Constructive criticisms always welcomed. Flames cheerfully ignored.

Inspiration for this battle is equal parts 'The Two Towers' and 'Army of Darkness'. So expect humour and horror in ruffle equal proportions.

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Hail to the King

Part 5: Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war!

Arthur, O'Neill and Teal'c watched as the massed army of Jaffa marched out of the woods, their staff-weapons against their shoulders. They formed up ranks, lining up either side of a central path, their eyes staring straight ahead.

Flanked by her personal bodyguard, Osiris walked along to the head of the army, her head held high. She stopped before the main gate, "[Who is the Lord of the World?]" She asked, her voice artificially magnified so that it echoed off the castle walls.

Arthur pressed one of the control crystals on his gauntlet, "[I, Arthur, son of Uther Pendragon, am protector of this world. Leave now, while you still can.]" His voice was likewise amplified.

Osiris stared up at him, her eyes flaring brightly, "[Uther the Pendragon was a traitor to the Goa'uld. I offer you the chance to rejoin your people: surrender this world, and swear allegiance to Lord Anubis, and he will spear your life, maybe even allow you retain this world.]"

O'Neill looked at Arthur, and saw the look of pain in his eyes, "I know you want to save these people, but you can't trust her, or Anubis: they will kill you, slowly and painfully, after extracting every last bit of information you have."

Arthur nodded, "[I know you speak the truth O'Neill, but it still pain's me to lead these people into a war they will most likely lose: we are outnumbered at lest two to one, their weapons have superior range and power, and we are surrounded.]"

Teal'c looked out across the battlefield, "Had I wished for superior numbers, I would have stayed as First Prime of Apophis. Instead I joined the Tauri, because something's are worth the risk of dying for: Freedom is one of them."

Arthur nodded, his face heavy with sorrow, "[You speak the truth Teal'c: something's are worth dying for.]"

He went to reply, but O'Neill stopped him with a smile, "Do you mind: I know just what to say at a time like this." Arthur pressed the crystal on his gauntlet and held it up to O'Neill, who grinned, "I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster, and your farther smelled of elderberries!"

Arthur looked at him like he was insane.

Osiris' glared at them, then smiled, "[O'Neill of the Tauri? I shall enjoy this even more: Jaffa, Kree! Kill them, kill them all.]"

As one, the first rank of Jaffa lowed their staff-weapons so that they where aimed at the castle, and started to move forward at a slow march, firing energy pulses as they went. The bolts of golden energy struck the castle walls and gate, leaving black scorch marks, but falling to breach the defences.

Arthur drew his sword, and looking down into the main courtyard, raised it high. A team of guards moved towards a pair of large catapults that had been set up in the center of the courtyard, large wooden barrels sitting at the ends of the arms. The guards lit the tops of the barrels, igniting the flammable liquid they contained.

Judging the speed of the advancing Jaffa carefully, Arthur dropped his sword arm suddenly, and the guards set off the catapults.

The burning barrels shot up over the castle walls, and came down in the middle of the first rank of Jaffa, spilling fire everywhere. The sound of screaming Jaffa echoed all around O'Neill, and he felt violently sick with thought of the smell that would soon accompany it: the sickly sweet smell of burned human flesh, something he had last encountered in the Gulf.

O'Neill turned to Teal'c, who was watching the battle progress with his usual clinical detachment to battle. He raised his staff weapon, and pointed it down at the battlefield, sending a single bolt of energy down into the ranks.

He turned and saw the look of his companions face, "His uniform marked him out as a high-ranking member of Osiris' personal bodyguard: killing him hinders them."

O'Neill shook his head, raising his P90. The long burst down several dozen Jaffa, dead and injured. He kept firing shorter burst, aiming at groups setting up larger static weapons similar to the one Teal'c had taken from a crashed Death Glider on P7S-441.

One team was able to set op their weapon without O'Neill seeing them, and sent a huge bolt of energy into the castle wall, pulverising part of the parapet to rubble.

Two of the huge crossbow-like weapons on the turret-tops span round, and returned fire, missing with the first few rounds, but finally scoring a direct hit that destroyed the Goa'uld weapon.

The Jaffa used this time to advance to a point where the turret-mounted weapons could not depress far enough to reach them, and started to fire at the parapet and gates.

The Guards and Militia rose up from behind the fortifications and aimed their crossbows down the sides of the castle, tearing into the Jaffa ranks. The return fire smashed into the parapet, blasting defenders off of the castle wall and down into the courtyard below.

The terrifying sound of diving Death Gliders filled the air, and O'Neill looked round to find them.

Diving in straight out of the sun, the attack craft blasted at the castle in a long strafing run that left the top of one turret a burning wrack. O'Neill brought up his P90 and fired a long burst at one of them, but the magazine ran dry before he did any damage.

Dropping his weapon so that it hang from his webbing by its strap, O'Neill ran as fast as he could to where the squad manning one of the heavier weapons had been either killed or injured. "TEAL'C!" he yelled as he ran, making the former First Prime turn and follow him to the turret.

Pressing his shoulder against the stock, O'Neill sighted along the length of the giant crossbow and twisted it round, Teal'c doing his best to help the injured gun-crew. The Death Gliders came round for another pass, and O'Neill's fingers squeezed the trigger, sending a stream of energy bolts skywards. His first shot's missed wide, but he walked the weapon across the Death Gliders path until it connected.

Although less powerful then its Goa'uld counterpart, the weapon was still able to blast clear through the right wing, snapping it off near the fuselage. Trailing smoke and flame, the Death Glider crashed into the nearby hills.

An ear splitting roar filled the air as the main gate exploded.

To Be Continued…