Chapter 2

Konoko stepped through the Stargate, and it shut closed behind her. She surveyed the landscape in front of her. The Stargate was nestled deep in a mountain range, actually on top of a mountain to be specific. Konoko could see the outpost from a cliff that was close by. It wasn't much more than a backwater research station, really. "Sir," she reported, "looks like this should be a cakewalk. I can only see a couple of strikers with my binoculars, and neither of them seem to be wearing the new armor."

Jack nodded. "Alright, let's get moving kids. And be on the lookout, just because we can't see any strikers doesn't mean there aren't any."

The group trekked down the rough path along the mountain and made a silent approach on the camp. Konoko reached down to the two pistols attached to her thighs, and flicked the safeties off. For the last month, Konoko had given up carrying around the now standard issue plasma rifle, instead choosing to carry two USP tactical pistols with armor piercing ammo, and a zat. She did this because she kept dropping her rifle when she got into hand-to-hand combat, and the Uzi went through ammo too fast. Pulling out one of the powerful pistols, Konoko raised it to a ready position and scanned the camp. The camp consisted of three portable buildings and a hardened bunker position. Now at ground level, Konoko could make out a little more. They were actually three of the old strikers, and she could a couple of scientists working in one of the buildings. Konoko could also see one of the newer strikers. They were covered from head to toe armor the color of gunmetal. The armor wasn't especially thick, in fact in most places it was almost skin tight. Unlike most strikers, who were built like linebackers, these new strikers looked smaller, faster, and in Konoko's opinion, considerably more dangerous.

Jack motioned for her to come over. "You think we can make an ambush work?" he asked.

Konoko nodded. "You, and Teal'c take out the older strikers. Get Sam and Jonas to capture the building. I'll take on the new guy."

Jack nodded and turned to the rest of his team, using hand signals to give direction. Sam and Jonas nodded and moved off into the forest, trying to find a better ambush point. Jack and Teal'c took careful aim, and fired their rifles at the strikers. Both hit their targets squarely in the head, and both strikers dropped without a sound. Their friend, however, made plenty of noise before diving into the hardened position. Konoko took the opportunity to rush out into the clearing, making a beeline for the new striker. She yanked out both of her pistols, and emptied both clips at him. The bullets didn't seem to have much effect. The striker dove sideways, avoiding most of the rounds, and the ones that hit him just made sparks. Konoko holstered her pistols and rushed at her opponent, leaping into the air and channeling her momentum into a powerful flying kick. The striker, however, was ready. He simultaneously spun sideways and thrust his arms into Konoko's leg, sending his spinning to the ground. Although the attack didn't do any harm, it did surprise Konoko. Damn, she thought, with an ordinary striker that kick probably would have finished the fight.

Konoko scrambled to her feet and turned to face the charging striker. He threw a lightning fast punch, one that Konoko wasn't prepared for. The punch, although incredibly fast, was also very powerful. The blow caught her in the chest and knocked her off her feet backwards. She rolled backwards again to stand up, shaken but not hurt.

"Konoko!" Jack shouted from the forest, still engaged with the striker and another that had come out of the barracks, "Put that X-Box to good use!"

Konoko smiled and nodded her thanks, then concentrated on a new fighting style. She took up a lower, more dynamic stance and motioned with her front hand for the striker to attack. He lunged forward, throwing another punch. Konoko blocked it, and with lightning quickness, stepped on the striker's foot to trap him, and then delivered two jabs to his face, the only part left devoid of armor. The striker staggered back, clutching his jaw with one hand. Konoko jumped up and twisted, rotating 360 degrees in the air. As she was turning to face the striker again, she extended her leg in a roundhouse kick. The combined force of the spinning and the powerful kick hit the striker with all the force of a wrecking ball, and sent him flying back and to the side. He hit the ground some ten feet away, then rolled over a few times before coming to a rest on his face. He struggled to get up, but looking at the striker's back, something caught Konoko's eye. There was a glowing green line along his back. Konoko looked closer, and saw that it was the naquadah generator. Konoko rushed over and punted the strikers head, knocking him clean out and probably breaking his jaw. With the striker down and out for the count, Konoko leaned closer and got a good look at the generator. It was encased in a small pack on the back, only a very little bit of it was visible. Konoko reached down and felt around the area. She felt a tiny tab, and pressed it. The flaps covering the generator flipped open and Konoko reached in and pulled the glowing green tube out.

"Hmm, that's odd."

Konoko turned and realized that Sam had walked over to her. "What is it?" Konoko asked.

Sam took the generator, and examined it more closely "This looks just like the generator that comes out of a staff weapon, only bigger."

Konoko shrugged, "Why is that odd? We know that they stole technology from the Goa'uld in the first place."

Sam nodded, "Yeah, but they adapted it. Besides, this is really advanced. We have been working on naquadah generators for years now, and we still haven't even come close to making something like this. It's the reason we have to use naquadria in the Prometheus. If we were to make a generator that puts out this much power, it would be twice as big."

"So how did they make it?" Konoko asked.

Sam shook her head. "You're don't understand. It isn't a question of how did they make it. They can't have made this, I mean it isn't possible. The question is, who's making it for them?"

"I don't have a clue." Konoko answered. "When I escaped, the Syndicate was completely funded and run by the NID. Maybe they stole the technology to produce it?"

"That would be pretty tough. I mean, they would actually have to take down a Goa'uld in a command position. No, someone is supplying him." Sam reasoned.

The girls heard a groan of pain behind them. Konoko smiled. "Why don't we ask him?" she said, jerking her head in the strikers' direction. Konoko took the power cell and walked over to where the striker was lying. She grabbed his arm, and yanked him to his knees. She held the power cell right in front of his face. "Who makes these for you?" she demanded.

The striker looked groggily at the power cell. He shifted his gaze to Konoko, then turned and spit a mouthful of blood and teeth out. "Go to hell."

Konoko looked at Sam, and then sighed. "Listen." she ordered, "I'm gonna cut you a deal. You tell me who's making these cells for you, and you get to keep the remaining teeth you have. You don't tell me, and, well, it might get pretty ugly."

The striker looked coldly at Konoko, his eyes brimming with hatred. "I'll die before I tell you anything, traitor. Torture me all you like."

Konoko sighed, then pulled her zat and fired, knocking the striker out again. "We need to find out what's going on here, and fast." Konoko stated. "These new strikers are tough. I can take on a couple no problem, but you put three or four against me and even I'm going to start having trouble. Did you find anything in the lab?"

Sam grinned. "Just a star chart labeling Syndicate occupied planets."

Konoko rubbed her hands together. "Let's get started then, we have an evil empire to kill."

~~~~~~~

Well, the SGC can strike back now, but can they deal with the new tougher Syndicate forces? Find out soon! Special thanks to Jonas and Katie B, my best reviewers. You guys are great!