AN: This was a segment briefly uploaded yesterday, before I realised it was a double update. If you've read it, just wait till tomorrow for the next one.

"Ah Igor Mikhailovich! Good of you to join us!" Durov called. "What's this I hear about a book?" He asked, glancing at the rest of SG-1, standing off in a corner.

Igor sighed. "I'm not an expert on Ancient Rome, or even Greece. I wasn't an expert on Egypt before I read up on it, I was trained in the study of Assyria and Babylon."

Durov nodded, "Right? So…"

"So," Igor continued, "I've been reading as much as I can about different cultures, and one of the best books for this is Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." He sighed, "One of the Romans recognised the name of the city on the cover and asked what it was about, so I explained, and things just… escalated from there."

"Then what happened?"

"Well I tried to explain that it was a historical text but I'm not sure they understood, the language effect of Gate travel hasn't worked as well on me as it has you."

Durov turned to a Roman commander beside him. He had been selected by the Senate to represent the Roman city and lead the allied Elysian forces. "General Thurius, have you heard about this?"

They had yet to funny understand the specifics behind the language modification, but it did not seem to function without their desiring it, meaning they could still talk privately in Russian.

"I have not, but I will inform my officers, however many of the men will believe, as I assume they do now, that the book is some sort of sacred text… I'd like to see that book though." Said the Roman general.

Durov smiled, "Of course, we need to have a discussion about religion. Later…" He turned to Igor, "However, despite your literary troubles, I did call you here for a reason. Apparently a minotaur is leading the enemy army."

"Oh you actually wanted me for something? Excellent! But a minotaur? Really?"

Ilya pushed himself off the post he had been leaning against. "Someone with a mask or helmet. He didn't move his neck when he looked around."

"You've seen him? Why didn't you mention it?" Igor demanded.

Ilya shrugged. "You didn't ask."

"How can you expect me to ask if I don't know about it in the first place? How- No, never mind! Colonel?"

Durov laughed, "I sent Ilya out with some Romans on a reconnaissance." He explained, "He wasn't close enough to see faces, but he did see a man… or an alien… with a golden bull mask."

Igor stroked his chin, regaining his composure. "Well..." he mused, "The Minotaur was King Minos' son, and was killed by Theseus, it isn't one of the creatures traditionally said to have a particular weakness. It's really a commentary on the politics of the Agean at the time, where Crete was the most powerful state, and required tribute from other states like Theseus' Athens."

"Are they associated with a particular god?"

"Not really, there are bull-men in most ancient religions, it's hardly unique. I'm more puzzled that Vulcan, a Roman god, is associated with them. They're most similar to some Phoenician deities, and aren't even related to Hephaestus or any Greco-Roman smith gods."

Durov nodded. "Very well, we'll consider the mythological implications once we've dealt with it."