Author's Note: Okay, this will be the last update for at least a month, as graduation is on Sunday. Thanks to all of you for reading and reviewing!
Around 0730 the next morning, Corporal Klinger delivered three things to Teal'c: the flight plan of the pilot that had brought in the soldier injured by a staff weapon, a map of the area around the camp, and a uniform in Teal'c's size, complete with matching cap.
That had been several hours ago. Teal'c now sat at a corner table in the mess tent, cap pulled low over his gold brand, and studied his morning's work. "Hey Murray." Teal'c looked up to find Corporal Klinger standing across from him. "Sorry to disturb you, but General O'Neill wants you to meet him in Colonel Potter's office."
The big Jaffa inclined his head in acknowledgement before getting up from the table. Carefully, he placed the flight plan on top of the map and rolled the larger document up before following the corporal through the doorway and into the bright sunshine. As they walked across the compound, Teal'c could tell that the younger man had something on his mind. "Is there a question you wish to ask of me, Corporal Klinger?"
It seemed that the Army officer had been waiting for just such an invitation. "Are you really from the future?"
His voice was pitched so that only Teal'c could hear. Teal'c smiled appreciatively at the smaller man; for someone who he'd first seen wearing women's clothing, the corporal obviously understood enough about the military he served in to know that this was not information to be shouted from the hilltops. "Indeed," Teal'c replied, also speaking in a lowered tone.
Corporal Klinger appeared to ponder this as they covered the remaining distance to the office. "What's it like?" he finally asked, holding open the door for Teal'c.
Teal'c inclined his head in thanks as he stepped through. "I do not believe that it is wise for me to answer that question," he told the younger man. "You will find out, in time." With that, he left the corporal in the outer office and proceeded through the inner doors into Colonel Potter's office. The Colonel sat at his desk, while O'Neill had taken a seat in one of the chairs opposite him. Colonel Carter was also present, as was Doctor Pierce.
"Murray," O'Neill greeted him.
"You wished to see me, O'Neill?" he asked, taking up position behind Colonel Carter's chair.
O'Neill nodded to Colonel Potter, who took over. "Pierce got in touch with Granger. Turns out the Colonel's unit is headed back this way; Granger thinks that they can have your ship moved closer to the camp within a week or so."
"That is good news." Teal'c looked at the man he considered his brother. "I believe that I have discovered several possible locations for the Jaffa encampment."
"Excellent!" O'Neill returned Colonel Potter's raised eyebrows with a shrug.
The older man simply rolled his eyes before addressing Teal'c. "Murray, Jack and I need you to go find exactly where those aliens are camping out."
"Take Danny with you, too," O'Neill chimed in. "He's been making good headway with the locals, and can act as translator."
"Talk to Klinger about supplies," Colonel Potter chipped in. "He should be able to get you pretty much whatever you need."
Teal'c inclined his head in acknowledgment of the orders. "What of you and Colonel Carter?" Even though he was reasonably sure he knew what the answer was, he still felt that he should ask.
"I'll be working on the ship." Colonel Carter smiled up at him from her seat. "Do me a favor: if you find any death gliders, let me know?"
"Of course." Teal'c had to work to suppress the smile that threatened at the look on Doctor Pierce's face when Colonel Carter mentioned the words "death gliders". "I will collect Daniel Jackson and make the necessary preparations."
"Check-in with Sherman and I before you head out," O'Neill told him.
Once more inclining his head in acknowledgment, Teal'c left the office at a brisk pace, mind already whirling with plans.
"Death gliders?" Hawkeye blurted out as Murray left the office.
"Small, two-person fighters used by the Jaffa," Carter responded. "I can adapt some of the parts to work with our ship."
For the life of him, Hawkeye couldn't come up with any snappy retort other than "Ah." These people continued to amaze him.
Less than an hour later, Teal'c and Daniel left the camp. They had all the supplies necessary for a week-long recon mission, as well as one of their own radios and instructions to check in every twenty-four hours.
Two days later, Colonel Granger stopped by camp to talk with Colonel Potter, Hawkeye, and Colonel Carter. After a thirty-minute discussion, it was decided that the ship would be place near the camp dump and covered with camouflage netting to hide it from prying eyes, both ally and enemy. Colonel Granger also informed them that it would take several more days than originally thought to move the craft, because first they had to figure out a way to transport it without breaking their truck.
By day six of their recon mission, Daniel and Teal'c had covered a lot of ground; exactly how much, Daniel wasn't sure. They'd visited three separate sites where Teal'c had theorized the Jaffa could have crashed. So far, they'd had no luck. Now, as they worked their way up the hill to the fourth such site, Teal'c suddenly held up a fist. Eight years of working with the military had taught Daniel how important it was to obey this command, and he promptly got quiet, lowered himself to the ground, and crawled the remaining fifteen feet or so to the top of the hill. Carefully, they both lifted their heads over the crest. Daniel felt his eyes go wide at the sight laid out before him: two death gliders, guarded by a solitary Jaffa. Daniel turned towards Teal'c, a small smile on his lips. Jackpot.
Jack was smiling as he turned off the radio following the daily check-in. The news about the gliders would make Carter very happy. Actually, it would make her happier. Still smiling, Jack looked out the window of Sherman's office and watched as the Ancient ship was lowered carefully from the back of the reinforced truck, two days ahead of schedule.