"Colonel Carter" Sam heard suddenly causing her to look up from the machine she had been working on for months. Sam saw that it was Walter leaning in with his large glasses and a unemotional look. Sam tilted her head slightly and was about to ask what Walter wanted but he beat her to it. "General O'Neill wishes to see you in the debriefing room in twelve minutes Colonel." Sam observed Walter leave the room and continue down the hall. Carter began to reflect upon her years spent as part of SG-1 serving under O'Neill. When Jack was promoted Brigadier General, SG-1 became a whole new team causing Sam, Teal'c and Daniel to go in their own directions. Teal'c and Daniel tuck together; both taking positions on SG-15.
Sam decided to continue working at SGC in the Research & Development department. A new SG-1 was formed under the command of Colonel Charles Kawalsky. Sam's eyes lit up and she dropped the tools in her hands. SG-1 was off world and had been scheduled to return an hour ago. Am had heard the gate open only half an hour ago. She wondered if they had been late coming back. Then it hit her, had they even come back?
The twelve minute mark had approached fast. Sam headed down the corridor and walked into the debriefing room where she found Jack siting at the head of the table. Sam took the seat closest to him and a few moments of brief silence turned into uncomfortable silence. Jack was the first to speak "We lost contact with Kawalsky and the rest of SG-1. We sent a MALP through and a UAV. The MALP provided nothing of significance." Sam was about to ask about the UAV when Jack continued "The UAV located four bodies. They were SG-1."
"How, who, what?" Sam stood up from her chair. She almost collapsed. She collected herself and gathered her thoughts. "General, where was SG-1 sent?" O'Neill had a solemn look upon his face, his gray hair appeared to turn even grayer with each passing second. Sam wasn't acting on military thought, she was acting as a friend when she instinctively reached out with her arm and placed her hand on top of one of his. Her palm eclipsed the back of Jack's hand. "I know what Colonel Kawalsky meant to you Sir. He was a great soldier and a good man." Jack pulled his hand back from underneath Samantha Carter's. Sam looked up into Jack's eyes as he slid over a folder. She opened it slowly and her eyes scan through it briskly "P3X509" Carter said taking a deep breath. She had been there once before and had hoped to never be reminded of the pain, sorrow and loss of life that took place there.
General O'Neill took a deep breath. It was almost as a lump slithered down his throat. "Colonel" Jack said choosing his next word wisely. "As it would appear, Baset has returned." Carter sunk in the chair she had chosen to occupy. Baset had killed the Tok'ra Selmak along with its host, Jacob Carter during a battle which took place a few years ago when O'Neill was still leading SG-1. General O'Neill saw the look in Carter's eyes. She was going to lose it soon, she always was a tough soldier on the exterior but she was only human on the inside and an emotional one at that. She turned her head to the side in an attempt to mask the streaking of tears down her face. Jack wasn't the best at comforting someone in a moment like this but he did the best he could by reaching out and grasping her shoulder. "SG Teams are dropping left and right these days. The war sure the hell isn't helping matters. What man power we have is spread thin as it is. Colonel, this world need you, this facility needs you, damn it Sam, I need you."
Colonel Carter wiped her face. The little make up she had chosen to wear had began to run down her face. She would not allow anyone else to see her like that, after her meeting with Jack, she would run to her quarters and fix it. "How can I be of assistance General?" Carter smiled slightly when she saw the look on O'Neill's face. It was telling her to drop the formality "Jack" she said correcting herself yet leaving the question that she presented still lingering in the air.
O'Neill shook his head and then sighed. "I don't know Sam" his head fell into his hand which were waiting for his head to collapse there. For a brief moment he just breathed and moaned until his head slowly arisen again. "I really don't know what the hell to do for crying out loud. The Goa'ld are winning this war. Let's just face it, we are losing this war and we are losing it fast. Kawalsky's team was sent to P3X509 in a joint operation with the Tok'ra in an attempt to obtain a valuable source of information." Jack took a sip of water from the glass beside him and then continued "We received intelligence from the Tok'ra that Baset and her Jaffa had captured Sokar. SG-1 failed to report back as you now know. However, the Tok'ra, some of them at least did report back. They report one of their own was captured by Baset."
Colonel Carter began interested further at what Jack was telling her. When Jack cut off with the information that a Tok'ra had been captured by Baset; Carter's heart sank. She had already lost her father, now again, someone close to her was in danger and in risk of dying on the same planet where she lost her father. "Martouf" she said in a quick huff of breath "It's Martouf isn't it Jack?" Carter did not need to see Jack's reaction, she knew it was coming before he did it. He gave a quick but distinguished nod of his head. His silver hair shining more than ever before in the bright lighting. Carter shook her head and repeated the action as she spoke. "General" she said raising her voice and becoming more militant and firm sounding. Her tone shifted to one of leadership "Sir, permission to accompany an SG team on the rescue mission." She saw Jack begin to shake his head and she stood up from her seat "General, with all due respect surely you plan to send a SG team in. If not to rescue Martouf then to retrieve the information that Sokar possesses, it is our only chance to shift the tides of this war."
Jack took a breath and stood up as well. "If you had continued to read through the report, I am ordering you back into active field duty Colonel. This facility can not operate without an SG-1, I won't stand for that Sam." Jack looked at her intently "There will be a mission to bring both Jolinar and Sokar back through the Stargate. This mission will be carried out by SG-1, under your command. You have everything that you will need at your disposal Colonel Carter. Select your team and be ready to leave first thing in the morning. I expect your recommendations on my desk before the day ends."
Sam left the debriefing room unsure what she was going to do. Jack told her that she had all the resources she needed; there was nobody she couldn't have. Her first two choices were simple, she would request SG-15's Teal'c and Jackson. A three man SG team wasn't unheard of by any means but Sam would need someone with a military background as a fourth member. She would ultimately need an executive officer in the event of her capture or inability to command. A technician would also be useful as well. Sam sat in her quarters for the next four hours looking through SGC personnel, the members of SG teams as well as members of the Atlantis expedition. She finally came to a conclusive decision of Major Evan Lorne for her executive officer and a young Marine Master Sergeant presently attached to SG-5 as her team's technician. Sam walked to the debriefing room where she was met by Walter. "General O'Neill is expecting these on his desk" she said handing the small stack of files to Walter.
Sam returned to her quarters to rest. She lay in her bed with a book in hand but her head grew heavy and her sight grew dim. Soon, she was out and fell fast asleep. She slept for the next few hours undisturbed until her alarm woke her up. She hot to her feet and quickly dressed in her uniform. She checked her watch, she had only an hour until she was to ship out as SG-1 commanding officer with her team. She was about to leave her quarters when she heard a knock on her door. "Come in" she said and awaited for someone to walk in. She was expecting Daniel, Jack or Teal'c to enter her quarters, not Doctor Janet Fraiser. "Janet" Carter said in a questioning tone. "May I help you with something?"
Doctor Janet Fraiser joined the SGC years ago serving as the SGC's Chief Medical Officer. She had started out as a captain and worked her way up to hold the rank of major. She stood motionless before entering Sam's quarters. "Actually, I am here to ask you for something Sam." The two women had served together as part of the Stargate Program for years; Janet had saving the lives of SG-1 and other SG teams over and over, Carter was no exception. However, the two women had grown to become close friends and had once worked together to retake the base from the Goa'uld, Hathor. "Colonel Carter" Janet smiled "Sam" she continued, "I request permission to accompany yourself and SG-1 to P3X509." Sam started to give Janet a look of uncertainty and confusion. Janet jumped in before Sam could express her dislike of the idea "There is no telling how bad the injuries are to Martouf or that there is even a sarcophagus assessable in the case of pending death. We have sent SG teams there before Colonel, you know as well as I do the risks you and the rest of SG-1 will be taking, I am the Chief Medical Officer of this facility, there is nobody with more medical knowledge on Goa'uld symbiotes than myself Colonel."
Carter took a deep breath and exhaled. She folded her arms in a defensive posture in attempts not to show disrespect for Doctor Fraiser both on a personal and professional level. "Doctor" Carter's face shifted as she cocked her head to the side and her eyes grew wider. She pressed her lips tightly together then recomposed herself and unfolded her arms as well as straighten her stance. "Janet" Carter sighed "With all due respect Doctor Fraiser, that is exactly why I can't permit you to go. Your medical knowledge alone and expertise in Gou'ald symbiotes permits you from putting your life in this amount of risk. If we lost you on P3X509, the SGC would be at a significant loss." Carter shook her head "I am sorry Janet but unless General O'Neill over rides my decision on this; SG-1 will be going to P3X509 without medical accompany. Besides, this is a heavily hostile mission we are going on."
Janet folded her arms much like Carter had and shook her head "I can hold my own Colonel." Doctor Fraiser moved her right arm up towards her neck and her right index finger extended outward touching the golden oak leaf on her collar. "This doesn't say doctor, Colonel. It says major." Janet gave Colonel Carter a smirk and saluted her. She then handed Carter a folder with a few papers inside. "Already spoke to General O'Neill. I will meet you in the gate room in a few Colonel."