The evacuation began in mere minutes. The citizens of Oz were by no means co-operative; almost every man, woman and child believing that the Wizard would save the day. After wasting far too much time explaining the danger to the defiant villagers, SG-1 finally managed to convince them that going into hiding would be a good thing.
"How come all the simple missions turn so ugly?" Jack whined, as they rounded up yet another village and led them to safety. Maybourne had shown them a series of underground caves, not far from the forest in which SG-1 had encountered the 'replicators'. The Ozzians would stay there until word could be sent to the Munchkins, the keepers of the Stargate, to evacuate.
"I take it the experience is ruining your Oz fantasies?" Sam asked, sympathetically.
Jack nodded. "And to think we could have walked out at the end of act one," he joked, hoping that Sam didn't notice as he stole a split-second, less than commander-like glance at her in her Dorothy dress. The experience hadn't ruined all of his Oz fantasies.
Sam received his joke with a bright smile before turning back to the Ozzians, who were anxiously following them to the caves. There was a loud bang and red sparks shot through the sky.
"That's the Munchkins," Maybourne shouted over the sea of fearful heads. Daniel squinted and looked up at the flare as its remnants flowed back down over Munchkinland. "The gate has been breeched."
"They're using the gate?" Daniel asked.
"That makes sense," Sam answered. "Daniel said that Kausalya traded most of her resources with Yu. The ships that she did have left were probably destroyed during the rebellion."
As they talked, SG-1 and Maybourne continued to hustle the Ozzians into the caves. Hundreds of the green clad people were already inside and those that were more well-known in the city ushered the others into the cave's interior. One corner was filled with small children, most of whom were crying or shivering with fear. Jack made a move to comfort them, but Sam stopped him, resting her hand on his elbow to hold him back. They didn't have time for that.
When they were certain that the evacuation was being taken care of, Jack and SG-1 made their way back to the Emerald City to devise a plan.
"There's got to be more than a handful of guys here that can man a weapon," Jack suggested. "We're gonna need back up."
Sam nodded. "I've already spoken to Maybourne. He said the Ozzian forces are already stationed in the citadels of the city, waiting for our command. Unfortunately, the gate is too well guarded to send a transmission for back up from Earth."
"What kind of numbers are we looking at?" Jack asked.
"The Munchkins have sent word that there are at least fifty Jaffa with more on the way." Daniel said.
"Fifty? What the hell?"
"It appears Kausalya believes the Ancient artefacts on this planet are indeed worthy of possessing," Teal'c said.
"Yeah, but fifty?" Jack asked.
"They must have known there'd be strong resistance," said Sam. "But how? If they haven't been here for over a century…"
"Not all the spies were killed," said Daniel suddenly.
"What?" asked Jack, impatiently.
"The spies that Kausalya left here after the rebellion. One of them must still be alive. They've obviously kept in contact."
"Great," wheezed Jack. "We've got a mole."
Within the hour, the Jaffa forces stormed the Emerald City,
"How the hell did they get here so fast?" Jack whispered as they watched the warriors march through the cobbled roads. "It took us over a day!"
"We followed the road, Jack," Daniel said. "There's probably a more direct route."
"And they have inside intel on the layout of the planet. The mole probably gave them all the short cuts," Sam rattled. They watched silently as Kausalya's troops began to pillage the city. They took down houses with their staff weapons and explosives, raising entire buildings to the ground.
"Why destroy the city?" asked Sam. "Why not go straight for the Ancient cave?"
Daniel answered her, his eyes remaining firmly focussed on the Jaffa troops. "This isn't just about technology," he said. "This is revenge. These people have forsaken the Goa'uld and united under a new god."
"Indeed. Kausalya is reasserting her power as the only God worthy of worship," Teal'c said, his deep baritone voice laced with disgust.
A contingent of Jaffa exited one of the Salons, dragging a small girl, kicking and screaming.
"Rini," Jack whispered fiercely, and made a move to leave the safety of their cover.
"O'Neill, you must stay," Teal'c whispered forcefully, a heavy hand on Jack's shoulder. "Our position must not be made."
"He's right, sir," said Sam, her face equally as red with fury as Jack's. "We need to maintain our cover."
"What the hell is she doing here? Why isn't she with the others?" Jack whispered. They had met up with the small girl only minutes before, as they ushered her and her family into the caves.
"She must have followed us," Daniel whispered back.
Jack gritted his teeth and huffed angrily. They watched as the Jaffa beat the little girl, trying to force her to answer questions that she didn't know or understand.
"Where are you hiding the Tau'ri?" a Jaffa warrior barked.
"What is a Tau'ri?" Rini asked, her face wet with tears.
"Where are they?" the Jaffa barked again. Kausalya's First Prime was no where in sight.
"Where are who? Who are you?" the little girl wept, before she was slapped hard on the face.
"Where are the humans who call themselves SG-1?" the Jaffa snarled. Rini cast a fleeting glance towards SG-1's hiding place and swallowed heavily.
"I…I don't know who you are talking about," she said, her voice trembling with fear. The Jaffa had keen eyes though, and followed her momentary look towards the old building in which SG-1 were hidden.
"We've been made," Jack whispered into his radio as the Jaffa began to march toward them,
"Copy that," Maybourne replied, breaking the radio silence. SG-1 sank lower behind the small window as the clinking of Jaffa armour approached.
Their secretive hush was ended abruptly with a loud burst of gunfire. The Ozzian sentries had opened fire.
"It's show time," Jack said, and SG-1 moved out from their cover to join the fight.