Trial by Fire
Chapter 3: The Fog of War
The sun on P8X-3100 had just begun to shine revealing all but the star gate and Colonel O'Neill's small force. They were well hidden in the thick forest ready to strike like a coiled cobra. The Jaffa wouldn't know what hit them till it was too late, that's if Plan A worked without Murphy showing up. Jack loaded a 40mm high explosive round from his tack vest then scanned the area one last time. He noticed Major Hills saying a silent prayer while holding a cross on a chain. Jack still believed in the almighty God. It's just hard to get past losing one's son. He turned his attention to the other tree line scanning it for possible surprises.
Virginia held her Cross saying Psalm 23:4 "Even Though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. " (New International Version) She tucked the cross underneath her uniform then took a deep breath waiting for the shit to hit the fan. Virginia chuckled to herself realizing that her diary just became classified. Now her brothers couldn't touch it let alone read it without expressed permission from the president himself.
"Just a bit longer girl and we'll get to sing our song. We always sing a beautiful sonnet in the mornings." Lurch told his machine gun patting the receiver then took aim at the trail exiting the forest smiling. Daniel rolled his eyes at his friend's actions; he'd never understand treating weapons as if they were living things. Now his artifacts, that was different. They told a story older than time itself. Daniel placed an assortment of grenades in front of him waiting for the signal. He couldn't wait to study the ZPM's figuring out their secrets. Down a little further Sophia visually checked on her spare medical pack behind a huge tree. She hoped it wouldn't be needed but was prepared for the worst.
Teal'C placed his staff weapon to the right of the M240 for easy access. O'Neill was right about it being a weapon of terror. Tau'ri weapons were truly made for war and superior in range. The only drawback was running out of ammunition. He would have to ask Lt. Col. Carter is she could blend the two, if so all would be 'good in the hood' as Lurch says. Nigel was having a private conversation with To'rok about the finer points of sniping. This interested the Tok'ra as a whole given they never fielded an offensive force. Until they aligned themselves with the Tau'ri their actions were covert and never in the light of day.
Col. Albert and the rest of SG3 were primed and ready. The Jaffa would be coming right at them once the shock wore off. They'd push towards the star gate hoping to escape with the cargo. Albert's job was simple...keep them from escaping! He refused to fail his country, world and friend! Any enemy that attempted to escape will fall before his team. Major Altman's team was moving quietly as possible to regroup with the main force. They had to be stealthy as possible as not to tip of the Jaffa. Altman had given his team their orders before breaking cover. They would fill the gaps re-enforcing SG-1 to ensure the missions success. His only concern was that they were outnumbered roughly 10 to 1. Colonel O'Neill's plan had better work or they'd be over run easily.
-"Was it over when the Germans Bombed Pearl Harbor?" Love that movie (1941 John Belushi)-
The first jaffa stepped out of the forest into the clearing scanning the area. He snuffed out the torch used to light the trail dropping it to his left. On the return trip they'd pick them up for future use. Anubis wanted the entire cache transferred to a more secure location starting with the crate they were protecting for starters, the contents unkown. Failing his God was not an option given the reaction from the failed test a few days ago. Tim'ex had his doubts about Anubis being a God but was smart enough not to question his master. The others followed behind him as they approached the Chap'pi. Tim'ex felt as if something was off, like they were being watched. He scanned the tree lines and path never noticing the danger lurking around him.
"Just a little bit further snake heads and your ass are ours!" Col. Albert said to himself holding the M57 firing device for the M18A1 Claymore mine. Albert depressed the detonator quickly 3 setting off a daisy chain of 4 claymores. The anti-personnel mines exploded sending their metal projectiles towards Tim'ex and the other jaffa decimating them. Albert did a fist pump then picked up his M4 taking aim on the surviving jaffa. "The un-welcome mat strikes again!" he said opening with short bursts of automatic fire. The other members of his team opened up with their M240s and additional rifle fire adding to the carnage. The team medic and sniper threw several smoke grenades into the mix to further confuse the jaffa then joined in on the now ragging battle. The Tau'ri fired bullets while the jaffa fired plasma wildly hoping to hit the hidden force.
Nigel took aim quickly taking down the two jaffas carrying the container with the ZPMs. He then started targeting jaffa closet to their lines. Jack took note of this then launched two 40mm high explosive (HE) rounds into the lead jaffa force further evening the odds. The impact of the HE rounds and resulting explosion threw dead or dying jaffa into the air. Jack looked for the snake head in charge finding her enraged and issuing orders. Major Hills was changing magazines having taken down all but one of her targets. "Damn personnel shield, I had that tramp dead to rights!" Virginia cursed taking aim again on a jaffa firing his staff weapon in their general direction.
"Come get some!" Lurch yelled over the M240s deep sound. A group of 7 jaffas had tried to charge the line but was cut down with a grin. He continued to pump round after round into jaffa on rear guard cutting off their escape. Daniel was holding his own due to the countless fire fights before this one. Plasma bolts flew high over his head impacting the trees behind him. "Stupid jaffa, they never learn, fighting civil war style will only get them killed faster." He muttered reloading the rifle. "Can't you turn off that brain of yours and just fight? Save the lecture for the free jaffa Daniel!" Sophia yelled over the sounds of battle. "Frag out!" she said throwing a white phosphorus grenades into a group of jaffa zeroing in on lurch. They immediately dropped their staff weapons attempting to stop the burning to no avail. Daniel did the same only using fragmentation grenades. Jack tolerated Daniels dislike of willy Pete grenades only because he was a civilian.
A member of SG5 slid in besides her quickly taking out two jaffas. "Glad to see me shorty?" Captain Soong said dropping besides her feeling the singe of a plasma bolt fly over his head. "Who are you calling shorty?" She replied laying cover fire for the other members of SG-5. "I'm calling you shorty...shorty!" Soong answered back reloading his rifle. Sophia rolled her eyes at the running joke. Soong was only two inches taller than her yet he wasn't short at 5'2. "I did bring my normal party favors if that makes you feel better!" he said smiling. "I don't think booze and chips will help us!"Sophia said feeling bits of wood fall on her. "...Corps-man! Man down!" Sophia heard coming from behind her. "Cover me Soong!" she told him as she crept backwards to assist the injured man. Soong took her position laying down as much cover possible with his M4A3.
Lt. Col. Castleman was watching over Lt. Davis waiting for a medic to arrive. Davis had the misfortune of having a tree branch fall on him due to a stay staff blast. He was also the team medic for SG-5 so that only left Sophia and Morrison. She quickly addressed the lieutenants head injury then checked for further injuries. "Is Davis going to be okay doc? The tree limb clocked him really good." Castleman said looking at the fallen branch about 6 inches in diameter. "He'll be okay once we get him back to the SGC. Davis more than likely has a mild concussion. I didn't find any other injuries other than a possible sprained ankle due to the fall. We can move him once I take care of the bleeding above his left ear." Sophia replied as she tended to Davis. "Good, he owes me $50.00 from our last team poker game." Castleman answered back sarcastically lacing humor with his concern then continued. "You got this shorty...I need to repay the jaffa this slight." He asked taking her nod as a yes. The Lt. Colonel helped move his team mate then took Sophia's previous position sliding in beside Soong. Castleman informed his team mate about what happened and that he'd be okay returning fire with vengeance.
"Colonel O'Neill, do you copy...over?" Sophia radioed her superior officer. "I copy Sgt. Rogers, report!" Jack said over the sound of gun fire and explosions. "Lt. Davis is down, probable mild concussion. I'm set up 30 meters behind my previous position in a small ravine, over." She replied scanning the area around her. "Roger, I'll send Daniel to assist you, over!" he replied while firing a 40mm Willie Pete round into a group jaffa attempting to get near the ZPMs. "You copy that Daniel, over?" Jack asked taking aim at a random jaffa. "Moving to your position now Sophia." Daniel said over the channel waiting for Russell's signal. Sgt. Russell nodded to Daniel as he threw smoke grenades to conceal his movement. "Copy Sir, Rogers out! Hang in there, the fire fight won't last much longer. The jaffa are dropping like flies Davis." She informed her friend as she tended to him.
Nigel's aim was deadly accurate. The bodies lying around the crate were evidence to that. He was about to target a brave but foolish jaffa when plasma bolts started impacting above his head. The impacts sent splinters raining down on him. The head snake in charge was pointing at his position directing fire. "Bloody hell...they found my flat (apartment)!" Nigel cursed jumping out of the tree landing behind it. He jumped just in time because it was impacted by several plasma bolts lighting it on fire. Nigel recovered quickly only to realize he lost his FN-FAL. Unfortunately for him it was muzzle down in a mud hole. "Well that's a cock-up (British slang for screwing up drastically) if I ever saw one."None the less he grabbed it sense it was only a loaner. "Nigel, do you copy over!" Jack yelled over the tack-net noticing the tree on fire. 'We need to end this fast, Murphy is on his way. I can feel it.' Jack thought to himself as he scanned the area behind him. Sure enough Murphy arrived with flair if the burning tree was any indication. "O'Neill, I'm coming up on your six, rifle out of commission, over!" Nigel reported low crawling to avoid being hit by incoming fire. "Copy Nigel, keep your head down. The shock and awe has worn off, over." Jack informed his friend while formulating a plan. "Copy Lone Wolf." He responded.
Goa'uld leading the Jaffa after the claymores goes off POV:
"The Tau'ri is here! There is a shol'va in our ranks." The minor Goa'uld spat out as chaos sprung up around her. Nemesis (Greek Goddess of Devine Justice and Vengeance.) chose her current host (Asian decent) because of her light brown skin, long legs and ample chest. She also loved the long dark hair as well, when the wind blew through it a smile would always appear. Nemesis dressed in her finest satin red dress with a deep V cut running down to a golden belt around her waist. The skirt was full length but her host's long legs were fully visible with each step. Many a man had tried to lure her into their chambers only to be ridiculed. She only let a select few touch her intimately; a goddess deserves the best after all. Ba'al was the only one beside a few slaves she deemed worthy enough to have the pleasure of bedding her regularly. Ba'al was obnoxious and arrogant in view of others, however catered to her every desire in private. Nemesis had chosen well and she used the host's beauty to full advantage.
(Now that we have a new Goa'uld introduced and described I'll move on.)
Nemesis witnessed a dozen or more jaffa fall before her from the cursed Tau'ri weapons. The intense fire was coming from the tree lines to her immediate left and front; they had walked into an ambush. The lead jaffa had been hit by some kind of an explosive device halting their progress to the chappa'ai. Her personnel shield flared a few times indicating they were targeting her. 'Hasshak's (fools), you can't kill your goddess.' She yelled out raising her hand firing a few blasts from the hand devise. "Jaffa, Kree! They are in the tree line." She said scanning the area spotting many muzzle flashes and objects being tossed into her ranks. Nemesis looked to her first prime only to find him on the ground with a huge hole in his chest. "Brew, you are my new first prime, take the tree line and I'll award you generously!" she told him seductively. "It shall be done my Goddess!" Brew said taking in her beauty hoping she would reward him personally. Brew gave the orders as jaffa attempted to charge the dug in Tau'ri. Nemesis smiled an evil smile, 'letting you live will be reward enough hasshak.' She walked over to the container stepping over the dead jaffa that was helping transport it. Guarding the container was a small group of jaffa. Nemesis pointed at a couple of jaffa issuing orders. "The two of you will carry the offering to Anubis, follow me!" The two jaffas picked up the container taking only a few steps before falling to the ground dead. The other jaffa acting as escorts immediately took up defensive positions once more.
At the same time an explosive projectile landed near her peppering her personnel shield with dirt and grass. Instinct took over throwing her arms up to protect her face. These Tau'ri need to learn their place she thought once more. Nemesis turned around finding the jaffa dead by the container. Realizing the Tau'ri sniper, as they were called, needed neutralized before attempting to move the ZPM's. Nemesis scanned the area finding the cursed antagonist. "Jaffa Kree!" she said pointing towards Nigel's position. The small group of jaffa did as ordered with great effect. Nemesis let out an evil laugh "Muhahahahahahahahahaha and ha" seeing a figure jump out as the plasma bolts hit the tree catching it on fire. Her moment ended abruptly as she suddenly found herself flying through the air landing indigently on her but away from action. Nemesis regained consciousness a few moments later shaking her head. This is when Nemesis realized the depth of her problem. Her escort of 200 Jaffa's was now less than half and dwindling fast. The chappa'ai was being guarded by more Tau'ri hidden just behind it. This explained why no forward momentum had been achieved. She had made contingency plans for opposing Goa'uld not tau'ri, but they will still work in any case. Nemesis reached for her communication device on her belt to put her plans in action. With the orders given she stood in deviance cleaning herself off getting ready for the counter attack.
-A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week. GSP-
Nigel crawled up beside Col. O'Neill with some burn marks on his uniform and dazed look. "...original or extra crispy?" Jack asked reloading the M203 attached to his rifle. Nigel just looked at his friend not understanding his question while accepting the M4A3 rifle. "Like I said, no sense of humor, Kentucky Fried Chicken you bloody bastard!" Jack said while racking the slide on his secondary weapon, a Remington 870 tactical shotgun. "Everyone knows Nando's is the best you bloody yank." Nigel replied taking down a few jaffa. "By the way, did you see the smoking hot Goa'uld giving orders?" he asked reloading the rifle. "You mean Dillinger's ex-girlfriend, the lady in Red." Jack asked taking careful aim then firing. The unfortunate jaffa literally exploded once the projectile made contact. "...hooah! I love you Carter!" he yelled getting the attention of Virginia briefly then went back to sniping. "What in the bloody damn hell was that?" Nigel asked taking an offered magazine form his friend. "That was a 20mm grenade in shotgun form. Samantha took my idea and made it reality, nice huh!" Jack said with a huge smile racking the slide while taking aim. The group of Jaffa backed off considerably after their buddy disappeared in a red mist. "Bigger is always better with you Americans." He replied while observing the odd behavior of the jaffa. They were falling back encircling the container and the lady in red creating lull in the battle.
"Sir, why are the Jaffa's falling back?" Virginia asked confused at their behavior. She did however use the lull in action to pull out her extra magazines. "They are preparing to counter attack Major so be ready." Jack told her getting ready himself. "Counter attack with what sir? We practically wiped them out Sir!" she replied scanning the enemy forces taking shots at ones brave enough look around. "...with forces hidden in the opposite tree line coupled with Death gliders." Her commanding officer told her. "How do you know this Sir, did you see something I didn't?" she asked curious about his insight. "...because Major, it's what I'd do. Plan A never works. That's why we have back up plans." He answered satisfying Virginia's questions.
"O'Neill, a counter attack is emanate. I believe the goa'uld will attempt to flee in the confusion. Do you want her captured or killed?" Teal'C asked as he laid out his last two ammo belts. "Roger that 'T', capture if possible otherwise dead will be peachy." Jack replied. "Indeed..." was Teal'C reply.
"Reynolds, what's the status of your team, over?" Jack inquired about SG3's well being. "We are good sir. We will hold the line, no one will get by us sir." Albert said while making hand motions for his team to get the stinger missiles ready. "I'll hold you to that colonel, I'd hate for Nigel's future girlfriend to escape. He seems enamored with her beauty." Nigel just flashed his friend a victory sign and mouthed 'jog on!' (British version of F-off).
-From a place you will not see, comes a sound you will not hear. US Sniper-
"Hey, Peterson...does she look familiar to you?" Sgt. Carl Warren of SG3 asked sarcastically. "Shut up Carl!" he replied sending a 40mm down range in the vicinity of Nemesis. "I think Carl is right this time around Peterson!" Lt Bosco said scanning the battlefield scattered with bodies of dead jaffa. He looked at the once peaceful scene turned into a blood soaked testament to modern warfare with a sigh. "Just to be clear Tiffany wasn't vain enough to dress like that!" Peterson retorted perking up at a distant sound. "Maybe not but she sure did drain your account on expensive jewelry." Judson joined in earning him a glare sense he was within sight. "Some friends I have, kick a man when he's down..." he muttered. "I don't recall you complaining about the sex you two had." Albert decided to add causing snickers up and down the line mixed with gun fire. "There was that!" Peterson admitted with a crooked smile. "Incoming tangos get the stingers ready marines." Bosco said reading his own.
Four death gliders flew over the field pulling up at a steep climb reaching their desired altitude then turned around to attack. The death gliders were met with four incoming naquada enhanced stinger missiles. Nemesis looked up in horror as her intended air cover was destroyed before her eyes. "You will pay for this transgression with your heads. I'll have them on pikes outside my palace." she yelled raising her fist in defiance. The tree line behind her came alive as 120 jaffa charged yelling "Kalach shal tek (victory or death)!" Nemesis then gathered the remaining troops around her planning her escape.
"Wait for it campers, wait for it!" Jack said over the tack net with high hopes plan B would work. Seconds seemed like minutes to everyone especially to Virginia. She'd never experienced such an adrenaline rush. The only experience that came close was jumping out of a perfectly good airplane repeatedly. Virginia griped her rifle taking aim trying to calm her nerves. A bead of sweat ran down her cheek fearing the worst. The worst being that they'd get over run and captured. Before her eyes the charging jaffa were torn apart from a seemingly invisible force. If it were not for the sound of bouncing Betties going off she would be clueless as to the reason. "Fire at will, I repeat fire will!" Virginia heard her CO yell. She followed orders taking down the surviving jaffa without remorse.
Many if not all were completely taken off guard. Survival mode kicked first with the jaffa guarding the container then the rest. With her reserve troops decimated by the unknown tau'ri explosive Nemesis's concern grew. The desire to escape through the chappa'ai increased greatly. She did not want to be captured and removed from her host for it surely meant death. The Tok'ra was getting way to many opportunities to do so thanks to the tau'ri. Nemesis took advantage of the chaos letting the fleeing jaffa encircle her on their way to the DHD (can't find the Goa'uld equivalent).
"Keep up the fire men...don't let the snakes escape!" Albert ordered as his team cut down jaffa by the droves. The numbers were falling even faster as they fled in front of SG1 and SG5 setting off additional claymores combined with heavy fire. Jack cursed as his shotgun went dry then transitioned to the desert eagle 44 magnum. He along with others was running low on ammunition on hand. They had more in their back packs just in case but getting to it during an ongoing battle was always tricky.
"Damn it, no time to change barrels." Lurch said discarding his M240 due a feed failure and twisted belt. He pulled a pair of desert eagles out using a tree as cover. Lurch cut loose with the hand cannons cutting down fleeing jaffa with ease. '240 grain hollow point's works every time' he thought.
Nemesis was almost to the DHD when she realized there no jaffa around her at all. She stopped even though she knew better. To her disbelief not one jaffa was alive. Nemesis had even a bigger shock seeing goa'uld larva dead as well. Nemesis couldn't comprehend why they would attempt to escape when no viable host was in range. The last sounds of battle were dying out around her when she heard a voice, a single solitary voice.
"Hey lady..." Nemesis turned around seeing none other than Jack O'Neill leaning against a tree. "...yeah you! The lady in the red dress with nowhere to go." Jack said in a sarcastic tone. "How dare you defy your goddess, bow before me and I shall let you live." Nemesis demanded attempting to appear in control. "Easy, it's in my dna, besides your no goddess. I know one personally and you don't come close." He retorted keeping her attention on him. "You shall pay for your insolent behavior Colonel O'Neill!" she responded raising her hand with the hand device weapon. Jack just made the 'bring it on motion' to piss her off more out of spite.
Nemesis felt a prick in the small of her back causing her to stumble forward a bit. She pulled out a dart then looked at its empty tube. "That's the Night Walker cure Tiffany, right about now you're going..." Major Daniel Johnson said while holding a tranquilizer gun. Nemesis fell to the ground landing on her side with her face looking up to the sky wondering where she went wrong. "Damn, I didn't get to warn her." Johnson complained leaning against the DHD smirking.
A/N 1: Nando's is a South African chicken franchise started in 1987. It arrived in Great Brittan taking it by storm. (Shout out to my cousins across the pond and South African readers.)
A/N 2: I used Star Gate Wiki for Goa'uld language.
A/N 3: has information on Minor Greek Gods/Goddesses.
A/N 4: This chapter took longer than I had hoped. I am pleased with the end result and hope you are too. The battle scene was a mash up of Vietnam era footage and Navy Seal training videos I've seen. I however debated on letting Nemesis escape only to come up with a better idea that will come out later. One more chapter to go and I'm I'll delve right back into Jack and Sam's romance.