As the last chevron locked and the blue shimmering water-like vortex bursts out of the stargate, a small robotic arm emerges from the event horizon and the camera turns 90 degrees to the left and right, then the rest of the probe trundles through onto the new world. Five pillars topped with crystal orbs line the pathway leading towards a large stone building. As the sun shines onto the orbs the light is refracted causing a rainbow effect covering the footpath. The probe slowly makes its way forward in the general direction of the towering stone building.
Meanwhile, a short-blonde-haired woman is sat in front of the main computer typing quickly on the keyboard, while a tall, dark-haired man is stood behind her, looking closely at the monitor and pointing out interesting features on the planet that he can see.
"Can you get a close up on that building?" he says enthusiastically.
"Moving M.A.L.P ten meters forward." The image on the monitor slowly zooms in as the M.A.L.P travels up the path and then distorts momentarily as if there was a power surge. The image clears and they get a reasonably clear picture and then the image short circuits out.
"What happened?" asks a concerned looking older man.
"I don't know sir; the M.A.L.P went off line, trying to re-establish contact"
"What Carter is trying to say General is, it's dead"
"Jonas we don't know that for sure, I'm skipping back to the last frame we received from the M.A.L.P..." an image of the stone building comes into focus on the monitor. Jonas spots a shimmer in the image,
"Lets get a close up on that" he says tapping on the screen. Carter digitally enhances that section of the screen, a Greek-looking symbol fades in. Jonas instantly recognises it. "That's upsilon."
"Excuse me" says the General, a little confused by Jonas' outburst.
"That's upsilon; it's the ancient Greek letter U but you write it as Y in your language."
"We may have a slight problem recovering the M.A.L.P" Carter interrupts.
"Why?"
"Well General, it was disabled, watch..." Carter plays back the tape and still-frames a women coming out from behind a wall and aiming at the M.A.L.P. Carter lets the tape play frame by frame and they see a faint blue electrical surge pass over the image which then goes black.
"That looks like a zat blast."
Jonas quickly turns round in surprise "Colonel! Good evening"
The Colonel looks at his watch.
"Morning actually. General, they have Goa'uld weapons; I say we should check it out."
The General doesn't get a chance to voice his objection as Jonas automatically steps in.
"We've never come across a Greek Goa'uld so"
"Just because we haven't met one doesn't mean there not out there"
"Carter shut up, we've been on base for three friggin weeks, stop giving the General reasons not to send us! Sir do we have a go."
General Hammond nods his approval "Take Teal'c with you, SG-1 report back in four hours."
SG-1 walk out of the event horizon which closes behind them, Carter scans the area and picks up an energy signature. The four of them make their way to the D.H.D, Jonas seems fascinated and his blue eyes light up at the natural beauty. Carter dials the D.H.D swiftly and the gate powers up.
"SG-1 to General Hammond, we have arrived on the planet, Jonas is making mud pies and Carter wants to bring home one of the light thingies on top of the pillars."
"There energy orbs with an energy signature higher than I ever thought possible"
"Yes sir one of those things, we'll report back in four hours, O'Neill - oh crap " Four zaps rip through the air followed by four thuds.
O'Neill wakes up and sluggishly says "Oww... My head hurts..." as he ruffles his graying brown hair.
"Well I do believe Major Carter told you so." says an odd voice
"Major Davis, what the hell are you doing here"
"Same as you sir, getting captured, by the way you might like to know Major Carter's father and another To'kra came through with us but they were placed with the infidel in another cell... I imagine the infidel is Teal'c as he isn't here with us."
Colonel O'Neill looks round. "Where is Carter?" he asks.
In the corner of the holding cell the light rays are disturbed as Jonas bolts up into a sitting position.
"Where are we?"
"We are still on P9Y-847." says Major Davis
"Well... Yes. But where exactly are we"
"In a stinking holding cell, somewhere, specific enough for ya?
They are interrupted by the opening of the main door as a young male, dressed in white trousers with a white thigh length tunic, tied at the waist with a red sash comes through. O'Neill, Jonas and SG-3 all stand and watch as the young boy struggles with the second door as he juggles a tray with a jug and six earthenware mugs on it.
All the men wince as the young lad half jumps, half falls down the few stairs that lead down to the cells. He makes his way to the cell occupied by O'Neill, Jonas and SG-3 and manages to unlock the cell door, whilst doing this however he loses his balance and nearly drops the tray, gaining another gasp from his intrigued audience. Deciding that it would be easier to hold the tray with both hands he proceeds to open the door with his left foot and enters the holding cell followed by the stares of six fully grown men looking at a child that could do something they couldn't. The young boy leaves the tray on the floor and then locks the door on his way out.
The main door opens slightly as an older boy steps through looking worried.
"Come on Alec, we're late, firing range... NOW"
"Yes Zak..." the boy turns and does a little hop, skip and a jump. "Yeah, weapons" he cheers and runs out, totally forgetting the keys left swinging in the cell door.
The men all look at each other for a second, O'Neill then shakes his head and laughs under his breath as he walks up to the door, puts his arm through the cell bars and reaches round to unlock the door with the discarded keys. They each make their way out of the cell, Jonas is the last person through and he slowly closes the cell door behind him muttering "Well...thank you Alec."
O'Neill makes his way up the stairs and through the first door followed by SG-3 and Jonas. Amazingly they all manage to fit in to the gap between the first door and the automatic door that will only open when the inner door is securely closed. O'Neill cautiously scans the corridor for guards and after deciding which way is out he leads SG-3 and Jonas out of the building.
They cautiously make their way towards the stargate, totally unaware of the two guards that have spotted them from their posts. The guards send a message.
"We have six unauthorised personnel attempting to activate the stargate, call The Guard"
The men make it to the stargate and Major Davis dials up the stargate.
"Might I suggest we hold the gate whilst you go and get the rest? The penal cells are round the other side of the building."
"OK, Major hold the gate for as long as possible but you are to return to the SGC if we are not back when forces arrive."
Meanwhile, in the heart of the city, four girls wearing very formal ball gowns are slowly making their way up the hundred odd steps leading up to the towering golden doors.
"Why the hell did I agree to this, I could be at home figuring out that new device." says a very annoyed looking dark haired girl.
"Oh come on Tash, you know you love it really, getting all doled up for your best friend's mother's birthday, what's not fun about that" a tall, red-haired girl throws back over her shoulder as she makes her way up the steps in front of the rest of them.
"Err... Harmony maybe it's the fact that I can hardly walk in these stupid shoes and I CANT BREATHE" she pauses a takes a deep breath and then continues "AND... Looking like I do I'll have to put up with that stupid nadir chasing after me all afternoon"
An important looking girl in a bright red dress with a blood red surcoat over the top catches up with the other girls just in time to break up the argument that's about to escalate and jumps in with,
"Because I ordered you to, and if you can't breathe I should have collapsed by now wearing this dress. Now get up those stairs and act happy to see people before I really lose my temper" as she stomps off in a very unlady-like manner, leaving the others to trail behind her.
"You know you should never really get Serena upset; she usually ends up being right." says a slightly shorter girl with long blonde hair who looks considerably younger than she actually is as she walks past the other two girls who just look at each other and shrug their shoulders and follow them up the stairs.
As they reach the door, it is opened by footmen and each girl is announced.
"Lady Serena Aria." announces the first footman
"Miss Harmony Yorkis." announces the second footman
"Miss Natasha Satyr." says the first footman
"Miss Deanna Attaché." says the second footman, as the shorter blonde haired girl makes it through the door as it is closed behind them.
"Serena, darling" screams an older looking women with greying brunette hair, pinned up with an elaborate gold hairpin which covers most of the bunned hair.
"Hello mother, how are you..." says Serena as she is kissed on each cheek by her pompous mother
"So" asks her expectant mother.
"She didn't get you anything." says Natasha landing her already stressed friend in it.
Only to be immediately pushed up against the wall by an angry Serena who hisses,
"What do you get a women who already has everything" before letting her friend stand on her own two feet again.
As Serena turns back to her mother, she has acquired a young blonde haired man smiling sweetly at her. Serena's eyes flick from her mother's to the young man and then over to Harmony pleading for help.
"Who is this, mother...?" Serena says trying her best not to look too scared
"This is Sir Casper, darling, marry him and I will forget the birthday present"
"Mother, you say that every year and every year it's a different man, and every year I don't, you see the trend here..."
"Serena, lets get punch..." says Harmony as she links arms with Serena and drags her off towards the drinks. Deanna and Natasha join them.
The four girls are sat round the table with the punch on, slowly working their way through all of it.
"Hey Tash, you've got a shadow, looks like I'm not the only one with an admirer" laughs Serena
"Oh no, he's coming over, I can't even remember his name" says a worried Tash.
"His name's Alistair... Crap there's Casper" says an even more worried Serena.
Both Alistair and Casper make their way over.
"Excuse me Lady Serena could I ask for this dance?" he asks Serena. He then turns to Natasha "And my brother Alistair is a little shy but he would like this dance with you."
Serena and Natasha both look very scared and look at each other and try to come up with a plan to escape.
A young male enters the hall and manages to find the four girls "Err... Commander Serena, we have a situation"
Serena jumps up and throws her arms round the startled young male and thanks him.
"Commander?" the guard coughs and blushes.
"Oh sorry, Sir Casper, Alistair, thanks for the offer, but we have to go now so - bye" says an eager Serena as she turns on her heel and runs as quickly as possible in her dress out towards the door. Natasha scoots past Alistair as quickly as she can and kicks her shoes off under the nearest table as she runs out, followed by Harmony and Deanna who are giggling at the eagerness of their friends to get away from the two men.
As they run through the doors and down the steps out into the forecourt they realise their autoskim is nowhere in sight. Their chauffeur recognises them and instantly joins them to see what the problem is.
"Lady Serena, did the ball finish already"
"No. Where's the autoskim?" questions an irritable Serena
"Commander, I'm afraid it is unavailable; I cannot get to it..." says the chauffeur as he ruffles his blonde hair to hide his embarrassment.
"What do you mean you can't get to it? It's supposed to be there whenever we need it! What are we gonna do now?" asks a frustrated Harmony.
"We could run..." Natasha suggests.
"In these shoes" Harmony asks, giving her friend a 'look'. "I don't think so."
Deanna, who has been ignoring the conversation so far looks over.
"We could borrow that one." she suggests, rather out of the blue. The other three girls stop arguing and look at her in surprise. "What?" Deanna asks "I mean it's not as if it's illegal or..." she trails off into silence as all three girls look at each other.
"OK." announces Serena as she makes her way over to the nearest autoskim.
Natasha turns to the chauffeur.
"Do you have a long piece wire on you" the chauffeur hands her a hair clip which she unwinds and then joins the other three at the autoskim.
"It's locked" Deanna informs the others, things seeming hopeless again.
"And" Natasha says as she picks the lock on the driver's door. All the other doors open automatically as the driver's door is opened, and the four girls climb into the car-like vehicle. Natasha sticks the hair clip into the ignition and the autoskim rises slowly to about two foot off the ground.
"Tash, please tell me you know how to drive this thing..." asks a concerned Deanna, her eyes worried.
"Uh... Do you want the long or the short answer..." Natasha asks. Harmony once more deals out a 'look'. Natasha curiously looks over all the different buttons. "Wonder what this does..." she presses a green flashing button.
The autoskim goes. And how. The others shriek as the vehicle flies forward at an alarming rate. Natasha presses another button and manages to bring the autoskim under control. Inscribed on the front panel is a map, Harmony presses the image of the Hall of Guard and it sets into autopilot, once more giving Natasha a 'look'.
"I'm never letting you hi-jack an autoskim again."
Since securing the gate with SG-3, O'Neill and Jonas have found Teal'c, Anise, who is wearing a very revealing tan mini dress showing more flesh than is actually covered, and Jacob, and have made it back to the Stargate. Jacob is looking distressed as they approach SG-3.
"Where's Sam" Jacob asks turning to O'Neill, worried.
"We're not sure." O'Neill answers quickly, he then turns. "Major Davis, get your team through the gate and report to General Hammond, and take Anise with you"
The stargate activates and just as the last of SG-3 make it through the stargate, SG-1 and Jacob are surrounded by a dozen mean-looking women in pale and normal red tunics holding something half way between a zat and an Earth hand gun. Being unarmed is a slight problem for SG-1 and Jacob so they decide the best thing to do is to surrender.
"I'm Jonas Quinn, we mean you no harm, we're peaceful explorers from the planet earth..." says Jonas in an attempt to communicate calmly, but the women don't seem to understand. He is about to try again when the circle of women around them parts slightly and four young women walk into the middle of the circle. It is clear they are more important than the others, given the fact they are wearing ballgowns. The members of SG-1 swap confused (and in O'Neill's case, amused) looks.
"I am Commander Serena of the City Guard" The woman in red announces, then motions to the tall woman in green beside her. "This is Chief Engineer Harmony Yorkis." She then motions to the woman in black. "This is Chief Scientist Natasha Satyr." Finally she motions to the last woman. "And this is Chief Diplomat Deanna Attaché."
O'Neill clears his throat.
"Nice dresses..." he coughs and quickly continues "So you girls in charge or is one of your fathers going to join us shortly" He receives a glare from all four girls, the Chief Engineer looking particularly murderous.
Jonas jumps in, anxious to diffuse any possible situation that might occur if O'Neill says anything else.
"Colonel... The one in red said she was the Commander..."
"And" O'Neill asks, a little confused.
"You probably just insulted them, and seeing as they've got the weapons... Well..."
"Jonas, just get to the point" says the now rather annoyed Colonel.
"Err... Colonel. Shut up." Jonas says plainly, not one-hundred-percent sure saying it was a wise action.
It is clear the Commander is about to lose her temper again when the Diplomat puts a hand up to stop her.
"Serena, don't forget they're just men, and if they did come through the stargate it is most likely they don't know our customs."
"What do you mean we're only men" O'Neill says trying not to laugh at the fact Jonas has taken a good step away from both himself and the newly-arrived women.
"Colonel O'Neill, they seem to be a female dominated society." states Teal'c matter-of-factly.
"No shit, Sherlock." O'Neill growls dryly. "How did you guess that" he adds sarcastically. Teal'c, still unused to the concept of sarcasm, especially when delivered by O'Neill, continues.
"It appears that only the females are armed with a weapon." He states. "Also, Major Carter was placed elsewhere within the facility"
"Your commander, Major Carter, was placed in the secure guest quarters." The Engineer inputs, giving the men another dangerous look.
"Well I hate to burst your bubble, but I'm in command of this team, so how come I wasn't placed in the royal bedroom" O'Neill snaps, irritated that the women were demeaning his position.
"You're a man! What is a woman doing taking orders from a man" sneers the Commander.
"She will be questioned later" The Chief Scientist speaks up once more. "But in the meantime you will return to you're cells until we are ready to question you as well."
"Are you absolutely sure your father isn't supposed to be here" O'Neill directly asks her, wondering whether he might perhaps get more sense from her than the clearly irate Commander. He was wrong. Her temper obviously gone, the scientist rushes forward and grabs him, forcing him back up against the nearest column, pinning his left arm between him and said column and forcing her forearm up against his neck.
"My father" she hisses. "Is dead." She appears to wish to say something else, but is interrupted by the Commander, who snaps something to her in an alien tongue. The scientist steps back and lets Colonel O'Neill drop the two inches to his feet. The Engineer steps forward and mutters something that was too quiet for the members of SG-1 to hear. The three men exchange glances once more, wondering what they had gotten themselves into this time. The Commander nods to the six other women surrounding SG-1 and the To'kra, and they usher them back to the Hall of Guard. They are all placed in the same penal cells.
"Well, if this is the lap of luxury I'd hate to see where criminals are held." O'Neill says sarcastically. The girls ignore him as they lock the door.
"O'Neill, we are indeed back in the penal cells, to what extent do you mean by luxury, we are prisoners after all." Teal'c questions, slightly bemused.
"Teal'c, I think the Colonel means"
"Jonas, Teal'c knows what I meant, don't you?" O'Neill quickly interrupts Jonas as he is about to explain. Teal'c, after a moment's pause, just nods his head and raises an eyebrow in acknowledgement.
As the girls go to turn and leave Jacob, who has been unusually quiet decides it's his turn to ask the questions.
"Excuse me, please, where is Major Carter"
"As we said before she is being held in secure quarters." The Commander responds shortly, then quickly exits the room followed by the blonde Diplomat. "You two, watch them" she adds as she closes the door behind them.
The remaining two, the dangerous-looking Engineer and still-angry Scientist, make their way to chairs either side of the prison doors.
Jacob looks at them, then tries to communicate with them once more, choosing the less angry and outwardly-violent woman; the Engineer.
"Would it be possible for me to see Major Carter"
"Why" comes the curious answer.
"She is my daughter, I'd just like to check if she's ok."
"What, so you can plot another escape?" the Engineer's voice became scathing. "I don't think so."
Serena and Deanna reach Serena's office. Serena unlocks the door and they enter, Deanna lingering by the door as Serena quickly walks over to her desk and scribbles on a piece of paper.
"Deanna, you can take the autoskim we - um - 'borrowed' and return it with this letter, and can you tell my mother, Sirs Casper and Alistair that we will not be returning this evening due to unforeseen circumstances linked with the safety of The Guard and our people."
"If I can remember all that, yes." Deanna replies, looking remarkably bemused. She takes the note and leaves.
Serena is busy scribbling on a piece of paper when a flustered Deanna hurries through the door and closes it behind her, breathless and flustered.
"Did you give them the message" Serena asks, not even looking up.
"Yes, yes, but your mother was not pleased... She got over it when it was her turn to do a speech... As for sirs Casper and Alistair, the nadirs decided they were going to try and follow me back here..." Deanna replies, flapping her hand in front of her face in an effort to cool herself down.
"And what did you do about it" queried Serena, slightly worried, as she knew her friend well.
"Err..." there is a silence as Deanna tries to think of the best way to phrase her next sentence. "I... Well... Disabled them..." she chooses her words carefully. Serena looks at her, a little confused.
"What do you mean, 'disabled'..." she questions, not really wanting to know the answer.
"Well lets just say they won't be walking for a week or two." Deanna answers, chuckling to herself. Serena starts to laugh as well. After their little giggling session, Deanna turns to leave.
"Um Deanna? Can you come with me and help me send this message through the Stargate"
"Can I change first..." Deanna says, looking down at her crumpled lilac ball gown and comparing it to Serena's tidy black trousers and purple top.
"Yes, as long as you're quick about it." Serena answers.
As the last chevron locks, the young technician announces "Chevron seven locked, closing the iris."
A larger bald man joins the technician in the control room after hearing the alarm go off and seeing the warning lights start spinning and flashing red.
"What have we got Lieutenant"
"Unscheduled off world activation, no G.D.O signal coming through sir, we are however receiving a transmission, audio only."
"Pipe it through."
"People of Earth, I am Commander Serena Aria of the Nysian Guard. Your nadir and their commander Major Samantha Carter are within our - care. If you want them and the infidels back, we will talk. Return signal within a nacre, or the infidels you call Jacob and Teal'c will be executed."
"End of transmission..." says the Lieutenant a little confused looking at the General.
"Keep me apprised." orders the General as he makes he way back up the stairs to the briefing room.
"SG-3, what the hell happened on P9Y-847, and is Colonel O'Neill still alive"
"Well the last time we saw SG-1, minus Major Carter they were being surrounded by some guards... But I don't believe that they would have killed any member of SG-1"
"And what makes you so sure, Major Davis" questions a very angry General Hammond.
"They were all women and seemed to be a female dominated society"
"Where was Major Carter" interrupts the General.
"We don't know and neither did any of SG-1 or Jacob..."
"OK, we just got this transmission through from a woman on P9Y-847." General Hammond replays the transmission. As the last notes of Commander Aria's voice fade out, Hammond turns to Major Davis.
"What is a nacre" He demands.
"No idea... But I think it's something to do with the amount of time we have to get back to them..."
"Major Davis, if we don't know what a nacre is, we don't know what amount of time we have to contact them, we could have already passed that point."
"General I would recommend we call them back now and hope they haven't killed anyone by then."
"Agreed, Major Davis inform SG-9 that they may be needed, have them prepped and ready to go just in case."
"Yes, sir." Major Davis leaves and the rest of SG-3 are dismissed.
Sighing to himself, General Hammond starts making his way across the briefing room and towards the spiral stairs leading to the Control Room, when he is addressed.
"General Hammond" a distorted female voice from the briefing room table floats over to him. He stops.
"Anise, what can I do for you"
"I must return to the To'kra and inform the council of our situation" the blonde women says.
"You will be able to return once I have contacted the Nysians and arranged a meeting place and time." General Hammond then continues down the stairs and in to the control room followed by Anise.
"Lieutenant, dial up P9Y-847 immediately."
"Yes sir."
The stargate starts its slow move clockwise as each chevron locks and lights up. As the last chevron locked the gate activates.
"This is General Hammond of the planet Earth. We agreed to talks over the release of my people."
"We will meet; I must insist that you bring no lethal weapons. My chief diplomat and I will be at the Omega Plateau shortly, a guard squad will be present making our number 10. You will be allowed to bring yourself, your head diplomat and 8 others. The address for the Omega Plateau will follow in code..." A pause. "You have the code"
"Yes we do, may I ask who I am talking to"
"I am Commander Serena Aria of the city Guard."
"I will depart as soon as possible."
"Goodbye."
General Hammond turns and picks up the nearest grey phone.
"SG-9 to the embarkation room." Then he puts the phone back on it's hook and turns to Anise. "You may return to the To'kra and return immediately with 4 of your diplomats, we do not have much time."