TITLE: WHEN THE WORLD HALTS - Chapter 8
AUTHOR: WITEZON
PARING: S/J friendship/romance
RATING: PG-13 or R (depending on how you feel about swearing)
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything but what my mind thinks up.
SUMMARY: JACK CENTRIC - What happens when the universe is at stake,
Hammond is missing, and everything rests on Colonel O'Neill's shoulders.
"ATTENTION."
"At ease. Take a seat." O'Neill looked at SGs-1 and 2 with their extra team members.
Without any preamble, O'Neill began, "SGs-1 and 2, you've been recalled for a new mission. A live mission."
They nodded and waited. "You, and General Carter, are going to P89-63P."
Carter, Daniel, and Ferretti sat up at the planet's designation. Teal'c blinked, then nodded.
Daniel carefully asked, "Ahm, Jack? That's a Go'ald world. Why are we going there?"
Looking back at his teams, "Rumors, Daniel. Rumors that say there are new Tau'ri prisoners there."
"O'Neill, you are talking of the prison camp on G'endra?"
Nodding, "Yeah, Teal'c. SG-11 came back with some information Garshaw was able to confirm. There are new Tau'ri prisoners that just arrived." He looked at each of them, "I need you to see who it is, and if its our people, get them out."
Daniel moved uncomfortably in his seat, "But Jack, shouldn't we try to get out whoever is there?"
Before Jack could answer, Teal'c did, "No, DanielJackson. If they are not members of the SGC we cannot let ourselves be known."
Unhappy, Daniel looked at Jack.
Nodding, "Daniel, he's right."
After a moment, Jack continued, "It could also be trap. So, Jacob will monitor as much as he can, but not too close so he won't be detected. You and he will set-up coordinated times to check in, if he hasn't heard from you in 6 hours, he's to return to Earth without you. Understood?"
They all nodded after a moment.
Ferretti spoke up, "When do we leave?"
"As soon as you're released by Medical. Dismissed."
Sixty minutes later, O'Neill watched as SG-1 and 2, saluted and ringed up. He watched Siler set-up the 'gate for Zembowske and all his forces to go through. Feeling someone's eyes on him, he turned finding Stemke at his shoulder.
With an evaluating look, "Captain. What are you doing now?"
Surprised, "Sir, I was going over the supply and personnel lists as more of the SEAL Teams arrive, and working with them and the Special Forces teams. I came out for some coffee."
Seeing the look in O'Neill's eyes, he added, "But, perhaps you have something else for me, General?"
With a grin, "Yeah, Captain, I think I do. Walk with me." Once in his office, "Captain, Wo'tac and I are going up to see Thor this afternoon to discuss some of their intelligence they're sharing with us. Come with me."
Without equivocation, "Yes, sir."
Nodding, O'Neill yelled out, "Wo'tac?"
When Wo'tac stepped up beside him, O'Neill tapped his bracelet and they all disappeared in a flash of light.
O'Neill watched the shock, then the absolute amazement cross Stemke's face, but that was all the SEAL revealed as he stood there and stared at his home planet for the first time from space."
Thor looked O'Neill, then at Stemke. In his gentle voice, "Your planet is very beautiful, Captain Stemke."
Tearing his eyes away to look at Thor, "Yes, sir, it truly is." His eyes were drawn back to Earth.
O'Neill said just as quietly, "You never realize how delicate, how important, it really is until you see it from space."
Then he turned to Thor, "Thor, I appreciate the help. Did you get all the equipment up from the ground?"
Nodding once, "Yes, O'Neill. We can leave whenever you are ready."
"The SG teams and all the others should be halfway through the Stargate, so let's go."
Thor touched a button on his wrist band and the ship transferred into hyper space and Stemke watched the transition in awe.
O'Neill watched the innocence of the Stemke's reactions to Earth receding from their sight. Finally he turned to O'Neill.
Quizzically, "Sir?"
O'Neill raised an eyebrow in question, "Yeah?"
"Is it..." He stopped to gather his thoughts, "Is it always like this?"
Shrugging, "I've rarely departed Earth by spaceship. Most of our missions are through the Stargate and its not the same."
He paused for a minute, "One minute you're in the Gate Room, the next you're on a planet. You never see your home planet behind you."
After a moment, O'Neill continued, "Let's go to the bridge."
P89-63P -- SG-1 AND SG-2. 'Great, just great,' Sam studied the layout before them. Yes, it was a prison camp. Yes, it was guarded by Jaffa. Yes, it had new Tau-ri prisoners; yes, they were from the SGC; but they couldn't find a pattern to the patrols. They had found Major Griff of SG-3, and Lt Turner and SGT Williamson of SG-12. That's it. Nothing of General Hammond or the other 8 team members.
Laying side by side, Ferretti and Carter surveyed the camp with Daniel, Teal'c and the other team members deployed around them.
After watching the camp for three hours trying, and still unsuccessful in finding any patterns, Carter whispered, "Major, I think our best time is to wait until dark and then try to pull them out.
Nodding, "Agreed. We need to get word to your Dad."
They both quickly checked their watches, and he whispered, "Thirty minutes until the first check-in. Franklin, Daniel, and Banazek?"
"Yeah." They both turned away to quietly instruct their team members. Franklin nodded, then looked over at Daniel, who hadn't agreed quite as quickly. After a few more whispers from Sam, he nodded. They slowly pulled back into the forest, tapped Banazek on the shoulder, and then disappearing into the trees.
Carter whispered to Ferretti, "Now we wait." They pulled back into the forest, leaving their scouts at the tree line.
THOR'S SHIP
During the quick trip to the Alpha Site, Thor and O'Neill discussed the latest intelligence and scans that the Asguard had been running. Stemke watched the two of them, trying to figure out that relationship and listening to their discussion.
Out of the blue, "Thor, I'm going to try and break into Heru'ur's mothership and on his front line home planet." Wot'ac looked at him in surprise.
Thor asked, "That is very ambitious, O'Neill. How do you plan to accomplish this?"
Sighing, "If the fight comes to Earth, we don't stand a chance. We'll lose too many people and have too much land to defend."
Nodding in agreement, "And?"
With a hard look in his eyes, "We take it to him."
Softly, "How?"
"I want to move as many of our combat forces to as many planets as we can get them to with stargates. We'll need to secure the gates on the leading planet, P79-112, and then converge on the mothership."
"General?"
O'Neill looked over at Stemke, "Yeah, Captain?"
"You're going to need some strong troops to keep the gates open, sir."
"Yeah."
Studying O'Neill, "That's why you've had the SEALs, Special Ops, and Para- Rescurers start their training first?"
"Yeah." Not looking up from the scans, "I'm going to use those teams to keep the field of fire clear around the gates so the others can come out of the gate with as few casualties as possible."
Nodding in agreement, Stemke studied the scans more thoroughly and O'Neill continued pointing out what he was looking out and why.
Thirty minutes later, "O'Neill, we are here."
"Thanks, Thor. Can I speak with Major Zembowske?"
Nodding, Thor touched a button on his cuff. O'Neill spoke into air, "Major Zembowske? This is O'Neill."
Surprised, "General? Where are you?"
"I'm above you and we've brought all the extra equipment with us. We're coming down, so don't shoot us."
Shocked silence, then, "Yes, sir, give me 5 and then come down. You can put the equipment in the field at the north field."
"Will do. O'Neill out."
O'Neill looked over at Thor, "Thor, would you send down the equipment in 5 minutes?"
He pushed another button, "It will be done." Thor stepped over to the window, "Shall I wait for you?"
Looking up at Thor with a grin, "Thank you. Yeah, Thor, if you would wait I won't be down there too long."
Five minutes later both O'Neill and the equipment were down at the alpha site.
Zembowske walked over, "Sir! I didn't expect you to be here."
Looking over the area, "Well, Zach, I thought that it would be good that you had this equipment."
He turned to stare hard at Zembowske, who nodded at O'Neill for a moment. He pulled his shoulders back, accepting the unwanted responsibility.
O'Neill nodded in agreement, "So, Zach, let's walk over to the other commanders."
For the next 30 minutes O'Neill spoke to Zembowske and the other commanders. He spoke frankly, telling it straight, though with the strength of his personality piercing through the dread. They were all professionals and understood their responsibilities. They nodded, and asked a few pointed questions about what O'Neill was going to do. He told them.
After a few minutes of shock while they all absorbed the information, they stared at him with respect, remorse, and finally steadfastness.
Zembowske and General Bradford stepped closer to him, with Colonels Motuko and Tamsin directly behind them with the special ops commanders a step from them.
Zembowske spoke, "Sir, we'll hold. Count on us." Everyone nodded in agreement. They stood together quietly talking among themselves, other team members had gathered around them and heard some of the information.
O'Neill felt the stares coming at him from all sides Wot'ac shifted slightly as did Stemke, but O'Neill waved them down. He turned to look around at everyone who had gathered.
Continuing to provide the much needed command presence, regardless of how uncomfortable it made him, O'Neill concluded, "You are Earth's last chance for humanity's survive. We are going out to meet Heru'ur and we need you to hold the Alpha site. Major Zembowske, Commander of the Alpha Site, has his orders. Listen to him." He looked around again, catching people's eyes, infusing them with some of his strength and pride. He nodded at them.
Just as he touched his cuff to have Thor retrieve them, "Attention! Present Arms!"
Everyone froze at attention and saluted O'Neill. O'Neill and Stemke came to attention and O'Neill saluted back, then disappeared in a flash of light.
"Order Arms!"
Bradford looked over at Zembowske, "O'Neill doesn't do anything in half measures, does he?"
Shaking his head, "No, General, and if anyone can pull this off, he can. He's the best chance Earth has."
Bradford slowly nodded, "Let's get to it them." A quick glance at Zembowske, who nodded in agreement, he moved out to get his troops set up.
Patterson, 2IC to Zembowske, walked over to him, "Yeah, Major, if Earth survives...if O'Neill survives, we've still got to be ready for casualties and support for Earth."
"Yeah." With his first grin of the week Zach looked at Patterson, "Well, Marianne, as the General says, "Let's get goin', Campers!"
Finding a momentary relief in their laughter, they walked off to the HQ.
CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 9
"ATTENTION."
"At ease. Take a seat." O'Neill looked at SGs-1 and 2 with their extra team members.
Without any preamble, O'Neill began, "SGs-1 and 2, you've been recalled for a new mission. A live mission."
They nodded and waited. "You, and General Carter, are going to P89-63P."
Carter, Daniel, and Ferretti sat up at the planet's designation. Teal'c blinked, then nodded.
Daniel carefully asked, "Ahm, Jack? That's a Go'ald world. Why are we going there?"
Looking back at his teams, "Rumors, Daniel. Rumors that say there are new Tau'ri prisoners there."
"O'Neill, you are talking of the prison camp on G'endra?"
Nodding, "Yeah, Teal'c. SG-11 came back with some information Garshaw was able to confirm. There are new Tau'ri prisoners that just arrived." He looked at each of them, "I need you to see who it is, and if its our people, get them out."
Daniel moved uncomfortably in his seat, "But Jack, shouldn't we try to get out whoever is there?"
Before Jack could answer, Teal'c did, "No, DanielJackson. If they are not members of the SGC we cannot let ourselves be known."
Unhappy, Daniel looked at Jack.
Nodding, "Daniel, he's right."
After a moment, Jack continued, "It could also be trap. So, Jacob will monitor as much as he can, but not too close so he won't be detected. You and he will set-up coordinated times to check in, if he hasn't heard from you in 6 hours, he's to return to Earth without you. Understood?"
They all nodded after a moment.
Ferretti spoke up, "When do we leave?"
"As soon as you're released by Medical. Dismissed."
Sixty minutes later, O'Neill watched as SG-1 and 2, saluted and ringed up. He watched Siler set-up the 'gate for Zembowske and all his forces to go through. Feeling someone's eyes on him, he turned finding Stemke at his shoulder.
With an evaluating look, "Captain. What are you doing now?"
Surprised, "Sir, I was going over the supply and personnel lists as more of the SEAL Teams arrive, and working with them and the Special Forces teams. I came out for some coffee."
Seeing the look in O'Neill's eyes, he added, "But, perhaps you have something else for me, General?"
With a grin, "Yeah, Captain, I think I do. Walk with me." Once in his office, "Captain, Wo'tac and I are going up to see Thor this afternoon to discuss some of their intelligence they're sharing with us. Come with me."
Without equivocation, "Yes, sir."
Nodding, O'Neill yelled out, "Wo'tac?"
When Wo'tac stepped up beside him, O'Neill tapped his bracelet and they all disappeared in a flash of light.
O'Neill watched the shock, then the absolute amazement cross Stemke's face, but that was all the SEAL revealed as he stood there and stared at his home planet for the first time from space."
Thor looked O'Neill, then at Stemke. In his gentle voice, "Your planet is very beautiful, Captain Stemke."
Tearing his eyes away to look at Thor, "Yes, sir, it truly is." His eyes were drawn back to Earth.
O'Neill said just as quietly, "You never realize how delicate, how important, it really is until you see it from space."
Then he turned to Thor, "Thor, I appreciate the help. Did you get all the equipment up from the ground?"
Nodding once, "Yes, O'Neill. We can leave whenever you are ready."
"The SG teams and all the others should be halfway through the Stargate, so let's go."
Thor touched a button on his wrist band and the ship transferred into hyper space and Stemke watched the transition in awe.
O'Neill watched the innocence of the Stemke's reactions to Earth receding from their sight. Finally he turned to O'Neill.
Quizzically, "Sir?"
O'Neill raised an eyebrow in question, "Yeah?"
"Is it..." He stopped to gather his thoughts, "Is it always like this?"
Shrugging, "I've rarely departed Earth by spaceship. Most of our missions are through the Stargate and its not the same."
He paused for a minute, "One minute you're in the Gate Room, the next you're on a planet. You never see your home planet behind you."
After a moment, O'Neill continued, "Let's go to the bridge."
P89-63P -- SG-1 AND SG-2. 'Great, just great,' Sam studied the layout before them. Yes, it was a prison camp. Yes, it was guarded by Jaffa. Yes, it had new Tau-ri prisoners; yes, they were from the SGC; but they couldn't find a pattern to the patrols. They had found Major Griff of SG-3, and Lt Turner and SGT Williamson of SG-12. That's it. Nothing of General Hammond or the other 8 team members.
Laying side by side, Ferretti and Carter surveyed the camp with Daniel, Teal'c and the other team members deployed around them.
After watching the camp for three hours trying, and still unsuccessful in finding any patterns, Carter whispered, "Major, I think our best time is to wait until dark and then try to pull them out.
Nodding, "Agreed. We need to get word to your Dad."
They both quickly checked their watches, and he whispered, "Thirty minutes until the first check-in. Franklin, Daniel, and Banazek?"
"Yeah." They both turned away to quietly instruct their team members. Franklin nodded, then looked over at Daniel, who hadn't agreed quite as quickly. After a few more whispers from Sam, he nodded. They slowly pulled back into the forest, tapped Banazek on the shoulder, and then disappearing into the trees.
Carter whispered to Ferretti, "Now we wait." They pulled back into the forest, leaving their scouts at the tree line.
THOR'S SHIP
During the quick trip to the Alpha Site, Thor and O'Neill discussed the latest intelligence and scans that the Asguard had been running. Stemke watched the two of them, trying to figure out that relationship and listening to their discussion.
Out of the blue, "Thor, I'm going to try and break into Heru'ur's mothership and on his front line home planet." Wot'ac looked at him in surprise.
Thor asked, "That is very ambitious, O'Neill. How do you plan to accomplish this?"
Sighing, "If the fight comes to Earth, we don't stand a chance. We'll lose too many people and have too much land to defend."
Nodding in agreement, "And?"
With a hard look in his eyes, "We take it to him."
Softly, "How?"
"I want to move as many of our combat forces to as many planets as we can get them to with stargates. We'll need to secure the gates on the leading planet, P79-112, and then converge on the mothership."
"General?"
O'Neill looked over at Stemke, "Yeah, Captain?"
"You're going to need some strong troops to keep the gates open, sir."
"Yeah."
Studying O'Neill, "That's why you've had the SEALs, Special Ops, and Para- Rescurers start their training first?"
"Yeah." Not looking up from the scans, "I'm going to use those teams to keep the field of fire clear around the gates so the others can come out of the gate with as few casualties as possible."
Nodding in agreement, Stemke studied the scans more thoroughly and O'Neill continued pointing out what he was looking out and why.
Thirty minutes later, "O'Neill, we are here."
"Thanks, Thor. Can I speak with Major Zembowske?"
Nodding, Thor touched a button on his cuff. O'Neill spoke into air, "Major Zembowske? This is O'Neill."
Surprised, "General? Where are you?"
"I'm above you and we've brought all the extra equipment with us. We're coming down, so don't shoot us."
Shocked silence, then, "Yes, sir, give me 5 and then come down. You can put the equipment in the field at the north field."
"Will do. O'Neill out."
O'Neill looked over at Thor, "Thor, would you send down the equipment in 5 minutes?"
He pushed another button, "It will be done." Thor stepped over to the window, "Shall I wait for you?"
Looking up at Thor with a grin, "Thank you. Yeah, Thor, if you would wait I won't be down there too long."
Five minutes later both O'Neill and the equipment were down at the alpha site.
Zembowske walked over, "Sir! I didn't expect you to be here."
Looking over the area, "Well, Zach, I thought that it would be good that you had this equipment."
He turned to stare hard at Zembowske, who nodded at O'Neill for a moment. He pulled his shoulders back, accepting the unwanted responsibility.
O'Neill nodded in agreement, "So, Zach, let's walk over to the other commanders."
For the next 30 minutes O'Neill spoke to Zembowske and the other commanders. He spoke frankly, telling it straight, though with the strength of his personality piercing through the dread. They were all professionals and understood their responsibilities. They nodded, and asked a few pointed questions about what O'Neill was going to do. He told them.
After a few minutes of shock while they all absorbed the information, they stared at him with respect, remorse, and finally steadfastness.
Zembowske and General Bradford stepped closer to him, with Colonels Motuko and Tamsin directly behind them with the special ops commanders a step from them.
Zembowske spoke, "Sir, we'll hold. Count on us." Everyone nodded in agreement. They stood together quietly talking among themselves, other team members had gathered around them and heard some of the information.
O'Neill felt the stares coming at him from all sides Wot'ac shifted slightly as did Stemke, but O'Neill waved them down. He turned to look around at everyone who had gathered.
Continuing to provide the much needed command presence, regardless of how uncomfortable it made him, O'Neill concluded, "You are Earth's last chance for humanity's survive. We are going out to meet Heru'ur and we need you to hold the Alpha site. Major Zembowske, Commander of the Alpha Site, has his orders. Listen to him." He looked around again, catching people's eyes, infusing them with some of his strength and pride. He nodded at them.
Just as he touched his cuff to have Thor retrieve them, "Attention! Present Arms!"
Everyone froze at attention and saluted O'Neill. O'Neill and Stemke came to attention and O'Neill saluted back, then disappeared in a flash of light.
"Order Arms!"
Bradford looked over at Zembowske, "O'Neill doesn't do anything in half measures, does he?"
Shaking his head, "No, General, and if anyone can pull this off, he can. He's the best chance Earth has."
Bradford slowly nodded, "Let's get to it them." A quick glance at Zembowske, who nodded in agreement, he moved out to get his troops set up.
Patterson, 2IC to Zembowske, walked over to him, "Yeah, Major, if Earth survives...if O'Neill survives, we've still got to be ready for casualties and support for Earth."
"Yeah." With his first grin of the week Zach looked at Patterson, "Well, Marianne, as the General says, "Let's get goin', Campers!"
Finding a momentary relief in their laughter, they walked off to the HQ.
CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 9