Chapter 13: Alpha Centauri
The two ships dropped with a flash of light out of hyper into the Alpha Centauri system. Instantly, the lone vessel already within the system went to high alert.
"USS Persephone to Goa'uld vessels, you are trespassing in a Tau'ri controlled system, surrender immediately or we will engage you"
"Major Penhall, SG-2 responding, these two vessels are allied"
"Authenticate Lima-Alpha-Sierra-four-Tango"
Penhall cursed, naturally they would chose an obscure code, he struggled for a moment to recall the appropriate countersign,
"Bravo-Hotel-Tango- err… Five-Foxtrot"
"Roger that Colonel, we have been expecting you, what's your status?"
"Loaded to the gills with refugees, Jaffa and Tollen, we request immediate medical assistance"
"Roger" came the startled reply, "did you say Tollen?"
"They were on our route back; we have 78 survivors in need of priority medical assistance"
"Roger that, an infirmary has been set up planet side, you'll have to send them there, the surviving RSS and SGC medical facilities in the Sol system have topped out"
Penhall stiffened, as if shot between the legs, "Did you say surviving?"
"Roger, 5 hours ago a major Goa'uld incursion was repulsed with massive loss of life, all starfighter squadrons are combat ineffective, RSS Dauntless is gone, Iwo Jima is crippled, Eisenhower damaged, Thundersdawn is offline and the list is still getting longer, we're got our ears stuck right to the radios here and we'll let you know as more info comes through"
Penhall looked with shocked eyes at his fellow SG team-members, this was not the welcome home they wanted, or expected. Enerina took the radio from Penhalls nerveless fingers, and flicked it on, carefully following Penhalls movements with the equipment;
"This is Enerina, we have a sarcophagus aboard, do you require it in the Sol system?"
"Negative, Sol system currently using a 'shoot on sight' policy, it is inadvisable to attempt entry"
Penhall shook himself back to the present, and turned to Enerina, "We had best get the Tollan planet side, and then…" Penhall sighed, "And then they will have one hell of a decision to make"
