General Hammond and the remaining members of SG-1 were sat around the large wooden table in the briefing room. Like a macabre, centre piece was a neatly folded combat vest with Daniel's video camera, radio and side arm placed on top of it, to the side lay his rucksack and P90. This small seemingly innocuous pile of belongings drew Major Carter's eyes, which prickled with tears.
"Sir, with all due respect, we have to go back and try to find him." Colonel Jack O'Neill exclaimed in a raised voice.
"Jack, you say you searched the entire are, but this is the only sign of Dr Jackson!" General Hammond responded angrily while gesturing at the pile "One of the members of my best team vanishes without a trace leaving his belongings behind him on a seemingly uninhabited planet, and you want to rush back unprepared. How do you know you're not doing exactly what this thing wants?" Jack slammed his fist down on the table in frustration.
"Colonel O'Neill" reprimanded General Hammond.
"I'm sorry sir, but Daniel is a good man, and we don't leave our men behind." Said O'Neill trying to keep his anger under control and his tone respectful.
"O'Neill" Teal'c interrupted in his deep steady voice "It is possible Daniel Jackson captured footage of his assailant."
"Good thinking Teal'c" rewarded Hammond "Let's get this hooked up, so we can see."
After a few moments of tense anticipation, Sam managed to plug the camera into the mains and project the image onto the big screen. Apprehensive she swallowed the lump in her throat and pressed play. At first, the screen was black, though the sound of breathing was detectable in the background. A hazy picture appeared and slowly became clearer as the camera focused itself and adjusted to the low light. As the picture focused they could see a wall covered in an unknown script, the image panned around and showed another two walls covered in the same writing. Echoing footsteps were heard on camera, Jack glanced at Sam and then quickly back at the screen. Daniel's voice came clearly "That was quick Jack. I haven't quite finished here yet. I think this is some sort of history of the indigenous people of the planet." In the momentary silence that followed Jack glanced at Sam and Teal'c, his shock was mirrored by Sam while Teal'c inclined his head towards them both. Daniel's eager voice dragged their eyes back to the tape "This may give us an insight as to why this city has been destroyed." The image wobbled slightly as though Daniel had taken his eyes off what he was filming, directing his attention elsewhere as he called "Jack?" again. A blue flash of light with the unmistakable sound of a zat gun firing and the camera fell to the floor its screen turning black on impact.
As the room's lights brightened Sam said, "I think it's safe to assume that Daniel was shot by a zat gun wielded either by a Goa'uld or Jaffa. They must not have vacated the planet as we originally though."
"Can we be sure it wasn't one of the natives who did this?" questioned Hammond.
"I don't think so sir" replied Carter with certainty shaking her head. "Judging by what we found I don't think the people of this planet would have been advanced enough to know how to shoot a zat gun. Plus we know the Goa'uld have been there recently. It stands to reason that they did this."
"Permission to go and rescue Daniel sir? Now we know what we are facing." Requested O'Neill
Sighing, General Hammond replied "Granted, but understand SG-1 you undertake this mission at your own risk. I cannot authorise anyone to come and rescue you. You have 48 hours, after that your iris codes will be disabled as a safety measure against capture."
"Yes sir" replied O'Neill and Carter while Teal'c nodded to show he understood.
"Alright team, you move out in 20 minutes" ordered Hammond.
Sam, Jack and Teal'c stood at the bottom of the ramp while the Stargate dialled. As it connected and the unstable vortex shot forward General Hammond's voice came over the intercom "SG-1 you have a goal. Good luck and god speed."