Disclaimers: See previous chapters.
Author's Note: This is it folks, the final posting. After two months of working on this story, I'm almost sad to see it end. As I said before, this is my first piece of fanfic (as well as my first piece of fictional writing) so I was a little nervous about posting. I'd really like to take a moment to thank all of you who reviewed and to say an extra special thank you to those of you who reviewed over multiple postings. You really made my day. Anyway, enough rambling on my part… on with the story!
Chapter Twenty-One
The teams emerged through the wormhole and had just started to fan out when staff weapon blasts began whizzing by them.
"Take cover in the trees" Sam shouted as she spied four Jaffa bearing down on them from the direction of the campsite.
Ducking behind the DHD she began to return fire along with SG-4 and SG-11 who had arrived first through the gate and had already taken positions in the trees nearby. Within minutes the teams had managed to take out the Jaffa and had continued on to the campsite.
"Major Carter, we should destroy the campsite and then go after the Jaffa" said Captain Dennison of SG-6.
"I agree that we need to destroy the camp Captain but I don't think we should do so just yet" she replied looking around at the deserted site.
"Teal'c?" she asked looking around for the towering Jaffa.
"I am here Major Carter" Teal'c replied stepping from behind the members of SG-4.
Giving him a smile she asked "Didn't the Jaffa sit down to their evening meal at one time?"
"That is correct" he replied "with the exception of the guards patrolling the area near the gate."
"Which we've already taken out" she responded.
"Yes" he answered.
"Major Carter, what are you thinking?" asked Colonel Sandus of SG-6.
"Osiris' people are probably going to be expecting them to report in after these training exercises are over. Right?" she asked looking to both Colonels of SG-6 and SG-11. As she saw them nod in agreement she continued. "Well, if we waited to destroy the camp and attack them after they came back and reported in then it might buy us some time."
"Major, I'm not sure I follow what you're getting at" Colonel Sandus said trying to follow her line of thought. "Are you saying that you want the Jaffa to check in with the ship?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying Colonel. Think about it. The Jaffa will be tired from their training exercises and they won't be in top fighting shape. Couple that with the fact that they won't be expecting us to attack them while they're eating dinner and we've got a very big element of surprise on our side."
"I get it" Sandus exclaimed as the other surrounding members of the various teams started excitedly shaking their heads and talking amongst one another. "They'll be tired, unaware and their weapons will probably be elsewhere since they won't be expecting to need them during dinner."
"Exactly" she agreed more optimistic now that it looked like they might have formed a viable plan to carry out their primary objective. "And they will have already reported back to the ship so that Osiris will think things are proceeding as normal here on the surface…"
"Whereas if they weren't to report in prior to dinner then she might get suspicious and start transporting Jaffa down to investigate…" Sandus said continuing her line of thought.
"…And that would be much worse on us" she concluded as everyone stood quietly for a moment looking around at one another.
All of a sudden Colonel Allen's face broke into a big smile. "I think we've got our game plan. Now we just have to implement it."
"Upon their return, several Jaffa will check in with those guarding the gate" Teal'c said. "If they are unable to find them they will send up an alarm and it would give our presence away."
"Then we'll just have to take them out before they can report back to the main group at the camp won't we?" Colonel Sandus said. "Major Carter, SG-6 will position ourselves by the gate and stand ready to complete that part of the mission. Once we have accomplished this objective we will return and assist with the remainder of the camp"
"Meanwhile the remaining teams need to flank the campsite on all sides," Colonel Allen reasoned. "Therefore SG-3 will position itself on the south side of the camp, SG-4 will take the west side, SG-11 will take the east side and the Jaffa will be returning from the north so…"
"…So Teal'c and I will position ourselves on the north side of the camp after they have returned from training and SG-6 can backtrack and join us once they have disabled the Jaffa dispatched to the gate" Sam concluded.
"We should assume our positions now. The Jaffa will return to camp within the hour" Teal'c said reminding everyone of the amount of time that had already passed.
Each commanding officer assembled his team and began to make their way towards designated positions. With one last look at the camp, Sam and Teal'c found locations that allowed them to view the area while still enabling them to quickly make their way to the camp's entrance when the attack began.
All they could do now was wait.