Star Granger Season 3 - Chapter 8
Thoughts
"speech"
"Goa'uld speech"
SG SG SG SG SG SG SG
September 2nd 2000 – Planet Shipyard
"Go!" the word comes from the command centre.
Finally!
"Godspeed," we tell our friends and comrades and rush towards the Brick waiting for us.
For a week now, we are all camped up at the staging planet, keeping a one-hour readiness. This was mind bogglingly boring. Only bright points are that due to Port communication available, I managed to make good work of my emails and studies.
There was also boxing with Teal'c, which turned into this huge entertainment. Both for us, not being forced to hold back (as much), and for the spectators those 'training sessions' ended up gathering. I can now see some appreciation in O'Neill's eyes.
Launch point is an uninhabited planet, which according to the SG guys, isn't known to the Goa'uld. We use it to allow for a larger staging space for our ground forces in front of the Port. It will also enable any disengaging forces to use an unrecognized address as fallback.
This planet was also chosen for its proximity to the target. It would not do for the SG people to discover we can now travel much faster than they know. We make a huge effort for the Tok'ra to learn nothing at all about our capabilities.
Harry and I (We're a team!), together with SG2 and SG12 are the infiltration force. We're headed to one of the Ha'taks in orbit, to take over and use against the other two. A Tok'ra operative is expected to meet with us at the ship's hangar, to show us around. We are all dressed in futuristic like, dark grey suits, with face covering helmets.
For those smartarses among you yammering about the list – one can see through our face shields using special polarizing glasses built into the helmets themselves. It's nothing the Goa'uld can't overcome with a little effort. Honestly - polarizing lenses haven't been news since the former millennium. But, it will send them guessing today, and for the next few encounters – if we're lucky.
All our teams are also equipped with Phaser guns. We even gave SGC the design, so they can manufacture their own. Those are powered by the same power cells as the staff and snake weapons. 'Zats' they call those. So SGC will not miss for charges.
The goal of all this is for the Goa'uld to not associate this attack with Earth, and in case of a total success, will not know that Earth now possesses Apophis's all golden and improved ship.
Bill, Fleur, Tonks, and Timothy will be with the ground forces. About two platoon size forces, both ours and SGC will go through the gate to capture both the Ha'tak and Amasis - The Goa'uld engineer who designed this ship. SG1 will be in command. They are indubitably the most experienced of us all in this kind of operation. Therefore, we listen to them carefully and do our best not to tear our hair out.
True - most of their encounters with the Jaffa were small commando skirmishes and infiltration incidences. Also, most occurred under rather overwhelming odds. But having a simple god-damn-army-Jeep carrying a couple of heavy machine guns or even a light anti-aircraft cannon during regular missions would have greatly attributed to their ability to project power over a distance and would have saved quite a few lives?
"They still use NATO 5.7, for god's sake," I remember R exclaiming, when back to the base from that discussion. "Those were created specifically to not kill the enemy, and do bugger all against armour!"
This operation took a couple of months of planning, preparations, and dedicated training. Had to send the exasperated Tok'ra back four or five times for more detailed intel. Also had to time our stint perfectly. The new capital ship should be ready for space travel, yet not battle ready. Amasis should be on site, to be captured, or done in. We generally prefer that Apophis himself will not be present.
On the Shipyard planet is the mostly ready new Ha'tak ship, and a heavily armed, company sized, Jaffa ground force for security. Orbit is occupied with two or three standard Ha'taks to protect the planet from other Goa'uld. The plan calls for us to capture one of those Ha'taks and use it to destroy the other ones, to cover our commandeering of the improved one. Best case scenario – the Tok'ra will know as little as possible about this. Worse case – we will just destroy as many Ha'tak as we can and get out of Dodge. In any case, no Goa'uld must find out Earth was involved in any way.
The plan contains a couple of critical constraint points:
a) we must reach the planet and hold a bridgehead, to protect the Port, stop any reinforcements getting in, and any Goa'uld escaping.
b) we must infiltrate one of the ships in orbit, and if any of those hold a Port – it should be the one taken over.
The initial plan, and I don't mean the first, half-baked, virus induced one, was for a stealth commando-style operation. Get in, spread enough explosives in strategic locations, and blow those up. Preferably - only after getting back out.
Always looking to blow things up.
Then, they were reminded of HMS Hind and its exploits over Tollana, and asked if we could just blow the new ship up from orbit, which is what we will be doing, if all else is in shambles. We admitted to having a second ship available. They do not need to know about the Mermaid's repair status, or HMS Dragon, or HMS Centaur.
The Tok'ra certainly don't need to know about any of those.
"Wouldn't it be better to put our mitts on this monstrosity, when whole?" Sidney asked, at that early meeting, and got only silence in return. "Also, liberating Apophis' new ship from its rightful owner is certainly a noble cause, but unless we get our hands on the engineer who designed this improved ship – in about a year's time, Apophis will just build himself a new one. Probably a better one."
This called for much more detailed planning, and intel, and the Tok'ra were sent to gather it.
The Brick lifts off, folds, and jumps into hyper. We have fifty minutes to land on the designated Ha'tak before the ground attack will commence and shields will most likely be raised. With our new, Nox donated speeds, arriving on time isn't an issue. Making a hidden landing will be.
In orbit are three Ha'tak ships, as opposed to the two we were hoping for. Hind and a second Brick are there for close support. Centaur and Seahorse have been crawling in for a week now. From out of sensor range and into long range gun distance. Those are our fallback solutions for when our carefully made plans are in shambles.
Fifteen minutes to 'Go'.
We are lucky and our Brick follows a couple of Al'kesh bombers into the designated hangar. The other Brick is following us in. This one is not known to the Tok'ra operative who is expected to be waiting for us. Units are dispatched to their designated targets. I'm Following SG2 to meet with the Tok'ra, and ultimately take the bridge.
Pel'tak, curiously named by the natives.
The Port is expected to be located adjacent to the bridge.
Harry is following SG12 through the winding corridors towards Engineering. On Brick 2 is a section of SBS, whose mission is to secure barracks and hangars, mainly by distributing pre-made Repelling Ward plates, in various strategic locations.
Ten minutes to 'Go'.
Nofret, the Tok'ra operative, is just where she was promised to be. She jumps a bit when we reach her and Major Coburn touches her arm to indicate we're here. We are obviously all Disillusioned at this stage. We used a nonsense device to mask magic as technology, and any piece of Naquadah can be charged with Finit, to drop the Charm. Do you remember me remarking that Disillusion is a dangerous operational tool? That was then, before Jeremy devised a night-vision tool calibrated to show body heat, yet not blind the user in lit environments. Again, implemented into our headgear.
Five minutes to 'Go'.
By now, ground forces would have sent the probe. It does the same as the usual SGC one, except it's Disillusioned. It is also programmed to scan for targets and feed those back to our forces. A couple of minutes is enough time to prioritise those. They need to target plasma cannons, before individuals, for example.
We reach the bridge to meet a dear old friend of mine sitting on the throne. Duty before pleasure and all that rot, so we ward the bridge and the Port before revealing ourselves and ahead of the start of the ground attack, when all kinds of hell would break loose.
Time!
Planet side, first through the Port are a couple of armed Hovercrafts. Those are basically a working bee chassis lengthened to carry about a section of special forces and fitted with weapons. It's a bodge job alright, but will do for today. The Hovercrafts carry heavy phaser repeaters to eliminate the plasma cannon emplacements defending the Port. Second through will be a flight of No-Wings for scouting and air support. Third is the second couple of hovercrafts carrying SG1, Tonks and Timothy, and a company of special forces on their way to commandeer the new Ha'tak. Another flight of no-wings will play the air superiority role high above their location and be supported by the Hind against any fighters and Al'kesh the Goa'uld ships might release.
On our Ha'tak, things go smashingly well. The Bridge and Port are secured. I manually jam the relay. Right – that one at the top of the Port, which channels all its power. Unless the Goa'uld are very proficient in Port engineering and can cancel my Freezing Charm – this Port is out of commission.
It is time for some fun!
Keep it together!
Sod's law makes it so the alarm is raised exactly at this moment. Bridge Jaffa start running around looking for reasons. Lord super-sneer sits on his throne, ordering his people around. It's getting difficult not to get under foot. Luckily, it's quite spacious.
The decor needs some work, though.
Apophis' image appears on screen.
"Shol'va dares attack my planet," he thunders, flashing his eyes. "Send gliders and kill them all!" he orders and disconnects.
On the bridge, the Jaffa rush to comply, and exhibit increasing levels of confusion.
"What do you mean 'they can't find the hangar'?"
That Jaffa is shot for no fault of his own. "No more excuses!" The one next to him is ordered, and he runs to the doors, which open at the same moment, though no one can be seen entering. Inevitably, there is finally a collision and A Jaffa and one of the SG2 chaps find themselves on the floor.
"Ashrak!" the Jaffa cries and pulls out a zat. He is immediately shot for it. All around the bridge, in a flurry of blue plasma fire, all other Jaffa are shot as well, except for the Goa'uld, who manages to shield himself with his brace.
Goa'uld self-preservation is extraordinary – must give them that.
I remove my helmet and drop my Disillusion in front of the shocked Goa'uld, whose sneer comes back, full blown. "You!"
"Lord Zipacna!" I tell him, wearing my most insincere, wide smile. "It's been so long!" I then drop the smile and look around the bridge. "Is this a bad time?" I ask all innocently. "My bad!"
Beside me Harry drops his invisibility, chuckles, and claps in appreciation.
"I will ki…" Zipacna starts to say, but I cut him off.
I take out three bottles of 'London Pride' from my bag which suddenly appears in my hand. Give him one, and another to Harry. "Promised him a pint, next time we met," I explain.
"Cheers!" Harry just says, clinking my bottle, and takes a sip.
SG2 team are looking at us like we're stark raving bonkers, and maybe we are.
"Let me show you," I tell Zipacna, who's surprisingly enough, probably in agreement with SG2 at this moment. "Here, take a bottle. You clink the other person's bottle," I tap his bottle with mine. "Say 'cheers!' then take a sip – otherwise it's rather impolite." I tell him and take a sip myself.
Zipacna looks at the bottle suspiciously. Must have had a bad experience with it, yet the compulsion on it is too strong. He caves and takes a sip too. The potion is fast to act. Zipacna shudders, dry heaves, then the host body pukes the Goa'uld out, and falls bonelessly to the floor.
Beside the body is the slimy, ugly worm, that is Zipacna. It's trashing a bit, his stingers pushed out wide, and is hissing at me.
"Oh, belt it!" I tell him, and step on him, hard.
"Guess you know what he was saying" Harry remarks dryly.
"Strange dialect?" I ask with a raised brow.
Nofret, the Tok'ra, looks a tad green around the gills. Major Coburn is checking on the host. "Thanks" he whispers and is no more.
Outside the bridge window is a glider and Al'kesh massacre. There are hundreds of those, and our eight no-wings are like a drop in the ocean, but they have radar, computer-controlled targeting, and rapid fire phasers, where the poor Jaffa only have eyes. For this specific reason, no-wings are also invisible. They are keeping themselves well outside the glider's targeting range and raining death on the poor sods. It's like 'Goa'uld Invaders', when Jane or Calvin are playing, but without the ordered computer-generated attack formations.
HMS Hind is also contributing to the effort, by engaging the Al'kesh bombers. It's invisible, yet not folded.
Our cloaking system, being vaguely based on the Fidelius, means it's almost perfect, as long as one doesn't make an effort to be noticed. Therefore, if one moves too quickly, puts out extensive emissions, or as we are discussing at this moment, shoots at something - the cloak will fail. It's also susceptible to haphazard and accidents, as we learned when that satellite crashed on our shipyards, but that's beside the point right now.
The invisible, yet not folded Hind is playing a complicated game. It's keeping well out of the targeting range of both Al'kesh and Ha'tak. Engaging the bombers at distance, yet not the capital ships – we don't want those to escape too soon.
"Smashing!" Harry tells both Nofret and Major Coburn. "You blokes seem to have this well in hand,"
"Which Ha'tak is Apophis on?" I ask Nofret. She points at the farther one. "How can we get there?" She points at the rings.
"Right then!" I say then speak into the comm. "Hermione here. Target secured. Brick – clear off. SB1 and 2 to the bridge!" I hear several "Roger!" answers.
"Hermione and I will take the SB units to Apophis, as soon as they are here. Then you can Engage the other Ha'tak and try to do it in." Harry not quite orders the Tok'ra and SG leader. We are not in command of this unit, but it's clear to all we hold authority.
"I went to a hunting party once," I tell Nofret conversationally. "Didn't like it. Terrible people. They all started hunting me!" Probably does not improve Nofret and Coburn's opinion regarding my mental stability. Five minutes later the rings transfers us, in four groups, to Apophis's ship.
Once again, we are walking through long, winding, grey and gold corridors, on our way to another bridge.
The world is spinning too fast
I'm buying lead Nike shoes
To keep myself tethered
To the days I've tried to lose
Just before all this, Keira took Kazuko and I to this groovy private performance by her friend Damon, not far from home. It's this bloke from Blur. He's working on this funky cartoon band, and showed friends and some of their friends early beats.
Can't stop humming to myself.
My mama said to slow down
You must make your own shoes
Stop dancing to the music
Of Gorillaz in a happy mood
We shoot every Jaffa who shows his face on our way. Behind us one unit is off to take engineering, while the other covers us and helps stop any Jaffa from attacking us from behind. Taking over a third ship wasn't planned at all, so some improvisation and cunning is needed. Well, heavy handed, Slytherin Quidditch team type of cunning.
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
I keep humming to myself, as a few plasma shots splashes on my shield. Harry gives me a raised brow and shoots back. By the sound of things, there are a few casualties behind us, but we can't stop, or turn around, or do anything to protect our men, but to reach the bridge as quickly as possible. All this time I'm getting angrier and angrier and can only hum to cover it.
On the bridge we find total chaos. Apophis is perched on this throne, shouting commands at his frightened people. Out the window, the other two Ha'tak are doing battle, and I don't quite know which is which. From the planet's surface, the improved Ha'tak starts to rise.
"Shol'va stealing my new Mothership. Shoot it now, before it reaches orbit!" he orders.
A few shots are aimed its way and are stopped by the Hind's shields. I'm not certain the improved Ha'tak has operational shields at all.
I walk purposefully onto the bridge and flash my eyes. "A lowly underling playing a god, how pathetic," I say, for all to hear, loading my tone with as much disdain as I can. "Get off my seat and bow to your queen!"
Another shot is aimed at the rising improved Ha'tak. This one connects. Harry shoots the Jaffa at the weapon station a moment later. Sadly, we are too few here to be merciful in any way. They can and will swarm us all, if not careful, and only Harry and I might survive.
Outside, one of the fighting Ha'tak explodes, and I can only hope it's the right one. The Improved is now in orbit and heading away. Fighter engagements are dwindling as the few remaining gliders and Al'kesh plead for both reinforcements and instructions and receive none.
"I know of you," Apophis sneers. "You are that Lady Hermione of the Ta'uri. You are no queen!"
On the other side of the bridge, the Port engages, killing one of the Jaffa with the unstable wormhole forming.
"Fool! I am Queen Isis. Earth is my domain." I try.
"Then I will come with my whole fleet and destroy it," he sneers and in a blink of an eye disappears through the Port. It flickers for a moment, then disengages. You can always trust a Goa'uld to be a coward.
Brave Sir Robin ran away. Bravely ran away away. When danger reared its ugly head, he bravely turned his tail and fled, I can't stop myself from chuckling.
The surviving Ha'tak is the right one. It took some beating and goes hyper to whatever secret location the Tok'ra had devised to hide it. It requires quite a bit of repairs. That same moment five fresh Ha'tak drop out of Hyperspace, not far above orbit.
So, brave Sir Robin ran away, but sent his underling to fight in his place…
"Should we send out gliders, Lady Isis?" the head living Jaffa asks me hesitantly. I'm not certain whether he hesitates to speak to a goddess, or to send his people out there.
"Are you daft?" I answer, and make him blink. "Is there a place where your brothers can evacuate to safely?" Chulak is the unsurprising answer.
I need to go and visit, sometime soon.
"Evacuate everyone not crucial for the operation of this vessel through the Chappa'ai, and help protect the improved Ha'tak," I order, to see a glimmer of respect in his eyes.
Frankly, I'd rather be on another ship, at this moment…
Outside two of the new ships are vectoring towards us, taking a few ranging shots. The other three are vectoring to do Improved in. In low orbit, it is much more vulnerable, what with it having no shields and no cannons operational. HMS Hind tries to cover it from fire, though the Hind is a wee little thing, in comparison, and few ranging shots manage to hit Improved, behind it.
"Stop blowing holes in my ship!" I cry out, without intention. I think my new Jaffa friends are amused now.
Out there, the Hind is an amazing sight. An empty sphere of space, but for the occasional lighting of its shields, yet spitting out fire at an incredible rate. On sensors two new, unrecognized ships appear. Small and inconsequential, from the Jaffa point of view, and in any case – too far to be of immediate concern, while in active combat.
"Keep us at the edge of the targeting range and keep pulling those two Ha'tak away from Improved." I instruct the Jaffa in command. He looks at me uncertainly but complies. We keep exchanging ineffective fire with the chasing ships, at the edge of targeting range.
First test for Gabriel's 'useless' Particle cannons, then.
First to explode, under the Hind's fire, is the front Ha'tak chasing after Improved. Then we notice points lighting and straining on the shields of the two rear ships, chasing after us and after Improved. It takes a handful of seconds for shields to fail and armour to be pierced. First, 'our' Ha'tak explodes, then the one chasing Improved.
"Asgard?" The jaffa asks me in astonishment.
"Nop, my ships," I answer with a smirk.
Meanwhile, the bridge is full with jaffa, from all over our ship, rushing to evacuate to wherever the Port is sending them, at this moment.
The two remaining chasing Ha'tak disengage, throw a few well used threats at us, and hurriedly open a hyperspace window to flee. Around us is a huge debris field. Fighters and bombers, whole and in parts, drift in between ship chunks and dead bodies.
I'm gonna be sick…
My new jaffa friend is waiting patiently for me to acknowledge him, on one knee. Other Jaffa are still rushing through the bridge and into the Port. I have places to be.
"Come," I just tell him, and lead him into a side room – Probably Apophis' privet chambre. "Listen to me," I tell him. "And think well, before doing, or talking. What is your name?" Bel'dun.
"I don't need, or want your worship, Bel'dun. But the last time I told this to a Jaffa, I had to kill a whole shipload, because they didn't stop attacking me." Bel'dun nods guardedly at this. "I will not ask you to fight for me either. Goa'uld have treated the Jaffa horribly, and I'm sadly not in a position to actually do anything about it. But one day, I would like you Jaffa to be free of the Goa'uld and do best for yourselves." He wants to say something, but I stop him with a raised finger.
Hey, it still works!
"Now, you have a choice to make." I tell him farther. "You can disagree, take the rest of your men, and evacuate. I really don't want to kill any more Jaffa today. Enough have already died in a war not their own. Or, you might agree. I will let you take the Al'kesh from this ship to conduct search and rescue operations around here. There must be more Jaffa still alive out there. Then, you will come to a planet I'll give you the coordinates of, and we'll see what comes."
"You are not Isis," Bel'dun tells me levelly. "What shall I call you?"
"There is not enough trust between us yet, for you to know my name," I tell him ruefully. "What say you?"
Please? There is never a good day to die…
"I will do as you advise, and will meet you again, not Isis," is the answer.
Good, good…
The Jaffa are off the ship with a fleet of Al'kesh to search for and rescue their brothers. Kaden is here, to fly this monstrosity to a safe location. He has his cage of white mice, and there is nothing to bump into out here. A brick will accompany him, in case of emergency. Another brick is here to pick us up. Can't wait to be off this ship, and away from this death field.
"Harry, Let's get out of here. Did you par chance see the address on the Port when Apophis fled?" I ask and get no answer.
"Harry?!"
AN:
I was asked by readers to explain the organization structure of the British program, so here goes:
The Battersea Clean Energy Inc. (BCE) -
Is a privet company established to distribute new tech on Earth. It sells power reactors. Also sells crystal based computers and holographic office displays Etc. It will be the face of any commercial activity they will make. It is also well known known to the public.
The CEO of the company is Francis (Frankly - Harry and Hermione aren't qualified)
The company is mostly owned by Harry, Hermione, Fleur and Bill (they hold 7.5% as per their agreement). 30% is held by the professional management. and 15% is held in trust 'for the guys'. that leaves H&H with 47.5% of the ownership, though 62.5% of the control.
In agreement with the treasury, most of the company's profits finance 'the project'
Women in Black (WIB) -
Is the unofficial name of the British space program. People call it that, because it's more fun. Also, it being named this way as part of the secrecy contract and the Fidelius derived wards which are protecting all Project locations (and ships), gives this name some kind of formality.
WIB is a government project, subjected directly to the office of the Prime Minister, and is headed by R. At some stage it will be officially declared as a formal agency.
Royal (space) Navy -
Ships are in full control of the Royal Navy, are commanded and crewed by the RN.
Peers is the overall commander of the unit. Victoria is the flag officer of the actual fleet. they are backed by Admiral Nigel Essenhigh - Commander-in-Chief Fleet (that's a real person).
The military unite is strategically subjected to R and the WIB command.
All this is mainly financed by the BCE and the Treasury - as needed.
As usual - Huge shout to flyboy38, my beta, who takes the time to make sure the story is a much better read.
Also to Dalwolf For doing Brit-Picking for, well - you all, and help my British characters stay British.