The Sub Commander tried to look regal and impressive as they walked. He tried to make it seem as if he wasn't concerned about being alone with two of the enemy by walking straight and tall. And promptly tripped in one of the snake holes because he refused to watch his feet. He scrambled to his feet, unhurt – luckily – and scowled at the amused expression on both of the others' faces.

"Where are you taking me?" he asked abruptly.

"Away from your men so you'll listen to reason," Mitchell told him.

"You're wasting your time," Moran replied. "I am not the leader of the expedition, merely the second in command. You will have to discuss your lies and threats with the High Commander."

"Your High Commander is dead," a voice said from behind them.

All three whirled and found Andrew behind them looking as dirty and tired as Ian, but very much alive and well.

"What? You killed him?"

Andrew shook his head.

"He was struck by one of your ships when it crashed."

Ian didn't doubt for a minute that that was what had happened. Andrew wouldn't have lied about it if he'd been forced for some reason to kill the High Commander.

Moran looked shaken by this news, but recovered quickly.

"So you say…"

Andrew shrugged.

"Want to see the body? I could have it brought here."

"Even if what you say is true, it is still your fault he is dead. If you hadn't taken him from-"

"It's his fault he's dead," Ian interrupted. "If you hadn't come here in the first place, this wouldn't have happened."

"We-"

Cam held up his hand to interrupt him.

"You're the leader of these men, now. So lead them. You're not wanted here, and you're incredibly outnumbered. Enough so that we can make sure none of you make it home. Is that what they teach you wherever you're from? To face overwhelming odds and lose all your men just because you're too proud to admit you've bitten off more than you can chew?"

"We will win," Ian added. "And no matter what you bring at us, we'll keep you from ever setting foot on this planet again."

"You think you can take on the might of the Corain empire?" Moran sneered.

Cam nodded.

"Pretty much."

He was pretty sure Ian Brooks wouldn't have made the assurance that they could keep them from returning if he didn't already have something in mind. Undoubtedly something incredibly potent, knowing him and the technology he had available to them.

Moran lost the sneer at the calm assurance, and forced himself to think past the fury he felt at the treatment he was receiving. Treatment he hadn't received since he was very young.

Unfortunately, the three men in front of him looked certain that they were holding the upper hand, and truthfully he was fairly sure they were. Despite all their own technology, they didn't have any way to move a person from one spot to another so quickly – and certainly not an entire army, small though it was. The fact that these people had was unnerving, especially since the men had been scattered throughout all the villages in the area.

They had the upper hand, now, but he had other technology available, once he returned to their homeworld and told his superiors what had happened. Surely they wouldn't allow this to go unanswered. And they'd almost definitely put him in command of the return trip. Would probably promote him to High Commander as well. Then he'd show these people the mistake they'd made – and punish them soundly for the humiliation of this temporary defeat.

"My men?"

"What about them?"

"They will be allowed to leave?"

Mitchell nodded.

"We don't want them."

"And the ore we've already mined?"

Ian shook his head.

"Not a chance in hell. It's not yours, and from what I understand, you didn't mine it, the people of this world did."

"They have no use for it."

"Then you should have come as a trading delegation and asked them for it," Ian snapped.

"We need it," Moran told him. "Our-"

"You want it that badly, I suggest you figure out a way to kiss some serious ass, because I can't see any of these people just handing it over to you and wishing you best of luck."

"We'll help them find some use for it," Cam assured Moran with a slight smile. One that was designed to infuriate. "I'm sure they can-"

"It's ours!"

"Are you leaving or not?" Ian asked, putting an end to that particular discussion.

Moran pulled his fury in once more, and Andrew was impressed that he managed to do it. He doubted Ian would have been able to under similar circumstances.

"We're leaving. Take me back to my men."

"With pleasure…"

Cam gestured for Andrew to do the honors, and gave Ian a glance that plainly said he wanted to talk alone. They waited for Moran to turn and head back, with Andrew following closely, covering him with a zat, and then Cam turned to Ian.

"You realize we've pretty much just declared war with these people?"

Ian nodded.

"If they're dumb enough to try to come back, yes."

"They will. He's pretty pissed."

"Yeah. But they won't even make it into orbit – and certainly won't make it through the gate."

"You have something in mind?"

"Yeah. A couple things."

"You'll need to explain yourself to the Homeworld Defense people."

"Nope. Just to Jack. He's the one I answer to."

And Cam knew that O'Neill would go along with Ian over this. It was the right thing to do, after all.

Although…

"Why are you going to so much trouble for these people…?" he asked. "I mean, we don't really know them that well, right? They're nice enough, from what I can see, but worth going to war over?"

"They're our people," Ian told him, turning and heading back, but going slowly enough that Mitchell knew he was willing to finish the conversation. "They were taken from North America – from the states, really – and that makes them our responsibility."

Cam thought about that for a moment while they walked, but decided there had to be more to it.

"And you like them."

Ian scowled.

"I didn't say that."

At that moment, they broke through the brush into the clearing, and Ian was suddenly rushed by the little boy, his thin arms wrapping around his waist and holding him tightly in relief.

Cam smirked, but Ian chose to ignore it.