AN: Um, yes, well...  After 32 ended up so short I kinda decided to add an interlude back at the SGC @_@  *grumbles*  Wish I knew the name of that blasted lieutenant...

Rating: R maybe PG-13 (R in standing with ff.net's policy of picking the highest rating)

Disclaimer: SG characters are (c) MGM (thankie to Morrigan for that :p).  FF8 characters are (c) Squaresoft, original characters are mine – ask nicely and I might let you play with them, s'long's you don't break them...

Warnings: SxS Maybe angst (I do like to torture my characters sometimes :p), language (prob nothin u ain't heard b4, but still...)

~Chapter Thirty-Three: Off-World, Interlude I~

"Incoming signal sir!"  The shout was as familiar to General Hammond as the klaxons and lights that signalled the activation of the stargate from an off-world source.  He waited, patiently, seeming as calm as ever, not a hint of his anxiety escaping.  There were currently four SG teams off-world, it could be any one of them.  But how he hoped that it was SG1.  The pride of SGC.  The team whose members were his friends, as well as his subordinates.  "It's SG1 sir!"  Hammond nodded stiffly.

"Open the iris."  He watched through the bullet-proof glass as the guard mechanism smoothly peeled away to reveal the stargate's shimmering portal.  As usual there were a handful of marines in the gate room itself, weapons drawn and ready to fire on any foe that might have somehow tricked its way this far.  It had not happened yet.  Hammond sincerely hoped the occasion never arose where it might.  All the stargate teams were fiercely protective of their home planet, and he suspected they would all rather die than be the ones to let down Earth's defences.

Thus it was with a measure of relief that he observed Daniel Jackson step unhurriedly from one world to his own.  What did surprise him was when the stargate closed behind the man without disgorging Sam or Jack.  Frowning, Hammond waited for Daniel to join him in the control room.

***

"Where are Sam and Jack?"  Hammond asked the question before Daniel could speak, having already firmly guided the man into his private office.  Daniel frowned, as if the question seemed strange.  Hammond wondered what planet they had found to not have realised nearly three days had passed.

"They're, uh, back on the planet."  Automatically Daniel gestured in the vague direction of the stargate.  "Why?"  Hammond blinked.  Daniel seemed genuinely unaware of how much time had passed.

"You've been gone almost three days.  Another twelve hours and your code would've been cancelled."  Daniel didn't even try to hide the shudder at that thought.  They would never have known.  They would've simply stepped into the stargate, and died as they hit an iris that had not responded to their code.  He did, however, look curiously at his watch.  Sure enough, according to the timepiece, and his own memories, he had only been gone just under a day.  He said as much, showing the General his watch, as well as demonstrating that it was still functioning.  There was a long pause.

"Maybe that's why..."  But Hammond was already gesturing to dismiss the whole phenomenon.  Daniel frowned.  Surely it was important to know if time was passing differently in both worlds?  After all, it would mean that they would need to figure out how often to check in.  Still, he already knew from Hammond's reaction that just under a day was equivalent to just under three days.  Perhaps the General thought that was sufficient information?  But somehow the explanation felt contrived...  Too easily concluded.

"You obviously came back for something.  Report."  And so he did.  Or began to.  Only a few words into describing the ring of mercenaries that had greeted them on the other side, a lieutenant dashed into the room, speaking before he could be reprimanded by the General.

"Sir!  We just received a message from the Tokra."  He glanced briefly at Daniel, then back at the General, as if uncertain whether to continue in his presence.  Hammond gestured for him to continue.  "A G'ould named Den'Tok sent a message to two mother-ships.  Their orders are to attack Earth."  Daniel frowned.  Surely the G'ould weren't foolish enough to attempt to challenge the Asgard again?  Hammond merely grunted, dismissing the lieutenant with a gesture.

"Sir, the planet we're on...  They're asking for military aid to defend the stargate against an imminent attack."  Hammond folded his hands together, leaning forwards on his desk.  Slowly he shook his head.

"I'm sorry.  But if we're about to come under attack ourselves, I'll need to recall all the SG teams.  I can't send soldiers we might need away to another planet." 

"I think we'd be well advised to gamble this time General.  They'd make powerful allies, perhaps more powerful than the Asgard."  Hammond paused at that, seeming to consider his options.  Finally, slowly, he reached a decision, and nodded.

"Alright.  I'll send SG5 and SG7 back with you...  But I can't guarantee what, if anything, you'll find when you return."  Daniel nodded.  He didn't know how long eleven of them could hold out against a concerted attack through a stargate, but he would find out soon enough.  He just hoped it was long enough for whatever the sorceress had planned...

AN: *grins* well, now you know what Den'Tok's orders were...  or at least, what they included ;p  Ah well, back to the main world ^_~