Chapter 8: The Long Walk
Undisclosed Stargate Command Training Grounds, Colorado
12:26 P.M
After Mitchell gave the briefing, Alexeyeva was assigned as 'Captain' of the team. Just as much as the Marines, the Russian hated the idea.
"Colonel, sir," She began when she was assigned the position. "I'm overqualified for this task,"
"Are you bragging?" Mitchell asked.
"I'm saying that someone else should be given the opportunity to place their leadership abilities in this test," Alexeyeva corrected. "I'm willing to follow anyone in the position."
"Leadership is action, not position," Mitchell replied.
The two knew this quote well and without further contest, Alexeyeva reluctantly accepted her role as leader.
At the armory, the four recruits were going through the weapons that were placed there. There was nothing but HK MP5s, flashbangs, smoke grenades, thermal goggles and a thermal detector.
"Wow," Williams commented. "Haven't seen these toys out in the field in years,"
Alexeyeva nodded before examining the ammunition. To her surprise, when she inspected the shells, she found that the actual bullet was glowing red.
"If this is any indication," She said to her fellow recruits, showing her findings. "I can see why,"
"And why is it that the ammo is glowing?" One of the marines asked Mitchell.
"Stun bullets, also known as Intars," Mitchell answered.
"And what do these…Intars do?" Alexeyeva asked.
"Have you played paintball, Lieutenant Colonel?" Mitchell asked.
Even though Alexeyeva never played the sport, she knew what it was like and answered as such.
"It works something like that," Mitchell added. "And these specific MP5s, plus the Beretta M9s, are the only compatible firearms we have that use the Intars."
"Good to know," The Russian replied.
"If this scenario is bomb disposal, why is there no bomb suit, sir?" Williams asked.
"You didn't find one," Mitchell replied, confused.
"No sir,"
"Then it must be in the back, follow me,"
Mitchell led Williams to the back of the armory and found a small metal create. After opening, Mitchell allowed Williams to take out the bomb suit.
"Neato," She said in excitement, after she brought up the suit. "This has got to be the ABS,"
"Yep, the Advanced Bomb Suit, just got it shipped the other week,"
"It's perfect," Williams said.
Mitchell chuckled.
"You sound like as if you got a prom dress you always wanted." He commented.
Williams smiled.
"Girls my age love dresses, so do I," She began. "But if I had to choose, my heart belongs with the bomb suit,"
"You must have really loved that first 'long walk', Private Williams," Alexeyeva said to her, arming one of the MP5s she was given.
"To be honest ma'am," Williams replied. "The suit gives better protection than a dress,"
"Yes, but it makes you slow and look like a fat ass," One of the Marines joked.
"At least it keeps me alive," Williams replied, irritated.
When the team realized that there would hostiles in the training as well, during the initial briefing, they decided to make use of all the equipment they could carry on them. As they looked over the map of the warehouse and surrounding area, one of the Marines proposed his plan.
"I say we try to lure out as many of the tangos as possible before moving in," He began. "After we thin them out, we send in the 'Juggernaut' to take care of the device."
"I like that plan," Mitchell said, somewhat sarcastically.
"Nyet, that is a terrible idea," Alexeyeva began.
The others looked at the Russian, confused.
"We try to flush them out, Marine," Alexeyeva began. "We risk seeing the bulk of their resistance…as well as loosing ourselves in the process,"
"So what do you have in mind?" The other Marine asked.
"Private Williams can not possibly be combat effective with the bomb suit if we miss any hostiles," Alexeyeva began. "It should be a two person team that goes in to disarm the device, Williams included."
"So who goes in?" Mitchell asked.
"I will," Alexeyeva answered.
"Ah hell no," The first marine said. "I don't exactly trust ya to actually be helpful, Ivan, besides we need the CO alive for further orders,"
"It's not about trust, it's about ability," Alexeyeva began, approaching the Marine. "I need you and the other to do your duty and protect our escape when we leave with the device."
She breathed heavily before continuing.
"As for 'Ivan'…I suggest you drop it, you're too young to remember the kholodnaya voĭna anyway,"
"The Cold War?" Williams asked for clarification.
Alexeyeva nodded and the Marine shrugged.
"Alright scarface," He said. "We'll play comrades for now, don't forget to give em hell too,"
The team, including Mitchell, picked up their weapons and equipment.
"Are you joining us, Colonel Mitchell?" Alexeyeva asked her instructor.
"Yep," Mitchell replied. "Let's see how that Spetsnaz training is gonna help you,"
Alexeyeva nodded at the man's reply. She then turned to Williams.
"The Marines and I will help get you into that bomb suit, Private," The Russian said to the Canadian. "Then we're taking a 'long walk',"
Williams was sweating as she followed the team. Even without the helmet on her head, the suit itself was stressful enough on her body. The team descended a set of stairs down a hill, towards the testing field. Mitchell himself was impressed with the team's rigorous attitude and not asking redundant questions about how many hostiles are in the area or if there would be hostages. The team knew they would have to adapt as fast as the changing scenario so answers had become useless to them. Upon reaching the base of the stairs, the team moved in a crouching position towards a destroyed car. Alexeyeva and Mitchell looked over the wreckage, finding the warehouse several hundred meters ahead.
"The effective range of an MP5 would be about two-hundred meters, da," Alexeyeva recited the characteristics of her weapon.
"For this model, yeah that would be about right," Mitchell replied.
Alexeyeva took out her binoculars and used it to determine whether or not their primary entry and exit point was feasible.
"How far do you think we are from the entrance?" She asked Mitchell.
"Don't know, could be…four hundred meters," He guessed.
Alexeyeva sighed deeply, shaking her head.
"Da, that's not good," She said. "We'll have to move closer if you and the Marines have any chance of hitting pursuers,"
She turned her head to face the Marines and the 'Juggernaut'. She noticed how much sweat was beating down the Canadian's brow.
"Don't worry, Private," Alexeyeva said to her. "You'll be sweating much more when under the pressure of imminent death." She joked with a chuckle.
No one followed in the laughter of the Russian's dark humor.
"That wasn't funny, ma'am" Williams replied.
"Of course it wasn't, I just made that up," Alexeyeva replied.
"That wasn't what I meant ma'am," Williams commented.
Alexeyeva sighed.
"But none the less it's true," She added. "You can not allow yourself to be distracted once we find that weapon, do you understand?"
The Canadian nodded.
"Understood ma'am," She said, picking up her tool box. "No pressure,"
Alexeyeva nodded then faced one of the marines.
"Is the thermal detector working?" She asked him.
"It's up and running," The Marine replied.
"Good," Alexeyeva said, slipping her pair of combat goggles over her eyes and moving forward from the wreckage.
The plan was that once Alexeyeva and Williams enter the warehouse, the others would use the thermal detector to alert the two of any incoming opposition. Even the Marines were impressed with the Russian's clairvoyance with tactics and ingenuity and this marked up points for her eventual placement as SG-26s first Commanding Officer.
"Move up," She said through the throat microphone, signaling the others to follow.
The team followed the Russian, slowly and still in a crouching stance, through the junk yard.
"Remember," The Russian said, looking back. "No rushing,"
One of the marine nearly burst in laughter, as if he had caught onto a bad reference.
"Da, Da, I know where that came from," Alexeyeva replied, agitated.
The team's advance towards the entrance had gone without complications, of course that would all change once they passed the doorway. The team split into two teams as they approached the entrance. Alexeyeva and Williams took one side while Mitchell and the Marines took the other. The plan, as Alexeyeva had detailed, would have Mitchell throw a flashbang first and then Alexeyeva would throw a smoke grenade. The idea was to disorientate the enemies' sense of direction. If it was successful, Alexeyeva could easily tag any enemies with the Intar ammunition and escort Williams to the bomb site.
Before the plan went into effect, Alexeyeva helped Williams with putting on the helmet.
"Remember what I said," The Russian said to her companion.
Williams gave a thumb up.
"About the pressure thing, ma'am?" Williams asked through the radio.
"Da, Private," The Russian answered, switching her weapon to semi-automatic.
"No matter what happens, I'm there to pull you out,"
"Good to know," The Canadian mumbled.
The two hugged the wall as Mitchell and Alexeyeva pulled out their respective grenades. The Russian scoffed quietly. It a situation like this, it would be her and Sergeant Balashov to do the special breach that was taught to them. Now it was just her who would be teaching it to the commander of SG-1 and the recruits that were there with them.
Alexeyeva and Mitchell peeked past the door way and found a number of silhouettes moving about. Giving a countdown, the two pulled the pins of their grenades. When Alexeyeva signaled, the two tossed the grenades into the warehouse, hearing a bang then smoke filling the room. Alexeyeva turned to the 'Juggernaut' and nodded her head.
"Let's go, Private," She said, slipping her thermal goggles over her combat ones, followed by the woman in the bomb suit.
With the thermal goggles, Alexeyeva 'dispatched' several enemies with the MP5.
"Tango at your ten o'clock high," One of the Marines said through the radio.
Alexeyeva looked up and found a hostile aiming his weapon. Bringing her gun towards the silhouette and pulled the trigger twice. The enemy went down and the two women continued through the warehouse. Alexeyeva looked back to make sure Williams was behind her. She noticed that she was lagging behind, disorientated.
"Hold onto me, Private," Alexeyeva said, grabbing the 'Juggernaut's hand.
Extending the stock of her MP5, Alexeyeva used her left arm to carefully aim the weapon.
"Tango to your right,"
Alexeyeva aimed her weapon to that direction and fired a single round into the hostile, who fell to the ground.
"The smoke is dispersing," Williams said to the Lieutenant Colonel.
Alexeyeva nodded, raising the thermal goggles over her head. The two let go and Alexeyeva was able to shoot her MP5 with both hands once more.
"Damn, Ivan," One of the Marines commented through the radio. "You're just mowing them down as they keep coming,"
"I could do more if you only spoke when needed, marine," Alexeyeva replied. "I would appreciate that,"
"She's right," Mitchell replied. "You're almost clear of bad guys, Lieutenant Colonel, keep at it,"
"Please Colonel," Alexeyeva began. "I beg of you, I need concentration, I'm sure no one ever won a war being distracted,"
"Right, sorry, sorry," Mitchell replied.
"Tango, six o'clock," The other marine called out.
Alexeyeva rushed behind the 'Juggernaut' and saw the enemy approaching. Aiming for a few seconds, Alexeyeva shot down the hostile.
"Nice reflexes," The marine praised.
Alexeyeva shook her head as she reloaded her MP5.
"I must be speaking in Russian," She said to Williams.
The 'Juggernaut' shrugged.
"Don't know ma'am, must be Russglish you're saying," She said with a laugh.
Alexeyeva nodded and the two continued through the warehouse.
"Are we approaching the device, Colonel Mitchell?" The Russian asked.
"Twenty meters into the next room, Lieutenant Colonel," Mitchell replied.
Alexeyeva turned her head to the 'Juggernaut' behind her. She could already see through the helmet that the woman was sweating.
"Keep calm, Private," Alexeyeva said to her. "We'll make it,"
The two passed the doorway into the next room. To their surprise, they found the bomb, but they also found two people. One was on the ground and the other was standing over the first. They were not hostile, Alexeyeva interpreted. The one standing had a weapon that Alexeyeva did not recognize. It appeared to resemble a snake, but she could not be sure. The other had a Berretta M9. Since they were pointing their weapons at one another however, it could not be determined if either of them was friend or foe. Yet Alexeyeva and Williams still recognized the two. The one on the ground was Daniel Jackson and the other was Vala Mal Doran.
"What is this," Alexeyeva began, approaching the two, keeping her weapon aimed.
"It turns out that Daniel here is a Gou'ald spy," Mal Doran explained to the Russian, keeping her weapon pointed at Jackson.
"No," Jackson replied. "She's the spy,"
"Impossible, you both were just with us during the briefing." Alexeyeva replied.
She remembered reading that the Gou'ald hosts had a deepened voice that would have sounded as if they had an auto tune over their mouths.
"A Gou'ald would have a different voice, am I correct?" Alexeyeva asked.
Mal Doran laughed at the Russian's naïve question.
"You clearly don't know how things work with the Gou'ald, do you Lieutenant Colonel." She replied.
Alexeyeva and Williams were confused. Mal Doran shot a look at the two then back to Jackson.
"These spies, infiltrators, can hide their true voices from their enemies as so to not attract attention," She explained. "Not to mention that he is also the one who armed the device,"
"What, no!" Jackson called out. "That was so you,"
"Lieutenant Colonel, what's the hold up?" Mitchell asked.
Alexeyeva lowered her weapon so she could answer the transmission.
"This is no longer just a bomb threat, Colonel Mitchell," She replied.
"Say again," Mitchell asked.
"We have a hostage situation as well," Alexeyeva answered. "What's more is that one or both of them could be a potential enemy hiding among the hostages."
"So what are you going to do?" Mitchell asked.
As Alexeyeva tried to think of a reply. The silence allowed the beeping of the device to advertise itself as armed. The Russian eyed the two people before her and Williams, staying calm, and was deciding what would be her next move.
"What we, soldiers, are trained to do," Alexeyeva finally replied, eyeing the bomb behind Jackson and Val Doran.
"And that would be?" Williams asked.
Alexeyeva backed towards the 'Juggernaut'.
"They're both lying," She said to the woman in the bomb suit. "How can you be sure?" "I'm not…but we still must disarm them both,"
"Good idea, Williams replied sarcastically. "And how are we going to do that?"
"Get behind Jackson, and when I give the signal, take his weapon anyway you can…just don't get anyone shot,"
Alexeyeva slowly creped behind Mal Doran while Williams got behind Jackson.
"What the hell are you doing?" The man on the floor asked.
"NOW!" Alexeyeva yelled before grabbing Mal Doran's weapon as Williams dove to the floor, snatching Jackson's gun in the process.
"Disarmed," Alexeyeva announced.
"Disarmed here too," Williams added, struggling to get back up.
The Russian came to the 'Juggernaut's aid and helped her get back to her feet.
"What the hell was that for?" Mal Doran asked.
Alexeyeva pointed to the bomb.
"Private, see to the weapon, we don't have a lot of time," She said, ignoring the unarmed woman behind her.
The 'Juggernaut' nodded.
"Yes Ma'am," She said, going for the device.
"As for you two," The Russian said to the others, training her weapon at them. "Wait in the corner like good children."
Williams examined the device after setting down the tool box.
"Come on babe," She said, referring to the weapon. "Show me the good stuff,"
She managed to find a loose panel and slowly removed it from its place.
"That's more like it," Williams added, examining the insides of the device.
"How's my EOD expert doing, facing death in the eye, eh?" Williams heard her partner's voice and laugh through the earpiece.
"I'd be smiling too but we got a problem ma'am," Williams replied.
"I'm listening."
"There are only crystals here, red, green, blue, and yellow and my tool kit doesn't include anything that has to do with crystal removal,"
"Had they been wires, it'd be just like in those American Hollywood films, da?" Alexeyeva commented.
"No kidding, I'm gonna have to pull out one of the crystals if we can't find the disarm codes," Williams explained.
"Guess it's my turn, da?"
"Yes ma'am,"
Williams continued to further examine the other parts of the device.
"I will make this very clear," Williams heard Alexeyeva say to the others.
"One or both of you had armed this weapon," Alexeyeva continued. "This bomb must have a shutdown code of some sort and someone knows it,"
"There isn't one," Mal Doran replied.
Alexeyeva, suspicious, aims her attention at the alien.
"How would you know?" She asked.
"I had already checked it when Daniel attacked me," Mal Doran replied.
"No I did not," Jackson commented, seemingly annoyed.
"Well then," Alexeyeva said, eyeing Jackson. "It seems that Dr. Jackson will have to -"
Alexeyeva was cut off when Mal Doran tried to grab the Russian's weapon. With a single shove back, the Russian shot Mal Doran between the eyes. She fell to the ground, motionless. Alexeyeva proceeded to remove Jackson's weapon from her vest and handed it back to him.
"How'd you know it wasn't me?" Jackson asked, taking the pistol.
"I didn't," Alexeyeva replied. "She attacked first,"
The Russian began to walk back to Williams.
"True, but you're wrong about one thing," Daniel's voice began to change.
Alexeyeva stopped and looked back at Jackson, wide-eyed.
"She wasn't the spy," Daniel's voice was completely different now. "I am,"
Jackson began to raise his weapon. But before he could pull the trigger, Alexeyeva shot his hand and his right leg, forcing him down.
"Terribly sorry, Dr. Jackson," Alexeyeva began with a calm voice, approaching Jackson with caution.
"But if what Vala Mal Doran said was true about there being no code…then that would leave the crystals."
"Are you going to kill me?" Daniel asked.
The Russian shook her head.
"Answer my next question and it won't come to that," She replied. "Which crystal should be removed?"
Daniel said nothing.
"This thing is gonna blow!" Williams yelled over the radio.
Alexeyeva could feel her hands shaking, knowing she might 'die' and fail the test. She glared at Jackson, who was still on the ground.
"You want to live?" She said to him. "You give me the color,"
Jackson said nothing, which had irritated the Russian even further.
Grabbing the man by the collar of his jacket, Alexeyeva raised Jackson up and shoved him onto a wall. She aimed her MP5 into Jackson's left eye.
"I won't ask again," She said calmly.
The beeping intensified, with the intervals becoming less and less.
"Pull the green one," Jackson finally told the Russian.
Alexeyeva released her grip on Jackson and approached Williams.
"Green crystal!" The Russian yelled into the radio. "Pull the green one, hurry!"
Williams reached into the casing, pulled the green crystal and the timer had stopped.
"We're clear, the bomb's been neutralized," Williams spoke through the radio.
"Good job ladies," Mitchell replied. "Not too shabby either, bring in the device, we're pulling out,"
Alexeyeva, still keeping her weapon on Jackson, retreated back to the 'Juggernaut'.
"Not bad for a second time, nyet?" The Russian asked the Canadian.
Williams signaled Alexeyeva to pull off her helmet and the Russian did so.
"Christ," Williams spoke, gasping for air, her hair drenched with sweat.
She looked behind her and found that one person was on the ground and another with his hands up.
"Thanks for covering my butt ma'am," The 'Juggernaut' said to her commander.
Alexeyeva nodded, giving a thumb up.
"Come on now Private Williams," She said, returning to Jackson.
"We'll have to bring the bomb back."
"Understood ma'am, I'll get right on it," Williams replied, pulling the bomb behind her.
Alexeyeva didn't trust Jackson as much as she could. So to be safe, she used him as a human shield to make sure no one else would get to the only person who could protect Williams.
"We're heading back to the entrance Colonel," Alexeyeva said through the radio.
"We're ready and waiting," Mitchell replied.
The trio retreated back to their exit point where they met up with Mitchell and the others. To the Russian's and Canadian's surprise, Mitchell was applauding them both.
"Bravo Lieutenant Colonel," He said, clapping.
Alexeyeva saluted before turning over Jackson to the Colonel.
"And you brought back extra too," Mitchell said, facing Daniel.
"Well Jackson, you got lucky today," He said. "I'm sure would've taken that nice head off your shoulders when you showed your hand,"
Jackson shrugged, grinning. "Well," He began. "At least one of us did,"
Jackson pointed behind Williams. The others looked that direction to find Vala approaching them.
"That really hurt," She called out to the Russian.
Alexeyeva chuckled.
"Maybe you should have allowed Dr. Jackson to strike first, I'm sure he'd be more than happy to take one for you," She replied. She then turned to Jackson.
"Am I correct, Doctor?"
Jackson just shrugged.
The Russian turned her head to Williams, who was sitting next to the now disarmed device. Alexeyeva approached the 'Juggernaut' and kneeled next to her, smiling.
"You did good today, my friend," She said.
Williams gave a thumb up.
"I guess not every long walk is like this, eh?" She asked.
Alexeyeva shook her head.
"This is some way to start the training, da?" She asked.
Williams was far too exhausted from all the excitement and anxiety to answer.
"Come now," Alexeyeva said, helping Williams up. "Let's get you out of the Bomb Suit…then we all go eat some lunch,"