"There's no way they're going to accept the terms..."

Daniel looked over at Mitchell from his own chair, his cup of coffee in his hand, but untouched and getting cold. He'd been thinking pretty much the same thing, ever since they'd taken off from Melonyville, although he hadn't wanted to say anything, figuring that she must already know that. Talon knew the Goa'uld far better than Daniel did, after all, and through him, Melony would know what they were capable of and what they weren't.

"You're that sure?"

"If they do, it's going to make Talon the most powerful of all the system lords. I can't imagine any of the bigger ones allowing that, and the smaller ones will do what the more powerful ones tell them to – as long as they think it's in their own interests to."

"So you think there's going to be an ambush waiting for us?"

She nodded.

"I think there's a very good chance of it. And it's going to probably make the last ambush look like child's play."

That didn't sound good. Daniel frowned.

"Well... we can still blow the ship up, right?"

"Yes."

"What makes you think the system lords will be on the ships?"

"They have to be, Daniel." Mitchell said. "If they want a concise victory – bragging rights, specifically – then they have to be there to see me go down. They have to be able to say they were leading the battle that took out the upstart. As an example to any others who might be thinking of trying it themselves someday."

Daniel nodded. That made sense.

"So... will they?"

"Will they what?"

"Take us out?"

She shrugged. "The best thing about an ambush is the element of surprise. Once you lose that, then it's just a battle. In a fight, Fugly can handle just about anything, and her shields will give us enough time to make sure that all the system lords are on their ships."

"But how are you going to make sure?"

"With the sensors. A Jaffa looks a lot different on the inside than a system lord – or any Goa'uld – since the symbiote is still in the pouch in a Jaffa and is in proper position in a Goa'uld. We'll just take what they give us as long as we can – long enough to scan the ships and make sure there's ample amounts of system lords – then we'll set the destruct and get the hell out before it blows."

"And hopefully get them all..."

"The shields will be down. Even the ships that avoid the initial explosion when Fugly goes up won't be able avoid the explosions from their fellow ships. They won't be able to escape into hyperspace quickly enough to avoid it."

Daniel took a sip of his coffee. He was nervous – well, terrified was probably a closer word – but he had faith in Melony, and in the technology of the little ship.

"It's a shame to blow her up."

"I know." Melony looked a little regretful, but when she turned to Daniel, she shrugged. "That's why we have another one back in the hanger, though."

"Just make sure you get out before it blows," Daniel said. "We don't have another one of you in case you get blown up."

Mitchell smiled.

"I intend-"

She was interrupted by the device on her wrist, and she looked down at it.

"What's up?" Daniel asked.

"Jack's sending me a message. Hold on."

She waited until it was completely sent, then activated it. Her smile grew.

"What does he say?"

"He says that Jacob Carter just came to the SGC and informed them that he doesn't think the system lords are going to accept our terms for peace, so we're supposed to be on the look out for an ambush. And he told me to tell you to get your ass back home in one piece."

Daniel smiled.

"That's it?"

"You're supposed to watch my back."

"I was planning on doing that, already."

She nodded, but her smile faded.

"Listen, Daniel... just on the off-chance that something does go wrong, and I don't make it back-"

"Nothing's going to go wrong, Melony," Daniel told her firmly. "We've got this all figured out. It'll go smoothly."

"Yeah, but just in case..."

"Colonel..."

"Daniel... just... do me a favor, okay? If things go bad, make sure Brad knows that I'm sorry. Tell him it was worth it, though. And tell him to take care of Michael's car."

"We're going to be fine, Melony." Daniel repeated. Then he shrugged, figuring if they were doing this, he might as well have his say as well. "If it does go bad, though... and Talon pulls you through and I don't make it... tell Jack exactly the same thing. It is worth it."

"That's it?"

Daniel shrugged, again.

"It's too late for doing things that should have been done, and saying things that should have been said."

Melony knew what he meant. They'd had a lot of time to talk and get to know each other the last month and she was probably the only one who knew that Daniel had a secret love for a certain member of the SGC. A love he hadn't acted on.

"It's never too late, Daniel."

"Yeah, this time it is. It wouldn't be right to make my dying message a regretful one."

Mitchell gave Daniel a small, sad, smile.

"If you live through this, you need to talk to her."

"If I live through this..." He took a sip of coffee. "I might..."

Melony was damned determined that Daniel was going to live through this. She was even hoping she'd live through it, too, so she could eventually go to the wedding. She took a sip of her own coffee, grimacing when she realized it was cold.

"Ugh."

Daniel smiled.

"Maybe if you and I make it, we can put a microwave on the new Fugly, and be able to reheat our coffee."

"It doesn't usually have a chance to get cold."

Daniel laughed, and the two of them turned to a conversation that was a bit less melancholy. They were on their way to destroy the biggest threat to Earth, after all. It wasn't a time to be moody.