Chapter 7
Doctor Fraiser did not want to sign off on Major Carter's trip off world. She believed the Major could not have gotten one decent night's sleep since the Stargate began to heat up. She was on base when the good doctor arrived in the morning and still hard at work when the good doctor signed out in the evening. But Sam Carter was an astrophysicist, the best in the program and this phenomena was highly unusual and worthy of study. So General Hammond approved of the mission.
Major Carter with the assistance of SG-13 stacked up lead lined containers of radios, GDO and other instruments to observe and record the emissions of this novel star. Other crates contained more mundane supplies. During the period between pulses they gated to PX3-809. Sg-13 returned to Earth after helping unload the cargo.
Dawson and Carter set up the equipment to analyze the radiation emitted by the star. They also recorded every pulse, its duration and intervals between the pulses. SG-7 had already done this but it was to confirm and get more exact readings. During the pulses the radios and GDO were carefully stowed in the lead lined containers.
Sam had been intrigued yet skeptical while gathering the instruments to observe this stellar phenomena.
That evening Carter took the first watch, she was eager to observe the star that held their interest. Also she was trying to make sense of their observations. This couldn't be a Pulsar. Pulsars spun at an incredibly fast speed and the bursts of radiation were usually consistent with intervals in the range of milliseconds. These findings made no sense. She noticed in the clear sky the brilliant Aurora. And it pulsed. What they really needed to study was the star of this solar system. And were they and everyone on this planet in danger? Was the Magnetosphere of this planet strong enough to protect them?
The next day they again recorded the complete spectrum of solar electromagnetic radiation and discussed whose theory was correct. The next pulse was expected shortly so they packed up some of the more essential, delicate and expensive equipment and contemplated lunch. As they were rifling through the MRE selections, rings dropped down. Eight angry Jaffa, with staff weapons raised and charged, looked toward the Stargate. When they realized the Tauri were here the leader screamed "What have you done to our ship?" The villagers and the members of the SGC stood in amazement, lunch in hand for a split second. And then all hell broke loose. Dawson ordered everyone to take cover and for Harper to gate back for assistance.
O'Neill hadn't stopped in his home and went directly to the SGC from his flight to Peterson. He was anxious to get back to the SGC and yet…
He wanted to see the old man, congratulate him on the victory - saving the world one more time. Yet Jack supposed Hammond would be putting in his papers for retirement. That was most probably his own future as well.
He wanted to congratulate Carter too. This was her crazy plan and her victory. He wanted to thank her for saving his sorry ass. He wondered where she'd be reassigned.
He supposed he wouldn't see Teal'c and wondered if he'd ever see him again.
And Daniel was still dead.
Jack was managing to depress himself.
Years ago they, Kinsey and his cronies, tried to shut down the SGC. Jack didn't want to see that again - tons of paperwork being shredded, offices and labs emptied, teams broken up, service men and women transferred. Before it was penny pinching and jealousy and arrogance and stupidity at work. But now they had no Stargate and couldn't use it if they had one. Jack didn't want to see the gate room barren of that great circle.
Steeling himself O'Neill signed himself through the checkpoints and was amazed to see everyone carrying on as usual. He ran into Teal'c with his son Rya'c and mentor Bra'tac. Teal'c filled him in on their victory and especially the part Rya'c played. He was one proud father. Rya'c and Bra'tac on their way to join the Jaffa rebellion via the cargo ship parked in the large seemingly vacant cordoned off area in the parking lot. Jack seriously thought of asking for a ride. Teal'c was grinning, for a Jaffa, and it was more than his pride in his son. He knew something that O'Neill didn't.
As he walked into the gate room there was Hammond admiring his latest acquisition. Walter, complete with clipboard, was conferring with the general.
Hammond turned to Jack, and smiling broadly, said "You did good, son." He might never admit it but this felt better to O'Neill than any medal they could pin on his chest.
"Thank you, Sir." Glancing at the newly installed Stargate O'Neill said "Looks like we're back in business, Sir. A rental?"
"I'm afraid so."
"I was hoping to run into Carter and thank her for the last minute save."
"You're a day late."
Before Jack could ask where his second was, the Stargate's chevrons began to glow. The wormhole engaged, klaxon sounded and the iris opened. Bloody and out of breath Major Harper staggered out, staff weapons fire flying past.
"Under attack. Jaffa. Help." He fell to his knees and passed out.