Chapter 60: Allegiance
June 2002
Ayianna rode the lift towards Operations as she thought back on the last month. As was predicted when she was cloned she lost all the gifts that the path to Ascension had given her. But Alanna had been right she would gladly trade those gifts for her memories back.
Since her rebirth from the cloning tubes she had taken to spending a lot of her free time, well when she was on DS9 anyways, with Xander. She had found that in the space of that one day in the Antartic base that she had been falling for him. And Xander returned those feelings equally well.
She stepped out of the lift and looked over at Xander and smiled. She walked over to him and kissed his cheek. "Is Buffy in?" she asked.
Xander smiled as he kissed her cheek in return. "She is, go on in."
Ayiana turned and walked into Buffy's office.
"Hello, Ayiana," Buffy said. "Welcome back. How was Panopeus?"
"It reminded me of Atlantis," Ayiana said. "Alanna and I along with the SGC and Jaffa teams," they had found out that the Jaffa had started a rebel movement to free their brethren from the Goa'uld. Alanna and Ayiana had gratiously offered Panopeus as not only an Alpha site for the SGC but also a base from which the Free Jaffa could strike from, "you sent have finished updating the computers, with Federation and Stargate Command information as well as securing the city. We believe it is now ready for a larger team to be installed."
"I think several of the people from New Caprica have expressed interest in joining the personnel that are already there," Buffy said.
After they had found out from both the Panopeus AI and Alanna that Kobol was indeed the birthplace of humanity and not Earth, the people of New Caprica had rejoiced that their beliefs had been held out to be true.
"Also just as I left on the Galactica," Ayiana explained. The Galactica had finished it's refit about a week before and Adama had wanted to take it on a shakedown cruise to make sure that the changes worked. Since Ayiana was going to Kobol, it was decided the Galactica would ferry her there and back. "We got a message to relay to you. The Stargate activated, Tok'ra refugees were coming through. Doctor Frasier beamed down before we left to help with any wounded."
Buffy sighed as she tapped her commbadge. "Summers to General Hammond. Have medical teams standing by incase we receive a call from Kobol."
"Why?"
"Ayiana returned on the Galactica and told me that the Panopeus gate activated and Tok'ra refugees were coming through," Buffy said. "I suggest we notify Cheyenne Mountain to suspend our supply transfers till we hear from Kobol."
"Understood."
On Kobol in Panopeus
SGC personnel guarded the gate as the rebel Jaffa ran around chaotically helping the Tok'ra refugees coming through the Gate.
"Immobilise with a cervical collar and let the symbiote heal the damage," Frasier said.
Artok and another Jaffa are ran with a stretcher toward the Gate.
"Pressure dressing, stat. Airway's compromised. Corpsman, priority one. Let's move!" Frasier said.
Jack, Sam and Faith stood watching the Gate as wounded Tok'ra came through. Ocker and another Tok'ra carrying a large box came through the Gate. Artok approached Ocker and stepped close to the box. Ocker twisted his arm and pushed Artok. Teal'c, Rak'nor and some other Jaffa surround Ocker and point their staff weapons at him.
"Hey! Hey!" Jack said.
"What's going on?" Faith asked as she unholstered her phaser, but kept it pointing at the ground.
"What's that?" Jack asked motioning toward the box.
"We were told we could bring equipment essential to our security," Ocker replied.
"That wasn't the question," Jack replied with a wave of his phaser. "Open it up."
Ocker opened the box to reveal a Zatarc detector.
"A Zatarc detector," Teal'c said.
"See, that's all you had to say. Move out," Jack said as Ocker and another Tok'ra carried the box away.
Several Starfleet and SGC officers came through the gate followed by more Tok'ra.
"Pierce?" Jack said looking toward the Tok'ra/Starfleet liaison.
Pierce along with SG-12 and a group of Starfleet's MACOs had been sent when Jacob Carter, who had accepted the position of Federation Ambassador to the Tok'ra, had requested assistance in evacuating the Tok'ra from their base when they had received word of a pending Goa'uld attack. In fact they had been almost too late, as it appeared the Goa'uld had been waiting for them to show up.
"Colonel," Pierce said. "SG-12 and a group of Starfleet's MACOs were wiped out in the first wave, sir. The Goa'uld knew exactly where to hit. They took us completely by surprise."
"Where's my father?" Sam wondered.
"He insisted on disabling the DHD at the Tok'ra base and ordered us to leave," Pierce said.
Sam and Jack looked at each other, concern etched on their faces.
"What?" Faith asked.
"If he doesn't succeed," Jack said.
Faith nodded in understanding as she turned toward a Starfleet officer and began barking orders.
Just at that moment Jacob stepped through the Stargate with Malek, another Tok'ra. A staff blast came shooting out of the Gate and hit Jacob in the leg just before the Stargate deactivated. Sam rushed toward her father and helped him down the steps in front of the Gate.
"Is the Gate secure?" Jack asked.
"If the Chaapa'ai is soon reactivated, we will have the answer," Bra'tac answered before Jacob could.
"I set a charge equivalent to a tactical nuke to detonate ten seconds after we left," Jacob said. "No one's following us. No one saw the address."
"You're sure about that?" Faith wondered.
Jacob nodded. "I'm positive."
Faith turned to the Starfleet officers. "Stand down."
"Help the wounded," Jack added as he continued to look at Jacob. "What happened?"
"Anubis's forces overran our position in the Risa system," Malek answered.
"We tried dialling both the Earth Gate and DS9 gate, but they must have already been active," Jacob said.
"There was a schedule of supplies to be made from Cheyenne Mountain to DS9," Sam said.
"Jack, I know Sagira wanted to keep the location of Panopeus and Kobol top-secret, but we had no alternative," Jacob said. "We couldn't wait."
"You dialed the coordinates yourself, right?" Alanna asked as she walked up to the group.
"The Ancient?" Jacob asked Sam and Jack, both of whom nodded. He looked back at Alanna. "Yeah. I was careful. Nobody saw."
"To whom do I owe thanks for this refuge?" Malek asked.
"I am Alanna," Alanna said. "Welcome to Kobol."
"Alanna is the commanding officer of Panopeus," Jack added.
"Colonel Jack O'Neill, Lieutenant Faith Lehane and Alanna, this is Malek, commander of the Tok'ra base we just evacuated," Jacob said as Ocker rejoined them. "And Ocker, chief of security."
"Your people were most brave in aiding us," Malek said.
"How many made it?" Alanna wondered.
"Less than a quarter of our number," Ocker answered.
"I'm sorry," Jack said with a sigh.
"This is a base of the Tau'ri," Malek said. "Why are there Jaffa?"
"First," Faith said, "this is a Federation base. Second the Jaffa stationed here are rebel warriors, fighting the Goa'uld for the freedom of their people."
"I did not realise their ranks had grown to such a number," Malek said.
"Hundreds more are operating as a fifth column among the Goa'uld," Sam said.
"Just like you," Jack added as he noticed Malek's skeptical look.
"Many of the rebel Jaffa had to evacuate their rebel base a month ago," Sam said.
"I see," Ocker stated.
"Is everything going to be five by five with you guys?" Faith wondered.
"Five by five?" Malek asked.
"An Earth term," Jack said. "Meaning roughly will everything be okay?"
"It will not be a problem with us," Malek said.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Sam, Teal'c, Faith, Jack, several Jaffa and Tok'ra all watch as three Tok'ra bodies lay on a makeshift wooden scaffolding in front of the Stargate.
"Arik tre-ac te kek," Malek said.
"We do not surrender, even in death," Teal'c said translating.
Faith sighed as she leaned over to Jack and whispered. "We should get Sagira to see about adding a translation program for their language."
Jack nodded in agreement.
"Tak mal arik tiak," Jacob said.
"You will not be forgotten,' Teal'c said still translating.
They watched as Malek signaled to Alanna, who activated the Stargate. As the event horizon established, the wormhole lurched out and disintegrating the scaffolding with the bodies. As Alanna disengages the Stargate everyone began to disperse. Soon after couple of Jaffa and Tok'ra started shouting at each other.
Faith and Jack turned to find Artok lying on the ground.
"Nemeth kree!" Ocker said as he walked toward Artok.
"Hey. Hey! What the hell is goin' on? This is a funeral, for cryin' out loud!" Jack shouted.
"I asked a question of this Tok'ra," Artok said.
"No one may speak during the ritual," Ocker explained.
Faith rolled her eyes. "You guys are fighting because he didn't know the rules of your ritual?"
"Alot of people lost their lives," Jack added. "Show a little respect."
Ocker turned and started to walk away.
"They are no different than the Goa'uld," Artok stated.
"Jaffa," Teal'c said as Artok walked away angrily.
"All right, break it up!" Jack ordered. "Go on home. There's nothin' to see here. Go on."
"There's no need to apologise on their behalf, Colonel," Malek said, "Lieutenant."
"Apologise?" Faith asked with a frown.
"We understand the Jaffa," Malek explained.
"Actually, I was gonna remind you that without Bra'tac and Teal'c and other Jaffa, all your little Tok'ra folks would be pushin' up daisies right now," Jack said.
"And I need not remind you that the rebel Jaffa, the Tau'ri and the Federation are equally indebted to us," Malek said as Faith, Jack and Teal'c looked at him surprised.
"How so?" Dawn wondered as she came up beside Faith.
"We have been fighting the Goa'uld for millennia," Malek told them.
"Yeah. Just when should we expect some progress on that?" Jack asked sarcastically. He could tell he had insulted Malek. "It's been a bad day. Let's…move on."
Malek walked away as Sam approached.
"Sir. Several of the Tok'ra have expressed concern about the temporary quarters they've been assigned," Sam said.
"Explain to them the meaning of the word temporary," Jack said. "If they don't like it, they can leave."
"You really want me to tell them that?" Sam wondered.
"Yes. No," Jack said with a sigh. "I'll do it."
"Might I suggest," Faith said. "It might be better if it came from someone they trust a heck of a lot more than you?"
Jack, Sam and Teal'c looked at Faith and then followed her gaze to Dawn.
"Little D here is afterall the daughter of one of their own," Faith said.
"Alright," Jack said. "Cadet, you have your orders."
Dawn sighed as she walked off. She looked around and found Jacob sitting on a crate and watching several Jaffa train. "Hi, Jacob," she said.
"Hi, Dawn," Jacob said as he moved slightly on the crate so she could sit down.
"How's the leg?" Dawn wondered as she looked down at Jacob's legs.
"It's better," Jacob said. "One of the perks of being a Tok'ra."
Dawn smiled. "I know, or did you forget mama Buffy is host to Sagira."
"I didn't forget, Dawn," Jacob said.
"Can I ask you something?" Dawn wondered. "What was all that at the funeral about?"
Jacob smiled. "Let me guess Jack wanted to ask me that himself?"
"Pretty much," Dawn agreed. "But Lieutenant Lehane thought since mama Buffy was host to Sagira you all might open to me better than to him."
"I am sure as you know Dawn since both your mother and grandmother are host to two different kinds of symbiotes," Jacob said. "The blending of two personalities does sometimes have its drawbacks."
"Yes," Dawn agreed. "But both mama Buffy and grandma Joyce wouldn't give up being hosts to Sagira or Rin for anything."
"Just as I wouldn't give up being a host to Selmak," Jacob said with a smile.
"And just as I wouldn't give up being host to the Key," Dawn said.
"The Key?" Jacob asked confused.
Dawn let out a small sigh. It was not an easy thing to explain unless the person understood magic. But she did her best. She told Jacob about the Key that it was designed to act like the Stargate except it wasn't between planets but other realities. She told him she had been created to house it, to make sure that it would never ever be used as it was designed to be used.
"Don't get me wrong, I may have been created to house the Key, but that is not the only reason mama Buffy and mama Willow created me, they wanted a daughter. They could have asked Uncle Xander or Grandpa Giles to be the father but they wanted me, so of course I was created out of their DNA."
"That is an interesting story, Dawn," Jacob said. "I do believe you though. I may not be sure I believe in magic but having seen DS9 and the Defiant, I know there are things out there that defy explanation. Let me ask you something, Dawn. Did Sagira tell you about her previous host?"
Dawn nodded. "Yes, she did. She said that her previous host came from a world conquered by the Goa'uld, that he had been born into a feudal system where his only choices were forced labor or death."
"Then you also know that Sagira lost many friends to a staff weapon held by a Jaffa," Jacob said.
"Which means what happened at the Tok'ra base was not a good scenario," Dawn said in understanding.
"You are right," Jacob said. "There's talk among the Tok'ra ranks that the end is closer than we think. And I don't mean the end of the Goa'uld. I mean the end of the Tok'ra."
"Isn't there something mama Buffy could do?" Dawn asked. "She did reverse engineer the cloning technology to accept all forms of DNA."
"Without a queen," Jacob said with a sigh. "It would just delay the inevitable. The Tok'ra are a dying race."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
In a Science Lab on Kobol the following morning, Sam walked around a naquadah reactor sitting on a table. "It seemed like a power fluctuation in the cycle output of the naquadah reactor. But at closer inspection, I discovered the absorption port and its redundancy had been tampered with."
"Carter!" Jack said with a shake of his head. "I haven't had coffee."
"Sir, no one would have noticed it if they didn't know what to look for; the reactor would have overloaded," Sam said.
"Any chance this was an accident?" Faith wondered.
"Not a chance," Sam said.
"Would not such an explosion destroy an area several miles in circumference?" Teal'c asked.
Dawn nodded. "Yes, it would destroy all of Panopeus," she said. "To make the reactor viable it has a larger yield than that of a naquadah torpedo. It's why mama Buffy wants us to work on minturizing the neutrino ion generators, they are much safer."
"Who knows about this?" Jack asked.
"Except for the guards I posted, just us," Sam said.
"How long would it have taken for an overload to result in an explosion?" Teal'c asked.
"An hour," Dawn said. "Maybe less."
Jack sighed as he tapped his commbadge. "O'Neill to Pierce. No one enters the corridors leading directly to the Gate till Lieutenant Lehane and I get there."
"Is there a problem, Colonel?" came Alanna's voice.
"Possibly," Jack replied.
"What are you considering, O'Neill?" Teal'c wondered.
"Well, if you'd rigged the reactor to blow…wouldn't you want to be offworld before it…blew?" Jack asked Teal'c.
"Yes, yes I would," Faith said before Teal'c could answer.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Hammond and Buffy stood in SCR looking at a viewscreen with Jack and Faith on it. "We could send reinforcements," Hammond said.
"Negative, sir," Jack said. "We've got enough people here as it is. In fact, until we know what's going on, Buffy, General, I recommend both no Gate travel either way and no ship dispatched here.
Hammond looked to Buffy who nodded in agreement. "Understood, Colonel. I'll have SG-3 standing by, just in case."
"I'll have the Galactica standing by for a return trip as well," Buffy added.
"We'll report back in 24 hours. Panopeus out," Jack said as his image disappeared from the viewscreen.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Pierce, I want the guard doubled," Jack said as he glanced toward Pierce.
"Yes, sir," Pierce agreed.
"Alanna," Faith said.
"I will bring the shield online," Alanna said. "My authorization codes only."
Just then Malek and several other Tok'ra approached.
"What is happening?" Malek asked.
"Uh, looks like we're gonna be stuck here for a while," Jack said.
"It is imperative that we be allowed to seek another location for our base," Malek said.
"Yeah, you might want to put that on hold. We have a situation," Jack said.
"There is a saboteur among us," Teal'c added.
"Our naquadah reactor almost went critical," Faith said. "It was discovered just in time."
"And if hadn't been?" Malek asked.
"This city and all within it would have been destroyed," Alanna said.
"I see," Malek said.
"Kobol was chosen as our Alpha site because thanks to Alanna and her people its address is unknown to the Goa'uld," Faith said.
"And it is imperative that it's location remain secret," Jack said. "We will be questioning everybody."
"Of course," Malek agreed.
"Starting with the Tok'ra," Jack said.
"For what reason?" Malek wondered as he noticed the disturbed look on his fellow Tok'ra's faces.
"Everything was fine until you showed up," Jack said.
"If what you say is true, we would have perished with you," Malek said.
"The thing is," Faith said, "you could have a spy amongst you."
"Selmak?" Malek asked looking at Jacob.
"We have no choice," Jacob said. "The Zatarc detector will reveal any lie or deception."
"Sagira informed me on a number of Gou'ald and Tok'ra technology including this Zatarc detector," Alanna said. "A spy within the ranks of either Jaffa or Tok'ra may not be a Zatarc."
"Any deception will be detected, whether we are dealing with a Zatarc or not," Jacob said. "I do have one request, Cadet Rosenberg-Summers be the one to help with the questioning. As the daughter of Sagira she is trusted by many of the Tok'ra present, even if they do not know her personally. She carries weight with us because of her mother."
"That is understandable," Jack said.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Buffy stood looking out the window of her office at the stars as her door chime rang out. "Come," she said as she turned and saw Cassie enter. "Cadet, what can I do for you?"
"Sir," Cassie said. "I heard about Panopeus. I was wondering…"
"About Dawn?" Buffy asked as she smiled. "Speaking as your potential future mother-in-law and not as your commanding officer. She's alright, Cassie, I promise. I would tell you immediately if that changed."
"Thanks, Buffy," Cassie said.
"No problem, Cassie," Buffy said as she smiled at Cassie.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Malek sat with a Zatarc probing device on his temple looking at the detector. "That is when I requested to leave and you informed me of the sabotage," he said as Jacob and Dawn watched a monitor for any changes to Malek to tell them he was lying.
"Do you know why the Tok'ra base fell?" Jacob asked.
"Exactly how Anubis was able to defeat our defence system remains a mystery," Malek said.
Jacob looked to Dawn who nodded. "Okay, we're done."
Malek stood as Jacob removed the probing device from his temple. "Thank you," he said.
Dawn smiled. "You are welcome, and I apologize that we have to put everyone though this," she said.
Malek turned and walked out of the room.
"We should screen the wounded," Jacob said. "I doubt they could have made it from the infirmary undetected.
"Agreed," Dawn said. "Then its on to base personnel. Which includes myself. And before you say anything, Jacob. I would rest easy knowing that someone hadn't gotten to me on an offworld mission and programmed me to do something to those I love. And we should also of course screen the Jaffa." She looked to Bra'tac. "Master Bra'tac?"
"I had hoped it would not come to that," Bra'tac said.
"We understand," Dawn said. "You feel this device questions your honor."
"You have learned much from Teal'c I see," Bra'tac said, "but you are correct."
"Or you could say it confirms one's honor," Jacob said.
"It is also of Tok'ra design," Bra'tac added. "I have learned much in my 137 years. Can you look me in the eye and tell me you trust the Tok'ra entirely?"
"I actually can," Dawn said. "But I am slightly biased on that since mama Buffy Is host to Sagira. Now Colonel O'Neill I don't think he does." She looked to Jacob. "No offense."
"None taken," Jacob said. "I know he trusts me, and of course your mother. For him that is all he needs."
Dawn looked back at Bra'tac. "But I am sure even he will submit to the tests."
Bra'tac bowed his head slightly. "I will convince the Jaffa to submit. You have my word. Perhaps once the Tok'ra see how big Jaffa hearts can be, they will finally look upon us as equals."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Faith ran toward Malek, who stood behind some crates and barrels in one of the storage rooms. As she approached, she saw the dead body of Ocker lying on the ground behind the barrels. She noticed that Ocker was led toward her and Malek by two Tok'ra.
"You killed Ocker," Malek said.
"I would have, if he'd challenged me again," Artok replied.
"Are you not responsible for this?" Malek asked.
"I only wish I was," Artok said.
"That's not a direct answer," Faith said. "I know you guys have some bad blood. Can you tell me instead?"
"I was in one of the adjoining room," Artok said.
"I insist that he be screened immediately," Malek said as a Starfleet security guard and a Tok'ra approach Artok.
"I will not! I will not!" Artok said defiantely.
"Stop," Faith said to the Tok'ra and the guard. She looked at Artok meaningfully.
Artok bowed his head and walked away quietly, followed by the Starfeet guards.
Faith tapped her commbadge. "Lehane to Dr. Frasier. You are needed in storage room five. We need you to determine a cause of death."
"I'll be right there."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Artok sat in front of the Zatarc detector as Dawn and Jacob asked questions.
"I was alone in storage room six, eating my ration in private," Artok said.
"Do you know who killed Ocker?" Dawn wondered.
"No," Artok said.
"Did you kill him?" Jacob said.
"No, I did not kill him," Artok said as Jacob and Dawn saw that monitor told them that Artok was possibly lying.
"We're finished," Jacob said.
Jack looked to the security guards. "Take him to the holding cell," he said.
"Yes, sir," the Starfleet security guard said.
"Master Bra'tac, I did not kill him," Artok said trying to clear his name.
"Go with them," Bra'tac said as he removed the device on Artok's temple. "Do not attempt escape."
Artok was led out of the room by the guards.
"Deception. He is guilty," Malek said.
"Maybe, maybe not," Dawn said. "All we know right now is that he is lying. The question is about what."
"What more proof do you need?" Malek wondered.
"This device is not infallible," Sam explained. "Sagira informed us that it can give false positives."
"A short while ago, you were all willing to stake the security of the base on it," Malek said.
"Artok's obvious hostility towards the Tok'ra could be throwing off the readings," Sam said.
"His hostility is the reason Ocker is dead," Malek explained.
"That is possible," Dawn said. "But we need to verify his alibi. Someone would have had to see him leave storage room six and go to storage room five if he killed Ocker."
"Tok'ra and Jaffa deliberately ate apart from each other," Teal'c added.
"I will not accept the word of a Jaffa in his defence," Malek said.
"Of course you won't," Faith said. "So, why don't we see what the autopsy says?"
"Why?" Malek wondered.
"Because we don't convict people just because some damn light turns red!" Jack said.
"How long will the autopsy take?" Malek wondered.
"We don't know," Dawn said. "It could be done now or it could be hours. It depends on how long it takes to find the signs of how Ocker died."
"The report may offer tangible evidence proving or disproving his guilt," Jacob added.
"Look, he's not goin' anywhere. You've got my word," Jack said.
"And mine as well," Bra'tac said.
"And mine," Faith said.
"Many Tok'ra have died in recent days," Malek said trying to decide the right course to take. "To lose another of our number in a place we had thought was refuge, it is difficult."
"We know it is," Dawn said.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Dawn, Faith, Teal'c, Bra'tac, Sam, Jack and Malek stood listening to Fraiser as she went over the autopsy.
"There is some bruising around the right side of his mouth, which could be a sign that the killer prevented him from calling out by covering his mouth with his left hand from behind. The trauma to the back of the neck was done with a bladed weapon of fairly exotic design. The blade was used to sever the spinal column of the host between the first and second cervical vertebrae, while simultaneously severing the spinal column of the symbiote between the 33rd and 34th precloacal vertebrae."
"Death would have been instantaneous," Jacob said.
"No Jaffa did this," Bra'tac offered.
"How do you know?" Sam asked.
"It has to do with honor," Dawn said. "Jaffa prefer to fight their opponents face to face. To attack from behind would be seen as cowardly. No Jaffa would attack from behind."
"Cadet Dawn Rosenberg-Summers is correct," Teal'c said.
"Are you suggesting that a Jaffa could not be trained to do this?" Malek asked.
"No," Dawn said. "They could be trained, what I am telling you is they would not. They do not attack from behind. Part of my pre-Academy learning was learning cultural knowledge of both Tok'ra and Jaffa. Teal'c himself has taught me about the Jaffa, just as Sagira taught me about the Tok'ra. It actually makes me the perfect mediator between your two groups."
"Face to face, a Jaffa may not survive," Malek said with a shrug.
"It is a Tok'ra or a Goa'uld who has committed this act," Teal'c stated.
"I disagree," Malek said.
"I don't," Dawn said as Malek looked to her. "It is just not the Jaffa way."
Just then an alarm started to sound.
"O'Neill to Alanna," Jack said as he tapped his commbadge.
"Artok is dead," Alanna said.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Sam and Frasier knelt examining Artok's body. "This is different," Frasier said. "This was a frontal attack. The only similar thing is that it was done by a bladed weapon."
"The same one?" Dawn wondered as she watched them.
"Could be," Frasier said. "Won't know for sure until I inspect the trauma to the internal organs."
Jack turned to the Starfleet guard. "Was the shield in place, Lieutenant?"
The Starfleet guard nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Did you hear anything?" Jack wondered.
"No, sir."
"How then could someone get passed the shield into the cell?" Jack wondered.
"Whoever did this likely could have phased through the shield," Dawn said. "We know such technology exists as the Tollan have used it. The attack would then be sudden enough for the assailant to stab him and the force of the blow pushed him back to where he is now."
"It was a frontal attack. So why are there no defensive wounds?" Frasier wondered.
"I would suggest a cloaking device," Dawn said. "Once through the shield he could attack and Artok would not have known till it was too late.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Alanna to Colonel O'Neill."
Jack tapped his commbadge as he, Teal'c, Dawn, Faith, Sam and Frasier followed two guards carrying Artok on a stretcher. "O'Neill, here."
"I have been reviewing sensor scans of the time just before both Artok and Ocker died. I found something. Cadet Rosenberg-Summers was correct whoever killed them is using a cloaking device. Scans show it was heading for the edge of the city."
Jack looked to the others. "Let's do a head count."
They gathered everyone in in the mess hall and did the count, everyone was accounted for. Either the person with the cloaking device had circled back after deactivating the device, which they didn't believe for a second, primarily because both Artok and Ocker were killed, which meant likely a third party.
"All right, listen up, folks. The good news is, we can stop pointing fingers at each other. Everyone's been accounted for. However, that does mean that someone or, dare I say it, some thing is still floatin' around, tryin' to do us in. We will search in groups of four, a Tok'ra, Jaffa, SGC and Starfleet officer in each. This thing was trying to turn us against each other," Jack said. "The fact that we're onto him makes him more dangerous. Keep that in mind. Let's move out."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
The search eventually exhausted Panopeus itself and moved outside the city into the surrounding forest.
Teal'c, Pierce, Dawn and a Tok'ra soon come across another team. A Jaffa, Tok'ra, Grier and a Starfleet officer who were lying dead on the forest floor near a tree.
Dawn reached up and touched her commbadge. "Rosenberg-Summers to Colonel O'Neill."
"Go ahead, Cadet."
"We have located Captain Grier's search team," Dawn said. "They're dead."
"Any tracks?"
"Each team member appears to have been killed separately and dragged to this location," Teal'c said as he touched his own commbadge.
"Okay. What's your position?"
"East of the creek near the base of the north cliff," Teal'c replied.
"Stand by, I got something here."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Jack, Faith, Bra'tac and Alanna looked at each pondering their next course of action as they heard a twig snap.
"O'Neill to Carter," Jack said. "Hook up with Teal'c at his position. Secure the area."
"Yes, sir."
Jack gave hand directions to Bra'tac, Faith and Alanna as they moved through the trees. Alanna and Bra'tac stopped just below a tree, as someone jumped down from a branch. Bra'tac sensing whoever or whatever it was pushed Alanna out of the way. He fired his staff weapon but missed the attacker, who then attacked him. Bra'tac swung around his staff weapon in vain and fired five blasts in total. Faith using her phaser tried to hit the assailant but missed as well. The attacker then knocked Bra'tac to the ground. Bra'tac started to pull out his knife as the attacker knocked it out of his hand before knocking him around and then dragging him into the bushes.
"What was that?" Faith wondered.
"I do not know," Alanna said. "But it appears whoever it was had a personal cloaking device. He was invisible. I believe we can make our assailant visible. I must return to Panoepeus. If I set the resonant generators between a range of 400 to 700 nanometres. I should be able to flood the area with enough phased particles to bring him visible."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"I want everybody guarding every corridor that leads to the Gate Room," Jack said. "All right, listen up! Our enemy has a device that can render himself, or herself, invisible. He or she may have come through the Gate with the wounded Tok'ra."
"Whatever it is, it tried to play us against each other," Jacob said. "And that's not gonna work any more, because now we know it is among us."
"Bra'tac is gone. His death will have been in vain unless we trust each other, and work together to defeat this enemy," Teal'c added.
"Do what you have to do, but that son of a bitch does not get to let alone through that Gate," Jack said.
"If it is allowed to leave," Alanna said, "Panopeus will have to be moved. Kobol was chosen as a base because my people hid its location from the Goa'uld."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"It checks out," Frasier said. "The same bladed weapon killed both of them. Probably the others too. A single thrust, up through the symbiote, continuing up, piercing the Jaffa's heart. He was dead before he hit the ground."
"What could have done this?" Faith wondered.
"An Ashrak," Dawn said. "A highly trained Goa'uld assassin of great strength and power, most likely in the service of Anubis."
"Wasn't it an Ashrak who was able to penetrate SGC security and try to kill Major Carter?" Frasier asked.
"From what I remember from my Academy lessons, yes," Dawn said. "It succeeded in killing Jolinar, to whom Major Carter was host."
"So since we can't see him, why didn't he just go on a killing spree?" Frasier wondered.
"Divide and conquer," Faith answered. "It makes sense. If it managed to divide us, the Jaffa and the Tok'ra would not come to our aid and we would not go to them. It could then kill us all at its leisure."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"I wish that Bra'tac were here," Rak'Nor said as he along with a group guard one of the entrances to the city.
"Yeah, I know," Jack said as he tapped his commbadge. "O'Neill to Alanna. Are you there yet?"
"Almost, give me two minutes at most," Alanna replied.
The invisible Ashrak approached the group, remaining undetected. He moved between the Jaffa, Tok'ra, Starfleet and SGC personnel guarding the entrance. He moved close to Pierce and hit him. Pierce fell to the ground as the Ashrak moved on to slam a Tok'ra out of his way. He then hit two Jaffa while going in a straight line towards the entrance. He managed to immobilise every one standing between him and the entrance to the city. A Jaffa accidentally shot a Tok'ra with his staff weapon. The Ashrak now moved away from the entrance to the city and hit Teal'c in the face. He ran off as everyone started shooting around trying to hit him.
Jack tapped his commbadge. "Medics, we've got wounded out here, go to work!" he said as he looked toward Teal'c. "You okay?"
"Colonel. I'm sorry, sir. Somehow it got my commbadge during the firefight," Pierce said.
"What?!" Jack said.
"It was moving in and around us, sir. At least one casualty was hit by friendly fire," Pierce said.
"All right," Jack said. "Re-establish a perimeter around this entrance to the city."
"I'd like to take a team after it, sir," Pierce said.
"Denied," Faith said as she stepped beside Jack. "It wants us separated. We hold the entrances."
"Make sure everyone has a clear line of fire. Go," Jack added.
"Yes, sir, ma'am," Pierce said.
"Alanna said this city is capable of space flight," Malek said. "We should leave before he attempts another attack."
"It took a commbadge," Dawn said. "That in itself is bad enough. If it heard any of us using our security codes."
"Cadet Rosenberg-Summers is correct," Jack said. "If it heard our security codes all it would have to do is wait for a ship to come pick it up. Then using those security codes it could bypass our security and do a lot of damage to any of our bases. We have to make sure it never gets off this planet."
"A true warrior would show himself," Rak'nor said.
"Patience, Rak'nor," Teal'c said. "As Bra'tac would have said, a Jaffa has many senses with which to fight.
Jack tapped his commbadge. "O'Neill to Alanna, how close are we?"
"200 nanometres," Alanna answered. "It will be within the visible range when we reach 400 nanometres."
"If we all perish, there'll be no one left to carry on the fight," Malek said.
"The Jaffa will fight side by side with the Tok'ra. And, if need be, die side by side," Rak'nor said as Teal'c bowed his head in agreement.
"We are now at 420 nanometres," Alanna said. "Powering up 50 percent."
"Energy field forming," Dawn said as she held a tricorder.
"Ooh! Anybody else feel that?" Jack said.
"The tingling sensation is caused by the energy field," Sam said. "It's not causing any physical damage, so there's nothing to worry about, sir."
"No, I like it. It's good," Jack said.
"Field is holding, increasing to 100 percent."
The Ashrak shimmered into view right in front of Sam. He hit her and she fell to the ground. Rak'nor was pushed over by the Ashrak and took Teal'c with him as he fell. The Ashrak turned toward Jack who fires his phaser causing the Ashrak to stumble back. Suddenly, the Ashrak was hit in the back by a staff weapon blast. The Ashrak wavered only for a moment and then continued to run forward. He was hit a second and then a third time before he finally fell to the ground dead. Everyone turned to see who had fired the killing blow and see Bra'tac standing behind the Ashrak, looking badly hurt.
"Master Bra'tac!" Rak'nor said as he and Teal'c ran to Bra'tac to support him.
Faith hit her commbadge, "Lehane to everyone, good work. We got him," she said as Sam took Pierce's commbadge from the Ashrak and handed it to her.
"You're very lucky to be alive," Frasier said as she looked Bra'tac over.
"Indeed," Bra'tac agreed. "This Ashrak left me for dead. I was unable to move, and do not know how long I was unconscious. My symbiote sustained me, and I returned as soon as I could.
"Not bad," Jack said as Bra'tac nodded and smiled.
"I owe you my life, twice over. I only hope that one day I am given the chance to repay that debt. Forgive me," Malek said as he reached out his arm to Bra'tac, who took it in acknowledgement.
Bra'tac took the Ashrak's weapon and held it for all to see. "This single blade did what we could not. It has brought us together. This blade has spilled the blood of Jaffa, of the Tok'ra, of the Tauri and of the Federation. By the hand of our common enemy, it has made us brothers. Together, we have ensured it will never spill our blood again," he said as he threw the blade tip first into the ground.