Chapter 11: The First Step
The Following Day…
Sub-Level 27, Stargate Command
09:30 A.M
The air, once filled with excitement and anticipation, has dispersed as the newly created SG-26 waited in the briefing room. Alexeyeva pulled at her own sleeve of her newly issued olive-green uniform. She gazed in wonder at the patch that read SG-26 with all the details. General Carter had wanted to make the first mission of the first multi-national team something memorable. Unfortunately, given what has happened over the last 15 years, there wasn't much left to do, except for exploration and revisits to already explored worlds. Yet, despite the shortcomings, SG-26 was still anxious to go off-world and actually do something. Sergeant Ortega sat to the left of Alexeyeva while Witkowski sat across. Williams, bored out of her mind, was humming a song from the far end of the table, while listening to her IPod. After five minutes of toleration, Ortega slapped himself on the face.
"Alright, that's it!" He nearly yelled. "Who the hell spiked that poor girl's café?"
Alexeyeva brought up her head to look at the ceiling. She sighed, showing signs of lack of sleep.
"I thought that was your job," She replied, chuckling.
Ortega shrugged.
"I don't know," He commented. "You seem the type to do it,"
"Now you're just stereotyping," Alexeyeva added.
Across the table, Witkowski looked grim, his arms crossed. When the two noticed him, they stopped with the horse play.
"If you're finished," The Major said to the two. "We should start showing some decency to the SFs and look professional,"
Alexeyeva nodded in agreement.
"Of course, Major," She replied. "But we should still savor every moment we spend out there…somewhere,"
The Major still wasn't convinced.
"Clearly you have not met the very enemies the General has faced in the past," He told the Russian. "If you had met them…you wouldn't be so relaxed,"
"Have you faced them, Major Witkowski?" Alexeyeva asked.
"Some of them," The Major replied.
"Well," Ortega cut in. "The only enemy we might be facing out there is a time killer…that's all that ever happened in SG-3,"
"Which brings me to a good point," The Major added.
"Where are you from, Sergeant?"
"Spain," Ortega replied. "Why?"
"If you're from Spain, how the bloody hell did you get attached to an American Marine unit?" Ortega smirked, crossing his arms.
"I was a good enough solider to be transferred to Stargate Command," He answered. "SG-3 was the only available team for a position when I arrived,"
"Now you've been reassigned," Witkowski added.
Ortega shrugged.
"I don't really see the difference," He replied.
General Carter exited her office with four copies of the team's first mission briefing. Alexeyeva, Witkowski, and Ortega stood up as she entered the room. When she noticed that Williams wasn't paying any attention, Alexeyeva signaled her to get up. Williams removed her ear buds and turned off the IPod as she stood.
"At ease," Carter said to the team.
The team, as well as the General, sat down. The files were passed to the team members before the briefing began.
"I'm sorry I couldn't get anything worth the expertise from all of you," Carter began. "But I have assigned your team on a Recon Operation with SG-1,"
"Blimey," Witkowski replied. "I didn't think we'd work with the best,"
Alexeyeva shook her head.
"Do not get your hopes up, Major," She added. "It's only a simple operation,"
"That is true," Carter explained. "SG-1 found temple ruins and Daniel was hoping to follow up on his examination."
Ortega sat back into his chair, sighing.
"Are we babysitting, Ma'am," He asked.
Carter didn't know what to say.
"You'll have to ask Colonel Mitchell about that," She replied. "You leave in an hour,"
The team stood up to leave but Carter stopped them.
"Oh, and Colonel," She said to the leader. "That shipment you requested is in the locker room,"
The Russian nodded. "Spasheba, General," She replied.
"What shipment?" Witkowski asked as the team entered their locker room several floors above the briefing room.
Alexeyeva found a create sitting on the bench and approached it.
"This," She responded. "I had asked for my weapons be transferred here,"
Ortega crossed his arms, smiling.
"I guess you don't like American weapons, no?" He asked.
The Lieutenant Colonel shook her head as she examined the create.
"Some of my weapons are of sentimental value," She replied. "I have nothing against American weaponry."
She found a crowbar lying next to the create. Using her strength, the Russian pulled off the cover as the others looked on. Upon opening it, Alexeyeva and her team found the following: An AK-200, a PP-2000, an MP-443 Grach pistol and a Makarov PM. Taped onto the AK was a note. Alexeyeva took off the tape and unfolded the paper. Written in her language, the Russian read the note to herself.
"Good to hear from you, Natasha. I'm not sure if it was you who made this request but…no, it must be you. No one else but our team, and your husband and mother, knew about the value of the Kalashnikov that you have held so dear for these last few months. Glazkov and I have placed a bet to see what you are doing now, in America. That was all we have been told from the Colonel himself. But I don't care where you truly are or what you are doing, as long as your conscious is clean and you can sleep at night, I hope you are safe. But if, god forbid, something does happen to you, please remember that it was an honor serving under your command and Glazkov says the same. Your mother is worried sick about you. Your sister even asked me where you were but, like her, I have no idea. Your brother says hello while Igor sends his best wishes. Also, he had taken the honor of packing your firearms into the create, along with the other weapons you have asked for. Be safe, Podpolkovnik. ~ Sergeant Sergei Balashov"
Alexeyeva folded the note and placed it in the right breast pocket of her jacket. She then proceeded to take out the AK-200 from the create. Placing the butt end on the floor, Alexeyeva knelt down in front of the rifle and placed her forehead on the end of the barrel as if it was ceremonial. She said something in Russian that the others couldn't understand before placing the rifle on the bench. The others, who had watched their commander the entire time, had resumed their original tasks of gearing up.
"That sounded like a prayer," Williams said, grabbing a vest from her locker.
Alexeyeva didn't say anything as she removed the rest of her weapons from the create.
This had made Williams uneasy.
"Um, Ma'am," She asked again.
"I heard you the first time, Private," The Russian answered. "What I said isn't of any of your concern, it's mine,"
Williams was speechless. She didn't understand the Lieutenant Colonel's secrecy in the nature of her firearms being transferred from Russia. Williams breathed lightly before putting on the rest of her gear, thinking about what the Russian mumbled.
When the team had all of their gear on, each member had checked for any faults in their weapons and communication gear, making sure that nothing wrong was to happen while off-world.
"Microphone check," Alexeyeva spoke through her throat-microphone.
"Testing, testing," Ortega spoke through his radio.
"How's my mic, ma'am," Williams added.
"I'm sure my gear is in tip top shape, Lieutenant Colonel," Witkowski spoke into his radio.
"It better be, Major," Ortega replied. "Because I'm not going to call out your name if we get lost,"
Witkowski punched Ortega in the arm as a reply.
"Ignore him, Major," Alexeyeva said to the British solider as she exited the locker room. "We're all in this together,"
"Too right, mate," The other followed and headed towards the elevator.
On the way, they came across the team who they would be assisting.
"SG-1, I presume," The Russian asked them.
She recognized Colonel Mitchell, Doctor Jackson and Vala Mal Doran. The fourth member, with a strange insignia engraved into his forehead, the Russian had not recognized.
"Good to see you again, Ruski," Mitchell replied, saluting Alexeyeva.
"Colonel,"
She had done the same. Mitchell looked at the fourth member before looking back to the Russian.
"Lieutenant Colonel Alexeyeva, this is Teal'c," He said, introducing the Russian to the fourth member. "Teal'c, this is Alexeyeva, the woman I mentioned,"
"Preveat, Teal'c," 'Hello' Alexeyeva said, waving to the fourth member.
Teal'c bowed his head in acknowledgement.
"I've heard many things about you, Colonel Alexeyeva," He said to the Russian. "I hope that what Colonel Mitchell says is true,"
Walking down the hall towards the gate room, Mitchell couldn't help but notice the rifle slinged over the Russian's back.
"Nice AK," He commented. "What model is that, 47 or 74?"
"Both," Alexeyeva replied.
"Both?"
The Russian swung her rifle onto her hands and advertised the weapon.
"Avtomat Kalashnikova model dvesti,"
Mitchell was confused.
"Care to translate," He asked.
"Kalashnikov Rifle Model 200," Daniel cut in.
"Very good, Doctor Jackson," The Russian replied, impressed.
"Yeah, yeah, what do you mean both?" Mitchell asked.
"This Kalashnikov has an interchangeable barrel which allows the use of a 5.45x39mm, a 7.62x39mm and 5.56x45mm NATO cartridges, should the situation demand it." Alexeyeva explained.
"Nice," Mitchell replied.
"Indeed," Teal'c added. "A weapon that can change based on a needed strategy is rather effective,"
The Lieutenant Colonel looked back and smiled.
"You have to appreciate Russian ingenuity," She replied, slinging the rifle behind her back once more.
The team entered the gate room to find the Stargate already spinning.
"Chevron one, engaged," Alexeyeva could hear Harriman say through the speakers.
Seizing the opportunity to inquire, Ortega asked Colonel Mitchell what SG-26s role would be on their first mission.
"Chevron two, engaged,"
"Trick question," Mitchell replied. "This is SG-26s first mission, but sometimes it's best to get used to going off-world,"
Ortega shook his head.
"It's the first time for the ladies," He commented. "But Witkowski and I know the drill,"
"Then perhaps you should teach them the proper procedure, Sergeant Ortega," Teal'c, replied.
"Chevron three, engaged,"
Ortega threw his hands in the air.
"¿Qué se supone que tengo que hacer?" 'What am I supposed to do?' He asked. "I'm just a Sergeant, so anything I say will go right above the Señora's head,"
"Until I have a full understanding of how things should be done, Sergeant Ortega," Alexeyeva intruded. "I'm leaving you and Major Witkowski in charge in terms of guidance,"
"Chevron four engaged,"
"Thank you very much, Lieutenant Colonel," Witkowski replied bitterly. "Give me another team to command,"
"You don't like commanding a unit?" The Russian asked.
"With you possibly overriding my every command, I think not," Witkowski answered. "I'm usually generous when it comes to dividing my command, Major, you are free to advise me on anything," Alexeyeva replied.
"Chevron five, engaged,"
Witkowski looked around, eyeing the other team members.
"Has anyone decided to gen up before we leave?" He asked, scratching the back of his neck.
"Gen up?" Mitchell asked.
"It means 'to do research or get information'," Alexeyeva clarified.
Witkowski was taken aback.
"I'm surprised you know British Slang," He commented.
The Russian smiled.
"I've visited your country more than once," She replied. "I've learned a thing or two,"
"Cheeky little one, aren't ya?" Witkowski remarked sarcastically.
"Don't push it, Major," Alexeyeva replied.
"Chevron six, engaged,"
"Eyes front, Ruski," Mitchell said to the commander of SG-26. "You're gonna want to see this,"
The two teams looked forward towards the spinning Stargate. The gate had finally come to its final symbol before locking in.
"Chevron seven, locked,"
"What exactly is that –" Alexeyeva was cut short when a massive kawhoosh sent her flying back and bumping into Daniel.
"Bozhe moy," 'Oh my god!" She squeaked. "What in god's name was that?"
Mitchell chuckled at the Russian's reaction.
"Unstable vortex," He replied. "Will disintegrate everything in its path,"
"And when was someone going to tell me that was going to happen, Colonel?" Alexeyeva asked.
Mitchell shrugged.
"Come on everybody," He said, leading the way up the ramp. "Time to show the new kids how it's done,"
The teams approached the event horizon, only two of them were uncertain of what was happening. Before he could step through, Mitchell was stopped by Alexeyeva.
"What exactly do you do at this point?" She asked.
"You simply walk through it," Mitchell replied.
"That's it?"
Mitchell nodded.
"But…does it hurt?"
"Oh yeah…like hell," Mitchell replied.
Alexeyeva looked nervous and this made Mitchell smile. He jumped through the gate laughing and this made the Russian wonder whether or not the man was lying or not.
With a step forward, Alexeyeva placed her hand into the event horizon. She felt nothing as she waved her hand side to side. Retracting her hand, Alexeyeva looked upon the hand. She made a fist to make sure nothing was wrong with it. Taking a deep breath, Alexeyeva closed her eyes…and stepped through.