Disclaimers: See previous chapters
Author's Note: Okay, I've finished the story and there are 28 chapters (including the epilogue). So… here's my question to you all and I need feedback please. This story has turned out to be much longer than I expected and I am afraid of throwing too much at everyone at once. (information overload). Also, the reviews seem to be dwindling so I'm not sure how many people are still with me here. Would you all prefer for me to continue to post a couple of chapters every few days or just throw it at you in one final chunk on the next posting?
Chapter Twenty
Samantha Carter had spent the last hour and a half pacing back and forth in the control room. She had spent the previous hour pacing in the briefing room and two hours prior to that in her quarters pacing when she should have been resting.
"What's taking them so long?" she asked practically pouncing on her father as he stepped into the room.
"Calm down Sam. Selmak warned you that it would take time to make arrangements. It's not like our operative can simply say 'Hey guys it's time to leave camp for awhile so the Tauri can storm the gate' now is it?" Jacob replied with a twinkle in his eye as he watched his daughter continue her pacing at the back of the room.
Smiling sheepishly she looked to where her father had pulled up a chair "I'm sorry Dad," she said as the man sat down. "It's just that I feel so useless! I should be out there finding a way to get them off Osiris' ship and instead here I am doing absolutely nothing!"
"Oh, I wouldn't say nothing" Jacob said and grinned mischievously. "After all, it looks to me as if you've worn a pretty nice pathway on the floor with all of that pacing."
Just as she was about to make a suitable reply to her father's comment, the klaxons began to wail throughout the base while the familiar words "unscheduled gate activation" were heard by all.
"Major Carter, we're receiving the Tokra IDC signal," the sergeant said as he reviewed the information displayed on the monitors.
"Open the iris" she ordered confirming his findings.
As soon as the iris opened the all too familiar swoosh of the wormhole was heard and the gate room was momentarily bathed in a blue light. A lone figure stepped through the gate and calmly looked around as the wormhole deactivated and the iris once again assumed its customary closed position.
"It's Ry'el" Jacob said as he exited the room to meet the Tokra visitor.
Sam followed her father along with Teal'c and General Hammond who had hurried to the control room when they heard the klaxons sound.
"Selmak" the Tokra greeted as Jacob entered the gate room.
After returning the greeting and completing the necessary introductions, the group made their way to the briefing room where they each sat down to listen to what the Tokra visitor had to say.
"We just received word from our operative on Osiris' ship. He has arranged for the Jaffa on the planet to commence with their latest set of training exercises beginning this afternoon. If an attack is to be launched then it will need to be done quickly" Ry'el said glancing at each of the people assembled at the table.
"Ry'el" Sam said as she turned her attention to the young man now seated before them "won't someone be suspicious if a training exercise is suddenly scheduled for no apparent reason?"
"Under normal circumstances that would be a very real possibility Major Carter" the Tokra responded. "However, our operative has convinced those on Osiris' ship of the validity of moving ahead with the training exercises given the recent events."
"Ry'el, has your operative been able to confirm whether or not our people are on board Osiris' ship?" the General questioned.
"Yes. Both Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Jackson are currently being held as prisoners on board the ship" the Tokra responded.
"Do we know of their physical condition?" Teal'c inquired remembering the Colonel's previous injuries. If the Jaffa employed traditional torture techniques then it was going to make getting them off of the ship all the more difficult.
"We are told that both of your people are alive and have sustained minimal injuries, although it looks as if Colonel O'Neill requires medical attention" Ry'el replied delivering the last part of his news a little more quietly than before.
Sam briefly closed her eyes upon hearing Ry'els words, an action that Jacob Carter didn't fail to notice. 'They're alive' she thought to herself 'and somehow we will get them back' she promised knowing that even with the Tokra's help nothing was guaranteed. But at least it was a start.
"How long will these training exercises last?" Hammond questioned hoping they would have plenty of time to go through the gate and assume defensive positions before the guards returned.
"The exercises are scheduled to last several hours but will conclude prior to nightfall" Ry'el replied.
"Then that should give us time to go in and set up," the General declared. "Will your operative be able to assist us in getting Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Jackson off the ship?"
"It is difficult to say as we do not know what Osiris has planned for either of your people. If the opportunity presents itself then our operative will assist you in any way possible" the Tokra concluded.
"We appreciate all of your assistance and understand the need for your operative to maintain his cover," the General said in an attempt to assure the Tokra he understood the gravity of the position in which the Tokra operative had placed himself.
"When will the training exercises commence?" Teal'c questioned having remained silent throughout most of the briefing.
"They are scheduled to begin in less than one of your Earth hours" Ry'el replied.
"Sir" Sam said looking to the General, "our teams are already prepped and ready to go."
"Thank you Major" Hammond replied looking at SG-1. "You have a go in ninety minutes. That should give the Jaffa time to get far enough away from the camp so that you have room to maneuver. Any questions?"
"Just one sir," Sam replied. "How are we to board Osiris' ship if the Tokra's operative is unable to help us?"
"We will give you a transporter device that should enable you to activate the rings. However you may need to adjust the frequency until you find the one that correlates to Osiris' ship" Selmak answered.
"Thank you Selmak" the General responded. Taking a deep breath he looked over to where Sam and Teal'c sat. He knew of the bond SG-1 shared with one another and that each would risk his own life to save the lives of the others. He also knew what this would do to Sam and Teal'c if they were unable to retrieve their teammates. However, even knowing all of this, Hammond realized he had to impart one final reminder as to the main objective for the upcoming mission.
"Major Carter, Teal'c" he began as he stood up from his seat "I am sure I don't have to remind you that while the retrieval of Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Jackson is an important part of this mission it is not the primary objective. Your primary objective is to take out the Goa'uld training camp so that Osiris' efforts to amass an army will be delayed. Only then, and only if you can do so without unreasonable risk to your own lives or to the lives of any other members of the SGC, are you to attempt a rescue of Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Jackson. Is that understood?"
"Yes sir" Sam responded as she prepared to exit the briefing room while Teal'c acknowledged the General's words with a deep bow of his head.
Ninety minutes later SG teams 3,4,6 and 11 accompanied by Sam and Teal'c stood at the base of the embarkation ramp waiting for the wormhole to engage.
"Chevron six encoded…" came the disembodied voice through the base PA system. Sam and Teal'c looked at one another and briefly turned their eyes back to the gate in anticipation of the familiar aura of blue light that would take them to Osiris' planet.
"Chevron six locked…" the voice continued its countdown.
'Hang on Jack,' Sam thought to herself as the computer dialing sequence counted down the remaining few seconds.
"Chevron seven encoded…"
"Just a little longer guys' she said maintaining her silent mantra as she stood waiting for the final chevron to engage.
"Chevron seven locked… Wormhole engaged…"
"SG 1,3,4,6 and 11 you have a go" came the General's voice through the loudspeaker. And with that he watched with apprehension as the teams stepped through the gate to engage the Jaffa.