Chapter 72 - Victory
Perhaps on some world a sun rose red to foretell the battle that lay ahead. But Sam and Jolinar and all those who would fight today had been in space for more than two days, and day had no true meaning. Such as it was, however, the morning came with fresh anticipation.
Jolinar watched from behind the one-way blindness of the cloak on their ship, listening to the orders over the comms and watching the ships organizing themselves. Quetesh's lieutenants were surprisingly cooperative.
The giant ships tilted, rotated, and from where she was Jolinar could see the entire fleet. She wondered if the ships in front knew that they were weaker, almost a kind of bait or shield, in case Ba'al was ready for them. But the larger and stronger ships weren't far behind either.
No one on Jolinar's ship spoke, and even Sam had no specific thoughts. Maybe the same was true on the other ships; maybe the undercover Abydonians and Free Jaffa did not betray their anxiousness with any sounds. One could only hope. In a couple hours at most, they would have to rebel against an army that had been their lifelong fearmonger. And the Jaffa would have to rise up against brethren, and hope that they would see that connection as a higher loyalty.
If not, blood would be spilt. And for all her reluctance, as Jolinar pondered Ba'al's fleet now, she only thought of the Jaffa as potential allies. Even were it not necessary to keep Ba'al in power, she wouldn't have been pleased if those lives had been lost. For once in her life, this battle was solely to prevent all bloodshed.
"What will our role be?" asked Hemshet suddenly, as the fleet was almost ready to jump into hyperspace.
"Support," said Jolinar. "If there's disaster, we can offer advice or the element of surprise."
"We are ready," Lantash's voice crackled over the Tok'ra frequency.
"Understood," Jolinar said. She glanced back, noting that the Jaffa had all taken their places, standing or sitting ready. Breathing in slowly, she punched the hyperspace coordinates into the controls. Out the window, the ships all jumped within a few seconds of each other, disappearing in flash after flash.
~I love this part,~ Sam said with plain appreciation.
Jolinar answered with a short nod, then pressed the control. A slight lurch, and they jerked into hyperspace. It would be a short trip.
Even going at un-upgraded speeds, Selenis only lay a few minutes from where the fleet had assembled. Barely enough time for Sam and Jolinar to really understand what would wait them, before they jumped back out, and into the chaos that would only get worse.
Jolinar flicked the shield up immediately, and then saw outside the window. Selenis, the planet, shone green-blue in front of them, but Ba'al's fleet surrounded it on all sides. It was at least twice the size of theirs.
*Not the best,* Jolinar commented, quickly but coolly. Still, her heart raced even though they were hidden.
Only a second after arrival, the ships began to move. Even in the vastness of this space, they moved fast, some of Ba'al's coming around from what was now the backside of the planet, and the ones already in front positioning to open fire.
Jolinar flicked the switch to hear the comm orders of the Goa'uld on their side, then shot her gaze back out to the fleet. They flew forward in one organized mass as the first shots lit up the vacuum of space.
~What do you suppose Ba'al is doing?~ Sam asked, distracted from their original goal.
Jolinar looked back to his fleet, and caught sight of a ship far back, and far larger than usual. *Flagship,* she said.
Behind them, the other Jaffa had come forward and watched out the window. The comms buzzed with short orders, but more was happening than was ordered. Ba'al's ships clustered until one could hardly see the planet behind them, sending out deliberate and continual volleys. Goa'uld shields held for now, but Quetesh's fleet was diving into it.
A minute later, one of the teltacs exploded, and in the shielding cloud of debris one of Quetesh's former hatak's managed to break through Ba'al's front line, barely passing the ships. Still, there seemed no plan beyond simple attack.
~When will the takeover happen?~ Sam wondered, slightly worried.
But Jolinar perked up after a minute when an unfamiliar Goa'uld voice came over the radio.
"Spare no damage. Break through. We must behead this fleet."
Jolinar's hands gripped the controls, and suddenly their ship was moving in, the chaos of action growing larger and larger.
~They're going after the flagship,~ Sam said, understanding immediately.
*And Quetesh wouldn't kill Ba'al, which he knows, but this isn't Quetesh's fleet anymore.*
~But he wouldn't—surely—~
Jolinar wouldn't wait to see if Ba'al would underestimate anything. They couldn't hear the shots from Ba'al's defense as they flew between them, undetected, unshielded with the cloak, but everything outside the window was bright like a fireworks show.
~Is our plan going well?~ Sam wondered, trying to see what was happening.
*Nothing over the comms yet,* Jolinar commented.
Quetesh's flagship was diving straight toward Ba'al's, almost collision speed. It started firing a few seconds before his, but straight at the heart of the ship. Sam saw the explosions almost immediately.
*His shields were on weapons, not his core,* Jolinar said, and added a silent curse. *He expected disabling shots; he expected her to try and capture him.*
~Wait, he can't be destroyed, that's the whole point of our mission,~ Sam answered, worried for real. The ships grew larger, both firing but Ba'al's already on fire.
"Jolinar?" Lantash's voice sounded over the comm, slightly interrupted in the middle.
"In the center," Jolinar shot back, almost spinning the teltac to get into position.
That was enough, and she wasn't distracted as she prepared her defense. Quetesh's flagship had nothing to fear yet, and then suddenly Jolinar turned off the cloak. Gliding in on the left, she fired three shots into the front weapons arrays on the ship, and then just turned the ship before reengaging the cloak. Both times, it worked flawlessly, and Sam and Jolinar felt a thrill at the success.
Caught in the moment, Jolinar spun around, Ba'al's ship saved and now behind them. But no battle raged behind, on the outer defense of Selenis. Instead, Quetesh's ships flew forward without detour or change of course. Flying only on the last course set, Sam immediately guessed that no one was at the helms.
"Success?" asked Or'on, gripping the back of Corrifin's copilot seat.
"This is Natar of the Free Jaffa!" came a loud, firm voice over the comm. "We have taken this ship from the false gods, and call all our brethren to do so. You have allies waiting to help you—join our fight and gain your freedom!"
Or'on slammed his hand down on the back of the seat, glint of satisfaction and excitement in his eyes.
*They were already on the way,* Jolinar added, eyes flicking between the ships. Ba'al's were still firing, but the shields on the other ships still held on long enough. *This is just the vocalization.*
"And I am Herak of the Free Jaffa, bringing another ship to freedom!" came another call.
Sam felt Jolinar's knuckles whiten as it seemed to be working. In the dark of space, only brightened by weapons, she still caught sight of two ships pulling back from Selenis. And then, though the comms didn't buzz again, two more.
"Jolinar," came Lantash's voice over the Tok'ra frequency. "Come, withdraw. This ship is also free, and I intend to clear a path for the rest of ours, free yet or not."
"No point in hiding anymore, then," Jolinar answered.
Several of Ba'al's ships had withdrawn around the still-burning flagship, and Jolinar had a clear path as soon as she turned off the cloak and turned on her shield. A clear path was not what she needed. Flanking on what felt like a dime to Sam, she sent a few shots at the ships nearest, clustered against some of Quetesh's. They stopped firing for a second, and Jolinar used her maneuverability to duck beneath a few, coming up to fire at more.
It was barely needed, though. Half of Quetesh's ships had fallen back before Jolinar first fired, and all but two al'kesh and one small hatak still foundered among the volleys of Ba'al's ships when she pulled up outside of Selenis' defenses.
"We are allied, and we have won," came Lantash's voice over the command frequency. "Now we return before Ba'al destroys it."
Jolinar paused only a second to wonder about the other ships, but then she had the return coordinates in the system. Ba'al's ships were still rearranging when they shot back into hyperspace.
ooooooo
"I swear, nothing is happening anywhere in the universe," Mckay said, kicking the edge of the table sharply to push back in his chair.
"Rodney," Daniel sighed. Since when was his most common conversation partner always Mckay? "If you just came into my office to complain—"
"Don't act like it doesn't affect you," Mckay interrupted, pointing a finger at him. "You and Sha're and your kid are stuck here, nothing changing. The Dixons are—as always. My sister does nothing but try to get more permission from the government, and rag on me if she doesn't get it, and for that matter I'm not getting anything to do either. The team hasn't been on a proper mission in weeks, since I don't count the planet with the weird singing aliens and plants that didn't have anything interesting, and nothing looks like it's changing."
Daniel fidgeted with his pencil, but decided to humor Mckay. It always bugged him a little at how there was always truth in what the scientist said, even if it was overlaid by attitude. "I think Jack may be seeing Sara tonight."
"Really?" Mckay paused, letting his chair sit back up straight. "Why? How do you know?"
"It's just speculation," Daniel said.
"But that doesn't disprove anything," Mckay answered back quickly.
"Do I want to know what you're arguing about?" Dixon asked, arriving with his arms loosely crossed.
"Mckay happens to think that nothing is ever going to happen apart from the status quo," said Daniel, eyebrow's slightly raised. "What do you think?"
Dixon jerked a little. "God, Mckay, haven't you watched any movies?" Before Mckay could jump in to protest, he continued, "You just jinxed us, I swear."
"Well, it could hardly be worse," Mckay said, only vaguely blustery at being outgeeked.
Dixon rolled his eyes, and Mckay snapped his mouth shut, realizing his mistake. Daniel almost smiled, but decided not to. He didn't quite trust their luck. And while with Shifu being both more a joy and more a pain the older he grew, he certainly didn't lack for things happening in his own life, the rest of everything did feel a little too calm for comfort.
Maybe Mckay was right; maybe everywhere in the universe nothing was going on.
ooooooo
Jolinar couldn't hide a broad smile as she ringed down to the planet where they'd all organized only a few days before. Martouf and Lantash had come with a couple leaders, and slowly the ships were being unloaded. At least here there was a sun to shine brightly as a symbol of their buzz of elation filled both atmosphere and sound as the conversation flittered back and forth between topics of their success. Jolinar strode forward to her mates.
"We succeeded?" she said, but it was barely a question.
Martouf smiled back at her. "Something, at least."
"Early tallies?" Jolinar asked, glancing around at the few Jaffa and Abydonians on the ground.
Martouf sighed then. "Many Jaffa had to be killed to achieve our goals, and some even ringed aboard Ba'al's ships. But nearly all the slaves were rescued, if all reports are true."
"What now?" asked one of the Jaffa leaders, approaching Jolinar and Martouf as they stood.
"We count our losses, give honor to the dead, and fulfill our agreements," Martouf said simply. "But it will take time."
"After the ships are exchanged, what is left?" Jolinar asked, relaying Sam's question for her.
Martouf breathed out slowly, facing her. He spoke a little more softly. "Whether it was planned or not, the Jaffa have now formed their own nation to all intents and purposes. And the former slaves, both from the ships and on Dorieth—all of these things are not set up to exist permanently on their own."
Jolinar settled a little, her excitement calmed. "Hmm."
~It's never over easily, I should have remembered that,~ Sam said, feeling a little sheepish.
"And in all truthfulness, it would be proper to exchange the ships with a proper government," Martouf continued, glancing out at the assembling Free Jaffa, his arms crossed a little as he seemed to see a vast work to be done.
"So it was not just an alliance for this one mission," Jolinar commented wryly.
"It worked beyond the Council's dreams," Martouf answered, looking back with satisfaction in his eyes. "I cannot see them unwilling to keep this advantage, this connection."
"If they continue to use their minds, I agree with you," said Jolinar, almost lightly.
But Sam's mind had strayed from the point, and she saw Drego ring down with a few other Abydonians. "Excuse us," Jolinar said, nodding to Martouf before walking over.
"Devret!" said Drego brightly as she approached. His face looked worn with the day, but not heavy.
"What do you know of your people?" Sam asked, taking control to ask eagerly. It hadn't escaped her mind for long that this had been their secret goal all the time.
"That many are saved," said Drego, though his smile looked vaguely pain. "Not all well, but all now free. And the Jaffa—they are not our enemies." He reached out to touch Sam's hand. "So much has happened that we did not imagine."
"It is kind of amazing," Sam acknowledged, looking around the planet and wondering what freedom felt like when it was brand new.
"We must gather all of us, count ourselves," Drego mentioned. "We knew every name."
"Are you going to ally with the Jaffa?" Sam asked.
"How should I know?" Drego asked, then laughed, tired as he was. "How should I know anything? We are free, the choice is ours, any choice we could wish to make."
Sam answered with a short laugh, squeezing his hand. "Free again."
*On this world, perhaps,* Jolinar said just to remind Sam.
But as the sun shone brighter and then began to dip low, Martouf and Lantash spoke to the previously set leaders, to those who led outside of the battle, and Sam and Jolinar gathered what information they could.
This planet had no strong Goa'uld presence; it's people joined freely. Dorieth would also be a safe place, and then Bra'tac came forward and suggested Chulak.
"You speak the truth when you say that we are riding on a wave of one triumph," Bra'tac said. "And if we are to continue, we must remember what we accomplished. Chulak is the downfall of Apophis, Dorieth the downfall of Quetesh. Let them be symbols, guarded, but let this world serve as our core."
"What about Quetesh's other worlds?" asked Nirishi, who had arrived from Dorieth a couple hours after the return from the battle.
"We approach them with our fleet, explain the options, and deal with any who would seek to attack us," said Inchen with a slight shrug.
Lantash shook his head shortly. "Do not be so rash in your first actions. These deeds will spread among the Goa'uld as it is, but if you keep low, the full extent may not strike them for some time."
"Through the chappa'ai, then?" asked Emeron, one of the new Jaffa leaders.
"Possibly," Lantash said. "But first, do you not wish to know what you are and what your goals are? At the moment you band together as an organized mob; you are more than that, so arrange yourself as that first, before you give yourselves missions."
The advice was well received. Sam felt the aura of exhilaration among them all, an attitude that made them want to shout to the entire universe that they ruled it. False gods no longer frightened them; Jolinar knew that soon they would have reason to fear again, though still less than they had before. But unlike what she feared, they did not fall flat as soon as an attempt at official organization came about.
Sam and Jolinar spent the night on the planet, as Martouf and Lantash returned to the base for debriefing. By the next night, counts were in, and almost the first census of the new Free Jaffa Nation. Except—and maybe that would be the first on the agenda—what of those who were not Jaffa?
But Sam and Jolinar did not sleep well that second night. While Jaffa and Doriens seemed to still run on the adrenaline of victory, Jolinar felt that her own body could not take it so well. A lingering feeling of wearing out gripped her, and she wondered incredulously how she could not be fully recovered at this point. Sam pressed the point that there was no reason to be on this world, and Jolinar took only a few more hours to agree and return to the Tok'ra base.
It was some vague amusement to them to find a similar buzz among their own people. The Council seemed to be aflutter, all their expectations collapsed under the weight of underestimation and just plain good luck. Selmak explained it best when they met.
"After all the rashness you showed that did not succeed, you were justified in the end," he said, looking at her with a fond almost-smile. "And were it just you, they could admit that a long shot pulled off. But they have hundreds of witnesses eager to carry on. They cannot simply ignore them and carry on in secrecy, not when they want an alliance that will lead to further victories. But they cannot do that either, give up our whole goal."
Jolinar nodded. "And so the debate rages on."
Selmak hmmed, looking at her from underneath deep brows. "Upheaval should not be a continual state."
"At least the Free Jaffa know how much planning went into the mission," Sam said with a slight shrug. "And I think Bra'tac knows even more of the circumstances."
"Well, we can only hope that they prove so wise when they ask for negotiations," Selmak said sighing. He almost turned to walk away, then reached out to touch Sam's shoulder, rub it softly. "They may not say it, but you did end up preserving our entire purpose, or at least helping with it. It is a matter of pride for you."
Sam smiled. "Well, I hope so."
But she and Jolinar walked away from the buzz. Jolinar took a long bath, breathing in the scented steam and hoping it would cleanse the last vestiges of what kept them from reaching peak condition again.
~What is next for us?~ Sam wondered.
*Clean up the mess, help the Abydonians find themselves, what else?*
~I don't know,~ said Sam, not quite ready to focus back on the sensual pleasure of the warm bath. But for so long she'd been focusing on the moment, and now she felt that she was forgetting the future.
*The future will be full of little things to hold our attention,* Jolinar assured, closing her eyes and exhaling slowly.
Given the post-battle mess they'd already seen, Sam couldn't help but agree with that.