Chapter 10

The stealth ship landed in a secure hanger. He exited via the front hatch followed by the humans that had accompanied him. It had taken an extra week to make everything permanent and tie up all loose ends but it worked. The mines were secure and Ba'al's new slaves were moving in to begin mining.

Heret-Kau was waiting for him. For a moment he stopped to look the short but attractive woman up and down. She was wearing a skirt and suit and had her hair down, long over her shoulders. The heels accentuated the legs. She was a beautiful woman. Too bad Cassandra was not Fraiser's biological child; those genes would die with the woman.

Heret-Kau smiled showing pearly white teeth. "Agent Bill, I'm here to debrief you." She turned her head to one side flirtatiously.

He half smiled back and came closer to her. He made an obvious inhalation of air taking in her sent. Lovely. He looked down at her, "Give me a moment to take care of my men…I'll see you in the car?"

She looked around him to the other men. She shrugged, "as you wish, don't take too long." She turned and walked away. He watched her leave for a moment. Lovely. Woman and lovely…a combination that could be very destructive combination if not carful.

He turned to address his men…

Safe House: a day later

Jack was reading a paper-back novel that he had found back at the farm house. "The Throbbing Sent of Flowers", it had some red head with exposed nipples and a Flavio looking guy sniffing a flower on the cover. Inside there were pen marks and small notes like, "Boring" and "One dimensional". In fact the notes were more entertaining than the book. "the only accurate thing in this book is that the noble women really where this dumb and the men loved it…it was easier to get a wench and a mug of ale back then…THIS BOOK IS HORRIBLE!" Jack's favorite note was "This author really needs to read the Kama' sutra…no imagination."

Jack snickered to himself, the thought of that pale green gargoyle reading a romance novel was hilarious.

"Enjoying my book." A voice came from behind him.

Jack jumped to his feet to see Bill in a long brown coat and black shirt and pants. His hair was tied behind his head with some hanging loose to frame his fierce face. Bill was wearing sunglasses but pulled them down so his yellow eyes showed above the rims.

"I didn't know you got into that sort of thing. Fantasy women and all…weren't you a ladies' man or something back on campus?" Bill smiled.

Jack relaxed after a moment. "Yah, well I read a lot more and I didn't pack anything when I left school…You read this stuff?" He held up the book and flashed the cover.

"What can I say, "Bill shrugged. "I don't date much."

Jack smiled as Bill cleared a chair to sit. "… dating has changed a bit since the Wench days…"

"You read that part?" Bill unbuttoned his coat all the way to slide it off his shoulders. "In my day we had orgies with fertility goddesses and Amazon queens…you kids today are tame in comparison." He smiled at Jack's confused expression. "They were hot."

"Okay…" Jack looked really uncomfortable now. "About the men…"

"I know Cassandra informed me on rout here. Call the Colonel and arrange to move all the men to Washington D.C. Surprising enough that will be where the next grand meeting of the goa'uld leaders of the Trust will be. Buy a motel, one with a parking garage. We will put them all up in one place and have the new equipment delivered there."

"Yah, what kind of equipment?" Jack asked, grabbing a pen and pad, "Cassie mentioned something about that and said it was ready but nothing specific."

"I used some old contacts to begin construction and development of tools that will be useful in our take over. Versatility and non-lethal options are necessary as well as means of containing all prisoners yet incapacitate the symbiots so they can't kill their hosts before we found out what they know. From my experience with common weapons of today's military they are fast and far too loud and lethal. I need people alive after this. That is one reason why your older brother is so important to the plan."

"My what…" Jack looked up from his pad.

Bill looked at Jack, "The other O'Neil, the…"

"I know but, he isn't my…" Jack couldn't bring himself to say it.

"What would you have me call him?"

Jack grimaced and looked back down at his pad. He was ready to keep writing but Bill didn't stop staring. He was seriously asking a question. "I…don't know but we aren't…related."

"I'm not going to argue with who you consider family, Jack but for the sake of designation alone what would you have me call him?"

"HK-47?" Jack said smiling trying to make a joke. He knew Bill was becoming a star wars fan. Bill didn't laugh.

"How about I call him Droid and you Clone," he stated. Jack glared back, angry at the tone and the dismissive nature of the…word. He got it. He was acting the same way when he didn't call Jack by his name. It didn't feel good to be dismissed as something less than human.

"We'll work on it Mr. O'Neil." Bill said turning to his coat pockets looking for something. "Speaking of the other 'YOU', I need to make contact. "

Jack O'Neil's residence:

Jack reclined in a chair in the dark. His shirt was open exposing the metallic casing around his stomach. A plug and cable went from a port to a small two cylinder case that looked like something that belonged on the set of a sci-fi convention. Bill had scrapped it together using some kind of "magic" crystals and cannibalized parts from Teal'c and Sam's bodies. He didn't want to think about it.

"Resting?" a soft voice spoke from behind him. A hand was on Jack's shoulder from behind.

Without thinking Jack reached up grabbed for the arm and pulled. A heavy weight flew over his head in a flapping black blur and landed right in front of him barely missing the coffee table. Jack was on his feet ready to follow through, the figure called out, "WAIT!" before Jack did anything.

It took another.010 seconds for Jack to realize who he had thrown. "AHHH…" Jack's mouth was open but he couldn't apologies for tossing his boss just at that moment.

Bill looked up at Jack without moving, "I will never do that again…" Bill said lying on his back. He got to his feet his black cape falling back around his shoulders making him look very much like a vampire from some B horror movie. He wasn't hurt but still physically but his pride had been stung at being taken unprepared…especially when he had wanted to gently shake Jack awake without scaring him. Machine, He reminded himself. Doesn't sleep, probably has better reflexes than I do, at least when making the transition from still to motion.

Bill straightened out his pants and waves his arms a pit to let his cape fall straight down. It wasn't damaged.

"How did you get in?" Jack asked closing his mouth.

Bill finished straightening his cloths to give Jack a golden eye stare. "No 'Sorry I threw you over my shoulder Boss, Are you hurt Boss, Can you forgive me…'?" Jack didn't say anything just gave a nerves half smile and shrug. Bill returned the half smile with a wider one full of sharp teeth. "Over the years flashy entrances became too much trouble."

Jack tried to replay the last few moments to see if his sensors had picked up any changes but there had been none. This guy was good. Jack knew he could see and hear far better than any organic person.

"We are ready to begin. Here," He handed Jack a folder he drew from within his cape. "Those are the plans for the Dedalus; your counterpart has been working on them and finds that these instructions will be the most useful to you. Can you gain access quickly?"

"I'm a General; I can go wherever I want." Jack said. Still wasn't used to that thought.

"Good, as of now we are ready to move in 48 hours. I will already be on site. But we need you to be ready. The men can't move in without you and you're our primary means of getting out. Further mission specifics are in the folder."

"I know, I know. Won't bring you all back in a wall or vacuum…Got it."

Jack flipped the file open and gave it a quick look. "The mini me is a bit of geek…"

Bill gave Jack an exasperated look, "I swear, you two are exactly the same."

"Is this Col. Everett, as in Dillon Everett?"

"Yes."

"Didn't a…what ever you guys call yourselves you know eat him?"

"He is just getting the people together. He still has some credibility and the bonds you special forces types have seem to go deep."

Jack had to nod at that looking back down at the folder and papers. There were something he would do for old team mates he wouldn't do for his best friend, and he didn't even like some of his old team meats. Not all of his mission teams had been like SG-1. He turned to the last page and gave a glance…the last line made him blink, which for a robot doesn't happen often. He looked up to see no one. He hadn't seen or heard a thing. "Okay the batman act is going to get annoying." Jack spoke allowed just in case someone was still around to hear it. There was no reply. He looked back at the paper, "He can't be serious,"

"I am."

Jack's head sprang back up to see the Alien right in front of him as if He hadn't moved. "Wanted to gage your reaction," He spoke before Jack could. "If you can't do this than I will send someone who can. If we can't take the building I will not lose, not with this much at stake, understand."

Jack looked into those yellow cat like eyes. There was an absents of humor or any hint of emotion. Just a sense that Jack could almost feel radiating off the caped creature. He nodded, he didn't want to, but he nodded all the same. Sometimes you need to do what you don't want to in order to win.

Washington DC:

It was late and people were tired. The Young Mr. O'Neil had done well. He had purchased an old Holliday in with a large parking garage. Four large black SUVs now occupied it. Men He did not know were carrying boxes and crates from the truck that had parked in the back.

He watched from a corner as Jack directed where to lay stuff out in the vast empty space. The Col. Would make an appearance in the briefing but would not actually go on the mission. He had every intention of not being here when Everett, showed up either.

He took some time to notice that many of the men were middle aged but all were in strong physical condition. Good he had had a small fear that these men would be too old to face the young and highly skilled agents the TRUST employed.

This was supposed to be His big debut into the Trust leadership. As Ba'al had promised, he had moved up the ranks quickly, now he would sit with the ruling body. He thought back to his debriefing with Heret-Kau in her Condo.

Flashback:

He reclined on a white leather couch while he could hear his hostess dropping ice into glasses and poring scotch he could smell from his comfortable position.

The small brown haired woman was now dressed in an evening gown of sparkly material that exposed her left leg all the way up to her thigh. And unlike many women of wealth she was tanned not from the fake oils or a cheap sun bed but by the actual sun and exposure to the elements. He wondered if it was the host who had been so active or Heret-Kau. Janet Fraiser was a lovely woman but He had never met her only the daughter which he wasn't letting on to just yet.

The head of the Trust's communications and media connections set down two glasses on a fancy coffee table. She fell into the empty space next to him on the sofa and reclined exposing her low neck line and not overly large but neither small endowments. Yes Janet Fraiser was a handsome woman.

"I could get used to briefings like this," He said as he leaned forward to take a glass and smell the aroma. He took a sip. "This is very good. Let it not be said that the Gua'uld have poor taste."

The woman laughed a light sound. "Yes, well earth does have its advantages. I honestly don't know what the system lords found so pleasing about being gods and being worshiped when all of this was available from just playing some fools against each other. It is so much easier."

"Speaking as someone who has been worshipped it is kind of addicting and the constant stroking of your ego can go a long way. He set the glass down and leaned in closer to her. He breathed in both through his nose and mouth tasting her sent. "Shouldn't we begin the debriefing…"

Heret-Kau's eyes flashed and she spoke in that low baritone voice of the Goa'uld. "Are you in a hurry?" she smiled leaning closer to him.

"Not at all, just interested in knowing where I stand in the pyramid." He leaned in so close that his cheek touched hers. "I know what this is…" he whispered into her ear. He let her lean back brushing her skin against his so she could see him in the eyes.

"I'm glad…and don't worry, you will be right up there with us, just…not making too many big decisions. Think of yourself as oversight, there to smooth out the issues when the managers don't see the whole picture."

"Ah…and will that include more time with you?" He smiled but kept his lips closed.

She smiled back showing her pearly white teeth behind those red painted lips. "Oh, yes…I imagine that you have a wide variety of…ideas from such a long life among the Tau'ri."

He leaned back and didn't smile. "I'm sorry," Heret-Kau said realizing what she said. "I know you don't like it spoken allowed. You have so many superstitions."

"Maybe but I've seen a lot of things too…" he responded and smiled putting his hostess back at ease.

End Flashback:

He touched Jack on the shoulder and told him to come with him. Cassandra was just coming down the stairs with a clipboard. For just a moment He thought of Alice who had been so helpful keeping track of people and material. With that memory came also anger at her death and that He hadn't made the people responsible pay in blood. Destroying Area-51 had been to get to the Trust not proper retribution. The scales were still unbalanced…but He also had to remember that she had been a soldier, maybe not in uniform but she had been his soldier and soldier's died.

Cassandra saw how her benefactor was looking at her and grew a bit apprehensive. "Oh," a man yelled as a light fixture broke above his head seemingly for no reason. No one was injured. He realized that He would have to make sure she had more control in the future. He certainly couldn't leave her like this forever.

"Come with me both of you." Both young people fell into step behind him as they went up to the second floor and to an unoccupied bed room.

He closed the door and pulled the desk out from the wall with ease. "Have they all arrived?"

Cassandra had been keeping track and assigning rooms for use. "Yes, we have 48. All with experience in black ops or urban war-fare. Most are marines but there are six deltas and 12 who just say they were spooks so I think CIA or something. Marino and the big man with red hair were also SEALS."

"Good," he said. "Jack when is Everett showing up?"

"Six hours right before we deploy." Jack gave a quick answer.

"Okay, I'm going to be leaving soon. You both understand the plan. Good. Jack is already in orbit. Miss Fraiser you will home in on me and give the signal to O'Neil in orbit using that satellite phone I gave you." Cassandra nodded. "According to the plan he will need 20 minutes to take the Dedalus and start beaming. Jack, you will get a signal when Fraiser uses that phone. Make sure everyone is armed with the equipment I showed you and in one place. You all have those beacons I acquired from Area -51. They work only to help the other Jack target a general area."

"Miss Fraiser, you also have one to throw it into the street in front of the building where I'm at. Point the men where they need to go. If they can't get through use your new found talents to demolish anything that is in your way." She nodded again.

"Jack, once the Dedalus is secure come down as well to supervise the outside and ways in and out. I will be causing as much ciaos as I can from inside. The biggest job is keeping anyone from escaping and keeping all the computers and files intact. This is the hub of the TRUST. Inside are the names and placements of all their operatives on earth and abroad."

"That's what the new weapons are for…" Jack confirmed.

"Yes, shoot indiscriminately. If you can't identify it shoot. They are non lethal but will take out anyone with a combination of darts and rubber bullets. And the new stun pellets. If one doesn't work the other will. The agents in black suits will be the most difficult. I fought them and they are well trained. Get them from a distance is the best way."

"Okay and then we set up more beacons and beam up everything and everyone back to the ship. Bingo."

He looked both at O'Neil and Cassandra, "This is it, we put this together fast and I won't pretend that there are not holes in the plan. We never worked with these men before and we have not even gone into combat together yet. So understand that I chose you all for your many talents and abilities, but most off all I want you to use your best judgment. Things go bad, they go bad, no one is at fault. If you think that we can't control the situation, get as many people out as possible."

He stopped, took a breath and then spoke up again. "Thank you, for trusting me this far. I hope we all make it through this."

"So do we," Jack joked.

Cassandra didn't smile. "You will keep my mom safe right?"

He looked her in the eyes. "I will give you the chance to save her. Consider that your motivation not to fail." He wasn't giving her another answer. He turned and walked out the door. Time to begin.

Note:

Here we go. The attack is going to happen. Hope you all like it.