Eeek! Sorry about the ridiculously long wait for this next bit of the story. I've been busy and sidetracked with other things lately, and I've been making changes to the planned direction for the plot later on (hopefully it's made it more interesting). Anyway, I'll try to update more often from now on. Thanks to the reviewers for the previous chapter's feedback, as ever! And thanks go out to anyone who is still paying attention to this fic considering the unforgivable gap since the last time I updated.
I'll be quiet now. Enjoy this next chapter!
Chapter 6: Deimos
General Hammond looked over the latest of the seemingly endless stream of reports that came to his desk. As usual, anything involving SG-1 was bizarre.
After discovering a holographic message from the apparent creator of the alien Einar, Major Carter and Dr. Fraiser had investigated the matter. The message had been clear on some points – Einar possessed knowledge of advanced Hakonan technology in his subconscious, in order to pass it on to some other civilisation. SG-1 had also reported evidence that Einar had also come across the message, and so knew this as well.
However, there was some debate on how Colonel O'Neill linked to all of it. Fraiser had informed him that O'Neill had not had that dream again since – no more having to worry about his flagship team commander slipping into psychosis. His possession of the recurring dream (designed to lure the sufferer to the message) implied that he too could possess the Hakonan knowledge. There was no way to confirm this, and Major Carter claimed it was possible that the knowledge was buried in a dormant part of his brain, along with the rest of Einar's remnant memories.
Yet, she also stated it was possible O'Neill could somehow become aware of it. After all, certain experiences seemed to trigger the surfacing of suppressed information. Dr. Jackson, many months before his ascension, had commented on O'Neill's ability to comprehend basic Norse runes from time to time. In typical O'Neill style, the Colonel had shunned any attempts to build on that lingering skill, but it was proof enough that some of it could still leak into his conscious mind. More recent was the report on the visit to the hologram cavern itself – the remembrance of Einar's maker, Jarl Sigrun, was apparently jogged by seeing the image of him.
In an attempt to analyse whether or not O'Neill's subconscious contained anything useful, he had been to another session with MacKenzie but this time to try hypnosis. He'd protested strongly, of course, but had eventually come around when he remember their previous success with the process on Major Carter when Dr. Jackson had been captured by Nem, the amphibious sea alien.
Apparently, there was nothing conclusive. He either didn't have the knowledge, it was too well buried in his mind, or simply too little time had passed for it to leak into his consciousness.
Hammond wasn't sure what to do. There were few clear options – they couldn't consult Einar for information, as he had long since disappeared off on his own, whether or not Colonel O'Neill contained advanced Hakonan knowledge was still uncertain….
The only thing they could do to find out was to wait and see.
For the time being, the General left it at that, placing the report back on his desk. Besides, the Tok'ra had requested a meeting. Something important was brewing, and though past experience in helping out the Tok'ra had taught him to be wary (the incident with the armbands sprung to mind), he would at least hear them out. They were allies, after all…
"It is good to see you all again," Anise greeted as she sat at the briefing table. "I regret that Jacob and Selmac could not come, but they are currently on a mission."
Hammond waited for SG-1 to take their places as well before gesturing for Anise to begin.
"One of our undercover agents has been working to undermine a minor Goa'uld known as Deimos. He has been acting under the pretence of being a Goa'uld in his service to do so. However, his most recent report is worrying – it appears Deimos has managed to gain a sudden surge of power and has been able to conquer several other minor Goa'uld in an alarmingly short time."
"Any idea how?" Jack quizzed, tapping his fingers on the table.
"Yes, an effective weapon, and that is why we have brought this situation to your attention. It concerns you…" Anise gave up control to Freya, speaking suddenly in the distorted tones of the symbiote. "The Tok'ra operative made it very clear what this new weapon is that Deimos has discovered: an undetermined number of Innarim creatures."
"Wait, Innarim?" Jonas chipped in. "I know I wasn't here at the time, but I read up on all of the files about them. I thought Stoneheim was destroyed."
"It was," Sam said, explaining to both Anise and Jonas. "A few months after Einar left, the Pentagon wanted us to try and re-establish contact with the Innarim at Stoneheim to learn more about the Hakonan technology we had. When we sent a MALP through, we found the entire area decimated."
"The damage had been caused by Goa'uld weaponry," Teal'c stated. "The atmosphere was toxic and irradiated. It is not uncommon for a Goa'uld to do so if they deem it too wasteful to send many Jaffa who are likely to be killed."
"Since we know they have energy weapon shields, we're guessing Stoneheim was bombarded with some kind of radioactive weapon to wipe everything out instead," Sam continued. "We couldn't find any trace of survivors."
"It is likely that whichever Goa'uld came across their world had heard some tale or rumour about them centuries ago when the Innarim were used to kill off Goa'uld with no evidence of resistance. If the Innarim were feared enough, the Goa'uld may have avoided sending any of his forces to the planet below," the Jaffa added.
Jack felt a little sick, remembering when they'd first discovered Stoneheim so devastated. He had no reason to be affected by that knowledge, he'd told himself – he'd had no fondness of the stubborn Stoneheim Innarim, and their refusal to accept Einar or his explanation that Earth was not the enemy - but regardless he'd experienced a numbness he linked to sorrow. He knew now that it had been fuelling his identity crisis: it was the sorrow that Einar would have felt at the sight of the irradiated home of his kin. Jack just remained silent, letting the discussion go on around him.
"You're positive that it's Innarim that Deimos has?" Hammond pressed.
"Very certain," Freya nodded firmly.
"If they were killed at Stoneheim, who are these Innarim?" Jonas asked.
"It… may be that these Innarim are from Stoneheim," Freya thoughtfully pointed out.
"Impossible," Jack cut in, not even hesitating in his answer. "An Innarim would never help a Goa'uld. Killing off the damn snakes was their whole point of existence."
Hammond was sure he saw Freya wince unhappily Jack's tactless terminology when it came to symbiotes. Though philosophically opposed, Goa'uld and Tok'ra shared the same biological structure, and thus many Tok'ra found Colonel O'Neill's choice of slang offensive (e.g. 'snake', 'snakeheads'…). Hammond admired the grim tolerance of the representatives they received most commonly, especially Selmac, Freya and Lantash – before Martouf's death, of course.
"Please, there is more," Anise took over, feeling her symbiote's flicker of indignation. "Our operative claimed these Innarim were physically scarred and burned. If they were at Stoneheim and managed to survive, then they could have received such injuries from the Goa'uld's bombardment. Extreme pain and trauma could have caused them to suffer a psychological breakdown that left them almost mindless."
"This would explain how Deimos managed to gain power so quickly," Sam commented. "Goa'uld rely on energy weapons – Innarim armour would block them easily."
"So, we've worked out where they came from," Jack said, lacing his fingers together and sitting back uncomfortably. "But you have a copy of that Hakonan database we gave you for some of those crystals. Why did you need to come and see us specifically."
"We believe it would be unwise for Deimos to remain with these Innarim in his possession. As you know, the Tok'ra use energy weapons as well, in order to infiltrate the Goa'uld. Many of our operatives could be killed should Deimos attack more and more Goa'uld and their followers using Innarim," Anise explained.
"So you want supplies of projectile weaponry?" Sam guessed.
"Not quite," Anise winced. "As you know, carrying Tauri weapons would instantly mark Tok'ra operatives as spies. We wish to request the assistance of the SGC in undermining Deimos' efforts by eliminating these Innarim."
"You want us to kill them," Jonas clarified.
"Correct. Our operative in Deimos' ranks also requires extraction from his mission – his attempts to relay this information are arousing Deimos' suspicions, and it will be too dangerous for him to stay where he is."
As Jack checked over his P-90 one last time, he inwardly growled to himself. The Tok'ra always seemed to be bad news – they only showed up when something was badly wrong, or they wanted help on an extremely dangerous or delicate mission. He had made it clear that he was less than enamoured with this new development.
"I can't believe Hammond agreed to help."
"Anise and Freya have provided us with details of the most opportune moment to carry out this task, O'Neill. Deimos has sent Innarim to clear out the forces of the minor Goa'uld Malar from a recently discovered Hakonan lab," Teal'c offered reassurance. "The chaos should provide the distraction we need to eliminate the Innarim with little resistance."
Sam and Jonas seemed similarly unbothered by it too, as well as SG-11, prepped and ready by the Stargate ramp.
"If it's a Hakonan lab, we could find more information there later," Sam theorised. "Not to mention, there could be some clue about Einar there – he could answer a lot, right, sir?"
Jack gritted his teeth: "Right."
SG-11 took point, marching up the ramp and through the event horizon before them.
"There is something I didn't understand, sir…"
Teal'c followed through the blue shimmering surface, closely followed by Jonas. Jack and Sam moved to proceed as well.
"There's something you don't understand? Carter, I'm stunned…"
"Sir," she warned with a hint of amusement before turning serious. "I mean about Jarl Sigrun's message. He was admitting that he'd given Einar what could be the key to defeating the Goa'uld someday. Why was he asking Einar to forgive him?"
"Beats me," he answered immediately, clearing unwilling to think on it. "Stay on task, Major."
Returning to the matter at hand, the two soldiers stepped easily through the Stargate to the battle that lay beyond.