Chapter 10: Ethon
COLORADO SPRINGS - CHEYENNE MOUTAIN - SGC - GENERAL LANDRY'S OFFICE
"What are we doing?" Samantha asked as Mitchelll carefully closed the door once the entire team returned.
"Talking privately. I'm sure General Landry won't mind. You want the big chair?" Mitchell offered. Carter shook her head vehemently, it wouldn't be right.
"Not me. I'll sit here." She moved to another chair. Mitchelll shook his head, amused.
"Sam, he's in Washington." Mitchelll argued.
"Yeah." Said Sam after taking a deep breath.
As Daniel and Teal'c settled in, Mitchelll walked over to the general's chair and hesitated. He looked at her for a moment, uncomfortable.
"Right." He quickly walked away and perched on the table that stood in front of the star chart. Carter smiled at him.
"Let me just start this by saying that a lot of this is actually our fault. There wouldn't have been a war on Tegalus if we hadn't gone there in the first place." Daniel attacked, reminding the team of the situation.
"General O'Neill probably said it best: the minute we step through the gate we're sticking our collective noses where they don't belong." Mitchell argued, quoting Jack.
"We did offer to help them rebuild." Samantha advanced. She didn't pick up on the reference to her former superior and lover. There was nothing more to say, no more reactions to have, at least that was how she tried to reason from now on.
BROADCAST FROM THE PROMETHEE SHIP - SITUATION ROOM - HOMELAND SECURITY HEADQUARTERS
They had been interrupted in the middle of a budget meeting to witness the arrival of the Prometheus near Tegalus. General Landy was standing next to Jack O'Neill. Dressed in their uniforms, the two officers watched the screens that gave the Prometheus' position in near real time. A countdown scrolled across the screen. Jack stood with his hands on the top of the back of the commander's chair.
"We are receiving the first transmissions from the Prometheus, General." Announced Lieutenant Hoswald.
"Broadcast the radio signal, Lieutenant." Jack ordered, turning to his subordinate.
"Aye, sir."
The room fell silent as the first transmissions from the Prometheus' command post reached them.
(...)
PENDERGAST: Evasive maneuvers! Full military thrust! Arm the rail gun!
WOMACK: Sub-light engines aren't responding!
MARKS: Weapons are down! We've lost life support and hull integrity on decks three through seven!
PENDERGAST : Seal them off..
MITCHELL: That blast cut through our shields at full strength!
CARTER: I know, I don't understand how.
WOMACK: Sensors detect that the weapon is recharging!
MITCHELL: We've only got minutes.
PENDERGAST: Hyperdrive status?
WOMACK: Hyperdrive is off-line!
CARTER: Hull integrity is too unstable.
MARKS: Medical teams reporting four casualties, eight crew members still unaccounted for!
MITCHELL: That thing can only fire at one target at a time.
PENDERGAST: Go! Scramble blue squadron.
PENDERGAST: Lieutenant, I need sub-light engines now.
WOMACK: I'm trying, Sir. Auxiliary systems aren't kicking in!
CARTER: They can't - the two main power relays have been damaged.
PENDERGAST: Can they be repaired?
CARTER: We need to re-route power through the by-pass conduit. Here. We should get limited sub-light capability back.
PENDERGAST: Marks, you're with Colonel Carter, go!
Jack's hands tightened on the file, the only apparent sign of tension. The Prometheus had been hit. The mission was going to be far more perilous than Carter and Mitchell had let on when they had contacted Landry about the expedition. Hank Landry stood up, taking a few steps around the room, approaching the screens where the radar images of the Prometheus were being displayed. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the screens. From the ground, they were helpless spectators.
(...)
ENDERGAST: Shields?
WOMACK: Forward shields at forty percent.
PENDERGAST: Divert all shield power to forward generators.
WOMACK: Sir, sensors indicate that the weapon is reaching maximum power ...
PENDERGAST: All hands, brace for impact!
The impact was perceptible even by long distance transmission. Jack was not a believer, however, and he found himself praying. Praying that the Prometheus would hold up. Praying that Sam would not be in a compartment that would have depressurized.
(...)
CARTER (over radio): Bridge, this is Carter. Can you beam us up into auxiliary control room two?
WOMACK: Negative, Colonel. Control room no longer has life support.
His legs could have buckled under him, so great was his relief. But he did not let anything show.
"Contacting the Rand Protectorate wouldn't change anything." Jack swiveled his head toward Hank.
"These fanatics are impossible to reason with." He advanced. "If they think Daniel is a spy and that a Prior is present ... Contact would only precipitate another shot. We can only wait and hope that Pendergast and Carter manage to get out of the line of fire." His heart was pounding, his eyes struggling to take his eyes off the screens. He was holding his breath. Hearing her on the radio made him certain she was alive, but hearing her on the radio meant she was in danger on this ship.
(...)
CARTER (over radio): Bridge, this is Carter. We need deck fifteen unsealed...
PENDERGAST : Unseal it if you can.
CARTER (by radio): If the aft power control panel is still intact, we should be able to rig the naquadah generator and re-route power to sub-light propulsion.
PENDERGAST (over the radio): You've got about two minutes, Colonel!
CARTER (over radio): It's not enough time, Sir.
PENDERGAST : Open up a channel, broadcast on all frequencies.
WOMACK: Yes, Sir.
PENDERGAST (over radio): This is Colonel Lionel Pendergast of the Earth vessel Prometheus calling the Rand Protectorate. Your attack on our vessel has seriously damaged our engines and has rendered our weapons systems inoperable. We are willing to negotiate the terms of our surrender.
(...)
PENDERGAST: Please ... consider our request for surrender.
(...)
The two Generals stood side by side in front of the control screen. What Pendergast was attempting was brave. By attempting to negotiate with the Protectorate, he could hope to gain a few minutes or save the lives of his entire crew. The room was deathly quiet as he waited for the rest of the Prometheus' radio signal to be received. Jack O'Neill's heart had frozen. Hanging on the fate of Samantha Carter, somewhere on the other side of the Galaxy.
(...)
WOMACK: Sensors detect the weapon is fully charged.
PENDERGAST (over radio): Colonel Carter, I need good news now.
CARTER (over the radio): A couple of more minutes.
PENDERGAST: We don't have it Sam, I'm sorry - it's over. Give me as much power as you can. Re-route it from the shields and give me all functioning internal Asgard beam sensors back online.
CARTER (over the radio): Sir?
PENDERGAST: We're abandoning ship.
PENDERGAST: Give the evacuation orders. I want all personnel to the planet's surface. Find me a nice open field, anywhere in Caledonia.
WOMACK: Yes, Sir.
PENDERGAST: Broadcast the locations of all the active sensor sites.
PENDERGAST (over radio): Er ... This is the Prometheus to all F-302's - we have begun our evacuation.
MITCHELL (over radio): Copy that, Prometheus.
PENDERGAST: I'll handle the final all the final transport commands. Everyone else to report to the nearest beam-out site !
(...)
CARTER (audible via Marks radio): Go. If I don't finish tying this in, we'll run out of power before everyone can beamed out. (SILENCE) Go!
They couldn't know it, but Samantha Carter's last thought before she went back to work was for Jack O'Neill.
WASHINGTON D.C. - HOMELAND SECURITY - OPERATIONS ROOM
The explosion is perceptible for a second and then the signal stops abruptly. The silence spreads in the crisis room. Heavy. All eyes were on Lieutenant Hoswald who was in direct contact with N.O.R.A.D. by phone. She hung up the phone and her eyes sought out her direct supervisor's. There was no good way to break this news.
"NORAD informs us that we are no longer picking up, nor receiving any signals from the Prometheus. The ship has been totally destroyed, sir."
He felt as if he had been hit by a train. His vision blurred. His hands tightened on the chair in front of him, clutching at something solid. It was as if the world had just imploded before his eyes. Everything that made up his life had been blown away in a split second. His vision was obscured, sweat trickling down his back. He would have liked to scream, the pain was so great that he couldn't even express it. It was as if his heart had been ripped from his chest. Like the whole universe had imploded. Samantha Carter was dead. Time had frozen around him, he was standing in the middle of the meeting room but his mind was gone. He could never imagine a world without Samantha Carter. Was it even possible? Without her, he was an empty shell. Pain tore at his soul.
"General? Sir?" His subordinate was standing beside him, trying to get his attention. He could hear her, from far away, as if he was already gone. As if he had already left to join her. "We are receiving the latest echoes from the Prometheus's black box. Some of the crew were able to evacuate." Hope, again. Hope that she too could evacuate, despite the last words they had heard on the radio. Hank sat down, his face marked by sadness. His men and women who had given their lives today were under their command. They were the ones who had accepted the mission. He clung to the hope that it wasn't all over, that it couldn't end like this. Samantha Carter could not be dead.
TEGALUS - CALEDONIAN OPERATIONS ROOM
Agents sit around the desks, busy working with piles of paper in front of them. President Chaska leads Mitchelll and Teal'c into the room.
"We were monitoring the entire exchange. To our knowledge, seventy-six crew were recovered in Caledonian territory.
"There were over a hundred and fifteen people aboard that ship!" Distress and anger are evident in Cameron's voice. Chaska turns to face him.
"Do you have any sort of a manifest, a list of names we can compare to those recovered?"
"Not on me, no. So where are all our people?" Mitchell replies through gritted teeth.
"The transport arrived moments ago." That's when Samantha Carter enters the room.
"Teal'c! Cameron!" She walks towards them, slight bruises visible on her face, a reminder of the two blasts that shook the ship. Immediately, Mitchelll hugs her.
"Sam! You're a sight for sore eyes..." They part and Carter turns to Teal'c with a smile. Teal'c takes her shoulders in his hands and studies her face seriously.
"It is good to see you alive, Colonel Carter. We feared the worst."
"Where's Pendergast?" The concern is noticeable in Samantha's voice.
"He wasn't with us."
"Our security forces have conducted extensive sweeps of the area where you appeared... No other survivors have been found." SG-1 falls silent, understanding that Colonel Pendergast sacrificed himself to save them all, to give Samantha and the remaining crew members time to escape. The Colonel died in the explosion of his ship.
CHEYENNE MOUTAIN BASE - SGC - STARGATE BOARDING ROOM
"... Lieutenant Colonel Lionel Pendergast sacrificed his life to save the lives of his crew members. Therefore, the President of the United States in recognition of the sacrifice made by Lieutenant Colonel Lionel Pendergast has authorized his posthumous promotion to the rank of Colonel in the United States Air Force." Jack observed an appropriate silence. "Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell, come forward." He added. It was Cameron who had volunteered to act as liaison with the family of the deceased Colonel. The soldier approached, carrying the flag of the United States folded in a triangle between his arms. He presented his folded arms, so that Jack could place the case containing the deceased's stripes on the flag thus presented. Jack then continued the ceremony. "The United States Air Force recognizes that you have performed duties far beyond the responsibilities of a Lieutenant-Colonel. Receive the nation's thanks." Jack then saluted the flag, as was protocol.
(...)
"It was a beautiful ceremony." Hank poured two fingers of whiskey into a glass and handed it to his superior. Jack was sitting in the guest chair, his long legs stretched out in front of him. Jack accepted the glass. "Mitchell asked to hand-deliver the promotion letter and condolences to Pendergast's widow and children, I granted SG1 a few days leave."
"Mitchell would have sacrificed his life and his ship too. Pendergast's death shook him. He would have preferred it to be him." Jack commented as he took a sip of Whiskey. He sighed and played with the brim of the regulation cap resting on his knee.
"When do you have to leave for Washington again?" General Landry questioned as he sat down on the other side of the desk.
"I will have to leave immediately. The destruction of the Prometheus is a major blow to planetary defense. The Odyssey's trials will have to be rushed. We can't be left without a defense ship while the galaxy is being overrun by the Ori. The Daedalus will be here in a few days, but we can't deprive Atlantis of its supply bridge.
"Really Jack, I wouldn't like to be in your shoes..." Landry sighed. Jack swallowed the rest of his drink and tucked his cap under his arm.
"Thanks for the drink Hank."
COLORADO SPRINGS - CHEYENNE MOUTAIN - SGC - ELEVATOR
When the elevator doors opened on the floor of Lieutenant Colonel Carter's quarters, she did not expect to find Brigadier General Jack O'Neill in the car. She was still wearing her dress uniform. General Landry had given them a few days off, for once she would be going through her house first before returning to the SGC to work in her lab.
"Carter." He greeted her in a soft voice.
"General." She replied, picking up the bag lying at her feet.
She climbed into the cabin, avoiding to devour him with her eyes. She stood beside him, a perfect example of military correctness. They said nothing. An outside observer looking at the surveillance tapes would not have noticed anything unusual. Two officers riding the elevator together. An outside observer would not have noticed that Jack O'Neill's hand touched Samantha Carter's, as if to make sure she was there, that she was okay. An outside observer would not have noticed Samantha Carter's hasty gasp, nor the slight recoil she had at that touch, as if that touch was painful. No, all an outside observer would have seen was two military personnel walking back to the surface together, without exchanging a word.
CHEYENNE MOUTAIN BASE - SGC - DANIEL JACKSON LAB
Daniel sits at his desk taking notes. Mitchelll enters, dressed in civilian clothes and carrying a military duffel bag over his shoulder.
"Hey. I haven't seen you since the memorial service."
"Yeah. Rough day."
Mitchelll takes two cans of beer out of his bag, opens one and passes it to Daniel before opening and sipping the other.
"So where've you been?"
"I, er, hand-delivered Landry's letter to Colonel Pendergast's wife and kids. They need to know that he died saving his crew. That his death matters."
"Well, seventy-six people survived, that's a testament to his leadership."
"And yours. We never would have gotten off that planet if you hadn't brokered the deal." Cameron raises his can in salute and takes another sip. Daniel leans back in his chair.
"So I take it then you haven't heard."
"Heard what?"
"Soon after we left, the talks broke down."
"And ... ? "
"And we've been unable to make contact with them. General Landry had the Daedalus re-route on its way back from Atlantis ... it seems the Caledonian's weren't content to just leave their fair planet."
"They launched an attack."
"And Rand responded. The Stargate is presumed buried in the rubble ... "
Mitchelll shakes his head slowly.
"Rough day." Mitchell comments sadly. Daniel grabs his beer and they toast each other half-heartedly.
"Rough day." They sip their beers in silence.
