I am so sorry to keep you all waiting for the next chapter. It's chaotic here right now, so I hope this chapter makes sense.

However I feel I must make a few points in order to clear up few discrepancies that have been pointed out to me...

To my way of thinking, Davis has always been a little nervous and in awe of his superiors, and given the message that he was to pass on, I felt that his nerves would probably get the better of him, hence his being overawed and rather timid.

Yes, under normal circumstances, General Hammond probably wouldn't go on a mission with an SG team, but this isn't a normal situation/story and as the plot develops I hope you will understand why he was there. Zoser and Ilovesg1 had the right idea.

I'd like to thank everyone for their reviews, and I'm glad most of you are enjoying this for what it is...just a story. My aim it to entertain.

General Disaster.

By Lingren.

Previously:-

Jack moved his sight sideways and caught Sam's eyes then rolled his in frustration. She gave him a small sympathetic smile in return and then stood upright again, picking up his report file and pen and knew by the General's tone that he was in trouble for several reasons; first and foremost for being late to the meeting.

Chapter 3 – Setting off.

SG-1 were gathered in the gate-room. Daniel was still futzing with his back-pack, packing and repacking it, making sure he had everything he needed, or might need. Jack was standing a few feet away from him, watching him with idle curiosity, his hands draped loosely over the butt of the P-90 hanging from its strap around his neck. He was keyed up for the mission, but outwardly appeared relaxed as always.

Sam Carter was standing next to Jack and giving him a run down on the mission as they waited, unaware that Jack's concentration was on the archaeologist because he'd zoned out of her technical details. He was punctuating her inventory of details with his usual comments; until she noticed his glazed expression. Without missing a beat she added a little extra to her summary, dropping her voice to a mere whisper.

"Of course, we have to make sure that when Mickey Mouse actually meets up with Minnie that they're left alone to 'converse' and that Donald Duck doesn't run off and get himself into trouble when no-one is looking..."

Jack turned his head round to look at her. Her blue eyes were sparkling with mischief and her grin was infectious.

"I was listening!" he said, pursing his lips against her suggestion that he wasn't.

"Yes sir, of course you were," she responded dryly.

"Carter...just for that, you're looking after Donald Duck when we arrive," he grinned, waving a hand at Daniel.

Sam grimaced, but broke into one of those smiles that made him melt inside, and sent his heart beating faster. Seeing that she'd had such an effect on him, she giggled.

"No giggling Major!" he ordered, but the light behind his deeply set chocolate eyes belied his stern rebuke.

Finally Daniel had finished packing his pack to his satisfaction and Teal'c helped him to lift it onto his shoulders. He staggered a little under the weight, but after a little jiggling around, he was happier.

Jack sighed with disapproval, but Daniel was Daniel; he couldn't go anywhere without his note books, and god help him, if he was injured on this mission and he had to carry either the man himself or his backpack home again.

His thoughts were distracted when the blast doors opened to admit one, geared up and ready to go, General Hammond.

"Colonel," Hammond greeted him. "As I stated before Jack, this is your mission. I'm just a bystander on this," he said, adding, "Try to forget I'm there,"

"Can't do that sir. It's our honour to have you on board General," Jack replied straight away, putting the senior officer at ease.

"Then let's get underway Colonel."

"Yes sir!" Jack turned back towards the window overlooking the room, where Sergeant Davis was waiting for his orders. "Dial her up Sergeant!"

Sg-1 unconsciously formed their usual line-up, though Jack stepped back and allowed the General to take up a position in front of him, but behind the others, protecting him should they run into an attack on the other side of the gate. The M.A.L.P showed no alien life-signs but that didn't mean squat as far as Jack was concerned. He never trusted the robot probe as far as he could throw it. It had been wrong more times than it had been right in predicting trouble with a capital 'T'.

The dialling sequence clunked and locked and very soon the wormhole had whooshed into life, its shimmering blue water-like event horizon flickering round the room, lighting it in an eerie glow.

"Teal'c!" Jack ordered, knowing he didn't need to say anything else, because the Jaffa warrior knew exactly what his orders were.

Teal'c dipped his head and stepped into the wormhole, Daniel and Sam following after him. Hammond stopped at the very edge and stared at the shimmering matter. Jack stopped next to him and gently touched his commander's shoulder.

"Piece of cake sir!"

"I know," Hammond replied with a smile. "I've done this before, but I never actually believed I'd go on a proper mission. I'm savouring the moment Colonel."

"Savour away sir!" Jack said, giving the rippling surface a flick with his hand, and watching the effect spread outwards. "This never gets old General."

"It's just a pity we do, huh Jack?"

Jack grinned.

"You just said a cotton-pickin' mouthful sir!" Jack said in earnest. "Ready General?"

Hammond nodded then stepped through to another world, with Jack on his heels.

OoOoOoOoO

They stepped out onto a lush green swathe surrounded by trees and hills. In the background purple snow-capped mountains formed the horizon. The weather was warm, and a little breeze gently ruffled their clothing and hair.

Jack hooked his sunglasses and propped them onto his nose, surveying the area under the sunshine and blue skies.

"Carter? What have we got?" Jack called, taking charge now they had all arrived.

Sam was over by the DHD, checking it over, while Teal'c stood sombre and tall, surveying the landscape for hostiles.

"The DHD checks out sir. No sign of any hostiles as yet. Everything goods sir."

"Okaaayy!" Jack said, drawing out the word. "Which way were the ruins Daniel?"

"Ah...about twelve miles that way Jack. I guess you would call it to the east, if that's where the sun is heading to the west; though it's difficult to know if it's rising or setting at the moment..."

"Ack! Daniel" he warned.

"To our left Jack!" Daniel confirmed, sheepishly.

"Thank you!" he answered with a scowl. "Carter, take point, Teal'c watch our sixes. Heads up people, we don't know what's out there."

They set off together, Jack talked with the General while Daniel went up front with Sam, leaving Teal'c on his own at the back.

Jack could see Daniel up ahead talking animatedly to Carter, and couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. Hammond noticed the smile.

"Is he always this passionate on a mission?"

Jack snorted with amusement.

"Only when there's some ruins at the end of the trek sir; then I have to virtually hold him back," Jack smirked.

He noticed that the General was getting a little puffed by the pace, and called ahead to Carter, to slow the pace down a little.

Hammond refuted the face, but they had to slow down anyway as the trail led up the side of a steep hill.

Jack was fully aware that the older man was tiring, despite his denial. After a couple of hours walking, Jack called a halt for some lunch and a break.

They'd reached the top of the hill and had found a clearing, overlooking the valley they just climbed out of. They could see the gate clearly from there and Hammond realised just how far they had walked. He was hot and weary, but refused to let himself dwell on how unfit he was. He always knew how far his teams walked, but this was no walk in the park; this was a trek across rough country. They'd slipped over rock strewn paths, squelched through boggy ground and forded streams. His feet and pants up to his knees were wet, and he was uncomfortable, sweating inside his jacket from his efforts, but he never heard one murmur of complaint from SG-1. In fact the conversation over energy bars and tepid water was jovial and teasing. Teal'c he noticed too, remained slightly aloof from the bantering, choosing instead to keep his eyes on the trees around them; ever watchful.

If it wasn't for the fact that he knew he was on another world, he could be anywhere in one of the many National Parks back home. He was beginning to relax a little especially when Jack included him in the conversation. The scenery was pleasant, the company enjoyable, though he knew without a doubt that things could change at the drop of a hat. Not that he was expecting trouble at all, and despite Jack's outward light-hearted playfulness, he knew the man was alert to his surroundings.

Not that he was looking for trouble; he was just waiting for the other boot to drop. Things were going too smoothly so far; given SG-1's standard luck on missions. He only hoped that if things did go south during this trip, that he wouldn't be a burden to the team.

TBC