CHAPTER 92
EPISODE…………COUNTERSTRIKE
After some well gathered info came to light, mostly about the possible appearance of Adria on a Ori controlled planet, SG-1 decided to go check things out. Blend in with the populous and see if they could hopefully learn more. There was a Ori ship landed on the planet just outside the large city. The people there weren't technologically advanced. They lived in man made brick buildings. Some made of wood though. Kinda like seeing the middle ages, except without the dark parts of it going on at the same time. The land and mountains outside the city were packed with fruitful soil and an abundance of wildlife. If not for the Ori threat, the planet would be a great place to visit the people and take in the sights. They'd been there for awhile now and were blending in with the crowd pretty well. They were all wearing clothes that made it easy for them to blend in. Teal'c wore a hood to hide the metal tattoo on his forehead. So far, no one had questioned them as unworthy or anything like that. All of the people were there in a large area to listening to a Prior. He was starting to introduce the Ori lady Adria to the mass.
"Mark this day. For the darkness has been lifted from your world that the light of Origin may shine upon it." he said calmly.
The calmness was of little surprise. Every report and Prior they had seen was pretty much always calm. They kept quiet and still as the crowd shouted out in joy and waved hands or pumped fist. Some clapped.
"You have cast aside the past to seek a brighter future. Now, hear the words of the Orici."
They looked up and waited like everyone else. Daniel made a quick glance around him and noticed something was wrong.
"Um, where's Ford?" he asked quietly.
They glanced around before looking up as the crowd murmured. A young woman of somewhere in her twenties walked out in a light yellowish dress that clung to her frame. From just above her breast and up from there was nothing covering the skin. Though there was a necklace with a thick black cord around it and a jewel of some sort attached. Her hair, which had to be long, was up in a bun behind her head. She walked out up to the edge of the balcony that hung one story above the crowd. A yellow flag with two black symbols on it, both the same, one on top of the other, was standing up behind her.
"That's Adria." Vala whispered.
"The unbelievers among you sought to hinder our message. They took up arms in an attempt to suppress the truth. But they failed, and were vanquished. A reminder to all that Origin cannot be extinguished. It will flourish throughout this world and countless others." she said making the crowd cheer again until she waved a hand.
They quickly shut up and she turned to give the Prior a nod.
"You have seen and heard of what happens to those who do not follow the true path. Those who reject Origin. Here you shall have another demonstration of that power." she said as a couple of Ori soldiers brought a tall man in a large black coat out.
"You have changed somehow." she muttered quietly as she was looking him over slightly.
He wasn't injured and thankfully the group didn't say anything or gasp out loud. When the two soldiers brought him onto her right and tried to make him kneel before her, he quickly smashed their foreheads together and tossed them off the top. When the Prior went to use his staff, she raised a hand.
"My dear followers, I present to you one of your enemies." she said with a wave as Ford dusted his arms off. "His name is Ford Primus. The son of our greatest enemy."
They booed and hissed, but didn't throw anything. He restrained himself from shouting at them and giving them the finger like Jack would have. But then, even if he or Jack did, they probably wouldn't even know what the gesture meant to begin with. She raised her hand again and turned to him.
"Your attempts to stop us will only result in totally failure. Earth will join us or be destroyed. Why have you come here if you know that failure awaits you?"
"Well." he said calmly as he crossed his arms. "I thought about telling the people how much of an liar you and the Ori are, but I'd be wasting my breath."
"You may try if you wish." she said waving at the crowd lightly. "We will listen to him and then he shall be judged."
Ford suspected that she was hoping he would do so in order to root out the non believers and quite possibly to find the rest of his team. He noticed them out of the corners of his eyes, but he refused to acknowledge their stares or them.
"Well, if they are going to listen and not yell back before I can get finished." he said turning to them slowly as he uncrossed his arms.
The Prior even gasped with the crowd but didn't do anything. She either didn't expect it or never saw it coming when Ford quite literally bitch slapped her. She didn't fall, but she did step back a few steps holding the left side of her face.
"That was for being a evil little bitch that doesn't truly understand the power and knowledge you have." he said pointing a stern finger.
"You will suffer the most…." Adria began as she lowered her hand.
"Then do it." he said opening his arms with a challenge tone before pointing a finger in her face. "But it has to be you that harms me, or kills me. If you have your soldiers or that Prior do it, that means all those god like powers you have are a lie if you personally cannot enact, revenge for that slap, in front of all these people. I am your greatest enemy after all. Who better to put me down than the leader herself."
Adria noticed the crowd was looking at her to enact that revenge. The Prior was even looking at her to do so. She started raising her hand when Ford dropped his arms and turned around slowly. She lowered her arm and walked a few steps closer to look around him also sensing something wrong. The Prior was a little surprised as was the crowd about what didn't happen until everyone started hearing the same thing the two did. Something was coming at them, but they couldn't see it.
Up in space, just in beaming range of the planet, the Odyssey was keeping a watch on SG-1.
"Sir, I'm picking up a energy reading on the planet." the Major on his right said.
"What is it?" the Colonel asked.
"It's a wave of radiation emanating from the Stargate." he said hastily. "It's spreading fast."
"Get them out of there."
"Oh smeg. It can't be that…." Ford began muttering as Adria touched the gem on her necklace.
He disappeared as did the rest of SG-1 as a large invisible wave engulfed the planet. All life forms on the planet instantly disappeared.
SG-1 showed up on the bridge all together.
"What happened?" Mitchell asked.
"That's what we're trying to figure out." the Colonel said as SG-1 turned to look out the window.
"I'm not picking up any life signs on the planet." the Major said.
"That's…" Carter began as she was headed for the console. She stopped and turned as Ford pulled the hat off. Looked a little like a flattened out chef hat in some senses. More like a brown painters hat actually. "What…"
"Sorry Sam, you really looked ridicules in that hat. As for the impossible word." he said setting the hat aside and looking down at the planet. "No. It's not. I think the weapon on Dakara was used. Which begs the question, is the Jaffa High Council holding information of possible locations of ZPM's?"
"Wait, you think that that weapon on Dakara, which I thought the report stated it being dismantled…." Mitchell began.
"They did not dismantle the device." Teal'c stated. "It was decided that Earth would not inform the Jaffa High Council that the ZPM was taken when the incident with the Replicators was over. Instead they were allowed to believe that the device was still functional."
"What makes you think it was the Dakara device?" Carter asked taking the cloak off her shoulders.
"I saw a large ripple across the sky headed for the city. Kinda like watching a wave of heat off the pavement. Except it took up as far as I could see, even skyward. From what K-9 showed me that he recorded, when we fired it off back then with the Replicators, it looked about the same. Besides that, what else could have done this and come from the gate?"
"I saw those reports General." the Major said. "It would make sense. The wave emanated from the gate and covered the entire planet."
"Thanks Major." he said turning back to the window. "I think she saw it too."
"Adria?" Daniel asked.
"Yeah." he said looking down at the planet. "Got close enough I could have shoved her off the ledge, or cut her head off with one of my blades. I was tempted."
"I'm still surprised that you slapped her General." Mitchell said.
"So am I." he said turning to leave. He stopped and looked at Vala before walking off again. "Only for your sake did I not outright try and kill her."
"Where are you going?" Carter asked as he was walking out.
"I'm going to go get changed. I don't like woolen clothes."
Down on the planet, no one was anywhere. Their clothes from where they were standing or sitting or what not was there, but that was it.
After they all got a quick shower and a change of clothes, they were going to meet up and talk. Everyone was getting into the black SGC DBU outfits. Vala had finished recently and was adjusting her cuffs when Daniel ran up catching her in the corridors.
"Vala, wait!"
She looked back but kept walking as he caught up.
"Look. Despite what Ford said and considering what information we have, we're not really sure what happened down there. Even though it all points to the Dakara device."
"They're all dead Daniel. That's what happened." she said with a mixture of sadness and fear.
"I'm sorry."
"What for?"
"Well, believe it or not, I know how you feel." he said as they stopped in a intersection area. He placed his hands into his pants pockets as he tried to carefully approach a subject he expected her to possibly fight or blow up at. "Even though she was your daughter and even though she was..."
"Relief." she said still adjusting her cuffs on the jacket. "That's what I feel, relief."
He was giving her a curious and worried look. Part of him was wondering if she hadn't felt the impact of the event yet.
"What? You don't think I want to be responsible for the enslavement of an entire galaxy, do you?"
"It was hardly your fault." he said quietly.
"I knew she was the will of the Ori even before she was born." she said still working with the stubborn cuffs. "I could have done something before then, but I didn't."
"She was your child." he said defensively.
"Maternal instinct can only excuse so much. Of course I did tell myself that my relationship with her might prove to be an advantage. That maybe in some critical moment I might be able to reach her in a way no one else could."
"And you might have been right."
"I'm just relieved I will never have to find out for sure." she said with a fake smile as she walked away.
Daniel didn't say anything else as he followed moments later, but she was hurting.
"Unscheduled off world activation!" Walter announced.
Landry came down shaking his head as Walter was checking for a I.D.C. Ford always left him with the paperwork. Wasn't all that bad, except his hand was beginning to cramp a lot.
"Walter?"
"Receiving Bra'taks I.D.C. sir."
"I'm meet him down there."
Walter opened the Iris as Landry was walking into the gate room.
"Bra'tak, what brings you by?" he asked as the man walked down with a sad look.
"A matter that threatens millions of lives."
"I'm sorry, but SG-1 isn't here if that's who you're looking for." he said as Bra'tak glanced around. "We can pass along a message though."
Teams in isolation suits were down on the planet looking things over. SG-1 was going to check out the ship after it was found to be clear and safe.
"Lieutenant Evans, report." the Colonel said over the com.
"No sign of residual radiation sir." she reported in as the Colonel was pacing the bridge in front of his chair. He walked past Carter who was leaning on one of the consoles as they all listened. "No chemical or biological agents in the atmosphere. The place is clean. General Carter isn't feeling ill or showing any signs of illness."
"At any time?"
"None. Smells the same as before this happened." Ford said over the com.
"I don't know much about this Dakara thing sir, but with General Carter's assessment here, I have to agree with him. The only thing missing down here is living tissue. The clothes and such were left behind. There isn't even any farm animals anymore either."
"That device is capable of that sir." Carter said as the Colonel nodded. "I believe that more than proves it."
"Indeed."
"The Council is convinced that the only way to fights the armies of the Ori is to use the Ancient device on Dakara to attack them." Bra'tak said as they entered the briefing room as walked to look out at the gate.
"That's the same device SG-1 used to wipe out the Replicators."
"Except it strikes out with a new purpose, to unmake living beings. Hours ago a the first target was struck. A planet.."
"We already know about it." he said sternly as he kept looking out the window. "SG-1 was there doing recon."
Bra'tak looked at him sharply.
"They were beamed out before your weapon could hit them. The villagers weren't so lucky." he said turning to him.
"That is tragic."
"It's mass murder! Why in the hell didn't you do something about it?"
"Our new leader, Sa'tak, convinced the Council that this is our only hope for survival." he said sternly. "The more I spoke out against it, the more isolated I became."
"I need to contact the Odyssey. Let them know what's happening. And then I need to meet this man myself." he said forcefully before turning and going into the office.
Teal'c was on the bridge looking out at the planet. Ford and the isolation team had returned and they were all about to go down and check out the ship.
"I am ashamed that my brothers have utilized these methods." Teal'c stated as both Carter's and Mitchell walked up to look out at the planet with him. "There is no honor. Freedom without honor is meaningless."
"I agree Teal'c. This could have been done a different way. A very different way." he said starting out with a sad tone that went away into a thinking tone.
"How so?" Teal'c asked noticing the change in his voice.
"We could have showed the people and other's how much power the Ori truly don't have." he said thinking. "With the information we have on that Prior from the Sodan…."
"We could possibly make the device on Dakara only take out Priors. If we could find the frequency…." Carter said getting the idea quickly.
"No Priors, no Ori or Origin. We come along and tell them we did it and they might see the truth. From there relocate or…"
"Nice idea." Mitchell said getting it pretty quickly. "The Colonel can send the message along to the SGC. Your dog and the other scientist…"
"Hey!" the two stated.
"Sorry. K-9 and the other scientist.." he said hearing them mutter the word better. "Can get to work on finding that frequency. We have a unmanned and unguarded Ori ship to go after."
"We must act quickly before reinforcements arrive." Teal'c stated.
Less than ten minutes later they beamed into a corridor inside the ship. Just in case, they had their weapons up and ready.
"Hmm. Nobodies home." Ford said glancing around.
"Funny." Daniel said sarcastically.
"Do you know your way around this tub?" Mitchell asked.
"All the corridors look the same. I haven't got my bearings yet." Vala said.
"There has to be some sort of control room. I'm guessing it will be in one of the forward sections." Carter said.
"We've got a lot of ground to cover." Mitchell said. "Time it split up. Okay, me and Teal'c will look this way. Daniel and Val will go that way, and you two will go that way."
"Not that I'm complaining but is there a reason why me and Sam are together?" Ford asked.
"Kinda figured you'd want it that way."
"True, but I can't play favorites even though I want to."
"I know. I have you two together because you're the smartest ones in the group."
"Oh! They finally noticed Sam." Ford said jokingly as she chuckled and Daniel groaned.
"Funny, real funny." Mitchell said turning around walking away. "You two can crack their system better together than apart. Everyone check in every ten minutes or so."
"Can I ask you a question?" Vala asked as they started off.
"Just because you have to ask me to ask makes me think I should say no."
"Back on the Odyssey you said you knew how I felt." she said looking around a corner while he just kept going. "What did you mean?"
"What?"
"With Adria. You said believe it or not, I know how you feel."
"Yeah." he said with a sigh as he looked into a open room. "Um, ten years ago my wife was taken as a host by a Goa'uld."
He kept walking and it took her a moment to process what he said.
"The framed picture. On the wall in your office." she said running up. "Is that her?"
"Yeah." he said a little sadly. "Her name was Sha're. We were married just over a year when she was….taken. I swore I would get her back."
"What happened?" she asked as they stopped outside a closed door.
"Um, I joined SG-1 and searched for her for over two years. But in the end I couldn't save her. And for a long time I felt guilty that I failed her."
"And now?" she asked concerned.
"Now, I can at least take comfort in the fact that she's not suffering at the hands of the Goa'uld. I guess in a small way, I feel relieved as well." he said and then took off walking again.
Mitchell and Teal'c were walking through the ship, not talking. And they were being the most careful of the group. Keeping watch for any possible hidden enemies. Teal'c placed his back against the wall keeping watch as Mitchell waved his hand over a scanner to open an door. A sort of low thumping hum emitted from the room.
"Wow."
Teal'c turned around and looked into the room. The room was extremely large and in the middle was some power source with what kinda looked like five large curved blades hanging from the ceiling that came down around a glowing circle on some system.
"I'm no expert, but this looks important."
"Indeed."
"It has me thinking, it looks like a good place to drop some C-4."
"I would be the best opportunity to disable the vessel should it become necessary." Teal'c said as he took Mitchell's gun.
"Just in case we can't get this thing flying before the Ori comes back," he said digging into his vest and pack. "We win one for the home team while hauling ass for the gate."
Teal'c nodded.
"A great Jaffa once said, exalted it the warrior who achieves great victory without battle."
"Winning shows strength, winning without fighting shows true skill."
"Oh, you are a student of ancient strategies." Teal'c said impressed as Mitchell stood back up.
"No, General Landry was telling it to me. I think he was quoting Sun Tzu." he said walking in. "Or it could have been Doctor Phil."
Teal'c followed and the door closed.
Back at the SGC, Landry had changed into off world attire that was desert camo in color.
"I've already advised the Pentagon that I'm heading off world. Reynolds will take over for now." Landry said as he and Walter were walking. "I might be awhile."
"With all due respect sir, you think you might consider taking along a few marines?"
"This is a diplomatic mission Walter. Last time I checked, the Jaffa were our allies."
"Yes sir. But General Carter never leaves…no he doesn't go anywhere without his weapons. Well, I guess he thinks he's the exception to the rule. Which isn't a bad thing."
"He is the exception to the rule in just about ever aspect. But this is their world and I'm going to go my way. Bra'tak will be there with me."
"See you later sir, and good luck."
"Why did you ask him that question? Or did you ask knowing what he was going to say?"
"Other than to see what he would say, but to also find out if that was what he was going to say. I didn't expect the smart comment."
She laughed.
"Daniel didn't like that." she said.
"No. I'm not trying to fill Jack's shoes, but sometimes, it's just not the same without him here."
"I miss his smart mouth attitude too. His jokes were funny sometimes, but I could never laugh at him, rank and all."
"And yet I kept and still get away with it."
"Yeah. You really got on his good side. One airman laughed at one of his jokes, that wasn't really a good thing at the time and he got his ass chewed out hard. Hammond fixed the problem quickly and had Jack take the day off."
"Hmm."
"Kinda creepy in a way that there is no one here." she said looking around a corner. "The stillness and complete lack of sound is…."
"Weird. There should be at least some sort of noise. Barely hear the air getting circulated and such."
"What would you
be doing if it Mitchell had us all split up?"
"All of
us being alone and looking? Probably hum or talk to myself. Or
mutter incoherently."
"When I said you were weird when we got married, I didn't expect some things."
"Like what?" he asked confused.
"Your sleeping thing. You have to sleep with noise and such."
"Listening to you breathe is just fine with me."
"Took you a week."
"Yes. But then we didn't sleep a lot during that first month together."
"Did we ever really recover?" she asked seriously.
They both cracked up outside a closed door.
"Any ideas where we could be now?"
"We should be near the front or close to it." she said as he kept his Tommy gun ready.
He nodded and she ran her hand over the scanner. They both pointed their weapons in and seeing nothing, they lowered them and walked in. On either side of the room, which was rather small. Just enough room to fit a Volkswagen beetle into, there was consoles built into the walls, but only on the left side. Kinda like the Enterprise-D had at the back of the bridge. Monitors above the consoles showed different things, such as ships systems, functions and such. In the middle of the room was a small raised platform that had a chair in it. The platform was some power system by the blue light that came from it. In front of the chair, at almost the same farness away that the command chair on the Daedalus class ships had, was a large window. A cloak with some other clothes were in a small pile at the foot of the chair.
"Looks like we found the bridge." she said slipping her pack off slowly.
"Mitchell said something about a power core." he said looking out the window. "You're probably thinking the same thing I am with that chair."
"That it's probably a chair similar to the one like the Ancients use?"
"Yep." he said sitting it in carefully. When nothing happened, he got up.
"Let's see if we can find anything useful or helpful in the databanks. Maybe a manual way to activate this ugly boat."
"See if you can remove a panel or too while I get my laptop out." she said looking at the console to the left of the chair. "I don't see any way to link our system to anything up here."
"Hey all, we found the bridge." Ford said with a cocky tone.
Daniel and Vala stopped as they heard it.
"His voice doesn't sound right." Vala said.
"He's being funny." Daniel said before responding back. "What else have you found?"
"Well, other than a missing Prior. He left his clothes and staff at the foot of a chair that we are quite sure being the command chair…." Ford said.
"They way it looks and is set up, I believe it is set up like the chair in the Antarctic site." Carter said through the com.
"Being they were the same people at one time, similar use of technology isn't surprising." Daniel said. "Can you activate the chair Ford?"
"No. Looks like it takes Prior to fly this."
"Which means all their ships are flown by Priors. Since he can't activate it, I'm guessing the system is designed to only work for their unique brain physiology." she said.
Teal'c and Mitchell were finished some time ago with setting the explosives and were looking around the ship again as they heard the conversation.
"Plan B is in place." Mitchell said.
"Last resort only Cam. Sam and I are going to see if we can hack the system here."
"Good luck. Try to make it quick though. It probably won't be long before the Ori…." Mitchell was saying when Teal'c raised a hand making him stop.
"Mitchell?" Ford asked.
"Hang on." he said quietly as he and Teal'c were listening to the sounds of some loud walking.
The kinda sound that comes with troops moving. They both turned around quickly and pointed their weapons.
Carter was starting her laptop as they were waiting for a response. She looked at him and then his com. He took the laptop as she kept looking at the controls.
"You do it. Just in case."
She was a little confused but did it anyway.
"Cam, are you still there?"
"Yeah, we're here. We've got a little company though."
Four Jaffa were pointing weapons at them. Two zat's and two staff weapons.
"I am Bo'rel of the Free Jaffa. And we have come to lay claim to this vessel." the lead man in the front stated not lowering the zat. He actually shook it slightly in a menacing tone.
"Calm down brother. We were here first." he said not lowering his weapon either.
"Cam, report." she said.
"It's all right Sam. Just a little misunderstanding with our Jaffa friends. You two get back to work."
"There is no misunderstanding. We achieved this victory and therefore we come to claim the spoils!"
"What you have done is sacrificed the lives of thousands of innocents." Teal'c stated as he moved a few inches closer to Mitchell.
"No one is innocent when they join with my enemy."
"They were invaded by an army with massively superior firepower." Mitchell said.
"They should have resisted."
"So, die at the hands of the Ori or die at the hands of the Jaffa. Some choice."
"Jaffa are here already? They must have been waiting nearby in a cloaked ship. The Odyssey would have picked up the gate activating." Ford said.
"He'll call us if he needs help." she said getting her cables out to hook up to system. As she was about to the power flickered and made a powering down sort of noise at the same time. "That wasn't me."
"I knew that." he said putting the Sonic Screwdriver away. "Wasn't me either. Never got to try this."
Daniel and Vala were stopped in a corridor listening and waiting to see how things went with the Jaffa. Mitchell, Teal'c and the Jaffa looked around but kept their weapons up as the power flickered.
"Enough of this! The ship is ours! Now lower your weapons!"
"That's not going to happen."
"Colonel Mitchell." Teal'c said looking off to his right with his eyes.
Mitchell noticed the signal and stepped back firing his nine at a Jaffa just down the hall from them. He missed as the Jaffa stepped out of the way and he fell against the wall as he took a hit from a zat. Teal'c fired his PC-90 as he quickly took cover against the corner wall. They started returning fire as Teal'c kept firing back. He grabbed Mitchell's PC-90 and took cover against the wall on the other side firing back with both weapons.
"Odyssey, this General Carter. I want Teal'c and Mitchell beamed out of here right now."
"Do it." the Colonel ordered.
The Major tried and kept trying.
"Major?"
"Something is wrong sir."
Teal'c was still firing back and he pointed his weapon the other direction as the other Jaffa came out. He didn't fire in time and took a zat blast falling unconscious at Mitchell's feet.
"We should have heard something by now." she said.
"I seriously hope they aren't dead. Find out." he said hooking the wires up to the insides.
"Odyssey, what's happening?"
"We're getting too much signal degradation for successful beam out. As far as we can tell, the malfunction isn't from this end." the Colonel said.
"Guys, we've got a problem. The Odyssey can't beam us out."
Daniel and Vala were running through the ship and slowed down some as they kept looking for Jaffa.
"Why not?"
"Well, I think I accidentally activated the shield." she said as she continued to mess with the console above Ford's head.
"Can you reverse it?" Daniel asked.
"We're working on it." Ford said.
The console sparked as Ford tried the Sonic Screwdriver. A few different settings didn't help.
"Better stop before you blow something up. Namely us."
Out in space, three Hal'tak motherships came out of hyperspace and approached the planet.
"SG-1, this is Odyssey. Three Hal'tak vessels just exited hyperspace and are moving into position around the planet." the Colonels voice said through their coms.
"Get out of here Colonel. Your ship isn't powerful enough to take on that many ships." Ford ordered.
"Besides that, we don't have any other ships."
"Catch that Colonel?"
"No other ships. Understood. We'll leave the area before we're detected." the Colonel said then looked at the Major. "Get us out of here. Good luck SG-1."
"Same to you Colonel. Inform the SGC for us." Ford said before signing off.
Landry and Bra'tak had made it to Dakara. Landry was rather impressed with the area and how it looked. Arial photos and other photo's, plus being told how the place looked just didn't make it as real until you'd been there. Satek was in his office, which was a room with a few things here and there. There was a slightly curved desk he was standing behind that had papers and a few other items on it. Two Jaffa were standing just behind and on either side of him. Two more Jaffa were on the other side of the desk talking to him.
"The Ori, it turns out, are not invincible. This first strike against them must be considered nothing less than a complete success." Sa'tek stated.
"But at what cost?" Bra'tak stated from the doorway.
They all turned to look.
"Leave us."
The four Jaffa bowed or nodded. The two in the front gathered a couple of scrolls from the desk and walked out as the other two entered.
"Unable to gather support from your fellow Jaffa, you dishonor yourself by seeking it elsewhere."
"I'm honored." Landry said and then with a small bow. "General Hanky Landry."
"The Tauri, your people…."
"Are pissed. Your use of this Ancient device violates our prior agreement." he said walking up to the table.
"An agreement that was made with the former leadership that I no longer feel bound to."
"So you're going to have your people go back on their word?"
He slowly walked out away from behind the desk, but not around it fully.
"Much has changed since my predecessors consented to that agreement. We now face a enemy powerful enough to render our conventional weapons useless. Your forces have proven equally ineffective. This device is our only means of striking back at them."
"Which includes slaughtering innocent people?"
"If future strikes gives us the power to recover enough of their ships, we will have a strong enough force to fight back with." he stated forcefully as he walked up and placed both hands on the top of the desk. "But until then, this device it our only option."
"Incidental genocide is not an option."
"Granted, the cost of victory is great. But the cost of defeat, would be even greater."
Daniel and Vala were running rather fast through the ship. They hadn't came across anyone so far and heard little else. Until they rounded one corner. Daniel waved his hand a direction and she got the message. They both ducked into an open room quickly as four Jaffa came around another corner and walked past.
Mitchell was laying on his side, still unconscious. A slightly disturbing dream going on at the same time. A Jaffa walked up and tapped his left shoulder lightly with the end of the staff weapon.
"All right!" he said waving his left hand around near his face quickly. "All right."
He got up slowly remembering were he was and what happened. His weapons and vest were taken away. He looked to his left to see Teal'c sitting on a bench against the wall nearby.
"Where is the rest of your team Colonel Mitchell?" the lead Jaffa asked as Mitchell was shaking the effects off still.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You were speaking with a female." the man said kneeling down and holding the CB unit out for him to see. "And you mentioned more than one person."
"Oh, right. Them." he said still blinking. "They were both back in the village. They're probably went to the gate and are back on Earth right now."
"You are lying." he said getting up and activating the device. "This is a message to all Tauri on this vessel. My name is Bo'rel. My brothers and I have taken this ship in the name of all free Jaffa. I have Teal'c and Colonel Mitchell in my custody."
Daniel and Vala listened in as they stayed hidden behind a pulpit that the Prior probably used. There was a couple candles on the pulpit and a open Origin book.
"Surrender now and no harm will come to them."
No one said anything.
"If you do not answer immediately, we will assume your intentions are hostile. In which case we will deal with the prisoners harshly."
Still nothing was said.
"So be it." he said with a nod.
Teal'c stood as the Jaffa near him aimed the now powered staff weapon at his head. Mitchell looked at the same weapon that was just activated by another Jaffa that was also aimed at his head.
"Guess this guy needs a lesson in who he's dealing with." Ford said with a growl.
Ford started to activate his com when Daniel came on.
"Bo'rel this is Daniel Jackson of Stargate Command. Listen, there is no reason we should be fighting each other, we should be working together."
"I'm afraid that will not be possible."
"Look, we are dealing with some advanced technology and we have some experience that will be useful."
"You doubt our ability to fly this ship?" he asked with conviction and anger.
"I'm saying there isn't a lot of time and it would be in everyone's best interest if we pooled our resources."
"My orders are to take this ship and everyone on board. You will reveal your location to me now."
Daniel wasn't about to do that yet. But he didn't have much choice as they both heard a couple staff weapons activate. They both turned around to look and see they were found.
"That won't be necessary." he said looking at the two Jaffa.
One of the Jaffa's took the com unit from him.
"Bo'rel, we have them."
"Well done. Hold them until our patrols find the control room."
Ford picked up his Tommy gun as she was working on the laptop.
"You're not leaving are you?"
"Nope." he said digging into his vest and small pack. "If they want this ship with a fight, then they get a trashed ship."
"We can blow the power core."
"And if that fails, we do this." he said pulling C-4 out and placing it in certain areas of the bridge that wouldn't really get noticed much.
"Not a bad idea." she said working fast on the laptop. "You think you can cover the door?"
Daniel and Vala walked out with their hands behind their heads.
"You're making a big mistake. More Ori ships will be here soon."
"And they will suffer the same fate."
"I think not." a voice said.
They all looked around but didn't see anything or anyone. The weapons the four Jaffa were holding flew away from them and they grabbed for their throats choking suddenly. They all lifted up into the air a few feet and then they stopped breathing moments later and then fell to the ground dead. The two looked at the bodies in some amazement and then at the doorway as they lowered their hands.
"Adria?" Vala asked in surprise as a woman walked in.
"Hello, mother."
Daniel quickly knelt down and grabbed a zat. He aimed it but never got the shot off as the weapon was taken away from his hand and a staff weapon was lifted off the ground pointing at his face. It activated as his hands reached up and choked his own neck. She was looking right at him.
"Okay, we all know darling, that you have telekinetic powers." Vala said grabbing Daniel's hands and trying to pull them away. "You can stop now."
The staff weapon fell but Daniel was still holding his throat. She looked at her and walked up slowly.
"I have missed you mother. They said I should forget about you." she said as Vala stepped forward. "That you abandoned me because you didn't care."
"No." she said shaking her head.
"I knew you would come back for me." she said smiling.
"How is it that you're alive? Everyone else on the planet was killed." she asked with concern.
"I was saved by this." she said holding the small jewel on the necklace. "It holds a small piece of the City of Celetis. It protects me. It keeps me safe."
"Oh." she said thinking suddenly it must not protect her from certain people. Ford did give her a rather hard slap that everyone heard.
"Soon, the other ships will come for us. And once we're back with the fleet." she said slowly hugging Vala. "I promise you mother, we'll never be separated again."
The Jaffa were standing around waiting for information about the other patrols finding the control room. Teal'c was seated once again and Mitchell was seated on the wall opposite him. There was a table in the middle of the room between them with all their stuff on it. Bo'rel was looking at the different items and picked up a flashlight.
"There are some who hold the Tauri in great esteem for their assistance with us against the Goa'uld." he said slowly walking over to Mitchell.
"I'm guessing you're not one of them."
"No. While I recognize the contributions you have made, I question your motives. I suspect is had more to do with self preservation than generosity. We had a common enemy." he said still looking different things over. "And as much as the Tauri would have us believe that we could not defeat the Goa'uld without them, I know better."
He picked up a unknown device and held it out.
"What is this device?"
Mitchell looked at it, seeing it was the detonator.
"Haven't got a clue."
Bo'rel hit a button and it made a noise as it came on. Back in the power chamber, the four blocks of C-4 lit up in the timer.
"I will not ask you again."
He looked at the guy and opened his mouth before turning away.
"Nope, still nothing."
Teal'c kept his calm and still demeanor, but a slight smile crept onto his face as he suddenly realized if Ford was with them, he would most likely be laughing. Bo'rel flipped the side of a red switch up and placed his finger against a smaller switch underneath.
The two were working rather hard to hack the system, him looking over Carter's shoulder and pointing things out when suddenly the power went out.
"Hmm, that's strange. But I've been getting a creepy feeling for awhile."
"What sort of feeling? Not the Immortal…."
"No. Adria wasn't one of them." he said getting up and helping her to her feet. "But I think she is alive. Kinda got the same feeling from when I met her on that balcony."
They both headed for the door only to find it didn't open. Ford went to pry it open when she stopped him.
"Got an idea. Besides that, the door might make a lot of noise if you force it." she said grabbing the staff off the floor.
"Nice." he said sweetly.
The power went out and Bo'rel turned telling a couple Jaffa to go see what was happening. The only light on the ship was the candles.
"Listen, we are not rejoining the fleet." Vala said. "You are coming with me."
"No I can't." Adria said taking her hands away from Vala's. "I can't abandon my armies."
"They are not your armies." she said sternly.
"Of course it is." Adira stated sternly as well.
"Well, as your mother I am putting my foot down." she said making herself look more authoritative as she placed her hands on her hips. "You are to young to have a army."
"They look to me for guidance, for protection." she said then looked at Daniel. "And for answers."
She walked past her mother and looked at Daniel who had at sometime removed his hands and placed them on his legs.
"Tell me what happened to my people on this planet?" she asked forcefully.
Daniel kept his mouth shut and did everything in his power not to say a thing.
"No, don't." Vala said waving a finger. "He doesn't know anything."
She kept at it and Daniel was really straining.
"Adria!"
Daniel fell back breathing deeply as Adria looked at her mother.
"You have a strong mind." she said walking past him as Vala knelt down next to him. She looked at one of the Jaffa.
"Wake up Jaffa."
The man awoke and started breathing as she lifted him into the air. Daniel and Vala could only stand back and watch.
"Welcome back. Now tell me, what happened to the believers that helped spread Origin to this world?"
He just kept gasping for air and didn't say anything.
"Yours is a backwards people, too primitive to create such a effective weapon. Now tell me, how did it come into your hands?"
He still refused.
"Where is it?" she asked very forcefully.
"Adira, stop…" Vala began saying as she walked forward.
"Don't interfere mother!" she said pushing Vala back. Daniel barely kept her from hitting the wall. "Where Jaffa?"
Mitchell and Teal'c were still sitting in the dark. Though there was light from the burning fires on the small pedestals, it was little. Only two Jaffa were guarding them. One that was pacing around and the one with the staff weapon pointed at Mitchell. Mitchell and Teal'c looked at each other as they heard music come from the com unit on the table. The Jaffa didn't know the music, but the other two did. It was from the Final Fantasy game Ford like to play, one of them anyway. Kinda sounded like trumpets.
"What is that?" the Jaffa asked Mitchell.
"Music. It's from a game back home. Interesting game really." he said waving his hands slightly. "A RPG which stands for…"
The Jaffa at the doorway was sent flying onto the table face first, which broke under his weight. The other Jaffa was to startled to do anything as Mitchell slammed him into the wall. A quick kick to the head ensured he wasn't getting up. Teal'c slammed his hand down onto the back of the neck of the other Jaffa before he could get up.
"Nice alert General."
"We try." he said picking the Jaffa off their stuff and setting him aside. "Kinda figured a sound you would know would be a signal you could understand."
"It worked."
"You two okay?" she asked.
"Indeed." Teal'c said getting his stuff.
"What's with the Prior thingy?" Mitchell asked.
"Oh this." Carter said waving it slightly. "Opens doors. No power going to anything so…."
"Not our fault." Ford said quickly. "Hey, did you see how that guy landed on the table?"
"Yeah. Like he was pushed or something." Mitchell said.
"Nope." Ford said with a smile. "I think I'm the first person to have ever officially kicked our enemy in the ass. Former enemy, but. Didn't fly as far as I wanted…"
Teal'c thought it was amusing while the other two, though they did smile about it, groaned.
"Where is the weapon?"
He shook heavily and the strain was too much.
"Da…..kara."
She jerked her head and he was tossed aside to die again.
"Dakara." Adria said.
"If you continue to use this weapon in violation of our previous agreement, our alliance is in jeopardy." Landry stated.
"And what does this alliance do to benefit the Jaffa, hmm?" Sa'tek asked as the paced back and forth behind the desk.
"If not for the Tauri, we would still be slaves to the Goa'uld." Bra'tak stated as he walked up.
"That was in the past." he said coming around to them. "And now we face a more dangerous enemy. And every day while we lose more ground to the Ori, the Tauri home world remains curiously untouched."
He stopped just in front of Landry.
"We are the ones fighting this battle. We are the ones dying by the thousands."
"And yet you chose to test your weapon on a human world. Not on one of your Jaffa planets that have fallen to the Ori. Why is that exactly?"
"This discussion, is over." he said turning away.
"What happened after we were knocked out?" Mitchell asked. "Last thing I thought I heard was the General ordering the Odyssey to get us out of here."
"The Odyssey tried to beam us out of here, but somehow the shield has been activated." she said as they were walking down the corridors with their flashlights and weapons at ready. "I thought it might be my fault, but after checking the controls, I found it wasn't me."
"Someone else is on board then." Mitchell said.
"I think it's Adria. Kinda feels like she's around here." Ford said. "I'll explain later. The other problem we have is three Hal'tak's are in orbit above us."
"The Odyssey?" Mitchell asked.
"Told her to leave the area. Can't risk loosing her."
"Then the Stargate is our only means of escape." Teal'c stated.
"Sounds familiar, but why escapes me." Ford said jokingly as they all smiled.
"Heard from the other two recently?" Mitchell asked.
"No." Carter said.
"Jackson, Vala. Come in."
They were looking at Adria as his voice came through.
"We are getting the hell out of Dodge."
"Too late." Adria said as the ship powered back up.
They were headed back to the bridge and stopped as the power came on around them.
"Oh yeah. She's definitely here and I'm sure she has a psychic control." Ford muttered.
"Is it just me or does the ship feel like it's powering up?" Mitchell asked.
"And moving." Teal'c stated as they took off quickly.
"I need you to rally your supporters and see who you can trust." Landry said as he and Bra'tak were trying to leave the Council building and head back to the gate. "In the meantime…"
Several Jaffa came up and pointed active staff weapons at them.
"What is the meaning of this?" Bra'tak demanded as Sa'tek was coming up the hall behind them with two more Jaffa.
"We just received word. The Ori ship has just taken flight."
"I might be able to override the primary systems from the control room." Carter said as they kept heading for it.
"Hopefully none of the patrols came across the bridge." Ford said. "We only have the one laptop."
In space, the Hal'tak's were fighting back and loosing as the Ori ship used its powerful weapon to blow them away quickly. After they were defeated, less than ten seconds, it took off into hyperspace.
"Scans are detecting no transmitter signals on the planets surface." the Major reported as the Odyssey came back into orbit about a minute later. "Is it possible SG-1 escaped through the gate?"
"Well, if they had, Stargate Command would have given us a heads up by now." the Colonel said. "No, it's more likely they are still on that ship."
"Sir, if that's the case, then it's one its way to rendezvous with the rest of the fleet. In which case we've lost them sir."
"Maybe not. We still have a chance at rescuing SG-1 provided that that ship is headed where I think it is. Major, set a course for Dakara."
"The Ori ship destroyed three Hal'tak vessels before jumping into hyperspace." Sa'tek said as they were now back in his office.
"I'm sorry to hear that." Landry said.
"The Jaffa on the planet reported no gate activity, there was no other ships in the vicinity, nor were there any survivors after the initial attack." he said walking around and standing before Landry. "Not a single soldier of the Ori was left alive."
"What's your point?"
"The only other people on board that ship are from Stargate Command." he said accusingly.
"You cannot possibly think that Tauri are responsible for this?" Bra'tak stated.
"What other explanation is there?!" he asked with the same accusing tone.
"We are not in the habit of launching sneak attacks on our allies." Landry stated. "However much we might disagree with their tactics. I can assure you that General Carter would not allow such an attack to even take place under his command."
"Lies! You are jealous of the power we have under our command through the Ancient device." he stated loudly. "You decided to address that balance by taking the Ori ship! When those Hal'tak stood in your way, they were swept aside."
"Sa'tek. This is madness." Bra'tak stated.
"We shall see." he said with anger. "Guard them."
He walked out of the room as the two Jaffa crossed their staff weapons to prevent them from leaving.
Ford went first and opened the door.
"All clear." he said going in.
"Nice bridge. Kinda small." Mitchell muttered as Sam went to her laptop.
"It appears we are in hyperspace." Teal'c said as they all looked out the large window.
"If she's here like you said, any idea where we are headed?" Mitchell asked.
"Sam, can you find out?"
"Trying." she said as she punched away at the keys.
"I know Tomin will be pleased to see you again." Adria said.
"Tomin is alive?" Vala said walking up to her. "He wasn't on the planet with you?"
"No. I have been traveling with various ships. As the leader of this great enlightenment, it is important now that I make my presence known, especially now that the first inroads are being made. When the rest of the fleet arrives, I'll have a much harder time with it."
"How many other ships are coming?" Daniel asked.
"Many, many more. By my estimation, the galaxy will be converted by the end of the year."
"Jackson, come in." Mitchell asked through his com. "Jackson, Vala, do you read me?"
"Dammit." Ford muttered.
"We're going to have to go look for them. T." Mitchell said with a wave.
"We'll keep at this." she said as they left.
"Call if you run into her."
They were looking around and checking different rooms. Then they came around a corner to find three Jaffa pointing weapons at them, again. They got their weapons up quickly. It was Bo'rel and two others.
"Well, at least it's not raining." Mitchell muttered.
"I don't know what you're complaining about." Adria said. "You should be delighted. As the mother of the Orici, you will be revered by all those who follow Origin."
"While I appreciate the celebrity status." Vala said leaning on the pulpit. "I have to admit it would get very tiresome, very quickly. Especially if I had to perform for the masses. I'm not very good with crowds."
"There would be no demands of you. All you have to do it accept Origin in your heart." she said with a smile.
"That could be a problem." she said waiving a finger.
"Perhaps at first. But eventually, you will embrace the truth."
"No, I don't think so." she said shaking her head.
"You're my mother. If I can't convince you, how can I be expected to sway the countless thousands of worlds in this galaxy?" she said with a loss of confidence. "Until I have brought you into the fold, my mission here is a failure."
"I can be very stubborn."
"Oh yeah." Daniel said agreeing rather happily.
"Then I will be very patient, and very determined."
"What about all the other people who refuse to bow down and worship the Ori?" Daniel asked. "Are you going to show them the same courtesy?"
"There is a limit to my patience."
"There is a difference to devotion and blind submission. You can't expect to win the faith of your followers through fear and intimidation."
"What would you have me do?" she asked getting in front of him.
"Give people a choice."
"I'm trying to bring a galaxy of people from the darkness into the light. In order to do that all doubt must be removed or it will spread like a cancer. It's that simple." she stated.
Oh how I wish Ford was here for this debate. Daniel thought.
"This is getting a little old, don't you think?" Mitchell asked.
"You will turn this ship back immediately!" Bo'rel demanded.
"Yeah, unfortunately we are not the ones flying it."
"You lie!"
Teal'c pointed his weapon away and took a step forward with his hand out.
"Would you accuse me of lying as well?" he asked as they aimed their weapons at him. "We are unaware of who is flying this vessel but we believe they may be on board with us."
Teal'c figured it probably wouldn't be a good idea to tell them who they thought was really in charge of the ship.
"We in fact share a common enemy."
"Whatever is between us, we can finish that later." Mitchell said. "Right now, we have to re-take this ship."
Bo'rel looked at the two Jaffa went them and they all lowered their weapons.
"That's more like it." Mitchell said lowering his.
"Adria, listen to me…"
"I'm sorry mother but the time for talking is over." she stated glaring at her. She then looked to the door. "We've arrived."
The Ori vessel dropped out of hyperspace heading for Dakara. Mitchell and Teal'c entered a room nearby to look out the window.
"Is that what I think it is?"
"Dakara." Teal'c said sadly.
"Oh no."
"What's….oh boy. This isn't good." Carter said looking out the window.
"Shut down that weapon, any way you can. I don't care if it takes overloading the damn thing."
"My suspicions have been confirmed." Sa'tek said as he entered the room with several Jaffa behind him.
"What are you talking about?" Landry asked.
"The Ori ship has arrived. You would try and force us to give up the Ancient device rather than have us wield its power."
"I am telling you my people are not responsible for this!"
"We will assemble our fleets and lay siege to your world. We will take back the Ori ship and avenge our fallen brothers." he said with a seriously threatening tone that he meant.
"You don't think that she is here on friendly terms do you?" Mitchell asked. Seeing Teal'cs expression. "Nope, me neither."
"With the engines activated, there may be a significantly greater reaction to the C-4." Teal'c said as Mitchell pulled out the detonator. "This ship may well be destroyed."
"Yeah, well. I was thinking the same thing." he said flipping up the red switch. "Sorry. Plan B."
"I'm not getting anywhere with…" Carter began saying when Mitchell came over the com.
"Sorry. Plan B."
Ford dropped his head and held her close.
"We must not allow this ship to launch an attack." Teal'c stated.
"Right." he said as his thumb twitched on the switch.
When he didn't do it right away and Teal'c noticed the ship getting closer to the planet.
"Colonel Mitchell…."
"Yeah, just trying to think of the appropriate last words."
"Hmm." he said nodding.
"Sorry, got nothing." he said with a small chuckle as he flipped the switch.
Nothing happened.
"What happened?"
"Nothing." Teal'c stated.
"A little hesitant there Cam, what are you doing?"
"Not working. Hang on." he said trying it again. Still nothing happened after a few tries.
"Go find Daniel. We can already guess why nothing happened." Ford said over the com line, which they had on another channel.
Adria was looking off in some direction like she was seeing through the walls or something.
"You should thank me. I just saved your lives." she said turning back to them.
"What are you talking about?" Daniel asked.
She turned and looked at the doorway as a Jaffa entered. He was quickly thrown back into the wall as Bo'rel and the other Jaffa were coming up on the room. The door closed as they got near. At the same time, the Odyssey came out of hyperspace and stopped quickly seeing the Ori ship.
"SG-1, this is Odyssey, do you read?"
"Yeah, we are all here." Ford said.
"We're going to try and beam you out of there."
"Wait for our signal. Sam is still working on getting the shield down while trying to also shut down the weapons. Stay out of range and keep the ship behind this one."
"Understood. We'll be waiting General."
"The weapon is capable of firing through a gate." Sa'tek said as they entered the room where the weapon was stationed.
The room was now surrounded like the inside of most of the Jaffa buildings. Instead of the sandy floor and the dirty old wall that was there when SG-1 was using it, it had been refurbished by the Jaffa. Several pedestals with flames come out of them surrounded the room against the walls.
"But it is also capable of sending out a wave that will encompass this world and beyond. Wiping out all life forms on any ships that happen to be in planetary orbit." he said walking around the large table. "We will be perfectly safe here in this shielded chamber. You will survive to bear witness."
They watched as a Jaffa pushed down different columns in the table. The Ancient screen behind Sa'tek still had the blue background with information scrolling by in Ancient.
"The Jaffa, have finally taken their place as the true power in this galaxy."
Bo'rel and his men were firing their staff weapons at the door.
"It won't be that easy."
"Why wouldn't it be?" she asked looking away from the door. "I'm about to destroy the only real threat against us."
"You are forgetting about someone. What about the Ancients hmm? And how about that guy that slapped you? You didn't seem to be able to do anything to him."
"You know as well as I do they will never get involved." she said smiling slightly. "As for him, he will be dealt with in due time. We have free reign in this galaxy."
"Adria, listen to me. I promise to stay with you and listen to the whole Origin thing. I'll even try to keep an open mind. Just let everyone else go."
"It is too late for them." she said looking back at the door a moment. "But don't worry. I'll be keeping him alive. We have plans for you."
Daniel wasn't sure how to take that. And it scared him. Though he was doing a good job of not showing it.
The Jaffa was just finishing up on setting the weapon to fire.
"We are ready."
Sa'tek nodded and then turned to look at the Ancient screen.
"My people may be on board that ship!" Landry said moving closer.
"Not for much longer. Fire the weapon."
The Jaffa nodded and pushed down another tile. The mountain shook slightly on the inside where they were. Outside, the top opened like a apple split into four sections and a large glowing ball arose from out of it.
Both of them were getting very close.
"I think this is it." she said hitting a final button.
The ship made a noise like it powered down slightly.
"Yep, shields are down." he said removing her laptop quickly.
"Odyssey, we are ready to go." she reported.
"Get them out of there." the Colonel ordered.
Sam was a little startled as he grabbed her and the staff they kept and pulled her out of the room quickly. They kept going down the corridor fast as he pulled a small device from his pocket.
"Never know…"
"I just hope it works better than Plan B did." she said as he pushed the button.
Down on the planet, the weapon fired off and started engulfing the planet.
Adria was talking to Daniel and Vala when they suddenly disappeared and left her confused as to what had just happened. Mitchell and Teal'c were walking down a corridor when they vanished. The other two heard the explosion and kept moving as they started to feel and hear the sound of atmospheric decompression.
"Colonel, I'm detecting a explosion on the ship." the Major reported as SG-1 suddenly appeared on the bridge.
"Did you say explosion?" Ford asked quickly.
"Yes General." the man said confused.
"Hey, it worked this time. Colonel, better get us out of here before she gets pissed off. We left a little going away present that you just detected."
"Major." the Colonel said quickly.
"Sir, sensors detected the Ancient weapon being used on Dakara." he said after they entered into hyperspace. SG-1 relaxed knowing they were safe now.
"Won't do any good. Only one person was on that ship." Daniel said.
"My daughter." Vala muttered.
"What did you do?" Mitchell asked the other two.
"We blew up the bridge." they said together.
"Got some info…" she said waving her laptop.
"And a souvenir of sorts." he said waving the Prior staff.
"Hmm, good job. At least something went right." Mitchell said impressed.
"It was Plan C. Third times a charm sort of thing."
The Jaffa were still shooting at the door when the wave went through the ship. They died and she watched as it passed over her and her shield. Now pissed off, she activated the weapon striking the mountain over and over again. Inside it, it was shaking bad enough they were barely able to stand.
"What happened?!" Sa'tek asked.
"The weapon appears to have no effect." the Jaffa said.
The mountain shook again under another heavy impact.
"Come! Come!" Bra'tak yelled pulling Landry along. "The area was evacuated. The gate is unguarded."
"Fire again! Fire the weapon!"
The Jaffa activated the controls as the mountain shook under another impact. The two turned at the even horizon to see the mountain take another hit. They jumped through as the top of the mountain was struck followed by another hit that totaled the mountain. Another shot hit it as it was falling down to ensure total destruction. Landry and Bra'tak made it through and the Iris closed as Landry yelled to have it shut. Before the gate shut down, they all heard heavy impacts against the Iris.
A few hours later, the Odyssey returned home and beamed SG-1 back into the base. After getting back into their BDU outfits, they put things away, such as the staff and her laptop before going to the briefing room to see Landry. He wanted to talk to them. They came up the stairs as he was looking out at the gate. Bra'tak was also there and SG-1 waited till they were done telling him what happened before hearing what happened with them. About an hour later they all met up again to find out what had happened at Dakara. Bra'tak had left shortly after the first meeting to go to another Jaffa planet and tell them about Dakara and to see about someone checking things out. He came back and they were now finding out the info. Teal'c came up the stairs to find them all at the table waiting. Ford and Carter were following behind him.
"The news is grave. The cargo ship dispatched to investigate the area reports that there is nothing but complete and utter devastation." he said sadly. "Dakara is no more."
"I'm sorry we couldn't have done more Teal'c. We tried." Ford said patting his arm. Teal'c nodded. "Unfortunately, things get worse. The Ori have taken five more planets."
"Two of which are Langara and Hebridan. We haven't received anything from our allies on either world." she said.
"We are getting our ass whupped. And the Merlin device is are only shot at stopping them." Mitchell said.
"As of this moment, I am taking full command of everything here at the base. SG-1 is to devote their full time to finding this weapon. Forget everything else you do. That weapon is top priority." Landry said standing up and giving them looks. "Is that understood General?"
"Crystal."
"Good, you're all dismissed." he said leaving.
"The Council is in disarray. The Jaffa nation is fractured. Without Dakara to hold us all together, I fear that everything we have fought for all these years will be lost." Bra'tak said.
Ford wasn't the only one who could swear the man looked ready to cry, but he was holding it in well.
"The war is not yet over old friend." Teal'c said placing a hand on his shoulder.
"If only I could have done more to oppose Sa'tek."
"There is nothing to be gained by second guessing ourselves." Vala said where she was laying her head on her arms on the back of one of the chairs. "You can't remake the past. So look ahead…"
She got off the chair and started leaving the room.
"Or risk being left behind."
"Wow." Ford muttered after she left.
"She displays the wisdom, of a battle seasoned warrior." Bra'tak stated, obviously impressed with her. Teal'c only nodded.
"She's a mother. That's close enough." Daniel said.
