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Chapter 16: All roads lead to Abydos
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Part 5
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23 December 1996
Stargate Command
Colorado, The United States
Earth
Milky Way Galaxy
In the past two weeks, Jack had been fiendishly busy. He knew his age was taking its toll on a body he had abused for years. That conclusion was easy to make – he had been busier than this before and in active warzones too, where people did their best to make him buy the farm, and he eagerly returned the favor. However, back then, Jack used to feel somewhat better in the end. He thought so anyway while trying to drain his second big mug chock-full of coffee strong enough to raise the dead and then some.
O'Neill had worked with NATO and other allied personnel before, too. However, due to the nature of his career, both as a Special Forces soldier and a pilot, he didn't get to deal directly with this many people of different nationalities simultaneously. His brief tours in Europe during the Cold War weren't during major exercises or at headquarters crawling with people from all over the alliance.
The bright side was that there were no language issues. Everyone Jack dealt with over the past two weeks were polyglots. Sometimes, it felt that they knew English better than him, and wasn't that irritating.
At least most of the allies who invaded SGC were Philistines who didn't like Jell'O, so there was more for him. For that alone, Jack could forgive a multitude of sins.
He couldn't forgive Harry's presence. Mayborne turned up like a lousy penny hours after the first foreign contingent arrived. They were Canadians, a mix of special forces types, all veterans from Desert Storm, and select scientists.
The same was true for every other group that trickled in over the past weeks. The scientists were usually the first to arrive, followed by their security detail a week or so later. There was a good reason for that. Due to logistic reasons, almost all equipment they would use on the mission would be US. If they had to shoot their way out, it wouldn't do for most groups to use different weapons, magazines, and such.
The big exception was the three small tankettes the Germans brought. Officially, those were for testing by the US Army and expected to eventually show up at the primary armor training ground down South. Those things could quickly drive through the Stargate. The Wiesels were up-gunned with HMGs and auto-cannons. That way, they might be able to chew through modern Jaffa armor.
Jack wasn't too confident about the rest of their weapons. They were going loaded for bear, with bullets made of melted-down Jaffa armor, courtesy of Seth, Sethesh, or whatever that damn snakehead called himself. Explosives, too, let's not forget the explosives. Every soldier on the "exploration" mission would carry enough grenades and C-4 to get vaporized if something went wrong. O'Neill wasn't sure how much that was intentional to mitigate the chance of someone ending up as a prisoner of a hostile Snake and how much it was a desperate attempt to ensure they would have a fighting chance if things went tits up.
The last soldiers trailed in, carrying their own cups of coffee, and sat down, filling up the last few free seats in the largest briefing room in the facility. Jack was about to hold a final briefing for the security details under his command. They would be heading off-world the day after Christmas if nothing went awry. If nothing else, that would give everyone one last holiday to celebrate if everything went to hell on their mission.
"Pay attention, folks! We are operating under the assumption that we will deploy in two days. Unless our orders change, the next time we all meet will be for moving through the Stargate. So, let me remind you all that tomorrow is Christmas; it might be our last, and it will be a miserable one spent in lockdown at this base. I am certain that many of you managed to sneak your favorite drinks, intended only for medical purposes," Jack's neutral expression turned into a smile that was all teeth. "If I find any of you not fully sober and ready to go through the Gate roaring for action, I will do my damned best to see you end up stuck for years in your country's equivalent of Siberia!" He bellowed.
O'Neill knew that sometimes even veteran soldiers who could be relied upon did utterly stupid things when bored. A Christmas spent locked in this base? Perhaps their last one? It didn't matter that these were supposed to be among the best their countries could offer. People were people, and they always managed to fuck up if you let them.
Jack knew that from painful experience.
"Now, on a brighter note, let us discuss what we will do if no one manages to screw up over the next thirty-six hours," Jack happily clapped his hands, trying to be as impressionable as possible. "Each of you has three primary tasks. First, ensure that your country's scientists return in one piece. Second, make sure any other civilian, who isn't your primary responsibility, makes it back intact, or as intact as feasible," All levity vanished from the Colonel's face and drained from his voice, which became deadly serious. "You are all aware of the nature of the Goa'uld. They can also allegedly use a healing device to bring back the recently dead. If we make hard contact, leaving anyone behind, alive or dead, would be an unacceptable risk for Earth," Jack paused.
This was the most controversial part of the mission, standing right before the backup plan in case they were compromised and couldn't safely extract everyone. In that case, SGC would send a nuclear weapon ready to detonate. Jack wasn't privy to all the discussions surrounding that failsafe. What he knew was that most politicians involved agreed that sending a nuke with the exploration team, while technically safer, might ruin any chance for diplomacy if they ran into a Goa'uld who was somewhat reasonable but still close to how Perun described his kind.
"We can't allow a hostile force to get away with taking any of us for interrogation, no matter if said person is alive or dead. If we have to leave a body behind, put a burst in its head and drop a grenade on it. The same is true if an enemy is taking a prisoner. In case of hard contact, our rules of engagements and orders are crystal clear," Jack studied the expressions of everyone in the room.
There was a reason why everyone sent Special Forces to act as security. These soldiers were the most likely to do what they had to while being stable. A psychopath wouldn't think twice about shooting a civilian. However, no one sane wanted such people trained as soldiers, much less special forces. People with that kind of mentality could hardly be trusted. You always wanted to count on your best-trained killers to know when they had to kill and, more importantly, when not to.
"In case of hard contact, the Delta Force detachments meant to secure the site and perimeter control will do their best to die slow enough to give us a chance. As previously discussed, I am in charge of the operation. Major Feretti is my XO. If we both buy the farm, the next in command is Major Grayson, the Deltas, CO. However, if things go to hell, he will be too busy fighting, buying the rest of you time to skedaddle back to Earth. Captain Price will be effectively third in the line of command."
"If the shit hits the fan, I will do my best to get everyone home, if at all possible, Colonel," Price pipped up from his place in the middle of the SAS contingent.
"That is all anyone can ask for, Captain. Next, we are getting into the mission details. First, insertion order. Delta Force Detachment Alpha will enter the Stargate, followed by the Wiesels, and secure us a safe deployment zone. I will move in next, and if it is safe, the first group of scientists and their escort will move through…"
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Part 6
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Ra's yacht
en route to Abydos
Hyperspace
Ra lounged on a sinfully comfortable bed, sipping chilled wine. Human children sat on the soft carpets covering the deck in his quarters, eagerly watching his Human Prime show them the armor pieces.
The Goa'uld leisurely observed his servants, looking for the spark to elevate them above their peers. The best of them would become trusted, fanatically loyal agents and members of his personal guard. The rest would be useful, too. However, in the end, blind loyalty wasn't enough to entrust them with too many important tasks. They would still serve, though in much more mundane roles.
Ra was particularly interested in the boys and a single girl with a strong interest in what his Prime was demonstrating. The changes brought forth by Perun meant that capable guards were more valuable than ever.
Despite the people around, the Supreme System Lord allowed himself to close his eyes and fully relax. He could do so only at times and places like this without being reckless. Still, it took some time until Ra could push all the concerns and plots he had to deal with daily to the back of his mind.
"We will be like you!" One of the boys proclaimed, and others quickly joined him. "We will earn a place beside you, guarding father from everything!"
"I will, too!" That was the girl who was particularly interested in the new equipment.
"No, you won't! You're a girl!" A boy jeered.
"And you're small!" Another child taunted.
"I will! I swear I will! And I am bigger than you!" The girl shot back.
Ra smiled at the exchange. He had heard the likes of it many times before. Some children who made such vows fulfilled them, earning their place among his Primes and personal guards.
Anubis, who proudly wore the name and visage of the vanquished enemy, was one such boy a few hundred years ago. Yet, here he was now, in charge of Ra's guard.
"Hush now!" Anubis quietly chided the children. "Let our Lord enjoy his rest. Come on, follow me!" The Prime cajoled Ra's children out of the chamber. "If you behave, I'll bring you to see the armory and all the new weapons! Remember, you will touch nothing there without permission!"
Ra could hear the quiet excitement and the sound of moving fabric as everyone jumped up and soon followed Anubis out of the chamber.
The armory was full of new equipment– weapons and armor- just like one of the nearby rooms. Due to the ongoing changes, Ra decided to err on caution this time. He took virtually all his human guards with him and had enough weaponry onboard for them to fight a small war, just in case.
After Heru'ur's assassination, underestimating the Tok'ra or the more treacherous System Lord would be extremely foolish.
Ra sighed and pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on more cheerful memories, like the last time he was together with Mat. He was eagerly looking for her return.
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Chapa'ai Command
Krepost, Lord Perun's Domain
Milky Way Galaxy
Primes Stephan, Gorski, and Iasen met for the first time in a few months to plan a war the likes of which none of them had experienced before. Their God was a wise one, and he knew war. If Perun thought the galaxy might burn soon, they had to take the warning as the deadly serious possibility it was.
Fortunately for them, their Lord was a benevolent God who offered them the tools to do what until recently might have been unthinkable.
A map of Kail's realm hung in the air between the Jaffa. The light construct glowed with many colors and symbols, displaying the sum of their knowledge about the potential enemies they might soon face. This intelligence was far from complete, yet it was enough to illustrate the monumental task before them.
Even with the gifts the Supreme God Ra granted, Lord Perun's domain was still a tiny portion of Kali's. They were outnumbered and outgunned in a way few Jaffa in history were. What was coming would make them legends or kill them all. Perhaps both.
"We are looking at a good death, brothers!" Stephan grinned. Despite his extensive time in a Sarcophagus and being healed by Perun himself, the First Prime still bore the scars he received during the assassination of Lord Heru'ur by the treacherous Tok'ra.
Stephan's smile twisted his face into a fearsome grimace that might unman an inexperienced warrior.
"Better yet, a victory the likes of which this galaxy hasn't seen in millennia!" Gorski slammed a fist into the thick armor plate covering his chest.
"Your warriors will be critical for our success, my friend!" Stephan declared.
"My people will do their best to get you in position. However, we can't guarantee success," Iasen reminded them. "We have a limited number of Al'kesh and Tel'tak that can cloak. Your warriors will be greatly outnumbered."
"We will fight like demons for Perun!" The Space Wolves commander growled. "And we will bring naquadah charges. If we can't take the ships, we will deny them to the enemy!" Gorski vowed.
"First, we need to choose the right targets," Stephan waved at the holographic map.
"The strategic speed of the Ha'tak governs which systems and ships we have to strike first," Gorski interjected. "We will want to bring those ships back to a Chapa'ai we control to receive crews, or at worst, over our key worlds to defend them," He looked at Iasen.
"Lord Perun is clear on that point – we must utilize the bulk of our fleet to strike first and strike hard. Only the newest Ha'tak to be finished before the war begins will remain to defend our worlds. We can't afford attrition battles in space."
"We can't afford them on the ground unless the prize is sufficient to offset losses we can't afford. We will be fighting armies vastly outnumbering us," Stephan reminded them.
"That is why mere destruction is not our goal," Iasen noted. "Lord Perun will need to make a statement. Our God has to prove his superiority, that we are winning and can keep winning, to convince our misguided brothers and sisters to join us. That is our ultimate goal; do not forget it!"
"Good thinking, brother!" Stephan's friendly smile was a terrible thing to behold.
"The Al'kesh and Tel'tak are slower than Ha'tak. We will need to begin deployment soon if your Wolves are to reach their targets on time," Iasen nodded at the map.
"You command the Black Legion and know the capabilities of a Ha'tak best. Give us the targets, get us there, and we will take them or see them burn!" Gorski declared.
Iasen manipulated the hologram's controls, zooming on worlds close to their domain, which had garrisons of Ha'tak. This included an industrial world that was relatively close. There were orbital shipyards above it. Depending on what was under construction, taking the place relatively intact could serve as a great boon. That was also one of the targets they couldn't afford to warn through scouting. Such a vital world might very well have Death Glider patrols all over the system, using advanced sensors that could detect cloaked ships. Getting there would be a quick and dirty affair.
"The Lady Vahlen and Nerus are calculating the best ways to get your wolves in position here," Iasen explained. There would be no stealth in assaulting that shipyard. Instead, they were going for raw speed and shock.
"That is one operation that I would love to lead myself!" Gorski grumbled.
"Our Lord might need you right beside him, along with Vasil, brother," Stephan tried to offer a sympathetic look, giving him an expression fit to give children nightmares.
"Fifteen strike teams. Fifteen targets," Iasen selected system after system on the map. Each glowed in amber. "The rest of the Space Wolves will go after the shipyard or be ready to join Lord Perun."
That was how many cloak-capable ships they expected to have in ten days. If the war would begin later, they could add more targets of opportunity to the list. Those numbers were deceptively small, concealing what a success would mean.
No one stationed Ha'tak at systems that didn't matter. The Space Wolves would go after fifteen warships, holding eight systems. While in war, total success was doubtful, taking a few of the Ha'tak meant systems would fall in line with them. Each destroyed ship would also ensure that the Black Legion could fly in and demand the Jaffa and Minor Gods swear their allegiance to Perun, significantly shifting the balance of power within Kali's realm. And by then, their God would have likely vanquished the Queen opposing him, making it much more likely for her Jaffa to see the truth.