CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Langaran Stargate Complex
Langara
Commander Sy Varan had served in Kelowna's army for over thirty years. Most of that time had been spent commanding front-line troops defending Kelowna's border. After the unification, he had been selected to command Langara's stargate program. During his career, he had seen a lot of different things. Some had been weirder or more exciting than others. The people of his planet, he reasoned, were a pretty hardy lot, if occasionally hard-headed. Once challenged though, he thought his race was pretty good at rising to a challenge. These Americans, on the other hand, were something to see he told himself.
Varan could only shake his head in wonderment every time he had extensive dealings with them. They're sense of purpose was actually awe-inspiring. The knowledge and professionalism of their troops made him realize the new Langaran Army had a ways to go. Most importantly, these Americans seemed to thrive on the adversity. They came with bad news but then immediately wanted to focus on solutions. They seemed to be immune from normal political squabbles once trouble arrived.
He had been a forceful advocate for rapprochement after the disaster that was the Naquadria Crisis. He was a staunch believer in civilian government and its control of the armed forces, but the conduct of their elected leaders during the crisis had been nothing short of embarrassing. Then again, the planet survived he reasoned. Upon receiving the latest intelligence information from Lt. Col. Carter, Varan thought the Americans would most likely leave and let Langara fend for itself. Therefore, he was shocked to see reinforcements arriving through the stargate. That these Americans were expressing an interest in helping Langara defend itself was nothing short of a miracle. While his professional pride said that Langara was capable of winning this fight without a handout, his common sense reminded him that they had quite a ways to go to stand among the other planets in the suddenly larger universe as an equal.
All of these interesting, but at the moment completely useless thoughts were flowing through Varan's head as he stepped into a conference room at the fortified bunker that served as the headquarters of Langara's stargate project. The reason was to be a full briefing to the Joint Ruling Council regarding the threat to Langara and what assistance the United States would offer. Varan was left to hope that First Minister Dreyloc wouldn't annoy these Americans as badly as she did lat time.
Varan arrived to find Lt. Col. Samantha Carter talking to a group of Langaran officers and an American Varan didn't recognize. Carter did the introduction.
"Oh Commander Varan, it's good to see you. Allow me to introduce Lieutenant Colonel Terrance McNulty, US Army. Colonel McNulty and his force have been sent by our government to assist in securing your gate, with the approval of your leaders of course."
Varan was impressed. "I'm glad you're here Colonel. I only wish it was under better circumstances. What size force are you deploying and what are its capabilities?"
"Commander, I command a reinforced battalion of light infantry troops numbering approximately 660 men. We're armed with individual weaponry and crew-served weapons such as heavy machine guns and mortars. With the approval of your government, we'll deploy to secure your stargate and prevent a Goa'uld incursion. Those are the limits of my orders as of this moment." McNulty wasn't going to fish for other jobs until told so.
"I understand Colonel. Colonel Carter, your visiting teams should be arriving at any time."
"Good. We need to marshal our people and start preparing in earnest." Carter really wanted General O'Neill here. He had the most experience dealing with the Goa'uld of any officer in the US military.
As if on cue, SG's 19 and 29 entered the room and looked surprised to see their brethren from the SGC. Commander Rexford immediately made his way over. "Colonel Carter, good to see you, where do we stand?"
"We're about to brief the Joint Ruling Council when they arrive. The President has authorized us to secure the gate. We'll see from there what happens. I'll need your team along with SG's 3, 5, 11 and 29 to work with the Langarans and be their liaison to the 7th Rangers."
"Understood. Do we know the size of the Goa'uld force?"
"The latest Tok'ra intel places it at two mother ships and 7,500 loyal Jaffa."
"Shit, any word on assistance from the Free Jaffa?"
"Teal'c is working on that as we speak. We may also be getting some Russian help."
A Langaran officer entered and announced: "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Joint Ruling Council!" All the Langarans snapped to attention just as US personnel would do on Earth. First Minister Dreyloc and the other two ministers entered followed by Jonas Quinn and US Ambassador Howe and took places at a long conference table at the head of the room. Minister Dreyloc spoke first:
"Colonel Carter, it is always a pleasure to see you again. I wish the circumstances were better. Ambassador Howe tells us that your government is offering some form of assistance to counter this Goa'uld threat. What exactly are you prepared to offer?"
"First Minister, the President has authorized us to deploy our Rapid Reaction Force of over 600 men to help secure your stargate if your government approves. We are also preparing our battle cruiser, Prometheus for deployment to combat the mother ships. In addition, he has requested that I relate the following offer: should your government desire to evacuate leading officials or scientists, the United States will offer sanctuary on Earth."
Jonas Quinn sat in quiet, understated shock. He had learned to never doubt his old friends from Earth, but this level of commitment was shocking.
"I appreciate your government's generosity Colonel. Hopefully, it will not come to that. Honestly, Colonel, can we hope to defeat this enemy?"
"I believe they can be defeated, First Minister. There is no other choice with a Goa'uld. It's victory, death or slavery. I'll now allow Lt. Col. McNulty, commander of our RRF, to brief you on what they can bring to the fight. Colonel?"
"First Minister, with your approval, the Rangers will deploy…"
Stargate Command
Cheyenne Mountain AS, CO.
It was turning into one hell of a busy day at the SGC. Everything else had been put on the back burner to deal with the Langaran issue. One problem on a single planet usually did not merit this type of attention, but when the President starts ordering troops into a potential combat zone, that tends to narrow the SGC's focus. All O'Neill could think was that he needed a vacation in Minnesota as soon as possible. He was sitting in his office going over plans with Colonel Dave Dixon, commander of SG-13. Dixon would be leading any further reinforcements to Langara.
"Dave, what's the re-supply look like?" No one ever talked about it, but logistics were going to be key. Amateurs talk tactics, experts talk logistics. Both O'Neill and Dixon knew the old adage well.
"I've got the supply chain forming now. Luckily the Rangers have a pre-stocked package at Peterson and Fort Carson. It's just a matter of moving it here. Colonel Vogel is handling the move plus arranging the stocks for the teams." Colonel Paul Vogel, USAF, was the SGC's J-4, Director of Logistics. He was in charge of procuring the bullets, beans, clothes and whatever else was needed and getting it to those who needed it.
As O'Neill and Dixon were talking there was a knock at the door. O'Neill's aide-de-camp stuck his head in the door.
"Sir, Colonel Chekov is here to see you."
"Send him in." O'Neill had just gotten the call a few minutes ago The Russians were coming…
"General, have you received word from the Pentagon? I have been informed by Moscow…"
"I've already heard from them. You were my next phone call. An airborne battalion? I just hope they're up to it." O'Neil loved tweaking Chekov whenever he could.
Chekov didn't bite too hard. "Trust me General; those Goa'uld bastards aren't going to know what hit them! They come from an elite Guards Airborne Division based near Moscow."
Dixon, facing away from Chekov, just arched his brow in a way that came close to making O'Neill break out in laughter.
"When do they arrive at Peterson?"
"Tomorrow morning. They're arranging the airlift now." O'Neill bet it was probably American airlift.
Langara
It was also becoming a long day for Sergeant Patrick Joyce. Since word had come regarding the impending Goa'uld attack, he hadn't gotten much sleep, as had any one else. SG-19 had gotten the assignment to work with the regiment of Langaran infantry assigned to defend the Joint Ruling Council's building. It also housed one of the government's key communications nodes. Joyce found he was working alongside his old shadow, Major Markham, who was on the operations staff of the regiment.
Markham's people seemed to be preparing for everything. "We're putting snipers in the building across the boulevard. If they launch a frontal assault, they'll pay."
"Major, be careful. You're starting to sound like an American."
"Hopefully, we shoot like one."
"Yeah, and the Goa'uld don't."
Langara's Orbit
In a flash of a nano-second, two Goa'uld mother ships came out of hyperdrive to assume position in a stationary orbit above the planet. By their design they looked like they were meant for one purpose: conquest. Nimar knew his place among the Goa'uld. If that were ever to change, he needed to start making bold moves. This was the first step.
Aboard one of the ships, the First Prime turned to his master:
"My lord, we are in orbit above the planet. There has been no response from the inhabitants as of yet."
"Good, contact our base. Order them to begin assaulting the gate. I want that gate secured as soon as possible. I can not have potential slaves escaping."
"Yes my lord!"
To be continued…