"I take it the interrogation was a success?" George asked as they sat at the table.
"Very well, if slightly disturbing General Hammond." Lantesh answered.
"Lantesh!" George asked in shock.
"Yes General. Xander convinced… and coerced Jack into giving me a brief respite for the duration of this briefing." Lantesh said.
"Colonel O'Neill, do you realise how big of a security breach this is?" George ranted.
"George relax. Lantesh has clearance up the Wazoo and-"
Xander was interrupted by Lantesh laughing his head off.
He suddenly stopped and composed himself. "Sorry." He said bashfully. "I just had a re-run of Futurama."
"-aaand," Xander continued eyeing the pair of nutcases warily, "he is no longer Air Force, he's my team now, remember?"
George deflated slightly. "Quite right. Of course after Lantesh's little display… I'm quite glad they are your problem now." He grinned evilly.
Xander took the route of a very powerful ruler. And blew a raspberry.
"Perhaps we should hear about the interrogation." Teal'c suggested as he hid a smile.
"These men are despicable. I recommend sending them to Xander's prison planet." Lantesh said. "They have done things I refuse to give Jack access to as I can't responsibly do that unless I stay to help him."
Lantesh said with clear disgust.
"I think it's because he would be sharing it as a memory as opposed to observation." Jack offered. "Gotta say, I've had my fair share of bad times, not really looking to experience someone enjoying it."
"Regardless, these men are financed by the business elite." Lantesh continued. "The Chinese President believes them to be trustworthy, but they are only out for their own personal gain. They make the Goa'uld look generous."
"Are they a big threat?" Sam asked.
"They have gained access to everything the Chinese President has. Using that they have inserted personnel into our facilities, and no, they don't know who they are." Lantesh informed them.
"Do you have any information on how we can find them and stop them?" George asked.
"They knew the names of some of the lower members of this group. That is the only starting point I have. As with the best of setups, they knew only what they needed to." Lantesh said.
"Now we just have to figure out how to go rampaging through the Chinese government and business corporations without making to big a splash." Daniel muttered.
"We can send in the AI's." Xander said. "I will have the Chinese President introduce me to his cabinet and I'll make sure they know better than to cross me. When the AI's find something, they will inform us and we will send in an investigatory team. I'll also ask for a Chinese government team so we don't have to worry about westerners standing out."
"If you have someone willing to blend with me temporarily, I would be willing to go in as well." Lantesh offered. "My experience as a Tok'ra gives me skills in espionage that may be useful."
"Thank you very much Lantesh, we'll certainly keep it in reserve, I know you would rather find someone compatible to blend with." George said sincerely.
Xander returned home that evening having put a plan into action. The AI's were already racing around the Chinese infrastructure. Delta was leading the way, but only until he and Xander would be heading off world together. But that was likely over a month away, after Jack and Sam had their honeymoon.
It was coming into summer time and Xander decided that as SG1 was off active duty, it was about time they all had a vacation. He headed for the President and requested a temporary stand in for George so he could join them again.
Three new additions this time were Charlie, Tara and Graham. Willow claiming she wanted her boyfriend.
Graham had been getting closer to the Scoobies as they continued to work with the Initiative. Oz was the standing in for Xander whilst Masterson had official military command.
Graham still had trouble dealing with the various superior officers that turned up. Every now and again he would stare at Xander or Gaia, trying to comprehend that they were an angel and goddess, respectively.
Willow had caught him staring at Gaia and called him on it. He had to explain himself pretty quickly. Fortunately Gaia assured Willow he was telling the truth.
Graham was coming to the wedding as Willow's guest. In full dress uniform. Needless to say when he turned up at Willow, Buffy and Oz's house the two girls were caught gaping by an amused Oz.
"You do realise I'm standing right here babe?" Oz asked Buffy.
Buffy shook herself out of a daze. "Oz! My boyfriend!" She said guiltily.
Fortunately Oz thought the whole thing was hilarious.
Buffy was a little put out by his laughing. "Hey! Why don't you have a uniform?" She asked.
"I do, but I don't think Jack and Sam's wedding is the best place to wear my Spartan armour." He explained.
Buffy sighed. "I suppose. At least you know how to make that suit look good. Doesn't he Wil- WILLOW!"
Buffy had turned to find Willow glued to Graham's mouth via pure suction. Apparently she was fully enjoying Graham.
Graham was just going with the flow.
The wedding was a very simple affair. Unless you count the fact that it was held on Tonane's home world.
Sam's brother and his family were there having been briefed and made to sign a ton of non-disclosure forms.
Jack's ex-wife and father-in-law were there as well. Both wanting to support Jack in his new life.
Buffy, Willow and Gaia were bridesmaids, Sha're was the Matron of Honour. And of course Selmak was walking Sam down the aisle as Jacob gave her away.
Jack had Daniel as his best man with Oz and Teal'c as groomsmen. The guest list was made up of an eclectic group of people.
Jaffa, Tok'ra, Tollan, Nox, World Leaders, Hades, Michael, a good chunk of the SGC. Not to mention a few other off world friends. Needless to say Tonane, Xe-ls and Takaya were there with the entire Salish village.
It was decided that the couple would recite their vows, then engage in the Salish wedding rituals with a blessing by God.
A mixed affair. But also a stark contrast to the technological style their lives generally took.
Many of the Earth bound people were simply amazed to talk to aliens and be on another planet. The trip through the Stargate was done en masse.
The wedding went off without a hitch. Xander had very little to do other than explain what was happening. He added his own decoration by appearing in a white suit with wings and glow. Needless to say, some wedding photos would not appear in their house on the mantle piece.
Afterwards Graham found himself listening and asking questions of God, Xander and Gaia. The Metatron was off dancing with the bride so Gaia was interpreting for the Creator.
"There's one thing I don't get." Graham said. "You've made contact with world leaders, planetary leaders. All under the title of Angel or Champion of the Universe?"
Xander nodded.
"What about religious leaders?" He asked.
Xander looked a little taken aback, he'd simply never thought of it before. He turned to the two frowning females.
"It's not the best idea." Gaia said. "By revealing ourselves as gods and angels to the religious leaders, we risk a huge amount disruption with their beliefs. It will be impossible for them to understand that they are all partially wrong and all partially right."
"So… we hide from the religious groups?" Xander asked.
"For now. Eventually we will be more open. But regardless, there will be anger and panic. People will think their beliefs are all wrong and they are headed for hell."
"So why not start by meeting with the religious councils like you did with the world leaders?" Graham asked.
He was rewarded with a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek by God, all of which left him with a very goofy grin and a huge blush.
"She says that's a great idea and you should be more involved with Xander, Tara and Willow on that front." Gaia grinned at the blushing soldier.
"ME!" Willow squealed in shock. "Why me?"
"Well what exactly did you think being my priestess involved?" Gaia asked.
"I thought I was just gonna support Oz, Faith and Buffy in the fight against demons." She said with a pout.
"Nope, like Tara for Xander, you are my liaison to various leaders." She grinned.
"Fine." Willow sulked. "I'll go play politics."
"Oh please don't!" Gaia cried. "You're my priestess, not theirs."
Xander meanwhile was sniggering away at Grahams face. He was clearly still trying to recover from the embrace of the Almighty.
"Graham. GRAHAM!" He said loudly as he prodded the soldier.
"Huh?" Graham had a familiar goofy smile.
"Wow, he looks like you used to when God whispered in your ear!" Gaia teased.
"Yeah, good times." He smirked at the Almighty who just blew a big wet raspberry at him.
"Graham, God would like a dance. Just treat her like you would a combination of… Oz and Willow." Gaia said.
Unfortunately this made Graham grimace.
"That's terrible!" Willow cried.
"Not physically!" Gaia said throwing her hands up in exasperation.
Xander quelled his laughter and moved over to God. "Graham, this is a lovely young lady, she likes to dance and play practical jokes… just treat her like that and show her a good time on the dance floor."
At this point God was pouting with full on puppy dog eyes.
"Erm… sure… just please don't send me to Hell if I step on your toes?" He said hesitantly holding his arm out.
God jumped on his arm and dragged him out there.
A week after the wedding Xander grabbed his friends and family and took them to his favourite place. Tonane's homeworld.
He even nabbed Cordelia stating she deserved a vacation for volunteering to work with the Amazing Brooder.
The real surprise was that she brought Doyle along. Apparently they had gotten closer and were now dating. Although she had laid into him pretty hard about kissing her and diving to his death. All he had were bruises and one miffed girlfriend.
Liam was not invited as Buffy still had no desire to see him. Having been laid into by Cordy for hours on end, he knew better than to ask to come. Not that he wouldn't enjoy a bright sunny day with his new ring.
The first week of their holiday was to be spent building a large log cabin. Xander reasoned that if the guys on Extreme Makeover could do it in a week, then a group of people, some of whom were super powered, could do it fairly easily.
The Salish were excited to have Lord Xander living with them and as such most turned out to help.
They built it in keeping with the Salish architecture. Xander wanted it to be comfy so that it could double as a sick house should any of the Salish need to stay warm due to illness or were too sick to follow the rest of the tribe during migration.
Of course just because you say you are taking a holiday, doesn't mean the universe is going to help you with that.
By the second week Daniel had a call from Earth stating that his mentor had died. He went back to Earth for the funeral only to be caught up in a hunt for a Goa'uld that had been in stasis and had now taken over his ex-girlfriend.
Unfortunately Xander wasn't able to arrive in time and Osiris escaped in a cloaked ship, easily evading the unsuspecting Gate Ship. Daniel was a little down after that, but Xander dropped him back with the others to spend his time with them.
"Its just hard. I know she's out there somewhere and that she is essentially being tortured by the Goa'uld." Daniel told the group sadly round their nightly campfire.
The cabin was fully equipped to handle the whole group and be expanded. But they preferred to enjoy the out doors as much as possible.
Even Cordelia.
"Tortured?" Buffy asked.
"Imagine being forced to watch as your body was used to inflict pain and death on innocent men and women. Even children." Sha're said with a shudder as Daniel pulled her closer. "And living the past memories of torture you had nothing to do with as if it was your own."
"Just remember guys, you see her, call for me straight away. I can pop in and release her lickity split." Xander reminded them as he sat on a log with Gaia snuggled between his legs. Tara was getting closer to them and was sitting snuggled in Xander's side.
"What will you do with her once you released her?" Faith asked.
"Kill it." Xander said in confusion.
"You'll kill Sarah?" She asked in horror.
"What? No!" Xander said quickly. "Sorry, thought you meant Osiris-"
"Who was a he." Daniel interjected.
"No, we'll give Sarah counselling. Introduce her to the gang and try and help her regain her life or start a new one." Xander clarified.
"Is… isn't it hard to be with someone once they've done… what it is they… did." Buffy asked uncomfortably.
The issue of Liam and Angelus had been brought to the forefront of her mind during the vacation. Especially with Cordy and Doyle around.
"No." Daniel said kissing his wife's head. "We know full well that the host has no control over its body if the Goa'uld doesn't allow it."
Oz pulled Buffy closer. They had talked about this a few times in private. Oz had a lot of contact with the Jaffa and Tok'ra, not to mention a few Goa'uld. He knew full well why this troubled Buffy. He also recommended Buffy talk to the rest of the gang about it. They weren't just friends and colleagues. They were family. They wouldn't judge her. Not about this, having been at her side as she was tormented.
"I do not believe that you need to force yourself into a one on one situation with Liam. But I do think it would be beneficial for you to engage him in conversation even if someone else is present at the time." Teal'c said cutting to the heart of the matter.
Buffy shifted uncomfortably in her seat as she struggled to formulate a response from the mess in her mind.
"Why?"
Teal'c smiled fondly at Buffy. Like the rest of SG1, he had grown fond of the Scoobies. They were an odd mixture of warriors and carefree children. Even Xander with his two thousand years and Gaia as old as the Universe itself had a childlike joy at times.
He took great comfort in this, knowing that it was possible to fight evil and still be happy.
"This… fear, you have, it is a weakness. A warrior should always strive to eliminate those weaknesses they can perceive." He explained. "If you can overcome this weakness, this fear, then you will be a stronger warrior. And a happier person."
"Sound advice for anyone." Joyce commented, the various adults murmuring their agreement.
"When you're ready, say the word and any of us will be ready to accompany you and watch your back whilst you confront him." Xander said.
"I… I want to." She said hesitantly. "I-I don't want Liam to suffer for Angelus' crimes… I don't want Sha're to suffer for Ammonet's crimes."
"Well, Liam is doing a good job now. The boy's opening up a bit more too." Doyle offered. "My understanding is he's guilty of a few things… mostly stupidity."
"He was a drunkard and womanizer and he had sexual relations with an underage girl. But, that's about it." Xander said.
"What girl?" Buffy asked.
Xander looked at her incredulously as Oz whispered in her ear. She turned beet red.
"Oh! Never mind." She said quickly.
"We can set something up after holiday." Xander offered. Buffy hesitantly nodded her assent.
During the third and final week of their vacation they were joined by Jack and Sam. They decided that the three of them were to spend a family vacation together, so why not spend it with the whole family.
Xander however was called away via God Phone.
"Siler? What's up man?" Xander asked as he appeared in the maintenance room of the SGC ground base. As per habit he was in full armour.
"Sir, the temporary base commander standing in for General Hammond has ordered a naquada bomb test on a planet. The scientists raised concerns about the outcome and wisdom of the test. The Jaffa objected because it's one of the planets in your territories. He had them locked up." Siler whispered. He was clearly worried.
"And the SG staff went with this?" Xander asked in disbelief.
"He brought his own security in." Siler explained. "He also denied access to the gate for foreign team members."
"What's his name?"
"General Bauer, sir." Siler answered. "Walter has put some flaws into the gate computers to prevent dial out. He's been thrown in with the Jaffa."
"Right, guess I better go and sort this guy out." Xander growled. "Siler, go about your duties, I imagine this will be sorted within the hour."
Siler knew Xander was well and truly pissed when Xander didn't just vanish, but did so with a bright flash.
"How long until the gate is up and running?" Bauer barked.
"Not until I say so." Xander said as he appeared. His glow was bright and caused the occupants of the room to be temporarily blinded.
"Arrest the intruder." Bauer ordered even though he couldn't see properly.
"Stand down. I am Lord Xander. I have full authority of the President of the United States and it's allies."
"You are an unauthorized intruder. This is my command and I have not given you permission to be here." Bauer declared.
"You are on my property. You have attacked my people. You are guilty of an act of war." Xander said calmly. "Be very glad I didn't kill you on sight."
The guards, whom Xander did not recognise had their weapons pointed at the armour clad being with wings.
"Drop your weapons and get on your knees!" One of them barked.
Xander clearly tired of this. A quick spin of his wings and the guards were disarmed. They quickly drew their side arms and began firing though.
The regular gate personnel ducked beneath the consoles as did the General.
Xander just stood there facing the firing guards. The bullets bouncing off his shield as his wings were extended to protect the other personnel.
"Delta, initiate Foothold Protocols." Xander ordered the AI who had long since returned from the infiltration of the Chinese infrastructure.
Without a word Delta left Xander and entered the computer systems. Xander just stood there as they continued to shoot. He wondered if they would ever figure out they were out of their league.
There was a bright flash and the guards vanished. General Bauer too.
Another bright flash and the Gate Ship Jaffa appeared in the Gate Room.
"Hi guys!" Xander said cheerfully as he waved at the stunned Jaffa.
There was a brief moment of confusion, and then a loud cheer as the Jaffa realised their Lord had rescued them.
Xander activated the ship announcement system.
"This is Lord Xander. I have removed General Bauer and his men from command and placed them in holding. I have initiated Foothold protocols. I will bring back General Hammond to retake command and then go see the President. In the meantime Ja'fre is in command."
Ja'fre was the Jaffa that Xander had risked his life to save many months ago during the Reetou attack. He had worked hard and been given command of the Jaffa forces stationed at the SGC after the foothold invasion of imposters.
Xander quickly retrieved a fuming General Hammond. George was outraged at what was being done to his men and command.
Both Xander and George had to be calmed down by Ja'fre when they learned Walter had been beaten by Bauer and his men as they tried to get him to release the lockout on the Stargate.
He would survive, but he had various broken limbs and was currently unconscious. The Jaffa he had been placed in a cell with had done their best to tend to him. But they were focused warriors, not medics.
Fortunately the Tok'ra on duty was able to heal much of his wounds, but he would need at least a month to recover.
The Jaffa had set a guard over him, not even Xander could get them to leave his side. He was a hero and brother to them now. It was something both George and Xander could respect.
Xander surprised the President and his wife by appearing in their bedroom. Apparently it was night time.
"Xander?" The President asked blearily. "What are you doing here?"
"Sorry Jack, had a bit of a crisis at the SGC, need you to give official orders as General Bauer has committed acts of war against me and my people."
"WHAT!" Jack Ryan roared as he sprung up nearly knocking Caroline from the bed.
"He was ordering the test detonation of a naquada bomb on one of my planets. He had my Jaffa locked up and denied access to the foreign teams. Sergeant Walter Harriman locked the gate down and refused to unlock it and they tortured him."
"Walter? The man who controls the Iris and Gate?" Caroline asked.
"Yeah. Several of my Jaffa are refusing to leave his side." Xander said.
"He's a nice man. He explained a few things to me about the gate and the ship when we had the tour." Caroline said angrily.
"Don't worry. The Tok'ra on duty sorted him out. He'll need recovery time though."
Jack had been struggling into his trousers and was now navigating his shirt buttons.
"Bauer is going to wind up disappearing for this. I hope you have a spare cell on your prison planet Xander." Jack growled angrily.
"Not a proble-" Xander tilted his head. "George is calling, gotta go." Xander vanished.
Jack just struggled faster but this time did so as he hobbled out the door without his shoes and socks on.
Caroline sighed and started to get up herself. Sleep was a lost cause tonight.
"Xander! They have my granddaughters!" George was white with fear pacing his office.
"Who?" Xander growled. He was back in his armour as per his protocol. But at the mention of George's daughters he was also wings out and shining bright.
"I don't know. But they knew about the Stargate. Said if I didn't put Bauer back in command, they'd kill them."
"Delta, find them." Xander ordered.
"Already have." Delta replied calmly.
"What about their parents?"
"They were the ones that called me. I've sent a team to retrieve them." George said shaking.
"I recommend taking backup to retrieve the girls. They are being held on an Aircraft carrier in the middle of the Pacific." Delta said. "I believe it is the Vagrav, a former Soviet craft acquired by the Chinese."
"They have transporter tech?" Xander asked.
"They appear to have tapped into the SGC systems. I have shunted control to Gamma who is currently running our private systems."
"Prepare an assault plan and I'll go grab the guys." Xander said vanishing.
The plan was simple. Xander would jump in with Oz and grab the girls and then jump out. Oz would mop up the room whilst SG1 would land on deck in a Pelican.
With the help of the Tok'ra and Tollan, the Pelican's now had active cloaks. No one would see them coming.
Buffy, Faith, Church, Willow and Graham were also going along with SG1. Willow was primarily for defence. Church was playing recon, he was travelling without a body in Faith's watch.
It explained why she called him 'Boy-toy'.
The three girls were kitted out in their custom ODST armour. They were armed with Zats, Buffy and Faith were also toting Staff weapons.
They were currently hovering over the carrier. It was a clear bright day, which was good as it made it easier for the cloak. No outlines in the rain.
The first problem occurred with the assumption of the kidnappers motives.
Everyone thought that kidnapping the girls was a means to extorting their demands from Hammond.
Xander dropped Oz off and had the girls back in the infirmary with their Grandpa in seconds.
But when he returned to Oz he found him unconscious with his helmet off and a gun to his head.
"If it isn't the angel." A voice said mockingly from the shadows.
They were in a storage room with a single bulb hanging from the ceiling.
It was a cliché, and probably one they had set up. Xander didn't think the Soviet Navy would be dumb enough to use swinging lights on a craft prone to swaying.
Xander started to move to Oz and the man holding him at gunpoint.
"I wouldn't do that." The voice stopped him. "One wrong move and your little 'Spartan' has a new hole."
"I'm kind of on a schedule. What do you want?" Xander sighed.
He didn't want to take too long, SG1 and the others were probably about to walk into a trap. Fortunately Delta was already on his way back to the others to warn them.
"We want you to leave our planet alone." The voice growled. "We'll also take your armour whilst you're here." It added as an after thought.
"Right, so the first issue is that this is not your planet. It's mine. I was born here and I will defend it. Even from it's self. Second issue; you are not getting my armour." He said bluntly.
"Then we'll kill you and take the armour from your bodies, we'll send your corpses back to your alien scum as a message."
"Do you really not know who we are?" Xander asked in confusion. He couldn't believe these guys hadn't done their homework.
"Just some freaks who think they can trick us into believing their angels and gods." It snarled.
Xander sighed, he decided arguing would be pointless. He did have one question though.
"Just out of curiosity, who set this up?"
"You can carry that curiosity to the grave. Kill them." The voice ordered.
Xander quickly drew his zat and fired a shot into the shadows at the voice. The darkness was effective at hiding his features, but not his heat signature from his thermal sensors.
The man holding Oz put a bullet in Oz's head. That really pissed Xander off, he blinded them all with his light he didn't reveal his wings though as it was relatively tight quarters.
There were five other men in the room. Xander didn't need any of them alive and he refused to leave them to cause problems later. They had made their choice. He ignited his sword and dismembered them all in seconds.
Once the room was cleared Xander grabbed Oz's helmet and placed it on his friends head. Oz would recover but he would do it under Janet's care. He also grabbed the man he had zatted.
Within seconds Xander had dropped the prisoner off at the prison planet with orders for the guards to ensure his health as he was to be interrogated.
The Jaffa knew Xander abhorred unnecessary violence. They also realised that this prisoner needed watching to ensure he didn't have a suicide plan.
In short order he was placed in a stasis pod provided by the Asgard for special prisoners such as these. They were designed to hold Zatarcs like Martouf or brainwashed individuals like Ry'ac had been.
Prisoners who were a danger to themselves or others but of potential intelligence value.
Neither Xander nor his Jaffa had a problem executing those deserving of the punishment. It was still a topic of debate between the allies though.
With the prisoner in custody Xander dropped Oz off at the SGC infirmary. He banished the armour into the sword. Something that Xander could still do even though it wasn't his sword anymore, it recognised him as a member of the Host of Heaven.
Janet would remove the bullet and repair as much as she could, the on duty Tok'ra would finish the job, Oz would likely be up and around within the day even without their help, but it wouldn't hurt.
Xander returned to Jack and the gang aboard the hovering Pelican. Delta had delivered the warning and they were waiting for Xander to get a better plan in place.
"Where's Oz?" Buffy asked.
"Back at the SGC. It was a trap for Oz and myself. I got the girls out easy enough, but by the time I returned, they had incapacitated him and got his helmet off. He got a bullet to the brain for it."
Buffy gasped as tears rushed to her eyes.
"Easy Buff. Oz will be fine… no human can take him down. He'll likely be up by the time we get back."
Sam wrapped Buffy in a hug with Willow. Sam knew what it was like to have someone you love nearly die.
"How did these guys take down Oz?" Jack asked. Oz had Xander's original armour. There should have been no way for these people to incapacitate him, let alone get the helmet off.
"I honestly don't have a clue. I captured one of their guys. We'll have Lantesh perform his interrogation."
"What made them think they could take you, an angel, down?" Daniel asked.
"They think I'm a fraud." Xander said simply.
"Are they fanatics?" Jack asked.
"Yes. Definitely." Xander said firmly. The trouble with a fanatic is that they will gladly sacrifice themselves to complete their goal. There was likely a self-destruct on the ship.
"Do you have a plan?" Jack asked.
"Yes. Jack, you and Teal'c drop off onto the end of the ship runway. Take up a sniper position and take out any you see. Sam, Daniel. You take the other end and perform the same role. Take out any you see."
"What about us?" Faith asked.
"Stay on the Pelican until I give the all clear. I'll be sweeping the ship with Delta and Church performing recon. Once we can be sure that any failsafe has been deactivated I'll call you in to help finish the sweep. You will work as a team and not split up." He ordered firmly.
"No problem." Buffy shrugged. She was feeling a bit better as Willow had promised her that Oz would be fine. And she didn't doubt Xander anyway.
"I take it you want to capture the ship?" Daniel asked.
"Yeah, we need to know how they took out Oz and who set the mission up."
"I've got twenty on Kinsey!" Jack piped up.
There were various comments of 'no-bet' and declarations of not being suckers.
Xander thought it was probably Kinsey as well. If the evidence showed it was, Kinsey would die. There was no two ways about it.
"Church, jump in. Get in position guys." Xander said, vanishing as Church entered his armour.
Jack was about to give the order for them to disembark when Xander reappeared and headed over to a weapons locker and brought out a bulky weapon.
He handed to Graham. "This is the Spartan Laser. Take out communications and any vehicles trying to escape. Beta can teach you the basics."
And he vanished again.
"Aw… I wanted to try it first!" Jack whined.
Xander could tell that Graham was going to town with the Spartan Laser. The blasts were rocking the carrier. Fortunately, there was a recharge station for the power packs built into the Pelican.
Xander was currently invisible and heading down the stairs into the depths of the ship. Relying on sensors and reports.
Delta had tagged several personnel as people that should be captured as opposed to killed. Xander trusted Delta's decisions and had his zat at the ready as well as his battle rifle in hand.
The close confines of the corridors were no place to try and swing a sword. He would recommend that Buffy and Faith forgo their staff weapons when they joined him.
Delta had already completed a full data dump from the bridge computers. Xander had placed claymores at the entrances in case he missed anyone. Fortunately the claymores had been designed with friend or foe identification technology. None of the gang could accidentally set them off as they went into a stand down mode if any of them were within the blast radius.
According to Delta and Church there were a lot of labs and scientists. Both AI's had noted that some of the scientists seemed to be prisoners and under forced labour. Xander would leave those to SG1 and the Scoobs.
Jack and Teal'c were in position. Jack was sniping whilst Teal'c played spotter. So far they had seen one person. The poor sod was unlucky enough to exit a doorway and get a bullet from both Sam and Jack.
Graham was picking his targets based on the intel from Beta. He didn't want to take out stationary vehicles as they would be valuable resources at a later date.
"There's a submarine escaping!" Beta reported.
"Alert Xander. Can anyone see it?" Graham asked.
Willow looked carefully at the water but realised it was far too choppy to see beneath the surface.
She chanted a few words and suddenly an overlay like the ODST HUD appeared at the opening of the Pelican where Graham was stationed.
All life forms and objects where marked.
Including a small submarine, like a marine explorer.
"I'll take the shot, but I don't know how effective it will be." Graham warned as the Spartan Laser charged.
The blast of red created a tunnel to the target. Water was superheated. But as Graham feared, it did little good. The craft was clearly moving slower as the water fell back into the newly created void.
"Xander!" Graham shouted.
"What's up?" Xander asked as he appeared on the Pelican.
"Small sub heading away. Spartan Laser can't penetrate the water far enough." Graham reported.
"I'm on it." Xander said as he dived out in to the ocean.
"Are we expecting another Whale fiasco?" Buffy asked.
"'Whale Fiasco'?" Graham queried.
"We'll show you the footage… not Xander's best moment really." Willow grimaced.
It soon became obvious that Xander was going for a classic.
The Giant Squid.
Instead of trying to get into the tiny submarine, Xander merely tossed it onto the deck of the carrier. He then called the Pelican to land.
"The ship is clear as best as I can tell. There are scientists, but some appear to be in forced labour. Round up everyone in a cargo bay. Trust none of them. I have a mothership on the way. Ma'al himself will be supporting you, so don't try any heroics. In fact, you might as well just watch the exits. I'm going to open this tin can and have a word with the occupants." Xander said as he ignited his plasma sword.
"Sam and Daniel will accompany the Scoobs, Teal'c and I will cover you." Jack said as SG1 approached.
As the Scoobies moved off Xander approached the hatch of the sub and began cutting. Teal'c and Jack had positions covering, zats ready.
Xander made short work of the door, it fell outwards to the deck with a noisy clang.
"Either you come out or I come in. Makes little difference to me." Xander called out.
Soon two individuals appeared at the hatchway. One was not someone they recognised. The other was someone they despised.
"Kinsey." Jack hissed.
"Robert Kinsey, this is the final straw. No more chances." Xander said firmly. "You will be subjected to an interrogation and then you will be cast into Hell."
"What!" Jack asked in shock.
Kinsey just looked disgusted. He truly didn't believe Xander was what he claimed to be, and he didn't care what he had to do to get what he wanted.
"Generally speaking, that's what happens to evil beings Jack. What did you think would happen?" Xander asked confused.
"Sorry, it's just not often you hear that sort of thing and know it will actually happen." Jack said trying to wrap his head around it.
"Jack, Hades has flat out refused him entry to the Underworld. He will be waiting on the other side with God and Gaia to witness his judgement. You need to remember that he has not only used children for his own means, but he has also disrespected The Almighty. The Host of Heaven have been chomping at the bit to get at him. There was a lot of grumbling when I didn't just execute him."
"Perhaps we should secure Kinsey and his partner and continue this discussion later?" Teal'c suggested.
The pair were soon cuffed and prepped for transport. Jack and Xander escorted them back whilst Teal'c joined the others in securing the scientists for Ma'al's arrival.