It was little more than an hour before Mitchell returned to the group under the small pavilion, but it felt like much longer to those who had been waiting. It wasn't like there had been a whole lot to do, after all, and the weather wasn't interesting enough to talk about for any long periods of time. When she returned, she had Carson and Tao with her, one on either side, and Jack noticed she'd lost the annoyed expression and a lot of the tension in her posture was gone as well. Obviously the good doctor had managed to calm her down at least a little.

"Okay," she said before anyone could say anything. If you want to blow up Talonopolis, you're going to have to do a couple of things for me, first."

"Such as?" Weir asked.

"The Mok have to all – and I mean all – be evacuated, first to Atlantis and then to another planet in this system. A Jaffa controlled planet, so they'll be protected. Before the Wraith come."

"But that'll take too-"

"Rodney, hush." Weir interrupted, looking at Mitchell. "Go on, Colonel."

"Second. If you're going to use the Jaffa as bait, then you're going to have to figure out a way to evacuate them before the planet blows without the Stargate – in case the Wraith pull their stunt with dialing in so no one can dial out. I won't risk the Jaffa any more than I will the Mok."

The group sitting there looked over at Tao, to see how he was dealing with being compared in importance to a bunch of animals, but the Jaffa was simply nodding. He agreed completely with his goddess. The Mok had to be protected. Mitchell continued.

"I want to see this method of extraction before it's used – so I know that it'll work." Mitchell looked at Sam, and her expression softened just a little. "Not that I don't trust you, Colonel. I just want to make sure."

"I understand," Sam assured her, smiling. "We've already started thinking of ideas, actually, and I'm sure we can come up with something."

They'd have to, after all.

"Anything else?" Jack asked.

Mitchell shrugged, and then shook her head.

"Those are my two concerns. Do any of you have any others?"

There were negatives all around, although McKay looked as if he were going to say something and had decided against it. Which was probably just as well since it was probably something that would just piss someone off.

"What's the plan, then?" Melony asked.

Jack shrugged, looking at Sam.

"Carter?"

"We'll still want as much of your Goa'uld technology as we can get, Colonel," Sam said. "We've figured that we have about three weeks before the Wraith are an immediate threat to Atlantis. That'll give the Jaffa time to get there, and hopefully settled onto Talonopolis, and give us time to come up with a good evac operation while we try to find a place for the Mok."

"You can set up a team of xenobiologists for that," McKay said. "They won't have anything else to do; they might as well figure out where to put all the Mok – and how to round them up – or whatever you want to call gathering them and bringing them back to Atlantis."

"I can lead that team," Carson offered. "I've already had a chance to study them somewhat, so I know them as well as anyone, I suppose."

Plus Melony trusted him, and it would give him something to do. Like McKay had said, the doctors weren't going to have anywhere near as much to do as the scientists were – and hopefully it would remain that way.

Melony gave him a grateful smile and turned to the others.

"I'll stay here with a Jumper and strip down Fuglier and as much of my lab as I can. You guys head back to Atlantis and get started." As much as she wanted time to spend alone with Carson, she didn't have any time, now, and neither did he. She turned to Tao, who nodded. He didn't need her to tell him his orders; he already knew.

"I will gather the Jaffa, my Lady, and we will be ready when you summon us."

"I don't doubt that for a minute, Tao."

He nodded his acceptance of the compliment and Mitchell turned back to the group once more.

"With the crystals combined with the mini-ZPM things that Kale's people found, we shouldn't have any power problems," she said. "Keep that in mind. But remember; we want to be able to get back home again, so save at least one of each, okay?"

Sam nodded.

"Anything else?" Jack asked, standing up. He was hot and sweaty – the weather on Melonyville did that to a person, after all – and more than ready to leave. Besides, the others had a lot to get done.

"Nope."

Sam shook her head as well, and so did the others. They had all their pieces, now; all they needed was a plan. Or a couple of plans, really.

"Then let's go."

Everyone else stood up as well and headed out into the sunlight. Jack lingered behind, as did Tao and Beckett.

"You sure you don't need any help here?" he asked her. "We could probably spare the good doctor for a couple of days – and then you could kick him back through the gate when you got tired of his company…"

She hesitated, seriously tempted, and looked over at Carson, who kept his face carefully neutral – although his eyes were hopeful.

"Maybe a day or so…" she said, giving in. It wasn't like she didn't want to, after all!

Beckett smiled, and so did Jack – although there was far more amusement in his smile, while Carson's was one of relief.

"Just try to get some work done, too."

"Yes, sir, General O'Neill, sir." She snapped him a salute and then slapped his shoulder. "Go on, get out of here. And don't forget; you're going to need to have a place to bed down 300 Jaffa for a day or so – or more, if necessary."

"Yes, Ma'am, Colonel Mitchell."

He grinned and headed for the Jumper the others were already piling into, and Mitchell turned to Tao, and Talon took over.

"Take the video of the Mok with you, Tao," The Tok'ra said. "But remind those that are coming that they will not have an opportunity to see the creatures until we finish what we are doing."

"I will."

She smiled, and offered him her hand.

"We will come for you in a week's time."

"We'll be ready."

He bowed, and headed for the gate, anxious to get back to his people and show them the video of the Mok – as well as to get his volunteers gathered.

Less than fifteen minutes later, there were only two people left on Melonyville, and Mitchell turned to Carson, reaching out and taking his hand.

"We have a lot to do…"

He nodded.

"You need to introduce me to your force field," he reminded her, squeezing her hand lightly. "I don't want to get fried."

She smiled.

"Let's go take care of that." There were lots of things she wanted to do, after all, but none of them out in the hot sun.