The suns of Merinah were shining bright as Carter and Teal'c pushed through the dense under brush and over grown --over sized weeds that encircled the area where the ring transported was located.

"Colonel Carter—did the Tokra not say they were to met us on the surface?" Teal'c said looking around them as the other two SG teams pushed through the surrounding underbrush and weeds.

"Yeah, they did...but—" She said as the rings activated, revealing two Tokra in the clearing.

"Colonel Carter." The young man said walking toward her.

"Farinah...it's good to see you." She said recognizing a friend of Joninar's from so long ago.

"Your help is welcomed, there are many Tokra in need of medical attention." He said as the group gathered into the clearing.

"Major Reynolds," Carter said looking to the leader of the first team. "Post two of your men top side—the Gouled might have left for now, but I don't want any surprises."

"Yes Mam'am, Burkes, Madden...post here, check in every 45 mics...I want to know if a mouse crosses your path."

"Yes Sir." The senior man replied and the two stepped from the group and back into the under brush for concealment.

The rings activated and the group soon found them selves in the Tokra base camp.

The halls were filled with shipping containers of sorts, people moved about trying to get ready for yet another evacuation.

"How many wounded are there?" Carter asked as they proceeded down the hall to the make shift clinic they had put together.

"47 and counting I'm afraid. Most can walk, but there are some who will need assistance."

"Alright, Teal'c start taking those who can walk on their own back to the gate... Major Cauthen...get your men in teams for transport of the others...I don't want to be here any longer than we have to." She said heading off to the command center of the base.

Major Cauthen nodded and looked to his men, "You heard the colonel. I want two man teams...this is only going to take us 30 minutes...you get me?" He said walking in to the clinic.

BACK ON EARTH...

Daniel had worked with Doctor Smith on clearing out the old isolation rooms and a team of guards had been tasked out to bring in some cots for the time being... everyone stood ready for the incoming injured...

O'Neill was in his office when the alarms sounded an incoming traveler.

"It's about time." He said running out into the hall and to the command room.

As the gate opened, Walter confirmed the Iris code and the metal shield slid open. A heart beat later men from the team fell through with four Tokra behind them, seconds later three staff blasts slammed into the walls of the gate room...

"Get those people outta there!" He yelled down below as he ran from the command room and into the gate room. Pulling one of the Airmen to his feet O'Neill was getting that familiar twang in his gut when something had gone terribly wrong. "What happened!?" He screamed. "Burton, look at me... what happened?" He urged as the young man leaned his weight on him for balance.

"They came out of no where General, the first group of Tokra had just come up to the surface...there was no warning...nothing...they came out of no where..."

"Where's Colonel Carter?"

"Still below the surface...they were hitting the site pretty hard General...I think their stuck down there."

The gate room began to spin around O'Neill as the blood rushed to his head. Surely god wouldn't be this sadistic...he wouldn't take her away from him after all these years...

Releasing his grip on Burton, O'Neill turned and bounded out the gate room.

Ten minutes later he was geared up and armed to the hilt as he headed back to the gateroom where SG-16 was standing by as ordered.

"We're going in hot and heavy," he said walking into the group of Marines that stood by for their next orders. "Dial it up!" he yelled back to the command room above. As the gate began to dial out, Daniel walked up behind O'Neill.

"You shouldn't be doing this." He said matter of factly.

"Shut up Daniel." He said not looking even looking back at him.

"Jack-"

At this, O'Neill turned on his heels and came face to face with Daniel.

"I'm not letting her die out there..." He said coldly, his point loud and clear.

The fear in O'Neill's eyes sent chills down Daniel's spine as O'Neill stared him down.

Not another word was spoken between them.

As the gate came to life behind them, O'Neill pulled out his 'lucky hat' and pulled it down on his head as he gave Daniel a final nod.

He stood at the base of the ramp watching the last of the rescue team disappear into the even horizon... a knot forming in his side as the realization that he might never see his friends again hit him like a freight train...