball and tossed it at the other five teams. Anyone who was hit by a ball dropped down and sat where they had fallen. In a matter of seconds, there were only three remaining standing. They used the sitting people as shields, crawling across the mats. Finally it was down to the last two, both were tagged from behind simultaneously.
They glanced up to see who had hit them and found Teal'c smiling down on them amused. "You should always anticipate outside forces no matter what the rules are." His smile increased at their glowers. "I did not say the game would be fair, just difficult."
"Very astute." Harry stood on the edge of the gym, his dress blues on and hat under his arm. Walking out on to the mats, he glanced about the hostile glares the teams sent him. "I go away for three days and you move to take over my job. I suppose my office has been packed up again by your bald, little minions."
"It is a distinct possiblity. If you did not wish your materials to be handled as such, I would suggest being more respectful of my people." Teal'c knew the warning would fall on deaf ears. The shorter man seemed to derive great pleasure at teasing his warriors. The teasing and pranks seemed to have forged an uneasy alliance between them. One that was necessary in their positions as Base Security Chief and Arms Commander.
"Doesn't matter, I got people who will fix it for me before I finish my meal." Harry snorted. Giving the glaring crowd another once over, he rolled his eyes. "I came to give you a fair warning. General Hammond will be leaving in two days to attend the funeral of Major Carter's father. General Vindrine from the Pentagon will be taking command. I suggest you keep a tight leash on these attack poodles, he isn't exactly understanding of why Hammond indulges your personal army. Such that it is."
Teal'c inclined his head. "Thank you for your warning. I feel I must repay this with the information that your collection of Historic Scalps has been moved to the quarter master's office. He might have been misinformed they were dead rats."
"Very well." Harry's eyes twinkled in a way that made Teal'c shudder inside. "Carry on." He nodded at Teal'c before stalking out of the gym. On the way, he produced a rolled up newspaper from some where and smacked a couple of the people on the noses.
Lieutenant Sartec came to stand beside Teal'c as they watched the Major walk out. "Shall I let the air out his tires, Master Teal'c?"
"Not as of yet. I have a much better idea. Gather six whom you know to be the most silent." Facing his second, a smile turned down the corners of his mouth.
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Martouf glanced at the tray of roast Kumikla and vegitibles. It was for the feast tonight, but it had been nearly a day since he ate. They had been spending a great deal of hunting time searching the great pyramid for any sign of an entrance. So far they had found nothing. A nasty side effect of this hunting in the same location meant fewer animals and less chance of catching something to eat while out on the hunt.
Kasuf, coming up behind his son-in-law, saw his staring and smiled. "Go on, eat your fill. I know your journey was long."
Not waiting to be told twice, Martouf dug in to the Kumikla and stuffed his mouth full. Grabbing a chunck of the flesh and a hand full of the vegitables, he took a seat next to the cook fire and smiled at Kasuf. He chewed what he had slowly, enjoying the taste of it on his tongue. It was rare that they had the animal since the winter set in. The Kumikla was a hybernating creature.
It made Kasuf's heart hurt to see his new son enjoying the same meat that his previous son was notorious for. Daniel had been a good son, the fact he had no grand children made the loss that much greater. His own son of his blood was still lost to him, yet he could feel no mourning until the body was returned.
Catching the older man's sorrowful expression, Martouf swallowed and stood up. Coming to kneel beside his father, Martouf offered him some of the vegitables and meat. "You should try, it is very good."
Taking a Bosson fruit from him, Kasuf chewed it and smiled at the sweet flavoring in contrast to the sour sauce coating it. "Sha're will not eat this, her mother craved them when she was pregnant but after, no woman in our family would touch them."
At the mention of his wife, Martouf frowned. "Sha're is very sick."
Kasuf's smile grew brighter. "Yes, it is great news. This means the child will be born strong and healthy. Her mother was the same way with her and her brother both. Not so with the two between." With a great sigh, he frowned. "The other two, she was barely sick. We knew the children would not survive, but we hoped. We were young."
Nodding, Martouf stuffed a chunk of the meat in his mouth. "It was the same among my people. They said my mother was sick until the last moon of her pregnancy with me. The last moon she ate until she was the size of a Schad beast." It wasn't a lie, his mother had gotten big they said, but he didn't know if they had lied or not. She had died in child birth. Being sick for too long and gaining weight too quickly had made her heart weak.
"It is a cycle. Skarra, my youngest, was the last only because his mother could not live and give him life too. She gave her spirit that he might live. Now she watches him, I hope she spares him the night mares of my Sha're."
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Perseus stepped through the gate on to the Tau'ri home world for the second time in his existance. This time under much more dire circumstances. Feeling his way through the greetings, he dealt with the unpleasantries of it all. "Excuse me, General Hammond, but you said it was of grave importance that I come. What is the nature of the emergency?"
General Hammond glanced over to his right and nodded at the two guards and the airman between them. "This, until two hours ago, was Lieutenant Graham Simmons. One of your people has taken him for a host and I want you to remove it immeadietly."
Darkening with anger, Perseus came to stand in front of the Lieutenant. "Was it against his will?"
"It was a mutual..."
"I did not ask what you felt! Was it against his will?" Reaching out, he slammed his fist in to the stomach of the Lieutenant. Standing over the gasping man, he gripped him by the throat. "I will not ask again, Selmac."
Fighting the tightening grip, Selmac tried to break free. When his vision started to darken, he cried out. "Yes! Yes! He came of his own free will." The next moment he found himself thrown against the wall of the gateroom.
Perseus ignored the weapons pointed at him and turned to the General. "If you wish it, we can remove the symbiot. At this point I am fully prepared to kill it out of spite for this damnedable action." His anger changed his voice and made his eyes glow. He did not care how intimidating he was at the moment, that Selmac had done this to a Tau'ri was unforgiveable.
"I am not prepared to make that decision at this moment. As you know, this violates the terms of our treaty at the moment because this was not an approved blending." Hammond spelled it out in the terms he knew the Tok'ra would understand, terms his own people were well aware of. "Until it is confirmed, I will leave his punishment up to you."
Nodding his acceptance, Perseus gestured to his guards. "Mignat, Kree! Selmac, Kree!"
"Kree!" Two of the large warriors bent down and retrieved the still recovering Lieutenant Simmons. Taking an arm each, they dragged him to the ramp.
"Is this all you needed, General or is there something else I can assist you with?" He knew a gesture of good faith was needed in this situation to tide them over. Glaring at his sire, Perseus felt his rage well up within him. Of all the people to have broken the terms of the treaty, he did not expect it to be one of the brokers. Selmac was the one who had outlined the part that no joining between a Tau'ri and a Tok'ra could happen unless approved by all involved, including the panel in charge of the SGC.
Clearing his throat to get Perseus' attention, Hammond frowned. "There is one thing."
Turning back to face Hammond, Perseus' eyes glowed. "Name it."
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The stargate opened with an explosion followed by several smaller blasts before the actual strike force came through the gate. One hundred thirty people came piling out of the gate, staff weapons blasting, phase coils firing, and ribbon devices charged. The first wave of Jaffa were hit so many times little remained of their bodies to hit the ground.
Reenforcements, from the woods surrounding the gate clearing, were mowed down with deadly procission. Twin turret mounted staff cannons on either side of the DHD were the next target. The normal shielding was no match for Carter's modified pistols. Both were taken down and their Jaffa left to cinders.
Teal'c, leading the first of those from the SGC to come through the gate, stood gesturing his commands to his guard. Their leaders in turn relayed the signals to their teams. Soon all sixty of them were spreading out securing the stargate and surrounding plain.
The marines and SFs protected the command contingent and twelve Tok'ra. When all was secured, Colonel O'Niell and General Hammond stepped through the gate. Appearing on the other side, Hammond was visibly shaken from the trip. A light frost formed on the edges of his clothes and his breath became visible. After a moment, he righted himself and shook off the malaise. "Report!"
Teal'c turned and faced the General from beside the DHD. "We have secured the plain. I do not believe the rest of Heru'ur's forces will be quite so easily taken."
"I didn't think it would be. However, you are not going to charge right up to him either. Whatever glory you might obtain will be pointless if we all die." Hammond didn't wait for Teal'c's reply, turning to his second in command and the Tok'ra represenative, Karlac. "Colonel O'Niell, I want that ship! Kill every last one of them sons of bitches."
"Yes, sir, General." Saluting, O'Niell whistled for his troops. "All right, folks, you know your places. Teams seven, eight, and Kalmot, guard the gate, Teal'c your people take the flanks. Colonel Landry, get these jar heads in shape, you're taking point. I want to make a clear path between us and that mother ship. T, kill anything that moves not ours, there aren't any free Cimmerans left."
"As you wish." Spinning on his heel, Teal'c leveled his staff weapon towards the trees. "Kenshat, Kree!"
"Kree," echoed his teams. The loud echo of voices caused a few of the Tok'ra members to shift nervously and their eyes to glow.
Karlac stepped up to General Hammond, her fingers balling around the center jewel of her ribbon device. "General Hammond, I have been informed that you are a wise man. However, I must question the reasoning behind the decision to allow the Shol'va his own private army."
"You are not here to question my decisions. You are here strictly to help get that damned ship operational and back to our coloney on New Eden." Smiling at her preturbed expression, he gestured at the gate. "If you feel you can not comply with my orders, then by all means, join the returning teams. I am sure General Vindrine will be more than happy to assist you in returning to your people when we head home tomorrow."
"Do not shame us with your cowardice, Karlac." Coming to stand beside General Hammond, Perseus' eyes glowed in rage. "You are here as a favor to me. Do not make me tell you to leave."
Karlac's eyes glowed in anger, but nodded her acceptance of the plan. "I do not feel comfortable with the Jaffa as our main safety, but I will comply with your orders."
"Good, then you won't mind when I tell to shut the hell up!" Ignoring the woman's shock, Hammond turned to face his people and adjusted his hat. God it felt good to be out in the field overseeing combat again instead of just waiting at home to see if they ever returned. The weight of the field rifle at his side made him feel competent again in a way that no amount of bureaucractic fenagling ever could. "Colonel, move'em out!"
"You heard the man! Colonel Landry, clear us a path!" Cocking his M-60, O'Niell lowered his safety goggles. He gestured to the five men that made up the team to come closer. "We are heading to this Hall of Thor's Might that SG-4 told us about. Keep an eye out for Jaffa, they also said that this Hairy Orc bastard's people were also searching for it. Let's move out."
"Team Six, front row, down! Team Eight, second row, kneel! Team Nine, back row, stand! Move!" Landry pulled down his camo ball cap as he watched the three teams of ten men and women scramble in to position.
The first team dropped to the ground, arms out front, tripods on the ends of their phase riffles out. Team eight's men and women dropped to one knee and took aim with phase coils. The final team stood behind them with staff weapons at the ready.
Turning to his Tok'ra counter parts, Hammond gestured to the goggles and ear phones they each had around their necks. "I would suggest you put on your safety gear." General Hammond smiled coldly as he pulled down his goggles and ear phones.
Moving his microphone in to place, Landry's eyes sparkled in anticipation. "Target! Fire!"
As one they began firing. Entire secontions of the forest disappeared in a hellish blaze. The day grew brighter and people began to sweat from the heat. Nothing but scorched Earth remained behind from the blasts for half a mile when they ceased firing.
"Break formation, Teams 1, 2 and 3, move ahead and take shape! On the double!" While Landry shouldered his weapon, he oversaw the movement of his teams. He gave a thumbs up to Hammond.
"Colonel O'Niell, you are clear to go." Hammond acknowledged Landry with a salute before shifting his gaze to the Tok'ra. "We are following the strike teams. More than likely a fighter group is on the way now. You can either come along or take your chances with the gate guard on our six."
Smiling despite his ringing ears, Persues gestured for the General to lead the way. Giving his people a raised eyebrow, he followed the Tau'ri.
Six colemns of men and women marched across the flattened, smouldering ground towards the barrier of their weapon's path. All that remained of the ancient growth forest under their feet was ash. Even the rocks crumbled under boots.
In the woods on either side of them, Teal'c's people spread out, moving stealthily, Staff weapons at the ready. Several Jaffa disappeared in a barrage of staff blasts. He smiled in pride over their work. With their camoflage clothing and face paint, they blended in almost seamlessly. The tactic of hiding before killing your enemy spoke against his training, but the need for victory was stronger.
His thoughts almost cost him as a Jaffa popped up from the under brush with a Zat-nic-atel ready to fire on him. Instead, the man fell down dead from a staff blast to the face. Raising an eyebrow, he silently thanked the woman who had saved his life with a nod. After she acknowledged, they moved on together.
Across the woods along an over grown path Colonel O'Niell lead his men towards the great hall. Three of the six men with him knew how to read the Asguard rune language, two knew how to speak it. He was well prepared for any contingent, unless all his men died. That was why they were armed to the teeth.
They were almost at the monument when they heard it. The distinct clang of Jaffa armor rang out in the jungle. At a raise of his hand, the men spread out in the jungle ducking for cover. Jack snuck forward to check out the situation and thanked whatever moron planned Jaffa formations. Removing a couple gurnaids from his vest, he bit the pins out and tossed them in the heart of the formation. He barely had time to duck back behind a tree before they exploded.
Sitting up, he glanced up to where the tree had been and smirked. "Sweet!"
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General Vindrine scratched at his iron gray hair and frowned in concern. He simply couldn't understand how the base came in to such a state of existance. For starters half the staff of the SGC was either off world in a campaign to retake a world they had left vulnerable, one of the four colonies working to establish an Earth presence in the galaxy, or on an SG Team exploring it. On his desk were twelve requisition orders for supplies to begin a fifth coloney and involve outside the U.S help.
He had a sinking suspicion George had left those specifically for him. A test to see if Vindrine was up to the task of taking command of a colony. So far he was more than ready to give it back.
The energy consumption from the gate travel so far this week alone was enough to kill him. He hated to see what the total cost of feeding these people and keeping up the base would cost. Thankfully, Colony New Eden was an agrarian colony.
Which lead to the complication that it also held a pyramid with a stargate inside it. If a goa'uld ever came back they would find the Tau'ri there and it would be the end of all they held. That in turn lead to the current mission General Hammond was leading, to secure a Mother Ship to protect the colony.
Before he could even begin to consider the current dilemma of how to keep Major Maybourne from taking control of the Mess in the name of Base Security for the bad food they were making, the gate activation alarm went off. "Oh, thank god!" With a sigh of relief, he redid the top buttons on his uniform jacket and headed for the gate room.
By the time he climbed down the last step, the gate was open and the Iris in place. "Report!"
Typing in the Iris control code, Walter glanced up at the General. "Sir, the colony, Orobus, is experiencing difficulties with their Iris controls. They are calling to tell us they are taking the gate off line so they can fix the problem. Without it, they will be completely cut off from us."
"Can't they work on it without shutting down their gate?" He knew it was a bad question the moment Davis frowned. "Let me guess, security protocols set in by our resident Major pain in the ass?"
"That would be correct, General Blow Hard." Coming in the Control Room from the back entrance, Maybourne smiled at the scowling General. Taking his hat off, he saluted the man. "I wrote those protocols to keep them and us safe. They were approved by General Hammond and the JCS. If you have a problem with them, take it up with General Hammond upon his return. Until then, they stay in effect."
"Are you telling me how to do my job, Major?" Stepping forward, he puffed up his chest and stared down at the shorter man. He was not going to take this from a little piss ass Major.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I am. This isn't your command and I intend to make sure you don't screw it up like some inept substitute teacher." His smile grew three sizes at the General's gasping shock.
"You are insubordinate!"
"And you're incompetent!" Turning to Sargent Davis, Harry nodded at the gate. "Acknowledge their message and tell them they have twelve hours before we come and fix the problem for them. The gate will not remain off line longer than that." Without looking to make sure he was dismissed, Harry swept out of the room with the pomp of an emperor.
All Vindrine could do was stare in wide eyed shock and think how he was going to lose the battle with the Major over Mess before it even began. Hell, the man had probably already replaced the staff and entire stock.
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"The empires of Baal and Cronus have fallen in to Nirrti's hands. She now controls the largest Empire since before the death of Ra. However, this has weakened her once powerful fleet. If we combine our forces, there is little she can do to stop us from over coming her once and for all." Bastet paused to take a sip of her wine before leaning across the table to smile at Kahli. Her tripoint helmet slipped forward a little as it rode up her neck from the action. "Combined we are stronger than any other system lord."
Putting down the vile she had been drinking from, Kahli grimaced in disgust. "The very thought that she even rivals my strength is comtemptable. Your idea has merrit, but lacks real focus." Rising from her coushions, the Goa'uld Queen padded barefoot across her thrown room towards the control console. Pressing her hand on the control crystals, the room grew dark and a long range communications device descended from the cieling.
"What is this?" Bastet eyed the device with a suspicious look. This was hardly part of their normal intrigues. When she recieved no responce, Bastet reluctantly climbed to her feet. Best to humor her ally for now.
Waiting until Bastet joined her by the controls, Kahli activated the communication's orb. The screen activated and the image flowed as if under water. Finally on it appeared the glowing image of Daniel, his eyes glowing in anger. "This is your threat."
Bastet thought her ally had finally lost her mind to age or the drugs she was known to imbibe. The Goa'uld in front of her was hardly a threat, in fact, she had never seen him before in her life. That he wore his hair in the same manner of half a dozen Rajas under Kahli's command was irrelivant, that just meant he was of her line. "Who is this," she prided herself on keeping the derision from her voice.
"This is the oldest living offspring of Nirrti. He is responcible for the deaths of not one, but four System lords in the past year alone, two of them queens." Smugly smirking at her ally, Kahli released the controls and the lights of the room resumed their normal illumination levels. "Not only that, he is the commander of her fleets. While he has been wiping out our enemies, she has been busy brooding an army."
"What is the name of this child?" Bastet could not help the sudden reaction caused by the news. As far as she knew, Nirrti never allowed any of her children to grow powerful enough to ever ascend beyond generals. If they tried, she killed them.
"Jolinar." Removing the veil from her hair, Kahli headed back for the cushions. Few times in her alliance with Bastet had she felt so satisfied at out whitting her. These were times to be enjoyed to the fullest. When she reached the table, she spread herself out over the cushions and grabbed a handful of grapes. "He is far from a child, especially compared to you. Jolinar is nearly twice your age."
"He is the one who nearly defeated Cronus during the great uprising! How could she allow one so dangerous to command her fleets?" Storming over to the table, she glared at Kahli. "What information are you not sharing?"
"He has finally succeeded. Cronus is either dead, or probably wishes he was." Kahli began to chuckle and dragged her hand down her chest to wipe away the fruit juice as it dripped on her while eating. "As for how, he has always been loyal to his mother, she bore him that way. Both times he carried out the campaign in her name with her blessing. Jolinar is loyal only to one person aside from himself, his mother."
"Then we can use that fact against him." Bastet's eyes went distant as she already began to form plans. "Is there anything else you can tell me?"
"Nirrti is vulnerable." Plucking the grapes from a bunch one at a time, Kahli began to eat one at a time. It amused her to slowly drag this out, making Bastet beg for more. "Her fleet is spread too thin."
"I knew this. What else can you tell me about her current situation? Where exactly is Jolinar?" Growing impatient, Bastet turned her glare back on Kahli. Her voice deepened and octave to show she was no longer willing to wait. "Where did you obtain this information?"
"The source is not so important as the information. I have been given an opportunity to end this war with Nirrti once and forever." Sitting up, she tossed her hair over her shoulder and matched Bastet's glare. "After this, the System Lord Collective will either fall in line or fall under my sword. We will crush them all, finally placing the rightful rulers in their place! None can stop the might of...." She was cut off by the control console emitting a screech.
Rising to their feet, both Bastet and Kahli rushed to the controls.
Kahli reached the controls first. Pressing her hand on the command orb. She instructed it to seek out the source of the disturbance. Upon reading the message, she let go of the orb. "Ready your fleets. The Border world of Tash'hana is gone."
"That is between mine and your territories! Its destruction is meant to make us suspect the other and I know I have not moved against you!" Her left hand balling up in preparation to defend herself against Kahli if need be, she was taken off guard by the sudden chuckle from her ally. "What is the meaning of this?"
"It is a ruse!" Laughing, Kahli's eyes glowed in anger. Reaching out, she grabbed Bastet's hand in her own and led her towards the table. "They believe themselves so intelligent as to be beyond our touch. That by making it appear we agress against one another, they can distract us from their actions and weaken our resources. Ready your fleet, we are going to force this issue among the Collective and then we will begin to remove the traitors from our midst!"
"Who is behind this?"
"The Tok'ra!"
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Rising from his place by the fire, Martouf glanced towards his wife. At his movements, she looked up and met his eyes. They smiled at each other. Rising, Sha're made her excuses to the others and walked out with Martouf from the camp towards their home.
Kasuf watched them go, smiling to the others knowingly. It did his heart good to see his daughter happy once more. The loss of good son Daniel had been a severe blow to her, to them all. It was only now that he was feeling the hope he once had for the future again.
The tribe would know the next generation.
This lead to other more painful thoughts. His son was still out there under the control of a demon. Closing his eyes, he forced down the pain. There was no time for that anymore. He would not grieve until his son was brought home to him one way or another.
He was about to drink from the beer bowl when the communal tent flaps were thrown open. Glancing up, he watched two men stumble in. Kasuf stood and put down his bowl. "What is the matter?"
"The great charriot, it is active!" Jasuhn, the first man through the curtains, dropped his bow and arrows to his side. "The great vessel has started to glow in the moon light!"
"Gather our people. Jahndi, get Martouf!"
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Jack fell back on to what felt like a flat surface, terror making him lose control of his bowels for a moment. His pants were still clean, but the same could not be said for the air. "Son of a bitch!"
"Colonel, was that you?" Lieutenant Marslie glanced down at the Colonel whom he had just seen falling to his death after saving Major Kovak. The air was not a serious concern at the moment, but if the Colonel kept up, he would soon need to light a match. "Sir, I think it was an illusion."
"Ya think?" Standing up, O'Niell rubbed at his knees. "Damn it, Major, next time I tell you not to go for something, I mean it! You nearly got us all killed."
"But, sir, it was just an illusion." The Major hung his head at his own words. He had only been trying to save the Asguard device from falling over the cliff. It could have been a communication's device. Said device was now just across the room from them.
The device was a large disk the size of a frisbee. Placed at the center of a circle of stone. The disk suddenly glowed white and an image rose up from it. Blinking at them stood a gray alien with large black eyes. "Greetings, I am Commander Thor. You have passed the tests to prove you are worthy of our communications." Staring from one person to the next, the Asguard blinked again. "You are not the people of Cimmera."
"No. Uh about that, we sorta have a problem." Jack could swear he saw the smoke coming from the little alien's ear holes just by watching him. "We sorta destroyed the Hammer device you left behind to protect them and now there is a Goa'uld on the planet."
"Kret...." Thor closed his as he let out a string of curses. Finally calming himself, he glared at the humans. "You are of the Tau'ri, I presume."
"Yeah, that's us. How did you know?"
Narrowing his eyes, Thor grew angrier. "I can see there is much to discuss."
Jack wondered why he felt like the kid caught stealing his dad's car.
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Exiting hyperspace, the mother ship's sub light engines picked up their momentum and moved them towards the planet. Daniel marveled at how simple a machine this starship was. It was really quite a terrific device, so fragile, yet durable. He often wondered how the Goa'uld came to pocess such technology.
His genetic memories did not provide the answer, they barely partained to anything beyond his mother's existance. Nirrti loved to keep a tight rein on her children, even back when he was spawned. Thinking of back then led to his current predicament.
Shifting in his throne to face the burned, bruised, and beaten Cronus, Daniel could hardly summon a feeling for the Goa'uld beyond apathy. He had beaten the System Lord and broken him slowly. It felt good while he did it and he reveled in it after wards. That had happened in the first day. Since then, it had been just a waste of time to torture him, Cronus was no longer a challenge.
"It would probably be better to deliver your head instead to my mother." When he got no responce, Daniel shrugged and turned back to the control console. On the screen was his home world growing larger as they grew nearer. "She will be pleased with your capture."
"I," he gasped for breath, "do not care." Cronus drew in another shuddering breath. "Please, kill me now."
"That would deprive Nirrti of pleasure." Rising from his throne, Daniel moved towards the control console. Pushing his hand on to the lighted control, he manipulated the ship to decrease speed and enter the atmosphere. "We are going to take the entire ship down. I want this to be an occaision they do not forget."
"Kulattan, Kree. Estrove shneash tu. Esu masa nengua." The ship's alert system rang out through the ship telling the people aboard to prepare for atmospheric entry. Shaking slightly from the entry, the ship began to vibrate. "Asuta mavash ne atu."
Cronus' head shot up as he stared at Daniel. "What are you doing?"
Removing his hand from the control console, Daniel's eyes glowed. He turned his ribbon device on himself and smirked at the glowing jewel. The device activated and he was thrown across the room. Daniel crashed in to the wall behind his throne and slid down. Forcing himself to move despite the pain, he crawled over to the transport rings.
When he reached the rings, he laid back. Hand groping for his control crystal, Daniel pressed the red jewel on top. The rings ascended from the floor surrounding him. They landed on top of one another. In the next moment, Daniel disappeared in a flash.
Cronus fell to the deck as his bonds suddenly released him. When the ship rocked and the wall exploded, he glanced about him. The ship shook again under his body. Another volley caused the ship to tilt and roll him towards the control console. He hit with a wet thump and grunt.
Hand reaching up, he grasped the console. Another alarm rang out in the ship but he was in too much pain to hear it. Blinking through the tears and blood in his eyes, he sat up to read the console's monitor board. On the board he saw two figures flashing. "Kashi!" The two figures disappeared.
On the ground, Daniel appeared in the transport rings just in time. Watching the sky, he began to laugh. High above the city, the mother ship he had been landing exploded. Night turned to day as shock waves blew through the city.
As the dust began go settle, Daniel let his body relax. He coughed a few times waiting for someone to come. He didn't have to wait long.
From across the palace, Jaffa raced to his ring pad. They had seen him ring down before the ship exploded and were doing their duty. Of course, he would have to kill the palace guard. Had he been a bomb, the entire palace would most likely be gone. Someone should have really been watching the rings.
For now, however, he would content himself with the current actions. Coughing again, he clutched at the first guard that knealed beside him. "Tell the goddess it was Kahli! Kahli has broken the truce." Pushing the Jaffa away, his eyes glowed and voice deepened. "Tell her now!"
"Yes, my lord! Right away!" Rising from Daniel's side, the Jaffa sped away towards the palace proper.
Smiling on the inside, Daniel laid back and awaited the aid of his people. It was turning out to be a good day after all.
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Standing in the Pel'tac of his mother ship, Heru'ur watched over the battle at his very gates. Well it wasn't a battle so much as a massacre. His forces were being slaughtered by the weapons of the Tau'ri. Every Death Glider he launched, every Alkesh he directed at them was blown from the sky. They were coming for him and nothing he had at his command was powerful enough to stop them.
Rage welling up within him, he struck the console. The time had come to end this mockery once and for all. Placing his hand on the command control, he raised shields and the pyramid ship's outer hull to cover his palace. The ship was his father's until the very same Tau'ri had blown him to the under world.
Now he was in command of the most powerful vessels of the Goa'uld fleets. He would not be out done by the very slaves that his father had been beatin by two thousand years ago and two years ago.
He was not weak!
The control panels on either side of his command console rose and the ship shuddered in take off. Slowly the great pyramid rose off the landing platform. If he couldn't beat them by land and air, he would deliever his death from orbit!
That idea was quickly changed when several alarms on the console went off. Glancing to the display orbs, his eyes glowed in fear. Not one, but two Asguard mother ships had appeared over his ship.
"Goa'uld. You have violated the treaty between our two peoples. The Asguard council has here by cast judgement that your life be terminated effective immeadietly." The voice of the Asguard Commander rang out over his ship's communication systems. "Prepare to recieve judgement."
His ship glowed brilliant white as the Asguard beam weapons penetraited his shields. Spinning to face the view port, Heru'ur saw for himself just how close the Asguard Mother Ships were. That was the last thing he saw as his own ship disappeared under the beam weapon assault.
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"So, I was telling this guy I knew... What?" Jack glanced about him and found himself in front of the Cimmera gate. Grinning, he lowered his hands and stuck them in his pockets. Turning to Lieutenant Marslie, he grinned. "You suppose he's heard that one before?"
"Must be, sir." The Lieutenant was too nice to point out the fact that the Asguard Commander was too nice to tell him to shut the fuck up. It could be that or he just cared about his career too much. Either way, he wasn't going to be the one to reveal that mystery. He was relieved of any burden when General Hammond came rushing up to them. "Sir!"
"At ease, Lieutenant." General Hammond returned his salute despite his words. Always a good idea to keep the men feeling like you cared. "Colonel, report."
"Well, sir, basically it boils down to this." Jack leaned up on his tip toes before dropping down, wiggling his eyebrows at the older man. When this failed to produce a reaction, he sighed. "Though we have advanced a great deal further than previously recorded, they are not suitably impressed with us to forge an alliance. In their words, we are still too young."
"Well it certainly wasn't because of your stunning conversation skills, sir." Ah, there it went. Marslie could feel his career slipping away with every moment.
After glaring at the younger man a moment, Jack turned back to the General. "Sir, the Asguard are happy with the job we did at fixing our mistake, but they want us off their planet ASAP. Seems by having Carter's little fancy doohickies we are violating a treaty they have with the Goa'uld or something."
"What about the mother ships?" Hammond caught sight of Jack's gaze as he spoke and glanced over his shoulder to see what distracted him. "Well, there goes that. Colonel, round up the men, we have fifteen minutes before we move out. I am assuming the locals will be handled by the Asguard."
"Righto. They have a lot of their own explaining to do to the Cimmerans. Seems the locals didn't know that it was a bunch of aliens, not gods that watched over them." Jack whistled as the high pitched whine of the Asguard weapons leveled the landing pyramids in to dust. "I want one of those."
"Put it on your christmas list, Colonel. Right now we got some people to evacuate."
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The gate shut down as General Hammond exited the event horizon. Glancing back at it, he shivered. It took him a moment to realize that it was finally over. The pace of it all finally got to him and he staggered a little. "I'm getting too old for this."
About him the gateroom was awash in activity as teams exited with their supplies and trophies of Goa'uld artifacts and weapons. Teal'c was over seeing the removal of several primta they had stuck in jars. Jack was chewing out the smart ass Lieutenant. Across the gateroom his counter part was standing looking ready to explode.
Taking a deep, cleansing breath, he put on a good front and walked down the ramp. "General Vindrine."
"General Hammond, welcome home." The iron gray General saluted Hammond and smiled when it was returned. The first time he had gotten one since stepping on this damned base. "How was the campaign, George?"
"It was. We lost no men, but suffered several injuries." Gesturing at the techs going over the goa'uld supplies, Hammond smiled. "We did manage to smuggle out some of the Naquadah before the Asguard destroyed the Goa'uld bases. That should be enough to fuel our weapons for a time."
"I look forward to reading your report, General." Stepping back and gesturing towards the door, Vindrine inclined his head. "In the mean time, you have a funeral to attend. A valet is waiting with your dress uniform and a hot shower if you hurry."
"Are you that anxious to see me off?" His question was only half joking.
"The sooner you leave, the sooner you can return." Vindrine caught sight of Maybourne watching them through the control room windows and shuddered.
Hammond understood the feeling.