Jack and Mitchell joined the Jaffa Council as they regrouped outside of the chamber.

'OK,' Jack said rubbing his hands together, 'it's time for plan B.'

'You have a plan B, O'Neill?' Bra'tac said hopefully.

'Nope,' Jack admitted, 'but it's time for one.' The Jaffa looked at him bemused as Mitchell snickered and Teal'c's brown eyes gleamed with reluctant humour.

'We could try another bomb.' Ilyia suggested.

'This is a sign.' Gerek said forcefully. 'The weapon cannot be destroyed; we should simply accept it.'

'There is always a way.' Teal'c said quietly.

'I have to admit, Teal'c, I do not see it.' Bra'tac draped his cloak over his arm and turned to look back in the direction of the weapon. 'I do not believe we have a bomb capable of destroying the weapon.'

'Maybe we do not require a bomb.' Teal'c said thoughtfully. 'There may yet be information in the systems of the Ancient outpost that will allow us to destroy the weapon another way.'

'If it can be done, Daniel and Carter will find a way to do it.' Jack's confidence in his two team-mates was evident.

Byn'c sighed. 'It seems we have no other choice.'

The sound of footsteps approaching had all of them shifting to meet the messenger. The young Jaffa bowed deeply in front of Bra'tac.

'Master Bra'tac, there are Tok'ra at the Stargate. They have asked for an audience.'

There were matching stunned faces in the gathered group and Jack's expression darkened ominously.

'Tok'ra?' Gerek bristled. 'What are they doing on Dakara?'

Bra'tac looked back at his fellow Council member. 'I will go and find out.' He gestured at the chamber. 'I believe we are done here in any case. We will give the Tau'ri and our scientists working with them time to discover another way to destroy the weapon, hmmm?'

'Agreed.' Byn'c said.

'Very well.' Gerek said. He whirled away and strode off back in the direction of the Council building.

The rest of the Council followed at a more sedate pace leaving Bra'tac alone with Teal'c and the two Tau'ri visitors. There was no discussion as all of them turned towards the Stargate, Bra'tac leading the way. They could see the tableau a long time before they reached it; the Tok'ra stood in a circle of armed Jaffa just in front of the metal ring. Every Jaffa had a zat pointed at the Tok'ra and the two were sensibly standing perfectly still. Jack's annoyance at the Tok'ra for showing up rose to new heights as he recognised one of them as Delek. Bra'tac instructed the guards to move aside and they stepped back. Delek and the other Tok'ra stayed still and waited for the small welcoming party to reach them.

'Delek.' Jack said dryly. 'What a surprise.'

'General O'Neill.' Delek gave him a short nod of greeting. 'General Hammond said we would find you here.'

Jack assimilated the news that Hammond had redirected the Tok'ra with well-hidden surprise. He turned instead to the Jaffa warriors by his side. 'You remember Teal'c? And this is Master Bra'tac.'

To Jack's surprise, Delek bowed in a show of respect.

'Master Bra'tac.' Delek said straightening. 'This is Shannon.' He gestured at the thin brown-haired man stood with him. 'He was our operative stationed with Ba'al. He returned unexpectedly yesterday while I was meeting with you. He has vital intelligence for you and the Jaffa about Ba'al.'

Bra'tac shot Jack a questioning look and Jack shrugged; he was just as confused as the elderly Jaffa.

'Perhaps we should adjourn this discussion to a more appropriate location.' Bra'tac suggested. 'Come.' He ushered them away from the Stargate.

Delek walked beside Bra'tac; Mitchell fell into step with Shannon in the middle. Jack was happier with Teal'c by his side as they brought up the rear of the group. They allowed a little distance to grow between them and the others.

'Do you think they truly bring intelligence on Ba'al, O'Neill?' Teal'c asked in a low voice.

'I don't know, Teal'c.' Jack said. 'I don't trust them. Their idea of an alliance always seemed to involve us getting shot at.' He glanced at his friend. 'What do you think?'

'I think we should see whether the information they have is of value.' Teal'c murmured clasping his hands behind his back.

They fell into a comfortable silence and followed the others into the Council building and through the wide corridors to the same ante-chamber they had used earlier.

Bra'tac sat down and pinned Delek with a hard stare. 'You will forgive our caution, Delek, but it has been my experience that the Tok'ra rarely act without self-interest. What is this information you offer us?'

Delek shifted uncomfortably. 'Ba'al is on his way to Dakara.' He didn't miss the looks of alarm exchanged by the Tau'ri and the Jaffa. 'Ba'al has managed to retain a significant fleet of ships manned by Kull warriors and he has been hiding them in the far reaches of his dominion. It is a sizable enough force to challenge your defences here. We believe he intends to take back Dakara destabilising the Free Jaffa worlds and sowing seeds of doubt about the rebellion in those who are uncertain.'

'If Ba'al were to attack Dakara, he would fail.' Teal'c said forcefully.

'Yes, he would.' Jack said.

'We believe if he took back Dakara then he would use the Ancient weapon on any planet that did not agree to fall under his rule.' Delek continued.

'And let me guess, we need to destroy the Ancient weapon ASAP.' Jack drawled leaning back in his chair with a cynical glint in his eye.

Delek flushed. 'I can understand how you might consider this information convenient…'

'Ya think?' Jack inserted.

'But we are telling the truth.' Delek insisted. 'Your long range sensors will be able to verify the movement of Ba'al's ships within the day.'

'I do not understand.' Bra'tac said. 'Why would Ba'al attack when the Jaffa alliance with the Tau'ri is still strong?'

'Perhaps he believed that his tactic of informing the Tau'ri that the Ancient weapon was active would have destroyed the alliance.' Teal'c suggested.

'No.' Shannon spoke up for the first time and shook his head. 'Ba'al has a spy on the Jaffa High Council; he knows that the Jaffa have not reacted the way that he had hoped to the Tau'ri bringing them the information about the weapon.

Teal'c stiffened and his dark eyes shot to the Tok'ra. 'Cral'k was executed for his treason.'

'Not Cral'k.' Shannon said forcefully. 'Another Jaffa. I never knew his name but I glimpsed his image once on the long-range communications device when he reported to Ba'al.'

'You'd recognise him?' Jack checked.

'Yes. I believe so.' Shannon agreed.

Jack looked at Teal'c. 'How about we pay the Council a surprise visit?'

'I agree, O'Neill.' Teal'c said.

Bra'tac gestured at the Tok'ra. 'Come.'

They all made their way out of room and down the hall to the Council chamber. Shannon was flanked by Teal'c and Bra'tac; Delek, Jack and Mitchell followed behind them.

Teal'c flung the doors of the chamber open and strode forward with Bra'tac, Shannon by their side. Jack hung back and gestured for the rest of them to do the same.

'What is the meaning of this?' Gerek demanded angrily as the Jaffa Council got to their feet at the violent interruption. 'Who is this?'

Teal'c ignored him. 'Who is the traitor who works with Ba'al?' His words effectively silenced the room.

Shannon's eyes passed over one Jaffa and then another. His eyes settled on one and he stabbed a finger in their direction. 'Him.'

Bra'tac walked slowly toward the accused, his dark eyes wide with disappointment and disbelief. 'Byn'c.'

Byn'c looked desperately for support from one side of the room and then the other. 'You cannot believe this Tok'ra. I am not a spy.' He threw his hands up. 'I refuse to listen to these foundless accusations.'

'You will stay.' Bra'tac pulled out his zat and held it on Byn'c even as Teal'c brought his own weapon to bear.

'Shol'var!' Gerek spat at Byn'c. 'We will execute you.'

'We cannot.' Teal'c interrupted. 'At least, not yet.' His eyes took in the rest of the stunned Council. 'Ba'al is on his way with a formidable army of Kull warriors to Dakara. Byn'c may have useful information.'

'I will tell you nothing.' Byn'c blustered.

'You will.' Teal'c said threateningly. He took just one step in the old Jaffa's direction. 'Why does Ba'al advance on Dakara now?' He demanded.

'It is too late you will not be able to stop him.' Byn'c said. 'My Lord Ba'al will take back what is rightfully his.'

'We will defend Dakara.' Gerek said.

'You will fail. Byn'c sneered. He cast a disparaging look at the gathered Tok'ra and Tau'ri watching the proceedings with interest. 'You have already failed to defeat the one with whom he allies now.'

Bra'tac thrust the zat at him. 'Of whom do you speak?'

Byn'c smiled. 'The human form Replicator.'

Everyone in the Council chamber was paralysed with shock at Byn'c's words and the elderly Jaffa used the moment to his advantage. He thrust one Jaffa out of his way and into Bra'tac's path. He began to reach into his robes but Gerek's large fist shot out and hit the side of his face shoving him back into open space where Teal'c was able to zat Byn'c without hitting anyone else. He fell to the floor writhing in agony but still attempting to reach into his robes. Bra'tac zatted him again and he lay still.

Gerek reached down and removed the object Byn'c had been reaching for. 'It is a vial of something.'

'May I see it?' Delek asked.

Gerek handed it over to the Tok'ra.

Delek examined it closely and handed it to Bra'tac. 'I believe it is Niquisa poison. If this vial was to break it would kill everyone in this room.'

'I have heard of this.' Bra'tac admitted. He looked down at Byn'c's body and gestured at the Jaffa guards by the door. 'Remove this from the Council chamber.'

There were a few minutes of chaos as the body was carried out and the Jaffa Council resumed their places with the Tok'ra and the Tau'ri still present.

'Is it possible?' Ilyia asked as soon as order had been re-established. 'Could the human form Replicator that led them in battle against the Goa'uld still be alive?'

Jack shrugged unhappily. 'I've learned over the last few years that anything is possible.' He sighed. 'It could be another one.' He sincerely hoped that the human form Replicator wasn't the twin of Carter. The facsimile of Sam had fooled them into helping her develop an immunity to the only effective weapon they had against the Replicators and she had coldly killed her creator without a second thought. Sam had blamed herself for the whole mess and her duplicate had done quite a number on her emotionally. The kidnapping of Daniel by the Replicator had only added to her guilt especially when she had destroyed the Replicators with the Ancient weapon and possibly killed her friend along with them. It had only been when Daniel had returned alive that Jack figured Sam had begun to find a measure of peace over the whole thing.

'If Ba'al has allied with a human form Replicator, it was not a wise choice.' Teal'c stated forcefully. 'It will not hesitate to kill him.'

'There's no doubt that the Replicator's using him.' Jack agreed.

Teal'c's brow lowered. 'Did Daniel Jackson not report that the Replicator kidnapped him in order to find the Ancient weapon here at Dakara?'

'But for what purpose?' Gerek asked.

'To destroy it.' Teal'c said. 'It was the only means by which she could be destroyed.'

''Course, she could figured out she could use it for another purpose.' Mitchell said. He shifted a little as everyone turned to look at him curiously. 'Inter-galactic domination. She could use the weapon to wipe out all other life in the galaxy.'

'Ba'al would never agree to such a plan.' Shannon argued. 'He is not a fool.'

'What if he doesn't realise the Replicator knows the weapon is active?' Jack retorted.

Gerek sighed. 'The weapon must be destroyed before Ba'al and the Replicator get here.' He said in agreement.

'How?' Ilyia asked. 'We have tried to destroy it and we have not the means.'

'You have tried to destroy the weapon already?' Delek asked.

'Yes.' Bra'tac nodded. 'Just before you arrived with a naquadah enhanced bomb. Unfortunately we were not successful.'

'The weapon is made of an indestructible material.' Teal'c confirmed.

Delek took a sharp intake of breath. 'This is unfortunate.'

'It is possible Daniel Jackson or Colonel Carter will discover the answer in the Ancient systems.' Teal'c noted.

'When will Ba'al arrive?' Jack asked Shannon.

'Within a day; two at the most.' The operative replied.

'Then we no longer have time to search for the information.' Bra'tac said.

'Sir, there's still the control chair.' Mitchell said to Jack.

The General sighed heavily. 'Yes. There's that.'

'Of course, Colonel Carter told us she believed there was a way of accessing the weapon through the control chair.' Delek stated.

'It's worth a try.' Jack said. 'Carter could either find a way to destroy it or a way of switching it off permanently.'

The Jaffa Council exchanged a series of looks before they nodded.

'We are in agreement.' Bra'tac said.

'OK,' Jack said, 'we'll head back to the Ancient chair and deal with the weapon.'

'We will begin to plan the defence of Dakara.' Bra'tac said.

'I will join you as soon as the weapon is no longer a threat.' Teal'c said.

'We will join you.' Jack corrected his friend gently. He held Bra'tac's gaze. 'The Tau'ri do everything we can to help you.'

'As will the Tok'ra.' Delek said stepping forward. 'The weapon cannot be allowed to fall into the hands of either Ba'al or the Replicators.'

Jack noticed he wasn't the only one who was startled by the Tok'ra's offer.

Bra'tac nodded slowly at both the Tau'ri and the Tok'ra. 'Our thanks to you both. Your support is greatly welcomed.'

Delek turned to Jack. 'I will stay and help with the defence strategy.'

Jack nodded and slapped his cap over his grey hair. 'Let's go.' He ordered Teal'c and Mitchell. He stopped suddenly at the door and turned back to the Jaffa Council and hovering Tok'ra. 'If this is the same human form Replicator that led the battle against the Goa'uld before, you need to know she looks exactly like Colonel Carter. Unless you see the Colonel with another member of the SG1 team, you should treat her with suspicion.'

'Understood, O'Neill.' Bra'tac said.

Jack sighed. Ba'al, Carter's Replicator double and the Tok'ra; it was turning into a really crappy day, he thought as he led his team out of the building.