Well guys...this was going to be the last chapter, with the possibility of an epilogue, but it started to get too long. So I decided to post it as is. Which means there will be one more chapter with the possibility of an epilogue. Enjoy! Please R&R.
Chapter 6: Sacrifices –
Jackie immediately began defensive maneuvers, managing to avoid three of the five missiles that followed.
"General?" Jon's voice came over the radio.
"Apparently as briefly as we were uncloaked, it was too long. They were able to lock onto our position."
"Orders?"
"How close are you to connecting the dialing computer?"
"10-15 minutes…but we have 16 minutes until the solar flare."
Jackie was silent for a moment. This was the part of being a General that she didn't like: having to order people to their deaths.
"General?"
Jackie sighed. "Prepare to send out the F302s."
"Yes Ma'am." Jackie could hear the sympathy in Jon's voice.
Turning her attention back to the task before her, Jackie attempted to once again hide their location. After having moved almost all the way to the other side of the planet, Jackie thought they were safe. However, after barely avoiding a seventh missile, she began to realize that despite the cloak, Earth was still able to track them. Suddenly a thought hit her.
"Jon, shut down all the transmitters that I gave to Ry'ac."
"Ma'am?"
"I'm not sure how, but Earth is able to track us."
"They've all been turned off Ma'am."
Jackie scanned the ship for any transmitter not on their encrypted frequency. She dearly hoped that she was wrong, that no one on their team had betrayed them. With a deep sigh, Jackie hit a couple buttons and the bridge filled with a blinding white light. When the light cleared, Jackie was aiming her zat at the young man who had brought her the mimic devices.
"Why Captain? Why would you betray us?"
"It was an offer I couldn't refuse." Captain Saunders replied in embarrassment.
"And what was that Captain?"
"My mom and sister are still alive." Saunders responded.
"Ah." Jackie sighed.
"I'm sorry General. But they promised that they would be released and pardoned if I helped them stop you." Saunders seemed to be pleading with Jackie to understand.
"I see." Jackie responded slowly. "I understand your joy at finding your mom and sister still alive Billy, really I do. But have you forgotten what we are trying to do?" Jackie stood and moved closer, still aiming the zat at Saunders. "Damn it Billy! Each and every one of us on this team has lost someone we love, that's why we're doing this: to change the past, to save our loved ones. Don't you understand that you would still have your whole family and wouldn't remember losing them?"
"They said you couldn't succeed." Saunders countered.
"The only way we can't succeed is if they manage to stop us."
"I'm sorry General, I…"
"I know Billy."
"There is one way to undo the damage I've done." Billy said, looking Jackie directly in the eyes.
"Billy…"
"I won't remember it right?" Saunders interrupted.
Jackie bit her lip. Just then one of the consoles beeped. Hurrying over, Jackie checked it. "We're getting a message from Earth." She said as she looked up at Saunders, who nodded. Hitting a couple buttons, Jackie opened communications. Instantly, the face of the leader of the unified Tauri military came on the screen.
"Well, well, well…if it isn't Jacquelyn O'Neill. Aren't you a little old to be playing war?"
"I'm not playing Simmons." Jackie sighed.
"That's Admiral Simmons to you!" Simmons snapped.
"I thought our government wasn't in the habit of recognizing false promotions Admiral."
"You're one to talk General." Simmons sneered.
"My promotion may be unconventional Simmons, but at least it came from one of this planet's true heroes. Yours came from an alien who's people conquered our planet, and one who is host to a Goa'uld."
"Ah yes, a hero who died a traitor to the very planet he claimed to be fighting for."
"You are the traitor Simmons. Instead of fighting to protect the freedoms of the people of Earth, you helped them." Jackie spat venomously.
"I am tired of catering to the whims of a child." Simmons countered. "Surrender or I will destroy you. And don't even think about running or hiding, anywhere you go we will find you, thanks to the stupidity of one of your own."
Jackie resisted the urge to glance at Billy. "You will destroy the stargate if you destroy us."
"We will simply get another one." Simmons smirked. "It is well worth the sacrifice to be rid of you."
"You knew my family well, Simmons. Did you really think that I would surrender?" JAckied asked, finally glancing at Billy.
"No. why else would I have programmed the three missiles I just launched to lock onto the signal of your 'Judas'?"
"Because you're stupid." Jackie retorted. She locked eyes with Billy, who nodded.
"Kick their ass Jackie." Billy replied to her unspoken apology. With the touch of a few buttons, the bridge once again filled with light. As it faded, Jackie turned back toward Simmons.
"You've always underestimated us O'Neill's Simmons. It's too bad that by saving the world I'll be undoing what I've just done." Jackie watched as the room Simmons was in exploded around him. Not until the transmission turned to static did she shut it down and turn away.
Scanning her instruments Jackie keyed her radio. "Jon, how much time left until the solar flare?"
"Five and a half minutes."
"And the dialing computer?"
"A couple more minutes and we'll be done here."
"Which still leaves three minutes." Jackie sighed.
"We'll need to be lined up with the sun."
"They'll be expecting that. We can't move into position until the last possible moment." Jackie paused with her radio still keyed. "And not without a distraction."
"The F302s are ready and waiting."
Jackie sighed. Dad, how did you do this for a lifetime? "Once the computer is functional, send them out."
"Understood."
Λ
Jackie watched her computer in morbid fascination as several dozen dots flew out of the F302 bay and moved toward Earth's fleet. One by one, the dots disappeared from her screen. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Jackie brought her attention back to the task at hand.
"We are in position Jon. Dial the gate." Jackie ordered.
After a brief pause, her radio came to life. "The seventh symbol won't lock Jackie."
"What!?"
"I think it's the cloak."
"Damn." Jackie cursed to herself. Keying her radio she replied, "Okay, this is going to make things a little more complicated. Start the dialing process again, but this time let me know once the fifth symbol has locked."
"Yes Ma'am."
"Oh, and Jon? This changes things…you may have to go without me."
Λ
Silence echoed through the F302 bay following Jackie's statement. "Like hell I will." Jon mumbled as he began the dialing sequence again.
Λ
"The fifth chevron is locked."
"Understood." Jackie replied.
Diverting as much power as possible to the shields, Jackie disengaged the cloak and prepared to return fire. It wasn't long before she was tracking several missiles heading their way.
"Prepare for impact!" Jackie warned Jon. However, the impact never came.
As the missiles drew closer to the Oedipus, the unexpected happened. As Jackie tracked the missiles on the ship's computer, she saw dots pop up surrounding the ship.
"Jacquelyn O'Neill, it has truly been an honor to serve with you."
"Uncle Teal'c? But how? I saw all the F302s destroyed."
"I believe it was Captain Saunders who orchestrated the implementation of cloaking devices in the F302s."
Jackie shook her head in amazement. "Uncle T…"
"There is not much time Jacquelyn O'Neill. You must complete this mission." Teal'c interrupted. "You're parents would be proud of you. Tek'ma'tay Jacquelyn O'Neill."
Suddenly the line was cut dead as the F302s continued to intercept missiles directed at the Oedipus. "Tek'ma'tek Teal'c." Jackie mumbled.
"Jackie, we're running out of time, you need to get down here now!" Jon practically yelled over the radio.
"I'm on my way." Jackie responded before transporting herself down to the F302 bay.