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? _______________________________________________________ Nirrti glared down upon the stellar maps showing the most recent battles. Victories for her were in gold and victories for Sokar were in black. So far the gold and the blacks were even, and that was the source of her rage. Pouring over the star charts, she growled over the loss of her number one weapon. After delivering to her the heads of her enemies, Jolinar had disappeared. That had been a month ago and now she was ready to strangle the wayward offspring of hers.
She needed him to take command of the fleet in the Nubas sector. Sokar's ships had won too many victories there for it to be a coincidence. In a fit of anger, she knocked the maps from the table.
Her Generals backed away in fear. If they didn't find a way to appease her soon, it would be their deaths that amused her.
Gathering up the downed maps, General Kulang set them back on the table. If someone hadn't done it, they would have most likely have been beatin for it. He was about to set it down on the table when he noticed a large sector in the center of the battle fronts where neither goa'uld had marked as their own. "Forgive me, goddess, but have you noticed this?"
Turning her sour gaze upon him, she stepped over to grab his forehead with her ribbon device. Just as she was about to reach out, she caught sight of what he was talking about. "That sector is protected by the Asguard. If you paid attention, you would know this!"
"But, my goddess, as you know, the Asguard have not retaliated for the death of their supreme fleet commander. Why would they care for the protection of this one planet?" He cringed under her gaze. "I mean no disrespect, I am merely curious." When the blow did not come, he opened his eyes to see her holding the chart.
"Use our ships at Ragnar, sneak through that sector and destroy his supply lines across the border. If you survive Ragnar is yours." Tossing the chart at him, she ignored his quivering bulk and turned for her chamber doors. "If Jolinar is found, bring me his head."
Sokar screamed his anger, kicking the red guard who brought the information of the attack across the room. Slamming his fist in to his throne, he sat down and seethed. "Launch every vessel in that area towards the Asguard Sector. I want those ships destroyed and their leader skinned alive!"
"There is more, my lord." A second red guard was quicker to avoid his master's anger, dodging the blow that came his way. "We lost all contact with our fleets in the dalsunion sector. With out the supplies, Nirrti's forces will be able to over come them in a matter of days."
Standing once more, Sokar descended the steps of his thrown to come and stand in front of his first prime. "Recall all ships. We launch for the Asguard sector immeadietly. I want her to suffer!"
"My goddess, the fleet from Ragnar was unsuccessful!" Striding in to the the Council Chamber, the General bowed his head towards Nirrti. "General Kulang and all his fleet were surprised by a fleet already lying in wait for him on the edge of the Asguard System. From the reports, all ships were lost and Ragnar is no more."
Crushing the glass in her hand, Nirrti glared at the man. "Then we will simply have to correct the incompetence of our fallen, foolish man." Sprinking the broken glass and blood splatters on the floor, she turned her attention back to the young man on her left. "It appears your fortune has been bountiful. We will move against him as one."
Klor'el's eyes flashed his satisfaction. "I will serve you well, my queen."
Taking his cheek in her bloody palm, Nirrti pulled his face close. The moment the he was close enough, she pressed her lips to his. She pulled back smiling as his pupils dilated from the drug. "Prove your worth, and I will return you all that is yours and more."
Daniel sat at the center of the chamber, his attention on the holo imager showing the Asguard protected planet. To his right stood Malik, on his left stood Aldwin. In the image, several points of light appeared from all directions and converged on the planet. Another series of light soon followed. Smiling, Daniel crossed his arms. "Now you will see the true extent of my plan."
Across from them stood Garshaw. Her face a mask of barely controled rage. "What do you hope to accomplish with all this? Is your wish for death that strong?"
"You are a child, born after the game had already started." Cocking his head, Daniel glanced to Malik. "Each of you were pawns, to be played in concert that you would ensure chaos amongst the goa'uld. You were never part of the real war."
"What are you going on about?" Standing beside Garshaw, Paul glared at Daniel. "Aren't you supposed to be dead?"
"This host was revived by your friends. If they lied to you about that, don't complain to me, I'm busy." Rising from his chair, Daniel walked towards the holo imager. "In war, there are no rules accept survival. You give it all or you will lose it all. That is something the goa'uld have forgotten and I must remind them of."
"So you keep saying. When is this lesson you are going to teach them start?" Paul couldn't keep the annoyance out of his voice.
"Very soon." Raising his hand to his other wrist, Daniel stopped near the holo imager. "Twenty-two hundred years ago we came together in hopes of conquering the goa'uld. Your mother was a party to this and knew that if we succeeded, all future goa'uld would be of her line. However, too late we realized one of our number had been betrayed and our plans would fail. We decided to carry on even though it meant our deaths. You were created to ensure the survival of our legacy.
"The Goa'uld defeated us, like we knew they would, and I returned when I felt sufficient time had passed." Holding his wrist, Daniel snorted. "For the last two thousand years I have watched the goa'uld fight amongst themselves. Their pathetic bickering served only to enhance my hatred of them and I swore to eliminate them once and for all.
"On my last mission, I was pushed beyond physical endurance until Rosha begged me to make it all go away. I caused the host's heart to give out just so it would end. I should have known it would never be over that quickly." He ground his teeth in rage while he continued to watch the holo image. Several ships had started towards the planet while others had moved off to engage the enemy. "She was weak. Her mind could not handle the stress of being killed and revived in a sarcophagus repeatedly for two days, let alone the entire week I was in his clutches. After two days, she was a mindless, shrieking harpy that I was forced to endure along side the agony of Cronus' interogations. When I finally killed her, it was over too quickly for me to derive any sense of satisfaction for having broken under his pathetic attempts."
"You are a goa'uld."
Daniel shifted his attention over to Garshaw. "Yes. I always have been. That you choose to believe we are anything but is a lie on your part. Our hosts are there to serve us, not the other way around. There is one difference between me and them, though. I chose my host on willingness, not vanity. Whether they believed I was a god or an alien that could enhance their lives, it didn't matter. It was always their choice."
"You will die for this, traitor." Garshaw tugged at the anklet that chained her to the floor, but couldn't get any further. "The Tok'ra will see you dead!"
"But not before I get my revenge!" Daniel's eyes flared white as several more ships appeared on the screen. "It appears the Asguard have arrived. Time to get this show on the road. Aldwin, Malik, let's go!" He waited until the two Tok'ra were at his side before he pressed the control gem. "Wish me luck, campers."
On Nirrti's mother ship, she watched over her long range communication's device as ships from her fleet under the command of Klor'el engaged Sokar's fleet. His ships out numbered hers three to one but that was easily over come with the modifactions she had installed. Over fifty Alkesh equipt with the phase cloaks were moving in to position to take out a large portion of his fleet.
Leaning forward in her seat, she smiled. "How long?"
"Two minutes!" The General coordinating the attack sat off to her left over a holo imager of his own. "They are having to manuever around the planet's gravitation field."
"Get them in place, the Asguard have arrived!" Much to her horror, twelve Asguard mother ships appeared around the planet from hyperspace, including one off her bow. "Are the weapons ready?"
"Yes, my goddess."
Nirrti sat back in her seat and folded her arms. "Then destroy that ship!"
"As you wish!" The General at the helm of her weapons signaled the fleet to fire on the Asguard mother ship. Grinning, he fired their own weapons.
The Asguard mother ship rocked from the impact but her shields held. Lashing out with the beam weapon, she destroyed two of the goa'uld Ha'tak.
"Keep firing!" Nirrti clutched the arm rests of her throne as the ship rocked from the beam weapons hitting the shields. Hair falling in her face, she wrenched it back viciously, pulling out several strands. "I want that ship destroyed! Launch all death gliders, tell them to ram the Asguard vessel!"
Another beam hit the ship's shields and the power fluctuated.
The General beside Nirrti raised his head quickly. "The Alkesh are in position!"
Aboard their own ship, Daniel watched the resulting explosions with amusement. A third of Sokar's fleet gone in an instant. "So that's where I get it from." The rest of the fleets were embroiled in a fight against each other and the Asguard. Placing a hand in the command console, Daniel concentraited. Twin red pillars rose up on either side of the console.
"Malik, activate the weapons. Aldwin, signal the gate commanders. Tell them to start dialing now." Daniel closed his eyes as he felt the fleet answer his commands. Focusing on directing his ships, he moved the first fleet in to position. "Are the weapons armed?"
"Yes, Jolinar. I am activating the second set as we speak." At his console, Malik pressed the activation symbols for the bombs.
Aldwin picked up the hand sphere and turned it on. When the face of his contact appeared, he nodded. "Let it begin! Priority targets first."
Daniel felt a rush of pleasure fill him at the other's words. Narrowing his eyes in concentration, he sneered at the holo imager. "I have a little surprise for you!"
On the planet of Olympus, home of the goa'uld Zeus, the gate sprang to life. The Jaffa watching over the stone circle raised their staff weapons as something spherical rolled through the event horizon. Coming to a stop at the top of the dias, the sphere screeched. The tone increased in volume until the Jaffa had to clutch their ears from the pain.
A moment later the sphere exploded.
In orbit of the planet the Ha'tak known only as Zeus' charriot watched for a moment as the entire planet disappeared in a flash before being swallowed by the blast.
On the barren world of Chu'lak, the gate activated. A similar sphere rolled through and down the steps. It came to a rest where the DHD used to be. Like on Olympus, the sphere started to screech in to ear splitting decibals before exploding.
On the planet Keht, the red guard watching over the gate, protecting it for their master's Sokar's return, raised their staff weapons as it activated. The moment the worm hole opened, they began firing. The sphere barely cleared the event horizon before it was struck by a staff blast.
The resulting explosion destroyed the planet, the fleet in orbit and the five moons.
Aboard Nirrti's ship, she was thrown from her throne when something impacted the shielding. Sirens rang out through the ship. Beside her, Nirrti noticed the debris from an fallen wall sconce started to float as her body felt lighter. Glaring, she quickly tried to rise to her feet only to find herself shooting towards the ceiling with the sudden action.
She impacted against the gilded ceiling, then rebounded off towards the deck plating below. Growling in anger, she reached out for her throne when it came near and clutched on to it for support. After she had stabilized her position in the weightless enviroment, she glanced about for someone to yell at. To her dismay, none of her generals had surived the explosion.
Tapping on the controls, she programmed the ring transport to activate when she had floated in to their field. After that, she programmed the ship to self destruct. Shoving off from the throne, she drifted quickly towards the rings. Three feet shy of her goal, another explosion impacted her ship and the remaining power died. Nirrti missed the rings when they failed to activate and shot off down the corridor of her ship, gaining speed.
With nothing to slow her down, she was soon moving fast enough for everything to pass in a blur. Her desperate attempts to grab on to something started her spiraling. It was on one of her under tumbles she saw the crystal fragment remains of a control panel she was heading for. Growling in anger, she grabbed her ankles and balled her body up to brace for impact.
The shattering of crystals all around her was the last thing she felt.
Daniel crowed in triumph as the first wave of his ships collided with and exploded on impact of the goa'uld fleet. Each ship had been equipt with a war head designed to exploded when the ship impacted. That explosion would be big enough to damage the shields of a Ha'tak. Smirking, he glanced over at the hatch where Ptah had been sucked out of. "Is the next fleet ready?"
"Yes, and so are the remaining three. I have activated all the warheads." Malik shut down the imager of his control consol and stepped back from it. "The rest are now at your command, Jolinar."
"That's good." Not looking at the Tok'ra, he manipulated the ship controls. "Time to go, Aldwin. You've been very helpful."
"The destruction of the System Lords has been the dream of every Tok'ra. It has been an honor to serve with you, Jolinar." Aldwin stiffened when Daniel turned to look at him. "It will has been done as you asked."
"I did not ask." Turning his back on Aldwin, Daniel went back to directing the stolen fleet on its suicide run. "Three thousand ships, all with one purpose, to destroy themselves and take as many others as they can with them. What a delightful idea, I will have to thank the Tau'ri for it."
Malik hardened himself to the feeling of intense revulsion. So many lives wasted so that his people would see victory. Grabbing his sibling by the arm, he dragged Aldwin to the ring transport. Pressing his control crystal, he activated the rings. "See you in the underworld, Jolinar." The rings activated and the room around them disappeared. When they rematerialized, they were back in the control room they had left Garshaw in.
Moving quickly, Malik assumed Daniel's former position at the controls. He powered up the hyperdrive and took the ship in to hyperspace.
Garshaw was thrown from her feet with the ship's sudden acceleration. Rolling to a stop, she looked up to see Paul in a similar position. When she felt confident in her own body, she climbed to her feet. Glaring at Malik, she clenched her fist at him. "What is going on here?"
"The end of our enemies." Rising from the controls, Malik came around the central imager to kneel beside Garshaw. He quickly removed the anklet and tossed it aside. "A year ago, Jolinar and I formed a plan to use the resources at his command to destroy the goa'uld with the very weapons they use to hunt us. For the past year, we have been attacking Goa'uld worlds, taking what we could, ships and chappa'ai included, then destroying their world."
"Just when did you plan on informing the council of these actions. By our imprisonment, I assume you have yet to do so." Finally free, she walked over to Paul and removed his own restraints. Helping him to stand, she checked his stomach for any damage.
Paul pushed her hand off. "We're fine! I just want to know what the hell is going on."
Garshaw turned back to Malik. Noting that Aldwin was too looking at him, she felt a little vindication in his deception. "You both have much explaining to do."
"Do not be harsh with Aldwin, it is my deception, not his. Aldwin was doing as we manipulated him." Turning to Aldwin, Malik raised an eyebrow. "The Primta, where is she?"
"It is a pain in the ass!" Paul rubbed at his belly, softly stroking the pulsing skin.
"Yes, I would assume so. Hosting a queen is extremely painful for a male Jaffa." Malik glared at Aldwin before stepping over to Paul. "Male Jaffa are not supposed to mature a queen, it is the rite of a female priestess. Where is Johen?"
"You killed her when I escaped. Only the primta survived." Coming up beside Paul, he put himself between Malik and the human. "Garshaw was forced to create a pouch in the Tau'ri in order to save both him and your precious primta. Had it not been for his need, we would have spaced the damnedable thing."
"Then you would have killed our mother!" Glaring at Aldwin, Malik seized him up for a minute before heading back to the control chair. "The plan was a modified version of our mother and sire's. We would lour the goa'uld in to an ambush, use the stolen fleet to cripple them, and then send a bomb through a stolen chappa'ai to their home world to destroy it."
Sitting down, he activated the holo imager so they could watch the continuing battle they had left behind. "Our plan was to kill them one by one, making it look like they were killing each other. It was simpler than taking them all on at the same time. We would use fewer resources, lose less people. Hopefully they would start killing each other. But the treaty of the Tau'ri destroyed our plans, we had to accelerate our time. This involved using the Asguard and dragging Sokar out of hiding sooner than intended. As you can see, it was a very efficient plan."
The image showed repeated blasts destroying damaged and fleeing ships. Even the Asguard fleet was taking losses. Over half the ships were now floating derelicts.
"What of the primta? Where did that come in?" Garshaw knelt beside the thinking Malik.
"We told Aldwin she was a queen Jolinar planned on replacing his mother with and starting his own empire. He was to steal her and run for another world, a queen of our own to interogate would be too much for him to over look." Sighing, he looked away from the imager long enough to shoot a glare at Aldwin. "We had not anticipated him acting so quickly, nor stealing a Tel'tac we were modifying with a phase cloak. At the time we did not know you had the technology. It seems we were not as secure as we thought when he came around. As for the purpose of the primta, she is a clone of Egaria based upon samples taken by Nirrti at the time of her extraction from her last host by Ra."
With a gasp, Garshaw faced the angry Paul.
Seeing her reaction, Paul took a step back. "Oh no, I am not going to let this worm stay inside me any longer than necessary. When we get back to Tok'ra central, I am having this little booger removed!"
"Of course!" Standing, she moved to his side again. "I was merely going to suggest you take better care of yourself now that we know the identity of the symbiot you carry. You can not be allowed to damage the queen in any way."
"Hold on, sweet cheeks. You still haven't gotten to the point of why this." Stomping to Malik, he picked the Tok'ra up by the vest. "Now you tell me why I am carrying this particular little snake in my gut before I start to get angry!"
Pushing Paul off him, Malik adjusted his vest and sat back down. "You carry the future of my species. If everything goes according to plan, she will be the last surviving queen." Malik smirked at Paul's glare. "When there are no more primta, the Jaffa will die. If they wish to continue living, they will come to us."
"And the Tok'ra will have their own private army of Jaffa. I thought you people said you weren't the goa'uld."
Malik let out a short bark of laughter. "You are one to talk. Your own government have been creating their own Jaffa army for the day in which they will have to deal with the Goa'uld on their own terms. General Hammond knows that the Goa'uld would not respect his authority unless he had a Jaffa army. After all, a goa'uld is nothing without his Jaffa." Cracking up, he slapped the arm rest.
"So you have a spy." Paul eyed him wearily. "Who is it? It's not like you need them anymore, your plan is complete."
"Unfortunately for our spy, he got in the way of Jolinar's escape." Shrugging, Milak sat back in the control chair. "He was a member of SG-6, a security man. I don't know his name, just that Jolinar said the leak was plugged." Snorting, he scratched the back of his head. "Now, be silent, I am watching this."
Together they watched the holo imager as the last of the war ships were destroyed. After the last light winked out, a short pause filled the room.
"Where is Jolinar?"
Malik tapped at the controls until another light appeared on the imager. "You were correct, Garshaw, Jolinar did have a death wish." When he pressed the control again, the light went out. "Good bye, Jolinar."
The controls went dark as the last of his ships was destroyed. Daniel sat back in his chair, flexing his aching hand. The war was finally over. Smiling, he stood up from the control console and walked over to the ship's controls.
Pressing his hand to the activation orb of the Alkesh, he was surprised when the engines didn't activate. "Malik!"
The orb let out a high pitched chirp. A moment later the main hatch was blown open.
As the air was sucked out around him, Daniel clutched the control desperately. He opened his mouth to scream only to have the air sucked from his lungs and the fluids from his stomach. Shuddering violently from the pain, he screamed internally as his eyes and tongue turned to ice. The blood vessels in his skin burst and with a final shudder, he was completely frozen.