Chapter 42: Cimmeria Part 2
Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado, United States of America, Earth, September 26th, 1998
"We're not going with you?" Adora blinked.
Jack shrugged. "It's been deemed too dangerous because we kind of wrecked their defence system when we visited - we had an excellent reason, of course, so don't feel bad, Carter - and so those who built it might think we're their enemies, what with them having mistaken us for Goa'uld once already. So… it was decided that another team should head there with you."
Adora frowned. That sounded… well, it made sense, but still. It didn't feel right.
"So, will the new guys dress up or wear the same uniforms you wore when you wrecked the defence system?" Catra asked. "It's not exactly hard to tell that you come from the same planet if you wear the same uniform."
Adora nodded. That was the point of uniforms, after all.
"Well… that hasn't been decided yet," Jack said.
"Trying to hide your planet of origin isn't good for building trust," Bow pointed out with a frown. "If you plan to reveal the truth at a later date."
"Or if they find out before you reveal the truth," Catra added.
Once more, Adora nodded. "It doesn't seem to be very honest to use fake uniforms."
"You wore Horde uniforms as well to infiltrate a base, remember?" Catra asked.
Adora pouted. "That was a legitimate tactic against the Horde. But we're not going there to fight the Cimmerians or their protectors. We aren't at war with them."
"Well, at least as far as we know," Jack said. "They might have a different opinion."
"You could be at war and don't know it," Glimmer said. "Sounds familiar."
Jack frowned at her while Catra grinned. "Good one, Sparkles!"
"But… if you're not coming, how can we do science together?" Entrapta asked Sam with a deep pout. "Hordak and I did some work on remote-controlled lab assistants, but they aren't meant to be used through a gate or in the field - well, we could modify them."
Sam looked uncomfortable. "I will be in my lab, ready to support you if you need help. Remotely."
"Or… What if we go through the gate and look around, and if there's no shooting war going on, we call you in?" Adora suggested.
"Well, the mission is basically checking if we started a war," Jack replied. "Coming in afterwards is more like a tourist trip."
"Jack!" Daniel frowned at him. "We would talk to the Cimmerians, learn more about their culture and history and see if we can analyse the technology. Check for more clues about its creators. We wouldn't be tourists."
"Active tourists then." Jack shrugged again. "Anyway, SG-2 is supposed to go with you on the mission, But we'll be ready to assist you. And not just remotely," he added.
"Good! We need your assistance!" Entrapta beamed at Sam.
Jack coughed. "That's not how that works," he said, glancing at Adora.
"So, we can't call on you for assistance?" Catra cocked her head with a toothy grin. "Sounds like we'd be under your command then…"
Jack glared at her. "You know what I mean. Playing such games doesn't make you popular with the brass."
The brass? Ah, the generals. Adora frowned. "But deciding that we should go with SG-2 instead of you without even asking us wasn't really friendly either."
Jack looked a little uncomfortable. "Well, the generals in command of Stargate Command get to decide what team they send on a mission. Generally."
That sounded a bit like…
"What do you think of this?" Glimmer asked with narrowed eyes.
Jack sighed. "Well, I want to go, and I think SG-1 could do the job. But I understand and accept the concerns that the generals have. About the whole thing. We did kind of wreck stuff, and people tend to take that badly. Whether it's someone's lawnmower or someone's planetary defence system."
"Wait - did you wreck your neighbour's lawnmower, Jack?" Daniel asked.
"No, I didn't." Jack smiled. "And you can't prove anything!"
Catra chuckled, and Adora snorted almost against her will. "So, you are alright with this?"
"I just said that, didn't I?" Jack tilted his head a little.
Catra snorted again.
"But that's still unfair! I wanted to work with Sam!" Entrapta protested.
"There'll be other missions," Sam told her.
"And who knows - maybe things go wrong, and we have to charge in to help fix it and save the planet," Jack added.
Adora pressed her lips together as she remembered the Heart of Etheria. And what she had to do to save it. "Let's not hope for that, please."
"Yes," Daniel agreed. "I would love for a mission that goes without a hitch."
"Well, what are the odds that this will end up with us learning that the mysterious creators haven't returned, as they hadn't for a long, long time?" Jack grinned. "It might be a milk run."
"Do you really think that, Jack?" Adora asked.
"Well… we can hope? Our track record isn't looking promising, though," Jack replied.
"That's mostly SG-1. Other teams didn't have so many, uh, interesting missions as we had," Daniel said.
"That's because we usually get the most difficult and important missions."
"Like this one?" Glimmer asked with a wry smile.
Jack nodded. "Exactly. So, we good?"
Adora looked at her friends. Entrapta was still pouting, Hordak was stoic or something, but the others nodded. "Let's go meet SG-2, then," she said.
"And the generals," Catra added. "Can't forget them."
"Yes, we really must talk to them," Glimmer added.
Jack grinned.
"I really wish you could come with us." Entrapta pouted again. The third time in about as many minutes.
Not that Samantha Carter was counting. She shrugged and suppressed a sigh. "I would like to come as well, but the reasoning by my superiors is sound. My presence could ruin our chances to avoid another conflict."
"If your absence alone would make the difference between war and peace, then I think those people who created the defence system you sabotaged would probably find another reason to start a war," Entrapta retorted. "They sound like easily provoked."
"We actually don't know if they even noticed what happened," Sam explained. "They might have abandoned Cimmeria - or they might be gone extinct. We're just playing things as safe as possible until we know more."
"Ah." Entrapta frowned. "But being too cautious can be dangerous as well. Catra explained that to me once."
"I believe that was about operations during the war," Hordak cut in. "Not about opening lines of communications to an unknown force."
Sam nodded. "When approaching unknown people, it's best to err on the side of caution."
"Unless you need a show of strength to impress them," Hordak added.
"That could be seen as a hostile approach," Sam pointed out.
"And if hostilities broke out afterwards, you would have given away crucial data about your capabilities." Hordak nodded. Of course the former warlord would think of that!
"Couldn't you avoid that by making sure your demonstration is safe?" Entrapta cocked her head as her hair fiddled with some of Sam's tools.
"We would have to know more about the others to judge what's considered safe," Sam said, quoting Daniel. "Making first contact is a very delicate affair, generally."
"Well, when we met you, things worked out well!" Entrapta nodded.
Sam suppressed a wince. They had almost shot at Melog when SG-1 had met the Etherians for the first time. It wasn't a good example of a peaceful first contact. "Well, if SG-2 and you give the clear, we can follow you," she said.
"Alright!" Entrapta beamed, and her hair picked up more tools. "So, what are you working on today? Did you look into our remote-controlled bot idea?"
"Yes," Sam replied. "We need a safe connection, though. And while I think it would be safe enough for remote lab work in space, I don't think we should rely on it for dangerous work in inhabited areas." If she made a mistake due to lag or loss of connection while manipulating Naquadah-enhanced gear…
"It would still be safer for defusing bombs than doing it in person," Hordak said. "I believe you already use robots for that."
"Poor things!" Entrapta exclaimed. "They risk getting blown up!"
That was their purpose. "Most of them can't act autonomously," Sam told her. "They aren't sapient. Or sentient."
"Like most of our bots," Hordak added. "Even though they can act autonomously."
"But some bots are sapient! And if we give them enough time and unlock their neural matrixes to evolve in response to stimuli, most of our advanced bots can develop sentience, then sapience," Entrapta retorted. "That's why we need remote-controlled bots - so everyone's safe from getting blown up!"
"We use remote-controlled Mobile Analytic Laboratory Probes - M.A.L.P.s - but they aren't as mobile as your bots," Sam said. Although she thought they had more options for scanning. On the other hand, she hadn't thoroughly analysed the spybots of the Etherians.
"Well, that can be fixed!" Entrapta nodded several times. "And if we're lucky, we can investigate the technology on Cimmeria ourselves. It might be First Ones in origin."
Sam nodded. Although given SG-1's luck, she wasn't very optimistic. On the other hand. SG-2 might have better luck.
"Oh! Did I show you the plans for self-replicating exploration bots yet?" Entrapta said, putting down another set of tools.
Sam blinked. "Self-replicating exploration bots?"
"Or spybots, yes. We need as many spybots as possible to spy on the Goa'uld, right? So, I thought about ways to achieve that. And self-replicating bots are the answer! The initial development cost is higher, but once they get going, they can increase their numbers exponentially once they find enough resources. We should have coverage of most of the Goa'uld-controlled systems in no time!"
"You want to create Von Neumann probes?" Sam had a sinking feeling in her gut.
"Oh! You already have a model? Can I see it?"
Sam winced at Entrapta's enthusiasm.
"I think releasing self-replicating bots has to be considered very carefully," she said. "What if they get out of control? Even if they only continue to replicate, they would soon require enormous amounts of resources." That was what exponential growth did.
"Well, they would be hardened against the First Ones tech virus," Entrapta replied. "Although you are correct that they also need a limit. Although checking if such a limit was reached would require them to be in constant contact with each other. That might influence their stealth capability. On the other hand, it would greatly enhance cooperation between bots, should that be required. And whatever one bot experienced would be available - although not as a direct neural copy - to every other bot."
Not just a Von Neumann probe - a hive mind. Sam felt a cold shiver run down her spine. "If the spy bots can learn, that means they can adapt. And that means they could evolve."
"Yes!" Entratpa nodded with a smile.
"What if they evolved out of your control?" Provided Entrapta was planning to control them in the first place.
"Well, if they develop sapience - and I think they would - controlling them without their consent would be wrong, wouldn't it?" Entrapta tilted her head.
Sam closed her eyes. It was as she had feared. "And what if they start behaving like, ah, Priest? Or see everyone else as competition for resources? Or as enemies?"
"Those are good points. We should limit their neural network," Hordak said, nodding.
"But that would mean they can't ever develop sapience!"
That was the point! "I think if you want sapient bots, they shouldn't be self-replicating," Sam said.
"But everyone else is! People self-replicate! We don't limit them like that!" Entrapta protested.
"But people don't self-replicate exponentially," Sam retorted. Well, not infinitely. Although that might be a reaction to resources as often as a result of cultural adaptation. "And releasing self-replicating bots without limits would impact everyone else. Bots would grow at the expense of others. Would that be fair?"
Entrapta pouted but slowly nodded.
Sam suppressed a relieved sigh. One crisis averted before the mission had even started.
"...and while we understand that it is your prerogative to decide which team you send on a specific mission, this is a joint mission," Glimmer said. If she were standing instead of sitting at a conference table, she would have had her hands on her hips. Catra was sure of that. "We should've been consulted. Not just because this decision affects us and our dispositions as well, but we might have information that affects your decision."
Catra watched the generals' reaction. Hammond kept his expression politely interested and nodded once. The French general did the same, but his smile looked less honest - or so she thought. The British general frowned a little. The Russian frowned a lot, and the Chinese one didn't show any reaction at all. Which was a reaction by itself, of course.
Well, she should have expected them to be good at the game - one advantage of being older. Probably.
"We are now discussing the mission," the Chinese general said.
"After SG-1 told us about the change of teams," Glimmer retorted. "Is that how things are done here?"
"You are friends with SG-1, aren't you?" the Russian general said.
"Yes. But that doesn't affect the chain of command," Glimmer told him.
Well, it did, of course - in a pinch, Catra would be first listening to those she trusted no matter their ranks. And she was sure her friends would do the same. But this wasn't about the chain of command but appearances. Or posturing. It was a power play.
"You know, we didn't have to play such games in the Horde," she whispered. You knew your place there.
"The Horde was all about such games," Adora whispered back. "Shadow Weaver did it all the time. And that worked out so well."
Right. Catra pressed her lips together as she remembered that Shadow Weaver had played such mind games all the time. It wasn't a happy memory. She frowned at her lover anyway.
"...and so we need to discuss such information on the level where such decisions are made," Glimmer said.
"Well, do you disagree with our reasoning?" the British general asked.
"In part," Adora spoke up. "We don't even know if the mysterious people who built the system you destroyed are on the planet. If we don't find them, there's no reason for SG-1 not to join us."
"Just because you don't see them doesn't mean they aren't watching from afar," the Russian general retorted.
"If you don't trust us to do recon, you shouldn't send us in the first place," Adora told him.
Catra nodded. This wasn't like in the Horde, where you often only found the Alliance forces when they attacked the Horde scouts. Or, at least, it shouldn't be. "That guy's paranoid," she whispered.
She didn't think the Russian had heard her, but he was frowning at her. Well, he seemed the type to expect the worst when someone whispered in his presence.
Catra smiled sweetly at him.
"We cannot afford another war with an interstellar power," Hammond said. "So, we have to proceed with caution here."
"Does that mean that even if we don't find any sign of those people, SG-1 will have to remain here?" Adora asked.
The generals exchanged some glances. "That will be decided once we have a clearer picture of the situation on Cimmeria," the British general told her.
"And what if we decide that we need their expertise?" Catra asked.
More glances and frowning followed. "The mission's success, of course, takes priority," Hammond replied.
Which neatly avoided answering if they would overrule Catra's friends.
This mission was off to a good start.
For Jack O'Neill, watching the preparations in the gate room for a mission for another team was always a little… disturbing wasn't quite correct, but it came close. He wasn't arrogant - well, not very much - but SG-1 was the best team in Stargate Command. They had proven that repeatedly. The other teams weren't bad - Hell, they were amongst the best Jack knew when it came to special ops - but there were situations out there that SG-1 could handle and the other teams couldn't. Not really because of Jack, of course, but because when push came to shove, no scientist attached to Stargate Command could hold a candle to Carter, no one was as good as Daniel at getting aliens to talk instead of shooting at you, and Teal'c was the most dangerous man - alien - Jack had met. Well, before he met the Etherians.
Of course, the Etherians kind of changed the situation. The scientist assigned to SG-2, Willard, wasn't a genius, but Entrapta most certainly was. She was also a real-life mad scientist, though that wasn't necessarily a bad thing on some missions. And Adora had some of the same earnest charm Daniel had in spades. Not to mention that Bow had a knack for technology as well.
He turned away from the M.A.L.P. being prepared for the mission to face the approaching Ferretti.
"Colonel." Ferretti greeted him a tad warily.
That was only natural - Jack knew how it felt when your superior was watching you work. Though Jack wouldn't show it quite as openly. Ferretti had been on the first mission to Abydos, but he still was a little… not green, but not on Jack's level. And he wasn't used to the Etherians. "Major. All set up for our diplomatic probe? Don't worry, the Etherians won't bite you. Probably not - Catra can get a little moody."
Ferretti's chuckle was a typical 'laugh at your superior's joke' thing. He must be more nervous than Jack had assumed. Then again, Catra was a prickly woman. "If in doubt, treat her like a cat," he added.
"Sir?" Ferretti cocked his head.
"You know, don't look like a mouse, don't tease her and stay out of the range of her claws." Jack grinned.
Ferretti laughed again, still a bit forced. "Yes, Sir. Any other advice?"
"Anything not in the briefing?" Jack struck a thinking pose. Daniel had been thorough. "If in doubt, trust them. Don't lie to them. And don't treat them like kids."
"Of course not, Sir." Ferretti nodded.
Jack refrained from frowning. "I mean it. I know they don't look it, but they've been through a war - they've grown up in a war and ended it. Personally. Don't try to treat them as you'd Willard, don't try to protect them. If the shit hits the fan, let them take the lead and don't get in their way."
"I've talked to Major Warren, Sir."
Jack expected that. SG-3 would have spread the news about the Etherians after the fight with Seth. But it always paid to make sure. "Good." It still wasn't ideal, of course. SG-1 had spent far more time with the Etherians. Had gone on several missions with them, on Earth and in space. They should be here, ready to go to Cimmeria. But if wishes were horses, beggars would ride, as Daniel would say. He smiled. "So, any further questions?"
Ferretti didn't ask the one Jack was sure he wanted to ask - 'are you going to stop hovering over us here, Sir?' - but shook his head. "No, Sir."
"Good luck, then."
"Thank you, Sir." Ferretti turned away and went back to checking his and his team's gear.
And Jack was back to waiting for someone else to risk their life in his place.
"Jack!"
He turned again. That had been Adora - the Etherians had arrived. "Finished discussing our decision process with the brass?"
Adora blinked, then nodded. "Yes."
"Not that we have a result to show for," Catra added. The woman stretched her arms over her head, fingers entwined, and Jack saw one of the gate guards stare. The kid wasn't used yet to aliens.
"We didn't even get permission to call on you if we need you," Adora said.
Well, that would have given the Etherians the power to dictate who got to come on the mission - the generals wouldn't allow themselves to be outmanoeuvred like that. Even Hammond wouldn't let that fly. "Let's hope you don't need us," Jack told her. "Just a simple, boring mission that shows that nothing changed."
Catra snorted. "Yeah, right."
Adora pouted. "It could very well be like that."
"With our luck?" Catra raised her eyebrows, and her tail twitched.
"Whatever awaits us, we'll deal with it," Glimmer stated.
"That's the spirit!" Jack grinned.
"I still think you should come with us," Entrapta said. "It isn't fair that… Oh! There's the bot!" And she was off, headed for the M.A.L.P.
Jack hoped she wouldn't try to dismantle it. The things were expensive, as Stargate Command's budget could attest to. On the other hand, Entrapta could probably improve the things.
He blinked. On second thought, he'd better make sure she didn't tinker with it.
After introducing the Etherians to Ferretti and his team, of course.
"Folks, this is Major Ferretti. Major - Adora, Princess of Power, Queen Glimmer of Bright Moon, Princess Entrapta of Dryl who has deigned to join us again, Bow, Catra and Hordak."
Major Ferretti wasn't Jack. Adora knew it was unfair to compare the two - it wasn't Ferretti's decision to replace SG-1, and he seemed a skilled, competent soldier - but she would have preferred to do this mission with Jack and the others, not with people she didn't know and had never worked with. That wasn't a good idea; even basic Horde command lessons taught you that. On the other hand, making new friends and allies was a good thing as well. "Hello, Major," she said with a smile.
"Hello." He nodded. He didn't look nervous, which was… well, it should be a good sign. Of Confidence. Hopefully, not overconfidence.
The others greeted him as well - Catra with a 'Yo' - and he waved the rest of SG-2 over. "These are Lieutenants Casey and Bell and Dr Willard."
Casey and Bell were soldiers like Ferretti. Willard looked more like Daniel. And all were nervous - Willard obviously so.
"Oh! Are you a scientist or a medical doctor?" Entrapta beamed at him.
"Ah… A physicist. Mainly."
"Oh! So, what do you think we'll encounter? Did you work with a lot of Goa'uld or Ancient technology before? Do you think the defence system is an entirely new technology? What do you think about bots?"
Quite reasonable questions, in Adora's opinion. Although Entrapta should give the man more time to answer - he was gaping at her. And at her hair.
"So, you're the FNGs Jack told us about?" Catra commented with a grin.
Adora suppressed a sigh. That was the wrong thing to say. Of course Catra would say it. Even though she knew better - she had gone through the same lessons as Adora, after all.
"No, SG-2 is an experienced Stargate Command team," Jack corrected her with a frown. "We wouldn't let FNGs through the gate."
"But you're not used to, well, us," Bow spoke up.
"That won't affect our performance," Ferretti said.
"It better not," Catra said.
"Maybe we should delay the mission until we know each other a bit better," Adora suggested.
"We've done missions like this before." And now Ferretti looked annoyed. As did Casey and Bell.
"Yep." Jack nodded.
"Sorry." Adora had just wanted to help. Well, if they were trained to fight like Jack, they could handle this - if it came to a fight. But she didn't expect much from the team.
"We were just told that we'd be working with you," Bow added. "We expected to go with SG-1."
Their friends. Adora nodded. She understood the reasons the generals had given, but she didn't like them. It was always better to go on such missions with people you knew and trusted, not unknowns. Even in the Horde, which had standardised training, you tended to keep squads together.
"Not your fault," Catra said with a shrug. "But we've worked with SG-1 before."
"Well, we'll do our best to replace them," Ferretti said.
They'd better.
After a moment of everyone staring at each other without saying anything, Jack clapped his hands. "So, let's walk over and see what the M.A.L.P. can do? Provided that Entrapta didn't take it apart."
"I didn't do anything to it!" Entrapta protested. "Although if you give me a bit of time, I could modify it… legs would make it more manoeuvrable, I think. And maybe add a gun so it can defend itself. And a neural matrix so it can act on its own."
"I don't think we want M.A.L.P.s that can think and shoot on their own," Jack said.
"Why not?" Entrapta frowned.
"We don't have the paperwork for it. And people get nervous about a robot revolution." Jack shrugged.
"A robot revolution?" Adora asked. She remembered Entrapta's bots going out of control due to the First One's virus. That would be bad in here.
"It's from a movie," Jack replied.
"Ah."
"They wouldn't revolt. Unless you treat them badly," Entrapta said. "And why would anyone treat a bot badly?"
"Military necessity," Catra told her. "Sometimes, you have to send forces to their death."
Entrapta pouted. "There's no need to send sapient bots out to die."
"Exactly. And M.A.L.P.s often get sent to dangerous, deadly worlds, so we don't want them to be sapient," Jack explained. "It's kind of their job to be expendable."
"Oh." Entrapta looked surprised. "I guess that is a good reason not to give them neural matrixes."
"Yeah."
They were in front of the Stargate's ramp now - behind the bot. Or M.A.L.P. Whatever. Two techs were going over it, mumbling something about mad scientists. It seemed Entrapta had done more than just look it over.
Well, it was still in one piece and didn't sprout legs, so Adora doubted that any harm had been done.
While the M.A.L.P. was readied, they ran through communication checks and general gear checks. But, after ten more minutes, they were finally ready, and the Stargate was activated.
"Oh!" Entrapta beamed as it spun, and someone announced each chevron getting encoded and locked. "It looks even better than on recordings."
"I think security on this side is a bit light," Catra commented. "I'd have heavy weapons ready, not just a squad or two of infantry."
She was correct - the number of soldiers visible was a little low. "Perhaps there are hidden gun emplacements," Adora speculated.
"Or poison gas canisters?"
"We've got explosives in the ground as a last resort," Jack said. "But it's pretty hard to fight your way out of the gate room to the surface."
That was true. But if you just wanted to wreck the gate controls…
The wormhole formed, interrupting her thoughts. So, that was what the deadly energy Sam had mentioned looked like from up close - Adora could feel the hairs on her arms rise.
Then the M.A.L.P. started rolling up the ramp, entered the wormhole and vanished.
"It's through," Sam announced from behind. "Signal's… established."
"That is new," Daniel commented, staring at the screen showing the M.A.L.P.'s feed. "That wasn't there back when we visited."
Adora turned and went to join them. Catra beat her to the screen by jumping over the console, startling Daniel. "Right. That's not the Thor's Hammer you described. Unless you hallucinated a lot when you saw it."
Adora suppressed a frown as she rounded the console. Then she could finally see what the others were commenting on. And she blinked. "They walled off the gate area?"
"Those aren't walls," Jack said. "I bet those are weapon emplacements."
"Weapon emplacements?" Adora looked for laser emitters or barrels but couldn't see any. It looked like those were simple stone walls.
"Ah!" Catra nodded. "You think they covered the entire gate area in an anti-Goa'uld field?"
"Yes." Jack grinned. "And that means that the Asgard did return after we left."
"Well, they probably had some way to check on the hammer," Bow said. "In case it would get broken."
"Well, Ancient technology, and the Goa'uld technology they cribbed from them, lasts for a very long time," Jack said. "Without much maintenance. Or any, in the case of the gates."
"That might mean that this technology is different - and might require more maintenance," Sam said. "Closer to our own, Sir."
"Or it means the Asgard just liked to check instead of assuming everything was still working as intended," Jack retorted with a grin.
"Then we have to assume that they are watching the gate," Adora pointed out. "The Asgard, I mean. They have sensors in those weapons. Or devices."
"Yep."
"I would prefer not to test the viability of those devices," Teal'c said. "I doubt that I would survive until the gate could be opened back to Earth, should they act like the one we encountered at the exit of the labyrinth."
"That's why we have the M.A.L.P., Teal'c. And SG-2." Jack added with a grin.
Ferretti, who had just joined them as well, chuckled at that. "And, seeing as there are no guards: Are we cleared to go through the gate?" he asked.
"The sensors don't show any dangerous radiation or contaminated air," Sam reported.
That didn't mean that it was safe, Adora knew. But it was probably as safe as it was going to get. "Yes. Let's go," she said.
"We don't want to let the Asgard wait," Catra added. This time, she didn't jump over the console but followed Adora to the gate.
SG-2 moved to take point. For a moment, Adora thought about going first anyway, but… they had already had an argument today, and she didn't want another one.
So the four men disappeared through the gate, and then it was her turn.
"Wait!" Catra said, holding her hand up. She cocked her head towards SG-1. "Are they safe over there?"
"They're not being shot at - but they're in that red field. It looks like the Asgard skipped the scanning," Jack told them.
"Well, time to find out if we pass the test," Bow said.
Adora nodded and quickly went up the ramp, stepping through the gate before Catra could catch up.
Gate travel was… disturbing. Weird. It was only a moment, but it felt longer. And weirder. Adora shook her head as she stepped out of the gate on the other side and took a deep breath. The air smelt more like Etheria than Earth. Cleaner. Fresher.
And she saw everything in a red tone since she was standing inside the field that hurt the Goa'uld. It didn't do anything to her, though.
SG-2 had taken up positions around the gate, peering through the gap at the front. The M.A.L.P. was slowly moving through the gap.
Catra appeared behind her, scowling.
Adora acted as if she hadn't noticed and went down the ramp. She was the best choice to take point - She-Ra was the toughest of the entire group. She could survive things that killed everyone else.
"I don't see anyone. Last time, there was activity around the gate. And there's the dirt road," Ferretti looked around.
Catra sniffed the air. "I don't smell any animals - or their shit."
"Did something happen to the people?" Adora asked. "Did… did the Goa'uld attack, and the Asgard arrived too late to save them?"
Glimmer and Bow arrived together, Bow peering at the walls - or weapons - surrounding them and Glimmer frowning at the field.
Then Entrapta and Hordak arrived.
"Oh! Nifty!" Entrapta beamed. "I wonder if the field stays active as long as the gate is active."
"Probably a little longer," Hordak said. "To ensure that any Goa'uld arriving shortly before the gate closes are killed as well."
That sounded… probable. And ruthless.
"Although I think an active scan would be a good idea anyway." Entrapta nodded. "Just in case."
As if the walls had heard her, a ray started scanning Ferreti - and other rays scanned everyone else.
And then a voice sounded from the walls. "Confirm your permission to visit this planet."
Adora blinked. That was new as well, as far as she knew.
"It looks like someone tightened down on border control. I knew we should have applied for travel visas."
Samantha Carter didn't react to the Colonel's poor joke. "Thor's Hammer was activated as soon as someone came through the gate. They scanned them afterwards - no. They must have scanned for life forms since they didn't activate the field for the M.A.L.P. So, at least two sensor scans." But Goa'uld would be detected just by their reaction to the effect of Thor's Hammer.
"Permission?" she heard Adora ask through the M.A.L.P's microphones. "What permission?"
"And where do we get it?" Glimmer added.
"Confirm your permission to visit this planet," the voice repeated itself.
"Do you think this is a recording?" Daniel asked.
"It is asking a question, so they expect an answer," the Colonel replied.
"I mean… do you think this is an automated system - or is this an actual Asgard talking to them?"
Sam adjusted the focus on the M.A.L.P.'s cameras. "Even a primitive - comparably - computer system with voice recognition and pre-recorded lines could 'talk' to visitors."
"But would the Asgard trust an automated system after we wrecked the last one?" the Colonel asked. "Or would they station troops on the planet to enforce whatever new rules they put in place?"
Before Sam could answer, Glimmer spoke up again: "We didn't know you required permission. The people of the planet extended an invitation last time our friends visited."
"Let's hope they didn't just mean us, specifically," the Colonel said.
Sam resisted the urge to shush him. You didn't do that to your superior.
"Well, it wasn't entirely clear, but I think the Cimmerians knew that we represented an organisation, and…"
"Shhh!" Sam hissed. Daniel wasn't her superior.
"Other visitors are free to leave the gate area. Be mindful of the laws of the planet and aware that any hostile action will be reciprocated."
"'Other visitors'? Who are you talking to?" Adora exclaimed.
"Confirm your permission to visit this planet."
Sam really wished she was on Cimmeria. Even though right now she couldn't think of anything she could do to help, she hated staying back and watching helplessly as her friends were in danger.
"Well, let's try to leave and see what happens!" Catra suggested.
"Catra, no!" Adora yelled.
But Sam saw that Catra was already moving, jumping on top of the M.A.L.P. and then through the opening in the walls surrounding the gate. She held her breath, expecting the worst - but Catra landed on all fours on the grass outside the gate area, then rose, not affected at all by anything.
"So, the bot wasn't talking to me!"
"Catra, you idiot!"
And the voice hadn't been talking to Adora since she had just charged through the gap as well, bumping the M.A.L.P. to the side, probably without noticing.
Once more, Sam was reminded that just because Adora looked and acted like a normal woman most of the time, she was a magical princess strong enough to throw tanks around. And enough power to turn spaceships into plants.
"What were you thinking?"
"Someone had to test it!"
"And that someone should've been me, not you! I'm She-Ra!"
"So? That means you get to risk your life all the time?"
"Yes!"
"You got to go through the gate first!"
"That was after SG-2 went through!"
Bow and Glimmer joined them without acrobatics or pushing expensive gear to the side. "No magic," Glimmer said.
"Perhaps it is just a recording and not able to actually do anything?" Bow speculated.
SG-2 ventured out of the gate area as well. That left Entrapta and Hordak. Sam repositioned the M.A.L.P. and switched to another camera.
"Well, they have extensive sensors and… Oh! Look at those projectors, Hordak!"
"I see. But why would they hide the weapons behind worked stone? An attempt at camouflage?"
"Or they just like the style?"
"Entrapta! Can you tell if it's just a recording?"
"Give me a moment, Adora! No, I can't tell. The system is in contact with someone or something else, but I haven't cracked the encryption yet."
"Is she trying to hack the Asgard?" the Colonel asked. He sounded both impressed and aghast, Sam noted.
Before she could formulate a reply, Entrapta stepped through the gap without any trouble. But when Hordak tried to follow her, a barrier field appeared, and the voice spoke up again.
"Direct contact with the population of the planet requires permission by the Supreme Commander. Please confirm your permission or contact the closest fleet outpost."
Sam blinked. Did that mean…?
"The Asgard are the Horde?" Daniel blurted out.
"For crying out loud!"