Soldiers of Misfortune – part 4
Eventually the vehicle came to a halt, the doors were thrown open, and they were ordered out and pushed into a line. Another figure of authority approached them, regarding them closely.
"Your unit?" he demanded.
"AZ12." Jack responded automatically, the military response ingrained into him. He stood to attention as the alien moved closer, regarding him as though looking for some kind of insubordination. He stepped even closer, staring Jack in the face.
Jack returned the look, his face devoid of emotion, not revealing any of the hatred he felt for this race. His eyes blanked out carefully, through years of long practice. The alien looked away, disconcerted and moved on before giving his orders.
"No trouble, no noise. You will be fed and you will sleep. You will be moved out at dawn." He turned and entered one of the nearby large huts, gesturing for them to follow.
Jack managed to have a quick look around, taking as much time as he dared, but it was dark and other vehicles were pulling in and out of the camp.
Inside the hut, made out of some kind of light alloy, they joined a line of people waiting for food. Everyone looked tired - their expressions and demeanor bore witness to their despondency. Eventually they were given yet another bowl of gruel and a mug of water. This time though, they were given a slab of what looked like hard bread as well.
The room was filled with people hunkered down, eating quickly. Some looked as though they had already seen action. There were bloodied faces and torn clothing. One or two people even fell as they ate, their rations quickly seized by the person nearest to them.
"God, this is unbelievable!" cried Daniel as he looked around.
"Daniel, keep your head down. Keep quiet," urged Jack.
"What?"
"We don't need any trouble. Don't make eye contact, just do it." For once the archaeologist complied, and Jack heaved a sigh of relief.
They managed to find a spot to sit down, keeping Sam closely surrounded.
The rest of their unit followed their lead and kept close to them. Alenor sat quietly trying to eat while the large man, who caused the trouble earlier, sat scowling around him. Radnor was his name, he'd loudly informed anyone who was listening. He'd finished his rations quickly and still obviously feeling hungry, eyed Alenor's food.
"Had enough?" he growled at him.
Alenor shook his head, his eyes averted. He certainly didn't want any trouble, but he knew he had to eat.
Radnor looked around and spied easier prey. A small man in their unit was hunched nervously trying to eat. Radnor reached out and grabbed the man's bread from his hand. He took a huge bite and glared at the small man, daring him to say something.
The man looked down to the floor, frightened.
"Give it back," said Jack, suddenly seeing what had happened.
"I'm hungry," snarled Radnor.
"Aren't we all," responded Jack. "You should learn to eat your food very slowly. Now give it back."
Radnor stared at Jack. He was remembering how quick Jack was. He knew he was bigger and stronger, but there was something about Jack that frightened him, something in the way he moved, something in his eyes. Coming to the only conclusion he could for the moment, he threw the bread at the small man. He would wait, he would bide his time.
"It was foul anyway." He spat on the floor and turned away from Jack to sit quietly.
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Jack fought back a sigh of relief. He knew he'd made an enemy, but it couldn't be helped. He couldn't back down. He had to keep control or … well … the alternative didn't bear thinking about.
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As the people finished eating they began leaving, so Jack led his team outside where they were pushed in the direction of another building and told to find a place to sleep.
Jack wasn't going to sleep; he'd had enough of the inactivity.
"I'm going to take a look around, see what I can find," he said in a low voice as they found room to lie down.
"Should I accompany you O'Neill?"
Jack shook his head. "No T, I want to you watch over things here. I won't be long."
Sam's torn expression showed she wanted to go with him. Resigning herself, she settled down on the floor. "Be careful Sir," she called softly.
"Always, Major," he answered, giving her a cheerful grin before leaving them.
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Once he was outside it was easy to move around within the dark shadows. There were few guards around and they were easy to dodge. Obviously they relied heavily on the fear of the prisoners and the devices on their necks. He made a thorough recon of the camp.
There was a small building set aside as a medical area, but what he discovered in there turned even his strong stomach. The image of the man pleading for help, crying and in pain, before the Karmine soldier activated the collar, was yet another unpleasant memory for Jack to add to his repository. The screams of the man didn't fade in his head as he forced himself to carry on his recon.
He moved on quickly to the Karmine quarters and gained entrance without much difficulty. Once inside he located the planning room. The language on the charts and plans he couldn't understand, but the tactics were plain to him. Studying them closely, he almost didn't hear the sounds to warn him of someone approaching, and it was at the last moment he dove under the table holding the scenario of war. Cursing himself silently for his lack of concentration, he froze in position and calmed his breathing down to wait patiently.
Two of the Karmine were discussing something. It was a great pity he couldn't understand the language. He zoned out slightly as they continued at length with the discussion. Eventually, the aliens left and Jack got up cautiously. Stretching his cramped limbs out, he left the way he had entered. Dawn was beginning to creep in, but he managed to be back to the others without mishap.
He lay down close to them, a nod from Teal'c showed that all had been alright and he closed his eyes to snatch a little sleep.
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They were roused by shouting and herded out for ablutions then a hurried meal before being ushered onto the waiting transport.
The journey gave SG1 the first chance to speak to their CO.
"Did you learn anything useful O'Neill?" asked Teal'c.
"Maybe, but what I did find out for sure is that if anyone gets wounded and can't fight, they terminate."
Daniel and Sam both looked at him, the horror clear on their faces.
Daniel took a quick breath before asking. "What … they murder them?" He was sickened by the thought.
Jack nodded. He was remembering watching one of the prisoners pleading before they killed him. He scrubbed a weary hand across his face and then through his hair, making it more unruly than ever
"So Daniel, you keep your head and ass as low as it will go," he ordered abruptly.
"Do we fight the other side?" asked Sam.
"We do what we have to do to stay alive," said Jack, "and I mean whatever." He stressed the word, looking directly at Daniel as he spoke. "Most of this planet seems to be in their hands, but from what I can tell, there are resistance pockets all over and some places do seem to be holding out a little."
"How did you manage to learn the language so quickly then?" quipped Daniel, trying to joke.
Jack missed the humor entirely and threw him a black look. "Tactical battle plans read pretty much the same whatever language you use Daniel. I can't read twenty three languages, but I can at least read tactics," he snapped.
Daniel colored a little. "Jack I didn't mean …."
Jack regretted his sharp words the instant they'd left his mouth, but it was too late to snatch them back. He sighed heavily and scrubbed at his face again. "Forget it ... look …" Then his voice died away as the vehicle came to a halt.
They were herded out and each man was given a weapon as they disembarked with the orders, 'Laser, use sparingly, and shoot to kill.'
More and more vehicle pulled up until there were around hundred men, all standing waiting. They could hear thuds in the distance; some sort of artillery was being used. The woods ahead of them exploded occasionally, throwing up dirt and leaves, making some of the men tremble with fear.
"The enemy is that way. You will advance and kill them, and no prisoners until you take the village they are holding. Anyone coming back before they are called will be terminated." The alien strode up and down, shouting his speech, and it was taken up in other languages as well.
"Move out," was the final order.
The men stood looking at each other, badly frightened for the most part, unsure of what to do. It didn't take brains to figure out that most of them could be dead before the day was over.
Jack looked at his team, his glance raked over the rest of his unit, taking in their fear.
"Well, you can stand here and get this …" He fingered the collar around his neck, "or you can move and take a chance with me."
Without waiting for a reply he moved out. SG1 were close behind him. Surprisingly the rest of the men barely hesitated, before following quickly.
Other units, seeing them move, began to do the same. There were some individuals that didn't move. The Karmine picked a few a random and their screams made the rest shoot forwards into the woods.
Jack gave the signal to spread out. Following his lead, they moved through the woods, using the cover provided by the larger trees. It afforded them a little protection when the artillery came close. Several people were killed when they darted forward, unheeding of the dangers. Some began to copy SG1 and slowed down, using the trees for cover.
When Jack figured they were close enough, he climbed up one of the larger trees to try and spot the enemy. Eventually he came down, with a pretty good picture of what lay ahead.
"We're close." He paused as yet another shell exploded close by, the shelling becoming more frequent and accurate. "As you can tell." He made a face. "There's a squad dug in at 11 o'clock, around 300 meters. Another one at 2 o'clock, and we need to take them both out." He stopped for a moment, as another shell hit close by, throwing leaves and dirt over them. The scream of yet another fallen man reverberated through them.
Daniel looked over in the direction of the scream in alarm.
Jack caught his friend's expression. "We can't help them Daniel," he said quietly. "It's going to take everything we've got to keep ourselves alive." Jack looked around at the other men who had stopped when SG1 had. They were looking to him with a hopeful expression on their faces.
Daniel saw the men looking for guidance and bit down his objections.
"Would it work if we rushed them?" asked Sam.
"It would be mass slaughter. It looks as though they've got fast fire guns set up," said Jack frowning. "We need to get everyone working together and take out both positions at the same time."
Alenor put a hand on to Jack's shoulder. "Perhaps the enemy will let us surrender to them."
"And perhaps they wouldn't. How far do you think the range of these collars is? This war has been going on for months. I doubt they'd give us a chance," said Jack without hesitation.
"We've got to try something," said Daniel.
"Maybe when we know more and get rid of these," said Jack, fingering the hateful collar.
The bombardment continued steadily. Jack looked around at the men who were waiting for him to come up with something.
"These men will follow if you lead O'Neill," said Teal'c.
Jack took a breath, "Maybe. I won't be long," he said as he scooted along, keeping low, stopping to speak to each group.
They listened to his simple plan. Almost without exception they were willing to give it a try, seeing the good sense in it, as all wanting to survive if possible. For the first time since their capture the men were given a sense of hope and the fear in them took second place for a short while.
Jack's plan was straightforward. Get two units in close, one to each enemy position, while the rest of the men came forward carefully in a main body, making as much noise as they could. The units could then begin to take out the enemy.
Jack hated the decision to split SG1 up, but he knew the best chance they had would involve using their skills and it was the only way he could trust the other units to follow through. He decided to keep Daniel with himself and put Carter in charge of the other unit with Teal'c.
The plan worked well, and before long they had taken out the enemy with only a few losses to themselves.
Daniel looked at the fallen enemy in dismay. They looked human, probably from earth at some time or other. The similarities in their technology were startling.
Jack watched the expression he knew so well forming on Daniel's face.
"Would it have been any easier if they'd had purple faces and six limbs?" he asked, shaking his head sadly.
Daniel gave his friend a look of surprise. It seemed that Jack wasn't as immune to the killing as he had thought.
They re-grouped the men. The air was strangely quiet after the noise from the guns had ceased.
"They said we had to take the village," said Sam with a sigh.
"Yeah, we need to keep moving," said Jack. He was fingering the collar again thoughtfully. "Wonder what the range is on these." He tugged at the collar. "There's no sign of any Karmine."
"We could just wait here," said Daniel with a tired shrug.
Jack shook his head. "Let's try and locate the village, it can't be far, but I don't want an all out fight with women and children."
Jack stood, tucking the gun he'd picked up under his jacket. The lasers the Karmine had given them had only a short range and it took a head shot to kill anyone outright. He'd made sure that his team all had one of the enemy's guns to use - old fashioned, but guns with bullets, just like home.
Everyone stood when Jack did and waited for his next move.
"Looks like you've got a fan club now Sir," grinned Sam.
Jack looked around. "Yeah, let's see how long I can keep 'em alive," he growled. "Move out."
He sent a few people out on point along with Teal'c. It was still way too quiet for his liking and he didn't want to walk into a trap.
It was late afternoon and everyone was tired, hungry and thirsty when Jack called a halt for a rest and sent Teal'c to scout for water.
"No wonder they go through soldiers like God knows what," sighed Daniel.
Jack gave his friend a tight smile. "USAF seems downright luxurious in comparison, doesn't it?"
Teal'c returned in a relatively short space of time to report a river close by. "I found a deserted post up the track as well. The men have long gone."
Jack moved the men on, following Teal'c to the river.
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"God, what I wouldn't give for a swim," moaned Sam, splashing her face with the cool water after drinking her fill.
Radnor, who wasn't far away, smirked. "You go ahead, enjoy it. I'll even hold your clothes for you."
Sam gave him a black look, thankful the Colonel was out of earshot.
After a brief rest their thirsts were thoroughly quenched, and Jack moved the men out again.
Several men made their choice to remain by the river.
"They have had their fill of fighting," declared Teal'c
"We can't leave them. They'll be killed," said Daniel, glancing behind him.
"Probably die if we drag them with us," responded Jack, not looking back.
Daniel sighed. "Okay," he said, not liking it, but resigned to it. "I know, probably better their way, if that's what they want."
Sam heard Daniel's flat voice and saw the troubled expression on his face. She put a hand out to him. "Not what they want, but they've given up. Don't you give up Daniel, please," she begged.
The way Sam had spoken touched something inside Daniel. He realized how much Sam was hurting too. "I won't Sam, I promise. I don't like it, but I won't give up."
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The little exchange soothed a raw nerve inside Jack, just a little. He was worried about Daniel, the way he was handling it. 'Got to get out of here, soon, before we all give up.'
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