---------------

"Of all the hypocritical, spineless, criminally negligent - I'm not finished, Selmac-"

Seated backward on his chair, Duo glanced at his watch as Jacob continued pacing the Colony Hall meeting room. Wow. He's almost broken the Chang justice rant record.

"I told you," Heero muttered under his breath in Goa'uld. He sat stiff as a statue, hands laid out along his chair arms like a pharaoh's portrait. "But would you listen? I told you what would become of you, the depths you would stoop to...."

Uh-oh. "Heero." Duo sent Quatre a warning glance, moved in close to the memory-lost pilot. "Come on back here, buddy." Damn it, he shouldn't be slipping this easy. He's faced the Goa'uld hundreds of times, used shards of Stheno's memories more times than I can count. He's never lost himself like this.

But then, J had never planned for his Perfect Soldier to be in close contact with a Tok'ra.

Damn psycho gene-twister.

To the mad scientist's credit, Heero's altered life code seemed to hum along just fine most of the time. And as far as Duo had pieced together from Sally's reports and Heero's grudging admissions, the lab-grown neural tendrils J had implanted worked up to spec when it came to simple information access. Combat made things shakier, human adrenaline being the nastiness to Goa'uld nerves it was, but heck, Stheno had hated the System Lords almost as much as Quatre did. If there was a little confusion about who was running Heero's body, the death gliders Wing sliced to bits never knew it.

Though the psychotic laugh is kind of a clue.

"He okay?" Jack asked in an undertone.

Damn. Quatre and the others had managed to screen their little problem from the rest of SG-1, but O'Neill was just too intent on his Wing counterpart. Duo trailed his braid over Heero's unresponsive hand, worry creeping up his spine with toes of ice. "We can handle it." Don't make me a liar, buddy-

A steel grip clamped on his hair.

Ow. Ow. "Don't think you missed much," Duo said cheerfully. "Jacob's just hitting the High Council's good points in alphabetical order."

Heero relaxed minutely. But he didn't let go of the braid.

"Funny. Wouldn't have thought a symbiote had a history with the Tok'ra. Besides just killing them," Jack elaborated at Heero's narrow glance. "Carter says memories of stuff Jolinar hated are bad, but the ones she felt... other things for are a lot harder to break out of."

A slight pink tint infused Heero's cheeks.

Damn, damn, head this off- "Ah, he probably just got tangled up in a memory-knot trying to sort Jacob's rant out from the last Alliance Council we had to show up at," Duo said easily, dragging his chair over so he could drape himself against Heero's shoulder. "You know, the one where Count Telosa got on his high horse about dragging wild Beastmasters out of the shrubbery at the Mayoko vineyards? You'd think the guy planted those grapes with his own two hands, he was so upset. And Relena finally had to make the eyes at him-" Hand pressed dramatically to his chest, Duo fluttered his eyelashes up at Wing's pilot. "Oh, Count, you're so heroic, taking in those poor, confused people...."

Jacob made a strangled noise.

Duo looked up. "What?"

The Tok'ra was looking at the two of them as if he'd bitten something sour. "You two are...?"

"We're what?" Heero said coolly.

"George knows?" Jacob shot at Jack.

"Different culture." Daniel glanced toward Quatre and Trowa. "Not like they've tried to hide it."

Jacob shook his head. "No skin off my nose, Colonel, but the Joint Chiefs are going to raise hell."

"Gee, let me think. Help against the Goa'uld, versus culture that thinks 'don't ask, don't tell' is completely insane," Jack said dryly. "Oh yeah. Major dilemma. I can see them wrestling with it for all of about, say, five seconds?"

"It won't be that easy," Jacob warned.

"Humans," Teal'c said levelly, "Will adapt. Defending a planet requires strategies unlike those used at a temporary base." He raised a brow. "Certainly distinct from those employed to lure opponents and allies into a trap."

Jacob winced. "I didn't know," he said defensively.

"That doesn't change what the Council did, Dad." Sam had her hands pressed on a folder, as if the forced stillness was all that kept them from finding a neck. "Or what they're planning to do."

"I'll talk to Garshaw-"

"All due respect, Jacob - no, you won't," Jack said flatly. "We've got less than five days to throw a monkey wrench in their plan, and the first thing your Council is going to do is stall."

"Can you honestly say they'd stop, five days from getting their hands on a Queen?" Daniel pointed out. "Could you believe Garshaw if she said she would?"

Jacob's hands clenched at his sides. "So why the hell am I here?"

"Frankly, Ambassador?" a new voice broke in. "To keep you out of the way."

Duo unwrapped himself from Heero as Une's partner stalked in, a few staffers bringing notes and mocha in his wake. The tall ginger-blond wore a Preventer's formal jacket and slacks with as much cool aplomb as Macha's offspring had System Lord's gold, and he set down a chunk of a life-pod's recorder on the table between SG-1 and the Wing with casual ease.

Yep, Treize knows how to make an entrance.

"Gentlemen and ladies," Treize said with a lazy wave of hand, "The last piece of Dimme's bait."

"Ambassador Carter, Colonel - Treize Kushrenada, the Preventers' second in command," Heero said evenly.

"Second?" Jacob asked pointedly.

"While I hear Colonel O'Neill has recovered nicely, and our medical staff has the deepest respect for Dr. Fraiser's continuing work, Commander Une is not setting foot on this colony until Dr. Po can state without a doubt all of her patients are in the clear." Treize's smile had a diamond edge. "I'm sure you understand."

"Good idea," Jack put in, rubbing a still sore arm. "Bait?"

"Mmm." Treize took the empty seat by Heero, lips bent in a lazy cat's smile at metal and circuits. "Nicely done. Quite subtle. But bait nonetheless. Still, there's no need to take my word for it." He spread a hand palm-up in invitation.

Wufei and Sam moved for the input ports as one; almost collided, hesitated in unison.

"Zechs' team and the colony authorities back-trailed our uninvited guest via local holographic recordings and a great deal of trundling about docking ports," Treize informed them, affecting not to notice the silent struggle of wills and glares over bronzed metal. "We narrowed the possible means of entry to three ships... I'm sad to say that became far easier once we cracked the hatch on the Sweeper's New Broom." Treize met Duo's gaze. "We've gathered the remains of the three Sweepers who were standing watch. I've called Howard. I have their names."

"Later." Duo shut away the slow burn of anger, the wash of crystal clarity that was Shinigami wanting to play. Later.

"Dimme hid the pod in the ha'tak wreckage." Trowa's voice was colorless.

"So it seems," Treize nodded.

"Pod?" Jack stuck in.

"This a life-pod's flight recorder," Sam informed him, having temporarily won control of the ports. She hooked up her laptop, scanning through what was left of the recorder's memory. "They're like descent pods, only they're designed to float in space for a while if they have to."

"Which means they take star-fixes as they go, in case you have to trace a pod back looking for more survivors." Jacob read over her shoulder. "Looks like this one's been blanked."

"No... not quite." Sam frowned. "I think I've found a memory buffer." Her hands paused over the keyboard. "I can tell where it is, but I don't see how you access it."

"It routes through background circuits," Wufei informed her. "Try inquiring for a baseline light intensity check."

"Bingo," Sam breathed, as numbers scrolled up her screen. "Bits and pieces, mostly, looks like someone tried to blank this too... wait. I think I have something." She tapped a few keys. "Looks like a background fix on the stars marking a previous inhabitable system."

"One that our records say was Heru'ur's, but whose identifying symbols in that data now claim that system to be controlled by Dimme." Treize's eyes glittered. "I believe you call that planet Gault."

"Trap," Quatre agreed.

Jack whistled. "She thinks you're that good?"

"Oh, she knows we're that good," Duo grinned darkly.

"Um. You lost me," Daniel admitted.

"They believe Dimme expected them to discover this location, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c stated. "And that she is aware the Preventers and SG-1 are in contact."

"Macha knew Dimme still had control of some of Lamashtu's spies among the Goa'uld," Treize said distantly. "At least one of those spies is impersonating a Tok'ra." He blinked, refocusing on the room. "I'm not certain of the details, but I know Lamashtu inserted her child in position by sacrificing a medusa. Macha was very - impressed."

"But we know it's not you," Quatre put in as Jacob paled. "We've been watching you, especially when you came through the 'Gate. You were surprised; both of you were. You'd never seen anything like it." He smiled gently. "And there's no way one of Dimme's offspring could not recognize a space colony."

"You are sneaky, paranoid bastards," Jack said admiringly.

"We are," Heero said dryly, "Alive."

Sam drew closer to her father. "Were you...?"

"Macha?" Treize laughed. "No, Major. Though Redg was one of Macha's most trusted offspring. He had to be, given the position I held at the time... well. That's over, kami be thanked." He traded a speaking glance with Wufei. "Well over."

Breaking the awkward silence, Daniel pointed toward the recorder. "So how is this a trap?"

"Like we said, Dimme knows us," Duo shrugged. "And she knows how to get us mad."

"It's really simple," Quatre said levelly. "The Alliance has a reflex response to a new infection. Hunt it down and kill it." He activated a holographic projector to show a cutaway of the L3 colony with the Reaver's trail marked, zoomed out to show the projected path of the New Broom back to the wreck of Dimme's ha'tak. "Dimme knows Duo is a pilot. She expected him to survive and make it back to Sanq. So we'd know exactly who to blame, and why, when another Reaver appeared. This recorder is supposed to tell us where to come charging in so she can wipe us out." He met Jacob's gaze squarely. "And since she knows we're talking to the SGC, who are talking to the Tok'ra... she expects us to come using your back door."

"So what are you going to do?" Jacob growled. "You can't go in by the back 'Gate. You sure as heck can't come through the one on Gault; it's right under her ha'tak. There's not enough time to get from here to Gault before my people start the fireworks, even if you kidnapped a pyramid ship of your own. Any ideas?"

"Some," Jack said judiciously. "Jacob, clue me in. Why try to pull off something this nasty in the first place? Why do your guys want a Queen so badly?"

"That's-"

"If you say it doesn't matter now, it's none of our business, or that we're too immature to understand, I will personally help Teal'c wrap your ears around your head."

Jacob paused. "I'm on your side, Colonel."

Jack raised a skeptical brow. "So?"

Jacob hesitated. "This... isn't easy to talk about." He took a breath. "It has to do with instinct...."

"Goa'uld center their lives around Queens," Heero said emotionlessly.

"The queens serve the pharaohs," Daniel objected.

"But the System Lords have to have them, to supply larvae for their Jaffa," Sam put in. "They don't have to like them, but they have to work around them. Every plan has to take them into account, every strategy to take on their enemies, or expand their forces...." She stared at her father in dawning realization. "That's why, isn't it?"

"We need access to the information the Goa'uld have developed since Egeria broke with the System Lords," Jacob argued. "We need more Tok'ra."

"You need a center." Sam shook her head. "Without Egeria, the High Council's always been fragmented. Going through the motions. Jolinar knew that; that's why she was captured and sent to Netu in the first place...."

"Sam?" Daniel asked as the major rubbed her head.

"I - it's gone."

"Easy, Carter. I think we got the picture." Jack gave Jacob a hard look. "She's right, isn't she."

The Tok'ra sighed, deflated. "The Council didn't think you'd understand."

"Oh, I think we do." Jack cracked his knuckles. "A drowning guy will pull you under, trying to get air."

"It's not like that!"

"Oh yeah?"

"Amusing as this might be from a distance," Treize broke in, "It doesn't solve our problem." An elegant hand gestured toward himself. "Lady Peacecraft is currently presenting General Hammond's proposed treaty to the Alliance Council, along with records of SG-1's and Dr. Fraiser's actions against the Reaver. The votes haven't been taken yet, but the debate seems favorable so far. We need that alliance." He gestured toward Jack. "From Preventer Yuy's report, you need it as well. Badly."

"And we both need your guys to stop playing us," Jack said, not taking his eyes off Jacob. "Or else the whole Tok'ra-Earth alliance is off."

Jacob's eyes narrowed. "Colonel, I don't think you have that authority."

"Try me." Jack's words were light; his face, grim as stone. "Word straight from Hammond, Jacob. We went after the System Lords before we knew your guys were out there. We can do it again."

"So I guess there's only one thing we can do," Daniel mused. He raised an inquisitive brow toward Wufei.

"Difficult, but possible," the Dragon allowed. Flicked a glance toward Duo and Trowa.

Trowa smiled slightly.

"Oooh, fun," Duo rubbed his hands together in gleeful anticipation. Infiltration, I love it.

"Train the team. We need you in the air," Heero ordered.

"Aww...."

"He's right," Quatre shrugged. "If this is going to work, it'll need all of us."

"What team?" Jack asked pointedly.

"The team that's going to infiltrate Dimme's ha'tak, locate her larvae tanks, and acquire at least one of Dimme's infant queens," Quatre stated.

Jacob gaped.

"Of course, you will need to wait seven years before she can produce offspring," Chang picked up the thread matter-of-factly. Duo smothered a snicker; you didn't have to be 'Cat to feel the Wing enjoying every second of slack-jawed surprise. "But given you have already spent over two millennia in pursuit of Ra-" Wufei shrugged.

"And you get to pick a volunteer to host her." Daniel's smile had a tight edge.

If you can find one, Duo tacked onto that.

"You can't take a ha'tak on the ground," Jacob finally objected.

Duo gave him a Shinigami grin. "Wanna bet?"

---------------

"I want," Garshaw of Belote said coolly, "An explanation."

General Hammond's face looked out of the Tollan transmitter, smile twitching at the corners of the human's mouth. "I believe the papers I sent back with Freya and Caton were clear, Councilor."

Damn short-lived human. There's nothing to smile about! "You cannot cut us off from our ambassador to Earth!"

"I find that a rather odd position for you to take, Councilor. Given that the Tok'ra in the past have made it quite obvious that we may be cut off from our ambassador to them for months at a time." The general's smile didn't change. "As one leader to another, Garshaw, might I suggest you have Jacob come home more often? Being away from your family for unpredictable lengths of time is bad for morale."

Morale? The man had to be joking. Jacob is Tok'ra now. This is his home. We are his family. Not you. Never you.

Well, perhaps Samantha. If she ever saw sense and rejoined the Tok'ra, bringing Jolinar's memories home. "We must speak with Jacob. Tell us how to contact Sanq."

"Last I heard, the Alliance's governing body was still debating whether or not to open formal negotiations with Earth," Hammond said matter-of-factly. "Lady Peacecraft was quite clear that they don't want any distractions until after they've made up their minds." He spread open hands, one leader to another. "The talks have been delicate enough as it is."

Delicate, but still intact, Garshaw cursed mentally. This did not bode well for her people. The Tau'ri were reckless enough as it was; if they made alliance with a planet as violent, technologically advanced, and ready to slay System Lords as Anise and Houerv's report indicated Sanq was.... "Then let us send Freya and Caton back to you, so you can pass on their messages to Selmac. Diplomatically."

Hammond's tone cooled. "As my message to you indicated, Councilor, Freya and Anise are persona non grata on Earth and in the Alliance. And given Caton's role in the assault on Ambassador Peacecraft, I don't think it would be wise to have him directly involved in Earth-Sanq communications." The general studied her. "Why don't you send Aldwin? Although I believe Teal'c did say something about disemboweling him once, for his attempt to blow up Netu with SG-1 still on it... he's probably gotten over that by now."

Why, of all the-

Garshaw? Her host frowned within her mind. He's hiding something.

I believe you're right, Yosuuf. "You have never been one to allow your people to go unaccounted for, General. When do you believe Jacob will be available?"

"Lady Peacecraft said they should have a decision within the next three weeks," Hammond said briskly. "Of course, Dr. Jackson is doing everything in his power to ensure the negotiations go as smoothly and swiftly as possible."

Three weeks.

More than enough time to nip Tau'ri irresponsibility in the bud, Garshaw agreed. "Very well. Contact us if there is news." With a regal nod, she cut communications, and went in search of her two agents.

She found Caton in the quiet of one of Vorash's less-used tunnels, scribbling away on a tablet. "I thought you would be with the others, near the main hall."

"I was looking for Freya," Caton said, not looking up as he blanked his tablet. "She's still furious over that incident with the Peacecraft, and the way she's been vanishing at odd hours lately... oh, I'm probably getting concerned over nothing. Just another of her experiments she hasn't told us about yet." He shrugged. "Anyway, I didn't see her the first time I looked, and it was so quiet here, I just thought I'd write up addenda to my report."

Yes; Freya had been acting impulsively lately. Not that it was a far cry from her usual behavior. Garshaw frowned. Impulsive behavior, disappearing, secretive....

She can't be a spy! Yosuuf thought, aghast. She's Tok'ra!

And we thought Cordesh was as well. Garshaw kept her face calm. It's only a thought, my own. Anise is as she has always been. Jacob's abduction has simply left us unsettled. "The Tau'ri say Jacob may be gone three of their weeks."

"The longer, the better," Caton said plainly, tucking his tablet into his sand-hued robes. "We should have Sanq's location in less than one. And then-"

"We offer long life, and vengeance against the Goa'uld," Garshaw agreed. "It should not be so difficult to persuade some of their leaders to join us."

"And then we can disarm them," Caton sighed with relief. "For their own safety, of course," he put in at Garshaw's sudden frown. "You know humans aren't mature enough to handle our technology. Much less that of a... monster like Stheno's."

"She was our kin," Garshaw pointed out.

"She was genetically related to us. So were Ra and Hathor. Would you claim them?" Caton shook his head. "No. Egeria spoke the truth; any who chose to remain in Ra's favor are no kin of ours." He brightened. "So our people on Gault are ready to move?"

"As soon as the final password is broken...." Garshaw frowned. "It's a pity we have found no way to spare more lives."

"Perhaps it's for the best," Caton suggested. "From what we've already found in Dimme's files, the villages are likely infested with these Reavers. And there is no way to separate the infected from the rest."

If we are to take our vengeance against Ra, we cannot quail simply because a few innocents will die with our enemies, Yosuuf said grimly. Even the Tau'ri could not fault us for destroying such a danger to humanity. You remember that movie of Jacob's. "I say we take off and nuke the place from orbit."

Garshaw nodded. "It's the only way to be sure."

---------------

Supply lists. Equipment requests. A running total of small casualties as two very disparate groups of military personnel tried to smooth out the worst bumps in interplanetary cooperation. And a series of email, formal stationary, and rushed faxes from the Joint Chiefs, as the ripples of Lady Peacecraft's proposal of alliance percolated up and down various classified grapevines. Some of the main points apparently left a sour taste in various politicos' mouths. No religious proselytizing under any circumstances had stuck in more than a few craws. Kinsey's in particular.

"A pity we can't dump all this paperwork on the Goa'uld," Hammond muttered as he marched down the hall. "The weight alone could crush a pyramid ship."

"Goa'uld... pyramid ships... alien alliances...." Briefcase clutched in his hand, Colonel Longstreet let out a low whistle, breaking the stunned silence that had held him since he'd seen the 'Gate open. "Sir, I request permission to have some time to take all this in. For my client's sake. This is way beyond anything they covered at JAG."

"And I'll grant you that time," Hammond said plainly. "Just as soon as I'm certain we've covered the major leaks endangering my command." He granted the military lawyer a professional smile. "Don't worry, Colonel. We all had to jump in and swim when the Stargate first opened. You'll catch up."

"No offense, sir," Dr. Warner said plainly, keeping pace as they headed to the cells, MPs in their wake, "But you need a break."

Hammond smiled thinly. "This is my break."

"To each their own, sir." The surgeon switched his gaze to the pacing man in the cell ahead. "Oh boy."

"How long am I going to be held here, General?" Dr. MacKenzie burst out. Penciled bruises still marked his face and arms, and his eyes held a hunted look as he stood near the bars. "This is outrageous. Dr. Jackson is clearly suffering from a psychotic break, he should be under proper supervision-"

"Yes, that was a very unfortunate allergic reaction," General Hammond cut in.

Dr. MacKenzie stopped mid-rant. "Allergic reaction-?"

"Dr. Fraiser's sent us a full report," Dr. Warner said plainly. "Apparently Dr. Jackson's allergic to a whole handful of Alliance medicines. Dr. Po thought they'd caught all the really nasty allergies before they treated him for the Reaver infection, but it looks like they missed one."

"Allergic reaction?" MacKenzie repeated weakly.

"Oh, yeah," Warner nodded. "You wouldn't believe some of the weird things that can happen. I was working in a clinic when an officer's wife was brought in for DUI; she was so out of it they thought she needed immediate treatment. Would you believe there wasn't a drop of alcohol in her? Turned out she had a milk allergy, and some idiot thought it'd be fun to slip her a piece of cake they told her didn't have dairy products in it-"

"Allergic reaction?!?"

"Which marks the whole situation as Dr. Fraiser's responsibility. Not yours," Hammond said evenly. He couldn't prevent a small smile from creeping out. "Although to be honest, Doctor, nothing in this base is your responsibility anymore."

A shudder swept the psychiatrist. "You're transferring me?"

"Hopefully into the nearest black hole. But depending on your cooperation, Colonel Longstreet tells me it may only be to Leavenworth." Hammond's smile turned grim. "Tell me, Doctor. How long have you been working for the NID?"

---------------

"The mines are set?"

"Yes, my Queen," Hursag bowed. "The Tok'ra's Stargate is now a killing ground even Apophis' forces could not penetrate."

"The Reavers have fed, and continue their charade among the villagers."

"As you willed it," the First Prime nodded.

"The Tok'ra explosives are disarmed."

"Those near enough to your vessel to damage it, yes." Hursag risked a slight glance up. "If I may, Goddess, we know the rogues of Sanq well. And tales of the SGC seem to cut them from the same rebel cloth. They are impetuous, daring; they may strike even before the Tok'ra. I would pull back my Jaffa from those positions still in peril from the charges, so that your forces are not needlessly diminished-"

"No."

He fell to one knee. "As you will, great Dimme."

Silken footsteps crossed the open chamber. Emerald skirts swished into the edge of his vision. Gold fingerstalls tipped up his chin, delicate as the tips of cat claws.

Hursag looked into the face of divinity, and quailed.

"We are not unmerciful," Dimme said coolly, eyes aglow. "The Tok'ra must believe their deceptions hold, else even those fools might show sense enough to warn their allies in the SGC. Our Jaffa must remain in position until the Tok'ra have committed their forces. But you will now issue concealed transmitters to each troop leader. Once the attack has begun, they may evacuate."

It would give them mere minutes, at best. But it was a mercy.

"The bait is set." Dimme smiled, chill as spring thaw. "Now, we wait."

---------------