It wasn't like they hadn't fought before, both over personal and professional issues. That thought wasn't very comforting, though, as Elizabeth watched AG-1 prepare for their trip off-world that afternoon. She had a nagging bad feeling, and couldn't get a saying her father had always told her out of her head: 'Don't go to bed angry.' Missions should have a similar rule.

"We're ready," Ronon called up to the control room, and the lieutenant Elizabeth was standing beside began dialing the gate. As the wormhole connected, she noticed that John didn't turn around to look back up at her, to wave good-bye. He simply walked away into the event horizon, and his team followed.

"Good luck," Elizabeth whispered, as per tradition, even though they were already gone.

John had learned long ago that his team had to be careful what they said while off world. On multiple occasions, Rodney's mouth had nearly gotten them into serious trouble. This time, however, he was pretty sure that his team was not at fault for their current situation.

The afternoon had started out pretty well, with a tour of the Talbyn capital city and a bit of history. All the women in the society were sheltered and kept out of sight. They hoped that this would help when the Wraith arrived; protecting the ones who would provide the next generation of their people.

Given their almost reverential attitudes, AG-1 didn't think mentioning the fact that their city was female-led would be a problem. Apparently, forcing a woman to work when a man could do the job instead was a grave injustice to the Talbyns. The team suddenly found themselves thoroughly unwelcome on the planet, with only a brief chance to escape the capital before being jailed.

They took their window of opportunity, and made it past the city limits, but they still had to get through the woods on foot to return to the gate, and had armed guardsmen coming behind them. "Is anyone else still wondering exactly what happened here?" Rodney got out between gasps, trying to keep up with the rest of the team as they ran through the forest.

"Less talking, more running," John shot. He kept pace with Rodney while Ronon and Teyla ran ahead to get the DHD dialed and their IDC sent through. They were just barely at the point where John could make out the Stargate ahead of them when a blast of weapons fire went by their heads. A hole was bored through a tree trunk in front of them. The next blast, however, caused a towering oak-like tree to explode.

"What the hell?" John exclaimed as he and Rodney hit the deck, scrambling behind a little embankment for some cover.

"The power levels of their weapons must be fluctuating."

"On purpose?"

"How am I supposed to know? Would you like me to go ask them?"

John tapped his radio. "Ronon, Teyla, what's your status?"

"We are dialing the Stargate," Teyla told him. "We have come under fire."

"You, too, huh? We're on our way to your position."

In Atlantis, the people in the control room were surprised when the gate connected. "Incoming wormhole!" Elizabeth left her office – the earliest expected team was AG-1, and they were still a few hours ahead of schedule.

A few thuds against the shield were audible as weapons fire was stopped before it passed into the city. "I'm reading Ronon's IDC," the tech at the computer reported.

"Clear the gate area!" Elizabeth told the personnel that were downstairs, hoping to protect them from whoever was after her flagship team. "Lower the shield," she ordered the lieutenant. He complied, and was rewarded with a minor explosion downstairs.

"I'm picking up irregularities in the gate power system," one of the other techs called out. They could all hear the funny noise that the device was beginning to make. "I can't stabilize it!" Another burst of weapons fire entered the city, making the whole room shake.

After an eternal moment, Teyla and Rodney both came through into the gate room, followed by Ronon. With a flash of light that was bright enough to make everyone cover their eyes, the gate shut down. Elizabeth stared downstairs in shock.

"Where's John?" she asked. Ronon looked behind him, stunned.

"He was right behind us," Rodney said, before turning to stare at the now-closed Stargate. The device remained silent, smoking slightly. There was a very high chance that Colonel John Sheppard now ceased to exist.

TBC...