Harm stood looking out of the viewing portal as Earth gradually faded into
the distance. Artemis would not start the hyperdrive until they were well
clear of the solar system for fear of detection. Her remarks on the subject
caused him to make a mental note to suggest a review of Earth's orbital
defences if and when they got back. A simple cloaking system should not be
enough to hide a potential threat from the people at the SGC.
"Harm?" He felt a touch on his shoulder, and tilted his head to look at Mac, standing a little behind him to his right.
"Yeah?"
"You okay?" She spoke softly, aware that even though Artemis was on the small bridge a few compartments forward, they were still in unfriendly territory.
"Not really. But there's nothing I can do about it now. Apollo's ghost says he's not even going to try to fight me on this, so I've only got to worry about forgetting myself under the weight of his memories."
"What if that happens?"
"It's not gonna happen. I have you and Dad to keep me sane. And I have the mission to focus on."
"Harm, I know I wasn't there when the two of you discussed the details, but I can't help thinking this is a suicide mission."
Harm grinned at that. "Don't worry. Nothing's can go wrong."
"Isn't that tempting fate?"
"No, it's a fact. Didn't your cousin tell you the first rule of Stargate missions?"
"I have a feeling you're about to."
"Plan A never works."
"Hate to burst your bubble, but that's not usually a good thing."
"It's good when Plan A belongs to a bad guy."
"Yeah, but you must want parts of Plan A to work."
"Of course. A good plan B accomplishes what Plan A intended, without the things you don't want to happen."
"So we're still going to blow the base she talked about, but not give her power over all the Jaffa?"
"That's right. And the naquadah stockpiles she wants to capture will be captured, but not for her use. We can always find a use for more naquadah, and encouraging a bunch of Jaffa to join the Resistance will have good repercussions, even though the Alliance is shot to hell at the moment. I only wish we had Teal'c with us, he'd find it easier to convince the Jaffa to defect than we will, especially as you and Dad don't know all the subtlties of the Jaffa way of life."
At this point, Harm Sr entered and joined the pair watching as Earth finally vanished from sight..
"This ship is amazing."
"You think this is something, wait until you see the inside of a Mothership. This is like a raft next to the Enterprise in comparison. And you probably remember what they're like close-up from the wrong end of their laser cannon..."
They stood where they were for a couple of hours, seeing the wonders of the solar system from close up. As they passed Pluto, Artemis came back to speak to 'her brother'.
"Hyperlaunch will be in five minutes. You will wish to ensure that it does not alarm your Tau'ri, but then I suggest you come to the bridge. I do not wish to have to attend to all the controls by myself, and I brought no Jaffa with me, as I considered avenging your death to be a Goa'uld matter, with which the Jaffa should not concern themselves, or even know of until the matter was accomplished."
Harm gave a gentlemanly inclination of his head. "Of course. I appreciate your coming all this way, in light of the extreme inconvenience. There are those of our kind who neglect the fact that we are superior life-forms, and allow their Jaffa all manner of liberties."
"You allow liberties in these Tau'ri."
"The Tau'ri, whilst inferior to the Goa'uld, are at least nearer our level than the Jaffa. They have come a long way in the years since our kind left them. Many make fine hosts, such as this one, and most have something which makes them interesting. No Goa'uld would stoop so low as to take a Jaffa as host, and they lack... grace."
She nodded her head back to him. "What you say has merit. There is something fascinating about the Tau'ri. But do not let yourself forget, brother, that to be King of the Beggars is still to be a beggar."
"I forget nothing, sister." His eyes flashed with arrogance. "I shall join you presently."
"Harm?" He felt a touch on his shoulder, and tilted his head to look at Mac, standing a little behind him to his right.
"Yeah?"
"You okay?" She spoke softly, aware that even though Artemis was on the small bridge a few compartments forward, they were still in unfriendly territory.
"Not really. But there's nothing I can do about it now. Apollo's ghost says he's not even going to try to fight me on this, so I've only got to worry about forgetting myself under the weight of his memories."
"What if that happens?"
"It's not gonna happen. I have you and Dad to keep me sane. And I have the mission to focus on."
"Harm, I know I wasn't there when the two of you discussed the details, but I can't help thinking this is a suicide mission."
Harm grinned at that. "Don't worry. Nothing's can go wrong."
"Isn't that tempting fate?"
"No, it's a fact. Didn't your cousin tell you the first rule of Stargate missions?"
"I have a feeling you're about to."
"Plan A never works."
"Hate to burst your bubble, but that's not usually a good thing."
"It's good when Plan A belongs to a bad guy."
"Yeah, but you must want parts of Plan A to work."
"Of course. A good plan B accomplishes what Plan A intended, without the things you don't want to happen."
"So we're still going to blow the base she talked about, but not give her power over all the Jaffa?"
"That's right. And the naquadah stockpiles she wants to capture will be captured, but not for her use. We can always find a use for more naquadah, and encouraging a bunch of Jaffa to join the Resistance will have good repercussions, even though the Alliance is shot to hell at the moment. I only wish we had Teal'c with us, he'd find it easier to convince the Jaffa to defect than we will, especially as you and Dad don't know all the subtlties of the Jaffa way of life."
At this point, Harm Sr entered and joined the pair watching as Earth finally vanished from sight..
"This ship is amazing."
"You think this is something, wait until you see the inside of a Mothership. This is like a raft next to the Enterprise in comparison. And you probably remember what they're like close-up from the wrong end of their laser cannon..."
They stood where they were for a couple of hours, seeing the wonders of the solar system from close up. As they passed Pluto, Artemis came back to speak to 'her brother'.
"Hyperlaunch will be in five minutes. You will wish to ensure that it does not alarm your Tau'ri, but then I suggest you come to the bridge. I do not wish to have to attend to all the controls by myself, and I brought no Jaffa with me, as I considered avenging your death to be a Goa'uld matter, with which the Jaffa should not concern themselves, or even know of until the matter was accomplished."
Harm gave a gentlemanly inclination of his head. "Of course. I appreciate your coming all this way, in light of the extreme inconvenience. There are those of our kind who neglect the fact that we are superior life-forms, and allow their Jaffa all manner of liberties."
"You allow liberties in these Tau'ri."
"The Tau'ri, whilst inferior to the Goa'uld, are at least nearer our level than the Jaffa. They have come a long way in the years since our kind left them. Many make fine hosts, such as this one, and most have something which makes them interesting. No Goa'uld would stoop so low as to take a Jaffa as host, and they lack... grace."
She nodded her head back to him. "What you say has merit. There is something fascinating about the Tau'ri. But do not let yourself forget, brother, that to be King of the Beggars is still to be a beggar."
"I forget nothing, sister." His eyes flashed with arrogance. "I shall join you presently."