Death Knell
Entering SG-1's lab, Jack smiled at Carpenter and Daniel who were both sitting at their desks and the lieutenant mumbled something before exiting the room.
"You wanted to see me?" Jack asked, reaching for something from Daniel's desk that was within his reach and easy to mess about with. He had no idea what it was, but Daniel sent him a brief annoyed look and then smiled nervously. "What's up?"
"I've, uh, I've been trying to find a minute with you for weeks."
"What with Sam gone, I've been busy." Sam had been sent to the Alpha Site to work on a weapon to fight the Super-Soldiers and he had not seen her in over a week. He had not been happy when she had told him that she was going there, especially as he had reasoned that she could have worked on it at Stargate Command with Jacob. Unfortunately his desire to simply have her close to their daughter had backfired when she had accused him of trying to control her career and life again. For all of the good that had happened since their *first date*, Sam had left on her current mission in a foul mood with Jack once again. He had no idea what their constant problem seemed to be or how to try and stop things escalating. "All these reports and then Daniella."
"Right, it's just it's important."
Jack knew that if it was that important, it would have been part of a briefing and General Hammond had not called one. "Yeah, well, I'm here now." There was still a small amount of resentment concerning Daniel's relationship with Sarah and how the younger man seemed to be willing to put her before everyone else. Daniel seemed to stutter and falter a bit, annoying Jack further. "I don't have all day, Daniel."
"I was speaking with Sarah and-"
"Do I want to hear this?"
"It's about Sam." The two men looked at each other and Jack eventually nodded his head slightly. "Sarah said something that I think works with our theory that it was all too easy." That was something that Jack certainly did not need reminding of. His life already seemed to be cursed with opposites when it came to things that should be easy but were hard and vice versa. He still wondered how, for all the difficulties, his previous relationship with Sam actually seemed easier to live with than their current tense times.
"And?"
"Osiris was ordered to leave Sarah and he knew that Sam would be his final host."
"Yeah, because I wouldn't let her live with him in there."
Daniel shook his head. "That wasn't the impression that I got. I think there was something larger going on with Sam."
Before Jack could fully process the thought or manage to say anything, the alert klaxons went off due to an unscheduled 'gate activation. Pushing their conversation to the back of his mind, Jack put the random item back on Daniel's desk and headed towards the control room.
SG – SG – SG
By the time all four members of SG-1 made it to the control room, the Stargate had already disengaged and General Hammond was preparing a MALP to be sent through. They all stood around the consoles as the on duty 'gate technician began dialling an address.
"What's happening, General?"
Hammond looked at the younger officer and did not even try and hide the unpleasant news. "Just over twenty minutes ago, the Alpha Site came under attack and they began evacuating to the Beta Site. The Beta Site then lost contact with the Alpha Site." He studied O'Neill's face for any sign of emotion and reaction to the news. There was nothing so Hammond continued. "Ninety people didn't make it."
"Didn't make it?" Daniel echoed.
"Their situation is unknown; they failed to make it to the Beta Site."
"Who attacked them and of how did they learn the site address?"
Shrugging his shoulders at the Jaffa, Hammond had no idea. "We're just about to send a MALP, see what's happened there." Remaining in silence, the MALP was sent through and its readings indicated that the Stargate had fallen over, creating a cavern underneath it that a rescue team could hide in.
"General, request permission to mount a rescue?"
"Colonel, we have no idea if there's a functioning DHD remaining."
"We can take an alternate power source," Teal'c offered.
"You could come under enemy fire straight away."
"Just SG-1 then, sir. The wormhole dug us the perfect foxhole."
Hammond had to give the colonel credit – he had not even asked if Major Carter was one of the ninety still missing yet he was still volunteering for this mission. O'Neill would lead the mission no matter who was or was not missing. "You haven't asked."
O'Neill averted his eyes from Hammond's. "I don't need to."
It was Daniel's voice that then spoke; "Where's Sam?"
The wormhole disconnected and the room suddenly felt colder and darker. "She hasn't reported in. Major Carter, and Jacob, are part of the ninety unaccounted for."