Chapter 14: Into the Fire
Teal'c lay lying in a bed in the SGC infirmary.
"It's okay, it's okay. You're in the SGC Teal'c," Frasier said.
Teal'c noticed that Hammond and Buffy stood at her side.
"Good to have you back, Teal'c," Hammond said.
"General Hammond," Teal'c said. "Captain Enye." He suddenly sat upright.
"Easy, easy," Frasier said.
"Where are the rest of SG-1?" Teal'c asked.
"Good question. We were hoping you could tell us," Buffy said.
"When you didn't return, we sent SG teams three and seven after you," Hammond said. "They found you lying next to the Stargate. There was no trace of Colonel O'Neill, Captain Carter or Dr. Jackson. We assume they were captured."
"You have no memory of this, Teal'c?" Frasier asked.
"I do," Teal'c said. "It was mixture of Horus and Serpent Guards, a very unusual combination."
Buffy, Hammond and Fraiser exchanged worried glances.
"Serving what Goa'uld?" Hammond asked.
Teal'c shook his head. "That I do not know. General Hammond, I will return to the planet immediately to search for the answers."
"I can't let you do that Teal'c," Hammond said as Teal'c proceeded to get off the bed and get dressed.
"General Hammond, I will not remain idle while my friends may be in danger on this planet," Teal'c said.
Frasier sighed. "Teal'c, you've been unconscious for three weeks."
Teal'c shook his head. "That is not possible. My symbiote would have awakened me long before the period of three weeks."
"You were barely alive Teal'c, with substantial internal injuries," Buffy said.
"Dr. Rin and Dr Fraiser spent most of the three weeks at your side," Hammond said. "I'm convinced it was their refusal to give up that kept you alive. Captain Enye had even given permission to clone you if the need arose."
"I am in your debt Dr Fraiser," Teal'c said. "As well as yours Captain Enye and Commander Rin's. General Hammond, permit me to return to this planet to search out my friends. If their bodies were not found by my side then they are prisoners."
"If they're prisoners, they're long gone from that planet. We sent out UAVs, balloons, our best rescue teams and finally the Defiant … and all found nothing but scorched earth," Hammond said. "There was no trace of them. They could have been moved to any Goa'uld strong hold. You'd be searching for a needle in a very large haystack."
Teal'c nodded. "Perhaps. But I must try."
"Teal'c, I understand your desire to do something, anything, for SG-1. I feel the same way. But I cannot expend any more resources on this. I'm sorry, request denied," Hammond said.
"If the people of the Tau'ri have given up hope on SG-1, then it is with great regret that I must leave this world and return to my people," Teal'c said.
Buffy sighed. "You mean you want to leave the SGC?"
Teal'c nodded. "That is correct."
"I can't let you do that Teal'c. I won't let you do it," Hammond said.
"General Hammond," Teal'c said. "I hereby respectfully inform you … that I must take my leave of the SGC. Therefore I am no longer under your command."
"I can't allow you to do that. You represent too great a security risk," Hammond said.
"You also can't hold him against his will," Buffy said as Hammond sighed.
"General Hammond, I would die before divulging any information concerning this world, Deep Space Nine or the Defiant. I believe you know that," Teal'c said.
Hammond nodded. "Yes I do."
"I will depart in an hour," Teal'c said as he left the room.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Two days later Colonel Makepeace exited the Stargate and rushed out of the Gate Room.
Welcome back Colonel Makepeace. Your briefing is scheduled at 14.30 hours…
"Make a hole!" Makepeace said as he dodged past SG personnel as he entered the Control Room. "Sergeant! I need to find General Hammond!"
"He's in his office … Colonel!" Walter said as Makepeace headed up the stairs.
In Hammond's office General Hammond is speaking with Major Davis and Buffy. "What we need is support for three new teams. Also Captain Enye would like to open negotiations for a joint maning of both Deep Space Nine and the Defiant. It's a big galaxy out there, Major."
"Sir!" Makepeace said as he rushed into the office.
"Colonel Makepeace, I'm sure you remember Major Davis. And of course Captain Enye," Hammond said.
"Yes, sir, I apologize. When scouting 254, sir, we came across several members of the Tok'ra. They told us the location of SG-1," Makepeace said.
"Where are they, Colonel?" Hammond asked.
"They've been taken prisoner, sir … by Hathor," Makepeace said as he spread a blueprint across Hammond's desk.
"Colonel, why do I get the feeling I'm looking at blueprints of my own base?" Hammond asked.
"Well in a way you are, sir. The entire section of the facility is a mockup of the SGC," Makepeace answered.
"It's damned peculiar," Hammond said.
"Well unlike Cheyenne Mountain, the Tok'ra say the exterior of the base is unguarded. We shouldn't face any resistance until we're already inside the facility, and even then it'll be light," Makepeace said.
"Can we trust them? The … Tok'ra?" Davis said as Buffy's eyes glowed. "What the hell?"
"Major Davis, I would like to introduce you to our Tok'ra liaison Sagira," Hammond said.
"You can trust the Tok'ra," Buffy said. "We have no reason to lie to you about the whereabouts of SG-1."
Makepeace nodded in agreement. "Their operative on the inside took a big risk just to get us this information, sir."
"If you have someone on the inside, why can't you do something?" Davis asked Buffy.
"We did do something, Major," Buffy said.
"You have the coordinates?" Hammond asked Makepeace.
Makepeace nodded. "Yes, sir," he said. "My team is ready to go."
Buffy's head dropped for but a moment before she looked at Hammond. "As is my team," Buffy said.
"And you both will, but not alone. Sergeant, I'd like you to get me the President on the phone," Hammond said into the intercom.
"Yes, sir," Walter replied.
"I want every available SG team ready to deploy in the Gate room within 2 hours," Hammond said. "Captain Enye I would like Dawnara and the Defiant on standby waiting for orders from myself or Commander Rin. We'll save her as a last resort."
"Understood, General," Buffy said.
"Yes, sir," Makepeace said.
"Sir, do you intend to commit the resources of this entire command?" Davis asked.
"I only wish we could. Nearly half of our teams are off world right now on other missions," Hammond said.
"General, that's not my point. SG-1 is a valuable asset, but they're still just one team," Davis said.
"Major, you've got a lot to learn about how we do things around here," Hammond replied.
"I have the President for you, sir," Walter said over the intercom.
"Let's get the job done," Hammond said.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"… telemetry, tactical is go. Environmental is a go," Walter said over the intercom two hours later.
The Gate room is full of SG soldiers, armed and ready to go. Buffy, Willow and Xander are dressed in Starfleet tactical gear also armed with phaser rifles and ready to go.
Hammond stood at the base of the Stargate's ramp as he addressed the gathered units.
"You've all been briefed on the mission by Colonel Makepeace and Captain Enye. You know the enemy, you know the risks. What I'm trying to say is, I would rather not order you to do this. So, I would like all of those willing to attempt a rescue of SG-1 to take one step…" he said as every person present takes one step forward. "Very well. SG units three, five, six, eleven and DS9 … bring them home."
Colonel Makepeace and Buffy walked up the ramp as Hammond saluted them.
"Good luck Colonel. Captain Enye," Hammond said.
"Yes, sir," Makepeace said as he turned to the soldiers, Willow and Xander and signaled for them to head through the Stargate. "All right, let's go, move out!"
The teams head through the Stargate and Hammond is left watching as the Stargate shuts down.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Makepeace ordered his own team to remain with the Stargate. "All right, hold the fort."
"Yes, sir," A marine said as the SG units begin to cross the open ground, heading for the tree line.
"Juliana, what have you got?" Buffy asked Willow who had her tricorder out.
"Picking up EM approximately one click away, Imzadi. Probably power generation. No sign of SG-1's IFF or radio chatter," Willow replied. "We really should think about getting commbadges for all SG teams. It would make them easier to locate."
Buffy nodded. "Already in the works. General Hammond is trying to secure me a meeting with the President again."
Inside Hathor's Pyramid, Jack is strapped down to a table. "We are not pleased," Hathor said.
"Neither are we," Jack replied.
Hathor viciously yanked a memory device of Jack. "Once host to a Goa'uld, you will take the lives of your friends," she said as she glanced at Daniel and Sam.
"We don't think so," Jack said.
"You will have no say in the matter. You will witness their deaths through your own eyes … helplessly," Hathor said as she reached down and tore open his shirt. "It may take some time for the Goa'uld to take control. But we will greatly enjoy experiencing your eventual defeat." She took the Goa'uld out of the Jaffa and placed it on Jack's chest.
"Oh god, no," Jack said.
"And when you awaken from the joining, you will kneel and pledge your loyalty to us," Hathor said as she smirked as a Goa'uld entered the back of Jack's neck, while Daniel and Sam can only look on helplessly.
"God!" Jack said as the discharge of a staff weapon, followed by gunfire as well as phaser fire, was heard throughout the pyramid.
"Jaffa! Kree mel!" Hathor said as Daniel and Sam are led away. Jack is left behind, horrified at what is happening to him.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
SG units, Buffy, Willow and Xander shoot at enemy Jaffa as they advance.
"Over there, over there! Secure the forward area," Makepeace said.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Jaffa. Lok shak tal makka kree!" Hathor said as she turned and left with her Jaffa guards.
Raleigh hurried over to the control panel and made some adjustments, before returning to Jack, trapped in a cryogenic tank. "O'Neill, you must fight it!" She said as she turned his face to hers. "I am Tok'ra. The cryogenic process will prevent the melding, the Goa'uld within will die, but until then you must fight." She closed the lid on the cryogenic tank.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Makepeace noticed Trofsky arrive with reinforcements, and opened fire on the Goa'uld. "Three o'clock, three o'clock!" he said.
"Jaffa! Chel'ets!" Trofsky ordered as the SG units, Buffy, Willow and Xander kill the Jaffa and he retreats.
Makepeace's rescue team entered a fake Gate room. "Yeah, there's no place like home. All right, area secure. Let's move out!" Makepeace said he and the rest of the group exit into another corridor where they see Daniel and Sam being escorted. They aim their weapons at the Jaffa. "Surrender your prisoners and drop your weapon. Now!"
Sam hit a Jaffa in the stomach, while Daniel knocked their captor's weapon away. They dove out of the way as the Buffy, Willow and Xander open fire, killing the Jaffa guard. Sam quickly gets to her feet and approached the rescue team. "Colonel Makepeace." Sam said. "Captain Enye."
"Where's Jack?" Buffy asked.
"He's been taken as a host," Sam replied.
Makepeace looked at Sam in shock. "What?" he asked.
They head down a corridor as Sam pulls on a BDU jacket as she follows Makepeace, Buffy, Xander, Willow and Makepeace's men. "We're pulling out. ETA is 5 minutes." Makepeace said into his radio.
Sir, there's something happening back here!
"Razor, come in Razor. SG-3 we have lost radio contact, please respond," Makepeace said then he looked to Buffy.
"What's the situation?" Sam asked.
"My team was covering the Stargate. Lieutenant, pass the word, we're moving out," Makepeace said.
"Wait, wait! What about Jack?" Buffy asked.
"He's a casualty," Makepeace said.
"Sir, if we can get him back to Earth …" Sam said.
"Captain, if my team has lost control of the Stargate, we're not going anywhere. Now let's go people. We're pulling out, let's go!" Makepeace said.
Buffy sighed. "He has a point Sam. If we're cut off from the Stargate we have to find someplace to hide. Dawnara is under orders to wait 12 hours before coming for us. The only one who can countermand those orders now is Commander Rin and General Hammond."
Daniel and Sam exchange glances before moving after Makepeace, Buffy, Willow, Xander and Makepeace's men.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Makepeace and his team, with Buffy, Willow, Xander, Sam and Daniel, take cover at the edge of the clearing the Stargate is in. Makepeace scaned the Stargate clearing through his binoculars. "No sign of my men," Makepeace said.
"Or the enemy," Sam said.
"I'm getting energy readings but I can't tell from where," Willow said looking at her tricorder. "It's like there is some kind of interference."
Makepeace signaled for the rescue team to move out as they cautiously cross the open ground, heading toward the Stargate. An SG soldier is suddenly thrown back as he hits an invisible barrier. The barrier, which briefly flares blue, prevents any of the units from approaching the Stargate.
"Cover your flank!" Makpeace said as on the Stargate platform, transport rings shoot up out of the ground, revealing Trofsky and a handful of Jaffa. "Open fire!"
Sam and Daniel duck and cover their ears as the SG units, Willow, Buffy and Xander open fire, but fail to penetrate the barrier as Trofsky, at the head of his Jaffa, watches and smiles.
"What the hell is it?" Makepeace asked.
"It's a shield," Buffy said. "Similar to that the Defiant employs. We won't penetrate it without something more powerful than hand phasers and bullets."
"Jaffa, ha'tak," Trofsky said.
"Fall back! Fall back!" Makepeace said as a giant turret shot up out of the ground, manned by a single Jaffa, cutting off the rescue team's escape. It is quickly followed by a second turret, which targeted Makepeace. "Into the tree line!"
The turrets open fire on the retreating teams. An energy blast from one of the turrets killed an SG soldier and knocked Daniel off his feet.
Sam headed back for her fallen teammate, who is looking at the dead soldier in stunned shock. "Daniel! Daniel, let's go!"
Trofsky watched in satisfaction as the Jaffa manning the turrets target the fleeing people as another SG soldier went down as they ran for cover.
Makepeace, under fire, discovered a tunnel and turned heading in its direction. "This way! This way! To me!" he said as the SG rescue team, along with Willow, Buffy, Xander, Daniel and Sam take shelter in the tunnel. "Secure that flank, secure that flank!"
"Is anybody behind you?" Makepeace asked as a SG soldier falls into the tunnel.
"No!" Soldier said.
Buffy's eyes glow for a second. "These are Tok'ra tunnels," Buffy said. "We have an operative on the inside."
"Who is it?" Sam asked.
"Don't know, don't expect to find out anytime soon either," Makepeace said as he glanced at Daniel, who has been injured. "How's the leg … can you walk?"
"It's just a deep, bleeding gash, but it'll be fine," Daniel said.
"Sierra Gulf Six, Sierra Gulf Six, this is Three Niner, come in …" Makepeace called into his radio.
"They could have made the tree line," Sam said.
"Yeah, maybe," Makepeace replied.
"If we can't penetrate this barrier of theirs, maybe we can go under it," Sam said.
Buffy smiled. "Yes if the tunnels exist. We do not know exactly how far they got in building the tunnels," she said as they discover the tunnel ahead is blocked by the energy barrier.
"Well I guess we can't go under it either," Daniel said.
"This isn't like any Goa'uld shield we've ever come across. It's more like a solid wall. The power output for something like this must be enormous," Sam said.
"Agreed," Buffy/Sagira said. "These are akin to what is used on the Deep Space Nine or the Defiant in a localized area. Such as the brig. The power requirements for a brig force field are smaller than what would be required here for a shield of this size."
"That's fascinating Captain … Sagira, but now what'll we do?" Makepeace said.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"How long are they overdue?" Hammond asked as he entered the control room.
"Five hours, sir," Walter replied.
"The plan called for SG-3 to check in by now, if they lost contact. We'll open the Gate and send a message through. The MALP's relay antenna might be able to get a signal to our teams," Hammond said.
Walter nodded. "Stand by to engage." A minute later the Stargate opened. "Wormhole established, sir."
"SG-3, this is General Hammond," Hammond said. "This is Hammond. Over."
"General, this is Three Niner. We hear you, sir," Makepeace replied over the radio.
"What's your status?" Hammond asked.
"We have two surviving Sierra Gulf Team One members, sir, but we have been cut off from the Stargate. We found cover in tunnels that Sagira said were made by the Tok'ra, but we cannot reach the Stargate without reinforcements," Makepeace replied.
"See if you can direct the MALP's camera to get a picture of the Stargate itself," Hammond said to Walter. "That'll take some time, Colonel. We'll try to send reinforcements through the Stargate in exactly six hours from now. Coordinate your offensive accordingly."
"Roger that, sir," Makepeace replied as they lost contact with the rescue team.
"Colonel Makepeace, come in. Colonel Makepeace," Hammond said with no reponse as the Stargate disengaged. "Damn!"
Moment later Hammond is in his office. "One armored platoon should be able to take the Stargate," Hammond said.
"General, sir, I'm sorry, it's not up to me. Even if it was, I don't agree with it," Davis replied.
"I don't really give a damn if you agree with me Major," Hammond said.
"With all due respect, sir, you took a shot based on intelligence you believed to be trustworthy, but obviously …" Davis replied.
"I promised reinforcements," Hammond said.
"The President and Joint Chiefs are simply unwilling to risk further loss of life, sir. Those are their orders. I'm sorry. I'm afraid, if your people are going to make it back, they're going to have to do it on their own," Davis said.
"I see," Hammond said as Dawnara appeared.
"I will be there before the six hours are up, General," Dawnara replied.
"What the heck?" Davis said. "Who is she?"
"I am Non-Biological Intelligence known as Dawnara," Dawnara replied. "What you are seeing is my avatar projected from a holographic projector." She pointed to the projector.
"What the heck is going on?" Davis asked. "No one said that Deep Space Nine or the Defiant had a fully functioning AI."
"As I stated I am not an Artificial Intelligence. I am a Non-Biological Intelligence. There is a difference," Dawnara said.
"Thank you Dawnara," Hammon said. "Major, I decided the information on Dawnara's existence should not be spread about." Hammond said. "Can you imagine what would happen if someone found out about Dawnara and managed to hack into her program?"
Davis sighed and nodded. "Yes I can imagine. Still I cannot allow the Defiant to leave Earth orbit," he said.
"I do not answer to you Major Davis. I answer to my Commanding Officer. My Commainding Officer currently is on the planet you are forbidding General Hammond from sending a team to. Her orders before she left placed Commander Rin and General Hammond as my superiors until her return. I answer only to them," Dawnara said.
"I still can't let you go," Davis said. "As you stated you are under the command of General Hammond and the President of the United States. Get the President on the line. We'll discuss this with him."
Dawnara shrugged. "General?"
"Go," Hammond said as Dawnara disappeared.
"Why did you do that?" Davis asked. "You are disobeying…"
"I disobeyed no orders," Hammond said. "Dawnara and the crew of DS9 and the Defiant officially do not fall under my chain of command. My authority over Dawnara was as an individual, not a member of the U.S. military."
"I have the President," Walter said.
Hammond picked up the phone. "Mister President. I need to discuss some things with you it appears ... Yes sir I understand the order not to send any more troops to the planet to rescue SG-1. The Defiant however is leaving to rescue SG-1."
"WHAT!" The president yelled.
"I omitted from my official reports the existence of a Non-Biological Intelligence," Hammond said.
"A what?" the president asked.
"Think of her as the next step in the evolution of an AI," Hammond said. "Dawnara has taken the Defiant in an attempt as I said to rescue SG-1 as well as her own people. And as you know Mr. President, DS9 and the Defiant are not under our jurisdiction."
"Major Davis here, sir. General Hammond did have command over Dawnara, Mr. President," Davis said.
"As an individual," Hammond said. "I believe you would agree that since the command crew of DS9 and the Defiant are not under my direct command as a General in the U.S. Air Force, that I do not have direct command over their actions."
"He is correct, Major Davis," the President said. "The only we have with their group at current is a mutual agreement to help with the Goa'uld."
"Something else, Mr. President," Hammond said. "Captain Enye has been expressing she would like to open negotiations with you."
"She has?" the president said.
"Yes," Hammond said. "She asked me to get a meeting with you so as to discuss a treaty that would give us access to their technology and our help with DS9 and the Defiant."
"When they return," the president said. "Call me and I will setup an appointment for Captain Enye to meet with me."
"Thank you," Hammond said.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Sirs, I've been thinking. The energy barrier extends for miles around the facility. So it must be powered from the inside, some sort of field generator. Now the Tok'ra used these tunnels to access the facility …" Sam said.
"They must lead to it somehow," Makepeace said.
"Right. Request permission to go back and try to shut it down," Sam said.
"I'll go with you," Daniel said.
"No Daniel, you're hurt," Sam said.
"I'll send an SG team along to back you up," Makepeace said.
Sam shook her head. "Even if I can knock out the generator, you're going to need everyone you've got to take on those towers."
"I will go," Buffy said.
"Sagira?" Sam asked.
"I can be of help," Buffy said. "Plus the Major is correct you need someone watching your back."
Sam sighed and nodded. "Okay."
"All right. If you two can, blow the generator just before our reinforcements come through. We'll try to take on the towers at the same time. That might give us the tactical advantage we need," Makepeace said as explosions are heard in the distance.
"Good luck," Sam said.
"Sagira," said Willow as Buffy turned to face her. She held out her tricorder.
"Thank you, Sendara," Buffy said as she took the tricorder.
"We'll try to hold the door open," Makepeace said as Sam and Buffy walk down the tunnel.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Sam and Buffy hid in an alcove as a pair of enemy Jaffa passed close by. When they have gone, they slip out and head down the tunnel towards Hathor's facility. Soon they found the injured Raleigh.
"Raleigh," Buffy said.
"Sagira," Raleigh said. "Forgive me, there was no other way." He pointed to the control panel. "Those controls are set. Activate them." Sam moved to the controls and activated them as the cryogenic tank containing Jack is lifted out of the pit. "The Goa'uld within is gone. The cryogenic process destroyed it, before it had a chance to meld with the host. He will revive automatically."
Sam opened the cryogenic tank, revealing Jack. She began to release the straps holding him. "Colonel? I don't feel its presence. You're going to be all right." She turned around to find Hathor waiting, armed with a glowing ribbon device with Buffy on the floor dazed.
Hathor used her ribbon device on Sam, who is forced to her knees. "We had hopes for you," She said as she was suddenly grabbed from behind by Jack. "We will destroy you for this!"
"We would just like you to go away!" Jack said as he threw Hathor into the cryogenic pit and, with a scream she disappeared.
"Carter!" Jack said as he pulled Sam upright and hugged her. He then went over to Buffy and pulled her upright. "Captain Enye?"
"Sagira is taking care of the damage caused by the ribbon device," Buffy said. "How Hathor managed to get behind me and use it without my knowing she was there I will never know."
"What happened?" Sam asked.
"Hathor's … gone," Jack replied.
"What about you?" Sam asked.
"Cold, a little chilly, but … I'm me. I'm me," Jack replied.
"Colonel Makepeace came through with half a dozen SG teams to rescue us. But Trofsky's got us cut off from the Stargate. He's using an energy barrier. It originates from somewhere in this facility. The plan is to blow it before General Hammond sends reinforcements," Sam said.
"And how do we plan to do that?" Jack asked.
Behind them, Raleigh raised her head. "What you seek is hidden within the mockup of your Stargate facility."
"What about you, old friend?" Buffy asked.
"My symbiote may yet heal me, old friend. You must hurry. Go," Raleigh said before Sam, Buffy and Jack left. They hurried through Hathor's facility moments later, looking for the generator.
"The energy barrier extends around the facility for miles. The generators must be massive," Sam said as they entered Hathor's fake Gate room.
"We're getting close," Buffy said holding Willow's tricorder. "I'm getting energy readings off the scale. Raleigh was right, Jack, the generator's somewhere in here."
Jack pointed to a lever on the wall. "What do you think?"
"Try it," Sam said.
Jack pulled the lever and a section of wall behind the fake Stargate slid back, revealing a huge turbine generator. "Found 'em!"
San handed Jack and Buffy some C4 and a detonator. "Set to detonate by remote?"
Jack nodded. "Yeah," he said as they walk up the ramp towards the generators.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Daniel, Willow, Xander, Makepeace and the surviving SG soldiers are captured by Hathor's Jaffa and led to the Stargate.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Jack, Buffy and Sam take cover against an embankment overlooking the Stargate. The surviving SG units are kneeling in front of the Stargate, guarded by Trofsky and a handful of Jaffa.
Sam surveyed the scene through binoculars.
"This part of your plan, Carter … Captain Enye?" Jack asked.
Sam shook her head. "No, sir."
"No," Buffy said.
"I know that you are still out there, Captain Carter! I grow tired of this. Surrender now, or your friends will be killed one by one," Trofsky said as he aimed his zat at the back of Daniel's head.
Suddenly Buffy's commbadge beeps. "Defiant to Enye. We're in orbit," Joyce said over Buffy's commbadge.
"Don't listen to him, Sam!" Daniel yelled.
Buffy smiled as she tapped her commbadge. "Can you get a lock on to Willow and Xander?"
"Negative. There is a shield in place blocking them," Dawnara replied.
"Silence! I will give you one minute," Trofsky said.
Buffy nodded. "Understood standby," She looked to Jack. "We could detonate the C4. Then Dawnara could beam up…"
"Problem is not everyone has commbadges. How will she lock onto the SG teams?" Jack asked.
Buffy tapped her commbadge. "Dawnara can you differentiate a Jaffa from a normal human?"
"I can scan for the symbiote," Dawnara replied. "You want me to try and beam up everyone that does not have a symbiote?"
"Yes," Buffy said. "On my mark, we'll blow the generators and you will beam up everyone at the base of the Stargate that does not have a symbiote." She looked to Jack who sighed and nodded as the chevrons on the Stargate began to light up.
"Jaffa kree, Chappa'ai!" Trofsky said.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Teal'c, along with General Hammond, sat in an ancient Death Glider. "Firing the weapon will be your responsibility, General Hammond."
"Understood," Hammond said.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Jack blew the C4, destroying the generator.
"Enye to Defiant. Energize, now!" Buffy said.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"What exactly did Bra'tac mean by threading the needle?" Hammond asked.
"Observe," Teal'c said as he hit the control panel and the glider raced through the wormhole. It shot out the other end and fired at the first turret, destroying it as the SG teams, Makepeace, Willow and Xander disappear in a transporter beam.
Buffy aimed her phaser rifle and fired at Trofsky. Sam ran across the clearing, shooting at the Jaffa manning the second turret.
Bra'tac, along with half a dozen of his Jaffa, emerged from the Stargate as Trofsky climbs to his feet and raised his weapon, Bra'tac shot him, killing him.
"Fire," Teal'c said as he brought the Death Glider around for another pass.
Hammond fired the Death Glider's weapons, destroying the final turret. "Yeeeehaaaw!"
Bra'tac and his people capture Trofsky's Jaffa. "Jaffa! Tal bet! Tal bet!"
Trofsky's remaining Jaffa surrender and Bra'tac headed over to Jack and Buffy. "Human."
"Actually I'm Srrkaran," Buffy said. "We can transport you and your prisoners on our ship wherever you wish to take them. If you want."
"That would be most helpful," Bra'tac said.
Teal'c and General Hammond, having landed the Death Glider, approach the gathering. They all share a moment of triumph.
Buffy smiled and tapped her commbadge. "Enye to Defiant standby to beam us up. Beam everyone on my mark to the Cargo bay and then disable the cargo bay transporters. Teal'c if you would be so kind as to fly that Death Glider up to the Defiant. We'll engage a tractor beam and tow it back to DS9." She looked at Hammond. "I'm going to see if we can reverse engineer it."
Teal'c nodded and turned back to the Death Glider as Jack, Hammond, Sam and Buffy walked with Bra'tac back to his people and the prisoners.
"Enye to Defiant, Energize!" Buffy said.
Two days later Buffy sat in the Oval Office waiting for the President to arrive. It had been a year since the first offer to meet with him. But in that time Buffy had finally decided what she needed in exchange for access to future technology. While in the beginning it had been a level of trust. In recent months it had been deciding what they would need in return.
"Greetings Captain Enye," President William Clinton said as he entered.
"Please call me Buffy," said Buffy.
"So it's true then," said William as he sat behind his desk. "That you are the Slayer?"
"You know of the Slayer?" asked Buffy.
"The Watcher's Council keeps all the governments of Earth aprised of the war with the demonic forces," said William. "Much like with Stargate Command that information is classified of course. Being the Slayer you actually have a classification as high as General Hammond's. Shall we get started?"
Buffy nodded. "Yes," she said.
"With Deep Space Nine and the Defiant. You are currently understaffed. What I would like to offer is a formal treaty that allows us to share control," said William. "This would gain you access to the personnel to train in the required areas. And it would allow us access to your technology with your oversight. And since you would have oversight you can revoke access to that technology. As you pointed out to General Hammond, we can't force you to give us access. If we tried to forcibly take either the DS9 or the Defiant away from you. You or Dawnara would lock us out of the controls. And it would probably take the best hackers years if not centuries to break the encryption because of how advanced both the technology and Dawnara herself is."
Buffy sighed and nodded. "To tell the truth Mr. President. I had been thinking of allowing the SGC access to some if not all the technology. In fact I might even have a proposal for you," she said. "As I understand it, the SGC is currently costing the United States government billions of dollars a year. And a large portion of that is from just powering the Stargate."
"You are correct," said William. "I take it you have a solution."
"Deep Space Nine," said Buffy. "Move Stargate Command up there. Then the only expenditures for Stargate Command you would have is the personnel that is employed by Stargate Command and fuel costs. DS9 is powered by six hydrogen fusion reactors, we will need hydrogen to power those reactors. The hydrogen fusion reactors will provide more than enough power for the Stargate."
William nodded. "That sounds like a good idea," he said.
"That said," Buffy said. "That is not the only thing we will need. We need Naquadah. My Chief Engineer estimated that the Defiant would have to be mothballed and soon if a few things weren't fixed. She has a plan to replace our Dilithium crystals with Naquadah. She estimates with a team of engineers we could have the Defiant ready to go in a matter of weeks. Also our Ablative armor is wearing thin. We need people knowledgable in EVA to lace the hull with Naquadah."
"We could do that," William said. "Now I would like to offer your group commissions in the U.S. military. Even though you have asked for no compensation other than to help with the Goa'uld threat. You are still American citizens. There is no reason you all should not be paid for what you do. It is something I have always disagreed with the Watcher's Council on when it came to the Slayer."
"Thank you, that is most appreciated," Buffy said.
Author's Note: This is the turning point. After this I intend to make changes. And as a result I would like folks to make suggestions. What would you like to see changed.
Before anyone suggests Sha're I already have something for her.