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Ch 23: ALARM
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Their overnight trek upstream from the 'Gate had not revealed any new information or discoveries - other than a couple of new types of fruit and vegetables to try.
Clouds had developed in the late afternoon of each of the past four days, but there had not been any rain yet... just a dip in the afternoon warmth and sunlight.
Now well into their fourth week on the planet, they were stretching their SGC food stores with fish and game for dinner, as well as limited quantities of the local fruits and vegetables that they had tested.
Sam had snapped digital pictures of their regional map so that if the original was damaged or lost, then they would still have the files on the computer as reference. All of their notes, pictures, star maps, etc., were backed up on at least 2 of the external (back-up) harddrives.
Their shelter was now reinforced with their homemade rope and they'd built a separate, smaller cover for the campfire. They had set it up with movable walls that served as wind breaks and an overhanging roof. The walls were adjustable so that they could be repositioned depending on which was the wind was blowing from. They could also provide more protection for the fire if and when the weather conditions turned wet or stormy.
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Bzzzzzzzzzz
Bzzzzzzzzzz. Something on Sam was buzzing.
"Wha-," he started to ask, but she was already answering.
"It's the gate alarm," she spoke quickly as she turned the receiver in her pocket off.
They both picked up their P90s and started jogging towards the Gate clearing.
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They slowed into the cautious soldier's crouch-like advance as they neared the end of the path.
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With soundless hand signals...
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...and using the native trees and brush for cover...
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...they dropped to the ground...
...and quietly crawled the last few remaining feet...
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...to the foliage at the edge of the clearing.
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Both veteran field officers peered out from just inside the leafy vegetation into the clearing surrounding the 'Gate.
Alert and with weapons ready.
Neither of them spoke or made a sound.
Their experienced eyes scanning and assessing the scene before them.
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TBC
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