"There's no point in continuing to discuss it, Jack."
"I disagree, this is a ridiculous plan."
"But it is the plan."
"I'll call Hank."
Sam crossed her arms and scowled. "Don't you dare." Jack stuck his chin out but didn't move. "One, this isn't his plan. This came down from above and he doesn't like it either."
"But that doesn't make any sense! I'm the above!"
Sam shook her head, "Then I guess it came from some other above but it wasn't his idea and two, this," she moved her right hand back and forth between them, "can only work if we keep work out of it."
Jack sighed, "You know I'm not angry with you, just the situation." He stepped towards her and open his arms. "I'd never call Hank."
She stepped into his arms and put her head on his shoulder. "If you did I'd have to kick your ass." He felt her smile.
"I'm sorry, Sam, really I am."
"I know." She picked her head up and looked him in the eye. "Everything will be ok."
He put his hand up to the side of her face. "I still don't like it."
Sam walked through the gate first, followed closely by Captain Michael, so closely that he almost knocked her down when he ran into her. She elbowed him to the side as the rest of the newbies arrived with Cam at the rear.
"Take a deep breath and stay alert. The nausea passes quickly." Sam grinned internally as she watched these kids struggling to not upchuck.
Cam joined her on the steps in front of the gate. "Alright, time for you guys to pick our camp sight. Make it good."
The three new recruits, the clumsy Captain Michael, the focused Captain Ammons, and the reserved Captain Williams, huddled at the base of the steps debating the merits of the four zones they had reviewed at the briefing. Cam rolled his eyes and looked over at Sam. The Captains were having the same arguments they had at the briefing without even looking at the potential camping sites.
"Hey guys, how about use your eyes more and your mouths less for a moment." Silence filled the valley as the recruits took a moment to realize they were standing on an alien planet.
After a moment they began discussing again but this time they were pointing out characteristics of the three mountains that surrounded them and the valley that lay out in front of them. They finally settled on a spot above the base of the mountain to the right of the gate. It took them an hour to set up camp and get water from the nearby river. Sam went over the basics of establishing a perimeter before running the recruits through a series of drills. Cam had dinner ready when Sam and the newbies returned.
It was a quiet night, just like the last three nights. Sam took the first watch and Cam took the last so he could get the recruits up at the crack of dawn for PT. Sam used the peace and quiet before starting breakfast to go down to the river to wash up and get more water. She was kneeling at the side of the river when she heard the explosion and was blown forward into the water. She rolled and reached upwards. Her hands hit something hard instead of breaking through the water's surface. Sam held back her panic as she moved her hands along the hard thing above her that was also scratching her. It was a tree! She moved her hands along the branch as it narrowed until she was able to pull her head through the branches and gasp air.
She began coughing as her mouth filled with some type of particulates. Sam blinked her eyes as she took a tentative small breath that also resulted in a coughing fit. The world looked grey. She wiped her eyes and looked again. It was all still grey. Sam's head clicked into gear. It was ash, tons of ash.
"Sam!" It was Cam's voice. Sam glanced towards the edge of the river, covered by downed trees. It was clear that being blown into the river might have been why Sam was alive.
"Sam! Can you hear me?"
Sam climbed up on the tree and made her way to the river's edge. Her radio was partially hidden by the tree branches but she found it. He kept calling her name. She could tell he was running while calling for her.
"Cam, what happened?"
"Volcano."
"What? We had no indication of…"
"And yet."
"Where are you?"
"We are almost back at the gate. Michaels has a broken leg but we've got him."
"I will head your way now."
"There's lava coming down the volcano and it's headed straight to the gate."
"How much time do I have?"
"Ten minutes, at the most."
"Cam, there's no way I can…"
"I know Sam."
Sam looked around her, knowing she was at the lowest point in the valley. "I will head back up the mountain we were are camped on. Look for me there when you can come back."
"It won't be long Sam."
"I know." She heard the gate spinning.
The radio went silent. Sam took off her shirt and dipped it in the water that was becoming thick with ash. She tied the wet shirt over her face, leaving her eyes exposed. She tried to hurry back to the camp but the ash and the downed trees made it slow going. She was worried she would miss the camp, but the green tent actually stood out midst the grey ash. Sam spent twenty minutes packing supplies. She headed up the mountain, crossing over to the side opposite from the volcano.
She walked until she didn't think she could go any further. She found a patch of bushes that gave her some protection from the falling ash and climbed under. She used some of the water in her canteen to rewet the shirt over her face, set an alarm for one hour, and closed her eyes for a short nap.
"The George Hammond just sent their report sir. The planet now has three active volcanoes. The area where Colonel Carter was reported to be heading is now an active lava field. There is no evidence of the camp or of Colonel Carter. They are awaiting further orders, sir."
Landry looked over at Cam who was furiously shaking his head. "That can't be."
"I'm afraid there isn't anything else we can do son. I will have them do one more full planet survey to be sure." Landry dismissed Harriman and went to his office to call Jack.