CHAPTER 80
EPISODE…………………THE SCOURGE
A few hours before they were to go off world on their mission, Ford had them all meet in Carter's lab.
"What are we here for?" Mitchell asked.
"Ford wanted to show us something." she said as Ford walked in with a small box.
"When Thor dropped off that impressively well designed sword, well swords really and the new gun for me, I had also asked for a few other items I wished to give you all. Unfortunately, the Asguard are having some trouble with the new ship and have to make a few adjustments to make things work right. System short outs and such were some of the major problems. That being the case, and their supply of Adamantium running a little on the low side, he was only able to send this."
Ford pulled out several thin, various sided strips of metal.
"These are made to be placed inside of a standard issue SGC vest. The same ones that you all go off world in. I do as well, but this isn't about me. The thing is, there was suppose to be more. In this case, there is enough for one vest. So, between the four of you, you need to decide who gets to have this placed into their vest."
"You're saying whoever wears this vest will be protected like you are in that coat?" Mitchell asked.
"Yep. Except that in this case, it will only protect everything but your arms, legs and waist. And head obviously. There's only one other thing though. This stuff is rather heavy in numbers. Teal'c is the only one who was able to actually walk around with my coat on, barely in some ways. Jack couldn't get off the ground, mostly because of his then bad knees."
"How much extra weight we talking?" Daniel asked.
"Almost twenty pounds."
"Ouch. Cuts down on being able to run quickly." Mitchell muttered.
Ford nodded as he placed the metal on the table.
"Now, Sam here…and no I'm not suggesting it on her because of her gender and because of her being my wife." he said as she, Mitchell and Daniel started to say something. "I'm saying this because she has a leather jacket at home that has a tightly woven mesh of this metal, like chain mail, in that coat. I made it myself, with Thor's help. She's slowly gotten use to the extra ten or fifteen pounds. But ultimately, it's up to you as a group to find out who wants to try it. If we can get more in the future, you'll all have to wear vest with them inside. Which will include all SG teams if we can get that many."
It only took a few minutes and they voted to let Mitchell try it out first. Carter already had an idea or what it was like, so she opted out in the beginning. Once the vest was finished, he put it on and kept it on to get used to it. And he still had it on as they headed for the gate room.
"I'm just a glass half full kinda guy." Mitchell said as he and the rest of the team walked down the hallway to the gate room. "We found a cure for the Prior's plague and we got it out to the planets that needed it."
Ford was watching them come from down the hallway as he stood next to the doorway into the gate room. He had his Tommy gun behind his back on a strap he attached.
"And it has been some time since the last reported outbreak." Teal'c said.
"That's right, so I'm chalking that up to the win column."
"You all ready?" Ford asked as they walked up.
"Ready and raring." Mitchell said. "I'm getting use to the weight. Seriously, I have felt worse."
Ford gave a wave and followed them in. He waited next to the ramp while they got their weapons. Teal'c, Daniel and Carter got PC-90's. Mitchell got the assault rifle Ford let him have.
"The Priors are not finished." Daniel said.
"They have bigger and far worse plans going. No offense Daniel, but you've told us all this several times. One possibly big and finally battle is coming." Ford said opening hands and spreading them.
"You've never mocked me before." Daniel said hurt.
"I'm not trying to. You've told us this stuff before. The possible impending doomsday that we'll have to fight tooth and nail to survive in is coming. We know. Let's try to have conversations that are more….happier." he said with a smile. "Not everything is doom and gloom. Hell, we've survived this long and took on insurmountable odds, and a lot of it you, everyone here, did long before I showed up."
"Your point?" Daniel asked.
"My point is that whatever comes, I think we will overcome it. We will prevail and survive. That's what we here all do."
"He has a point Jackson." Mitchell said. "Let's go. Those Ancient ruins aren't going to explore ourselves."
They started up the ramp when Walter stopped them.
"What's up Walter?"
"Phone call General."
"Can't it wait?" he asked after groaning.
"No General. It's the Pentagon."
"Oh man. Hang on team." Ford muttered walking up into the room.
They heard him muttering about pencil pushers and ass kissers as he walked out. Walter heard him mutter something about calling Thor for backup as he picked the phone up. After a couple of minutes, he hung up the phone, just barely keeping from smashing it into the wall.
"Shut it down Walter."
"General?"
"The gate, shut it down. Tell them to meet me upstairs."
"What's going on?!" Mitchell asked loudly as the gate shut off and they saw Ford walk up the stairs.
"I don't know Colonel. General says meet him upstairs." Walter said.
Ford set his Tommy gun on the table and dropped down into his chair. Several seconds later they came up the stairs and gave him curious looks.
"What's going on? Why are we…" Daniel began.
"We've, been reduced, to baby sitting." he said in a clipped tone.
"Baby sitting?" Carter asked skeptically.
"I wish it was Sally. But it's not." he grumbled.
"Then who is it?" Daniel asked while Ford grumbled under his breath.
"We are going to the Gamma site, with a group of people, from the International Oversight Advisory. They, want a 'tour'." he said using his fingers as he said tour.
"And they requested us to take them General?"
"Close Mitchell. The Pentagon want us to be the 'official escort'." he said putting quote marks around the words with his fingers. "This being that groups first time off world, the President ordered that SG-1 make sure that they are safe and nothing happens. Personally, with our record, another team should be taking them."
"Our record isn't that bad." Daniel said.
"Then you better go over all those mission reports again Daniel. 9 times out of ten SG-1 is in some sort of trouble off world. In the meantime, do whatever you want until they get here. Which is in about an hour. I'm…." Ford said shrugging as he looked at his watch. "Going to think. No, better yet, I'm going to go soak in one of those new hot tubs we had brought in a week ago."
"Wait, that wasn't some rumor then?" Mitchell asked as Ford got up.
"No. The idea was Doctor Lam's. Part of a physical, therapy, exercise, regiment, thing….I don't remember what she really called it, but I thought it would be a good idea. I haven't been in one in years."
"How many did we get?" Carter asked.
"A dozen. 6 of them for relaxing and six extremely large ones, I think biggest on the market for the therapy sessions. In case you're wondering, they are coed and there are rules wrote on the wall in the room we had built on. So I'm saying it now in case you don't already know it, there is no skinny dipping in the Jacuzzi's."
"I believe I will join you." Teal'c said following.
Awhile later they were getting their weapons again, except Ford who had his hanging from his arm. He was once again standing at the end of the ramp, leaning on the rail as the four members of the I.O.A. came into the gate room. Woolsey was part of that team. There was a blond haired guy, slightly tall with glasses and an older man with graying hair. Along with a Chinese woman. They all had suits on and the dress shoes that came with.
"It's much bigger than I imagined." the grayed haired man said.
"Pictures don't do it justice." Ford muttered getting off the rail and spinning his finger. Walter started the dialing sequence seeing his signal.
"Mr. Chapman, Mr. LaPierre, Mrs. Shen, this is SG-1." Woolsey said as he walked past them to stand near Mitchell. "I'd like you to meet our escort to the Gamma site, SG-1."
The three turned around to see SG-1, minus Ford standing there behind them waiting to take off.
"General Ford Carter, who you already know. Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell, Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter, Teal'c…." Woolsey said pointing at each of them.
"And Doctor Daniel Jackson." Shen said taking a step toward Daniel. "PhD in archeology, anthropology, and philology. The man who solved the riddle of the Stargate."
"You've got a fan Daniel." Ford said.
Daniel smiled at her before taking a step closer to her.
"Shen Xiaoyi, graduate of Beijing Foreign Studies University, and the London School of Economics and Political Sciences, former attaché to the Chinese Mission in the United States."
She nodded to him as he did the same. Then she spoke to him in Mandarin, to which he did the same. She looked at Mitchell and said something to which Daniel started to respond to as Mitchell looked at them both with an unhappy look.
"Hey! I expected better from you Daniel, as for you lady, you're an Ambassador. You should already know not to speak about people like that, even in another language in front of them. You can talk about others in private." Ford said startling the two.
"That wasn't very funny." Mitchell said then he said something in Mandarin making Daniel and her feel very embarrassed, but mostly surprised.
"What were you thinking?" Ford asked rhetorically in Mandarin making Daniel jump.
"Chevron Seven locked." Walter said.
"Since when did you know…." Daniel began.
"Let's go before someone else says something they shouldn't." Ford muttered walking up the ramp. "Someone will check in eventually Reynolds."
"Understood General."
"Just to clarify, I'm going to be disassembled at the molecular level, and then be reassembled on the other side?" Woolsey asked standing at the end of the ramp with Carter.
"Yes. It's perfectly safe. We've been doing it for years and I wouldn't hesitate to take my daughter through if she was here."
The Gamma site was a large military facility in the middle of a small forest. There was a large area with sand in front of the base leading away into the forest. Large mountains that were many miles away, but easily seeable, surrounded the base.
"General, you here with your team or is it something else?" the Colonel of the base asked.
"Team. Unless you need me for something, just forget I'm here, rank wise."
He nodded as Carter and Woolsey came through. He started the tour of the base taking SG-1 and the group through various areas. Daniel, Mitchell and Teal'c went elsewhere in the base while Ford and Carter went with the tour.
"This planet was chosen for several reasons, including it's unique radioactive ionosphere, which makes it difficult to lock onto surface targets from orbit." she said. She, the Colonel in charge and Ford were walking down a hallway as part of the tour. She was answering a question asked by Mr. Chapman.
"So, no one can steal the Stargate?" Chapman asked.
"Other than the ionosphere, we also have, what I call transporter inhibitors around the Stargate and in the base. Same technology is on our Stargate and base back on Earth." Ford said as they turned into a lab. "But the answer is yes."
"We have over thirty scientist engaged on ongoing projects at any given time." the Colonel said then pointed at one of the two scientist in the room. "This is Myers, our lead entomologist."
The going bald, but still brown haired man turned away from a glass containment unit that was able to be interacted with by built into the side gloves.
"Doctor, would you mind telling us a little bit about your research."
"I'm studying a asexual, fast reproducing insect." the man said. Carter noticed Ford grimace and look at the containment unit behind the guy with an even more disgusted look. "Responsible for the devastation of numerous off world crops."
"A space bug?" LaPierre asked.
"Yes. Space bugs." the scientist said with a slightly insulted tone. "However, for the purposes of my research, I refer to them as R75. Now, the fact that these insects have only manifested themselves on planets recently visited by the Priors, makes their analysis a top priority."
"Is there anything to indicate that this is more than mere coincidence?" Woolsey asked.
"No, not yet. Now, our initial research proved to be more challenging," he said as LaPierre walked past him and looked into the chamber seeing lots of black bugs barely moving. "Due to the short life spans of the R75 specimens, until we succeeded in dramatically increasing their lifecycles by depriving them of sustenance."
The French guy tapped on the glass with the end of his pen.
"They feed and they die, within a matter of hours. They starve and they live. So far it's been three days and counting. Would you stop that please?" he said slightly turning to the French guy.
"Bit lethargic aren't they?" Chapman asked.
Myers cleared his throat and nodded to his partner. He got up and turned off the lights. As soon as everything went dark, they bugs moved around and made noises they all could hear. Carter noticed Ford took a step back with another grimacing look.
"They're nocturnal." Shen said.
"No." Myers said. "They function during the daylight, they just prefer the darkness. They spend most of their time underground, consuming the crops from the roots up. Now R75 also displays a rather interesting defense mechanism, which we're still in the process of studying. Observe."
He put his hands into the gloves and the bugs moved away from them quickly, going to either side. As he moved his hands closer to them, they avoided getting near.
"Echolocation." Carter said in some surprise.
"Exactly. I theorize that they use it to detect their enemies, such as birds, for instance…"
"All right." the Colonel said from by the door. "Thank you Doctor Myers. Let's move on."
"I'm not done yet."
"We get the idea. Thanks. Our next stop is Doctor Sharma, our lead botanist."
"Seriously, what are we doing here?" Mitchell asked as he and the other two walked down a corridor.
"Honest answer? PR for the Stargate program." Daniel said.
"I'm telling you, today is escorting foreign delegates on off world tours. Tomorrow it's comic book conventions and supermarket openings."
"Ford could live with the comic book conventions." Daniel muttered. Mitchell groaned shaking his head. "I know how you feel though. But if we can somehow reassure the I.O.A. of the job that Stargate command is doing…."
"Daniel Jackson, the I.O.A aren't the problem. General Carter dealt with a lot of that already."
"Okay, if we can assure the Chinese government."
"Oh, I think they are looking for more than reassurance."
"Well, can you blame them? Three years ago we promised to share all off world technologies…"
"Of a non military nature."
"That wasn't in the original wording of the agreement." Daniel stated.
"Hey look, I don't want to argue about this. I'm right, we'll leave it at that."
"Compelling argument."
"Teal'c, what do you think?"
"I think I should have remained with the tour."
"Science fair over. Looks like Doctor Toshiaki's Magnetic Resonance field study was a crowd favorite, particularly to General Carter." Myer's partner said as he entered the room and placed a few items on a nearby table as he got back to work.
"How wonderful for him." Myers muttered as he kept working on his keyboard while eating from a plate next to it.
"What's for lunch?"
"Meatloaf. It's Monday."
"Do you mind if I go grab something?"
"Be my guest. I'm going to run some test."
He left and Myers stopped what he was doing to grab a plastic container full of leaves. After turning off the lights, he walked over and dropped a leaf into the top and closed the secure opening before any bug could escape. They didn't even acknowledge the leaf.
"Not hungry?" he said then shrugged and went back to his computer.
After typing for about a minute, he went to have another bite when an idea occurred to him.
"You can't possibly have a taste for…."
He walked over and dropped a small piece of what was suppose to be meatloaf into the unit. The bugs went, well, nuts. They swarmed it quickly and as they all came together going over and over each other, it started to look like a rapidly growing ball.
"For meatloaf?" he muttered kneeling down to look at it closely.
SG-1 and the I.O.A group were in the cafeteria. Ford, at Carter's personal request, asked him to leave the tour early and go see if he could make something edible. She did not want to try food like it used to be at the SGC before he showed up. So he did, mostly because she asked so nicely as he put it, in a good way. Some sandwiches, a handmade soup, crackers, and some quick to make cake were the menu he had almost finished by the time they arrived. They only had to wait a few minutes more and then it was all finished. She and him had a table to themselves. Mitchell and Teal'c tabled with the I.O.A. group. Shen was in the corner at a table with papers in front of her and a open book. Daniel got what he wanted and walked over.
"Don't feel like joining the other's at that table?"
"I'm just in the middle…."
"Okay, don't mind if I do." he said sitting across from her.
She took her black folder and set it in the chair next to her.
"Sorry, you were just in the middle of something?" he said digging in.
"Taking notes on my visit here." she said holding her pen as she took at her open notebook briefly. "While the details are still fresh on my mind. This tour has provided me with some wonderful insight into tedious off world research and…your General's apparently incredible ability in cooking."
"Yes. That's one of the many things that everyone on the base likes about him. No more of that military stuff the military calls food." Daniel said around a bite. "But believe it or not…"
"Is this where you tell me that the SGC has no choice but to maintain its air of secrecy surrounding its operations? That as an outsider, I could never appreciate or understand the work you all do, saving our planet, time and again." she said holding her head up with her balled up hand.
"No. Actually I was going to say that the cake isn't as great as I thought it would be. Might want to skip it."
She slowly set down her pen and looked at him seriously as he pushed the cake off to the side.
"In the three years since our nations signed the Gate Alliance Treaty, your government has made great strides in military technology. But left us out in the cold."
"I hate to say it, but as long as the United States military is running the show, that's just the way it's going to be."
"Perhaps that it is time that changed."
Daniel looked at her seeing she was possibly being serious.
"There's no way that the American government will ever give up the Stargate Program."
"Maybe it won't have a choice in the matter."
Daniel wasn't sure whether to turn and tell Ford or wait till later. This lady was serious.
"So, what did the test say?" Myer's partner asked as they headed back to the lab.
"I don't know. I was called in to help Santegio with his meal worm situation. You know Pullman, if I wasn't such a patient man, I swear…." Myers said as they stopped outside their lab.
"Oh my god." Pullman muttered.
They entered the room slowly to see the glass containment chamber with the bugs was completely and totally full of them, crawling around and around. They hadn't broken containment, yet. That only lasted a couple seconds though as they entered the room. The two panels that covered the gloves broke open and bugs spilled out very quickly. The two men rushed out fast and Myer's hit the emergency button making the door close and a very fast and powerful suction system turn on inside the room. Alarms were going off near them as the two stayed by the door, waiting till it was suppose to be safe to go back in. Pullman handed over his card and Myers started to put it in the slot when he grabbed his arm and roughly pushed the bug onto the floor, squishing it under his shoe.
"Damn thing bit me!"
He took the card back and slid it. The door opened to show the room was empty of the bugs. They looked around finding the room was in fact completely clear.
"I must say Colonel, the scope of this facility has surpassed the scope of my expectations." Chapman said as he and the group followed the Colonel.
"Yes, quite remarkable." LaPierre said.
"For my part, I'm somewhat disappointed." Shen said. "I was hoping the tour would be a little more through."
"The Gamma site is a U.S. military facility Ms. Shen." the Colonel said as they walked down a corridor finding Myer's stumbling near a table with equipment on it. "Access to some of the more secure areas is restricted."
Myers was chocking and gagging not only visibly, but audibly.
"Doctor Myers, are you okay?" the Colonel asked rushing up as the man let go of the table and fell to the floor unconscious.
Ford, Mitchell and Carter were in the Gamma base gate room waiting to know what the alarm was about earlier.
"What the hell happened Colonel? What was the alarm for?"
"Myer's
assistant, Doctor Pullman is here to fill us in on the details."
the Colonel said as the man walked up. "Doctor, why was the
lockdown procedure activated for your and Myer's lab?"
"R75
breached containment and we had to initiate disposal protocol.
Doctor Myers was bitten, but he went to the infirmary to get checked
out, and they didn't find out anything wrong with him."
"How the hell did the bugs breach containment?" the Colonel asked.
"Well, Doctor Myers thinks that he may have triggered some massive reproductive system after feeding them a piece of meatloaf."
"What?!" Ford exclaimed. "That's not in the protocol! Anything like that should be approved first. Why...wait. Your guy's report said they were herbivores. What the…."
"You were starving them." Carter said. "And they must have….."
Woolsey walked up to them quickly interrupting them.
"The representatives are getting a little anxious. I'm afraid that we are going to have to be permitted…."
"No can do Woolsey. Standard procedure dictates that this base stays locked down." Ford said. "As much as I want to go home, because I hate bugs to begin with, I can't allow it."
"Until we understand more about Doctor Myers condition, we stay in lockdown." the Colonel said.
"Colonel, what's going on?" Ford asked as he saw a quarantine box that looked like a metal coffin, which had Doctor Myers in it.
"He's going back to Earth to…."
"Oh no. Stop right there." Ford said ordering the men to stop moving the box.
They stopped the rolling bed and backed away confused.
"General….."
"If you need medical personal or something like that, fine, they can come here. Whatever the hell is wrong with him, he ain't going to Earth to spread….." Ford was saying when they heard a rattling noise from the box.
The men backed away quickly as Ford walked up and looked in.
"Everyone out of here now!" he yelled pulling the Tommy gun around. Carter and Mitchell got their weapons out and ready with the rest of the guards as they left the room last.
"I want this room more sealed off that the secret lower levels of the Pentagon!" Ford ordered as the door closed. "Burn the room if you have to Colonel. Mitchell, Sam, Woolsey, let's go."
"This is outrageous! Mr. Woolsey assured me that we would be leaving on schedule!" LaPierre shouted as they walked down the corridor.
The alarms started going off making them stop. Woolsey and the SG-1 members he was with came around a corner.
"Turn around and keep walking. If you value your lives, follow us." Ford said pointing behind them.
"Head for the elevator." Mitchell said.
"What's going on?" Shen asked.
"We're going up stairs. Bug trouble." Mitchell said. "You don't want to be last."
"Daniel, Teal'c, met us up top." Ford said through his com.
"I'm right here." Daniel said from behind them.
Behind him a guard and two scientist following with. They got off the elevator and went to a room where dignitaries or possibly the President would be talking to people if he was there. SG-1 was in the room, keeping the place covered while the I.O.A. people walked around or stayed seated. Woolsey walked up to both Carter's who were sitting on the side of the table.
"What happened back there to that doctor?"
"I can't say for sure, but the bugs must have laid eggs in him. They hatched and well….we know they eat meat." she said.
"Sorry I asked."
Ford shuddered and glanced around the room as though he might see one. Daniel and Teal'c walked up as Woolsey walked away. Mitchell walked up as Daniel was speaking.
"Well, there's no question that these bugs are a follow up to the Prior virus." Daniel said.
"It appears they were designed to circumvent any attempt to forestall their destructive nature." Teal'c said.
"Deny them crops and their physiology adapts to a new food source." Carter said.
"Yeah us." Daniel said.
"I'd rather stick with the virus. Mitchell, see if you can reach the Colonel." Ford said getting up and heading for the door.
"Colonel Pearson?" he said trying his com. "Colonel, do you read?"
"What are you doing?" Shen asked.
"Taking a look outside the door."
They power started flickering in the room as he opened the door.
"Okay, that's it. We're all leaving now."
The Colonel walked up as he turned around.
"General….."
"Colonel, how bad is it out there?" Ford asked as he looked out the door. The Colonel and a few other men walked in while he kept looking.
"Not good. There was thousands of those things in that pod. I lost one man before we retreated."
"Damn. That means thousands more are being produced."
"We lost the gate room?" Daniel asked.
"It's where this all started Daniel. Were you able to try and burn the gate room or anything Colonel?"
"No. We're still trying to get weapons distributed to fight back. Assault rifles don't do as much as a shotgun will, unfortunately, we don't have many of those on the base." he said then turned to the representatives. "Mr. Woolsey, my men will escort you and your people to the surface, take you to a safe location far away and bring you back when the situation is contained."
"I don't think so."
Everyone looked at him as they heard his tone saying it was going to be his way and nothing else.
"Excuse me?" the Colonel said.
"SG-1 will escort us out. Their job is to ensure the safety of this delegation."
"You understand that we can't get off this planet until the gate is taken?" Mitchell asked hearing Ford groan in the background.
"Colonel Pearson and his men will do everything they can to resolve this situation. You will escort us to the surface, as per orders of the Pentagon." he said taking a few steps forward near Mitchell.
"Fine! Colonel, I wish you the best of luck! Teal'c, in the front with me. Guest with no clue of the danger, in the middle, the rest of SG-1, take the rear."
They got off the base with no problem and headed away up a hill that had a path already made by other personal. A couple of the Colonels men went with them, seeing as they knew the terrain better than SG-1 did. As they were going through a forest near a large cliff, Woolsey ran up to the front.
"Surely we could have taken a jeep? With your driving skills General…."
"My driving skills are more suited on a open road and with a fast car. Not a jeep where I could totally trash the undercarriage on the way to where we are going, if I could drive us there." Ford stated.
"The area we are headed for is a unmanned research station. It's located approximately 10 clicks from here through dense forest." the airman near Ford and Carter said as he handed over a map of the area. The other airman was walking in the rear with the rest of SG-1.
"Then I have to ask if this is really necessary?"
"Did you see what those bugs did to Doctor Myers? It only takes one bug bite and you're dead. Remember what she said back in the board room?" Ford said shuddering again. "The farther away we are, the better."
"The Colonel's orders were to take you to the research station." Mitchell said.
"But you outrank him General."
"I'm here with my team Mr. Woolsey. I only use my rank when I feel it's necessary. I agree with the idea to go to the research station, so just keep walking."
They walked up a small incline and thankfully Woolsey didn't say or ask anymore questions. Ford stopped and turned around, making her do the same.
"Daniel, Teal'c?" he asked hearing they had stopped and seeing they were looking at the ground.
The airman that was with them also stopped and looked around. Mitchell turned as about the same time and pulled his gun off his shoulder.
"What is that?" the airman asked as they all heard a chirping noise.
"It's the bugs." Carter said.
"They're following us." Ford muttered.
Daniel and Teal'c kept looking around and looked back quickly as the airman behind them looked at the ground and yelled as bugs started to crawl up his legs out of the ground. He stopped squirming and dropped suddenly as they all heard a gun shot. Mitchell, Daniel and Teal'c all noticed he had a bullet hole between his eyes as he fell. The man's body was over run quickly and everything but the clothes and weapon was gone.
"Daniel, Teal'c, get up here quick!" Ford yelled quickly retracting the hidden gun back into his sleeve. "The rest of you start running!"
They took off quickly, Carter leading them. After a good five minute run, one of the committee members started yelling for them to stop. They stopped in a clearing above a cliff that had a good view of the base.
"I think it's safe to assume that the bugs got out." Chapman said as he gasped for breath while holding onto his knees.
"You noticed huh?" Ford said sarcastically as he knelt down and put his hand on the ground.
"General…."
"Nobody move. Or say anything." he hissed as he lowered his ear to the ground. After a moment he got back up. "Sounds and feels safe. As for my comment, we told you about the Prior and the fact that they want nothing but our total destruction if we don't give up our freedom and worship them. This is just another attack by them, unfortunately, you got caught in the middle of the problem. So I suggest you save your breath and only say something when it's important."
"How are they following us?" Chapman asked.
"Echolocation." Carter said. "They use it to track their prey."
"Like a bat." Ford muttered. "Being blind, bat's use sound to fly and find their food."
"I have one too. Where do we go then? They move underground." LaPierre asked.
"Good question."
"Rocky terrain might stop or hold them up." Mitchell said.
"There's caves nearby." the airman said.
"Lead the way."
A few minutes later, they came across the cave which was in the side of a very rocky mountain. Lots of bushes were growing around the mouth, but not enough to cover it much. Everyone got in quickly and looked out. They all heard Ford mutter something about thick walls, solid foundation and something called a Grabboid. The members went toward the back of the cave with the airman as they heard the chirping noises again.
"They're coming." Mitchell said.
"They're highly sensitive to sound. The concussion of our weapons should be enough to drive them back." Carter said.
"Are you serious?" Mitchell asked.
"Has she ever lied?" Ford asked slinging his weapon behind him. "Stand back and have everyone cover their ears."
"Oh boy." Mitchell said covering his ears and getting just behind Ford. The other's went in quickly and Carter explained what was about to happen.
"Fire in the hole!"
Ford fired one of his personal cannons with one of the special normal tip rounds. The sound resounded off the walls of the cave making him bend over grabbing his ears. It echoed from the mountain and was heard back at the base by those outside.
"You have a lot of those rounds?" Mitchell asked tapping his arm after the ringing in his ears started abating.
"What?!" he asked hearing only ringing.
Intense painfully ringing. He put his hands up to his ears when the team looked at him like something was wrong, pulled them away to see his ears were bleeding. The other's in the cave looked like they were trying to get their hearing back, though Woolsey did notice and walked up quickly.
"Great, now he can't hear anything." Woolsey muttered.
"Actually…." Daniel began saying when Sam smacked his arm.
"I already know about his immortality Colonel." Woolsey muttered as Ford cleaned his ears with a wet hanky. "I haven't told anyone. Though I'm going to guess that his loss will be temporary."
"Very temporary. Remind me not to do that again." Ford said pocketing the hanky. "Um, did they notice?"
"Not that I saw." Daniel said.
"They have been trying to regain their hearing General Carter." Teal'c said.
"You guys okay?"
"Other than a dull ring that's going away…" Mitchell said.
"I'm fine."
"As am I."
"I've gotten use to it." Carter said. "I can still hear if that's what you're looking at me for."
"Sorry about that. You all still have hearing?"
The members complained about slight ringing, but otherwise they were okay.
"Are they gone?" Shen asked.
"Oh yeah. They shouldn't be back for awhile." Mitchell said. "As long as we stay in here, we'll be fine. They can't get through the rock and we've got the only way in totally covered. We're safe."
"Until we run out of bullets." Daniel said.
"How many more of those rounds you have?" Mitchell asked.
He opened both sides of the coat to show the two clips for the Tommy gun and around twenty five clips for his personal cannons. And a few clips of ammo for a PC-90 and the weapon that Mitchell had.
"Variety of ammo in there?" Daniel asked.
"Hey, you never know." he said letting go. "Always been better to be prepared in the past."
"How much more weight is that?" Mitchell asked.
"Now you see why I don't have a backpack like you all do sometimes."
"We have a better chance of starving to death than being eaten alive." Carter muttered.
"You have anything yet Chief?" Reynolds asked as he got off the phone to report that SG-1 and the members still hadn't returned.
In the briefing room, Walter was working on a movable terminal near the General's door.
"Sir, we were unable to acquire a video feed from the surveillance cameras in the Gamma site gate room. But, I managed to pick up motion sensor telemetry."
A slightly infrared picture came up showing the Gamma site gate room and lots and lots of bugs everywhere. Walter zoomed in on a few to get a better look.
"Those aren't those bugs that the General said were suppose to be capable of eating just about ever plant there is, or something like that?"
"I think it is them sir."
"If only Colonel Carter was here, she'd have an idea."
"You could ask Doctor Lee sir."
"Good idea."
Lee was working on his laptop when Reynolds walked in later to see how Lee was coming along.
"Give me something Doctor."
"I learned that bugs still creep me out."
"Doctor, very little time if any here."
"I've looked over the analysis of the telemetry of the gate room…" he started saying then saw the look on Reynolds face. "It's the R75 bug."
"Kinda figured that Doctor. General Carter hates bugs and mentioned to just about everyone where the research was taking place. Still surprised he went on the tour."
"He may not have had a choice."
"Probably. I need to know how to kill them, short of stomping on them."
"Well, give me some time and I'll come up with something."
"You've got until the Odyssey reaches orbit. Since we haven't established any communication at all, I'm authorized to initiate the CR91 protocol." he said rubbing his head.
"Sir, CR91 is lethal to humans as well."
"I know. We can only hope the Odyssey gets better results with communication than we are. If not….." he said leaving it hanging.
"The General might be the only left."
"I hope that isn't the case, for his and all our sakes."
Later that night, the airman was guarding the entrance to the cave. Ford couldn't sleep and was sitting across from him just keeping watch quietly. They could hear birds chirping, though they didn't see them. Ford had to fire off two more rounds since the first time. Those times, everyone was able to do a better job of keeping their ears covered, including Ford who put his ear plugs in. The rest of SG-1 put theirs in as well. So far, the bugs were staying away. They pulled their lanterns out from their packs earlier on and set them on rocks in a few different areas of the caves. What power bars and other food they had were being checked over for rationing out. Ford got up and left the airman and found Sam sitting against the wall alone, somewhat in the dark.
"I'm fine Daniel, just…oh, sorry." she said glancing up at the figure didn't move.
"Hmm. Daniel doesn't wear a long dark heavy coat." he said sitting next to her. If it wasn't for the fact everyone knew where the two were, they wouldn't know that Carter was there with him. Since she was sitting in the dark practically and when he sat down next to her, it just made her blend in more.
"And he's over there talking to Mitchell and the Teal'c. They're going over what we have for food at the moment."
"Did he tell you…." she said looking back at the floor.
"To come over here or anything else? No. Besides watching the outside and watching in here, I've pretty much been left alone. Though the airman wishes he was back at the base and I was cooking something for him."
"What did he want?"
"Um, pancakes and a few other items, which I could really go for. Let's change the subject from food."
"Works for me."
"How about, why did you think Daniel…"
"He said I was moping." she muttered. "And when I sat down here, he thought something was wrong and was wondering why you hadn't came over and I told him I was fine, just wanted to be alone to think."
"Hmm." he said leaning back against the wall. "Anything you want to tell me or…"
"Home." she said looking at the floor still, more intently know as she drew her knees closer to her face.
"Sam, are you okay?" he asked quietly while leaning closer.
"Yeah. No. I don't want Sally to grow up like I did. Mom was so busy between the moving and unpacking to repacking, taking care of me and Mark, and dealing with dad and him not talking much, being gone and such that what time she had or dad had when they had the time….when they could, they would read a story to me at night, when I was little. I've been trying to read Sally like I wish I was read to, but….."
"Hey." he whispered while putting a arm around her shoulder. "We'll make it home. She won't grow up without us. We've both been reading to her on and off."
"I promised her I would be reading her a special story tonight. And now look, I broke that promise." she said holding back tears. "I don't want her…"
"We know she's in good hands Sam. We will get home and you'll be able to read to her. She doesn't understand a lot, yet she's getting better everyday, but she knows that we go out and save the world. If anyone ask what she meant…"
"Yeah." she said wiping her eyes. "I'm still surprised she can say Air Force, planes, hell even Stargate."
"She's got our brains. Though I think more yours than mine. We are there with her three days out of the week and then see her in the evenings when things like this don't come up."
"Thanks for the reassurance." she said patting his hand. "Why don't you go get some of those power bars. I'd rather stay here alone with you for the moment right now."
"Sure."
Teal'c handed a few to Daniel who walked over to Shen who was also sitting when her knees near her face by a rock that was closest to entrance. Teal'c handed a few to Ford and inquired as to Carter's state. He mentioned fatigue and Sally to which Teal'c nodded in understanding. Daniel sat down by Shen and glanced back to see Ford walking back to Carter. He hoped Sam was doing okay, she did look really down about something, but had refused to say what it was. Part of him thought it might have to do with Sally, but usually Sam would mention anything that dealt with her, unless it was something private.
"On the bright side, I was worried that my report would make for a boring read." Shen said as he glanced at her with a smile before looking back at the bars in his hand.
"Well, I'm guessing we're going to lose points for this little incident." he said handing a bar over.
"To be honest with you, my report is to be a mere formality." she said after looking at the bar. "Ultimately, it will have no bearing on my governments plan of action concerning the Stargate program."
He looked at her realizing she wasn't lying to him.
"What exactly should we be expecting down the line?"
"Doctor Jackson."
"Daniel."
"Daniel…" she said with a nod. "Maybe now is not the right time to be having this conversation."
"When would be a good time?"
"Perhaps when we are all back on Earth and not having to worry about being eaten alive by alien insects." she said trying not to show her fear. Daniel could see it and hear it in her voice though.
"Look, I understand that your government has issues with Stargate Command and I wouldn't be surprised if they have issues with Ford…"
"That's a understatement." she muttered.
"But you cannot deny the accomplishments, nor the significance…"
"That has nothing to do with it." she said forcefully.
He turned to look at her again seeing she was being more serious and less fearful. Probably because she had something else to focus on other than a possible impending death from being eaten alive.
"Daniel, let me ask you something. If, it had been my country, and not the United States military, that had given you the opportunity to travel to the stars, would have it made a difference to you? Would you have turned us down?"
"No, of course not. So long as the priority remained off world exploration that could benefit Earth, I would have gladly accepted the offer."
"I may hold you to that someday."
Daniel wasn't sure how to take that.
Mitchell informed the two that he was going out front to check on getting hold of the base. When he got to the mouth of the cave, the airman got up quickly.
"At ease. I'm just trying to raise the base." he said walking out a few feet. "Colonel Pearson, come in."
He only heard static.
"Gamma site, do you read?"
More static came through. He walked back into the cave seeing the airman was a little jumpy.
"You okay?"
"Yes sir. I'm fine."
"All right. Call if anything happens."
As Mitchell walked away, the airman looked back outside and rubbed his neck. Under the skin, one of the bugs crawled down into his back.
Morning came with no problems, and they started packing up some of their items, eating sparingly still. The lanterns they left out for now.
"We have heard nothing from the Gamma site since we left." Teal'c stated. "I fear we must assume the worst and plan accordingly."
"Yeah, I was thinking the same thing." Mitchell said.
"We cannot remain here indefinitely. Eventually we will be overrun." Teal'c said.
"Well, the gate is pretty much inaccessible. Unless we had some way to get access to it without getting eaten in the process." Ford muttered and then shuddered at the thought. "God, would I ever come back?"
"Let's not test it. Besides, we can't outrun them on foot forever or for very long at all." Carter said. "They multiple too quickly."
"The F-302's." Mitchell said.
"Indeed. They would be able to fly us all to safety." Teal'c stated.
"He's gone!" Daniel exclaimed as he rushed back into the room. "Airman Walker is missing."
"What do…" Woolsey started asking.
"He's probably taking a leak." Ford muttered. "I hope anyway. Airman Walker respond please."
They got static. Ford nodded at Mitchell and he tried getting the same static.
"Go take a look Colonel and be careful. Teal'c, Daniel, go with him please. I'll watch from the entrance."
"We'll be back." Mitchell said waving his gun for them to follow.
"Call in every few minutes."
"Got it General."
The three walked down and through the forest calling for Walker every so often on their radios, but keeping the line open so Ford could hear. After a few tries, Mitchell had them stop and spread out from him. Teal'c going to the right and Daniel left. Mitchell kept going forward which was mostly a path that had the unfortunate luck of getting into a denser part of the forest where lots of big and lush bushes grew. Where big animals could hide and attack without notice, if they were on Earth. Teal'c was mostly in a sparse area of trees while Daniel ended up around bushes and lots of trees.
"Think I got something." Daniel muttered into his com.
"Proceed carefully guys." Ford said with worry.
"I am." Daniel said.
"Roger that." Mitchell said heading for Daniel.
Teal'c heard and also started for Daniel as well. Daniel walked up slowly to see the lower pants and boots of the airman. Mitchell came running up as Daniel stayed away from the body.
"We're too late." he said as Teal'c ran up.
The foot twitched and Mitchell got down to check on him. When the body twitched and bugs came out of him devouring what was left, they backed up quickly.
"Don't move." Mitchell said as they pointed their weapons.
The bugs came at them and disappeared into the ground. After waiting a moment and not moving while looking around.
"Jackson, go back and tell the other two that we're going for the F-302's."
"Where do you plan on landing them?"
"We'll do a aerial surveillance and find some place. Then we'll come back and get everybody and ferry them to a safe location."
"And where would that be?"
"Far away from here."
"Possibly across this planets ocean Colonel Mitchell." Teal'c said.
"That might work."
"Good luck guys." he said backing away slowly.
"Let me ask you a question, in the many years you were fighting the Goa'uld, did you ever step back and say, sooner or later our luck is going to run out and we're going to get our asses kicked?" Mitchell asked as they traversed the forest back to the Gamma site.
"Never."
"Never? Not once? Even though you were massively outnumbered by an opponent with superior technology and firepower?"
"They may have possessed superior forces and fire power, but we possessed something greater."
"Which was?"
"A just cause. I had no doubt that the Goa'uld would be defeated. Perhaps not during my lifetime, but I knew eventually, they would fall, and I have no doubt the same fate awaits the Ori."
"That's what I like about you. You're always positive." Mitchell said with a smile. "Hell, you're probably already past this bug situation. You have any idea on what movie you want to watch tomorrow night?"
"I was considering old school."
"My boy blue." Mitchell said making Teal'c smile.
"Daniel, where's…."
"They are going for the F-302's."
"Oh. Why didn't they radio…"
"Might alert the bugs."
"Right. And air…."
"He's gone. Bugs ate him before our eyes."
Ford cringed.
"Damn. Sorry you saw that. You…"
"I'm fine. Not throwing up if that's what you're thinking."
"I probably would have. I'll keep watch, you go in and tell the others."
Daniel started heading in when the ground shook and they heard a massive explosion.
"Ah damn. They lost." he said sadly.
"Who lost?" Daniel asked.
"What was that?" Woolsey asked standing up with the others.
"Wait here." Carter said then rushed out to find Ford already on his com.
"Guys, you better report in and say you're still with us."
"Yeah, we're still here." Mitchell said as he and Teal'c stood on the edge of the cliff overlooking the base. "Gamma site's gone General. They initiated the self destruct."
"Dammit." he muttered. "I figured that was the sound I heard. Come on back then. We'll figure something else out."
"Wouldn't there be…." Daniel started asking.
"No. Self destruct takes out every level. All that's left is rubble and crumbling building. Even the gate is gone. Can you keep watch here Daniel?"
Daniel nodded and sat down to wait for the others while Ford and Sam went in to tell them what had happened.
"The self destruct was activated?" Chapman asked.
"Yes." Ford said. "We just told you that."
"But how?"
"That bugs must have gotten into the system." Carter said.
"Or the Colonel and someone else activated it." Ford said.
"That's unfortunately the most likely possibility." she said.
"What are we going to do now?! The base has been destroyed!" LaPierre yelled.
"Please calm down." Woolsey said trying to calm him and failing.
"Don't tell me to calm down! If we had been allowed to leave on schedule…."
"We couldn't leave and you know why." Ford growled.
"We should have…." he began shouting again.
"Please, keep your voice down." she said walking up to him.
"I am sick of being told what to do." he growled out and then started shouting. "Why should I listen to you?! Why should any of us listen t…."
She saw a hand and then LaPierre was against the wall, off the floor.
"One, we are in charge because this is a military op. Two, these stars say that you have to listen to me. Three, more yelling and bitching only makes it so that the bugs might find us sooner. And four, if any of those reasons don't make you keep your voice down, we'll either zat you to shut you up or I will shoot you to keep the rest of us safe. Understand?" Ford asked quietly.
The man nodded quickly and Ford put him down. He sank to the floor and sulked.
"Good. Anyone else?" he said turning to them.
"Can we talk in private?"
"No. Just spit it out Woolsey."
"All right. Fine." he said fixing his coat. "I am quite aware of the fact that you never wanted this assignment."
"None of us did Woolsey. SG-1's reputation is not the best when it comes to having a peaceful event. Though I tried to explain to the Pentagon and to President Hayes the idiocy of the idea, they refused to budge. Now that you're stuck with us, I suggest you stay out of our way and you know what, maybe take notes for the future." Ford said then turned away going back toward the entrance shaking his head.
"Despite the situation General, you and you're team have not been very sensitive to our needs."
"Uh oh." Carter muttered and quickly got in front of him as he spun around. "Ford…"
"Your needs?!" he hissed ignoring her. "We're risking our lives and you're complaining about your needs!"
"All I'm asking is that you give us some reassurance that we are getting out of here and back to Earth." Woolsey asked calmly.
"We may never get home. The base, the F-302's, the Stargate, it's all gone. Destroyed." he said with a quick wave of his hands. "And if Colonel Reynolds followed procedure like he should have, we'll all be dead before the bugs get us, if we're lucky. So unless a good plan is come up with anytime soon, I suggest you all sit back and let us think up something. We might get lucky and find a way out of this if you don't bother us so much."
He turned away shaking his head further as he went to get some fresh air.
Mitchell was asking how Teal'c liked living out in, 'the real world'. Teal'c told him that after being framed for murder, it looked like he was not going to be able to try again, until Ford offered his old home to him and promised to keep a watch on Teal'c. It only took a couple of months and Teal'c got it down pretty good about how to, operate better in what could be called a primitive society compared to what he was used to seeing and knowing. So far, he had only a few altercations with the authorities, one of which Ford was included while taking down a purse snatcher. Other than that, he had little trouble.
Teal'c held up a fist and they stopped quickly. The ground under them shook hard and trembled enough they could see the ground move. They waited and kept silent until the bugs passed them.
"That, was close." Mitchell muttered.
"Indeed."
"I heard some yelling in there."
"Whatever that French guys name is, he started complaining and then so did Woolsey and I told them to shut it or else." Ford muttered as he sat across from Daniel. "They show up yet?"
"No." Daniel said as Carter came out.
"Hmm. Probably bug trouble, but hopefully not in the way I don't want to think about. I got an idea though." he said tapping his com quietly.
Mitchell started taking a step forward when his com made a few click noises. I took him a moment to realize what it was and he quickly reported back with a few clicks the word wait. The bugs passed under them and were gone after a few seconds.
"Anything?" Carter asked.
"Just the word wait."
They waited a few more seconds and then Mitchell took another step.
"I think we are good to go." he whispered.
"I think we should keep any unnecessary conversation to a minimal."
He nodded and quietly tapped the com button several times.
"They are on their way back, came across bugs traveling under the ground." Ford said as the taps came through.
"Will be slow going, will call if there is trouble." Carter said.
"Morse code." Daniel muttered. "Not bad."
"Now we wait. So, you two have any ideas on how we might get off this planet before the Odyssey shows up?"
"Sir, we just received a message through subspace from the Odyssey." Walter said entering the room.
Reynolds was sitting behind the desk rubbing his forehead. This was twice now that SG-1 hadn't been able to get home, though the first time wasn't really a fault of their own making. This time though, it was on one of their claimed planets and according to what they could tell, since they couldn't dial the Gamma site anymore, the self destruct must have been activated or the gate was destroyed somehow. The Earth gate refused to engage the last Chevron. If this kept up, someone else would be in command rather soon and SG-1 would be gone, permanently. A lot of people were just hoping and praying that wouldn't be the case. He looked up at Walter, seeing him standing in the doorway.
"Say again Chief."
"We got a message from the Odyssey sir."
"Oh. What it is?"
"E.T.A is five hours."
"Let's hope they send back good news."
"And the Pentagon is on line two."
"Great." he muttered. "Thanks Chief."
Walter left and he picked up the phone hoping they didn't yell at him for not trying to talk General Carter out of leaving again.
"Finally. Took you guys long enough. Glad to see you still with us."
"Glad to still be here General."
"Just in case, was there anything left that we might be able to salvage, like maybe a 302?"
"No." Mitchell said shaking his head.
"Bummer." he muttered. "Well, while you guys were out having fun, we had a little trouble."
Mitchell and Teal'c weren't all that surprised at how Ford dealt with the group after he told them what had happened.
Woolsey was talking to La-Pierre, probably trying to help him calm down or something when they all entered. Carter was sitting on one of the rocks that had a lamp on it.
"Well, plan B is a write off." Mitchell muttered.
"What do we do now?" Chapman asked.
"Like the General said to you all earlier, we wait for the Odyssey." Mitchell said setting his weapon against the wall. "So sit back, and relax until they get here."
Ford sat down next to her as Teal'c and Daniel were taking off packs and such to also sit and relax.
"We have a problem with that." she said slowly. "The Odyssey may not be able to detect us."
"The CR91 protocol is in effect. Has to be. No communication from anyone here for this long and they'll drop the bomb as soon as they enter orbit and find the base is destroyed." Ford said.
"What is the CR91 protocol?" Woolsey asked.
"I'll forgo the technical part of it. It's a organic killing bomb. The bugs and us will die. After the toxin settles, they'll come back to salvage whatever they can and probably start over."
"Wait, won't they beam us out before they drop that bomb?" Daniel asked.
"It's a payload actually, dropped from orbit." she said. "We're completely surround by those bugs and there's a good chance that with all those life signs, they won't be able to detect us. And those bugs are multiplying so fast…."
"Besides the fact we have no way to inform them we are still alive anyway."
"What about your…." Woolsey said pointing at their com units.
"If we had K-9 who could boost the signal, yes. Since he isn't here, they don't have the range, not to mention, they might not be able to even find us if we are stuck in here. I don't know what's in these rocks, but it could very well keep a signal from getting to them even if they tried calling for us." Ford said.
"Okay, the Odyssey is coming. Do either of you have any idea of an E.T.A.?" Mitchell asked.
The two looked at each other.
"You would know better when they'd send her…."
"Probably after not getting a communiqué, so…."
"Giving time for production then and getting onto the ship…"
"And probably pushing the engines to get here just in case they can find survivors before they are eaten or whatever…."
They both looked back at the team after thinking a moment.
"A few hours at most." they said together.
"That is just weird."
"I've gotten use to it." Daniel said. "I think they started it to drive Jack nuts."
"We need to find a way to communiqué with the Odyssey to let the crew know that we are alive." Teal'c said.
"Even if we had the tools, there's no way that even with all our com units that me and Sam could come up with something. Even if the bugs left us alone and we could go to the base and look around for extra parts, we still probably couldn't come up with anything. Time is the biggest factor against us right now." Ford said.
"Wait, what about the research station. It must have some sort of communication satellite that transmits back data to the Gamma site." Daniel said.
"But is it capable of reaching a ship in planetary orbit?" Teal'c asked.
"Yes, given enough time me or Ford could do it." she said turning around as she felt Ford get up.
"Good idea Daniel. I'm only sorry I didn't think of that. Okay, new plan in the works here."
He pulled one of his personal cannons and set it next to her. Kneeling down he pulled some small tools from a inner pocket and started working on taking the handles off the gun.
"And that plan would be General?"
"You're all staying here while I…" he said. A few of the entire group started to speak. "No arguments from any of you. Only two people here can even make that sort of adjustment to call the ship. So, I'm going to go do it." he said then started humming.
"General Carter does indeed make a good point. If everyone goes all at once, we risk attracting the bugs." Teal'c stated.
"So, he goes, gets the ships attention, gets beamed up and then comes and gets us all?" Mitchell said. "Not a bad plan, though almost suicidal in some ways."
"Yeah. If Ford fails, heaven forbid, then Sam will have to do it." Daniel said.
While the three were bantering, she leaned down a little and was trying to remember where she heard the familiar tune that Ford was humming. He smiled lightly and kept working and hummed a little louder.
"Wondering what I'm doing?" he asked then kept humming.
"Looks like you're removing the DNA recognition system from the handle. Something I didn't think possible." she said leaning closer. "But I'm actually trying to remember where I heard that tune you're humming."
"Picture me with a guitar and sitting on the end of the bed." he said then went back to humming.
"Oh, I know now. That 'Be Your Man' song you sang to me."
"Yep."
"Did you…" Mitchell asked quietly.
"No. He once mentioned being able to play guitar. But singing…" Daniel muttered.
"It's a romance thing guys." Ford said making them jump. "Other than good for setting a mood, it's another way to express love. I'm not that great with poetry and Sam really isn't into that sort of thing, much."
"Is there anything you don't do?" Mitchell asked.
"Wear woman's clothes. No, wait, did that." he said with a small laugh that even Sam chuckled too.
"Ha, ha." Daniel said dryly as Mitchell gave him a strange look along with the others.
"Want a list?"
"I was being serious General."
"So was I." he said as he stood up and spun the gun a few times.
"Teal'c, since you have the most strength in the team next to me, you can use this." he said handing the gun over by the barrel. He pulled five clips out and handed them over as well.
"I'll have the other one and this so I'll be fine. I'll call in every so often. These rounds are concussion and these are explosive. Just be ready for the recoil." he said then headed for the door. "Oh, please pick up the casings after you fire it."
Teal'c nodded and placed the other clips into his pockets.
"As for that women's clothing comment I noticed you all wonder about….Daniel or Carter can explain." he said heading for the door.
"Ford."
He stopped just outside the entrance as she walked up.
"You forgot something."
"This." he said giving her a rather long goodbye kiss. Took her a moment to recover. "I didn't forget, I just figured you didn't want them to notice."
"Well, that was one thing. But the map." she said pulling if from her pocket.
"Oh. Would help to know where I'm going." he said looking it over. "Okay. Not to hard to find. Just climb a tree if I think I'm lost."
"You're not taking the map?" she asked as he handed it back.
"No. If I fail, you all need to know where to go. But you know me. I never give up. Besides, five miles isn't all that far away. We used to run that before Sally."
"True. But this is rough terrain. Radio in when you get there. For my sake if nothing else."
So far, even with him running, the bugs hadn't came after him. After five minutes though, he started hearing them.
"Hey Sam, you still hear me?"
"Loud and clear."
"Yeah, you're going to hear…" he began saying when suddenly there was bugs coming from everywhere around him under the ground.
He let go of the com link and fired two rounds directly between his feet. The vibration rattled every bone in his body, even making his teeth chatter. The bugs quickly turned and ran.
"You shoot? Yeah, we heard it. Everything okay?"
"Yeah. They ran away quickly." he said running once again, even faster than before. "I may have to do it again a few times. They all came at me at once. They ran away, for now."
"How far are you General?"
"Oh, over a mile or more." he said hearing the chirping noise again. "Hang on."
Another stop, a shot between his feet, grabbing the spent cartridge and off again.
"The radio signals might be what's drawing them to you Ford."
"Doubtful. I'm running as fast as I can. The farther away from you guys they are, the better. But who knows if they are all following me. I'm switching to explosive rounds."
"Try to stay out of the blast range General."
"I'm not that stupid Mitchell."
"Sorry. I realized that…let's pretend I didn't say that."
"I can do that. Anything outside on your end?"
"No. All's quite here." Mitchell said looking outside the cave with the other three.
"Some birds." Daniel said.
"That's good news then. The bugs didn't get them, yet. Poor creatures won't get the chance to keep on living though." Ford said jumping over a fallen tree. "I'm going to call back after a bit. I hear them again."
"Okay." she said signing off.
After a few seconds, they heard three loud shots and explosions that accompanied them.
"Let's give him a minute." she said really wanting to grab her com.
"You sure?" Daniel asked removing his hand from his com.
"No. But we're going to wait anyway."
One minute turned into two. Teal'c ended up having to fire a concussion round into the ground several feet away. The chirping noise went away quickly.
"This weapon is most impressive."
"You think it has too much of a kick back for us to handle T?" Mitchell asked.
"Yes."
"Ford?" she asked into her com after the third minute came.
"Yeah. Hang on a minute." came a raspy voice.
"He's alive." Daniel said. "That's good news."
"Must have been caught in the blast." Mitchell said.
"Knocked some trees over, big ones. Had a lot of climbing to do. Bugs everywhere, a lot dead. Forgot these things punch a three foot hole in the ground, or deeper. Heard your round get fired too. Um, I'll call back in a few."
"Is he there yet?" Woolsey asked coming out several minutes later.
"Not yet. Those explosions you heard was him clearing a path." Mitchell said.
"That was several minutes ago. When did you last talk to him?"
"About that time. We're waiting for him….."
"Hey, I see the facility. Should be there in less than a minute now."
"That was quick." Woolsey said. "How far away did you say the research facility was for here?"
"Five miles." Carter said. "But we usually get up every morning and take a couple mile run or more before coming to work. He's been doing that long before he joined the SGC."
"I thought you two stopped because of Sally." Daniel said.
"No. K-9 keeps us informed. If she starts waking up, we come right back. Mostly our run consist of going around the block a couple times, that way we stay nearer to home."
"Got the system going. Hopefully they'll hear us if they are up there." they heard him say and they started hearing loud chirping noises. "Um, going to be a lot of big bangs here, so I'll call back, again."
They did hear it, over and over again. And then it stopped, only to start after a few seconds. Then stopped after fifteen rounds, then started again.
"I think he's reloading clips." Mitchell said.
"That would be, three clips now." she said.
They heard several more shots and then nothing at all.
"Ford?"
After a few seconds.
"General, please respond."
Still nothing.
"I hope they didn't get him." Daniel muttered.
Ford was firing round after round, around the building. Making sure he didn't put a hole through the walls as the ground exploded with each shot. He had only managed to get some of the empty shell casings and was about to tell them how bad it was when he disappeared.
"General." Colonel Emerson said getting out of his chair and quickly put his hands up as Ford aimed his gun at him.
"Colonel. Sorry, I almost shot you." he said lowering the gun. "Was shooting bugs."
"Are we getting any other readings of life Lieutenant?" Colonel Emerson asked.
"No sir."
"General, is anyone left or do we drop the payload?"
"No payload! Not yet." he said reloading. "I need a map of the area near the Gamma site. Say five miles out."
"What for?"
"So you know where to beam me back. SG-1 and the I.O.A. members are hiding in a rock cave. The bugs can't go through solid rock so…"
"Ah. Lieutenant, I need that map."
"And quick. I don't want them thinking I was eaten alive."
"It's been five minutes and still nothing." Mitchell said.
"I want to wait another five before we do anything." she said trying not to think of the worst case scenario.
After a few minutes their radios came to life as they also heard the chirping noises start again.
"Close you're ears everyone! Fire in the hole!"
They did so quickly, while also yelling it into the cave. Three seconds later, there was a extremely loud explosion from a few concussion grenades going off.
"Daniel, get everyone out of the cave, now!" Ford said running up.
"What's…."
"Go! Odyssey can't pick us up if the bugs are all around us masking our life signs. Tell them to come out with their ears covered." he said tossing a bag to Mitchell. "Cam, toss a few grenades out that way."
He pointed behind him while making a circle gesture with his finger. Mitchell handed a few to Teal'c who helped toss with him. Carter quickly covered her ears and got down with him. Daniel and the others came out quickly and got down by them as they other two tossed several of them at one time. They also got down quickly covering up. The explosions were extremely loud and made the ground shake bad enough dirt and rocks came down from above the cave. The bugs ran away quickly and after a few seconds, they weren't there anymore.
"Welcome to the Odyssey again SG-1. Representatives." Colonel Emerson said getting up again. "Help them to the infirmary Lieutenant. Get them some temporary quarters and something to eat too."
After they left the bridge, he ordered the payload dropped and then had the ship head for home.
SG-1 was sitting around the briefing table, one day after coming home. Woolsey came back, feeling the need to report how things were going now.
"Ms. Shen has decided to take a leave from work, but is doing okay. The thought of being eaten alive was a little disturbing. LaPierre and Mr. Chapman are back to work, none the worse for wear."
"And how much trouble is SG-1 in, or is it the entire command? Or I really should say, how much trouble am I in?" Ford asked.
"Surprisingly minimal. Whether anything happens to you personally General, I cannot say."
"Doubtful anything will happen." Ford muttered.
"Whatever the case, the I.O.A. is well aware that what happened was completely out of your control and was no fault of your team. They may seem like they do a inordinate amount of complaining, but off the record, the I.O.A. has nothing but praise for the job you're doing here."
"Praise?" Ford asked confused. "You said praise?"
"Off the record General, yes. Despite your style of command and aggressiveness toward others, you do get the job done. You're team performed exceptionally well under the circumstances." he said getting up and buttoning his coat. "I thank you again for the off world tour. It was, an eye opening experience."
"Might help you look at our mission reports in a different light huh." Mitchell said.
"A very different light Colonel. Good day."
Once he left, Ford opened a folder he had in front of him.
"While we were gone, two more planets were attacked by those bugs. Reynolds and I have already informed the other teams, but I'm informing you all now, if you see even one of these bugs on any mission, call it in and run. Though we don't spilt up often, we need to take care anyway."
"Understood General."
"More bugs. Great." Daniel moaned. "Is there anything we can fight them with?"
"Report also says that R&D is trying different things, but so far, CR91 is the only thing that works. They'll let us know when they have something else." he said closing the folder. "I guess that's it for the night."
"You two going to join us for movie night?" Mitchell asked as he and the other's stood up.
"I would really like to, but I promised Sally I'd read to her tonight since I didn't get to last night." Carter said.
"I'm stuck with General only paperwork at home." Ford muttered. "Just out of curiosity, what are you three watching?"
"Starship Troopers." Mitchell said with a smile. Carter covered her mouth as she started snickering.
"Oh god, you guys are a glutton for punishment." Ford stated making her laugh.
"Is it not a good movie Ford Carter?" Teal'c asked.
"Don't tell him General. You'll spoil the surprise." Mitchell said quickly.
"I'll say this then, it is a good movie." he said then shook his head. "See you all tomorrow."
They watched him walk off to his office muttering something about seeing enough bugs to last him a lifetime, before they all left for the night.
