Small Victories 401
He was supposed to be going on vacation – again! He almost bought the farm on his last try to go fishing. His second attempt was no better – again no fishing, only the threat of imminent death. Maybe he wasn't fated to go fishing or maybe asking Carter along was the kiss of death.
The mechanical bugs put an end to O'Neill's dreams of a quiet weekend with a cold beer and a fishing pole. The insidious bugs had infested a Russian sub and killed the entire crew. O'Neill's reaction was simply "Blow it up."
Unfortunately the powers that be feared it would provoke an international incident and more importantly it might not solve the basic problem of Replicators on Earth.
Before they could make plans for the next step Thor came through the Stargate for some 'stupid ideas' and walked off with Carter. O'Neill was a little apprehensive sending Carter off alone but the rest of the team was needed to respond to the threat here on Earth.
O'Neill and Teal'c and two other airmen formed a team to do reconnaissance aboard the Russian sub with Daniel, Sgt. Siler and Major Davis observing from the safety of the command center. They almost got out with the pertinent information. When confronting the mother bug all hell broke loose. One man was lost and Teal'c was injured.
O'Neill again voiced his opinion "Blow it up! Nuke the sub and every damned bug on it."
Davis objected for diplomatic reasons. Daniel knew, although blowing it to hell might seem satisfying, it might not solve the basic problem. The new blocks were made of the structure of the sub and therefore vulnerable. The heart of the Mother bug was of an original replicators from Thor's ship. It had survived the Asgard ship's explosion and the intense heat of reentry. It might survive the destruction of what was left of the sub and it was indeed the only one of the bugs they had to destroy. It was the reason O'Neill and Teal'c had to return to the sub. And that they did.
Sam was elated, still on a high from helping save the Asgard home planet. She strolled down the hall toward Daniel's lab. His back was to her and seemed totally absorbed in a video he was watching. She could hear weapons fire and the skittering and clacking of Replicators. Daniel didn't notice her until she leaned over his shoulder. He tried to shut the monitor off but she stayed his hand.
Teal'c and O'Neill were firing indiscriminately as the replicators blocked every means of escape and attacked from every angle. O'Neill took off his helmet and spoke directly to Daniel telling him to blow the ship. The mission was accomplished, the original bug destroyed and they weren't getting out of there. She could see the desperation and determination in his eyes and voice. Then Teal'c and O'Neill were fighting on their knees, then prone on the floor of the sub, replications closing in, in all directions. Surrounded and doomed O'Neill demanding Daniel kill them, demanding Major Davis give the order before they were eaten alive. Her fingers pressed to her lips as she heard Daniel and Davis finally agree and the order was given. The torpedoes were launched, there was a flash of light and a powerful explosion as the feed went dead.
Sam sat down hard on one of the chairs unable to speak, unable to breathe. If she had been a few seconds late...