Title: "People Don't Just Disappear" - that's just the stuff legends are
made of!
Author: Zoe Hands
E-Mail: zoehands@hotmail.com
Category: General
Rating: PG-13, angst
Season: About the end of 4
Summary: Conspiracy?
Disclaimer: Nope Stargate SG-1 isn't mine.
Author's notes: First and foremost my punctuation sucks! but I've tried to make it as readable as possible.
"Sir, we've found a blood trail, behind the house" said a voice over the radio, Janet got to her feet aided by a hand from Miller and they proceeded to the back of the house...
"There's more than one blood trail here, we'll have to peel off into our 3 teams, I want contact confirmed every 30 minutes, don't travel more than 10 clicks from this location, anything heavy goes down we pull back to the gate, any questions?" asked Miller.
"No Sir, we're good to go" replied Captain Henson
"Then go" said Miller, "Janet you'll come with my team, and don't worry we'll find them"
"I know we will" said Janet with absolute resolve.
Two hours into the search, the frustration on everyone's faces was clear for all to see, "Not a building, tunnel, bridge or person in site; Sir, we lost the blood trial long ago, I don't see the point in continuing the search like this" said Lt. Grant facing up to his CO Major Pete Miller, Miller took Grant to one side
"Oh you don't see the point, what a shame, the importance of five lives evades you does it Lt. Grant? Huh, I'm waiting"
"No Sir, it's not that I think they're unimportant but I think this type of search is in vein, we've seen nothing for about a mile, and I think it's pretty evident they didn't come this way Sir is all"
"Well when we've conducted a search of the *whole* area that will be a logical conclusion, until that time we will continue on this path is that understood?"
"Yes Major" answered Lt. Grant who definitely felt put in his place. Janet had heard the altercation and went to speak with Major Miller
"I'm in no doubt that we will find the General and SG-1 but I think he may be right about this not being the way"
"I know that Janet, he's one-hundred percent right, this is no way to search a massive woodland area with sparse population, but with so few men we have little choice and while there is a chance that we may discover something we'll keep going" he said giving Janet a little reassuring smile. Janet managed a small smile back, she'd taken a shine to Major Miller, he made her feel at ease, she knew that he was capable and to her that made all the difference, in his presence she didn't doubt that they would find SG-1 and General Hammond.
It' wasn't long before they had reached the 10 mile perimeter that Miller had set for the teams and it was decision time, darkness was descending and the cold beginning to nip at any exposed flesh the teams had. "All teams, this is Miller, set up camp for tonight and in the morning we'll continue the search as far as necessary, over and out". Janet looked up at Miller almost mortified and Miller knew what was coming…
"We can't just sit here round a fire singing camp songs and toasting marshmallows, they're obviously in trouble and need our help, there has already been a big enough delay with us getting here in the first place" she ranted
"Janet, slow down, let me speak, we may miss something crucial in the dark, a footprint, a drop of blood, surely you understand that?" reasoned Miller
"I do, I know" said Janet as she began to breakdown into tears, Miller stepped forward and put his arms around her in a comforting hug, "It's just not fair, they seemed such a placid people, bastards!"
"Shhh, shhh, shh, shh, come on now, SG-1 have come through tighter spots than this, they're resourceful, they'll make it" said Miller trying to calm and comfort Janet, but she was full of fight and didn't want to hear words of comfort, she was too caught up in reliving memories of what actually happened and her reply showed that...
"Well you didn't see your best friend get shot, you didn't see the blood spray her from her chest as the bullet tore through, you didn't see her hit the ground and lie still as her jacket turned blood red, you were not the one there that could have helped, I should have been there, I'm a doctor for crying out loud"
"Are you done?" asked Miller as he pushed her body away from his embrace and held her at arms length so he could engage her eyes, "I need you to be strong for me Janet, I need you to keep this together, we will find Sam and the others, I know you believe me when I say that Janet, now come on lets get some rest its been a long day."
_____________________________________________________________________
SG-6 arose with the morning sun that radiated an intense red glow of almost defiant proportions.
"Report Anderson" said Miller
"Not a peep sir, not a sole either, no birds, no insects nothing"
"Okay, get your gear, we move out in 5 mikes" ordered Miller. While the others prepared to move out, Miller contacted the other SG Teams,
"Captain Henson, come in over"
"Yes sir, we're ready to move out on your order"
"Okay here's what I want you to do, search another 5 clicks then if you turn up nothing I want you to return to the gate and report back to the SGC, tell them we need more troops to increase the search area, understood?"
"Yes Sir."
"Major Nearborne, come in, over" called Miller over the radio
"Major Nearborne here Pete, what's up?"
"I'm thinking we continue the search as far as we can today, Captain Henson will be going back to the gate later to request reinforcements"
"Sounds good to me, will keep you apprised of our progress over and out" said Nearborne.
"Okay we good to go? Grant you got point again, Anderson bring up the rear" ordered Miller.
Their search continued for some hours, and by this time reinforcements we're on their way through the gate to expand the search area. Before the day was out, everything within a 22-mile radius of the gate had been searched with nothing, no more signs of blood trails, empty shell casings, no sign of life at all. As the teams bedded down for a second night, the tense, frustrated atmosphere of the night before had been replaced by an almost sullen acceptance that their initial brazen statements that SG-1 and the General would be found were misguided to say the least. But still the search would go on, Janet wouldn't let them stop for one and neither would Miller.
Janet sat quietly warming her hands against the smouldering fire, again letting the events of that morning play on her mind. Miller walked up behind her "Mind if I join you?" Janet jumped, she hadn't heard his approach,
"No, not at all, I'd be glad of the company actually" she said with a small smile. The two sat in silence for some time, Miller could sense that Janet needed to talk but he didn't want to push her into it, so he waited as the silence continued unabated.
"I...I do believe they'll be okay" started Janet, Miller looked up to her and engaged her as she slowly let her thoughts turn to words, "I've treated Sam for a hundred things since we've been friends, when she was taken over by the Tok'Ra, her radiation sickness, even the time she was taken over by the alien presence, and I've always managed to remain somewhat detached, sure I got upset but I was able to focus through that, but actually seeing her shot right before my eyes took my breath away, I felt my chest so tight, and my head felt like it was being crushed, it happened in slow motion, I heard the muffled thump as the bullet hit and for that second all other sounds fell into oblivion, except for her, I heard her gasp for air, and I saw her grit her teeth and close her eyes, then she fell, she hardly made a sound as she hit the ground and then she didn't move at all, and I just stood watching. The General was close behind her and he almost caught her as she fell, he knelt by her side, he was getting ready to carry her when he was shot in his thigh and I heard him yell and then the whole moment rushed at me as it stopped happening in slow motion and I finally started to move towards them, I called out 'Sam', but almost as soon as I started moving forward, I felt resistance and then started moving backwards as Colonel O'Neill grabbed the loose back of my jacket and pulled me along with him, thinking back on it now, it all seems so surreal"
"You were under fire, there was nothing more you could have done, the best possible thing you could do to help her was get yourselves out of there and go for help, which you did, you did the right thing" said Miller
"I know, it's just hard to accept you know"
"I know, it's tough"
Janet felt the world lift from her shoulders as the two descended back into silence, the night wore on and they sat in the comfortable silence of each other's company.
Again the intense sun's furious rays provided the good morning call to all the teams, the same procedure of combing the bush was continued for more hours, the tedious work was only emphasised by the lack of any sound from this planet, the only noise to hit the team's ears were their own footsteps hitting the scrub.
It was once more was nearing dusk, when Janet thought she heard something, a snapping of twigs to her right, she shot her head round but could see nothing but trees and undergrowth, she snapped her head back round to make sure all her own team were accounted for and therefore ensure it wasn't one of them. Miller noticed Janet had stopped, and approached her, "What is it?"
"Shh, I thought I heard something," said Janet lifting her finger to her lips to give added empathises to her hush sound. Miller listened in with Janet for almost a minute, but the cracking of wood Janet initially heard was not to be repeated.
"Are you sure you heard something? We're all tired here and hoping to hear something, anything" enquired Miller
"No, I'm sure"
"Okay then," Miller ordered his team to change the direction of their sweep to an eastern heading, towards where Janet was sure she heard the sound from. Night fell once more, and Janet's brief hope that had been aroused by the sound she heard was replaced with anger,
"Damn it, where the hell are they? And are there no people on this planet except for the ones who screwed us over?" rasped Janet, Miller went to say something in response, but was intercepted by Janet "Don't say we'll find them, infact just don't say a word, cause quite frankly I don't wanna hear it!" Miller closed his mouth and looked away, and put his hand up to his face as if gesturing putting his nose back into joint. Janet smiled, "I'm sorry, I'm just...you know uhhh!"
Miller was about to say something when he heard a definite snapping of a twig coming from over his shoulder off in the darkness, he turned, grabbing his weapon in one swift movement. Miller's quick motion was more than enough to alert his team who also grabbed their weapons. Miller tapped his hand on his head, a silent signal to his team to move on him, he slowly began to edge further into the darkness, when suddenly pockets of yellow and white began lighting up the night canvas, they were under fire.
"Get down!" shouted Miller, he and his team rushed back the few meters they had trodden back to their camp and Miller took up position next to Janet, "Janet stay behind me no matter what."
The weapon's fire rang out from both sides for 3 solid minutes, showing no signs of relent, and then nothing, whatever was attacking them from the forest had fallen silent, Miller slowly stepped from behind the rock which he had resided during the fight and signalled to Janet and his team to stay put while he checked it out. Before he could take another step, the firing began once again and he was hit several times about the neck and chest, he fell where he stood. The team once again returned fire. Janet couldn't stand by and began to run to Major Miller who could be heard even above the weapon's fire choking on the blood in his throat, but before Janet could reach him she was knocked back down to the ground by Lt. Grant who had rushed from his position to keep her from entering the line of fire, he continued to shoot until again the woods fell silent.
They were not about to make the same mistake twice, the team waited and waited, still concealed by whatever rock or tree they could find cover behind. After 10 or so minutes, Grant crawled out to where Miller lay, his gargling had ceased some minutes before and Grant put his hand to feel Miller's pulse to confirm what he already knew, Miller was dead. He crawled back to Janet, she was attempting to speak but her words were stuck in her throat, before she could speak Grant gave the order "Anderson, get Miller's body, we're outta here, double time back to the gate".
"No, we can't just leave now," finally said Janet
"Ma'am, I think we need to get back to the gate while we still can, and although you're a Major, I think this is my call, and I say we go" answered Grant
Janet, wasn't sure how to play this situation, and in her uncertainty complied with Grant's wishes. The team ran at a steady pace through the thicket and woodland. About two hours into their run back to the gate, the silence was broken once more, not by weapon's fire or footsteps but by a distant shouting. All three stopped, and wanted to see if they could hear the shout once more, but it never came. Grant's inexperience began to show, he wasn't sure if he should stop and investigate or get back to the gate. A few moments passed in silent contemplation of his next move. Then through the silence came cutting a voice over the three's radios "Major Miller, can you hear me?" it was the voice of Major Nearborne, SG-3 team leader
"Sir, this is Lt. Grant, er Sir the Major's dead"
Major Nearborne threw his head upwards, and looked into the sky for a moment, as if asking God why? "Okay Grant, where are you now, we'll meet up with your team?"
"Sir, we were on our way back to the gate, we're only about a click south"
"Okay Lieutenant, when you get to the gate, dial home, tell Keller what's happened, we'll meet you there as soon as we can, Nearborne out."
Nearborne's team and SG-5 reached the gate to find Colonel Keller, Janet, SG-6 and a small armed team waiting by the DHD.
"Sir, what's the plan" asked Nearborne when he reached the DHD
"We're calling the search off Major, we've lost a good man here today and I can't afford to lose anyone else, when we've nothing to go on"
"That's not exactly true" interceded Janet, "We heard someone shouting for help about a mile from here"
"Did you hear this Lieutenant?" asked Keller to Grant
"I'm not sure it was a shout for help Sir, but I did hear something"
"Then it could have been anything, am I right?" said Keller
"Possibly Sir, I don't know" answered Grant
"Hey! Hey! I don't believe I'm hearing this, we're not seriously going to leave it there, we don't know that the General and SG-1 aren't still alive, fighting for their lives, I hadn't realised a General was so expendable!"
"Major, you'll do wisely to watch your tone" responded Keller
Janet, turned away, unable to quite believe what was happening, in her own mind she was questioning the reality of it all, surely we didn't just abandon our people, this was the SGC, something was so very wrong here, she began to wonder if it was her…
"Colonel, respectfully request permission to continue the search with volunteers," asked Janet
"Oh, Doctor don't be so stupid" snapped Keller
"But Sir, people will volunteer…"
"I've no doubt they will Doctor, but I've made my decision and you'll do well to abide by it" said Keller with the last word.
The teams returned to the SGC and Janet went straight to find Major Davis, surely he wouldn't let it end here.
"Paul can I speak with you please, in my office," Davis followed Janet into her office and watched as she shut the door
"Janet, what's wrong" asked Davis
"Did you know Keller has called off the search?"
"I know, it's not the result any of us were hoping for" replied Davis
"What, that's all you're gunna say? Since when did we start leaving people in the field, people that include a two star General?"
"Janet, there's more going on here than you think"
"You're damn right there is and I'm going to get to the bottom of it"
"Janet, you should leave it alone, Keller isn't the enemy here, he gets his orders from the Pentagon, it is they who wanted the search stopped, Major Miller getting killed was just the excuse they were waiting for"
"What? er What do you mean?" said Janet unsure what to make of what Davis was saying
"Janet, this is to go no further. There are certain political pressures on the Stargate Programme, that's nothing new, these people have been waiting in the wings for a situation just like this, now they can put the man they want in here, a man that lets say may be a little less respectful of other cultures when it comes to acquiring alien technology."
"Surely there must be somewhere we can turn?" asked Janet desperately
"I can't see where, this is something beyond the scope of a couple of Majors, if SG-1 and the General and gunna get outta there, then they'll have to do it on their own"
To be continued…
Author: Zoe Hands
E-Mail: zoehands@hotmail.com
Category: General
Rating: PG-13, angst
Season: About the end of 4
Summary: Conspiracy?
Disclaimer: Nope Stargate SG-1 isn't mine.
Author's notes: First and foremost my punctuation sucks! but I've tried to make it as readable as possible.
"Sir, we've found a blood trail, behind the house" said a voice over the radio, Janet got to her feet aided by a hand from Miller and they proceeded to the back of the house...
"There's more than one blood trail here, we'll have to peel off into our 3 teams, I want contact confirmed every 30 minutes, don't travel more than 10 clicks from this location, anything heavy goes down we pull back to the gate, any questions?" asked Miller.
"No Sir, we're good to go" replied Captain Henson
"Then go" said Miller, "Janet you'll come with my team, and don't worry we'll find them"
"I know we will" said Janet with absolute resolve.
Two hours into the search, the frustration on everyone's faces was clear for all to see, "Not a building, tunnel, bridge or person in site; Sir, we lost the blood trial long ago, I don't see the point in continuing the search like this" said Lt. Grant facing up to his CO Major Pete Miller, Miller took Grant to one side
"Oh you don't see the point, what a shame, the importance of five lives evades you does it Lt. Grant? Huh, I'm waiting"
"No Sir, it's not that I think they're unimportant but I think this type of search is in vein, we've seen nothing for about a mile, and I think it's pretty evident they didn't come this way Sir is all"
"Well when we've conducted a search of the *whole* area that will be a logical conclusion, until that time we will continue on this path is that understood?"
"Yes Major" answered Lt. Grant who definitely felt put in his place. Janet had heard the altercation and went to speak with Major Miller
"I'm in no doubt that we will find the General and SG-1 but I think he may be right about this not being the way"
"I know that Janet, he's one-hundred percent right, this is no way to search a massive woodland area with sparse population, but with so few men we have little choice and while there is a chance that we may discover something we'll keep going" he said giving Janet a little reassuring smile. Janet managed a small smile back, she'd taken a shine to Major Miller, he made her feel at ease, she knew that he was capable and to her that made all the difference, in his presence she didn't doubt that they would find SG-1 and General Hammond.
It' wasn't long before they had reached the 10 mile perimeter that Miller had set for the teams and it was decision time, darkness was descending and the cold beginning to nip at any exposed flesh the teams had. "All teams, this is Miller, set up camp for tonight and in the morning we'll continue the search as far as necessary, over and out". Janet looked up at Miller almost mortified and Miller knew what was coming…
"We can't just sit here round a fire singing camp songs and toasting marshmallows, they're obviously in trouble and need our help, there has already been a big enough delay with us getting here in the first place" she ranted
"Janet, slow down, let me speak, we may miss something crucial in the dark, a footprint, a drop of blood, surely you understand that?" reasoned Miller
"I do, I know" said Janet as she began to breakdown into tears, Miller stepped forward and put his arms around her in a comforting hug, "It's just not fair, they seemed such a placid people, bastards!"
"Shhh, shhh, shh, shh, come on now, SG-1 have come through tighter spots than this, they're resourceful, they'll make it" said Miller trying to calm and comfort Janet, but she was full of fight and didn't want to hear words of comfort, she was too caught up in reliving memories of what actually happened and her reply showed that...
"Well you didn't see your best friend get shot, you didn't see the blood spray her from her chest as the bullet tore through, you didn't see her hit the ground and lie still as her jacket turned blood red, you were not the one there that could have helped, I should have been there, I'm a doctor for crying out loud"
"Are you done?" asked Miller as he pushed her body away from his embrace and held her at arms length so he could engage her eyes, "I need you to be strong for me Janet, I need you to keep this together, we will find Sam and the others, I know you believe me when I say that Janet, now come on lets get some rest its been a long day."
_____________________________________________________________________
SG-6 arose with the morning sun that radiated an intense red glow of almost defiant proportions.
"Report Anderson" said Miller
"Not a peep sir, not a sole either, no birds, no insects nothing"
"Okay, get your gear, we move out in 5 mikes" ordered Miller. While the others prepared to move out, Miller contacted the other SG Teams,
"Captain Henson, come in over"
"Yes sir, we're ready to move out on your order"
"Okay here's what I want you to do, search another 5 clicks then if you turn up nothing I want you to return to the gate and report back to the SGC, tell them we need more troops to increase the search area, understood?"
"Yes Sir."
"Major Nearborne, come in, over" called Miller over the radio
"Major Nearborne here Pete, what's up?"
"I'm thinking we continue the search as far as we can today, Captain Henson will be going back to the gate later to request reinforcements"
"Sounds good to me, will keep you apprised of our progress over and out" said Nearborne.
"Okay we good to go? Grant you got point again, Anderson bring up the rear" ordered Miller.
Their search continued for some hours, and by this time reinforcements we're on their way through the gate to expand the search area. Before the day was out, everything within a 22-mile radius of the gate had been searched with nothing, no more signs of blood trails, empty shell casings, no sign of life at all. As the teams bedded down for a second night, the tense, frustrated atmosphere of the night before had been replaced by an almost sullen acceptance that their initial brazen statements that SG-1 and the General would be found were misguided to say the least. But still the search would go on, Janet wouldn't let them stop for one and neither would Miller.
Janet sat quietly warming her hands against the smouldering fire, again letting the events of that morning play on her mind. Miller walked up behind her "Mind if I join you?" Janet jumped, she hadn't heard his approach,
"No, not at all, I'd be glad of the company actually" she said with a small smile. The two sat in silence for some time, Miller could sense that Janet needed to talk but he didn't want to push her into it, so he waited as the silence continued unabated.
"I...I do believe they'll be okay" started Janet, Miller looked up to her and engaged her as she slowly let her thoughts turn to words, "I've treated Sam for a hundred things since we've been friends, when she was taken over by the Tok'Ra, her radiation sickness, even the time she was taken over by the alien presence, and I've always managed to remain somewhat detached, sure I got upset but I was able to focus through that, but actually seeing her shot right before my eyes took my breath away, I felt my chest so tight, and my head felt like it was being crushed, it happened in slow motion, I heard the muffled thump as the bullet hit and for that second all other sounds fell into oblivion, except for her, I heard her gasp for air, and I saw her grit her teeth and close her eyes, then she fell, she hardly made a sound as she hit the ground and then she didn't move at all, and I just stood watching. The General was close behind her and he almost caught her as she fell, he knelt by her side, he was getting ready to carry her when he was shot in his thigh and I heard him yell and then the whole moment rushed at me as it stopped happening in slow motion and I finally started to move towards them, I called out 'Sam', but almost as soon as I started moving forward, I felt resistance and then started moving backwards as Colonel O'Neill grabbed the loose back of my jacket and pulled me along with him, thinking back on it now, it all seems so surreal"
"You were under fire, there was nothing more you could have done, the best possible thing you could do to help her was get yourselves out of there and go for help, which you did, you did the right thing" said Miller
"I know, it's just hard to accept you know"
"I know, it's tough"
Janet felt the world lift from her shoulders as the two descended back into silence, the night wore on and they sat in the comfortable silence of each other's company.
Again the intense sun's furious rays provided the good morning call to all the teams, the same procedure of combing the bush was continued for more hours, the tedious work was only emphasised by the lack of any sound from this planet, the only noise to hit the team's ears were their own footsteps hitting the scrub.
It was once more was nearing dusk, when Janet thought she heard something, a snapping of twigs to her right, she shot her head round but could see nothing but trees and undergrowth, she snapped her head back round to make sure all her own team were accounted for and therefore ensure it wasn't one of them. Miller noticed Janet had stopped, and approached her, "What is it?"
"Shh, I thought I heard something," said Janet lifting her finger to her lips to give added empathises to her hush sound. Miller listened in with Janet for almost a minute, but the cracking of wood Janet initially heard was not to be repeated.
"Are you sure you heard something? We're all tired here and hoping to hear something, anything" enquired Miller
"No, I'm sure"
"Okay then," Miller ordered his team to change the direction of their sweep to an eastern heading, towards where Janet was sure she heard the sound from. Night fell once more, and Janet's brief hope that had been aroused by the sound she heard was replaced with anger,
"Damn it, where the hell are they? And are there no people on this planet except for the ones who screwed us over?" rasped Janet, Miller went to say something in response, but was intercepted by Janet "Don't say we'll find them, infact just don't say a word, cause quite frankly I don't wanna hear it!" Miller closed his mouth and looked away, and put his hand up to his face as if gesturing putting his nose back into joint. Janet smiled, "I'm sorry, I'm just...you know uhhh!"
Miller was about to say something when he heard a definite snapping of a twig coming from over his shoulder off in the darkness, he turned, grabbing his weapon in one swift movement. Miller's quick motion was more than enough to alert his team who also grabbed their weapons. Miller tapped his hand on his head, a silent signal to his team to move on him, he slowly began to edge further into the darkness, when suddenly pockets of yellow and white began lighting up the night canvas, they were under fire.
"Get down!" shouted Miller, he and his team rushed back the few meters they had trodden back to their camp and Miller took up position next to Janet, "Janet stay behind me no matter what."
The weapon's fire rang out from both sides for 3 solid minutes, showing no signs of relent, and then nothing, whatever was attacking them from the forest had fallen silent, Miller slowly stepped from behind the rock which he had resided during the fight and signalled to Janet and his team to stay put while he checked it out. Before he could take another step, the firing began once again and he was hit several times about the neck and chest, he fell where he stood. The team once again returned fire. Janet couldn't stand by and began to run to Major Miller who could be heard even above the weapon's fire choking on the blood in his throat, but before Janet could reach him she was knocked back down to the ground by Lt. Grant who had rushed from his position to keep her from entering the line of fire, he continued to shoot until again the woods fell silent.
They were not about to make the same mistake twice, the team waited and waited, still concealed by whatever rock or tree they could find cover behind. After 10 or so minutes, Grant crawled out to where Miller lay, his gargling had ceased some minutes before and Grant put his hand to feel Miller's pulse to confirm what he already knew, Miller was dead. He crawled back to Janet, she was attempting to speak but her words were stuck in her throat, before she could speak Grant gave the order "Anderson, get Miller's body, we're outta here, double time back to the gate".
"No, we can't just leave now," finally said Janet
"Ma'am, I think we need to get back to the gate while we still can, and although you're a Major, I think this is my call, and I say we go" answered Grant
Janet, wasn't sure how to play this situation, and in her uncertainty complied with Grant's wishes. The team ran at a steady pace through the thicket and woodland. About two hours into their run back to the gate, the silence was broken once more, not by weapon's fire or footsteps but by a distant shouting. All three stopped, and wanted to see if they could hear the shout once more, but it never came. Grant's inexperience began to show, he wasn't sure if he should stop and investigate or get back to the gate. A few moments passed in silent contemplation of his next move. Then through the silence came cutting a voice over the three's radios "Major Miller, can you hear me?" it was the voice of Major Nearborne, SG-3 team leader
"Sir, this is Lt. Grant, er Sir the Major's dead"
Major Nearborne threw his head upwards, and looked into the sky for a moment, as if asking God why? "Okay Grant, where are you now, we'll meet up with your team?"
"Sir, we were on our way back to the gate, we're only about a click south"
"Okay Lieutenant, when you get to the gate, dial home, tell Keller what's happened, we'll meet you there as soon as we can, Nearborne out."
Nearborne's team and SG-5 reached the gate to find Colonel Keller, Janet, SG-6 and a small armed team waiting by the DHD.
"Sir, what's the plan" asked Nearborne when he reached the DHD
"We're calling the search off Major, we've lost a good man here today and I can't afford to lose anyone else, when we've nothing to go on"
"That's not exactly true" interceded Janet, "We heard someone shouting for help about a mile from here"
"Did you hear this Lieutenant?" asked Keller to Grant
"I'm not sure it was a shout for help Sir, but I did hear something"
"Then it could have been anything, am I right?" said Keller
"Possibly Sir, I don't know" answered Grant
"Hey! Hey! I don't believe I'm hearing this, we're not seriously going to leave it there, we don't know that the General and SG-1 aren't still alive, fighting for their lives, I hadn't realised a General was so expendable!"
"Major, you'll do wisely to watch your tone" responded Keller
Janet, turned away, unable to quite believe what was happening, in her own mind she was questioning the reality of it all, surely we didn't just abandon our people, this was the SGC, something was so very wrong here, she began to wonder if it was her…
"Colonel, respectfully request permission to continue the search with volunteers," asked Janet
"Oh, Doctor don't be so stupid" snapped Keller
"But Sir, people will volunteer…"
"I've no doubt they will Doctor, but I've made my decision and you'll do well to abide by it" said Keller with the last word.
The teams returned to the SGC and Janet went straight to find Major Davis, surely he wouldn't let it end here.
"Paul can I speak with you please, in my office," Davis followed Janet into her office and watched as she shut the door
"Janet, what's wrong" asked Davis
"Did you know Keller has called off the search?"
"I know, it's not the result any of us were hoping for" replied Davis
"What, that's all you're gunna say? Since when did we start leaving people in the field, people that include a two star General?"
"Janet, there's more going on here than you think"
"You're damn right there is and I'm going to get to the bottom of it"
"Janet, you should leave it alone, Keller isn't the enemy here, he gets his orders from the Pentagon, it is they who wanted the search stopped, Major Miller getting killed was just the excuse they were waiting for"
"What? er What do you mean?" said Janet unsure what to make of what Davis was saying
"Janet, this is to go no further. There are certain political pressures on the Stargate Programme, that's nothing new, these people have been waiting in the wings for a situation just like this, now they can put the man they want in here, a man that lets say may be a little less respectful of other cultures when it comes to acquiring alien technology."
"Surely there must be somewhere we can turn?" asked Janet desperately
"I can't see where, this is something beyond the scope of a couple of Majors, if SG-1 and the General and gunna get outta there, then they'll have to do it on their own"
To be continued…