Chapter 1

Routine Operations

Stargate travel had gotten so routine, the SG-1 team barely noticed that this time there was a "bump" in the road. They arrived at P-7563, a normal recon mission after a probe had established the area to be safe for human life. A normal, temperate planet with plenty of forest. The planet's only distinguishable feature was an odd colored set of pine trees that appear to be rare even on this world.

"Ah P-756umm" O'Neil stumbled out of his mouth.

"7563, sir" replied Captain Carter.

"Oh yeah-3," O'Neil smirked "whatever happened to those great mythical names like Mars, Jupiter, even" He paused for his usual punch line "Uranus."

As normal O'Neil was met with blank stairs.

"Jack, I think they ran out of those names along time ago, there are only so many Greek and Roman Gods you can use." Daniel remarked.

"Besides, with the revelations of the Goa'uld , is it not giving them reverence for their manipulations, O'Neil?" Teal'c added.

"Jeez, it was just a joke." Jack pointed out.

"I fail to see how validating the false godhood of the Goa'uld makes for Humor, do you Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c responded.

"But" Daniel added, "I don't think Jack meant-"

"OK-OK!" Jack interrupted "just forget it."

Carter only smirked. She thought about all the time they had been together and still how easily they could get on each other's nerves.

"Sir" She interrupted her thought, "I am a bit confused."

"What is it Carter, yellow grass that will possess us?" Jack punned

She just stared at him a moment "No sir, the Probe, its not here."

"Huh"

She pointed at the ground and explained, "The M.A.L.P. should be right here, but it's not."

Jack looked on for a second "Well of course I can see that, Carter" He finally muttered sarcastically, "any theories on who took off with it."

"That's the problem sir. The probe should have left some form of indentions or tracks from the stargate to here, but there is nothing."

There was a bit of a pause until T'lek broke the silence "are we on the correct planet then?"

"Good guess," Carter remarked "but I remember seeing that odd colored tree in the transmissions from the probe."

"The one with purple bark, Carter?"

"Yes sir, it is pretty unique, so I think we are in the right place."

"Could it be some type of cloaking device," Daniel broke in "something like the Nox use?"

"And if so" Teal'c added "are their intentions as benevolent?"

"Good Questions." Carter retorted. "But what really bothers me is that I can't get a signal from the probe, that is something the Nox never showed the capability of doing."

"Then again, we know little about them," Teal'c reminded her.

"OK Daniel Dial out, this is too weird and General Hammond needs to decide the next move."

"On it Jack."

"Everyone else, on your guard"

As the team watched for any enemy, Daniel typed in the symbols as he had done hundreds of time, however the gate didn't respond.

"Jack, slight problem."

"What is it Daniel?"

"Not Sure."

"Carter" O'Neil began to order

"I'm on it sir" She remarked knowing what he wanted her to do.

After an hour of examining the Stargate and D.H.D., she could find nothing wrong. Out of frustration she throws down her tools. "Nothing!"

"What is it, Carter?"

"That's just it, Sir, Nothing is wrong. The gate is getting power, the D.H.D. is connected, nothing at all is wrong."

"Could it be something, and pardon me for saying this, but we are dealing with 1000 year old alien technology, but something you haven't thought of?"

"Jack," Daniel interrupted "We are using the schematic that you provided when you were possessed by the alien knowledge."

"Well," O'Neil thought out loud "Maybe it's something I did wrong, I mean look at the source."

Teal'c butted in "now is not the time for humor O'Neil, we may not be able to get home."

"Huh, but I wasn't being funny."

Daniel interrupts "Teal'c, are you familiar with anything like this."

"I have much experience with the Stargate, Daniel Jackson, but I have never heard of an incident like this. Generally if there is a malfunction with a gate, the travelers cannot get to the planet to begin with."

"Unless something happens while they are there?" Carter clarified.

"That is correct." Teal'c bowed.

"So what happened while we were here is what I want to know." Jack said obviously frustrated.

Just then a noise was heard, something unfamiliar.

"W-what was that?" Daniel wondered aloud.

"A wild cat maybe?" O'Neil guessed.

"I thought it was some sort of bird, from the height it appeared to originate from." Teal'c pointed out.

"Anyway you cut it," O'Neil said "we better get cover in the trees."

"Yes Sir" Carter said gathering her tools and gear.

Quickly SG-1 hid under the thick brush of the trees as the noise got closer. Soon something came from the sky and landed in front of the gate as if waiting.

"What the-" Jack wondered

"Jack that looks like a griffin." Daniel said with some enthusiasm

"One of those Bird, Lion things?" Jack clarified.

:"Yeah, I mean we always assumed they were a myth, what if one was transplanted to Earth giving birth to the myth?" Daniel hypothesized.

"An interesting idea, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c pointed out "However, the Goa'uld do not generally move beasts from one planet to another."

"True, but it could have been an experiment" Daniel continued "Just one the Goa'uld didn't like for whatever reason, the result is myths around animals."

"Possible, however I must point out that I have never noticed any animals not apparently indigenous to your world." Teal'c pointed out.

"As far as you know you mean, Teal'c." Daniel said.

"You are correct, Daniel Jackson." Teal'c conceded.

"Daniel," Jack interrupted "What did griffins eat?"

Daniel thought a moment "Well there are many references to cattle, horses, and a few to humans, why Jack."

"Cause this guy is looking mighty hungry."

As if being told by some outside force, the creature turned and faced SG-1. It let out a screech unlike anyone has ever heard. Then it flapped its wings up and glided towards them, skimming the grass.

"LOOK OUT!" O'Neil shouted.