CHAPTER 67
EPISODE………………..Beachhead
"We show no fear, Latal." a woman stated as she followed a small group of Jaffa that walked toward the gate in the middle of nowhere.
The gate was open and a Prior was standing near the DHD. The Jaffa all had on desert like clothes, similar but not the same like the Abydosians. She was the only one without a weapon.
"He is only one man. What is there to fear?" Latal said.
"He promised retribution if we did not bow before their gods when he returned." she said.
"The Jaffa have shed to much blood to replace one god with another." he said with anger as they rounded the small rock wall that was on either side of the gate. "We have made our decision and we will tell him."
They came around and activated their staff weapons as the bald Prior stood near the DHD whispering in prayer. He had one of the books in his hand.
"Have you come alone?" the Jaffa group leader asked.
"The Ori are with me always. You have read from the book of Origin."
"We have." the Jaffa said.
"What say you to the promise of the Ori?"
"We will hear no more of false gods. Go now, and we will spare your life." he said glancing at his men. The Prior didn't look happy.
"You speak for all?"
"We do."
"One way or another, this world will serve their purpose." the Prior stated. His staff started glowing seconds later.
"Jaffa!" the man yelled.
They all fired, but the blast hit some energy shield. They continued to do so for almost half a minute, doing nothing but hitting the shield. The Prior lifted the staff and hit the ground with the end. They instantly stopped firing and were thrown into the air and pushed back several miles, screaming as they flew away. Seconds later, a blue watery looking energy shield slowly came up around the area around the gate as the Prior held the book close to his chest and prayed. Soon it totally encompassed the gate making it impossible for anyone to come in. And the gate still continued to stay open.
It was about mid morning at the SGC. In a few more hours the sun would be coming up over the mountain. Guards were walking up and down the road into the mountain complex, just performing their duties. Inside the place was busy as usual. Ford was talking to a few SGC personal inside the Gate Control room as the Stargate activated and Walter closed the Iris.
"Unscheduled off world activation." he announced.
"Okay guys, we'll talk later." Ford said then turned away. "Know anything yet or is it one of ours?"
"Receiving a message General. It's text only." Walter said bringing it up on the screen.
"I wish I could read that fast." Ford said seeing it scroll by quickly. The gate suddenly shut off as whoever dialed closed the connection. "What the…."
"It's Goa'uld General."
"Bring it back up for me." he said sitting down.
"Should I call Doctor Jackson?"
"Not yet. Give me a moment to see what it is first."
Several lines later.
"Give me a few print outs. Daniel's going to need to see this."
"What does it say General?"
"Some Goa'uld, I've never heard of wants…..our help. That's why I need Daniel's help. I don't know who this guy is and don't have the time to check myself." he said walking away with the print out.
Vala, Teal'c, Daniel and Mitchell were all in the middle of playing basketball in the other gym for that sort of thing. Bouncing the ball off the wall and hitting it with a racket was another great game that people liked to play too. They were having a lot of fun, driveling the ball, Vala and Daniel making small threats from the sounds of it. Daniel passed the ball to Mitchell who went for it, but Teal'c stopped him. Ford caught the ball and spun it on a finger before holding it as he put his hanky away with the other hand.
"At ease Colonel. I'm not here for you, and you really don't have to do that all the time." he said seeing the Colonel stand at attention quickly. "I need Daniel or Teal'c. Whoever can answer this question. Who is Nerus?"
"Why?" Daniel asked breathing hard.
"Got some message from him asking for…..help. It came in Goa'uld."
"Oh." Daniel said.
Teal'c, as he usually always did, stood and placed his hands behind his back as he spoke.
"I am aware of his identity. He was a minor Goa'uld who served Ba'al for many centuries." Teal'c said with no tiredness in his voice.
"Must be very unimportant then if we've never heard of him." Ford said. "What does he do?"
"Honestly, you don't want to know." Vala said tiredly.
"I wouldn't have asked, Miss Doran, if I didn't want to know." he said crossing his arms, though holding the ball made it somewhat difficult. "I'm trying to give you some lenience and respect, don't make me take it away. So Teal'c what….wait, if you know him, answer my question then."
"He defines avarice and gluttony. That's simple." she said.
"Avarice? I don't know that word. But I'm going to guess with the other word, he's a large fat man."
"Indeed. He is know for many of his….appetites." Teal'c said.
"A very fat man. That doesn't explain why he wants….our help though."
"It might be because of his other reputation." Daniel stated also in a tired voice. "He's know for being the inventor of a host of Goa'uld technology."
"I would say that's very important then. Guess his inventions are worthless now that the Goa'uld are pretty much…gone. And he knows we would be in the market for them. The message now makes more sense to me."
"I'd have to agree with that, from the facts stated." Mitchell said. "What sort of help does he want?"
"Well, it's not really help he wants. And I doubt he's heard of my cooking reputation, but…..he wants to come work for us."
"What?" all but Teal'c said.
"He is not to be trusted." Teal'c stated.
"Kinda figured that T. In some ways we can't even trust the Tok'ra. Question is, should we bring him here? See what he has to offer?"
"Where's the message?" Daniel asked.
"Right here." Ford said placing the ball under his left arm and pulling rolled up papers out of the other pocket. "Get cleaned up first though and meet me in the briefing room. You'll all see it then."
"We'll be right there General."
"No real rush Colonel." he said rolling the ball a few times in his hands before tossing it. He missed as it sailed over the basket. "Oh well, I never liked sports anyway."
"Everything I've heard about him and he missed?" Mitchell muttered after Ford left.
"Well, he has admitted he's not perfect, which is a first for me to hear from any man." Vala said smiling. "All the other's have…."
"I think we get the picture." Daniel and Mitchell stated shutting her up.
When they got cleaned up and to the briefing room, Ford was sitting back in his chair, reading some Transformer comic book.
"Aren't you on duty General?"
"Yes Colonel. But I've read the message. You all haven't and until you do, I can't listen to any opinions. So until then….oh, help yourselves if you want." he said gesturing at the bowl of small bite sized chocolate bars. There was about a dozen small empty wrappers near him closed folder. "Besides, I'm well versed in the art of multi tasking."
They all sat down and opened the files. Vala grabbed a handful of the sweets and sat back. About ten minutes later.
"Wow, he really did make some nice mentions about us. Even about feeling honored to meet us and join us." Daniel said.
"Are you sure this is from a Goa'uld General?"
"It came in Goa'uld." Ford said walking into his office and dropping the book and then coming back. "Are you bored Vala?"
She had started walking around the room about five minutes ago.
"Yes. That man is disgusting. You shouldn't even bother bringing him here, unless you plan on torturing him." she said leaning on the chair at the end.
"I could if it became an emergency or something. But no, if he's true about his intentions, he'll get a V.I.P. room, and I'll make a few nice dishes. And we'll have some more technology. I only wish Sam was here to enjoy the moment. I'd have her asking all the questions to him."
"Is he on his way here then General?"
"Yeah Colonel." Ford said looking out the window. "He said something about military intelligence of the utmost urgency. I figured that it is worth looking into. If he's lying, we toss him in the brig for a few weeks, with bread and water."
"Oh." Vala said. "He'd hate that."
"That's the point." Ford said sitting down and grabbing another chocolate.
"Haven't you had enough of those?" Daniel asked.
"Sam isn't here to stop me." he said smiling.
"Ah. Now I see." Daniel said nodding as he grabbed a few.
"And you better not tell her I am eating these a lot."
"Why would he want to join us though? Why not stay with Ba'al or some other Goa'uld." Mitchell asked.
"We destroyed Anubis." Teal'c stated.
"Then the Replicators took out the System Lords, then we took out the Replicators." Daniel stated.
"Wow. We look cool." Mitchell said.
Ford couldn't help but laugh, lightly.
"I like that Colonel. You have a point. Depending on the planet, SG-1 is either revered or feared."
"Makes sense. So when is he showing up then?" Mitchell asked.
"SG-3 is checking him out at the moment, on another planet of course. They should be calling in soon and then he'll be brought here if he's safe."
"Unscheduled off world activation!"
"Good timing. Let's go." he said getting up and putting his glasses on.
After finding out it was SG-3 and finding out it was safe, Walter opened the Iris as the group walked down and stood in front of the ramp. SG-3 walked out with a slightly tall and very fat man in what looked to be an old Roman outfit. Kinda like those in those Julius Caesar plays. The group stood in a line at the base of the ramp as the others came off. Mitchell, Ford, Teal'c, Daniel and then Vala.
"Whoa. He is fat." Ford muttered.
"I wouldn't tell him that to his face." Daniel muttered.
"First Goa'uld I've heard or seen who didn't care about appearances."
"Indeed."
Ford took a few steps forward and stood on the end of the ramp crossing his arms.
"He's clean General." said one of the SG-3 members.
"Thank you Sergeant. We've got it now." Ford said.
"I am Nerus." Nerus said in a deep voice that almost sounded female.
"I am…"
"Yes, I am sure you are a very important person and have very important reasons to subject me to your security precautions." he said walking past Ford and up to Teal'c.
"He brushed me off." Ford said not turned around yet as the man kept speaking. He even mentioned it a few more times, under his breath, as the Nerus kept talking.
"But to meet you, to look upon the face of the one…" Nerus said waving a hand at Teal'c.
"The one what?" Mitchell asked as Ford spun around with a angry but confused look.
"The one who inspired the great uprising of course." Nerus said in awe. "The time of the false gods is at an end, in no small part, because of this man!"
He moved next to stand in front of Daniel.
"Doctor Daniel Jackson! It is rumored among the Goa'uld that you alone defeated Anubis!" he said with more awe. "Is that true?"
Daniel didn't look like he wanted to really be there anymore. He kept his arms crossed and listened anyway.
"Where did you hear that?" Daniel asked slowly.
"Oh, I hear everything." he said with a smile and laughed as he walked over to Mitchell and looked at him skeptically.
"Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell, leader of SG-1."
"But you're not…"
"No."
"Oh, will he be here?"
"No."
He was disappointed by the way he looked at the ground.
"And you're not even Colonel Carter are you?" he asked looking at Vala.
Vala lightly shook her head and wasn't sure how to take that.
"This isn't at all what I imagined it would be." he said with disappointment as he glanced around.
"Colonel Carter is at home, with her daughter right now. If you're looking for Major General O'Neill, he's at home…with his family, or doing paperwork." Ford said walking around him.
"Then where is this indomitable Major Ford Primus? Did he fall in battle or is also at home?" he asked looking around.
Several to most of the people around them laughed, though it was more chuckles than anything else.
"It's got to be the glasses." Ford said removing them. "I am that man. General Ford Carter now."
"Ah!" he said smiling. Though it dropped quickly. "The rumor of Colonel Carter being your wife is true then. You're not as fierce and evil looking as they said though." he said looking Ford over. "Or as tall."
"I don't how to take that." he said as his right eye twitched.
"With sincere admiration, I hope." he said not really smiling.
"Right. Let's go. We've got other teams that need to leave and other's coming in later." Ford said walking toward the door on the right of the Control room.
SG-3 followed him, just in case. They also carried a couple of crates that Nerus brought along with.
"Yes. Before we talk more, I require sustenance. Did you meet all my dietary requirements?" he asked following close behind Ford.
"I barely even knew what half that stuff was, so I just made the best we have."
"Oh, good, good. I am positively famished."
"I'll
bet." Ford muttered.
Daniel and the other's had weird and
confused looks as SG-3 left. Vala took off first following then the
other's went with.
On the planet with the Prior, other Jaffa showed up and were currently firing their staff weapons at the Prior. The shield continued to block the shots though, despite the Jaffa's efforts.
They were all in a V.I.P. room, just standing and watching as Nerus looked at the food. There were two airmen outside the room, standing guard. Teal'c and Mitchell had zat's on their hips, just in case, by Ford's order. Vala and Daniel had nothing. The table was covered in some of Ford's great dishes which Nerus had commented on the greatness of the smells as he entered the room. There was chicken ala king, chicken cordon bleu, different fruits at one end, a few nice and very expensive wines in the middle along with some varieties of pop, and a few very nice pasta dishes, ranging from chicken, beef and lamb. A large turkey with cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy. Dessert was a large round triple fudge chocolate cake, a few fruit pies, some chocolate mousse pudding and a big multi flavored Jello made in a upside down cake pan. There was even Ford's famous triple chocolate fudge brownies that he rarely made because they never lasted, ever. Usually because Carter and Daniel would take a lot of them, or all.
They would hide them in their desk and eat them later while working, Ford found out once. On one particular day, he made a whole pan, and then never found out where it went, till later of course. After he had made the pan, which could feed a couple dozen people or more, they had stolen the whole pan and ran away hiding it in Daniel's office. That's all they both ate that day, which made other people mad, including Janet who had a real fancy for them. As did most of the base. It had gotten so bad, he was lucky if he got to lick the spoon to even have any of them.
"Hey, are these those famous brownies of yours that you rarely make?" Mitchell asked.
"Yes."
"They are?!" Daniel asked.
"Only one Daniel. And it better be only one."
"It seems your other talents also including cooking General Carter." Nerus stated looking the table over.
"Well, moral went up when I started cooking everyday, instead of what the kitchen usually would cook. I could have been a famous chef if I wasn't here."
"What are these you say?"
"Brownies. They are a…delicacy. Especially around here. Daniel, I said only one." he stated harshly.
"I can't help it." he muttered around eating a second one.
"Don't make me order the Colonel to zat you."
"I can see why you don't make them all that often. Man that is sweet. But worth ever bite." Mitchell said after swallowing. "I can see why everyone wants them."
"I'm lucky I even got one this time."
"Incredible! The flavor is so intense! I have never tasted such sweetness in my entire life!!!" Nerus said.
"And they are so easy to make. Now, onto business Nerus."
"Yes, yes we do." he said clearing his throat. "Important matters to discuss."
"Your voice just changed." Mitchell stated as they all heard it sound normal suddenly.
"Oh, we don't have to talk that way." he said waving a hand and grabbing some device out of his box near the wall. "This is a device, that I invented."
"That was rather obvious already." Ford stated.
"Yes. Anyway," he setting it on the table where there was no food.
It had a triangular look and was flat on top. Very small and thin with a small round-ish part on the flat top. He pushed a button and a planet was projected above it about the size of a basketball. Despite being a hologram, it had pretty good detail.
"What you're about to see, occurred, two days ago. Now, the free Jaffa, who have claimed this planet, call it Kallana."
"What was that?" Vala asked eating a few of the grapes as she noticed something on the planet.
Teal'c walked up seeing it as well. He only knew more because of the intel he knew because he was Jaffa and on the council, somewhat.
"The formation of an extremely large force field around the planet's Stargate." Teal'c said.
"It's a Prior's doing isn't it?" Ford asked.
"Exactly." Nerus said.
"Why are you sharing this information with us? It can't be for the food since you haven't even seen stuff like this before." Mitchell said.
"Why are you so surprised?" Nerus asked with a happy voice. He always seemed happy and cheerful. "We joined forces to destroy the Replicators!"
"I have no recollection of your participation." Teal'c stated.
"Nor I. And I was on Dakara getting the weapon working." Ford said.
"Teal'c, you wound me." he said almost insulted. "I was the one that figured out how to make all the Stargate's activate in the galaxy at once."
"Figures that the Goa'uld would take credit for one of their own species ideas." Ford muttered.
"Ba'al did mention that, didn't he?" he said surprised and confused.
"Before today, we had never heard of you. Well, she had." Ford said. "Ba'al took credit for your idea."
"That is so like him." she said.
"Oh well. Not important anymore. Onto this." he said pushing a button on the device shutting it off as he sat down at the other end. "As you said, this is the work of the Prior and the Ori. And there is one inside the field, and it is expanding."
"Then it will soon be able to accommodate entire armies." Teal'c stated.
"We can't have that. So far no one has been able to even get close enough to touch a Prior in a way to harm them. Whatever their weakness is, we don't know it." Ford said.
"Yes. The other problem is that the Stargate has not shut it self down since it has been open." Nerus said.
"Wait, the gate has been open the last two days then?"
"That's not possible." Mitchell started saying.
"Ba'al did the same thing…no, sorry, it was Anubis. He fired some Ancient weapon or something of the Ancients at the gate making it stay open here so he could destroy the SGC." Ford said. "Remember people, this is the Ori, the evil version of the Ancients. They can bend the known rules when it comes to Stargate usage."
"How are we to do battle with an enemy so powerful?" Teal'c stated.
"With my help." Nerus said eating a few grapes. "Impressive! Grapes without seeds! How did you do that?!"
"Trade secret." Daniel said.
"So, what can you do to help us?" Ford asked as he smacked Daniel hand away from the brownies for the second time. "Keep it up and I will have you stunned."
"Every force field has a weakness." Nerus said sitting back. "And I am confident, that I shall find it."
Daniel nodded lightly, seeming unconvinced, then looked at Vala who shook her head not agreeing with him.
"General, if this intel is correct, it will mean a complete change of tactics." Mitchell said.
"I know. But seeing as this is a Jaffa world, despite the fact we want to help, we have to find out if they will let us help in their fight. Teal'c."
"I do not believe that the Jaffa will refuse the request for our participation in saving Kallana."
"In that case, what idea do you have in mind?" Ford asked walking over.
"Attack them as quickly as possible with as much force that you can bring to bear." he stated with conviction.
"Sounds like a typical plan that we would come up with."
"Quite possible true General, but in this case, you must stop them. This is an all out invasion. Like it or not, you're in a state of war."
"Yeah, they've already made that pretty clear to us. All right, I've got to make a few phone calls. You can eat away and if you come up with anything else, tell one of the airmen outside to call me. Let's go people, Daniel, there are other brownies in the kitchen I saved for you all personally. And yes, even you Vala. Now go."
Daniel practically bolted while she rushed out with a lesser pace. Mitchell smiled and walked out and Teal'c just nodded. As they all left though, they could hear Nerus commenting on how great the food was.
"Sam?" he asked slowly after the phone was picked up.
"Hey Ford. What's up?" she said cheerfully.
"We, need you here. I need you here." he said quietly as he looked down at his desk and had one hand on his forehead.
"What's wrong?" she asked worried.
He explained the situation and who was at the base now.
"I can see why you're worried. Unlike the Goa'uld and Replicators, along with everything else we've encountered, you can't do anything this time to stop them."
"Yeah. That about sums it up Sam. I can't come up with anything at the moment, mostly because of base duties, so I don't have the time to come up with a plan, though I'm trying. You're the smarter one and I know you're just fine now. Especially with that bet you made a few days ago."
"You almost made it for the full hour." she said chuckling.
"I…really can't do it Sam. The other's might be able to…maybe even this…Nerut, Neruc…whatever it was. But I trust you, I know you won't let me down. And I know K-9 can watch Sally in nursery or be up here with me. I can't do this without you anymore. Just not the same or as fun."
"Don't worry anymore. I'll be there. Don't tell anyone though." she said hearing the worry in his voice.
"Thank you Sam. Can't wait to see you. To make it look more formal and surprising, just come to the office and if anyone ask, say you're surprising me and tell them to keep quiet."
"Not a problem, sir." she said chuckling again.
"Thanks again. I love you."
"Love you too." she said then hung up.
After calling the President and telling him the situation, the President told him to inform General O'Neill about the details. He had other meetings to attend to.
"Yeah Jack, it's looking rather bad."
"Got to make those hard decision now huh?"
"Yeah. I've got the Prometheus going to the planet to have them bombard the hell out of it. What do you think I should do?"
"Wow. It must be serious if you're asking for help."
"If it is an invasion force like it sounds, there's nothing that can stop them if they get through."
"Have you tried calling Carter in?"
"Thinking about it. Thinking about calling the Daedalus home too. She's really happy with Sally and I don't want her worrying about the planet and all the other problems." he said smiling lightly.
"Well, she's still enlisted and you both knew the rules and regs and if a situation came up like this that…"
"Jack, I already called her."
"Then why did….you're just giving me a hard time."
Ford could almost swear he could see the glare through the phone.
"I couldn't help it. I seriously doubt Sara or Charlie gives you any trouble. Besides that, you were the only one here that I could do that to and I doubt anyone you work with now would even try teasing you."
"You got a point there. When will she be there anyway?"
"I think I hear K-9."
"Then I better go. Call back and let me know how things go. We should get one of those video phone things. So we can talk and see each other."
"Jack, you're actually talking about using technology that you might never understand?"
"Oh ha, ha. Very funny. Since those video games, he's gotten more into computers and stuff, so…."
"You find some good ones that work and then we can set them up in here. Good bye Jack."
"Bye."
"Hello K-9." he said standing up as K-9 rolled in and stopped near the desk.
"Master."
Carter came into his office with a baby stroller. Sally was giggling and waving her hands. She was in full uniform, the skirted one.
"Reporting as order sir." she said smiling mischievously and standing at attention.
"You don't have to do that." he said walking over saluting with her.
"I know." she said relaxing. "I do it not only because of it being natural and habit, but to see that look on your face. This is the only place you actually outrank me, technically."
They both hugged and then there was a light kiss.
"Turn around." she asked after they broke the kiss.
"What for?"
"I want to see something."
He was confused, but did it anyway.
"Just what I thought. You need a haircut. From behind, I'd swear you were a woman."
"You're not the only one to notice. I just haven't had time to get to it done. And I refuse to get a haircut like Jack."
"Please don't. You look terrible that way."
"I know." he said turning back around.
"But from the front it looks just fine." she said smiling.
"Hey princess. This is where daddy works." he said kneeling down and waving a finger that she grabbed and started sucking on.
"You've been eating a lot of chocolate again."
"How could you tell?" he said smiling at Sally as she giggled.
"The kiss, and the fact she's sucking your fingers."
"Well, I made those famous brownies."
"That was totally unfair Ford." she said offended. "You know how I love…wait, you got some set aside for me, right?"
"Only for my favorite and number one girl." he said seeing her face brighten quickly.
"Where are they?" she asked eagerly.
"Right here." he said pulling a plate of them out one of the desk drawers. "Had to hide them from everyone, including Daniel."
"I know. He loves them as bad as I do." she said sitting behind the desk and removing the saran wrap. "You spoil me rotten. Wait, if I'm number one, then oh….right, Sally."
"Right." he said sitting across from her. "You're worth being spoiled, and so is she."
"Flirt. Oh, why didn't you make these at home?" she asked around a brownie.
"You weren't home till recently and I haven't made them for months. Been to busy. You know I let them set for awhile before cooking and use a special ingredient. I still remember the first day I made them and had you guys try them. You and Daniel took the pan away and left before I got one. And then you chased me around the base begging for more."
"We figured if we were enough of a bother, you'd make them again." she said smiling.
"It was those puppy dog eyes you did and that pout that made me give in. Want anything to drink?"
"Yeah. But you don't need to leave.."
"There's a small fridge behind you there by the safe. I put it in recently so I'd have cold pop at hand and such. I even have a small carton of milk for when I'm into my Oreo stash." he said picking Sally up. She giggled more happily as he held her.
"After this, I'll start working."
"We'll start working. Can't wait to work by your side again."
"I'm guessing you don't have anything here to do then."
"Not at the moment. Besides, I have free time until Walter or someone else calls me up. I don't have any SG- teams coming in today, that I know of, and none leaving. Or I should say they already have."
"Ford, you've still got that SG-1 insignia on your coat."
"And I ain't taking it off." he said with a smile. "It's one of the originals."
"Is there an SG-1?"
"Currently, it is just me and Mitchell, officially. Daniel is taking a little more convincing and knowing you, it won't take long to have you say yes."
About an hour later, Daniel, Teal'c, Mitchell and Vala were in the Gate Control room. Walter was trying to dial the planet with the force field, but nothing was happening. It refused to connect on several tries. The Iris was closed and a dozen men were in the gate room with weapons ready, just in case. Ford, Carter and Sally were down in her office, trying to set it back up. He was also giving her all the details he knew about the current situation. The other's were surprised to see her back and Ford played the part saying he was practically shocked to see her show up in his office. They all got to talk to her for a few moments and see Sally before having to go back to work.
Which is why they all were currently in the Gate Control room getting ready to try and leave. Vala was complaining about Nerus at the moment. Ford and Carter where a few feet away talking in hushed tones as they stood near one of the glass window's with the galaxy gate map on it. Sally was asleep and being watched by K-9 in the nursery level. The group was all in gear for going off world, all in the black outfits.
"Chevron four encoded." Walter said as they locked.
"I promise you he's lying." she said.
"About which part?" Daniel asked.
"All of it."
"And yet, we have been unable to dial the coordinates for Kallana despite several attempts." Teal'c stated.
"Goa'uld don't do anything for anyone, unless it's for themselves." she stated.
"Maybe it's in his own interest to stop the Ori." Mitchell said.
"Chevron seven still will not lock." Walter said turning in his chair.
"Enough then Walter. It's not worth trying again. We're going with a new plan. Sam."
She had turned with him and walked over as he spoke. The other's turned around to hear what it was going to be.
"We've revised the original plan to expedite matters. The Prometheus is on route and we'll rendezvous at P4C 452. We'll proceed onto Kallana from there."
"I'd be going with, but just in case that….fat Goa'uld, which I don't trust, does something. I have to be here."
"I understand General. I'd rather have a home to come to anyway." Mitchell said.
"Me too. Go on Sam."
"Right. Considering this Prior's ability to keep the Stargate open and this shield up, the President has authorized the use of any and all means to complete the mission."
"Oh boy." Mitchell said with a moan. "And here I was hoping to have a nuke free career."
"Welcome to the club." he said smiling. But it wasn't a happy smile.
They all looked at him. Everyone looked at him.
"You blew up a nuke already? Since when?" she asked surprised.
"Story for another time. You all have a mission to go on with a possible time limit. So continue Colonel." he ordered.
Though he saw the look in her eyes and the expression on her face that stated she was going to be asking questions later. And if he didn't answer, he was not sleeping in the bed.
"With me and K-9's help, we developed something at Area 51 that according to all calculations, it should be able to stop them instantly." she said giving him a few glances.
"But you don't agree." Vala said.
"No, I don't. I don't think it's enough, but we have to try anyway."
"Unfortunately, it's all we have. So it's what we are going to use." Ford said. "Any questions or comments?"
Vala started raising her hand and Daniel grabbed it.
"No…" Mitchell went to say.
"What is it Miss Doran?"
"I have a first name, General, and I just want to say this is a bad idea and I don't think that Nerus is telling us everything."
"Noted. I don't trust him either. Which is why I'm staying. If he's lying, your can be assured, he'll pay for it."
"You're not going to kill him?"
"No Sam, just starve him, in a sense."
"Okay." she said frowning.
"Teal'c, anything from Dakara and that Council?"
"Nothing as of yet." he stated.
"Well, we can't wait for them then. Time is short. You all better head out before the Prometheus gets there and starts calling us to find out where you are. Walter, dial it up."
"On it General." he said sitting down and starting the program.
The others left the room heading down to the gate. Sam stayed a moment as he touched her arm.
"Sam, I'm going to assume you're going to stay on the ship." he asked quietly.
"Yeah. I plan on monitoring everything from the bridge." she said.
"Good. I was going to ask that you please not beam down. Be careful out there."
She nodded and walked out. Ford walked up to the window and watched as the gate dialed.
"Any last minute orders from the General Colonel?"
"No, just wishing us all good luck and to be careful." she said attaching her PC-90 like the rest of them were. Vala wasn't given a gun and she stood by the wall behind them.
"I am really glad to see you back here Sam." Daniel said.
"I missed the adventures. Besides that, Sally is more safer here than where some experiment could go wrong and blow Area 51 up, or worse, off the planet."
"There's that."
"I must say this is really good though. The band is back together." Mitchell said smiling. "Okay, minus one though. Maybe next time."
"Can't wait." she said.
"Same here." Daniel said.
"Is she coming because…."
"Yeah. Just in case and Ford ordered us to take her. Mostly in case." Daniel said.
"As soon as me and Daniel can part without him dying, then I'll be gone." she muttered.
"Everything okay or you all reminiscing?"
"Little bit of the second General." Mitchell said.
"I know. I wish I was going too. I now know how Jack felt. Now get out of here before we have to dial again." he said with a small laugh.
Vala walked past them all and then turned and pointed at the window.
"You're going to wish you listened to me mister. That Goa'uld shouldn't have ever been brought here."
"Look at it this way then Vala. If he is lying and causes trouble, we can rid the universe of another Goa'uld and he can't share his talent with anyone else."
"Oh, well, when you put it that way. Bringing him here was worth it then." she said then spun and walked up the ramp as she tossed some white scarf that was hanging around her neck, over her shoulder.
"All right, lets do this." Mitchell said. They all walked up and through. Once the gate was down.
"Walter, I want several airmen outside the corridors that go to…Nerus's room. Just in case. He tries anything and a zat doesn't take him down in the first shot, use lethal force and have me called."
"Good idea General. I'll get right on it."
Above a planet in a distant area of space, they arrived through the gate and didn't have to wait long. Prometheus came out of hyperspace, contacted them and beamed them up instantly. The Colonel in charge of the ship came down to greet them as they exited the transporter room. (A.U. I'm not sure, but I think this was the same Colonel that was in charge of the Prometheus before Hammond tried to go to Atlantis.)
"Permission to come aboard sir?" he asked saluting with Carter.
"Shaft! Welcome back aboard Prometheus." the Colonel said happily.
"Thank you Colonel."
"Shaft?" Carter asked in a whisper as they walked.
"It's my call sign. Cam…Shaft."
"Oh." she said not amused and somewhat not surprised.
"Yes, disappointing, isn't it." Vala said standing in the middle of them all.
"Bridge, this is Pendergast, SG-1 is aboard, engage the hyperdrive to Kallana, best possible speed." the Colonel said through a phone on the wall. He hung it up and turned back to them.
"Is the Mark IX ready to go?" Carter asked.
"It's standing by for a systems check Colonel. I hear you are in a hurry."
"You heard correctly." Teal'c stated.
"What is a Mark IX exactly?" Vala asked as they walked up to a closed door that the Colonel was putting his card into.
"It's also known as the 'Gatebuster'." Mitchell said.
"Hmm, sounds big." she said.
"Some might say too big." Mitchell said with a hint in his voice that he didn't like the weapon.
"Really? I always thought there was no such thing." she said fiddling with the ends of the scarf.
"Vala, this is a military vessel." Daniel said taking the scarf from the back of her neck. The others continued on as the door opened.
"I know darling, I've stolen it before." she said smiling.
"Well, let's try to be ah…"
"My charming self?"
"A little less talk and a little more shut the hell up." he said with a order like tone and then walked away. She followed a moment later and entered the elevator with them.
"Shaft? Not as strange as Ford's. At least he explained his better." she muttered.
"The General had a call sign? What was it?"
"Has a call sign. It's Breaker."
"I don't get it." Daniel said.
"Certainly different." Pendergast said.
"What does it mean?" Mitchell asked.
"You'll have to ask him that." she said with a small smile.
Daniel heard the tone and realized she wasn't going to say more and stopped Mitchell before he could ask. Moments later, the ship jumped into hyperspace.
Back at the SGC, night time had fallen. Ford couldn't go home, which he didn't really mind. After a little feeding, changing and some quality time, which only lasted about half an hour with Sally before putting her to bed for the night, he went to check on their….guest.
Ford walked through the drapes that had been put up to make the room seem more like home to Nerus. The man was still eating, the same food he had made earlier.
"General! Everything you have made here is incredible!" he exclaimed happily as he held up a piece of chicken then gestured at the wine. "Have some wine! It's from a place called, France."
"Can't. Other than I'm working still, me and alcohol don't get along well. But rest assured, you're drinking the best on the planet. France makes the most wine…or did the last time I heard anyway." Ford said walking toward the end of the table. He was hoping the brownies weren't gone, but the plate looked like it was licked clean.
"What is this? It is incredibly exquisite!"
"It's called chicken. About the dumbest animal on the planet, but makes good eating. One of the few bird species that can't really fly well."
"I want more!"
"That can be arranged. Someone else will be doing the cooking though."
He nodded and kept eating.
"So, what do you have for us? We feed you and give you shelter, you said you'd give in help in return. No offense, but I know how great my cooking is, but it looks like all you've done is eat."
"No, I…I was in deep thought when you came in."
"Right. Which was?" he asked sitting down near the other end.
"You don't trust me do you?"
"Not many people do. I trust the Tok'ra, to some extent, but lately, they haven't been much help. So you being a Goa'uld, and we've never gotten along well with any of them, well…."
"Maybe this well help alleviate your fears. This is the latest transmission from my satellite." he said pushing a button on the triangular device again.
"Except for the lush greenness, water and other life, it almost looks like the Death Star." Ford muttered walking over.
"Death Star?"
"Movie joke. Forget it. What have you learned?"
"As you can see, the force field continues to grow in phases and as it does, it weakens considerably."
"Larger it gets, the more power it needs to keep it stronger. By why would they want to expand it, unless there is people or Priors slowly entering…."
"It's possible. But I cannot scan the interior of the shield to see for any other life signs." he said quickly.
"Hmmm. This weakness in the field would allow us to use our transporters to beam in, plant a bomb and beam out?"
"Yes. Exactly! One of those nuke devices of yours that you talked about." he said waving a finger.
"Knowing Mitchell and them, they may try to talk to the Prior, or Priors."
"Why? Why would they want to do that?" he asked taken aback.
"We only use force as a last resort. Personally, I'd put a bullet in the guys head, but we like to try peaceful solutions first. Peaceful co-existence is a preferable solution to war. A lot more can get accomplished when people or other races become allies."
"A futile effort here General. You must use your full arsenal to end this invasion before it begins. Your most powerful arsenal."
"They are already on it. I'll let them know what you said and have some more chicken brought in."
"Any possibility on those…brown things?"
"Unfortunately no. My own people might ravage me first. Not to mention Carter and Daniel." he said leaving as Nerus continued eating.
Prometheus dropped out of hyperspace just above the planet. As they pulled the ship into a long range orbit, they could see the large blue shield. SG-1 was on the bridge at the moment. Daniel and Vala were near the console on the Colonel right. Carter was behind the Colonel's chair rubbing her chin, apparently in deep thought. Teal'c and Cameron were coming up to the forward section of the bridge, from the back.
"Sir, we received a encrypted data burst from Stargate command. We received it after coming out of hyperspace." a man said sitting off to the Colonel's right.
"Decode it immediately. Are we picking up any vessels in the system?"
"Nothing yet sir."
"Can we get a closer look at the surface?" Mitchell asked walking up near Carter. She moved over and sat down at the console on the Colonel left.
"You can already see the extent of the incursion with the naked eye." she said pushing a few buttons to read data and bring up other information on the screen in front of her.
"My god, it's enormous." Vala exclaimed glancing at the readout's and pictures from the right side console. She looked up seeing Daniel was glaring. "Not everything I see is an innuendo."
"We can all see, thank you." he said grabbing both her arms and pushing her off the bridge.
"It's increased by almost 900 since our original intel." Carter exclaimed as she looked at the readouts.
"What of the Jaffa Colonel Carter?" Teal'c asked.
A few more button pushes.
"Sorry Teal'c. I'm not detecting any life signs outside the force field."
"Inside?" Mitchell asked.
"Just one."
"A Prior." Mitchell muttered.
"I don't know how he's managing it. According to these readings, the atmosphere inside the force field has become toxic, probably as a result of the Jaffa weapons fire on the force field." she said looking over at Teal'c.
"Send a subspace message to Stargate Command. We are over the enemy beachhead."
The Prior was standing just about the middle of in between the DHD and the open gate. The air had a blue tint to it, and a thick fog on the ground. He was holding his staff and reading from the book of Origin. Up in Prometheus, they were getting into space suits to beam down. They had all looked at the message and Carter suspected something was up as well and voiced it so after the message, but since they had no other plans and this still seemed like the best idea, they were going to continue with using the Gate buster bomb. They were talking and checking the suits over at the moment
"You do realize, that no matter how nicely we ask them, they are more than likely not going to stop." Daniel stated as he sat on one of the metal benches.
Mitchell was currently looking at the operational manual for the Mark IX bomb. The bomb was huge, about five feet long and at least two feet wide. Black and red were the primary colors and it had several symbols on it showing it was a nuclear bomb, naquada enhanced.
"Then why are we going down there?" Vala asked standing near one of the suits that Carter was looking at.
"Well, you're going because I'm going." Daniel said.
"And we're going because we have orders." Mitchell stated not looking up from the book.
"Thanks to Nerus. Doesn't that alarm anyone?" Vala asked playing with one of the arms of the suit.
"Our government believes we need to send the Ori a message." Carter said with worry.
"Indeed. The Ori need to be made aware that they are not welcome." Teal'c said still looking his suit over. He was feeling it and pushing some of the buttons on the outside.
"Well, some of you certainly are the expert at getting that message across." Vala said looking at a certain someone.
Daniel only looked back at her with a glare. The door to the room opened and some of the crew came in to help the SG members that were going down to the planet into the suits.
"SG-1, this is the flight deck. My people predict the next expansion phase is to occur in the next several minutes." the Colonel said through the ship com to them.
"Understood." Carter reported back.
Daniel, Vala and Teal'c all got near their suits and were being helped in as Carter sat down on the bench talking to Mitchell. He stood up though and set the book aside.
"If Nerus is correct, we should be able to punch through with our transporters."
"And if we're not?" Vala asked.
"Then we're all dressed up with nowhere to go." Mitchell said.
"Your return window will be roughly sixteen seconds when you reach the surface." Carter said. "After which time, you'll be committed until the next expansion phase in about half an hour. I'll be monitoring everything on the bridge."
"Thanks." Mitchell said looking the bomb over. "Let's do this."
She got up and grabbed a key on the bomb. He grabbed a similar one right next to it.
"Standby mode, in three, two, one, mark."
They turned them both at the same time and heard the bomb hum. A small bar of light lit up just under the keys signaling its activation.
"Good luck." she said then walked out.
Mitchell walked over to his suit and climbed the small stairs to get into it from the back just like everyone else. After a brief and normally short walk, but turned out long walk because of the restrictedness of the suits, they made it to the transporter room.
The Prior was still standing in the same spot, reading the book as the four beamed down with the bomb in the middle of them. They were several feet from the DHD. Mitchell reached over, turned the keys again and pushed a button. It hummed a little louder now.
"Set. Weapon is now in mode two." he said then looked at his built in the arm watch. "We are go until the next window."
The Prior didn't even acknowledge them and kept reading as they started walking toward him.
"How can he breathe?" Daniel wondered aloud.
"Perhaps he has a personal shield of some kind." Teal'c said.
They passed the DHD and kept walking up, and he still didn't move or stop reading.
"Yo. My name is Lieutenant Cameron Colonel Mitchell…"
"I know who you are." the Prior stated as he turned to them and lowered his book.
"Yeah, he just told you his name." Daniel said jerking a thumb at Mitchell.
"I also know you will do everything in your power to stop us."
"Obvious." Mitchell said almost rolling his eyes.
"You will fail. The Ori are more powerful than you…."
"Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah." Mitchell said interrupting him. "Here's the thing, we're not here to talk to you. We want to talk to the guys you take orders from."
"The Ori, are all seeing."
"Great. In that case, we have in our possession a Mark IX, Naquada enhanced nuclear warhead, which was designed solely for the purposes of vaporizing Stargate's and anything else within a hundred mile radius." Mitchell stated. "If you attempt to disable this warhead, physically, electronically or otherwise, it will result in immediate detonation. Now, we have at our disposal a number of these god awful things, and we will not hesitate to use them if necessary."
"Now, if you do not disengage the Stargate within 30 of our 'Earth minutes'." he said making a gesture with his fingers around the words Earth minutes. "We will shut down the gate for you. Go ahead."
Daniel was watching him speak then noticed the last words were for him to now talk. Daniel gave him a look and Mitchell waved at him to say something.
"Uh, we know who and what you are, and we don't want any part of your offer. If you attempt this on any other planet in this galaxy, we will find you and we will fight you."
"That's it?" Mitchell asked after Daniel didn't say anything more.
He nodded.
"I just gave them thirty minutes."
Daniel shrugged, but it was barely noticeable. The Prior just kept looking at them, not caring. There was a electronic beep in their suits.
"Twenty nine minutes."
They turned away and looked at each other.
"Earth minutes?" Daniel said.
"Yeah, I always wanted to say that."
"Well, now you have." Vala said.
Mitchell grunted, mostly ignoring her. The Prior opened his book back up and went back to reading.
"I sure hope they shut that gate down before we have to shut this thing off." Mitchell said looking back a moment.
"That would appear to be highly unlikely Colonel Mitchell." Teal'c stated.
"I know. It's naïve even for you." Vala said.
"Detonating the largest warhead ever created by man is not the historical footnote that I had in mind."
"Not only that, but the vaporizing of a perfectly good Stargate." Daniel said.
"And that guy." Mitchell said jerking a thumb.
"Oh, he's probably looking forward to it." Vala said looking at him.
"Hey Prior," Mitchell said turning around. "You understand that your within a hundred mile radius? And that personal shield isn't going to help you."
"Death is only the beginning of the journey." the Prior said lowering his book.
"Sounds familiar." Daniel said sarcastically.
"It should sound familiar Doctor Jackson. When I die, I will ascend. It is the promise of the Ori."
"Even if you fail your task?" Teal'c asked.
They all looked up as flashes of light hit the shield above them. Numerous flashes.
"What the hell is that?" Mitchell exclaimed as he looked around.
Out in space, three motherships, controlled by the Jaffa came out of hyperspace in front of the Prometheus and instantly opened fire on the shield.
"Lieutenant?" the Colonel asked quickly.
"There was no warning sir. They started firing the second they came out of hyperspace." the man on the Colonel's right said.
Carter was watching for a moment, then started working on her console.
"Damn fortunate they aren't firing at us. Open communications. To the Jaffa vessels, this is the Earth ship Prometheus. We request that you hold your fire, we have people down there."
The ships continued to send barrage after barrage of plasma bolts at the shield.
"I repeat, SG-1 is on the planet trying to negotiate a Ori withdrawal Cease fire now."
SG-1 continued to look around trying to figure out what it was.
"The force field is being fired upon by Hal'tak vessels." Teal'c stated after realizing what it was.
"Why are they doing that?" Mitchell exclaimed loudly. The noise of the impacts were a little loud.
"Can we get them to stop doing that?" Vala asked.
"This is really bad. The Mark IX's fuse in mode two is a wee bit twitchy."
"So it could go off?!" Vala exclaimed.
"Yeah." Mitchell said walking to the bomb.
Carter continued to look at her console and breathed a sigh of relief.
"They stopped firing." she said. The Colonel also breathed a sigh of relief.
"Sir, the force field is going to go into a expansion phase well before the predicted time."
"This is Pendergast, I want SG-1 beamed up as soon as the next window is open." he said opening a channel to the transporter room. He then switched channels. "SG-1, prepare for immediate extraction."
They all heard the message as Mitchell was working on the Mark IX.
"The weapon is now in mode one. Prometheus, we are ready for beam up." he said through his com. "Prior, last chance."
The Prior turned away and walked toward the gate. Daniel shrugged and looked onward as they were beamed back to the ship. As SG-1 was getting out of their suits, the people on the bridge were looking at the leader of the Jaffa ships.
"I am Gerak, leader of the Jaffa. Why have you come here?" he asked sitting in the command chair.
Carter got up, after the Colonel nodded to her.
"My name is Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter."
"By insisting that we cease fire on the enemy stronghold, you've allowed it to expand even further, making us loose the element of surprise." Gerak said with contempt.
God, Ford was right. This guy was is a jerk. she thought.
"And quite possibly saved the lives of SG-1." she stated.
"I ask again…why have you come to this world?" he asked forcefully.
"We have reason to believe that the Ori are attempting to use this planet to stage a full scale invasion." she said as Teal'c and them came onto the bridge. The other three stood just behind the Colonel's chair as Teal'c kept walking.
"And you hoped to repel this invasion with words?" he said in disgust. "There is more to this."
"Words are often the most powerful weapons, Gerak." Teal'c stated standing next to her. "The old ways will not stop a adversary as powerful as the Ori."
"So you said, in your message to the high council, Teal'c."
"To which we received no response." Teal'c stated.
"We had no choice but to act on the information we had." Carter said.
"And how it is, that the Tauri learned of this information, even before the Council?" Gerak asked. Teal'c started to say something.
"Uh, how we got this information is not important." Daniel said quickly. "What is important is how we stand together as allies in the face of our common enemy."
Down on the planet, three bars of light that stretched in and out started going faster and faster. The Prior turned and walked up to the gate and placed a hand on it while holding the book and his staff with the other.
"You've said you've come to fight."
"We have." Mitchell stated. Gerak could see most of the bridge, the central part around the Colonel's chair anyway.
"I have dispatched a ship. A cloaked cargo vessel. It tells me, you have done nothing." he said with distain.
"We are sending a message to the Ori, which they should receive in about…" Mitchell said looking at his watch. "Ten seconds."
"Shields to maximum!" the Colonel said.
Alarms blared as everyone got into positions. Carter sat back down as the Colonel informed Gerak that he should do the same and prepare for a blast wave. He did so and cut the connection.
"Five seconds." Mitchell said holding onto the console and the back of the Colonel's chair.
One the planet, the flashing lights grew faster and faster, then they stopped as it detonated. From space, they saw the massive explosion and watched as the shield started growing quickly. Carter looked at the planet then at her screen confused.
"Sir, the force field went into another expansion phase as the bomb detonated." the Lieutenant said. "And it's a big one."
Gerak got out of his chair as the two Jaffa one the bridge kept going back and forth taking readings.
"What is happening?!"
"The force field continues to expand." Teal'c stated as he watched a monitor.
"It isn't suppose to be doing that." Vala said.
"No." Daniel said worried.
"Why is it doing that?" she asked.
"Shut up!" he hissed.
"That was a multi-gigaton detonation." Carter said pushing a few buttons. "There's just no way…"
"Maybe the gate was destroyed." Daniel said hopefully.
"No." Mitchell said. "The field is still expanding, the gate still has to be active."
"The environment inside the field has been turned into super heated plasma." Carter said. "It makes it impossible to get a reliable reading."
"And this was your message to the Ori?" Gerak said with even more distain as he came back on the screen.
"Pithy, wasn't it?" Vala said.
"We struck the enemy with our most powerful weapon." Teal'c said.
"And yet, their force field grows."
"That was not our intention."
"Their beachhead must be destroyed. If you are truly our ally, you will join us in this attack." he said forcefully. "If you do not, your ship will become our next target."
The screen shut off as the Hal'taks opened fire on the planet again.
"Um, should we keep this information to ourselves?" Daniel lightly asked.
"Why Doctor Jackson?" Pendergast asked.
"I don't understand, what information?" Vala asked.
"You all know how protective Ford is and such."
There was several ah's as they realized what he meant.
"Sir, the Jaffa have opened fire again."
"Well, the detonation did weaken the force field. Our combined weapons just might finish the job." Pendergast said seeing Carter's screen read out.
"If it does not, we will soon be engaged in battle with Gerak's forces." Teal'c stated as he walked up and stood behind the Lieutenants chair.
"Sam?" Daniel asked.
"We just don't have enough information. Until I can explain how they are keeping the gate open and powering a force field this large…." she said shaking her head then looking at Mitchell. "It's your call."
"I say we run away and rethink the whole thing." Vala said waving her hand.
Mitchell glared at her as he thought and walked up to Carter's station.
"Open up with everything we got." he said, but was noticeably not really sure it was the best idea.
The Colonel looked at Carter and then the Lieutenant as he weighed the decision.
"Bring the main rail guns online and launch missiles."
More alarms went off as the lights dimmed signaling the ship went into battle mode. Several dozen missiles came flying for the top of the ship and flew past the Hal'taks heading for the shield.
"Is the firing having any effect?" Pendergast asked.
"The force field is definitely loosing strength." the Lieutenant said.
"But it's still expanding at a fast rate than it's weakening." Carter exclaimed with confusion.
"It's almost enveloped the entire planet." Daniel said seeing her screen. "What happens then?"
Carter then realized what was happening and it was not good.
"Damn it!"
"What?" both Daniel and Vala asked.
"Colonel! We need to stop firing at the planet, now!"
"Now!" Mitchell shouted.
"Do it!" Pendergast ordered.
The Lieutenant hit the buttons and the weapons quit firing.
"The greater the intensity of our weapons fire, the greater and more frequent the expansion phases. There is a direct correlation. They are using the energy of our own weapons to built their beachhead." she stated.
"You mean they planned this?" Vala asked in surprise as Mitchell looked like he was biting back a rather ugly retort.
"There is no way to project the necessary power through a Stargate, across galaxies, so they devised a force field that would be powered by our own weapons." she said.
"The Ori knew the Jaffa of Kallana would defend their home world and that other's would follow." Teal'c said.
"And Nerus made sure we joined in." Daniel said angrily.
"Which means he's working for the Ori." Mitchell said with anger as he rolled his head holding back another ugly response.
"The Mark IX gave them almost 70 of the power they needed to envelop the entire planet." Carter said shaking her head.
"Oh yeah, we've been set up." Mitchell said angrily.
"What a complete shock." Vala exclaimed with a tone that said she told them so. They are looked at her with contempt. "Won't say another word."
"Gerak's forces must also cease fire." Teal'c said.
"Open communications." the Colonel said.
"Too late." Daniel said watching as the planet was totally enveloped by the field before them.
There was a beeping noise coming from one of the consoles. Carter checked it out quickly and was surprised the gate was active.
"I'm reading activity on the surface. We've got incoming."
The gate had been knocked over, but it was still active and though looked like it was in the state of melting away, it stayed open as objects shot out at a incredibly fast rate.
"Three objects and counting. Bearing one-eight-zero. Rising from the planets surface from the coordinates of the Stargate and accelerating." she said as Mitchell bent down looking at the screen.
"Shields to maximum!" Pendergast ordered quickly.
"Why have you ceased fire?!" Gerak asked as he came on the screen again.
"We have reason to believe that our weapons may power the enemy force field." Teal'c said.
"Impossible!"
"That's what I thought, but it is the only explanation." Carter said.
"Gerak, they used both of us!" Daniel exclaimed.
There was a beeping noise that came from Gerak's ship. He turned to his Jaffa and the screen went off.
"Multiple contacts on multiple bearings sir." the Lieutenant said.
"What they hell are they?" Mitchell asked.
"They're about ten meter's long. But sensors read no intel space and no life signs aboard." she said.
"Rail guns to defensive mode, stand by to launch fighters." Pendergast ordered.
The alarms in the ship sounded off for impact warning. On the screen, a text message flashed the words, prepare for impact.
"One of them is on a collision course." the Lieutenant said.
"I can confirm that. 1000 meters! 500!" Carter said.
"Sublight engines to emergency thrust!"
The Prometheus slowly backed up as they watched the unknown objects come racing at them. A couple struck one of the Hal'taks and it was instantly destroyed. Its shields never saving it. Other's raced by and the one that was headed for the Prometheus glanced off the shields as the ship kept moving. Inside the ship, it was almost like a earthquake. Panels and consoles erupted with sparks and fires. Vents started spewing out air and other gases as the ship was damaged pretty badly. The shields held, but just barely. Everyone grabbed what they could to keep from falling, though some people were knocked down and around anyway. It only lasted a few seconds.
"Damage report!" Pendergast yelled.
"There's a hull breach on the hanger deck. Shields are down to 20." the Lieutenant said.
"Return fire, all positions!"
"Sensors are down!" carter exclaimed over the blaring alarms.
"Take us out of orbit. We can't stay here." the Colonel said reluctantly. "Send a message to the SGC and inform them of what has transpired. Everything."
"Everything?" Daniel asked.
"Everything Doctor."
"General, we are getting another message from the Prometheus."
"Oh, good. Let's hope it's good news saying the bomb worked." Ford said happily as he sat down and read the information.
Walter was just sitting there, waiting to hear the results or if the gate suddenly activated. He noticed Ford's smiled drop and a look he didn't like, a look that made him cringe just like everyone else that saw it did.
"General?" he asked quietly.
"I want Reynolds and his team at that Goa'uld's room, yesterday." Ford growled out as he pulled one of his guns and cocked it with a quick jerk with one hand.
"Ah, yes General." he said getting up and grabbing the phone quickly as Ford stormed out of the room.
Everyone that was walking the hallways saw him coming and the look on his face. They got out of the way quickly as he stormed through with his gun held up. Colonel Reynolds and his team were coming around the corner as they heard three rounds from Ford's gun go off. They ran in to find the fat Goa'uld against the wall with Ford's gun pointed at him. The table was missing two legs and was broken in half. Most of the food was eaten, but what was left was not scattered across the floor.
"You bastard! You used us and placed not only the Prometheus and her crew in danger, but also my friends and more importantly, my wife! You have no idea how much I want beat the hell out of you!"
Nerus barely flinched and laughed lightly.
"General. I assume that SG-1 has reported that the Ori, the closest things to true gods in this entire universe, have successfully established a permanent foothold."
"How did you do it?" Ford growled.
"What I have done General? It's what you have done. What I did pales in comparison. By now the force field has completely enclosed the entire planet. Which makes them unstoppable!" he said with a small laugh then changed his voice. "And we couldn't have done it without you."
The backhand that made the fat man actually get lifted off the ground and tossed a few feet away surprised Reynolds and his team. It wasn't really the fact that they never saw Ford's arm move that fast and not actually see it happen, but the fact he struck so hard, it moved that much weight.
"Take this sorry excuse for a sentient life to the brig. Zat him first, just in case. Make sure he has no access to anything and keep several guards outside the room. And I don't give a damn what he ask for, don't answer him or give him anything." he growled out loudly. "And do not let medical at him. If Lam says anything, tell her to report to me."
"Understood General." Reynolds said calling for extra men and the zat gun as Ford walked out.
People were working on trying to repair the damage on the ship. Mitchell was looking around with a flashlight since most of the lights weren't working on the bridge at the moment. Gerak was on the screen.
"Two of my ships have been destroyed and my flagship has been damaged. We must withdraw." Gerak reported to them.
"We too have suffered damage Gerak. But the battle is not yet over." Teal'c said.
"Our sensors tell us, that the planet has begun to collapse. We cannot tell you to what extent. If you choose to remain to find out, know that your actions will be watched."
"Hey, we are on the same side here." Mitchell stated.
"We shall see." Gerak said skeptically.
The screen was then cut off and they watched the ship leave orbit and fly away.
"What is he talking about?" Mitchell asked looking at Daniel.
Daniel shook his head unsure.
"He's leaving!" Vala said with a tone the meant, why aren't we.
"We've got the sensors back up, but we're going to have to get closer to the planet to find out." Carter reported.
"Okay, bring us about. Take us back into the system." Pendergast ordered.
"Okay, I've got a fix on the planet. Gerak was right. According to the sensors, the planet's diameter has decreased by 16."
"Planets don't shrink in my experience." Vala muttered crossing her arms.
"Oh, there's something else." she said as the sensors showed something being made just above the planet by the objects leaving the gate.
"What is that?" Mitchell asked looking at her screen intently.
"A ship?" Daniel asked looking as well. Teal'c came over and looked by Mitchell's side.
"I don't know. Whatever it is, it's composed of whatever those objects are that came through the Stargate." she said.
The ship got closer seeing the objects forming what looked like some giant ring. It was big enough that a couple Goa'uld vessels could pass through it easily.
"Hey, doesn't that look a lot like…" Daniel started saying.
"Yeah, it does." Mitchell said.
"In fact, I think that's just what it is." Carter said looking out the window seeing it as well.
"No, it can't be. Because I was going to say, 'Stargate'."
"Try, super gate." she said. "I estimate that it is 300 or 400 meter's across."
"Large enough to pass through an entire armada." Teal'C said.
"It's incomplete. There's still time." Vala said looking at the Lieutenants screen.
"Time? Time to do what? Everything we've done has just made things worse!" Daniel exclaimed.
"The planet's diameter has now decreased up to 50." the Lieutenant reported. "And it's accelerating rapidly."
"I think I know why. Only one thing in the universe could power a gate that size." Carter said waving a hand at the windows. "And it's the only thing that could allow them to keep the gate open this long. And there's one on the other end."
"A black hole." Daniel said with some horror as he realized the implication.
"That's what the force field was for. It wasn't meant to keep us out. It was designed to collapse the planet into a micro singularity."
"Why?" Mitchell asked.
"Well, this is how they can create a wormhole that could extend such a vast distance." she said pointing at the screen. "With a black hole open at either end, that can maintain a wormhole indefinitely."
"Right, right. Now, how do we stop it?"
"I have an idea, if we could…" Vala started mentioning.
"The next idea that anybody comes up with has to be outside the box." Daniel said ignoring her.
"The gate is composed of individual units." Carter said. "There must be some sort of energy linkage between them, like a, like a chain."
"Exactly! So we need…" Vala tried to say again but Mitchell spoke up. They just ignored her.
"So we need a big O'l set of bolt cutters."
Vala sighed and rushed off the bridge.
"The planetary collapse is speeding up exponentially." Carter said reading the screen. "I estimate a singularity is minutes away and there will be a significant shockwave. If we are going to do something, we have to do it now."
"Sir, someone just activated the ring transporter." the Lieutenant said.
"What?" Pendergast asked in confusion.
Daniel looked around quickly.
"Oh no." he muttered.
There was only one Jaffa on the cargo ship and he was watching the events unfold, that was until he heard the rings activate. He set the ship on autopilot and got up to go into the back and look around. Vala shot in him the back with a zat gun before he even noticed then rushed up to the main console.
"Hey, don't leave without me." she said after pushing some buttons near the door that activated the communications.
"Vala! Where the hell are you?!" Daniel asked loudly.
"Oh, you care now?" she asked sitting in the seat.
"Vala!"
"I'm aboard the cloaked cargo ship that Gerak left behind to watch over us." she said activating the flight controls.
"How did you find it?!"
"Good guess. When the controls are set a certain way, the rings seek out the nearest set, which happen to be aboard this cargo ship, cloaked or not."
"What are you doing?"
"Trying to help Daniel. Someone had to do something and you just wouldn't listen. Actually, I got the idea from Colonel Carter. The objects are being held in some sort of energy field, like links in a chain. And I intended to take the place of the last link."
"Vala, when that singularity forms, there will be an intense shockwave. The cargo ship won't survive." Carter said.
"I'm counting on it. I'll ring back before it arrives and then you can all thank me immensely." she said moving the ship forward and getting it ready to get into the last link area at the top.
"Shields to maximum." the Colonel ordered.
"She's running out of time." Carter said watching as the last piece started getting nearer to the last place.
She parked the ship just in the right place and felt as the large ring started having trouble accepting the wrong part. The whole ring started to malfunction as electrical energy sparked across the entire surface.
"Oh boy." she said running to the back.
"It's working." Carter said seeing the screen tell her there was a problem with the ring. "She disrupted the energy field holding the object in place."
The electrical trouble continued to grow as it tried but failed to make it's function happen.
"The singularity is forming." Carter reported.
Vala ran for the rings, hit the button and ran into the middle as the ship rocked and sparked as the currents ran through it. The rings came down around her as the ship couldn't handle the current and the shockwave. The singularity formed then exploded and instead of the super gate absorbing the power and opening, the whole thing exploded. Everyone on the Prometheus cheered loudly, with the exception of SG-1.
"She did it, the gate's been destroyed." Carter said with some shock.
"Did Vala make it back?" Daniel asked looking around.
"Negative sir." the Lieutenant reported.
Daniel swallowed and then started to loose his footing. Mitchell grabbed Daniel before he fell.
"To the infirmary." Mitchell said holding him up with Teal'cs help.
"Contact Stargate command." Carter said getting up. "The Ori beach has been destroyed."
She ran off to see how Daniel was doing as well.
Nerus was now in the brig, with hand cuffs and supporting a large bruise on his face that was slowly healing. The door was opened forcefully as Ford walked in with a pissed off look.
"Ah, General. Very soon you will be destroyed with the rest of the unbelievers. Too bad about your friends, and your wife." he said with fake sorrow.
The evil and death like look the Nerus saw in Ford's eyes went away quickly as he sat on the table and smiled. And then laughed.
"Well, that would be the case, but gosh dang, and hot damn and all that stuff. SG-1 pulled it off like they always do and destroyed the beachhead. Sad I wasn't there to witness it, but oh well."
"Nice try General, but you're lying." he said chuckling.
"Not this time porky. In this case, the fat man isn't the one singing. You lose."
"Even if it is true, you're only delaying the evitable. I have seen their power and when I have it as well, then I shall be a god."
"Not going to happen smartass. We won this round just like the others."
"It doesn't matter General." he said standing with a smile. "They will win in the end. And when you kill me, I shall ascend."
Ford laughed again, hard. He stood up and turned away then back quickly.
"Kill you? You wish and I'd really love to do that, only because I hate being stabbed in the back and hate it more when friends and family are put in danger." he said menacingly as he shoved the table into the man's gut making him sit down again. "I haven't been to hell, or So'kar if you want to say that place instead. But you shall experience it here on this planet. You're going to a nice little place called Area 51, from there you'll be placed in a nice little dark cell until you start telling us anything and everything you know."
Nerus laughed.
"And what makes you think I'd ever tell you anything?"
"One word. Hunger." Ford said holding a finger up. "Remember those wonderful and ever so seedless grapes? This planet can do wonders with genetics and food at the molecular level. You don't know this, but we can actually make food, that taste so great that you become addicted to eating it and wanting more. Food that makes you crave more of it. We can put it in just about everything. You'll be forced with the choice to either pass out from starvation or eat the bread and water set before you. When you pass out, they'll give you the things you need to stay alive and then place you back in the dark cell with the bread and water. Remember your last meal well, because I cooked a lot of my great meals for you actually thinking that you came to help. This is about the smallest part of revenge I can get on you for your betrayal. You'll never be able to taste or touch such great food again. It will always be there, just out of reach. You'll be forced to see it everyday and even smell it, but never touch it. Maybe after a few decades or longer, you'll decide to change to a good guy."
Ford smiled again and then started walking out after seeing the man face fall and fall with the realization of what he said.
"Oh, if on the off chance you do die or try suicide, we'll just place you in a sarcophagus and bring you back. Hell, they might torture you to death a few times and use it to bring you back. I hear it gets addicting after awhile."
He closed the door and could almost swear he heard crying as he left.
"We have a sarcophagus now General?" the airmen asked as they were far enough away.
"I wish. But he doesn't know that."
"Nice job General. He deserves it after that stunt."
"Glad you agree." he said patting the man on the shoulder as he got into the elevator. "Good day airman."
"Same to you General. Glad to have you in charge." he said with a proud salute as the doors started closing. Ford did salute back with a smile.
The Prometheus was headed on it's way home, with a lot of the repairs having been done. At least the lights were working again. Teal'c was walking back to the infirmary to see Daniel with Mitchell and Carter a few feet behind him. He had passed out on the way there and then they were kicked out. The doctor said he'd call when Daniel woke up.
"You know, these Ori are just going to try it again." Mitchell said with his hands in his pockets.
"Probably." she said.
"You
are sure that you plan on coming back and staying?"
"I'm
going to try and see how it works with me bringing Sally to work for
awhile. If she stays safe and it doesn't become a bother and
things of that nature, then I'm going to be back full time. Or
close enough anyway." she said rubbing her hands.
"In that case, I wish you all the best. In the part that you actually stay."
"Thanks, I think."
"You okay?"
"Just thinking about her. Can't help it. Longest I've been away from her."
"Don't worry. From what I've seen of the General, she's in the greatest of hands."
"Yeah." she said smiling as he patted her arm.
They entered the infirmary finding Daniel was hooked up to several monitors and had leads going into his shirt to his chest.
"Hey. Jackson." Mitchell said.
"Sorry, keep falling asleep." he muttered through heavy lids.
"Well, it's better than the alternative."
"You're lucky the bracelets effect was wearing off." Carter said.
"Yeah, lucky me." he said sadly.
"Vala Mal Doran will be mourned." Teal'c stated.
"I have been going over the telemetry of the last few seconds before the singularity formed." Carter said as Daniel started to turn away. "A matter stream left the cargo ship just before it exploded."
They all looked at her, even more so was Daniel. His eyes held hope.
"I mean that there's a slight chance that it was pulled into the singularity."
"So you're saying that she could be alive, somewhere in the Ori home galaxy?" Daniel asked.
"It's possible." she said.
"Well," Daniel said with a mischievous smile. "We wanted to send them a message."
Teal'c smiled at that thought as did Mitchell. Carter only partially got the idea seeing as she hadn't been through everything they went through with Vala.
"A very nice message." Daniel muttered as he fell asleep again.
After talking to Nerus and getting another message from the Prometheus with more details, Ford made a call.
"We aren't allowed to beam down yet?" Mitchell exclaimed in surprise after he and the team were called to the bridge. "Why not?"
The Prometheus had just exited hyperspace a few minutes ago after traveling for a few hours.
"General's orders." Pendergast said.
"That includes me?" Carter asked.
"All of SG-1 is to stay on the ship until further notice. We are also staying in orbit for the time being."
"What's going on sir?" Mitchell asked.
"I am not allowed to say. General's orders. But he did send up your uniforms and dress clothes for Teal'c and Doctor Jackson. Something about a higher up wants to see you all personally."
"Good news or bad?" Mitchell asked.
"I can't really say, but it doesn't sound good. I'll let you know when it's time to be beamed down. In the meantime, I suggest you all just wait in your quarters."
"Any idea how long we have to wait?" Daniel asked with a yawn.
"From what I understand, maybe half an hour at most. Plenty of time to change. Dismissed." he said then only after turning and walking away did he smile.
"What the hell was that all about?" Mitchell wondered aloud.
"Ford must have killed Nerus and now he's in trouble." Daniel muttered.
"I hope not or else I'll be killing him." Carter said walking away quickly.
Almost half an hour later they were called to the transporter room. Their personal belongings were going to be transported down later after the ship landed for repairs. They got together in the room and were beamed down, still not being told the location, but guessed the briefing room. It wasn't there though, it was the gate room they were now in.
They were more than surprised to see most of the base lined up in dress uniforms and standing in the gate room, the gate control room or in the briefing room above. The team, minus Mitchell even noticed Janet was in the front of the crowd, but in a woman's suit and the cane. Everyone was currently at ease. There was a small podium with a special seal on the front of it at the base of the ramp. They were standing at the top with the gate behind them and the Iris closed. Ford was in his full uniform and for once, minus the coat. The hat was missing, though he had the tie on. Carter figured it was a clip-on type seeing as he couldn't tie them to begin with. He was standing at the end of the ramp with Major General Jack O'Neill next to him. The door on the left was open as was the door on the right. Several American flags were hung around. They started down the ramp when Walter, who was standing next to the door on the right, said words that made them stand attention quickly.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States."
Everyone stood at attention as he entered the room with General Hammond following, holding a closed wooden box at his side. Henry Hayes nodded to the men and woman and stood at the podium.
"Generals."
"Mr. President." both Jack and Ford said.
"They still in the dark?" Henry asked looking over his shoulder briefly.
"I think so sir." Ford said.
"I'd bet on it sir." Jack said.
"I've learned, with you a lot of things are bets." Henry said.
"Ah, you know me to well sir."
This got quite a few laughs until he raised his hand.
"Hello everyone. I assume most of you know why I am here. If not, you'll be learning soon enough. I was informed recently of the mission that SG-1 and the Prometheus have just came from and how it could have transpired. Normally, this facility sends out men and woman brave enough to travel to places that we have no intel on. Those people have encountered some allies and some enemies. But today was a different mission. Instead of saving this world as they have done in the past, SG-1 has went far beyond the call of duty. They have saved this galaxy from a serious threat. A threat that would have destroyed this planet with little resistance. For that, you have my gratitude and my heart felt thanks." he said then turned around and had Hammond open the box. They couldn't see inside because it was turned away.
"Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell, Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter, Doctor Daniel Jackson, and Teal'c. For your bravery, you are all hereby presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor."
They were obviously all shocked, but came forward anyway as Henry waved them forward. He placed it on their uniforms and on Daniels and Teal'c's coats in the same places.
"Doctor Jackson, though I have been informed that the lady named Vala Mal Doran was a complete pain in the ass."
Most of the room laughed. Daniel only shook his head.
"She was that sir."
"I also heard of what she did on this mission and that despite her background, she seemed rather trustworthy. Since the information we know doesn't say whether she is still out there or not, she is also presented with the same award, to be given to you." he said handing the same medal they got to him. "If she return's, make sure she knows what she's being handed here."
"I will sir. Thank you."
"As much as I'd like to stay for the party that I'm sure is going to take place, I have important meetings and such. You all take care and keep up the good work." he said shaking their hands then stepping back. "I'm ready guys."
"Prometheus, you can come home after returning the President. He's ready to go." Jack said through a com.
"Good to see you all again. Sorry I can't stay either." Hammond said with a wave. Seconds later they were both gone.
"Everyone's dismissed." Ford said waving a hand. "Back to work or whatever."
"Whatever? Putting you in charge doesn't seem like a good idea anymore." Jack said as the four walked up behind him. "You don't even know proper military edict. Carter, does he even follow the rules and regs?"
"I'm not really in a position to say sir. This is my first day back."
"Oh, right. Daniel…wait, you wouldn't know. Walter?!"
"Yes sir." he said walking up.
"Now be truthful Walter." Ford said waving a finger.
"Shush. Has this man here followed the rules and regs of command or has he made his own?" Jack asked getting a stifled laugh from Sam and Daniel. Teal'c just smiled.
"He has sir. He's bent them a few times, but nothing serious or anything. I remember a few times when you bent the rules too sir."
"You can go Walter. He's just being a pain as always."
"I remember General." he said smiling then walking away.
"I wasn't done with him." Jack said in protest.
"My base now Jack, unless you want to come back?"
"No. Not really. All that delegating and crap." he said waving a hand. "Well, it looks like this place hasn't fallen apart since he last time I was here. And I guess you are doing things right."
"There's an arcade machine in the briefing room now. Brought it in myself when I found it widow shopping with Sam. It's a Star Trek game. Sam played it a few times before I brought it here."
Jack glanced at the others and they had straight faces.
"Yeah right. Carter?"
"Oh yeah sir. It's a lot of fun. We're even thinking of going to a convention again some time." she said with a straight face.
"Daniel, is there a game really up there?"
"Oh yeah. I've played it a few times, but I'm not that great at it. Ford insisted I at least try. I…lost, not surprisingly."
"Teal'c?"
"It is a…interesting game O'Neill."
"I don't believe it! You ain't suppose to have that stuff up there! I'm going up there…." he said getting ready to run up.
"God you are so gullible." Ford said breaking into a fit of laughter.
Sam and Daniel also fell apart then. Teal'c only smiled and Mitchell let out a short laugh that was instantly gone as Jack glared at them all. They stopped a few seconds later.
"T, why did you go along with this joke and lie?" he said waving a hand. "What has he been teaching you?"
"He does indeed have that game up there O'Neill."
"He does?!"
"Yeah, a computer game though in my office. It wasn't a total lie. I was coming in early for awhile. Besides, you know how much I like games. Here, let's all go eat then we can all go home." Ford said wrapping a arm around Jack.
"What about?" Mitchell said making a gesture at his outfit.
"Oh, right. Ah, we might as well all change first. You can make your reports later and we'll forget the briefing. Not all that important since I got all those subspace messages."
"Works for me. I have a quick question though. Why is your call sign Breaker?"
"She didn't tell you?" he said after a moment of looking at Sam and seeing them shake their heads. "You didn't tell them?"
"You actually have a call sign? Figures. What does it mean?" Jack asked.
"It actually has a double meaning. One, I broke the rules a lot, but got away with it. Two, I broke a lot of records. And still do." he said with a smile that only Sam got.
"Considering what I know of you, it fits." Jack said patting him on the back.
"I have yet to see anything that really proves that, but hey, I haven't been here long enough to find out. Catch you later General's." he said with a salute then walked out.
They saluted back. Ford made a gesture at an airman, that seemed to know what Ford wanted and left quickly. He came back less than a minute later and handed a cake to Jack.
"Don't eat it all in one sitting."
"I won't. As much as I'd like to stay, I have to leave too." Jack said holding up the small com. "I'll get you back for that joke though. Thanks for the cake."
"Yeah. Nice seeing you again Jack." he said shaking his hand.
"Goodbye Daniel, Teal'c. Carter." he said shaking all their hands. They said their goodbyes and then he was beamed away after calling them.
"This is your doing isn't it?"
"I had a hand in it, yes." Ford said seeing Daniel point at the medal. "I suggested you all get them because of this mission. And Vala too. I've never seen in all my time here, any of you get any medals. So I figured you deserved at least something this time around. And I don't count those Purple Hearts. Most people here have them."
"I for one and quite proud to receive this honor." Teal'c said looking at it. "Thank you Ford Carter."
"You deserve it most of all Teal'c. You're the first alien to ever help us."
"Indeed." he said with a smile, then excused himself to go change and then eat.
"What about you Sam? You haven't said much."
"I like it. Not that it's a big deal really. I have something more important on my mind."
"K-9, status please." he asked into his watch knowing exactly what she wanted.
"She is currently sleeping Master."
"Where?" Sam asked.
"In my office, with the doors closed." Ford said.
"I'm going to, go. But thank you Ford. This is…really nice." he said holding both.
"As much of a pain she was, I do hope to see her again."
"Yeah, me too." he said walking away.
"Let's go home Sam. I'm tired."
"So am I. Hey, where's the Goa'uld or did you kill him?"
"Nope. I did something worse." he said telling her everything he did.
"You're right. That is worse than a bullet."
A couple days later, after all the reports were sent to superiors outside the base about the Prior incident and things that happened with the captured Goa'uld.
"General, Doctor Mackenzie would like to speak to you." Walter said after knocking on the open door.
"Concerning who?" he asked looking up from his laptop.
"He hasn't said."
"That bad. I hope it isn't about you Walter."
"I doubt it General. I've only talked to him a couple of times."
"Send him in."
"General Carter." the doctor said closing the doors before he sat down.
"What are you doing?" Ford asked as the man sat down and set some folders aside in the chair next to him.
"I am here, on the behalf of several superior officers, who think you have anger management issues. Seeing as you cannot discuss any problems, that may be associated with the SGC and you commanding it, I am here to hear your problems."
"What?" Ford asked really confused but also offended as he sat back in the chair.
"There are people, your and my superiors that think you have anger trouble. After the assault on the Goa'uld that has since been transferred out of here, and looking at your past records, these people think you need some help. Now, we can set up a schedule where you can come down to my office, on the days you work, and we can talk about what you have trouble with. Now, if there is problems at home, we can discuss that or not. If this schedule cannot work for you, then I have been told to inform you that you will stand down and give command to someone else until which time I think that we have resolved your anger issues."
"And this is all because I…knocked a table into that fat bastard's gut after finding out he sold out the planet Earth to the Ori?"
"Essentially, yes."
Ford saved his report, turned off the laptop, and then closed it. Doing it all very slowly. He got up and walked over to the door.
"I'll be right back. About ten minutes tops, maybe. Don't go anywhere."
He closed the door and walked out, then rushed to the elevator.
"Daniel! Daniel, I need your help with something." Ford asked rushing into his office.
Daniel looked up quickly from his table of open books and other papers.
"What's wrong? Is Sam in trouble?" he asked standing quickly.
"No. She's fine. You're a civilian, so this job is perfect for you. I need you to discreetly ask everyone you can about their opinion about Doctor Mackenzie. Just tell them it is a internal….thing you have been asked to do, by someone over my head. You could say that Jack called you to do it."
"Why?"
Ford told him what he was recently told.
"Ooh. That's not good."
"Damn straight. Not killing that Goa'uld, when I had a perfect right to, should be enough to show my anger control. I'm going to find out who asked him to do it, but I have heard, ever since starting here way back then, everyone practically hates the guy. Hell, Sam refuses to even talk to him anymore, much less say hi. She tells me everything. I hate the guy and want to fire him, but I figure going about it, with a signed petition like…."
"Ah. I understand now. You don't want it to seem like a personal reason to have him removed."
"In a lot of ways, Doctor Phil would be a better replacement. But I don't like him either. Our choices are limited because of the profession and security issues. But if enough people on the base say they can't stand him, then we can have him removed and someone else brought in and him sent to Area 51."
"Nice." Daniel said with a smile. "I like it already."
The next day, near night time.
"I'm assuming you have made a decision General?" the Doctor said sitting across from him again.
"Yes I have. Now, I don't know what you do in your personal life or anything like that, but I can't not say this. You are the most lousy doctor I have ever met. You make people feel worse."
"Excuse me General?"
"Doctor Mackenzie, I hereby inform you, that as of this moment, you are not working here anymore. You are being transferred to the Groom Lake facility to take over working there, with what you do. Effective immediately. Clean out your office tomorrow."
"This must be some joke General. You don't have that…." he was saying as Ford handed over his new orders.
"I've never really liked you, your profession anyway. You seem like you could be a nice guy, but….your bed side manner sucks. Badly. I am not the only one on the base that thinks so. Most, if not all of the SG team members, of all the teams, think you are terrible. I don't know who your replacement is going to be, but hopefully, they'll be a lot better at this than you ever were. Good night doctor."
"So, he's actually gone?" Sam asked as she and the rest of SG-1 were in her office. They were all about ready to head home, but Ford had them there to tell them the good news.
"Yeah. Thank god. Even Jack hated that man." Ford said. "Hammond didn't like him much either."
"I thought his bed side manner was rather bad." Mitchell said.
"Indeed."
"Teal'c, you never talked to him." Daniel said.
"It was always clear as to why I did not."
"So, who are we getting as a replacement?" Daniel asked.
"Two people actually. Don't have names yet, but they want a male and female doctor here. Makes it better for some people to talk if they are with there own gender. Or vice versa. Basically, everyone will have the choice of choosing who they want to see, and if it is both, that's up to them."
"Who are you going to talk to General?" Mitchell asked.
"The same person I always have. Let's go home Sam." he said pushing the baby carriage out with her next him. She told them good night and then was gone.
"I'm going to guess, he talks to you guys, right?"
"Sometimes." Daniel said. Teal'c only nodded. "From what I've understood though, he's always been telling her everything, even before they were really close. And vise versa."
