Authors notes: Some swearing, Lots of spoilers but I don't tell you where they are from. I know Jack and Sam are Air force, but for this to work they need to be Army sorry for the inconsistency.

Jack was standing on deck watching their approach to the port; there were several other ships along side and behind his own. Their convoy filled with troops and supplies their destination fast approaching.

'Hope you're ready Adolf, cause were coming; the Brit's aren't alone anymore'

With the final thought Jack turned and went below, he had to make sure his men were ready. This far up the coast they didn't have to worry about recon planes spotting the troop movements but he didn't want to take any chances, thousands of lives and the fate of the war rested on this operation remaining secret. Jack did not want to slow down the mobilisation.

He walked around the corridors approaching a storage section of the boat. Even though he thought of it as a tin can he had to give the crew credit they had crammed troops, weapons, ammunition, even a few jeeps and trucks into this thing. Granted it hadn't been the most pleasant trip but all that mattered was that these things got to Britain in one piece, once there they could be moved south to be prepared for the final crossing. He reached his destination and grabbed 2 Colt .45 pistols 2 clips of ammo for each. He put on a side holster and placed the other in a holster at the small of his back, not standard practise but Jack felt more comfortable with an extra weapon there.

He turned and walked back toward the main compartment, he did not have to be armed but he decided it was better to carry a weapon at all times from now on. He was setting foot on foreign soil, allies or not he would keep a pistol with him, he did not want to be caught unarmed.

Daniel turned the corridor and found who he was hunting for.

"Jack, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure thing Danny-boy"

Daniel cast him a brief glare 'He knows I hate that'

"We have a situation that requires your attention"

"That blonde kid?"

"Something like that, come with me"

They begin to walk down the corridor twisting and turning through the narrow passage ways.

"What's this all about? Does the guy need to see the doc or not?"

"I don't think that would be a good idea"

They reach the small room where Daniel left Samantha; he looks around briefly and prepares himself, he has no idea how he is going to react.

"In here"

"Here?" Jack points at the hatch

"Here"

"Ok"

Jack opens the hatch and slips inside closely followed by Daniel who closes the door behind him.

"Something the matter private?"

Sam is sitting in the corner her head down, hidden from view

"Sam, come on stand up" Daniel walks up to her and helps her up, bracing himself for Jacks response. She slowly and timidly raises her head knowing what's to come

"Oh for cryin' out loud Daniel… couldn't you have kept your girlfriend back home"

"Wait, no Jack it's not like that"

"Really?!" Jack was now supremely pissed

"Sir, he didn't even know who I was until 5 minutes ago" Sam chirped up not wanting to get him in trouble for her actions.

"Really?!" Jack turning his anger to her now

"Jack, will you just wait a minute"

"Daniel the brass are gonna have a shit storm when they find out"

"They're not going to find out" Sam barked back defiantly

"Oh really? How are we going to explain a female dressed in a private's uniform… actually how did you even get on this boat?!" Jacks anger rising even more

"Jack will you shut your mouth for 2 seconds!" Daniel was now furious he had hoped his friends level headed side would come through, clearly he was wrong.

"I didn't know she was a well she until a few minutes ago, She got someone else to go through basic for her and then came on board in the commotion before we left port, she wants to fight just like we do, her brother was killed in North Africa."

"What company was he serving with?" Jacks curiosity got the better of him

"9th infantry"

"What was his name?"

"Mark Carter"

Jack closed his eyes briefly, "Sammy Carter I take it"

"You knew Mark?"

"We met briefly"

"What?" Daniel was now even more curious Jack had never mentioned a Mark Carter to him

"Daniel don't"

"Wait but how you were never with 9th" Daniel was totally perplexed

"If you knew my brother…" Sam began to talk curious as to how this man knew Mark

"Both of you stop! It's classified Daniel so don't"

Daniel face was one of shock, never before had Jack ever mention anything to do with classified work 'Of course he wouldn't its classified' Daniel thought quickly

"Now miss, what are we going to do with you?" Jack spoke softly yet directly

"I am here to fight"

"Well I'm afraid we can't have that" Jack retorted trying to maintain his anger

"Why not? I can fight just as well as either of you" Looking between Jack and Daniel

"The army doesn't allow it"

"Sir!" Anger building inside Sam, he was short sighted and closed minded it made her mad

"I'm afraid not ma'am…"

"I have done all the basic training at home with Mark and his buddies before they got shipped out, I did it easily and can do it again, that tough enough for colonel… or are we going to have to arm wrestle?"

A glint appearing in Sam's eyes, if she could prove to him she was tough enough maybe he would let her stay 'What have I got to lose?' She thought to herself and took a defiant stride towards him.

"I'm afraid I will have to decline, it not about how tough you are, woman are not allowed…"

Before Jack could finish the sentence he was struck in the gut and then a blow to his face, he was on his back smashing his head against the hard metal floor.

He looked up to see a very pissed off woman standing above him

Daniel was speechless as was Jack.

"So Colonel, how are you going to explain to everyone that a woman knocked you on you ass, who is fit for the army?"

Jack lay there in total shock, he hadn't seen it coming. This woman defiantly peaked his interests. Finally clearing his head he was able to speak.

"We will have to discuss this off ship, get your gear you two."

Both Daniel and Sam smiled. Sam retrieved her scarf and covered her face appropriately. Sam exited before Daniel as he wanted to have a final word with Jack. He cast a glance up to notice Daniel still standing there.

"Daniel don't start, I can't tell you"

"Actually it wasn't about that, I have a favour I can call in with a doctor over here. If you want to make sure Sam really is in shape enough to do this"

"Daniel I haven't decided anything yet and if command finds out we would all end up behind bars"

"Come on Jack you knew her brother, you know what she is going through she wants to fight just as much as we do, hell probably more then most of the guys on this boat do"

"We'll see, contact your friend I want that girl's head examined, I will try and pull some strings see if I can work it so she is in our squad, that's the best I can do for now"

"Thanks Jack"

Daniel quickly took his leave of Jack not wanting to annoy the guy any further.

Jack sat himself up and lay against the bulkhead.

'Mark Carter, A name I didn't want to hear again.' Jack thought as he remembered how he met the man.

The room was full of eager young men drawn from all areas of the service. USAF, Army Rangers, Pathfinders, everyone was here. Some Brits from some new division called 1st SAS. From the looks of things they were a bunch of rag tag rats. Desert rats actually. They had been fighting in North Africa for a long time and specialised in hit and run raids. They were doing there jobs well, Hitler himself had put a price on all there heads. He liked these guys.

The door to the room opened in came 2 people, a general and a civilian.

All men rose to stand at attention.

"Be seated men… Everything spoken from this moment is top secret. You have all been selected because you are skilled at what you do and because we need you. This is Doctor Langford; he will be helping brief you all on this mission"

The civilian stepped forward. In Jacks eyes the guy looked and seemed to have an air of 'geek' around him. Greying hair, glasses, pipe in one hand. The guy defiantly looked like a doctor.

"Gentle men, I will not beat around the bush. This mission is vital to my research and military intelligence is willing to help me, I cannot fully explain my work to you but all you need know is with your help we may be able to beat the Germans quickly and effectively."

The room broke out in muffled noises of people conferring with the person next to them.

"What you think this guy is talking about?" Came a mutter from the person sitting next to him. He glanced over to see a tall man, short hair, large forehead. The guy was from 9th infantry.

"No idea" Jack replied

"Alright, settle down" The general said to the group "Continue doctor" he urged

"Thank you, we have received intelligence that the Germans have found something near Giza, something connected with my work. We are assembling a team to get in and retrieve what ever it is they have found."

"Why can't we just roll in there with tanks and take it that way?" one of the rangers in the front row asked

"If we go in that way it is likely the Germans will destroy it. They know it is important to my research, I was working with a German Professor Enrich Rooper nearly 20 years ago when I first started my research. When the Nazi's took power they confiscated his work, they know what were working on and they know it is connected"

"So we go in get it and get out?" The leader of the SAS group spoke with a presence that could not be ignored.

"Exactly, this device is likely to be large and cumbersome, that is why we have requested your men. You are most experienced in this area and have access to vehicles which can be used to transport"

"Doc, my guys are for hit and run, they don't do too good with retrieval"

"That's why we've brought in the US Rangers, Pathfinders and Infantry, they will provide assistance and expertise in retrieving the object"

Jack was now very curious as to what was so important but knowing he was not going to get the information he wanted from a direct question he decided to be more tactful.

"How are we going to know what the thing is?" He spoke directly towards the Doctor

"It will have writing on it like never seen before, unusual symbols nothing like any Egyptian hieroglyphs or other markings."

"That's helpful" The room erupted with chuckles

"Pipe down" General barked

"Quite right Colonel O'Neill is it?, quite right however that doesn't change anything, We need this object retrieved intact"

The general stepped forward to address the men.

"Ok men, that's the gist of things. Well take a break, then you will all be divided into groups and briefed on your own assignments. Dismissed"

The men rose and walked out of the room; talk erupted as they filed out.

"So what you think it is were going in for?" The man who was sat next to Jack asks as they file out

"Probably some rocks that are ten thousand years old"

"First Lieutenant Mark Carter" he offers his hand

"Colonel Jack O'Neill" accepting his hand

Authors notes : What you think?? I need to know! Like it? Hate it? Did I get the facts right? Tell me if you recognise where this could be going? Come on I need feedback!