Constructive criticisms always welcomed. Flames cheerfully ignored.

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Knife Edge, part 11: Revelations Starship Andromeda Ascendant, 2 AU's from P4X-639.

"I know this must come as quite a shock to you." The last empress of the Systems Commonwealth looked down from the main screen, "But it is of imperative importance that you do as I say." The screen zoomed-out to show an Asgard next to the Empress.

"Although it may be hard for you to understand, I have known of the Commonwealth's eventual fall for some time now." Sucharitkul continued, "I have ordered that this file be hidden deep within Andromeda's mind where it will not be found until the appropriate time. I know full well that by ordering Captain Hunt and Andromeda on their patrol I am condemning them to 303-years of suspended animation, but there are times when we must place duty above all other considerations. That is why I must not order you to destroy the world you know as P4X-639."

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P4X-639

The footsteps grew closer until two Jaffa entered O'Neill and Dylan's field of view, followed closely by Osiris.

"So," The Goa'uld glared at the two men, "The Tau'ri have allied themselves with the Systems Commonwealth." She focused on Dylan, "Where is you ship? I know you did no arrive on this planet by the Stargate, and no Earth ship has the ability to reach this far without being detected."

"You mean by that Al-Kesh you sent to spy on us?" O'Neill smiled, "Cause that's a rapidly dissipating cloud of dust."

"Interesting." Osiris smiled.

"It was probably a bit stupid to tell her we could detect a cloaked ship." Dylan suggested.

"Doh!" O'Neill banged his head back against the bars.

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Rommie reached the top of the cliff and looked around: two Jaffa stood guard over the wreckage of the two skiffs. She went to draw her forcelance, only to find that her fall had damaged the power-cell, making it useless until she got a replacement. Re-holstering the weapon, she ran at the nearest guard, grabbing his head and breaking his neck with a sharp twist.

The second guard reacted instinctively, raising his staff weapon and firing it point blank at Rommie's midriff. The thick ceramic plate inside her Lancer battle-armour withstood the blow, and Rommie grabbed the end of the staff with one hand, span round to deliver a round-house kick to the side of her opponents head that knocked him to the ground.

Hocking her foot under the fallen staff weapon, Rommie kicked it into the air and grabbed it, before turning it on it' previous owner, "Now this is very simple." She spoke carefully in the language of the Goa'uld, "Where have you taken the others. I will find out one way or the other, so you may as well tell me and save your own life."

"I will never betray my God!" The Jaffa snarled defiantly.

"You're choice." Rommie fired the staff weapon into his chest, killing him instantly. She looked around, and after re-setting her inertial guidance system, set out back towards the Ang Tae.

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"Now, I will ask one more time." Osiris pulled a fire-stick from inside her robes, "Where is your ship?"

"You think you can torture the information out of me?" Dylan looked up at her.

"No: I have heard of how well trained High Guard officers are at withstanding interrogation." Osiris stabbed the fire-stick at the stump of O'Neill's arm, making him scream out in pain. "But you also have a repetition for being unable to stand by while others suffer." She jabbed O'Neill again, "Where is your ship?"

"For god's sake don't tell her anything!" O'Neill spoke through gritted teeth.

"If that is the way you want to play it." Osiris snapped her fingers, and one of the Jaffa stepped forward with a metal canister, "There are other way's to gain information." She opened the canister and pulled-out a Goa'uld symbiote, "Now this is really going to hurt…" The Jaffa grabbed Dylan and held him as Osiris tilted his head forward and presented it to the symbiote.

"Soon we will know everything." Osiris smiled as the symbiote leapt at Dylan's neck and burrowed its way in."

To Be Continued…