Chapter 51

Jack found a song running through his mind that he had not heard in years. It was an old war protest song from sixties that seemed to play loud and clear in his memory.

"The eastern world, it is exploding, violence flaring, bullets loading, you're old enough to kill but not for votin, you don't believe in war but that's a gun you're totin, and even the Jordan river has bodies floating, But you tell me over and over again my friend…you don't believe we are on the eve of destruction." the tune ran through Jack's mind clear as if it was being played on a radio. He started to sing the next verse as he walked, "Don't you understand what I'm trying to say, can't you feel the fears I'm feeling today, if the button is pushed there is no running away, there will be no one to save…" he tailed off thinking about the words as the song ran through his mind like an alarm. He then just came to a halt in the hallway and suddenly felt as if he was just kicked in the gut.

The klaxons sounded through the base. "Unauthorized incoming wormhole" blared over the speakers.

Jack turned and ran for the Gate Room not knowing what to expect. Upon getting to bulkhead door he found the event horizon was established and Jaffa were emerging in a run from the shimmering event horizon. An incoming shockwave and blast was stopped by the iris after the Jaffa clamored for cover. Bra'tac, the last to emerge, hollered for his Earth friends to shut down the wormhole.

Jack stood gasping at a handful of Jaffa who seemed bloody and covered with debris. He came over to Bra'tac, "What happened?" he asked.

"We were attacked," he told him. "It was a weapon the likes of which I have never seen before. Chulak has fallen." he reported rather sad.

Jack looked over the handful of survivors, "This is it?"

He slowly nodded, "The attack was sudden and unexpected. Our spies had no indication of the coming attack. I'm afraid this is all that remains of the Jaffa."

Jack noticed the son of Teal'c was in the handful of survivors as the young man had carried Jaffa children through the Gate to the safety of Earth. There were Jaffa women and children and few warriors left after the surprise attack. The song still played in his mind relentlessly. The sinking feeling of dread settled into his gut making him feel ill.

SG-1 had come to the Gate Room and found the Jaffa refugees. The children were crying and scared. The attack nearly wiped out every Jaffa on Chulak.

Sam gasped, "Oh my god." She went to the aid of the wounded. She examined a few of them nearby "We need medics down here." she called out. She looked to Jack, "What happened?"

He reported, "Anubis just took out Chulak." He glanced at Teal'c who had gone to his son's aid.

The young Jaffa just stood in shock, "I have never seen anything like it, Father." he told him holding onto the scared child who clung around his neck.

Teal'c surveyed the Jaffa before him and called to Bra'tac, "What kind of attack was this?"

He stated, "One we were unprepared for." He then spoke to Jack, "Anubis has a weapon. With just one strike he was able to level the entire village in an instant. Many were vaporized instantly. This weapon is beyond anything we have witnessed before. We never saw his ship."

"Nuclear?" Jack asked for the song that ran relentlessly through his mind was about a nuclear war.

"Beyond that!" Bra'tac warned.

Short Time Later

SG-1 gathered before the Star Gate with the cadet team. They didn't need to take Kyle and Sophia but did wish to bring Thor and Isabelle on their trip to see the Nox.

Slowly word had filtered into the SGC through Jaffa survivors that Anubis had attacked the entire Jaffa people at once including outpost and the execution of spies. The other Goa'uld were forced to join him or die and many System Lords fell under Anubis's control.

Jack decided to go with the two teams for he made contact with the Nox year ago. He changed from his dress blues into his green battle dress and donned and tactical vest and P-90 rifle once more. His cushy job as a Dean of an Academy was placed on hold as he found himself going back out in the field.

Cadet Kyle Mitchell grinned as Jack stood with them in battle dress. He spoke low to Sophia, "We got General O'Neill going with us." He sounded much like a fan rather than a Cadet.

Sophia smirked, "Get his autograph while you are at it."

He wasn't sure if she was being sarcastic or not for the very thought did cross his impressionable mind. He stood debating if she was serious.

The wormhole established with the glimmering event horizon and Teal'c took point and walked through the Gate first. Kyle noticed Jack didn't dictate who went next. He found Daniel went on his own followed by Thor and Izzy. Sam then went after Izzy after giving Jack a nod and smile. Then Cam walked through. He looked at the two cadets, "You two going or staying?" he asked them.

Kyle asked, "How did you decide who goes first?"

Jack replied, "I didn't! Teal'c took point on his own."

"Did you tell Dr. Jackson when to go?" he wondered.

He shook his head, "Nope! Daniel went on his own."

He asked, "Why didn't you give them a position?"

"They already know their positions," he told him. "You two are cadets. You can tag along or stay. I have to go…So…If you are going you better go now."

Sophia decided she was going and replied, "I'm going sir!" She walked up the ramp and into the event horizon.

Kyle stared to walk up the ramp and found Jack was walking with him. He had to think about what had happened and how he acted with his cadet team prior. He stopped Izzy and made them go in order. That was what he taught in school but in real practicality it was not how things worked. He was a bit confused.

Jack stopped beside the boy at the event horizon and looked over at him. He asked, "Not what you were expecting?"

"I always thought you told SG-1 what to do." he confessed.

Jack shook his head, "Good leaders don't tell always have to tell people what to do. A good leader takes care of his team and let's his team do their jobs."

"I think I understand," he slowly nodded.

"Now go, kid." he motioned as he waited on the boy.

Kyle walked through the event horizon and before Jack stepped through he gave one more look up to the control room where Janet Frasier stood beside George Hammond.

Janet looked down hoping for the best. "Hope this works," she confessed to George.

"Me too," he agreed. He then spoke into the microphone, "Good speed, Jack."

He gave a nod to gratitude to his friends and then walked through the event horizon once more.

Nox Home World

Jack stepped through to a terrible sight. The once lush forest was gone. Nothing but burnt debris remained. In the distance he could see the remains of the once floating city ships that the Nox hid so well. The entire civilization was leveled. His heart sank as he realized the Nox had been destroyed as well in an unprovoked attack. It was all gone!

Sam had to catch her breath as she looked for any signs of survivors. She stood with tears running down her cheeks as she figured the once great race was no more.

Izzy called as she stood before the travesty, "Tiny robots! Are there any survivors?"

Before Izzy she could see a green line on the ground at her feet. She asked, "Anyone else see a green line?"

Sam shook her head, "No!"

Thor replied, "We do not see any green lines. If you see one then I can only assume it's the nanites showing you a direction."

"This way," she told them. She started to follow the green line that was at her feet.

Sophia gulped as she followed the team, "What kind of weapon can do this? It's like a nuclear bomb went off."

Sam figured, "Something as powerful as a nuclear weapon. Maybe more powerful…" she figured the weapon overcame the Nox shields in an instant.

The nanites led Izzy to a cave that was untouched by the weapon. She walked inside, "Hello! Is anyone down here?" She kept walking.

As they got inside the cave they found a small handful of children and Lya sitting in the dark. She came to her side, "Lya!"

She looked up still in shock, "Izzy?"

"What happened?" she asked.

"I was in the woods with the children. I was conducting class and out of the atmosphere a large red beam came down and stuck the forest and the city ships. I ran for the cave with the young for cover." She then shivered, "Everyone is dead. My people are gone."

"Lya," Sam came to her side as well. She was grateful to find a few Nox still alive. "We have to get you and the young to safety."

She stated, "There no place safe for anyone in the galaxy now."

"Earth is safe," Izzy told her. "Anubis attacked you. He attacked the Jaffa. He has not attacked Earth." She grabbed her hand and promised, "I won't let him! Come with us back to Earth."

Slowly she agreed, "I believe you." She managed to gather herself and the five Nox children that survived. "Come young ones. We must go to Earth now."

SG-1 with Jack and the cadets managed to help the surviving Nox to the Star Gate. Sam asked, "You noticed anything unusual about this area, Thor?"

"Yes," he agreed. "Anubis attacked with a power so great it destroyed the Nox city ships and surrounding forest but left the Star Gate untouched."

Jack assumed, "So Anubis is making sure he leaves the Gates untouched."

Kyle wondered, "Why would he do that?"

Jack admitted, "I'm not sure yet."

Cam figured, "He wants access after he attacks!"

Thor asked, "But for what purpose?"

Daniel dialed the DHD back to the base. He stood back and waited for the chevrons to lock one at a time. His mind worked on the problem at hand. "It would have to have something to do with the aethos reference. Maybe he needs some kind of mining ability? Maybe he would need ground level access after destroying any inhabitants." The last chevron locked and the event horizon established before his eyes.

Izzy spoke, "I'm getting something from the nanites. Like a disturbance…" she closed her eyes and tried to listen to what was being said. "Abydos! He's about to attack Abydos." she reported.

Jack ordered, "Cadets Mitchell and Harriman escort the Nox back to base."

The two cadets walked into the event horizon with Lya and the Nox children.

Jack then turned to his team and huffed, "Dial Abydos now!"

Daniel already started to dial out hoping they would be fast enough to evacuate the village before the Goa'uld struck again.